Dad's Day & the Moments

Time flies…I know, an old saying but still rings true. Here we are at another Father's Day so it’s not unusual that I am thinking about my dad and how integral a part he played in me becoming the person I am today. Corny, I know…but if you’ve followed any of my blog over the years you’ll know that there are several posts in which I talk about his talents and how I was lucky enough to share many with him. The pix here is one of my favs and it stands framed, nestled among many tiny treasures in my home. Judging by my age, my guess is that the snap was taken in 1949 in the backyard of the little house my parents lived in at the time I was born. That’s my brother who is a tad more than three years older than me. I imagine that my mom was the photographer that day. I love looking at old pix and trying to figure out the psychology of all the players. Both my brother and my dad look a bit overwhelmed while I look happy as a clam. Hell, I imagine at that point in time, I was the center of attention…the newness of me had not quite worn away. Also, judging from my dad’s tan, it must have been in spring or early summer – he worked in construction for twenty-eight years and was outdoors on many of those jobs.

As a kid, I always thought it was cool that my dad built buildings. While he didn’t really build the entire building, he did install all the big heating and air conditioning systems in commercial buildings throughout Southern California. It’s weird the things we remember from our youth. While on a class field trip to the Los Angeles County Museum, my dad popped over while the class was picnicking on the lawns surrounding the museum. You see, he was “building” the then new sports arena complex that was just across the street. Pretty cool. While I was in high school I did a bit of fashion modeling and my agent at the time was in the California Mart downtown Los Angeles. It just so happened that my dad had “built” the original Cal Mart building; and then in 1964 or so, was working on the adjoining building at the same time I was modeling in the showrooms. It was fun, I would meet up with him for a quick bite to eat or just a passing “hi.” Odd how many of my childhood memories are tied to my dad’s jobs. I remember once being very sick as a really young kid and it taking forever for my dad to drive all the way home from Chino where he was “building” the women’s prison. Yikes. As a pre-teen I remember him calling us at home in the evening during his lunch time. He was working swing shift type hours at the Space General facility in the south bay and that was the only time he had to talk with us during the day. A funny memory -- while renovating the UCLA Medical Center, I think there was a time when some monkies in one of the labs got loose and were in the air conditioning ducts. Did I make that up? Gosh, I don't think so.

Anyhow, not sure where I am going with all of this, which is usually the case in my blog posts these days; but I think it has something to do with the fact that the things we remember in life are much more of the ordinary activities. The moments…not so much the years or the big events. That being said, I just want to take a moment to thank my dad for all that he did for us as a family over the years. While he left this place in 2001, there is no doubt that his spirit and energy goes on. Not to sound maudlin, but events in my life over the last few years showed me that his choices were probably not always the easiest; but he did what he thought was right and the best for us and I will forever be grateful for that. I love you dad. oxo

Yes…I am 64! Vent or Rant?

Why oh why do I let people’s comments bug me so much? This morning while scrolling through my twitter feed, I came across this little tweet “How good does [famous person] look at 60? Stunning!” At what point in time are people going to stop using an age qualifier in a comment in a description of a female? Isn’t it enough to say she looks great or she is really fit – I say it’s time to drop the “for her age” and “she is 60” silliness. Maybe it’s just me…since I have long passed that mark. Yes, I openly admit I am 64! It’s a blessing and a curse, of sorts. I am tremendously grateful that I actually get to be 64; so many of my friends weren’t so lucky. And, while I know I look nothing like I did at 20, 30, 40, 50 and, quite frankly, at 60 – when complimented I never say “well thanks, you know I’m 64!” Why in the hell does age matter unless, of course, you want to get pregnant?

I guess that is the “curse” side of the coin. Age does matter. As a jewelry designer, I live in a world that is totally focused on youth and that fact does ruffle my feathers. Well, to be honest it does more than that but we’ll save that rant for another day. Sadly, I don’t think it is just the world of fashion that takes such a negative approach to age. I am thinking it is society as a whole, at least in this country. While we do have Ari Seth Cohen making a tiny dent with his Advanced Style activities, I think we have a long way to go before we, as a society, embrace aging and those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to grow older.

To be perfectly honest, at one point in my jewelry designing history when I was approached by mass market retailers, I toyed with the idea of hiring a much younger woman to be the face of my jewelry line. Yes, it’s true. Thank god that thinking was short-lived! However, I now battle with the small minded thinking that says because I have reached the ripe old age of 64, my designs could not possibly be fresh or relevant to anyone under the age of 65! To that I say “poppycock!” True, my designs don’t appeal to everyone and I think part of me would be disappointed if they did. I love the Bob Dylan take on an Abe Lincoln quote “you can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” In reality, I don’t know of one designer who creates pieces that appeal to everyone; unless, of course, they have a huge media relations budget. (Oops, a bit of cynicism there, sorry not being very enlightened now am I?) I am a self-professed geeky rockhound who loves vintage things, and since I couldn’t find designs that I liked, I started designing and then selling jewelry in 1967. Gasp…yes, the reality is that for most of you I am probably older than your grandma. But why should that matter?

Over the years, my overall design aesthetic has changed…but only slightly. Early on I loved rocks and gemstones so much so I wanted to figure out a way to wear them – so, I made that happen. The addition of various vintage components just happened organically. Today, boring as it might sound, it is still the same thing that sparks me – it starts with a rock, gemstone or a glorious vintage something or other that grabs me. I don’t design to a trend, I don’t design based on mass audience appeal and I definitely am not a copy-cat manufacturer. I design and make what I like and I trust that there are some of you out there, regardless of your age or mine, who feel the same way and continue to add to your collections. I thank you for that.

I do hope my little venting session prompts at least a few of you to think about how you might judge people, especially women, who have a few years on you. So with all of that being said in a bit of a ramble, the bottom line in it all is “age be damned” – it just doesn’t matter!

