The Birds and the Beads

Inspiration

2012-03-07T16:28:00.000-06:00

On Monday morning, I saw the most beautiful commercial I've ever seen in my life. It was an epic masterpiece of over three minutes long, and it aired during Good Morning America. I was literally held spellbound, coffee in hands.

The commercial was made by Cartier, and you can see it here. As the description notes, it is a summary of Cartier's years of inspiration, talent and products.

What inspires you? What inspires me?

As I learned during the endless hours of "story workshop" classes that I took while I attended Columbia College (from which I graduated with a B.A. in creative writing), anything and everything can start a chain reaction of inspiration. This includes a building, a flower, a dream or nightmare, a movie, a subway grate, a single word, beauty, ugliness, and more. The key to being inspired is allowing yourself to be inspired! In other words, open yourself to the possibilities, and don't dismiss the smallest thing you see. Allow your mind to wander, and make it okay to daydream.

I think particularly for adults, sometimes it's hard to let go your inner imagination go free. Some days, it's even hard for me--the bills have to be paid, the apartment cleaned, and whatnot. But even while I pay bills or clean (okay, maybe not bill paying), inspiration can come to me.

There are some things that are guaranteed to inspire me. Movies are one. I am a huge horror movie fan (to the point where I have Jaws and Alien posters hanging in my office at home), and for me, any time is a great time to see a horror movie. I love them all, from good to bad. I also enjoy all other types of movies, from comedies to drama to indies.

I also love the show Project Runway, and right now I'm watching Project Runway All Stars. Even though I don't sew, I do love fashion and enjoy seeing the creative process behind the clothes on Project Runway. There's also a Project Accessory, which was a special treat for me! I hope they do another season of this show. I have my DVR set to record any Project Runway reruns, and I enjoy watching these when I wake up on weekend mornings. They are guaranteed put me in the mood to work on my jewelry!

Speaking of fashion--fashion itself is always an inspiration for me. I don't look to what the upcoming spring or fall collections are, but somehow--so far, anyway!--I have been in tune with them. I always make jewelry that I would personally love to wear. Since my style is a mix of high fashion and grunge/punk/rockabilly, I enjoy mixing loads of metals with beautiful gemstones. I particularly love chains and work them into my jewelry whenever possible.

The aforementioned inspirations can inspire entire collections for me. But what inspires an individual piece of jewelry? The answer is--it depends! It can be a single gorgeous gemstone. It can be what I feel is missing from the collection as a whole ("I don't have anything pale blue? I must make it!"). It might be something that I suddenly feel like I would personally love to own.

Inspiration can also come from an individual--I love doing custom orders in part because everybody is an inspiration in themselves. I find it very fun and enjoyable to take a vague, 'I think this is what I want' description from someone and run with it. And of course, finding out just how much this individual loves the jewelry when they receive it makes everything even better.

So, what inspires you?

Quick update

2012-03-01T21:14:00.001-06:00

I'm still working on the photos for the Winter 2012 collection. The rest of it will go up for sale over the next couple weeks.

I also took new photos for several old items and will switch the new photos out with the old ones over the upcoming weekend. The items that I did not get photos for were put up for sale, so be sure to check out the sale section of my shop!

Then I will be making some jewelry for myself...yes, all mine! I'm way overdue for this, and it is well deserved. Then I will began working on horsehair pendants and Bijoux Braids/pet collars again....before starting on the Spring 2012 collection. Whew, that's a lot of work!!

Two new listings...two of my favorites!

2012-02-24T16:24:00.001-06:00

These two listings embody what I am trying to create--jewelry that is both punky/funky yet high fashion and fine enough to be worn at the most special of occasions. In other words...jewelry with my personality and taste!

Tourmalized quartz 14k gold fill necklace and earrings

Bead show and the Winter 2012 collection is DONE!!!

2012-02-20T15:03:00.001-06:00

On Saturday, my husband and I (okay, husband sat on the couches outside the ballroom...thanks for waiting, honey!) went to a bead show--my first! My aim was to buy some gemstone strands for the fall 2012 collection that I have planned. And--I guess I'm giving away the color theme here, but this is a (dark) photo of what I got.

I was able to find nearly everything I think I would need--I am very happy with the haul!

Then on Sunday I finished the winter 2012 collection. Yes! All 10 pieces are 100% complete. Two are listed on etsy, as I posted last week, and one has already been sold off etsy. I need to take good photos of and list the remaining pieces, but in the meantime here are a couple phone photos of three of the new pieces I made yesterday.

Once I get these listed, I will take a breather before figuring out my next move. I don't plan to start working on the spring 2012 items until March (with an aim to start listing by April).

The first two Winter 2012 pieces have been listed!

2012-02-17T13:18:00.003-06:00

Sterling silver dangle earrings with prehnite, rhyolite, smoky quartz

14k gold fill dangle earrings with sodalite, quartz and smoky quartz

Sale going on now! 40-50% off certain items!

2012-02-15T16:02:00.003-06:00

I have a few items for sale, such as the three strand carved flower necklace below (while the necklace is stunning, it is a part of last year's spring release and I need to make room for the Spring 2012 items...much like a retail store, I guess you could say!).

Go to the sale section of my shop for more pieces on sale!

Sneak peek photos for the Winter 2012 collection!

2012-02-13T15:11:00.001-06:00

Okay, it looks like we might end up with 10 pieces instead of 7 for this collection. I made six pieces over the weekend and have four more designed out. I am having so much fun making this collection! Even though I've limited myself on the color palette, I am able to create a diverse array of jewelry. And although this collection is a different style than what I've done in the past, it still remains true to elements I like: lots of chain and metal combined with gorgeous stones in complimentary colors and shades.

Here are four pieces:

14k gold fill, rhyolite, prehnite, quartz

14k gold fill, tourmalized quartz

14k gold fill, quartz, smoky quartz, sodalite

Two Winter 2012 pieces!

2012-02-11T18:36:00.001-06:00

Both sterling silver....necklace: blue fire agate, smoky quartz, sodalite....earrings: prehnite, rhyolite, smoky quartz

Winter 2012 jewelry collection coming along nicely

2012-02-07T12:55:00.000-06:00

The Winter 2012 jewelry collection is coming along nicely! I designed each piece over the weekend, and have begun creating them one by one. I am hoping to have a few pieces ready to be photographed by the weekend.

Overall there will be seven pieces in this small collection, and they are as follows:

Blue fire agate with faceted smoky quartz teardrop necklace, sterling silver
Blue fire agate with faceted smoky quartz teardrop pendant necklace, 14k gold fill
Green rhyolite with faceted prehnite teardrops pendant necklace, sterling silver
Green tourmalized clear quartz with rhyolite pendant necklace, 14k gold fill
Blue fire agate faceted rounds with clear quartz cascade gem earrings, sterling silver
Green rhyolite with large prehnite ovals cascade gem earrings, sterling silver
Green rhyolite with prehnite and smoky quartz cascade gem earrings, 14k gold fill

I'm eagerly looking forward to having all of these finished!

