Week 28 of 52

What can I say……except I'm very grateful it's MONDAY…..it's a new week a new beginning and we'll just not really go into what has happened in the past 4 weeks!!

BIG NEWS……we're moving back to Austin!  Don't know any more details than that…..I'm back in the Limbo game and have added the CHA CHA steps to the dance!

Where was this move two years ago when I wanted to go back to all my friends….BUT no…..so did I sit around and mop for more than two years……NO I finally got hooked in with a REALLY fabulous, talented group of peeps…..we are just on the verge of something….not really quite sure what but we've been invited to join our PMC instructor to do shows with her…..I've FINALLY found a teacher with metal fabrication/design knowledge that could really move my work ahead and this weekend I took a stamp tool making workshop that will add another dimension to my work……so I finally feel like I'm moving in the right direction and I'm having the rug pulled out from under me AGAIN.

To top that off a very dear friend is giving me another opportunity to get published in her 3rd Zentangle book……I blew it on the 2nd book and couldn't get my design ideas together in time….and to be honest, I'm sure I was doing the self sabotage dance!
What was the quote I just read this week, can't find where I wrote it down…..but it goes something like….no need to push forward, just need to get out of the way!
I've tried a number of things to get my groove on….and I keep coming back to metals……I REALLY LOVED working with the grinder this weekend, getting dirty and making something beautiful…..I am hoping for the time when I can escape into a space where I can do those creative ideas that keep popping in my head….there are so many that don't seem to come to life only because I don't do them….I'm tooooo busy spinning around looking for my place!

Okay enough of the sad sack stuff…..think I'll try what has been so successful for my friend…..do some escaping into a zentangle or two, heehee!

Oh here is a snap shot of some of the molds I was making while house/pet sitting in Austin over the 4th….

Haven't had a chance to see how they turned out just yet!  My plan was to do some PMC in them….1st copper then silver!

Not sure if I showed you all this………but this is one of my PMC pieces…..I like the way it turned out….a little shinny for me….still need to tone it down with some patinas!

Had a little set back with the bronze metal clay we worked with…..just has lots of problems in compared to the silver but of course the cost is also huge as well!

Okay I'm signing off the the night…..until next time!

Week 24 of 52

Oh my time just blew me away this past week....Thank God It's Monday!!

This is going to be a really short message this week...I will be finishing it up later this week....my photos didnt make it to the computer.... There is so much I will be sharing...so hang in there and keep checking back!
Til then......

Week 23 of 52

Whew…….what a week……..sooo much to tell you…….first I have to start out with a BIG
THANK GOD IT'S MONDAY……I'm so grateful for a fresh new week!!

"If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month"  Theodore Roosevelt

I thought this was sooo funny but true most of the time…….if we could just get out of our own way we'd make much better progress…….as it so happens this past week for me I was able to get out of my own way and it was a fabulous week!!  Now today is another matter…..but we don't need to go there just yet!!

I had the most incredible time with a new teacher, Sharon Gillispie and the Jewelry Junkies…..well not the whole gang but four of us!  I had met Sharon at Bead Fest right in the middle of the worst class I've ever taken….also in PMC…….opps forgot to say…..I am giving PMC another chance and I'm soooo glad I did….Sharon makes up for all the frustration and anger with Bead Fest AND Donna Lewis our teacher……..a world of difference….night and day…..can't say it any more clear!
Soo let me show you the 1st piece I did with Sharon…….

It's silver with a bit of dichroic glass!  I was able to press the clay into a pattern for the base, also used that same pattern to do the bale……what fun!  Sharon was so gracious with her sharing not only in her knowledge but in supplies, tools…..just anything you could think of!!
Of course we got a tour of her incredible house and studios…..that's in the # 2 studios!!  The main one is at the entry…..it has more tools than most community colleges teaching jewelry making full time…….to say the least none of us walked out of there without a bucket load of envy!!
We had so much fun…..she couldn't let us go!  Our class was from 9-1 and we didn't leave til 5:30……and believe me we were all worn out, our heads were spinning with sooo much knowledge that we were on overload!
Of course I spent the next day researching kilns and all the PMC supplies…..another day of metal overload!!

Saturday I attended the Arlington Gem and Mineral show…..I went looking for stones for our next Craft Guild class which is in two weeks……..we needed some faceted stones for a step bezel lesson…..success…..but it's never an in and out for me…..I have to see it all and I was there for 4 hours and by the time I got out of there my back was killing me……but again I had brain overload and a pretty nice dent in the pocket book……at least I was buying for several of us and not just me, heehee!
Here are a few of the treasures……..

