f.i.g. not the fruit

To market, to market to... buy some Merrick Jewels? It's that time again - I really can't believe it - market starts tomorrow. I've been running around like a crazy person getting ready and I just thought I'd write a blog post proclaiming my craziness incase anyone has been wondering about me. Heh. Here's a little looksie from the last market...

you guys should know by now I'm a sucker for coral

voila! my booth - here's not looking forward to setting up that thing again

Stay tuned for a brighter and more pastel-y booth this go around. I'll be posting pics on my facebook and instagram (MerrickJewels). 

here's to being a PITA

The Garden Room table

 Beauty of Life luncheon

Last Thursday I had the chance to participate in one of my favorite events of the year, The Beauty of Life event benefiting Hospice Austin. The luncheon was held at the Hilton in downtown Austin and this year's keynote speaker was Kathryn Stockett, writer of The Help. Each year vendors have the opportunity to set up booths for the 1,000+ guests that attend the luncheon. My fabulous friend Patty, from The Garden Room, asked if I would like to bring some wares for the booth. How could I resist.

The vendors were quite the stylish group this year. We were accompanied by By George (who brought a red Celine bag to tempt us all... I shake my fist at you By George!!), local favorite Kendra Scott, The Menagerie, and Adelante Boutique amongst others.

I had the pleasure of sitting at The Garden Room table for the luncheon where we nibbled on cucumber sandwiches, a rich ham and egg quiche, and a rendition of Minnie's famous and laughable chocolate pie (without a certain ingredient I hope... you all should know this if you have seen the movie/read the book).

After the end of the luncheon, Kathryn was signing books for about an hour. Inspired by her story of 60 rejections from publishers yet persisting on until lucky number 61 signed her book, I decided I wanted to say thank you for the inspiring words and explaining that not everyone needs to get a Ph.D. to write etc. (to her meaning pretty heavy drinker which you can major in vodka or bourbon). I arrived at the signing table a little too late as they ran out of books. With no shame I grabbed a post-it note and asked the author for some tips on persevering through all the rejection. She said, "Honey, you have to be a stubbon PITA, a pain in the ass." Soo that's what it's called! Can a sister get that monogrammed somewhere? Taking her advice I decided Kathryn needed to go home with some Merrick Jewels so I tracked her down for this photo and gave her my pyrite nugget earrings in which she cooed, "these are gorgeous." What an inspiring and delightful experience. All my ladies out there who are pioneering their way in business - here's to being a PITA!

with Kathryn, post-it note, and Merrick Jewels earrings in hand

 love Patty and The Garden Room team!

weekend highlights - carmel/san fran

After a whirlwind of activities over a long weekend, I'm safely back on Texas soil (many thanks to the US Airways team that fixed the oil leak on one of the engines or I might have been a crispy critter).

*side note alert* - I am baffled why people complain about delays due to airplane maintenance. I know some planes are super beat up and should probably be retired but don't complain about the time it takes to make a repair that could save your life. I'm like... take alllll the time you need my friends (as I watched The Hunger Games for the first time on my iPad while sitting on the tar). Plus, I don't think I would have enough survival skills as Matthew Fox and company on Lost. The typewriter smoke monster thing and I would not be besties.

Some of you might have seen some highlights from my trip on my Instagram (follow MerrickJewels) but here's a little bit of everything in high res.

everything grows in Cali, succulents the size of my face - wish my backyard looked like this

wearing a new Merrick Jewels mixed chain/rock crystal necklace and reflective sunnies as seen in this post... this was right around the corner from where we had lunch at La Bicyclette (think fresh French bistro with lavender creme brulee as the finale)

pattern play on the streets of Carmel

enjoyed a morning jog along this beach

Merrick Jewels burgundy statement necklace for the art show preview

stopped at a produce stand on the side of the road and had the best strawberries I've ever had

solo bike ride to the Golden Gate bridge

Love me some California!

hotel california

via Pinterest

I am uber excited about the upcoming long weekend that I will be spending with mi madre in Cali-for-nia (said all Arnold-like). This will be the third trip I will take as the official "artist's assistant/moral support/travel planner/stylist/diet coke retriever". The last two trips have been to the Coors Stock Show and Rodeo art preview in Denver, CO which is always a good ole time. Now for a change of pace we are adding Carmel/San Francisco to our repertoire. Not too shabby. What's interesting is the last time I visited the city by the sea was 20 years and one month ago when I was in second grade.

#throwbackthursday

Evidence...

