Well, I had a lot of fun. Seven artists were featured in this show and despite this being the season where all our scientists go in to the field and students have left we had a pretty nice turnout. I especially liked the networking going on between artists. I think everyone sold a bit and more importantly got to take all but 10% of it home instead of paying fees! The 10% went to the RSMAS library and to FINCA - a group that provides small loans to families (mostly women) in developing countries so they can start a small business and lift themselves out of poverty. Thought it was quite appropriate!

1) Buy diamonds that comply with the “Kimberly Process” . It will be stated and you should be able to get documentation that diamonds were not purchased from countries that are financing war and terrorism with the proceeds from diamond sales.

2) Don’t buy items made with coral that is currently being harvested. Items made with vintage coral from old stock or reconstructed jewelry or simulated coral is the ecologically responsible alternative. Coral for jewelry is actually in the sea fan family and they are often collected by raking the bottom, a process very damaging to the sea floor.

3) Buy jewelry made using recycled metals from scrap or reclaimed silver from photo processing.

4) Buy jewelry incorporating vintage parts or from recycled old jewelry.

5) Be aware of any stones that are being mined from countries under questionable circumstances. For example there is presently controversy surrounding rubies.

6) Buy from artisan jewelers. Most artisan jewelers, in contrast to big manufacturers, are more aware of and concerned about the sources of their materials and are more likely to use materials with ethics and ecology in mind rather than just think of the bottom line.

7) Be aware and ask lots of questions. Not just about jewelry but about where all the things you buy come from and at what cost especially human and ecological cost.

Mother’s Day Arts and Crafts Show at The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

I am organizing a Mother's Day Arts and Crafts Show at the Marine Campus of the University of Miami (RSMAS). It will be on Thursday May 1 from 10am-4pm.

Members of the Miami Artisans guild will be joining me to sell their candles, totebags, soaps, body scrubs, notecards, gift tags, pillows, stuffed animals, artwork,upcycled housewares and more. All great gifts for those wonderful Moms out there!

If you are in the Miami area come on buy and get your Mom something handmade!

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Miami FL 33149

EarthFest at Crandon Park - I will be selling my wares at Earthfest in Crandon Park - Key Biscayne (Miami) on Sunday April 20th. Live music, food, activities and Green" information and vendors. From 10-6pm

I'm often asked as a marine biologist what fish species are the most ecologically sound choices. Here is a link to help you make informed decisions about what fish to eat. Enjoy...

...with, butter, lemon or whatever! Mmmm...

Some of my friends from the Miami Artisan's Guild and I got together for our first Sunday Crafternoon. We had so much funnnnn! This first workshop was taught by me. I showed my friends Pam, Ginny, Katrina, Darlene, Kate and Ciara to make a wonderful pair of earrings out of silver sheet, beads and wire. They all turned out fabulous!

We ate pizza, hammered and drilled and struggled with our wire wraps! Of course we discussed all sorts of crazy and wonderful stuff. The next will be taught by Pam (Beanblossom) and it will be about Gocco printing!

Members of the Miami Artisan Guild (Beanblossom, Electicamiami, Phbeads), and Kate Mansfield visit with Etsy's Bethela. See the Miami Edition of the Mega-Beth Tour

We got to meet a celebrity...an ETSY employee! Beth from ETSY reached out and touched the Miami Artisans Guild in January 2008. She was in town for a conference on e-tailing and got in touch with one of us (Eclectica) who invited her to her brick-and-mortar store...she called me (Phbeads) to give her a ride since I was heading out to the store anyway taking Kate and Robbie with me. Beanblossom met us there. It was an impromptu ETSY bash! We got a chance to chat, bring up ideas and suggestions for ETSY and we were rewarded with a feature in the ETSY storque! Go Miami Artisans Guild! We made the ETSY connection!

MAGtivitiesMore...

Well I had little time to write at the Holidays but now I can catch up a bit. I did several more shows than I expected but they were all fun and though they wore me out put me in the mood for Christmas.

I took the Handmade Pledge (Look over to the right--->) and did manage to Shop Handmade for a lot of the gifts I gave. It was fun and I'm starting to be known as the "the one who gives the cool, weird, artsy gifts" and that ain't a bad rep to have!

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday too and the New Year is sizing up to be better than ever!

Mine started off grand by giving an interview for a local paper about "The marine biologist who makes jewelry" pretty cool...