Recently, I was cleaning out some bead drawers and always get surprised by what I find (like beads I bought in 2nd grade, yet still have yet to use them or get rid of them?). I found some cute little sping time charms that made me wonder exactly what I would do with them since they don't even come close to looking like my "shore debris" theme.As I was laying them down together in a pile for destash, I thought, these look kind of cute... and don't leaves look like these moss agate beads hanging on the wall over here... Oh, and maybe I should pair them up with some pale pink...

Lo and behold, I got a cute little spring set.

It's fun breaking out and doing something besides the norm :)

Last night, the Triangle Jewelry Makers group met at Ornamentea. Someone had this wonderful idea... "bring out your dead" project night. [Dead, as in those beads you've had for 5 years yet havent done anything with them, the 1/2 wire wrapped pendant, a 1/2 finished chainmaille braclet, etc, etc.] Since we were in a wonderful store, I got to do my needed shopping... this was one of those anticipated shopping trips that I was almost drooling thinking about it. Here's the load I picked up - everything to begin my silver soldering experiments at home! I can't wait until I can make an ammonite ring :)

More with the ammonites

So I mentioned lots of ammonites before. Marilyn (Handcraftusa on etsy) bought one and has created this beautiful pendant delicately crocheted in black cotton. I've often admired her crocheting with wire:

But, my most favorite would be these little zipper rings:

State Farmers Market in Raleigh

The weekend before this past one, my husband and I ran up to the State Farmers' Market in Raleigh. I love visiting during their spring craft fair (which ends up being my yearly visit). Last year, my neighbor and I went for veggies and came home with crafts only.

This year, I went for crafts and came home with plants and honey. It always surprises me how that turns out.
I got a few blueberry bushes (that are covered with blossoms!) and have them in the ground near my new garage (It's still new if it's a year old, right?).

I had to move my apple tree away from the garage and am so excited because this is the first year it will blossom (and I didn't kill it when I moved it.... my normal M.O.).

And this was my prize. The Ann Magnolia. Stands about 6 feet tall and is planted next to the southern magnolia. I can't wait until next year when I get the full force of his bloom in my yard.

Those flowers are ever so pretty!

Are you adding to your gardens this year?

Ammonites and Findings

I tend to go overboard when I'm buying any sort of supplies I need... especially if it is a favorite item. Swiping the drool away when I open one of my drawers, I can now look at hundreds of ammonite fossils. In the past, I have only wire wrapped them. But recently I stocked up on all sorts of items including tie tacks and cuff links where I can use an adhesive.
And so I've started some new types of inventory like these clip on earrings:
and this pendant:

I'm happy with the results.

Bead Mixed Lots...

Sometimes I buy beads and findings in mixed lots.... and until recently, they've been sitting around in my studio still in the original packaging.

Just this week, I discovered something in a mixed lot bag of gold plated findings: Magnetic clasps. Now, I've seen magnetic clasps before and since I make most of my own clasps, I'd never thought of using them in my own jewelry. But for those pieces where I need something more streamlined than my large handmade hook and eye clasps, I think these will do. Now I'm off to order some in sterling and gold fill :)

Spring has finally come!!

(Yes, this is a cropped photo so you don't see the dandelions that still need to be pulled out of the garden!)

the kitchen is still trying to beat me...

So, I've previously mentioned that my stove does not work... well, now the dishwasher has decided to die... Oh, well... now I'm really seeing how spoiled I got in the last 3 years by actually having a dishwasher!

Metalsmithing

In my last post, I mentioned spending all day at Ornamentea...

Here's what I came out with: Granted, I didn't finish everything in class and had to go to town yesterday with my files and emory cloth, but I like the results.
I can't wait until I buy all the supplies and can do some more at home!

Bead Shopping

It's been awhile since I've browsed a bead store. I've been on a bead shopping hiatus - trying to actually use up something before I go buy more plan.