Ring Around the Carnelian - Item of the Week

“Oh-h-h, oh-h-h, oh-h-h!” That’s what you and everyone who sees you will be saying when they get a look at this necklace. There is no way I could get a full-length shot of this 48” beauty, so I wrapped it around Lulu, the neck, so you could see most of the beads. Designed to be worn long if you want – double strands of carnelian, aragonite, smoky quartz (gobstoppers that would do Willy Wonka proud), yellow jade, agate and Czech glass beads in all shapes and sizes fall below two colossal 1 ¾” hefty carnelian links. Above the carnelian links you’ll find more smoky quartz, agate and jade. It all comes together with a beautiful textured gold vermeil square toggle. The clasp makes it possible for you to wrap the necklace two or three times around your pretty little neck to get just the look you want for your outfit for the day. The toggle is a work of art in itself and that means you can wear it to the side or down in front where it will get extra attention.

Since the necklace is made of large real gemstones, it does have some weight to it; not so much that you’ll need to stop at the chiropractor (Hi Dr. Gilbert!) on your way home from the office; but you will know you are wearing it. Personally, I like that since the necklace holds down clothing items up top and the weight of the piece pretty much assures you won’t be playing “lasso the boob” with the necklace. Did I just say that? Sure did.

The piece looks stunning layered with the carved leaf pendant or the jade key pendant also from the collection. However this is a necklace that truly stands on its own. Well, not stands…like on feet…but you know what I’m saying. This necklace just makes me happy and I wear a similar design year-round making the CPW (cost per wear) a very good thing. Fan of the Pantone? Well, if so, for Fall 2013, Pantone refers to the carnelian color as Koi – I just call it “wow” or maybe “wowzer!” Is there a Pantone number for that? Made in the USA of imported and domestic components. From the Tanya Lochridge Jewelry Trunk Show Collection.

Here’s something fun – since this is truly a one-of-a-kind you can be the one and only person walking the planet who will be sporting this beauty for years to come. Since you are truly a one-of-a-kind, it's kind of fun isn't it? (Unless you are still in the Brownies and kind of like to look like all of your friends then perhaps having your own personal look isn’t top priority for you at the moment; and, if you are still young enough to be in the Brownies this necklace might be a tad too much for you.) Okay, I’ll stop now…starting to ramble...I must need chocolate. Anyhow I'm pretty sure you'll be wowed when you see it up close and personal. And, remember, if not...you can always return it. I never want you to keep any piece with which you are not absolutely head over heels in love. (Yes, it's grammatically correct but it sounds so stuffy, doesn't it?) Okay -- off for that chocolate now while you just do a little shopping.

Regular Price $195.00

Item of the Week Sale Price $136.50

Scoot on over to the site/shop now and make it yours!

Is There a Formula?

Earlier this week I read a fashion blog entry that was touting what seemed to be the equivalent of the perfect mathematical formula for stacking bracelets. Being the fanatic that I am when it comes to details, I had a good chuckle over the fact that there was someone out there in the same fanatics unite club! However, I think they had a different membership than me! You see, there are exceptions to my detail-oriented, everything must be in its place self. The stacking or styling of jewelry is one of those exceptions. Reading her article fueled my thinking about the way I style the jewelry I wear – is there a rhyme and reason for some looks and I just don’t know it?

The first pix above is what I thought I would wear today. Two bracelets that look like four. Plain and simple, right. (Well, plain and simple by my standards.) I have had this lovely bracelet made in Bali for many years. It has the most wonderful big amethyst and blue topaz faceted gemstones in it. Not only do I love the look of the piece, I also love its energy. But I never wear it alone…ever. Most times I layer it with other non-stone silver bracelets I have collected over the years. But this morning for some reason I thought I would mix it up with the multi-amethyst three-strand beauty from my own collection. I love the mix of bold chevron amethyst, also called dog-tooth amethyst) in coins and pillows with the large nuggets of faceted amethyst. The bracelet just feels good when I wear it. Styling it for the first time (at least I think it is the first time!) with the Bali bauble gave me a look that was fabulous. However, more important to me is that I love the way the combo feels on my wrist. Happy with the outcome, I went into the studio to take care of business. Then, as usual about thirty minutes later, I had another styling bolt hit. How about wearing the aqua and black lampwork bead rope style bangle with the Bali beauty instead? So, that’s what I did. I removed the multi-row amethyst and rolled the aqua wonder on, letting the charm-like beads and gemstones fall down over my hand. While I wear the aqua lampwork glass bangle a lot, I know for certain that I have never ever styled these two together. It looked beautiful, bringing attention to the blue topaz gems in the Bali bracelet. Satisfied with the new look…I picked up where I left off in the studio.

Well, you guessed it! Thinking about the amethyst combo again I had the brilliant idea of wearing them all together. And, so I did – you see that in the final pix here. Personally I really love the combo. But it made me think about what the fashion blogger/mathematician would think about my stack. Let’s see was I supposed to measure each piece and determine its proportion in relationship to the others? Was I supposed to count the number of rows in total and not surpass a given number? Was I supposed to think about the mixing of unusual color ways? All I know is that by the time I went through that list of rules my head was spinning. Clearly, applying mathematics to the layering of jewelry just isn’t the way I do things. For those of you who do, I commend you. You have far greater patience and better brains than me! As I sit here writing, I do know that I love the way this jumble of Mother Nature’s gifts feels on my wrist. The color combo, while unexpected, is quite cheery and makes me happy. I absolutely love how the crystal quartz and Czech glass beads capture the light and throw it back out for me to see. My lesson today is that for me it just comes down to wearing jewelry that makes me happy. It is my hope that your jewelry, whatever you wear and however you style it, just makes you happy. Do you have a formula for styling your jewelry or do you too just toss it on willy-nilly? Tell me by clicking on the word “comment” following the dateline below. It will be fun to share your thoughts.

