KareenInFrance 14: Une Americaine in Paris

I am just back in Paris after 6 weeks in LA. Aaaah, the warm weather is sorely missed. But, being back in Paris gives me chills up my spine....not just because it is cold.

I have returned to Paris with a new motivation and direction. I have only been back a few days, but am already starting to get back into everything. Jewelry is the number one priority this year, and after spending time in LA, I feel I have more direction in what I am trying to accomplish. Last year, I found many distractions; traveling, dates, etc.......because I was so frustrated with not knowing how to proceed.

Of course I know how to make jewelry. I hope to continue learning more and more as the years progress. But, I don't really know all of the other business stuff. I mean, I know where I want to be and what I want to accomplish, but I don't really know how to make some of that happen. I realize a lot of it is a learning process (which is what makes it fun, right?), but I have never run a business before. Unless you count making cheesecakes and selling them for $20 a pie when I was in high school.

Well in LA, I spent much time meeting people, learning from them, and figuring out how I want to proceed.

Some of you may have seen my call for sales reps. If not and you are interested in being a KbyKareen sales rep, let me know.

So, here are some of the things that are in process at the moment:

• got all of my supplies for new (different materials) line
• sales reps: asking friends to sell to stores in their local city
• salon in Santa Monica: to carry my stuff
• design hotel in Paris that I need to follow up with
• exhibiting for a day in the Paris Opera house to employees
• an event planner who wants to bring her VIP clients(?) to my studio (aka apartment)
• trendy store in Paris that I need to follow up with
• April 21: Launch party Santa Monica
• website translated to French
• finally set up my foredom (super pro "dremel"-like motor with flex shaft)
• purchasing a kiln!!!: to make larger beads, blown beads, and potentially glass bangles and rings
• purchasing a new (smaller) torch: to solder and fun stuff like that

So the plan is to be creative, creative, creative!!! I already have new designs (last night)........so make sure to see the website soon. Updates are happening this week.

This is just a partial list of all the things going on in my head at the moment. I am constantly thinking about jewelry, talking about jewelry, and looking at jewelry (that people wear). Will I get burnt out?

If I have not yet wished you a Happy New year, please let me do so now. I wish you love, happiness and success.

This was written before the holidays:

A few things I have noticed:

• Did you know that in French his name is Dark Vader and not Darth Vader??? This is because the French normally cannot pronounce the "th" sound. I noticed this during the last Star Wars and forgot to comment on it. But, I was quite appalled and offended when I saw Dark Vader in the subtitles......you don't get to change his name!!! And, it doesn't mean the same thing.
• Here in France, when you enter a building, you push the door. In America, we usually pull. Do you know how many times I have been stuck at a door trying to pull it open??? When back in LA, I got stuck pushing, pulling, and yanking at doors. I think this is some mean joke.
• Matinees (which in French means mornings) at the movie theatres here are the first showing in the morning. 9am!! I am accustomed to cheap tickets anytime before 6pm. I guess its because Frenchies LOVE going to the movies.....and go all day long! But, they have all of these fun deals here........cheaper tickets, annual memberships for 18 Euros per month then you can see unlimited films!, etc. I still need to sign up.....but, worry that I won't have the time to actually see enough movies to make it worth my while. So, for now, I just get up at 8am to see a movie!
• Buttermilk is actually called Fermented Milk (Lait Fermente) here in France. Buttermilk sounds so much nicer.
• You can buy baking soda at the pharmacy. Actually the only place you can. However, I am still not 100% sure its the same thing as Arm&Hammer so am hesitant to use it in my baking.
• They do not have a Euro coin equivalent to a quarter here. You know how when you are trying to get rid of change, so you give the cashier all of this small stuff, so you can walk away with a few dollars and maybe a quarter? Well, I keep trying to do this, only to confuse them and to confuse myself more. I just recently realized that I keep thinking I will get quarters back. I wonder what will happen when I am back in the US using actual dollars!