Stones for the Winter 2012 collection!

2012-02-05T14:32:00.001-06:00

Winter 2012 collection, and further plans

2012-02-03T22:34:00.000-06:00

Right now I'm working on a small Winter 2012 collection. I realize winter is halfway over, and that is why this collection is perfect for now! It is inspired by that transition stage between winter and spring here in Chicagoland.

The collection will consist mainly of rhyolite, sodalite, blue fire agate, pale green prehnite, smoky quartz, and clear quartz. Pale blues, greens and browns with whites and clears will be dominant colors, and fine metals will finish the look.

The days are getting longer...and many of them are gray and somewhat dreary, but the promise of spring is hidden everywhere. Green shoots grow from last year's brown grass, tiny green buds peek out from stark, winter-weary branches. Dead trees and branches emerge from the once-snowy landscape, forgotten victims from fall storms. Mud, melting snow, falling rain, running brown roadside rivers that won't drain...it's a time of promise!

Winter changing into spring: photos taken on

my trail runs

After that, I will begin simultaneously working on the Spring 2012 collection and start anew on experimenting with horsehair pendants. As always, I have many plans in the works--the trick is to find the time for it all!

Pinterest--what is it?

2012-01-31T19:15:00.003-06:00

I've started adding stuff to Pinterest.com--it's the latest new thing, supposedly! I was invited to join a while ago but have not really gotten into it until recently. "Another social media site? Who has time for that?" is what I thought.

But actually, it is pretty cool--it's kind of like a gigantic inspiration board! You have your own boards, and you pin things to them however you like. Then you share your pins with other people (or not), and ta-da.

I have decided to mostly use mine for pinning favorite fashion trends, styles and art, as well as my own jewelry and those of others. So it is exactly what I said--an inspiration board.

Feel free to follow me, and I will be happy to follow you in turn!

Ever have days like this?

2012-01-25T19:24:00.003-06:00

Field Museum Grainger Hall of Gems (and jade, and gold...)

2012-01-25T15:49:00.001-06:00

My husband and I visited the Field Museum last August to see The Horse, and of course I wanted to check out the Grainger Hall of Gems while we were there. I took some photos with my phone. I came across the photos again the other day and decided I should share some of them here!

All the gems and stones I've shared are some of my favorites, and I also included some neat gold jewelry.

Turquoise

Amber

Amethyst

Aquamarine (including some gigantic gems!)

Other Beryl

Pink/Rose Quartz & Citrine

Coral

Emerald

Ancient gold necklace

Close-up of detail

Another gold necklace

Jade--love the horse head dagger!

Carved jade (all from ancient China)

Desktop jade screen--stunning!

Intricate jade carvings

Yet more beautiful jade

Moonstone

Information on the large moonstone & gold bracelet in the

photo above--designed by Paloma Picasso

Pearls and mother-of-pearl

Peridot--my birthstone!

Stunning ruby & diamond necklace & earrings

Sapphire

New workspace lamp and another look at my "jewelry studio"

2012-01-16T16:57:00.001-06:00

I've been slowly trying to improve my "studio" (aka my little corner of the couch) over the past couple weeks. First, I re-organized everything in the purple boxes to the left (where I keep my supplies). I also tidied up the corner of the office where I keep yet more supplies (mostly jewelry boxes and other packing materials), and have been slowly moving inventory lists from my binder to my HP Touchpad (if that thing ever loses all that data....ahhhhhh!)

I have also purchased some new tools, such as safety glasses (and you'll know why if you have been following this blog lately), a miniature jeweler's anvil, a jeweler's hammer, wire, and etc. A major component I needed was a good, adjustable lamp that can't be knocked off the coffee table easily by a wayward cat or husband's hand/elbow/knee.

I found a great lamp on craigslist that can be temporarily mounted to the table (you can see the clip at the base of the lamp in the photo), with a long-reaching swing arm. I got the lamp for a good deal--most of the lamps I saw for sale off my usual jewelry supply sites were very expensive, which was kind of disheartening. So although I don't shop from craigslist very often, I decided to take a chance. Great find!

I know many jewelers have entire workshops in garages, sheds, and the like, but for one we don't have a separate garage, shed, etc--we are in an 800 square foot apartment and I have to be creative with space. Furthermore, I don't like the idea of being apart from my family--the husband and cats--while I work. I can work on jewelry for hours at a time and will miss everyone too much! So setting up "shop" on the couch with everything easily accessible and our television before me is a great solution for me.

Besides, I have a habit of washing my hands a zillion times while making jewelry, so this makes the repeated trips to the sink a little easier!

Now I just need to figure out how to make everything a little more ergonomic...

IMNIUM Jewelry

2012-01-12T17:12:00.002-06:00

Once in a while I like to write about other jewelers that I like. So far I have only done this for a couple designers that I saw in magazines--these jewelers are very well-known and their work can be seen everywhere, including on the red carpet.

But I feel a need to do a feature on IMNIUM jewelry--not because she is very well-known (although she should be!) but simply because I adore her work to pieces. I have never in my life seen jewelry that I just love so much, and would love to own a piece of someday (hint, hint, Mr. Carpenter!)

Those of you that know me well also know that my favorite movie is Ridley Scott's Alien (1979). It has been my favorite been since I was seven--yes, my parents let me watch it at that age--and I have not looked back since. At the time I had an interest in both fantasy and horror, and this movie not only covered both genres, but catapulted them into another realm. The story was simple yet horrific beyond words, and the Alien and environmental special effects were literally beyond this world.

Some time later I found out the artist behind those otherworldly movie effects was H.R. Giger. Naturally, he quickly became my favorite artist. At the time I was still heavily into drawing, and before long I began making complicated pen and ink drawings inspired by Giger. I stopped drawing after college due to burnout but a part of me has always wished to take this type of drawing up again.

Giger's Li

An old pen & ink drawing I did (circa 1996)

Well, a couple months ago I came across IMNIUM jewelry on etsy and was immediately smitten. Those metallic, biomechanical lines, those gritty subterranean shades--it reminded me very much of Giger. I promptly sent the designer a message telling her how much I loved her jewelry.

As a designer, I love combining opposites--soft with hard, lots of metal with beautiful gems, and the like--but IMNIUM jewelry takes this to reaches that I can never possibly go. In other words, her work is otherworldly.

