Another Day, Another Beach

I’ve never been to the gulf coast of Florida before, but here I am in Sarasota for a five day advanced 3-D software class. Rhino is an amazing modeling program that I am starting to use to make some of our jewelry, it is absolutely amazing, but mind-bendingly hard. I’m starting to get comfortable with it, though. If you have any interest in learning this program, I highly recommend this class by Lauren Pipkorn – master designer and Rhino instructor. I’m not sure what I was expecting- maybe a lot of canes and walkers and oil spilled beaches. I was definitely surprised to find a very arts-centered town with beaches that have the whitest, most powdery sand I’ve ever seen. Not that I’m getting to relax, the class is from 9 – 6 every day. My brain is exploding with new info and ideas for Aroc Urtu. I am truly hoping to get to the world renowned Ringling Museum of Art on my last day. I’ll keep you posted!

I’ve been gorging myself on grapefruits and tangerines picked right off the tree. So delicious!!!

The sand is so soft and powdery!

I don’t know who’s house this is right on the beach, but I wish it were mine…

 

SO MUCH New News

Really, there is so much news that I’m afraid I’m going to forget something important! First off, the really big news is that Sarah is engaged! So much love and joyous family celebrations going on – I feel like a human bottle of champagne. In an effervescent way, not an alcoholic way. She will be telling readers more about it on her fabulous blog Chevrons and Stripes. And, by the way and another bit of New News, Sarah and her super stylish new apartment are featured today on The Glitter Guide (another great blog to keep on your radar). Go Sarah!

Aroc Urtu Is so thrilled to be getting buzzed about also. Have you read our interview in iDazzle yet? We are so thrilled with it we are doing a Valentine’s Giveaway with them! Please go check it out and enter because I would love for you to win this ruby ring right here:

And if you haven’t heard, we were featured in Vogue Japan – right next to Leonardo DiCaprio and Jake Gyllenhaal. NICE! I still don’t know what the blurb says, so if you can translate it for me I’d be most grateful.

AND on another awesome note, Elizabeth Banks is sporting our diamond slice necklace in Women’s Health Magazine. She is so darn pretty, don’t you think? And I love that this shot was taken just a couple of blocks from where I live. I am so looking forward to seeing her in the Hunger Games!

Miami Engagement (and other great news)

We are thoroughly DAZZLED with our interview and feature in the fantastic online guide to all things jewelry, idazzle! Go check it out, learn some behind the scenes nuggets, and find out about our ruby giveaway of this:

They haven’t announced it yet, or maybe they have, so get over there and sign up! And if it’s not up yet, keep going over there until it is!

And now for more very exciting news!!

I can finally talk about what I’ve been bursting at the seams to tell you for months (well, two of them)! This was definitely the hardest engagement project I’ve been involved with as Sarah is not only my niece, but also the other half of Aroc Urtu. So much secrecy all paid off and culminated in a completely unanticipated proposal from Evan at the uber lovely Standard Hotel in Miami, and then the maybe even bigger surprise that both the families were there at the hotel to celebrate with them! Congratulations, guys!!

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Are You Ready for the Big Day?

 

While I am ecstatic that Big Blue is in the Super Bowl on Sunday and I am already anticipating all the nachos I’m planning on eating, and Hello? Madonna at halftime? Awesome! (I hope) … And I am especially looking forward to the Lingerie Bowl. If you haven’t seen this, WATCH! I kid you not – the women in the Lingerie Football League are serious athletes who just happen to play serious football in their lingerie. Once you get past their minimalist uniforms you will see how strong and talented these women are.

But I have totally digressed!  Super Bowl Sunday and Big Blue are not the Big Day I’m referring to at all. I’m talking about Big Red! The day of hearts and expressions of love! Yes, Valentine’s Day. I know a lot of you out there are thinking “Huh, what a load of crap. That made-up holiday created to sell cards”. But wait – what other day of the year are we asked to simply celebrate not just the people we love, but the entire, general experience of love itself?

This very simple shape has come to represent that powerful, almost impossible to describe something called love. And February 14th has come to be the day we set aside to celebrate it in all its shapes, sizes and varieties. Admit it – you love it and are going to rush out to get doilies, ribbons, red craft paper and do it up big time! OK, maybe not, but how about a little candy heart for someone special, or other little token to show affection? And of course, if you’re really in the mood, a special gift is always fun to give.

Happy Year of the Dragon!

And who doesn't love dragons? They're celebrated in cultures all over the world and range from super cute to vile and evil. What a fabulous creature to provide us with endless fodder for the imagination.

I'm definitely envious of people born in the year of the dragon; it is so much more awesome than a pig, rat, goat, or rooster. In terms of accessories, what could be better than a dragon motif?! If you're lucky enough for this to be your sign, here is your personality description - oh, and the recommended rubies?I think we all benefit by partaking in those!

The charismatic, enthusiastic and self-confident personalities of Dragons help them excel at creating a good first impression. Dragons have good judgment and tend to take a keen interest in the world around them, often stepping in at the right moment to help those in need. Both decisive and dignified, Dragons take a wholehearted approach to life and they see themselves as protectors. Dragons admire jewelry designs with beneficial properties that incorporate gemstones such as amethyst for wisdom, noble rubies, black jet for peace and abundance, turquoise for good communication and chrysoprase to banish greed and carelessness.

Carved Beads, Diamond Balls, and a Deer

Would you like to swing on a star diamond ball
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule deer?

 Ingredients: leather, coral, diamond and sterling balls, 18K gold beads, boy, dog and deer

Color Trending

I’ve been gathering stuff together that is grabbing my attention both in color and form. I brought home bags and bags of shells and stones from Costa Rica, not that I want to use them as jewelry elements, per se, but I became obsessed with their hues, tones and shapes. Now, I’m not a trend forecaster or anything, but the colors I’ve been consumed with are remarkably in line with Pantone’s pallets for 2012. Huh. Is it something in the water, or perhaps the collective unconscious, that causes us as a culture to be drawn to certain themes simultaneously? Zeitgeist, real or imagined? What do you think?