By Erin Jane on May 14, 2012
For those of you in the PNW you know that when the sun shines, you get in it and enjoy it before it’s gone. That is precisely what we did this weekend. We sat on the deck pretty much all weekend soaking in the beautiful sun and views. There really isn’t a more beautiful place to be on a sunny day, than Seattle. We walked along Lake Washington, swam the dogs and just stared at the lake from our deck. I’ve never been good at capturing the view we have from our house. Whenever I take a photo it just seems lame. I’d rather just enjoy it in person, as my photos will never do justice. I did try though… and if you look REALLY hard, you can see Mt. Baker in the background.
We also discovered sage leaf tempura. Oh dear. It’s so good. I have a ridiculous amount of gorgeous sage right now and found this recipe in my cookbook In Season by Sarah Raven.
Sage Leaf Tempura
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
Plenty of sea salt and pepper
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups iced sparkling water or cold beer
Peanut oil for frying
30 to 40 sage leaves, depending on size and variety
Sift the flour into a bowl with the salt and pepper and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and, with a balloon whisk, mix in the beer to make a not too smooth batter. Keep the batter in the fridge until you need it. Heat up your oil to about 350, dip your sage leaves in your batter and start frying! Cook until golden and fish them out with tongs, dry them on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Oh, and eat them!!
And, of course we had to grill garden burgers. Because getting the grill out for the first time just calls for it.
Then some ball throwing and a nice, long neighborhood walk topped off the day. Pretty perfect.
Oh, the colors in Seattle in the Spring! Pretty incredible. Today is another beauty, but it’s back to the studio for me.
Posted in Getting Personal, Recipes, Uncategorized
By Erin Jane on May 14, 2012
I decided to celebrate my 1,000th Etsy sale with a Giveaway! I’ll be giving away my Lemon Quartz Cushion Ring on June 7th. How do you enter? Just “like” Erin Jane Designs on Facebook and post a link to your favorite EJD design from my shop on my Facebook wall!
Good luck!
Posted in Contests, Special Offers | Tagged Erin Jane Designs Giveaway
By Erin Jane on May 7, 2012
It’s been a busy month! And, I’ve been neglectful of my blog. What have I been doing?
LOTS of custom orders. So blessed to have been able to work with the lovely ladies on the other end of these designs.
A few new items for my shop
Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays. Seriously, so many.
And all the while, LOVING all that spring brings…I’m so relieved that winter is over. It’s just been beautiful. I love this time of year!!!
And, last, but certainly not least, an exciting milestone. I reached 1,000 sales in my Etsy shop. I feel so proud and most of all, THANKFUL for my wonderful, amazing and supportive customers and fans. ”Thank you” doesn’t do justice to how grateful I feel. I’d love to give individual hugs to everyone!
This is one happy, happy jeweler : )
Posted in New Jewels | Tagged chrysoprase ring, diamond engagement ring, morganite ring, oregon sunstone ring, sapphire ring
By Erin Jane on April 10, 2012
My mom was visiting this last week and one night we all went to Marjorie for dinner. I love this little place. Mostly the chairs : ), but also the fun cocktail menu, wonderful food and the always gorgeous lighting. The plantain chips are absolutely to die for. If you are in Seattle, go and check it out!
Posted in Favorite Finds | Tagged marjorie seattle
By Erin Jane on April 9, 2012
We’ve had a few just gorgeous days here in Seattle and I’ve been enjoying it immensely! It’s been wonderful to see the sun! My garden is in bloom and my shoulders are pink. I never thought it would happen after such a long and yucky winter. So happy!
The dogs go crazy when the sun comes out. They can’t get enough playing in the yard and rolling in the grass. Lulu can’t get enough ball catching and chasing. Look at those muscles! And that CUTE face : )…
Wishing you sunshine and pink shoulders too…
Posted in Getting Personal
By Erin Jane on March 14, 2012
Well everyone, I sure hope you are enjoying the unseasonably warm weather around the country! Here in Seattle, spring is slow to come. Lots of this….
And the cure for that is a lot of this….
And even more of this….
And a little reminder that eventually the sun will shine….
