233. Q is for Quest

I'm not so much the girl who goes for the bling, but I do love me some earthy artisan jewelry, especially if it has a special local meaning. This partially explains why I'm so fond of my Iberville beach shale pieces (necklace and earrings). I'm almost always wearing them, and have taken to wearing lots of black v-neck tops to best show off the necklace. That piece of jewelry holds my body warmth and seems to be alive in its own right. It comes from the land of my ancestors and it makes me feel strongly connected to it. I get compliments on it often, even from strangers. I wear it all the time, and look, here's a little photo of me taken at Silver Lake to prove it:

When I arrived in Utah, I told Margene that while there I would like to buy a special piece of local artisan jewelry. I was thinking of a necklace or earrings. I can't wear rings or bracelets because of my work and the speed with which my hands have to move and the positions they need to get in for accuracy of the steno. The metal makes my hands hurt somehow and slows me down. It seems like it confines the little muscles and ligaments in my fingers and wrists.

Long story short (and there IS a long story, but Margene can tell it better), I found THE piece in Park City. 

I bought some bling.

It is a piece of petrified Utah dinosaur bone with a citrine stone, set in sterling silver, and on a sterling choker. Here it is reclining on my unfinished Central Park (non)Hoodie of Peace Fleece in the color Sheplova Mushroom.

I'll pause here for a few seconds to allow your heart rate to resume to normal.

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And then, as if that wasn't enough, the next day we went to Sundance and somehow or other some more pieces came home with me:

Really, the dinosaur bone is in a league of its own, but these pieces by a California artist are pretty frickin' spectacular, too. Orange agate, also known as carnelian, with rustic silver disks. Here's a close-up of the disk:

There's a long story here, too:  I was only going to get the earrings until Margene took things in her own hands, practically crawled over (she didn't really have to "crawl" over, since she's six feet tall -- just a little stretch was all that was necessary) the jeweler's desk, reached inside, took the necklace out, and put it on my neck. Just like that. Then all the other women started oohing and ahhing and telling me I'd regret it if I didn't get it, and oh, how perfect it was with my hair and my skin, and all this other dreck wonderful stuff.  For goddess's sake, how is anyone supposed to resist these sorts of criminals pushy bitches people?  The very moment it was on my neck, I knew I owned it. Quest fulfilled.

Now that I'm home, I'm also getting some strong vibes that it is time to pick up the Peace Fleece Central Park (non)Hoodie and finish that sucker.  I kinda think the jewelry is saying it. Ya think?

True Story: All this purchasing activity is so unusual for me that it prompted the credit card company's fraud division to call, just to make sure someone hadn't stolen the card and started using it to buy up all the jewelry in Utah.

Here I am, modeling the new black travel skirt I got on sale in Park City, and sticking my feet in the ice-cold stream at Sundance after all that spending. It was soooo therapeutic. The only symptom of the high altitude that I suffered was a slight swelling of my feet at the ends of the days.  After this icy bath, they felt fanTAStic!

Comments

[susan]

You sure found a gem of a gem in that PC shop! I'm tempted to take a drive up and see if you left anything behind for the locals.

[Judy]

WOW! Oh my.. the color of that piece of bone is amazing.

[Paula]

The jewelery says "You must finish the non-hoodie for Rhinebeck." Who knows? This year it might be cool enough to wear Peace Fleece.

[margene]

You captured the beauty of the dinosaur bone perfectly and it IS going to be spectacular with the CPnoH. Get knittin', grrl!

[CindyCindy]

So lovely. Cooling your feet in a mountain stream? Priceless.

[carol]

Gorgeous pieces! If you ever travel to Philly, go to Halloween on Pine Street. It's like being in Aladdin's Cave. The owner/designer is a hoot too.

[Carole]

The new jewelry is great and it will always bring back memories of your trip - that's the best part, I think.

[naomi]

Those are beautiful. I'm glad your credit card company called instead of just refusing the transactions.

And sitting in that stream looks *wonderful*.

[Anne]

And you know what? The colors of the rocks and water in the last photo really mimic the colors in the piece you got in Park City.

Oh yeah - shoulda warned you. Stay away....far away... from anything remotely retail-ish if Margene's involved.

[gayle]

I'm stunned by the dinosaur bone - and I don't even like jewelry. Just gorgeous!
And welcome home!

[(formerly) no-blog-rachel]

Gawgeous. All of it.

[Manise]

All the pieces go with your CPH perfectly! Nice score!

[Knitnana]

Beautiful bling! And you're making me want to pick up the Peace Fleece Wool Peddler's Shawl in that SAME SHADE (!) and get IT finished up, too!
LOL
I'm partial to the petrified dinosaur bone, myself, but everything is lovely! What a great vacay you had!
(((hugs)))

[Kim]

Wow, someone managed to get a photo of you in that stream that DIDN'T have those guys hanging around in it? I kept hoping they would get the hint, but they never did. Clueless SOB's, anyway. :)

LOVE your bling, girlie. That jewelery will hold such memories for you...forever.

xoxo

[marianne]

Absolutely stunning pieces you chose, Perfect Pieces of Adornment! I need to check out the dinosaur bone stuff.... does this place have a website?

[Roxie]

Bling is twinkly. Your new prizes are elegant and understated. This is not bling, this is jewelry. Like grown-ups wear. Classy and tasteful. So finish tht damn Peace Fleece already! The dino bone requires it!

[Miriam]

So was it the large purchases of jewelry or the 5 purchases at a certain yarn store that triggered the fraud division investigation?

[Cheryl S.]

I love being a pushy bitch enabler! Both sets will be fantastic with your new cardigan.

[Nora]

Love the jewelry. Like you, I love buying handmade jewelry as a souvenir of a special trip. You did good!!

[Marcia]

WHERE in Park City?! I'll have to check out that shop when we go out later this year! I'm glad they took you up to PC, by the way....it's such a neat town, and quite different in flavor from the rest of Utah. Kind of heathen-ish, if you know what I mean. (My son now is head of marketing for Deer Valley Lodging..we get really good accomodations when we visit!) As for the CPNH......be still my heart.

[Cookie]

What beautiful memories you brought home with you. They really do need that sweater. xo

[claudia]

Good call on the jewelry buying.

[Julie]

You're so blessed to have a pretty face to accent all that bling. It's all just beautiful!

[Lee Ann]

I LOVE the dinosaur necklace. (Spiff says dinosaurs didn't die to give us bling. Thank you, Mr. Sunshine.) It rocks.

(Get it? :-))

(GROAN)