Double Duty Studio

Who: Heather and Dustin of Madrona Studio
What: Handcrafted Jewelry and Fine Art Illustrations
Where: Seattle, WA
Web: http://www.madrona-studio.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadronaStudio
http://society6.com/Madrona/prints
Why: Handmade, vegan, sincerely eco-friendly and blissfully charming!

Hope Spinner

Who: Nicola Barsaleau of Blue Cicada
What: Original Linocuts and Woodcuts
Where: Gainesville, FL
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluecicada
http://nicolasartroom.blogspot.com/
Why: Beautiful lyrical stories distilled in vivid hand-pulled prints. Simple black and white, yet singing and humming and swirling with energy...as if the world has just burst forth, fresh and crazy and spinning with hope.  :)

Worn In Time

Who: Amy Ambroult of AG Ambroult
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Holbrook, MA
Web: http://www.agambroult.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/agambroult
Why: Amy is tough and tenacious and oh so talented! She enjoys challenges in every form from climbing cliffs to coercing metal into thoughtful, spirited jewelry. She's completely down-to-earth and sincerely enjoys creating everyday pieces that look lovingly worn and beautifully weathered. I'd be happy with any piece in her collection though I must admit I'm hoping she can convert the Remembery Capsule into a necklace...it's so supercool!

A Tradition of Excellence

Who: Lia Gormley
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Nashua, NH
Web: http://www.liagormley.com/
Why: Expertly crafted in 18K gold and platinum, Lia's crisp colorful jewels feature luscious gems and strong graceful lines. Lia is an accomplished metalsmith as well as a Graduate Gemologist so she can explain crystallography as well as she can flint up a torch, and she's 100% dedicated to the hand-crafted tradition. I love it...brains, brawn, integrity and dazzling designs to boot!  :)

Two on Tuesdays...A Couple of Kiwis

Who: Ruth Baird
What: Handmade Jewellery
Where: Titirangi, Auckland, NZ
Web: http://www.ruthbaird.com/index.html
Why: Gracefully stunning simplicity using titanium, sterling and stone.
Love her swingful ginkgos!

Who: Brian Adam
What: Handmade Eyewear and Jewellery
Where: Titirangi, Auckland, NZ
Web: http://www.adam.co.nz/index.html
Why: A jeweller who happens to make spectacles.
Where has this man been all my life?!  ;)

Beached Baubles

Who: Blair LaBella
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Lee, NH
Web: http://www.blairlabella.com/
Why: Treasures from another beach excursion!  :)

Sun, Surf and Silver

Who: Devienna Anggraini and Gary Metts of DAmetals
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Providence, RI
Web: http://www.dametals.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DAmetals-Jewelry/116556821706716
Why: Lovely colors from today's seaside expedition.  :)

Hare-y Adventures

Who: Carrie Wagner of SepiaLepus
What: Original Art, Illustrations, Archival Prints, Gocco
Where: Providence, RI
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SepiaLepus
Why: Take a peek into Carrie's swirling world of artistic adventures!

Treasured Tresses

Who: Melanie Bilenker
What: Fine Art Jewelry
Where: Philadelphia, PA
Web: http://www.melaniebilenker.com/
Why: Congratulations to Melanie! She has been chosen to participate in the prestigious 40 under 40: Craft Futures exhibition at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery. Always astoundingly cool jewels! Watch one in progress here.
Can you guess what they are made of?  ;)

Echoes of Ancient Eras

Who: Trevor Forrester/Juniper Gems/The Potting Shed
What: Handcrafted Jewellery
Where: Christchurch, New Zealand
Web: http://www.trevorforrester.com/index.html
http://www.juniper.co.nz/index.html
http://www.pottingshed.co.nz/
Why: All hail the Etruscans and Egyptians!  :)

Two on Tuesdays...Tribal Energies

Who: Owen Mapp and Hanne Eriksen Mapp
What: Handcrafted Jewellery, Carvings and Knives
Where: Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Web: http://www.art-jewelery.com/index.html
Why: Working in separate studios, collaborating on special projects, Hanne's striking jewelry work and Owen's renowned carvings reflect their world travels and appreciation of diverse tribal cultures. Earthy, lush and primitive yet elegantly well done.

Stretching Dimension

Who: David Poston
What: Hand-forged Jewellery
Where: Suffolk, UK
Web: http://www.davidposton.net/home.html
Why: Superbold bodyforms, bracelets, rings and neckpieces in forged titanium, laser-welded 18K gold, wire, sterling and steel attest to David's innate talent for sculpture as well as jewelry. Highly acclaimed and well deserved.

Findings and Foundlings

Who: Karna Erickson of Cocoon Designs
What: One-of-a-Kind Fine Craft
Where: Evanston, IL
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/cocoondesigns
Why: Sweet, sensitive and full of character, Karna's creatures and cottages are all made from recycled and reclaimed materials. They'll make your spirit dance!

Two on Tuesdays...Llamas and Sunshine

Who: Sue Urquhart of Lulu Bug Jewelry
What: Handmade Artisan Jewelry
Where: Santa Rosa, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/lulubugjewelry
Why: Tiny treasures in fine and sterling silver and sometimes concrete. Beautifully detailed by etching, imprinting and firing of Precious Metal Clay. Sue designs and creates delightful and thoughtful jewels by hand in her home studio and in collaboration with her equally talented sister...

Who: Colette Urquhart of Raw Art Letterpress
What: Typography Posters, Kids Room Decor, Letterpress Love 
Where: Mount Shasta, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rawartletterpress
Why: Printed in a dome-topped studio, bold quotes and sweet sentiments rendered in happy hues. Colette's cards and prints are bursting with optimism and rooted in a belief that anyone can change the world.

Share and Share Alike

Who: Ann Finley Jewelry/Barking Cat Designs
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Decatur, GA
Web: http://www.annfinley.com/index.htm
Why: My sister is one of those magical people that can enchant any animal into gentle friendliness. So when we found Ann's collection we were both rocket-high-happy! Sis for Anne's animal-honoring "Barking Cat" designs, me for Ann's colored-up enamels. Lots of cool jewels to go around!

Oddball and Off-the-Wall

Who: Oddball Press
What: Letterpress Greetings and Goods
Where: Cleveland, OH
Web: http://oddballpress.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/oddballpress
Why: Hijinks and tomfoolery via vintage and modern machine.
So wry, so smirk-worthy.  :)

Exploring Extraordinary Realms

Who: Julie Rofman
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Web: http://www.julierofmanjewelry.com/
http://www.julierofman.com/Julie_Rofman.html
Why: Painter, Sculptor, Jeweler Extraordinaire! Exploring concepts of memory, transiency and fantasy through complex colors, patterns and forms. So fascinating and definitely one of my new favorite artists!

Sunlight on the Bay

Who: Matt Shapoff
What: Single and Limited Edition Prints, Cards and Textiles
Where: New York, NY
Web: http://supermarkethq.com/designer/8511/products
http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadeonpeconicbay
http://handmadeonpeconicbay.blogspot.com/
Why: Natural treasures found on the shore, interpreted via the sun...elusive, ethereal and evercool.