MerCurios - Behind The Scenes

In the works - Studs & Spikes

2012-01-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

Truth be told, I am a supply hoarder. I buys lots of stuff all the time - sometimes I know what I'm going to do with a particular item - other times I see it and just "have to have it".

That's the story behind this chain. Believe it or not, I purchased it two years ago while on a buying trip. It was just one of those items that I just had to have. I didn't know what I was going to do with it - especially at almost $15 a foot wholesale! I just knew that I ~~wanted~~ needed it.

Well, two years later this studded spike bracelet and flexible spike ring were born. I'm so in love with these pieces and hope you are too.

I need to get in touch with the manufacturer to see if that chain is still available (finger crossed!). If not, you are looking at a limited edition of three bracelets and perhaps two rings. Oh well, this is what happens when you sit on supplies.

Are you a supply hoarder? I'd love any and all feedback. Please share your tips, tricks, etc... in the comments section below.

xoxo

Sneak Peek - Dipped Arrows

2012-01-14T16:28:00.000-05:00

There are lots of ideas swimming around in my head right now. This just happened to the be one that was screaming the loudest - "Dipped Arrows".

These are obsidian arrow heads that I have dipped in brass to give them new life. Now if you are familiar with my work at all, then you know that I go where inspiration takes me. As a result, everything is pretty much one-of-a-kind or very limited runs -- 5 piece tops.

However, that's all about to change with this. I'm definitely thinking the brass dipped arrows need to be a "Collection" of sorts -- a bracelet, a necklace, and a ring. I'm still toying with ring design ideas, and believe simplicity will be best in this instance, but who knows...

Make it Personal

2011-12-04T09:47:00.001-05:00

This Christmas it's personal!

Celebrating a birth of a child? Your first home together, or a new move, perhaps? That first kiss as husband and wife? Remember it forever with a latitude longitude ring.

Have a song that you can't get out of your head? Or a line from a poem that keeps you going? Why not wear it on your sleeve, literally. We can fit 4 lines of text on our corset cuff bracelets. It's available in silver too!

Prefer something a little more edgier; then our 2 and 4 finger knuckle rings are for you! Theses rings have had graced the pages of Status and Cleo Magazines. Not to mention the Etsy Finds blog and front page too!

Our narrow double finger ring is 1/4" and has it's ends exposed for an asymmetrical look and feel.

Our Number 1 Best Selling personalized two finger ring is 10mm wide and is reminiscent of a tattoo-style banner.

Here it is in sterling silver. Prefer a brushed metal finish; this ring is available in a rustic copper too!

It's Summer in Australia

2011-12-02T13:45:00.001-05:00

Last nights challenge on Project Accessory was to accessorize a swimsuit. The designers combed the beach and boardwalk at Cony Island for materials with which to create 3 accessories -- sandals, a head piece and an accessory of choice.

I loved what James came up with. Having very long hair myself, his modern, chic and industrial-style hair sticks rocked in my opinion.

...other than a hat or hair sticks, you really won't catch me wearing accessories at the beach or pool though. It's not because I'm lazy, as I am most definitely not lazy. In fact, it's because I'm so lathered up with sunblock that anything other than a hat would just get greasy and ruined. I'm sure I over do it with the SPF 100 that I reapply every few hours; but that's what happens when your mom dies from skin cancer at 43.

Anyway, one of the looks that judges enjoyed last night was a mixture of shells and Swarovski crystals. We mixed shells and raw crystals for our Spring/Summer 2011 Collection back in March/April of this year. I'm taking the liberty of sharing it with you here just in case you missed it in the shop over the summer.

Clockwise from bottom left:
Smoky Quartz & Shell Knuckle Ring in Copper; Double Quartz & Shell Necklace; Smoky Quartz Metallic Shell Cuff; Smoky Quartz & Shell Necklace; Crystal Quartz, Skull & Shell Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Oyster Shell & Quartz Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Skull & Spiral Shell Ring; Crystal Quartz & Shell Two Finger Ring in Copper.

Jingle all the way

2011-11-08T13:38:00.000-05:00

Having trouble getting in the Holiday spirit? Or just want to feel like one of Santa's elves? Get a 'Jingle Bell Ring' and carry the magic with you.

Wherever there is a temple, there is a bell; wherever there is a bell there is a temple

Did you know...According to traditional eastern belief, the sound of a bell ringing purifies the holy place in which it rests. In essence, the temple bell evokes one's yearning for peace, balance, and harmony.

Fully adjustable, choose from Leopard, Orange or Purple Jingle Bells! Pick up your MerCurios 'Jingle Bell Ring' here.

Project Accessory

2011-11-03T12:22:00.000-04:00

Show of hands - who watched Project Accessory last week? Who will be watching tonight?

I love accessories! You can't spend 20+ years of your career in the Accessories Industry and not love them. They make or break the outfit. Add the finishing touch. They are very personal, and perhaps more importantly, accessories allow a persons personality to shine through.

Believe it or not, I only found out about the show the day of the NYC auditions, otherwise I would have been in that cattle call - side-by-side with my peers vying for the opportunity of a lifetime. That said, everything happens for a reason AND there is always next season...right?

Of course after watching the first episode, who knows. I'm sure the team will be challenged to do more than just jewelry. Shoes, Hats or Handbags perhaps. While I'm sure I could make handbag, I doubt it would be anything anybody would want to carry, lol. Forget about a hat or pair or pair of shoes. Then again, we never what we can accomplish until we try, right?

Personally, I thought the designers were FAB! Each had their own design aesthetic that they brought to the table. While some styles may have been similar, each transformation of the basic "white T and jeans" was unique to the respective designers vision.

Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to future episodes. I can not wait to see the challenges and how the individual designers attack them. As a designer myself, I find it very inspiring and thought provoking. The only down fall is that someone has to go home each week. - it is a competition after all.

Thoughts?

Carpe Diem! 2 finger ring from MerCurios

What do you think?

2011-10-27T15:08:00.001-04:00

I had to stop what I was doing when this popped into my head. The gold coil was a leftover piece from a project that didn't quite work out like I had intended; the blue quartz was wrapped in a silver cage with spider legs that I wasn't quite feeling either - both were just staring at me and then POP! this was born.

It reminds me of a birdcage, but I prefer to call it "orbital". While I definitely think this design is cool, I'm not so sure I could duplicate it if I tried. In its current state it is a ring, but I'm wondering if it should be a pendant. Or even better a ring / pendant. What do you think?

While I'm on the topic of opinions, what should this coffin shaped agate druzy be? So far I have one vote for a two finger ring and one vote for a bracelet. Usually I envision every project, however, I'm completely stumped on this one. Perhaps it just isn't his time, or perhaps my creative juices require some stimulation or a battery recharge.

I'd love to hear all of your comments, thoughts and opinions.

Thanks in advance!

In the works - Cuffs

2011-10-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

I've been working on expanding the bracelet collection by adding cuffs to the mix. As with mostly all MerCurios pieces - they are handmade and one of a kind. Created from stainless steel and available in three widths: Slim, Standard & Wide; measuring 1/2", 3/4" and 1" wide respectively.

Clockwise from top left: NEON glow in the dark pink quartz cuff available here; Metallic pink & smoky quartz cuff available here; Caged quartz cuff available here; Teal green quartz & dagger cuff available here and lastly, Smoky quartz druzy & evil eye cuff available here.

What's your favorite piece from the mix?

Do you wear cuff bracelets or do you prefer chain?

Is there anything in particular you would like to see from us?

Please share in the comments section below.

In the works - Necklaces

2011-09-24T11:06:00.000-04:00

I have a fascination with rings. Just one peak into MerCurios (my shop) will tell you that. As much as I love rings - and I DO love rings - I've really been wanting to expand the other sections, especially necklaces.

With my toddler starting kindergarten just three short weeks ago, I have finally gotten caught up on custom work. (I'm back to a 2-3 day turn around for those of you interested in a custom piece - contact me here) With the holidays fast approaching I'm sure this will be short lived, lol. But I digress...now that I'm caught up I've been spending some time and energy on other areas, including necklaces.

Here's what I came up with so far.... What do you think?

You can find these five pieces and more here.

Metal Clay Rescue

2011-08-08T09:27:00.000-04:00

Thought you had toss your old, dried up metal clay? Think again!

A few years ago at Christmas, my loving and oh so generous husband gifted me with a complete PMC Clay starter kit. It had everything but a kiln.

Believe it or not, I wasn't smitten with it. I never liked the feel of a newspaper under my finger tips, and so I never read the paper. It was the same with the metal clay. I'm no sculptor to begin with, and the feel of the moist clay under my fingers was yucky. Not to mention the left over residue that was hell getting off once it dried. With that, the clay went into a drawer never to been seen or heard from again...until now!

A while back I was inspired to pull it out, but it was all dried up & solid as a brick. Even completely sealed, never opened packages were hard as a rock. Metal Clay has a shelf life, who knew! Although all dried and completely unusable, I couldn't bring myself to toss it. I've been known to waste my share of money, however, wasting anothers hard earned dough is a thought I cannot bear. So back in the drawer it went. Until now!

Just last week I picked up the most recent copy of Metal Clay Magazine all because of a spread on photographing jewelry. As I'm flipping through the pages I see in big letters "Reconstituting Silver Metal Clay" - what timing!

A great article by Lisa Cain on how she recycles her not-yet-fired dried up metal clay. Guess what? A coffee grinder is all you need to turn that dried up silver clay into moist sculpt-able pieces. The concept is simple; add small amounts of the dried clay to the grinder and grind to a fine powder. Move your fine powder to bowl, slowly add drops of water mixing the powder into a clay. Voila, you have refurbished metal clay ready for sculpting & firing.

I cannot wait to put this to the test! I do need to fulfill my current wholesale and custom commitments before I can *play* with any new ideas. But boy are they brewing. I'll let you know how I do in a follow-up post. In the meantime, I'd love to know your thoughts on the topic.

What's NOW! - Big, Bold & Chunky

2011-07-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

As you may or may not know, I ventured out the Henri Bendel Open See in March...again. You can read about the first adventure here.

This time we showed our big, chunky bracelets and chokers dripping with crystals, druszy's, agates, geodes, etc...; crystal encrusted knuckle dusters and (the original) #1 selling "personalized" double banner ring. We were sure to leave the skulls at home as they are "too edgy" for the Bendel Girl - I know this from the previous Open See visit. {If you're not sure who the Bendel Girl is then just watch Isla Fischer in Confessions of a Shopoholic; 2009 -- just kidding, but I do love that move so}

The buyer immediately picked up the personalized rings, looking at them curiously, as I knew she would. She moved on to the bracelets and chokers, looked up at me and said "Great pieces, but your chains are too big for us". With that it was time to move to the left & let the next indie designer hoping for a Trunk Show through.

Once again MerCurios was passed over by Henri Bendel, and once again MerCurios proved that we are ahead of the trend. How? Why with the big, chunky chains of course. All the celebrities from Lady Gaga to Beyonce to you name it - they are all seen wearing huge chains around their necks - at the beach or on the town. Big, Bold Chunky chains are IN, HOT, HIP & NOW!