Monterey, CA - old fisherman's warf

San Fran via trolly - no I will not be packing the visor

Dad and I in San Fran

I checked the weather and we're talking mid 50's to low 70's everyday with sunshine. Perfection. I might not come back. I'm excited about wearing some new pieces that I have picked up for fall including these black boots and new jewelry pieces that I have been posting on my Instagram {MerrickJewels}.  With some loot in tow I hope to visit some stores in the area to see about spreading some Merrick Jewels to the west coast. 

Finish this sentence...

If you're going to San Francisco ____________

merrick jewels newsies

Ahhh, so much has been going on lately. With the start of field hockey season and October market coming up things seem to be piling up. But that's ok, that's what coffee is for. 

Welcome to One Posh Place - our new vendor in Grapevine, Texas!

yes, I'll take the lamp please

love this chair 

new Merrick Jewels goodies - loving the fall neutrals, burgundy, and black/gold combo

:: As I mentioned on my Facebook a couple of weeks ago Merrick Jewels can now be found at One Posh Place in Grapevine, Texas! I have been scoping out places to land in Grapevine for a while now because I think it's such a charming place to shop (not to mention *ahem* wineries) and while driving down Main Street I saw the coming soon signage for One Posh Place and had to check it out. 

With a sneak peak a couple of days before their opening I can tell you this is going to be a must-have shopping spot on your list. From chic air diffusers to animal hide french chairs to handsome wine accessories and of course a dynamic collection of accessories (mostly from artists in the area, like myself, which I love) this shop has everything to accessorize. The owners Kimber and Valorie really know what they're doing and I'm so excited to be a part of their boutique!

:: Gallery night is this Saturday, September 8th) from 12 - 10pm in Fort Worth. I have been showing my pieces at Artspace 111, Fort Worth's premier art gallery along side the stunning paintings of Jo LeMay Rutledge (mi madre), Nancy Lamb, the Blagg brothers and more of Fort Worth's finest artists. The event usually boasts big crowds with tasty noshes and of course artistic banter. It's a must. 

:: I finally made it over to Prim & Proper's new location on West 7th street and I am loving the new space. Melanie has show cased her fashionable paper products including beautiful letterpress cards coupled with lingo like OMG/BFF/TTYL, stationary, custom gift wrapping, pet props, and trendy baubles so perfectly in this fresh space. Talk about gifties made easy. I dropped off some new Merrick Jewels items on Friday including a regal cobalt blue bib necklace and jaw dropping amethyst collar that will please any TCU fan. Feel free to browse and tell Melanie HI. 

:: F.I.G. market is around the corner in late October (25-27th) in Dallas. Merrick Jewels will be adorning our space with some must have pieces for Spring 2013. My mouth is watering thinking about the yummy sorbet they serve in hollowed out fruit of your choice. Is it normal to look forward to a market because you don't have to cook?? Mark your calendars.

Happy Wednesday!

fluorescent four eyes

As some of you might have noticed from earlier posts, my instagram (MerrickJewels) etc., I have been sporting these fluorescent bug eye sunglasses for a couple of months now. I remained steadfast in wearing them even after Rman said that they reminded him of the cheap sunglasses you wear to float the river and that they had major cheeze factor going on.

Thanks hubs.

I pressed on and I think they have grown on him. I mean hasn't seen the pure gold aviators that Sarah Jessica Parker debuted in SATC 2 with a whopping $525 pricetag?

Fierce! Too bad the movie sucked.

Bernhard Willhelm sunglasses   (clipped to polyvore.com)

Mine were a staggering $5 bucks. Yup, you can buy a footlong Subway sandwich with that. Then I started noticing that my Subway sandwich glasses might be a little more chic than I thought. Enter exhibit A...

  

They kinda scream - HERE I AM. Too cool for skooool. Am I crazy?

Images via Pinterest

i am a mac

All the cool kids are doing it so I finally got a mac! It's so prettttty. 

I basically stalked the UPS man as he walked up to my front door which magically opened before he even reached the doorbell (awkward) - I wonder if they get that often. I tore into the box and plugged in the computer. 

Oooohhh/Ahhhhh. 

After it booted up in a nanosecond, I began to snoop around on itunes,  that postage stamp thing that means mail or something, and an abstract blue faced smiley that's supposed to help me find my files? I then realized I was so caught up in the fact that I actually have the glowy apple and forgot that I know NOTHING about actually using it  (as I sit here blogging on my 2006 HP computer that sounds like a jet engine). Thus, I will be making an appointment with the genius bar. :)

New dog, new tricks. 

How long till I'm fluent in mac? Have you made the switch?