I am so lucky! And, I have such good friends. My friend Laurent, the guy who works at the Opera Bastille got me tickets for the Opera a few weeks ago. It was for "L'amour des Trois Oranges"......a somewhat modern, surreal opera all about this Prince who is sad and sick, then a witch makes him laugh, but in exchange makes him go on a quest for three oranges. He steals the three oranges from a crazy cook, but when he and his sidekick open the oranges there are princesses inside each one. The first two die from thirst, but the last is saved when a magical river appears. Really weird, strange, somewhat dated (especially as there was a sambo and she was used to trick the prince, but he did not want her as she was black!!), but very interesting. However, the best part of that week was when Laurent called me the day before to say he had tickets to the ballet at the Opera Garnier (the Opera house at metro Opera and that is the setting for the Phantom of the Opera). The tickets were for the dress rehearsal for a showing of three modern ballets. And, because it was a dress rehearsal, it was open seating......so we had amazing seats......a box seat on the 3rd floor. This again was one of the "magic" moments in Paris. This was my first time seeing a ballet and at the Opera Garnier.....so it was a very special night. And, all three shows were brilliant. Very different, but all extremely beautiful. I spent the entire time before the show, during intermission, and after the show looking up........the ceilings are amazing! A Marc Chagall painting in the main auditorium, a mosaic ceiling in the corridor, and a huge hall that was just renovated and reopened with frescoe ceilings. I was in awe. And, the best is when I said to my friend Laurent....."Imagine, a party here, featuring my jewelry". His response, "It is not impossible."

My expo in the Louvre

As you can see, I placed my jewelry onto silhouettes that I painted myself. It was great as it really drew people in, then they saw that I was actually a jewelry designer. I am not sure how successful the show really was, but I am very excited to be able to say I had an exposition in the Louvre!

KareenInFrance 13: 2 Years!!!

It's been awhile since I have written, hasn't it?? I have been in France this time around for just over 2 years!! (Sometime in the middle of September is the anniversary.) Can you believe it? I can't. It has all passed so fast. However, I finally don't feel like a complete foreigner. I can decide where to meet up with friends, I know the city very well, and I sometimes feel like a true Parisian. However, Paris is so amazing, that there is still so much to discover. I am sure that will be the case for the next 15 years, at least.

Some of the things I can tell you about:

At the beginning of August, I went to Madrid for the first time. Great city. And, it was even better that it was kind of a last minute trip. A good family friend, Katherine (and, now a very good Kareen friend), was there for a few weeks and invited me to crash in the apartment she rented and showed me around Madrid. We did the typical siesta in the late afternoon, ate dinners of serrano and iberico (?) ham at about 10pm, then out dancing until the wee hours of the morning. We did some great day time stuff as well.......shopping spree during all the sales, sangrias in the plaza de oriente, hot chocolate and churros, and a jaunt around the Reina Sophia museum (where I saw Picasso's Guernica). What a fun trip.

About two months ago, I had my first ever midnight tour of Paris on the back of a scooter! Very Amelie. And, what an experience. Every girl should do it. Although I know Paris well; to see all of these gorgeous monuments lit up from the back of a scooter with the wind blowing through my hair (I did have a helmet on) was an experience. I was even lucky enough to see La Tour Eiffel start doing its sparkly light thing right at midnight.

At the beginning of September I spent a week in Turkey! So cool. My friend Amy was here for work and planned to take a week off so we could lounge in the sunshine somewhere. This was much needed for me as this summer in Paris was horrible. We had about three weeks of sunshine. Turkey was a last minute choice (due to price and availability), but I think it was a great choice in the end. We saw one tiny, small bit of the country......so Turkey has also made it on my list of "places to go back to". We flew in and out of Bodrum, and spent a week on a sailboat in the Gulf of Gukova, but never used the sails!!! I gained the proud reputation of being the first person to jump off the boat everytime we stopped in a new bay. It got to the point where everyone waited for me to test the waters. Very fun, and I have decided I can be a fisherman's wife and live in the water forever! S

o, with all of this traveling and scooter tours of Paris, you may be wondering when I actually have time to work! Well, being my own boss creates a certain amount of flexibility.....so, I tend to work at night when I am running around during the day, and during the day when I am running around at night. Or, I have a few weeks (like the last few) when I work ALL THE TIME, day and night. But, you know, I love working for myself. It is very overwhelming at moments, especially when I make mistakes. There is no one else to blame! But, the whole one woman show thing can get a bit frustrating at times. However, I have really good friends who seem to enjoy helping me.

Today, I spent the afternoon shopping boutiques with my friend Rachel who will start being a sales rep for me. We also met up with my friend Laurent (he's the one who invited Rachel and I to the Opera and gave us a tour behind the scenes many months ago) who works at the Opera Bastille, and he and discussed potential display possibilities. He may help me build some sort of Plexiglas, column, case thing that I can place my jewelry into......so that when I am in stores my jewelry stands on it's own rather than getting lost in the piles. Kind of my own installation, if you will.

