Some of My Favorite New Work Created For and Tested By The Gauntlet of This Season's Craft Shows!

My busy season of traveling for craft shows has finally come to a close, which is a good thing because I am getting way too round for that sort of thing!  One of the best things about doing craft shows though, aside from getting to talk to so many lovely customers face to face, is the chance to put new designs out into the world and be able to gauge customer reactions to them right away.  At the end of the season I take stock of those reactions and then I come home and take photos of the most popular items and put them online in my web shop, for the rest of the world to see.  Here is a selection of some of the new designs that became this season's favorites, and have made it up in the shop!  And there are lots lots more, so if you haven't checked out the shop in a while now would be a great time to take a peek at what's new!

For more details and pricing about any of these pieces please click here to go to the Rebecca Haas Jewelry online store. Also, if you'd like to see regular images of new designs coming out of the studio follow Rebecca Haas Jewelry on Facebook or Instagram, both are fun ways to keep in touch through pictures. I just love Instagram. And if you do head on over to my Facebook page you'll be able to find a pretty great coupon code to use in the online shop for all of December. . . just sayin'. . .

2013 Holiday Open Studio Event! Now With Tsuga Studios Too!

Nick Kekic, of Tsuga Studios, is an amazing third generation glass artist who lives right over the hill from me.  So since our studios are so near each other we have decided to join forces this year for our open studio events in the hopes that those of you that can make it out for one event can try to make it to the other one as well. I promise it will be worth your time, his work is gorgeous, and his open studio events are the only time you can nab great deals on seconds of his work!  Everything in my studio will also be at least 20% off standard retail prices, and sometimes more, so both open studios will also be a great way to get a really great deal on some truly unique handmade gifts!  

Here is a sneak peek of some of the new Rebecca Haas Jewelry designs I'll be offering at my sale, alongside many classic favorite designs.

There will also be lots of one of a kind collage and paper art, including ornaments for your tree, from the Fiddleheads For Fiona Studio! Here's a little peek of some new paper work you can expect to find:

We will be serving some light and belly warming refreshments, (right now I'm thinking egg nog!) as well as some munchies, and lots of good cheer.  Please feel free to plan to stay a while and socialize.  I've been buried under piles of jewelry for too many weeks now!  It's time for some fun!  So please check the top image for time and place info, and I really hope you can make it!

Happy December from Rebecca Haas Jewelry!

To say THANK YOU for your support this year I am pleased to extend an exclusive 20% off on rebeccahaas.com for all of December, for my much appreciated Campestral readers, Facebook Fans, and Mailing List members! I am so glad to have you as a part of the Rebecca Haas Jewelry community! You are the best, and have made 2013 a really great year!

Rebecca Haas Jewelry at Craft Vermont This Weekend!

As you can tell by the dirty dirty hand in this picture I have been hard at work making pretty shiny things for Craft Vermont this weekend.  The event is being held at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington, VT, and runs from tomorrow the 22nd at 10 a.m. through Sunday the 24th at 5pm. 

It is my first time at this event, and I'm very much looking forward to it!  Fingers crossed that it doesn't snow, and I hope to see some of you there!

Oh Chalet for the New Nursery

In case you haven't heard yet, we are expecting another baby in February!  Another little boy, so Emmett will have a little brother to boss around, which I think will suit him just fine, as soon as he gets over the shock of the whole thing.  And we are just now starting the fun work of getting a new room ready to welcome the little guy home.  Pinning things on Pinterest for his nursery was of course the first step. And then I saw this little painting by Caroline of OhChalet on Etsy, and immediately knew it was going to be the foundation piece for the nursery design.  

First of all I love the colors: grey, teal, light blue, sand and white, with tiny pops of orange and yellow.  And I also love the spare yet homey feel of the composition.  It is cozy and comforting without feeling cluttered.  

One of my favorite things about ordering things directly from artists on Etsy is seeing how each unique purchase comes wrapped and packaged. It is so personal, it just makes opening up the package that much more fun.

So now we are off and running!  We can choose paint colors, rugs, bedding and all of that fun stuff.  It's maybe a little funny to base a whole room design on a 5" x 7" painting, but I feel ok with it.  And now we just have to find a place and a way to showcase this lovely little piece so that it doesn't get swallowed up by the rest of the room.

Hallway Renovation Featured Today on the Barn Light!: a Peek at the Before and After

 There is a nice feature of our hallway renovation on The Barn Light today, which is the style blog for Barn Light Electric, where we sourced the fixtures we used in our renovation.  It is always so nice to take a moment to step back and take a look at where we started, and all of the hard work we've done!  Here are some highlights from the feature, and you can always click over to read the full piece.

We love what our fixtures do for our space, and how they help accentuate the unique character of our converted barn home.  Thanks so much to the folks at Barn Light for getting in touch with me about a feature, and for encouraging me to finally take some photos of the finished hallway before we mess it up!

Oh, and shield your eyes a little, but here is the before image, just for fun.

When we first pulled up the carpet and discovered this green floor I kind of loved it.  But man did I get sick of it, and I sure don't miss it at all!  Sometimes I don't really realize how much my surroundings effect my state of mind, but looking at this old photos make me remember how I think I kind of closed my eyes in the hallway a lot, to pretend it wasn't there.  But since it is the central part of our home, there was really no way to avoid it, and I'm really glad that we have now fixed it up.  It is a relief to the eyes!

