Macaroni Kid Portland East Side: Special Subscriber Offer & Hint Necklace Giveaway

Tree of Life, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry):
sterling silver tree of life charm necklace

If you're a parent looking for fun things to do with your family in Portland, Oregon, then check out Macaroni Kid PDX (Portland, Oregon). Subscribers receive a weekly newsletter bright and early Monday morning with highlighted events that are happening around town.

To kick off family fun for the month of December, Hint Jewelry has donated a Tree of Life necklace to the Macaroni Kid PDX giveaway. If you want to enter the giveaway, visit Macaroni Kid PDX for details and also receive a special reader deal to be cashed in at Hint Jewelry during the holiday season.

You must be a Macaroni Kid PDX subscriber to win this Tree of Life necklace and the contest closes December 11th at midnight PST with a winner announced on December 13th.

You don't live in Portland, Oregon? Though you may miss out on the Portland East Side giveaway, Macaroni Kid is a national organization with different locations around the country where you can connect with other parents looking for fun activities. Check out Macaroni Kid's web site to find one in your town.

Away in a Manger

Christmas Nativity, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry)
silver lamb, angel, and star of Bethlehem charm
freshwater pearl and citrine

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed...." need I say more? I love Nativity scenes and still haven't found the ONE that I'm ready to purchase for my home. My mother's porcelain Nativity scene is my favorite and was the best part of setting up holiday decorations. I dug placing all the characters in their spots and seeing them together in one scene. In fact, if I had to rescue one treasure from my parent's home this Nativity scene would be the item I would secret away (I hope you're reading this, mom!).

Sometimes I think of making my own Nativity scene and then get exhausted by all the competing ideas in my head. For the time being, I picked out these three pieces from Hint Jewelry's silver charm collection to stand in for a Nativity scene.

What about you? Do you have a Nativity scene that touches your heart and calls to mind the Christmas season? Do you have any special live Nativity scenes you like to visit? I'm quite partial to El Nacimiento at the Tucson Museum of Art and the painting by Botticelli called The Mystical Nativity.

Heirloom Memory Necklace: October 2010

Memory Necklace 2010, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry)
silver charms: lotus blossom, tree of life, flaming heart milagro,
bluebird of happiness, karma wave, and cross
materials: apatite, aquamarine, carnelian, turquoise, lemon quartz, iolite, peridot, prehnite,
garnet, brown pearl, citrine, sterling silver chain and wire, and gold filled chain and wire

I wore my heirloom keepsake Memory Necklace around for a couple weeks to test it's design, and I came to the conclusion that instead of linking three layers, the concept functioned better as individual pieces all worn together.

I love how linking together and breaking apart became a deeper symbol in my mind for the relationships we create. Sometimes we gather together with people we love for holidays, celebrations, reunions, etc. and then we move apart again. However, this binding together and pulling away motion is constantly occurring in our lives and is something we can depend upon.



To best symbolize my life during the month of October, I chose sunlight. Fall in Portland, Oregon this year was magnificent and an amazing counterpoint to our drenching spring. I appreciated watching nature balance itself out and give us an endless summer.




Using gold-filled chain and citrine, I brought together the energy of life giving sun and the nourishing rain from spring.



Each necklace has it's own powerful story and presence, and now I'm totally enthralled with how many different combinations I can create with three designs instead of one.

Nutcracker Dreams

Nutcracker Dreams, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry)
silver swan, elephant, and crown charms
pink tourmaline, garnet, and amethyst

Are you going to The Nutcracker this year? Sometimes I don't get tickets in time, but this season I couldn't miss another Oregon Ballet Theater performance. I've been to quite a few Nutcracker performances in different cities over the years, and honestly the one in Portland is quite infectious. The sets are wonderfully crafted, the live orchestra plays splendidly, and though it's a large city the event still seems homey with touches like the local mayor in a walk on part.

My other most memorable Nutcracker performances are from a small ballet troupe in Wisconsin called the Wausau Dance Theater. These moments were lovely, intimate performances in the old Grand Theater, cleverly staged with amazing guest artists from Milwaukee.

I put together this necklace while thinking about what special things might be under The Nutcracker Christmas tree.

Do you have a fond memories a The Nutcracker performance? Are you going to make some more this year?

Batches: Whimsical Sugar Cookies

Lisa, owner of Batches on Etsy, has one of the best mottoes around -- "May Your Cookie Jar Always Be Full!!!" Though I'm monitoring my sugar and flour intake, I can still take delight in Lisa's sentiment that seems to say "may you always have something good to share with others."

Some days you may feel like your cookie jar is empty, which is where I was at about a week ago when Lisa visited Hint and sparked a wonderful exchange about baking. I immediately had to go check out Batches and was greeted by the most whimsical, sugary confections.

Oh, you know I desperately want to eat a cookie that has a bee on it!!!



Batches cookies look like the perfect handmade birthday gift for a youngster or maybe a special treat after a decadent lunch with girlfriends. I'm partial to ladybugs all year round, aren't you?




Whatever the occasion, the sugary creations from Batches are meant to be shared between loved ones and in some small way is an opportunity to fill up the cookie jar of someone else.