Niki Minaj in XXL Magazine; Beyonce taken at LAX

Guess what? We will be going back to the Open See for a third time. What can I say, being rejected by Bendel's is good for business.

The Stickers have Arrived

2011-07-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago it was announced on the Etsy Facebook Page that MOO was giving away Free Custom Stickers to the first 1,000 Etsians to click. I found out about the promotion a few hours into it and scrambled to be one of the 1,000 - luckily I made the cut.

I chose my avatar as my sticker of choice for two reasons - 1. That picture is known world-wide as being associated with MerCurios. 2. I am in the process of changing our packaging - our percentage of male customers has drastically increased and a rose printed pink box just won't do - and thought these stickers would look nice on a plain black box.

You are probably thinking "MJ are you sure? I can't see your customers wanting a jewelry box with a picture of you and your son on it." and you would probably be right.

What you don't know, is that at this very moment samples of MerCurios logo drawstring jewelry pouches are on their way from the factory. Having logo boxes as well as the jewelry pouches is just redundant to me and I believe my customers will hold on to the pouch long after the box has broken down and returned to the earth.

If you are reading this as a one of the thousands who have purchased from us, then you know that packaging is everything to us - and a plain box I just cannot have. That's where the stickers come in.

I am so excited to launch the new packaging that I can barely contain myself. I will share pictures as soon as the pouch sample arrive.

Thoughts?

Carnival Chic

2011-07-21T10:03:00.000-04:00

I just love mood stones, don't you? The sheer magic of the colors changing as if to predict or solidify what I'm feeling at any given moment...that's what draws me in.

This is mood jewelry for a new generation! Akin to the carnival rings of old, but with a sophisticated flair and modern twist. Suitable for the grown-up's everyday attire, yet fun enough to satisfy the the inner-child in all of us.

The idea is simple; our bodies generate heat, which is transmitted to the liquid crystals. The liquid crystals begin to twist into various colors which depict our "mood" at present.

Check out the entire Carnival Chic Collection here. Don't forget MerCurios will create a custom, one of a kind piece just for you!

Networking 101 - Planting Seeds

2011-07-18T09:32:00.001-04:00

Do you carry business cards with you?

Do you wear your own product?

Are you comfortable and confident when speaking about your product?

Well you should be, and here's why:

I cannot tell you how many customers we have had the pleasure of doing business with - not because they ask about my jewelry - but because I mention theirs! That's right! I mention theirs. Below is a real conversation that took place while on line in my local Starbucks. It can happen to anyone, anywhere.

Me: "Ooo, I love your necklace. Is that Rock Love?" Them: "Yes, how did you know?" Me: "I'm a big fan. I would recognize Allisons' work anywhere." Them: "Me too, I love my necklace" Me: [pulling out my business card case] forgive me for being presumptuous. I'm a local jewelry designer, whose style is organic and raw - lots of free hand wire wrapping, big rocks and crystals, etc. Here is my card in case you would like to see more of our work. Them: [looking at the pictures on the back of the card] "Wow, beautiful stuff. I'll definitely check out the site" Me: "Thank you"

...That was the end of it. I went on to place my drink order and they theirs; we went our separate ways. The very next day I received an order for three custom pieces.

It doesn't always work out like that. Sometimes it takes weeks before I hear from them. Sometimes I never hear from them at all, and that's okay. I think about it like this - one more business card is one more seed planted.

We would love to hear your thoughts...

Are you comfortable being the initiator?

How would you react in a similar situation?

Do you or have you gotten business from the most unlikely of places?

Any tips for fellow readers on what has worked or not worked for you?

xo,

The MerCurios Mark

2011-07-14T11:42:00.000-04:00

It was a long time coming and it's finally here - the MerCurios Brand Stamp!

The Future:

Each and every MerCurios piece that leaves our studio from this point forward will have the mark. For two reasons...

1. MerCurios is and always has been a brand, so it is only customary that the product reflect that. Having each piece marked with the logo will tie everything together and create a cohesive brand statement.

2. The second reason is much less glamorous - having the mark on our pieces will set us apart from the marketplace and act as reassurance to our customers that what they have in their possession is indeed an Original Handcrafted MerCurios Creation. There will be no mistake - you either have the original or you don't.

The Past:

To all my loyal friends and customers, if you would like your original MerCurios creation branded with the MerCurios mark simply send your piece back to me. Contact me to get started.

In the Works - Rose Gold

2011-07-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

I have become completely smitten with rose gold.

Above are three NEW rings, though only one is currently available in the shop.

Clockwise from the top: 1. Hot pink agate druzy two (2) finger ring. 2. Tangerine quartz double (2) finger ring. 3. Found shell & crystal quartz ring. All are crafted with 14 karat (gold-filled) rose gold.

Did you know? Gold filled is composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to brass or copper. It contains more gold than gold-plated or vermeil and is far more durable. It is tarnish resistant and will not wear off or discolor the skin.

What are your thoughts on rose gold?

Would like to see us expand the collection?

With the sky-rocketing prices of precious metals, how do you feel about gold-filled jewelry?

Are you willing to pay a little bit more for a gold-filled piece versus a piece crafted with silver or gold plated wire?

Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you...

xo,

Fourth of July

2011-07-11T11:55:00.000-04:00

Some random photo's from the Fourth of July taken at West Meadow Beach. Enjoy!

Local News

2011-07-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

I've been a bit lax in keeping you guys updated, partly because I've been (and am) inundated with custom work and partly because I really only write - even something as simple as an update - when I'm inspired.

With that, in case you missed the tweets, here are links to two recent Long Island write-ups from the past month or so. Although it may not seem like a big deal from the outside, it is a big deal to us. MerCurios has been included in numerous International Fashion Magazines and Blogs, local press it seems, is not as easy come by.

First, MerCurios was on page 24 of the Memorial Day Weekend issue of The Independent. "Just A Little Goth" is the title of the article. It was so much fun being interviewed by the editor. The conversation flowed like I was catching up with an old friend. You can read the story here, just be sure to click to page 24.

Shortly there after, MerCurios was featured in Clothes Line - a Fashion Blog off shoot of Long Island Press Newspaper. This story has a completely different vibe. Feel free to check it out here.

Opinions Wanted

2011-07-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

I don't usually design MerCurios by Collection. Pieces are created as inspiration strikes. This summer something changed and the Carnival Chic and Ocean Gypsy Collections were born.

So these two collections would not get lost in the vast sea that is MerCurios, I redesigned how the shop is browsed -- Collection versus Classification.

However, I'm thinking of changing it back AND that's where you come in. I would really love your opinion.

*what do you think of the new layout? (you can see it HERE)

*when shopping on the internet do you prefer to see all

the rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc... together?

*do you find browsing by collection intriguing?

You may have seen me ask this on Twitter or Facebook, but in the end I thought this was the perfect venue for such an important question.

Overall, I am undecided. On one hand I do like the idea of browsing by collection. On the other, I feel that a couple of the collections, like Bhoemian and Rebel for example, with 31 and 53 respective items is over saturated. You?

Keep in mind with the Etsy venue we are limited to 10 shop sections and MerCurios has reached its limit.

Thank you in advance for time and opinons. I am truly grateful for any and all feedback.

xo,

Accessories Magazine

2011-05-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

The MerCurios Glow in the Dark 2 Finger Ring was the *Item of the Day* - Accessories Magazine, May 18, 2011.

See the full article HERE! ...So maybe they spelled MerCurios wrong - still this is a dream come true! And I am eternally grateful.

Check out our What's Now post to see more amazing Glow in the Dark {NEON} Jewels.

Femme Artem

2011-05-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

Join MerCurios and several very talented Artists for all the all Female Art Show Femme Artem.

The event takes place on Saturday, May 28 from 5pm - 10pm at SmokeSignals Cigar Lounge in the heart of Port Jefferson New York.

Some of my fellow artists include:

Christine Bilbao
Daneal Aileen O'Leary
Jen Anderson (Inkpulsive Tattoo)
Kassandra Leigh Purcell
Stacey Sharp (Inkpulsive Tattoo)
Merideth VanSac (Ms. Memz)
Melanie Hernandez
Karlene Vineyards

Hope to see you there!

We did it again!

2011-05-18T00:00:00.002-04:00

Our "After the Rain" Rings for Australia (Helping Hand) were featured in the March 2011 issue of CLEO Magazine!

I am so proud to say that MerCurios alone has raised almost $500 for the Queensland Disaster Relief to date. We will continue to raise funds through the sale of our rings as long as Queensland Disaster Relief Appeal remains active.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way!!

In the works - Locking Bangle

2011-05-16T11:46:00.000-04:00

When epiphany strikes everything else stops dead in its tracks. If you are anything like me, that means you immediately stop what you are doing AND do what ever it takes to get that idea out of your head. Some may call it procrastination, others call it a distraction. Me? I call it divine inspiration.

So after morning coffee and getting Gabriel settled with what passes for breakfast in my house this Caged Glow in the Dark Quartz Locking Bangle Bracelet was born.

At the moment it's a prototype - there are way too many scratches on it to even think of selling it. This was my very first attempt at a locking/inter-locking piece. One must unclasp caged neon quartz to get the bracelet on and off.

The possibilities with this new piece are endless...a choker...other metals...brightly colored stones...shells...custom stamping is an option too, akin to the corset cuff or our very popular banner rings. But I'm getting ahead of myself as usual. First things First! And First Things would be finishing up the custom orders that are piling up on my desk.

Oh and if you are wondering what passes for breakfast in my house, today it's dry cereal & fresh strawberries. He's five and a very picky eater. I'm lucky I got him eat anything before Noon.

I welcome any and all feedback, so please don't be shy. (including comments on breakfast, lol)

What's NOW!

2011-05-13T14:21:00.000-04:00

My June issue of In Style Magazine arrived yesterday and lo' and behold Neon is "What's Now!" From clothing to shoes to home furnishings the brighter the better!

If you recall, MerCurios has had Natural Raw Glow in the Dark Quartz Crystal Jewelry available since September 2010 (Seeing is Believing) - AGAIN ahead of the trend!

Plan on getting Plugged In to What's Now? MerCurios has you covered with our signature Knock 'em Dead - Take NO Prisoner modern fusion of fashion & style.

Distorted

2011-04-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

"Distorted", the documentary of Artist/Painter David Gerena. ...Can you spot MerCurios?

Modern Primitive

2011-04-25T00:00:00.008-04:00

Modern Primitive! That's how Jewelry Designer Victoria Tillotson, a.k.a @chicmetal on Twitter describes MerCurios. Victoria recently wrote a guest post for Chic Galleria in which she featured a few fellow jewelry designers & we were one of them. Sweet!

Check out the entire write up here.

And of course many thanks to Victoria for such a wonderful article. You ROCK!

Design your own Jewelry

2011-04-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Did you know at MerCurios you can design your own Jewelry?

Perhaps you would like your very own custom agate druse two finger ring with skull accent? Or a chunky cathedral link bracelet with crown accent? Maybe a simple boho chic glow quartz necklace? Whatever you are in the market for, with MerCurios the possibilities are endless...

Simply visit our Facebook page and head over to our "new materials" photo album here where you will see a vast array of stones, charms, chains & findings.

