Delisa Sage and I met over 20 years ago in a workshop about pursuing your dreams in life. Soon after that, Delisa brought her vast skills as an artist to the creation of Collage Gallery on Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

This treasure trove has been featuring my jewelry since I first started making jewelry and following my own creative dreams. The focus of the gallery is on honoring renewal and restoration, making something entirely new out of something old or rare.

Delisa is a collage artist in her own right, specializing in transforming objects, reworking everything from vintage cameras to furniture. She not only sells a lot of my work, she wears it. A true artist’s statement. She likes to describe how I transform vintage elements into modern collectibles, harvesting metal seed beads from 1920s purses and using Victorian and Edwardian buttons to clasp necklaces and bracelets.

Something else I’ve heard her say: “When you wear Leslie’s jewelry, you will get compliments.” Love that.

Delisa is featuring my jewelry in a 20^th anniversary holiday trunk show.

Collage Gallery

This Saturday, December 3^rd, 4 to 6 p.m.

1345 18^th Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

415/282-4401

Delisa is also one of my dearest friends. We walk and talk together every week, sometimes between the rain drops. I cherish her opinion and sense of beauty and love getting calls from her saying, “I just sold three of your pieces this weekend.” You should see her home. It’s a work of art, much like every aspect of her life. We’d both love to see you at this holiday event. It means a lot to us.

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Season Opener. Next weekend.

Celebration of Craftswomen

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

November 11, 12^th & 13^th

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason

Buchanan at Marina Boulevard

San Francisco, CA 94123

Booth 415

This show is a Bay Area tradition and a clear sign that the holidays are now in full swing.

The Celebration serves as a fundraiser for The Women’s Building, a multi-cultural community center where women and girls achieve self-sufficiency and pursue their dreams. This is a dream of a show, featuring the work of emerging women artists.

We’ll be in booth 415, among fine artists, photographers, ceramicists, printmakers, leather workers, glass artists, furniture makers, fiber and clothing artists, and of course, jewelers.

Turning fundraising into an art form. The cost of your admission (and our booth fees) benefit The Women’s Building, founded in 1978 to offer free bilingual Spanish/English information and referral services, educational support for low-income adults, financial counseling, and community events that promote arts, culture, and discussion. The Women’s Building was the first women-owned community center in the U.S. and now houses ten diverse community groups and has helped launch more than 160 women’s programs and initiatives in San Francisco.

You’ll find beautiful work and truly special, thoughtful gifts at this remarkable show. And if you show up with a friend, we’ll give you both an extra 10% off everything on display.

For information and directions give me a call at 415/456-0930 or email: ll@leslielawton.com. Call 415/225-5553 during the show.

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Healdsburg is beyond beautiful this time of year. The vineyards are arrayed in fall colors; the light is soft and golden; and it’s usually a bit warmer than other parts of the Bay Area. I just took a look at the long range forecast, and the weather there looks lovely. (It can be quite hot in late September.) Come on up and enjoy a day of art, great food and natural beauty. We’ll have a booth at the Healdsburg Arts Festival, right on the square. You’ll find incredible restaurants all around town, along with some of the Bay Area’s most outstanding artists right on the square. The show is well-juried, so you can depend on finding exceptional ceramics, painting, photography, art to wear and jewelry. Among other things.

Healdsburg Arts Festival

Saturday, September 24

On the Square in Beautiful Downtown Healdsburg

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Food and wine will be served.

The Cool Factor. I’m Against It, In Fashion. OK, I’ve read the September Vogue, cover-to-cover. And as always I’m keeping an eye on New York Fashion Week. More than ever, I simply can’t relate. I did not see one thing or read one word that made the world of fashion feel relevant to my life and work. The cool factor reigns. Standing out is all about distancing. You know what? I think standing out is about looking like someone you want to get to know. What do you think? You comments are welcome. 