I tried to get the least expensive since this will be our 1st one with Marilyn at the Craft Guild.  Now I've done step bezels before…..no formal lesson…..have been pretty successful but with a totally different type of stone!  One thing Marilyn told us was to design our piece to fit our design NOT the stone….it was an interesting concept ….. one I really liked!

Of course being the Raven that I am…..I couldn't pass up the bright and shinny …. found these beads and had to add them to my stock!  They are so interesting….they are glass beads that have been made them formed into the odd little shape….almost like a flower!  There are some really great colors too!!

Well tomorrow is a really big day for us…..it's our 34th wedding anniversary ….. hard to believe how lucky I've been to have my wonderful husband in my life!  I did get the right one the second time around!!

Sooo I'm going to close tonight with a great quote I read this week also…..again something to think about tomorrow when you start your day…….

Each morning we are born again.  

What we to today is what matters most!  

                                               Buddha

Go out and have a creative day…..and do what matters most to you!

Til next week!

Week 22 of 52

Wow hard to believe we're already into the 22nd week of the year…….where has the time gone!!
Thanks God it's Monday and we get the chance to start a new week!

Heres what I was doing most of last week……in between all the rain we had and my failed equipment!!

This is one of the new wash tubs that I brought home from Austin…….I had to cut out the center….that's where the failed equipment came in……I have the Dremel Saw Max and LOVE it until I tried to change the blade from an all purpose to a metal blade….it just couldn't be done!!
Sooo I cut and cut with the AP blade…..then tried to get my husband to see if he could get the blade changed…..he couldn't either!  Soooo the wonderful man he is…..he took it to HD to see if they could……well of course they couldn't do it with the allan wrench that the company provided…..he got out some socket wrenches and ALMOST couldn't do it with that……but FINALLY it released and the guys were able to change the blade……zoo what was taking me HOURS to do I got done in less than an hour……BUT totally used up the whole metal blade in cutting two center post out of these new wash tubs……WELL WORTH IT…….check them out!!

After a new coat of paint on the old tubs….and then new paint on the new tubs

Don't you just LOVE the color!!  Three of the 4 tubs now have beautiful Mexican Lime trees in them…..just waiting for the 4th to be put in this coming weekend AFTER hubby gets back from Austin (that's where we had to get them……no one has them up here in the DFW area)

We lost our three tree this past winter……my fault…..I didn't move them into the garage…..WON'T make that mistake again!  Everything we did move into the garage during the freeze.. made it, including the bougainvillea and boston ferns ……sooo lesson learned, while living up in the DFW area…..move tropical plants into the garage!

It was a short week for me……focused on the back yard and the new plants that I got, refreshed,  repainted and looking good….. just in time for our high 90 degree weather!

Hope you all have had a good week and look forward to sharing some of my new adventures that are coming up this week……new class at the Craft Guild of Dallas and I'm giving PMC another try this week as well…….oh and my favorite, water aerobics is starting this week as well…..here's to the water and some great exercise!!

It's the beginning of summer, so go out and enjoy it ……create create and then create some more!

Til next week!

Memorial Day Posting

Found these messages that I wanted to pass along……..For decades, men and women of the military in Texas and across the country have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve our nation. Memorial Day was officially set aside for Americans to remember the sacrifice they’ve made so our freedoms could be preserved.

Today, we remember those service members, the Soldiers and Marines, the Airman and Sailors -- everyone who lost their lives in conflicts from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. We remember them today, we remember them tomorrow, and we remember them always.

Thank you from a Citizen who appreciates your service……Thank You!

Week 21 of 52

First  let me Quote President Harry S. Truman on this Memorial Day

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.
They have earned our undying gratitude.
America will never forget their sacrifices."

For all those who have served our country, past and present…..thank you!  That's not enough, and you deserve much more…..but thank you again!

Well don't know about you, but I had a great week……..I finished up my classes at Brookhaven for now…..I'm off on other adventures as I've shared with you.  Still exploring but know for sure I'll be joining the Gem and Mineral Group in Arlington……I met a few of the members on Friday at the International Gem and Mineral show….loved their energy and am most excited to see what they do that I can incorporate into my jewelry…..I'll keep you informed as I progress.

Speaking of the International Gem and Mineral show…. I was able to go on Friday…came home with just a few treasures…..a couple cabs that I hope to add to some of my other stones….a few bali type focus pieces then of course I had to get a few more strands of beads…..geez when will I get to the point I have enough??  Probably never, heehee!  Now my goal is to use them…….sooo I was cursing Pinterest for ideas … think I have a few good ones…..sooo now it's all about getting started, right?

