Necklace Quickie

I had fun on Friday night just playing in my studio with all the elements I had laying around my desk. I think every thing came from Silver Crow and I just had to put a few pieces together. I continued playing with the annealed steel and have managed to wrangle it easier. No pieces fought back although I have found my new fancy cutters really cut and I have to be careful to keep the cutting pieces covered so they don't go flying! Anyway, I love my new owl necklace and feel on top of the trend since I'm starting to see them everywhere... or at least on all the cool kids! ;)

p.s. don't forget to leave me a comment if you want to be included on the drawing for the 300 necklace... odd since I just watched that movie. Anyway, I think I'll give everyone until my 309th post then all the names are going into the pretty tin for picking by the hubby. Trust me when I say he's not biased, or incredibility interested, he's just a good sport!

Happy 300th Post!

As promised, on my 300th post I want to give something back to everyone who reads, comments and/or helps me feel like I'm not writing into a black hole! This is one of my favorite pieces with pink pearls (my favorite color), vintage religious medal (love all things old), soldered charm (yep, I'm pretty open about my love of solder) and a sterling clasp (becoming my favorite jewelry finding to make).

Just a leave a comment on this post with a way to reach you. If you want, share one of your favorite things (yep, love that Oprah episode!). Here are a few of mine:
1. Crazy Sexy Cancer is my favorite documentary - truly inspirational
2. Susan Wittig Albert writes my favorite mysteries
3. Top Gear - favorite show on BBC America
4. Deadliest Catch - favorite show at the moment
5. Favorite Shoes!

I'd give you my favorite movies but that list would just be too long!

Thanks for hanging around and finding me interesting, well, at least pretending to find me interesting!

Time in the studio!

I had fun cleaning up my space and make a few fun silly pieces. I also made my first pair of earrings that are wire wrapped around ruby jade. I used a low gauge annealed steel for the wires and high gauge steel for the wrapping. Luckily, I escaped any injuries this time! I really like them but definitely need more practice.

The lucky kitty necklace is a charm I got from Silver Crow and made with coral and a couple of accent green beads (also silver crow). I picked up some silver pagoda earrings at World Market just to wear them together. Clearly, I love a theme!

The pearl necklace was apparently strung a long time ago since I found it in a basket with beads, other pearls and thread. All I had to do was close the bead tips and add a clasp. I used a rhinestone piece I also found on the desk and formed a hook out of some extra sterling wire. Probably the quickest project I've ever made! I'm not sure if the pearls are vintage or not but they definitely have that feel to them and they'll look great layered with my other pieces.

Amy Hanna inspired necklace

I loved my class I took with Amy Hanna at the Art Nest. I've been trying to incorporate more found objects and wire wrapping into pieces and I had the perfect opportunity for my friend Suzanne's b-day. I made this piece with existing chain and then I had chained the string with vintage german crystal beads (very cranky to work with beads). This was also the first time I used annealed steel and it looks great (I think) but it definitely puts up a fight! The charm on the back of the piece is a religious charm and I love the image and color on the otherwise dark piece. I was really happy with the results on this one and have big plans for earrings this weekend!

Happy Father's Day

I haven't had a chance to get the new pics of the camera so this one from Christmas is it for now. :) We had a great time with the fam and it was awesome to spend some fun time together. Luckily, we missed all the bad weather and it was mostly beautiful with sunny blue skies and a cool breeze. Perfect Father's Day weather. I hope you had a great weekend Dad!

Sheesh, it's hot and busy around here!

We've been really busy sort of packing and going to the new house. They put up trim and the balusters which are only really important to us so no pics. :) I've been working on a couple projects but nothing completed yet. One of the pieces is a necklace and I'm using annealed steel for the first time. Yikes! So it's pokey and hard to bend but I love how it looks next to the vintage crystal beads (my supply is running low and I have no idea if I can get more. I'm trying not to panic). I did use one of my 50% off at Michael's coupons on heavier wire cutters and they work like a dream! It was the best 3 bucks I've spent in a while and I'm kicking myself for not having done it sooner. OY!

