They Are HERE!!!

What a learning experience! I should have made them less chunky or hollowed them out some how. There is more than $150 in raw materials (silver) and I don't know HOW much in labor costs! and it was all at Caitriona's expense! I am sending a few pieces back to get melted down because they are a bit chunky and maybe a bit unwearable and OMG! The cost! Not that I didn't "earn" it but COME ON! Caitriona and I will argue endlessly until she will not let me play with wax any more. I am officially addicted to the silver!

Patiently waiting...

I have been exercising much patience lately. I've been patiently awaiting the silver goodies to come back from Caitriona. Patiently waiting for orders to happen (bad economy anyone?). Patiently waiting to get control of my bad holiday eating pattern... Patiently waiting for my child to learn how to communicate in a way that not only a dog can hear. I have been making some fun new necklaces. Robert informs me that "It looks like you threw a bunch of crap on a chain. I'm just being honest." "Yes honey, but it's pretty crap!" : ) I love him. His critique did have truth in it and he did have good suggestions. No really he meant it in a good way! I am currently obsessed with pale yellow and pale pink. Cupcake inspiration!

I finally did it!!!

Literally for decades now I've wanted to learn a bit about working with silver. My dear friend Caitriona (caitrionameek.com) is an amazing jewelry designer who works in silver and gold. I've been working with her to create business cards and and other promotional materials for her jewelry design business and she agreed to show me the ropes! She creates with wax and has it sent out to be molded. So we spent yesterday working with wax! Amazing! I worked with it like I work with clay which was different from her technique so we got to share a bit with each other. I made a few "frames" to dangle a ceramic bead and a few rings and ring bands to add ceramic pieces to later... I was able to squeeze out a few photos before my camera batteries died... I can not wait to see them when they come back from being cast...
An excellent day!

Day late...

and a dollar short! It seems to be the running theme for my life! I always seem to be inspired by what is happening now and not what will be happening later, like holidays. I guess I'm not great at planning ahead. I had this fun idea for these "True Love" plaques that could be customized to have the names or initials of your loved ones or just a general "True Love" plaque. It is a bit late for this Valentines day but true love is really a year round deal! The sketches are all I have at this point and can't wait to play with the ideas more. Playing always take me some where unexpected. Even a smaller plaque could be a necklace...

In my head they have a tattoo feel. Black, white and red colors with maybe a few pinks.

Our friends are our family...

It was my birthday on Saturday. Today is Joelle's Birthday (Big smooches to you!!) We had a great little party together on Saturday! If you are as birthday shy as we are, I highly recommend a combined birthday! Our little group of friends and family came for Sheryl's FABULOUS meat balls and pasta (schwetty balls! HA! SNL joke!) and let the kids free range it, so we could all relax! Wrangling 6 and 2 year olds in a restaurant is not our idea of fun. We ate, we laughed hard, ate some more and laughed even harder! Best birthday ever. 38 is looking great, grey hairs and all! How can you go wrong when you choose to spend time with the best people ever!

Bead sisters...

I had a chance to read Melanie of Earthenwood Studio's blog today (thanks for the mention Melanie!) She was talking about simultaneous inspiration, and how this occurrence has happened to us quite frequently. We've had more that a few instances where our creative minds would have very similar ideas at the same time (bubbles, goddess figures, nature, words, lips...) I'm sure we are watching some of the same shows (Project Runway!!!), movies and listening to some of the same music, so it would be natural for any two like minded gals of the same generation to have similar view and ideas. It also seems natural for our works of clay to lean toward similar styles and themes. But it also almost seems supernatural when it happens with great frequency! We have never met in person (I look forward to the day when we do!) and have only spoken on the phone once, but we definitely have this fun and mysterious connection between us! Our styles are different, so similar themes are done in a different way (fun!)

When I was about 8 my Grandma Betty gave me a very beautiful and special necklace of cloisonné bubbles. It is very old and my Mom has a portrait of Grandma Betty wearing the necklace in the 1930's! It is such a special memory of my Grandma and it was the inspiration for the bubble pendants and beads!

What's around the corner...

and out of this world... tee hee!

Chunky Monkey!

I've been rolling other bead designs around that were a bit more chunky and masculine...

The count down has begun...

7 days and counting... to the big 38! Whooo hoo! I found a gnarly grey hair yesterday and I am hoping that it was one that escaped from my true love (he is completely grey and sexy!) and found it's way onto my shirt. Wishful thinking. I didn't think I would have a problem with grey hair. Apparently I am. I don't think that coloring it is an option for me though. The closer to 40 I get the more I find... I think it can look dashing as sophisticated, on other people. So. What to do....

I've had these "bubble" pendants on the back burner along with the "Mens" jewelry for ages and can't wait to see what will happen with some glaze...

Happy New Year!

A new year already! We mostly slept through the ringing in of the new year. Our little beagle decided it was too much with all the noise and fire works and hid under the bed until morning! I've been in a really creative "GO" mode... time to let go of the emergency brake! I've had this project on the back burner literally for years... MENS jewelry!!! Just a few items with a more masculine appeal. Although they are just as wearable for women as well... You be the judge...