We were lucky to have two of our children (plus wife) come and stay with us on Friday…..we had a great time, sampled the Apple Pie Moonshine (well Z & A did) they both liked it but thought it would be better in the fall…..and apple pie is more of a fall thing!
As summer approaches we'll have to mix up the Margarita Moonshine….that's more of the summer type drinks!
We played in Grapevine on Saturday AM……went to the Farmers Market and then a wonderful little coffee/bakery shop on main street….and since we had all the dogs with us, we sat outside and enjoyed the sunny weather…and some of the best breakfast tacos…..yum!

Didn't do much in the way of ART this past week…..worked on several things but nothing was totally finished……except…..the Celtic knot bracelet ( the one Betty showed us how to do)…and since I had done two I was able to give one to Courtney for her big 40th Bday at her party…..she seemed to like it and I enjoyed sharing it with her!  (my photos again won't come up…will need to work on that AGAIN……geez sometimes I'm just more blond than what I've paid for, heehee)

This week was mared with sad news of an old friend (know Suzy for over 30 years)….she is not doing well with her cancer….it seems to have spread to her brain and lungs!  It's my hope that as she is moved into hospice that they give her enough drugs to keep her comfortable.

I've got a week off before my classes start at the Craft Guild so my plans are to get my plants, cleaned up, plant the new ones and replace the dead ones and paint my new washing machine tubs…..I'm trying to decide on what fun color to do them in…..right now I'm leaning towards Orange…..but I have  several cans of Turquoise so may just stitch to that …..but regardless they need a fresh coat on the old and color on the new…..fun fun fun!
Mother Nature is blessing us with a ton of rain, so I'm not complaining……I'll wait to paint til it's a bit warmer or at least dryer, heehee!  Enough other stuff to work on!

Okay that's about all folks…….until next time…….Create Create and then Create some more!
I'll leave you with this thought….

"What you need to understand is this….just because something's impossible,
doesn't mean you shouldn't do it"  Kassie Temple

Week 20 of 52

TGIM……oh how I love saying those words….it's the beginning of a new week and I have lots to share with you!  Saw this quote and just LOVED it….and wanted to share it
Nora was such an interesting person or at least had a GREAT imagination, sooo current and real …… I mean who could forget Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally…..I know you know the scene I'm talking about…..what a hoot!

What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. 
Nora Ephron

Okay….What are we going to do?
Well I can say I didn't get to the collage this week….I'm sad about that……..I just can't do everything, as much as I want to….I have to admit I can't!

I did however did a few pieces of jewelry finished……..and started a few…..sorted some stones for upcoming projects…..did a bit of inventory, so when I go to the Gem and Mineral show Friday I can fill in what I'm missing……how's that for some great planning!!

I had a great time with the Jewelry Junkies this week……we made a fabulous bracelet…..have to say we couldn't have done it without Betty's great teaching!  Thanks Betty!
Here's the bracelet………

Betty did some variations of the same bracelet by adding beads to the pattern

Looks great doesn't it?  Thanks again Betty…..I hope to use this in making some necklaces or at least some parts of a necklace…..great idea right?

It was such a great project that several of us did it again on Sunday……it's always a good thing for me to get some reinforcement on how to do something BEFORE I forget, heehee!

I finished up a few things in my make up class tonight but it looks like the computer is a bit slow on the downloading…..so might not make it into my news for this week, but I'm sure I'll show you all the pieces in my next posting!

Did get a chance to catch up on my sleep this weekend….just hated that it had to be a our friends country place….but when the body and mind just can't stay upright it's best to pay attention and take a nap…..that's just what I did….and I NEVER can take naps……sure wish I could but not in my DNA!

Have lots coming up…..my daughter is coming in town for one of her best friends 40th birthday party, youngest son and his wife will be here also…..so it should be a lively time here this weekend, if only for one night here and then at the party….then at a BBQ the next day……whew might need another nap….maybe my NEVER is changing, heehee!

Soooo better say good night, sleep well and have a safe Memorial Day weekend……oh and don't forget to create…no matter the mess…..it's well worth it!!

Til next time!

Week 19 of 52

Before I get started…..Hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day!!  I know I sure did!

Okay I'm sure you are totally confused……What happen to Week 18…..Welllllllll

Let me first start off by saying "Thank God it's Monday"….I'm soooo excited about this coming week…..lots of things to get caught up on!

Week 18…..was spent in VA…..helping my DIL with her Mother's house!
It was a huge project, but I'm proud to say we got it done…..or at least got done what we could!
We had two days of hard driving to get there, then four hard days, cleaning, sorting, packing and donating….then two long days to get back to Austin!!
Now I'm back home and ready to get back into the swing of things…….I just have to share a few photos

this was our popsicle breakfast……as we left VA

Our 2nd pile for pick up by Samaritan House

Here we are loaded and ready to hit the road……..

