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I’ve made a fairly drastic decision. It’s scary and intimidating and puts a lot of pressure on my shoulders – which means it’s the right decision. On January 1, I will blank-slate my entire Etsy shop.
The little creative voice that lives inside of me has been nagging at me for some time to step up and create the jewelry that I really want to make – pieces that are bold in a simple way, that embody the power of solving a creative challenge, that remind us to step into the spotlight a bit more. These designs have long been floating through my head, but have never seen the light of day because I keep letting myself get stuck by the process of stepping out of the comfort zone of my current work.
So, on January 1, I’m confronting my comfort zone and trying something drastic. I will place my Etsy shop on vacation. I will remove the current listings. I will likely decommission the pieces that are currently for sale. And I will start creating new work.
My hope is that, by blank-slating and re-launching my shop, I’ll create a space to make new work outside of the shadow of everything that I’ve made previously. My hope is also that, by bluntly stating this all here, I’ll have to hold my feet to the fire and follow through on my goals.
My intention is to re-launch my shop around May 1. That sounds like a long time, but I need these few months to erase, and then re-create, the current structure of my shop and my work. It’s terrifying and exciting and I can’t wait to dig in and get to work.
What this means for you is that you have two weeks to grab up anything that you might have your eye on. Consider it a final clearance fire sale, because these pieces will likely not ever come back (even the newer ones). Need a little extra push? As a blog reader, take an extra 15% off any purchase with this code: BLANKSLATE. And if you want to be one of the first people to hear about my new work and my re-launch, enter your email below.
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It’s official… I’m headed to New Zealand in a few weeks! This has been in the works for months and I’m thrilled to finally have the details all be coming together. I have long wanted to travel in New Zealand, and doing it on bicycle just sounds unbelievably amazing.
As I get ready to head out, there are a few very big details that you all need to be know…
1. I will be carrying tools with me to continue making custom headbadges on the road. Please continue to contact me the way you normally would. I will be in an entirely different part of the world, but the magic of the Internet will allow me to keep in contact and respond as I normally would.
2. Shipping times and rates will change drastically! If you’re in the US, I will no longer be able to offer free/cheap shipping. I’ve done some preliminary research and it looks like shipping from New Zealand to the US will be approximately $10 and take 3-10 days. For those of you in other parts of the world, I can provide you with an accurate estimate before placing your order.
3. If you’re purchasing a custom headbadge as a holiday gift, you will need to plan ahead and place your order early! Bonus points if you’re able to get your order in early enough that I can make and ship it before flying out (because you’ll still get the cheap/fast US shipping).
As soon as I have a date of departure, I will update you all.
Thanks in advance! I’m so excited and can’t wait to see this gorgeous country for myself!
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Whew! I’ve been on a streak of hammering, filing, forming, riveting… and new jewelry has been appearing out of my (traveling) studio. I’m excited to be updating and re-stocking my Etsy shop for the first time in a long time, and I’m quite pleased with the way that these new pieces have turned out.
Some of them are quite simple, some are a little more involved. They are all inspired by our travels – the way the wind whips across a field, the winding roads, the simple pleasure of pedaling down an open road.
Many pieces are available now. And more will be appearing daily in my Etsy shop. Take a look!
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I’m thrilled to introduce the first three of a new line of headbadges. I’m calling them “Fixed” headbadges because the designs are pre-determined (and because I like the play on words). Just like the mustache, there’s a price break in ordering one of these designs because there’s not the same back-and-forth of commissioning a custom headbadge. Take a look and order yours today!
*Note: the star headbadge can be slightly customized with the addition of a single letter monogram, for an additional $10.
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Every other week, I plan to share a short tip. I hope they’re helpful.
One of my favorite places to look for design ideas for headbadges is the Google Image Search. It may sound like cheating, but think about it… You go to Google Image Search, type in the idea you have, and get to sort through dozens of photos and drawings (and tattoos, clipart, presentation slides, you name it). Maybe you find a near-perfect design that you can tweak and be on your way. Most likely, you’ll find an image that will lead you to a new search and again to another new image, until you can visualize exactly what you want your headbadge to look like. It’s a great tool to help you think about possible ideas and designs – and help narrow them all down to the perfect one!
Ready to take it a step further? The best headbadge designs are black-and-white, stencil-style images. So, when you’re searching for images, try using the word ‘silhouette’ after your design idea. You’ll get more 2-dimensional images that will be easier to translate into a headbadge design. (For example… Want a turtle? Search for turtle silhouette.)
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As I travel on my bicycle, I’m sharing some of the moments that inspire me.
A tiny town in the middle of a vastly empty part of this enormously rural state. The streets are still dirt and gravel. The big excitement was the annual craft fair and gun show, in a small parking lot in the center of town. I had been reveling for the past several days about how we had pedaled our way back into the Wild West. And, then, I looked out the window of the restaurant where we were eating lunch, and I watched a cowboy stumble out of my imagination and amble down the road. An older man with grey hair, Wrangler jeans, plenty of dust, and the quintessential boots and hat. Sometimes the true things we find in small corners of the world far surpass anything we could dream up.
