Labor Day

Yesterday was a really sweet day. I have discovered that having a creative business can be so wonderful because I am able to let my mind wander and daydream and design and create, but that can also be one of the downsides at times. I have been finding lately that for my husband (owner and head chandler of Mr. B's Luminaries) and I, it has been hard for us because of that. Our minds are constantly reeling with ideas and thoughts and to do lists and it is hard to shut that part of our thinking off so that we can unwind and rest. Yesterday, we had a quiet and peaceful family day celebrating Labor Day by choosing to purposefully rest from all labor. As we journey on in our endeavors, I hope we will learn how to better find that balance between family and work time. I am thankful that in those times when we labor and feel heavy laden, we can come to Jesus and find rest, and He is faithful to give it every time.

Summer Collection...Finally

Hello! The summer collection has been out for a little while and I just realized that I meant to post some photos of the pieces on the blog for you all to see. So, without further adieu, here they are (and looking lovely, I might add).

Visit the shop to see all the pieces in detail!

A hello and update

This summer has been busy busy, hence the lack of posts here. Allow me to share what we have been up to:

In late June our second child, a sweet little daughter, was born and we are so in love with her but also so consumed with adjusting to life with two little ones.

The summer collection was launched and I couldn't be happier with it. It wasn't released as soon as I had hoped, but considering that I got it finished and photographed and up online in the midst of full term pregnancy with toddler running around and then a newborn baby feels like a great accomplishment. The pieces are amazing and  you can check out the full collection here.

Our darling son turned 2 and is a full blown toddler. We love him so much and while I wouldn't say that the twos have proven to be "terrible", he is a handful. But he is our gift from God and I am happy to be his momma.

My husband, a chandler and the man behind the wonderful candle company Mr. B's Luminaries was able to participate in the wonderful Unique LA show and has been developing some amazing new scents and has some great new vessels coming out in the next few months.

The Yeomen, a band comprised of my husband and his dear friend had their debut performance of their amazing set "The Life and Death of James McKinley" at a house show that encompased all the sweet things of summer: music, friends, outdoors, gathering on blankets in the grass, crisp lemonade, and little ones running all around.

Flea Market Find

I have to say that I am very excited about the direction that I will be taking with the upcoming jewelry collections. I will be incorporating as many vintage/previously used beads as possible. This is not to cut down on material costs, but to cut down on waste.

The more I journey on in the world of designing and creating jewelry, the more I see that there is so much waste in regards to materials. There is an abundance of supplies available already to be used that come from previously discarded pieces or left over from other designs. I just know that I want to be considerate in regards to what I am producing, and the prospects of the future of this really excite me.

I was just at the flea market in my hometown and picked up the beads above beads for some future designs, including those beautiful green gemstone beads on the top right. 

Ethics in Jewelry Making // Part 2

Environmental Impact of Precious Metals and Gemstones

The impact that mining of these materials has on the environment should not go overlooked. 

I mentioned in a previous post that in regards to the newer collections of pieces, you wont see much, or any at all, materials that are made of sterling silver or gold. A while back, I was prompted through a book I was reading to question where some of the materials that I was using or was planning on using were coming from. This inquiry led me to read more about the impact of mining gold and silver, along with precious gemstones, can have on the environment. One article that I read that I found particularly helpful in my understanding was one written by Doug Guthrie entitled "The Environmental Impact of Mining Precious Metals and Gemstones: The Case for Putting Jewelry Back into Circulation". The full article can be found here (it isn't too long and is worth the read for anyone interested in more details).

Of the many things discussed, here are some of the things that stood out to me:

• On average, it takes 20 tons of mine waste to produce one ounce of gold.
• In addition to that, the amount of gold that can be found within ore (the rock that bears the gold) is decreasing, meaning that it now takes more mining and waste to produce the amount of gold it did in the past.
• Chemicals are required to process and refine the precious metals, and these chemicals, including mercury and cyanide to name a few, can then leech into the environment, causing contamination.
• Many of these mines exist in sensitive ecosystems. Although some mining companies have the intent of restoring the land after they are done mining in that area, it usually is ineffective and the land is forever marred. 

These are just a few of the many reasons that I do not use precious metals or gemstones in the pieces I create. The good news is that there are those in the jewelry industry that are recognizing this problem as well, and are using recycled gold, silver, and gemstones to make their work. I will in fact soon be designing a small collection that incorporates 100% sterling silver wire. I am really looking forward to sharing it with you.

Fun Little Photoshoot

We got to have a photoshoot with a lovely lady and friend, Sarah. Isn't she a gem?! Check out the Etsy shop for more detailed photos and descriptions of each necklace. 

Ethics in Jewelry Making // Part 1

Some of you may have noticed that the new jewelry designs on the website do not have any precious metal or gemstone materials.  And the previous collection included a few elements of them here or there, but it was very limited.

 

In designing, I want to create pieces that are beautiful to look at and an enjoyment to wear. I think that the beauty of a piece is more that what we see, it also includes how a it was created and what materials were used. A jewelry piece may be beautifully designed, but if it is made of materials that were collected in a way that is harmful to the environment and was further processed in by individuals who are being treated in an unethical or harmful work environment, then that’s not very beautiful in my mind.

Over the past months I have been leaning more about the issue of ethical sourcing in regards to jewelry designing. The further on I go, the more I have been striving to be thoughtful about the supplies that I am incorporating into the designs.

Earth day is April 22^nd, and in honor of that, I hope to share more details with you in regards to this subject. Check back soon or follow this blog to make sure you don’t miss any of these important posts in the near future.