Take note of the cleared floor space…….it didn't last long, heehee!

I didn't get to do any of the fabulous antiquing that I had heard VA was well known for…..we were loaded down with some pretty special antiques…..and a number of boxes of very old photos and albums for Adrienne to continue her genealogy project……. just priceless!!

BUT I did get to stop and get my sweetie something special…..check it out

That's right MOONSHINE……What a hoot!  It's been legal to make Moonshine since 2009 and so then pops up a ton of makers!  Gary had told me about tasting some Apple Pie Moonshine the week before……so thought he could do his own tasting….compare North Carolina and South Carolina, Apple Pie Moonshine!  This is only two of the 6 bottles of assorted Moonshine I brought back!
Adrienne and I did stop at the Palmetto Moonshine shop in Anderson SC and did a bit of tasting ourselves……
We both liked the Margarita Moonshine…..so at our next gathering, we'll be trying it out, heehee!

Didn't get to do any art while I was away BUT did get some fabulous books to use in my collages…..I was imagining putting some surgical drawings along with some kids drawings…..sounded pretty cool when I was thinking and dreaming of the collage……so now that I'm unpacked I'll have to give it a try for one of my class projects!

Oh did I tell you I was doing a online Collage workshop…by one of my favorite collage artist, Randel Plowman (acollageaday.com)…of course I'm behind, but hope to get caught up this week….at least get lesson one done, heehee!  Just need to pull out ONE of my 10000 boxes of saved papers…..I'll keep you up on that progress!

Speaking of progress…..I've got my summer ART plans shaping up……I finish the last session at Brookhaven….then hope to take a couple more Craft Guild of Dallas classes then got a few more irons in the fire!  Looking forward to having some down time to play with what I have and the ideas that I've got popping…..so sit back and be ready to be entertained!!

Oh forgot to show you my bottle tree that is be FORCE to relocate………..the HOA ….. gotta love them!!  No taste…and way tooooo much time on their hands to even be concerned about this……but have no fear….I'll be giving them something to talk about in the future…..all in compliance!!

I'll leave you with this quote……..

                       "Some of the best days of your life haven't happened yet" by Zig Ziglar

This was what was welcoming us back home on the last of our drive from VA…….can't get any better than this!!

Go out and Create!!

Week 17 of 52

Oh my it's Monday again…..where oh where does the time go…..Thank God it's Monday other wise…..well I don't know what the other wise would be……but strange!!
I found something in a pile of papers, that I'd like to share with you to start us off……

"here I am…..playing….pretending…hoping that maybe….just maybe, my meager verse might fill your heart with joy"

don't know who said this…..but who ever did….thanks!
I too hope that what I might have to say, will fill your heart with joy!

So now I'll fill you in on what a whirl wind week I've had……….

It's was my granddaughter's 11th birthday, my son and DIL's 5 wedding anniversary …..my youngest son and his wife's 1st anniversary coming shortly…..whew lots of wonderful things to celebrate!

My granddaughter called last night to tell me how much she liked the necklace I made her…I asked if she liked it and her reactions was "OH MY GOSH MEME I LOVED IT", boy was I thrilled, then she started asking if I had made it, etc.….so cool to have her appreciate something that I'd made….it was the heart rock and Kumihimo braided necklace…..actually two, one purple and one green to match the drilled rocks…….here's a photo again of what it looks like!

I didn't get a lot finished this week and that was a bit intentional……..I had a workshop yesterday that was to show me how to polish and finish my jewelry pieces and I was to bring several things to work on the last hour or two of class…..well didn't get much time to do anything of our own but I have to tell you I learned soooo much…..it was everything I had hoped it would be!

You ever take classes or workshops that just fall short of your expectations of why you took the class to begin with……well I have and it's not fun to pay a ton of money and not get what you were hoping  to get…….WELL this class was EVERYTHING I had hoped for and then some!!  It was at the Craft Guild of Dallas……loved loved loved it!

I had gone with two of my Jewelry Junkie buddies and from what they have said, it met their expectations as well!
We had made a weekend of art shows and then finished it off with the all day workshop on Sunday!

