I think I have mentioned here that there are some very big changes coming for this website - and I'm very excited about them. I believe it will allow me to spend more time focusing on the custom and creative aspects of the business. I have several goals for the business this year and one of them is to connect with more people who are looking for custom jewelry pieces, either as custom wedding bands, custom wedding jewelry, or just a custom jewelry piece for themselves or as a gift.

It seems to me that, in general, there are several trends in jewelry. I see one of them as specialized, custom jewelry work where people who want to be involved in the design process and are looking for exceptional quality, an incredible experience and a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. I am working on building custom jewelry pages that describe the process. I will be adding an area where my previous and current custom jewelry customers can comment and share their experiences as well as detailed information about different metal and stone options when you create custom jewelry.

Come back soon and visit the custom jewelry pages. 

What a wild ride the gold market was in 2007! It went up over 33% in one year alone, and then in the last 30 days alone broke new records and went up almost 9%. I believe we will continue to see gold prices going up throughout 2008 and probably into 2009. I feel like the top of the market will likely be quite a bit higher. I know people might think I'm crazy for stating that, but I've felt pretty strongly all along that it would go there.

When you think about the price now and compare it to the peak in the 1980 when Gold also reached the $800s (which, by the way, everyone said it would never do again! What is it about 'cyclical' that people don't get?) a dollar was worth a whole lot more than it is now. So even though we are reaching 'new highs', if adjusted for inflation, they wouldn't be quite as high.

For example, the cost of a 1/2 gallon of milk in 1980 was $0.85, now that same half gallon is (here anyway) $2.19 - more than 250%! So, if we base our estimates of gold prices on the general numbers for milk, then we would have to take an average gold price for 1980, which was $612 (the high was $850), the high would have to be around $2125 to be the same. I know it's not a perfect argument, but it seems logical to me!

Hope everyone is enjoying the 2nd day of the New Year! 

Happy New Year Everyone!

May 2008 bring you love, joy, health and abundance the likes of which you have never known before!

Payson & Co. LLC has some amazing growth coming in 2008, some incredible opportunities and doors openning. I am so excited about all the possibilities and look forward to sharing them with all of you! 

Payson 

I hope everyone got everything they wanted for Christmas!! :-)

It's such an honor to know that there were several little boxes out there under people's trees waiting to bring them joy - with shiny and sparkly things made by me!

For my part, Christmas was quiet and wonderful. I spent it with my wonderful boyfriend of 10 years (the first time we've ever had Christmas alone!). We got up late, snuggled into the couch with coffee and bagels and openned our presents and our stockings (delivered from Santa via my parents in Tucson, AZ!). I was really blessed this year and received some incredible gifts including a new computer!! I'm so excited because it will allow me to do even more with the 3D digital modeling (www.rhino3d.com) than I can with my current computer. It's a great little laptop, but lacks the power, the graphics capacity and the screen real estate to work efficiently and comfortably.

Looking forward to New Year's now - 2008 will be the best year yet! 

The winter solstice is here! I'm so glad!

It's been dark and gray in NYC for what feels like weeks and it is only 4:30pm and it's DARK outside! I am delighted that we have reached the shortest day of the year (was it yesterday or today?) and will now start moving again in the the direction of more light.

I wish you all very Happy Holidays - whether it is a Festival of Lights, Christmas, Kwanza, Chanukah or other celebration! Enjoy!

Payson 

The Holiday Season is in full swing, parties everywhere, people running around trying to finish last minute shopping and I experienced my first holiday 'moment' yesterday. It's been as surreal for me as always this year, and I've been too busy to pay much attention to decorating or creating a holiday atmosphere at home, so have been relying on places outside to help me get into the mood. Well, yesterday afternoon as the sun went down (at 4pm!), with a Decaf Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks (I get addicted to them every year at this time, by about the 2nd week of Januarly I'm sick to death of them) at my side, a favorite pen in hand and my journal I was suddenly aware of and happily feeling the holiday spirit.

So, today I am wishing you all a beautiful, warm and wonderful holiday moment - if that means quiet, peaceful tranquility, or the buzz of a tree decorating party or the holiday show of your 3rd grader - may you find yourself feeling unbounded joy, even if only for a moment.

With love and joy!

Payson