A couple favorites of mine:

IMNIUM's Quantum Leap Biomechanical Statement Pendant

IMNIUM's Mist--Elongated Teardrop Pendant

First peacock listings are up :-)

2012-01-09T16:15:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday...or not?!

The first two peacock listings are up. I have four more to go!

Peacock feather wire wrapped pendant

14k Gold fill amethyst, emerald, pearl, Swarovski crystal earrings

Jewelry funny

2012-01-03T16:24:00.002-06:00

My husband sent me this and, being a jewelry-related meme, I am passing on the laugh!

Plans for 2012

2012-01-03T16:03:00.001-06:00

Whether you noticed it or not, my first plan for 2012 has been executed--give the shop a makeover! I made a new banner and avatar for my etsy shop (head over to Heidi Carpenter Designs on Etsy to check it out). Of course, I also had to update the Facebook page's profile photo and the banner and photos for this blog. I hope everyone likes the change--any comments or feedback are welcome.

And what else? Well, I have one collection to list (peacock, ~6 items), one more to make (winter/spring) and we will go from there.

One new thing I will challenge myself with (because after all, I don't challenge myself nearly enough....major eye roll!! :-D) this year is metalworking. I'll start with simple stuff, like forming my own wire findings then move up to soldering, metal stamping, and the like.

I know that people take classes to learn this stuff, but I don't have the time, money or desire to take classes. Furthermore I feel like it would be an all-around waste because as a deaf student, I will miss a lot of things the teacher says and end up figuring it all out on my own in the end, anyway. That has happened countless times in the zillions of art and photography classes I took from childhood through college, and you know what? Despite a few "learning experiences" here and there, I did just fine, and even aced many of these classes (including the high school advanced placement art courses, but SHEESH those were difficult).

Either way, I know that after some trial and error, the results of the metalworking will be lovely. I can't wait.

The finished jewel-tone gold peacock necklace (and how it punished me)

2012-01-02T23:12:00.000-06:00

This necklace challenged me.

I posted photos a while ago of the beads on the beading board--looked pretty simple there, no? Well, the design evolved into something much more complicated than I originally imagined. Don't get me wrong--I am very, VERY happy with this necklace! But it took over two full days of work to complete, and gave me my first two jeweler's injuries--twin blood blisters on a fingertip from a pair of needlenose pliers and a small piece of metal in my left eye (no worries, I was able to fish it out and there doesn't appear to be any lasting damage).

The top photo shows the finished necklace, and the other photos show some more detail. Yes, these photos are horrid and don't do the necklace justice, but they give you an idea of what it looks like.

Even better news: my upcoming winter/spring 2012 collection is on trend!

2011-12-28T15:25:00.002-06:00

I read the January 2012 Elle yesterday and to my pleasant surprise, I found a short but sweet piece on the upcoming trends of spring 2012. And why was it such a nice surprise?

Well, it means that my plans for my upcoming winter/spring 2012 jewelry collection are right on trend! The fashion editorial described girly frocks, delicate fabrics, and feminine looks, all with an undercurrent of girl-power toughness. All this is what I wish for my upcoming jewelry collection to have--it will be a step away from the large chunky stones I have used in the past, yet still retain my love of tough-girl details, geometric shapes and a feel for opposites.

I am particularly struck by the spring 2012 collections of Alexander McQueen (Sarah Burton), Rodarte and Balenciaga.

Now I'm all the more enthusiastic about my jewelry collection!

Rodarte, spring 2012

A few holiday creations and ideas for the near-future

2011-12-28T02:12:00.001-06:00

These are a few necklaces I made as holiday gifts. Using excellent materials, I strove to create smaller, elegant yet modern pieces and love the results.

The upcoming winter/spring collection will follow this pattern. I even have a few designs drawn out already...I can't wait!

Final peacock piece in the works--and a (sorta) overview of the collection

2011-12-19T17:14:00.001-06:00

Remember these photographs? The feathers started it all, and the amethyst went along with it. These two items are the inspiration for each of the six pieces in the peacock collection. And not only that, but I made it a point to use amethyst in each and every piece.

14k gold-fill earrings with Swarovski crystals.

A personal all-time favorite--a wire-wrapped peacock feather triple pendant neckalce.

Two pairs of earrings and another peacock feather pendant for a later necklace. Sterling silver on the right and an ornate creation in the middle!

Not yet finished but already well on their way to being another all-time favorite. On the right you can see the back of the earrings--yes, earrings!--and on the left you can see the front.

Last, but not least, the only chunky piece in the collection--rich peacock tones will stand forth in this double strand necklace. Each strand will be suspended by two chains each. Sound strange? Just wait and see!

New photos and an update

2011-12-13T17:06:00.002-06:00

First, the update: I've put all but two of the fall collection pieces up for sale, and have already sold four of them! That's four out of eight pieces--amazing. The last two pieces will go up sometime this week. Remember, you can use coupon code HOLIDAYS25 to get 25% off your total order when ordering from my shop on etsy.

I am also finished with 5 of the 6 pieces for the peacock collection. Yes, it's small but full of quality! I really challenged myself on all the pieces in this collection and am proud of each and every piece so far. I plan to take photographs and begin listing this over the upcoming weekend, and yes you may apply the coupon code to these as well.

Lastly, I just ordered some bulk supplies for a new collection--possibly my best yet! This one will transition nicely from winter to spring. More info to come!

And now the photos--with a friend's help, I have learned how to take and create a different style of photograph for my jewelry. While I do love the traditional photos that I took on my grandfather's green table, these photos are much more in the style of etsy. To make them my own, I am using a piece of favorite piece of driftwood that was once in one of my aquariums as the backdrop. Here are some examples:

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far!

The first of the Fall Collection up for sale--finally!

2011-11-30T17:31:00.001-06:00

Woohoo--new listings! I finally have some of the fall collection up on etsy. The first three pieces all coordinate with each other. Enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87540801/fiery-wire-wrapped-copper-faceted-black

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87542064/fiery-faceted-black-onyx-carved-red

http://www.etsy.com/listing/87481627/chunky-tribal-copper-chain-onyx-amber

Cyber Monday/Holiday sale--25% off! And yes, I know, long time no posting! :-(

2011-11-23T14:18:00.001-06:00

I'm having a sale starting on Monday (Nov. 28), ending on December 31st (New Year's Eve). During that time use the code HOLIDAYS25 at checkout to get 25% off your order.

This code would apply towards custom orders, too. If you're looking for a special piece of jewelry for a special person in your life, then let me know--I'd be happy to help you out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/heidicarpenter

In other news, I'm borderline putting up the fall collection for sale, finally, and nearing completion of the peacock collection, which is much smaller due to the limited color palette I assigned myself, but just as cool...and yes, it uses real peacock feathers in some pieces!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Upcoming plans for etsy

2011-10-20T19:05:00.001-05:00

I am going to be re-structuring the etsy shop, and listing new jewelry for sale soon (the fall collection).

