going international

These dramatic beauties were a custom order from France. very exciting!  I'm officially internationally represented!  My last 4 orders have been from Australia, Sweden, UK, and France, respectively.  That's weird - maybe no big bad recession over there? 



I'm hoping she'll take a pic of herself in front of something very French like this:


or this:



or this!



these pics are from Pia Jane Bijkerk's new book Paris: Made by Hand. (via the amazing sfgirlbybay)

On to my Australia buyer, she was the sister of a friend and she literally bought the earrings out of my ears. AND she's a crafter herself (as well as an "featured" extra in the new bad Nicholas Cage movie!)



She was featured in this great book on up-and-coming Melbourne designers, Handmade Melbourne.

Her hats totally remind me of these guys:



and these awesome rugs.



I love that a lehigh valley girl is making Incan and Persian inspired crafts in Australia and I'm blogging about it in Virginville. small world!

Field trip!

So here are some pics from my most recent trip to my crazy jewelry supplier in Bethlehem, PA - Lost River Caverns. Yes, it's a cave - stalactites, stalagmites and all that. This place is truly weird, you must go!!

it's a mix of weird cave-y geode type stuff, pirates, antique guns, taxidermy and silver supplies - I guess that all makes sense together. Pirates fought off wild animals with antique guns to steal precious crystals then hid in caves?


the ubiquitous pirate.


I'm pretty sure bears and dinosaurs never met but it's fun to pretend! ....

here's some history on the cave if you are curious -- it seems like fun things happen down there, some weddings and they even have music concerts!


Yet another of PA's great weird local attractions that hasn't been updated in 50 years ... I'll feature Crystal Cave next, and maybe Roadside America if you're lucky!

(model of Crystal Cave at Roadside America. Intrigued yet?)