Sunny Rising Leather

xo,

Allison

1 Month of Makery

2012-01-31T12:19:00.000-08:00

Sitting here enjoying a Braxton-Hicks contraction in my kitchen,

I fully realized that this is my last month of un-rationed makery before the babe

sees the sun...

I was pawing through my beach detritus looking for stones I could use for a long-promised set of bridesmaid pieces and it turned into nesting: sorting,

paring down, a wee bit of fretting...

What will I make?

Here's what's on the benches in various phases of beginning-ness:

a few final flower rings in copper and sterling,

a very few engraved wing pieces

one last big bag with an anatomical heart and symbolic chakra theme

Self-cabbed chrysoprase with fern frond necklace

mandala clutch

a few mandala half-belts

Knowing that I cannot take a maternity leave in the way most women do (I cannot possibly go three months without digging into something creative and delicious, I just can't, even if I have to sneak 20 minutes every few days...)

there may be the odd piece here and there between March and June,

but mostly I suspect there will be a lot of savoring family

and staring at the One who has given me such joy

throughout this miraculous time we've spent attached.

I am nervous

excited

heart-sore

elated

pulsing with life

anticipating...

My sister's visit was a wonderful thing, full of laughter so fierce it reminded me to do more kegels

and sharing so honest and familiar that I could practically feel my heart knitting itself delicately back to wholeness as we spoke...

What a gift she is to me!

xo,

Trio of Duos

2012-01-26T14:27:00.001-08:00

In the

Leather Shop

Now.

My sister is coming into town tomorrow and so I am off to prepare the house

to her specifications (none, but I love to fuss)

and count the seconds until I squeeze her.

There will be shopping

perhaps a high-fashion photo shoot

and more love than I can even prepare myself for!

Until next week,

Sunny

Early Morning Story

2012-01-26T06:22:00.000-08:00

It's been nearly two weeks now of this heart-pain that wells up in grocery store aisles,

during breakfasts and upon walking around every corner of our home...

two weeks of wondering if I can speak his name without tears (nope)

or tell the story without having to pause for composure (not yet)...

12 days of intimate monologues spoken at God where I shake my fist and apologize and profess gratitude at what gifts we have and then cook and bake furiously to nourish our family

back to smiling...

I work,

I shake my fist

I talk to girlfriends and boyfriends

I walk

My hands turn into bear paws around 8:00 PM

My husband organizes our list of items needed for baby adorably

We talk about a five year plan

I try to return emails and nap instead...

I've been awake since 4:30, Orion having decided that modern dance training was best done on a schedule that shows he's dedicated to his art, New York-style....

he's up in my ribcage and it's amazing the amount of sensation it creates

but I will say this is the first time he's woken me up from deep slumber

practically belting, "Gottaaaaa Daaaaaaance!!!" like a Broadway star...

I love him.

I cradle him now, wrapping my arms around the beach ball bonanza that is my stomach,

belly button out and proud.

I shouldn't be writing this tired, but I am because it helps.

It is company.

The sky is still dark and I cannot call my Mom without waking up my Schmill

and perhaps I will erase this all tomorrow after I catch the three hours more slumber I require to be rested....but for right now I see this medium as a

childhood-paper-cup-telephone of sorts to the women

I adore around the world

many of whom have have been woken up by errant baby limbs at 4:30 AM

or have lost a soul they loved...

my tribe.

I wanted to share a moment of levity with you,

a laugh that surely saved our sanity in the midst of chin-wobbling grief.

We went last night to pick up the ashes of our Jones

from the Emergency Clinic where he passed away like a whisp inside the warmth

of Anthony's arms

and

of course the tears, goodness the tears

and a hold-on hug in the car

and a too-tight grip on the little cedar box in my lap as we drove

silent

and then I ask Anthony,

"Wasn't the company that made Jones fit in this box called Babbling Brook Something?"

And Anthony says,

"Yes, that or Mossy Meadow or Peaceful Pine Grove..."

and we chuckled a bit

because who the fuck comes up with these horrible misnomers?

and then I wondered aloud why they weren't more forthcoming in their business name

about the macabre nature of their business

and Anthony says, "Maybe because 'Crazy Eddie's Pet Incineration and Carpet Cleaning' doesn't have the same sort of ring to it that the others do..."

and we belly laughed

like you can only do with swollen eyes

and a broken heart.

It was the first indication we've had that there is a way out of this

dim place, that this world is ridiculous enough to be funny

even when you hold one of the loves of your life on your lap

in a box he himself would have knocked off the kitchen table to wake your ass

up at 5:00 A.M simply because he wanted a headbutt and a chin scratch.

Life is bananas.

xoxo,

I Carry You in My Heart

2012-01-25T16:39:00.001-08:00

RESERVED

Yes, you are gone.

Perhaps you moved to Paris with the job that we both agreed you could not pass up

or maybe you've crossed a river mythic and entered a land of mystery where we will someday

run to each other

as though not a day has passed...

Certain as the sun will rise I ache your absence

and receive you in dreams

that make waking feel like a task...

Yes, you are gone

But I carry you in my heart.

The ghost of you

The life of you

The wonder of our time together

in all its beauty, mundane and special...

I could either announce my love for you to the world

or keep it secret and silent in my heart

like a special stone

tucked in my pocket

on whose surface I run my finger over and over

until there is a groove

like 1,00 years of wild wind over the hills of Marin...

For some reason it appeals to me more,

that gentle confidence of loving you

like a confession only I can hear

A prayer

That things eternal now rest in His palm

as safe and loved as when they touched mine.

This bag is a lightweight one,

with a very long (42 inch) strap for cross-body carrying.

It is meant for someone who understands.

Inquiries welcome

xo,

The Work of My Heart

2012-01-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

RESERVED

I know that all of the pieces I've been tucking under my palms over the last few weeks

have been coming from a place of healing

And I know this because I feel bolstered by them, fed by them.

They are surely the work of my hands, but the impetus has come from the heart.

In this collection there will be a celebration of our little boy's namesake

constellation and that celestial body's role in my childhood

But there is also a reverence for ghosts and longing in these pieces...

In Hawaii the wall of maidenhair ferns outside of a lava tube arrested my attention for far longer than the main attraction itself: I was so amazed by their tenacity, clinging to a sheer-looking rock face,

the young tender green ferns living side by side with the white

ghosts of plants previously thriving

empty of chlorophyll

and simply beautiful in their starkness...

RESERVED

We live with our dead, too, just not in the same way.

These pieces that feature the white ghost ferns

are an homage to those we've loved

both living and gone.

There will be two half-belts

one raw-edged golden deerskin bag with mandalas on both sides

three or four pairs of earrings

and a necklace.

I hope to show them to you finished on Thursday

afternoon.

If you feel that any of these pieces resonate with you,

please convo me

to receive the details of their cost, measurement and feel.

I wish you all a calm, gorgeous day here on earth.

xoxox,

Allison

Swooping in to Make Things Sweet

2012-01-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

My sister-friend Terra flew in to see us this weekend before embarking

on her whirlwind tour of Europe,

and she brought her little Elliott Osito.

Together they've filled our house with much-needed laughter, joy

and near-painful cuteness.

We are so lucky to have a friend (two, if you count the pom love!)

like this who hops a jet just to spend some time.

I hope your weekend is treating you gently

in all ways.

I have new work to share with you this coming week,

mandalas and constellation

work in leather and suede.

With love,

Allison

Forced Harvest

2012-01-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

On Monday night there was a hard freeze here in the Bay Area.

Weather service announcements spoke of bundling up your succulents,

taking in fruit from the trees...

the thought of losing the bulk of our Meyer lemons, small as they still are

was a tough one and so we had a forced harvest;

somewhere around ten pounds of lemons from two trees.

I have plans to make Meyer Lemon sorbet

and can a few containers of curd for the coming months, for friends...

but today I made THIS cake as a surprise dessert for Schmilly

and I snuck a bite.... it has the most exquisite texture and taste of any sweet I've ever

made.

I've been trying to include delicious things in our everyday since Saturday night

because we are just so sad

with our swollen eyelids and ragged voices.

I've not returned a lot of communication

and I am not answering my phone very much; I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen

or in the studio tooling mandalas

to bring a bit of meditation into this tough process...

