Off Duty February 01 2016
Two weeks ago my husband and I had a date on the coast of New England. We spent the day driving around dreaming about living in a tiny little place like the one above, hunting for all the beers we can't find at home, stopping along the Maine antique trail and rounding it out at the Portsmouth Brewery.
John had searched through bins of albums but didn't find anything worth adding to our collection. Then tucked behind the checkout counter at one of the shops in Maine sat this album. It is probably the most sentimental album we could ever want for our collection because it has our wedding song on it. It also has the song I danced with my dad to at our wedding and we gifted it to the groomsmen as well. I even have the artwork for it hanging in my studio. When I saw it I immediately pointed it out to my husband and both our eyes lit up. Then a long conversation ensued with the shop keep about finding special albums and 1970s record players. At the very least it was serendipitous and at the very most it meant so much more. I love when that happens!
Images: Rebecca Tollefsen.
More Studio Snapshots from 2015 December 30 2015
This long, old table passed down from my mother-in-law found a home as my bench many years ago. I think it's around seven feet long so I can spread out with lots of space to run my production line. This side of the table is where drilling, polishing and other finishing techniques are done as well as any sawing and soldering.
Vintage bookplates of gemstones: the top left is smoky quartz. The top right is rose quartz/japser. The bottom left is amethyst and the bottom right is agate. I have two more to add to the collection one pyrite and another rose quartz, I think.
Production work: Fan pendants hammered & personalized, ready to be drilled & then polished.
My favorite days at work are the days when my son visits me at the studio. I don't bring him there often enough and he's always asking to come to work with me. Last spring he stopped by for a visit to drop off some flowers and a leaf he found as gifts for me on a walk. After he left I found them carefully placed on this chair - so damn cute.
Prepping for a product photography shoot for some of the new pieces that debuted in 2015. I often sit in this chair with it in facing the little green wooden chest. I place a white backdrop on top of the chest. It's a setup that works well if I catch the light at the right time of day.
Production work: matching up some Halo Collection mixed metal finish combinations for orders placed after the collection was released in the fall of 2015. Shown here are bright sterling pendants with bright sterling and gold halos and gold pendants with bright sterling or gold halos.
My studio assistant dropping by for a visit after school and chatting my ear off while I finished packaging orders for the day.
Production work: Message, Tiny & Teardrop style lockets during their polish session. These are vintage deadstock lockets from the 1940s-1960s (both sourced here in New England) so they arrive to me in need of refinishing. I put them through four steps of refinishing bringing them to a high, golden shine. This is the first step in the process.
Studio shelfie. Years ago I pinned that larger photo of the woman with her eyes closed (by artist Cate Parr) to my "studio inspiration" board. My husband bought it for me for my birthday a couple of years ago and here she is rocking the shelf area above my shipping station. To the left of her is a print by friend and photographer Colleen Dubois (the other purple print). Colleen has shot a couple of my collections in the past and partnered with me to offer print/locket gift box pairings for Holiday 2014. You'll see some the photographic work she did with me in a new collection release coming soon!
Little dried starflowers are the final touch in the product packaging for this bridal party order.
More studio shots found here or follow along on Instagram where I often behind the scenes of my work and process.
Images: Rebecca Tollefsen via Instagram
Playlist Winter 2015 December 28 2015
Playlist Winter 2015. Listen along right here.
My Reward - Hamilton Leithauser
This Feeling - Alabamba Shakes
Forever Mine - Andra Day
Whispered Words (Pretty Lies) - Dan Auberbach
Wake Me - Bleachers & Lucius
Stay in My Corner - The Arcs
Hand of Fate - The Rolling Stones
Smith Hill - Deer Tick
Hummed Low - Odessa
Studio Snapshots from 2015 November 21 2015
My studio is an old industrial mill building and it has huge windows that let in lots of great plant light.
Production Day: hammering some Halo Necklaces in gold & silver. After the hammering is done to add some beautiful light reflective texture I drill and polish each one before assembly.
Studio shelfie. first go around. I've changed the lineup on this shelf more times than I'd like share. Shelfie problems.
Soldering stud earrings.
A little spot in my shipping station keeps all of my postcards, business cards, thank you cards and other packaging essentials handy and accessible.
Production Day: Giving an initial refinishing to these vintage lockets before I turn them into pieces with a high golden shine.
This year I rebranded my line under my own name. Here's a look at my new logo and business cards.
If you've been following along for a while you might be rolling your eyes at my ridiculous vintage chair photos at this point. Here are two more. The seat on the chairs is a light sage-y green vinyl. The like the color but not the material. I'm looking to give these an oiling and then change out the fabric on the seats to a light gray or navy color.
Production Day: lots of pretty petal pendants personalized, drilled and now ready for a dee polish to bring out the shine.
Shipping packages off at the end of the day.
New sketching pencils and sketchbook ready to be filled with new design ideas.
Another version of my shellie. I think it still looks pretty like this at the current time. I am very guilty of overthinking my shelf arrangements.
A beautiful building in my studio neighborhood last Fall.
More studio shots found here or follow along on Instagram where I often behind the scenes of my work and process.
Images: Rebecca Tollefsen via Instagram
Meet Rebecca Tollefsen November 17 2015
The Dedication Company has grown so much since it started 7 years ago and now it’s growing a little more. Over the past couple of years you may have heard me mention that I’ve been working on expanding my product line and looking to open a brick and mortar storefront. To allow for continued growth and because I design, make and produce each piece in the line it makes sense to have everything I’m working on under my name, Rebecca Tollefsen. So today you’ll find a new website with a new name: www.rebeccatollefsen.com. You can read about me & my line on my updated 'about' page.
You'll find the new site offers the same product line, just a under a new name and some additional product offerings. Most important to me is that you receive great customer service that encompasses unique pieces with quick shipping to make for an easy, fast gifting service.
Here’s what you’ll find at Rebecca Tollefsen:
- US orders receive free returns and free shipping on orders of $100.00 or more.
- Your inquiries are always answered within the same day.
- Your gifts ship quickly.
- Your packages arrive to your doorstep prettily packaged and ready for gift giving.
- Your custom design ideas & questions are always welcomed.
New Collection!
To celebrate the new look and name there’s a new collection available. Welcome The Halos Collection to the mix.
Coming up:
- This week I'll be celebrating my 7th birthday with a huge giveaway that will be announced on Facebook.
- Next week I’ll be releasing a full line of gifting options for the holidays with gift guides just in time to kick off the holiday season.
- In 2016 I’ll be releasing a small line of home goods and accessories and continue to scout for locations for a brick and mortar storefront.
Updates on the Web
Please update your email filters to include my weekly emails from rebecca@rebeccatollefsen.com and you can find me on Facebook & Instagram @rebeccatollefsen.
Thank You
Thanks for joining me. I’m grateful to be here because I’ve met so many wonderful customers through the years. I’ve heard poignant, touching and fun stories from many of you about your pieces and how they relate to your life and have even forged friendships with so many of you.
Shop at Rebecca Tollefsen:
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