I really thought I was done with the new Urban Primitive Core collection. But then I got to thinking, maybe not. I decided there were a few missing pieces. As I was making all the components, I kept thinking about doing some super chunky pendants. I worked and worked as I considered the amount of PMC I had on hand and what my budget would allow. That's an important aspect of how I run my business - not going into debt ... been there, done that, not going to do it anymore. So I made as much as I could make with the materials my budget allowed. I figured when the work starts selling, then I'll add the "missing pieces."

And that's just where I am right now, the work is selling, more materials were ordered, the super chunky pendants, along with a few "missing" pairs of earrings, have been fired and are ready for finishing . . .

each of these weigh the same . . . I love seeing all the different shapes and forms I can make with the same amount of pmc

And then there were some basic shapes missing from the earrings . . .

"the missing earrings" basic shapes . . . a couple of posts, dangles and discs

With all the various stages of production, I work in sort of a circular style. There's the initial clay stage and I have to stay pretty focused on that ... multi-tasking's not such a good idea with the potential for clay getting too dry. But then it's on to the kiln - each firing takes about 3 1/2 hours, so I've got loads of time to work on other aspects of production ... making clasps, forming ear wires, working on the computer doing the graphics, keeping up with social media, that sort of thing.

Then it all comes together when I get ready to ship an order. I love packaging client orders! Wholesale orders have to be relatively free of frou-frou stuff - I learned that the hard way - but that's another story. But for client orders, I can do frou-frou and then some!

As the saying goes, "God is in the details" and I do love those details ... like hand-stitching little linen bags for necklaces.

linen from Latvia, EuroFlax linen thread, KVK icon stamp, Japanese ink

And frilly wrapping, gotta have frilly wrapping! Wrapping presents and making bows ... something special and a love I got from my Pop.

chocolate brown pillow box with super frilly bows

And doing my own graphics ... I love graphic design. I used to get stuff professionally printed, but I change everything so often it's just not cost effective. Plus, I like keeping things in house ... can you say "control freak?" Well, maybe it's just more of that love for details ...

Those details are in all things. Another saying, "how you do anything is how you do everything." If I'm going to make a linen bag, I use special linen. This time Latvian linen remnants from one of my sewing projects. I stitch the little bag up with EuroFlax linen waxed with a chunk of beeswax that my Grandfather used to repair shoes (probably close to 100 years old) and needles from Dave's Grandmother's needle kit. To weight open the little kit, there's this mysterious little chunk of steel I found in my father's things long years ago.

When not in use, all these little treasures get tucked away in a vintage French lunch box that I found at my favorite antique store in Asheville. And holy cow, can't forget the treasure that's in most of my photos ... my worktable! Found abandoned at the old Whittier, NC elementary school in about '94, complete with gum stuck underneath and crayon scribbles. It's been all over the country and is the first consideration in all our moves - will the table fit .... in the moving van, the apartment, the upstairs studio? A few years ago, it got sawed in half (lengthwise) to get it up the stairs in our Asheville house. Turned out to be a very useful thing.

So for now and as before and in all things ... god is in the details.

with deep gratitude - kvk

god is in the details . . .