On Saturday we went to three art events and all three were learning experiences…..with the 1st one, Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum, we saw how much we still needed to learn……there was just a plethora of really fine jewelry artist!  They worked in Sterling Silver for the most part, in fact there wasn't a piece of copper in any of their booths..some had a little brass just for an accent….other wise it was 100% SS……so there is the 1st difference between their work and mine……second thing was the delicate look to their things….tiny tiny wire…..especially with the contemporary style!  I just loved that look and feel!  AND OMG…they were all so open about how they did what they did and what they used…it was so refreshing and then we learned that several of them were teachers…..so of course they were use to sharing, but still it was very generous of them to share!

One Artist we met was Sally Wade…..she made her own stamping tools…..soo cool!  You have to go check out her blog to see some of her work…….
www.sallywadesilverworks.blogspot.com

She also told us that she does these weekend retreats, where she will teach you to make your own tools and then shows you how to use them…it's something that I'm going to explore a bit to see how it might translate into some unique work of mine…..I'm at that point where I need to move forward in my jewelry making, know what I mean?  You just get to that point where you don't feel like you are moving ahead, you are just spinning your wheels and it's time to get off center point again and move forward……that's where I'm at today!

Especially after seeing some of the work that I saw this weekend!  Now don't get me wrong I saw some things that I already do a better job at ….. on the same type of things……like my cooper bangles…mine are also soldered but cleaned up sooo much better…where you can't even tell where I soldered…..and I have some fun designs, like my spoon skulls, so I'm very proud of my jewelry that I finish…..it's just not even in the same universe as the stuff we saw at the Artscape show…..so how to I get there from here I ask myself…….I'll tell you….explore other learning options……so this summer you will be hearing about the classes that I am hoping to take at the Craft Guild and other opportunities that I'm exploring!
See there's that word……EXPLORE….it's soooo much fun when you have a open mind to something new!

Let's see I think that about completes my week…..I know I'm forgetting something…..my brain is just on over load right now…..I've got class tomorrow, so I plan on working on the pieces that I started and with my newly learned finishing skills, I hope to bring you some new pieces next week!
Speaking of next week…..not sure how I'll be able to do my posting …… I'll be out of town!
So bare with me and hopefully I'll learn to post while away!!

I'll leave you with this………

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true" EY Harburg
I know I know it's from the Wizard of Oz…..can't you just hear Judy Garland singing that…it was one of my favorite movies!!

Have a great week and go out there and CREATE…..may all your dreams come true!
XOXO

Week 16 of 52

TGIM………..Whew I'm so glad it's Monday……new week with new things to do!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  We had the opportunity to visit our boys and their wives….together we put on a meal that would surpass any 5 star restaurant …… and I learned a ton of new gluten free websites to help stick to a gluten free food program……now don't get me wrong, I've tried before, but I'm just not ready to give up on all glutens!!
Okay enough about food…..this is about ART…….
So this is what I did this week!
Last week I told you about doing some Kumihimo……well I was much more happy with this weeks work than the last week…..just not interested in adding beads at this time!!
Here are the results………...

This one was a total experiment ….. it's really too thick for what I had in mind….but it was fun to see what this cording would do…….

Now this is the same cording with the nylon thread…..1/2 and 1/2….I like it so far (it's not finished yet!!)  It really makes the turquoise color pop!

I also showed you last week, the stones that I drilled…..well this is the finished necklace I made for my granddaughter's birthday present!  Just found out she thinks I'm sending her a sewing machine….whew we sure had some miscommunications on that one!!

Here's the full view of the finished necklace!!

This is the 1st one I made for her…..I didn't like the purple with the green stones, so I did the other one…..but her favorite color is purple, so I'll send it to her along with the green one…...in fact she just got glasses and she choose purple ones…..gotta love a 11 year old stepping out with purple glasses……just love it!!

Looks like that's about all I got finished for the week…..the holiday threw me off a bit…..then at our Jewelry Junkie meeting I worked on some air chasing on some copper sheeting……it's turning out rather interesting, in a good way….I just need a ton more work on it!

I'm hoping to get it to a stage so that I can take it to the polishing/finishing class I'm taking this next weekend!  I've got a few things that I hope to clean up easier and better than what I can do now…..or at least that's the goal anyway!

So I'm going to leave you with something that I read and think it's a good one for the week!!

Hope you enjoy it as well…………

"Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past.  Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn't what you get for it, but what you become for it.  Shake things up today!

Be You…..Be Free…Share!"  Steve Maraboli

Go out and create some beauty….. that is inside of you and share it with the world!!

See you next week!

Week 15 of 52

Wow what a week! Thank God it's Monday!  I can't wait to share all that I learned this week!

First, let me share some inspiration ..something to think about…..it seems to be fitting what I'm into  right now……

"I believe it's in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown.  The only try failure would be not to explore at all" Ernest Stackleton

So exploring we shall go…..First part of the week I spent hours at school drilling holes in rocks...something I've been wanting to do for a long time!  I had such a blast I couldn't stop, heehee!