Please know how much I (we, actually) appreciate every word and gesture.

I have a companion throughout it all, though, and she makes my days bearable.

She is so vigilant, so kind and so very maternal, all things I need so much more than ever...

when I nap she sleeps against the babe under the covers,

impervious to his movements

and when I crumble

she comes close and curls into the space between

my massive belly and an arm,

looking into me and blinking slowly.

She runs around the house calling out to her missing alpha

and yet with each passing hour she seems to embrace her new role with gusto...

(trying on the crown, as a good friend said very recently)

we are a home in transition

bumbling and tripping our way through grief and sadness

mixed with the anticipation of a new life...

I stand in awe of the dichotomy.

xo,

.

2012-01-15T12:09:00.001-08:00

My heart is so broken that my fingers can barely type the words:

our sweet Jones is at peace

and we begin our unique journey of mourning and celebrating

his beautiful, hilarious and willful life.

He was the only animal I've ever known

who solely belonged to us as we belonged to him.

When visitors came, be they family or friends he was always cordial (with the exception of peeing in one visitor's suitcase, good Lord I was so mortified)

but it was Anthony and I who were given the fullness of his heart and his magnificence.

When the house was empty of guests and the last car had pulled away

he would give us tons of headbutts and cuddle in close

as if to say, "Finally, I get you both to myself again."

Like so many gorgeous young things with huge charisma and passion

in massive supply,

he burned hard and fast

too briefly

for us to show him

the years of love we have to give.

When I think of our grief I feel very sorry for myself, for Anthony...

but when I think of his soul

I feel like the space around my heart is miles wide

and blue as his eyes...

as the sky.

xoxox,

In It

2012-01-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

This morning I awoke to the drumming of tiny arms

and legs in my body

at 8:42

The thermostat read 58 degrees , quickly remedied

and as I puttered about quietly I heard the

healthy hum and whir of the furnace

making cozy

Coffee woke the man I love

Cat food can opening brought in the furry one I spoil

and I chuckled to myself

as he whirled and mewed at my feet,

full of spark and life.

We all assembled in the kitchen

over steel-cut oatmeal with cranberries and walnuts

Janey got her dose of love

Jones got his pill, his shot and as many pets as he would suffer

after such abuse

And our son rolled happily all through it,

stoking the ever-growing wish to meet him

and see that sweet face:

we're so excited hold him!

This weekend it is my wish for you

that your cup steameth

and overfloweth

with goodness

and abundance:

we send our regards out into the world

with love.

xo,

Cascades and Blooms

2012-01-13T16:49:00.001-08:00

Have a lovely and restful weekend,

dear reader.

xoxoxo,

Allison

How We Are

2012-01-10T14:15:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to write here every day and

share the joy or the concern therein

but I've been learning that I can't;

instead I've worked like a madwoman, escaping into ever widening circles and patterns on leather and metal.

It's roller coaster enough here in my heart, I am certainly not going to

get you all excited and then crash you over and over again.

This is all to say that we are full of highs and lows, and instead of growing frustrated with them, I am trying with all my grit (and I am gritty as all hell)

to have patience.

Yesterday we took a calculated risk considering the state of Jones's heart

and went to the vet for a fluid tap to see if we could get him more comfortable.

1.5 liters of fluid were drained; I know, I know it seems impossible...

he was a champ all through the process, outwardly calm and patient with everyone involved

and the level of comfort that he is experiencing now is amazing as compared to before the visit:

he greeted me at the door today when I came home from a walk.

I picked him up as I've always done and he laid his head on my shoulder as if he were normal

except there was no purring

and he has that haunted look of one not well

but I celebrated anyway

in my heart;

balloons, chocolate cake, one more moment of normalcy with my little man.

Heavens, don't let me cling!!

Janey has been such a good girl through all of this,

a dedicated darling nearly always perched on my lap.

She spends the day with me in my studio, enjoying the big comfy chair

as Jones gets the couch all to himself, a coup!

Something of significance that this time of weighty decisions

has gifted us with:

deference.

I have been unsure of the difference between instinct and fear in my heart of late;

the masquerade ball is in full effect, and just when I've convinced myself that something is so definitely instinct

it rips off its mask and shouts, "Aha!! Fear wins again!"

in an upper-crust British accent, drunk with glee!

Oh, dear....

so when it came to the decision to tap the fluids, I deferred to my husband who was passionately for it: I would rather we had regret than resentment,

wondering what could have been if we had only tried...

Partnership is amazing that way; when you falter, there is someone else there to help

things balance out and vice versa.

So that is where we are, this is the state of things...

constantly in flux

given to random bouts of joy and fitful tears,

considering the lightness and weight of the daily

with as much grace as our prayers afford.

We are well, we are tougher than we knew (both two and four-legged)

and perhaps that

is the miracle we've hoped for all along.

With Love,

Allisunny

.

2012-01-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

All

are

Listed

xo,

Brush Strokes

2012-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Note:Oh, dear! These went so much faster than I could have ever anticipated:

I will work on a few more pairs of earrings and a necklace or two for Monday's

Leather Shop

refill:

thank you so much for catching the feeling that these babies are giving, and be sure to stop by on Monday if you missed the reserves!

Mandalas

RESERVED

Get

Their

RESERVED

Moons

RESERVED

And

RESERVED

Suns...

RESERVE PENDING

Expect the ensuing necklaces

and earrings

to be in the Leather Shop

Monday.

Is there a pair of earrings that speaks to you?

A necklace that demands you wear it?

Please do

me.

I will mark them each as they are reserved.

With love,

Sunny

Being of Service

2012-01-06T10:45:00.001-08:00

I have become a devoted servant over the last few days

holding up a dish of water under a thirsty chin

faithfully injecting helpful medicines

sitting by the low bed that is home

waiting for the signs that we would normally never wish for...

And in between I work

and do the laundry

and nest a bit.

I've found that mostly what I want to create are patterns

or pieces using plant materials

mandalas

new metals

like red brass

And then I hold them all in my hands and see that the results

of the instincts are measured and peaceful:

I like when pieces have a feel to them.

I like when the intention of a piece is to be of service, a small heartfelt caretaker of the part of us that craves beauty and needs to drink deep.

Yesterday I bought a painting from a dear friend and I could tell the moment I looked at it that it was going to heal and unify bits of life that so need it:

with every piece she sends out, a sigh of relief for the receiver, a gift consistent in its giving from day one to generations next...

Today my friend Laurie Brown is heading down from San Francisco to say hello to all of us,

and I cannot wait.

I sincerely hope that all is well in your world, dear reader;

is the sun shining where you are today?

xoxox,

Allisunny

Music Brings Sweetness

2012-01-05T21:53:00.000-08:00

YES.

Priestess

2012-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

THE BAG HAS FOUND ITS 'ONE', THANK YOU FOR THE INQUIRIES

The definition of a priestess is a woman who presides over religious rituals, administering rites

and doing healing work.

Over the last week the natural-edge deerskin pattern I had cut out months ago began to take shape:

I wanted it to be for a woman who understand the wildness of life and the holiness

of death

of cycles

and rebirths

and soul.

I want the woman who carries this to be brave as much about the waning of what

we love as she is when something gorgeous begins.

Over the last few days I have felt the soft breath of one I hold so dear as he journeys so bravely in my arms

and sometimes simultaneously I have been given a good swift roll or kick by this LIFE that

pulses inside of my womb.

My GOD, is there anything more meaningful than this place?

So while I've waited for news

and while I've watched over the sleeping form of our little beloved and his amazing

nursemaid Janey (by his side in the most awesome, powerful way)

I have tooled.

I have hammer riveted, opting out of the press I normally use: I wanted everything in here, everything about this holy time in a piece to have come not from a simple movement of a well-greased handle, but from my shoulder.

The making of this bag was both my escape and my eventual immersion into the

deep -

"I know," I said, "I'll make a bag!" A big project means the mind gets to focus on other things than the emotions, there are so many moving parts and everything requires such careful measurement

and singlemindedness...

but as the hammer fell and the shears snipped and the radio remained uncharacteristically silent

I did think...I thought a lot.

I remembered and fought acceptance

laughed and ached

found the space in between thoughts and rested there for wonderful spells...

I thought of the woman who would carry this

wished it was me (a craftswoman always knows when it's hers)

and prayed.