Mother Hen: Letting Go of the Outcomes

Mothering, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry): silver mother hen charm

You want to shelter others like the sky, but the world is ticking away in a manner beyond your imagination. Safety comes to those most vulnerable, so let go of protecting the outcomes, Mother Hen, and trust your place of fearlessness.

End of the Year Holiday Sale on Handcrafted Jewelry

From now until the end of 2010 all handcrafted jewelry in my shop will be on sale 50% off the retail price. Unfortunately, I am unable to make any modifications on sale items, so everything will be sold as is, and I will not be able to produce at custom design at this pricing.

If you have been appreciating one of my necklace or earring designs over the past couple years, this will be the last opportunity to purchase handcrafted jewelry from Hint Jewelry, because starting in 2011 I will be revising my shop's business concept to focus solely on charms and sterling charm necklaces.

Whatever handcrafted jewelry doesn't sell by the end of the holidays, I will be deconstructing and recycling parts.

Here are a few items you can find in the Hint Jewelry sale section of my shop.

Gem Stories: Citrine

citrine

This gorgeous hunk of citrine sits in the the farthest back left corner of my house, which is apparently the place of wealth. Haha! I don't know how much prosperity it is bringing into my life, but it's sure dazzling and inspiring to look at while I work.

A wonderful symbol of the sun's life giving energy and the birthstone for November, glittering citrine teaches abundance in all forms. This prosperity could mean material possessions or success, but lately I've been focusing on a more subtle form of abundance -- the existence of many options in all situations.

I imagine citrine to be like a school guidance counselor. When faced with a dilemma where I feel a situation is beyond my control, and I seemingly face one option, a great counselor like citrine is my reminder that there are many possibilities if I open and choose to see them. This change in thinking is truly living a life of abundance :)

Trip Around Mount St Helens

Mount St. Helens, Washington, Beth Hemmila

At the beginning of November, family visited us in Portland, and we decided to take a day trip up to Mount St. Helens in Washington. We were lucky enough to experience the most beautiful weather and an opportunity to picnic near a magnificent volcano. Many people make the trip around the northwest side of the mountain to Johnston Ridge Observatory, which is neat because you get a lot more history about the volcano; however, we like to explore the south side of the mountain where you can hike through Ape caves (lava tubes) and Lava Canyon. There is also a fun interpretative walk through the Trail of Two Forests, where imprints of an ancient woodland remain after a lava flow ripped through the area.

This winding southern route is one of the most gorgeous fall drives and provides incredible views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams.

Rooster: Setting Fresh Intentions

Sun Salutation, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry): silver farm rooster charm

Do you rise up and greet the morning like a rooster saluting the sun? Relish that sublime moment when you commit to showing up for yourself and set fresh intentions for the day. For within the timelessness of that simple promise, is a fleeting glimpse of your best self.

Behind the Scenes: Recipe for Customer Service

I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.

- Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu

Running a business is about creating relationships. One of the things I uncovered for myself is that there is a tremendous difference between making a customer happy and using my creativity to serve humanity.

An accepted belief in many circles is that it is impossible to make another person happy. True happiness comes from within and is the result of how we choose to perceive a passing moment. I love this concept, but honestly, I struggle to put it into practice nearly every day because I'm still trying to let go of the nagging idea that what I do has the power to change another person.

Through observing my internal struggle, over time I came to realize that my business isn't about making people happy, but rather it's about serving humanity. Within my paradigm of using my creativity to serve humanity, all shades of unhappy to happy co-exist and are perfectly valid experiences.

For example, if I send a Hint Jewelry charm to a customer, and it is not the size that I promised or it is damaged in some way, perhaps this friend is unhappy because they didn't receive what they were hoping for. Whether the customer is happy or unhappy isn't so much the endpoint of the experience, but rather the beginning of a relationship.

Through the giving and receiving of money and goods, we create the starting point for relating to the deepest parts of ourselves. As a business owner, how I choose to act when resolving a problem is how I serve humanity.

For instance, maybe the solutions I provide don't sit well with my customer. That's okay because by opening a dialogue I create opportunities to learn about myself and others -- my tolerance, my resistance, my compassion, and my own wanting. Serving humanity isn't about dishing out delicious plates happiness but rather it's about providing space for personal growth and discovery -- the good and the bad.

If someone is unhappy with your product or critical of your work, then you've just given them the gift of exploring a hidden part of themselves. By returning your product, they've learned that they may like another style better or perhaps they've realized that this particular material object isn't going to fulfill them and make them happy but hanging out with their family does. A "negative" experience always has a positive outcome because there is learning to be found.

As a business owner you may work tirelessly to avoid negative experiences or worry yourself silly if people are truly happy with your art, but this desire to avoid what might bring you discomfort is actually holding you back from learning about yourself and others.

So embrace it all. Don't hold yourself back from the unhappy customer experience. Try to see it as an opportunity to create an opening of heart space for yourself and another. For remember, there are no real returns only continual investments in your life and the lives of others.

Beth's Recipe for Customer Service

1. Simplicity
Keep my thoughts about a negative customer experience simple and use curiosity to learn more about this new friend and situation.