“Sunshine, oh sunshine, wherefore art thou?”

I know, I know, I live in the Pacific Northwest so why am I always complaining about the lack of sunshine? I should be use to it by now, shouldn’t I? Well, let the record show I am not use to it; and, honestly, I don’t think I will ever get use to it. I’m a SoCal beach girl at heart – so sunshine and ocean breezes are my happy place! That being said, I am sitting in the studio today making my own sunshine, of sorts, working with gemstones and beads that remind me of blue skies, sunshine and ocean breezes.

Starfish in Disney-like colors are fun especially when laced with seashells, pearls, seaglass and gold. Aqua lampwork glass and crystal quartz gemstones come to life in a signature unique bangle bracelet. The color of this bracelet was inspired by the waters of Capri. And, a little side note – this style of bangle has quickly become one of my bestsellers. Is it the look or the comfort or the fact that they are easily stacked with any other bracelet from your collection? Personally, I think it might be all of the above! Whatever you choose I know that you will have fun styling them again and again, adding your personality and individuality to the overall look. So before you jump into the work week, why not take some time for a little window shopping on my site – warmer weather and sunshine will be here before you know it and you’ll be ready for it with your cheery breezy jewelry. While shopping, I hope that you’ll be whisked back to all places sunny and warm!

Fanfare Please -- Rough & Polished Amethyst & Crystal Quartz Bracelet

By now you have to know how much I love gemstones in their rough state. That being said – this three-strand bracelet is made up of rough amethyst and dazzling crystal quartz. As a complement, I’ve used faceted & polished 12mm light amethyst beads. All of the amethyst stones have “garden” in them, which means they are not completely transparent. like you would see in faceted Zambian gemstones.

Amethyst is known to instill a peaceful, calm state in the wearer. Sounds good. Amethyst is known to help boost the ability to relax the mind and the body. So, okay. Amethyst is also known to heighten awareness and balance the chakras in the body, which, in turn, results in gaining perspective and deeper levels of introspection. A little aerie-fairy – but you’re still reading and that’s good because I am still writing. Here’s the kicker – in days of old, it was thought that if you drank alcohol from a drinking vessel carved from amethyst, drunkenness would not occur. One would think that the stores would be full of amethyst drinking glasses, right? And, if that’s not enough, there were times when amethyst ,along with the color purple, could only be worn by royalty. And, you’ll find it in prominent use in the Crown Jewels as well.

The dark rough amethyst nuggets are quite large – so if you are in search of a bracelet that will get noticed, make a statement and still has a feminine touch, then this could be just the ticket. When I design pieces I like a touch of contrast – so the finest quality Czech glass specialty faceted glass beads catch the light in an unusual way that plays against the rough nature of the gemstones.

This bracelet looks great alone – in fact, the three strands when lying flat next to each other measure 1 ½”. But, that doesn’t stop me from stacking on a few others with it. I’ve given you some styling options here showing it with vintage Lucite, Joan Boyce, Judith Ripka and a lepidolite bracelet from my collection. Knowing all of you, royalty that you are, I am sure you’ll come up with ways to wear this beauty that truly makes it your own. From the Tanya Lochridge Jewelry Trunk Show Collection. Made in the USA of domestic and imported components.

Fanfare Please -- Yellow Calcite & Crystal Quartz

Sometimes simple is magnificent. Case in point – this magnificent yellow calcite and crystal quartz bracelet. You know that my trademark design is usually a three-strand, sometimes five-strand, bracelet or necklace. However, there are times when I sit at the bench in my studio and see a simple, yet stunning, single strand design. This was one of those times.

I remember the moment I saw these gemstone beads in Tucson. They stood apart from the rest that day. The faceted polished large nuggets of yellow calcite are just so beautiful; I wanted to design a piece that showcased their natural beauty. Partnered with the glistening natural nuggets (don’t think tiny just because I used the word nugget) in clear crystal quartz (envision melting ice in the sunshine) and Florentine-finish “potato chip” beads of gold vermeil the overall look is lovely. The calcite is definitely yellow but soft buttery yellow – not garish neon and the crystal quartz nuggets are like reflecting pools and a bit mesmerizing when the light skips through them – use caution when driving and wearing this bracelet. The sun reflecting off the nuggets is sure to get your attention!

Yellow calcite is thought to spur intellectual capacity. I’ll take that. And, it is thought to boost energy levels – I’ll definitely take that!!!
I’ve shown a few styling options. However, believe it or not, I happen to love this bracelet all on its own. It’s a stunning simple design that is sure to get your noticed and leave a lasting impression. Made in the USA of domestic and imported components. From the Tanya Lochridge Jewelry Trunk Show Collection.

A Mash of Our Own

No secret, I love a mash of bracelets…always have, always will. It tickles me that the world of fashion has finally embraced the look as well. These days you don’t have to look far to see your favorite fashion blogger or models in an editorial spread donning loads and loads of bracelets. While I love the look, there is one thing that I think I do a bit differently from the norm. Maybe it has to do with my fascination with rocks and gemstones and how I showcase them in my jewelry designs or maybe it has to do with my being slightly claustrophobic. (Bet you weren’t expecting that now were you?) My claustrophobic nature results in me disliking wearing anything that clings – like a tight bracelet, tight necklace or a pair of Spanx! Take these two things and put them together and you get a lot of jewelry that moves when I do. (I could go to a really ick place and talk about other things that move without the Spanx…but how ‘bout we leave that for another day and time.)

