When Life Gets in the Way, There’s Still Art

When Life Gets in the Way, There’s Still Art

Life is busy.  We are homeschooling our twelve-year old daughter.  Best decision we ever made!  (For more about that you can read our group blog where Emma writes many of the posts – Emma’s Hope Book.)  I continue to juggle my business and its needs and demands with parenting, homeschooling and writing.  As I no longer have my jewelry in stores, I am doing trunk shows. There are not enough hours in any given day and things fall through the cracks.  Still…  art bleeds through in myriad ways to make life even more exhilarating and exciting.  In preparation for this last trunk show, whose theme was Halloween, I roped my family into carving pumpkins and helping me cook halloween treats.

Art?  Crafts? Who cares?

Let’s begin with a little Halloween fun.

Grinning Pumpkin ~ Carved by Richard Long

Grinning Pumpkin ~ Carved by Richard Long

Our son tries his hand at carving…

Nosy Pumpkin ~ By Nic Z-L

Nosy Pumpkin with Rotting Teeth ~ By Nic Z-L

I'm a purist and went for the more traditional pumpkin.

I’m a purist and went for a more traditional pumpkin, which means I googled “cool carved pumpkins” and found one resembling this and copied it.  🙂

Originally I wanted to paint this wreath black and have a few snakes and rats poking out from the foliage, but this idea was vetoed by all but my 14 year old son…

Welcome to Fall Wreath

Welcome to Fall Wreath

And since that was so much fun, I went a little “wreath crazy”…

Entryway to my pre-Halloween trunk show

Entryway to my pre-Halloween trunk show

Who-doesn't-love-candy-corn-Wreath

Who-doesn’t-love-candy-corn-Wreath

Raven's Nest Wreath

Raven’s Nest Wreath

And then there was cooking that needed to be done…

Trunk show treats - Yes, I made them.  From 11 o'clock going clockwise, Pumpkin granola bars, Spider Web Cupcakes, Pumpkin Blondies, Delicious, decadent fudge and Pumpkin Scones

Trunk show treats – Yes, I made them. From 11 o’clock going clockwise, Pumpkin granola bars, Spider Web Cupcakes, Pumpkin Blondies, Delicious, decadent fudge and Pumpkin Scones

In addition to the halloween treats, I made my spectacular Bloody Mary’s garnished with large green olives, celery and lime.  They were a big hit!

And finally jewels…  lots and lots of jewels…

From the Dauphine Collection - An Aquamarine Ring to rival ALL.

From the Dauphine Collection – An Aquamarine Ring to rival ALL. R46 – 18 Kt Brushed Gold & 83 ct Aquamarine

From the Dauphine Collection - Gold, Amethyst & Spessatite Necklace

From the Dauphine Collection – Gold, Amethyst & Spessatite Necklace  N97 ~ 18 Kt Gold, 55.48 ct Amethyst & Spessatite with 18 Kt Gold, Apatite & Spessatite Clasp

For all of you who would like to be included on our mailing list so you don’t miss out on future trunk shows and events, just say so and I will add the email you use to comment to our email list, or send me a different email, if you prefer.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Jewels and Words…

Jewels and Words…

18 Kt Brushed Gold, 12.3 ct Rubelite, SI2 – .44 ct Diamonds & 18 Kt Brushed Gold, & Removable 82.1 ct Indicolite Tourmaline

Today is the final day of the first leg of my Ariane Zurcher Jewelry trunk show in New York City. Next week I’m in Chicago and the following week Aspen, Colorado. It’s a – three trunk shows, in three cities, in three weeks – tour!

I’ve written about how I started designing jewelry ‘here‘ and about the genesis of my Transition Collection as a way of finding that elusive “balance” of family and work that so many talk about, but that I never seem to actually achieve, ‘here‘.

I won’t go into any of that again, but like everything in life, it’s impossible to compartmentalize career, family, children and friends into neat little boxes where nothing overlaps with anything else.  And even if it were possible, I wouldn’t want to do it.  I love that design influences life and life influences design.  That these different elements weave together to create something unique is what I respond to when I look at any art, whether it’s a painting, ceramics, sculpture, clothing or jewelry.

18 Kt Brushed White Gold, Druzy and Natural Pearl Ring

My daughter, Emma, has begun writing stories.  Those of you who follow my other blog, Emma’s Hope Book, will have likely read some of her writing as I’ve posted it there, with her permission, more and more.  What I love about reading her stories is how unexpected they are.  Every sentence is a surprise, a tiny, sparkling, gem of an idea, beautifully wrapped up in words that take my breath away.

Recently Emma told me she was interested in jewelry!  Before I pack up this trunk show, I plan to ask her to point out a few things she particularly likes.  Words and jewels…  the apple didn’t fall far…