Happy Anniversary Septembers Bride!

We stopped in to meet Tami (the owner pictured) in the spring, about Septembers Bride picking up MEG Jewelry. When we saw Holland, MI and Septembers Bridal Boutique we knew instantly that we would feel honored for them to carry MEG Jewelry. Fortunately they did! And we soon found ourselves back in Holland, MI for a trunk show on their 1st year anniversary! Rod and I loved it! We can't wait to go back! It is a boutique that is set up for bringing out the beauty in each person that walks through their doors. Each bride or member of the bridal party, will surely find the perfect dress and (of course) accessories, not only with the wonderful selection they have, but with the generousity and hospitality of the owners and associates. Pictured is one of their lovely associates, Megan, who is getting married in December! She is wearing the Saida earrings and Lisle hair jewelry. The second picture is of beautiful Tami(wearing the Nora necklace) and another gorgeous bride! She is wearing the Chantel necklace, Theron earrings, and Edelweiss hair jewelry. I think these two lovely brides are perfect examples of how going to September's Bride is smart! www.septembersbride.com See you in the Spring for the next MEG Jewelry trunk show at Septembers Bride!

Back for more at The Loft Bridal and Design

You know I love my friends, Sara and Trish at The Loft Bridal and Design! www.theloftbridal.com. I was there at a MEG Jewelry trunk show in Sept. Always an enjoyable to time with their brides and with Sara and Trish. As you can see in the photo, their boutique is elegant and very couture. They know how to do it right! Here is a bride, I was fortunate to work with. These were the trunk show sample pieces, but we designed some gorgeous jewelry with fuchsia crystals in the Raine necklace and Edelweiss hair jewelry to bring out the fuchsia shoes. She was going for a Doris Day look....Wow, she got it! Congratulations!

Mr. and Mrs. Maddox

One of our most beautiful friends, Courtney and Aaron were married in August, in Malibu! Congratulations to a perfect couple! It was an absolutely beautiful union of two souls! The actual wedding was so fun and uniquely them! Inspirational! Courtney loves the glitz!.... Many of you who are owners of Girleo products have had to assume this about the designers of GirlExtraordinaire. Courtney and Aaron went for a Peacock theme. I was fortunate enough to have designed the jewelry for Courtney and her bm. Courtney went for the Pani necklace with purple colors and a custom Tiffy earring. Her hair jewelry was custom created by Stephanie of Stephanie James Couture. The BMs wore the Lee hair comb and the Tiffy necklaces. The Groom and Groomsmen wore velvet jackets, jeans, and Vans. And we were pleased to see the fairy flower girls. It would take me hours to blog about this perfect day... So I will just say Thank you!

We love Sausalito!

Rod and I found our home away from home in Sausalito CA. On our trip down the coast we stopped for a night outside of San Fransisco, and fell in love! Here are some photos of Rod an I enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

Fun at Madeleines Bridal

After our Trunk show at Mon Amie, we went to Fresno CA where we had the opportunity to visit another gorgeous boutique.... Madeleines bridal! www.madeleinesbridal.com. Sheri, the owner, and the rest of her crew were SO fun! It was a whirlwind of a trunk show, on a Tuesday and it was a blast! On Tues. evening Sheri put on a great party of food and drink, for the brides. The elegant boutique was packed, and all of the guests left very happy with the dress and jewelry choices. Here is a beautiful bride-to-be finding the perfect dress and jewelry! Thanks Madeleines!

Magnificant MON AMIE

Back in August (Yes, I have been very tardy on my blog), Rod and I travelled to Costa Mesa for our first trunk show at the amazing Mon Amie boutique. It was simply perfect! Mon Amie knows how to due bridal. They have a beautiful store, with all the right dresses, accessories etc.., but what I truly loved the most about this grand boutique was the consultants and other people that ran the store! I was able to get some photos of the consultants inbetween them working with brides.
Also in front of Mon Amie, Rod stands with a truck with MEG on it! We thought it was very cool!
The owners of MON AMIE were very gracious hosts! We had several lovely meals with them. At the trunk show there was also another wonderful bridal designer. I was fortunated to be at MON AMIE while she was there. (She is the tiny one amungst all of the tall giants) Angela of Angelique bridal.

Tiffany and Courtney from GirlExtraordinaire www.girleo.com. Courtney at Mon Amie, for her final fitting...one week out of her own wedding! See upcoming blog entry for photos of her wedding!.....

hang'n with Stephanie of Stephanie James Couture

Upon our arrivel in the "OC" we hung out with our good friend Stephanie of Stephanie James Couture! www.stephaniejamescouture.com. She is brilliant! Her designs are very different and SOOO gorgeous! Rod and I were lucky enough to have a personal tour of her flagship store in Huntington Beach. As you can see, I was having alot of fun trying on her goods! I wanted EVERYTHING! We also met her two children! What a hoot they are! So smart and funny! We instantly fell in love with them, and feel that we are their long lost aunt and uncle from the Midwest!

