Back from Pasadena

I'm back from The Pasadena Bead and Design Show and still recovering from cross country jet lag (I don't travel well).

The town of Pasadena was nice but sleepy. I took walks in the morning, before the show, but not much was open then. In the evenings, after the show, we did find some great little restuarants. I was disappointed by the shops though. I thought there would be more interesting boutiques, but all I saw were brand name chains. It felt like being in an open air mall.

The first night, after set up, we walked to the Yardhouse. It's a huge sports bar type restuarant. At that point, neither Jessie nor I had slept more than 2 hours in the last 48, so we were incoherent and the next day were amazed we had actually made it through dinner and getting back to the hotel. I remember the burgers were good though.

On Thursday, we went to Madres, a restaurant owned by the actress Jennifer Lopez and run by her family. It was a treat to see authentic Shabby Chic decor as Rachel Ashwell had decorated it herself. The food was wonderful and reasonably priced. It didn't really strike me as Old Havana, as it's portrayed, but rather Grandmother's Living Room with the old rose sofa. The fried plantains were the BEST ever!

On another night, we looked in Old Town for a good meal. There were long waits at the most interesting spots and then we stumbled into Barney's Beanery. It's an amazing Route 66 type place. The menu is a newspaper and has just about everything you might want, including low prices. The decor is really funky. Imagine 100's of license plates, nailed to the ceiling, choppers and bikes in the window, a gutted out school bus, with tables inside, pool tables everywhere, three levels, hundreds of tvs, including one at every table, playing old mtv videos. Plus the food was good!

By the last night, we were so over Pasadena and homesick for some East Coast food. Jessie found Mi Piace that promised to be a New York style Italian restaurant, bakery and lounge. I had a good feeling as soon as I saw most people were dressed in black. It turned out to be the best meal we had the whole trip.

Next post I'll cover more about the actual show. Now for another cup of coffee!

The Girl with the Big Earrings

She inspired me to create earrings like hers, with loops over the ears. I don't find beautiful shells like she did on the beach, I find soda cans.

She's a big attraction at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show. I think alot more Cali girls will be recyling from now on!

What to do in Pasadena this weekend
Come to the Pasadena Bead and Design Show from 10am to 6pm
at the Pasadena Hilton 168 South Los Robles Ave, Pasadena California.

There's a wide assortment of totally unique wearable art of all types. It's such a refreshing experience to see the wonder creative talents of wearable art artists from all over the country. There are also beads, findings and other supplies for the jewelry and fiber artist.

Stop by and see me in the California Ballroom. Look for Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry. Mention the blog for a free gift!

The Pirate's Mermaid Green Pearl Charm Hoop Earrings and Necklace Set

Coming VERY soon to Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry!

Pirate's Mermaid Sterling Charm Hoop Earrings

A pirate ship, a chain, a ship's wheel, cultured pearls, mother of pearl shells and blue kyanite beads on hoop earrings. All crafted with sterling silver.

Coming soon to the Neptune and I Collection of Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry.

Clues from Keyboards Past - Art Jewelry

I've been frantically trying to create enough new pieces to bring to the Pasadena Bead and Design Show, which will start next Thursday. I'm very excited about a new design I've created, a hybrid of a choker and a chain charm necklace. The back is a sturdy oxidized sterling wire and the front is a specially antiqued brass chain with interesting stories and mysteries of beads and treasures. The necklace is very comfortable and easy to put on, as the clasp is in the front. It's also adjustable and can be worn with each strand on either side, or the two together. (I know, I need some pictures to explain this. Coming soon.)

But for now, here's a peek of one of these necklaces, this one called Clues From Keyboards Past. Do you think she was upset? Screaming? Caps Lock! What will that mean in a decade? A century?

Coming soon to the Mystic Isle Collection of Amethyst Lobster - Unique Jewelry.

The truth about stories, is that we are all a part of a story. We uncover the story, we pass it on, we transform it. This necklace contains vintage Chinese medicine bottle, an antique coin, black and white stones and crystals. All suspended on an antiqued brass chain, which adjusts on a unique oxidized sterling side opening choker.

Coming soon to the Mystic Isle Collection of Amethyst Lobster - Unique Jewelry.

Happy New Year

Oops! I mean Happy 2008!

Whispers under Glass Charm Brass Necklace
Detail

Words on the wind..some dropped and some overheard. An antique text of goddesses and love, a puzzle to complete. What phrase does Fate give to you?

Coming soon to the Mystic Isle Collection, pendants of antique text soldered beneath bubbles of glass. May be purchased on either an antiqued brass chain of adjustable length or a 16 inch black satin cord with clasp.

A map of place or journey?

A green agate stone looks like a pirate map to me! Don't we all seek a certain treasure, (though some treasures are not made of silver or gold)? A red carnelian carved falcon, a cluster of Baltic amber chips, antiqued brass chain, they all conspire to create the necklace of a journey.

Coming soon to the Mytic Isle Collection of Amethyst Lobter - Unique Jewelry.

Sneak preview of 2008 Mystic Isle Collection - Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry



I started to put some of the new 2008 line onto the site. Well..not much yet! As of today, just showing earrings which will be in the next issue of Ornament Magazine. There is also a bit of one of the new choker and chain necklaces. Both of these will be in the Mystic Isle Collection.

The earrings are called Antiqued Mystery Windows Earrings .

These brass earrings with oxidized sterling silver wires are created with authentic antique papers and weathering techniques. Each pair is unique to itself, showing snippets of an antique text. The brass window slides open to reveal just a bit more. You receive the clues as if an overheard conversation, a story unfolds, and you become a part of it.

The origins of language are closely tied to the origins of adorning ourselves with jewelry. The 2008 Collection explores the ties of language, jewelry and above all the mystery that we all strive to solve.

Mystic Isle Collection - Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry

Vintage Variety Shop in Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Meredith from Vintage Variety here in Atlantic Highlands NJ and I had a great time selling next to each other at a local show recently. She really has the coolest, funkiest stuff in Monmouth County. A great mix of vintage and new items, for men, women and kids. If you are near the Jersey Shore, you really should check out her shop on First Ave. More info is here.

Success for all students

One of the nice perks about selling at local events is that I get to know some of my neighbors better. Last week I had fun selling next to Susan Decker. She makes beautiful bracelets. They are customized name bracelets that make a special gift for moms and grandmoms. The alphabet beads are sterling silver and the bracelets are very sweet. She donates the profits to a wonderful organization called Success for all Students, which her husband, Kevin Decker directs. You can order them online, so check it out.

Save the Date

Upcoming Shows for Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry

Saturday, Dec 1st, 2007 10am-3pm
Atlantic Highlands Holiday Shop
AHES First Ave, Atlantic Highlands NJ

Wednesday, Dec 5th, 2007
Private Holiday Lunch Show
Rumson, NJ

Friday, Dec 7th, 2007
Private Holiday Party
Atlantic Highlands NJ

Thurs-Sun, Jan 17th-Jan 20th, 2008
Pasadena Bead and Design Show
Pasadena Hilton
Pasadena, California

http://eclecticelements.blogspot.com/2007/11/amethyst-lobster-at-pasadena-bead.html#links
Hey, thanks Sam at Eclectic Elements for the mention of the Pasadena Bead and Design Show! You're the best!