Holiday 16' preview party

A few weeks ago, Emma from Desert Daisy Jewelry and I planned a little pre-holiday party to share our latest collections that launch in November. Emma knew of this little hidden gem boutique in town that I had never been to before called Retail Therapy which ended up being the perfect venue for our pop-up shop. We were joined by a couple local bloggers including @thefashclass who took these amazing photos in @dizzyspangle blog post here.  In addition we had photographer Payton Altman stop by and snap some photos of our event, a couple of them below. All and all the holiday preview party ended up being a great success.  Thank you to those who came out and shared your support with us. Loved getting to meet a few new faces in town and we even had a magician randomly pop in to our event for a little bit of entertainment. It was a magical night. Be sure to check out Emma's blog as well for more pics! Also read Graciella's blog for more details about the latest collections.

Image by Payton Altman

Image by Payton Altman

Image by Payton Altman

Image by Payton Altman

Summers best - top 10

This was hard to narrow down to just 10.. I have so many summers best moments. From the beginning of the summer starting with my pop up shop in NYC, to visits to Albany, Connecticut, and just outside Boston for a reunion with my college besties to see Florence and the Machine. To staycations and road trips, from Bellingham, WA to Yuma, Arizona. This summer has been quite the adventure. I did take a lot of time off the bench this summer, but all in good adventure. I'm back home, excited to begin the new season on the bench and full of inspiration. I'll also be making a big move in the upcoming month.. I'll be sharing more with you soon about that.

Instead of ten, I left it at eleven at best. Summer 16', you were one of a kind.

1.  Pop-up shop in Brooklyn, NY.

1.  Pop-up shop in Brooklyn, NY.

2. Visits in my home town. Albany, NY.

2. Visits in my home town. Albany, NY.

3. A night with a goddess. Mansfield, MA.

3. A night with a goddess. Mansfield, MA.

4. Mountain escapes with my college bestie. Mt. Charleston, NV.

4. Mountain escapes with my college bestie. Mt. Charleston, NV.

5. Staycation. A week in lego land. Aria - Las Vegas, NV.

5. Staycation. A week in lego land. Aria - Las Vegas, NV.

6. casinos. sunsets. and tacos Togo most days.  

6. casinos. sunsets. and tacos Togo most days.  

7. the roads less traveled with these two. Salvation Mountain. Slab City, CA. 

7. the roads less traveled with these two. Salvation Mountain. Slab City, CA. 

8. the smell of salton sea. probably should not be listed as the best of but definitely one to remember. Salton City, CA.

8. the smell of salton sea. probably should not be listed as the best of but definitely one to remember. Salton City, CA.

9. walking in a sand storm.. to get tacos of course. Yuma, AZ.

9. walking in a sand storm.. to get tacos of course. Yuma, AZ.

10. when Roman found summer love.. Lake Mede, NV.

10. when Roman found summer love.. Lake Mede, NV.

11. full moons of summer. 

11. full moons of summer. 

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear

So I had this long post wrote up with a photo diary for the PNW adventures in California... and just as soon as I clicked save+publish earlier today my computer froze and needed a reboot.. I thought I had it saved but when I logged back in the blog was gone. As I was just about then ready to take my computer and crash it on the floor, I remembered that month we're in. Oh, mercury retrograde. You'd think I'd learn my lesson by now. Pretty sure this exact same thing happened during the last retrograde in the middle of one of my collection launches.. and i remember then repeating to myself BACK UP and SAVE all work in progress. Repeat often. September 23rd, please come soon.

Anyway.. instead of rewriting the California post tonight I felt this resonated more with how I am feeling in this very moment. I just came across this video on youtube yesterday that I wanted to share. It's about taking a moment to look at life in the rearview mirror. I don't think the message could have appeared at a more perfect time. While I'm feeling quite blah that this fun filled summer adventure just came to an end and I'm back in Vegas and i'm surrounded with so many questions daily, and no answers for any of them. It's so important to take some time alone, refocus, and reflect on where we've come. How many roads that have been traveled. How many detours taken. This is what keeps us moving forward. Like Adamus says in his video, there's no going back..  and we don't have to know what's up ahead. Keep doing you, and I truly believe every road will lead you to where you're going. Here's to looking forward to new season.. and a look back at all those beautiful summer roads traveled thru the rearview mirror.

California coast post, you will be next. Xx

PNW adventures - Oregon

Ever so often life surprises you and brings you on those spontaneous unplanned adventures to roads you have only dreamed of taking. This summer was one of those life surprises. It all came and went so quickly.. as most adventures do. The pacific northwest has always been a calling for me. After this roadtrip I can say, it still is. I will definitely be back for another adventure or who knows maybe a long stay very soon.  You guys have always told me I would love the PNW and you know me well. I adored this side of the country, especially this state.

This adventure began early this month in Bellingham, WA where I met up with my two traveling amigos (yes, i cheated on roman this summer for a frenchie). The first night was spent at a little pup-friendly casino off the coast outside Bellingham. From there the drive went quickly through Seattle, into Oregon, spent an afternoon in Portland, and then onto the 101 highway down the Oregon coast. Portland has always been on my list of cities to visit, even though we only stopped for an afternoon we did get to enjoy a few spots and a quick visit with my friends that just moved to Portland from Vegas. The magic really began when we entered the coast. I have traveled to many parts of the US, but this was my first time on this coast and I will say there is no drive as beautiful as this any where in the country. Every view was like "picked for me" straight from my pinterest feed. The trees, beaches, fog, sunsets, colors of Oregon.... are so dreamy. The morning fog was my favorite, usually lasted a few hours after sunrise and came back late afternoon just before sunset. One of the most memorable nights in Oregon was tent camping right off the beach outside Newport. That night was funny because the car wheel got stuck in beach sand when we first arrived, but luckily got the help we needed with a tow from our tent neighbor and then enjoyed an evening of cooking dinner over his campfire on the beach with his family. Funny how things just work like that, synchronicity. That was also the night of the meteor shower and I couldn't have asked for a better viewing. At first it was quite cloudy but cleared up just before midnight when the meteors were in full effect. They looked like shooting stars everywhere in the sky that night. With that and the half moon lighting up the sky over the ocean that evening was more than a gift. And the weather was just perfect. Summer at its best. Oregon you are beautiful, can't wait to explore more of you.