Apologies in being slow to do this! Things should be up and running by the holidays. It is hard to do all this and work full-time, too!

Fashion posts

2011-10-04T16:26:00.000-05:00

I am taking a short break from taking daily outfit photos and posting them. I do have a few pics waiting in the wings, and will post them when I can!

I am still working on the peacock collection--I have a great pair of earrings that I can't wait to show you!

And...a completed necklace

2011-09-25T16:29:00.001-05:00

Tiny faceted gems and fine chain complete the elegance of this peacock feather.

Two of my favorite boys, my husband and cat Brewsky snoozed by me as I worked. And no, I didn't show Brew the feathers...paws off!

Peacock pendant

2011-09-25T14:42:00.001-05:00

It was a lot more difficult to make this than I thought it would be, but many hours later, here we are: first finished peacock pendant!

It's a good thing I'm making this collection small!

Lots of purple

2011-09-19T13:29:00.001-05:00

Nothing wrong with that!

-Lucky scarf
-Kenneth Cole pants
-Ann Marino heels
-cashmere sweater from the UK (thanks to my parents)
-turquoise jewelry & cuffs

Fiona Paxon Jewelry

2011-09-16T15:37:00.001-05:00

Now and then I like to spotlight other jewelry designers, and today I want to mention Fiona Paxon! This British designer (hey, and I'm half British! My dad hails from Mansfield, England) creates beautiful, tribal pieces that are both seamlessly elegant and funky.

How can two such elements go together?!

Check it out. My favorite piece on her website is the one that initially caught my eye when Gilt Groupe had a sale a few weeks or months (oh how time flies) ago. This gorgeous necklace not only offers you the answer to how elegance and funk can be combined, but also answers a question I often have as a jeweler: "When this necklace is worn, how can I make the back of the neck look as beautiful as the front?" Well, here lies one answer!

Also, as you might know, I have a thing for multi-strand necklaces. I love them--love making them, love wearing them, and love looking at them. Fiona Paxon clearly does, too. Unlike me, she uses many fine chains for the strands rather than chunky beads and chain mixed, but the overall effect is far from tame thanks to the tribal touches in other areas of the necklaces.

Some photos from our trip to Starved Rock/Matthiessen

2011-09-15T17:00:00.001-05:00

The combat boots made decent hiking boots in a pinch!

Today's outfit: not quite hitting the mark

2011-09-15T14:59:00.001-05:00

Vintage top and skirt, Nine West heels, Target leggings.

I was in a hurry this morning and didn't stop to contemplate this outfit before rushing out the door. It would be better with tall boots or solid, textured tights.

Missoni-inspired outfit

2011-09-14T16:06:00.001-05:00

-vintage French top (purchased on etsy a few years ago)

-The Limited pants

-vintage Nine West heels

-Target scarf; and although this looks like a piece from the new Target Missoni collection--it is not! I got it on clearance a year ago; I love it because it looks far more expensive and luxe than the $5 I paid for it, and it goes with virtually everything. Even this top, yes! It's okay to wear two prints together if they are similar like this.

An anklet I made a few months ago

2011-09-13T18:21:00.001-05:00

The owner mentioned that it gets tight at the end of a long day of sun, fun and booze so I offered to lengthen it just a bit. I'm proud of this--it's simple yet very elegant, and looks great with a tan!

I realized that I don't have a pic of this on the blog so I'm sharing it now :-)

Today's outfit: orange and why yes, those dang pants again

2011-09-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

-American Apparel tank
-BCBG cardigan
-Elizabeth & James cords
-vintage "riding"boots (uh oh!)
-layered necklaces: gold & pearl necklace by me, silver necklace from my husband
-Navajo-style beaded belt; sorry, no pic of the beading but it's orange, cobalt blue, white, yellow, turquoise and other colors.

A weekend getaway to Kishauwau

2011-09-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

My husband and I went on a quick weekend get away to Kishauwau on the Vermilion. This was our fourth stay here in six years. If you are seeking a quiet, secluded spot for a getaway, then you need not look further!

Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks are literally minutes away so we visited both parks on Saturday. We got a lot of photos and I will post some soon, so stay tuned!

After a stressful year I had been feeling kind of down in the dumps lately so my husband planned this getaway. It was just what I needed and I feel so much better now! After we unpacked at home on Sunday, I got to work making the earrings I posted about yesterday.

Overall, it was a good, relaxing weekend!

...and another

2011-09-11T20:02:00.001-05:00

Gold-fill, pearl, amethyst, emerald and Swarovski crystal earrings. And with this, I conclude that I dislike working with gold (but never fear, I won't give up on it!)

The peacock collection: coming to life!

2011-09-11T18:23:00.001-05:00

Sorta, anyway!

These sterling silver, amethyst, labradorite and turquoise earrings are the first completed pieces in this collection. I adore them!

Today's outfit and an observation from an equestrian POV

2011-09-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

-Trashy Diva skirt

-Kenneth Cole shirt

-black tank & leggings layered beneath

-Moda International cashmere cardigan

-Max Studio Remington leather boots

-Bebe patent leather belt

-simple jewelry by moi

I've noticed that there are a lot of so-called "riding" fashion boots out there now--they are trendy and hot! But I've also noticed that these boots would be quite impractical for riding--the toe is often far too chunky to comfortably sit in a stirrup, and the soles and heels are more like work boots than that of riding boots.

Nevertheless, many of them are very nice. I stumbled upon this boot today over at Gilt and think it is stunning!

But riding boot, it is most definitely not.

Back to my outfit for the day--here's a better look at the boots I have on!

I bought these a few years ago and they are my favorite boots that I have, and one of my favorites of all time--which is saying a lot. It wasn't until after I purchased them that I realized why--they remind me of riding boots! If you take away the heel and the laces in the upper back of the boot, then they would look very much like field boots. Fortunately for me, they're a lot more comfortable than field boots!

Custom items created for August

2011-09-06T17:19:00.000-05:00

This is a pair of earrings I made for my aunt in the UK. I had made her a necklace and bracelet in early spring, and she wanted a pair of earrings to match. These are made of sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, amazonite and African turquoise.

This necklace was commissioned as a wedding gift. It is made of idocrase (focal stones), quartz, mother-of-pearl, pearl, olive jade, new jade, aventurine and faceted peridot-green czech glass. The photos don't do it justice!

Another Labor Day weekend gone

2011-09-06T13:00:00.002-05:00

It seems like the years and months fly by so quickly! Another Labor Day has come and gone.