On Another Note: We usually do the Artistry in Fashion show in the fall. This year, due to construction on the Canada College campus, the show is scheduled for September 24^th. Sigh. We wish we could clone ourselves, so we could be at both shows on the same day, but it’s just not possible. We’re hoping the show will return to its late October schedule next year.

Finally, the site is all spiffed up for fall. You’ll find new work in etched sterling here in the one-of-a-kind section.

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I’ve been creating new work this summer. It’s a little involved, so here’s a picture.

As many of you know, my designs can be complex. That string of white pearls just doesn’t do it for me. This new work combines a number of visual themes and techniques: Etching ancient and historic ornamental patterns onto sterling. Then combining the etchings with found objects such as Victorian buttons. Some of the pieces also include “designs” found in nature, called patterned stones. The overall effect sets the work apart – and naturally the woman who wears it.

The summer just zoomed by in the process. And now the work is ready for prime time, on my web site.

Showing Up, From Another Angle. This article about Sheryl Sandberg in The New Yorker really caught my eye, and not just because Facebook’s COO is wearing a killer necklace. She’s obviously a woman who is comfortable in her own skin, brilliant, and fearless. The article had some surprises for me, though, big ones. I’ve been blithely going through life thinking women were making great progress in the corporate world. But Ken Auletta’s statistics don’t bear that out at all.

Every time I think about what I’m doing with this business, I realize how deeply I want to see more women shine. For me, that has always been about encouraging women to show up, in every sense of that expression. It’s not really about all of us becoming corporate icons, although many more women deserve to be in that pantheon. But I’m wondering… what is it about?

Please write a nice, juicy comment just below. I really want to hear from you.

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We’re participating at Marin Open Studios again this year. Starting this Saturday, May 7th - through Saturday, May 14th.  A great outing for Mother’s Day, right in the artistic heart of San Rafael, three blocks from the Marin Arts Council Gallery.  Here’s the scoop, in shorthand:

Marin Open Studios

Leslie Lawton jewelry design

Showing at Avalon

1016 B Street

San Rafael

Saturday, May 7^th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday (Mother’s Day), May 8^th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m

San Rafael Artwalk

Again at Avalon

Friday evening, May 13

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

And yet again

Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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My third grade teacher did it to me. She was impatient with my inability to comprehend long division. And then accused me of plagiarizing an essay about something, I don’t remember what. I was innocent. Just a really good writer and thinker for a third grader. That was a long long time ago. And right now - today - I really need to shoot my etched earrings. Mostly, I scan my jewelry, because scanning produces the same clarity across the whole piece. Just doesn’t work for etchings. Long story.

I’m grappling with using my Nikon digital something something pixel camera and realize I should have communed with the manual years ago.

A friend is helping me out. He’s reading the manual, and he’s going to tell me what buttons to push. Get the gender thing there? But it’s really not about boys and girls. It’s about time. It’s time to let that old math anxiety go and enjoy the ride, take the learning curves, slowly and patiently. It’s really about taking the time to stare down obscurity.  I don’t have time! I tell myself. The best excuse there is. At least in my world.

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We have a saying around our house. “Sunday is the new Monday.” Which means our weekends tend to be occupied with chores, errands, groceries and catching up on unfinished work. The only way we can get rested and refreshed is to get out of the house. Sound familiar?

Here’s a refreshing idea: The Contemporary Crafts Market can turn your weekend into a feast for the eyes and the arts. Truly remarkable arts and crafts are on view in Fort Mason, March 12^th and 13^th. You can download a free pass to indoor fun right here:

The Contemporary Crafts Market

Saturday and Sunday March 12 and 13^th

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason

Buchanan at Marina Boulevard

San Francisco, CA 94123

Booth F715

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Just saw this term on Style.com.  Is the world of fashion completely out of touch, or am I? My “fashion moments” are few and far between: Appearing with my jewelry at art shows, occasional weddings, and parties. After that, I’m running errands, taking walks, dance classes and wearing grubbies to work in the studio. I grab my favorite outfits because I know they work, and for dressy events, I wear layers of jewelry. That’s it.  Welcome to my world. So what are your “fashion moments?” Is the term even relevant to your life? What do you wear when you want to shine?

