I just spent most of my week outside working under my giant magnifying glass, making more of my "Water" color glass teardrops. I have to stock up now, because not only was I running low, we're also approaching the rainy season here in California. Depending on what this winter's Super El Nino does, I may not get many more sunny days til Spring... And when your artistic process depends on focused sunlight, you've got to make drops while the sun shines!
So, along with these peeks at Water behind the scenes, I thought I'd share why I think Water is such an awesome color - and apparently a lot of people agree, since it is my best-selling color!
First of all, as you can see in the photos, it's made from recycled Bombay Sapphire Gin bottles! Who doesn't love the idea of 1) reusing and recycling something that would just be thrown away into gorgeous jewelry you can wear every day, and 2) getting the chance to blow your friends' minds with that fact when they compliment you!
And second, the transluscent glass really catches the light and the pale blue picks up a bit of extra color from whatever you're wearing - meaning it "goes" with just about anything!
If you love Water as much as I do, check out all my different jewelry designs made from this gorgeous, recycled glass in my online shop now.
And now I'm going to get political...
As I've mentioned before, part of the whole reason I started Sundrop Jewelry was the environmental aspect... Taking the glass-melting process, which is almost always fueled by propane or natural gas, and using sunlight concentrated with a giant magnifying glass instead. No emissions, and using recycled materials wherever I can.
So I was disturbed when I learned that, although the vast majority of Americans do care deeply about the environment and climate crisis and want the government to do more to fix it, they also don't really see the environment as a political issue. 11.2 million registered voters who say their most important issue is the environment or climate... didn't vote in 2024.
I've been writing postcards all year for the Environmental Voter Project, and just dropped my final batch in the mail today. I just counted - I've written a total of 1,000 this year!
The Environmental Voter Project reaches out to these registered voters who care deeply about the environment but are unlikely to vote, trying to do one thing: get them to vote. And not just for the big name candidates, but for environmental candidates all the way down the ballot, including public utility commissioners who help set utility rates, insurance commissioners who can help keep insurers in your state at reasonable rates, and more. These votes matter - a lot. Especially in a mid-term election when fewer people tend to vote - that means your vote can make an even bigger difference. (You can donate to support their work here.)
I even heard that Patagonia was giving away $100 gift certificates for people who help their friends make a plan to vote! (It seems they've run through the $11.2 million they pledged to give away, but you can still use their system to encourage your friends to vote.)
So, even though I'm sure you're hearing this from every side...
Make a plan to vote.
Vote early if you can - get it done so bad weather, or the flu, or an insane traffic snarl on election day can't keep you from making your voice heard.
And help your friends and family make a plan to vote, too.