Some of you may know that I had an exposition at the Louvre this last week. I was very excited about this event, and worked very hard to get my display ready. I will include a photo. Being in Paris for extended periods of time has definitely paid off. I have more friends for one. There are a few American girls who live near me and we meet for coffees, lunches, and swims. I have also begun frequenting a cafe near me and one of the owners has taken a liking to me. He tells all of his customers about my jewelry. Really nice. I also have an artist group and a design group that I meet up with regularly.

When I first arrived back in Paris two years ago, I went through all of this anxiety about being different; not speaking well enough, looking different, being culturally different, etc. I always felt super uncomfortable speaking English in front of people and even more uncomfortable butchering French. So, you can imagine how hard this was for me, Kareen AKA Chatterbox (one of my dad's many nicknames for me). However, I am beginning to realize that people love that I am different, they LOVE that I am from LA, they love that I speak French with a "cute accent", and they love practicing their English with me.

Funny that they all think they have "sexy French accents" when they speak English!

Turkey 2006

I took this photo of jellyfish in the Gulf of Gokova in southern Turkey. In between Bodrum and Maramaris. I am sure I will soon have a bracelet inspired by this photo! I spent an entire week on a sail boat , motoring around the gulf. I gained the reputation of being the first to jump off the the boat into the crystal blue water everytime we stopped. We went to one location that had a spring running into it......a very surreal sensation; being in really warm water with spots of cold water and a layer of cold water on top. 

photo shoot for my jewelry August 2006 

photo shoot for my jewelry August 2006 

KareeninFrance 12: What is important?

Since the last time I wrote, many things have happened in my life. I turned 30 for one. A good friend died somewhat mysteriously at the age of 38. And, my grandfather died at the age of....I really have no idea....but, he was ready and waiting to go. You know how they say that bad things happen in threes........well, do you think turning 30 counts???

Actually, the turning 30 thing has not really been that big of a deal. Well, not until a guy who has asked me on a date asks me how old I am and his jaw drops when I tell him. Should I be flattered or a little put off??? I am blessed with genes that help me retain my youthful look, but when do the grey hairs start to come in and when do the lines begin to appear around the eyes? As my birthday approached, I asked the typical questions of myself; have I accomplished what I was supposed to, am I happy where my life is, when will I meet the ONE, is trying to launch a jewelry business and live in Paris what and where I am supposed to be??? You know, the typical "oh my gosh, I am turning 30!" questions.

I planned a huge vacation with good friends so that I would have something other than the hump to look forward to. We all met on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos islands in the Caribbean. It was a week of great friends, crazy adventures, and relaxation at our villa (or, compound as we began calling it because it was so easy to never leave). I really appreciate the good friends who helped make my birthday really special.

But, what are you supposed to feel like when you are 30? Although I have experienced many things, my train of thought is different, and I like to think I act more like an adult; most days I still feel like I am 18 years old. Isn't it really about how old you feel rather than how old you are?
My friend who passed away unexpectedly was someone I met when I was 18 years old, living in Seattle. He and I worked at the Gap together and became fast friends. Through the years we kept in touch after he moved to San Francisco and I moved to Paris. The last time I saw him was a year and a half ago when we met up in Amsterdam for a weekend as he found a cheap ticket and just wanted to get out of San Fran for a few days. I am really going to miss him and am seriously disappointed that the last time we really talked was in Amsterdam.

This 30th birthday thing and having a good friend pass away have really made me start thinking about how important my friends are to me. They listen to me, love me, tell me when I am being stupid or high maintenance, cry for me, laugh with me, call me, hug me, take me to concerts, take photos of me, write for me, tell me I am beautiful, and just provide lots of love and support. You know, I think I am pretty lucky. I have really good friends in Paris, London, Seattle, LA, and many other places I have never even lived.

The last few months in Paris have been very interesting. I am finally here for more than a few days at a time. My friendships with people here have been growing, and I finally feel like I can just call some of them last minute and ask them to hang out. I also started a book club a few months ago and now reguarly (well, every 2 months) meet with friends who almost enjoy reading as much as me.