My Labor Day weekend was both good and bad--I was laid up with a headache on Saturday and Monday, so my original plans to run and ride were foiled. Instead, I spent many hours on the couch with heat on my neck and ice on my forehead, and coffee by my side.

Some good did come out of it, however. I was able to finish a bracelet on Saturday afternoon, then on Sunday I visited my friend Paige. She is helping me make-over my etsy shop, and being the great photographer that she is, a part of the makeover includes trying new photos. Here are some examples--I love them!

These three pieces are a part of my upcoming 11-piece fall collection. I've been struggling to find the time to get photos and list these items on top of everything else, and Paige was so nice to volunteer to get the pics for me. I will work with her in the upcoming weeks to get those great new pics on etsy.

On Monday I awoke with another horrid headache (this one a bona-fide migraine, complete with stomach issues). But by mid-afternoon I felt well enough to try something different--painting. I have a bunch of acrylic and watercolor paints, as well as a lot of drawing tools (I used to be a decent artist, but became burned out) and I want to try to use them regularly again.

Painting was never my strong suit and after a couple hours I hadn't done much more than mix a few colors together and paint a single bone bead in sunset colors. But over the winter I drew a goose and strawberry pendant for a friend of mine, and found it so fun, so I think it would be interesting to draw or paint beads and pendants for the near future.

In the meantime, I have begun on my upcoming collection, which is inspired by peacock feathers! And yes, the actual feathers will be featured in a few pieces. Overall I don't intend to make more than 6 or 7 pieces for this collection. The rich, royal colors of the peacock feathers go hand-in-hand with the color trends of fall: gold, brown and green base colors, accentuated by rich cobalt and purples. This is nicely illustrated by Christian Dior's Fall 2011 Ready-To-Wear collection. Perfect!

Now, if only I could afford these boots--I love, love LOVE them!

Amethysts and peacock feathers

2011-09-05T23:02:00.001-05:00

Inspiration for my next (small) collection.

Claim token--test post

2011-09-02T10:59:00.001-05:00

5UX9BJHVM4KT

Sneak preview and my newly organized "craft corner"

2011-08-31T14:20:00.002-05:00

Here are some shots of what's on my beading board at the moment! These pieces are just about the last ones for my fall collection, which will have around 15 pieces total!

And true to my vision with this collection, warm oranges, reds and mixed neutrals with splashes of turquoise and other brights are hot for fall fashion.

Lastly, I have a corner of the office devoted to crafts and jewelry biz storage. With my hubby's help, I organized it over the weekend. Looks great, doesn't it?

Vintage suitcase cat bed courtesy of my friend Paige of Let Them Eat Pie

Bracelets are hot, hot, hot!

2011-08-29T16:12:00.002-05:00

According to Gilt Groupe, the go-to site of fashionitas seeking a bargain, bracelets are super-hot this season. And what kind? EVERY KIND! Bangles, cuffs, tennis bracelets, and everything in between--the more, the merrier.

Makes me more excited to reveal the bracelets I have in the pipeline!

My cubicle garden...updated

2011-08-26T17:27:00.001-05:00

I got some new pothos ivy vines yesterday so I rearranged my cubicle garden, as I call it, this evening before leaving work. Love it!

Thursday: urban cowboy?

2011-08-25T15:27:00.002-05:00

-vintage boots and Banana Republic linen shirt
-Elizabeth and James skinny cords
-H&M tank
-Nicole Miller scarf (as belt)
-turquoise jewelry for a pop of color

I've been wearing these cords a lot lately--they are so comfortable, versatile and make me feel great. Furthermore, olive drab green is the new neutral and it's so easy to wear these with anything.

Two outfits, two days and birthday shopping: no jewelry allowed!

2011-08-24T15:30:00.003-05:00

Tuesday:
-Kenneth Cole pants
-BCBG top
-Elle cami
-Via Spiga heels
-Swarovski tennis bracelet
- silk & cotton scarf turned shrug (I have to be creative about hiding my arm tattoos sometimes!)

Today:
-Marc New York dress
-BCBG cardigan
-belt
-Linea Paolo wedges
- cuffs

This dress was a birthday gift of sorts from my parents; I used money they gave me to purchase it. Which brings me to this....while I love shopping for clothes, I refuse to buy myself any jewelry. I guess because I think "I can make that, why buy it?". But that isn't always fun because of course, I don't always have the time to make myself jewelry.

Instead, I try to drop hints to my husband ;-) For I will gladly and proudly wear any piece of jewelry he buys me!

Horse Days sales--update

2011-08-22T13:39:00.002-05:00

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I ended up not going to Horse Days. That's okay, however, because I had some projects keeping me busy. It was nice to have a quiet weekend at home, which I very much needed after the sadness of last weekend.

I will post photos of these projects soon--they are not for sale but will be a part of my portfolio.

Birthday outfit

2011-08-22T11:45:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's my 31st birthday and what better day to wear some of my favorite things?

-Jacob shirt (from 2001 but my most favorite shirt ever; the cut is perfect)
-Trashy Diva skirt
-Scorah Pattullo oxford heels

Fall sneak peek

2011-08-21T21:07:00.002-05:00

The collection is nearly done! I just need to add gold tone pieces to round it out. If all goes well with photos (new camera, nuff said) then I will begin listing this weekend.

Stay tuned....

Hmmmm......

2011-08-18T12:05:00.002-05:00

This one isn't very jewelry-friendly so I penned a vintage brooch (grandmother's) to the jacket.

-Nicole Miller scarf
-layered Express tanks
-Adriana jacket
-vintage wool pencil skirt
-Nine West stacked heels

All black

2011-08-17T11:23:00.002-05:00

But different textures and bow details make this look not drab.

Worn with simple, unadorned silver jewelry.

-NikiBiki jeggings
-BCBG MaxAzria silk top (layered over second black top) with tie-back sash
-Linea Paolo bow detail leather heels

A day at the races: the Arlington Million

2011-08-13T19:48:00.002-05:00

With and without cardigan! It was chilly after a storm blew through, so I wore the cardigan for most of the day.

H&M halter top
Trashy Diva leopard print slim pencil skirt
Aerosoles snakeskin t-strap heels
Liz Claiborne snakeskin belt
August Silk cardigan
Cole Haan bag
Essentials sunglasses
Various cuffs/bracelets (including some by Heidi Carpenter Designs ;-)

Trashy Diva is a funky rockabilly-style store that we visited in New Orleans last month. I had read about it on the Freelancer's Fashionblog and, always in search of fun stores to visit in Nola, mentally bookmarked it.

(Ok, little lie--I put it on a neat little list on my Android phone. I'm far too OCD to rely on memorizing things!)