Step 1:

Choose your piece

(Ring, Bracelet, Necklace, Earring, Anklet, etc...)

Step 2:

Choose your components

(Metal - Stone(s) - Charm(s) - Findings, etc...)

Step 3:

Include those details in an email to us.

(we will get back to you within 48 hours with a price quote)

It's that simple!

Banana Republic biting MerCurios?

2011-02-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

It appears MerCurios has quite the admirer, and I must admit I am a bit flattered. On the left is a ring that just popped up at Banana Republic. On the right is the original MerCurios design from March 2010. We have been selling our ring for about a year now, and it has been featured in countless well-read Fashion Blogs - not to mention CLEO MAGAZINE...twice! (read all about it here and here.)

Of course the ring isn't going to be an EXACT duplicate; you are not going to get wire wrapping like that in a factory in China!

It's official! MerCurios doesn't follow the trends - WE SET THEM! ...I always knew I was ahead of the curve. ;)

Recipe: Stracciatella Soup

2011-02-01T16:41:00.000-05:00

Stracciatella Soup

What you need:

1. Frozen Spinach, chopped - 2 10oz packages - you can use fresh spinach, personally I find the frozen easier to work with.

2. Garlic - about 6 cloves or so finely chopped

3. Chicken broth or stock - 3 cups

4. Water - 2 cups

5. Black pepper - 1/2 tsp

6. Grated Parmegiano Reggiano cheese - 1/2 cup (more for topping)

7. Large eggs - 2 beat

What you do:

1. Saute the spinach and garlic in a little extra virgin olive oil until the spinach has thawed (if frozen) or until the spinach cooks down (if fresh). 2. Add the chicken broth, water & black pepper; bring to a slow boil; reduce the heat to medium low. 3. Once the broth & water has gelled, slowly stir in the grated cheese. 4. Slowly drizzle in the egg - it should cook as it's being poured in. If not, then your soup is not hot enough. 5. Cook for about 10 minutes, or so. 6. Serve

Serve over rice or pasta. We enjoy ours with cheese filled tricolor tortellini. Be sure to have lots of Italian Bread on hand for mopping up all the extra juice. NOTE: if you have left overs, the rice or pasta will absorb most of the liquid so add some water before refrigerating or when you take it out to re-heat.

What's your favorite soup to enjoy on a cold winters day?

Oh Deer!

2011-01-29T10:51:00.000-05:00

There were two deer in our backyard the other day. Well, actually in the backwoods behind our backyard. As soon as I got the call from my neighbor Pam; I rushed to get Gabriel into his snow pants and boots and hurried into the backyard.

Trust me when I say these pictures do not do the experience justice. There were two deer and they were so close at one point. That night we received another two feet of snow...

These pictures are courtesy of my neighbor Rob Botway.

Let it snow

2011-01-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

We woke up to another two feet of snow this morning. This is in addition to the two feet that Mother Nature was kind enough to dump on us just over two weeks ago. ...I just heard another nor'easter is headed our way next week too.


Gabriel & Nanuk, Jan 2010

Helping Hand

2011-01-15T13:07:00.000-05:00

The horrible flooding happening in Australia is close to my heart. The Australian people have been a HUGE supporter of MerCurios. Not only do we have an amazing fan and customer base down under; thanks to the power of social media we have lots of friends there too! Some of whom came within meters of going under water.

That said, we designed special versions of our #1 selling Personalized Banner Ring specifically to help raise money for The Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. This disaster relief fund assists the people and communities in North Eastern Australia who have been affected by the devastating floods.

The ring is available as an edgy, two-finger knuckle duster at a $40 retail OR a simple single finger wrap which retails for $35. Inspired by Queensland's Premier Anna Bligh's speech - the phrase "after the rain, enters the sun" is etched onto the rings in both English and Latin. In her speech, Anna Bligh says: "This weather may break our hearts...but it will not break our spirits", which captures the situation and spirit of the Australian people. I believe these rings capture the spirit of the people as well.

The rings (and many other generously donated items) can be found in the AusDisaterRelief shop on Etsy. 100% of the proceeds from each sale go to the The Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. As of this post, AusDisaterRelief has already raised over $2,000!

Putting Kustom back in Customer

2011-01-11T00:20:00.000-05:00

When Scott contacted me about personalizing a set of Brass Knuckles as a gift for his girlfriend I completely misunderstood him. I thought he wanted a set of my Custom 2 Finger Banner Rings - 10 minutes into the conversation I realized this was not the case.

Scott had already purchased real brass knuckles and needed me to add the personalization. He went on to say that he found the MerCurios website by Googling "brass knuckles" & thought my aesthetic fit perfectly with what he had envisioned.

The message - "LOVE MORE"; "Daniel Scott?" and "FEAR LESS"; "Redd Scott." - is something personal between the two.

Want your Brass Knuckles made new? Send them to me and I'll happily add your message. What you do with them once they are returned is entirely up to you *wink*. ...a paper weight, choker, conversation piece or utilitarian...

Holiday Trunk Show

2010-12-17T10:47:00.000-05:00

Rosie's Handmade Revolution will be hosing a MerCurios Trunk Show this Saturday, Dec. 18 from 6pm to 11pm. Need a last minute gift? Then come down! MerCurios and Rosie's Handmade Revolution has you covered!

Rosie's Handmade Revolution is a FAB store dedicated to the handmade community and DIY arts. In essence is a brick-and-mortar Etsy store! Check out Rosie's Facebook page here to see all of the wonderful Etsy products they carry in their shop.

Amy Fox, the proprietress and crafty lady in her own right always has something going on! This Saturday boasts a DIY ornament workshop, live music, free giveaways, hot sipping chocolate, seasonal desserts, and of course, MerCurios!

Come join us for a fun-filled evening - you will be glad you did!

Last Minute Gift? MerCurios has you covered!

2010-12-10T20:20:00.000-05:00

If you are anything like me then you have probably just ordered your Holiday Cards from an online venue like Shutterfly and have not purchased one single present yet.

While we can't help speed up the printing process for those cards, we can help with the last minute gifts. MerCurios has *lots* of ready-to-ship items for the last minute shopper like you and me.

Square #1:

"Charmed" Double Finger Rings clockwise from left: Pisces, Cherry Bomb & Namaste.

Square #2:

"Always Faithful" Matching Padlock bracelet and choker.

Square #3:

Chunky Stone Bracelets Blue Amethyst; Smokey Quartz; Citrine; Glow in the Dark Quartz Crystal.

Square #4:

Glow in the Dark Quartz: gold double finger ring; silver double finger ring; gold necklace with green stone; silver necklace with pink stone.

AND lots, lots more...

Gift Guide: Jewelry

2010-11-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

2010 "My Picks" Etsy Gift Guide

Spotlight: Jewelry

Brand: MomentusNY

MomentusNY bills themselves as "Handmade, Simple, EVERYDAY ELEGANT jewelry" and in my opinion they truly pull their weight in this category. MomentusNY's pieces can go from the office to evening in a matter of seconds.

Lets not forget those special occasions either. Have a holiday party to addend and looking for that very special piece to complement the outfit you've picked out weeks ago? Give MomentusNY a peak - they might just have what you need.

Clockwise from left:

Leave your favorite piece from MomentusNY in the comments section below.

Status Magazine

2010-11-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

Some New and Exciting Press here at MerCurios! Not, ONE, but TWO of our Personalized Tattoo-style Banner Rings were among those featured in the latest installment of STATUS MAGAZINE.

"Money" - upper right
"Sors Ventus Temerarus" - (fortune favors the bold) lower left

MerCurios Holiday Shipping

2010-11-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

MerCurios is pleased to announce we will once again be extending FREE Worldwide Shipping for the Holiday Season. Beginning Monday, November 15 though January 15 ALL packages are SHIPPED FREE OF CHARGE to the US and Abroad via USPS First Class and First Class International Mail.

USPS First Class Mail delivery averages 2-5 days and includes a tracking number and delivery confirmation
USPS First Class International Mail delivery averages 1-3 weeks and includes a Customs Number for reference
In the interim, until each listing reflects the Free Shipping promotion, MerCurios will refund the shipping charge via PayPal or Google Checkout within 24 hours of purchase.
Priority and Express Mail are viable shipping options - send me your zip code if you are in the US or your country and postal code if you are abroad and I will get back to you with a quote.

All Custom work is on a First Come - First Serve basis.

Need some gift ideas? Here are our HOTTEST Items:

"Say Anything" CUSTOM single and double finger rings (AS SEEN IN STATUS MAGAZINE, Issue 15 October/November 2010) - See the single finger version here and the very popular two finger version here.

Quartz two finger ring (AS SEEN IN CLEO MAGAZINE, September and October 2010 issues) - See that ring here.

Our ever popular CUSTOM Corset Ring (AS SEEN IN THE ETSY FINDS Blog TWICE) available in copper here and stainless steel here

Of course we cannot forget the Copper version of our "Say Anything" ring (AS SEEN IN THE ETSY FINDS Blog & The STORQUE) - you can check it out here and here.

Happy Shopping!

Mistakes = Vulnerablilty = Human

2010-11-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

We all make mistakes. However, we don't like to admit them. We don't like to admit our mistakes because doing so makes us vulnerable. And showing any kind of weakness in today's society is a no-no.

I'll admit that I'm human. I'll admit that I make mistakes. I'll admit that not everything works out the way I planned, even when I had the best intentions in mind. October was proof of that.

Now where do I start? I know! At the beginning...

Early in the month of October a friend contacted me for a custom copper quartz skull ring. The ring was perfect in every way and she was oh so happy. Come to find out an hour after she had the ring that it had to be cut off her hand - turns out she was allergic to copper. Who knew! I went on to remake the ring using silver and the result has been great - no reaction! All I can say honestly is that I'm so happy that this happened to a friend - someone who knew me in *real life* and knew my character, the quality of my work and my level of integrity.

Three weeks later I received an email from a customer who did not get the custom ring I made for them. Oh, they received a ring all right, but it was not theirs. In fact, their ring went 1,000 miles away to the person who's ring they had. I was, and still am MORTIFIED! You don't me from Adam, but this has NEVER happened before. You may be thinking...hey one package out of five years of shipping, that's a great track record. Me, I'm from the old school where one mistake is just one too many!

Why am I sharing all this with you? A permanent record on the world wide web forever and ever...well, for two reasons:

I really need to just let it all out; it's a cleansing process.
To show you that you are not alone

Feel free to share your *mistakes* or better yet, how you over came them...

xo,
MJ

Etsy Blog: Random Acts of Kindness

2010-11-02T00:07:00.000-04:00

What a glorious way to start off the month of November; being included among those featured in an article in Etsy's Blog, The Storque. This article in-particular was titled "Random Acts of Kindness" and centers on Kind Over Matter.

Kind Over Matter focuses on feeling good and promoting positivity - sounds like how I live my life! No wonder our "Carpe Diem" ring made into the inspirational post pics. Kind Over Matter strives to help independent artists and craft persons follow their respective dreams with mico-grants, funded by donations and proceeds from their Etsy Shop. The best part of this whole thing? WE - you and I - the public at large - decide who shall be awarded the grants. How cool is that?!