Every night my studio, once closed to the cats gets opened and this sweet boy gets

helped into my big chair

and given lots of pets.

The work has been put away, the dinner dishes have been washed

and we sit together for a few hours

together in the lamplight.

A Holy ritual, really.

With Love,

Allison

News

2012-01-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, my friends...

it is heart failure in its final stage for our Jones.

Please keep him in your prayers as he transitions - my only wish is for him, that he goes peacefully and well across that bridge.

Thank you again for all of your amazing support during this time.

Allison and Schmilly

"Baby, this is..."

2012-01-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

From the time that I first found out I was pregnant, I began telling the little

then-blueberry sized boy, "Baby, this is ___________!"

the blank would be filled in with

downward dog

fresh carrots

the smell of a rose from our yard

little snippets of life

narrated way before he could even hear.

Surely over the last few days he's felt the sharp inward pull of my muscles as I lean into

the waves I ride...

"Baby," I say, "this is grief".

I want to tell him

that it is a natural and normal part of life,

and that he should fear it no more than he should joy

or balance or anger.

Since Friday our magnificent young Jones has slowed down so much.

He who used to rattle all the blinds around the house at 5 a.m.,

whose door knocking and impatient call would ritualistically follow my shower like clockwork

is quiet and sleeping nearly all the time.

Anthony and I have been weighing the possibilities that may come tomorrow

when he gets sedated and checked fully with an ultrasound...

we have been trying to cope with the fact that we may not, even then, know quite what is going on

with his little body

but we are hoping we will

and that decisions can be made that will be the right blend

of unselfish

and completely stubborn.

For now I've said everything I've ever wanted to say to him

and I hope that he understands just how loved he is

and what joy he has brought to our lives.

I've had so much support from you and my animal-loving friends

who completely understand this purgatory we find ourselves in:

thank you.

Words cannot express what it means to hear your stories

and wisdom.

I hope to be given an update tomorrow

that brings great news or at least great peace

so that I can breathe and say out loud to my Orion

"Baby, this is a miracle."

xoxo,

Sunny

LAST CALL SALE

2011-12-30T21:31:00.001-08:00

In the Leather Shop:

40% off of everything until midnight on the 31st:

in a few days, it will all disappear

and a new line will take its place

by the end of January:

a much needed new beginning

for my oldest most beloved craft.

Use coupon code

LASTCALL11

at checkout for discount!

xo,

Solace

2011-12-29T13:29:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: It is NOT FIP. This is wonderful news. The problem is that we still don't know why he is full of fluid: ultrasound scheduled for Monday morning should help us determine

if there is organ failure or a tumor or a rupture.

In the meantime, your kind words and encouragement have meant the world to all of us:

thank you.

Is found in work

in the light aqua walls of my studio

and the sound of a good riveting hammer.

Solace is found in the hearty kick of my sweet Baby O

and in his very presence.

Last night when Anthony came back from the vets with Jones they said the

fluid they drained was yellow, which is in keeping with FIP, a very fast-moving fatal

virus.

There is so much fluid that his organs are all pressed up into his ribs, but they cannot drain until they know it doesn't contain much needed proteins - to drain at will could mean seizures and certain death.

Today when we got the blood results there was no indication of the Corona Virus, which is the precursor to FIP. His liver function was abnormal

and we are still waiting on the results of the fluid testing:

we should hear tomorrow.

In the purgatory of waiting for the results,

I smith.

I hammer.

I hope and despair.

None of what it could be is good or indicates long life, but there are things that would be more treatable than others.

Last night Schmilly and I laid in bed and prayed and grieved together but when we tried to sleep

it would not come

so we got the last of the chocolate cake

and pulled up Tiny Furniture on Netflix,

losing ourselves in the misadventures of a young twenty-something for a few hours.

We are very much a united front of mutual support in the face of loss...isn't it amazing how the toughest parts of life show you the grace and beauty of your relationships?

I forgot how grief makes every breath hurt,

how different it is than simply being mad or saddened...

last night I remarked to Anthony that under any other circumstances staying up late and eating cake with him in our pjs would have felt so decadent and fun

but there was a nightmarish cast in our reasons for keeping such late hours.

it's strange and awful:

Jones's eyes are still sparkling, his demeanor (though subdued and mostly restful) still so much his own... and yet we will have to say goodbye much sooner than we all thought

unless something miraculous occurs

I am holding out for little miracles

while I work

in the solace

of my little blue room.

xoxox,

Allisunny

Cascades

2011-12-28T15:28:00.001-08:00

Maidenhair and pearl cascade necklace

Hangs like a waterfall.

Chrysoprase cascade necklace

rich in tiny and carefully wrought details

Those little sparkles are gold: gold in quartz, to be exact.

The bezel has been given a fine and delicate texture on top

and the green of the chrysoprase beads hangs over the heart chakra:

a healing piece.

We all need healing

most of all.

These are the fruits of my labor these last few days.

On a personal note, I ask for your good thoughts for our beloved boy Jones. Longtime readers know him as our rascal cat, a brilliant trickster with stained-glass-blue eyes:

these last few weeks we've watched his abdomen get bigger and bigger, trying to figure out if it's a matter of loving food too much, as he has quite an appetite of late...

he stopped chasing Janey and started sleeping closer to our heads...

little changes that add up.

Today we took him in and they deduced that he has a lot of excess fluid.

The bloodwork and fluid test results should come in tomorrow and we'll know what we're dealing with and how to proceed in a way that honors his

fierce and funny spirit.

Oh, life...

xoxox,

We are small,

2011-12-25T15:38:00.000-08:00

but we are mighty this Christmas!

There are only three adult souls celebrating together

and it is in our home that they rest.

Schmilly and I have never been without our parents at Christmas

or around Christmas - this is a landmark year.

Blue thoughts here and there, but we processed a lot of them before the most important days of the season:

that feels like a blessing.

Anthony's sister has joined us from Sacramento

and we are enjoying her company so much.

The fur family has had their share of pets

and romps in the paper mounds

before they (the paper, not the cats!) made their way to the recycle bin.

I've mostly hung around the kitchen, making a big pot of cannelini beans

and a double chocolate cake

in the style of my Aunt Sandra, something I know will bring a smile to our faces

as we finish our chicken and dumpling dinner:

who can resist cake?

My Aunt Sandra's chocolate cake, by the way, is the best I've ever tasted.

I know mine will not compare

but with every bite it will remind me of my cousin sisters and

our wonderful times around the table together at every age:

that feels good!

New traditions require a bit of bravery

a pinch of moxy

and a lot of tender loving care:

we've got love to spare -

the moxy needs a bit of work on my part,

but the bones are there.

When we were setting up our tree last nigh we realized we had no angel,

but Anthony had this massive hand-painted shark ornament:

in a year of new twists and turns, we thought it

appropriate to buck tradition a bit

and so - behold!

A shark angel, come to tell us the glad tidings

that Christmas is here

and change is a gift to unwrap in itself!

Happy holidays, you blessed beans:

have a safe and merry season!

xoxox,

Allisunny, Anthony, Jones and Janey

SALE in the Metal Shop

2011-12-23T15:39:00.001-08:00

Everything in the

20% off

for the next three days only, an end of the year sale

that will end itself on the evening of the 26th.

Please use coupon code YEAREND11

at checkout to take advantage of this offer.

Thank you for the wonderful

year you've blessed me with,

my readers and friends!

xoxox,

Allison

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like...

2011-12-23T11:28:00.001-08:00

Christmas!

Our little noble fir is all a-twinkle and we are hanging ornaments

and planning the Christmas dinner menu for three (or four, to be precise).

I think getting this little tree has made all the difference in the world to us - we were both feeling so blue until the living room smelled green and fresh,

until the lights were twinkling.

Somehow the house got cozier and our hearts grew three sizes.

Now we're actually excited for the day to come!

We'll Skype with our families and

welcome new traditions

all in the comfort of our little bungalow.

No Christmas would be complete

without this

hunk:

Santa of Minneapolis,

the very first unfortunate creature we rescued from the second hand store

whose Christmas offerings thrill and delight our funny bones every Thanksgiving:

I don't even know when it began...was it four years ago already?

My sister and I went in to look at clothes and found this incredible wealth

of second-hand Christmas ephemera

mostly beat to hell

and funnier than a good slapstick routine!

