Living the Dream // Thanks to You

Wow friends, wow.  I am overwhelmed by the loving outpouring from y'all last night!  I saw so many faces, new and old friends, and was so proud to share the newest shape Crown Nine and Kate Ellen Metals have  taken.  Floss Gloss represented hard with their incredible art and hospitality-- I love a girl who isn't afraid to be exactly who she is and wants the same for those around her.  Aretha + Janine are major rock-stars in my mind-- I mean, the Catwalk was a little slice of genius!

This morning I watched an interview with slam-dunk legend 'Dr. J' Julius Erving and he talked about his foul line dunk as something he developed on the streets of NYC.  He said the people on the sidelines with their feet on the court would say, "You can jump from farther out than that."  So he would try to jump from 8 feet out, 10 feet out, eventually jumped from 15 feet out.  Dr. J said, "I was encouraged by those people sitting with their feet on the court, because they said 'we think you can do it.'"

Now I know I'm not dunking here, but I feel like I have gone beyond what I thought I could do because I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who said, 'hey, I think you can.'  This may seem like a whole lotta of nothing, but remember that there are lots of people in the world who will give you a long list of reasons why you can't/shouldn't/won't... so it is special to meet a whole huge network of people who can see potential, get vision, and want to see other people succeed.

This whole thing started with a desire to do what I love for a living and share it with those around me, and I want to thank you all for being a part of this dream of mine.  I seriously could not do it without you--friends, family, and clients alike-- I am so happy to share it with so many loving people.  Not a neysayer in the bunch y'all, not a one.

So if you're sitting on a dream, incubating a brilliant idea, about to take the leap... do it!  I fully have your back and totally 100% believe that it can be done.  It usually isn't easy but it is so effing worth it.

#blingit Photo Contest // Jewelry Give Away

Thanks to all you photographers and Instagramers last night who entered the contest!  I assigned random numbers to each photo submission with the hashtag #blingit and drew lucky number 5, belonging to @coconutjordan with this lovely pic {she wins a Kate Ellen Metals Big Sky Necklace in silver}. 

And here are some other great shots from the night!  Search #blingit to see all the ridiculous fun!

By @dianarenee

By @shopsweetthings

By @dreammakermetals #nastygirlzz

By @oaklandartenthusiast

By @mlacyyy

By @christienatsumi {one of our newest jewelers, second from left in a lineup of badass jewelry mavens @coreyegan @sarahswell @sharonzimmerman}

By @rudegirlnails

By @flossgloss

By @halmonivintage {rad vintage shop in Oakland!!}

By @xtinabeana {best helper in the whole dang world}

By @kim_kirsch {another powerhouse jeweler behind Ortolan Designs}

By @ohwownatalie {the stunning face of crown-nine.com}

L O V E + M E T A L

S P R E A D T H E L O V E