Read more about Kind Over Matter on their Blog. Here is a link to the Etsy Blog article. And of course I could not forget our Carpe Diem Ring here. That's it below -- second row, middle picture

Enjoy!!

xo,

Twitter Giveaway

2010-10-31T18:48:00.015-04:00

ENTER to WIN a CUSTOM Quartz GLOW-in-the-DARK Ring from MerCurios. The ring is custom in that, upon winning, YOU CHOOSE the Following:

Pink or Green Stone
Gold, Silver or Copper
Skull or No Skull
1 or 2 Finger Ring

How to enter to win this custom ring:

You must follow me on twitter
Please copy and paste this exact message and tweet it from your Twitter account to be entered:

Twitter giveaway! Follow @MerCuriosJewels and RT 2 enter 2 win a $58 CUSTOM GLOW Quartz Ring! Full rules and prize: http://bit.ly/cmKSXQ

This contest is open worldwide. The 150th person to tweet or re-tweet will be the winner. This contest will end as soon as we reach 150 contest tweets. The winner will be announced on Twitter. Good luck!

Proximity

2010-10-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

“Proximity” …when a customer said they were going to be adding a charm to their two finger ring when it arrived, I encouraged them to send the charm to me instead.

This was the end result. Making this ring has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. My imagination has been soaring with ideas.

...now to just get caught up on the custom work I’m inundated with so I can breathe life to those ideas.

Enjoy!

Puff the Magic Dragon

2010-10-13T00:00:00.009-04:00

I well-up every time I sit down to read Gabriel this book. Seriously! It's actually kind of disturbing & I can't control it. No matter hard I try, I CANNOT get through Puff the Magic Dragon with dry eyes.

Now I'm the kind of person that finds *meaning* in almost everything. A bird appears out of nowhere and it's a message of some kind. I look at the clock at precisely 6:12 & I know my grandfather is near.

So I decided to ponder those uncontrollable tears & here's what I finally came up with - The book - which is really just the song in print - is trying to tell me to enjoy my son & his childhood while I still can. Because one day soon, sooner than I might like, sealing wax and silly strings are going to make way for other stuff.

"A Dragon lives forever, not so little girls and boys

painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys..."

Crying yet?

With that I've come to realize that "Balance" is my life lesson this time around. Being able to balance my wants and needs with those of my family...especially the precious, oh so impressionable little cargo. After all :

Balance = Bliss

I do find that when I am in balance, everything else in my life seems to harmoniously fall into place. Just like magic! Yet, it is something I struggle with everyday. Why?

"One grey night it happened, jackie paper came no more

And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,

Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.

Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,

So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave"

I married my best friend

2010-10-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

I just saw a commercial for Drew Barrymore's new movie "Going the Distance" with Justin Long. One of the lines her character says is:

"the only way you are content in life is if you marry your best friend"

That line got me thinking about my relationship... We have been together five years, going on six and ...

...he inspires me, he motivates me, he supports me, he is my harshest critic & worst enemy. He is my best friend. He knows how to push all my buttons and how to melt my heart.

I am definitely not suggesting that being married to your best friend will be all rainbows and puffy white clouds against a crystal blue sky 24-7/365. It won't! Every relationship takes some amount of effort after all. However, going though life with your best friend at your side "the good will always outweigh the bad" and the ride will be so much more fun!

That's a picture of our engagement tattoo by the way...we custom designed it to signify *home*.

Metallica and MerCurios - what they have in common

2010-10-08T00:32:00.000-04:00

My husband recently told me that what's happening to me reminds him of Metallica. For the longest time Metallica was told they were "too heavy". They refused to conform & stayed true to their music and eventually the music industry & the public caught up with them. The same could be said for MerCurios...

The beginning of this year I met with Henri Bendel and was told I was "too edgy". Then I met with a long time friend of my husband who is an "Accessories Branding Expert"; she used to buy for Hot Topic back in the day, etc... Now she is the person well-known Accessory Designers call in when they need their business and Collections turned around. Anyway, she expressed I had talent & vision, but...was "too edgy".

I was bummed, but persevered. I didn't really know where I was headed or how I would get there. What I DID know was that I had to stay true to myself otherwise I was not paying homage to the creativity that lives inside me. It has a life of its own. Changing how it is inherently born would be untrue. Making it any less "edgy" would be fasle...so I persevered.

Then, a little while after that - and MUCH to my surprise - The Three Village Patch got in touch with me. They discovered me on Twitter of all places and wanted to write a business profile on MerCurios. I said YES of course. Then it all seemed to snowball from there... Sales took off; our jewelry was featured in the "Etsy Finds" blog not once, but twice! We were on the Etsy front page a few times. Well-known Fashion Blogs started including our jewelry in their "shop it now" sections - half the time I discovered these little features via Google Analytics. And the creme de la creme - the Australian Fashion Magazine "Cleo" included our jewelry in TWO issues - September and October - and continue to request more samples. We have been approached by other fashion publications and boutiques and tattoo shops too! And it just keeps getting better...

Too Edgy, they said... Stay True to You! says I ...and the world will eventually catch up.

Dreams really do come true

2010-09-29T00:03:00.001-04:00

It's every designers dream to see their product grace the pages of fashion magazines. I'm no exception, hence the title "dreams really do come true".

I recently received word that our Quartz Two Ringer Ring was included in the "Crystal Castles" spread in the October issue of the Australian Fashion Magazine Cleo. While the actual issue hasn't arrived on my door step yet, I do have the tear sheet to share with the world.

Honestly, words cannot begin to express how much this means to me. I am so overwhelmed to be included amongst such well known and well established jewelry designers in the biz - Billy Bride, Damselfly, None the Richer and the list goes on - wow!

This makes two months in a row! Last month, the very same ring was featured in the spread "15 Reasons we Heart Etsy" which was great too. But an actual fashion spread not tied back to any selling venue, now that's awesome!

By the way, our ring is the clear quartz double ring on the models pinky and ring fingers -- the hand clutching her wrist.

In my world and in all worlds "dreams really do come true", so lets dream BIG everyone!

3 Percent Less - The sad truth

2010-09-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

Here on Long Island the local energy company - National Grid - is heavily advertising their "3% Less" campaign. On the surface it's a No-Brainer!

This campaign focuses on using three percent less energy over the course of the next three years; under the guise that using less energy is not only good for the environment, but will be a savings to the customers. And YES, using less energy in general is great for the environment -- we all should be that energy conscious. However, there will never be a savings passed onto anyone and National Grid should not be advertising otherwise.

You would think though, that using less of anything would save money, right? I mean if you aren't using it, then you obviously are not spending money on it. In this case, that is not true!

Using 3% less energy is definitely good for the environment, but you will NOT see that reflected in your wallet - at least not in a good way. Like all big corporations, National Grid has investors, employees, pension plans & medical benefits that need to get paid. Where do you think the money comes from? That's right, it's customers...US! In this case using 3% less energy will only make the cost of the energy go up -- they will need to charge more for it to cover expenses.

Did you know that National Grid charges a surcharge in mild winters where customers use less energy than they predicted. Seriously, check your bill. Where's the savings in that?

We Picked a Winner - MomentusNY Giveaway

2010-09-24T00:06:00.000-04:00

A BIG congratulations to Erin as she was the winner of the MomentusNY giveaway from earlier this week.

If you recall, the prize was "your favorite item" from MomentusNY's Etsy Shop. Erin's favorite happened to be the Gold Autumn Leaf & Fruits Necklace (pictured left).

Wear it well!

Thanks again to all whom participated. Didn't win this one? No worries! There will be many more in the future.

In the Artists Den

2010-09-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a peak behind the scenes into my studio, a.k.a. the spare bedroom...

That's me and my little guy, Gabriel sitting at the table where I do most of my work. The Dremmel was a gift from husband one Valentines Day a couple of years ago. We aren't your typical family.

The Dremmel is my favorite tool -- I use it for everything... cutting, grinding, sanding, engraving ...everything! Okay, the Dremmel and the torch. I really like the torch too!

Unless I have a specific idea in my head busting to get out - like the oh so popular banner rings - I need everything splayed out in front of me to get to the juices flowing. My sketching skills leave much to be desired, but I do try to scribble down ideas. It's either that or loose them forever. If I can't work on a project the minute I'm inspired to, it's gone. As long as I can understand my drawings, that's all that matters.

Usually everything is all over the floor and I'm down there sorting though until something sparks an idea. The the picture above is very deceiving - it was for an interview with the Three Village Patch; a local news source dedicated to our hometown.

So now that I let you into my world, what's yours like? How do you get the creative juices flowing? Are you organized or messy like me? I'd love your thoughts...

Month in Review - August 2010

2010-09-20T00:00:00.002-04:00

It's no surprise that I've been neglecting my blog lately, although I've tried to get back on track. Things have been down right nutty here at the MerCurios HQ. What with all the contests, features and mentions, I've had little time to me or my family. So I'm going to try and sum it all up here...

Leopard Milkshake LOVES MerCurios! And they showed their their love with three different features this month:

Ribbon of Life, featuring our Copper Double Banner Ring
Gleaming, featuring our Silver Double Banner Ring
Double Up, featuring our Tattoo Banner Ring and Men's Cuff Ring

We teamed up with Inked Up Mommies and Fashion Clique for two awesome & exclusive giveaways.

MerCurios was interviewed for Yahoo Associated Content. You can read that article here.

Lets see... Alexandra Keller included our Carpe Diem Banner Ring in her post: What I want - stamped metal. Rame Ottone, the curator behind the blog Bling of the Day also featured our Carpe Diem Banner Ring in this lovely post. Aleka of the blog Sunshine Sarah was so smitten with our custom rings that she featured us in this beautiful post.

Hmm, oh yeah - our 'quirky' Two-Finger Crystal Ring was included in the "15 reasons we heart Etsy" feature in the September Issue of Cleo Magazine, page 72 - and - on their website in the Fashion Editors Top 5 here. Now how amazing is that?! ...and did I mention...they found us!

And we made the Etsy Front Page with the Caged Quartz Ring that was featured in a stunning treasury by Taylorseclectic

Wow! I truthfully had no idea how busy August was until I pulled it all together to recap here. Let's keep the momentum going!

Seeing is Believing

2010-09-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

I stumbled upon these pink and green glow in the dark quartz crystals at a local gem & mineral show. Actually I walked passed them. It was my 4yr old son & husband who said "you have GOT to check this out!" Begrudgingly I walked over, and to please them...picked up two green quartz points.

That was actually the best move I made! 30 minutes after creating and listing a two-finger ring with the first crystal, it sold! And, I immediately had a request for a glow quartz ring from someone else. However, this person wanted a single finger version in silver. Needless to say I got my hands on some more glow in the dark quartz crystals right away, and have been having a hard time keeping them in stock ever since!

We only have a few stones left!!
Yellow = 1 / Pink = 5 / Green = 6

Coveting one of these edgy, yet oh so fun glow quartz crystals for yourself? No Problem! Contact me here to get the ball rolling. Quantities are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis.

