CHAMPIONS!!! : Celebration Video :)

Oh yeah, your looking at the champs right there! You must have all sent a whole lotta good vibes our way because my brother Cody and his team came up victorious in last nights Sectional Championship Game! Woohoo! Saratoga hasn't taken home the Sectional Championship in 10 years! The game was a total nail biter and the crowd was VERY energetic. There was some serious electricity flowing through that arena! I'm so happy I was able to be there to support the team, and scream until my vocal chords felt numb :)

In honor of this momentous occasion in my little brothers life, I made a little "Music Video" of the end of the game and the team celebration at the end, otherwise known as a "celly" in the hockey world. Watch Cody and his team celebrate, accept their trophy and generally love each other :)

Congratulations, Saratoga Varsity Hockey! Everyone is so proud of you! Good luck a the NYS Quarter Finals in Utica!!!

My Little Brother's Momentous Day...

World, meet Cody. Cody is my youngest brother and the youngest of the 4 of us kids. Today marks a big day for Cody. It may or may not (let's hope!) be the very last game of his High School Hockey career...

Cody has played hockey his entire life and is quite talented on the ice ( and does a pretty spot-on Borat impression ). Now, at the ripe old age of 18, and in his Senior Year of high school, Cody finds himself the Captain of his Varsity Hockey Team headed into the NYS Sectional Hockey Championship Game tonight at Union College. Before the game there will be a little awards ceremony where Cody (and others) will be receiving recognition for being chosen for the "All League" Team. Yay, Cody! What a loaded night! Made more dramatic by this awesome winter weather we are NOT enjoying here in Upstate NY.

So with that said, I ask you to send some good vibes our way, as we bite our nails and cheer Cody and his team on tonight!

GOOD LUCK CODY! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Another Sweetness Alert! SO HAPPY!

Can I just tell you, my heart is exploding from all the love I've been getting from friends and customers lately. It truly makes my days more magical! Especially now since those of us in the North Country are stuck in the middle of February without much sun or greenery...

Anyway, Amy of Amy Holton Designs, wrote up the sweetest little blog feature on me I think I have ever gotten! She's totally made my day. Thanks to her, my coffee is a little tastier, my sweater is a little warmer, and my day is just a little bit sunnier. Amy has added sprinkles to my cupcake of life and I just have to give her a little shout out and a BIG BIG BIG 'Thank You' from the 'Up North' to the 'Deep South' :)

Check out the lovely little feature Amy did on yours truly, HERE!

And don't forget to check out Amy's fantastic work, HERE!

THANK YOU AMY!!!!

Video Reaction: Sweet Butterflation of The Heart...

Have you ever had the most excellent opportunity to see someone react to a package you sent them in the mail as they are opening it? I was lucky enough to experience this recently and found out it's an adrenaline rush of joy! I sent this little "By Heart" Ring off to Lexy out in Los Angeles and was absolutely elated to find out via this video just how much she loved it! The ring made a long trek from the Left Coast to the Right Coast in about 2 days and was greeted with such warmth when it arrived. It's always nice to see one of your babies go to a good home :)

Thank You Lexy! This video provides instant butterflation of the heart every time I watch it :)

Coming Soon...

...as in later today! But here's a little sneak peak since I love you guys :) ! I have a whole buncha new items to add to my Etsy Shop today, including this adorable camera pendant, as well as some other pieces that relate to it. I'm SO SO SO excited about these little camera's I hardly know what to do with myself!

So, since I am suffering through a bout of The Black Plague I am going to force myself to stay away from the dusty, chemical laden studio and instead sit on my couch, with my pups and of course my laptop, and work on these new listings. I'm hoping to have everything up on Etsy by mid-late afternoon. Wahoo!!!

I'm so excited for you all to see the new stuff!

The Little Things: Thing #2, VitaMuffin Tops!!!

