the mysteriously returned package

package returned from australia
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

i mailed this package of two necklaces to australia on september 6, 2007 and they never arrived to my customer. lo and behold they showed back up in my mailbox on december 28th... almost 4 months after i mailed them.

no idea why.

i triple checked the address and it was correct (i covered the address with paper in the picture to protect the addressee) and the replacement i sent to the same address did get to the there after 8 days. hmmm.

i'm so curious as to why it didn't make it to it's destination. i guess i should just be happy i got it back!

oh, the usps!

jakarta

jakarta
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

carved tile of blue with white and flame...

this necklace features a beautiful square tile of amazonite (carved with a flower - 26mm) paired with a coin of genuine white agate (16m) wire wrapped together in sterling silver. strung with faceted, glowing red agate (6mm) and all sterling silver findings, this necklace is lovely, warm and exotic.

*note the appearance of a fissure in the close-ups of the pendant tile; this is not a crack in the stone but rather a natural fissure in the stone material.

closure: sterling silver "s" clasp and extendable chain

length: 16" to 18"


happy cyber monday everyone!

garden gate

garden gate
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

amazing what one photo can do.

i posted these earrings for sale and within a day or two they were featured on the etsy home page(!). you can imagine my excitement. it lasted for about 20 minutes until the earrings sold and they were no longer on the front page working up some good exposure for me. but no matter... i still got that 20 minutes and made a sale to boot; i would call that a check mark in the plus column.

the next week i received an etsy convo regarding my wholesale policy. seems the buyer who bought the garden gate earrings showed them to some friends who are in the process of opening a new retail store. i submitted my information and got my first wholesale order ever (double !!). again, a big check mark in the plus column for mud and mint.

today, etsy premiered a new site feature: the gift guide. various lists of gift suggestions curated by etsy admin... again, the garden gate earrings made the cut and were featured in the jewelry addicts list. time will tell if this new site feature will be a boost to views and sales in my shop but it sure was a sweet little thrill none the less (thanks etsy).

i couldn't be happier and more proud of this one little photo.

i see you

i see you
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

yes, i'm still alive.

it's been awhile and i've been terribly busy. i did however take a vacation last week to colorado. i spent a couple days in boulder mostly relaxing with a little shopping and going out before meeting up with my dad and our friend ed to attend the great american beer festival in denver.

we had rooms in a fabulous hotel just across the street from the convention center where the event was held (and were the peeping bear is too) and drank beer for three days. we also visited the colorado museum of nature and science where we saw a fascinating exhibit of artifacts recovered from the titanic and attended a food and beer pairing put on by samuel adams at the restaurant 1515; the chicory bread pudding with cocoa nibs and espresso ice cream was an otherworldly experience.

after the event i went back to boulder were i watched the packers beat the washington redskins (go pack go!) and my friend barb made an awesome cheese fondue. i had such a great time.

now, back to the grind. i think i have about one month of more crazy busy ahead of me before things finally calm down... i can't wait.

lots of charm...

lots of charm...
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

i love finding cool vintage things...

the charmed earrings have been my best seller and it is easy to see why... while very simple, they are also unique and lovely. until now i had only seen the aqua blue and then last week i came across these new colors and i knew i had to get them... they're just so fun. along with the speckled aqua, there is pristine white, and translucent jade green in the large 22mm size; all suspended from delicate, sterling silver oval hoops. the super cute, coral red charms are a little bit smaller (16mm) and hang from 1" sterling silver ear hoops... they will be perfect for christmas.

i love a good find.

rose wheels

rose wheels
Originally uploaded by mud and mint

these are so sweet...

i bought these faceted rose quartz wheels years ago and found them again the other day, luminous and substantial.