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Trying something new this year. And hope you will, too. What if you make Valentine’s Day about celebrating your love for yourself? I personally don’t think you can love anyone else, except possibly a cat, without loving yourself truly, madly, deeply. That’s a tall order for most of us. Certainly is for me.

Here are some things I’m trying.  Filling my heart with golden light. (No kidding. It works.) Filling my bathtub with the scent of Mrs. Meyers lavender dishwashing liquid. (The scent goes straight to your heart. Swear to God.) Filling my weekends with sunshine.  (Tall order when it’s raining or when I’m turning Sunday into the New Monday.) Filling my  evenings  with friends and laughter. (Cakewalk.) 

But let’s just say that Valentine’s Day could serve as a reminder to set aside some time to do what you love. And to be especially sweet to your self.

Your thoughts? I really really really want to know how you create love in your life, especially for yourself.

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First and foremost, I’m thankful for all of you, the customers who buy, collect and appreciate my work. I feel so fortunate to be able to create with precious metals, magnificent materials and time-honored treasures. Over the years, I’ve bought a lot of beautiful things that have caught my eye: precious gems, beautifully-hued pearls, sterling and vermeil components, ethnic pieces, Victorian and Edwardian buttons, vintage seed beads from 1920s purses, metals, tassels and trims. I’m working with a real treasure trove here.

So for two years now, I’ve vowed to work what I have. Well, that’s turning out to be a source of more creative expression than I ever could have imagined.  Digging through all my old materials has inspired new ideas. Especially since I’m weaving in new etched sterling pendants, bracelets and earrings. (Next year, you’ll see more etching work in gold tones. Promise. Probably some pins, too.)

So I hope that these re-creations will catch your eye. I’m just filling in here and there with the basics, like sterling sheet for etching, and a few stones I can’t resist.  Isn’t your closet like that? And your jewelry box? Sustainable style is all about recreating yourself with what you have and filling in with a short list that keeps you current and leaves room for your own sense of self-expression. It’s good for you. And good for all of us.

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This has been on my mind. The intensity of my days and occasional blasts of weekend fun start to show at some point. If I work through the weekend (like doing an art show, cranking on an order, or deep cleaning my studio), I can’t even speak by Wednesday. So, I’d love to know. How do you put humpty dumpty back together again?

Here are some thoughts. It’s all about taking time, even precious moments, for yourself. That’s especially true if you’re a mom. I’d put meditating or some form of creating a sense of calm at the top of the list. Walking, dancing, taking a bath. For me, clearing clutter is critical. Papers build up on my desk; and you wouldn’t believe my jewelry table sometimes. I have to be in the mood, though. Then it’s rewarding and fun. And that’s another thing. We laugh a lot in our house. Nothing like it for lighting you up.

So what keeps you alive and well? How do you make the time for yourself? How do you spend that time?

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I’ve been wondering how to create a green, sustainable jewelry business. And I’ve made some amazing discoveries lately. I’m green! Or at least getting there. I work in Scintillant Studio, Adam Clark’s jewelry studio in San Francisco, and I have to tell you, Adam is as green as they come.

Thanks to Adam, and the other terrific artists in the studio, I’ve found out about eco-conscious companies, suppliers and recycling along the way. I’m buying the sterling for my new etching work from Hoover and Strong. All their metals are 100% recycled , and they have a refining program that allows you to recycle your scrap metals and get a credit for future purchases.

The other thing I’ve been concerned about is the use of acids for etching. Well, surprise, surprise. Adam also works in ornamental iron and recycles all acids used in the studio, supplying other iron workers and artists with acids to use in antiquing their work. A clean, green example of creative reuse. Here’s a recent etching. It’s etched sterling, and green.