Great Grandmothers Spatula! VitaMuffin Tops, where the hell have you been all my life!? These are my new obsession! I was skeptical of these VitaMuffin Tops at first, I wasn't expecting to like them, but alas, I do! I admittedly have a serious sweet tooth, if you know me well you know that frosting is my kryptonite! Lately I've been looking for healthy alternatives to satisfy my inner raging frosting monster. And while nothing can ever TRULY replace frosting in my heart, these babies are a seriously excellent distraction! They are 100 cals per 'top, 5 grams of fiber, and brag that they are more healthful than having an Apple! I don't know that I believe that but I'm pretty sure I'm in love with chocolate that tastes like chocolate that can be considered as healthy as eating an apple, thats for sure! So far I've only tried the Deep Chocolate flavor and the Corn Bread flavor, both are SO delish with coffee. I think I've found my new favorite breakfast and/or after dinner snackeroo! I think A.N. Original Jewelry is officially endorsing VitaMuffin! Well, kinda...via this itty bitty blog :)

Dear VitaMuffin Gods, feel free to send me free 'tops and swag :)

Snapshot of the Day

If your like me, and you live in the Great White North country, your probably dying for Spring, greenery, flowers, bunnies and baby birds. I know I am...

Today, as I try hard to ignore the snow coming down outside my window, I am taking a trip inside this picture, Magic School Bus Style. I hope there's a snack shack somewhere around this flower though, I could really go for some Lemonade and Cape Cod Chips :)

I took this picture in Lake George, NY this past summer whilst rolling around in the grass and taking Macro pictures of bugs. This lone little flower caught my eye and I decided I had to give it it's 15 mins of fame :)

Whistle while you work on President's Day :)

Ya know what's weird? The music I work best to, that I'm able to totally zone out to, especially whilst sawing for hours upon hours, isn't necessarily the music I'd choose to listen to later that night when I'm unwinding and kicking about in my apartment. I have certain artist's on my iPod that I really work best to, in fact, I feel I'm MOST productive and efficient if I'm listening to Counting Crows. However, other than while I'm in my studio, I don't really listen to them all that much. Something about Adam Duritz' voice must level me out in some way or another. Don't get me wrong, I love Counting Crows, always have, always will, but I seem to really only listen to them when whittling in my workshop.

Why am I finding this so weird? I just had this sudden realization and now I'm fascinated by the psychology of my own work habits. I guess I need to study myself more to find out why it is that when I'm working I automatically turn on Counting Crows and when I get home at night, I turn on Horse Feathers almost instinctually. Is this strange/interesting to anyone else? Probably not, haha, but I felt the need to share with you all...

Happy President's Day to you all! I'll be spending mine in my workshop, working on fun new designs and listening to Counting Crows :) Luckily they have like 7 albums for me to listen to, hours of productively mindless zone out listening pleasure. Wahoo!

OK, OK... Seacrest, out!

P.S. Here's a lovely Counting Crows song for you to zone out to, too :) Although, you might as well really LISTEN because I DO absolutely LOVE the lyrics in this song :) Here is " Anna Begins "...

Betty White, You Crazy Kid!

Can I just tell you how much I love this commercial? I wish Betty White was my Grandma!

Hummingbirds and Opals Abound!

"Remember to remember me
Standing still in your past
Floating fast like a hummingbird"
- Wilco

Let's lighten the somber mood from yesterdays awful loss of Alexander McQueen and talk about cute pretty things! YAY! Hummingbirds and Opals, Blue Peruvian Opals to be more specific! What a great way to start off my weekend :) I'll be adding a couple new items to the ol' Etsy Shop today, including these little babies!

I'm so excited about the Hummingbird Studs :) And how gorgeous is this Blue Peruvian Opal Necklace for Spring/Summer? A refreshing alternative to the typical (but of course still gorgeously fabulous) Summer Turquoise Necklaces :)

Anyway, keep checking the shop for the new additions today! I have lots of new designs up my sleeve for Spring/Summer and I will be adding them steadily as I make them rather than releasing them all at once :) ENJOY!