I'm packing ( a few clothes and a million books for the drive. Heaven!) up to head to Kansas tomorrow for a family reunion. My Mom and I are going junking tomorrow after I get there and I can't wait. We haven't really done this for years and she's one of the few people I know, and spend time with regularly, who doesn't mind sifting through all the gunky stuff to find something really fabulous. She's also scoped out some cool places she's been telling me about for a while so I'm really thrilled to finally be there in person. I may even take the fancy camera since I've been short on pics to post lately. I blame the heat. The 100 degree days (so it's really only 95 but I'm not letting that stop my exaggeration) sap the energy out of me and I just want to turn the air conditioner down to 65 (I know, I know, Rolland won't let me either) and get back into bed and stay there until winter.

I hope you guys have plans for a wonderful weekend! If you don't it's not too late to catch all the super cool shows on Sci-fi tomorrow night. I'm telling you Doctor Who can change your life. Plus, he's pretty to look at.

Booth photos

I finally got the pics of hubby's camera so I can show you some of the booth pics from last month's art fair. I added a few jars of dice and anagrams later but this covers most of it.

I'm working on a necklace for a belated b-day present that's taking longer than I thought but I'm hoping to be able to finish it in the next day or so. Plus, I've got some pics for my cowgirl swap to show!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Inspiration

I love this blog post from Jenny Doh about an unexpected compliment. It makes my day when I get compliments, especially from strangers who have no vested interest in keeping you happy, so as you go through day and see someone with an awesome bag or think someone in the elevator has a great skirt. Share it. You never know when an offhand compliment could completely change some one's day and make it great.

Also, it's Friday so the weekend is here! Woo hoo! Tomorrow is a girl's day with my friend Jen. We're meeting for breakfast then I'm going to show off the new house. I think we'll round it out with a showing of Sex and the City (I saw it once with my husband who felt bad I was willing to go alone just to see it opening weekend. He really is awesome. But now I'm going again so I can actually squeal and giggle in all the good parts.) and a trip to IKEA. It's a madhouse on Saturday but I think we can struggle through.

Sunday is a trip to the new house for pictures with the hubby then we've got to clean and work on seriously packing. I think we're hoping elves will come in the night and handle it but I'm beginning to see that's not the most viable option.

Any super exciting plans from you guys for a fabulous summer weekend?

Oh my!

After watching Top Gear last night, this was not one of our best moments. To be fair, my husband and I both cringed when we saw that they truly didn't seem to understand how badly this was going to go for them.

In perkier news, it's much closer to the 300th post and a goodie giveaway!

New Area

This is a pic of a temple near our new house that I love. I photoshopped the one photo into submission so you can see the details on the statue. It's an amazing site. A simple normal ranch house surrounded by statues with offerings. Wonderful!

The other photo is of me in my new studio space. These photos don't really convey the size of the space well but it's awesome and incredibly bright. I'm already making plans for the work zones! The area by the stairs is the entry when you're upstairs and it's going to be a display area with all my doll heads, glass jars, bell jars and my "Faith" print I got at the Main St. Arts Festival. Rolland is very nervous.

#291

This is my 291st blog post. I think something fantastic should be done to celebrate 300. I've been lucky enough to get some gorgeous goodies from giveaways so I think it's only fair to pay it back so for 300, I'll be giving away... well, something. I must ponder.

I don't have anything new and fantastic to share except that I'm feeling a little better but super tired from working today. I'm getting ready to head for bed. Yes, I know it's 7:15 but when you're used to a 5 hour nap in the middle of the day it may as well be midnight! I'm just sayin'.