This week, I've managed to get into two of my favorites again. This afternoon, I was in the Twisted Jeweler in Fayetteville and snagged some opalite. I figured what the heck - I've never bought opalite and it was a steal -buy 1 strand - get 2 free!
On Saturday, I spent the day at Ornamentea... but that will be another post :) Before I left, I was stocking up on cool stuff like this Toggle Clasp from Elaine Ray Beads and

a raw brass sea horse. I can already see what colors he'll looks great with in my overflowing collection of nugget-sized mother of pearl beads.

It's that time of year!

When little spots of color start popping up here and there. Now winter won't be around much longer and spring is coming! Who cares if they just salted my road again this afternoon :) I got my first flowers of the year at Lowes - and showing a hint of my favorite color :)

My favorite thing to make right now

would have to be sea shell flowers. I love lining up my little coquina shells by size and color.And love putting them on everything from jewelry to candle holders... And I love how each one is slightly different.
Do you have a favorite craft for right now?

Bye Bye Stove!

On the bright side, this week, I no longer have to cook dinner... but that is because my stove has decided to kick the bucket. It definitely could be worse - I'm the last one on my street to lose my stove (We all moved in at about the same time to our little cookie cutter domiciles and all have the same stoves. All of which have died in the last 18 months).The best thing of this whole ordeal - I can now pick out whatever stove I want with whatever nifty gaget I think I can't live without!

Now only to convince my husband that this entire process will take a month to "research" so I can't do any cooking ;)

Move over Julia!

And stand aside Angelina!

I'm making my way to stardom - as the back up extras's extra... but you have to start somewhere :)



So yes, I work here. We have lots of fun :)

Valentine's

While sorting out Christmas, I found a box labeled "All Holiday Except Christmas." I'd almost forgotten about this one... I have little bits leftover from high school and college - including some Valentine's Day items. I figured why not - put them out now. Of course that would mean I still decorate the same as when I was in high school, but we won't delve into that.

One of my favorite items this old pin. My mom had lots of buttons leftover from her high school days that made it into my hands.

Not sure I'd ever be able to wear any of them again, but can probably provide good conversation when the neighbors come over to visit (like the shark's mouth where we keep the candy and the batteries charged...)

Get back in the closet!

This past weekend my husband and I finally took the Christmas decorations down. Where I live right now, this is crazieness... we're the only house that still had Christmas up after January 1st.

When I grew up, Christmas decorations were always a big thing. All day, the day after Thanksgiving involved large boxes, tissue, and dust. As every piece of the regular decor got packed away and Christmas emerged. The whole operation took the entire family about a week (seriously - one mover asked my mom in 1996 if she owned a florist shop - was the only reason he could figure he was moving so many wreathes, garlands, sprays...). This decorating never came down before president's day weekend in February.
As an adult, I now wonder if it was less the spirit of Christmas and more the pain of putting it away that kept it up so long.

Updating Shop Banners

I finally got off my lazy but and updated my banners in my etsy and artfire accounts... that whole branding thing :)

Now my banners match my business cards. I've had a similar design on my blog and back on 1000Markets when that was still around, but never got it properly resized for artfire and etsy.

Am I getting too lazy?

On Monday, I had surgery on my face to remove a bit of cancer. Tuesday, I really didn't feel well, so I decided to try the "Express Line" shopping at my local grocery store. The search feature worked great. I set up my time to pick up my groceries and took at total of 6 minutes - from leaving the highway, parking, ringing the "express button," having someone load my groceries into the car, paying with my credit card, and getting back on the road. The thing I wonder now is how lazy I might be that I consider using this feature in the future on a regular basis?

Ice!

Well, good old North Carolina has been getting some good old ice this winter. When I got up one morning last week, looking over my cup of coffee, I thought how beautiful this tree is. Makes me want to attach kettlebells to the end of each branch so that it hangs like this all of the time :)

New year, new year, new year...

Getting organized is one of those things that always gets set into my goals - always well-intended, but not always followed through. This year, I want to look at it in smaller doses... like organizing the little area of my life that sparks my interest at the moment. So far it is working... I was able to attack my closet this past weekend and already see my year looking good.