LyricUpdates from Raucous Jewelry
May 22, 2025
Greetings to all. Two busy and fun weekends of art fairs are behind me in May- with two more to go. But today my focus is online customers. I just can’t thank the people who come out in person or send an online note enough. These interactions sustain me as I create in my quiet solitude. Love the connections! They inspire me. Thank you. So, online Raucous folk; have you typed in lyric.store lately? You will see a new improved marketplace homepage made just for you! Your layout is based on who you are subscribed to in Lyric (hope you subscribe to many). My view is fantastic. The whole shopping experience on Lyric is changing and you can now also search for what you’re looking for. I typed in earrings and I sure saw a lot and it is just wonderful to see. Hope you take time to check out this new and improved offering from this site. If you are looking for more artists and makers to follow, please check out my community on my website as it may offer you some artists to follow and thus great online shopping! Thanks to all- and enjoy your week. Stay well. Stay strong. ☮️
May 15, 2025
Greetings from the studio! At my show this past weekend, I had some good conversations with customers about how we are using music to uplift us on the most challenging days. They offered me some smiles and a good reminder of the power of music. Thought I would share a few with you (average customer age sharing was about 45yo so I was happy some of the older music lives on). - Heaven Help Us All (Stevie Wonder) - Brick House (The Commodores) (customer offered every time he plays it, his wife dances for him and that is all he needs… and yes, she was there and danced for us both) - All That You Have Is Your Soul (Tracy Chapman) (customer offered it keeps her honest) - Who’ll Stop the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival) - I’ll Be Your Water (Keb’ Mo’) (customer offered she plays it for friends who are down) - A Change Is Gonna Come (Seal) - A Little Bit of Riddim (Michael Franti & Spearhead) (customer said, “I mean, come on…”) - Coal War ((Joshua James) Hope you are finding your way through the challenges and enjoying some of your favorite tunes and people. Stay well. Stay strong. ☮️
May 8, 2025
And just like that, the big show season is underway! I’ve got 17 of the next 18 weekends booked and a few midweek shows thrown in. I’m hoping that the winds are low and the rainy days happen on Mondays. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for… I hope each of you have fun with adventures planned for your summer. Mine will take me mostly around Minnesota while I plan for more road trips out of state. Stay well. Stay strong. Have fun! ☮️
May 1, 2025
The fishbone… a shout out to resilience and the cycle of life and death; even after something or someone has passed, their essence remains. Somehow, we endure the loss. I lost a close friend this week and feel it. She was the best boss I ever had. She challenged me and softened me. She watched me both fall in love with and lose Michelle. She was the only other person Michelle wanted at her side the day of her brain bleed. She watched us travel the country and return; travel, move and return again. She was full of grace. Although it is an immense loss, I know how to endure a loss. So here is to the fishbones that will remind me to honor Mary and keep her essence alive. Hug your people. Stay well and stay strong. ☮️
April 24, 2025
Greetings to all. I’m back in the studio from a fantastic road trip to Savannah and ready for the season ahead! One more short vacation and off I go. May and June are locked in with 10 upcoming shows (3 are new). The website events page is up-to-date. Just a reminder that shopping at a show while sporting your Raucous Jewelry, gets you an automatic discount. I am packing up new pieces and am excited for what’s ahead. Stay well and stay strong.
April 17, 2025
Connections. It’s what it’s all about. Grateful for my solid and steady friendships- as I am sure you are too! I spent a day this week working only on Raucous connections. The people we choose. The people that choose us. What a deal. Hope this finds you surrounded with kindness, support, and solid connections.
April 10, 2025
It’s been a full and fun winter with a mix of shows and travel - and I hope you have enjoyed yours as well. The busy season of art fairs and markets is right around the corner and it looks to be a good one with a great mix of shows. My show schedule is up-to-date and I am excited. Hope to see you out there!
March 27, 2025
Over the years, I have worked with sterling silver, pure silver, 14k gf, copper, brass, steel, leather, rubber, semi-precious stones, lake stones, old artifacts, found objects, ashes, handwriting, fingerprints, miscellaneous leaves/stems/grasses, sand, and a few other items, but this is my first work with fabric in this way! My friends, Carmen and Jacques (of Atelier Mamako) make fantastic fabric/textile art patches and journals. Please check them out! Wanting to create together, here are the first earrings; more will follow. They are one-of-a-kind, colorful, and super light. They are hope; a collaboration and a friendship shared. #teamlyric
March 20, 2025
It was a beautiful and sunny day when I rode Queen Bee for the first time (Mary is next to me on Bronze Betty). Although I am both cautious and raucous by nature (trust me, I know it is an odd mix), the raucous won that day. We went off road, got muddy, got stuck, and barreled over a downed tree or two. Dreamy and fun - and I love Queen Bee (and my kind & generous friends). Hope you are surrounded by wonderful people and finding peace- while finding a bit of fun in being raucous too. ☮️
March 13, 2025
I’ve been working on a custom order- and it has to be a favorite. Here is the request: “…I have a friend who’s got some new health challenges (as we age it is bound to happen I guess). There are 8 of us in a core group of friends and she’s one of ‘em. I need 8 pairs of earrings for us. All of them have to be different (we are so different from each other but it makes it fun). They have to be tough (we are one tough group of women). We shine on our own so don’t need too shiny of earrings. They have to be close to triangles as we are all lesbian (yes, there have been shenanigans over the years). They have to be of different sizes (yes, you guessed it, we come in all shapes and sizes). One of them is a quilter and always puts a humble patch in her work; so one of the medium size pairs needs to have an obvious defect (but they still need to look good). Actually, all should be a little wonky (I doubt I need to say why). Two of the pairs need to be mismatched within the pair (a couple of these women never match their earrings). There needs to be a connection in each pair (we all are connected to her). If you can pull all of that off, the work is yours.” What a challenge! I said I would do it if I got to meet them. Hope you are having some fun and holding on to some peace.
