Super Fancy Royal Wedding

I have the wedding and all the appropriate accompaniments on the DVR but haven't settled in to watch. It seems like a Sunday morning kind of thing.



Inspired by all the super fancy outfits and pictures I made these pieces with some gorgeous quartz (pink and silver). The pink has gold plated findings and is strung on pink silk thread. The silver is all sterling with some matching earrings.




They'll be perfect for all of our formal occasions - or our trip to Vegas in a couple of weeks.

Lame Friday Update

This is another gemstone necklace I made a week or so ago. I'm loving the simple necklaces and how the stones warm up through the day. Admittedly, these stones are a little bigger than usual and it got a little heavy by the end of the day. I still love it and can't wait to figure out how to layer it with a few more pieces since it may be too subtle on it's own. :)



This one I finished this week and it has a matching pair of earrings. The rosary connector is a locket which also happens to be connected to a locket just in case you might need a few options for carrying favorite photos around. This one should eventually make it's way into the Etsy shop but I've been busy and kind of lazy.

I'm a little overwhelmed at my 22 item to do list for this weekend and I just remembered I need to add grocery shopping to it. Ugh. I think it's time to curl up in bed and read until tomorrow.

Happy Friday!

Fort Worth's Main Street Arts Festival 2011

The husband knows it's a little rocky at work right now so to take my mind off of it he volunteered to take me to the Fort Worth Main Street Art Festival. I've gone a few times before and it's always fabulous. I always want to move afterwards to a place that has tons of wall space and square footage for gallery walls.

Me as a happy art camper. I even dressed in a reasonable fashion with white t-shirt (usually wear black and bake in the sun), sunscreen in lotion and make-up along with hat to protect head from sunburn along with forehead and nose.



I saw these pieces and immediately wished for an extra $10k hanging around so I could take one, or two, home with me. These were incredible in person. The artist is Aaron Hequembourg and I'm already planning to start an art piggy bank for one of his pieces along with that house that was previously mentioned. I'd need it since some of them are huge.



This little guy, which was pretty large as well, is adorable and has such a great expression especially for a metal sculpture. I think this one would fit in the backyard but not necessarily the car.



You can have one of these fabulous sculptures for a measly $25k and a huge truck for transport. The pieces had more than a few folks mesmerized.




I fell hard for these pieces. The artist, Micheal Paul Cole, creates a plaster background on a wood canvas and mounts a photograph (not digital but actual film and dark room image) on the piece. He also made the frame out of maple. In fact, I loved this one so much it's now hanging on my living room wall!



I got a few more pieces that I'll have to put in future posts since they're unframed prints and it's dark to take an image at this point. Also, I'd like them to be framed to truly show them off. I also picked up a few gifts. Buying directly from the artist is my favorite way to shop. People get one of a kind gifts and I get to support artists I really admire and respect who are trying to make a living doing what they love. Puppies, unicorns and glitter for everyone!

And because the husband is such a sport, I took him for burgers over at Tim Love's Love Shack.



Burger with what I believe to be the perfect bottom bun with a finger hold for adding condiments.



Burger Love... sigh. Seriously, this place was fabulous and the outside setting is gorgeous. The sky was the perfect Texas blue sky with a breeze and mild temps. Heaven on a patio. If you find yourself in Fort Worth with a burger hankering run over to try it out. I promise, it's fantastic!



In case you didn't believe me, blue skies. The red (neon), white building and blue sky are the perfect red, white, and blue combo.



I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.

Back in the Saddle

source


It's been a rough few weeks but I'm finally on the mend. I had been having a lot of issues as I start new meds, stop some old ones and then hope for the best. In the process of it all I started feeling incredibly exhausted. It went on for a few weeks then a couple of weeks ago, on a Friday, I got the full on cough and sinus congestion. Hubby wanted to take me to the doctor right away but I felt stupid seeing as how I was sick for only a few days but finally on Monday we went... pneumonia and a sinus infection so not so silly. A full week at home doing nothing but napping and taking meds finally got me back to the land of the living and then another week and a half and I'm starting to feel pretty good. I've even managed some fun jewelry projects and a little baking.

Hopefully, I'll be back to regular blogging and I'm working on a summer project list. I'm determined to embrace the summer, even the heat here in Texas, and have fun a la summer vacation!

Hope everyone's having a great week and I am off to snuggle with the family and watch lots of reality TV.

Latest Books

In case anyone's interested, and you're a fan of urban fantasy (if you're not, please don't tell me), here's a quick list of a few favorites I read in the last couple of weeks.

I just finished reading Jim Butcher's anthology of short stories in the Harry Dresden series Side Jobs. Serious greatness. Plus, I'm now super excited and totally nervous (i.e. slightly dreading) the release of Ghost Story coming out in a few months.



Patricia Briggs and the Mercy Thompson series may be my favorite right now. I love Mercy and am a big fan of where the series is headed.



I love the Hollows series but the last couple of books haven't been my favorites. This one was similar and I'm not sure I like the direction of the series. It's not a big enough issue to stop reading (in part because I have a series book monkey on my back) but I'm hoping they eventually get back to somewhere I want it to go.



My comments on Late Eclipses are the exact opposite. I love where this series is headed and Tobey Daye becomes a more compelling character with each book. The amount of research that must go into the this series is a little staggering but I'm completely appreciative and these books are fantastic.



Rob Thurman rocks the Cal Leandros series and this was no exception. Loved it and was ready for more way too quickly. I'm pretty sure I read this in one day and drove the hubby nuts. Her dedication also made me all teary eyed before I even started.



Ok, I'm done and would've posted all the new books coming out that are exciting the book monkey but I'm tired and doing all the links would push me to the edge. May be later this week. Hope everyone had a terrific weekend.