Ideas were just popping in my head as I was drilling...all those things that I've been saving up to do.  Can't wait to see how they turn out!
That's the funny thing about ideas....you take that idea, then you create in your mind what you think it should look like...then try and make those two things match, heehee!
So we'll see how those ideas progress…..

Here are the stones before they become ..... Well who knows that they will become....that's the exciting thing about ideas, isn't it?

The 1st project is almost finished.....I've stacked several small stones and am making a small pendant for Miz Riley's birthday present .... There's one special stone that looks like a little heart..can you see it in the top photo??...I've put that on the top and will write her a special note!!  I'm working on a braided  cord to hang it on....that moves me into the next new thing I learned this week....Kumihimo!

On Saturday, I went to the Wire meet up group and our project for this Month was beaded Kumihimo....very interesting!  Can't say I liked it...mainly because mine, wasn't turning out the way it was suppose to....think I didn't understand the importance of tucking the bead under the thread!

Now I'm not saying I'm giving up on learning Kumihimo....just don't think the beading part is my thing!  I'm trying it again...this time I'm using two different colors of purple threads (Riley's favorite color) ....so far it's looking 400% better than what I did on Saturday......I'll take some photos when done....but here's a peak of how it looks now…a work in progress!

Interesting right?  It's not very long just yet……hope to have it finished tomorrow!

Wow and I haven't told you the most fabulous part of this past week…Friday, my husband and I went to the Main Street Festival in Ft Worth...it's an incredible Art show...AND I was wearing one of my spoon skulls necklaces...several artist commented on it, thought it was really cool...I said maybe we could barter an exchange ...they thought that was a great idea....THEN in one booths that I was admiring the artist work, he started asking me about the necklace then one of his customers (friend) asked if she could buy one
...of course I said yes and showed her photos of the ones I had finished...but she wanted one, more like mine..a bit rounder....sooo I now have 4 more almost finished...just need the scribing done...how exciting is that!!  I was thrilled 1st to have them notice then to say something about it….sure makes you feel good about what you are doing when something like that happens!!

Okay I've got to close now, I'm down to the last 5% of my iPad battery and I'm about to fall asleep...it's going to be a fun and full week coming up for....I hope it's a great one for you as well!
Happy Easter to one and all!
Hope you get the chance to explore something new in your life…….go Explore!!
Til next week!

Week 14 of 52

Again I have to say…….Thank God it's Monday!!
It has been a fun filled week kids, can't wait to share with you all that I learned!!
BUT first I didn't get back with you with an inspirational message…….soo let's do that NOW

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties" by Erich Fromm

Well this certainty plays into what I did this week…….let me show you!

This was something that Cheryl and Megan from Ten Seconds Studio showed several of us, and I must say we were WOWed…..just loved it!  Yevette and I tried it our weekend together, then I took my leather and some tools over to the Jewelry Junkies and we played some more!!

My favorite was using the embossing envelopes like the "love" one shown at the top!  I can't wait to try the gazillion envelopes I have……I'm sure I'll run out of leather before I run out of embossing envelopes that I have, heehee!  

It's an easy peasy project……you will need leather, spray bottle of water, a decorative embossing envelope and your big shot machine……actually any of the embossing machines will work!

The trick is NOT to use toooo much water, just a good spray all over (front and back)  and NOT too much pressure when you slide the machine over the envelopes…..on some we needed some extra cardboard to put just a little more pressure but not toooo much…….it's best to experiment just for fun!!

Haven't come up with a project for these pieces just yet but I know I will soon!

I had an idea of attaching pieces of the leather to some pieces of copper and make a bracelet…..still thinking on it!!

I finished up my skulls…….added the marks on the faces with the Dremel Scribe…..check it out and let me know what you think!  I might have gotten a little carried away with a few, heehee!

With a little liver of sulfur these bad boys will be ready for Prime Time, don't you think?
They are just a bit toooo shiny for my taste……then it's Etsy here we come!!
Or so that's the plan for this next week…….AFTER I get out of the garage……that's another story NOT ready for prime time, heehee!
I've gotten the back corner of the garage, repacked and tighten up …… even found a few things that had been missing!  Now I'm in the front next to the ART room door……I had been piling stuff up and then couldn't get thru the door…..crazy!  Most of the things that were in the pile were empty boxes that were suppose to be put in the attic…..well if you can't get to the attic….it becomes a pile!!
Sooo after spending the entire weekend in the garage I am proud to say…..there is no longer anything blocking the way to the attic, in fact I've made 4 or 5 trips up there with only one more to go……our Xmas lights….but I need some help with that one!!  Then I'll be able to bring down our old kitchen chairs that have been up there since we moved into this house……I'm most excited about that…..I LOVED those chairs!!
Okay…..it's still early so I want to get back to the garage…..my goal is to have it 100% done from one end to the other, within the month of April…….so wish me luck!!

