The Power of Rivets and Burning Man Nostalgia

I just returned from a metal smithing workshop that rocked my world. Joe Silvera, a metalsmith, artist, and teacher taught a really well put together class at Baubles & Beads in San Rafael. Some of the material was familiar to me, but the rivets were new and I am in love.

Getting to know the qualities and characteristics of each metal feels very elemental and very ancient, like weaving and stained glass - two of my other loves.

Here are some of the pieces I made...


and one in progress... which I of course modified the pattern from a ginko leaf into a tulip.


Which got me daydreaming about some of my favorite metal pieces from Burning Man before I moved to Amsterdam.




Don't forget 10% off the Compass Rose Design Store until December 31, 2010 - enter XMAS10 at checkout!

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Compass Rose Design at Dark Garden, Various & Sundries, and the Aunt Daisy Collection

The big news is that Compass Rose Design is now featured at Dark Garden - one of the most luscious places on earth - full of corsets, lace, parasols, wristlets, and a world of delight. They'll also have a selection at the Dickens Christmas Faire! Dark Garden is at 321 Linden Street in San Francisco.

Compass Rose Design is now also at Various & Sundries in Fairfax, California, at 69 Broadway Ave. Fairfax CA 94930 right next to the Scoop - some of the best ice cream on the west coast.

First things first, my uncle by choice's Aunt Daisy - queen of costume jewelry - was a great collector. She loved cats and owls and Christmas, and left literally pounds of costume jewelry, charm bracelets and treasures. Born in 1915, though she claimed she was 10 years younger, all her official records say she was born in 1925. This only became a problem when she needed to collect her social security benefits and had to prove she actually deserved them.

There was a mountain of pink bejeweled owls and flowers....


... as well as some real treasures like some charm bracelets with working parts...



... and a metal purse with movie tickets from a 1936 film in Ponca, Oklahoma as well as a consumers tax credit coin.




You will see some of these items reappear in new configurations - there are some fabulous lockets, charms, book lockets, and crystal whatnots that I think call for a new collection - The Aunt Daisy collection will be made from Aunt Daisy's treasure trove of vintage jewelry... stay tuned....

Don't forget 10% off the Compass Rose Design Store until December 31, 2010 - enter XMAS10 at checkout!

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Typewriter Key Bracelets, Residents Artist Gallery, Project Transaction

I’ve had a hectic of a week in the best possible way! I've put an initial collection up on the new Compass Rose Design Direct Store - 10% off with XMAS10 at checkout for friends and family (that's you!) I just came across a lot of typewriter keys, so I'll be making more bracelets. They have such a nice weight and sound to them!

I got invited to R.A.G. Residents Apparel Gallery at 541 Octavia St. in San Francisco. It’s a really awesome space with more than 75 Bay Area artists run by two fabulous sisters, Blakely and Page.

The space is filled with clothing, accessories and jewelry, just down the street from La Boulange Bakery.

I originally heard about R.A.G. from Jake and Holly at Project Transaction – who I met at Market SF, a small artist market at the Blue Macaw in the Mission every Saturday. (By the way, I’ll be at Market SF on December 4 and December 11). Jake and Holly make reclaimed leather cuffs, belts, restraints, harnesses and other accessories, with brands, rivets, and prints that are both edgy and sophisticated. Below is one of their handmade leather belts available at the Project Transaction Etsy Shop. They've also had some INCREDIBLE upcycled modified leather vests - re cut and outfitted with grommets that I adore.They are good folk.

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NEW!!!! Compass Rose Design Direct Online Shop

Etsy has been so good to me, I love sending pieces all over the world - but the time and fees are adding up. Our friends at Timmy Mays set up a new online shop (which is awesome!) and inspired me to set up a direct shop as well.

The new shop is at www.shop.compassrosedesignjewelry.com


How is the New direct shop different from the Etsy shop?

• No Etsy signup required - All you need is a paypal account.
• The direct shop will have the full collection, where Etsy has limited line.
• Etsy gets so flooded and I want to make it easy for folks to find me.
• Etsy has lots of fees, so I can offer lower prices at the Compass Rose Design online shop.

So...wider selection, easier to find, lower prices - you can't go wrong!!!

I'll be adding items frequently for the holidays - feel free to make requests.

Shop before December 31, 2010 and receive 10% off the entire store when you enter XMAS10 at checkout!

Visit the Compass Rose Design Jewelry shop now
Visit our website
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