The feedback has been amazing! Just glancing at our Facebook Fan Page you will immediately get caught up in all the buzz. I only wish I could get one, just one clear picture of the quartz while it's glowing -- it is stunning! The Pink stones glow Purple!! Seriously, how cool are these stones?!

Seriously! How cool are these stones?

Meet my friend Ivy.

2010-09-15T09:37:00.001-04:00

Classic J.Crew - that what's I call her. Ever so elegant & timeless - thinking of Ivy brings to mind classic movies from 50's. Kim Novak, Eva Gardner, Audrey Hepurn; each stunning on and off screen - and that's Ivy.

Exact opposites, but oh so similar, Ivy and I are the best of friends and I wanted you to meet her too! Although if you frequent Etsy, I'm sure Ivy needs no introduction. The designer behind MomentusNY - Ivy's designs have graced the Front Pages of Etsy a few times since opening up shop in June 2010.

Besides the front page, MomentusNY's designs have been and continue to be featured in countless Etsy Treasuries. Ivy's designs are a reflection and extension of her - classic movie star meets modern woman. In addition to designing beautiful jewelry, Ivy is a loving wife and full-time mom to two beautiful girls.

In the spirit of paying it forward, we are having a MomentusNY giveaway. The giveaway will run now through Sunday, September 19 and the winner will be chosen at random on Monday, September 20.

The Rules:

1. You must be a follower of this blog to enter.

2. Post your favorite item from MomentusNY here - choose carefully & make sure it is indeed your favorite as this is the PRIZE!

Bonus Entries:

1. Give your heart to MomentusNY on Etsy

2. Follow MerCuriosJewels on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway leaving the link in your comment - use the hashtag #momentusny (you may tweet up to three (3) times a day at least an hour apart for extra entries)

#WIN choice from #MomentusNY & @mercuriosjewels
#etsy #giveaway ends 9/19 http://bit.ly/aokmX9

Good Luck!

The giveaway is open to all US & International residents 18 years and older. The winner will be selected on Monday, September 20 by PickRandom.com.

Labor Day Weekend Giveaway

2010-09-04T01:44:00.001-04:00

*****Labor Day Weekend Giveaway*****

YOU have a chance to WIN this MerCurios Custom Unisex Two Finger Banner Ring.

Simply "Like" MerCurios on Facebook here, then leave a comment on our wall with what your ring will say and your name will be entered into our competition! It's that simple!

Check out the Custom Ring up close & personal here, here, here & here!

The Competition will run from Saturday, September 4 through Monday September 6. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Tuesday September 7.

*Already a MerCurios Fan, No Problem! Leave a comment on our Facebook wall with what your ring would say & YOU will be entered into the competition too!

See more Original MerCurios Designs here!

Brooklyn Bound

2010-09-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from the last Rumblers event under the BQE in Brooklyn - it was the 10th annual Kustom Kills & Hot Rod Thrills Car Show.

The supporters were out in full-force. Motor heads from all walks of life were there to either show off their ride or hopefully score one!

Everyone takes pictures of the cars, while I did too, most of my pictures are more candid moments. I hope you enjoy them.

The waiting begins... the space for the show is limited. All the vendors need to be set up before any cars are allowed in. This is the in-between time...

Now, this picture...

Is a result of this...

And this...

The scavengers were sure out that day! With the way that crowd was behaving you would think those photographers never saw a HOT Rockabilly Chic before. Gosh!

I will follow-up with pics of all the cars & some video too, so be on the look out!

Full Throttle Magazine 4th Annual Biker Build Off

2010-08-30T23:58:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Deadwood Choppers NY for taking home the "Best of the Best" award with the "Termite's Delight". Deadwood went up against Copper Mike of Gravesend Cycles & Choas Cycles - 2010 Build-Off Champions - for the title "BEST of the Biker Build-Offs".

The event was jam-packed with people showing their support for the builders, Full Throttle Magazine and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. All of the proceeds raised at the 8th Annual Full Throttle Anniversary Party / 4th Annual Biker Build-Off Competition went to benefit this wonderful foundation.

In case you aren't already aware, Deadwood Choppers NY has built many well-known bikes including The Victory Junction - which made its debut on the Nascar circuit at the Pocono Racetrack in PA earlier this year, and graced the Cover of the August 2010 of Full Throttle Magazine.

Inspiration

2010-08-30T08:06:00.000-04:00

I've learned that I have to do things when I'm inspired to do them. There is a divine plan that comes with my bouts of epiphany, even if I can't see it at the moment. Maybe "divine" is too strong a word, but read on & I'll think you"ll get what I'm trying to say.

A good example of what I'm trying to convey is the two finger quartz skull ring. One night I was inspired to make it and list it right away. Now this is something I usually never do - I have pieces sitting in trays that were created back in February that have still not made it to the website for sale. Anyway, within 10 hours of listing the skull quartz double ring it sold!

They say there is a teacher for every student. And I believe that can be taken one step further - "there is a designer for every style". What I mean is...every time I'm inspired to create something, there is already a person for whom it is destined. If I keep the momentum going by photographing and listing the piece as soon as it's created then it is likely to find it's home sooner rather than later. Catch my drift?

Another good example of this is the Glow in the Dark Quartz ring - within 30 minutes of listing this ring it sold! I immediately had a request for a silver version & happen to have one more stone on hand with which to fulfill the request.

I can't take all the credit for the Glow in the Dark stones though. I walked right past them at the last gem & mineral show. Both my husband and four year old son said "you have GOT to buy these". As usual, they were right!

Want your very own Glow in the Dark Quartz jewelry piece? No Problem! Custom requests are my specialty. You can see lots more crystal jewelry, including the piece that was featured in the September 2010 issue of Cleo Magazine here.

Do you follow your intuition (a.k.a. moments of inspiration)? Have suggestions for staying on track? I'd love some feedback if you feel so inclined - they don't call my style chaotic for nothing.

It's Here!

2010-08-27T18:50:00.000-04:00

My very own personal copy of Cleo Magazine arrived in the mail from Australia today!

MerCurios along with fourteen other Etsy sellers are featured in the article titled "What's Now" - "15 Reasons we Heart Etsy" on page 72 of the September 2010 issue.

The Double Finger Crystal Quartz Ring that you see on the bottom left - that's ours! Our International sales have always been good. However, once this article hit newsstands, it's like someone turn on the flood gates.

Did I mention YOU can have your very own version of the featured quartz ring for FREE? Way before Cleo requested samples MerCurios teamed up with the savvy fashion blog Fashion Clique to bring one lucky reader this very ring. Interested? You can find all the details here. But hurry, this contest ends on August 31, 2010.

Many thanks to Jessica of Fashion Clique for making sure MerCurios got a copy of the oh so coveted Magazine. xoxo

xo,

~MJ

Gabriel's Ring

2010-08-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to family and friends that I've been neglecting my blog lately. When you wear all the hats, something has got to give. This time it was the blog. A LOT has been going on and I'm here to bring you all up to speed...

My son has been bugging me for months to make him his very own four finger brass knuckle ring. I kept putting it off, and putting it off, not really being inspired. That changed on Friday; the night before the Rumblers 2010 Kustom Kills & Hot Rod Thrills Car Show (look for a separate post on this event). I suddenly became inspired, as this would be the perfect place to debut Gabriel's new ring - selfish, I know. ...it says "WANNA PLAY" and is his favorite phrase of all time - he only says it about 100 times a day.

It was a HIT! Everyone loved it. Of Course with Gabriel rocking the ring, how could they not love it! And, YES it is most definitely for sale! For $35 your child can have their very own custom four finger brass knuckle style ring & be the "King of the Playground". It's crafted from 5mm wide copper and has a felt backing to protect the little fingers.

MerCurios Fashion Clique Giveaway

2010-08-24T11:15:00.001-04:00

Last days to enter to WIN this Quartz Crystal Double a.k.a. 2 Finger Ring by MerCurios. Entering is as easy as clicking the "Like" button on Facebook. In fact, that's all you need to do!

Head on over to the Fashion Clique Facebook page here and click the "Like" button. Once you have "liked" their page & suggested it to a few friends - say so on Fashion Cliques wall.

That's it! You are now entered to WIN this fabulous ring. ...did I mention it was included in the September issue of Cleo Magazine? And it's open to ALL US and International peeps! Good Luck!

What do you think of this giveaway? Is there something you would like to see more of? With whom should we partner next? Suggestions? Let me know...I'm listening!

West Meadow Beach

2010-08-11T00:00:00.001-04:00


Gabriel & Mommy

Going to the beach today with Gabriel was the BEST thing I did today. The tide was so low and there were sand bars everywhere.

We walked out to one, made foot prints in the sand and witnessed nature up close and personal.

Gabriel's little hand holding a baby jelly fish

The shores were littered with these jelly egg sacs - I knew they were eggs of babies, but had NO IDEA they were baby jelly fish!

Apparently come the end of August, these little guys will be grown.

hermit crab

This little guy was one of many hermit crabs scurrying along the sand bar. The hermit crabs were all shapes and sizes from the tiniest spec to this guy - he was the largest we saw today.

The tiny snails were fun to watch too. There were hundreds making their way along the sand, some burrowing deep before our eyes.

This really was a fun afternoon. North Shore beaches are so rocky that it takes low tide for nature to reveal itself. This was truly a first for me as I've never walked out to a sand bar. I'm so happy that I could do this with Gabriel today, allowing him to experience this for the first time too! We go to the aquarium all time, but it's nothing like this. Today was beautiful, for sure.

August Giveaways

2010-08-10T11:41:00.000-04:00

August seems to be the month for giveaways and we have three!

Giveaway #1:

First, as I mentioned in this post - to celebrate being "found" on Etsy we are giving away two Custom Tattoo-style Banner rings. The very same ring that was featured in Etsy Finds!

This giveaway is happening on Twitter and here's how it works:

1. Follow MerCurios on Twitter here
2. We will randomly give away one ring at 1657 followers and another at 2000 followers.

You have two chances to WIN this CUSTOMIZABLE ring!

If you feel like spreading the love, please tweet the following:

"Follow @MerCuriosJewels for 2 chances to #win this

CUSTOMIZABLE ring! http://bit.ly/bHe8u2 ★RT"

Giveaway #2:

Hosted by Fashion Clique and open to all - national and international residents is your chance to win a Crystal Two Finger ring.

This giveaway is for the entire month of August and here's how it works:

1. "Like" Fashion Clique on Facebook here.
2. Suggest Fashion Clique to your friends on Facebook.

3. Your name will be placed in the random drawing that will take place on September 1, 2010. It's that simple!

Giveaway #3:

Hosted by Inked Up Mommies and open to all - national & international residents is the creme-de-la-creme of giveaways! The prize? Why it's your favorite piece from MerCurios.

This giveaway takes place Friday, August 13 through Sunday, August 15. The winner will be randomly drawn on Monday, August 16. Here's how it works:

1. Visit the MerCurios shop on Etsy here and choose your favorite piece.
2. Post that favorite MerCurios piece on the Inked Up Mommies Facebook page here. That's all there is to it!

Good Luck Everyone and most importantly, HAVE FUN!

Let me know how you feel about these giveaways by leaving a comment below. Will you be entering one, all or none? xoxo.

