Saying Good-by.......

For good this time!
Here are a few of the components that I will be letting go of forever.

I just add the last of my stash of these pieces to my etsy shop. As I clean out the studio and if I find other pieces I'll add them as well. I'll keep these components in my shop and marked at a 20% discount till Monday
Oct.3.
I cant even express how difficult this is for me. I'm sure your probably saying " than why are you doing it".........
I read a quote on another blog that said........
 "the moment you think of giving up, think of the reason you held on so long".
Well I have thought about the reason I held on so long and that reason is why I'm letting go.
So please be sure to checkout our shop.
 I hope you have enjoyed these pieces as much as we enjoyed creating them.

Etsy up date!

I decided I would list the new necklaces in my etsy shop. I really haven't had much luck selling jewelry there, I guess everyone is use to just seeing and buying our components.
 I know I've been saying this for the last year or so but I'm trying to ween myself away from the components and just make and sell jewelry.I must say this has been really hard for me since the components have been our bread and butter for the last 11 years. So its difficult to let that part of our business go but ........... It really is time to let the components go.
Its so hard to produce in a production style manner when your company consists of two people, and there's so much to do and just not enough time in the day. I would one day like to have health insurance and a retirement fund. To have some sort of financial security.I want to enjoy life and not let it pass me by. With the constant worry of all this something gets lost.  
I feel as though somewhere along the road I have lost my creative spirit and I want to find that again.
So please don't forget us as we close the door on one part of our business but open other doors.
Things are going to change for Zoa Art........ But Tony and I are going to be much happier people because of it.

Artist Rees Hogue / A Happy Life

For the last several months Tony and I have been working with Rees and his family to help him with his dream of creating his own jewelry line. I would like you all to meet Rees.
                                             
This is his story...............

                                   

Ress's mother Dana and I began emailing back and forth sometime in July.They initially where interested in our number 12 charm that we made and wanted to buy them at wholesale. Dana began to tell me Ress's story and his vision and had also mentioned this drawing he had created and we began to talk about getting a stamp made to use with the PMC. She found a great company who made the stamps. Dana sent the stamps to me and i began designing Rees's vision. 

Now we have been going back and forth with emails for just about a month when Dana tells me that Rees would really like to meet me before he had to start back to school and would it be okay if they made a road trip to South Carolina for a meeting. I'm so excited and naturally agree but in the back of my mind I'm thinking this probably wont happen........... I mean they are in Arkansas!

Well they did make it. On a Saturday morning Dana text me to say they made it to Atlanta Friday evening and would be in Greenville,SC to see me at about 3pm. 

They pulled up in front of my house right at 3pm, Rees his mom,dad and older sister.

I had several designs for Rees that I had made with PMC. We talk about business and the look that he wanted and I got the go ahead from the boss ( Rees) to have Tony start casting the pieces.

Rees and his family spent about 2 hours with me. They spent the night in a hotel in downtown Greenville,had a great dinner then got up and drove home the next day! Now that's dedication to your child and to his dream.

Here are the designs we came up with.......

 Dog tag in Shibuichi.

Pendent in Shibuichi polished to silver.

Pendent in Shibuichi. 

And small round earring components cast in Shibuichi and polished to silver.

Each piece has Rees's signature on the back.

Here is what Rees has created..........

This is Rees's vision........... His Company.........

 A Happy Life.

If you'd like to participate in Rees's vision and order one or more of these beautiful pieces you can do so at ahappylife.rees@gmail.com or call 870-931-7092. You can also check out Rees's blog to follow him on his journey.

I cant express how excited I am to be a part of this journy with you Rees. Thank You!

I've been busy!

Back to jewelry creating.
 Several years ago I was creating leather and silver jewelry for a local gallery and they always sold so well.So I want to get back to my roots so to speak and I've started with these........

This is my newest piece, The pendent is recycled wood that I painted to resemble some of my paintings.

This is more like my older pieces.I hand make all the chain and the toggle, the leather is a soft rich brown.
I've also been working on rings.This is one of my favorite designs.

I think I'll be adding these to my Bonanza shop.........hummmmm not sure just yet but I'll let you know where to find them for purchase. In the meantime if your interested in purchasing any of them just shoot me an email.
So tomorrow I'll be sharing a very special story with you. Make sure to check back for that.

Okay so I put one of the necklaces  here.

20% Off Sale!

Happening right now in my etsy shop!
Its the end of summer and time to clean out the studio.So please check out our sale.