Studio Time...

...is happening despite a multitude of distractions!  Had a killer work-out with my trainer this morning, laundry (starting to sound like G-T-L and I DID get a tan last week...) and setting up some stuff for little trick-or-treaters tonight.  I don't know why, but I love Halloween.  I think I just like seeing the little kiddies dressed up and so cute and happy before they crash and burn from their sugar-highs.  Annoying, it's been rainy out today.  I hope it holds off until tomorrow.  I haven't dressed up since I was around 10 years old.  But I am wearing cat ears today.  All day.  While I'm working in my studio.  Weird?  Yes.  But that's OK.

Back From Paradise...

... and not exactly loving it.

The hubby and I had a wonderful, warm, sunny and relaxing week in Maui.  This was our "last" trip of the year.  We plan on staying close to the ground.

During the trip to Maui (my first time) - I had several moments of island frenzy.  A part of me wanted to pick up everything and move there.  Maybe I could round up a few friends that I actually really, really like and convince them to go in on buying a parcel of land.  We would build our own separate living spaces, have a community garden and some goats and bees and I will open a little shop somewhere on the island and sell my jewelry.....

Okay.  That's quite a day-dream I've got there.  Perhaps I won't move to the islands - there is a risk of island fever there...  But I am sure ready to plan another trip back there.  Even the coffee read it in our future:

We stayed in a small town called Haiku that was a few miles up the mountain from another small town called Paia.  Paia was a great place for shopping and there is a fabulous little jewelry store/studio called Studio 22K.  Beautiful work and space.  Definitely worth checking out.  I also really loved the laid-back vibe there.  And, some of you may be surprised at this - but the food there was SO FRIGGIN' GOOD.  The handful of restaurants there (we only ate at three of them) all used locally sourced produce, meat and dairy products.  There was a great grocery store that was akin to the infamous Rainbow Grocery in SF and of course, more great, little shops.  I'm gushing about it because I really had a lovely time and am ready to move there return for a visit soon!

Now, it's back to work on the mainland!

Monday's Meow-Mix

via geardiary.com

Happy Monday (evening)!  I loved today's weather.  It's a beautiful, fall day in San Francisco.  The air is crispy and so is the ground when your feet crunch over fallen leaves.  New England may of course, scoff at California's version of fall colors, but it's still lovely here.

Had a lovely weekend and have been eager to get started on making pretty, new things this week.  11 more days left before hubby and I take off for a long-anticipated week in Maui!  So, I am bent on getting lots of stuff into my stores before we leave.

And, that's it for now!

An Apple a Day....

We've all heard the old adage of an apple a day.  And that's all good and stuff.  But creating something everyday, is so much better!  I have set the soft goal of creating one new thing, everyday.  It could be a pair of super-simple earrings, or something with those beautiful carved jade pendants that I got in China.  The goal is to keep the creative juices flowing AND create some discipline - in the funnest way I know how.  I've been uploading photos onto my Hsu-Lee Designs Facebook page onto an album titled one-a-day.  I may do just one batch a week on this blog.  Let's see how this evolves, shall we?

09/25/2012

09/26/2012

09/27/2012

09/28/2012

09/29/2012

10/01/2012

10/02/2012

10/03/2012

10/04/2012

Monday's Meow-Mix

I still have a bad case of cat-envy.  I envy people who own cats.  I hate my allergies because they prevent me from having a cat.  If it was just sniffles, I can live with that.  But my cat allergies extend to breaking out in hives and asthma attacks...  So if it seems strange to you readers that I constantly post pictures of other-peoples-cats, it's because this is the closest to cat-dom I can get...

In any case - here is the first Monday's Meow-Mix in a long while!  Now, if I had this cat, I would end up not having any jewelry that I can make at my bench to post pictures of...  But, how absurdly cute is this?

via Digger and Cathy on Ganoksin's Bench Gallery

CJS = 13lbs Added to My Carry-on Suitcase...

Several weeks ago, I happened to stumble across an email, to a link, to a blog, that talked about this warehouse in NYC.  A very special warehouse - that contained several thousand square feet, piled high with boxes upon boxes of jewelry findings.  Needless to say, my heart started racing and my palms became slick with sweat as my immediate thought was "must-go-now-before-everything-is-gone."

Luckily, hubby and I had been planning at trip to NYC (me tagging along on his business trip there).  So, within two-weeks of this online discovery, I was on a plane to NYC.  We flew in on a Friday and first thing Monday, I made my way to this wonderful place.

Located around Korea-town, on a street lined with endless, non-descript buildings, you just don't know what to expect of this place.  Taking an elevator to the second floor, the door opens and you're deposited into a pirate's cave.  I was given a brief, but helpful tour around the place, given a cardboard box and then set loose.