Going hand and hand with movement, I also love the sound that jewelry makes – so combining a bangle or two with a multistrand of bold gemstones makes a unique sound whenever my wrist moves and I like that. And, since I am quite animated when talking my hands are always in motion and the jewelry just adds to the story. It just makes me happy! Think back to playing dress up – or simply take a few minutes to watch a child putting on jewelry. Do they place one tiny little piece on their wrist or around their neck and dance around the room satisfied with that or do they load it up with whatever they can find?

I’m thinking that piling on the pieces of jewelry is innate – it’s just in us. Sadly, somewhere along the line, someone tells us that we shouldn’t wear “too much” or “too many” so we squash our desire to do so in our wish to be “part of.” The good news is that we finally grow up and we realize that what anyone else thinks or says about how we should or shouldn’t look doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. (Did I just say that? A hill of beans?) Feeling confident in our strong sense of self, we wear what we like, when we like and how we like to wear it. Growing older definitely has it perks – creating your unique style is just one of them.

For the Love of Lavender Essential Oil

It seems this week there have been so many people saying that they had burned themselves. My first reaction when I hear that is “ouch” – damn, burns hurt. And, the next thing out of my mouth or onto my keyboard, is Lavender Essential Oil. Yes, lavender! Since I have tweeted that bit of advice several times over the past year or more, I thought it was time to share my experience with you. In doing so, it’ll all make sense…at least that is my hope.

Me - a few days post-burn.

It all started pretty innocently. One lovely summer evening while still living at the beach in SoCal, I was at a friend’s house enjoying dinner. Living at the beach, it’s a common thing to eat outdoors; and that is what we were doing. Larry had recently completed a remarkable renovation on his early 1910 home – renovation might not be the right word, considering the original structure was in such a sad state of disrepair, he had to completely demolish it. Long story, short…the patio was still under construction and the pavers were down but not permanently. So, when you walked across the patio, you had to watch your step so as not to trip on the forms. Get where I am going with this?

Mid-dinner, we needed more of something on the table, so he went back into the kitchen to cook up a bit more. I followed with a few empty dishes and when the new goodies where ready I carried the hot skillet back outside to fill up the one dish I forgot to take into the kitchen. Having accomplished that simple task, I picked up his empty wine glass (let the record show, I was not drinking!) in one hand and still had the hot pan in the other. Clumsy me, when the spatula in the hot pan started teetering, I totally spaced about the concrete forms, tripped and landed half in and out of the house – yes, falling face first into the hot pan. Larry just saw me disappear behind the island in the big open kitchen and then heard smashing glass. When he ran around the island, all he saw was me with a very bloody hand sitting in a bunch of broken glass. Fast forward…hand doctored, cut not quite as bad as it looked – I mentioned my face. His reaction said it all – where my face had connected with the rim of the pan, I had a white burn from forehead to chin. Ouch -- it was really starting to hurt as only burns can do.

Me goofing at a photo session in NYC.
After all it was for Crest!

I stayed a bit longer putting cool compresses on the burn and then headed for home. I just wanted to look in my own mirror and be in my own bed. The following day I called a doctor friend of mine, relayed the scenario and went to see him in his office. The diagnosis wasn't good – knowing my history of scarring, he told me I would have a nasty scar and that after it healed, cosmetic surgery would most likely help with the overall appearance but not get rid of it completely. I cried all the way home – yes, it was only a damn scar, I would live, but it was upsetting just the same. Sitting at a stop light, Lavender Oil popped into my head – yes, weird I know. But over the years I had learned that lavender oil helps promote cell regeneration and healing. So, as soon as I got home, using a Q-tip, I dabbed the oil on the burn. YIKES! My actual verbiage was much different than that, but since this is a G-rated blog, we’ll go with YIKES! It burned like hell! (So much for the G-rating.) I applied the oil several times throughout the next few days. Watching as the burn darkened over the next few days. Cripes, was I doing the right thing? The first pix was taken a few days post-accident. Slowly, it started to heal and within a few weeks it seemed to be disappearing. I kept applying the oil until my face had returned to normal. I can’t remember how long it took, but it was several weeks. I eventually went back to see my doc friend and he was amazed – especially when I told him about the Lavender Oil. He always thought I was a bit kooky with all my voodoo-type medical remedies. But, for what it is worth, he did take note of what I did and has since recommended it to patients.

All these years later – no scar, no sign of a burn and no cosmetic/plastic surgery. My current photos on my site and blog don’t lie. So, all of that being said; now you understand why I am compelled to tell anyone who mentions a burn or a cut to me about Lavender Essential Oil. For some silly reason, I didn't think to put it on the cut on my hand and to this day I have a significant scar that serves as a reminder of that night dining under the stars.

It's so Easy Being Green!

Green Aventurine, Prehnite & Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Maybe it’s because it’s St. Patrick’s Day, maybe it’s because Pantone has named Emerald the color of the year for 2013 or just maybe it’s because I gaze out the studio window and I see little touches of green here and there. I am so happy to see spring…so very happy. The winters in this part of the country are really tough – at least for this born and raised SoCal girl. Lots of gray and rain and usually ice; but I have to say, this winter was relatively mild and I am so thankful to Mother Nature for that. While I do love the color green – I’m not so crazy about it in clothes. Don’t know why…some things we can’t explain. However, when it comes to gemstones and rocks – I love all of the greens. In fact, my all time favorite gem is tsavorite which as you know is the most vibrant and luscious of greens.



Green Mist Jasper & Freshwater Pearl Silver Bracelet

My love affair doesn’t stop there. The simply nature of green aventurine always catches my eye; it’s a soothing soft shade of green and when I wear it I often catch myself fiddling with the gemstone beads – seems to give me a sense of calm. Crazy? Probably, but then that’s me! Several years ago, in Tucson, I discovered green mist jasper, which I still think is a form of rhyolite and not jasper at all. But, whatever it is, I just know that it sends me over the moon. Unlike green aventurine, green mist jasper has bits and bobs of varying colors of green and other colors as well. You can actually see how the formation of the rock took place – the “balls” of color are what lead me to believe it is a form of rhyolite – igneous in nature. Too much science?

