Is it Monday Already?

WOW! Where did last week go. Aren't there just some times where you wish there were more hours in the day? I have planned every hour of every day for the next two weeks. I don't do well under pressure...so we'll see how this goes. Thanksgiving weekend, I am one of the artist's on the SEDAST (Studio Tour), and right now my life revolves around getting prepared for this event. This is a really big event in our area. I probably have enough pieces but I'd like to have a few more. So that will be what I concentrate on for the next 17 days.

I have been featured in two local publications. The Coastal Point, a local newspaper, had a really great article. Also, one of my pieces was highlighted in Delaware Beach Life, a local magazine. Both of these publications contacted me because I'm the newbie on the Studio Tour. I was happy to get the exposure, as I'm not really good about marketing my jewelry.

Last week was so busy...functions at school, hubby was away, a Holiday Fair this past Saturday to prepare for, birthday party...you get the idea...so I didn't have much time to create...but I did craft a few new pieces. Take a peek.

Copper Sticks ~ Hammered Copper Wire Wrapped with Sterling Silver Earrings

I'm an earring maniac, and I liked these so much I'm keeping them for myself!!

Stormy ~ Lampwork Focal Wrapped in Sterling Silver

Turtle Bay ~ Oxidized Sterling Silver & Lampwork Bracelet

Don't give up on me...as I may not be posting as often as usual...but I'm gonna do my best. Off to my bench...

Wonderful Weekend

What a fabulous weekend! Friday the kids were off of school and luckily it was a beautiful day...overcast and a little breezy but warm. Although I had lots planned for us to do, we decided to get away from the house for a couple of hours and went to the beach. They enjoyed digging in the sand, rolling down where the sand had drifted up, and making "sand" angels. The kids had a blast!

We hadn't been to the beach in a couple of weeks, and we have had 4 major storms in the last few weeks. WOW! I was astounded at the damage to the beach. So much sand and dune has washed away. The high tides and rough surf has created this ledge, if I had to guess, I would say that it is about 6-8 feet high. A shame...so much $$ is spent to replenish the beach, and it's washed away in a couple of storms:(

Saturday...omg...as soon as the kiddies got up they were all amped up about trick or treating!! My dear daughter decided that she needed a different costume than the one we had purchased! What?? I absolutely refused to go out and buy another costume...so we rummaged through her closet and came up with a punk-rock fairy. She was happy...so everything in the world was right, and that's all that matters...right? Anyhow, the rain held out and trick or treating was a blast! The kids ran from door to door and we all got our exercise.

Punk Rock Fairy

The Gatekeeper

Sunday...was a rainy, gloomy day. Lots of laying on the couch and watching TV. While all this excitement was going on I was able to slip away to my bench. I crafted several new pieces for the shows that I have coming up. Thank goodness the creative juices are flowing...I'm hoping to get lots of new pieces created!!

Raining ~ Sterling Silver & Lampwork Wire Work Bracelet

Penny Vortex ~ Copper Discs & Lampwork Bracelet

Trick or Treat

The kids had so much fun trick or treating tonight, then we went off to a casual party with friends. An eventful night and I'm exhausted! Here a photo of the group of kiddies! Hope you all had a great Halloween as well.

They're Here...

As usual, I went out today to go run my daily errands. At the post office, I had a key in my box indicating that I had a package. I have placed a couple orders recently, so I was expecting a package. However, when I opened the locker there were TWO packages...one was from a return address I didn't recognize. I double checked...yep it was addressed to me and not hubby...immediately I suspected that it might be the earrings that I would be receiving from the Thanksgiving Treasures Earring Exchange hosted by Leslie at Bei Mondi. Good thing the post office was my last stop...I couldn't wait to get home and open the box to see what was inside.

Julie Pishny at Prairie Thistle had my name. She did an excellent job crafting these earrings for me. I LOVE the copper leaf and red is my favorite color. These are perfect! I will be wearing them a lot. Thank you Julie!

On another note...my children are off school today. Yesterday they had their Halloween parties at school, and I went with camera in hand, but I guess I lost track of time and didn't even get to snap one picture:( But, today we are going to be busy getting our costumes ready for trick or treating tomorrow night, carving and painting pumpkins, and doing crafts. Then tonight, the hubby and I are taking the kiddies out for an extra special dinner. Funny, but my 8 year old enjoys some of the finer things in life and fine dining is one of them.

Have a Great Weekend!!

Earrings, Earrings, and More Earrings

It been an earring kinda couple of days. I've made so many pairs of earrings...uncle already...but I have enjoyed it. I was having such a "creative" day...you know the one when your in the middle of one project and another idea pops (oops! Thanks Mellisa) in your head? I kept having to stop what I was doing and sketch out my idea, so I wouldn't forget it. Here is a glimpse of what I designed. Enjoy:)

Amazonite Nuggets & Coiled Sterling Silver Earrings

Smoky Quartz & Turquoise Chips Wrapped in Sterling Silver

Red Coral Nugget & Sterling Silver Earrings

Bruises~ Lampwork & Sterling Silver Bracelet

And, a bracelet, this one is named ~Bruises~ funny I know but the color of the lampwork work beads is the same funky purple color of a bad bruise and you know how the bruises fade from purple to a golden color...can you see where I'm going with this. It just fit!

Getting Back Up

It's been almost a week since my last post...but I've got a really good excuse. Usually, once a year I get so dreadfully ill that I can't even pick myself up off the floor. Last week, I got knocked out! The bad news...I didn't get to make anything new:(...the good news...I've recovered and I should be done for this year and my kids didn't get sick to boot:) (knock, knock).

