Fall in the desert

A few weeks back I collaborated with this beautiful team of ladies in Red Rock Canyon for a shoot to get us all inspired and excited for fall fashion in the desert. It's still 90 degrees here in October but we are making the best of it. This fall I've been working with a lot of labradorite, black onyx, petrified wood, obsidian gemstones and raw crystals. I'm going to be launching some new one of a kind crystal pendants in the shop later this week that I'm very excited about. I still haven't done any collections this year as I remember setting that intention in January here. I've still been focusing only one day at a time, that's pretty much my theme of the year for life and jewels. I've enjoyed just working with a few gemstones that are calling to me in that season. I think one of my favorite thing about being a jeweler is working with the raw natural gemstones and designing the one of a kind pieces made just for you.  Many of my new pieces are used throughout this shoot along with some of my turquoise vintage jewels from my personal collection.

I want to special thank Brie Seavey (@soul_synergy) for putting this shoot together. I've worked with her many times before (our roots shoot here and here), she is one of my favorites in Vegas. I also want to special thank my sister (@peachybe) for styling this shoot, especially on such last minute notice. A lot of the looks were pulled from Free People. See below for more. 

PHOTOGRAPHY - Brie Seavey/@soul_synergy

MODEL - Mel /@staytunedformel

STYLING - Brittany Rosano/@peachybe

MAKEUP - Etienne Lovelle/@etiennelovelle

 

Summers best - top 10

This was hard to narrow down to just 10.. I have so many summers best moments. From the beginning of the summer starting with my pop up shop in NYC, to visits to Albany, Connecticut, and just outside Boston for a reunion with my college besties to see Florence and the Machine. To staycations and road trips, from Bellingham, WA to Yuma, Arizona. This summer has been quite the adventure. I did take a lot of time off the bench this summer, but all in good adventure. I'm back home, excited to begin the new season on the bench and full of inspiration. I'll also be making a big move in the upcoming month.. I'll be sharing more with you soon about that.

Instead of ten, I left it at eleven at best. Summer 16', you were one of a kind.

1.  Pop-up shop in Brooklyn, NY.

2. Visits in my home town. Albany, NY.

3. A night with a goddess. Mansfield, MA.

4. Mountain escapes with my college bestie. Mt. Charleston, NV.

5. Staycation. A week in lego land. Aria - Las Vegas, NV.

6. casinos. sunsets. and tacos Togo most days.  

7. the roads less traveled with these two. Salvation Mountain. Slab City, CA. 

8. the smell of salton sea. probably should not be listed as the best of but definitely one to remember. Salton City, CA.

9. walking in a sand storm.. to get tacos of course. Yuma, AZ.

10. when Roman found summer love.. Lake Mede, NV.

11. full moons of summer. 

PNW adventures - California

A summer post a little late as per usual... As today begins the first day of fall, I felt it was time to officially end summer with a few last posts of summers best. I'm really going to miss this summer, if you couldn't already tell. From PNW oceans to redwoods, this is a continue from the Oregon adventure post here. Brookings was the last stop in Oregon we made before California. We left Brookings just before sunset, and made it to Crescent City a little after sunset. Google maps led us to a campground right outside Redwood national park. Unfortunately, the campground was at capacity that night. So we were redirected to a spot 10 miles down the road.. which ended up being the perfect spot right in the middle of the park. It was so dark, I couldn't even see where we were going. Literally set up the tent in the middle of the forest. I couldn't even describe my excitement to what I woke to! As much as I love beaches and the ocean, I'm definitely more a woodsy mountain girl. Photos don't even do justice of these trees in redwoods. I wanted to stay another night but our journey down the coast continued.

Next stop on the adventure of course a favorite of mine...wine county. We ended up venturing off the coast on this day to Mendocino Valley. This is the valley of the pinot grapes, my favorite wine grape. The first stop we made was Handley cellars. The great thing about all the wineries we randomly chose to stop at in this valley happen to be complimentary (not all of the wineries are) and everyone was so friendly. And all were pup friendly which was even better. My favorite winery was the lazy creek vineyards. This is known as the second oldest vineyard in the valley. Their pinot noir was the best of the bunch that I tried that day, so I ended up splurging on a bottle in this winery. I wanted to stay longer in this valley.. but the wine tasting was kicking in and we needed to find some food fast. We ended up stopping in the town of Healdsburg for something to eat and a resting stop to fully charge. I have to say when you're on the road with two iphones, two cameras, a go pro, and ipad and only one outlet to charge in a car.. the charge struggle is real.  And my phone was the first to always die. Pretty sure we used every outlet in this stop to charge. Stayed long enough for a 70% charge.. and then back on the road.