March 6, 2025
With focus on peace and calm, strength and intention, community and kindness, belief and friends, joy and clarity; I send you my best from the studio. Hope you are finding peace during these troubled times. In my attempt to put a bit of peace into the world, I will add a handmade fine silver peace pendant (of my choice) to each order through March 12. Stay well. Stay strong. ☮️
February 20, 2025
The Pacific Northwest has been calling for me and I answered! I am out for time with friends and a bit of family too. The Puget Sound has always held some mystery for me; the formation of all of the islands and inlets. I feel like she is saying ‘there is more to me than what you see’. I am thinking we can all say that. I hope we can all say that! So… new designs are coming. Inspired by friends, family, the beauty of the PNW, and the Sound. Stay well and stay strong.
February 13, 2025
Greetings from the studio. The focus of the week has been on necklaces. Pendants include fine silver (.999), sterling silver (.925) and/or 14k gf hanging on sterling silver chain with sterling clasps and crimps too… with lengths made to order. The kilns have been hot and fun has been had. Hope the same for you.
February 6, 2025
It’s been 20 years since Michelle and I sold our first home and hit the road in our new home, the silver bullet. Our Airstream adventures are favorite memories and offer me comfort when I need a bit of it. The mini-poodles in the scooter baskets (in the RV parks), the off-grid sights we witnessed together, and the joy that the 200 square feet inside the Airstream provided have been front and center in my mind recently. Hope each of you are surrounded with comfort and joy. Sending peace to you.
January 23, 2025
I had lots of time in the studio this last week with heavier thoughts than is my usual… Then remembering that Longfellow wrote that we have to choose to be the hammer or the anvil….meaning that we can help to shape the world or be molded by it. I know which I choose.
January 16, 2025
Greetings from the studio. I am back at it after some great travels (I had a 90° shift in temperature within a few days between the Florida coast and northern Minnesota). This lovely sauna helped with staying warm given the sub-zero joy. Hope this finds each of you safe and secure; warm and with some comforts around you. Reminder: The post-holiday bash continues! Sale #2 : January 16 - January 22. Shop and purchase from another Lyric artist in my community and receive a Raucous Jewelry gift! Better and stronger together at Lyric.
January 8, 2025
Happy New Year! I sure hope this finds you well and relaxed- and ready for all that is ahead in 2025. I have had a fun few weeks of travel and am back in the studio with many new designs and creations on a “to make” list. But first - a “post holiday bash” sale. If you order off my website/through Lyric before January 16, I will throw in a surprise free Raucous Jewelry gift! I do love a giveaway…
December 11, 2024
The tides are turning here in the studio as I only have two shows left in 2024! What a great year; I have been refreshed, energized, and inspired by many. I’ve also been planning for my 2025 schedule and am excited for what’s ahead. A few vacations are planned and the creating will continue - influenced by the people and places for sure. I’ll hit both coasts to see friends and get in some mid-west fun. Marco Island is first- then to the snowy north woods of Minnesota (can’t you hear these trees calling me!?). Peace to each of you.
December 4, 2024
It doesn’t seem right to start with anything but thank you. I am covered in silver dust as I work through the orders that came in this weekend. I have never had more orders in such a short time frame and I sure appreciate each one. Lyric for the win! I am also working on new pieces for 2025. Here is one creation that will hit the circuit with me and I love them! Truly one of a kind pair. Stay well. Stay strong. Stay true.
November 20, 2024
So many of you make great models for Raucous Jewelry and I thank you for stopping by at shows to let me view it on you. It really is fun for me. I saw a creation this last weekend from about 20 years ago; a style I had lost track of. Here is Jax (Sons of Anarchy) wearing my personal collection. Should I ever meet Charlie Hunnam in person, I will be sure to get a photo or two…
November 13, 2024
I made this necklace for the first time a few years ago. I wrote the word “peace” on the inside and hid it as I wound up the fine silver. I think it’s time to make more of these... Let’s all work together to get more peace out there in the world.
October 30, 2024
Although I’ve been making fine silver (starts as a clay product and ends up as .999 silver/pure silver/fine silver) for about 20 years, I needed it to be more flexible for new pieces this week. The flexible product I used in the past is no longer available… It took a few attempts to get the recipe correct, but olive oil was the key! It burns off in the kiln but gave me the time I needed to roll up & fold over the pieces. Hope each of you have had the joy of a success or two this week. And finally, I am sending strength to all for the week ahead.
October 23, 2024
Hope this finds each of you well. Thank you for your continued support, notes, encouragement, and kind words. I will spend the week with my two brothers and their wives. I grew up with my sister-in-laws and have know them since childhood. The 5 of us have been connected for over 50 years and that comfort of longevity and familiarity is speaking to me today. Stay well. Stay strong. Stay connected. We are better together.
October 9, 2024
I have been raucous in the studio this week and have been busy at the soldering station. Newly soldered pieces will be coming out soon. I hope to show them in the next newsletter. Hope this finds you all well and enjoying October.
October 1, 2024
Making pure silver/fine silver/.999 is a process! Once it is formed, dried, filed, through the kiln, and polished up this is what a pile looks like! Then I add patina, more texture, and finish it up.