In Nola, I noticed that there were not one but three Trashy Diva stores--one for clothing, one for shoes and one for lingerie. Choices! Since I was on a limited budget, as always, I opted for the clothing store, hoping to find the most bang for my buck. After browsing for a few moments I found this beautiful leopard pencil skirt. This item has been on my "want!" list for a long time so there was no debate about what I wanted to buy. I adore the skirt, and the print reminds me of a leopard Halloween costume that my mom made for me when I was little; I practically lived in the costume for a couple years after, pretending to be a cat! Ah, childhood :-)

Friday casual outfit

2011-08-12T15:36:00.002-05:00

-Elizabeth and James Textile Patti cords
-Eddie Bauer suede oxfords
-handmade studded belt
-Converse tank
-Old Navy cardigan
-peridot necklace, cuffs and "Donate Life"bracelet in honor of Niki Helmer.

I will make a special post for Niki soon, stay tuned...

And yes, I know...

2011-08-09T17:11:00.002-05:00

...that I am doing a horrible job of pairing jewelry I've made, and is up for sale, with outfits I am wearing. Bad, bad blogger!

But that said, as I have noted before, every single piece I make is something I would love to wear, so my taste in clothes runs parallel to my jewelry style.

So...there. Phhhbbt!

Selling at Horse Days August 20th

2011-08-09T15:35:00.002-05:00

Horse Days is a new annual equestrian fair in Rockford, IL, and runs August 19-21. I was invited by another vendor to sit with her and help take up space. Since the fair falls over my birthday weekend and I wanted to set aside a day to spend with my husband, I will only be there on Saturday, August 20.

I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing, but it will be exciting, too. I have already purchased a jewelry stand to hang necklaces on, and am debating what to use as a backdrop/tablecloth for my little bit of table "real estate".

I should also probably make a sign saying something like "I'm not ignoring you, I just can't hear you!" in case people think I'm rude when I don't hear them! A rude vendor won't sell anything, after all!

Yesterday and today

2011-08-09T15:22:00.003-05:00

Today: vintage Old Navy linen pants, nylon print shirt, Old Navy cardigan, Eddie Bauer oxfords. I'm wearing nude fishnet stockings and delicate silver jewelry to balance out the masculinity of the shoes and pants, as well as enough makeup to look super-feminine!

Yesterday: An old favorite dress that I bought in New Orleans a few years ago over a plain brown tank and plain brown leggings, with brown BCBGirls platform heels. A wild print like this should be balanced out with minimal accessories so I just have on a single chain necklace and one cuff bracelet per wrist.

Today: Casual Friday and comfy enough for a root canal

2011-08-05T16:39:00.002-05:00

Yes, literally :-)

Today's outfit (yes, two in a row!)

2011-08-04T18:40:00.002-05:00

-The Limited pants
-H&M basic tank
-Target cardigan
-Gap snakeskin belt
-Aerosoles heels
-Heidi Carpenter Designs necklace ;-)

Today's look: Angelina Jolie

2011-08-03T16:48:00.002-05:00

You can see the inspiration here: Gap longsleeve tee, RD-Style pencil skirt, Naturalizer flats.

Just plane jewelry

2011-07-29T19:31:00.001-05:00

Some pieces I made for myself (cuffs excluded).

Yet more New Orleans photos!

2011-07-29T17:20:00.001-05:00

Au revoir, beautiful city...we will be back soon.

More New Orleans photos

2011-07-29T16:59:00.001-05:00

Some New Orleans photos

2011-07-27T18:02:00.002-05:00

A weekend of pain, and my trip to New Orleans

2011-07-24T17:01:00.004-05:00

Oh man, I've fallen behind in my blogging again. I swear, I'm usually a very healthy person! The constant health issues this year have had me baffled. Last weekend I had strep throat (yes, strep throat...of all things!) and then when I thought I was in the clear, I developed a severe toothache on Thursday. It continued into Friday and was so bad that I made an emergency visit to a dentist.

He took an x-ray of the affected tooth and it was shocking to see--the tooth appears to be cracked in half, and the dentist pointed out a dark lumpy line of infection going down the roots of the tooth and into the bone of my jaw. The pain was so intense that I nearly cried when he said he couldn't do a root canal until the infection cleared up.

He prescribed antibiotics and Tynelol with codeine for the pain (which did nothing for me that night). That first night, I could do very little but pop painkiller after painkiller, praying for some sort of relief. It felt like someone had hit my left cheekbone and left jaw with a sledgehammer, while there was simultaneously a hot wire drilled into the tooth itself.

That night, I also tried to delicately eat a sandwich (because after all, despite the tooth pain, I was starving after not eating all day) and bit down on the sandwich with the bad tooth. The pain was like a lightning bolt and right away I felt very nauseous and faint. I ended up laying down on the hallway floor, my cats sniffing me in puzzlement, before crawling to bed.

The dentist had said that the antibiotics would relieve the pain within a couple days and he was right. Oh RELIEF! Unfortunately, my efforts to kill the pain with various medications on an empty stomach (I guess pudding doesn't count) also resulted in a case of acute gastritis.

As someone with a past history of severe acute gastritis, I can tell you that gastritis is about as painful as a severe toothache, if not more!

So while my tooth pain had subsided, I was now dealing with severe stomach pain.

I finally, FINALLY feel reasonably better (if you can call exhausted and run-down better...hey, at least I'm pain-free!) but due to the pain interfering with my life this weekend, I haven't been able to do much of anything, including prepare or write about my trip to New Orleans.

We leave tomorrow morning (yeah, these pain issues are cutting it a bit close!). I have a grand time planned and hoped for, and will try to post pics from my phone.

Outfit of the day

2011-07-14T19:31:00.002-05:00

Comfy leggings (Leg Avenue) and knit shirtdtess (vintage Banana Republic) with patent leather belt (Bebe), wedges (Linea Paolo) and plated copper cuff.

Lagi Nadeau Jewelry

2011-07-13T13:17:00.003-05:00

As a jewelry designer, I am naturally interested in other jewelers, particularly those with a style similar to mine.

Lagi Nadeau Jewelry is one such designer. My husband got me a copy of Marie Claire magazine over the weekend and I spotted a necklace by this designer in one of the fashion spreads.

I love to combine tough, prim or masculine elements with very soft ones (an example being my pairing of oxfords with layered lace skirts, as mentioned in my last blog post) and this often shines through with my jewelry. Combining chains with beads is a great way to do such a pairing, and Lagi Nadeau jewelry pulls this off so well.

What I wear, what inspires me, and a decade-long love for fashion

2011-07-12T20:28:00.009-05:00

I have been considering incorporating fashion-related posts into this blog for some time now. Why? Well, for me, getting dressed in the morning is like creating a work of art. Furthermore, a love for fashion is a large part of the reason that I enjoy designing and making jewelry, so I think sharing what exactly I like, fashion-wise, and what inspires me would be a great way to enrich this blog.