Pretty new items added

I added a few items today - Will be bringing all of these items as well as all of the jewelry on my website to this weekend's sale so they may not last long - don't miss out! The Bass Lake Craft Fair and Tree Lighting Ceremony/Parade of Lights will be beautiful over the lake! Hope to see you there! November 28-30, Shopping Friday and Sunday 9-5 and Saturday 9-9 with the parade of lights Saturday at 6 p.m.

Featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine!

Julia "Bristow Custom Straps" featured in January 2009 Vintage Guitar Magazine "Gearin' Up" section!

Interview on Snapshot Fashion

I was featured in an interview on Snapshot Fashion

More hammering

Ancient II

I seem to be stuck on creating for my Simply Heaven Range at the moment ~ I suppose while pieces are selling I have to redo them for the shop, both on my website and Etsy ~ while in my workshop I always get waylaid into creating something new ~ which is great fun and its usually while I redoing a piece these ideas flood in. Ancient II is a remake of my other earrings this time with five recycled silver pebbles adorning each hammered ring. These will be going up onto my website very soon.

Curly Ribbons ~Sold

These beauties came from another session in my work room, they sort of just happened but I think I will be making more and these sold really quickly ~ they were also featured in a treasury on Etsy as they were being sold in my Simply Heaven shop. But fear not there will be more I promise you .
And finally I have one of my signature bracelets to show you ~ made with Claire Morris of Rowanberry Glass Arts fabulous boro beads and mixed with blue opal, Chalcedony, Iolite and peridot and of course wire wrapped to creat a stunning bracelet in blues and greens.

Obscured by Clouds

This bracelet is available on my website in the Glass Gems section.

Redesigning my Workspace

Right now it's an absolute mess and that's a problem because my workroom is incredibly visible. I work in our "formal" living room adjoining the dining room and adjacent to the front foyer so I'd really like it to look every bit as nice as the rest of the house and that would make working that much more enjoyable.

Currently, I have an old ugly table that I made an okay skirt for from Marimekko fabric and simply covered the top with contact paper (yuck!). There is a couch and chair, Simon Pierce lamp and a gorgeous armoire with filing drawers from Crate & Barrel. The walls are painted a periwinkle blue.

My first step began a month ago. I ordered simple tins for storing my gemstones, tools and wire for the desktop--nothing fancy, but attractively utilitarian. I like to have everything out on the table in front of me so while I'm designing and creating I can just grab. If stones are stored in drawers or cabinets they just aren't accessible enough. I've had these wood vases which are great for the tools and I'll keep those.



My dream work table is here:
Big Sur Small dining table from Crate and Barrel.

Look at the grain detail!


It is ideal as it is GORGEOUS, large and a rough look solid wood (no veneer!) so if I bang it up the dents will blend right in.

Chair choices have become a big concern for me. Sitting for so many hours a day is taking a toll. I am looking into a few ergonomic choices, and if anyone has suggestions here I'd really appreciate it. I'm considering a saddle style and kneeling chairs. Ideally I'd alternate sitting positions during the day. Doesn't seem healthy to me to be in the same position for so long...

As for artwork, I'd think I will purchase a slew of etsy prints and frame them all in silvery painted wood frames and maybe a few of these frames from wonderful etsy artist Plyhouse.



I currently have this mirror where I tuck etsy biz cards from sellers I've ordered from, and this cork/inspiration board where I just tack up any old item that I love.


The rug I currently have does well for flying bits of wire and topaz beads. The pile is very short but feels good underfoot and I love the subtle pattern.

Time to work out the budget for the table and chairs...

Here's a wee bit of a new piece:


And, my current favorite new item in the shop:

Ice Baby ring bling!

A nice Sunday...

I hope yours was great--here's how I spent part of mine:

I woke up and sprinkled some flowers in my etsy shop...

Single Blossom: Autumn Explosion

...looks like a glass of cabernet don't you think?

And then I took a walk in the woods.

leaf matter at the water's edge

ashley, my fluffy sidekick

she imagines herself to be quite the bad a__ hunter when she captures DEAD leaves from the lake.

evidence of hard work by furry, swimming critters

a connecticut rockscape--i love our rocks so much!

and here's one more rock I found with a flower growing out of a crack...

in my etsy shop, that is.

Enjoy your day of rest--ha!

TV's "Top Chef" Star Betty Fraser wearing Julia Bristow Grape Earrings!

TVs "Top Chef" star and owner of Grub Restaurant in Hollywood and As You Like It Catering wearing my popular Julia Bristow signed grape cluster earrings at Los Angeles Magazine's Food Event 2008 "From the Vine"