In my comfy t-shirt, black yoga pants and sturdy tennis shoes, I dug in.  There was a brief pause in the beginning, when in the metals room, I found myself overcome with a fit of OCD, trying to "organize" the chaos around me.  This place isn't meant to be a sterile, organized, fit-within-the-lines type of place. CJS is a warehouse where you need to work for your inspiration, a playground where you can let your imagination run wild with the possibilities.  You find what you find and you create from what you get.  I sweated, I bled, I moved boxes and boxes and I was in the happiest place on earth.

One view of the "metals" room.  Boxes were stacked waist high.  There were so many amazing findings to choose from. 

The "chain" room.  More chains than you can think of what to do with! 

The "natural substances" room.  Bone, shell, wood, minerals, etc.

CJS kindly provided super sturdy plastic bags for you to use.  They were a lifesaver when I was trying to pack all this stuff in my suitcase! 

Awesome little brass tear-drops. 

Tiny brass tubes!

Great for texturing or stamping.

For a secret mission in the works...

Pressed glass beads...  Love the vintage look and feel of it!

Gorgeous, vintage milk-glass beads.

Slippery snake chain.

To be used in another secret mission...

Loved this doo-dads.  Some of them will make lovely and special earrings!

Pics to come of what became of the loot!

Um, Hi There.

Photo: Patrick Laberge

It's been too long.  Do I sound like I am repeating myself every few weeks, months, YEARS?  Perhaps.  I took a long hiatus from blogging.  It's fun, sort of.  But it's stressful and a LOT of work.  I admire those people out there who are able to produce something interesting & good as frequently as they do.

Have there been a lot of changes?  Do I have a millions reasons as to why I am so NOT good at keeping up with this blog-thing?  No, not really.  And then, yes.  There's always something, or a lot of things.  Nothing which though I think is interesting enough to publish online.

Except...

One BIG change for me (and hubby).  Which is exercising.  Last November (2011), I started working with a personal trainer at my gym.  One hour, once a week.  There have been a good handful or two of weeks in which I did NOT do my training, but it was usually because I was out of town or feeling pretty ill.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I don't feel like I see much of a difference.  But if I am honest, I can feel it.  I am much stronger.  Faster.  Better balance.  Better moods.  More stamina.  Of course the training is supplemented with going to the gym on my own - doing cardio stuff, usually.  Definitely more walks, movement and activity.  It feels like a slog, most of the time.  Trying to get my "steps" in for the day.  Not allowing myself to sit for so long that I go into metabolic shutdown.  Eating more healthily.  Come to think of it; it's really been a bunch of little changes that are bringing about big RESULTS.

That's a positive note to end this entry on.

I'll be back!  Sooner than later!

Not For The Faint-Of-Heart!

I spotted this on DeMilked and thought it is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.  It certainly could be quite overwhelming for the claustrophobic.  But if I were to have the opportunity to experience this, I would pop a Xanax and take the dive!  And when dining, I think I will order turf and skip the surf - let's not anger the natives....

Say It Ain't So!!

Unfortunately, it was SO, so.

I was a complete couch potato this Sunday.  I'm finally sitting at my desk, thinking about my tasks for the week ahead and groan inwardly at the amount of tv binging I did.  Hubby was out of town on business and a girlfriend of mine came over this morning, bearing two, fresh baguettes and some burrata cheese and we binged on carbs, fat and Harry Potter dvds all day.  It was lovely!  But there is a little bit of guilt setting in right now, so I'm going to make a big, fat list of to-dos as penance!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

Big Ups!

I hate waiting for deliveries.  I am one of those people who will sit by the window all day, looking out, if I could.  Every time I hear the sound of a truck passing by, I will pop right up and out of my seat to see if I can spot a glimpse of brown and yellow.  Will the package come?  WHEN will it come?  Will it get sent to the wrong place?  Will I be in the bathroom and miss the knock of the delivery man?  What if I wait all day and the package doesn't come?  And then on top of all that, I get grumpy at feeling like I've been held hostage all day to the house, waiting for something.

Our "fancy" little neighborhood is not immune to crime.  Last year, I had a package delivered while I was out of town for a night.  The UPS man tossed the box over the metal gate.  By the time I got home, all that was left was an open gate and empty box.  Since that experience, I religiously track shipments and arrange my schedule so that I'd be home when I'm expecting.

Today's package is a doozy.  I ordered some new equipment and materials.  Going to take a step into the metal clay world, with options in bronze and steel and copper working.  Yes, there is a small kiln that is due today.  I am so excited and so nervous.  First, about the delivery.  Second, everything else after that. I think I think too much and that's part of my problem.  But that's one of the many things I do and I just can't help it.  Nor can I help how rambling today's post is.

I think I hear a truck.  I need to go check...

Monday's Meow-Mix

via: The Cherry Blossom Girl

Sometimes, you just want to slow down to a walk, instead of trying to keep up with time.

Are we really almost done with August already?  I've only recently started writing "2011."

