Our Hearts Go Out to Napa, Sonoma & Santa Rosa

We have added a Napa/Sonoma/Santa Rosa Donation option to our Giving Back Program. Here's a link so you can learn how you can help. As you'll see we have left the choice of group fairly open in order to lend support to local grassroots type groups.

Our hearts are broken as we continue to watch the effects of the fires and the generous individuals coming from near and far to lend a helping hand. As you may remember, I had the good fortune to live in Mill Valley and work in San Francisco for a few years. Northern California will always hold a special place in my heart. I am happy to lend help wherever I can and so I am asking you to do the same.

It Started with Gucci!

I have had so much fun this past month creating a stream of Style Story posts for my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds. If you don’t follow me on any of these platforms you might want to start — I’ve made it easy with all the social buttons over there in the right hand column. Click on any of them and you are whisked to that particular feed where you can follow me. Any how — I thought it would be fun to replay a few of my favorite selections here.

Would You Believe Eight Years?

Wowza! In February 2006, as a way to showcase and sell my jewelry designs, I officially started my blog. At that time technology offering budget-friendly formats that made it possible for little guys like me to have a fully functioning website/online store didn’t exist. Hard to believe, I know; but it’s fact! So I figured that a blog  was the next best thing. Fast forward eight years and not only is my blog still up and running (three hundred and twenty-two posts) but there is a fully functioning very lively separate website and online store highlighting about two hundred jewelry designs along with stories of their inspiration and creation!

Inspiration: Moss & More

My house and studio are designed in such a way that I almost never use my front door. Honestly, the only time I walk on my porch is when I get packages or the mailman can’t squish something in the mailbox so he brings it up to the porch for me. Really can’t remember why I was out there earlier this week; but glad I was. (Wonder if my not being able to remember my reason for roaming is problematic or just a sign of old-age? Stay tuned…as you age you will find yourself asking the same question!) Either way I am glad that I was forced out there; had I not I might have missed how pretty the morning sunlight was playing with the moss. I know, who really looks at moss? Me! I have learned that Mother Nature is about as good of an artist as one can be; and all of this moss is just another perfect example of the wonder of it all.

Gem of an Advent Calendar

Remember the excitement of getting your Advent calendar when you were a kid? I don’t know about you; but it was hard to only open one little door a day. As an adult, I still get an advent calendar every year – even though the “goodies” inside don't seem to be all that tasty, at least not like I remember them to be all those years ago. I am a bit of a traditionalist as I still go for the inexpensive chocolate variety. This year I thought I would offer all of my jewelry gals a gem Advent calendar of sorts. How does it work?

Friendship Bracelets – All Grown Up

So much talk of macramé and friendship bracelets in fashion these days…and I am loving it. While regular followers know by now, I just need to tell all you new peeps that my jewelry roots are in macramé and beads. Yes, indeed, I started making and selling jewelry in 1967 in Southern California – height of the hippie and bohemian era. While I was what I would call a beach kid – my knotted and beaded cording designs fit the bill for all factions during the early years.

34 Degrees? Hooray -- Cozy Sweater Weather!

Sing along with me..."it's the most wonderful time of the year" – yes, I know those lyrics were actually penned for Christmas – but I’m singing them today because I love the crisp cold sunny mornings and clear-sky twinkling star evenings of fall. Such a rebel, me! 

Post Fireworks Razzle Dazzle - 60% Savings!

Crystal Quartz, Pearl and Gold Vermeil Bracelet
 (styled with a coin bracelet from my personal collection)

Yes, it’s true. There’s a big celebration going on over at Tanya Lochridge Jewelry through July 14^th. In case you didn’t see the email announcing this flash of brilliance, follow the link to your invite below and you’ll immediately learn all about it. Most importantly, if you see something you want, snap it up quickly. Pieces are flying and, as you know, designs are always limited to begin with – no mass production here.

Use the code/voucher FIREWORKS60 and you’ll see 60% of your total purchase price disappear on your order of $50 or more. 60% is a big chunk of change that can stay in your Rebecca Minkoff, Anya Hindmarch, Coach or any other glorious bag du jour!

If you haven’t joined my mailing list yet, now would be the time to do it, easy to do in the upper right hand corner of this page. Why am I pointing? It’s the perfect way to make sure you are up-to-date on all of the latest in the studio.

Have fun!

Post Fireworks Razzle-Dazzle Invitation

Yes…I am 64! Vent or Rant?

Why oh why do I let people’s comments bug me so much? This morning while scrolling through my twitter feed, I came across this little tweet “How good does [famous person] look at 60? Stunning!” At what point in time are people going to stop using an age qualifier in a comment in a description of a female? Isn’t it enough to say she looks great or she is really fit – I say it’s time to drop the “for her age” and “she is 60” silliness.

“Sunshine, oh sunshine, wherefore art thou?”

I know, I know, I live in the Pacific Northwest so why am I always complaining about the lack of sunshine? I should be use to it by now, shouldn’t I? Well, let the record show I am not use to it; and, honestly, I don’t think I will ever get use to it. I’m a SoCal beach girl at heart – so sunshine and ocean breezes are my happy place!