Green Jade, Crystal Quartz, Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Then there is jade – not surprisingly, I love all shades of green jade – the long history of jade jewelry has always fascinated me. Many years ago I was in a vintage jewelry store in San Francisco and a magnificent jade bracelet caught my eye. Thinking I wanted to treat myself, I looked at the tag -- $2400. Well, okay…a bit more than I had planned, but I just loved the piece -- its energy and the way it felt on my wrist. I showed it to my friend who looked at the tag and gasped – it was $24,000!! Well, we both had a great giggle and, needless to say, the bracelet stayed in the shop. But, to this day, I can still see and feel it on my wrist!

Green Aventurine, Prehnite & Freshwater Pearl Necklace

And, finally, you’ll notice that a lot of prehnite shows up in my designs. Since I believe in the healing energy of gemstones, rocks and minerals I love what prehnite is all about. Along with many other things, prehnite is thought to encourage acceptance, emotional release, forgiveness and compassion. And, most importantly, it helps the wearer remain true to self, uplifts their spirit and helps them find clarity of mind and heart. Wow, that makes it a pretty powerful stone. And, it’s the prettiest shade of green, slightly translucent with dark needle-like inclusions running through it. So, if you don’t have any prehnite in your jewelry collection you just might want to add a piece of two along with some of the other green stones shown here. Green is a lovely neutral that goes with every color in the rainbow making it good investment for your jewelry wardrobe. And, it's just darn beautiful!

300 and Still Standing!

When I was posting my last blog about reaching 10,000 tweets on Twitter, I didn’t notice until after the fact that post was my 300^th in a very long stream of blog posts. Where or where does the time go? And, more importantly, where or where do the words come from? While I consider myself to be a pretty quiet individual, I do know that I spend a lot of time in my head just thinking. (Quoting my nephew – his response, at about the age of 3 or so, when asked what he was doing sitting on his bed in the middle of the day “just thinking” and when I asked what he was thinking about, he said “stuff.” And, that was that.) So, yes, it must run in the family – some of us are thinkers and not so much talkers. Blogging allows me to share some of what I’m thinking with all of you – and, I like that. Not that what I am thinking is all that interesting or prosaic, it is fun to have an outlet for sharing some of it. Perhaps it resonates with a few of you…maybe not; but I do know this, blogging has become a big part of my business and personal life. So…it’s a good thing.

Speaking or thinking about the biz side of things, I have been working on the prettiest long bold tassel necklaces, shown here styled a bit so you get the idea of what they are all about. I have designed a few different ones with jumbo crystal quartz and green aventurine so far. The design of these necklaces makes the gemstones the ultimate touchstone, too. The crystal quartz beauty is shown in the pix here – I styled it so you could get a good idea of the length of the piece. I even like it peeking out from under a scarf. Do you? When I style this way, I always think of Flat Stanley! You might also want to check it out on the site as it can be styled in a few short ways too – I love convertible jewelry. Always thinking about cost – with the versatility of this piece, your CPW goes down. CPW? Yes, cost per wearing! Sometimes I just go back into my old B-school and business days – man that stuff is emblazoned on my mind and just won’t vanish. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast today; but I remember the old marketing and finance crap I learned all those years ago. Sorry for the word crap – but it just seems like the best descriptor in this case! And, on that note…I’ll sign off for the day before I start the incoherent babble that was B-school.

10,000? Could it be Possible?

Oh dear, at some point earlier in the week I posted my 10,000 tweet. For those of you who might not know exactly what that means – I’ll say my 10,000 tweet on Twitter. Okay, for a person who resisted Twitter for a year or so, I sure seem to have jumped in with both feet! That number couldn’t possibly be right…could it? Since I work alone most of the day there are times when I really miss the camaraderie of a friend popping into my office for a little catch-up chat. Weird, I have worked on my own for many years now…yes, that would be Many with a capital “M”…and the one thing I still miss is the friendships that develop over time with office pals. When I first entered the world of Twitter, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect…but, I did think that the space would be filled with critical types/haters, of sorts. Boy was I wrong! What I have found over the 10,000+ tweets is that there is a diverse, fun and friendly bunch of folks out there just popping in to talk in 140 characters or less!

So today, in some unexpected way, social media platforms have replaced the office pop-in in my world. I do so enjoy catching up with fellow tweeters from the parts of the world in which I once lived or grew up; and, it is also fun for me to follow so many young people who seem to be creating and paving their own paths in the world of commerce. I like that…for a bit more on my thinking scoot over to my post here about my discovery of the world of YouTube. Gosh, I know…five years ago I would have said never; however, today I just keep on exploring new avenues in this crazy thing we call social media. And, truth be told…I am having a lot of fun with it all.

Who Do You Dress For? (For Whom Do You Dress?) Grammar Aficianados Take Your Pick!



Blue Chalcedony, Eagle Eye Agate & Czech Glass

Over the weekend, I spent a big part of my time working in the studio and, totally off subject, I have the jaw bruise to prove it! In short – sometimes life of a jewelry designer is perilous! One slip of the grip and pow! So this week it's Tanya zero and pliers one if you are keeping score. On another note, in the background, I was listening to Jay King (Mine Finds on HSN) sell his gemstone wares. Over the years, we have become friends – it's funny how fellow rockhounds always seem to find a way to unite – so when he's on I tune in when I can to listen to his stories. What struck me during one of the shows was a caller who asked about various pieces of turquoise – specifically, if she could wear one piece with the other even though they came from different sources. Gasp! Her question got me thinking that there must be a faction of women out there who still think there are rules when it comes to wearing jewelry.

