Good Friday to you all. First off, let’s discuss the merit of a good hairdo. This morning I woke up and frankly, I did not care to take the time to shower so I pinned my hair up and ran straight for the studio with a cafe au lait in my hand (with honey…always honey). I also put on a darling outfit but I’ll discuss the merit of a delightful outfit at a later date…
As I was saying, I pinned my hair up in a lovely tousled sort of style with some structured braids acting as a headband for my short bangs and fly aways. It took a total of 9 bobbipins (I have very fine hair) and about 2 minutes and it made me feel like gold, as any updos will on any given day of the week.
A while ago, I had a friend I went to elementary school with (USA ENGLISH TRANSLATION: primary school) zip me an email asking how I manage to always look relatively nice in the photos I take.
My response was:
As a gal who works from home and is out of the dating pools, I have made a point to not let myself go. I wake up in the morning, do my hair, put on a bit of makeup and put on some clothing that makes me feel wonderful. What I wear in my studio is unpractical for the filthy work that smithing is, but it makes me feel good and it ensures that I always look nice for me, for my work (should I take myself out to lunch in the middle of the day while wearing one of my pieces) and for my husband — I love looking beautiful for him and I love knowing that he likes the way I look and I like it even more when I feel his eyes appreciating me as I cross a room or move about in our home.
I could wear sweatpants to work and behave, generally, like a haggy hermit but I reckon that’s a slippery slope and eventually I’d wind up with 27 cats and a home that smells of stale crackers and mothballs.
All of this said, from one girl to another, try to take the time. Outer beauty isn’t the most important thing of all but if you feel good in your own skin I reckon it makes it that much easier to take on anything else life may hand you on a silver platter!
On with other life details:
I knew I was going to want to keep whatever this slice of Utah variscite turned into so I made sure to craft a ring band that doesn’t fit any of my fingers. What a beauty. What a glitzy little thing! May the woman who claims her adore the weight and dazzle of this piece.
This is a massive slice of mookaite I’ve been hoarding for a year or so. I finally set it today and let’s be honest, a stone of this stature and hue needs a lot of respect. It talks the talk and walks the walk in a simple setting with some special treats on the backside of the base plate and ring band. It looks especially nice when paired with vintage Capezio cowboy boots…in case you’re taking notes.
And almost lastly, there is this other mookaite ring featuring a pile of sterling leaves and other detritus atop a flouncy ring band. Delicious in every way. To boot, this cut looks like the province of Saskatchewan in terms of shape and further more it looks like turning wheat fields mingling with canola fields which makes me want to smile and weep all at once. Sometimes my home feels like it is a universe away.
On deck for completion this evening are two Love Cuffs featuring dendritic opal from Turkey and amethyst sage agate!
I’ll be listing everything sometime tomorrow morning before I pop down to
Salt Lake City for a concert and a lovely evening with some really kind firefighters.
Have a beautiful weekend all!
Love you to your very bones and back again!
xx
The Noisy Plume
Marvelous, simply marvelous!
Have a fun "pop" to Salt Lake 🙂
I don't know how you do it but every day is a new adventure on the Plume channel. You create the most awesome jewelry/art I have ever seen and each new piece is more beautiful than the last – how can this be? You are so special and you need to look in the mirror every day that RW is gone and tell yourself that (in his place, of course)!! Hugs, Sal:O)
Where is your FAB dress from??
Lipstick on and hair up, check. Already had on the bright dress and the sexy shoes, just wasn't feeling it. Thanks for the reminder to take care of the final touches:) I one hundred percent agree that taking care of the outside helps the inside. It's good to feel good.
You are amazing Mrs. Plume. Your thoughts are your handiwork today were both encouraging to me. Beautiful!
We're in Ogden for an arts fest tomorrow! What concert?
Jaune: 🙂 I'm sure to have fun — the company will be swell!
Sal: Oh man. Sally. You're the wind beneath my wings. xx
Mindy: Well I snaggled it up while in Winthrop visiting RW. SO. If you're in the area, the shop is called The French Quail. Thank you for liking it! I love the style. A snug bodice and full skirt hides the fact that my shoulders are a couple inches wider than my hips!
H: Oh girl. Next time I'm in GV we're going to have a hair, makeup, dress and heels date. Ok? xx
Kate: It's Imogen. Of course! Good luck at the show, if you're showing!
you look beautiful. and did i ever tell you that i love you? AND that gorgeous golden saskatchewan ring? because i do. fo' real 😉
I love you back and gosh…just got your email…screamed out loud! Steve is a champ! And so are you. xx
*blush* Wind Beneath My Wings is the song John dedicated to me at his retirement from the Air Force many years ago – it is my fav as are you!!
That John…he's such a romanticizer…..!
He certainly knew which side his bread was buttered on didn't he?:O)
one: i need that elegant demure steadfast green leafling ring. okay? okay. two: i love your swedish hairdo (Kirsten was always my favorite American doll). three: i can't wait to hear what you think of imogen. if the both of you weren't such busy ladies, i should think you'd be the best of friends….
Haggy Hermit has me laughing a lot and I am so glad you wear those sweet get-ups as they are beautiful to gaze upon. I like to do the same but often I feel as if I am in costume and am pretty sure the neighbours think I am strange albeit entertaining. and YAY you are going to an outing. it will do you so good and she will blow your MIND. have yourself a time lovey…….
CONFESSION: I want to make jewelry for Imogen Heap. I know my work is right up her alley. I just know it.
Taddy: Never mind the neighbors. Half the time mine see me watering the tomatoes in my skivvies or taking the trash out in my nightengale (whatever that is…). My outfits are the least of their worries!
I was born to live in the country, smackdab in the middle of 1200 acres. This city living is cramping my style…
oh…i have fallen in love..with that stunning green utah ring…
it takes my breath away…
i can see how you would want to keep it. love the updo hairdo too.
Lovely to all! I want to go braid my hair and put on a ginormous ring…perhaps I shall!
Plume – and anyone else – if you are ever in Woodstock, VT go to a little store called "Who's Silvia?" Vintage from the 1880s through the 1980s – gorgeous and amazing things.
yes, come to VERMONT!!!
all of you!
Neko Case lives here too!
So do I…
I am guilty of wearing my 'uniform' of a holey black t and jeans in the studio….
but I will dress for company…and make tea!
I wonder how many people are going to try to do that with their hair and just end up looking like a hot mess! Hahahaha!
VERMONT is my dream state. If a number of things were otherwise, I'd have sunk deep roots there by now. What wonders that state holds, natural and cultural. Jillian, you'd love it, even though the terrain is not your archetypal prairie.
🙂
D
I find I am able to love nearly everything about every place I visit and if I'm yenning for the prairies, I can always find a piece of them somewhere, if I look hard enough.
Who's Silvia sounds ESPECIALLY magical though! Thanks for the VT tip!
ANDDDD thank you ALL for these sweet comments. They were so lovely to wake up to!
xx
Imogen Heap would most certainly love your work. I was showing my husband your latest work and I was like 'she made these!' as I swung my specimens around. You have a new fan 🙂 and hopefully when I get to finally find the perfect ring for me I won't even have to say it's a 'Jillian' he'll just know 🙂
know just what you mean about waking up and doing the "feel good" thing. look at myself in the mirror, wash face, brush teeth, alaska work clothes, jewelry. then i'm off to the day's work in front of me.
thank you for such reminders.
thank you for marvelous jewelry.
thank you for being *you*!!!!
that dress!! i am in love with it. i know you said you bought it at the french quail, but for those of us who have little chance of passing through winthrup, could you let drop who makes it?? grazie.