For a first fashion post, let's start at the beginning. As a pre-teen, fashion became increasingly important to my friends and, as a tomboy, that stuff wasn't so important to me. Then from around 1992 to 1999, much to my mother's dismay, I wore grungy/goth stuff. Looking back, I think wearing striped tights with knee-high combat boots and black lipstick probably gave me the foundation of courage to express myself through fashion, so I can thank that phase for that.

Circa 1997. I still have the boots.

When I attended Columbia College Chicago as a freshman in 2000, the creativity and freedom of the liberal arts school inspired me to experiment with fashion. Initially sticking to familiar goth colors of black, gray and purple, I wore tailored oxfords with long sweeping layered lace skirts, or trim shirt dresses with striped tights. In short, I mixed goth with corporate and somehow hit it off.

Then in 2001 I began reading fashion magazines religiously. And although I couldn't yet picture myself wearing tweed, navy sailor stripes or sky-high heels, I intuitively understood the looks presented on the glossy pages. Then I discovered Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. It was a look I could relate to, but it was more than that. The clothes were more than yards of fabric--they were art, and they elevated the wearer to a level that was untouchable and mysterious.

YSL magazine ads

Nicole Kidman in Tom Ford for YSL Rive Gauche

From then on, I was in love with high couture fashion. But of course, I could not afford such clothes! So the hunt was on for similar clothes at a much, much, much discounted price.

And I've never truly stopped hunting. There have been times where I went months and months without buying a single $6.99 Old Navy tank, either due to lack of funds or temporary focus on something else in life. But I never stopped trying to dress well, and always put great thought into my outfits.

Since I can barely sew (nothing more than fixing small seam tears or lost buttons), making jewelry is my way of contributing to the fashion world.

The idea is that on some days I will post photos of interesting outfits I have on (no guarantee that the photo will be from that very day--sorry!) and since every single piece of jewelry I create is something I would love to wear, I may also link to or post photos of Heidi Carpenter Designs jewelry that I would wear with such an outfit. (Since I'm something of a germophobe and all that, I never wear jewelry intended for sale except to model it for photos. Believe me, I wish I did....!)

I hope you enjoy the upcoming fashion posts!

Welp....power is out. Here are some pics :-)

2011-07-11T22:10:00.001-05:00

Photos from the other day

2011-07-06T18:52:00.006-05:00

My mother-in-law's birthday was last week, so we decided to send her some nice photos of us for her birthday--she has not seen my husband and I in nearly two years (you can thank 900 miles for that). So on Saturday, my friend Paige took some great shots of us. I decided to wear my new Deal of the Century dress (a $200-something BCBG Runway dress marked down to $23!) so of course, my husband had to dress up too.

The pics were so fun, and reminded of the ones taken when we got married nearly five years ago.

Done!

2011-07-04T18:31:00.001-05:00

The photo DOES NOT give this justice.

So far, so good!

2011-07-04T16:01:00.000-05:00

Designing two at once...

2011-07-04T12:13:00.001-05:00

Debating a new collection--should I do it??

2011-06-27T13:48:00.003-05:00

A while ago, I stocked up on a ton of supplies. Riding a future flash of inspiration, I got a lot of black, gray and warm-tone supplies in various shapes, cuts and colors. The chunky necklace and bracelet I finished over the weekend are some examples of products from this stock.

Now, I have a lot of ideas for what I can do next with all these supplies. Does that mean I should turn this into a "collection" like the fashion designers do? I'm not sure...on one hand, if it doesn't sell (and in this economy--nothing is selling, including my stuff) then this idea will be an enormous flop. But if even one items sells then I will be encouraged to create more collections in the future, which are a lot of fun to do.

Decisions, decisions....

Bracelet to match, too--I love it!

2011-06-26T19:03:00.001-05:00

Who likes big bold jewelry? I do!

2011-06-26T17:17:00.001-05:00

Pics of a great ride on Sunday

2011-06-21T13:20:00.002-05:00

This is a cross-post, but I have to do it. The pics are awesome!

http://deafequinefanatic.blogspot.com/2011/06/pics-of-sundays-ride.html

Sick...again......

2011-06-16T17:40:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what it is this time, but it involves a cheeseburger gone wrong. Urp....

I made a new treasury; this one's for my husband!

2011-06-13T17:34:00.002-05:00

The mysterious beauty of New Orleans!

I don't make these very often...it took a while to make this, so I remembered why! But it's beautiful and I hope you enjoy it, too.

My first blog interview!...heck, first blog mention!

2011-06-13T10:30:00.002-05:00

cursiveart from etsy interviewed me for her blog a few weeks ago. I had completely forgotten about the interview, and finding out that the interview is up on her blog is a really nice start to the work week!

You can see the interview here.

I know my goth high school self would so approve of the response to the last question; I could not think of any other reply to that question and while on the surface my response may seem a little silly, if you read the books and knew the character, Sonja Blue would be quite fitting. I'm sure some people would substitute my answer for Lisbeth Salander of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series--I've been told several times that I remind them of Lisbeth. Thanks...I guess?! :)

Crabbiness leads to creativity

2011-06-12T17:35:00.001-05:00

I've been feeling a bit frustrated with people lately so I decided to have some fun with a project I had put on the backburner....it'll be up for sale next weekend, possibly!

The mane jewels are out and the verdict is...

2011-06-09T21:52:00.001-05:00

They did very well for being in there for so long! A couple crystals came out but that's all. This is her mane all brushed out--pony perm!

Prices reduced for summer!

2011-06-09T17:54:00.001-05:00

I reduced a lot--most, really!--of the prices of my stock, some by nearly $20. I need to reduce inventory--please stop by and check the shop out, and spread the word.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/heidicarpenter

...and they're still staying in....

2011-06-08T16:45:00.007-05:00

No pic last night, sorry! But the braids and jewels are still in Limerick's mane. I am riding her tonight and will remove them after, I bet she will have a "perm"!

I went for a run last night and found a baby snapping turtle on the road. It was on the back of its shell and had clearly been hit by a car. I wasn't sure if it was dead, but just in case, I toed it with my shoe. Its head snaked out of its shell, jaws gaping with anger. Yup, alive!

Traffic was approaching so I got off the road and waited on the shoulder. Most of the cars went around or over the turtle with no issue but one fool ran right over the poor thing. D'oh! What is wrong with people? Although the turtle is a baby, it was large enough to be very visible (You'd notice a baseball hat-sized rock on the road, wouldn't you?).

I looked around for something to move the turtle with and found an old wire hanger. Using it as a forklift, I carried the turtle over to a stream nearby and, as I was swarmed by mosquitoes, carefully put Mr. Snapping Turtle on the bank of the stream.