I am really excited about my jewelry business. However, this one woman show thing can be pretty overwhelming. I feel like all I ever do is think about my business.......I have a hard time sleeping at night because there is so much to do. There are many moments when it feels impossible to accomplish and I am being ridiculously naive to think I can be successful with it. But, I am making progress....slowly, but surely. My website is almost done (I feel like I have been saying that for two years now, but it really is this time), a good friend is designing post cards for me, I am making lots of jewelry, I am trying to get an exhibit together, and I will be visiting boutiques shortly. Encouraging words from friends help keep the confidence levels up, so keep them coming.

Last week I went to the south of France to do my familial duty and visit my cousin in Bordeaux, then drag him and his girlfriend (so they could help buffer) to visit my aunt and uncle who live near Toulon. It was a wonderful, yet exhausting few days of Tahitians (there is this entire Tahitian student community in Bordeaux), beach (we spent an afternoon and evening at LaCanau beach which is on the western coast of France), long train rides, and the quiet and boredom of Gareoult in Provence. I have included a few photos.

Last night I ran around Paris with this guy I met who is trying to do this underground tourist website thing. Anyway, we followed the group called Friday Night Fever.....a group of anywhere between 5000 and 10,000 rollerbladers who rollerblade a designated route through Paris every Friday night. The city makes sure they are supplied with pace cars, rollercops (cops on rollerblades....I love it), and ambulances. So, last night he filmed them leaving their meet up point at Montparnasse, then we rushed over to the Eiffel tower to catch them while they went past. We rushed there only to wait for an hour+ before they arrived. I guess they don't go as fast as we thought. But, I was smart enough to bring my camera along......something I rarely do in Paris......so I now have some pretty good photos of the Eiffel tower. I have decided to take up rollerblading, although I may need to practice a bit before I am cool (and experienced) enough to join this group. I don't think there is anywhere else in the world where they love rollerblading as much.

My grandfather dying was not especially difficult for the family because we know he is much happier now. We all love him and will miss him. However him dying makes me feel so much older. That, plus the turning 30 thing. Oh, and my dad called me a spinster!!! I didn't think that was very nice.

I hope you are happy and well and please tell me how you are.

Love,
Kareen

And, La Tour Eiffel when it gets all sparkly on the hour.

Another photo of La Tour Eiffel....May 26, 2006.  

Vinyards in Gareoult.....Provence. Wine region.  

LaCanau (or Kana) beach in France. On the west coast about 60km from Bordeaux. They have the Kana Beach Gotcha surf competitions there.  

Gareoult, France....about 30km from Toulon. In Provence. A little dinky town.  

My first photo taken of La Tour Eiffel on May 26, 2006. 

A new piece I just made.....very excited about it. 

Me.....in the Caribbean on Grace Bay beach, Providenciales, TC. 

This is a new bracelet I just made....part of my NEW Paris 2006 collection. 

Protests in France

Many of you have asked me about the protests/riots in France. There were about 1 million protesters here in Paris today. And, there was a photo of a sign that a student was carrying in Le Figaro.......a French newspaper......that said, "We are not trouble makers, we are just the future unemployed".

My friend Matt and I have been discussing it via email, and this is what I have written to him.

So, France has a really high unemployment rate.......about 9% (I think). However, in under 26 yos, unemployment is as high as 20%. The French gov has so many employment laws that make it difficult and costly to terminate or layoff. So, employers avoid young, unexperienced workers. Discrimination is high in France, if you are too young, too old, strange last name, look funny, etc, etc.

Well, the gov is trying to pass this law that is called CPE. It gives employers the right to hire under 26yos for 2 years, then terminate them without any repercussions and without a reason. The gov thinks this will increase the employment rate because it gives employers the opp to try out an unexperienced worker, where as many believe this just gives employers another short term contract situation to take advantage of. I see it both ways.

(I was actually at a meeting last week at the unemployment office all about how to create a business in France. The discussion quickly became political. It was pointed out that the system of employment works better in the US, UK, and Denmark, where you can quickly get a job if you work hard; no matter what age, what ethnicity.)

Anyway, on Saturday (March 18), there were a few peaceful demonstrations throughout Paris. However, at about 6pm, violence broke out.......near Nation and near La Sorbonne (one of Paris' elite schools that is in the 5th (near Jardin Luxembourg and the Pantheon)....the Latin Quarter. Anyway, it was instigated mostly by young, frustrated people (a spin off of last years riots that were fuelled by young, frustrated immigrants (1st gen French from immigrant parents)).
So, at Nation (near my house), there was a police blockade.........lots of things thrown at the police, tear gas, burnt cars, etc, etc. Typical riot activities.