Muttville Circus visits Port Jefferson, NY

2010-07-28T15:21:00.001-04:00

Gabriel with the Stars of the show!

Port Jefferson went to the dogs and we were there to witness it! The Muttville Circus came to town for the entire community to enjoy! And boy was the lawn packed! It seems as though everyone from near and far came out to enjoy this show.

This is one of the many family-friendly events The Port Jefferson Parks and Recreation Department hosts for the community every Thursday night throughout the summer weeks.

Want to see what's left on the schedule? Here's the calendar of events. Boy do I love living in this town!

Check out more of my my amateur videos of the event on You Tube here, including the doggy high wire act!

If you missed the performance, don't worry! Johnny Peers' Muttville Comix is on Long Island through September 6, 2010 at The Long Island Game Farm in Mannorville, NY.

Johnny Peers Muttville Comix has been around since 1980. Formerly a clown with Ringling Bros. and the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Peers and his 15 dogs perform a variety of tricks, such as jumping rope, ladder climbing, tightrope walking and skateboarding. Muttville Comix was the winner of Animal Planet’s Pet Star Television Show in 2003.

Julia Williams of Responsible Pet Ownership interviewed Johnny Peers back in March of this year; you can read all about it here.

I Waited Three Years For This

2010-07-23T00:00:00.019-04:00

I'm at the playground with Gabriel today, pick up the android and get on Facebook. Right there, staring me in the face is a friends post on my wall saying, "Yay! Look who was in my inbox this morning", and it was a picture of our Carpe Diem ring. "Woa! Are you serious?", I replied. And sure enough, after checking my own email, there it was staring me right in the face - the MerCurios Carpe Diem Ring in the Etsy Finds Tangled Web Blog Post! I almost fainted!

Now - MerCurios has been getting a lot of attention lately - the ThreeVillage Patch business feature, the LeopardMilkshake shout out, Fashion Clique with "Rings that Rock", Cleo Magazine requesting samples for September... All of which is AMAZING, of course! My gratitude to the Universe, and EVERYONE is unending.

However, this is most definitely the creme del la creme of them all. For those that don't know - Etsy's web runs very deep. The Etsy Finds Blog is up for ALL members to see - permanently - and an email gets sent out to those who choose to subscribe to it - like 200,000,000 people; seriously. So of course I am stoked!

Like I said, I waited three years for this and I plan to relish each and every second of it. So please try and bear with me. If my head swells a little too much feel free to pop my balloon... (I always have a back up on hand, lol)

This fabulousness took place on Wednesday, July 21. Below are the stats as of Thursday morning. I'm pleased to say the numbers are continuing to climb. I'm convinced the fallout of this event is limitless.

Carpe Diem Ring = 1461 item views / 218 hearts (bookmarks)
MerCurios = 1515 NEW visitors / 6073 page views / 68 hearts (bookmarks)
Remaining Items = 4612 views / 67 hearts (bookmarks)
Sold five items -- three Custom 2 finger rings & 2 other items -- not to mention the numerous inquiry's that I'm confident will lead to sales

Now for the best part - In celebration of this event MerCurios will be giving away a Custom 2 Finger Ring just like the one featured. Yes! You read correctly. This contest will be a Twitter Exclusive and is open to all of our followers. Be sure to follow @mercuriosjewels & stay tuned on Twitter HERE for the details.

xoxo

Have you ever seen a Scallop run away from a Sea Star?

2010-07-21T00:00:00.003-04:00

Have you ever seen a Sea Scallop run away from a Sea Star? Well now you have! Did you know the Sea Star (starfish) is the natural predator of the Scallop? In the oceans the Sea Star will bind itself to the shell of the scallop, slowly prying it open overtime.

The Sea Scallop exerts so much effort to open up & "run" away from the Sea Star, that it can actually take years off its life. With that, please enjoy the video, but don't try this next time you visit the Aquarium...we'd like those Scallops to live as long as possible.

Keep your eye on the Scallop!

Hair Days

2010-07-19T00:00:00.004-04:00

Good hairs days, bad hair days...we all have them. Me, I'm on a messy hair kick lately and this is my new Favorite doo! A slight modification to the bun. Basically, I just tie my hair in a couple of knots - YES knots! - and then hold it place with chop sticks.

Here goes - grab two pig tails if you will, and tie them end over end into a knot up high on the back of your head. Repeat step 1. Hold it with one hand while pinning with the first chopstick...then add the second. Is it a little loose? Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it.

As long as I can remember, I've had really, really, really long hair. Except for the few years I was with EMANUEL/Emanuel Ungaro and Liz Claiborne -- I was going through a bob phase then. Did I mention I was blond too... (can you imagine me as a blond?) Anyway, I digress... My point being that with long hair I've always been pretty creative with my hair styles & love putting it up or tying it back.

I happen to love the way this style looks? You?

We happen to LOVE asterisk & ampersand - a steampunk inspired hair stick Goddess. Now I've browsed the web end-over-end and have never seen anything as stunning, creative or natural as asterisk & ampersands work. While I'm sure a lot was put into the pieces, the end result conveys effortless style & simple elegance - which is why I love it so. I'll be getting my order in shortly as it's time I retire those Hello Kitty chop sticks for a piece more my style!

What's your current favorite hair style? Do you have a "can't live without" hair accessory? Feel free to share your favorites here -- links are welcome!

It's a wrap

2010-07-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today's projects consisted of four custom rings - I got three done; not too bad! - phone calls, phone calls, phone calls, and more press kits. Now I don't know about you, but I loathe phone calls! Seriously! Ask anyone that knows me 1. If I ever answer my phone? and 2. If I ever return phone calls? I think you can guess the answer...if you guessed NO, then you'd be right. My husband actually put someone else - someone that answers their phone - as his "emergency contact" at work. I hope you can find the humor in this, because I sure can.

Anyway, I digress. All three custom rings were from the "Define Yourself" Collection, and all were Two Finger Tattoo-style Banner Rings. I am loving how popular these rings have become! Did I mention they are available in Brass and Stainless Steel too?!

The copper rings are now lined with felt too & POP Colors are available for those who want to stand out. I did this for two reasons... 1. to prevent the skin oxidation that happens to some when wearing natural copper 2. I prefer not to clear coat my copper pieces due to the intrinsic healing properties ...& because I like the rustic look of raw copper.

This is what I call a "3 Finger Bench Ring" in that it slides on to three fingers and sits there like a bench of course. Believe it or not, it's really comfortable & keyboard-friendly! This, however, is the prototype & it's spoken for. As a matter of fact it's being shipped out to Miss Kat Von D 1st thing in the morning -- I created it with her in mind after all.

Want your very own "Define Yourself" or 3 Finger Bench Ring? Not to worry, contact me here for a quote.

What did you do today?

2010-07-13T00:00:00.001-04:00

Instead of working on the projects that I should have been working on, this is what I did today:

Two NEW multi-finger wrapped rings. The first is a glass bulb filled with all recycled copper bits and pieces left over from previous projects. The second variation is empty, waiting for your wish! Tell the Universe what you want & don't be shy!

Both rings still need to be antiqued -- shiny copper just isn't for me. Maybe wrapped a bit more too, who knows. The rings are also available in gold and silver. Two finger rings too edgy for you? Single finger version is coming soon! Contact me here to get on the waiting list! Remember, each ring is handmade which lends to its one-of-a-kind uniqueness.

So, what did you do today? Whatever you did, I sure hope you had fun doing it!

xo,

~MJ

Recipe: Scooby Snacks anyone?

2010-07-12T22:55:00.004-04:00

For those of you that don't know, the Scooby Doo cartoon gets its 11th incarnation this evening at 7pm on Cartoon Network. That's right it's the premiere of Scooby Doo Mystery Inc. and Gabriel and I couldn't more excited! We've been waiting for this day for months; ever since we heard whispers back in the fall...

Anyway, in honor of Scooby Doo, and to commemorate the NEW series we decided to make Scooby Snacks. Well, actually gummy (bear type) candy. Here's the recipe if you're interested. It's quick, inexpensive, easy...and messy of course. Enjoy!!

What you need:

1. Molds - any candy molds will do

2. Jello - that's right, Jello; One 3oz package

3. Unflavored Gelatin - Two 0.25oz packages

4. 1/3 Cup of water

What you do:

1. add the water, Jello & Gelatin in a pot and let sit for 10 minutes

2. cook the mixture on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until everything has dissolved

3. remove from heat & immediately pour into the molds

4. place the mixture-filled molds into the freezer for 10-15 minutes

A moment to reflect

2010-07-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Things have been happening so fast lately that I haven't had the time to digest all of it, let alone sit back and revel in it. It's as though I'm caught up in a tornado. Freddy - that's my better half - say my press is better than my sales & at-a-glance he is right. The press has been phenomenal - from Stylists and Major Fashion Magazines requesting samples to News Articles and everything in between.

The sales though have not been half bad either! The major winner is the multi-finger "Define Yourself" Tattoo-style Banner Ring. Did I mention it's a custom piece so each one is unique to the person wearing it. It's UNISEX too!

Besides, "sometimes you have to run before you can walk" - a quote from the infamous Tony Stark. I think that's the case here...first comes the interest, then comes the $; right?

That said, here's the latest MerCurios hype; ENJOY!!

Rings that Rock!

2010-06-11T19:34:00.000-04:00

So I was checking Google Analytics, as I do everyday and discovered that MerCurios was among those featured in the Australian Fashion Blog "Fashion Clique". What a sweet surprise! Here's the link.

Our ring is #3. Enjoy!!

I love surprises like this, don't you??

I love all of the rings Fashion Clique chose for their feature. Each and every one of them is available on Etsy, (except for #3 by MerCurios -- it sold within minutes of the feature).

Please see the Fashion Clique post for the designer credits and links back to the respective shops.

Define Yourself Giveaway

2010-06-07T23:27:00.014-04:00

Hey everyone! We are launching a collection of new rings called "Define Yourself" (many thanks to Marc at Top Hat Tattoo for coming up with the name on the fly -- you rock dude!) and decided to celebrate the launch with a rocking giveaway.

"Define Yourself" is collection of One, Two, Three and even Four Finger Tattoo-style Banner rings personalized with what defines YOU! Rebel-chic and definitely edgy these rings are for those who want to be noticed & have their message heard!

Customize your ring with a word or phrase...something close to your heart, something that reminds you to stay true to you, something that makes you smile when you need it most, maybe something you're itching to say, but are just too polite *wink*.

The possibilities are endless...

The best thing about this giveaway? You choose! First decide which style of ring you would like, then decide what you would want it to say. One lucky winner will receive the ring picked customized with their comment.

Rules:

1. Leave a comment under this post with the style of ring you want and what you would have your ring say.

2. Follow this blog and/or become a fan of the MerCurios Facebook page here (Remember, you must be a follower of the blog and/or a FAN of the Facebook Page for your entry to count)

3. The winner will be chosen at random, one week from today on Monday, June 14 at Noon est.
4. Open to EVERYONE -- US & International residents

That's all there is to it. Good Luck and please feel free to spread the word!

Like my chaotic style and want to see more of my work? Check it out here.

Latest projects...