I don't know if he will survive but I hope he does. He was clearly not happy when I was moving him, so I took that as a good sign.

They stayed in!

2011-06-07T12:46:00.001-05:00

So far, so good...

2011-06-05T22:57:00.002-05:00

I'm leaving them in overnight to see how they hold up to standard horse activity. Sleepyhead Limerick was a good model!

Bijoux Braids: take one

2011-06-05T18:08:00.001-05:00

Limerick will be the test subject for these within the hour...more pics to come!

Back from Kentucky, and a couple new earrings listed

2011-05-25T12:30:00.003-05:00

My husband and I arrived home from Kentucky on Sunday....and had to drive through some wild weather (read: tornado!) to get home. We had a wonderful time despite the trip home, and the days seemed to stretch into weeks--but in the best way!

I made these earrings before Kentucky but didn't get a chance to list them until last night:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74760086/carved-crystal-quartz-flower-green-jade

I love the above ones, particularly the quartz flowers. Gorgeous!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74759276/sterling-silver-ombre-genuine-green

And the emerald ones make me AGAIN wish I wore earwires....

Collars!

2011-05-16T19:03:00.001-05:00

What do you think?

Preliminary collar

2011-05-15T17:02:00.001-05:00

Ok, I think I have the collars figured out. Not only are they tidy and clean looking, but I have also taught myself how to knot them as I go (yeah, that one was also tough!). Here's one collar, modeled by my cat Brewsky. More pics later...

Collar puzzles

2011-05-14T17:07:00.001-05:00

I have some unexpected free time today so I am taking the opportunity to figure out the collars....

My cubicle garden :-)

2011-05-13T15:17:00.001-05:00

Earrings done for now, collars next...and a treasury!

2011-05-13T13:06:00.002-05:00

Here's one I was featured in yesterday--it was a nice surprise to find!

I made my last two earrings (for now) and will list them soon. One is all kinds of awesome--a lovely black-to-green-and-back ombre pattern using Swarovski crystals and genuine, uncut emerald chips (nearly wrote "almond chips" there--that wouldn't be very good, unless you wanted to attract squirrels).

Now...collar time....I will fess up and admit that I HAVE made one collar so far, but I am having a hell of a time trying to cap it off neatly. Long story short, I'm a stickler for detail and wish to be able to cap the cord of the collar with cord ends, but am having a difficult time doing this due to sizing issues and lack of time.

Unfortunately I won't have a good solid chunk of time to work on this for a while--I have a bunch of stuff planned for this weekend, and then next weekend my husband and I will be in Kentucky.

But the collars will be worth the wait, I promise! I love the "trial" one I made!!

Horribly sad!!

2011-05-05T14:51:00.003-05:00

Although I am deaf, I do enjoy music. Save a few Nine Inch Nails/White Zombie/psychobilly albums, my musical tastes appear to truncate at 1997.

Nirvana was white-hot when I began to enjoy music on my own. "Grunge" was big and I was happy to wear my own pair of suede One Stars (which I still have, although I don't wear them). I look back on those years with a lot of fondness, and as a part of the Nirvana generation, I can appreciate Kurt and his genius more with each passing year.

So, reading this makes me want to dig my eyeballs out with a spork.

Miley Cyrus Shitting on the Nirvana generation

It's been a long month, and why I've been MIA

2011-04-27T16:44:00.005-05:00

Poor Limerick, it doesn't end for her, or me. She colicked on April 13--it was the worst case of colic I've seen her have. But the vet was able to make her comfortable and she seemed fine the next day.

Then at work on Monday the 18th, a fellow boarder at the barn texted me to say that Limerick was acting like she was uncomfortable. My heart sinking, I hurried over to the barn again. The symptoms were the same as the previous week, but not as bad.

Nevertheless, the vet was called since every case of colic is an emergency and needs immediate attention. Unfortunately, as he was treating Limerick, she had a grand mal seizure.

I can tell you with 110% certainty that seeing your baby thrash around helplessly, her beautiful face contoured terribly, is one of the worst things you can see in your lifetime. Throw in the fact that your baby happens to be a 1,000lb animal that can kill you with an errant hoof to the head, and therefore you need to just stand back and wait, made the experience that much worse.

As soon as she was up and standing, exhausted and dazed, the vet told me that we have to get her to the hospital now. Here was a vet that has been around for decades and had likely seen it all telling me he didn't know what "that" was, and she had to go to Kendall Road equine hospital.

Long story short, the hospital diagnosed her with a left dorsal displacement (her colon became looped over her spleen and remained trapped there), which was successfully treated with drug therapy. Surgery had been the next step but we never touched that, fortunately....my relief was immeasurable!

And the seizure? The vets think it was a freak, one-time occurrence, a perfect storm of many elements coming together. More relief! Limerick stayed at the hospital for two nights and was released on Wednesday last week.

(oh yes, and my car died the day before, on Tuesday; when it rains, it pours!)

And that is why I haven't been around much lately. When Limerick isn't right, then it is a tremendous burden on me...and in this case, for a while there I had this awful, sinking feeling in my stomach that this was it...this was the end....I feel so lucky, fortunate, blessed, you name it, that she is okay now. Don't ever take what you love for granted! I never took Miss Lim for granted, but over the past week I have taken more time to sniff her neck, look into her soft, expressive eyes and tell her I love her.

Since she's okay now, I need to get back into the loop here. I had made a bunch of earrings before all this happened, and was finally able to get them up on etsy--yay! You can see them at the link to my etsy shop in the sidebar of this blog.

Here are some photos of Miss Lim at the hospital:

The first night, right before I had to leave
(and believe me, I didn't want to).
The muzzle is to prevent her from eating.

These three are from the next day--she was much
better! Top to bottom--"Hi mom!", looking for hay,
taking a nap.

Trying to do too much--I need to stop!

2011-04-13T10:40:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to please everyone except myself lately...and of course, I'm human and can only do so much. So as a result I feel like my quality has been disintegrating for everything.

But no more of that! I need to redirect my focus back to what matters...my family (animals included), my 9-5 job, my jewelry-making venture and my RUNNING! I finally started running again this week and I'm thrilled!

You see, for someone that runs ultra-marathons, to not run for weeks upon weeks is almost embarrassing. Granted, the harsh winter, being sick, then the stress over Limerick's leg injury played a large role here but no more excuses!

I did attempt some things with my jewelry but am having a hard time figuring out how to construct the animal products, so that led to needing more supplies. But I'm expecting them to arrive today and hopefully these new items will do the trick!

Sorry!

2011-04-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

I feel like I'm neglecting the blog. I've been busy getting my ducks in a row. I should get back on track soon!