The original santa (with his cat penis hat and rapidly deteriorating beard)

has his own vocal inflections and always asks if you've been a very good girl or boy

when engaging a person in conversation.

He's very witty and prone to dispensing advice, even though he is the first to admit he has no mouth.

We think his misshapen little trunk to be filled with beans or rice

because it does not bounce like a bowl full of jelly when he laughs: the paint is too thick.

He cannot be held upright without assistance,

even though his creator gave him one single flat....foot(?) on which to stand.

I am particularly partial to his nose

and his humility.

Our favorite from this year's trip was a styrafoam santa head with the face of John C. Reilly

and a beard of sparse, uneven and billowy polyester fibers.

His foam brain was exposed by the ragged cut of the plastic skin, leading us to believe that at one point he had been whole.

They were asking 1.99 for him, I believe, and we held our bellies in mirthful

disbelief that someone might invest in his ravaged charm.

Sinister and merry, this

creature was too big (and too far gone) to make the cut,

so we opted to take home a wee drunken sunburned surprised santa

whom I will introduce you to tomorrow

Along with haunted woodland santa

and a few other unfortunate souls we had to leave

at Ark.

Do you have any poor unfortunate souls that celebrate the holidays with you, loved to bursting

or uneven on their little gastropods?

Do share!!

Sunny

A Symbolic Piece for Solstice

2011-12-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

RESERVED

On this the shortest day of the year

We celebrate the going inward that winter brings

And surely some among us mourn the summer as long gone,

the year as a time of grief or joy.

We wipe our collective brow that we are here to see this sun, this moon

and meditate on the coming year and our wishes for it

for us

and our loved ones.

As for me, a lover of warmth and long days,

this time of year is hard. I find myself flowing in and out of what feels like despair

and countering the emotions with pep talks

and long walks around the neighborhood to process.

Today I baked my mother's bread for two new mamas

and will spend the afternoon delivering them, seeing the new boys that have come to earth this

late autumn

Today I put the finishing touches on this clutch, a symbol of Holy inward thought

as much as it is a blithe homage to flight and sky.

Every detail finely wrought and carefully finished

every moment making it full of attention and love.

Mookaite in Lavender with dendrites

Luna Moth wings for flight

Moon Mandala for meditation

Scalloped edges for sweetness

Hand stitched for gentleness

Made for the one who claims it

May your solstice be full of meaning

and

warmth.

xoxox,

Allison

Allowing

2011-12-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

When I was singing at the wedding a few weeks back up in Mill Valley,

I had the pleasure of rooming with a student of Transpersonal Psychology.

We were supposed to stay with the blushing bride, but she felt so comfy at her Pa's house that she left the whole gorgeous suite to us in Napa: what a gift!!

That night the two of us girls sat up late talking with increased

animation and wonder:

there was so much in common, so much to say!!!

Could anything be more wonderful than those instant understanding connections?

I chalk it up to being of the same tribe.

The one thing among many that stuck out in my memory of the evening was the discussion we had about perception - that it must be ok to let people perceive you

just as they decide to without trying to influence them into more positivity than they naturally feel.

That's a tough thing to process:

the grace of allowing others to have their own sense of you,

to write you as either hero or villain in the movie of their life should it serve them...

no pleading your case

not needing to be right or accepted

(or even liked) no matter how 'good' you know yourself to be

no matter the outcome

content to let life happen around you without the need to be understood...

Can you imagine the freshness of doing the best you can in every way without wondering

how it's taken?

The crisp cleanliness of a day well-lived in which neither detraction nor praise affected your

opinion that it was good to be breathing?

I think that may be one of the cornerstones of a solid, powerful and purposeful life,

especially in this day and age where everyone has the freedom to voice their opinion

publicly and without name:

perception is key here on these interwebs we've woven.

I am collecting these tidbits of wisdom I glean from good conversation

not just for myself,

but to give to a young boy when he begins to form a relationship with the greater world:

I want to give him a sense of allowing the world its own stage

so that he can focus on bigger things than being liked or seen as he sees himself:

I want to help him find keys to purpose and plenty.

xo,

Finit.

2011-12-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

xoxo,

Allison

The Love of Color and Cake

2011-12-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

I have it, this love of color. Always have, always will.

At the tender age of nine I discovered cross-stitching, and when my mother would take me to the fabric store I would moon over the tiny skeins of stitching thread,

wanting to take home a rainbow of them .

Barely content with the indulgent amount she would let me buy,

I would shut myself in my bedroom with my bounty and arrange them by colors:

rainbow

monochrome fade

perfect pairings

trinities

etc.

Now that I work with water-based acrylic paints, it's so much easier and infinitely more satisfying to make that rainbow from a few simple bottles of paint

Today I played around with increasing the water content of my paints and discovered

a richness of tone that seems counterintuitive:

more water, more richness?

Who knew!!!

I am working on the clutch from a few weeks back, which has been

claimed by a lovely lass here in California:

I cannot wait to see how it looks lined and bejeweled!

Also on the agenda is the search for perfect

Christmas deserts:

this year it will be just Anthony and I hosting his sister, Beth.

I know we'll make sugar cookies

and I think I might need to bake some homemade whoopie pies

as it feels quite like tradition

but

there needs to be a cake in there somewhere,

and this cookbook will likely hold the key

but I have to ask your opinion on this gorgeous matter:

Gingerbread

Hot Milk (love that name!)

Chocolate??

Head scratchers have never been so delicious!

xo,

Allisunny

Tropical Paradise

2011-12-14T16:28:00.001-08:00

RESERVED

I love when a piece perfectly captures a feeling I've been aiming for - it can be a difficult thing to accomplish as it requires the cooperation of all materials, time and inspiration.

Hawaii is not a place that leaves my blood easily - it has been (both times) a struggle

to not spend hours remembering the feel of the places and people

instead of living in the present.

When I was working on this necklace I thought mainly of driving on desolate, verdant and overgrown Old Mamalahoa Highway, first by accident and then on purpose just to explore

the sounds and sights of the dim forest.

Even in low light there was a generosity of colors and form, a panorama of

beautiful things to sink into.

We were reluctant to drive back to Pahoa after that day's journey!

This necklace fits as would a 16.5 inch necklace and the pendant of Australian variscite, wing and Arizona turquoise

hangs five whole glorious inches to rest right above your heart.

I really want to see this piece go to someone who reads here

often

as it feels so personal:

to reserve it in the

Metal Shop.

I hope to send a bit of The Big Island to you, wherever you call home.

xoxo,

Allison

Kamehameha Butterfly

2011-12-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hawaii is still light on my mind...

whenever I think of The Big Island I catch my shoulders creeping away from my ears,

my breath deepening.

Even from far away I feel the land there giving me gifts.

I tooled a Kamehameha butterfly wing

and plan on pairing it with a stunning piece of variscite

in a necklace that will be sure to turn heads.

I cannot wait to finish

and at the same time, I totally can:

time spent thinking of those balmy days

is a gorgeous thing

and not to be rushed.

xo,

The Return of the Scarflette!!!!

2011-12-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

Oh Scarflette, dear Elkskin Scarflette, how I've missed you so!

Upon whose golden lacy hide a tiny bean sprout grows

A veggie ivory button in the richest amber red

"Lady"s up the roughness of the rugged Elken edge.

Ahem.

Please pardon the terrible rhyme above

I've just been so excited to bring back a favorite from last winter!

Against the throat and chest, nothing could compare to the toasty warmth of golden veggie-tanned Elk hide.

This particular scarflette celebrates growth with the three stages of a golden bean.

It fits as would a 20 inch necklace with a long edge reaching down the chest some distance.

You can find her

xoxo,

Just Around Midnight

2011-12-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

It started sometime in the middle of the night:

a nagging sadness that felt like a scoop of vitality taken out of the center of my chest

a crankiness that made me want to pull the covers over my head and skip

the next twenty four hours of life, stay in bed and aim for distraction.

From waking

to shower

Farmer's Market to

home

here she is: the blue day in all her glory.

Isn't it kind of amazing how frequently these grey soul days come after great accomplishment?