California coast.. up next.

The rose gardens - Portland, OR

The rose gardens - Portland, OR

jewels that travel - Portland, OR

jewels that travel - Portland, OR

beers. pups. vegas friends in new cities Bar Bar Mississippi - Portland, OR

beers. pups. vegas friends in new cities Bar Bar Mississippi - Portland, OR

Falafel bowls for the road - Portland, OR

Falafel bowls for the road - Portland, OR

Camping out off the coast with a frenchie - Cannon Beach, OR

Camping out off the coast with a frenchie - Cannon Beach, OR

waking up to the smell trees and fog

waking up to the smell trees and fog

wifi, coffee, and GF berry pancakes - Bunkhouse Cafe - Nehalem, OR

wifi, coffee, and GF berry pancakes - Bunkhouse Cafe - Nehalem, OR

coastal viewstops

coastal viewstops

Neahkahnie Beach, OR

Neahkahnie Beach, OR

half moons, beach camping, and meteor showers of the decade

half moons, beach camping, and meteor showers of the decade

South beach state park - Newport, OR
Newport, OR

Newport, OR

tacos for the road - oceanbleuseafoods - Newport, OR

tacos for the road - oceanbleuseafoods - Newport, OR

Nesika Beach, OR

Nesika Beach, OR

that afternoon fog

that afternoon fog

Brookings, OR

Brookings, OR

Small town brew stop - Chetco Brewery - Brookings, OR

Small town brew stop - Chetco Brewery - Brookings, OR

pup friendly pubs :)

pup friendly pubs :)

sunsets that make you forget about time.

sunsets that make you forget about time.

bts summer jewels

Here's a peek from last week on the bench at some jewel prep for the renegade craft show we had in NYC this past weekend... and a few custom gems. More in the works when we head back west next week! Stay tuned..

Pioneertown, CA

Can we talk about how cute this town is?! If you're ever driving through Yucca Valley, California put this stop on your list. Any town with a homemade soap shop called, "soap goats" is a town I want to be. I had a short and sweet stay in this old small town, which is just 10 minutes outside of Joshua tree.

Pioneertown was originally built in the 1940s as an old west movie set. The motel was established in 1946, and has been home to over 200 Western movies that have been filmed there on-site. There's one saloon in Pioneertown called Pappy & Harriet's which happened to be across the street from my motel, so for a late dinner and drink I walked over. I was pleasantly surprised that the bar was packed on a Monday night, considering it was late and Pioneertown is so small! The bar is actually closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I'm glad I was passing thru on a Monday.  They have live music there every Thurs-Monday night. Mondays are open mic night. There were some really good bands and people that came out that night. And my drink was served in a sweet lil mason jar which is always a favorite of mine. I would have loved to stay another night.. until next time Pioneertown, you are a gem.  Xx

Custom gems

Just getting back from a month of gem hunting and gem shows throughout Arizona with a whole new collection of gemstones for 2016. I'm excited to share many new gems in to the collection this year that I have never worked with before.. along with many fine jewels as well. I'll be taking a few more days to myself traveling the southwest for drafting new designs and inspiration, although I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on all these new gems when I get back in studio next week.

Custom gems are always offered to our customers as an option to pick your own gemstone from our collection, choose your own design and size. The process for custom pieces may take any where from 2-6 weeks. If there are any jewels you have seen on the Nikdreamer instagram or facebook page that are not in the shop, or if you have a gemstone of your own you'd like to have hand made in to a design from our collection, send a message through our contact page. I'm currently taking new custom orders - in any gemstone and design you see below. You can check out our new custom listing gemstone option deposit in the "one of a kind" section to see what's available here. Once order is placed you will receive an email with more information with that gemstone selection and pricing. Currently all the gemstones you see below are available. Very limited seven dwarfs now listed!

Petrified wood, Wild Horse, Green tree agate, and Seraphinite

Petrified wood, Wild Horse, Green tree agate, and Seraphinite

Seven Dwarfs mined in Nevada

Seven Dwarfs mined in Nevada

Currently available for custom jewels here

Currently available for custom jewels here

Royston Ribbon Turquoise mined in Nevada

Royston Ribbon Turquoise mined in Nevada

Royston one of a kind sample size 7.0 - this gem is currently available in shop here

Royston one of a kind sample size 7.0 - this gem is currently available in shop here

All white buffalo gems are also available for custom

All white buffalo gems are also available for custom

Last weeks petrified wood custom ring

Last weeks petrified wood custom ring

2016//one day at a time

The beginning of 2016 collection. One jewel a day//One day at a time.

This week we fell in love with mystic quartz. A new gem in the collection. I'm still on a hunt for topaz, hoping to find some at upcoming gem shows we will be visiting over the next few weeks. But for those of you asking, there will be many more mystic quartz gems coming soon.. keep watch here. Here's a few of my favorites from the month so far.

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