Join us at Liberty Station for our Trenton Blood Drive on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
We'll be hosting the Blood Mobile from 11 am to 5 pm - parked right outside the Lab on Historic Decatur Road. Trenton was diagnosed with a rare, fast-growing stage IV brain cancer called Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT). He’s had surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and 15 blood and platelet transfusions as part of his treatment. Trenton’s last MRI was great, and doctors found that the tumor has not grown nor spread, but he still has a long battle ahead of him that will likely include additional platelet and blood transfusions. That's where you come in...if you can donate or help us spread the word to find more blood donors - it makes a huge difference. All you need to do to donate is drink plenty of fluids and bring a photo ID with you to the Blood Mobile on Saturday March 14th. Questions you can reach the San Diego Blood Bank at (619)400-8251. Appointments are not required but greatly appreciated. Make your appointment in a few clicks at sandiegobloodbank.org/donate. Can't donate but want to help us spread the word? Please share our flyer at work, school or online. Download the flyer, thank you and Go Team Trenton!

Our All Craft Tool Sale on January 17th was a spectacular success. Before we could even get everything out of the boxes we had excited shoppers arriving. The tables in the lab groaned under the weight of bezel blocks, exotic hammers in all shapes and sizes, professional ring sizing sets, shaping blocks, mandrels, precision compasses, wax carving tools, burr sets, shaping blocks and tons more. Meanwhile over in Anne's Studio, buyers chatted happily as they poured over whisper-thin micro files, chasing hammers and boxes upon boxes of pliers in every size and shape imaginable. In addition to the tools, Anne and Tevel circulated through each room consulting on tool uses and throwing out jewelry making tips and tricks. Did I mention that the hallways were also packed with goodies from giant bracelet mandrels to patinas, saw blade sets and jewelry books? At 2:30 the fabulous Bette Barnett arrived to amaze us all with a free Keum Boo demo where she showed us how to use the exquisite gold and silver foil Tevel had on sale. Even though I helped set up, every time I turned around I saw something new out on a table. From all of the frantic shopping and sheepish grins as people left clutching their finds, it was clear that everyone really enjoyed it. Including us, at the end of it all we couldn't idly sit by and watch Tevel take everything back so we kept a few boxes on consignment. Stayed tuned for a Store update! And if you missed the fun, never fear, we're already working on when Tevel can return.

We had so much fun at our First Friday Valentine's Party on February 7th! 💝At one point we had a full house of people excitedly looking at jewelry and classes! It was wonderful to see some dear friends and students and everyone enjoyed the free gift (sparkle-etch valentines) and the chocolate cookies. Even though we had a double-blind raffle with about 30 entries, all of the winners were students! Go fig! Special thanks goes out to Yvonne Dao of @yvonnedaojewels and Yoko Rover of Yoko Rover Jewelry @yokorover for volunteering and bringing the bling - your displays are now officially fantastic. Save the date - March 6th - for our next First Friday Open Studio when we’ll be hosting metalsmith extraordinaire Alexandra Hart showing us how anticlastic raising works. Join us - our First Friday open studio events are always free, no rsvp required. 

In honor of the month of love we're running a sale on all of the jewelry in our gallery case. Anne pretty much never does sales, so this is a great opportunity to pick up some beautiful work at 20% off including mokume gane earrings, bracelets & pendants all hand-made right here at Liberty Station. Anne's also offering forged sterling silver etched "tree bark" rings and her one-of-a-kind "Sun Blaze" mokume gane pill box (save $76!). In addition to Anne's work we have handmade pieces by silversmith Julie Monroe including her unique water-cast San Diego sea glass pendants (imbued with warm sand, swaying palm trees and ocean breezes), enamel and fume-patina earrings and three spectacular stone-set cuff bracelets. Her "Ruby Dragonfly" bracelet in particular is a great gift and it's $49 off right now. Everything comes with free gift wrapping including a chocolate favor. Sale ends at 6pm on Thursday 2/13/20. Peace, Love and Mokume Gane!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to help with our January Blood Drive. Here's the report from our coordinator Leslie at the San Diego Blood Bank: "WOW what an awesome drive on Saturday! With your advertising efforts, new Blood Mobile location and our volunteers we registered 30 donors and collected 28 pints, saving 84 lives in our community. There were 15 first time donors which is amazing. Thank you so much for all your support!" Our pint total last year was 41 and I had modestly hoped to double it this year but we're well on our way so I'm going to go ahead and make our goal an ambitious 100 pints. Help us spread the word, our next blood drive is March 14th, 2020!