38 Weeks!

Merry Christmas Eve!

The baby bump is all dressed up in green and pearls for the Holidays!

And he is getting bigger by the day!

Truly!

Hope he doesn't mind all the girly sparkle and pearls!

Almost time now!

Kisses,

K

Wearing a non maternity stretchy Nadia Tarr dress with lots pearls that were gifts from various people over the years, a Blue Nile rock crystal bracelet, and an Argento Alchemy pearl and labradorite necklace.

(All images created and owned by K. C. S. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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Early Christmas Exchange

The Husband and I were having a bit of a rough week so we decided to exchange some of our Christmas gifts early this year.

Also, he had a surprise for me that's he's been asking if he should give it to me early for weeks he was so excited about it... Too cute! So I finally caved and as always, he nailed it!

So thoughtful!

I got three books that I've been wanting and the "Dream it! Do It!" copy by Imagineer and Disney Legend Marty Sklar is signed! (I don't know if you remember but we got the privilege of meeting him and seeing him speak recently. Link here.)

The Victoria Finlay book is an amazing weaving of the worlds gems and gem trades. And "The Art and Flair of Mary Blair" is another Disney treasure about the amazing and prolific artist Mary Blair.

I also got some Lilly Pulitzer jammy pants that I love!

A Lancome perfume I've been wanting, Trésor La Nuit. It's the latest iteration in their Trésor series which I love and am not allergic to. Win win!

And...

A very cool map necklace from The Weekend Store that he found.

It's a little locket with a map of Florence, Italy on it which happens to be the place where we met. Very romantic and sweet!

And lastly, the gift he'd been dying to give me.

The push-mas-versary gift as we've dubbed it. My push present since I'm due January 8th, my Christmas present, and my five year anniversary present (on January 23rd).

A pair of WOW diamond stud earrings in one of my all time favorite cuts.

The classic Asscher cut. Needless to say I LOVE them!

And I love that I'll be able to wear them with our new baby without fear of them getting ripped or tugged out like most jewelry is around babies.

They'll help keep me feeling sparkly and stylish no matter how much baby puke I get on me, lol.

Perfect gift!

Feeling a bit spoiled over here and enjoying it!

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by K. C. S. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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36 weeks today!

At 36 weeks today and it's this baby's Daddy's birthday today. It's a good day!

Kisses,

K

Wearing yet another non maternity Lilly Pulitzer dress (Can't get enough of the stretchy cute comfort! So very Floridian of me!), necklace by Ippolita, all other jewelry Argento Alchemy, and sunnies by Prada.

(All images created and owned by K. C. S. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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32 Weeks!

This little one is growing and we couldn't be more grateful and excited! Here's to 32 weeks!

Kisses,

K

Outfit Details: Dress and belt by Destination Maternity, cardigan an old Target find, sunnies by Prada, and all jewelry made by me for Argento Alchemy.

(All images created and owned by K. C. S. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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What I'm Reading: "Jewels: A Secret History"

Jewels: A Secret History

By Victoria Finlay

Victoria Finlay is also the author of Color, a fantabulous book about colors, their history, importance throughout the years, uses, and origins.

(Let me tell you, as an Art Historian it really rocked my socks off!)

But now... I think she's trying to be my most favorite author ever!

Her latest book is the same sort but this time it's about... JEWELS!

She's doing the same thing for gemstones that she did in her Color book and I am beyond stoked so far!

As a jewelry designer, fabricator, artisan, and rock hound/ collector of all things geologic, including lovely pieces of jewelry (Is there a better way to collect rocks? I think not!), I cannot wait to read through her historical insight.

I've only finished the first chapter (On Amber, can you tell from my pics? Lol) but it's love at first read so far!

(I couldn't resist taking out some of my own Amber collection for a short snap-fest.)

Her writing is superb, meaningful, witty, and packed with insight! I highly recommend her to anyone looking for something more.

If you like history or are always asking Where? When? Why?

Victoria Finlay, world traveler and author extraodinaire, is for you!

What are you reading?

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson, please ask permission prior to use. Book written by Victoria Finlay and published by Random House.)

 

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Argento Alchemy Projects

On my work bench lately...

Working on a new pretty for the Argento Alchemy Esty site!

Kisses,

K

(All images and designs created and owned by Krista Carson. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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Back To School: Studio Work

My Fabrications course is going well so far and I'm really enjoying it!

I'm learning so much!

Both my teacher and my classmates are so awesome and inspirational!

Since a lot of the work we do is rather unglamorous (I smell like machinery and oil when I leave, lol) our studio is reflective of that. It's real, not aesthetically pleasing but not un-so either. We work at jeweler's benches and get to "play" with loads of awesome tools!

