Thursday, December 5, 2013

My $3.00 wedding ring

My wedding ring cost my husband $3.00

Yes, you read that right, only three dollars.

I will be blogging about my 25 plus years of experiences working in the jewelry industry, and the stories I have encountered over the years. I have always thought that the main purpose and function jewelry has played in mankind's history was about the relationships represented with each shiny token.

To me, as beautiful jewelry is, they are just widgets, tiny thingy things that hold a deeper meaning of love, heartache, truth, triumphs, sentiment and our experiences with others.

You would expect that a jeweler would have a ring that cost more than $3.00. I can't even make a sterling silver ring for that price. But I didn't make it, my husband did. Back when we were newly engaged, those were often know as the "salad days" and funds were limited. Oh yes, I could have made for myself a simple 14k gold band. I could have even used my connections in the wholesale trade to obtain a half carat high quality diamond for only $500 (This is a very good price btw). That would have not been responsible, to drain our tiny bank account. But my fiancee was an artisan in his own rights, an inventor of sorts. 

So he obtained a chunk of titanium, and though he had never made a ring before, he was an accomplished machinist, so he put the titanium on a lathe, and made two rings, one for me and one for him. Mine is simple, clean, with a comfort fit band. I never feel it. To make the two rings, the titanium cost him only $6.00, thats just $3.00 a ring. 

He made it. That means substantially more to me than anything else, including a large gemstone. Of course. it turned out that having no stone means I can do my job way more effectively, without it getting in the way. I love how it feels, so natural and a part of me. I adore how he gave it to me, and that our rings literally were once joined in that chunk of titanium.  

I often come across an opportunity to purchase incredible stones, and we can afford them now. But I just don't feel the need to change the ring he made for me. He offered up his best with what he had, his skill, time and love.

Jewelry does not need to cost much to be valuable.

Merry Christmas!!!



Sunday, June 16, 2013

House of Moss: We make Portland awesome: Elizabeth Jewelry

House of Moss: We make Portland awesome: Elizabeth Jewelry: "We make Portland awesome" is a bi-weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out mor...

Monday, June 4, 2012

First Thursday in the Pearl

Elizabeth Jewelry will be doing the first thursday thing in the Pearl! 
1720 NW Lovejoy St locate on NW Lovejoy / NW 18th.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Tardis Cake

9 hours, 4 trips to grocery stores, 3 baked cakes, 10 permanently dyed blue fingers. 1 very happy daughter.

Keep in mind I am NOT a cake decorator, I do this maybe once a year. Strait smooth lines in frosting is not easy (Betsy does not like fondant). The Tardis is actually a lot more three dimensional than the photo shows. Had a ton of fun making. 

Yes it's messy but HEY its a TARDIS cake!! Betsy you are the best and deserve everything you want today!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Catalog

I'm going old school and making a print catalog. It is going to be GORGEOUS! Today will be design and layout with my talented assistant (who used to be in charge of visual at Nordstroms). The sky is blue out, I am awake and up early, and all my social media is done and out of the way. This is going to be a great productive day! I think I will even make my famous greek salad tonight. Oh I just blogged about what I am going to make for dinner tonight. Oh well, I am too happy to bother about it!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I'm Back! and Why should I Blog?

OK, so its about time I decided if I am going to either do this blog thing or not. Came down to the fact that my account was associated with an old email and between that, and the new interface, I could not get onto my blog to add anything anyways.
So my questions are, do I use this blog for;
1. My business, professional marketing and such?
2. Personal
3. Virtual Dust collection

I am sure that If I use this for business purposes only I will nearly never post feeling it must be "dynamic" and "Compelling" enough for my readers to come back time after time. Then I will feel forced to manufacture saccharine sweet and uplifting "How be Always Be Happy" posts full of links to pictures of sunsets on the beach with an adoring family by my side, Puppies, or homemade "Crafty Goodness". The latter MUST include photos of before (adorable me in sunglasses at vintage shop), during (smiling me in my kitchen with staged mess that gives the impression that I am just another average normal girl), and after (over the top Martha Stewart approved craft/decoration/dessert)

Truth is that all takes more time than I want. Plus it is not, well...me. I want to write authentically, yet I know my life is not  full of the adventures that seem to appear on others blogs, so, I simply don't write. Hey, that sounds a lot like I am not doing something I want to do because I feel it won't be as good as others? Well screw that! Yes, Molly just said "Screw". (World faints)

Yes I could just keep a journal. Either in a hardbound book or on my computer. But somehow, something is missing. Knowing that this is out there for the world to see makes me feel like I have to hold myself accountable for my actions if I am honest. Or perhaps that I am just narcissistic, feeling that I want to have my random thoughts out there for everyone to see. Does that make every personal blogger narcissistic? (by the way, that is a very hard word to spell and I had to google it up) Probably not. So why should I publicly have a blog about my life, thoughts, likes, opinions,experiences, ect... if the purpose is not to uplift and entertain others. I guess I figure extremely few people will read this. And that is a good thing, I think...
I think all too often people just do what they want to do because it feels like the right thing to do at the time, without hyper over analyzing every tiny motivation. I have a tendency to be analytical. I imagine most people right now, if there eyes are not already bleeding with the tediousness of this post are wondering why I am even debating the situation. To blog or not to Blog, That is the question. 


Answer: I should.
Because:
1. I like to write as a break from my work. Probably better than spending time on twitter

2. What do I care what people think of me? Not that I am all "tough skinned" and all, but isn't it best to not worry if people don't like me after they read my blog? I mean, I am not ashamed of who I am, I am not perfect but I am at peace with my choices, and I what is the worst thing people will even read about me; " Slept in today and did not work out." Really Molly get a grip! Perhaps this blog will be about all my insecurities and perhaps telling the world who I honestly am might help me get over them. I am going to be nice to myself and remind myself that I am pretty normal, really. I know Every positive self-help "Do it afraid" mantra and good things to do there is. Head Knowledge. Moving slowly to the heart.
I read this today and I thought: I KNOW all of these! I TRY to do them. Just does not happen 100% of the time. Perhaps because I am always in process. 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy


3. I am generally a happy positive person, and If I occasionally post a whine, so big deal. The 6 people reading will just most likely still manage to get dinner on the table that night.