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Jem DeSanti

Designer & Maker — Documenting the Journey

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Only Boring People Get Bored

Only Boring People Get Bored

A week of making, discovering, and being called out by Rutger Bregman.

The Bay provides. This week it was the Silent Book Club, caramel experiments (only the rose petal batch survived), sourcing jasmine tea and dried rose petals across Oakland, meaningful crochet progress, and a new DPS rubber stamp with the lily of the valley logo that turned out beautifully.

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First Ever Dark Parlour Society Picnic

No Pots, No Pans, No Sunblock

First Ever Dark Parlour Society Picnic

It has been one of those weeks that felt longer than a week in the best possible way.

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Capsule Machines

It Spoke to Me and I Answered

Oakland wandering, loaded machines, and an invitation among 6,000 roses.

A week of small movements adding up to something — a BART ride to a corset fitting, a thrift run that turned up a pulpit stand I cannot explain, an afternoon at Otto's working on May fortunes. The machines are loaded. The first Parlour Lawn Party is Saturday.

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Lounging in Santa Barbara

The Worm Gave Me Permission

A worm, a train, a dollar, and a knob you turn.

April was my birthday month — 41, a solo Amtrak to Santa Barbara, a loft bed sold on Facebook Marketplace, and a bumper sticker worm that gave me permission to do the thing I already wanted to do. Go Wander is launched. The LLC is formed.

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March in Photos

A letter from the studio — and elsewhere

I've been on Instagram since 2010. What I didn't notice was how slowly the water was warming. So I left. On the other side: less influenced, getting clearer on what I actually like. Also — I'm renting my own space again. Small. Modest. Manageable.

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February Mood Board

January 2026: Transitions

Embracing life's upheavals with introspection, fresh reads, an inspiring metalsmithing class and fitness gains.

I moved. I grieved. I joined a gym at 5:30am. My metalsmithing class at Richmond Art Center started — the teacher's name is Ricki, and I got to light copper on fire. The body and brain are both finding their rhythm again.

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NYE 2026 look

What happened when I finally listened

How I spent a decade pushing against garment-making, discovered jewelry by accident, and learned to separate being an artist from running a business.

It's December 31st at 7:31pm and I've already attended and left my New Year's Eve party by myself. Now I sit on the couch eating leftover pasta, listening to jazz, thinking about what I want to make in January. 2025 has been one of those formative years.

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