Blog

I'm really grateful for the community aspect of this work. I adore the hours of time alone with my ideas, trays of old keys and cameos, soldering, weaving with metal. But I LOVE show season - the summer months that stretch into fall where I appreciate both my amazing customers and the clever organizers of events and marketplace craftiness. The marketplace interaction - direct from maker to appreciator, whether bread or a bracelet - is one of the oldest community interactions in this human family. I've gotten back into cameos. They are quite an investment on my end, but I...

Compass Rose Design has been going through some exciting growth lately. I've been so busy making things and keeping up with new galleries, but wanted to make a few announcements!First - I have joined the best kind of 700s club - not the Pat Robertson variety - but I just passed my 700th sale through my etsy shop - thrilling!!!I made the etsy front page with one of my upcycled clockwork necklaces:Last week, I scored a fabulous pile of antique cabinet keys - and went to town making long and short necklaces of every variety - delicate and sturdy at...

After lots of requests, here are directions for how to make bottle cap magnets! Bottle cap magnets are fabulously rewarding. Once I made the save the date magnets for our wedding, I realized you can put ANYTHING in a magnet and make it durable art!Vintage fruit labels are one of my favorites to work with - they make beautiful magnets:Here is an overview of the tools, supplies and process so you can make your own sets! They make great hand-made thank you gifts! Here is an example with some magnets I made for our beer company, Van Houten Brewing.What you'll...

Hooray for Heather from Heathered wallets - whose recommendation landed me a spot on the shelf at the Green Zebra, at the Crocker Galleria in San Francisco.I got there on farmers market Thursday - it's simply luscious to have the produce in the middle of the financial district - and prices to match.We set up a selection of women's and men's items. With all those fancy suits walking around - I'd love to see some of my upcycled watch cuff links on them!Here are some of the Heathered selection at Green ZebraGreen Zebra brings back all my memories of working...