Reindeer in Houston

I left New York City to visit family and friends in Houston (heading to Tucson tomorrow to see the rest of the family). We arrived yesterday morning, and really came just to see our family. We weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves (they came in from nearby, but don't live here - it was just a convenient place to meet up), we ended up at a mall (of all places, the Saturday before Christmas - and we didn't even shop!). While there we saw something rather unusual...reindeer. Very large reindeer, playing and being goofy on the ice. Here are a few videos to share the entertaining experience.

New York City Holidays Continued

Saks 5th Avenue Store with Snowflakes.

Yesterday I posted a variety of pictures from around the city that I took so far this December. I have several more (which I took with a regular digital camera, so hopefully better quality). Also, someone brought to my attention that people often wonder how New Yorkers shop for Christmas trees - and I have that answer as well.

Basically, Christmas Tree vendors come from a variety of locations, particularly Canada, bringing truckloads of trees and set up on street corners and along blocks. They often come with a small RV of sorts and pretty much 'live' on the spot (otherwise I think being here would be far too expensive). Kind of makes one wonder about their, um, hygiene for the month that they are here from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It's a funny thing too...you wake up the day after Thanksgiving and they are all over the city - they come in the dark of the night, ready to sell on Black Friday.

This one if from today (12/19)- and it's only been snowing for about 2 hours! Will be a fun trip to school tonight...





These were taken the day before yesterday, showing the street level view. If you want a tree you go talk to the guy in charge, they help you pick one out and after cutting it open to show it to you, the re-wrap it for you if you want. Then people just carry them home usually - kind of like in the movie "When Harry Met Sally".


A new one of Rockefeller center. Really like this shot.

The Holidays in New York City 2008

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in the Rain.

I've been all over the city this month, in all kinds of weather - from freezing rain to the 70s to whipping winds in the low 30s. December is like that in NYC sometimes. Anyway, I have a few pictures to share from some of those excursions, pictures of things people might enjoy...like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in the freezing rain, the ice skating rink in Central Park, the lights around Tavern on the Green, and what it looks like to buy a Christmas Tree near my apartment (right on the corner, actually). The pictures are taken with my cell phone, so the quality is not the best, but the holiday beauty of the city is still there. Enjoy.


This is Park Avenue near 85th Street - every block has two of these trees lit up - as far as the eye can see.



Macy's 4 or 5 story light tree from the side. Macy's is on 34th St and the crossing of 6th Ave and Broadway. This picture was taken from about 38th St looking down Broadway.



The Wollman skating rink in Central Park (thank Donald Trump - his company paid to restore this rink in the 1980s)


This one's a little blurry - and perhaps self explanatory...just in case, a horse and carriage headed out of the park (going South), with a few buildings in the background.




This is a shot over the lake in Central Park as it was getting dark. A cold and windy Saturday night, but really beautiful.



Times Square at the crossing of 7th Ave and Broadway - this picture was taken from about 48th Street looking south. The center building is where the ball drops on New Year's eve.

And, the holiday lights at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.



Iceskating at Wolman Rink - short video

Cold Souls Movie on Sundance Website

Just wanted to post a quick link to the Cold Souls Movie description on the Sundance Film Festival website. We are so excited to have the Payson & Co., LLC pieces featured in the Cold Souls movie. It sounds like the movie will be absolutely incredible - what an honor to have jewelry on the big screen!

Sundance Film Festival list of Cold Souls Movie

Recording of Payson Cooper on BlogTalk Radio

Click to hear the recording of the Blogtalk radio show that featured Payson Cooper on Monday Dec 15. If you would like to download the podcast or subscribe to the show click here.

The interview covered some of the interesting discoveries I have made as I have built my business. Everything from outsourcing work to learning how to give yourself space to find your own way of doing things.

Payson on BlogTalk Radio with Coach Deb Bailey

On Monday Dec 15 at 12 Noon EST Payson will be interviewed by Coach Deb Bailey for her BlogTalk Radio show "Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets to Success". Deb is a coach, helping women to find their true passion and embrace it to build the life and business of their dreams. She hosts the "Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets to Success" radio show at BlogTalk Radio three times per week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. A recording of the interview with Payson Cooper, as well as the recordings of all of Coach Deb's other guests, are available at BlogTalk Radio.