2. Patience
Use empathy to connect with a customer's disappointment.

3. Compassion
Give myself a hug for being perfectly imperfect and be willing to connect with my own shortcomings so as to grow as a human being.

Letterpress Delicacies: Peace Snowflake Holiday Card

Isn't this just the coolest snowflake design? It expresses that perfect moment during a fresh snowfall when everything is utterly still and quiet.

Have you thought about buying some special holiday cards to share with the ones you love? Check out this Peace Snowflake card and the beautiful artistry of Letterpress Delicacies on Etsy.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry)
silver charms: phoenix, owl, and toad

I'm super excited about the next movie installment in the Harry Potter series -- The Deathly Hallows Part 1. It comes out next week, and I'm guessing I won't even need to nudge my husband to look into movie times since The Deathly Hallows was one of our favorite books from the series.

I looked through Hint Jewelry's charm collection and came up with a few creatures that put me in the wizardry Harry Potter mood.

Who else is looking forward to the magic? How are you getting ready for the fun...indulging in a little Butterbeer?

Hunting

Isn't it fun to hunt for something?

Often it's easy to find, and other times not...
but the hunt was fun nevertheless :)

What have you been hunting for?

Garden Diary: Planting Bushes and Trees

We had never landscaped a yard before so my husband found Elaine Hutson, a master gardener in the Portland area, who was willing to do all the designing while leaving the job of planting to us. It was more fun then I had anticipated. Elaine Hutson showed up with a truckload of bushes, placed all pots, and then provided guidance for planting the trees.

The rest of the planting was up to us, and we had quite a lot of fun out in the rain, getting muddy and meeting our new backyard shrubs up close and personal.

Here's our Buddha under a Red Heavenly Bamboo
and some blueberry bushes.

I love our new Forest Pansy Redbud tree.

My husband picked out some raspberry, marionberry,
and strawberry plants from the Portland Nursery and
put them alongside our fence for some fun fruit picking.

This corner use to have a butterfly bush that had run amuck, but
now it looks great with our Crepe Myrtle and Camellia.

Here's the latest view of our backyard complete with the bird feeder back in business. Next step is planting perennials and a raised bed vegetable garden in the spring. Until then, I'm just looking forward to watching the animals nestle in :)

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry)

silver charms: pine cone, deer, snow globe, and star

If you grew up with snow, I'm guessing there is nothing more nostalgic then a winter scene such as the one pictured above: silent snowfall, a cozy cottage deep in the woods, a deer nestled under a pine tree, and stars twinkling in a sapphire sky.

Even though my chance of snow in Portland this year is doubtful, I'm sure I'll be imagining sitting in the middle of this daydream once or twice before the end of winter.

Do you have a favorite wintry scene that brings you peace?

Behind the Scenes: Tips for Shopping at Hint for Holidays

Immortal Beloved, Beth Hemmila (Hint Jewelry): silver angel charms

Right now is the perfect time to implement a plan for how you would like your customers to connect with your shop during the holidays. Giving visitors a heads up on what you are capable of is one way of staying true to yourself and being genuine with others. The holidays are a busy time so as a business owner I always ask myself what am I able to promise to others while still making sure I am happy and healthy at the same time.

I post an announcement in my shop that outlines my holiday shipping policies and requirements for custom orders. Though it seems like the Christmas holiday is the most time sensitive, keep in mind that friends shopping for Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa may need a nudge to stay on track.

Here's an example of the holiday announcement I posted in my policies section:

SHOPPING DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Happy Holidays! Best wishes to you as you search for the perfect gift to celebrate the season. To insure that your package arrives in time for the holidays, please be sure to make your purchase before December 17th.

I always ship on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so if you have a special gift that needs to arrive for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, etc., please allow 5-10 business days for shipping.

Last possible shipping days before the end of the holiday season will be December 16th , 17th, 20th, and 21st. If you need Priority or Express mail, please contact me in advance so I may invoice you the added shipping cost.

If you have a custom order, such as a request for multiple charms or an out of stock item please place your order by Friday, December 3rd. Orders placed after December 3rd will not be completed and shipped until January. During the months of November and December all custom orders will require 2-3 weeks to complete.

I will be closing my shop from December 22nd - January 2nd for vacation.

VisionWise: Artist Interviews

Lauren Luquin

Lauren Luquin of VisionWise is a special artist who has encouraged me along my creative path over this last year. She is always seeing new connections in the designs I put out there and sparks engaging dialogue on her blog. Today Lauren graciously posted an interview of me on her blog VisionWise. Thank you Lauren for allowing me that moment of reflection on your blog and sharing your creative space with me!

Be sure to check out the the complete artist series on VisionWise blog for a peek inside the inner workings of other creative souls.

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

In October, I took a day trip up to Washington and visited the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It was in the middle of the week so there weren't that many visitors, which made the 4 mile car loop much more relaxing then I thought it would be. I called it a birding safari, because you are required to stay in your car to protect the wildlife from human interference.

There were tons of birds flocking to the watering holes, and I was kicking myself for not bringing binoculars and my birding book. Here are some of the photos I took at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

beautiful, no?

Monet painting or real life?

goodbye happy birds!