Saturday I was starting to feel a little better and ventured outside to take in some fresh air and sunshine which we have been lacking the last few weekends. Just in time, I was feeling quite well on Sunday so that I could attend my little nephews 2nd birthday bash. Once again we had wonderful fall weather. My sister went all out and rented a moon bounce and cotton candy machine for the kids. The cotton candy machine was a definate hit. My kids ate cotton candy ALL day, it will take a few days to recover from all the sugar they had today. Then of course there was the operation of the C.C. machine....at times I wasn't sure if my sister was operating the machine or if it was showing her who was boss?? At any rate she was covered in cotton candy. And my nephew...he was so cute opening his gifts and enjoying his cake.

Happy Birthday Eddie

Isn't he so cute

Be sure to stay tuned...I hope to be busy this week creating new wears.

For my Mom

My mom is constantly asking me to make her earrings. But, I have been so busy that I just haven't had time. Yesterday was my Mom's birthday, so I thought for her birthday I would surprise her with this pair of earrings. ~Happy Birthday Mom~

Piano Playing Cow Challenge

Weather wise, it has been a miserable couple of days...we have had 2 Nor'easters back to back. The wind has not been destructive, thank goodness, but we have had a lot of rain. There was no venturing outside without full rain/mud gear, so naturally by Saturday I was starting to get a little stir crazy...and so were the kids. In an effort to get out of the house, we went for an afternoon of shopping, which they DIDN'T enjoy...go figure!?! So in another attempt to calm the troops, I donned the tele, which I have strict time limits for, and I got to work creating a bracelet for Art Bead Scene's October Challenge. I have never participated in the monthly challenge, but given the weather, and that I love folk art, I thought I'd whip something up.

Piano Playing Cow by Ruby C. Williams

I love making jewelry with lots of color, so I felt right at home using this painting as my inspiration. I'm super please with the outcome of this bracelet. Can't you just see that whimsical orange (red/orange in my case) cow with the piano on her back, front and center, with the green grass and blue sky in the background. This was too much fun to create. While I had an idea of what I wanted to do, I didn't actually sketch anything out, or change my mind a hundred times, it all just started to flow. That's the best! And when I finished...the feeling like the piano had been lifted off my back. I had had some therapeutic time with my wire and beads, and I was ready to relax and listen to the pitter patter of the rain.

Art Bead Scene October Challenge~Piano Playing Cow

Earring Exchange

I'm participating in the Thanksgiving Treasures Earring Exchange that Leslie Zabel of Bei Mondi is hosting. This is the first exchange/swap that I have ever participated in, and I found it a huge challenge creating for someone who I knew little about. I always tend to over analyze these types of things due to the fact that I want them to be happy with what I present.


I was so excited, as soon as I found out who my "secret" person was, I wanted to get started on creating the earrings right away. While I didn't get time to actually work on the earrings immediately, I had time to think about the color combinations, choice of metal, and imagine in my mind what I wanted to create. Earlier this week, I did finally get a chance to make the earrings that I had imagined. I deviated a little from the favorite type of bead, but once I got started the design just started to flow. And the mysterious recipient seems like she is probably a little laid back, I don't think she will mind. I am super happy with the earrings and I hope that she enjoys them as much as I enjoyed creating them. I'm dying to post a picture of what I came up with, but I don't want to spoil the surprise. Now, I'm off to the post office today to mail my labor of love.

Many thanks to Leslie for coming up with this idea, this was so much fun! And I discovered a few great new blogs along the way. Can't wait to see what everyone receives! I know it's a little early yet...did I mention that I was excited about doing this exchange.

Wrapping Up Outside Shows

My show on Saturday...well it was a...wet success. Wouldn't it figure no sooner had I gotten there and unloaded my stuff it started to rain. What a bummer! My tent, table covers, displays, and me, all wet, luckily I hadn't gotten my jewelry out yet! So I waited patiently, hunkered down under my dripping tent for the rain to pass and debating with myself....What should I do?? I remained optimistic that the rain would pass and it would turn out to be a nice day....After about 15-20 minutes it did stop raining, I dried everything off as best as I could, with a still dripping tent:( and got right to work setting up. I was so discouraged...this was my last outside show for this year and typically if it's overcast, threatening rain, people just don't come out for an art show. However, I was pleasantly surprised! After a really slow start in the A.M., people started to come around in the late morning, early afternoon. Even though it was still raining off and on and it was a tad windy.

My Booth~ Almost dried out...notice the wet table cloths

The show was fun though and I would do it again given the less than desirable conditions. I had more time to socialize with people that were at my booth, meet some great artists, and all around just had a great time...no matter the crappy weather! When I was packing up, of course it was raining lightly, so on Sunday I had to drag my tent out and let it dry. I also sprayed it heavily with Scotchguard, hopefully that will prevent the dripping in the future in the event of rain. Any other suggestions? But, as of now I have retired my tent to the back of the garage for this season, not to see it again until next summer.


Still, two more shows lined up for this year. One a holiday faire is in 4 more weeks and the Studio Tour in 6 weeks, both inside. I still have a great deal of work to do to get ready for the Studio Tour. One because it is at my home, and I want to work on the landscape a bit, and because I can't present any jewelry that has any "production" components. None the less I'm really excited about the Studio Tour even though people will not actually see my garage...I mean studio...