I went rock hunting this weekend. I actually took 2 days off (well, almost 2 days, I did come back to the shop on Monday am to sort a few things out), and went out to Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula to stroll the fantastic beaches and enjoy the weather and scenery before the Hood Canal Bridge closes for a month and change. As you can imagine, the weather was perfect, sunny & warm, clear & most importantly, rain free (I actually got a sunburn and everything!). I enjoyed every minute of it and cannot wait until the bridge construction is done so I can run away again. Now this trip did include a bit of "work"...since I was hunting for rocks I use on my found object jewelry technically, I was working the entire time, but I really don't see things that way. I have always been a water person, I love to be in, on or around any type of water. The critters that live in, above and around the water are fascinating; water and water related things have dominated my personal & professional life in one way or another my entire existence (yes, I really wanted to have a Mr. Limpet experience!). So, to make sure we all have some water and nature and critters in our lives for the foreseeable future, please think about your impact on this planet we call home...and think about some changes that will make it a better place for future generations. we have been doing just that, and have made some changes to our policies here at echo artworks that will help us do our part to keep things green & leafy. First-we have changed precious metal vendors. Our new vendor sells only reclaimed and recycled metal, nothing that has been mined or harvested. that means no arsenic, or cyanide being leached into groundwater, and less metal in junk yards and scrap piles. Second-we will be changing how beads and loose findings are sorted for purchase. we will be switching from plastic (albeit recycled) bags to glassine envelopes. glassine has a much lower plastic content, and are biodegradable. Third-we will be asking you to do your part. we have ordered some block print totes (made from recycled off cuts and recycled ink), every time you reuse your bags, we will give you a 5 cent refund and also donate 5 cents to the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy or other non profit organization that protects and educates (suggestions welcome) on a revolving basis. These changes will be progreesing over the next few months. We appreciate your assistance, suggestions and patience. For more ways to make a impact visit http://www.treehugger.com/. Happy Earth Day everyone! PS- as part of my beach combing, I always pick up trash...this weekend, I filled 2 bags. if you want to help, I'll be heading to Hansville tomorrow morning and I love company!

Spring has sprung!

Spring has sprung in the Pacific Northwest. Today we are celebrating the third day in a row of sun & temperatures in the 60's. I have gardened as much as possible in these three days, and I have enjoyed every minute. However, as I write this post, the clouds are starting to close overhead and if the weather folks are right, it will be back to clouds & rain (maybe even snow?!?!) for the rest of the week. So I am going to be proactive and make flowers this Sunday if Mother Nature has decided to be disagreeable. I'll be in the studio for a metalsmithing workshop from 10 am to 5 pm if anyone cares to join. Yes, I know it is Easter Sunday, but trust me when I tell you I pray a lot at the torch.

Happy Easter everyone!

What I’ve been doing these past two weeks

I have been a bit busy these last two weeks, but I finally managed to get the new workshops updated on our website. I've added a few new links and pages and I'll be working on getting the calendar updated today & tomorrow. In the mean time, I thought I'd show you a set of bangle bracelets I finished in a metal fusing workshop last week. The bangle is brass with fused fine (pure) silver and copper hearts dangling around your wrist. I was inspired by a Himalayan legend that says that all Himalayan women wear a slender brass bracelet at all times to keep their soul inside their bodies. And, yes, I wear 2 brass bracelets and they never come off! (thought I could use the extra so my soul doesn't get any bright ideas about moonlighting somewhere without me)

UFO night

Join us the last Friday of every month for Un-Finished Object (UFO) night! We'll provide some food and design help, just bring your projects and fun. We'll bead & bitch the night away!!! Festivities begin at 5pm, bring a friend!

Fun Friday

I had a great post started for Friday, but unfortunately, powers beyond my control were plotting against me. This photo was taken shortly after we lost power on Friday afternoon. Apparently a trunk took out a pole behind our shop & was hanging (literally by threads) waiting for the utilities to right it. We got our power back in time for our Artist Trading Card swap, but my blog post was lost to the ether (time I got that battery backup for the computers huh). I'll have ATC swap pictures & more later this week, and will make up for neglected posts this week and next.

Have a great day all...stay powerful!

Caring for pearls

Pearls are beautiful, no doubt about that, but they are also a bit of an abnormality in the gemstone world. Made from layers of calcium secreted by bivalve mollusks, pearls are hard enough to be beads but all those layers that give pearls their beauty also give them fragility.

Pearls come in a wide range of colors & shapes depending on the type of critter that makes them, the nutrients in the water and the growing time. Typically, pearls secrete approximately 1mm of nacre every year. That can decline with pollution, lack of nutrients or food, and water temperature. Most pearls on the market today are cultured, meaning that the pearls are grown in aquaculture “farms” where these factors can be more closely regulated. South Sea pearls or “wild” pearls are all natural, they are found by pearl divers (remember reading that in high school?) and are therefore more expensive and often larger since they are not harvested at set intervals like cultured pearls.

When designing with pearls, their fragile nature needs to be taken into account. Be careful about what type of beads are strung next to pearls…metal with sharp edges or faceted crystal can scratch the fragile nacre on pearls. Pearls have been traditionally strung on silk; the silk knots between each pearl cushion the beads so that they do not rub up against each other. The silk is fantastic for pearls, but does create some storage and wear issues. Strung pearls should be stored lying flat, not hung; just that little bit of gravity pulling on the knots can cause the silk to stretch. Pearls on silk are also more susceptible to dirt & stains. Pearls are really not great fashionware for gardening. The silk can get dirty quickly, and there is not cleaning method...once the silk is discolored it's time to restring. Even with careful treatment, pearls on silk typically need to be restrung every 5-10 years.

Look for lots of new pearls in the shop as well as tips on designing and knotting silk. Next week...the legend of birthstones.

I still love you...

I have been remiss...it's not that I don't love blogging and have enough stories/pictures/opinions to share, it's just that time seems to always get away from me. I hate to put blogging on the official "to do" list because that takes the fun out of it, but it seems that unless I have a reminder, I will procrastinate the day away without getting to many things (both listed & unlisted). So, in order to try & rectify the situation, I am making a pledge- I will blog at least 2 times a week (with pictures) so help me....I will try to post at least once on what is happening at the shop-new in store, color or fashion trends, upcoming workshops etc.- and once about what I have been working on-new experiments and work, workshops & samples. Please feel free to email or comment suggestions for what you would like to see on this here blog...I am interested in getting some how-tos posted or even having some guest bloggers. Thanks for your patience, and I promise there is more to come! Beth