Nightingale??? What do they sound like?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

After a long and very hot day I'm hanging out in my office which is the coolest place in the house to be right now. It's 11:00pm and 80 degrees, there's also a bird singing out back, it's so weird to hear a bird at night. It's content though and sounds like it's just chirping and singing because it can.

The days ahead are full, orders for two new stores, Etsy sales, custom sales, building the studio, yard work, the garden, cleaning house, answering emails, packing for a trip to the Sierra's, cleaning up after myself and tending to Simes.

I've been planting around the studio and trying to figure out what I really want planted there, something low maintenance I suppose. I bought an iron plant holder for my old wood utility cross arm that I planted on the side of the studio. I'll either hang a humming bird feeder, silver gazing ball or something really cool. Tonight on my way back up to the house I noticed my lavender is really blooming and the bees are happy!

I'm signing off, I'm finally pooped out. I hope I made any sense of this!

The wind in the prairie

Friday, June 26, 2009

I finally figured out what I would use for the band of this chunky piece of silver. My initial decision was to make a buckle style but the snap closure was fitting. I chose a solid weight piece of leather as a cuff which balances as well as supports the weight of this piece of jewelry. The silver was triple riveted ensuring a secure mount. It's by far one of my favorite pieces to date.



"Prairie Wind"

I've never been on the prairie, I could only imagine the wind blown fields of grass, the wildflowers and the the songbirds singing as they're taken aloft by the wind.

The combination of leather and silver handsomely represent an organic chunky cuff offering an earthy, rustic appeal.

Silver swirls remind me of what a prairie wind would look like. The riveted sterling bar holds a significant amount of weight complimenting the wide brown leather cuff.

Width: 1 1/4"
Length: Approx 8"

Gratitude

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

With an abundance of gratitude I want to Thank EACH and EVERY person who's supported my crazy mind, scattered thoughts and my slow,meticulous ways.

I'm grateful for the people out there who wait ever so patiently to receive their orders/purchases as with this patience, I find you to be blessed with your understanding and know that you are on the very top of my pedestal.

There's just one thing that I can honestly say..... God didn't give me enough hours in the day to do everything I need to do. I'm a bit overwhelmed with orders BUT am eternally grateful for this and will continue to find new ways to utilize my precious time.

I anticipating a stressful day... scattered and full of pure bliss, especially when I'm finally packaging and off to town to ship out orders.

In closing, I've added images of another favorite bracelet that's found a wonderful home. Also one of my newest cast pieces that I'm pondering using leather or heavy chain.

looking back, seeing today and looking forward to the days ahead

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Fathers day key chains

Wax waiting to be sprued up and cast!

the Creek house in progress ;-)

Mister Simes

The pool at High Camp ~ Squaw

It's been a busy week and will continue on through the end of July. I closed last week getting the Father's day key chains sent out. I hope the Dads liked their key chains or at least needed them!

My week started out wonderful! It began with the reflections of my quick 24 hour trip to Tahoe to visit my son and his sweets.

The highlight was going up to High Camp at Squaw, a place that I love love love going to! We took Simes to the place he once played as a puppy and the memories were suddenly refreshed as soon as he stepped paw at that 8,200 elevation. Not a soul in the pool, it was freezing due to the wind gusts. The back drop was breath taking and as always I came home inspired and have no time to make the many things that are dancing around in my mind (soon to my sketch pad).

Tonight I'm going to Brenda's to cast... well, hopefully ;-) I played with my wax last week and have a few flasks ready to sprue up.... can't wait! I love Tuesday nights, Brenda has every tool you could imagine in her studio along with the BEST group of fellow jewelry designers.

The week ending we'll be building on the studio, I'll be shopping for old lighting,doors windows and a little more land scaping.

Evanescence

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Enduring the most recent days that have past, I've returned to a place where my mind soars and my heart sews new seeds of love and remembrance.

As I age, I become more sensitive to life in the TRUE meaning as in life there is death. After losing my little brother 17 months ago I had inherited his Betta whom I've named "Mister fish". Who would have thought a fish could touch ones heart? Perhaps I've attached myself to him since he was my brothers fish and was there when he passed away... who knows.

Mister fish has taken ill and has been laying on the bottom of his tank for 5 days now. He twirls, swims like a mad man and then sinks to the bottom. I've bought him a new fish tank and medicated the water, added salt etc. hoping that whatever ails him will diminish but not the case. He is dying and taking a damned long time to do so. I think he really doesn't want to leave. He swims around when I talk to him then sinks again. SO I'm truly sad this week and hate seeing anything suffer.

I'm amazed at the strength of our hearts, they're incredibly strong. They've survived that first broken heart from a high school sweetheart and you'd swear you would have died from the pain, they survive the loss of a loved one (most of the time yet they continue to be broken only to mend.

By Mister fish's slow death process, it's resurfaced the broken heart I had 17 months ago, it's brought back feelings that will inevitably return once again.

A fish has done this to me!!!!

In my feeling of helplessness I went back to that odd little creative place in my mind and felt the need to create something a little different and bring back some old style. I hopped in front of the torch and made some old favorites, ivory with rose frit and adding to a little wax cast nugget that I had made over at Brenda's studio. I like the way this turned out, nice and simple and an agape of love.

