Cyber Monday Jewelry Sale

Yes, indeed, it’s Cyber Monday here at Aroc Urtu! It’s hard to imagine that the holidays are upon us especially when here in NYC it has been unusually warm. And as much as I do appreciate the very comfortable temperatures, it’s just not feeling very holiday-like. So I created a very wintery image to get us all in the mood for…. shopping! Isn’t it much nicer to get give a gift that is unique and handmade? Aroc Urtu is making it easier by offering a 25% discount storewide (except rings) – so go on over to the website and find some treasures for the ones you love!

Some Google Love

Starting a small business is a walk in the park like a roller coaster – blindfolded – standing up – no safety harness – on the front car. Yet exhilarating and wildly fun. My brain is stretched every day into positions I never thought possible. Like extreme yoga for the brain. As a creative, it’s never been part of my skillset to worry (too much) about anything on the business side of things. But now both Sarah and I are learning the ins and outs of finance, marketing, social media and lots of other stuff that used to make my eyes glaze over. I’m so glad to be doing this in NYC where there are some excellent resources and networks for the small entrepreneur.

For instance, a couple of days ago I was invited to the Google offices to attend a meeting about increasing SEO. My friend asked if that’s a medical condition. No, it’s Search Engine Optimization. In other words making Google like your website enough to bring it up at the top of people’s searches. How cool is that?! Learning about working the system by the system itself.

As I had heard, the offices were vast and very cheerfully decorated. It looked like a lot of fun to work there, but no one was out and about playing. They even put out a nice breakfast spread.

Here’s my Google breakfast.

It was a really, really helpful three hours of info that is definitely going to take me a while to digest. How nice of Google was that?

Fuzzy Friday because Elephants are not Furry

So it is Friday again. Furry Fridays! Somehow last Friday ran by so fast I missed it and am just now getting to do my favorite posting on animals and their corresponding jewelry. Elephants. I don’t have words to express how much I love them. You probably don’t either because we all just become all mushy around them.  I still remember bawling my eyes out last week as a child when they locked up Dumbo’s mother. So unfair! Anyway, here we go – sit back and enjoy the show.

We are so fortunate to be sharing the planet with these awesome animals.

Brooch by David Webb                                    and this one, Cartier

This is a design I did for a client on the left, and the finished piece on the right.

Here’s some cuteness…

I love this cuff by Alkemie made from 100% reclaimed metal, and our Aroc Urtu elephant on a 6ct ruby rondelle.

Kawaii = Cute

I picked up an assortment of sweet candy colored sliced sapphires from one of my stone dealers today. The hues made me think of Japanese super cute toys and illustrations. As a cultural phenomenon, cuteness is increasingly accepted in Japan as a part of Japanese culture and national identity. The word for cute in Japanese is kawaii. As in, “aren’t these stones kawaii?” Really, aren’t they? I just want to roll around in their cuteness!

So then walking to the company that does my jewelry casting I decided that since I had kawaii on my mind to take a little detour to Books Kinokuniya. Three floors of all things Japanese, mostly books (great art and manga sections), but also including my objects of obsession – washi tape, origami paper and super cute little toys.

Here’s what I couldn’t resist:

Awwww! Can you take it?!?! Now on to those sapphires!

Applesauce

I get really enthusiastic at the farmer's market seeing all the gorgeous fall produce. It all just looks, smells, and feels so amazing. And don't let me forget that all important sense - TASTE. Incredible!

So I carted home enough apples for a family of 10 or so and my husband Ed had visions of many pies, tarte tatins (which I make really well, but I'll tell you about that another time), and other deliciousnesses.

But then I got busy. Really busy. And our apple a day may have been keeping the doctor away, but it wasn't denting the giant pile of apples in the basket on the counter. I dreaded coming home and finding something like this:

This happened to none other than Martha Stewart, I kid you not.

So here's what I did in a fit of a) not wanting to waste my beautiful harvest, but b) not having the time to make anything at all time consuming. I simply chopped them up, skin and all, but no cores (15 min), threw them in a large sauce pot with some juice and water to barely cover the apples  - I think I actually used grapefruit juice, a little cloves and cinnamon, buckwheat honey. I boiled it down until it was mushy, but not too mushy... and VOILA!

We have a Lucky Winner!

Thanks everyone who entered our Aroc Urtu giveaway! We had so much fun doing it and are delighted to have new fans!

And CONGRATS Michaela, send on over your mailing address so we can get you your lovely black diamond solitaire necklace ASAP (email it to me at lauren@arocurtu.com).

Just Dance

Today was one of those picture perfect Autumn days and I just happened to be able to reschedule some things so that I could be outside and ENJOY it. I basically played hookey all afternoon and loved every second of it. At the park someone was playing Leonard Cohen’s song Dance Me To The End Of Love on their guitar (really well – now I want to learn to play it on my guitar)) and these are the images (more or less) that were dancing in my head. Enjoy!

So I returned re-freshed, re-inspired, re-invigorated, re-ady to re-start…

tomorrow!

Of Mice and Giveaways

In case you missed hearing about it, I’ll say it again – we are having an Aroc Urtu Giveaway. As in FREE JEWELRY! A black diamond solitaire necklace, to be specific. It would look stunning on you – I promise. Just a few more days to ENTER over at the wonderful jewelry blog, Gem Gossip.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, you may be asking yourselves “what happened to Furry Friday?” Well, that’s what I’m getting to right now – better late than never. So on with it. Mice! Yes, mice. Possibly the most hated and adored creature on the planet. While many among us would completely wig out to find one scavenging in our cupboard, we absolutely adore their cartoon counterpoints. For a list of who’s who in the mouse world of fame go here.

I can’t remember if the mouse was Tom or Jerry. Do you? And how over the top is this all diamond Mickey Mouse by Jewelry Unlimited? Wowza!

I love the jewelry team Manya and Roumen’s animal pieces. Their sensitivity and detail are extraordinary. Maybe Mighty Mouse will rush off and buy me this ring…

I adore all the sweet goodies from Danish design brand Maileg, like this too cute linen mouse.

My older sister had a toy Topo Gigio doll that I think was my very first mouse love. I swiped it from her many times.

And here’s our sweet little mouse charm that would gladly accompany you on all your adventures and not leave behind any little turds.