Time Intensive, Cost Intensive....

....fun and skills gained: priceless.

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I took a fabrication 1 class through the Revere Academy in San Francisco.  I have this weird thing, that no matter what kind of class or workshop I attend, I get tremendous stage-fright.  Will the teacher like me?  Will the other students be nice?  Will anyone talk to me during breaks?  Will I pass or fail the class?

Obviously, I have some unresolved school-day issues.

I shouldn't have sweated at all!  The teacher was fantastic and the class filled with people who WANTED to be there and who were professional and earnest and wanted to learn.  It was a funny mix of people; some of them even signed up for the class because they needed a "vacation" from their regular day job.  Some people just had free time.  Others, like me, were interested in learning skills that would be applicable to their work.

So, for three days, the class went from 9am to 5pm.  It was INTENSE.  I was so pleased to find out how much I knew and how many things I had been doing incorrectly.  I left the workshop on Sunday night, feeling much more confident and inspired.  This week, I am "remodeling" my studio/workspace to resemble more of what I had been working in at Revere.

I also splurged and picked up some pretty tools...

Knew Concept Saw frame.  Was a pricey item, for a saw frame - but lightweight and easy to use.

Dead-blow mallet.  This little beauty has a hollow space between the two plastic ends and is partially filled with steel shot.  This allows you to exert more force on the item you are hammering, with less energy on your part.

Last but not least; my new Foredom flexshaft handheld rotary tool.  Happiness.  This beautiful piece of American machinery will allow me to drill, buff, polish, etc., et., to my heart's content.  I am looking forward to improving my use of this and to cut down the amount of time it takes me to finish pieces.

MondayMeow-Mix: Wednesday Style

i feel like i can't keep up....

Monday's Meow-Mix

Last Friday, July 15th, was the official 1-year anniversary of Hsu-Lee Designs.  I had a little celebration and it was a brilliant evening filled with love, pride and the faces of so many people who believed in me and supported me.  Hubby gets the the biggest shout-outs; my going into business on my own and doing what I want to do was in fact, his idea.  There were friends at the party that I haven't seen in as much as 4, 5 years.  These people have seen me grow and develop my style and technique for making jewelry.  It was a pretty emotional evening.  I am happy to be doing what I am doing.  Isn't that one of the most important things in life?

Monday's Meow-Mix

Tanaka Who

Wait, is it really Wednesday already???

It's been a busy and happily-productive past couple of weeks.  I got to do a check-in with all of my stores, design ideas are popping into my head and I would love (like most of you all) to have an extra 10 hours in the day to do things.

But apparently my body has a different idea.  It seems like this year has been the worst year of allergies that I can remember.  And last week, though happy busy, was tinged with enough stress that it brought on another mild case of shingles.  That freakin' virus just won't let go!

So how do you balance being busy, productive, creative and "resting"?  I want to have years and years of creativity and productivity, so it makes sense to take care of my body as best as possible.  But when you're bursting with some energy and thoughts, you don't want to stop just because it's so late and cold at night that you can practically see your breath in the air...

AND - I don't even have a kid!  (besides my lovely husband).  It's just me + 1.  (a very special 1).  So, here's a little prop to those of you with kids, doing what you do.  No complaining out of me!

xoxox

Genius

I recently heard about a left-coast artist - Jim Denevan.  His work is beautiful, meditative and humbling.  Creating ephemeral designs in sand, ice or earth, these images are short-lived at the cycle of nature.  To me, it's humbling.  I love working with metals because I feel that they are lasting, to a degree.  The tangible nature of a piece of jewelry declares a permanence, that is until they are altered or destroyed by man.  The idea of creating art within the boundaries of what nature provides, with the knowledge that nature will take-away, speaks volumes about the acceptance of how life IS both permanent and impermanent.  There is always something more powerful than you and despite how controlled you may be in the minutiae of daily life, you will always bend to the will of nature.

But enough of my meandering.  Here are some images for you to feast on...

Ouf!

I'm back!  Well, I've been back from vacation for almost three weeks now.  But of course it's been hectic and busy and I've fallen out of the blogging routine.  Taking a moment to read all the blogs I've missed reading while out of the country and it's a humbling fact: life goes on and on.  Even when I'm not around.  = )

It was a fabulous 1-week in London (my first time) and 2-weeks in France (Loire Valley and Burgundy).  I've been terribly behind on processing pictures.  Primarily because they don't make a lot of sense.  See, I'm not one of those people who will capture images of all the "sights" because sometimes I don't even visit all those sights.  I'm a touring, anti-tourist.  Hubby is way more diligent about seeing the sights and attractions, whereas I'm more of an indolent, meanderer.  But I WILL get to those photos at some point.  In the meanwhile, here's an image that makes me miss France terribly:

lovely house on the outskirts of Sancerre, overlooking vast stretches of vineyards