Saw someone filming the other day...

Living in NYC I often end up walking by or around film crews working on TV and feature films, as well as ending up on camera (accidentally) walking in or out of delis, down the sidewalk etc of the students who are learning the art of film-making here in the city.

The other day walking away from the jewelry district (my several-time-per-week excursion), I passed a large crowd watching as several actors were filmed on the corner of 46th Street and 5th Avenue. And, just now, while following up on a placement opportunity for my jewelry I figured out what I saw.

It was the new TV show Cupid being filmed - I recognized Bobby Cannavale immediately. Here's a picture and a link to the TV show Cupid...just a fun little tidbit to share about life in the Big Apple.

Cold Souls, Featuring PaysonJewelry Collection Pieces, Accepted to Sundance

It is with absolute joy that we announce that the Cold Souls movie, featuring several items from the www.paysonjewelry.com collection has been accepted into the Sundance Film Festival for January 2009! Click to read more about Payson & Co., LLC's jewelry and the Cold Souls film. Through that link you will also find links to a New York Times article discussing Cold Souls and the Sundance Film Festival, as well as a link to a website outlining all of the films that will be featured.

This is the beginning of a synopsis of the film...you can read the rest at pretty-scary.net:

"There's only one feature, actually, that you need to know about at Sundance 2009. Cold Souls, directed and written by Sophie Barthes (Zimove vesilya, Happiness), is the story of a famous American actor who contracts with Soul Storage, a New York lab that offers its world-weary customers relief from the burden of their souls and the Russian mobster keen to extract the soul of this actor. The film stars Paul Giamatti, Dina Korzun, David Strathairn, Emily Watson, Lauren Ambrose, and Oksana Lada...


'This weirdly existential sci-fi film is everything Barthes loves about cinema. “I’m very interested in poetic science fiction, films like Alphaville, that play with philosophical concerns,” he said in an interview in 2007 with Filmmaker Magazine. She describes the film in her own words to Ioncinema.com as "a surreal comedy. Paul Gianelli is an actor in New York acting in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, which is a draining role. His soul is heavy..."

Savor the Succes Holiday Catalog and Payson & Co., LLC

Payson & Co., LLC is delighted to announce our selection for the Savor the Success 2008 Holiday Catalog! We were selected from an incredible group of over 150 exceptional companies to be featured alongside the top 40. All of the companies featured as small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Please take a few minutes to review the Savor the Success Holiday Catalog and select a few items for people on your holiday gift list, help us to support and grow abundance! And, to thank you for your support, if you decide to make a selection from either www.paysonjewelry.com or www.transformationaljewelry.com, you will receive a 20% discount when you use the coupon code 'STS20' during the checkout process.

Happy Holidays!

New Namaste Ring - Relief Style

We have created a new Namaste Ring in a relief style where the English and Sanskrit versions of the word are raised and enclosed by a boarder, creating a beautiful, substantial and elegant Namaste Ring.

This ring is available in both Sterling Silver and 14K Gold - platinum, palladium and other metals are available upon special request. Cl.ick for more information on the Namaste Ring, or the Namaste Jewelry Collection at PaysonJewelry.com.

Photo of Namaste Ring by Payson Cooper. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! May you enjoy the company of family and friends, fabulous food and appreciation of all the blessings in your life.

Click here if you're interested in reading a little bit about the Law of Attraction on Thanksgiving.

Photo taken in Central Park by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

Great Writslet and Handbags

I haven't really used this blog to talk about other people's goods, but I'm thinking I may change that. As I find things that are really neat I will occasionally post about it. I've been in the market for a neat small bag/wristlet and I may have found exactly what I'm looking for! Check out http://www.nkhenry.com and see what I mean.