For the last few weeks, students and teachers have walked out of schools......high schools and universities, to protest this law. The French people value their right of free speech and love to have a cause to fight for. Vive la Revolution!!! So, there are strikes, walk outs, blockades, riots and all sorts of craziness happening in Paris right now.

Matt then responded with the fact that as an American he knows that he could lose his job tomorrow. So, he works hard and tries not to take the job for granted. Most employers in the US are "at will".

This is my reponse......

I agree with many of the things you say, however, I think you need to keep a few things in mind. The average French person pays more in taxes than the average American. When I say taxes, I am including Social Security, unemployment insurance, etc, etc. The average company also pays more towards social benefits.

In the US, if a company has a standard to good benefit plan.....the cost is about $8K on top of salary. This number does not include stock options, car allowances, etc. This is basic medical, dental, vacation, 401K, pension, etc. In France, the cost is 50% on top of salary. This is part of the reason salaries tend to be lower in France. Many employers provide transportation benefits, lunch tickets (or a cafe with reduced prices), etc. But, they are also paying into the social system. So, employees and employers pay more.......what they expect is a certain degree of security. This is the main frustration with many French.

We also need to keep in mind that many French people grew up in this society where they expect to have a job (about 30%+ of the workforce is in the public sector), their parents had and have the same jobs that they have had forever. Job security is a huge part of being French. So, this CPE that the gov is suggesting goes against the ideals of job security.

In France, there is already a law that states an employer can have a contract employee for under 18 months, then terminate. But, 18 months is the max. I think young people are looking at this new CPE law as being the same exact thing, just 6 months longer.

As an American, I have never expected to always have the same job. I actually think it looks bad on your resume when you have been in the same position too long. The limit is 3 years. If your company is promoting you, that is one thing.......but same position for more than 3 years, you need to take control of your career. But French are much more into security. They all thought I was crazy to move to France on a 6 month contract.

I agree that you need to work hard in order to gain things in life. Nothing should be handed to us. There are many French who get a job, then never do anymore work because they know that they are good for life. I think this happens in the US as well.......but at the Admin or service level. I think as a professional, the expectation is that you need to work hard, advance fast, stay on your toes. But, this was also a reason why I hated the US.....I hated the rat race.....I hated feeling like I was being judged for how busy I was.

Today there is a huge manifestation (is that an English word??)/demonstration. The CPE law went into effect on Sunday. I think there may be some drama tonight......many are expecting it. Within the last few hours, I was at Place d'Italie in the 13th arrondisement......near Chinatown. When I arrived there at about 1pm, they were prepping for a huge protest. I wish I had my camera with me. I saw a huge line of police vans.......about 15 parked in a row, all with lights on, ready to go. When I went back to catch the metro 2 hours later, there were about 10 police in riot gear just near the metro entrance. I think I left the area just in time as there was a huge group of students leaving the metro and chanting protest slogans. I think I will stay at home tonight.....sorry I can't get photos for you.
Kareen

This photo is taken from BBC News. The sign says, "Contract for Slaves".....CPE 

KareeninFrance 11, The Opera and other Adventures

Ever since the last time I wrote, I have been trying to come up with something to tell you. I guess you don't typically realize that you are living life and experiencing things until after they happen. However, there are few moments in life when you enjoy the fact that you are experiencing an adventure as much as the actual adventure.

This happened to me last night. I was invited to the Opera. Actually, the story begins before last night.

