Your neighborhood Ornatelier will be hustling and bustling at the 30th Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival, coming up the weekend of May 19-20. 

Considerably more detail to follow, but the important thing to know is this: Along with celtic athletics (caber toss! athletes in kilts on a windy field!), a celtic music festival (fiddles! celtic harps! bagpipes!), celtic dancing (River Dance but cooler!), celtic food (meat pasty! scones! haggis!), you will also have the chance to bump elbows with some of the finest artisans around. There is also a (literal) element of dog & pony show. In the good way.  

Did I mention kilts on a windy field? 

As recently as a couple of hours ago, The Ornatelier has been certified New Mexico True, under the Made In New Mexico program. That means that you can be sure that I made my work right here in the Land of Enchantment! 

... not that I thought YOU were wondering. But other people...

When I get the license to use the logo, I'll be putting it everywhere. For now, please enjoy this non-copyright image that means image.

For me, the important thing is that I am officially member to an organization that includes the New Mexico Breakfast Burrito Byway. Six degrees of separation and all that.  

Dust City Opera
Sometimes a sound just grabs you by the timpanem and tickles you until you surrender. That's Dust City Orchestra. I've become a fan of Paul Hunton's musical projects over the last couple of years, and this latest thing is really making me happy. Check them out whenever you get a chance. They have a couple of songs up on YouTube, but going to see them in person is a really, really good idea. They've got at least 5 appearances lined up between now and the end of July.

Dovetail Community Workshop
I've talked about Dovetail before -- like a gym membership, but for woodworking. All the equipment lives there, and you just go do projects. Cool place, very encouraging and supportive environment. Also has a good library of woodworking projects, technique instructions, and general reference.

I teach and volunteer time at Dovetail, and am super excited for the work that gets done there. Making Something is a tremendously empowering thing to do. All ages, all skill levels, all ambition levels.

Pixel Party Popup
If you're into the pixelated life, you'll want to get down to Metal The Store and get busy hobnobbing with visiting Portlander Shampton aka PIXEL PARTY, who creates some sweet 8-bit art. 

Of course, if you've not been to Metal the Store, or you don't know about Metal the Brand and Mr. Michael's lineup of irreverent images and fun accessories, then you probably needed to book a visit down to the old El Vado and check that out. 

Three Little Birds Cafe & Co.
Down in Nob Hill, very special cafe is about to open up. I know this, because I am horribly addicted to just about anything that comes out of the Swiss Alps Bakery / Three Little Birds Cafe in the heights (San Pedro x Candelaria). This very special cafe is twice as special to me because it is half the distance for me to get my fix. Bring me those amazing sandwiches, soups, pastries, and more!

Coming up in May, on Memorial Day Weekend, I'll be in Silver City, New Mexico at the 23rd Silver City Blues Festival. Three days of music, food, sunburn, and fun. If you are at the festival, please drop by my booth (with the silly pink canopy!) and say hi. 

I have begun working with Albuquerque Laser Engraving Services to translate some of my graphic designs into new work for next year. We are still very much in the exploratory phase of this collaboration, but I can already tell it is going to yield some truly epic results. 

In addition to the laser cutting, the new work will incorporate more resins and inlays into my pieces, yielding more decorative items  in additional to the functional work I already do. One of the planned lines is a jewelry series, which many of you have asked about in the past. 

I am super excited about this new partnership, and very much looking forward to sharing photos of my new projects as they come to fruition! Also, if any of you have been looking for a laser engraver... I know a guy.  :)

Welcome to October.

I guess it's going to be November in a blink, so everyone stay alert. We're at the part of the year where the calendar pages go flying off to the sound of hectic music. 

My work is in a sweet spot of unique and repeatable. That means you can say, "I want one like that, but with this adjustment." Different color? Different material for the barrel? Different finish on the metal? Let's do it.

There are options, people. Tell me what you want, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen. The best part is that for most of the options, the price isn't affected -- the only difference between a custom and a stock item is that it takes longer to get the stock item into your hands, because sometimes it takes a while to track down the exact parts you need. 

Which brings me to holiday orders. If you are thinking of ordering a custom from me for delivery before the end of the year, please contact me as soon as possible. I have to close the door on new orders after October 31st, because I want to be able to guarantee holiday delivery. Whether you're ordering as a gift for someone else or for your own use, I want to get it just right, and that takes some time. Timing is particularly crucial in situation where you or I will be mailing the gift to somewhere else.

Except in special cases (such as very pricey materials, or parts that must be sourced from out of country) I do not require advance payment in full. Sometimes I don't even ask for a deposit. But I NEED to know what you want as soon as you can tell me. So don't be shy about discussing your custom order with me. Call, email, or drop in on me at a show, and we'll start the process.

Keep the Ornatelier in mind for yourself as well. When people ask you what you want as a gift, if you want a custom pen, knife, or other handmade item, tell them! I do gift certificates as well -- if you don't know exactly what you want, but you know you want me to make it for you, that's available. Likewise, if you know they'll love what I've got, but you don't know which exactly, give them a gift certificate.

I also do "house calls" with my pens. If you would like a trunk show at your home, business, or other organization, please call me so we can schedule something. I bring all my writing instruments (sewing and needlework accessories as well, if you like) and set up a table wherever you are. Let your employees choose their own holiday gifts! (Multiple purchase discounts are applied in these situations.) With planning, I can offer an array of items within a specified price range, so your budget and gifting needs are met all at once.

There is lots going on. SO MUCH.

The main thing you need to know about today is that I have some new pen styles. This post highlights three of the new styles: the Kn​url twist pens - robust and grippy, slightly on the heavier side; the RAW rollerballs - sleek non-nonsense metal bodies; and the handsome devil on the left here, the Gear pen - a ballpoint twist pen with an eye catching design and great balance.

There are more new styles on the way. LOTS more. Keep an eye out for new pictures coming up. I'll just drop a few words to tease you: Steampunk. Victorian. Mini pens. Crochet hook necklace.