What Joe Vitale has to say about his Expect Miracles Book

I posted some information the other day about Payson & Co,. LLC being a contributing author to Joe Vitale's new book "Expect Miracles". I thought I would also share what he wrote when he shares this book with his list. (Click to see the Expect Miracles Ring pictured here. Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.):


Hi,

If you're looking for a book that can show you how to attract miracles in your life...

I have a very special recommendation for you. (In fact, I cannot recommend
it enough.)

It's called Expect Miracles by my great friend Dr. Joe Vitale (star of the movie The Secret, and author of Zero Limits, The Attractor Factor and The
Key).

Expect Miracles is a one-of-as-kind book (and you can get it at a special discount - more on that in a minute).

In this must-read book, you'll learn...
- How to use a five-step system for attracting any kind of miracle
- Why you need to avoid fear if you want to attract miracles
- How to eliminate counter-intentions that will block you from achieving
goals
- The exact method for getting clear about what you want
- How to forgive anyone for anything and get on with your life
- How your mind works (it may surprise you)
- Ways to go from indecision to focused intention
- The importance of gratitude for what you already have and how it plays into what you will attract in your life

You'll also get story after story about other people who've attracted miracles in their life

And so much more!

Oh...

I forgot to mention the special section called "A Miracle a Day" - a key component of Expect Miracles.

In this one revealing section alone, Joe shares some of the most heart-warming and inspiring miracles stories. You're going to love them.

I could keep going here, but it is more enjoyable and fun to read it yourself than to hear me go on and on.

Let Expect Miracles inspire you or a friend, coworker or family member today.

Oh...I almost forget to tell you about the special 25% discount.

That's right.

If you order through Amazon.com today, you won't pay the standard retail
price of $14.95.

You can get Expect Miracles at a specially discounted price of only $10.85!

At that price it makes a great inspirational stocking stuffer for any family member, co-worker or friend.

Order Expect Miracles today at...

http://www.amazon.com/Expect-Miracles-Joe-Vitale/dp/1897404069/ref=sr_1_3?ie
=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226944584&sr=1-3

I know you'll love this book as much as I did.

Sincerely,

Joe Vitale

P.S. Expect Miracles not only will show you how to use a five-step system for attracting any kind of miracle, why you need to avoid fear if you want to attract miracles, how to eliminate counterintentions that will block you from achieving goals, the exact method for getting clear about what you want, how to forgive anyone for anything and get on with your life, how your mind works, ways to go from indecision to focused intention, the importance gratitude for what you already have plays into what you will attract in your life --- you will also get story after story about people who've attracted miracles in their life and how they did it.

P.P.S. Take advantage of a special 25% discount from the standard retail price when you order today. Expect Miracles is available today for only
$10.85.

Order Expect Miracles today at...

http://www.amazon.com/Expect-Miracles-Joe-Vitale/dp/1897404069/ref=sr_1_3?ie
=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226944584&sr=1-3

Joe Vitale's New "Expect Miracles" book and Payson & Co., LLC

Photo property of Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

Payson & Co., LLC has had the distinct pleasure to submit the story about our Ho'oponopono Jewelry line to Joe Vitale for inclusion in his new "Expect Miracles" book. And, we were thrilled to be accepted as contributors! After reading Joe Vitale's Zero Limits book, I was so inspired that I created the Ho'oponopono jewelry line, which is now exclusively offered at www.intentionaltreasures.com. It is that story which is featured, along with a few pictures in the Expect Miracles book. Click for more information about our involvement in the Expect Miracles book. Click to view the Expect Miracles Necklace (also featured in the book) or the entire Expect Miracles Jewelry Collection.

Custom Guitar Pick Necklace on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

Image by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

Payson & Co., LLC is delighted and proud to have created a custom guitar pick necklace for the Tim Gunn's Guide to Style show on the Bravo cable TV network. The necklace was made specifically for the participant of the Season 2, Episode 6 show - Eliza Neals (you can see her wearing the necklace in the picture here). The custom guitar pick necklace was made from one of Eliza's father's guitar picks, we created an exact replica of the original pick (with all of it's character) in 14K white gold, and place both picks on a delicate chain.