*P.S* Don't forget to checkout my new "Brain Squeezed" Interview Series! Feedback would be great since I've only got one little post under my belt! The lovely Kaitlin Cassidy was my very first "Brain Squeezed" guinea pig! CHECK IT OUT! And please let me know what you think of the questions etc! Feel free to suggest a question you'd like to see added to the list :)

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

The world has lost a true genius. Although, his creative genius will live on in the legacy of his work long after we are all dead and gone. So sad to see the demise of such a talented and clearly troubled man, with so much more potential within him, now left unfulfilled.

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen. There just might never be another like you. The fashion world grieves for you.

BRAIN SQUEEZED #1: Kaitlin Cassidy

Tada! That's right! It's here! The very first installment of 'BRAIN SQUEEZED'! I'm so excited about it, yay! Anyway, onto the squeeze..

Today's Brain Squeezed victim is Kaitlin Cassidy. You may or may not recognize her from Paris Hilton's BFF Reality Show on MTV, "Paris Hiltons New BFF". If you do in fact recognize her from the show, don't worry, she is not at all the crying manipulator she was portrayed to be on the show via the magical wonders of video editing. Kaitlin and I are actually old friends, and I can promise she's a sweetheart with a great sense of humor so I figured she'd be a great person to kick off this little Brain Squeezed series I'm doing. Anyway, without further ado, meet Kaitlin...

Getting to know Kaitlin:

1. Name & Location? : Kaitlin Cassidy - Hollywood, CA
2. Pimp your link : http://www.twitter.com/kaitlincassidy http://kaitlincassidy.blogspot.com/
3. If you could create an alias for yourself, what would that be? : I already have one: Trixie!
4. What’s your day job?: Nanny/ Personal Assistant, freelance graphic design, freelance entertainment jobs
5. Your dream job? : Still have yet to figure it out.... maybe a nutritionist! Or to own my own restaurant !
6. Last time you laughed so hard you cried? Care to elaborate? : Last time I went home and hung out with my friends...I do everytime I'm with my friends from home!
7. What is the single most defining moment in your life thus far? : Moving out to LA on a whim!
8. Who inspires you most in your life? : My mommy... she has accomplished so much with the little she was given!
9. Best gift you’ve ever received? : My computer! I run my whole life on it!!
10. Name 1 item you’d like to put in a time capsule to represent you years from now? : Some of my wacky outfits....maybe one of my beloved ugly jumpsuits.
11. What is something people would be surprised to know about you? : I'm overly obsessed with skin!
12. First thing you’d do/say if you were to meet Johnny Depp at random? : Haha, being in Hollywood has changed my celebrity reactions...I would probably just shake his hand. Lets just put it this way: It wouldn't be a stretch to meet him.
13. What is your guilty pleasure? Wine & Cheese
14. What are the TOP 3 things you want to do before you die? 1. Travel more 2. Have a daughter 3. Meet Lady Gaga!

Lightening Round:

1. Swan Dive or Cannonball? : Neither, not into swimming!
2. Favorite Variety of Cupcake? : Red Velvet or Chocolate Cheesecake like my Mom makes!
3. Plane, Train or Automobile? : Train! So easy!
4. 1 album EVERYONE should own? : Sarah McLachlans "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy"
5. 1 movie EVERYONE should see? : "Forrest Gump"
6. Guitar or Piano? : Piano, I play a little.
7. Most underrated Actor/Actress/Musician? : My boss, EG Daily.
8. Karaoke song of choice? : "Greatest Love of All" Whitney Houston
9. Most prized possession? : My Louis Vuitton Bag
10. Christian Bale or Christopher Walken? : Bale...sexy!
11. Black & White or Color photos? : Depends on what light you look better in lol!
12. Guns N’ Roses or Bon Jovi? : Bon Jovi!