We nearly stripped the entire bathroom of its awful maroon paint yesterday

in preparation for a warm deerskin color we'll apply in a week or so

and Friday night I had my first Ladies' Night in years, the first time since Los Angeles

that I've known enough local lady friends to sit around a comfy living room

and talk about everything under the sun...

and then under a full moon the mantle of dim descends

like a mini-hibernation for the soul

starkly beautiful and beneficial all the same as those peaks we know.

Just as I've made a mental picture of Munson, my grouchy inner critic,

I think I know what my Lady of Infinite Sorrows looks like:

she is lovely in drapes of grey fabric

carrying a wilted bouquet

in walking meditation

bearing the weight of the world's woes in an oversized wicker basket.

Her face is lined with compassion, her hair silver as snow.

I never realized before writing her description how much she means to me,

this part of the whole that brings pause and rest

to bustling days.

I never knew I felt tender towards that kind of quiet...

I think I will bake a pear cake today

work on finishing the pieces that need finishing

and take a long walk in the dim evening light

with my husband

and my babe.

I might even introduce the Gray Lady to a little Tom Jones on vinyl

and perhaps she will find it as delightful as I find her silent company...

I hope that when your patron saint of sadness

sends an invitation this season or any other

you allow yourself to let them in

and know the gifts they have to give:

they are many

and meaningful.

xo,

Fruits of Winter

2011-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here growing by the minute, appreciating ripeness

in a way that feels so revolutionary to my heart and head.

There is a kindred feeling toward things that blossom, nature that bears fruit.

Today, for the first time Orion actually woke me at 7:11 (the equivalent time to place where we bought the final pregnancy test --- delightful!)

with some fabulous moves

and I felt (for the first time) actual limbs when I placed my palm over my womb.

If I could have seen under the dark covers, surely this dance would have translated to my sight-

magic!

Three days ago my very favorite yoga teacher came over for tea

and catch-up, bringing with her the first of the Meyer lemons from her tree.

I proceeded to make edible sunshine with those gorgeous perfumed fruits:

Meyer Lemon Curd

Organic butter and eggs from Petaluma,

lemons from an angel.

You can find the recipe

and enjoy it just as we have.

Outie for the First Time

2011-12-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

POP!

xoxo,

Allison

Last Chance Sale

2011-12-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

Gone in one week!

xo,

Ear Gems

2011-12-07T16:05:00.001-08:00

RESERVED

Beach Feather earrings with operculum shells and chrysoprase

RESERVED

Perfect Carnelian Earrings with Operculum Shells

Hawaiian Peacock Fern Earrings in Sterling

Microfaceted smoky quartz with operculum shells

Long and Dangly

Short and Elegant

Thinking of listing these tomorrow

but will happily take reserves

if the feeling moves you:

and it shall be!!

xoxo,

Allison

Hammer Engraved Koi Necklace with Lavender and Orange Agua Nueva

2011-12-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

RESERVED

Millimeter by tiny millimeter the graver cuts through the sterling silver

creating the picture of something beloved:

koi.

This piece was inspired by the tiny babbling koi pond that sat right outside the window of our farm stay on the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island:

the weather was chilly, and the fish huddled under a lily pad

tails undulating with the tiny wind-blown currents of their home.

Engraving little pieces of Hawaii is my way of

sharing the energy of the island with those who take home the pieces I craft.

Just as delightful as the finned friend

is the cut of Agua Nueva Agate partnered in this necklace:

orange and yellow as a sunset (so difficult to capture in the chilly light of winter)

with lavender banding and a hint of parallax in the lower right hand corner.

You can reserve this piece if you wish with a simple

in the Metal Shop

And if no one claims her, I will list sometime this evening

or tomorrow morning.

With love from California,

Sunny

N.C. Black, Pie and Weddings

2011-12-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

This morning I am having pie for breakfast:

the last piece of an open-top rustic apple pie that I made for the dear

duo of Andrea and Les of N.C. Black

as they swung through San Jose last night after a demo in Cupertino.

For those of you who don't know (perk up your ears, smiths!)

Andrea and Les are the ambassadors and educators for their company that makes stellar hammers, forming blocks and stakes.

I took an engraving class with them last November in Long Beach

and it completely revolutionized my work.

Their instruction was tremendous

and always above and beyond the basics - students walked away

filled with the kind of understanding that fuels passion:

that's good teaching!!

Les showed me a bit more about forming in my studio

and I look forward to showing the excellence of their tools through my work

as it becomes more three dimensional.

When I hold an N.C. Black hammer in my hand I am always amazed at the grace and ease with which it swings and makes contact: their work is sublime

Balanced

Elegant

Anthony has been instructed to get me a big vise (ho ho ho!!)

and I will be acquiring a small table to use as my forming station.

I will be writing a bit about each hammer I use

after I get the feel for them.

After a break in January, this dynamic duo will be heading back out on the road for what may be the last year of intensive workshop touring:

I sincerely recommend you check out their schedule and see about

getting some higher education

to take your metalsmithing to a whole new level.

I am happy to report that the wedding I sang at on Saturday night was a smashing success

complete with blushing bride and a fully choreographed high school- bff-dance to N'Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" -

I was amazed!!!

I have some really heartfelt work to share with you this week -

stay tuned!!

xoxo,

Allison

Hand and Heart

2011-12-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

I have had my heart broken many times

through romances and friendships that lived out their full life-span

before I was ready to let them go

We have all been cut off in traffic, cursed at by someone we don't even know,

given the cold shoulder, cried on a bus full of people with nary a compassionate glance

And yet the bravest among us still hold out our hand to the world

and offer the gem of our best self

as a gift with nothing expected in return.

Expectations shatter joy

in a sad and noisy way - I've had my share for people I've loved

places I've wanted to go

things I've set out to accomplish

but the times of great surprise and open-mouth smiling

have normally come to pass when I didn't develop a notion about what was to come -

joy crept in when I simply gave of my time or my heart

without banking on what I would see, think or feel.

The wonder and passion of living seem to be the results of a generous,

adventurous soul who ventures into the dark cave of that next moment

with a beacon and a full lunchbox

knowing when to nourish and when to rest

expecting nothing

and giving everything they can to life.

Every day I rise I pray that God helps me

open

grow

and learn from both the slings and arrows

as well as the bountiful harvest

and I trust that in giving the best I have in me

there is a bright spot left where darkness once fell completely.

This design is one of a kind, paired with a gem quality Coober Pedy opal

from Australia.

The fire in the opal is a rich grasshopper green with hints of yellow, perfect for the heart chakra over which it rests.

It is roughly 19 inches long with a double chain

and the hand itself was hammer engraved, which is an ancient and time-consuming art that I cherish.

In the Metal Shop today.

xo,

Amidst the Hotel Reviews

2011-11-30T21:45:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night I am singing at a wedding in Marin County,

oh so close to the old stomping ground of Petaluma.

Knowing the wedding won't be done until the wee hours of the morning,

I opted to find lodging for the night

as opposed to dragging this exhausted frame home to San Jose

long after bedtime.

Looking online, there were some extra fancy places and some seedy-looking flophouses

and then I found an Inn that looked just right:

there amidst all of the comments

both positive, negative and downright Homeric was this gem:

"The sun rose in the morning and set in the evening. There was Peace and Plenty."

I sighed and smiled, rubbing my warm belly as Baby O kicked and turned.

Has there ever been a wiser, more poetic lodging review?

Oh

2011-11-28T18:02:00.000-08:00

Heavens.

xo,

Offering

2011-11-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

A piece of a gift came to me today

in the form of an idea that could not be stilled

enough to even murmur,

"Tomorrow, it can wait until tomorrow"

from the warmth of my bed...

everything else got put off today

but this.

A hammer-engraved hand

carefully drawn

tenderly carved with the graver...

It will be a necklace

and in the palm there will be a gift of a gemstone

and I feel opal might be best

to be worn over the heart.

In the leather shop the hummingbird clutch

called out to be antiqued, painted

but it must wait until at least tomorrow

when I feel stronger.

Its centerpiece will be a piece of gorgeous green turquoise

I've been holding onto for years...

And in the midst of these deepening dark days of winter

the uncanny word 'bloom'

beckons from the flip side of the piece.

This was the work of my hands on the last days before leaving for

Minneapolis - sometimes tooling obsesses me

and I can do little else

and then the impulse flips to metal...