While I have never really been a matchy-match thinker (clearly this is why I am single?), I am aware that there are women who like to wear sets of matching jewelry and if that is what they like then it works for me, too. The key there though is “what they like” not what is expected of them. While sets are fairly easy to create in traditional cast jewelry designs, when it comes to rocks, minerals and certain gemstones the idea of perfectly matching sets baffles me. I like to think that my designs are sisters in many ways…but not identical twins! Kind of like one's eyebrows, no?

Eagle Eye Agate & Silver Potato Chip Earrings

Bottom line? (And why I used that term I have no idea…it’s kind of one for the business meeting Bullshit Bingo game, isn’t it? It could be worse, I could have said “at the end of the day.” A perfect example of “you can take the girl out of the boardroom, but you can’t take the boardroom out of the girl.") And, now back to my original thought. I guess what I am trying to say here is that the most important thing is that if you put something on and you like it, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of your styling! While I have heard many people say that women dress to impress other women, I wonder if it is really true and I just play ostrich with my head stuck in the sand. (And, do ostriches really stick their heads in the sand?) So question of the day…do you dress to impress other women or to make your friends jealous? It’ll be interesting to hear your feedback as I so want to believe that all of you dress in a style that just makes you very happy.

Snow, snow & snow!

All this talk of NYC and Nemo threw me back in time. A year or so before I moved there was a terrific snow storm in the city and I remember it all so well. Growing up in SoCal, snow was always so magical to me…the only time I experienced it was on trips to the mountains as a kid where we fly down hills on sleds and toboggans  and on skiing adventures as I grew older. Living in this part of the country, while we get snow on occasion, it is nothing like that I was so lucky to experience in New York. The snow here is far icier and usually freezes into sheets of ice once it hits the ground. Even up at Mt. Hood, where snowboarders and skiers abound, the snow conditions, in my mind are less than super. I was used to much more powdery conditions and many times, skiing in the sunshine while living in SoCal! But, Mt. Hood is a giant glacier, after all, so it’s not surprising that it can be glare ice much of the time. My final skiing adventure up there in 1980 ended in a tree well with hip and shoulder damage that, after all these years, won’t seem to let me forget that eventful day! So, these days, I leave it all to the youngsters and while I do marvel at the snowboarders and every once in awhile think I would like to try it, just once…I know better. Although, of late, I have been thinking about dune boarding – after all, it’s sand, how much could it hurt to fall in it? Anyone?

I took the pix above during that storm all those years ago from my kitchen table in New York. The corner of 70^th and First – looking quite interesting layered in lots and lots of lots of snow. And, keep in mind, that because of all the hospital entrances on 70^th and York, that intersection is an emergency road so it is cleared more frequently than other streets in the City! Rockhound that I am, looking at all that snow puts me in mind of crystal quartz – both rough and polished stones. There is something quite magical about the gemstones and how they form in nature. If you haven’t seen my Pinterest postings lately, you can see lots of quartz in the rough in giant geode form in my Tucson Gem Love folder. Looking at the giant geodes gives me a true appreciation of these gifts of Mother Nature. I love that we are lucky enough to be able to wear them on our wrists or around our necks. Isn’t it grand?

Seven Years & Celebrating!

Yes, it’s true. Seven years ago I sat down and posted my first blog entry. Back then it started as a way to showcase my jewelry designs since technology was slightly different in those days and on online presence was not quite yet in the cards. Fast forward, seven years, and here we are – all of this techno-stuff makes it possible for me to stay in touch with all of you – from anywhere in the world. Isn’t it amazing? Baffling, yet amazing. I love it all. Well, maybe it’s better to say (and a bit more truthfully) that at times I have a love-hate relationship with it! But most days…it’s pure love.

What I didn’t know all those years ago is that this blog would be a lifesaver, of sorts. It’s no secret that I had a really hard time making the transition from my life in New York to my life in this tiny country community. Since writing has always been a retreat from the real world for me, I found that my blog had become a lifestyle journal, of sorts, allowing me to share my daily life; and, in doing so, I released (and shared) a lot of the angst I was feeling at the time. I have continued along that path over the years and fully enjoyed sharing bits and pieces with you along the way. At this moment in time, I see that my blog will continue much of the same. Sometimes it will be about jewelry and how my life revolves around the business of jewelry and at other times, it’ll be about life…here and in general.

That being said, I hope you will continue with me along my path – I love to know that you are following and picking up bits and pieces of who I am and how it all comes together in my jewelry. I also like to think that perhaps one of you might be feeling the same way about life, in general, and that it just might help a bit knowing that you are not alone. I do believe that life is an interesting and incredible journey. As I’ve grown taller (well okay…older, much, much older) I understand that in life, it is the journey that counts and not the destination. So that being said, I love that all of this technology lets me share life with all of you. Thanks for coming along with me…it’s a fun adventure!

Seen on the Most Famous Women -- Yes, That Would Be You!

Part of me wants to shout “I don’t care what celebrity has worn what in any movie or video” – but then I know full well that saying that could come back and bite me in the butt thus quenching any spark of interest from stylists and wardrobe gurus around the world. (But, didn’t I just put it all out there? Yes, I did so I doubt that “coming to a screen near you” will be in my vernacular anytime soon!) It seems that everywhere I look lately all the hype is about some starlet wearing some piece of jewelry or clothing in a movie or television show, which in turn means that everyone walking the planet absolutely needs to have one. Could it be that I am jaded because in my past life I worked in marketing and advertising and fully understand the “product placement” equation? Or am I just getting to be a grumpy old woman? Perhaps it’s a bit of both – or a whole lot of both, who knows? Anyhow, I love it when I see jewelry I designed on real women…like you; women who understand and feel confident with the reality of individual style. Women who want to make a lasting impression by standing out from the pack – not necessarily following and getting lost in it.

