Astoria and Time Out New York

(Photo: Adorned by Morgan Glass Bubble Necklace)

SITE, a one-of-a-kind design boutique in Astoria and carrier of Adorned by Morgan, was recently highlighted as one of the best places to shop in Time Out New York:

http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/own-this-city/87578/best-shopping-queens-guide

Nests of Thread

This image combines two of my favorite things: artist Abby Glassenberg and a Stampington & Company® publication.

I'm proud to say that Nest of Thread IX (the assemblage in the top right corner) hangs in my living room. What a thrill to see it recently featured in such a high-quality magazine! I'm also the joyful owner of Abby's Flight Path piece:



The artist turns simple pieces of fabric into personality-filled creatures and then contextualizes them in unique environments. Abby's delightful assemblages had an immediate draw for me as an admirer of all manner of birds. I also appreciate her use of layers, composition, found objects and color.

Morgan the Magpie

Some recent (and relatively recent) purchases about which I'm super excited! I love receiving packages of old goodies. It's so thrilling to come home from work and see a bubble mailer peeking out of a box otherwise filled with bills and boring advertisements.



1) 1892 magazine: nickandnessies, 2) Antique watch face: Sommersbreezeantique, 3) Tiny skeleton keys: missemilygene, 4) Primitive pen nibs: gardner3863, 5) 1930’s brooch: annie69, 6) Antique locket: vintageladies, 7) ca. 1886 Bird care book: ParisianDreams, 8) 1800’s The Naturalist book: curiouscupboard, 9) 1890’s watchmaker’s ledger: PrimitiveWhiteHouse*

*Items shown are via corresponding Etsy sellers.

Full Steam Ahead

Via: Etsy - TimeTravelTeaParty

My latest fascination has immersed me in a genre I never thought I'd consider interesting. When first introduced, my aesthetic censors registered “steampunk” fashion as rough on the eyes and, in some cases, even downright ugly.

Take, for example, those naked watch movements commonly found in jewelry on Etsy. These components, exposed after being ripped from their carefully crafted cases and pretty crystal domes, looked just like “junk” to me. Even though I’m a watchmaker’s granddaughter, I just couldn’t see understand why anyone would want to wear metallic parts meant to work behind the scenes.

So, I ignored this steampunk business, and went about my way. And, that was that, right? Oh, not even close.


Neverwas Haul via: www.flickr.com/photos/albany_tim/

Steampunk is sneaky. I was subconsciously being exposed to it in some form or another again and again. In one instance, I mildly listened to a friend talk about a working steampunk mechanism he spied at a fair. Then, while using Google Image, I stumbled across a Victorian-style moving house featured at Burning Man and around the country: The Neverwas Haul. I pored over photos of this practically life-sized house on wheels, fixated by its architecture and the antiquated-yet-modernized outfits of its drivers.


Via: Etsy - steampunksupply

As I culled online haunts for antique parts to use at Adorned by Morgan, I become increasingly more attracted to items from sellers with “steampunk” in their shop names. And all the while, in the back of my mind lurked my past love affair with a somewhat obscure computer game called Myst. More than a decade later, I can still vividly recall some of this fantasy world filled with piping systems, squeaky knobs and puzzles revolving around complex mechanisms.


Myst screen shot via www.zathras.de

So, my dislike of steampunk eventually turned into a slow and steady admiration. After a while I decided that yeah, those tiny little gears were sort of cute. And those movements? Some of them had intricate etchings, scrolled words, fascinating patinas. They looked like perhaps they had been crafted with as much care as their cases, despite the fact that they’d rarely be viewed.

Before long, I was typing “watches” into search boxes on a daily basis. I went from collecting cases and considering gears to actually buying balances and *gasp* those very movements whose value I had once questioned! Because in my mind, those movements would make the perfect airship-type hot air balloons—worthy focal points for a necklace, and I had to have them.


Via: Etsy - CheapBoutique

And now? Mere weeks after my first purchase of a collection of movements, I’ve plowed through my first steampunk novel. There’s even a tiny SciFi logo on it declaring Cherie Priests Boneshaker to be an “essential book” for science fiction enthusiasts. As a woman who grew up subjected to the SciFi channel whether she liked it or not, I can tell you that a novel with such a declaration was the last thing I’d expect to have my rapt attention for two straight days.