Here's another great inspiring quote……

"The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" Eleanor Rooseveltt

Sooo much wisdom in those words!
Go and live your dreams!!
Create Create Create

Week 13 of 52

TGIM......That's right it's Monday!  How crazy is it.....I was more than half way finish with my posting and it totally disappeared....soooo here we go again!  I'm sorry it was much funnier the 1st time around!

Opps here I found it … it was hiding in the drafts…….this was how things started……

TGIM...that's right it's Monday...hip hip hooray....it's a new week...a chance to do something special!
Whew...what a weekend...it was Bead Fest ....it was my first!
Still mixed feelings about it....I took an enameling class.....met and fell in love with Steven James...he was a hoot!  Now for the class, it was mine boggling to say the least.....way tooo much info for me to process in three hours...we were rushed and didn't even get ONE sample completed.....guess my expectation were expecting something more!  Now that's not to say I didn't learn a lot...some things totally opposite of what I was taught before...hard to process

****  Here's where I got shut down and everything disappeared……sooo here I started over and some I was able to recreate….bare with me some will be a repeat……..*****

It was an interesting weekend .... full of fun and learning....some absolutely a blast.   Being with friends is always the best part of  any time.....this weekend was Bead Fest, my first!  I got to visit with old friends and meet new ones...and then a zillion and a half new ideas for jewelry making....fun fun fun!

I also took two classes, one in enameling and one in PMC .... First I met and fell in love with Steven James...he was such a hoot....I loved him...not so much the enameling  workshop!  It was mine boggling ... I'm afraid my expectations might have been expecting too much......there was soooo much info in such a short period of time and a good deal of it was in total conflict to what I had learned before...now that was hard for me to process in a short three hour class!  That's not to say I didn't learn things....just didn't even finish one sample...geez!  No handouts, no finished samples...just disappointing... that's all I can say!
Would I take another class from Steven James....absolutely .... I'd just want it to be longer than 3 hours!

Now that was Saturday and if it was not as expected....Sunday was a total disaster ....not anything like what I expected and was very disappointed in the results!  It may have been a bad batch or bad mixture of a new clay idea……regardless it was not successful!  Several of the rings broke, including mine!!
Here is a photo of my organic ring in the works……….

It was looking okay before firing….what I was most excited about is that it FINALLY stayed on the mandrel AND believe me that was a feet to say the least!!  Our clay dried out then we would wet it…..so then it was toooo wet!  Back and forth back and forth…..just NOT fun!

We ALL had problems with this project even Donna Lewis the teacher……geez sooo frustrating  THEN after it was all done…..fired and all…..it was toooo small….can you believe that??

What we think happened…..those two ladies that didn't have to keep reworking their clay…their rings were to large …… those of us who had to REALLY work the clay our rings were toooo small…….soo go figure!  Again would this keep me from taking another class with DL….NO…she was just as upset as the rest of us …… wish I was a fly on the wall when she gets home and calls the company to tell them of the results…..there will be some burning ears that's for sure!!

Donna Lewis is a class act…..she took home out broken rings and will repair them and mail them back to us!  I do hope she lets us know what happened with the company and I hope they in turn send her new product and she in turns sends us some new clay to work with!!  It was WAY to expensive not to have SOMETHING to show for it…..especially since this was my Bday present from GB….grrrrr

This is the back of the ring so I could id it after it was fired……you can just imagine what it would look like with all of us trying to remember what our ring looked like, heehee!

Have I been turned off of PMC…..no…just not as excited as I was about it!

I did meet some ladies at lunch that are here in the Dallas area sooo will probably hook up with them for something else!

Not all was lost during the weekend……..a new friend from our Jewelry Junkie group can and stayed with us……had such a good time with her…..GB showed off his bar tending skills with some GT's on Saturday night with my home made chicken enchiladas……we were laughing on Sunday that we sure NEEDED those GT's…the PMC was driving us to drink!!

Well kids I am about to fall asleep here at the computer so I need to say goodnight!

Good night one and all!

I'll post an inspiration for you all later in the week……I've written down several!!

Nighty night…..sweet dreams of ART!

