Simply Smashing

Simply Smashing, Deb Rohzen’s absolutely fabulous downtown Campbell (CA) boutique, is simply my favorite clothing retailer in the Valley, hands down. So I’m very happy to announce that as of July 3, 2009, Simply Smashing is carrying a variety of Glimmerdream necklaces, bracelets and -- earrings, earrings, earrings – many of which are brand new designs not yet on the Glimmerdream web site.

A refreshing change from the big-retailer look and feel, Deb carries clothing lines one only used to see in Europe. I've never visited when I haven't found something fabulous and unique. Deb has smashing taste and she purchases in such small lots that chances are you'll never see what you're wearing from there on anyone else.

Stop by and take a look, meet Deb, have fun…

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself…

I have wanted to work on my metalworking skills, using a torch, for lo these many years. Why haven’t I?

Fear.

The other day I stopped to listen to what was going on in my head and I heard this mantra (literally from Sanskrit man = mind, tra = instrument):

"You’re too old to pick up these skills. The people who are successful with this have been doing it for years – you’ll never catch up. You probably don’t have the patience to be good at it anyway and you’ll never be good enough to sell this work. And you’ll just be wasting time you could be using to be more productive on the work you’re already good at doing. There just isn’t enough time…”

And then I realized that as long as I believe this -- as long as this thinking persists -- it’s a sure bet that I won’t be any good a metalsmithing. Because I’ll never do it.

Time for a new mind instrument.

Quinn’s: It’s the Experience

One of our favorite watering holes when my husband and I visit Seattle is the one-of-a-kind gastropub, Quinn's, in the Capitol Hill area, which features an extensive selection of European wines, beers and whiskeys coupled with great out-of-the-ordinary European small plate pubfare.

We always sit at the bar and one of the most interesting things we discovered about Quinn's is that the bartenders there don’t just serve food and drink – they serve an experience.

A couple of weeks ago, we were fortunate to get Toshi who’s served us most times we’ve been there. Not only is he knowledgeable about everything on the menu, he has a deep understanding of how drink can enhance food.

For instance, when I ordered the Fromage de Terri, sugar snap peas, frise -- Toshi suggested a delightful Lebanese red wine (who knew Lebanon made wine?). My husband ordered the house ‘corndog’ – foie gras within a traditional corn batter (I call it ‘heart attack on a stick’) – and Toshi served him a superb Koningshoeven Trappist Ale.

For another small plate, Toshi brought out a sparkling rose that ‘usually isn’t available by the glass’ -- but he had an open bottle and said it would be perfect with what we were eating. And for a light desert of perfectly-not-too-sweet strawberry shortcake, he brought out a split sized Belgian cherry beer that we shared – so good we had the pairing again late the following night.

And last but not least, there’s the Belgian Unibroue. Yummy...beer AS food.

A Day on the Lake

Costa Rica's largest lake (man-made), majestic Lake Arenal, is surrounded by rolling hills of pastured and forested land, the imposing cone of Volcan Arenal dominating its eastern view.

At 5,436 feet, the youngest and most active of all the volcanoes in Costa Rica, it put on quite a show for us the three days my husband and I stayed in the area in early Sept ‘08. We discovered that many tourists, including Costa Ricans, have visited the area more than once and still haven’t seen the top of Arenal -- usually obscured by clouds -- let alone eruptions.

We got the whole shebang: molten red lava bubbling up from the top and spilling down the southwestern side (spectacular at night, watching from the lanai of our aerie perch at the Lost Iguana, glass of Chilean wine in hand), as well as a couple of big reverberating explosions (one blowing out of the side of the volcano). And from the Arenal Observatory Lodge* we could see hot cinder blocks rolling down the mountain side as we had a beer and a hamburger.

The mostly dirt road around the northern side of the lake was a great example of -- as the locals say -- a “Costa Rican massage.” Full of deep potholes and, since it was the rainy season, nearly washed out in places, nonetheless the road afforded us lovely slow drive, time to take in many exotic flowers, critters and birds.

I had also been looking throughout Costa Rica for one of the elaborately carved balsa masks,** a specialty of one of Costa Rica’s indigenous tribes, the Baruca, to take home. At a tiny gift shop on the lake I found “the one,” now adorning our ‘barzebo.’ Then, towards the western end of the lake we enjoyed an unexpectedly fabulous lunch in a tiny restaurant with a nearly obscured view of the lake, melting into the mist.

