In Feet That Don't Move...

Ever feel like you are in feet that don't move?
Not because you don't know what direction to move in,
or because you are happy where you are,
but because due to forces beyond yourself,
they don't move?

You watch everyone around you move forward in their lives,
they walk right past you,
and you watch,
from your still standpoint.
They move forward,
upward,
they make progress,
and you stand still.

Maybe you have never felt this ( how sweet and lucky) but this is where I am these days.
With everything.
My Life.
My business.
My soul.

I feel as though for every step I can force these feet to take, there are two backwards steps to follow. It brings so many uncomfortable feelings, which I am putting out on this page now.
Not because I want sympathy, or attention, and certainly not pity.
But because maybe someone else out there is in this boat with me, or have been there at some point.

So much has changed over this summer, and I am generally not sure where I stand with most things in my life.I have never felt so completely unconfident about so many aspects of myself.

Last night I laid in bed and thought about how long it had been since I had dreamed of designs, and processes and dreams and goals. I thought about the people whom I respect and admire in this world, and how they all have a rock, or anchor in their lives.
Something to keep them strong when all else fails.
A support system, or a success that never lets them doubt their work.
I don't have that in my life. Perhaps that is why I have struggled so much this year through personal conflicts, doubts about myself, doubts about my business and its potential.

I argued back and forth with myself on the idea of doing this blog. I certainly do not want it coming off as a pity party, but rather just revealing a real person behind it all.
This is me.
Jaime.

I am an artist.
I am a sensitive soul.
I am trying to pay the bills.
I am trying to make a name for myself in the jewellery world.
I am wanting to take the next step in my personal life.
I am wanting to shed the year of 2010 far behind me.
I am wanting to to share my stories with you - good and bad.

I am standing here, watching everyone I know move forward.
While I stand still.

Oh baby baby...

Perhaps I am a major dork (actually, I am thinking that is a for sure), but I seriously get excited when I get new stones to create with!
I have been a slacker with photographing stones as they come to me for you all to see. So this morning I buckled down and photographed all my favorites! There are still a bunch more, but this is enough to get my mouth watering lol.

All of these are available for custom orders, but I pull from them on my designs too.
Sooooo, if there is one you love, and need to have it made into something just for you - let me know!



Enjoy the eye candy!

New Catalog Pieces :-)

All 4 of these are now available in my etsy shop and on my website :-)
Some new One of a Kinds are being unveiled soon too!

Left to Right, Top to Bottom :

Boho Necklace, Baby Daisy Studs,
Floating Petals Necklace, Daisy Chain Necklace

Thanks for taking a peek
toodles!

Send in the Sun...

Hello friends!
After a yucky heat wave earlier this week, the rain has come to the west coast.
BC has been ravaged by especially hard to control fires this summer - the air quality has been bad ( we are spoiled here with air so fresh it is almost sweet) and it's been tough on the 4 legged members of the family too ( don't forget about your pets in the heat please!)

But then this morning it broke into rain and returned some green to the grass.
It brought the sweet back to the air.
It brought back my desire to make sunny days out of rainy ones.

Which is why it is so fitting that this piece sold today, just down the coast to Portland :

Sunny Day Necklace

"In Vancouver it rains.
Alot.
And so many complain about the rain,
but not me.

I search for other things to perk myself up.
I search for a Sunny Day in the darkest clouds.
I search for an inner warmth on the wettest of days.

And the other day when it poured and poured - I put my hands to work and they made this, the Sunny Day Necklace. If you have been searching for a piece to bring light into a dark sky, this my friends is it!

Created around a sparkling speckled yellow Druzy that measures approx 30mm wide, and set in sterling silver. Underneath I have soldered sterling silver "rays" to mimic the sun. It hangs on 17 inches of hand wrapped 6mm snow jade beads, with an extender chain that allows an extra 2 inches. 

Exit night, enter light...."




So glad this is heading to someone that will wear it and remind them to make Sunny Days out of Rainy ones!


* new work is coming soon*

Handmade Division Team - August Talk About

Hello all, and happy Sunday!
Back in July I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a wonderful group of artists called the Handmade Division. It is a fantastic team of artist in different genres, that can get together and appreciate each others art, passion and experience, as well as push each other to reach for more in our individual craft.

One of the things we do is blog about a pre determined topic on the 15th of each month.
Taken from the Handmade Division blog :

"What is the Talk About Blog Feature?

What this means, is on the 15th of each month, any of the HandMade Division team artists who choose to participate, will write about the same (pre-determined) topic. What makes it fun, is you, the reader, can easily link thru tho the other Artist’s blog pages and read what they have to say, or think about Each month’s topic. Almost like a debate… but much more fun. It always amazes me to hear everyone’s different ideas, experiences, and opinions. Sometimes you just don’t realize the depth and breadth of ideas within a group, on a topic, until you do a group  project like this."

The August Topic: “Talk about something you’d like to create, that you maybe don’t have the skills or technology to do currently? “

I really had to think about this - I am one of those people who gets an idea in her head, or a taste of a technique I want to learn, and then works non stop at it until I have taught it to myself.
There are so many different styles and techniques in the metalsmithing world, and I honestly feel like there is always something to learn. I never want to stop teaching myself - each time I feel confident in a new area, or with a new tool, something else strikes my fancy and I want to learn it!

The one thing I do find I am hindered by is my lack of space. We live in a tiny suite, and my bench is about 5 feet long. Thats it. I have organized an amazing amount of tools in that space, but it prevents me from doing much.
Such as working with a Hydraulic Press, something I have recently become enamored from a far with. I love the idea behind the press, and the possibility of creating dies and seeing the forms created before your eyes.
I would also like to incorporate more enamel work into my repertoire- but my space limits me from having a kiln.

