Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mother's Day Special and 3 Shows in the Next 3 Weekends!

Click on each picture to enlarge...



Buy one pair of these earrings ($44 for gold-filled, $34 for sterling) and receive a second pair at half off. Email saradanielledesigns gmail.com to order



Calling all brides-to-be! Your custom piece is just a phone call or email away.



Upcoming Shows
- Brookline Open Studios, 5/1, 11am - 6pm
- Brookline Open Studios, 5/2, 11am - 6pm
- Topaz Trunk Show, 5/7 from 4pm - 8pm
- South End Open Market Opening Weekend, 5/15, 10am - 5pm
- South End Open Market Opening Weekend, 5/16, 10am - 5pm

I hope to see you all at upcoming events or around town! This season is turning out to be oh so beautiful...

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Even If



Today was a hard day for a good friend, and it will continue to be a process of healing. May we be reminded that the people and values we hold dearest will continue to manifest themselves so long as we keep them in our hearts.

Here is to beautiful memories of my friend and his Mother, to beautiful memories of you and YOUR own Mother, and to a joyful tomorrow to create countless more!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

30 Days

What an incredible show! I just saw one of the many shows in the series, so I'm making a huge assumption, but I just watched the episode of living among Muslims for 30 days... breath taking. I was in tears at several points during the show, reflecting on our incredible and everlasting need for compassion, aproaching each other as one of our own and recognizing similarities instead of differences. If I had a 'like' button for the topic of compassion, I'd use it right now. Compassion is the most important trait in a person to me.



If I were to live in a different life than my own for 30 days, what would I do? What would YOU do? I wouldn't want to stop at just one project, so let's just pretend the list wouldn't stop at the following few choices of mine. I would live without sight, live without sound, live in a wheelchair, be an asthmatic, and live without electricity. Simple, but it's easy to take these things for granted. The word admiration doesn't fully express what I have for folks who are not able to stop this way of living after 30 days. I am truly inspired by those who live with the things that most neglect thinking of living without.

While in a ridiculously busy Trader Joe's today, I witnessed a TJ's employee shopping alongside, list in hand, a man with no sight. The communication between the two of them was quite amazing, especially in such a crowded and small-aisled space. One could sense the pride of this TJ's employee while politely stepping through the crowd and maneuvering himself around others to get to this man's groceries. I loved overhearing their conversation. Hummus came up a few times - don't forget the hummus, the man said. Being witness to this reminded me of the many times I helped a blind woman pick out jewelry... for herself. Her name was Marcia and she often shopped for jewelry, and wore a lot of it as well. Her favorite word was opalescence, and this must have been a benchmark description that she knew looked great on her, because nearly every piece I would hand her to fondle, she would ask about its opalescence. I would describe the shape and color, referring to the color not just by its name but also by comparing it to objects, nature, and temperature. She would often pick out and speak of other traits about a piece that I wouldn't have noticed, just by feeling it. It was incredible! I was so impressed with her style of shopping and always felt so fortunate to be a part of her discovery.

Here is to living with recognition and appreciation for what we have. In this moment, everything I need is right here in front of me.. and I am SO thankful.

xo
Sara

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Oh, let the sun shine in

I could really use one of these today:



Or one of these:

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Being Your Own Boss

... means that when the printer jams, it's up to YOU to fix it! This *would* have been me had my printer not just magically started cooperating again... Thank goodness I am all set to go and my invoices can flow freely without any jamming!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Delicious Consumption

My newest purchase, The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau... I've been gobbling up all of her podcasts via iTunes, Vegetarian Food for Thought, for 2-3 months now. I'm constantly full of inspiration because of this kind woman and I'm so ecstatic to get cooking with her meat, dairy and egg-free recipes in my mitts. I'm gonna be the hostest with the mostest and you're invited to dinner... I'll make you realize just how cool vegetables can be!

One of the many perty recipes in her book can get you this, without any animal products:



Purchasing this book today was a twofer... if you ever make it to Manchester, Vermont, I highly recommend you visit one of the most outstanding independent bookstores in the country, Northshire Bookstore (although I'm of course partial to Powell's, my hometown's proud baby!). Ahhhh, you could spend every waking minute here and still be excited about reading. This is the type of place that you will buy books in excess and not think twice about where you will put these books or how many people you'll have to ask to carry them for you once you move apartments.

These purchases were my reward for finishing up *most* of my outstanding paperwork while here in Vermont this weekend, and making some great new contacts here in this gorgeous state. Who can love you better than YOU? Reward yourself for some of your own good deeds and don't you think twice about it!

Read, cook, pat yourself on the back.

In joy!

Whatever you are fighting, know that You Will Overcome



And then you'll see a whale!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Oh, hello sunshine!

How are you, friend?

Must tell you before I forget - now that the crazy rain has subsided, go out and buy yourself this umbrella, IMMEDIATELY. You have time before the next monsoon!

I'm headed to Vermont today for a long weekend of music, organization, tidying up loose biz ends, and *maybe* some relaxation!! I've been go go go for the last two months or so, organizing a few big projects and also taking care of the household goodness while my man was recording albums with two of the bands he is in. I'm so excited to be in the wide open VT to enjoy this much-needed sunshine that we've been deprived of as of late.

A long-time outstanding project for me has been my website... no, not that one that forwards you to my Etsy page (which is great, but not where I want to be in the long run). The REAL one! I've met a fabulous web designer through a friend that will take my bare bones site (still not public) to the gorgeousness that I know it can be. We have set a deadline for May 1, though May 15 is our absolute last date that we'll have it all complete. That's just the design, then there is the data entry and picture uploading... that may take additional time since I'll be the only one doing it and although it's easy, isn't the most time-efficient CMS. You have to write tons of different little bits and thingamabobs, etc. just to post one item. However, at least a beautiful new site will be up and I will be one step closer to having my complete package in order! I'm VERY pumped about this and cannot wait to see the end result.

My pieces continue to sell well in the shops that I consistently sell to and I'm always sending new packages of pieces. I encourage you to get into these shops to check out my jewels! If I were you, I would turn off your computer immediately, no better yet - just leave the room right now and don't even think about turning the stove off and run out to one or more of the following delights: Topaz, Nomad, Koko, or Mint Julep... go, why haven't you left yet? Quit reading!

My booth set up has changed, thanks in large part to a very talented friend, Shaun Newell, that knows how to measure, use a level, work a saw, drill holes, you know... all the important stuff in life! He's fantastic if you ever need a good handyman. It's going to be beautiful and is set up right behind me, blocking our second computer and my clothing closet... I just bought new necks in beige so that my jewels can really stand out much more than on black necks (which I hated!!). The actual mini-walls and shelves that he built are all reused items - none new... they've all come from homes that have been been either renovated or deconstructed. These are all parts that have once been in someone else's home. I love that!



Keeps with my love of weathered objects and is right in line with my sometimes unhealthy love for recycling and reusing :) If you'd like to reuse building materials, check out the Building Materials Resource Center in Roxbury, MA.

I have a few other good projects up my sleeve that I'll reveal at some point in the near future, but wanted to send a shout out to the blogosphere because it's been so dang long since I've posted. I need to quit apologizing for this and just let it be what it's going to be, because I have simply accepted the fact that I will write when I feel like it and not force anything! Hooray! I'm staying true to myself and that is that :)

Have an excellent day and go buy that umbrella on your way to check out my new schtuff at the shops! Eat your veggies!

xo