The custom guitar pick necklace, made by Payson Jewelry, was presented at the end of the episode as a special gift. Tim Gunn said some wonderful words, calling the necklace, "elegant" and "sophisticated". We are honored to have been a part of creating such a moving and meaningful gift for Eliza. Click to read more about the custom guitar pick necklace and see our other custom handcrafted jewelry items.

Holiday Gift Fest on EsculonSays.com!

We're offering a special item though the Holiday Gift Fest on EsculonSays.com. To read more about what we're offering visit the PaysonJewelry.com blog.

What we're giving away:

Photo property of Payson Cooper. All Rights Reserved.

Freebies on Election Day!

Just for voting this year you can get some fun free stuff! Check out this wonderful blog post for more information. Think a Starbucks is in my future today!

Tim Gunn Show

Photo property of Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

Back in May Payson & Co., LLC was asked to create a custom necklace for the Tim Gunn show. They were looking for someone to create a custom item for an episode of the show. While the challege was great (the time-frame to produce the piece was less than a week, with a holiday, so we really had only 4 days), we rose to it and created a beautiful piece. The episode it was presented in will air this week on Thursday November 6, 2008 on Bravo. Be sure to check it out! Check back after the episode for a picture of the custom handcrafted jewelry.

In order to celebrate we are offering the first person who sends a correct description of the piece to info@paysonjewelry.com a hand engraved circle necklace from the Payson Jewelry collection. Be sure to tune in and send in your email - you may be the lucky winner!

Namaste Cuff Bracelet

Image by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved. Image is a digital rendering from Rhino3D software of the namaste cuff bracelet that will be completed shortly.

Due to the popularity of our Namaste Jewelry collection we are expanding the Namaste Bracelet options! A Namaste Cuff bracelet is in the process of being printed and will be posted to the Payson Jewelry and Transformational Jewelry websites soon. The design is a simple and elegant cuff bracelet, which can be worn either by a man or a woman. The Namaste Cuff bracelet includes the word 'Namaste' in english as well as in sanskrit. Wear it as a daily reminder to keep your heart and connection open to your Source.

Magic Necklace - New!

The newest item on PaysonJewelry.com's sister site (www.transformationaljewelry.com) is the Magic Necklace. Inspired and requested by a young girl, this necklace was created to represent her view of the world and our universe - in her words, "It's all Magic!" The Magic pendant was designed using the 'Cantebury' font - to give it a bit of a romantic feel, and has a decorative border of small granulation. If you want to read more, click here for the Magic Necklace on www.transformationaljewelry.com.

PaysonJewelry won a Contest!

WOW! One of the PaysonJewelry creations inspired by the critters on www.plurk.com won a contest! Click to see the contest winners, including PaysonJewelry. And click here to see more of the Plurk Buddy Jewelry collection.

Miracles Weekend Report

Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

The Miracles Weekend by Joe Vitale was an amazing and wonderful event. I am so glad to have been able to go! I was able to have a table there, offering a specialized jewelry line, Ho'oponopono Jewelry (which is available exclusively through www.intentionaltreasures.com), as well as some of the Expect Miracles Jewelry items. I met some truly amazing and wonderful people and heard some inspiring and incredible stories.

One of the speakers, Meier Schneider, a wonderful man who has written several books, including The Miracle Eyesight Method, was able to cure congenital blindness and now teaches the same techniques that he used to help hundreds cure blindness and thousands give up wearing glasses. He also helps people with physical disabilities and illnesses, such as Muscular Dystrophy, to begin recovery of physical functioning. He is a beautiful, honest and inspiring man. It's hard to say enough good things about him.

A weekend of Miracles

Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.
Pictured here: Expect Miracles Bracelet in 14K Gold.

This weekend I will be attending the Miracles Weekend, a seminar presented by Joe Vitale and several other trainers. It will be held in San Diego, so I leave early tomorrow morning. I'm very excited! We will be learning about releasing the blocks that keep us from experiencing the miracles that would naturally occur in our every-day lives.