I love the contrast and the ability to do both

with all my might.

xoxo,

Allisunny and the box of tissues

Volcano Ring

2011-11-28T11:32:00.001-08:00

Erupting

xoxox,

Sunday

2011-11-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Something's coming this way I just know

the way a woman does;

It's leather and metal

Born of my son

of Hawaii

family

and a patience I normally do not possess.

Sick and in bed

I do not lament these passing hours

because in their wake they leave

bits of dreams

colors

and streams of new technique

to ponder:

I am not bored by the quiet

I am lacking for nothing

but instead languishing in a way

that would normally have me tapping my toes for want of action

nails bitten in the stress of hoping it will be as wonderful as its unrealized form

Carrying a babe

is a fierce gift for any artist

in that gestation imparts patience like never before

and creativity

while able to be fostered and led

is also the independent idea coming through the artist

quite like a child does

in its own time

with its own dna

and destination

Once my baby was a grain of rice

whose food was a yolk sac

clinging to the wall of my most secret body

now he is a soul I can feel

He is

hands and feet that tell me of waking

and sleeping

dreaming of adventures to come

He is

one of the loves of my life

unmet

but experienced fully

and in his presence I am brave

for love

impervious to slights

better with my heart

clumsy with my hands

Something's winding this way

on golden heels

and I am waiting

in folds of cotton

covered in sleeping cats

carrying this babe

and the knowledge that all is well

indeed.

Eruption

2011-11-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

The Big Island is born of volcanic activity

(as are all of the Hawaiian Islands)

so lush and green

with many different kinds of landscapes

and weather patterns - it's like five places rolled into one:

high desert

jungle

small town

beach enclave

rolling rural Marin

But to look into the crater of the volcano is to see

desolation;

the aftermath of furious heat

the precursor to wind-planted seeds and decadent soils...

Though I've been working with the volcanic design for quite some time now

being near the center of an actual eruption site

taught me volumes about texture

and feel....

What was a concept just became a bit more of an exercise in remembering

the smells, sounds and heart of the beloved model.

The scene is beautifully bone-chilling up there...

It reminds me of the aftermath of anger, rage or dervish-like confusion...

Nothing but a red-eyed fierceness

that eventually will soften into understanding

and a welcome place for verdant, lovely life

like a feud between southern families

that heals and ends in marriages and babies.

A Brazilian Garden Quartz is the seed inside the mighty cone

beckoning its mistress to take a closer look inside

so that she may heal herself well and fully

after any eruption.

Size 7.75. Distinctly One of a Kind.

xoxo,

Our Shells

2011-11-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

NOTE: THE DENDRITIC AGATE IS NOW RESERVED

It would be almost unreal to think about what life would be like without our protective shells...

just like the sea turtles of Hawaii

we have a thick armor, dinged by years of deflecting

battered by the passing of time

and life's roller coaster of high and low moments.

In moments of great love and friendship

we may slip our heads out, move about

and in some divine circumstances completely set aside that which

we no longer need, completely trusting

our ability to weather anything without protection:

this, my friends is a rare and special thing,

usually the result of a peak experience

or years of meditation, yoga or seeking.

All it seems to take is one rage-filled driver

or someone in more pain than we feel comfortable with

and we find ourselves again

bearing that ratty shield

in hopes that we won't fall apart behind its strength.

But the inside of our hearts and souls?

Beauty.

Compassion, clarity, love.

These two sea turtle necklaces I have engraved, formed and hammer-aged

are the metal embodiment of our desire to self-protect

and the beauty we fear being damaged inside of ourselves.

Perhaps on days that feel dangerous the shell side sees the outside world

while the gorgeous gem of you presses against the warm skin near your heart

On days where you feel comfortable opening to life more fully

your opal-self or your dendritic tree-self kisses the sky and causes the sharp intake of breath

from those you meet,

offering a connection

a conversation.

A portion of the profits from the sale of these necklaces will go

malamanahonu.org

to aid in their ongoing efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.

If either of these necklaces speak to you, please do send me a

to reserve one.

With love,

Allison

25% off Everything in the Leather Shop

2011-11-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hello, dear friends!

I wanted to let you know that I will be starting a new design series in the Leather Shop

for 2012,

which means clearing out what's there:

everything will be 25% off in the

Leather Shop

with coupon code NOV2011 used at checkout.

I will do reserves for up to two weeks - please convo

me if you need a hold!

xoxox,

Sunny

.

2011-11-16T21:51:00.000-08:00

Schmilly and I waxed marvelous over dinner this evening

discussing the differences between our two

Hawaiian vacations thus far as a couple.

During the first trip to Kauai, Anthony had just lost his job

and we were a newly married pair

lost in a vanilla-chocolate swirl of 'for worse' and tremendous support

from friends and loved ones.

During this trip, we are post-three-year-anniversary

and pre-baby.

Anthony has just been a part of the production of

a very popular video game that is doing well for itself.

The contrasts are stark

both situations rich with beauty and potential for growth,

both very important times in the lifespan of lovers...

but the ways in which we know each other

have grown many

and the tenderness that knowledge has engendered

is deep and wide

We've navigated life together these last 6 years

from dating

falling madly and quickly

moving in

hitching our wagons

and creating new life.

I thanked him a lot on this trip

and I told him that if we were single

and had gone on this trip as strangers in a group that traveled together

dined and hotel-ed together

perhaps as friends of friends

or coworkers

I would want him to ask me out;

I've found him witty, tender, chivalrous and handsome

And I would have carried a flame for him

Had a crush on him

Wanted to feel the weight of his hand on mine...

That's a nice feeling,

realizing how much you like the one you love

How you would choose them again and again

If life would be kind enough

To just introduce you.

xo,

An Unexpected Blessing

2011-11-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

Last night we went out for Thai food - delicious fresh Thai food...

we held hands

we ate well

and I of the small bladder

went back as the check came to use their facilities.

It was a strange setup:

four restrooms, two for women, two for men

but I simply saw one door marked women and proceeded to wait

and

wait

and

wait

when out of nowhere, a male patron

approached me and brusquely told me that there was another restroom

and I should use it.

Where did he come from? How long had he been watching my wait?

I closed the door behind me, face aflame

and felt a rolling wave of hormonal grief wash over me:

I had looked like an idiot

as I have so very many times over the course of the last month or so

since the 'fog' seems to have descended.

Women with children laughingly told me that said day would come,

that I would find myself forgetting things,

misplacing things

and not really having the same sharpness that I usually do -

well, I get it now

and honestly

for a woman who struggles so actively with perfectionism,

I think last night was the doorway to a bit more freedom.

I looked in the ladies' room mirror at the restaurant

and saw my shame

right there in red and water:

yes, I looked like an idiot

to someone without empathy or warmth

but why am I so scared to death of the world?

Why is the first assumption one that renders me unsafe, unloved?

Is it really so bad to make mistakes? To mess up or miss details?

I've worn so many hats running my business

and caring for our home

that I've had to write pretty much everything down since about week 19

just to make sure I am aware of things, reminded of events to come.

I am exhausted from trying to keep up the ruse that I have my shit together at all times

and here in paradise of all places,

I hit a huge stop sign

and had to surrender.

I cannot say that I feel settled on this matter,

that I felt the mantle lift and the wonder of it all come in

but

I can say that having such a strong aching response to

such a simple gesture of help (harsh though it seemed to my tired self at the time)

has really opened my eyes

to the issues underlying the wish to be just right in all ways:

it's not possible, especially not right now

and perhaps beyond pregnancy

and motherhood

not ever -

perhaps it never was

and through its myth we perfectionists all

plan on getting the highest score

on the test of life

for....what?

Glory?

Blissful invisibility?

A Painless existence?

God's approval?

I hope in distancing myself from the crush of that pressure

to find an answer or two

and a lot of peace.

What do you do in the face of self-criticism or perfection?

I am eager for your insights.

Love,

Allison

An Attempt

2011-11-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

In this post I am going to make a clumsy attempt to describe something

that defies description-

a magical moment in my life (in our lives)

that was a gift from our friends in Waimea

despite

a sick baby

and the rigors of getting a family of four into a harbor, a boat

and then back home -

we cannot thank you enough, dearest Jenni and Miro -

ever.