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I’ve seen this a lot in my beautiful, natural, wealthy county. At many a middle school graduation, some 11-year-old girls look… 11. They get to be little girls. And others stroll languidly across the stage, in sophisticated dresses, perfect hair, and the best accessory of all, that all-knowing, bored attitude.  At dinner the other night, in one of our local upscale restaurants, I couldn’t take my eyes off a little girl, 12, tops. Probably 5′8″, three-inch pumps, the perfect flowered spring dress, sleek pony tail, upright posture, not an ounce of fat on her.  She’d stop pointedly, on her trips to and from the ladies room, to thumb her iPhone, with complete self-awareness. I fear for her and her friends.  If you’re not fully aware of what girls are up to and up against, take a look at this series: http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisinggirls/girlslife/ You’ve been there, and you know you can have an impact on the girls in your life before they start turning into perfect little zombies.  When you were growing up, it was much easier to be a girl. It’s scary out there now. On every socioeconomic level. Really scary.

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We are all snowflakes. Each of us is different from the other. A beautiful thought, really. The snowflake women I know make a real point of their differences. Each day, when they get up and get dressed, they look for an outfit that reflects their spirit for that day, even if it’s a gray day. And they finish themselves off with that perfect piece of jewelry that simply lights them up. It’s not always the same outfit and the same jewelry, either. They take their time and recreate themselves. Let’s just call it snowflake style.

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We have a terrific idea for a video - about layering necklaces and bracelets - that’s full of info and lots of fun. You’ll really be able to see what to wear for a trip to the hardware store and how to suit up for a posh event. The idea is to use the jewelry you have (and a couple of my pieces, of course).

The trouble is… it’s video; and at my age… lighting is everything.

Anybody out there who really understands “cosmetic” lighting for video?

I need all the help I can get!

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Just back from the Hawaii, after staying both south and north of Kona on the big island. You know, the one with the huge extinct volcanoes. Well, it was beautiful. I got just the teeniest bit of tan, because that equatorial sun is strong. The Big Event? Seeing whales on our last evening, about three hundred yards out; and watching a kayaker “play” with them. I’m not kidding. The whales were all around him, sounding (You know, just the water spout.) and breaching (the full monte). Worth the trip.

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The first time I realized how much I love design complexity was when I bought my first patchwork Citron shirt. Do you remember the early Citron days? I wore those shirts with everything. In fact, I think I just sent the last one to Goodwill.

Naturally, my gem- and pearl-based jewelry designs have incorporated complexity. But I’ve been looking for a new way to express the idea in metal. This new creative “voice” is coming together in etchings. Yup, you guessed it, etchings that mix patterns. I’m putting ancient and vintage patterns together, mixing them up with vintage elements like buttons. It’s all on my work table and will be on the site soon.  Keep an eye out.

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At a family birthday celebration, I was talking with my stepdaughter about her daughter, Gracie, age five. Gracie had been down with a very bad cold, and Monica said to her, as the cold dragged on and Gracie drooped around, “Honey, you’ve lost your sparkle.” Gracie replied, “I think it’s behind the couch.”

Gracie. In Full "Sparkle."

Aside from being beyond touching, this mother/daughter moment made me think about how I lose my”sparkle.” When there’s too much to do. When emotions come up as circumstances bring up My Issues. When I take it all soooo seriously. The question is, how do we maintain that “sparkle?” (No, I’m not leading up to buying more jewelry.) It’s really about how we brave the world. How we keep shining in the face of stuff that makes us all droop and fade from time to time. I’m not offering advice or spiritual consolation or words about inner work, etc.  We all have our ways to stay in tune and keep the lights on.

So. How do you keep your “sparkle?”