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I’ve been busy lately, thinking about what direction I want to take my business, what that will look like, and how I’m going to run with it. And I’ve set a date on my calendar to introduce a few changes. Please take note!
On Monday, October 24, I will be doing two things…
- I will be increasing prices, across the board, on all headbadges.
- I will begin offering a variety of reduced-price headbadges in pre-set “fixed” shapes (like the mustache!)
The new pricing structure will be as follows:
- Copper custom headbadge: $85
- Silver custom headbadge: $100
- Copper fixed headbadge: $60
- Silver fixed headbadge: $75
Why am I increasing my prices? Let’s face it, the economy is forcing my hand. The price of silver has been incredibly unstable lately, and I’ve been watching it shoot through the roof. It keeps breaking the $40/ounce mark, which is insane (it was only $18/ounce when I started making headbadges in 2008).
At the same time, I want to offer an increased selection of fixed headbadges (headbadges in pre-set shapes, such as a star), and I need to make it worth my time to do so. The price of the Bike Mustache will increase, but it will be joined by a whole new line-up of fun shapes! Each of these will be “punched” out and then finished by hand. The use of a custom die will enable me to cut out the shape quicker, thus enabling me to offer a reduced price. Of course, each of these headbadges will still be finished and formed by hand by me, and I will happily offer any patina or texture changes free of charge.
Raising my prices was not an easy decision for me to make. But, as I move forward, I know that I want to expand my headbadge business and offer increased opportunities for you all to personalize your bikes. I started making custom headbadges because I was passionate about the idea of little works of art being affixed to bicycles around the world. Now, I need to think like a business owner, and that means raising my prices so that I can create more headbadges for more people! I’ve sent over 100 headbadges off into the world already, and I am extremely grateful for each of you who took a chance of me as I started this little business. Thank you!
On October 24, I’ll be announcing the new “fixed” shapes for sale. If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see me offer, please send me an email!
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Sometimes, you just really want to show off your handiwork! And I know that some of you would also love to see what other people have ordered for headbadges (and what sorts of funky detail I’m capable of incorporating).
This gallery page has been on my project list for quite some time, and I’m excited to finally have it pulled together and LIVE! As it stands right now, there’s just a small representation of the over 100 headbadges that I’ve made and sent off into the world. But I’d rather start with these nine images than wait until I have a more complete library of images. So, take a gander… (And if you want to show off your headbadge on your bike, please send me a photo.)
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A few days ago, my brother got married to an amazing woman. It was a beautiful evening, and incredibly inspiring to watch these two people who love each other so deeply. For me, it was special for another reason also… I had the pleasure of making three custom pendants for her bridesmaids!
This is one of my favorite styles, and I was thrilled that Bre asked for this style specifically. In piecing them together, I crafted each of the quasi-bezel cups to loosely echo a knot. I’m really thrilled with how they turned out and the process was particularly special.
We didn’t decide on working with this particular style until right before I hit the road again. Because it’s one of my favorite styles, I was immediately happy to do them this way, but I had to get over one very big hurdle… these pieces need to be soldered and I don’t carry a torch while traveling!
I worked on the components for the pendants in both Missoula and Twin Bridges, Montana. And then I put out a call for help with the soldering… Did anyone that I knew know someone with a torch I could borrow? So often, while traveling, I am reminded of the generosity and general amazingness of people, and this was proven to me again in this circumstance. A reader of our travel blog reached out to a jeweler friend in Bozeman and I was able to use her torch and soldering set-up while we were in town (and then join her and her partner for iced tea and wonderful conversation on their beautiful back patio). Thank you Lois!
I finished the pendants in Bozeman and Conrad, Montana, and Corvallis, Oregon. Inside are dozens of small dried flower buds from the road-side in Montana, amazingly in the same purple as their wedding colors!
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Every other week, I plan to share a short tip. I hope they’re helpful.
Did you know that sterling silver oxidizes naturally, on its own, over time? This is a really simple tip for those of you who have silver jewelry that has become a little bit dull.
On most of my jewelry, if I don’t do a patina, I give my silver a silky matte finish. To bring this sort of finish back to your silver, just use a nail buff. Yep, you can find these in just about any pharmacy or beauty shop, for roughly 99 cents. They usually look like a small block, sometimes in funny patterns or hot pink.
Take your nail buff, hold it securely in your dominant hand, and brush it over the surface of the silver (just as if you were buffing your nails). You’ll see the tarnish disappear, and a silky finish take its place. Use the buff as much and as often as you like – but be careful with silver that has been purposely oxidized, because the buff will remove that finish as well.