Last summer, when I launched the transformational jewelry collection, I included a grouping of Expect Miracles Jewelry. The group includes the Expect Miracles Bracelet, pictured above, the Expect Miracles Necklace and the Expect Miracles Ring (part of the Stackable Ring Collection). There is also an Expect Miracles Money Clip and an Expect Miracles Key Chain that were added to the grouping. Additional designs will be offered soon, as the phrase seems to be building in popularity.

New Custom Snake Engagement Ring

Photo and design are property of Payson & Co., LLC. All rights reserved.

A sneak preview of the custom engagement ring that I just completed for one of my clients. She wanted a ring that formed a continuous circle with the snake's tail finishing in it's own mouth. As a single ring, this is not too complex, but to them incorporate a custom wedding band that appears as though it is also part of the snake, without interrupting the 'continuous circle' of the snake body, head and tail. The solution was to create a 'puzzle' style ring, where the body of the snake, formed by the custom wedding ring, will actually be permanently entwined with the snake head, or the custom engagement ring. The first image above is of the final custom engagement ring - by itself. The following images are of the two rings (a sample set completed in silver to test the fit) entwined, completing the look.

The customer also requested custom engraving on the surface of the ring - which now includes a beautiful and simple vine twisting and wrapping around it as well as several randomly placed leaves.

White Gold Namaste Ring

Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

New images of the White Gold Namaste Ring are available on the PaysonJewelry website. This namaste ring includes the word Namaste in english, which is framed by the word in sanskrit on either side. Namaste is a reminder to many people to stay centered whithin themselves and acknowlege the source within them and everyone/everything around them. The namaste ring is the perfect way to focus your mind both consciously and subconsciously on our universal source.

Custom Diamond Engagement Ring

Photo by Payson Cooper. All rights reserved.

This is a custom ring that was designed by one of my clients - he works as an engineer and using 3D Digital Software for his work. He and his wife designed the ring as a replacement for her original one, which was stolen. For more information, pictures and for both of their comments on the final ring and the experience click here: Custom Engagement Ring.

New Engagement Rings & Wedding Rings

I worked on several new designs over the weekend. They're not up on the website yet, but here is a preview. Due to a big project I'm working on right now, time is tight, so it will be a few days before they're posted anywhere else (there are a few more images on Payson & Co., LLC's facebook page).

Quote

Je ne cherche pas. Je trouve.
I do not seek. I find. --Pablo Picasso

Renderings

I have spent a big chunk of the last two days doing renderings for one of my clients - creating images of several jewelry pieces, that use enamel and stones, with a variety of colorful options. The pictures are wonderful! Sometime soon I will be able to share them - once the pieces are available in the market I will post images and links.

Inspiration from Nature

As I am working on a new line for a large resort company I am finding my inspiration directly from nature. There is so much there to work with, and throughout history, everyone from architects to painters to jewelry makers have used nature as a primary source of artistic stimulation.

This flower ring is an example of a piece drawn directly from nature. It is hand carved into the metal using gravers that are shaped specifically for the job, then each leaf is chased using hand-made tools to give it texture and lay it out to look like a real leaf.

Inspiration

I keep going past the most amazing buildings in NYC! What they inspire is absolutely wonderful. One of my favorite inspired pieces is from the side-walk level grill along a building on 34th and Madison. From the simple and beautiful swirls there I created the Four Seasons Ring (see picture). And, a new client just contacted me to modify this ring to create a custom ring for their wedding.

Two new custom wedding bands

It's been such a wonderful week! I have two new customers who have requested some really beautiful, interesting and potentially challenging designs for their custom wedding jewelry. I'll be asking permission to post pictures - perhaps 'in progress' pictures here to the blog and to the blog on my website at www.paysonjewelry.com.

Amazing...

It is truly wonderful how many people find my website and connect with me to discuss and consider a custom piece of jewelry. I love the interactions too - since I usually work from home, it's wonderful to have the emails and phone conversations - and the occasional face-to-face meeting to talk about details, expectations, desires and, of course, design.

One of the questions that frequently comes up around custom work is time. I thought I would lay out some of the steps involved in creating a custom piece and help you understand what that can mean as far as time is concerned.