Tias job

Thursday, June 11, 2009

I woke this morning knowing that I had to get the rest of my orders finished and shipped, first things first... that's what I thought! I was in the middle of a project and I heard a little voice coming down the stairs.... "Tia?"

I melted as I knew that was my little "Pocca" who just had major back surgery only two weeks ago at the Shriners hospital in Sacramento. I was holding off from seeing her since I'd rather have that special visit when she was feeling better.

Little miss "Pocca Hanna" wanted to stay and watch me work while my sister (her Mom) ran errands. I was so happy to have an audience. I had to stop what I was doing and start a new project so she could see a pile of nothing turn into something awesome. By the time I (we) finished the earrings, her little face was so bright and in complete amazement. I finally had the opportunity to show someone in my family what I do all day. It was pure bliss for me and bless her heart for staying in the shop for most of the afternoon to watch me work. If she was hurting she sure didn't show it, she's a tough little girl!

So.... here's what we made today and then off to list them.

Love them!

The Creek house

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Whoa Cindy..... I couldn't wait to get that landscaping started! There's a lot of planting to do, ALOT!

Yay!
Barely popped the crust off the earth. A small studio, 12x12 with a 2 ft. covered deck.

This will be very simple studio.

The rock was taken from the dirt while we shoveled out from under the pier blocks, Aztec red Verbena ground cover

My little gate alarm

First spring lavender blooms

New lavender started for the outside parameter of Creek house

A new daisy plant from Moms

The stones really aren't this white, they're a lighter shade of the rock

One of many Blackberry bushes and Alder tree's

New daisies along the creek started from "Moms" seeds out of her flower garden

While letting tadpoles loose into the creek I noticed something bright swimming around.... someone up stream let their gold fish loose in the creek!

I still can't believe what I see lol!!!

Our evening hang out spot, good times shared our family and many of our dear friends

New Wallflower blooms

Artichoke ~ Planted last year, hasn't produced yet.... I'm guessing it takes a few years?

One of my favorite exhibits in the yard

We have a couple of Native American grinding pots that were buried in the dirt down by the creek and now are a part of our landscaping

The day has finally arrived, the ground breaking of the Creek house. I've been wanting to build a small studio down by the creek where it's quiet and a place where I'm in the midst of my inspiration. The sound of the little spring fed creek, the birds, the black berry bushes and the frogs, oh how I love the constant croaking of those frogs.

We're using recycled wood with the exception of a few materials that need to be new. I'll be posting pictures of our progress as we get there .... It's not going to be perfect but will most certainly be VERY much appreciated and rustically cozy.

The finishing touches will make this yet another one of the most enjoyable little places to visit,
"down at the Creek house".

Tahoe's emerald

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Saturday June 6th

~Todays listing~

On the closing of yet another state park due to the California budget crisis, the beautiful Emerald bay of south Lake Tahoe is one of many state parks on Arnold's list for closures.

While picking through my cabochons I found this beauty, the color of the waters that can be found along the shores of Lake Tahoe.

So in honor of the beautiful bay, "Tahoe's emerald" is born.

The focal is a 1" bezeled rich yet warm smokey mountain turquoise cabochon displayed by an ornate frame of heavy gauged sterling wire. This stunning piece hangs from a tri strand of textured and plain sterling chain attaching to the front of this bayish beauty.

Focal measures 2" across
Length 16"

Soul of a flip flop?

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

While rummaging through my supply cabinet I found a batch of flip flops I purchased last summer with the intent of adorning them with sterling buttons, flowers and funk. I completely forgot about them and now they've re-surfaced back into my reality world. I'm not sure if I'm selling them on Etsy, the stores who carry my jewelry or just give them as gifts. I think they're fun, a little "old news" and now that Sundance has jumped on that wagon I may just pass on this one.... Here's a pair that I riveted my "soul of a flower" words on to a sterling silver bar. I kind of like it and think it would look great on leather flip flops. I'm trying to figure out how to make my own leather shoes some day..... that WILL be an adventure.

New listings today, the first is a ceramic button bracelet laced onto distressed leather. I bought the buttons while in Sitka Alaska. They're glazed with toasty warm shades of brown and sporting dots of ivory.

The second listing is a ring that would have been fun but I lost my passion during that special moment of creation. The quartz stone is shattered giving it an interesting look. The band is wide then tapers to a smaller form towards the top of the ring where the bezeled quartz sits. I've discounted this ring due to it's kinda ugly nature.

The last item is a bezeled beige coin pearl resting in the midst of a sterling cobblestone beads. It's got a feminine hint about it, rugged, rustic, organic yet feminine. Someday soon I may make a wide cuff with a row of the bezeled coin pearls and cobblestone beads. A bezeled sterling dome or brass would look just as nice as the pearl does.

Gotta run... more work to complete.

Oh... for those of you who were going to come to our home this weekend for the Earthstove workshop, it's been cancelled for the time being. I was SOOOOOOO bummed! Something's come up and we're needing to re-schedule with Brian perhaps the end of July or sometime in August. I'm looking forward to lots of rustic bread!

Check his site out

http://www.urbanearthsolutions.com