my hobby

I'm still making and messing around creating earrings and such for friends, family and of course myself....Just wanted to share with you a few of my recent favorites.....

rose quartz, freshwater pearl and silver

I wore these to an event recently, black glass beads, freshwater pearl and silver

The quality of this picture isn't so great, but I love the contrast of these yellow glass beads with these big pink pearls

I found these wooden beads at a shop in DC a few years ago and I love how they look paired in between two freshwater pearls.

If you are interested in a pair or have questions about materials, you can certainly email me at parkandbelmont@gmail.com

the secret is out!

I've made a few more earrings and started an etsy site after getting fabulous feedback from friends near and far. Here is just a peak!

Check my brand new etsy site - Park & Belmont- and let me know what you think!

p.s. You will notice the name of this blog has changed a little. It was originally called not really blogging material, because when I told Jon I had started a blog he said "are you sure you are blogging material?" Thus the title. The name has changed to Park & Belmont, because its an important intersection to me, and to Jon...important enough to change my blog name and to call my etsy store after this little intersection.

It is with a stomach full of butterflies

That I show you these....

And these....

And these.

I made them all. Materials include sterling silver, copper, freshwater pearls, turquoise and pretty little glass beads that I find here and there. Maybe I'll share with you more, but in the mean time I'd love to hear what you all think!!

Slicing and Dicing

Please forgive my absence, i have had a little accident that has involved stitches and a dorky finger cast which and has made typing a tedious process. Let me explain....

During my life in DC I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a year of jewelry making classes which I absolutely totally loved. Due to the wedding planning + graduate school + work + a million projects and internships going on at the same time, jewelry making has been on the back burner. Lucky for me, I am nearing the end of my graduate program and this summer I have a lot more down time, as I'm only working and writing my thesis...which is lots, but comparatively speaking, it feels like a vacation...

Now let me confess, this whole trying to write my entire thesis over the summer and fall is a lot tougher than I thought it would be, as it requires lots of discipline, especially when its hot outside and I would rather be at the pool, shopping at home goods, exploring richmond, cleaning the kitchen, or catching up on law and order reruns. Because of my desire to do fun things all the time, I've found that the best way to be productive is to strike deals with myself. For example "marisa, if you go to the library for 3 hours, you can have ice cream," or "if you read this chapter on Porfiriato Mexico you will totally earn yourself a 7-11 slurpee"---but enough on my distractive nature...

This past week, after reading an entire book, I busted out my jewelry supplies to have a little creative time. Since I couldn't find my wire cutters, I dug around the kitchen and found the next best thing: meat scissors. I think you all know where this is going....I prompty sliced my finger, and I'm not talking about, I'm a klutz with a kitchen knife slice, I'm talking about I could see the white of bone or cartilage slice....Luckily my sister in law lives right around the corner and took be to the hospital where I promptly got several stitches from the nice nurse practitioner.

All in all it wasn't too bad, and I learned several things about myself:

1) My temperature is lower than average naturally, apparently I am cold blooded woman, with a temp that hovers right at a 96.6
2) I am not good with scissors
3) I really love jewelry making and creating and maybe if I stop being so shy and ever get around to posting pictures I'll share some of my creations with you!

Have you ever had a silly accident or cut yourself in a ridiculous way? How about those of you who have had to write thesis/finish school? How did you get through it?

Hope you all are having a lovely lovely weekend!

Valentines Day

Before I met my husband, I hated Valentines Day and felt that it was just a silly commercial holiday. Coincidentally, our first date (and not dating anniversary) ended up being on Valentines Day and because of this JM always marks the date by sending or bringing me red roses. I adore the tradition of receiving red roses once a year, and have come to realize that homemade valentines and little expressions of love in dreary February really aren't so bad.

And then there are the Valentines Day deals! Erin McDermott Jewelry (who got her start at the same city market where my mom sells her pies) is offering free shipping on all purchases between now and V-Day! Check out these darling designs!



(all images from ErinMcdermott.com)

Jewelry Love

I think this from erin mcdermott jewelry could be the sweetest summer necklace ever.