Winter Wonderland

The presents are long unwrapped, now a part of our daily lives. The Christmas tree, the long-staying harbinger of the season, has been taken out to a summer burn pile. All of the trappings of holiday-time are gone, and yet this winter seems to grow ever more perfect, week by week.

Certainly, this is the snowiest winter that I can recall since childhood. The snow falls, and it stays, layer upon layer altering the cartography of our backyard. Our homespun sled-racing trails are fun until they get covered over by a new storm, and then we begin the joyful toil of forming them again. Twinkle lights draped from the trees above the racing trails now touch our heads when we walk beneath, boosted ever closer by numerous snowfalls.

Amidst the flurry of snow days, snowshoeing,
snowboarding, and other SNOWY things, I have also been at the work table, creating some pieces that bring a bit of summer to mind. Sea glass, sea pottery, and the occasional key, too. Here is one of my recent favorites.

Where is Sojourn?

I have been so busy with getting my new kindergarten classroom up and running.
It's my second year, and it's looking great, so far. Jewelry work will resume in the coming weeks, as things settle in at school for me.

In the meantime, if you're interested, I've started a blog about my experiences as a teacher.

It's called Journeys in Childhood. Hope you'll check it out!

Personalize Your Packaging

In your business, presentation is just as important as the product itself.

Here's an easy way to personalize your packaging, on a budget.

1) Choose a strong, unique component of your logo, maybe it's a bird, a star, or a nouveau-style woman's profile. For me, it's a tree.

2) Find a rubber stamp designer who does custom work, to create a stamp with your chosen image. Here's the artist I worked with on Etsy! Be sure to grab an inkpad or two!

3) Stamp tissue paper in your choice of pattern. I chose to create alternating rows, like bricks.

Here's how it turned out:

Fall Wishes

Gathering Apples, 2009 Collection

In the fall of the year, when warm days give way to crisp nights, the work of plant and man culminates in a bounty, offerings for the harvest basket.









Sweet pendants, rings and earrings in this collection are winding their way into the shop, now. Pick your own!

Mountain Air

I am back from the White Mountains, and greatly missing the places and my family.

We climbed Mt. Washington (again), took Caps Ridge from Jefferson over to the summit of Washington, then took Lion Head down to Pinkham Notch. An 11 hour journey in total, and by the end of it, I was stumbling, lurching, and wishing never to hike again. Now, though, I would definitely be up for another hike!

A garden/greenhouse in Vermont made me think I'd like to have some succulents (spine and barb free) growing in the house. They are just so beautiful and ornate looking.

I found this great example at apartmenttherapy.com:

Oh, the Update!

I have a supply shop, now! Mainly pretty little found and collected things like sea glass, sea pottery, keys, old hardware, vintage buttons, etc. Occasionally extra wire, beads and the like. Check it out!

I've just finished ordering all the supplies I will need for a very exciting new project with my brother, using his photography!

At present, I must pack for a family vacation in the White Mountains. I hope for lots of swimming, hiking, and cool mountain air. Maybe some history and shopping will sneak in, too. See you all next week!

And Now, Supplies!

Take a moment to hop over to my brand new supply & destash emporium: Sojourn Supply!!!!