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One Of My Very Own Top Tens

Ahhh. That age-old subject: time and money. It’s high on my list of concerns. I’ve been realizing that I’m so busy, I don’t have time to spend money. (Probably a good thing.) I’m five feet tall on a good day, and almost any clothing I buy requires alterations. So it’s not only the shopping trip, it’s two trips to the dressmaker.

I was talking with my friend Maria-Tina about this last night.  She really nailed it. “Anything I buy now has to be a 10.” I think that’s true for all of us. Purchases, especially those impulse buys  that involve clothing and accessories, have to be spot on. They should have lasting value.

So, here’s an idea that will save you time and money. Every time you shop for anything, buy only what’s authentically you. Make 100% sure it fits your body, personality and lifestyle. A perfect 10 completely lights you up when you put it on. You’ll see that in the mirror.

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This lovely vintage and antique store has been open for about a year. It caught my eye, and sure enough my jewelry is a perfect fit. The store is right on the corner of San Anselmo Avenue, near Tunstead. It’s a large, beautifully-arranged store, run by Silke Solomon and Holly Harper, two women who eally know their antiques. Since my jewelry incorporates Victorian and Edwardian buttons and metal beads, it’s a natural for the store. See you there, so to speak.

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Ouch!

Has anybody out there signed up for five-inch gladiator sandals? I see them in the pages of the big five fashion magazines, but on the streets? Not in my world. Satchel-sized handbags are everywhere, though. I imagine the next big fashion thing will be little clutches. And where does that huge investment in leather go? You got it. Straight to the back of the closet.

Next up, mongo necklaces.

I know faster and faster fashion cycles keep the industry alive. But our world now demands that you make your choices very carefully, in everything. That’s where style comes in, and that’s why I make jewelry that’s timeless.

Style is all about you, your authenticity, your ability to make choices, the way you express your love of color and creativity.  Style is about your sense of lasting value. I’m not having an original thought here. The difference between fashion and style was defined long ago. A woman with style expresses her art in what she wears, says, does and feels. More on that soon. Meanwhile, who’s feeling stylish out there? Pictures, please.

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Getting out there.

I’ve been enjoying the beautiful weather lately by revisiting an old hobby…being a tourist in my own neighborhood.

The goal is simple, really just getting out and walking around, shopping a little and dropping into the occasional cafe. It’s been a lot of fun, somewhere between relaxing and stimulating.

I thought I’d share that with you, and remind you that you can find my jewelry in some great shops around the bay area.

On that note, where are your hot-spots? Are there any places you shop that should know about my jewelry?

Or, if you know a neighborhood that’s great to spend time wandering in, share it in the comments.

Maybe I’ll see you out there…

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Every Day Necklace

I have a uniform. This is what I wear every day. Usually Christopher Blues, a teal or gray or teal or darker teal top. Chacos in the summer and running shoes in the winter. And some kind of cardigan or light jacket. And my pearl, kyanite, aquamarine necklace, at the very least. (I wear jewelry to take out the garbage.) Watch. Earrings, small, not too dressy. Product in the hair. And I’m off an running. Often, the only people who see me are the cats.

My artist friends are all the same. We dress to be comfortable, to work out some time during the day, to get dirty.

I just don’t have the time to spend much time on what I wear. (More on dressier occasions later.)  So. Enough about me. What’s your uniform? Or are you one of those amazing women who love playing with your colors, clothing and accessories every day? For now we’ll have to interact via email: ll@leslielawton.com.  I’d love to hear from you.

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Gold and freshwater pearl "bowtie" earrings.

The beauty of art to wear is that the visual ideas don’t wear out. They become timeless - treasures you want to wear and wear and wear. In a world that is becoming ever more commoditized, this kind of style has real meaning. The art you wear isn’t superficial. It expresses your essence. Your choices tell others who you are, that you’re willing to be seen, that you’re proud of yourself. This actually takes a surprising amount of courage. I’ve seen women shyly put something on and literally start to glow. It’s a beautiful thing.  So, Beautiful, what do you think?

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