My 2016 show season is over, but there's no time like the present to get ready for next year, and, hopefully, my launch into the world of wholesale. I've got several applications already filled out for next year, so it's time to plan what my spring lineup will look like! So far, I've received a great response to my Colony pieces in the Mycorganic line. I have a few rings, bracelets and necklaces so far, each based on colonial organisms and those that reproduce through budding.

It's usually a hard sell to say that I'm really inspired by jellyfish polyps, salps, tube worms and the like. These organisms and so many others are just fascinating, though. It's hard not to be inspired! I'm going to continue making pieces in this vein, and just try to keep from overwhelming too many customers with my love for bizarre biology.

I can definitely promise lots more in the way of pearls, too. I've made a bunch of pearl rings and keep selling out. So, I made a huge pearl purchase (mostly 3A quality - good stuff!) and have started preparing to make many more rings, earrings, bracelets, and a necklace or two.

If all goes well, I have exactly four months before my next season begins. Here's to a productive winter!

Today is the last day of my last show for this season. It's been a whirlwind of packing, unpacking, setting up, tearing down, and finding time to replenish stock.

Now it's time to clean the studio, take stock of materials, and perform maintenance on my equipment. It could all use some serious TLC! I have lots of custom pieces to work on in the meantime, so at least I won't get too distracted out in machine land.

After a short break, I'll finally have some time to sit down with the incredible stones and pearls I've acquired this year. Then I can begin the design process for the next iterations of my Mycorganic collection, as well as some other mini collections that have been rattling around in my head for a while. I've been sketching up a storm over the last several months, and it's time to get those ideas into physical form!

The title may sound like a bad movie, but I'm talking earrings here! I love pearls, and I love earrings, but most pearl earrings are pretty lackluster to me. So, I thought I'd mix things up a bit when I started making my Shibuichi Pearl studs. Little did I know that they'd be such a hit at shows! I've managed to nearly sell out multiple times. So, it's time to make some more.

I've been to my pearl vendor and picked up some really amazing pieces that I can use to expand my offerings. I basically sold through absolutely everything that wasn't a white pearl, so I've grabbed lavender, pink, peach, ivory, grey and black. Oh, and a gorgeous natural gold! I also got a few patina ingredients, so I can offer a couple of new finishes as well.

Speaking of pearls, I have one heck of a line up in store for the fall season, featuring these incredible bumpy green-grey Tahitian pearls and 18k gold. I'm so looking forward to working on all of this, I hardly know where to start!

I had a soft launch for the season last week at Beavercreek Open Studios, and this past week I've been furiously preparing for my next two shows. It's really astounding how much work is involved in getting off the ground.

Ive done several rounds of casting, mold making and finishing. Hopefully I'll be able to make a good showing for myself at Lake Oswego festival of the arts next weekend. Here's a little preview of what's new!
- k

I am a one-woman jewelry studio. Everything from designing and production to fixing equipment is my job. That said, blogging isn't my strongest suit, but I'll do my best to update as I can!

The way I produce my jewelry is more like a farm than an assembly line. I prepare the soil (design all the pieces), then plant the seeds (carve waxes), then watch them grow (casting, molding masters, stone setting), and finally harvest (finish & photo) all at once. So, instead of little bits here and there, or a few finished pieces a week, it's more like a slow-growing bumper crop! Many may not find that process particularly appealing from a visual standpoint, but I do. So I'll share that from time to time.

Case in point: At this moment, I'm working on three dozen rings, about a dozen pairs of earrings and about as many pendants, which will all be cast together. I have sapphires and tourmalines and all sorts of other sparkly goodies on the way for an entire line's worth of work. I can't wait to see them in person! If this process interests you, I post lots of photos on my Instagram (kerinlaurencejewelry).

I'm also rather entrenched in the arts community here in Clackamas County, Oregon. If you plan to take over the world, you have to start somewhere, right? Some of those travails will likely show up here, too.

Onward!
-K