copper

I’ve been a bit off the grid for the last two weeks. I’m normally a prolific Instagram poster, but between driving for multiple days at a time, visiting family and just doing vacation type things (sleeping in!) I just haven’t had the time.

But! We made it! We now live in Washington and it’s a huge change of pace for all of us, I can tell after living here for only two days. Yes, it has only been two days! The air is cleaner, the scenery is completely different, people are friendly, and it’s a million degrees cooler. Ok, not really, but it actually does cool down at night, which is new and unusual for us!

So I wanted to give some updates on things, now that I’m here, though not exactly settled!

I have a whole new work space and a room that is basically dedicated to whatever I want to put in it. So of course, it’s all jewelry related stuff, with a desk for sketching (I need a drafting table eventually, or my back will give out) and the best part is – it has the most awesome view in the entire house and a huge picture window with lots of natural light.

I’ve been working on a few custom ring project designs. One is completely my own design, the other is helping design a basket of a ring I cannot wait to see! There are others in the works, but these two are the closest I have to being completed.

Etsy store. I’m going to work on that a bit tonight, and at least get it so that I can put it back online tomorrow. I was hoping to be in a good enough spot to have added some new stones, but that’s not happening – YET. I believe the moving company is also going to be delivering tomorrow, so my world is going to get a bit more chaotic before it calms down a lot more. I am going to concentrate on more fall colored stones for now, so expect some warm browns, goldens and coppery pinks when I can get new stock up on the site.

Like this.

Or like these.

I am still working on my stock ring line and will hopefully have more designs in production soon, still working out the kinks with some CADs for the upcoming ones.

Now, when the etsy store opens tomorrow, I had promised my readers a coupon code, so here it is: “AUTUMN2015” (no quotes). It is good for 15% off purchases of $100 or more until November 1.

Also, yesterday, August 9th, was the one year anniversary of my blog! That’s a bit crazy!

As promised, I have an exclusive feature on Erin of willajunejewelry. If you haven’t bought all of your holiday presents yet, I highly suggest you pay close attention to this post! (And pay special consideration to the contents of it, because there is something in it for you!) Most of the pieces seen in this post are for sale.

Fluorite cabochon ring

I have had the great pleasure of knowing Erin since before willajunejewelry was even conceptualized. She has been a friend of mine since 2007 when she became a colleague of my husband’s.

Something that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a jewelry designer/maker, is that she has a Masters degree in Sociology/Criminology. Cool, right? Her Masters thesis examined female criminals and, specifically, the role that children can play in stopping a criminal career.

Broken Arrow Turquoise Ring (this one has already been sold)

Erin started willajunejewelry in 2009, while working on her Masters degree. She had already been taking various jewelry fabrication classes in a variety of mediums as a way to express her creativity and as a stress outlet. Willajunejewelry was inspired by her grandmother, who was a rockhound and gemstone buyer and had huge impact on Erin and was the namesake for her business.

Shakespeare Quote Necklace

Erin is one of a very select few of my friends and family members that actually knows just how passionate I am about jewelry and gemstones. I figure at some point I will have to let others in on that secret. As a result, she’s my favorite gemstone shopping partner and is incredibly patient and never pressures me to hurry up!

Oval Apatite Cabochon Ring

Another fun fact about Erin is that she loves shoes. We have bonded many times over shoes, especially of the high heeled variety, and that will continue until we are old and gray. Hah!

I personally own several pieces of jewelry that Erin has made, both customized items as well as items I fell in love with that were in her shop (or on her Facebook page) but I will put them in a future post, since I’d rather let her photos shine!

Garnet Cabochon Flower Necklace

She primarily works in Precious Metal Clay, which is a really cool product that has so many uses and applications. She also does wire wrapping, beading, traditional metalsmithing and is constantly experimenting with new techniques and finishes.

She does some amazing custom projects and is always excited for new ideas and challenges.

Bi-colored Tourmaline cabochon ring

Lately, it seems as though Erin’s popularity and achievements have just exploded. In September she took home second place in the Metal Clay division of the New Mexico Jewelers Association All that Glitters competition. She has also just completed teaching her first Craft Entrepreneurship Program class on the topic of setting up and selling on etsy (link here, and a sample of her student’s work here). She also applied for Greek licensing to make jewelry for sororities, as she was in a sorority herself. She has been granted licensing for six sororities so far, and I am sure more will soon follow suit.

Gold Sheen Obsidian with lab Rubies, 2nd place winner in the Metal Clay division of the NMJA ATG competition. This is on display at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science until the end of November, which is when it will be going up for sale.

Now, how to get in touch with Erin and have her make you something amazing! Luckily she has a big social media presence so you can find her at any one of the following places:

willajunejewelry etsy
willajunejewelry website
willajunejewelry instagram
willajunejewelry twitter
willajunejewelry facebook

Gold Druzy Quartz Necklace

So, the best part about this post is that Erin is offering my readers an exclusive coupon code for 15% off for her etsy store: “THEGEMSTONEPROJECT”
This coupon will be good through the end of the year, so please take advantage of this offer!

Disclaimer: The above images belong to Erin of willajunejewelry and I am publishing them with her permission! These particular images were chosen by Erin because they are some of her favorite pieces.

A Catch Up Post

Feature: willajunejewelry