Springtime means Gardening time!
Spring has to be one of my favorite seasons, especially here in Oklahoma. It means the weather is warming up and all the beautiful flowers are waking from their winter slumber. Spring also brings with it hope for my garden. I have already started thinking about what we are going to plant this year.
Each year, I have so many plans, and expectations of what my beautiful garden and flower beds will bring. I anxiously start looking through the seed catalogs (Baker Seed is my favorite!) and as I am at the farm store picking up feed for my horses, I can’t help but go through the seed display dreaming of what my beautiful garden will produce.
Miss Vivianne is helping me pick out her favorites. I love getting the spring seed catalogs!
However…as they say…the best laid plans….
The truth is…my schedule gets really busy with work, the horses and making jewelry during this time of year and usually the garden gets put on the back burner. I am finding the the older I get, the more I desire spending time at home and in my garden and especially time with my horses. The rush of always working gets old and this year, I am determined to make the garden more of a priority. Mostly, because we have the space (and endless access to good quality horse manure), and nothing beats fresh produce! But also; I find such peace, inspiration and connection with my garden. Seeing the first shoots of new life come out of the ground is mesmerizing, and knowing that we are doing our best to work the land and share the fruits of our labor is so satisfying!
Prepping the garden is a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it in the end!
This year…I have a new plan. I have blocked off time just for the garden. I’m starting my seeds early…I’ve already started cleaning up the flower beds and garden. I’ve consulted with a good friend on how to take care of our fruit trees organically (in hopes that we actually get fruit and not so many bugs). I’m learning how to do my own compost so that we have good soil and I can’t wait to get started! I’m learning all about cool crops versus warm crops, how to rotate what you plant for the best results and so much more!
Learning more and more about gardening.
Our goal this year is to have a big enough garden to can some of the vegetables and fruit for the winter and also to share with our friends and family. God has blessed us with being able to own a large yard and we are grateful to have the ability to turn it into a small orchard and garden. I hope to be able to share with you all the journey of our garden this year,
Happy Spring ya’ll!
Chrissi
2022 Pantone Color of the Year
The Pantone color of the year for 2022 is Very Peri (Pantone color 17-3938). It is the first time that a new color has been developed for the Pantone Color of the Year educational color program. Very Peri encompasses the qualities of blues while at the same time possesses a violet-red undertone. For gemstones, I mostly see this color in Blue Chalcedony and Tanzanite.
“Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” _Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.
Personally, I find the color very inspiring and calming and I’m anxious to work with a few gemstones in my collection that represent this unique color!
Chrissi
Happy Memorial Day!
I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my friends and family a very Happy Memorial Day!
I know this year has felt so different, more revered, more quiet, more contemplative. I hope we can all take a moment to honor those that have worked so hard to protect our country both from enemies we can see, and enemies we can’t. it’s been a strange few months, but a time that has shown me how many people step up, work hard and protect us at the expense of their own health and safety.
THANK YOU to ALL! To those that serve our military, both past and present. To those that have been on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed and we salute you!
Memorial Day is a day I usually spend in contemplation and remembrance of my loved ones that have passed away. This year, I’ve been really remembering my Dad and Brian’s Dad. Both men made large impacts on my life. Both had wonderful entrepreneurial spirits, and both were wise and hard-working men. They taught me to follow my dreams and work hard. I have been really feeling their presence and guidance the past few months. I feel their guiding, loving spirits and hands. I hope I’m making them proud.
All the Best!
Chrissi
Happy New Year!
It’s really hard to believe that we have completed another year AND another decade! Where has the time gone?!?
I know for us, 2019 was a year of incredible challenges, but also incredible accomplishments! I’m very excited to see what we will do in 2020!
I want to thank everyone for your support last year! We had 2 amazing shows that exceeded our expectations and we met a lot of new people and made some new friends!
I made a commitment last year to donate more work and help whatever causes I can through Chrissi Harmon Jewelry. The Teen Challenge of Oklahoma is our biggest cause through the Brush Creek Bazaar. This amazing organization helps families that are struggling with a variety of issues. While we were setting up for the show, I was able to talk with some of the kids that this program has helped. The stories were amazing! Every kid was very grateful for the help and support they have received through Teen Challenge, and their lives have changed for the better because of the program. It makes my heart happy to be able to help this group! 15% of our sales from the Brush Creek Bazaar go directly to Teen Challenge, along with our booth fee.
In addition to Teen Challenge, we also helped the Humble Warrior Collective, which is a collective of yoga instructors that donate their time to helping men, women and adolescents in alternative schools, recovery programs, shelters and correctional facilities across Oklahoma through the practice of yoga.
I feel very strongly that giving back to the community is important. My goal for 2020 is to be able to triple our impact in a positive way. If you have an organization that is in need of a silent auction item, please reach out and let me know. As long as I have enough notice to get a piece together for your cause, I am very happy to help!
I am excited by the plans we have in store for 2020! I’m taking more classes to expand my skill set and new work is coming out regularly! I am currently looking to expand our show calendar for 2020, and I’m looking for a late spring/early summer show to set up at. Ideally, I would like to have a spring and a fall show on our calendar, and I’m looking for ideas, so if you have a favorite show you like to attend, please pass it along!
I just want to thank everyone for your support last year! As a small and growing business, it means the world to me when my work is appreciated! I do a happy dance with each little sale and I love creating beautiful pieces of art that can be worn.
Sending everyone peace and love for an incredible New Year!!!
All the Best!
Chrissi
Spring is in the Air!
I don’t mean to complain…but this has been a LONG winter! I’m anxious to get outside…feel the fresh sunshine on my face and feel the warmth of the earth instead of the chattering of my bones!
Spring is my favorite time of year. Everything is waking up from the winter slumber. My daffodils are peeking out from the ground and I love hearing the birds chatter about more in the mornings, so I know we are getting close to getting out of this deep freeze! Plus, my wonderful mare, Millie is shedding off her coat! She’s always right! She hates winter as much as I do!
The studio has been my sanctuary this winter. More than ever before. And, like spring time, I feel that the creative juices are waking up and flowing like a spring creek! I’ve been really drawn to the new shattered hearts that I’ve been creating, and I have several custom projects in the works! I’ve been working on some ideas for a statement piece that will incorporate lots of warm tones in citrine, Mexican fire opal, carnelian and rutilated quartz. I have a goal this year to finish up a piece worthy of submitting for competition and I think this one might make the cut!
I hope everyone has survived this long winter solstice without too much mental fatigue. I really look forward to sharing these new designs with you all!
Take care and stay warm!
Chrissi