A few weeks ago, I went to an artist meet-up group here in Paris. This was my second meeting, so there were familiar and friendly faces. I still made a few new friends. One being this American girl (first American I have met since here), Rachel, who grew up in LA, then lived in San Fran and New York. Anyway, we got along well, and decided to meet up again. This happened last Friday. As she and I were laughing at funny stories while we got to know each other, this French guy approached us and asked if we spoke French. I immediately answered Yes, while she hesitated. He then asked if we wanted tickets to the Opera for Monday night. Of course we said yes, as neither of us have ever been. We met up with him at the Opera last night.....questioning why he gave us these tickets as we made our way there. Ends up he works there as a scenery machinist.......assembling scenes and working them during the shows. The show was a horribly boring French opera about some war in Eastern Europe. We were all fidgeting during the last act........but, it was good practice for my French. Anyway, after the show, he gave us a tour of the Opera house. This is the largest Opera house in the world. This is not the Opera Garnier......of the Phantom of the Opera, but the Opera Bastille that was built in 1989 by Francois Mitterand during the bicentennial of the French republic. This Opera house has 8 floors above ground, and 6 floors below. All the space is for the building of scenes, costumes, props, etc. They even have a cafeteria for the employees inside the building. The main stage is 400 m sq or about 3600 ft sq. This space is replicated 8 times, on the same floor, providing enough space for multiple scenes to be available for different acts as well as space for a rehearsal stage that is the exact same size and layout of the main stage with orchestra. So scenes are constantly being created, built, assembled, and disassembled on the lower floors. If an Opera is appearing from overseas, the scenes are delivered in shipping containers and are then assembled on the -6 floor. Each show runs around 3 weeks, and they are working a few months ahead of schedule. The shipping containers are delivered via a waterway from the Seine. It was absolutely amazing......to see behind the scenes of a place in Paris where creativity and artistry flows. And, to see the immensity and grandeur of the Opera house. This was one of those moments that I feel like is a gift from Paris. Similar to seeing David Reinhardt half a year ago. One of those moments that catch you by surprise.

I finally got my propane tank. Actually it arrives tomorrow. It ended up being one of those things that is so easy, you wonder why it took you so long to figure out. As most of you know, I melt glass to make glass beads. In order to do this I use an oxygen and propane mix torch. This produces a high temp. flame that can melt the glass. Initially, I searched for oxygen.........it taking me a few months to finally get my hands on some. I thought this would be the hardest thing to accomplish, so did it first. Then realized that my American torch did not work with the French system. My torch and regulators would not connect with the French oxygen tank. I looked for torches here with no luck, then looked for a torch in the US with European fittings. All with No Luck. When I returned from the US and Tahiti, I found someone who could change all of the fittings on my torch and order me oxygen and propane regulators. This taking them a few weeks to accomplish, I finally had my torch back and just needed to find propane. I had been asking about propane for awhile and learned that propane is "special" in France. Everyone kept trying to offer me Butane, but I always had to explain that I needed Propane to produce the high heat to melt glass. I have run into dead end upon dead end. And, it's been a ridiculous roller coaster, thinking that I have found Propane, only to be disappointed when I went to buy it. I have a nice friend who helped call one of the main suppliers of Butane and Propane and they sent me a list of places I should be able to get it. Funny that I had already tried 2 of the places on the list. Yesterday, I set out to hit all on the list, but decided to revisit a hardware store that is a few blocks from my place, and according to the list would be able to get me propane. It was so easy! I went in and asked for Propane......they said they didn't have it and it was difficult to get as no one really uses it in Paris. I explained that I needed it to melt glass and that I called the supplier and was told they would be able to help me. They said......well, we can call for it. I responded with, "Great! When will it be here?" They said Wed or Thurs. I said, "Great, can you call?" And, they did. It arrives tomorrow. I spent the next 15 minutes showing them photos of my jewelry, taking off my bracelet so they could examine it, and discussing the fact that I am trying to start this business, but all I need is propane. I got them hooked. We then talked about my torch and that I use oxygen to producer a high heat flame. They then asked where I got the oxygen. I told them it took me forever to find a company, but that I have someone who delivers to me. They told me that they sell oxygen and it would probably be cheaper. Why didn't they tell me any of this when I was there a few months ago???!!!!

So, is it the things we work the hardest for and that cause us to face the most obstacles, the ones that are the most successful??? Or, are we meant to learn patience, perseverance, and persistance? And, why do we sometimes need to take the longest, most discouraging route to attain something, then learn that it could have been as easy as walking down the street a few blocks and talking to some old men in a hardware store?

I hope my enthusiasm for the architecture of an Opera house and for Propane have not bored you.

I am excited to say that by tomorrow night, I will have made my first bead in Paris. By this weekend, I should have new jewelry. As I am working on getting my website done, I have created a store at www.kbykareen.etsy.com I will be posting new stuff on very soon, so please check it regularly. I hope you share my enthusiasm for my jewelry.

Again, thank you all for your support, your well wishes, and your compliments. I appreciate it all and enjoy hearing from you.

Love, Kareen

This is something I have been working on........a new tag for my jewelry. by Kareen