To be clear, this was not a cakewalk as far as miracles go:

I spent the better part of the journey with my head over the side of the boat,

giving the Pacific my breakfast

and when that was all gone,

foam and saliva.

Having just seen what I'd seen, experienced what I'd experienced I did not mourn my food or my dignity:

I simply laid my hands and head on the 'My Jenni' and watched the flying fish

leaping and traveling

in a state of such utter surrender

that I could practically feel the warmth of God's palm.

Empty.

From the beginning:

We traveled by boat from Kona southbound

until we saw them in the surf:

a pod of about 50 dolphins

with babies in tow

northbound in their travels.

Miro put the boat in neutral

and we donned masks and fins,

slipping off the back of the craft into the warm water

some 40-80 feet deep.

My heart was on fire

my breathing was ragged and a fear of deep water that has plagued me since childhood was ripe;

I all but missed the sight of the dolphins swimming close to us,

save for a few

that moved to my right.

We moved on, more streamlined in our process;

neutral

flippers

less fear this time

perfectly placed ahead of the pod

and

friends:

I saw them, so close -

underneath us, to each side:

they scanned me with their sonars

and seemed curious and close

and many.

With my head above water to find the boat

I saw them leaping and splashing in the waves

and a return to the mask

found them still coming:

big

small

far

still passing, still magic.

I swam sideways to watch them

and I thanked them silently with all my might for the visit

so few get to have in the wild.

Back on the boat, the above nausea took over.

I think almost more than the waves

it was the intensity of the experience

that laid me low...

for the rest of this day I've been

in utter surrender,

quietly watching the scenery pass.

Letting tears come at times,

I lean in as Hawaii pulls them from me

soft and slow like a river.

xoxox,

Sunny

LOVE.

2011-11-12T18:59:00.001-08:00

I know vacation is meant for seeing beautiful things

and exploring a new vista

but

somehow I always leave a bit of my heart

not just in the verdant valleys

and blue waters

of this island chain

but

with small beasts who claims it

just as surely.

xo,

A Winner and a Big Thank You

2011-11-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

Ladies,

You bless my life every day with your beautiful faraway friendships

and the warm understanding that we are a tribe

that understands each other; that thrives on beauty and love and growing.

I don't think I could ever drive home how frequently I feel the wonder of this

connection

how much I give thanks for this paper cup phone we've got going on that spans continents

and cultures....

we are neighbors all the same.

I've gotten advice from you here,

visited you on your own digital spaces and smiled and cried with your triumphs and

losses...

I've been sustained by your support and

lifted by your encouragement

I will not try and fumble my pale words any more, suffice it to say

that you rock my fucking world.

As for the contest, we do have a winner -

hit it, random number generator!!!

Mairedodd!!!!!

me with your info, dear woman

and thank you ALL

for entering this giveaway -

I loved reading all of your wintry words -

they made me even more excited about the coming chill

and the gifts of going inward.

With Love,

Allisunny

P.S. - published at 11:11 AM PST to avoid confusion!!

Oh Farm

2011-11-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

Good Morning

To your Lovely Self,

To the Ladies

And this three-legged man, Dasher: true to form, he has Dashed off with my heart -

I am so smitten it hurts.

Everywhere around us, beautiful beasts

and natural wonders.

xoxo,

Sunny

Goat-y Reminder

2011-11-09T17:26:00.001-08:00

The goat was kinda having none of it,

but I was trying to remind him to enter the necklace giveaway

by Thursday, 11:59 PM.

Perhaps you will be more amenable to my sage advice?

xoxox,

Sunny

Home Away From Home

2011-11-08T19:06:00.001-08:00

There has been nothing more beautiful than these moments

with our dear friends...

Today we walked in the finest mist

saw two rainbows

and rose before dawn

Our breath is deeper

Our hearts calm

Our baby dancing his way north to the greenery

of Honokaa...

Heaven on earth.

Love from this place,

Allison

A Contest for this New Season

2011-11-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Because you have been so wonderful

Because the winter offers such beauty in the filigree branches of the bare tree

For the love of the new season

And the wonder of the chill

I have made a tree to be won...

All you need to do to be its adorned is to leave me a comment: tell me what you love

about winter, even if it's just simply the act of coming in from the cold!

I will draw a winner on 11/11/11 at 11:11 AM

from the warm shores of Hawaii!!

Little contests like this are simply my way of saying

'thank you'

for reading and being a part of my life in a very big way.

Here's to this winter being a gift

in spite (or perhaps because?!?) of its temperate hardships

and

a balm in its silent surrender.

I wish you

peace

joy

family

love

and

wonder.

Now play (snow)ball!!!

xoxox,

Allison

Reminder

2011-11-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

Shops close at 4 PM Pacific Time today!!!

xoxo,

Allison

The Last Few

2011-11-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

Ah, the beauty of winter...

Bare trees and beautiful sunsets

Unexpected joys

retreating

surrender

renewal, invisible.

And a fallen flower in labradorite.

I will be listing these beauties in the

in just a little while

amidst the bee wings

and remnants of summer.

xoxox,

Allison

A Month of Gratitude

2011-11-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

During the silent retreat I took with my dear friend last weekend

I thought I'd spend the time deepening my sense of gratitude, accentuating the positive

and generally fortifying this miraculous place I find myself building inside.

Instead, I ended up working through some really difficult issues

centering around being safe in my community

and building the gift of self-reliance.

The mental chatter was deafening, the fantasy enactments of healing

and struggle vivid in my mind's eye...

'this is your brain on silence', I wrote.

There's been a palpable vulnerability since I've returned

which I do not fear per se, but it has made for some tender moments

where I've wondered if it's time to ask for help

to vanquish these dragons.

I rationalized that I've spent too much time with them, trying and failing to shake off the feelings

of guilt and fear, but in 14 hours of silence you are excavating, writing and discovering

your history in order to experience a brighter now, five hours from now.

It's work -

When you dig, expect to dust off a few relics.

Unexpectedly, I am coming to find these struggles not just a pesky background noise anymore, but instead a series of archetypes that make me feel every struggle we know

is as old as the hills of Petaluma;

that person

that place

those things...

everyone throughout time has engaged in the self-same mental acrobatics

to heal the rifts, some with great success, others with a map of failure

well-documented -

a cautionary tale to those who venture later into the same labyrinth.

I am grateful that I do not have to feel alone in my search for betterment,

in this delicious breaking open to grow.

November for me is going to be a month of thanksgiving, never mind that we're already three days in - it's never too late to celebrate the reality of wonder.

For today, I am grateful for Pamela and Renew Yoga

a place where discovery and self-work are encouraged

with tenderness and care.

Thank you for such an amazing opportunity to learn and grow alongside 13 other

like-minded and seriously powerful women on this retreat...

and for the song of Grandmother Oak.

What are you grateful for today?

xoxoxo,

Allison

Well well well....

2011-11-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

Every few nights when Anthony tucks me into bed

(waaay too early for a 34-year-old woman to fall asleep)

I go through my list of eBay favorites

and search for the rough and polished rocks I cannot get enough of.

A search for King Cobra jasper will turn up mostly mottled brown and cream/tan stones,

nothing like the rough I came across a few years ago that set my kcj obsession in motion.

Last night as luck would have it I found the Holy Grail:

Salmon pink, sage green, rich cherry hints in mustard yellow jasper.

I snapped it up without a second thought and when I get home from all of November's

travels, I intend to slice into this treasure

and make some cabs to set, and perhaps a few to sell.

I just felt so giddy with thrill that I had to share it with you:

for some people their bounty is shoes

for others maybe some sort of rare mushroom;

I heart rocks.

xoxox,

Allison

Shop Closure Dates

2011-11-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hello All!!

The

Leather

and

Metal

Shops

Will be closed as of Friday, November 4th,

opening back up again on November 18th -

Bee Wing pieces and the fabulous Thunderegg ring will be listed

later this afternoon.

xoxox,

Allison

November's Harvest

2011-11-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Will be small but oh so mighty mightayyy

(I already love you if you know what song those last two lyrics are from)

The first piece I have to show you is a stunner:

a large, organically shaped Kazakhstan Thunderegg Ring.

I cabbed the stone myself and was so amazed at its composition,

so unlike anything else I have ever seen in my rock-loving life:

the matrix was pink and the agate itself was deep blood red, neon yellow and had pockets

of opaque agate that hinted at movement.

