Shortest Day of The Year

Solstice to me means the return of the sun. Yes we have a long winter ahead of us. I know the sun will return, the days will grow longer, the darkness lifting. December 21st is a hump day in Alaska. A day we know that we have made it through the longest part of the year. I am comfortable sipping coffee this morning watching the sun creep up the channel. Knowing that soon I will have light in my house again.

One World One Heart Blog Carnival

It seems like it's that time of year. The time to meet new blog friends, participate in fun giveaways and generally start connecting with other bloggy artists. I did this last year and it was amazing. It was so fun to give, read comments, find new blog partners and well..honestly...get lots of surprises in the mail. It's a blast.

This year the event starts January 25th. I will post more information on my giveaway soon...must get through the holidays first! But it's fun fun...hope you'll join

It's a WRAPPING PAPER tube

Taken from my conversation this week with my 9 & 7 year old boys:

"That's it!! Give it to me...It is not a weapon of mass destruction. And yes it does too hurt if you get hit with it. It is not a device to make your voice even louder, a Lego-Car slide, hamster trail or place to put stuff you want to hide from me. It disintegrates in the snow so stop leaving it outside"

"Yes I suppose if we lived somewhere where you could actually see stars you could actually see them better with it". "No, I am not getting out the glue gun..it's bed time". "You cannot take it in the tub (see above reasons regarding disintegration).

"It is a WRAPPING PAPER TUBE" now give it to me so that I can continue wrapping the presents I actually bought for you". Come to think of it...maybe a few tubes of wrapping paper might actually do the trick.

Out of Chaos comes...something..right?

I am currently sitting in my studio. Looking around me it is hard to imagine that anything came out of this disaster. I am also glad that buried in this disaster is my camera. Which means that I am unable give into the urge to photograph this and share it with you. Something that I will be grateful for later on. It's hard to admit when your a messy studio keeper.

I made the mistake of heading to the store to pick up the newest copy of Studios

I love this magazine..but I hate it also. I love the beautiful studios..the organized shelves, the colorful art hung thoughtfully around the well lit rooms. But I hate this magazine for the same reason. Please please please tell me you cleaned up extra extra hard that day for the photo shoot. When I look at these spaces I am slowly reminded of my inadequecies much the same way I feel when looking at Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition (which I really don't look at..) or Martha Stewart.

Instead I have decided to focus on what I have produced out of this chaotic, poorly lit mess. I thought I would share it with you. Thanks Tanna for your photos...

I found my way into a new Kiln in October. I loved the thought of all the color possibilities that enameling could bring. I created these poppies. Little domed discs of copper hung with sterling silver wire. A small piece of fine silver in the center.

A domed enamel disc accented with a sterling silver swirl

PMC earrings...fired in my kiln. I have been torch firing PMC for a while now..but really like the strength that firing PMC in a kiln gives to the metal.

Happy Holidays.

TP Designs

Meet Tanna

TPDesigns

And Cap'n (a good sport who poses for Tanna and is a very good booth light hanger)

TPDesigns

I had a fantastic opportunity to sit with Tanna this year at Juneau's Public Market. She graciously agreed to share a booth with me. Little did she know that I was a) going to force her willing partner into staple gun slavery and b) spend almost 3 days telling her what she should do with her life. Tanna...big big thank you!

Luckily she weathered the Anji storm and continued patiently knitting. I am loving Tanna's winter scarves. They really aren't scarves per se...they are one continuous loop that make a whole lotta sense. Warm, snuggly and fashionably fabulous. Here's a hint if you convo her on her Etsy site..I bet you can talk her into a custom one. (I am hoping this posting serves as her reminder that I am desperately in need of one). Tanna KEEP KNITTING

Tanna has an Etsy site http://www.etsy.com/shop/tpalaska where she sells all sorts of crafty items. I'm thinking Public Market sort of depleted her stock but she should have more soon. She also writes a local crafting column here in Juneau Tanna's Column in Capital City Weekly. She's a really fun knitting woman for lack of a better descriptor...who makes lots of cool stuff.

You can find her here

Alaskan Crafter Blog

Snowflakes

It's been suspiciously snow free here. Yesterday was sunny and today, well more sun. Now I'm not complaining..but snow does have it's advantages. For one..it's the perfect playmate for two active boys. Snow filled streets inspire them to jump into their snow gear and head outside...where they stay for most the day. Rainy gravel filled streets don't have quite the same pull.

So we sat inside and cut snowflakes and decorated the house.


Bit of a mess..

But very worth it.



Thought I'd show you some of my snowflake charms. I am working on posting these to my Etsy site..but my computer is having mental health issues.


Enjoy your day!
anji

It's December already

Worse yet...it's December 4th. That means Gallery Walk here in Juneau. For the first time in years I will be out and about with my two boys in tow. I put a couple new items in the gallery...will post more pics soon..but here's a hint.
Garnet Raindrop necklace

It's Juneau and if it's possible to find something inspiring about all the rain, well then by all means be inspired by it.

On Annie (Thanks model Annie!!)

A little white sea glass piece I picked up this summer in Nome

I will post more later...for now we actually have sun in Juneau today..and I am going to enjoy it.

PS....my friend Marjorie...did a great job of Interviewing Jill Charlotte Stanford author of the yummiest Cowgirl Cookbook ever...stop on over and check it out. Cowgirl Goods.

Pebble Mine: No Dirty Gold

A few months ago I posted this blog about the jewelry stores in Juneau...how many tourists they attracted and the real cost of a gold ring.

Here's the link to my previous post:

How Much Does that Gold Ring Cost

I thought it would be valuable to repost in light of the fact that the world’s most famous jeweler, and namesake of my favorite movie (Breakfast at Tiffany's) Tiffany & Co. is leading the charge of jewelers against the Pebble Mine project in southwest Alaska. The Pebble Mine threatens to put a vast open pit gold mine smack in a critical salmon habitat.

" Commercial fishing in Bristol Bay courtesy of Ben Miller".

Renewable Resources Coalition
Trout Unlimited
Our Bristol Bay

I make jewelry. I love pretty shiny things. But I also love Alaska and I stand with the No Dirty Gold campaign and have vowed to create only with reclaimed metals. Guess what...I feel like I am in good company.

I am proud of jewelers and retailers like Tiffany & Co. for taking a stand and saying "It's just not worth it!" Even Captain Sig (From Deadliest Catch is taking a stand).

Hansen and his crew voice their opposition to Pebble in a series of print and broadcast ads slated to air in Alaska and nationwide this summer. In separate interviews, Sig and crew called on Gov. Sarah Palin to stop the Pebble mine from proceeding.

“I’m no radical greenie. I support responsible resource development. That’s how I make my living. But in some cases, you have to draw the line. The Pebble mine is one of those projects and Sarah Palin, whose family fishes in Bristol Bay, ought to know that,” Hansen said.

Even if you don't create your own jewelry..you can sign the pledge not to buy precious metals from mining companies using destructive environmentally wrecking practices: Sign the pledge here

Add a pledge badge to your website too..