The Start of Something...

During a hike in Modoc National Forest, we came across this nest and it got me thinking about fresh starts and new beginnings. So much potential. My eldest son started middle school this school year. Not a lot of change, in that he’s on the same campus with the same classmates and many of the same enrichment teachers, but a change nonetheless. I still see him as this soft, little boy – most of the time – but I’m beginning to see glimmers of his teenage self, with harder edges and a wee bit of tween ‘tude. As I recently told my cousin who is about to have her first baby: enjoy each stage because it passes quickly. So, I’m taking my own advice. I’m facing this growth head on and embracing the person he is becoming. Enjoy!

The Start of Something…

The SEPTEMBER 2013 EcoChic Designs’ Earrings-of-the-Month selections are made in the shades of these eggs, with aquamarines, amazonite, turquoise, smokey topaz, golden pyrite, blue recycled glass and more...all handwired with sterling silver.

These will be in the mail early next week...just after the Labor Day holiday. Hope the gals enjoy!

Inspired by Summertime Adventures {Earrings-of-the-Month}

Every summer my family and I take a 10-day, 1000+ mile jaunt around Northern California, visiting state parks, camping, hiking, and making memories with the boys that will – hopefully – instill in them a love of the outdoors. And it is from this annual adventure that I drew inspiration for this month’s creations. These were photos from years past as I knew an early August return from this year's trip wouldn't leave me enough time to create and get them in the mail on time to my earrings-of-the-month subscribers. But as our route changes only slightly, with us picking different parks at which to camp, I know we will have done a lot of these same things this year.

Some remind me of sifting through sea-tumbled stones and glass on the beach...

inspired by...

Beachcombing at Patrick's Point State Park

Some remind me of looking skyward beneath the redwood giants...

inspired by...

 Redwoods National Park

Some remind me of the hellishly hot, rugged lava beds...

inspired by...

 Spattercone Trail, Lassen National Forest

And some remind me of late-blooming wildflowers...