2010-06-05T01:33:00.000-04:00

This morning my husband came in to my studio and ran off with a large sheet of copper headed toward the garage (his studio). I heard grinders grinding and hammers hammering and drills drilling. Not 20 minutes later emerges with a riveted copper cuff in hand.

1. Why can't I seem to whip something THAT cool up THAT quickly? All my projects seem take much longer than that, especially if there is hammering, drilling, soldering, antiquing and wrapping involved.

2. A little healthy competition is good, but from under my own roof?? (lol) Seriously though, my guy is a man of many talents and he inspires me to push the limits of creativity.

Here's his cuff ~ What do ya think?? Felt backed and all...

So of course I was inspired after seeing him so productive. Here's what I accomplished today... Two rings and a caged crystal quartz. The quartz ring was actually supposed to be an adjustable ring, however, the Firescoff brand ceramic flux just wasn't cooperating with me this evening. No matter what I did, or how hard I tried, the darn solder just wouldn't hold and I blame it on the flux *wink*. Rather than scrap the entire piece, I decided to take it in a whole new direction.

I'm liking the way the caged crystal came out. Just not sure what to do with it next. Do you have any suggestions?? I'd love to hear them.

The adjustable ring is still my head and I will attempt it again tomorrow. It's late; 1:30am actually and Gabriel will be up in a few hours. Nite everyone.

We picked a winner!

2010-06-05T01:04:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Tracy! ...Tracy was the winner of the Inked Up Mommies and MerCurios Giveaway. If you recall each entrant had to leave a comment on the Inked Up Mommies Facebook page with what they would have their Custom Copper Anklet say... Tracy decided she would have her anklet personalized with the light of her life, her son...

Missed this one? No worries! We are planning another Inked Up Mommies giveaway for the end of the month. Stay tuned!

Giveaway Time Again!

2010-05-19T23:59:00.001-04:00

Guess what? It's giveaway time again! MerCurios is teaming up with Inked Up Mommies this Friday, May 21 to bring one lucky inked up mom their very own handmade Personalized Copper Ankle Bracelet.

The rules are simple & the contest is open to all fans of the Inked Up Mommies Facebook Page near and far. That's right; no geographic restrictions. We'll ship to the moon if we have to!

Not a fan of Inked Up Mommies you say, well then head on over there while there is still time! The contest will run from Friday, May 21 thru Sunday, May 23. The winner will be chosen at random on Monday, May 24 by the FABulous Jenn, Inked Up Mommies founder.

All you need to do is...
1. become a fan of the MerCurios Facebook Page here and...
2. leave a comment (under the respective contest post) on Inked Up Mommies with what you would have your anklet say. Be creative moms! If you win, the anklet will be personalized with your comment.

Good Luck and Enjoy!!

Upcoming Shows

2010-05-12T16:18:00.000-04:00

After taking a break on vending events to enjoy my family. I decided it was time to mix business with pleasure and make an appearance at the 2010 RATFEST in Northport, New York.

That's right! MerCurios will be vending at Long Islands Koolest Car Show; the Ratfest. Hosted by none other than The Road Rats with co-sponsor Rockabilly Barbers.

Musical guests include: The Billy C Trio, TarantinosNYC and Sean Kershaw and The New Jack Ramblers.

All this takes place On Saturday, June 19 at the Northport Fireman's Fairgrounds in Northport, New York. Rain or Shine!

The show is open to Pre '63 Rodz - Kustoms - Beaters ONLY! You can find directions and related show information here.

Reminiscing

2010-04-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

Although I didn't know him then...this reminds me of my grandfather. He was a carnie before he met my grandmother in Texas and settled down. He told me stories about climbing the Ferris Wheel to set it up and take it down. As a matter of fact, my grandmother got on the ride and my grandfather wouldn't let her off - he was smitten. With that began a new chapter and the carnie life was left behind.

It all started when my grandfather ran away from home at the age of 9 and again at 13. The second time he ran away from home, he worked in a bowling alley on 42nd Street in New York City setting up the bowling pins; it was 1939. From there he joined a traveling carnival and ended up manning the Ferris Wheel.

The story I was told over and over again goes like this... Nanny (that's my grandmother) was at the carnival with her brother (my Uncle Dink...hey it was Texas in the 40's) and they got on the Ferris Wheel. My grandfather saw her and was immediately smitten. He had no idea Uncle Dink was her brother. Round and round they went, with my grandfather refusing to let them off the ride until she agreed to a date with him. Which, from I what was told, was a pretty long time.

When it came time for the carnival to move on, the sheriff made sure my grandfather went with them. You see, his son was also smitten with my grandmother. From what I understand, not a week went by that my grandfather was back and they were married. That was 1945.

Guess the Retail; Win the Prize!

2010-04-12T10:40:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Congratulations to Natalie Chui! Natalie won the below bracelet with her guess of $58 retail. Be on the look out for our next giveaway!

I use a set formula to calculate the MerCurios wholesale and retail prices, and I'm currently in the process of reevaluating my formula. That's where you guys come in!

Guess the RETAIL price of this bracelet and WIN it! It's that simple! The first person to guess the correct retail price will win the prize, however, the contest will run the entire week.

Feel free to reference the MerCurios website to aid in guessing, however, keep in mind that I am reevaluating my formula AND the new collection is not yet listed. Now for the materials used...this bracelet is constructed of solid brass, ribbon & a cast brass charm.

Rules:
1. One entry per person please, left as a comment to this blog post.
2. Guess must be posted in US Dollars.
3. The contest will run from Monday, April 12 through Sunday, April 17, and the winner will be announced on Monday, April 18.

That's all there is too it!

Henri Bendel "Open See" Recap

2010-04-08T11:02:00.000-04:00

It's official, I'm "Too Edgy" for Henri Bendel. As you may, or may not know, on Friday, March 26, I dragged my behind out of bed at 4 am to get to the Henri Bendel "Open See". I arrived on the line at 7:30 in the morning and there were at least 100 people on line in front of me already. True to their word, at 9 AM the line started moving and we were shuffled in to the building in groups of 20. ...escorted downstairs to wait on another line to sign in by category of business, from there we went to a waiting room, where Henri Bendel graciously provided coffee and tea.

It is not an exaggeration when I tell you, of the hundreds of people that showed up for the open see, at least 95% were jewelry vendors. At around 12:30, I got my five minutes to pitch my product to one of the accessory buyers. She flipped through my catalog, looked at 5 of the 7 trays I brought, looked up at me and said "you're too edgy for us".

"Too edgy", hmmm...I can not tell you that I did not see that coming, because I did. My items are somewhat sophisticated, yet definitely edgy. In a word "chaotically couture". However, I got out of it what I wanted; the experience and the exposure. The preparation for this meeting also forced me to create the wholesale catalog that I was putting off for ages. With the new product and catalog finished MerCurios is ready for the next chapter, with wonderful things on the horizon.

Week in Review

2010-03-21T20:47:00.002-04:00

What a crazy and amazing week this has been. Honestly, my head is still spinning from all that has gone on. First, mid-week, I see that Awakened Aesthetic has written a review for a two finger ring I had sent her. Mind you, I knew the review was coming as I had asked for an "honest" review in exchange for a custom 2 finger ring. However, I had no idea the review would be so wonderful.

You can read the full review; Acquired Aesthetics: MerCurios here. While you're there, check out the entire blog. Jenn will open your eyes to a new aesthetic. If you’re looking to join the ranks of the eco-friendly, trying to shop more consciously, or otherwise love fashion and ethics in equal measure, you’ll find more inspiration – and temptation – than you can stand on Awakened Aesthetic.

The very next day I was at our local library with Gabriel. As always, while he is in his mom-free preschool story time class, I bolt to the adult section to see what's new & exciting in the world of fashion and jewelry. As I'm browsing the shelves, I see the title "1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse". I immediately pull it off the shelf and begin flipping through it to see if I know any of the artists that made it into the book. You see, I submitted some of my own work back in January '09, however, when I never heard anything I assumed my work was passed over. Boy was I wrong! Much to my surprise, not one, but TWO pieces of MerCurios jewelry were included amidst the ranks of those amazing artists. WOW! A few days later, and I'm still wrapping my head around the entire experience.

Both of these amazing events couldn't have come at a better time as I'm pitching to Bendels on Friday & the press can only help! Speaking of my presentation, I ordered new jewelry trays, black velvet liners and a carry bag on Tuesday and received everything on Thursday. I've already begun laying out the collection to see where I need to fill gaps. New business cards from MOO, complete with pictures are on their way! I'm looking forward to their arrival on Monday.

There is still a lot to do and the ball is rolling in the right direction, so I'm stoked to say the least.

Progress is a beautiful thing

2010-03-13T21:13:00.000-05:00

So, I've actually buckled down and started making some progress for my meeting since the last post. I started on chunky bracelets, incorporating different metals and textures to create some unique pieces. In the last of the four bracelets created so far, I mixed some sheer ribbon with cathedral style chain, and accented it with a few lagoon blue lace agate ovals for pop.

Each of the four is truly different from the other - true to my schizophrenic design style. I had to stop here, because I'm on a train early tomorrow morning for the MJSA Show at the Hilton in NYC. ...I'll let you know if I find anything good.

Here are the pics of the recently completed bracelets...keep in mind they are for a Fall 2010 presentation...

The opportunity of a lifetime & the stress to match

2010-03-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Today is March 11 and I'm stressing out. I'm stressing because I am pitching my product to an exclusive, trendy 5th Avenue boutique in two weeks. I'm stressing out because other than the 2 bracelets that I created today, I haven't developed any product for the meeting -- I need at least 2 to 3 dozen pieces to feel like I have a fighting chance.

I'm stressing out because I have what's called "starving artist syndrome" in other words, I need to be inspired to create. And it would appear as though my muse has run off to inspire another. This absence is temporary, I know. Still stressful nonetheless.

The stress coupled with the "what if's" is weighing heavy. Will they like my schizophrenic one-of-a-kind style? Will they think it's a good fit for their boutique? Will they appreciate its uniqueness? Or will they want it mass-produced? Come to think of it, in addition to the actual product, I need line sheets and a bio too! Some nice displays wouldn't hurt either!

One would think 20 + years in the fast paced NYC fashion industry, working for the likes of Emmanuel Ungaro and Liz Claiborne doing fashion shows, in-store events, and managing a 10 million dollar business in a sales capacity at the height of my career would have prepared me for this. In some ways it did. But it is different when it's your baby & your business. ...I never felt guilty traveling or working late when another was providing my income. Now, I get intense pangs of guilt when I tell my son I'll play with him later, because "mommy is working on an important project". I'm a great mom & I know it. I spend a great deal of time with my son and family, yet I still feel guilty for taking that much-needed time to help myself. Any doctor, family counselor, self-help guru, or other mom will tell you that you need to take care of yourself first and foremost, otherwise you're no good to anyone else. I know this to be true, so what's with the "mom guilt"?

Anyway, I do my best work under pressure, I always have; so I am positive that I will pull through. Without inflicting too much damage to the family on the home-front too.

For what it's worth guys, I'm a really private person by nature. It took some courage to share these to share these thoughts and emotions with you.

