Goodbye 2010!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! I spent Wigilia, Christmas Eve, with my family. We had a lovely evening with great food and great spirit.

My nephew took this photo and it shows the first course which is traditionally red borsch soup with 'uszka'. The other dishes on the table are all fish. According to Polish tradition, no meat is to be eaten on Christmas Eve. We hosted Wigilia in my home as we usually do and it was so nice to spend time with my family. My daughter and nephew both decided to be Santa Claus and passed out presents to everyone. I can't believe Christmas is over or that 2010 is coming to an end. What a fast year it's been for me and Flint Jewelry!

 All the best for the New Year, a prosperous and healthy 2011!

The Holidays are offically here!

It's a cold and rainy day at home, so I'm busy getting ready for Christmas. The stockings are hung, the tree is lit and the presents rest under it's foliage. My eldest daughter gets home from England tomorrow and I cannot wait to see her and enjoy the holidays with my family. 

A Holiday postcard I had made and wanted to share...

If you haven't finished your holiday shopping, get it done today at my etsy shop. I'll be updating new pieces all day and hope you enjoy them.

But most importantly:

Happy Holidays to all my readers and friends!

Jewelry Photography Kit

It's here! I ordered a jewelry photography kit a while ago and I've finally got a chance to use it.

The whole system is very cool. A spring loaded white fabric box that pops open, lights, covers, and backdrops - everything I need to get my esty store looking sharp.

Here's a stock photo of all the equipment

So that's my plan for this grey weekend - hunched over a tripod trying to take the perfect pictures. I'll post some good ones once they're edited!

You're Invited! Jewelry Trunk Show in Berkeley!

There's a really great jewelry trunk show happening this month in Berkeley. My jewelry line, Flint, as well as a few others, will be featured at Rue Atelier on College Ave.

Come see hand-made jewelry by Bay Area artists on Friday and Saturday, December 17th and 18th from 2:00 - 6:00 pm!

Located at 2981 College Ave in Berkeley. 

Bring your friends! This is the christmas shopping opportunity you've been waiting for!

A York Update

On my month long trip to Europe, I had a chance to visit my daughter, who is doing a semester abroad in Manchester. My husband met my daughter and I in Manchester and then we ventured to York.

York was beautiful.  All the buildings were so old, and each seemed to emit an ancient history. It was a small town but had so much to offer. Monuments that accented the streets were a muse for the form and body of the collection I'm working on now. 

Of course I stopped by the souvenir shops and the typical English pubs, we even went on one of those tour buses around the city. It gave me a great opportunity to see the all the little nooks of the city, but what really caught me was the architechture and history of this little town... 

Family photo in York

York City Double Decker Tourist Bus - So fun!

Castle

This river runs through the city

I love the earth and stone tones

The landscape is so green and vibrant

Tour boats travel the river

Just beautiful!

Well, like I said, we stayed in Manchester while visiting my eldest daughter. Manchester University has to be one of the most stunning college campuses I've seen. Again, the architecture is amazing, and there is such a mix of old and modern that work harmoniously - I want to incorporate this aspect into my jewelry.

What I really enjoyed in Manchester though was seeing my daughter! We had such a great time, and I'm so happy her opportunity for study abroad brought me to visit England. Here's a few pictures to close out my post.... enjoy!

Relaxed and Inspired

I'm back from my month long excursion to Poland, Isreal, and England (I never ended up going to Jordan) and I've been so inspired by the places I've visited and the experiences I've had.

I am well traveled. I have been to many countries and cities, but Isreal, by far, is the most beautiful, most thought provoking country I've ever seen. Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Jerusalum, Jericho - I would go back in a heart beat!

Jaffa (pronounced yah-fa) has quite an interesting history. The 4,000 year old town was run down and neglected for a while, until the government subsidized buildings to artists. Since then it has become a close-knit artist community with more creative energy than you could shake a stick at. Here's some of what I saw...