This rather blurry shot (sorry) shows our torch station where things get hot and also awesome.

Here's the sketches I did for my current project: an Art Deco inspired pendant.

In the baggy above is hematite cabochon that I'm going to bezel set on my piece and the square is actually sterling silver (my preferred material) in sheet metal form.

We trace the deign onto tracing paper and glue it down to the sheet metal.

Then we very slowly and patiently saw the design out.

P.S., this glue? Fantastic!

I don't want to fall behind in class (I'm pretty fresh to most of the techniques and everyone else is rather advanced.) so I had lots of homework to do.

I don't have a bench yet but an old Ikea table works for now.

Here are my parts all cut out. They still need a LOT of work!

Lots of filing and soldering yet do!

I love how as you work you end up covered in teeny tiny sparkling metal specs that glimmer and glitter!

Incidentally, you sweep that precious stuff up and save it! All "scrap" can be re-melted and re-used, it's still rather valuable. You save money and are environmentally responsible at the same time. I'm a big fan of both!

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson. Please ask permission prior to use.)

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Easter Snapshots

Church yesterday morning.

The lace and silk bunny ears I made for Easter.

I think they'll be fun at Disney too.

My first Easter casualty... ;)

The boys and the Westies. (My husband is on the left with Abigail our pup and my little brother is on the right with my parents pup Piper.)

Abigail all dressed up in her Easter best.

And the Peep squeak she got in her basket from her Grandma.

And us trying to take an Easter pic to text to my family not there.

Outtake 1.

Outtake done.

My sparkly Easter bracelet stack.

(From the top down: Cushion cut rock crystal bracelet Christmas present from Blue Nile online, Argento Alchemy made sterling silver sister morse code bracelet by me, Aquamarine bracelet from my siblings when I graduated college, London Blue Topaz and diamond sterling Ippolita bracelet from my Husband, and a pavè white Saphire bangle bracelet from my Mother for my wedding.)

And lastly, a deliciously yummy dinner of homemade stuffed cabbage over mashed potatoes for dinner. My absolute favorite!

Hope your weekend was a great one!

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson.)

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What I Wore; Happy St Patricks Day!

I know most people celebrated over the weekend but today is St. Patricks Day so in honor of the ocassion I donned some of my luckiest green pieces today.

I built my outfit around this cute sparkly and metallic green tee from Disney. (I purchased it in Mouse Gears inside of Epcot but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find it in Disney stores around the country and definitely at Downtown Disney locations.)

Then I added this multi-green and navy tweed pencil skirt from past seasons at J Crew.

Next cam my favorite part, accessories!

I layered in a semi-precious and precious gemstone and sterling necklace and matching chrysoprase earrings from my past Argento Alchemy works as well as a braided wrap bracelet.

I also wore a vintage green crystal clip earring from my Grandmother that had lost its mate as a brooch. As well as a Honduran inlaid sterling cuff, a Michaud cuff, and a large green druzy ring.

Here is a more detailed shot (bottom to top):

Large green druzy ring

Hand dyed silk, hand forged fine silver link, and black pearl braided wrap bracelet.

Michael Michaud eucalyptus cuff

Honduran inlaid cuff

Since I work at home I can get away with a Mickey tee and tons of jewelry but...

For those of you who don't I also pulled together some more office friendly inspiration above.

Details: Argento Alchemy petite chrysoprase briolette dangles on German sterling huggie hoops, vintage green crystal clip earring worn as a brooch, and work appropriate bangles in jade from Chinatown in Chicago and navy, green, and white cloisonné from France.

Just swap out the tee shirt for a white or blue button down plus heels and your work ready instead.

Hope you have a lucky Monday!

Kisses,

K

(All images created and owned by Krista Carson.)

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Getting Creative: Argento Alchemy

Here's my little something special I told you about earlier!

It's a delicate sterling silver and ruby handcrafted "Secret Love" necklace.

Each lovely ruby bead represents a dot and each sterling cylinder bead represents a dash. Together on their delicate sparkly 18" chain they spell out "Love" in Morse code!

I love love but that doesn't mean I always want to my heart on my sleeve or a literal heart around my neck. I created this necklace for those times when you want something special but also delicate and subtle in a lovely way.

It's a great gift for yourself, friends, sisters, or mothers! It's also great for hinting about to that special someone in your life...

I'm still just getting started with Argento Alchemy again so I only have a limited amount of these at the moment.

Hopefully my new etsy website will be up soon but in the meantime if your interested please email me at: argentoalchemy@gmail.com

(Each necklace is $30.00 and shipping to the continental U.S. is free! All other shipping zones will be shipped at the current US Postal Service rate.)

Ruby Kisses,

K

(Design is property of Krista Carson. All images are created and owned by Krista Carson.)

 

 

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