It is my belief that women who wear my jewelry are the famous ones! How they manage it all is beyond me. They are all ages, they have families of all types, they work in varied and quite interesting capacities, they manage households, they juggle personal lives with business, they purchase clothes and jewelry with hard-earned dollars, they shop in Bergdorf’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Target (and aren’t afraid to admit it); and, most importantly of all, they know exactly who they are as individuals.

This is the woman I have in mind when I design my pieces. Sure, there are ways to style each piece to look “trendy” at any given time. In fact, I do it all the time. But at the end of the day isn’t it nice to know that you’ll have a genuine, non-disposable collection that stands the test of time long after that latest trend is old hat? I certainly think so and I trust that in some way you’ll agree.

Now You Can Follow My Blog on Bloglovin'

And, if Twitter and Facebook aren't enough, now you can follow my blog on Bloglovin'! Okay, the world has gone mad and looks like I am going with it! Now...back to the jewelry bench.

Yes, that paragraph is one giant link because I can't get the code to change. So, just ignore all the blue above, for now. Ta!

From the Land of YouTube

In the last few months, an interesting and quite unexpected phenomenon has taken place in the world of Tanya Lochridge Jewelry. You might want to sit down for this...I have become infatuated with YouTube. I know...I said it would never happen, but you know what they say "never say never." It started innocently enough when I saw a tweet from Laura Geller about a beauty youtuber (not even sure what you call those who upload videos to YouTube on a regular basis) who mentioned one of Laura's products on a new beauty video. Loving Laura and considering her "a gal," I popped over to missglamorazzi on YouTube and found this delightful and enchanting pixie of a young woman talking about some of her favorite beauty and fashion finds for the month. Expert that I now am (!), I know that monthly finds is a common topic for the beauty people. See old dogs can learn new tricks!
YouTube is a bit like doughnuts...in my book, you can never have just one. So, I discovered fleurdeforce, tanyaburr, zoella and Sprinkleofglitter -- lovely and quite witty girls from England who are equally enchanting. YouTube is a prime example of the old snowball effect -- through the girls I discovered lukeconard a talented young quirky musician and a bunch of his talented and unique friends along with Jim Chapman who does fun styling, life and grooming videos for men. Most of those I follow also do vlogs, which are a much less formal format, sharing snippets of their daily lives while being quite entertaining. It sure beats watching much of the programming on TV these days...but that's best left at that...for now.

I know, you're asking yourself why would an old lady be sitting around watching these youngsters on YouTube. I think it has to do with a few things; but primarily the fact that in every office in which I have worked I was always older than most of the other employees. I actually loved that fact...I fell into a much, much older sister, aunt, mom and even grandma role with many of the "youngsters" with whom I shared my day. Sometimes as a mentor; but in most cases it seems that we became friends, too. Living in this isolated little part of the world and working independently in most part from my own studio and office, the attachment to these "kids" on YouTube somehow replicates my earlier in-office experiences.  I look at the snippets of their lives as a coworker walking down the hall in an office and popping their head in to say "hi" or sit and talk for a bit. So, I once again feel connected -- yet in a very disconnected way. At this point in my life, silly as it might sound, I feel like a proud grandma with this bunch.

Weird? Yes, maybe...no? All I know is I see these kids in their very early 20s working very hard at something they love and it gives me hope for the future. There is so much negative "news" today about the "disenfranchised generation" a label that these kids are choosing to ignore. It's fun for me to watch them build their brands from scratch at such a young age. It is overwhelming at times when this old lady considers the amount of technology they use as easily as I struggle to use 10% (yes, that is a somewhat exaggerated guess) of the capacity on a computer, iPad and an iPhone! Maybe it's the fact that they figured out a way to make the world of a geek be cool. After all, it takes a lot of techno-savvy to do what they do day in and day out. I don't really know the answer to it all -- but I do know that I am thankful that Laura Geller mentioned missglamorazzi on that tweet or facebook post -- it opened a whole new world to me.

Coming Full Circle

I spent some time over the weekend catching up with an old, old, old friend. It was so much fun talking about our glory days at the beach and our crazy life at school. It’s interesting to me how you sometimes forget certain events until someone who shared it with you way back when brings it up and suddenly it’s as if no time has passed and you are reliving the moment, detail by detail and giggling about it all over again. I love that. Unfettered laughter is good for the soul.

Those were the years that I first started making jewelry. Working at a sailboat shop I had access to all kinds of little things that could be crafted into bigger things. I designed and made messenger and tote bags and handbags from canvas, using brass boat hardware and beautiful cotton and nylon ropes for the straps. Along with the bags, I started crafting my early pieces of jewelry, knotting many of the ropes and finishing them with smaller brass hardware. I incorporated my handcrafted ceramic beads that I made in school and in my beach neighbor’s ceramic studio. Wow, so much fun for me.

I like to think that I still carry that fun with me after all these years. Plain and simple…I love what I do. Every aspect of my jewelry biz resonates with me. Of course, I love hunting for treasures that then get worked into my designs, I love the challenge of creating each piece – believe it or not there is a lot of engineering that goes into making pieces that fit and are comfy to wear. I love the marketing and promotion aspect – the business side of jewelry making. Luckily for me, in my corporate life away from jewelry I had jobs in marketing and media, sales, design, finance and education – all leading to this whacky techno-connected world in which I do business today. If someone had told me back in 1966 that I would be doing what I am doing today – I would have thought they had stepped into my world from another planet! Today when I look at some of my pieces – like those shown here – I have to smile. Knotted cords are knotted cords – then they were made with twisted rope, today I make them from non-leather microsuede and waxed cotton cord. I mix them up with glorious Kazuri beads, made from clay, by women in Africa. I relish in the thought that I am helping to foster good lives on the other side of the world all the time fostering a local grassroots community in this part of the world as well. At the end of the day, it's a good feeling. It makes my heart happy. And, like laughter, a happy heart is very good for the soul.

