lazy thoughts

Quite a pertinent post as i've been such a lazy blogger as of late...but truth be told, the wheels of creativity have been in full gear even though my blogging has been lax. I've been experimenting with new necklace forms and am quite excited by my new metamorphosis collection of convertible necklace/bracelets all crafted from antique lockets, fobs and watch chains. I've also desperately been attempting a re-organization of the studio as my collection of chains, charms and other goodies has nearly overwhelmed me. If they take up arms, I am without a doubt, a dead duck. Luckily I have managed a slight break-through in that department and am now in full swing yet again. Here's to productive times! Oh - on a side note - the image here is from the cover of a book I found recently on one of my flea market outings. It's written by Jenny Wren (which was, truth be told, a pseudonym) but upon my investigation of Jenny Wren, I happened upon the shop of an adorable doll maker from Tasmania! I'm always thrilled to find doll makers who make sweet, and baby-safe (sewn eyes) cuties so please take a moment to look at her blog and shop!

wild and tangled

for shame. for shame. i've been a very lapsed blogger. suppose i shall put it down to summertime distractions. but thank goodness autumn is just around the corner. i've been having a grand time experimenting with new necklace forms and am quite intrigued by the textures and shapes brought forth from my time in the "chain lab". this is one of the newer designs. many more are in the shop and will be added frequently.

Artists and Fleas

This past weekend I participated in the Artists and Fleas market in my old stomping grounds of Williamsburg Brooklyn and I had an amazing time. Not only did I get to meet some of my most favorite customers in person, I was also situated right next to Lux Sugar - THE ladies of cupcake making extraordinaire. I had the "Samantha Jones" cupcake - a lemon confection with vodka icing! I thought I'd post some images of my display since I nearly always forget to take them after I set up. If you've ever thought about vending at Artists and Fleas, I can't recommend it more highly. Georgia who runs it is a doll, everything ran smoothly and I had quite a successful day. It was sad to find out that many of the etsy sellers who were supposed to vend canceled at the last minute and disappointing that no one from etsy admin brought any swag...but they were the ones who missed out.

six for now

i thought i'd just do a random post about things i love or find inspiration in (oh...and it's an illustrated anthology...just to pique additional attention!)


1. paper moon (1973 dir. Peter Bogdanovich)
I absolutely adore this film. (The book it's based on is also pretty darn wonderful - it's called "Addie Pray" by Joe David Brown -out of print, but available from time to time of ebay...)
Addie is an orphan (...or is she?) and her moxie is gonna carry her through the depression with the "sunny side up".



2. horse noses i live across the street, down the street, up the street, and around the corner from horse farms. there is nothing softer and sweeter than a horse's nudging nose against your wrist when you give it an apple or carrot...or a sugar cube. any time i pet a horse's nose, i realize how incredibly happy i am to be alive.











3. apple butter by far the most excellent spread ever created. i recently learned how easy this is to make in a slow cooker and even though apple season has come and gone, i have amazing plans for jars and jars and jars of this stuff once next year's winesaps are ripe!













4. remy charlip - a most amazing children's book author - the book i've featured here is my absolute favorite from when i was a wee girl. i am quite certain we had this out of the library for months at a time. i think it was already out of print then. thankfully some publishers have come to their senses and reissues of most of charlip's books are now available. need a present for a young (at heart) friend?...this is it!





5. the lilac time (& stephen duffy) i can hardly believe that i've been listening to this amazing band for nearly 20 years! stephen duffy, his brother nick, and an alternating yet always astounding group of musicians craft gentle, jangly folk rock with a quintessentially literate appeal. each song is a poem and each melody a masterpiece
6. first world war poetry
i've always considered the first world war to be the unfortunate, brash kick start of the modern era - and nothing captures that pivotal time better than the poetry written by the soldiers who were caught in the trenches during the war and shell-shocked afterwards. the tragic wilfred owen, siegfried sassoon, and rupert brooke are perhaps the most well-known of these writers. the loss of innocence and dismayed horror of war they convey through their writing is breathtaking and sadly incredibly pertinent today.

masquerading revelry

Here's yet another one of those priceless treasures that I'm parting with for the sake of art and commerce...I cannot get enough of this mysterious antique badge. I received a message about it from an admirer and I told her that I will be sad when it goes...she suggested I keep it. But the truth is, I just can't be that greedy. I'm hoarding amazing treasures by the drawer full and haven't been able to part with many of them yet. Sometimes I just haven't dreamed up the perfect showcase for them...sometimes I just can't bear the thought of not being able to see something every day and be inspired by its loveliness. So when moments arrive when I am able to let go. I embrace them. I will miss you masquerader. But we'll always have this blog post. xoxo samantha

riding high

i've been searching and searching for a bicycle ever since i moved out to a more rural, farm area - you know - the type of bicycle that begs for a basket, the kind that lures you to give it a spin over acres of grass, and of course one that has a style that is unshakable.
and yesterday...i found it. it was a moment of happenstance too perfect for words. one of my favorite vendors at my local flea market had four glorious vintage bikes for sale - and this schwinn cruiser - in sleek racing green - beckoned. and now he's mine. i got him just in time as apparently 20 other people desperately wanted to escape with him as well. i cannot wait to spruce him up - a basket, steamers and a bell all seem to be in his immediate future. i want to dress him up in his party tux. and the local farmers market opens today too. oh the places we'll go...
i think he needs a name too...any suggestions?

sublime physics

here's a shameful academic secret of mine: i've never taken a course on physics! sad but true. i forsook physics for the exciting world of organic chemistry and spent a lot of time drawing molecular models instead of discussing fulcrums and speed ratios. but that doesn't mean that i don't appreciate physics - quite the contrary!! my desire to rectify my academic shortcomings has resulted in this necklace. not only is it anchored by a pulley - but it also features gears and cogs inside the watch mechanism as well as a magnetic compass! viva physics! i am sorry i abandoned you! vive la physics!