Outside of my trade, I have always been very good behind a sewing machine. Back in the day, I could whip up anything from a bathing suit to a stuffed christmas tree  ( which I still have!) I would love to get out the machine and work with it again. I would really love to get into designing handbags and purses. Alas, space ( and time! how could I forget about time?) get in the way. Also, I feel like the addition of a serger would be essential, and they come at a pretty price.
One day maybe....

So there you have it, some of my thoughts on exploring within, and outside of ones craft, and some of my dreams about it!

You can read other members of the Handmade Divisions thoughts on the August Talk About here :

NEDbeads: http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers: http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
Purified Art: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Nova of Sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Moxie & Oliver: http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/
Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

Friday the 13th

It has been a long, rough week folks.
Seemed like it was bad news on top of bad luck on top of bad attitudes.
BUT, the week is almost over, and I for one am looking forward to a fresh start.

Since it is Friday the 13th, and I have the evening to myself, perhaps a campy 80's horror movie, a couple of cold locally brewed beers and some comfort food involving cheese are in order.

Oh yeah,

I am thinking some cuddles with this little guy are just what the doc ordered :-)

{ just hanging around }

{ My brother Jason and Tuckie }

{ yes, my parents still have some green shag in their living room... 

who knew it wouldn't make a come back... or will it? }

{ wrapped up in the oldest blanket we have left from my grandma ( Dad's mom). 

She made it for my mom when my dad and her were 19... 34 years ago! We all have one of grandma's blankets :-) }

{ me and tucker a few years back - he always knows when you need a hug! }


If you have a pet, give them a squeeze and let them give ya a big ole kiss on the cheek - they are amazing creatures capable of so much love ♥

Shop Update

YES! - some new goodies for my BellaBijouJewellery shop. I have been selling away some of the 30% off items in my Last Chance section in order to make way for some new pieces. Now is the time to start in with the new!

Night Blossom Ring

Sterling Silver, Tourmalinated Quartz, Tourmaline, 

Swiss Blue Topaz and Amethyst

Cranberry Bracelet

Sterling Silver and Carnelian

Angel Wing Bracelet

Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl

Harvest Necklace

Sterling Silver and Cherry Creek Jasper

Man in the Moon Necklace

Sterling Silver and Labradorite

Stargazer Necklace

Sterling Silver and Agua Nueva Agate

All these goodies will start making their way into the shop around 9am PST today, weds August 11th!

Catalog Update

Hello world :-)
Hope you are all finding yourselves well! I have been keeping busy as always. The creative side of me keeps my spirit high and soul shining - I would be lost without art.
This week in general I have felt a little lost in life, and I am thankful I have an outlet to move those emotions into.

So, some fruit of my labours for the website and BellaBijouToo etsy shop :

Botanical Bangle
Sterling Silver and Turquoise
{made to order}

Sometimes the urge to be outside is overwhelming. I live in a richly forested and beautiful blooming place. Even in the dead of winter Vancouver has a somewhat botanical feel to it - like the air is alive!
 Hand formed with one of my anticlastically raised sterling silver petals that has been imprinted with a genuine leaf, and a 7mm bezel set turquoise. They hang from a hammered sturdy square bangle and everything has been oxidized for a rich depth.



Wild Horses Ring
Sterling Silver and White Topaz
{made to order}

Occasionally, I like to through caution to the wind. Get in the car and drive, or get out on my two feet and walk.  In no direction, with no destination.

Like taking saddle to a wild horse, and letting it drag me away into the nothing... the everything.

Wild Horses Ring is anticlastically formed in a saddle shape from sterling silver. It has been decoratively stamped around the edges, oxidized and polished to a sheen. Off to the side of the saddle is a bezel set 5mm faceted White Topaz- because the wildest horses have the brightest sparks! Measures approx 1 1/4 inch long.

These are in the etsy shop and website NOW!

Life Lessons : Issue #1

A new segment devoted to the little {and sometimes big} lessons in life I learn.
Enjoy :-)


Life Lessons : Issue #1

When I spend countless hours/days building my website, and am almost done, my host service will decide to automatically update the software which essentially wipes clean all the work I have done {thank goodness I backed it up!} 

Watermelon is a meal in its {juicy, sweet delicious} self.

Just when I think the work is done, there is more.

That smell in the fridge is a section of watermelon stored away from some time ago.
ICK. EWW.GROSS
{not entirely my fault, it was nestled behind a bag of oranges {which I don't eat, and were also nasty} 


That's all for now :-)

Website Launch!

Phew- let me tell you, this girl has been working till her eyes cross!
After many many days of 8am-1am shifts, I finally have my website ready to launch, in parallel to my second Etsy Shop!

The Bella-Bijou Catalog
{ more can be found on the website www.bella-bijou.com or the etsy shop www.bellabijoutoo.etsy.com }

Left to Right Row by Row:

Poppy Earrings, Thistle Hoops, Take Flight Bangle

Willow Studs, Aphrodite Earrings, Boho Hoops,

Willow Ring, Angelic Ring, Aspen Studs,

Floating Petals Studs, Queen of the Nile Hoops, Autumn Leaves Studs

Take Flight Earrings, Blowing in the Wind Earrings, Sprouts Earrings,

Industrial Bangle, Willow Necklace, Dew Drops Necklace.

I'd love to hear what you think about this new line! I have been visiting the creative muse so much these days and am so happy with how it is all coming together! 

PS - don't forget that 20 items have been discounted by 30% in my bellabijoujewellery.etsy.com shop!

LAST CHANCE Sale!

The time has come again to move some inventory out to make way for new things. I have moved 20 items to the LAST CHANCE section of my shop, and all of them have been discounted by 30%!
Some of my favorite pieces are in there - just waiting for good homes!

Check out these and a few more!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bellabijoujewellery?section_id=6836932