Posted in Getting Personal
By Erin Jane on February 18, 2012
I didn’t even say Happy Valentine’s Day to you! Well, an embarrassingly belated Happy Valentine’s Day to you! I’ve been busy, busy in my studio working away on this shop update. I’m so excited to share! This is such a hard time of year for me because of the cold, dark, rain and gloom. But after a big ol’ sunny gem shopping trip and a studio full of colorful goodies, I’m always so inspired and I just have to create. There’s no stopping me – it’s a little obsessive, really. I’m learning to just let it happen and try not to confuse excitement with anxiety. When my head starts spinning and I feel overwhelmed because I’m literally not paying attention to anything else in my life, I am trying to learn to take a step back and remember that this is OK and temporary! It just means that I am so happy to be in the design process and I just want to SHARE with YOU! It’s excitement, not anxiety – I just have to keep saying that.
I thought about holding a few designs back to share later, but I just can’t. No use in fighting it! Here they ALL are…just click on them to be taken to the listing in my Etsy shop.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Posted in New Jewels | Tagged aquamarine, blue tourmaline, columbian emerald, diamond, diamonds, lapis, oregon sunstone, rutilated quartz, tourmalated quartz, umba sapphire, white sapphire
By Erin Jane on February 8, 2012
I am back from a fantastic buying trip in Tucson this year. It was warm, sunny and filled with family, friends, laughs and of course loads of gems! Such a great trip.
The sun was shining everyday and the sunsets in Arizona are hard to beat.
After long days of shopping, drinks outside by the fire were perfect.
Once my shopping was complete…
I had a couple days to enjoy the sunny Southwest.
Now I’m back and overflowing with inspiration and designs ideas. I dove right in and am in the very beginning of creating some new designs! Can’t wait to share! Geez, just look at those colors. Ahhhhh!
Posted in Designing, Inspiration | Tagged arizona, tucson gem show
By Erin Jane on January 29, 2012
I’m headed for Tucson for gem shopping tomorrow! I’m so, so excited and will definitely be sharing photos of my finds here and on my Flickr page as soon as I can. And, remember, without upgraded shipping, made to order Valentine’s Day items won’t make it in time since I won’t be back until Feb 6th, so get in touch if you need to have something in time for the BIG day and haven’t placed your order yet…I’ll see what I can do!
I’ll leave you with a custom wedding band I made for a really special couple. So happy how it turned out. White Sapphires flush set in a 14k yellow gold brushed band…
And a couple more that I will list when I get back from my trip…
A sweet chocolate diamond flush set in a hammered 14k gold band.
And, the middle ring below. It’s a 3mm Aquamarine set in a hand forged 14k gold setting and band. LOVE this ring. I’m so excited to get back from my trip all loaded up with stones and get working on some new designs. My head is about to explode. I love this time of year for that! It may be grey and cold, but my studio will be so colorful and full of inspiration in just one short week. Can’t wait to share!
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged diamond ring, gold wedding band, tucson gem show
By Erin Jane on January 19, 2012
Well, us mild weather Pacific Northwesterners are never prepared for snow. An inch turns our world upside down. So imagine the state of panic we are in with several – that’s right – SEVERAL : ) inches of snow, plus freezing rain, plus more snow. The Minnesota girl in me wants to laugh, but 10 years in Seattle has turned me into a complain-y wimp and it is sort of a mess.
Ice is covering everything in sight! And it is just so pretty!
Well, anyway, we made quite the adventure of it today. It’s day 2 snow bound and the hubby and I got a bit of cabin fever. Plus, I had packages to send to my customers! Now I know the USPS is so very proud of making it through anything to deliver mail, but no one showed up yesterday and for me, the mailman also means mail pick up – which is way more important. I wasn’t willing to risk another day of not having packages picked up. So, a trip to the post office was in order. Our post office is normally about a 10 minute drive. Or today, a 35 minute walk, plus a 10 minute light rail ride, plus another 10 minute walk….that’s one way. I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but it was actually a lot of fun.
Precious cargo ready to go…
Lots of ice covered trees on the way to the light rail station.
Train ride!
Made it to the post office.
Jewels safely in the mail drop.
Don’t worry. I rewarded myself for after my trek…
While Tom worked…
He’s had a lot on his mind lately.
Then, I saw THIS! So awesome! I should have take video. She was going ridiculously fast.
And, this is how I felt. Utterly content.
Then, it was time to head home in the ice covered neighborhood.
It was a beautiful day.
Posted in Getting Personal
