I first heard the term "happy accident" when I was in art school in my late twenties. I know, where was I that I had not heard that term before then? If you don't know what it is, it is when something unexpectedly awesome comes from what would otherwise be considered a mishap (Urban Dictionary). Some of my favorite work has come from these happy accidents. The most memorable to date is the design for my redwood tree ring. I was stamping a piece of copper with a tool that produces little lines and I intended to stamp horizontal lines all the way across the ring. I happy accidentally turned the tool vertically and stamped away. Before I realized what I had done there were about half a dozen vertical impressions in the copper. As I examined my "mistake" I realized that it looked like the texture of a redwood tree bark was forming. And that is how the Redwood Tree Bark Ring was born!
While generally considered outtakes, I feel like these photos take on their own beauty and interest and for me fall into the happy accident category. Photo at top of post is a blurry misplaced ring and below a stack of rings that toppled over while I was trying to photograph them.
I have been so lucky to be hustling around like a little hamster on a tiny treadmill to wonderland. I feel so fortunate to wake up each day excited to get to work. Even when it gets crazy I always sneak in a little "me time". Which is so important for inspiration, motivation and happiness!
Some of those little excursions and diversions include:
Pinterest.com, (pronounced like interest but with a pin, took forever for this brainiac to figure it out) is a fun cyberspace pinboard for personal collections as varied as dog hair styles to raw vegan desserts to graphic design. It is a social site that allows you to "follow" other user's pin boards and collections (you can follow me here). If you would like an invitation let me know and I will gladly send you one. Some of my recent pins include this amazing cabinet I found on the Mr. and Mrs. Globe Trot blog:
I really loved this TED talk from Stefan Sagmeister about the power of time off. It is the standard 18 minute TED talk but really worth the time. I suggest you watch it, especially if you think that to grow your business you have to work 24/7 (hint: you don't, and you shouldn't). He has always been an inspiration to me, especially when I was a graphic designer in New York.
Mr. Monkeys Always Look and I snuck off to Southeast Arizona for a few days to relax and get outside. Here are some quick shots. Nothing like a few days outside hiking and biking to get inspired!
And the benefit and fun to all this inspiration is that out if it comes bounding energy to create new work in the shop!!
Lately I have really been inspired by organic shapes juxtaposed with common forms. A lot of it is showing up in my work and will inspire me though the spring as I create new designs based on all the fun things I find.
Today was one of the best and most fulfilling days for me in the lifetime of my little handmade business. I had a customer order a birch bark ring today with the special request of two initials stamped on the ring. She told me a story about how her father (who has passed away) loved trees and she was looking for a way to remember him by and to keep him close to her. She went on to tell me she had been searching for awhile for a ring but once she saw this ring she knew in an instant this was the ring for her and that is was meant to be. Today while I was stamping the ring with her father's initials I paused for a moment and thought to myself how meaningful this ring was going to be for her and in turn, meaningful for me. As "a business of one" I get to have this one-on-one interaction with a customer and what makes having a handmade business just that much more special.
To honor the move of my blog to this site I'm offering a $25 gift certificate to my shop. See all the goodies here. Love jewelry? How about some garden markers? Maybe a plant or two? Offer is good for $25 worth of item(s) and shipping in the shop! How do you enter?
1. Leave a comment on your favorite item in the shop for one entry.
Want 4 additional entries? Do the following but please make sure you let me know you did in your blog comment so I can tally your entires.
2. "Like" me on Facebook and get an additional entry.
3. Follow the blog via RSS or your Google Reader and get an additional entry.
4. Follow me on Twitter and get an additional entry.
5. Want an additional entry? Come back at least 3 days after your initial visit and leave another comment.
Wow that is a possible total of 5 entries. Awesome! The winner will be announced on October 1st at 9am PST.
I have had the true honor of working with photographer Elizabeth Messina for some photo props for her amazing endeavor in the South of France called A Lovely Workshop. She is a true talent and so much fun to work with. Check out her blog Kiss the Groom. You can see my handy work in the first few seconds of her amazing video.
We had another awesome day in Napa Valley today. We stopped at my favorite store to date, Artefact Design & Salvage. I bet you can guess which one of those items I purchased (they were available in small, medium and large).