* home to Smithsonian Institute and Earthwatch research teams

** The Boruca are an indigenous people of Costa Rica. Their masks are important in the annual ceremony of La Danza de los Diablitos, which has been celebrated every new year since colonial times. The dance depicts the fight between the Diablitos (the Boruca people) and the Spanish conquistadors – with an unusual twist…the Boruca win.

ABCDEs of Skin Cancer

I recently had a mole on my knee biopsyed that turned out to be pre-cancerous. That and the fact that it's summer – coupled with an NPR Fresh Air segment with Dermatologist Darrell Rigel I heard last week -- compelled me to pass on what I learned about the A-B-C-D-Es of skin cancer which include any change or development in a mole or skin growth that should prompt you to see a doctor, including the characteristics listed below.

Generally look for the mole or pigmented lesion that stands out as looking different from your other moles.

• A- Asymmetry: You should notice the general look of your moles or growths, for example, if one-half of the mole or growth does not match the other half.
• B- Border Irregularity: Notice if the edges of the mole or growth are ragged, notched or blurred.
• C- Color: The pigmentation of the growth is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown and black are present. Dashes of red, white and blue add to the mottled appearance.
• D- Diameter: If the width is greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser), it could be an indicator of an abnormal skin growth. Generally, any new mole growth should be a concern.
• E- Elevation:If a mole is elevated, or raised from of the skin, it should be considered suspicious.

Other Danger Signs of Malignant Melanoma

• Change in color, especially multiple shades of dark brown or black; red, white and blue,
• Change or spreading of color from the edge of the mole into surrounding skin.
• Change in size, especially sudden or continuous enlargement.
• Change in shape, especially development of irregular margins or border.
• Change in elevation, especially sudden elevation of a previously flat mole.
• Change in the surface texture of a mole, especially scaliness, erosion, oozing, crusting, ulceration, or bleeding.
• Change in the the surrounding skin, especially redness, swelling, or new moles.
• Change in sensation, especially itching, tenderness, or pain.

Basically, any mole or growth that is CHANGING needs to be checked by a doctor.

A Life Changing Experience

Nearly every year, the week between Christmas and New Years sees me starting a knitting project. The kids are home for the holidays, we have a tiny house and it gets pretty chaotic. So I knit. For me, it’s rhythmic, manual mental therapy.

I was working with an assortment of Italian yarns called Dune that come in wild color combinations, often with a metallic thread coursing through– silver, gold or copper. As I created my beret/scarf sets, my thoughts turned to bead embellishments, something that would really add a custom touch. But I didn’t know anything about beads or beading

So I signed up for an introductory 2-hour Sunday beading class at a local bead store; there were 8 of us around the table. The first thing the instructor said is, “We’re going to make a bracelet and a necklace.” Mentally I groused, “I don’t want to make a necklace or a bracelet that I’ll just throw away – I want to know how to bead on yarn.” We were given 5 minutes to choose some findings and stones for the necklace.

Two hours later, everyone had completed their projects and left the store. Two hours after that I was still rearranging components on a bead board…and the shop was ready to close. I dumped everything in a bag and went home.

I played with the parts off and on for the next 10 days. On the tenth day, I completed my necklace design, held it up, and in that split second I knew my life had changed forever.

Neither Fish Nor Fowl

One of the conundrums I’ve encountered as a jewelry designer is ‘where do I fit in the retail world’?

My dad thought being ‘different’ was a good thing – so that’s the way he raised us. Let me tell you, as a kid that is not a good thing. However it does make for interesting adults sometimes.

I’ve always been a bit of a misfit in the bigger picture, not easily categorized, so I guess it’s no surprise that that paradigm extends to my jewelry and its fits in the retail market.

I’ve been told that I’m ‘too arty,’ not ‘fine jewelry’ enough, and that I’m ‘too fine jewelry’, not ‘arty’ enough and everything in between. But the most common comment from my customers is “ I’ve never seen anything like that before,” which, to me, tells me I’m in a good spot.

Interestingly, Nordstroms told me they loved my work but they “don’t do one-of-a-kinds because it wouldn’t be fair to their big vendors like John Hardy or David Yurman.” Not bad company to be in, eh? Even if you’re being turned down.

So, now what?