wedding. ring.

we didn't have a wedding. the husband and i hoofed it down to city hall, me in a purple a-line mini dress, clutching a fresh bunch of wildflowers from the corner store, and he in a jean jacket and his doc martens. we tied the knot at 9am in front of the most quebecois justice of the peace on the planet. we took our wedding party (our friends cindy and steve) to breakfast and then we drove out to the husband's mom's house for some polaroid wedding pictures next to the st. lawrence river.

i don't regret for one minute not having a huge blowout wedding. i kind of regret not getting married by an elvis presley look-alive in vegas, but that's another story for another day.

however, my friend jerseymaids is thinking about getting married and slowly has been formulating ideas about what she wants. of course, she would love everything to be handmade (we are card-carrying etsy members, after all) and had included me in some jewelry conversations.

being on a budget, she talked about how she wanted things to not only be affordable, but also beautiful and timeless. (like she is!) which inspired my new wedding ring collection. in staying away from the conventional diamonds and white sapphires, i am hoping to make a handmade wedding and engagement ring set that is affordable to the new bride. i'm loving the results. and these rings also encapsulate the informal quality that i loved so much about my wedding day.

ah, romance! thank you, jersey, for being my inspiration!!!!

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becks & jeb... or "a wedding story"!

my friend becks is the reason i have my jewelry making obsession. in february 2007, she introduced me to beading, and has encouraged me ever since. (thanks, becks for wearing my "testers" too!)

this summer, becks is marrying the love of her life, jeb. they are two of the sweetest, kindest people i know and it is wonderful that they are getting hitched. jeb loves becks so much - and in a totally non-sickatating (is that even a word?) way that doesn't make you want to puke.

becks asked me to make her bridesmaids' jewelry and her bridal set. totally the most flattering thing in the world. (becks is the type of girl who had all of her wedding stuff planned and booked two months after she got engaged, leaving barely any room for anyone to help her.) i am so thrilled with how they turned out - there is nothing like creamy freshwater pearls, ruby red swarovski crystals, and silky ribbon...

becks' bridal necklace is made of freshwater pearls in cream and swarovski bicone crystals in a deep ruby red. the focal piece is a huge - and i'm talking HUGE - geometric swarovski crystal. i've linked each element in a rosary style with sterling silver wire and sealed it off with a lobster clasp.

the bridesmaids will be wearing cream freshwater pearl necklaces, which have been finished simply with a black ribbon. matching drop earrings made of the same freshwater pearls and black swarovski pearls. just beautiful!

i can't wait to see them in these beauties! and becks is going to look gorgeous - not that she doesn't already! congrats, becks and jeb! love you both - and thanks for letting me be part of your wedding!

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And The Bride Wore Indie... SUMMER CONTEST!

i LOVE mixed tapes. i LOVE romantic, sappy songs. i LOVE alternative/indie music. even though i've been married more than ten years, i'm in the middle of compiling the best alternative/indie romantic compilation ever!!!! however, there is only so much that i can find on my own, so i'm hoping to have a little help from my friends!



here is my playlist so far -




The Luckiest – Ben Folds - seriously, i get teary-eyed everytime i hear this song
The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel - the husband even loves this one too
When I’m With You – Faber Drive
Closer - Travis
We Are Man and Wife – Michelle Featherstone - one of the most perfect wedding songs EVER
Dusting Down the Stars – Mobile
Like I Love You – BellX1 - a stripped down version of mr. timberlake's classic
Stuttering – Ben’s Brother - yes, i know it's a dentyne commercial, so shoot me
Forever – Ben Harper
You and Me Song – Wannadies
I Love How You Love Me – Beth Orton
Question – Old 97’s - you HAVE to listen to these lyrics!
Everlong (acoustic) – Foo Fighters - of course, Dave Grohl has the soul of a romantic poet
Goreki – Lamb
You and Me – Lighthouse
I Love You Anyways – Travis
Only You – Joshua Radin - a Yaz cover, almost done better!
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Just Like Heaven – Katie Melua - so sweet, so dreamy!
Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups
It's Only Time - Magnetic Fields



i'm also loving the string quartet arrangements of Coldplay and The Smiths - especially "please please please let me get what i want" and "in my place"



in the spirit of romance, i'm offering up this contest: post your favorite(s) romantic songs here on my blog, and the story behind it! the most romantic storyteller will win a pair of my Bridal Bling earrings (shown here)! (and they don't have to be indie or alternative... i just love a good story!)







the deadline is July 5th - my birthday! i WANT to hear your sappy stories! i can't wait to make the best alt-rom mixed tape!

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