In an effort to pull myself together and appreciate the good things, I will dedicate this post to the one thing that has always been there for me through the rough times:

Here are some favorite moments of me with my liquid best friend through the years.  The above shot was taken on a January road trip at a great divey diner with some human best friends.

One of my favorite moments with my liquid BF in my Frida cup, while living in Mexico City.  It was my 25th birthday.   The light shone in off of the courtyard into our perfect Mexican room.  I woke up to this scene.  It was the perfect birthday gift.

These shots from Veracruz—one of my most memorable mornings with the legal drug.

I have never been able to get those colors out of my head; thank goodness.

Okay okay okay, just running through these shots and memories has helped me stop and hush my worrying mind—AND SNAP OUT OF IT!!  In one hour I will pick up one of my most treasured friends from the airport.  She’s flying in from her home, Amsterdam.  It’s been almost one year since I’ve seen her.  I expect we will find a perfect Portland cafe and sit down for a quick cup of love and chat.  I am so lucky for what I have… I will go into the weekend with a hopeful heart and a calm mind.

I hope the same goes for you all!

Have wonderfully beautiful, exciting, hilarious and coffee-filled weekends!

***Song of the Moment: Don’t Worry, Be Happy, by Bobby McFerrin***

(I remember cranking this song and dancing around the house when I was a wee one.  It’s way more fun to focus on these kinds of memories over the harder stuff…duh)

It was the other day when I recognized, in the moment, just how much the post office means to me.  First of all, I’ve never had a bad experience with a Postperson.  In fact, beyond getting my important packages to their even more important destinations, some of the postpeople actually make an effort (it seems) to liven up my day.  With the characters waiting behind their respective PO windows, my wait has never been boring.

The counter itself is like a gateway to postal heaven—the clerks, its angels.  My favorites are the ones that you know have been there forever, like the sprightly yet cynical short fiery redhaired woman with academic glasses.  She could easily be viewed as the wiser, more intimidating person on the crew—she means business.  In reality, she’s the goofiest and most playful of them all, you just have to give her a chance.  Sometimes when I’m waiting in line, I cross my fingers that the heavens will open up and line it up perfectly so she’ll be my clerk.  With her wild red hair, her intense eyes, and rubber chicken bright yellow earrings (and crazy hat wearing near the holidays), I know I’m in for a wild checkout ride.  Most of all, she’s kind and it seems as if she truly enjoys her job.  I think she gets how important she and the whole post-office experience is to me. …I can see it in her smile when I’m walking away.

And then there’s that journey down the long post office hall when the pride sets in.  After passing my things off to the post office Angels, I feel like I’ve earned my little spot in post office heaven.  They know how hard I worked and they’re passing the product on to the next place.  They’ve guaranteed to take care of it from there on out—and they always do.

In that journey down the crisp post office hall, sometimes my feet  (depending on the type of shoes I wear), punctuate and trumpet my recent shipping victory…I feel as if the world has been lifted from my shoulders, every time.  Sometimes it’s as if I’ve been holding my breath and I can finally breathe again.

Insert:  Man, I love Portland!  I’m riding the bus right now and out of the North side windows, I see a boyish person (kinda nerdy looking….but cool) just come out of the coffee shop with an iced drink and proceed to get on his unicycle to go wherever he’s going.  (note: second time in one week that I’ve seen people traveling by one wheel…love it.)

This one goes out to the Post Office peeps:

Check out this cute Thank You card from a shop I just discovered on Etsy: Swieky Siggies…love it!

To great people, great post office experiences and great weekends!  Cheers!!

***Song of the Moment: The New Post Office, by Denis Cahill and Martin Hayes***

We leave Thursday and I plan on documenting our adventure and giving you updates whenever I possibly can.

Georgetown at dusk

(This is a teaser picture taken from my last On the Roader.  Lookout for more from the tracks.)

In the meantime, I am working like a wacky wild woman to get the studio in shape and all possible orders out, before I leave.  It’s calloused-hands time again, friends.  And I LOVE IT.  Though I’m not sure seeing the sun on both ends, with jewelry tools still in hand, is the most healthy thing in the world.  I’ll be glad to take things a  little slower in the coming days.

BTW, thank you all so much for your wonderful 1st anniversary wishes!   It means so much to me.

***Song of the Moment: Xylophone Track, by the Magnetic Fields***

I wanted to chime in here though and say HELLO  to you special folks who are reading right now–before I stick my nose in metal and hammer away.  Studio table looks a bit like this:

mad hands betsy

I need to make at least 50 pairs of earrings today, finish 15 necklaces, and finish designing and constructing a number of pieces for a fancy photo shoot tomorrow.  Ouch.  BUT never fear, I’m listening to great music, high on the best coffee in the world and loving my handmade universive.  I LOVE MY JOB!

This is one of the sexy numbers I designed for a photo shoot past, it is available for ogle and purchase in my online shop:

fashiony necklace

This design was created for a Plus Model Magazine photo shoot.  Tomorrow’s shoot will take place at the beautiful Pittock Mansion in the west Hills.  I’m super excited to see how this one goes.  I’m sure I’ll get really distracted by all the pretty architecture.

Okay, I gotta get crackin’!!!!

Come see me tomorrow at Hip Happening.  I’ll be there from 11-5!

***Song of the Moment: Blue Jeans, by Ladytron***

Awhile back, I introduced/teased you with the smaller version of the Normissima earrings: the Norma lacy baby.  Though I didn’t have any good pictures for the sweet babies and I had not one iota of a moment to list them in my online shop.  And lately the lace earrings have been getting more attention.  I recently mentioned the Interview by the awesome FB over at the Fabulously Broke in the City blog.  Check it out if you get a moment; I really liked the questions she asked and the Normissimas make an appearance.  Here they are for a refresher:

Normissima sexy lacies

I found this awesome 40s vintage lace from a fellow Etsian and I knew immediately I had to turn it into earrings.  At the time, I had been dreaming of mixing old fabric (preferably lace) and metal—and this lace was a match made in heaven.  I carefully stiffen the lace overnight.  I “glue” the fabric in huge batches for efficacy after I’ve cut them into the shapes of my liking.  After I determine what the design needs by staring at it for awhile and then I usually do something wild with skinny sterling silver wire.  My friend Jen, from her killer salon next door, says she loves how delicate the lace looks with the hardness of the wire.  I. LOVE. CONTRASTS.

After that interview, something magical happened…One of my favorite bloggers, Jena, from the Modish blog featured my Charlotte’s Grace earrings along with a collection of other very fine items.  I was SO excited and I’m SO not afraid to gush it out here.  This is what it looks like and if you haven’t ever checked out her blog, you should go over there NOW:

Betsy on Modish

If you love the lacies, you should go for it.  Everyone’s doin’ it!!  As promised then, here are the smaller (more tame) version of the above Normissima earrings.  These are a direct link to my online shop to buy, so –WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  You deserve to look this hot:

Norma Lacy Baby earrings

I hope you all have a glorious day!!

***Song of the Moment: Furr, by Blitzen Trapper***