PAMA Pomegranate Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2010-03-09T16:24:00.006-05:00

Ever since I was a little kid, I've been allergic to chocolate. That's probably why I don't have much of a sweet tooth as an adult. Every now and again, I do get a craving for a cookie and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are my favorite. Here's a quick and easy recipe for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies incorporating PAMA Pomegranate liqueur.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon hot water
1 cup raisins
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
PAMA pomegranate liqueur

First, soak the raisins in PAMA pomegranate liqueur for a minimum of 60 minutes. If time is on your side, & for the best flavor allow the raisins to soak overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and butter a cookie sheet or three.

Now add the butter and sugars into a mixing bowl and cream with a mixer. Add the eggs and continue to mix. Add the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda and continue to mix with the mixer. Fold in the oatmeal and mix well.

Drain the raisins retaining a teaspoon or so of the liquid. Add the PAMA soaked raisins & liquid, hot water, and vanilla extract. Mix well.

Once the batter is fully mixed, take a teaspoon and drop dollops onto the buttered cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on how large your dollops are and Enjoy!

Recipe yields about 4 dozen cookies.

Everyone can have a Treasury, including YOU!

2010-03-02T18:30:00.001-05:00

The Treasuries on Etsy are a wonderful way to share your favorite items or express your mood. And, if the Treasury you created captures the essence of Etsy, then it might even appear on the front page.

Now there are those that wait patiently through the wee hours of the morning for the Treasury to open up -- that's not me. The Treasury does not always open up at the most opportune times for me, however, if the time is right then I'm always grabbing one.

Here's how:

Check the Treasury Clock over at Craftopolis -- if the timing is right then click the link and head right on over to the respective Treasury to wait.
Have your Treasury Title ready and copied into your browsers clipboard ready to go. ( Once the Treasury opens, it remains open for a brief period so you must be ready)
Sort the Treasury by expiration so the next list set to expire appears at the top of page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and wait! DO NOT refresh your browser. If you're like me and your a bit impatient than you can click the page numbers as a way of refreshing, but I can not stress enough NOT to refresh the browser.
Once the Treasury opens paste your title and hot "ok create" -- that's it, you're in!

Things to note

There is no limit to the amount of Treasuries that can be created, so in essence everyone waiting can in fact have a treasury.
The Treasury MAY open early -- as long as the list is above 333 people have the opportunity to delete their treasuries. once the list drops to 333 (or 222 for West) nothing can be deleted and it becomes a fair playing field.
The Poster Sketch tool is great way to play and prep for your Treasury.

To be considered for the Front Page Etsy requires:

Well photographed items
A variety of items across different categories
There must be 4 alternates (many Treasuries I see are not done yet, which also narrows the pool)
Can't use Treasuries that use a curator's own item (we can take it out, but then there are not enough alternates)
Can't use Treasuries that use more than one item from the same shop.

Read what admin has to say about Treasuries & the Front Page here.

As of this post, Treasury West is set to open in an hour and a half - GO GO GO!

Not one Treasury, but two!

2010-02-28T23:04:00.001-05:00

Late last night I received a tweet (that's Twitter jargon for a message) from Valenstar that MerCurios was featured in her latest Treasury "Beads Galore". I was so excited & couldn't wait to see it, that I left the boys on the couch and ran to the laptop at midnight to check it out. I love my new android phone, however, it has one shortcoming - no flash player. So off to the laptop I ran.

I'm so glad I went to the Treasury via the way of Craftopolis, because I then discovered that MerCurios was included in not just one Treasury, but two! Cocoandchia featured the MerCurios AGAPE Corset Ring in their latest Treasury "Splendifierous". How cool is that!

Two Treasuries at once, that is a first for me and I am so grateful to both Valenstar and Cocoandchia for including MerCurios in their stunning Treasuries.

Intuitive Creating

2010-02-26T14:41:00.009-05:00

I had no idea when my latest customer said "surprise me" & I replied "surprises are my best" that I would create a piece that defined her style perfectly. Just call me the "Intuitive Artist" I said half joking, as Jen was saying how much she liked the ring and how I nailed her style.

However, I'm not the least bit surprised. I approached this project, as I do all others...looking in to my heart for inspiration. I don't know Jen personally; never asked her anything about her personal tastes or styles; yet somehow I just knew as I was bending and twisting the copper that the ring would be a perfect fit. You see, when I'm creating I think about the person I'm creating for and tap into my subconscious. Creating then becomes an active form of meditation, so in essence "surprises really are my best" as they are divinely inspired.

Here's what Jen had to say...

@MerCuriosJewels Oh my god. It's absolutely beautiful. I mean, wow!

@MerCuriosJewels Psh, yeah! You nailed my style on the nose.

(via email) When it comes to the ring, I'm absolutely speechless. It's really perfect, and I can wear it with so much of what I own. You've kind of made my week, woman! Thank you, again.

I'd love the opportunity to create the perfect piece for you! Feel free to contact me here with your wish list. Take a look at the vault for the latest one-of-a-kind pieces to find loving homes; or the shop to see what's still available. Enjoy!!

Kustom Double Rings by MerCurios

2010-02-24T00:00:00.004-05:00

When the idea popped in my head, I had no idea the MerCurios Double Rings, a.k.a. Two Finger Rings, a.k.a. Brass Knuckles would become so popular. Here are the latest to find loving homes:

Interested in having a MerCurios Double Ring created exclusively for you? Feel free to contact us here

I Should Be Working

2010-02-22T18:32:00.001-05:00

A day does not go by that I don't check Craftopolis, in fact I'm addicted to it. For those that don't know, Craftopolis is an at-a-glance look at the Treasury situation on Etsy. In one click you can see when the Treasuries are set to open and, more importantly (in my opinion) if you've been featured in any.

This morning I discovered this stunning Treasury "I Should Be Working" created by Coco and Chia. Not only is this Treasury Etsy Front Page worthy, it features the MerCurios Wide Copper Corset Ring too!

Coco and Chia is a metal smith by day, working out of her living room studio creating jewelery that is fabulous & timeless. Crazy for details, Coco and Chia's pieces are technically perfect, yet quite clearly handmade. I encourage you to check out her Etsy Shop here. You will be glad you did!

Kustom Kulture on Etsy

2010-02-22T00:00:00.002-05:00

1. Hot Rods Pencil Skirt; by Dismantled Fashions
2. Vintage Cream Purse with Purple Pinstripe; by Frankie Von Dell
3. Lady Chance Ostrich Garter; by Samantha Sultana
4. Pressie Skull Bow Fascinator; by Lady Sveta
5. Vintage Tattoo Winged Cupcake Napkin Holder; by Illustrated Ink
6. Tattoo Style 3D Heart Necklace; by Dolly Cool
7. Handmade Stainless Ring; by Hofer Designs
8. Sara Ray Art Low Brow Vintage Rockabilly Poster; by Sara Ray Art
9. Skeleton Key to My Heart; by Leather Werks
10. Solo Manufacturing Kustom Panties; by Solo Manufacturing
11. Old Car and Map ACEO; by HellO ZOmbie
12. Queen Bee Embroidered Shirt; by Live From Planet B

Copper on Etsy

2010-02-18T00:00:00.006-05:00

1. Brass & Copper Earrings; by Bishopxx

2. Rustic Archaic Copper & Silver Men's Band; by Tinahdee

3. Hammered Copper Bowl with Sterling Heart; by Coco and Chia

4. A Stones Throw; by Ferd and Bird

5. Copper Bracelet 1; by Saint Shoppe

6. Aphrodite Antiqued Copper Necklace; by Gypsy Moon Designs

7. Wrapped Copper Sea Foam Chalcedony Necklace; by Ingo Design

8. Dragonfly Hair Clip; by Black Cat Cauldron

9. Wings of Love Skeleton Key Necklace; by Violet Bella

10. Heart Whimsy Two Finger Ring; by MerCurios

11. Flower of the Amazon Amazonite Ring; by Karmeli Designs

12. Copper Curves Earrings; by Chain Flower

Mardi Gras on Etsy

2010-02-16T19:08:00.000-05:00

1. White Boutique Mardi Gras Hat; by Balex Studios

2. Custom My Little Pony; by Wendy Pony

3. Mardi Gras Mesh Wreath; by Mallory Monkey

4. Mardi Gras Thread Earrings; by Hearts 4 Ever

5. Domino Mask; by Pilgrimage

6. Mardi Gras Garter; by Peekb4

7. Mardi Gras Strands of Evening Shawl; by Toivima

8. Mardi Gras Bracelet; by Cottage Charms

9. Mardi Gras Time in New Orleans; by Maggies Studio

10. Jumbo Wooden Fleur De Lis Mardi Gras Magnets; by Brendaswhite

11. Mardi Gras Favor Cake; by Favor Cakes

12. Venetian Gold Leather Mask; by Columbina

Truth, She wanders in...

2010-02-12T19:27:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful surprise to wake up to an email from Bonfires letting me know my Red Jasper Goddess Bracelet was featured in her treasury. I L-O-V-E all shades of red and blue, and this assortment of items creates a wonderful color palate so full of depth and texture.

As it turns out Bonfires is a wonderful artist in her own right, creating masterpieces from recycled paper - including greeting cards and sculptural collages. Please check out Bonfires shop here.

Like something you see in the treasury? I've included a list of the items with links back to their respective shops below. Enjoy!!

1. Sunset Blank Greeting Card; by Carlin Card Creations
2. Red Jasper Goddess Charm Bracelet; by MerCurios
3. Strawberry Creme Handpainted Art Ring; by Allover Art
4. Seaside Excursion; by mmcullen
5. Vanilla Cupcake Original Painting; by Lunatique
6. Bird Note Cards; by Whimsy Pics
7. Chipboard Stickers; by Krazy Kate Designs
8. Wandering 8x10 Professional Print; by Miz Katie
9. Vintage Victorian Silk Velvet Shawl; by Aunt Sue's Old & New & Lovely Too
10. Key to Love Vintage Valentine Box; by Candyragz
11. The West End Review Coloring Book Palate; by Sweet Twee Lab
12. Cherry Blossom Paper; by Bonfires

Stranger things have happened

2010-02-10T15:09:00.000-05:00

Now you definitely don't see this everyday! I found this fluffy little bat in the grille of my Dodge Journey the morning after a 10 hour round trip drive.

I think I picked him up on the Merritt Parkway on my way home from Connecticut. Poor little guy - I don't think he ever had a chance.

I wanted to keep him. The leathery wings would have made an awesome necklace! I was, however, out voted by my husband who did not want the germs in the house. Needless to day the little guy found an eternal resting place in the woods behind our house.

Stranger things have happened...

Better late than never

2010-02-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

...especially when time flies

1. steampunk cuff; edmdesigns

2. vintage time altered collage board; kellybeesplace

3. steampunk clock; cybermoon

4. time; moonlightphotography

5. paris and back again; ghostlovejewelry

6. time; truoriginal

7. exultation of the heart; 19moons

8. in a nick of time; plasticouture

9. love stands the test of time; artzfolk

10. moments altered collage journal; queenbee

11. mechtopia 3 steampunk watch; revolt70

12. how time flies; labaleinealplumes