Wait... there's a 3rd?

Yes folks, the rumors are true. Tara has joined the forces of Spiffing Jewelry, as of October actually! And here I am with my first blog update to introduce myself. I'll keep it short so we can get to fun stuff like talking about the new things Spiffing is getting into for 2012!


I am not a native San Diegan, yet at the rate I consume Mexican food you'd never know it. Born and raised in the suburbs of southeast Michigan until I was 12. I miss the snow terribly, but I've come to find out that San Diego just might actually be the most amazing place to live. Thanks to my DIY crafty Mom I have been making things for as long as I can remember. Problem is that I wish I had the time to create in all the mediums I enjoy like painting, cross-stitch, sewing, decoupaging anything I can get my hands on, cooking, baking, photography (gee I guess I can add jewelry making to the list now).

Annie was the first friend I made when I moved here from the midwest. We instantly bonded over music, movies, boys, and pretty much every other thing a 12 year old girl fills her days with. We quickly realized we could be our dorky and often times moronic selves free of ridicule. This is a huge reason why without much hesitation I quit the job I had worked for nearly 8 years to start working with her full-time. Oh and have you had any of her cooking, cause wow.

This is from last Halloween, I don't moonlight as a nurse or anything. That guy behind me? Maybe one of the greatest things I've ever done was ask this guy out on a date. Yep, I had to ask him out since I was a manager where we used to work. But that's a whole 'nother story. Two and a half years later we're living together right on the beach, often found riding our bikes on the boardwalk or to a yummo place to eat close by.

I think that's enough for now, a lady doesn't give it away all up front! Now onto what you really thought you were getting when you started reading this before I turned this blog into a short story of my life, Spiffing Jewelry news!


Hopefully your holidays were jam packed with as much fun and celebrating as ours were. Really though, if you can't tell by now I'm usually quite snarky but I'm totes serious! We managed to pull off a successful Queen Bee Market in the middle of November, made it into a geeky-gift-guide article on msnbc.com, graced the front page of Etsy numerous times, networked with some amazing local artists, got orders out in time for Christmas, and somewhere in there we cranked the Pandora Christmas station and decorated Annie's tree after a few glasses of wine. As we come closer to finishing up the rush of insane holiday orders, the itch to create something new seems to be scratching us all. I don't want to announce things before we're ready to, but rest assured we have some things in the works. Big things. On top of making completely new pieces, we are re-thinking designs, evaluating product photography, and are going to bring all the boys to the yard with what's to come. The most exciting thing thus far in my opinion is the brand spanking new website! The mind reels with all the possibilities of customization you have, which for the most part have always been available, but are now laid out in a way that streamlines the whole process. See for yourself!

One of the other things that I know have been keeping Annie and I up at night is the exciting prospects of moving the Spiffing studio out of the 10x10 2nd bedroom we're in now and into an actual business space! Take a minute and let that idea marinate, cause it's super tasty. I catch myself day dreaming of the perfect space for us with room to breathe, lots of storage and organization, and tons of personality through funky furniture and wall hangings. Not to mention with all the new projects we are soon to announce, we are definitely going to need the room to support it all!

Alright, I think that sums up for now. Get ready for more bloggy-goodness to coming your way soon!
-Tara