*FINAL QUESTION!: Now that you’ve been Brain Squeezed, who would YOU like to see Brain Squeezed in the future? : Actor Chris Riggi, a fellow Saratoga Springs native who you may have seen on Gossip Girl :)

**HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND YOU'D LIKE TO SEE BRAIN SQUEEZED? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! PLEASE LEAVE A LINK TO THE NOMINATED PARTY AS WELL AS A REASON WHY YOU THINK THEY'd MAKE A GREAT BRAIN SQUEEZED VICTIM! THANKS!

Life in 1970 vs. 2010

My, my, what 40 years can do to a culture! What is it about great retro pictures that make it seem like life was just so much more fun and colorful decades ago? Don't get me wrong, 2010 is cool and all, but theres a certain charm from days gone by that unfortunately isn't a present in the modern day world as I wish it were.

This is a photo of some of my family, circa 1969/1970ish, and the little doll in the mod flower dress is my Mom! How cute was she as a munchkin??? She's not actually itching her head, or thinking hard, but she is saluting. In fact she is doing the "Woofum Poofum" salute. What is that you ask? Well, the short answer to that is, I have no friggin' clue! It seems to be some sort of family thing since most of my Mom's generation knows what it is, but I'm still in the dark about it. Either way, it's just as awesome.

Mom, you should have been a child model. :)

Dachshund Love: I'm OFFICIALLY a Crazy Dog Lady!

Greetings, my darlings! Just a quick post to let you all know I've entered into the realm of Crazy Dog Lady. My darling little love nugget, my Miniature Dachshund, "Mel", inspired these adorable little studs. I can't lie, I'm pretty much obsessed with them. Are they not the cutest little things EVER??? Don't judge me people! I just love my dog, OK???!!! Geez!!!

Anyway, if you love these as much as I do, you can find them in my Etsy Shop pronto! Right over HERE :)

A Show Of Hands , Please....

Lately I've been thinking about doing a fun twist on a "Featured Seller" type interview and ask some of my favorite Etsy Artists and maybe ever some people outside of Etsy to keep it fresh and interesting, to answer some no-so-typical interview questions. You know, a little of this, a little of that, mostly fun stuff but maybe throw in a bit of business to go with the pleasure. I'd like to begin a little series of these posts and entitle the series "Brain Squeezed" or something along those lines.

So what I need from you is a show of hands. Is this something you'd be interested in reading? Yay or Nay?

If this is in fact an idea you'd like to see get off the ground,PLEASE take this time to nominate someone (not yourself though, sorry!) to be 'Brain Squeezed'. I'm very interested to see who your most interested in seeing on this blog :) It doesn't need to be Etsy exclusive, but do make sure to leave links in the comment area to let me know where to find these little gremlins :)

Jessie Baylin - "Leave Your Mark"

Many moons ago, I discovered my buddy Jessie Baylin, her unique voice and her sweet disposition. I even was fortunate enough to make a few pieces of jewelry for her based on lyrics from her songs somewhere towards the beginning of this jewelry journey I've been on. Really gorgeous words, so beautifully written. She has a little bit of a jazzed up Stevie Nicks feel that I find SO refreshing. Anyway, I've been listening to her a lot lately when I'm looking for chill inspiration music to have going whilst working on new designs etc, so I thought I'd share her with you :) It really bothers me that more people don't know who she is, because she really deserves a lot more respect and attention than she gets. I realize that music is just as much of a rat race as the fashion design world, but alas, I will help her fight against the droves of singer/songwriters running alongside her, one dinky blog post at a time :) It's the least I can do, right? :)

You Can buy Jessie's album on iTunes, HERE!

Here Jessie is singing on of my favorite songs of hers, "Leave Your Mark", LIVE :) She is a breath of fresh air :) Enjoy guys!