Say it isn't so!

This morning, one of my worst nightmares came to life. Okay, so that’s a little dramatic; but stick with me here. On my Twitter feed there was a tweet from an accessories rep group that went something like this – “…I would never want to do a collaboration with a 50-year-old women who wears clogs.” My first reaction was to step into a smack down on Twitter. However, I stepped away from it and let the tweet stew for a while. While I haven’t tweeted in response…yet; I figured this might be good fodder for a blog entry.

When I first entered into the Twitterverse, my biggest fear was that it would be comprised of mean girls, tweeters  who where mean spirited and spiteful, haters. Much to my delight, I found just the opposite to be true. Maybe I have just been a good picker over the months, weeding out those people who post what I think are cruel remarks, or just maybe the Twitterverse was full of bright women, old and young, who loved what they seem to do in the blogosphere and were always open and willing to support other bloggers along these yet uncharted social media waters. Just maybe the world of fashion and beauty that I had known for years was indeed changing…just maybe.

POW! I know, I know…it was only one pitiful tweet in a stream of hundreds that I glance at daily and maybe it was all part of a weird stream of comments that I had not been privy to…but it just hit a somewhat tender point earlier today. As a woman who is way on the other side of 50 (gasp), who lives a life in Birks, clogs and other flat shoes (gasp and stagger) and who wears Timberland boots when the weather calls for it (gasp, stagger and someone please get the vapors) it was this one inane tweet, a spark of sorts, that ignited the wildfire.

Over months of following this person, I could have responded many times to their total lack of professionalism on all fronts, but that would have been cruel…honest, yet cruel. And, if you have followed my blog over time…you would know that’s not how I choose to live my life, at least on most days. So that being said, I’ll leave you with this thought (and, if you are underage or sensitive to some language stop reading now) before you judge someone by their age or the shoes they choose to wear you might want to get to know them for who they are and the talents and experience they bring to the universe…not by a f#!king number on their passport or the clothes they wear.

And…suddenly I feel refreshed and renewed! Think I’ll put on the Timberlands, don some calming amethyst and purple banded agate bracelets and take the dog for a long walk in the sunshine.

Lavender & the Color Purple

Every year, when I harvest my lavender I bring it into the studio to dry for several months before removing the little buds or whatever they are called from each stem. I love having the lavender inside especially when I sit at one particular location of my workbench. As I work, my feet jostle the ends of the stems under the bench and with just the slightest movement the soothing scent of lavender is released into the air. It’s heavenly. As you can imagine, I have little pillows and pouches filled with lavender all over the house – including the bedposts! I just think I sleep better with the scent of lavender winding about my head at night. Don’t laugh, but I have also placed a few little pouches in Beatrix’s beds in hopes that she has sweet dreams as well!

Not sure if it’s a coincidence or if there is some cosmic connection, but many of the rocks and gemstones I favor in my jewelry designs are similar to lavender in both color and in their soothing nature. I love the colors of lepidolite, natural purple agates and the variety of amethysts found around the world. Lepidolite, the lesser-known of these three stones, is said to support the wearer in the areas of joy, peace, serenity and love. Wow, that makes it pretty powerful in my mind. I favor the lilac variety and use it frequently in my jewelry designs. Its gentle color is very feminine and soothing to the eye and the energy and healing properties from the stone – well, enough said. For all you fashion types out there, in the Spring 2013 Color Report, Pantone African Violet is quite close to that of lilac lepidolite. Makes me wonder if Mother Nature is moonlighting…again!

While I love all agates, natural purple banded agate is one of the more unusual colors found. In general, agates are considered power stones. They are said to be grounding, solid and stable and have excellent protective and healing energy. I’ll take all I can get, thank you very much. While you might find simple strands of small agate beads made into bracelets, I love using unusual cuts and mixing the rocks up, putting my style spin on the overall look. Of course, I love the idea that I won’t see myself coming and going every day of the week when it comes to jewelry. I have never been one to buy off the rack – especially when I see dozens of the same item being sold. I blame my mom and aunt for this – they custom-tailored every piece of clothing (with the exception of undies) I wore until I was old enough to sew for myself. Every piece was a masterpiece, usually constructed from a drawing of mine. Pretty spoiled girl, right? Would you believe I had to beg for a store-bought dress in high school? What the heck was I thinking? But back to jewelry and agate in particular – the purple banded nuggets in this bracelet are so soft and feminine – deceiving really for such a powerful stone.

Ah, amethyst. Always a favorite of mine and from what I can tell a strong favorite of yours. This gem is thought to be a stone of the mind – it helps to bring calmness and clarity where there is anxiety and confusion. And, let’s face it…it’s just darn beautiful to look at. I love all varieties of amethyst – from the clear deeply colored Zambian variety, which is usually cut into faceted or smooth cabochon stones, to the wispy white on lavender Cape Amethyst found only in the Cape region of South Africa. There is also a variety called chevron or dogtooth amethyst which is quite vibrant with chevrons of white in the mix. When I can find it, I always snatch it up to work into designs for you…and me!

Along with the few pieces highlighted here you can find many other purple, lavender, and lilac colored stones in one- two- and three-of-a-kind jewelry pieces on my site. I do hope you’ll take some time for a little look-see over there and perhaps choose a piece or two to start your New Year in a colorful, calm yet powerful way!