Emmett's New Reading Corner

We have been continuing to put together Emmett's new room, and this weekend we finally got to put up the picture ledges for his books in his reading corner. The design concept behind this idea was both aesthetic and practical.  On the practical side, he has trouble putting his books away on a tight bookshelf, squeezing the books between each other and making space can be very frustrating.  So this way I thought it would be a snap for him to be able to pick up his books and put them away. (wishful thinking? quite possibly) Also, I think they look cool, visually striking, and it gets the point across about what the space is for.  It is also a great way to fill up a big wall, and if you are light on big pieces of art, and heavy on books like we are, it is a great way to fill the space.

And I think the fact that Emmett was really excited to help us put his books up on his new shelves is a good sign for their appeal and functionality.

I'm starting to feel really glad that we went with very minimalist and soft colors, like grey, white and a little yellow for our basic design scheme for his room.  As soon as he started adding his own things, like his books, games, puzzles and toys the room is suddenly filled with a fiesta of primary colors.  If we had done the room with wild patterns and paint colors I wouldn't be able to stay in there for more than 30 seconds.  This way it will keep the room feeling a little more calm and restful.  Oh, and in case you are curious, the triangles on the walls are decals from urbanwalls on Etsy. They couldn't have been easier to apply, Emmett even helped, and I love the effect.  And since I used a random pattern I didn't have to worry about lining anything up.

So it's not done yet, we still have to get the right rugs and bedding, lighting and bedside tables.  But he is very psyched about his new room, and I think we'll move him in there next weekend.  Next project: the redesign of Emmett's old room for the new baby!  And I think we'll continue the soft color theme in there as well.  Sometimes there is just something so nice about white. . .

18 Hours in Portsmouth, NH

TH and I escaped to Portsmouth, NH last weekend for a night as a belated birthday trip for me, and just a general change of scene and night off from parenting.  Neither of us had ever been there and we really enjoyed it's salty and artistic atmosphere.  We left Emmett with some friends, and realized it was the first time we had left him and gone away together since he was about 14 months old.  I'm not quite sure how we let that long of a time period elapse.  We were, of course, totally tweaked about it, and almost bailed at the last minute, but I'm really glad we didn't.  And Emmett had a great time on his sleep over, came home full of stories, and told us he wants to do it every night. Phew!

We got there around 3:30 and checked into the Ale House Inn, which is a great little boutique hotel with iPads in every room, a little lobby with fresh fruit and snacks, and very friendly staff who are more than happy to help you find ways to fill up your time in Portsmouth.

The we walked around for a bit, looked at the water, and did some exploring and shopping.  And then we started eating, and managed to hit 3 restaurants in the remaining 15 hours.  First we went to Cava for a few small plates to refresh ourselves after our walking and shopping.

 And then we met up with a friend at the wine bar at the Black Trumpet, and then downstairs for a delicious dinner, where I had the most delicious foie gras I've had in years, which was pan seared and served over a flambeed apple slice and served with a beet and citrus relish.  SO good.

And then home to bed, because after all, we are still exhausted parents, even on our night off :)

It was truly lovely though to get out of our routine, get a chance to actually talk to each other without being interrupted, and just soak in a new atmosphere.  The really is something so rejuvenating about being in a new place, and taking in new sights and smells.  It helped me pull back a little and refocus on the big picture, and take a break from all of the little day to day demands and distractions.  And if 18 hours can do that, just imagine what a long weekend would be like! Maybe next time. . .

Introducing the New Alpine Ring Collection!

Introducing the strikingly modern and geometric Alpine Ring Collection, inspired by the minimalist style and dramatic scenery of the Swiss Alps. 

 A couple of years ago I made a trip to Zermat, Switzerland to watch a dear friend get married in the snowy mountains.  The incredibly dramatic natural scenery has really stuck with me, as well as the mid-century modern inspired decor and furniture of that amazing mountain village.  Recently the inspiration struck me to make a collection of jewelry that reflects that aesthetic.  The rings are the first to arrive, but there will be bracelets and necklaces soon to come.

These rings would make a great gift for the nature lover in your life, and I think they look really great stacked or worn together.  Possibly that nature lover is you. . .  All of these new beauties have just been listed in the online shop, and you can click here to head on over there and check out some additional images.

October Dawn

Vermont - 10.16.2013 - 6:30am

2013 Weston Craft Show

The 2013 Weston Craft Show starts this Friday, in Weston, VT! This was one of my favorite shows last year, and I am really looking forward to it.  It is on Columbus Day Weekend, and the entire Weston Playhouse is taken over by artisans, with booths full of gorgeous handmade goods tucked into every nook and cranny of this historic building.  It is a manageable size, so it is easy to see everything, and there is a little cafe right downstairs, so if you need a little break and some refreshment you don't have to go far.  Also the building is surrounded by gorgeous views of quintessential Vermont landscapes and foliage.

Here is a little sneak peek of some of what I'll be bringing with me this weekend!

And if for some reason you aren't in the general Southern Vermont area (I mean, where else is there to be, really?) but are still hoping to get your Rebecca Haas Jewelry fix, most of this work is available in my online shop.  And did you know you can order almost anything in oxidized silver, like the earrings in the photo above?  Just mention it when you check out for no additional charge.  I personally love how it pairs with a brighter finish, like the gold fill ear wires in this image.

I hope to see some of you this weekend in Weston, but if not, I hope you have a lovely holiday weekend, whatever you choose to do with it!