because i like itty bitty

i found small things via my new favorite website, which i'm waiting to name because i'm doing a big fat feature on her later this week. really, her site is a-mazing. i check it all the time now. it may have replaced the real janelle even. anyway, i found a bazillion cool things via her site and small things is just one of them. small things is an adorable line of super cool jewelry designed by a one-woman soldering-machine. the designs are hand-made, gorgeous and clearly reflect the time and effort put into each piece. now, before i go on and on about how awesome her designs are, i want to get to the real reason that small things is so so so great. here, let her tell you herself:

"i learned to make jewelry in college while studying abroad in mexico. i took the class on a whim, really, thinking it would be a fun thing to try on the side while pursuing a more ‘serious’ education as a painter. in 2000, i moved to portland...and [was still] thinking about that damn jewelry...so i taught myself to cut glass and got to work. by the fall of 2002 i had kissed my steady job goodbye and smallthings was born. now i get to be my own boss and make jewelry all day, and i love it. each and every one of my pieces is laid out, cut, and soldered by hand. and that’s not gonna change. it’s a lot of work sometimes, but it’s this process that keeps me engaged, connected to, and excited about what i do everyday. and i think i really have found my dream job..."

there you have it. there is absolutely nothing, NOTHING better in the world than following your heart and finding a way to support yourself doing what you love (now if only i could find a way to do that). so, that said, go check out small things and support a wonderful young artist who's doing it on her own. yay independant (girl!) designers!

editor's note: just for the record, my heart still belongs to rena tom (who i will be covering more extensively next week- new stuff!)....my original jewelry girl crush)