Pretties and a small post

The studio clean up is going pretty well. I'm actually at a point where I can see pretty things like this again. Once it's all back in order, I'll post pics. In this case, no before images will be shown.



I got this on a trip back home to Missouri last fall - and it doesn't matter how long we live in Texas, back home will always mean Missouri - and I love him. He hangs above my dresser with my growing rosary collection (some are in the studio) and a few favorite necklaces. Originally I had planned to hang him in the kitchen but he never made it.



Necklace I re-worked. It had been strung on a cord with swarovski beads but it was too fussy for me (shocking I know!) so now it's back to simple chain with clasp. Much better for layering.



Happy Tuesday! I'm off to catch up on junk TV before Rolland makes it home. He doesn't complain too often but if I can get it out of the way so he doesn't even have to tolerate it, even better!

Quick Weekend Update

So far the weekend has been pretty good but busy. I did a local market on Saturday with a friend basically selling jewelry I like but don't really wear anymore and a few quick pieces I made last week. Had a fairly decent take rate and discovered everyone loves a set! Earrings, earrings, earrings. Now I know for next time!

I've been loving the chunky necklaces I'm seeing everywhere and decided to use some of my splurge finds. These are large amethyst stones and a silver clasp I got a couple of years ago in Omaha. Wired together a la silver 20 gauge wire and now I've got a lovely necklace of my own. Awesome for spring and summer but I think it will look terrific mixed in with a lot of the gray pieces I own.



I'm also working on a spring cleaning of the studio which is only slightly less of a disaster now. I can't complain too much since hubby's tackling the garage. :o

Happy Sunday Guys!

Baking and Stuff

I've been doing a lot of this lately.



I find it incredibly relaxing to bake and have the house smell yummy. There's a reason I love Julie & Julia so much - Nora Ephron really got it right that it's such a comfort to know mixing eggs and chocolate will thicken. It really is a law of the universe. It's reassuring to know if you follow instructions, have a little patience and a really good mixing bowl that lovely baked goods will emerge. This is not always true for the rest of the outside world. I prefer to stay all hermit like in the house.

Except for last weekend. I went to the Bishop Arts District with a friend to check out what's new. We found this incredible shop (I saw it on Unique Eats on the cooking channel) that I couldn't believe was in Dallas.



I highly recommend a visit. They let you sample everything and really know their stuff. A chocolate and foodie lover's paradise.

A nice view of downtown and the Pegasus way off in the distance.



Love the Belmont Hotel perched high up on the hill. I'm dying to try Smoke right next door.



I've got big plans for some bread baking this weekend.

Valentine's Pretties

As previously mentioned I kind of sucked on the Christmas gifts so here are a few Valentine's make goods.

This one is a necklace I made for a super sweet friend of mine. I couldn't resist the "Queen Bee".



I've had this collage on my desk for a long time and finally finished adding pieces parts.



The collage made its way into this charm and I love the close up. I want to think I was channeling Frida Kahlo without the color and amazing talent but it's my moment of delusion so there you go.

Baking and Soldering

I've become a huge fan of the show "Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag" on the OWN network so I did a little baking this weekend. Although to be clear, I don't really need much of a push to do any baking!

These were cookies I made over the holidays and froze the dough. This is the absolute best way to insure an easy option for much needed baked goods in an emergency. I thawed them over a few days then rolled them and baked them today. They're the Mexican Hot Chocolate cookies from one of the cookie editions of Martha Stewart Living. Super tasty and the touch of chipotle powder to the mixture you roll the cookies in is awesome. I think they're the perfect "take to the office for Valentine's treat".



Muffins from one of my favorite baking books. I made the blueberry muffins but had to swap out most of the sour cream for yogurt and it's a pretty tasty substitution. After Rolland nicely ran out to get more sour cream, I made another batch for him with cherries instead of blueberries. He declared these tasty as well.



And finally for dinner, homemade pizza. I've been making the crust for years which is super easy. The sauce my dad actually taught me forever ago and it's still a favorite. Rolland, not a fan but that's the beauty of homemade pizza, everybody can make it to order.



During all of the cooking frenzy, I made 5 charms. 3 are for Valentine's gifts (I was a big failure at Christmas so folks are getting Valentine's gifts!) and two others just 'cause I had enough stuff on my desk to work on a few more and more sparkles are always great.

I hope everyone had a terrific Valentine's eve and have plans for a sweet and romantic day tomorrow.

For the love of pink

I'm over at the day job's blog today sharing my love of pink! There are some very pretty pictures over there. :)

A Faux Vintage Assembley

On Sunday I wanted to do a little jewelry making without a major production. I dug through the bead drawer and found these yummy gumball looking stones. I decided to use links from vintage chain that I just can't seem to get enough of it (here and here).




I had a few beads leftover and thought this little guy needed something really pretty to show him off.



Oddly, the hubby didn't hate it and called it "Egyptian Looking". I think he's on to something there.

Most Recent Snowfall

Cirque Came to Town

Last weekend we ventured out to Ikea and saw the cirque folks were all set up. I love Cirque du Soleil and we've checked out all of their Vegas offerings except Elvis - next time - and even the hubby loves it. He drove all around the baseball field in Frisco so I could snap some shots. He's a keeper!







Good thing we ventured out, we ended up iced/snowed in all week! Pics in the next post.

New Foodie Favorite

Extra Virgin on the Cooking Channel has to be one of my new favorite foodie shows. I kind of love Debi Mazar anyway, such amazing style, so watching her cook with her husband at their house in LA is greatness. They're kind of hilarious but serious about food which is also greatness. I mean they built a pizza oven in their backyard (new summer project for hubby?!) incorporating tiles from Italy. Also, the food looked amazing.

Speaking of food, I'm to a lunch date with the hubby.