What I'm wearing - finger edition

This combination of rings includes all my favorites, and they stack together so cute!

The top and bottom bands are made from fine silver wire. The second band is sterling wire with a bee soldered on. The third band is sterling wire with a fine silver initial (that's MY fine initial!), and the forth band is twisted sterling wire.

What I'm wearing

With Noe coming along, most of my necklaces are out of date. It doesn't feel right to wear a necklace that doesn't include her! So I made this new one for myself today.

I like how the tubular pendant is freely floating on the chain. I think I'm getting a little better at this soldering business!

From spiraling to spinning

As you can see from my last few designs, I've been experimenting with different styles of rings. Last night, I made my first spinner ring.

The band is about 1/2" wide, and has two smaller bands that freely rotate around.

It's fun to wear, and the variations are limitless!

Cherry Blossom Festival

Yesterday we went to the San Francisco Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival - complete with Hello Kitty art projects, ice cream and crepes. Fun!

Rustic rings

Last night I played with some pmc and silver wire, and I made this set rings for myself.


These rustic little lumps of fine silver have the initials of the kids, and look so cute staggered and stacked. Don't mind the "B," which went on a little sideways!

Four of a Kind Friday!

What would babies do without hooded towels? Here is everyone's first bath. As if being born isn't hard enough, then you have to get dunked in water and scrubbed!

Big sister Ronnie


Brother Ben


Little Lila


Newest Little Noe

Roots

This weekend we went biking at Lake Chabot. The trail was great, with a lot of huge trees and exposed roots along the sides.

How inspiring. . .

Ronnie took a break from bike riding to climb this tree.

ARVO and WEAVR

I was asked to donate a piece to WEAVR (Women in Eye and Vision Research) for the silent auction at ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology). I certainly support that cause! So here is what I came up with. This year, something for the boys.


Brass rimmed sterling cuff links! I hope someone bids on them.

Birthday princesses

The Ostrin girls turned a collective 10 years and five weeks this weekend. Lila turned the big 0-3 on Saturday.

Friday, Ronnie turned SEVEN (how is that possible?). She came home to find her very own big girl desk.

Little Noe was 5 weeks old Friday, and she's very happy about that (no, it's not just gas)!

Spiraling

I've been playing around with a new style of ring. This one is stamped with the Hebrew prayer, the Shema.

Here, O Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is one.


Thanks to Grandpa Arnie for suggesting this quote, a Woman of Valor. On this ring, I stamped the first few lines of the poem.

A woman of valor makes the world change
Her strength is the content that guides through the days
Defined by her actions that bring light to all dreams

Jeweled Essentials

I'd like to introduce a beautiful new shop on etsy that one of my friends has recently opened. . . Jeweled Essentials.

Her work exudes zen! Sheela uses sterling silver and copper, along with natural gemstones and beautiful bezel set images that lend a pop of color. Her designs have an Indian influence, and feature a unique sanskrit-style font. Let her stamp your custom names and affirmations in this great stylized font!

Find her etsy shop, Jeweled Essentials, here.

Four of a Kind Friday!

So Ben definitely looks more boy-ish, but the girls are nearly identical, even to me!

Ronnie in her little lamb outfit

Ben wearing his football onesie

Lila sporting her rose colored blankie (NEVER without it!)

And Noe, pink and perfect!

I think if I didn't know their outfits, I couldn't figure out who is who! whom?

My view

What could be better than one of these peacefully sleeping on your chest?

Or this resting in your lap?

A boys only hike

I can feel Ben's pain - 3 sisters and a mom in the house, 3 girl neighbors visiting all weekend, and Ronnie's play date. . .

The boys escaped and went for a hike. Edwin snapped this picture of Ben at Lake Anza.

Actually, I'm not sure Ben really feels the imbalance for now. But I'm sure he appreciated the Dad time anyway!

A Saturday morning

Four of a Kind Friday!

How lucky that Grandma is in charge of the sign at Tradition Bank (I always wondered what the Vice President's job was!). All of out little Ostrins got a formal welcome into the world.




You may notice that Noe's doesn't quite match. We can thank hurricane Ike for that. After the hurricane destroyed the first sign, they went and got themselves a fancy sign - hours of programming fun for Grandma!

Controlled chaos

So we are all adjusting to life with a new baby. I am realizing that we have a lot of people in the house! This is what our living room looked like last night.

That's Edwin on the computer, Ronnie on the trampoline, Ben and Lila on the see-saw, and little Noe in her swing.

Edwin thought it was a bit too chaotic, and moved the see-saw outside. . .

Four of a Kind Friday!

One boppy.

Four boppy covers.

Four babies.

Big sister Ronnie


Brother Ben


Little Lila


And the newest member of our family - Noe


Guess we got our money's worth from that boppy!

Sleeping. . .

. . . like a baby.

A perfect specimen

Party of Six

Noe Marietta arrived today at 7 lbs and 11 oz

We are officially a party of 6!

Hi.

Ronnie and Daddy

Edwin with his first (of soon to be THREE) daughters.

I'm so glad I have daughters to vicariously wear monkey hats and owl leg warmers through!

Howdy

We love family pizza night! I don't have to cook, and they always have treats for the kids. This week was cowboy themed, and all the kids got hats, bandanas, and LARGE moustaches. They were almost too excited to eat their pizza!

Spring time?

While most of the country is under snow, it feels like spring here! Here is a little something to get you in the mood.

You can create your own in my etsy shop.

In other news, I'm just going to stay on the couch like a beached whale for the next 2-3 weeks.