The first step is the design development process. Sometimes people have a very clear idea of what they want, and if they can send me a sketch we can jump light-years ahead on the project. In this case a picture really is worth a thousand words - maybe more. It lets me understand the idea and get onto the same page as the client. If someone describes something to you, say a ring, and they say it has a diamond, with 2 smaller rectangular stones on each side, it's white gold with yellow accents, with some swirls or scroll like patters - what do you picture? I can assure you that everyone reading this is picturing something completely different - where if I were to post a picture - even a very simplified sketch - everyone would be starting from the same place. It gives a starting off point for the beginning of the discussion.

The design phase can last for days or weeks, depending on the clarity of the client, the deadline (if there is one), and availability of my time and the clients. I've had designs that went back and forth 10 times in 2 days, and other clients who didn't get back to me for 3-5 days after a concept was sent. Basically, this phase depends on both myself and the client and can be very quick or take a very long time.

Next time I'll talk about signing off on the design and getting started.

Having fun with social networking...

So, I've spent the last two days learning a few things. :-)
One of them is how to create a Facebook Badge! Check it out:

FedEx every day! Yesterday it was the remaining components of a custom necklace I made for a fashion show on TV (stay tuned for info about the airing - should be sometime in the fall) and today the information to complete a beautiful and complex pave ring design. I love love love working on such wonderful pieces!!

A note on the piece for the TV show - wow, was that hard to complete! I got a voicemail late Thursday afternoon and connected with the contact working with the producers on Friday May 23 around 10am. The necklace had to be completed by Thursday May 29, and there was a holiday in between, a part of the necklace had to be picked up by Friday afternoon - overall MAJOR time crunch! On top of it, the producers wanted to see 'samples' of my work before deciding! :-) I offered to send the samples, but said if they wanted me to do the piece and have it ready for the shoot on the 29th, I'd have to start before 4pm on the 23rd. Apparently they made the decision to go with me (perhaps anyone else had already said no?), and I worked my tail off to get it done in time.

I heard back from them a few days after delivering it that the shoot was a complete success, the necklace was a delight to the person on the show to whom it was presented and everyone loved it! YES!

I'm working on finding out about posting an image of the necklace once the show airs...

Custom Wedding Band - intertwined

I'm working on a new concept for a custom engagement ring and custom wedding band...the client wants a snake, eating it's own tail, intertwined with the wedding band. We've decided to create the rings separately and have them attached after the ceremony (next May). We're still working on the snake itself, clarifying the look and feel of it.

It's a great project and the clients are wonderful to work with. This is a rendering of the rings in their preliminary form. The snake will get green stones (either emeralds or green diamonds - I prefer the later because they are harder and less likely to wear or get damaged over time) for eyes, and we're working on re-shaping the head some for a slightly different look.

The client wants a design on the surface of the snake - not scales - probably a wave design, or possibly a vine. I will probably do that work by hand on the final piece.


For more custom and one-of-a-kind/limited edition pieces visit my website at www.paysonjewelry.com

Custom Handmade Jewelry

I am working on building a whole new collection of custom handmade jewelry pieces. I have several on my site already, and have so many new ideas and several people that I am working with who are interested in creating a piece with me to be offered on the site, or as a one-of-a-kind custom piece. I absolutely love the challenge and creativity involved in working with someone to turn their ideas and thoughts into a piece of jewelry - it's an amazing honor!



Here is a picture of one of my set of custom wedding rings.

To see more of my custom handmade jewelry visit www.paysonjewelry.com.

Payson Jewelry Blog

I've never blogged off of my own sites before, but I'm excited. Not sure what I should focus on...probably jewelry since it's my life and my passion. Seems a strange thing to say that, but it's been that way my whole life. I have found more jewelry on the street, in buildings, on the beach...than many people probably buy in a lifetime. Jewelry was the only thing I ever spent my money on as a kid. When I finally started learning to make jewelry about 10 years ago my heart and soul sighed a huge sigh of relief - I was finally home!

Come visit my jewelry at www.paysonjewelry.com and www.transformationaljewelry.com