Alley way Galleries in Jaffa

A tree growing out of a suspended shell - So unique!

 

Even their street signs are decorated

Haifa was another one of my favorite... and this gate is sure to work it's way into my art.

Looking out to Haifa

Caesarea has ruins from the Romans...

Remnants of Roman aqueducts that first brought water to the city

Roman Theater in Caesarea

Roman Ruins

Jerusalem... 

This temple has so many different roots in religion - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. First as a temple built by Solomon, then rebuilt by Herod the Great as a church. The golden dome was added as a place where prophet Mohammed would make his journey to Heaven.

The Church of Agony 

Isreal was truly an amazing experience and I hope you enjoyed a taste of what an inspiration it has been for me.

I'll give details of my travels to Poland and England in the next weeks!

Blues Jean Bar and others

I stopped by the Blues Jean Bar this week in San Francisco on Union St to check out my pieces they are selling there. Kim, who works there and has become a friend and a great resource, suggested some new bloggers to check out and follow as well as some new ideas for pendants.

I also have my jewelry for sale at the following locations:

Alina B.

1378 N Main St

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

MoCFA

51 Yerba Buena Lane

San Francisco, CA 94103

(@ Mission between Third & Fourth)

Blues Jean Bar

1829 Union Street

San Francisco, CA 94123

Bettina's

320 N. Santa Cruz Ave

Los Gatos, CA 95030

New Trip, New Inspiration. Business and Pleasure

I'm getting ready to visit my oldest daughter abroad for 1 week and then will be traveling to a few other places for 3 weeks after that. I'm hoping to get some new ideas and inspiration for my pieces and pick up more unique stones and materials to create them. Here's where I'll be traveling for a month...

Manchester University, UK

Warsaw, Poland

Krakow, Poland

Tel Aviv, Isreal

Petra, Jordan

Being inundated with the sights and sounds of beautiful cities such as these is sure to breathe new life into my work and spirit! I'll update more information as the leave date gets closer and will have plenty of photos when I get back... Stay Tuned!

TweetTweet!

I got a Twitter! Follow me at FlintbyIrenka

New Leather Cord and Freshwater Keishi Pearl Necklace

I don't use the keishi pearl beads often, but I love how they look with the leather cord.



Here's a detail view:

Let's be friends...

on the Flint Facebook page!

I'll be updating infomation about my jewelry and designs there too!

(Gold-filled chain necklace with freshwater pearls and a lobster clasp on Etsy)

Making an Entrance - Diablo Magazine September 2010 Issue!

This months Diablo Magazine had some great fall fashion ideas and tips. They even chose to feature some of my jewelry from Alina B in Walnut Creek. I'm so flattered and wanted to share the page with all my friends! (Click Here)

Above, are freshwater pearl and sterling silver earrings and below is a Czech Crystal and Chalcedony necklace.



The model looks beautiful in both and I'm so happy to have my pieces displayed with so many other great designers. Especially Marchesa's black gown - simply stunning!

Lake Tahoe

I went to Lake Tahoe for a weekend get away with my family. It was a nice mini holiday with beautiful weather and good friends.

Best of the East Bay

Flint Jewelry will be featured on View from the Bay television show (Channel 7) on Wednesday, June 30th at 3pm! The Editor and Chief of Diablo Magazine, Susan Safipour, will be wearing my Jewelry. Woohoo!

And the reason for all of this revelry is because Alina B. was voted Best Place to Shop For Accesories in the East Bay by the readers of Diablo Magazine. Alina B. has carried every Flint Jewelry collection since its inception. I am very proud and happy and thank everyone who voted!

The photo below is from a spread in Diablo Magazine, clothes are from Alina B. and jewelry is by Flint.

Spring

Finally, the flowers are in bloom, the pool cover is off, and it's warm outside! I have a lilac plant in my garden and was finally able to trim some of its branches and bring them inside. The whole kitchen smells warm and spring has sprung!