spiralling.

... but not out of control!  i've been experimenting a little with my wishbone style earrings and came up with these lovelies!  sculptural, linear, almost like a line drawing come to life.  there's a "spiral jetty" (r.i.p. robert smithson) kind of feel to them, but they're still feminine while being deliciously modern.  while i do love working with solder and flame, there is something quite straightforward and simple about cold forging wire.  sigh.

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miserable.

Lit - Miserable (Official Music Video)

i was driving home in my car, feeling a little miserable because it was raining (again, like it has been all week), i was tired, had no idea what to make for dinner, and had just gotten reamed out by the manager of the bank i deal with for work because of some stuff someone else did while i was off. i've been slowly going through the hundred unlabeled CDs in my car, and stumbled upon this little gem by Lit. i remember living up north and a cool kid who i was doing anger management with handed me this song on a mixed CD he had made for me. it was great then, and is still great now. yay for being miserable!

(i wonder what happened to the band. hmmmm.)

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explosions.

one of the greatest musical finds of the last few years. a little bit of the jesus and mary chain, a little bit of dream pop sensibility, and a huge whack of fabulousness. probably the most awesome thing to come out of sweden since ikea. and the best name ever.

unfortunately, they haven't released anything since 2010. the main dudes have reformed into a new musical project, called Det Vackra Livet. sadly for me, the songs are in swedish. maybe it's time for a language course?

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design challenge!

on this dreary thursday morning, the design challenge vote for my etsy team begins!  take a look at the entries and you can click on the link on the top right corner of the team blog to cast your vote!  and no, you don't have to vote for me.

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omg. the reality of changing my name.

so today, etsy rolled out to shop owners the ability to change your shop name.  i can do it, but only once.  and i am still debating with myself whether or not to change it.  i am nostalgic about the muffin top legacy (ha ha ha) and am reluctant to lose all the marketing that i have done over the past 4+ years.  however, i feel that "muffintop" does not truly represent the work that i do now and really have been seriously throwing around ideas for names. 

they are as follows:

solder & flux
solder & burn
metallique
tumbled
rock silver hammer
pyrograph (it means writing with fire - how cool! but is it too close to pyromaniac?)
sterling & solder
torch & burn (i don't know why i like names with "&" in it but i do and this is my shop)
evolved/evolve/evolutionary (no, the words individually, not with the slashes in between)
or just my last name - rainville

this "short list" is so not a short list.  i'm torn.  this is a once in a lifetime change and i don't want to make a misstep.  because i've made quite a few in my lifetime, LOL.  sigh.

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stuttering.

totally one of the best "i'm-so-in-love-with-you-i-can't-stand-it" songs. yeah, i know it was in a gum commercial, but i don't care. there is nothing like the feeling where you are so in love with someone that you just can't help yourself. like loving the cute boy from your english lit class from afar, sneaking clandestine glances at him from behind your locker door. the original video is very cute, but they've disabled the embedding feature so i had to substitute this one instead.

ah, love. you crafty devil.

now i'm off to set some metal on fire. got a huge box of precious metal in the mail today. talk about LOVE!

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pumpkin patch.

i haven't participated in a team design challenge in forever.  but this month's challenge theme - "pumpkin patch" - made me a little inspired.  i've been dying to add a little something to my wishbone earrings, and i stumbled on a little stash of swarovski crystals in bright pumpkin-y orange today.  eureka!  and here are my little pumpkin wishbone earrings!

in celebration of pumpkins and all things autumn, i'm giving away a pair of these!  (i haven't had a giveaway in forever either!)  want them?  all you have to do is this:

- follow my blog and post a comment stating that you are following me (mandatory entry)
- post a comment here and tell me why you love autumn! (1 entry)

easy, right?  i'll get the mini to randomly pick a winner on october 31st!  make sure you leave your email so that i can get in touch with you if you win!

in the meantime, you can check out the other tradeaholics' fabulous creations here and here!

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size isn't everything.

i don't know why i never thought of this in the first place, but i'm presenting the small size of my wishbone argentium sterling silver open hoop earrings.  small, but powerful.  seriously.

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