We made it to San Francisco just before sunset.. as my phone died again (hence the lack of photos on instagram and snapchat of these places). Really there was not much to see or capture in SF because the fog was so heavy. As much as I love SF, we decided not to stay the night in the city. We were still in that beach camping state of mind. SF came up so quickly! Wasn't ready for city life. The drive continued through SF, down the coast, and through a few more towns until we found one to set up tent. I couldn't even tell you the name of the small town we stayed in that night. It was really late and kind of a blur, but I do remember stopping for tacos in this town. Tacos saved this adventure many times. So here's to tacos.. and some my favorites from California.

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear

So I had this long post wrote up with a photo diary for the PNW adventures in California... and just as soon as I clicked save+publish earlier today my computer froze and needed a reboot.. I thought I had it saved but when I logged back in the blog was gone. As I was just about then ready to take my computer and crash it on the floor, I remembered that month we're in. Oh, mercury retrograde. You'd think I'd learn my lesson by now. Pretty sure this exact same thing happened during the last retrograde in the middle of one of my collection launches.. and i remember then repeating to myself BACK UP and SAVE all work in progress. Repeat often. September 23rd, please come soon.

Anyway.. instead of rewriting the California post tonight I felt this resonated more with how I am feeling in this very moment. I just came across this video on youtube yesterday that I wanted to share. It's about taking a moment to look at life in the rearview mirror. I don't think the message could have appeared at a more perfect time. While I'm feeling quite blah that this fun filled summer adventure just came to an end and I'm back in Vegas and i'm surrounded with so many questions daily, and no answers for any of them. It's so important to take some time alone, refocus, and reflect on where we've come. How many roads that have been traveled. How many detours taken. This is what keeps us moving forward. Like Adamus says in his video, there's no going back..  and we don't have to know what's up ahead. Keep doing you, and I truly believe every road will lead you to where you're going. Here's to looking forward to new season.. and a look back at all those beautiful summer roads traveled thru the rearview mirror.

California coast post, you will be next. Xx

PNW adventures - Oregon

Ever so often life surprises you and brings you on those spontaneous unplanned adventures to roads you have only dreamed of taking. This summer was one of those life surprises. It all came and went so quickly.. as most adventures do. The pacific northwest has always been a calling for me. After this roadtrip I can say, it still is. I will definitely be back for another adventure or who knows maybe a long stay very soon.  You guys have always told me I would love the PNW and you know me well. I adored this side of the country, especially this state.

This adventure began early this month in Bellingham, WA where I met up with my two traveling amigos (yes, i cheated on roman this summer for a frenchie). The first night was spent at a little pup-friendly casino off the coast outside Bellingham. From there the drive went quickly through Seattle, into Oregon, spent an afternoon in Portland, and then onto the 101 highway down the Oregon coast. Portland has always been on my list of cities to visit, even though we only stopped for an afternoon we did get to enjoy a few spots and a quick visit with my friends that just moved to Portland from Vegas. The magic really began when we entered the coast. I have traveled to many parts of the US, but this was my first time on this coast and I will say there is no drive as beautiful as this any where in the country. Every view was like "picked for me" straight from my pinterest feed. The trees, beaches, fog, sunsets, colors of Oregon.... are so dreamy. The morning fog was my favorite, usually lasted a few hours after sunrise and came back late afternoon just before sunset. One of the most memorable nights in Oregon was tent camping right off the beach outside Newport. That night was funny because the car wheel got stuck in beach sand when we first arrived, but luckily got the help we needed with a tow from our tent neighbor and then enjoyed an evening of cooking dinner over his campfire on the beach with his family. Funny how things just work like that, synchronicity. That was also the night of the meteor shower and I couldn't have asked for a better viewing. At first it was quite cloudy but cleared up just before midnight when the meteors were in full effect. They looked like shooting stars everywhere in the sky that night. With that and the half moon lighting up the sky over the ocean that evening was more than a gift. And the weather was just perfect. Summer at its best. Oregon you are beautiful, can't wait to explore more of you.

California coast.. up next.

