We did it! Karen and I braved the snow and wind and ice and stayed open all through last week. Being a born-n-bred Seattlite, I felt as if I were as brave as Sir Hillary on Mt. Everest. Of course, he didn't have the bar at St. Cloud's to cozy up to after a long day. Now that the crowds have thinned, the ice has melted, and I've had a few ten hour sleeps, it's back to the business of blogging and such.
The week before Hannukkah began and Christmas arrived (the retail world belongs to most faiths) I had a delivery of jewelry from the one and only Micki Lippe. Micki is a successful production jeweler who in recent years has turned to making more one of a kind art pieces. Her involvement in the Seattle Metals Guild (she is the founder of the Seattle chapter), the Pratt Fine Arts Center, and The Women's Shelter Jewelry Project has has made Micki a sought after mentor of many an up and coming jeweler. For the month of February she will be in a group show with three of her proteges at Pacini Lubel Gallery in Pioneer Square. Welcome to JayWalk, Micki!
On this Tuesday before Thanksgiving I find myself in the calm before the storm. I think the shop is ready. All orders have been placed, most of them have been delivered. As of Friday the store will be open 7 days a week until the end of December. I am so grateful that the lovely Karen Grady Brown will once again help out a few days a week this season!
The economy might be suffering but people still like to shop. Being mindful of that I made sure to bring in a selection of well priced gifts this year. Darling little trinket dishes of ceramic with fused glass in gemstone colors are $16. Little shell boxes for a treasure are $4.50. Candle trios from Big Dipper Wax Works are in three scents; mint, pine, and spice, and retail for $24. Alchemy Goods has a brand new product- belts from recycled bicycle inner tubes! I have them in S, M, L, and XL. Once again I've got the seasonally ordered Charles Chocolate's super special orange chocolate french buttercream truffles, and their caramel-chocolate-almond sticks. Come and get 'em!!!
It's here, it's here!!! Seattle artist Cody Blomberg created this super fantastic artwork for the front of the store. I'm so in love with it!
Getting ready for the great big holiday retail season around here. Lot's of new stuff, almost daily now. Bistro aprons from that master mixer of fabrics, Annie Erickson. Calm clay prints from Sandy Eschleman. Photographs of Weston Jandaka's spring '08 visit to China. Bright mosaic fish from Darcy Thompson. Jeweler Sarah Gascoigne is going crazy with pearls these days- an entire sculpture fits right on your finger. Easy mohair throws and beautiful painted silk & pashmina scarveds from Mary Hubbard will keep a person cozy through the winter. Looks good in here!
A customer sent me a link to a study confirming that spending time in a beautiful and calming environment can reduce stress levels by 45% in just 40 minutes! That makes sense of the sometimes daily visits by my neighbors. It's hard to get my paperwork done, but the visits confirm that I'm doing a good job. I want people to be delighted and inspired and happy when they leave.
Fran's! We have Fran's Chocolates again! Last seen in JayWalk this past May, my order slumped into puddles of goo the day we had 90 degree weather (more like 100 in the shop) because I wasn't prepared in time to get the chocolates into a fridge. Such special treats must be honored in a temperature controled environment, so I waited until I was certain there would be no more heat waves. The latest confection available is a Gray Salt Chocolate Thin that comes 10 pieces to a package. Much easier to share when you get back to work than a 3 piece package of caramels. The famous Gray Salt and Smoked Salt Caramels are also in, alongside the tried and true Almond Gold Bars.
Tucked away down in Seward Park there is a brick building that generally has it's doors open during the day. When walking by, it's like peeking into Santa's workshop. This is Seattle's own Seward Park Clay Studio, and classes are open to the public. One of it's resident artists, Gretchen Siegrist, has recently brought some wonderful hand built creations to JayWalk. To the left is an autumn themed bird bath. The 3D oak leaves and acorns sit atop the stamped bath. We also have her very sweet birds perched on the mouth of a vase, and on the lips of food safe cups. These creations are very, very special and range in price from $34 to $375.
In other news, Dotted Line Jewelry has brought in gorgeous new pieces using Judaica that designer Annie Huntly hand picked in Tel Aviv in August. Tiny Stars of David, Hebrew letters, and even teeny tiny hamsas. Hanging from oxidized sterling chain, and dotted with itty bitty semi precious stones, these pieces are unique and elegant.