For this stone I made a special textured bezel

And a very simple setting so that the unique, rare and deeply satisfying agate artwork would shine shine shine.

I can safely say you'll not see an agate like this but once in a very blue moon.

Kazakhstan Thundereggs go for a MINT online.

This ring has a fern band, wide

And globular accents. It will fit a size 6.5-6.75 finger.

Now, on the wing front, I have been stalking my garden

to see if autumn had claimed any carpenter bees, but there were none to be found

since the last beast I found in the early summer.

Enter my dear Laurie Brown

with whom I spent a few hours on Sunday (more on that at a later date)

and in whose presence I merely had to ask, "Have you a spare bee wing?"

Well, she sure did, and these rolled beauties are the result

of a tiny bit of home surgery and an answered prayer.

Sterling silver bee wing necklace

Light-as-air hammered-edge bee wing oval earrings

Small and dainty bee wing sterling earrings

And copper bee wing earrings!

I may have a few more pieces that show up toward the weekend, but this may be the

sum total of November's smithing:

I have a clutch in the works that I hope to have finished before I leave:

it involves hummingbirds!!!

To reserve any of these lovely metal pieces,

and we'll sort out the details!

xoxox,

Allison

Once More, With Feeling

2011-10-31T16:09:00.000-07:00

For the third time in four years, I find myself strapped in

to a Holter monitor to track my heartbeats for 24 hours.

With each instance they have become more and more user friendly:

this one is 5 electrodes and a battery pack around the neck - hooray!!!

On my way home from the appointment, I got run out of my lane

on a two-lane left turn with a solid white line (which means stay in your lane according to the DMV)

and

I rolled my window down to tell the woman she was driving dangerously

and explain California traffic laws

only to have her defend her driving angrily and speed off on a green

going 50 MPH in a 30 zone.

I got my first 'diary entry' for a palpitation from that

experience, so I guess....yay?

But mostly it made me sad, extremely sad.

I want to believe that everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they've been

given, I want to have compassion...

We don't seem to realize how we damage those around us:

to her I was a bitch who tried to tell her how to drive

and she may never think twice about that turn until someday someone

next to her doesn't notice her car drift into their lane.

To me, she was a threat to myself, my baby...

We are at war.

So very many of us are at war.

What if she and I would have met instead at the bagel shop down the street?

Perhaps she would have held the door for me

and I would have offered a smile in return,

a warm exchange on a different plane:

I bet she has a lovely side.

All I know is this: tonight she is my tonglen partner

and I will wish her well with all my might.

Maybe tonight you might offer a bit of care for someone whose best is simply not good enough for you, wishing them the strength and courage we all need to get through this

wonderful terrible life.

With love,

Allison

A Time Away

2011-10-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

A silent retreat that changed so much in me

dinner at Central Market

decaf latte for me, strong regular for the lovely tall woman beside me

feeding pigeons in San Francisco

dinner at Street with some awesome women...

Home again, home again jiggety jig

Full of so much goodness I can hardly believe how light I feel...

Someday soon I hope to tell you about it all,

but for now the softness of the bed beckons

and I hope to dream of Walker Creek Ranch and the hills

of Petaluma.

xoxox,

Allison

Loving Kindness and Chrysoprase

2011-10-27T08:25:00.001-07:00

Metta.

Lovingkindness.

These were the subjects last night in yoga, taught for the last time by my favorite teacher.

In the last full year, I've learned so much more about commitment, love and passion from this woman and the lineage of Tibetan Heart Yoga than I ever knew I could hold.

She transformed my practice from one of physical exercise to mental devotion -

to bettering not just myself, but holding loved ones, strangers and everything in between in one's mind as the practice deepens, offering your strength in the hopes that they may be free of suffering,

that all beings may be free of suffering.

There is no feeling like finding a kernel of love for someone who has bullied you

or devoting a long-held warrior III to someone in need.

Even after the car accident when I could not move very much, I would go and sit quietly on my mat just to be in class.

I've realized through my practice that this work I do with my hands is the ultimate expression of Metta in my life. I try to work when I am at peace, and if I find myself

challenged while in my studio I'd rather not leave a piece with that energy;

I don't 'go to bed angry', so to speak.

Metals and hide get filled with intentions and prayers,

packages get wrapped with love and well-wishes for the recipient,

songs are hummed

gratitude is professed

angst is healed here.

This room with its aqua walls is my solace and my saving grace

on days that hurt.

This piece is a perfect example of love in action;

I hand-rolled two different types of green through the mill:

Mendocino Fern

and Jacaranda, a tree that blooms astounding purple blossoms in late spring.

The chrysoprase cab was worked by me on my wheels at home

and the quality of the stone is astounding; the deepest apple green you can ever imagine

and luminous in big ways.

In this piece are wishes for growth and green, tender thoughts and a few kicks from my baby.

Dancing inside the molecules of the silver are calming words

for your fight -

imploring you to let it go,

assuring you that in surrender you will vanquish something far more powerful than an enemy.

The Lovingkindness extends to my family as well:

This piece will feed us, help me grow my studio

and my spirit, nurture this little life we three are building.

I will be donating 20% of the sale of this piece to the Metta Center.

You can find this beauty in the

this morning.

xoxoxo,

Allison

Fallen Flowers and Sentimental Daughters

2011-10-26T15:39:00.001-07:00

My mother left yesterday; I drove her up to the airport after a lunch

of Burmese food and a failed attempt to secure a loaf of brioche bread for her travels.

I love the idea of sending loved ones off with something they can savor.

In the wake of her visit, I am sentimental

quiet

and slow to smile.

It never fails to happen, but this visit was like super-extra-wow special

for so many reasons, not the least of which being a wonderful time with the In-Loves

and the knowledge that our baby is a boy

(whose nickname is already Bubber - I'll share why later)

but the studio, as is the case most frequently, was a balm for me today.

The radio is set to KFOG

the tea refills itself

and the plants have all been watered and encouraged.

As the other two necklaces I previewed in their unfinished state seem to have been

snapped up already,

I have this offering:

A Fallen Labradorite Flower

with warm, curling copper petals

and a luminous labradorescent stone with fire in a trinity of colors:

cobalt blue

marigold

and a nearly green turquoise!

This piece balances perfectly, and is a wonderful option for everyday wear.

It wil be in the

this evening before I leave for yoga.

With love,

Allison

Born Again Half Belt

2011-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Twin bird skulls (my Wright's Beach skull)

frame a juicy, pomegranate carnelian cabochon

set in fine silver and copper

stitched in to warm toffee colored leather

and soft as a silk saffron lamb suede.

"Born Again"

reads the stamped inscription inside.

That phrase can mean anything from

finding new life in religion

to discovering untapped reserves of strength within

recovering from trauma

relinquishing attempts at control

or just simply rising again with the morning sun,

grateful and exuberant.

There is something autumnal about the coloration

but season-less is the subject matter:

death and rebirth are a favorite subject in my studio,

a necessity in the growth of a soul

and the history of earth.

This half-belt measures 28.5 inches ring end to ring end

and looks fabulous strung with a scarf:

Voila!!

Rich in tender touches,

this is an heirloom piece

for a woman who knows the joy of

rising

from slumbers both physical and spiritual.

In the Leather Shop:

Love,

Sunny

Beautiful Luxe for Lovely Ears

2011-10-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago at the farmer's market I visited my favorite stand and inquired

after the heirloom tomatoes -

"All gone" was the answer from the pretty girl, and we shared a wry smile.

Last of the season can be a sad moment

but

if you can press the 'last of' into metal, well then:

spring all year!

RESERVE PENDING

These are my last flower petals, adorned in rivets and surrounded by

delicious, nutritious color

monochrome rainbows are the theme:

chrysoprase...

...hits you right in the heart chakra with a cleansing burst!

RESERVE

Supremely luxe Mexican Fire Opal

Yum.

This pair is asymmetrical, with one earring ending in a riveted petal, the other sans flower

parts: it's a bit rock and roll, and oh so posh!!!

Maidenhair Fern and perfect aqua fluorite

So fresh!!!

RESERVED

Short petal dangles and turquoise rondelles

Lovely, lovely luxe

for your beautiful ears.

Do any of these belong to you?