So, about this pic (taken in Colorado). Everyone typically shares a few tidbits about themselves which most of the world was unaware. I feel like I've been remiss in my duty here (except to share my love of oddball books and movies, speaking of which add Top Gear to your TIVO - it's a British car show that's awesome!) so, here's a little weirdness about me. This is my baby bear that's about 8 inches long and tops in at 5 1/2 oz. When you're at that weight, it's important to throw in the 1/2. I got him when we first moved to Texas 13 years ago when the husband worked nights to keep me company. Husband no longer works nights but the bear stayed and travels with me everywhere. The only exception was Art Nest when he thought there was too great a risk of strangers picking him up. Yes, I anthropomorphize the hell out of him! Anyway, the baby bear has been everywhere and I've got pics of him in most places. About 5 years ago he got a friend, a baby lion (we don't talk about his weight) and the lion has now joined bear in our travels. They've been to Toronto, Paris, London, L.A., across the border to Mexico, Portland, New Orleans, Florida, etc. Las Vegas is there favorite and we've got tons of pics of them at Caesar's Palace. They really are too cute and have allowed themselves to be carried around the world in a large leather Coach satchel. Life is hard when you're brown. And stuffed. And weigh 5 1/2 ounces.

Anyway, that's it, that's what I've got for #291. I promise to do better in the future. :)

p.s. Bo, Top Gear has convinced me that this might be better than a Vespa.

Wow, it's Tuesday already!

I'm finally up from my nap, yes, my nap. I've been home all day since I've been diagnosed with Strep throat and I'm seriously unhappy about it. My Dad and Sister have been plagued by it for years but I've always been very smug about my never having had it. The universe is seriously pissed about said smugness and struck me down. My throat has only been sore for a few days but I told my husband (the former ER nurse) that it's never hurt like this before and apparently the words "not like this before" are key to a diagnosis and he had me hustle it to the doctor today where they did the test. That was uhm, unpleasant. So, in order to get the universe off my ass I'm officially and publicly announcing my illness and telling my family that I'm really really sorry that I was ever taunting you with my clean bill of strep throat health.

My illness did not strike me down enough to not have seen the Indiana Jones movie this weekend. It was pretty ok. I was disappointed but there were some classic moments and then not some classic moments. I'm sorry to say that I enjoyed our second viewing of Iron Man more. Go see Iron Man anytime but only see Indiana Jones during the afternoon or first show for the cheaper ticket. :)

Oh yeah, we also bought a different new house than previously reported and my studio will now be the game room. It's worth a smaller closet for that space! Pictures are forthcoming.

Now I've apparently stretched the limits of how much time I can spend up right and I'm heading back to bed for another nap. I promise a fun non-medical post soon!

p.s. No one I know has strep throat except for my fam 500 miles away so take appropriate precautions when talking on the phone people!

Lovely Nic Hohn

I received these wonderful pieces in the mail yesterday from Nic Hohn. I received them after posting a "soul message" on her blog. This pic doesn't do these works justice. They are really rich and vibrant and I'm a lucky lucky girl! Thank you Nic!

Sorry for the short post but I've got to start the long trek to downtown!

Now I can face the summer!

After measuring on Friday, my hair reached the appropriate length for donation and I called, got the appointment and today there is brand new hair. While this seems like a straight forward enough transaction, this hair color came after some trial and error. The first was a gorgeous pink and blonde concoction that would not have gone over well at work but I loved it. After some discussion of toning it down we got this color which is a vibrant, uhm, aubergene? It's not as bright as the pink but a second glance will tell you it's not auburn. I don't really care though, I kind of love both colors and the cut is awesome. I feel like I've lost 50 pounds! It is extremely reminiscent of the first season of Charmed hair. :)

Marie Garland

This is another piece that I was sure had to decorate my table at Urban Bazaar. Unfortunately, I'm having some blurry photo trouble but you get the idea. The fabulous Maija commented that she prefers Josephine... I'm seeing a future of all the wonderful queen garlands I could make. That Christmas tree would rock!