Flight of the Hummingbird

Today I'll be adding a few new designs to my Etsy Shop, including this sweet and delicate little Hummingbird! What do you guys think of it? I'm considering doing some stud earrings with this design...Yay or Nay?

I'm also brainstorming new darling silhouette ideas for my shop in Spring, so if you have a request, please speak now or forever hold your peace :)

Can I PLEASE Live Inside This Song???

Seriously, can I? It's heaven. It's absolute perfection. Why don't more people know about Horse Feathers? It's a damn shame, I'll tell you that much!

The lyrics kind of contradict the music that accompanies them, but I think that's what I love :)

Cupcakes vs. Zoloft

Yesterday I made some cupcakes for my little brother, well, he's 18, but still 'little bro' status in my mind. I figured I'd make them bright and springy to break up the icy cold whites, greys and cool blues of an Upstate NY winter and bring us all thoughts of spring :) Who need's Zoloft for their seasonal depression when you can whip up a batch of cupcakes with bright yellow buttercream frosting? I'd rather self medicate with frosting, it's so much more enjoyable :)

Wait, have I told any of you guys just HOW MUCH I love frosting??? It's a problem...

'Single Ladies' in the form of 5th Grade Boys...

I gotta make this quick because I have a day full of shopping for home goods, laundry, making cupcakes for my little brother and working in the studio for a bit ahead of me. But, I had to share this video with you all! I am dying over here!!! I've pretty much been peeing my pants over it since I saw.

This lovely little video is from my cousin Drew's 5th Grade Talent Show. He and about 8 of his buddies all got together and decide it'd be nice to channel their inner Beyonce. Seems as though their decision to perform 'Single Ladies' whilst dressed in black leotards and stockings is something that will go down in history at their school. Now, I know about a million people have spoofed the 'Single Ladies' song/video but I think this 5th Grade Boys version takes the cake.

Check out Drew & Co. shake, wiggle and neck bob to Beyonce. Clearly, they brought down the house :) Yay, Drew!

Let's Play Catch Up : Sundance & Home Decorating

Wowza! I haven't blogged in quite a long time! What's going on with that?! So sorry all, sometimes my brain gets all A.D.D. on me and it's all I can do to just hold on for the ride :) I promise I've been absent for good reason! Let me explain...

Well first off, as you may or may not know, The Sundance Film Festival was this past week! To my utter euphoria, I was involved in an amazing art collaboration of video shorts that screened at Sundance on Friday! So exciting! Wahoo! So, that ate up quite a bit of my time last week, taking away from my blog of course :( It was all worth it though, I watched the screening via a Live Feed on the internet and I'm not sure I've ever had such an extreme overwhelming sense of pride in my life! It was truly otherworldly to see some of my contributions make it to Sundance! YAY!

Aside from the hoopla of Sundance, I've been spending a lot of time conceptualizing/sketching new designs for my Etsy Shop! As well as coming up with fun new ideas to make your A.N. Original Jewelry experience more fantastical! Oh yes, I'm also putting together some bead DESTASH lots to make room for new gemstones...yippie! Stay tuned if you want to get a sweet deal :)

Last but not least, I've been obsessed with trying to revamp my bedroom. I'm in an apartment so I'm avoiding the paint situation, although I'd really LOVE to paint, gah! I searched far and wide for a new duvet cover but opted to stay with the one I have for now and choose to revamp the artwork in my room. This is where you come in...

See, I have lovely Red/Cream Toile patterned Pottery Barn bedding, with accents of red around my room, as well as very vintage-y old hollywood looking lamps and floaty drapes that are a gradiation of sage green.Now, what I need from you is your assistance in choosing a huge ol' painting for above my bed! I have a thing for Vintage Ad Art, they are all over my apt so I think thats the style I'm going with! I also have a thing for monstrously oversized art...so all of these prints would be purchased in a very LARGE size :)

I've narrowed it down to these 3 options, HELP ME CHOOSE! Which one do you think would be most majestic and fabulous?