The rose gardens - Portland, OR

jewels that travel - Portland, OR

beers. pups. vegas friends in new cities Bar Bar Mississippi - Portland, OR

Falafel bowls for the road - Portland, OR

Camping out off the coast with a frenchie - Cannon Beach, OR

waking up to the smell trees and fog

wifi, coffee, and GF berry pancakes - Bunkhouse Cafe - Nehalem, OR

coastal viewstops

Neahkahnie Beach, OR

half moons, beach camping, and meteor showers of the decade

South beach state park - Newport, OR

Newport, OR

tacos for the road - oceanbleuseafoods - Newport, OR

Nesika Beach, OR

View fullsize

that afternoon fog

Brookings, OR

Small town brew stop - Chetco Brewery - Brookings, OR

pup friendly pubs :)

sunsets that make you forget about time.

bts summer jewels

Here's a peek from last week on the bench at some jewel prep for the renegade craft show we had in NYC this past weekend... and a few custom gems. More in the works when we head back west next week! Stay tuned..

home of the cacti

cacti, roses, air plants, succulents, moon cacti, ferns, lavender.. make this home happy. to start off this spring season we replanted a few and added some new. welcome to our home. 

Pioneertown, CA

Can we talk about how cute this town is?! If you're ever driving through Yucca Valley, California put this stop on your list. Any town with a homemade soap shop called, "soap goats" is a town I want to be. I had a short and sweet stay in this old small town, which is just 10 minutes outside of Joshua tree.

Pioneertown was originally built in the 1940s as an old west movie set. The motel was established in 1946, and has been home to over 200 Western movies that have been filmed there on-site. There's one saloon in Pioneertown called Pappy & Harriet's which happened to be across the street from my motel, so for a late dinner and drink I walked over. I was pleasantly surprised that the bar was packed on a Monday night, considering it was late and Pioneertown is so small! The bar is actually closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I'm glad I was passing thru on a Monday.  They have live music there every Thurs-Monday night. Mondays are open mic night. There were some really good bands and people that came out that night. And my drink was served in a sweet lil mason jar which is always a favorite of mine. I would have loved to stay another night.. until next time Pioneertown, you are a gem.  Xx

Salvation Mountain

This has been a place on my list I've been wanting to visit out west for awhile, but it has always been so far off the direction I am going. On my way back from Arizona this time I decided to take a new route home with Roman my pup, to stop at some of these places I've never been. A much longer drive but definitely worth it. Salvation mountain which is located in California near Slab City and the Salton Sea was one of the most surreal and inspiring visits I've experienced in awhile. I thought I'd be the only one there on a weekday especially since whenever I mention this spot in the desert still so many have never heard of it, but to my surprise there were many visitors passing through that day as well. The artist Leonard Knight had built this mountain as a tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message, "God is Love." The mountain not only shares biblical and religious scriptures throughout but also showcases a dreamlike land of colors inside and out with trees, flowers, hearts, clouds, and other objects that can't help but make you stop, smile, and feel the love if your religious or not.

The story behind the making of the mountain is incredibly inspiring for an artist like myself who is on a journey of faith and constantly trying to figure out where the next day will lead me in my own creations and dreams, and over come any struggles and fears that stand in the way. When Leonard got to this site he thought, "I was just going to stay one week. It's been a very good week" - L.Knight 1996

"Forever trying to promote what was burning so deeply inside of him, Leonard decided to stay one more week to make a "small statement" before he left for wherever his van and his faith would take him. Armed with half of a bag of cement, he fashioned a small monument. One thing turned into another - days turned into weeks and weeks turned into years. Each day, Leonard would put a little more cement and a little more paint on the side of a forgotten riverbank. One day after about four years of work, with the instability of all of that sand undermining it's structure, the mountain fell down into a heap of rubble, sand, and weak cement. Instead of being discouraged, Leonard thanked the Lord for showing him that the mountain wasn't safe. He vowed to start once again and to "do it with more smarts."

And that he did. With three decades of work put into this mountain while living out of his truck on site, it has now become a monument of love for us all to see. Knight had passed away a couple years ago at age 82. Salvation mountain will never be completely finished as it was home to his imagination and perception of the capabilities and powers bestowed upon him by God.  Although there are many volunteers that pass through to help clean the grounds, donate, and re-paint parts of Salvation Mountain to keep the art preserved. It was Leonard's dream that his message of LOVE would be seen all over the world and that all people everywhere will show more love and compassion for their fellow man. #inspiredalways.

"Love Jesus and keep it simple." -Leonard Knight

"If somebody gave me $100,000 a week to move somewhere and live in a mansion and be a big shot, I'd refuse it. I want to be right here."  -Leonard Knight