Cover art: Jon Foster

No, I’m not into the darker or Gothic aspects of steampunk. I don’t want to wear metal-cast skulls or super duper creepy goggles and gloves and boots. I still haven’t finished my research about it or checked out its philosophies as a lifestyle. But, I can appreciate aspects of the genre. I am drawn to its Victorian elements, its affinity for brass and fantastical flights of aviation, and yes, even a number of those once seemingly garish inner watch workings have become sources of recent inspiration.

I’m intrigued to see where this journey takes me—whether it be to a steampunk-theme bar in Brooklyn, or an art festival out West someday. For now, I’m going to take this lesson in stride, trying to remember that our experiences and perception inform objects just as much as these objects inform us.

Meet Colette

Introducing Colette, the newest member of the Adorned by Morgan team and flatmate to Einstein and Papaya. Of course, the boys initially grumbled about bringing in another roommate, but now they've struck an agreement. Basically, they ignore her and vice versa.

Colette is going to fulfill the position of model for my necklaces. I searched long and hard for an assistant of this nature. And now that she's on board, I'm also daydreaming about outfitting her in antique Victorian clothing for which I've previously had no use. She needs a bit of "reconstructive surgery," for Colette, I was told, is in antique condition, but that will come with time (and when motivation strikes).

Colie (oh yes, we're already on familiar terms), was spotted outside of a reupholstering shop in the midst of moving. Of course, my senses perked up the minute I saw her, and words akin to, "I just want to check and see if they're giving her away..." were being instantly propelled from my mouth as my eyes glazed over. Mr. Morgan, being the (resigned) gent he is, parked the car, walked over with me, and watched as I dorked out with the shop owner about vintage goods. I admit, the exchange was a bit weird. But the best part was:

Me: Is she available?
Fernando, exuberant shop owner: Yes. What do you want to pay?
Me: ::acts uninformed that such pieces are usually in the hundred-dollar-plus range::
Um, how's 30?
Fernanda: ::all smiles:: Sure! Are you sure that you're comfortable with that?
Me: ::ecstatic:: Yeah! I just have to go to the ATM.*

*Okay, so my memory's not photographic these days, and this is just the gist of how it went, but $30? I nearly fainted with glee. Like I said, all the vintage pieces I've come across are priced in multiples of that sum. I couldn't wait to take Colette home before Fernando came to his senses. He also threw in some 60's-ish yellow, giant pom pom trim.

And now, Colette is part of the team.

Setting Summer Goals

::Taps mic:: "Is this thing on?"

Yes, I need to post more frequently. Perhaps that could be a summer goal? We'll see.

The mate, birds and I just moved into a new apartment in Astoria for space reasons. As a result, I now have my very first art studio!

For the first time since we moved to Astoria three years ago, Mark and I also have a bit of "land," a.k.a. a porch-type area (not elevated) of which we have sole use. This has opened the door to a variety of previously unattainable artistic possibilities, which leads to the topic at hand: summer crafting-related goals:

-Practice soldering.
-Experiment with resin.
-Go bead hunting in Rhode Island.
-Finally put that silk screen to use.
-Host an Astoria indie arts and crafts show (in the preliminary works)!
-Build a wholesale market for Adorned.

Some people like to make New Year's resolutions, however, I find that with the extra hours off from my day job in the warmer months and the extra motivation given to me by sunshine, summer goals are more realistic.

The winter puts me into hibernation mode. I stay inside during lunch breaks rather than explore the city. I decline invitations to hang out because of the inclement weather. I shiver and hunch for months. My mood shifts all over the place. If I were indeed a bird, I'd have flown south in November. All winter, I feel like I'm waiting with bated breath for the spring. Soon, I must remind myself: It is coming soon.

And one day, I hope to live in a state with a much higher level of warmth and sunshine: California. But for right now, I'll await my three months as patiently as possible.

(Pictured above: A custom necklace made for a friend out of hand-sawed and stamped copper.)

Of Parrots and People

I recently had the pleasure of joining a really welcoming and friendly vegetarian-based Etsy group (referred to as a "team" by Etsians): EtsyVeg.

The members have been so lovely to me, and I even had the opportunity to talk about my boys in a feature for the EtsyVeg Team blog.