Fanfare Please -- Rough & Polished Amethyst & Crystal Quartz Bracelet

By now you have to know how much I love gemstones in their rough state. That being said – this three-strand bracelet is made up of rough amethyst and dazzling crystal quartz.

Fanfare Please -- Yellow Calcite & Crystal Quartz

Sometimes simple is magnificent. Case in point – this magnificent yellow calcite and crystal quartz bracelet. You know that my trademark design is usually a three-strand, sometimes five-strand, bracelet or necklace. However, there are times when I sit at the bench in my studio and see a simple, yet stunning, single strand design. This was one of those times.

A Mash of Our Own

No secret, I love a mash of bracelets…always have, always will. It tickles me that the world of fashion has finally embraced the look as well. These days you don’t have to look far to see your favorite fashion blogger or models in an editorial spread donning loads and loads of bracelets. While I love the look, there is one thing that I think I do a bit differently from the norm. Maybe it has to do with my fascination with rocks and gemstones and how I showcase them in my jewelry designs or maybe it has to do with my being slightly claustrophobic. (Bet you weren’t expecting that now were you?)

Who Do You Dress For? (For Whom Do You Dress?) Grammar Aficianados Take Your Pick!



Blue Chalcedony, Eagle Eye Agate & Czech Glass

Over the weekend, I spent a big part of my time working in the studio and, totally off subject, I have the jaw bruise to prove it! In short – sometimes life of a jewelry designer is perilous! One slip of the grip and pow! So this week it's Tanya zero and pliers one if you are keeping score.

Seven Years & Celebrating!

Yes, it’s true. Seven years ago I sat down and posted my first blog entry. Back then it started as a way to showcase my jewelry designs since technology was slightly different in those days and on online presence was not quite yet in the cards. Fast forward, seven years, and here we are – all of this techno-stuff makes it possible for me to stay in touch with all of you – from anywhere in the world. Isn’t it amazing? Baffling, yet amazing. I love it all. Well, maybe it’s better to say (and a bit more truthfully) that at times I have a love-hate relationship with it! But most days…it’s pure love.

Lavender & the Color Purple

Every year, when I harvest my lavender I bring it into the studio to dry for several months before removing the little buds or whatever they are called from each stem. I love having the lavender inside especially when I sit at one particular location of my workbench. As I work, my feet jostle the ends of the stems under the bench and with just the slightest movement the soothing scent of lavender is released into the air. It’s heavenly.

Decoration or Touchstone?

So, I've been on a pendant path of late. Not sure exactly what inspired it; but it's where I've been lately. Perhaps thoughts (or wishes) of warmer days, lighter clothes and just a bob or bit around the neck or maybe a necklace that can be used as a touchstone of sorts, offering a bit of peace in a hectic day. Here's a secret -- I love big pieces of gemstones! Ha -- so okay, not really a secret but it is so true. Something about the way they look, of course, but often times it is as much about the way they feel. Always cool to the touch, and depending on the cut and faceting, in most cases, there is a smoothness about them that can't be copied in plastic. I do know that when I wear a bracelet made from bigger gemstones, I spend a lot of time fiddling with it throughout the day. Not in an "I can't wait to get this thing off kind of way" but in a calming almost meditative kind of way. I know, I know -- it's just jewelry, right? Well, not for me. It seems that I use jewelry for more reasons than pure decoration.

There is much lore around the powers of gemstones -- and it is fun to read up on the different stones. I do think they carry a certain energy of mother earth -- of all things that came before. How could they not? Considering the fact that many of the gemstones I use in my designs are thousands of years in the making (gemstones, not the jewelry...I'm old but not that old) that's a lot of energy to wear. I think my fascination with these simpler designs has to do with showcasing the beauty of a single stone while giving you a touchstone that hopefully offers a bit of calm and peace when you wear and touch it. Not quite sure why I feel the need for this right at the moment -- but I have learned over time that when an inspiration hits me it's best to just go with the flow and see what comes out of the studio. When I follow my heart the result is usually pretty nice -- at least I think so. I hope that you feel the same -- it would be fun to hear your thoughts.

The Color Gods

Yes, the color gods have spoken -- well, in reality, it has been quite some time since they came up with this Fall-Winter 2010-2011 selection; but I thought it would be interesting to post it here for all of you to see. When I hear all the hoopla about the colors of the season I always wonder, if we as women, really are going to run out and buy a kumquat jacket with matching pants.

Era of Disposable Jewelry?

I was "shopping" with my niece last night and we were both amazed at the quantity of what we call "disposable" jewelry flooding the market these days. From what we saw, it seems that if you can make it and sell it for less than $5.00 wholesale, it'll be on the racks at stores and on shopping channels across the country and around the world for $19.95. Now, you all know that I like fun jewelry -- and I frequently bought from street vendors while I lived in NYC.

Sunshine, Vineyards and Weddings

You know it's not easy finding a really good person to cut and color your hair. Well, at least for me it's not easy. I was so spoiled in NYC, having been lucky enough to stumble upon James Post and Mark Garrison, two fabulous hair wizards (and amazing spirits) who also became friends over the years. After hunting and pecking around Portland for a few months, you can imagine how thrilled I was when I finally listened to my spit-fire niece (yes, I said spit-fire) and headed over to Dundee to see Amy.