It’s been a gentle transition to the Fall season here in Seattle. The warm September days have seemed to go on and on and on. I was approached by an advertising rep this week asking me if I was ready to select an ad size for the holidays…WHAT!!! I was just at the beach yesterday! Good god. At Lowe’s last night we were cracking up at the Halloween and Christmas displays. Um, that is a little ridiculous. But, the fact is I now own a retail shop/gallery and for it to survive I have to sell things. If it’s advance advance info about what is for sale that the public wants, I suppose I should provide it. But I’ll give it to you with a little advice: only buy what you find beautiful, useful, and that you‘ll want to live with for a long time. Do not buy a single thing because you think it is fashionable. And don’t blow your wad all in one month (i.e. December). Spread it out, a little every month. It will keep us little stores afloat, and make your January bills more reasonable.
With that, here are just a few of the super incredible wonderful beautiful useful and long lasting items in the shop at the moment. Wool shawls that are so pretty they should be hung as tapestries are. Perfectly sized handbags made from durable fabric remnants scavenged by City Kitty. A ring cast in the shape of a chicken that will outlive your grandchildren and over all of those years will cause a sensation at any party it is worn to. A collection of artworks by Graham Fracha. A vase with birds that is so lovely, so magical that I smile every time I look at it. And these are just the teasers…the ‘holidays’ have yet to come!
This fortune came to me by way of a cookie this afternoon. For once, I completely agreed with this little slip of paper...even if I add on "in bed" at the end. I just happen to be an artist who happened to help open a store and now I own it, and I keep trying to figure out how to make more of my own art. I think that while this is the case it is as if JayWalk is a substitute for the smaller creations my hands would like to mold. The tidy clutter of JayWalk completely mirrors my studio and my mind. The daily visits from other artists are the interuptions I was used to in my own studio in school and in New Mexico- always welcome because of the stimulating conversation and inspiration gleaned from another's excitement about their project of the day. In the last week JayWalk received the sweetest ceramic cups with little birds perched on the edges from Seward Park Art Studio resident artist Gretchen Siegrist. She was on the heels of a visit from Sarah Gascoigne, an instructor at the Pratt Fine Arts Center, who delivered rings with gold and set stones that are just beautiful. Linnie Kendrick brought in three pairs of her Swing Set earrings (fyi they went REALLY fast last time). Dotted Line Jewelry was been re-stocked by designer Annie Huntly who is going to Israel for the next month. This week will see more soaps from Castelbel arriving, a new order of Ingrid Cusson's exquisite suede card holders and checkbook covers, and some fancy new pen styles from Retro51. Lastly, expect some new artwork from Christopher Ernst any day now. I had a sneak preview and was blown away. I'll let you know with the next post. -Amy
I love to pretend I am a princess. In disguise, mind you- I am not one to wear a tiara. Jeans and tee shirts are my everyday wear. All it takes is a little attitude and some small, distinguishing mark of royalty such as a lace hankie in my back pocket. If jewelry is called for, any piece from the River Song collection proclaims "I am a princess". River Song earrings and necklaces are knock outs- each and every one of them. Semi precious and precious stones are crowned with clusters of matching stones, held together by precicely wrapped gold wire. Bridal jewelry as seen in mall jewelry shops pale in comparison to these fabulous jewels. A sampling of River Song jewelry is available at JayWalk- go to www.riversongjewelry.com to view all of the stones available. Oh, and River Song is based right here in Seattle, of course!
Wow! Look at this new necklace from Seattle artist Daphne Minkoff- I've never seen anything like it. Bursting from your neck, her flowered chokers will draw the attention of every eye in the room. She has just delivered five of these brand new designs to JayWalk.
So what if it's still too chilly to jump in the water here in Seattle! JayWalk has new necklaces from Tanya Monique that allow you to take the beach wherever you go. Tanya's pendants are entirely hand crafted- from her enameling to the unique setting, Tanya fabricates the entire piece for a TRULY one of a kind necklace. When some jewelry is assembled, often the various components are mass made, like the chain Tanya's pendant hangs from. There isn't anything less valuable about assembled jewelry whatsoever- JayWalk carries some really cool lines. It's just a treat for me to see what skilled hands can fabricate. Come on in and see for yourself!