Week 12 of 52

TGIM……...It's my Birthday……hip hip hooray !!
I had an incredible weekend with my boys and their sweeties and of course my sweetie!!
We were in Austin for the weekend……..had a wonderful BBQ at Z & A's house…..A did some fabulous ribs……braised in pickle juice then grilled…..Yum!
On Saturday AM they treated me to a massage, mani & pedi……I was totally pampered!
Then we did a Mom's happy hour…..A's Mom, her Aunt J and Me……she had the most Mom's……how about that!!  Dinner was at Eddie V's and I have to tell you, I had the best steak that I've ever had at a restaurant….and from what I could tell everyone had a really great meal, from soul, grouper to flounder and TX red fish……just the best!  T had a great time teasing the waiter, but think he got him back when T asked for chop sticks and the guy pulled out a pair……can you believe it???

Well enough of my Bday week…..let me show you some of the jewelry that I did……and the missing photos showed up so I'll show you those as well……how about that!!

Okay turn you head to the right……lay your ear down to your shoulder and this is the latest ring I did, heehee!

Here's the form folded leaves that I was telling you about last week…..I'm still thinking of adding some green or blue patina…..just haven't done it yet!

Here are the skull spoons after they were tumbled for a while…..they shine up really nice….now they are waiting for the scribe to do it's work….maybe later this week…..Maybe, if I get all my chores done before my next big weekend!!  I"ll tell you more in just a bit!

Okay heres the big honker ring that I made for Adrienne…but it was just a little too big for one finger and just a little to small for two other fingers…..soo it's back to the hammer and mandrel!!  The other one is one that I had made a while back….I was just comparing the two side by side to show how really big the other one is, heehee!!  Amanda loved it as well…..so it's a hit if I can ever get the sizing down right for everyone!!

Now for the big news…….I'm going to Bead Fest and I'm taking a PMC class….hope to make an organic ring or two….these will be for me or that is the plan right now!  I'll let you know how that turns out!
I had tried to get into two torch enameling workshops but hadn't decided until today AND they are both full……so am trying to get on a wait list just in case someone has to drop out!!  Keep your fingers crossed!!

WELL can you believe we're on the 12 week already??  It's hard for me to believe it myself!  I'm so excited that I'm going to tell all my Facebook friends to come and check it out!
Again I want to hear all the good, bad and wonderful…..so let me know what you are thinking, how I can improve and any suggestions you might have for me!!

I was looking for an inspirational quote to share with you but can't seem to find it right now…maybe I'll have to do two next week!! Maybe that's what I could use this magnetic board for, that I have over here by my computer……I'm looking at the board right now and I have a sign that says "YOU ROCK"

Sooo that's what I"ll say to all of you…….
                                                                      "YOU ROCK"
….now go and have a creative week and see you back here next week!!

Week 11 of 52

TGIM……Happy St. Patricks Day to one and all…hope you all had your Green on!

As you can tell it's Monday and I'm here to share what my week was like!
Well let me tell you …. it was fabulous!!
Lots of started projects and even a few finished…..well maybe …… I might like to add a few more touches, here and there heehee!

Here we go……… I worked on my up cycled spoon skulls….and I have to tell you they are getting a bit out there……I just love the way some of the mouths and eyes developed!  Spooky and funny!
I'm loving it and hope you do to……..this is how they start out………

Well I just took the latest photos of the spoons and they seem to be hiding……crazy I know!

Anyway, got 6 skulls cut out, handles cut off and in the tumbler for just a bit at school tonight!

Plan on bending over the ends to create the bail …… then Etsy store here I come!!

This week was also the Jewelry meet up group, and we made these fun and funky rings……well the others were more normal but mine was way cool….it's huge….I use a 9 gage wire, more wire from the recycling that I did……just don't know what I'll do when it's gone…..I love the stuff!!

Tracy was my super hand model…and can you believe her nail polish matched!

Thanks again Tracy!

I made this in mind for my DIL, Adrienne…..hope it fits and she likes it!  I'll be seeing her this weekend for my birthday celebrations ….. I'll let you know how it goes!

I made a few more things…….so let me go and check and see if the photos have made it into the file…….I'll be right back!

It looks like, one more photo came thru…..not the cropped one or the enhanced one….but something to show you!  This was done a while ago with strange and interesting parts that I got at this wonderful shop in AZ!  

I wore it today and got lots of interest, so think I'll be doing more of these especially since I came home with boxes of these strange little parts!

This piece is off to a boutique here in Texas….. hope they like it!

It seems that's all I have to show you or say tonight, except I'd like to share something I read this week and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

"There is 

no such thing

 as an ORDINARY day

each moment is

EXTRAORDINARY"

Kris Carr

Now go out and have an EXTRAORDINARY week!

Til next Monday!