It's not my fault!

Really, I promise, it's not my fault!!! Rio Grande had a show special that I just couldn't resist. I have wanted a jeweler's desk forever. Think it will help me make more jewelry? Better jewelry? Be better organized?

This is the one that was at the show....I'm sure it's "clean" compared to mine will be!

It's small, but it won't take up much space and I hope it will get me through the rest of my creative years!

So here's the thing....I WASN'T going to buy it! Nope - I walked by it 10 times a day. Drooled over it. Longed for it. Really, really, really wanted it, but talked myself out of it. And then I met HER.......

Don't even know her name, but what a delight! She quoted me the show special and I thought that was a great deal. But then......she said those 2 little magic words.....

FREE SHIPPING!!!

LOLOL!!!

Note the desk weighs about 100 pounds and would have cost a fortune to get it shipped to me!

OK - she probably "had" me before that, but those 2 little words absolutely sold me on the deal! Now here's the funny part.....it will arrive at my house about a week before I get home! Oh dear! If you are like me, there's no way I can't be there when it arrives....but I won't! I'll just have to be patient and wait til I get home to play with my new "toy"!

I love Rio Grande's catalog. I love their customer service.....they pack and ship the same day you order. And now....I love this gal!

So I need your help. I don't want to feel one ounce of guilt over this purchase......so someone else needs to buy one, too! LOLOL!!!

Rio Grande

finding balance

Finding balance in life is always good. This was a week of great balance. Loads of new friendships with wonderful people:

With a side of silliness.....

metal
Being with firends you already know....always fun!

Getting others to join in the fun..... "formal poses"

and the ability to have fun....even when it's a "formal" evening.....


Adding to the fun, one by one......

and even those who are willing to "stage" a scene!!!

I think that last one involved money and alcohol.....but not real sure!

I am so sad that the week is over. It has been absolutely fantistic. While I feel completely and totally worn out, I still feel exhilerated because of everything I have learned, the new friends I have made, the ideas that are swimming around in my head trying to get out......but mostly, the knowledge that we will do this all again in 2 years!!!

Life on the road.....

You have to understand that Sherry got here YESTERDAY at about 3 pm. It took less than 24 hours for us to turn a hotel room into a working studio/showroom/restaurant/retreat/show-prep-staging center!

So here's Sherry, on the floor, concentrating on design work:

OK, I am really starting to wonder how this design is going to turn out.....and if the stress has already gotten to her!!!

But I will confess, she seems totally dedicated to getting her project done tonight!

It's sort of drop-n-go style here. I'm doing seminars on diecutting & quilling....then an open workshop table tonight....then a photography seminar tomorrow followed by a second diecutting & quilling session. So I have to unpack and repack between each session....and then drag stuff about a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the conference center. This is the packing area:
We literally do not have time to go out to eat....so we've set up our own restaurant on the desk:

This is the area that is packed and ready to go for the next event:

Sherry says our bathroom is a mess. I think it's pretty good for a couple of women who just have a moment between events!

But I have no idea how she is going to get to bed tonight. I imagine she is just going to take her arm and sweep it all off onto the floor.
But I should mention that neither of us have had the time to pick up the newspaper they put under the door. I wonder how tall this pile will grow!

Finally, you must meet Nigel and Fontaine. Our official room mascots!

Now, doesn't that make you wonder what kind of "monkey business" we are going to be into next? LOLOL!!!

Today was great! The DVD's are selling like hotcakes! Kerry is going to have to burn a few more when I get home! And I'm definitely going to move forward and do one on dichroic glass.

So here I am, once again, back to my late night blogging. 11:20 pm. Time to hit the sack...if we can get it all cleaned off!!!

Some people will do ANYTHING

to get their photo posted in my blog!!! LOLOL!!!

there was drinking.......

and eating.......
and more eating........
and even more eating.......
the food at the VIP reception was incredible. Gorgeous presentation. Wonderful taste. But oh! Those chocolate covered strawberries and a little bit of wine.....

What a grand evening!!!

The midnight blogger

Well, almost! 10:30 pm and I'm just now getting to today's blog! What a day! Oh my gosh! I had 8 students in my pre-conference workshop and I have to say.....they were all just brilliant! Caught on to diecutting like a flash! So much fun!!!

I told you someone was going to walk away with a brand new Revolution diecut machine! The question is....how is she going to get it home as she is already over the weight limit for the plane! LOL!!!



Note the gal in the background giving the other gal "rabbit ears"? Well....what did you expect in one of my classes? LOL!!!


"Look mom - no jet lag" - even though she flew in from Europe and actually understood my accent!!!


Hmmmm......I think this one got caught with her hand in the candy jar???

Oh dear...I think she's on to me. I don't think she's buying a single word I've written here!!!

But for me, that's why I teach. Personalities, eyes that light up with you "get" something or learn something brand new....the "oh! wow!" moments that a student has, the ability to joke and have fun with each other....the list is just endless.

Thank you to each of my students for making today easy and fun!!! Now, I do hope you learned a little something in the process! Otherwise, we might have to do it all over again tomorrow!!!

OK - after standing on my feet almost the entire day....I've decided to put the heating pad on them tonight! I'll be ready to go first thing in the morning! Wonder what tomorrow will bring???

Silver for sale!

HA! What do you think.....should I sell my class samples after the conference?



I'm thinking between $2 and $5. Most are unpolished....but a few are finished off.



Everything has been fired. I'm thinking 1 rose and 2 leaves for $5. I must be willing to work for pennies!!



Well, today is Sunday and I should be in Iowa if all goes well. I'm pre-blogging just in case I don't make it to a hotel with internet. I'll get to Chicago tomorrow afternoon....I hope!

Improving past art

I think it was the summer of 2006 and Tim Holtz was in Ft Collins and I took a bunch of classes from him. We made watch pendents. So I thought how cool it could be to add paper type silver to what I had already done.

I added the kitty cat, 2 flowers and dragon fly.



Now, you have to look at that for a minute.

Do you see "time" under the magnifying glass? I'm trying to expand my time!

Do you see the Indiana license plate? That's where I grew up.

The little girl is reading a book.

On the handle of the magnifying glass it says "play" and to the right below that it says "artist". Most days I think I just play at being an artist!

There's a compass and tiny little watch parts that float around inside the watch.

Tim said that the difference is in the details. I have to agree....I love making art that has meaning to me. Obviously this piece is not going to be for sale. Oh, did I mention that? Almost everything I've been showing here is up for sale at the Metal Clay World Conference. What I bring home...I think I'll have to open an Etsy store!

Would you dare

alter something you bought at Chico's? Well, I've had this pendant for about 4 years, rarely wear it and decided to add the little gecko to is.



Just going from a plain coral stone to having it embellished with a diecut gecko is all it took to take an old piece of jewelry and make it brand new! How cool is that???

Today is Friday and there's just one more day to go before I leave. Starting to get things packed up and wanted to put in a plug for pacsafe. Have you tried them? Wire mesh safes that go around your luggage and can be cable locked to something eles. We bought them a few years back when we backpacked through Europe. I'm locking down all the jewelry and video equipment. Someone can try to break into my car.....but I doubt they walk away with a thing! Sure makes me feel a little more comfy since I'm driving with so many samples with me.

Made a quick run to Canon City today, stopped to see mom and picked up an order from Sherry at Paper Silver Stone - one of the coolest stores in Colorado!!!

Coral and turquoise

I started out this morning with a single coral tube stone. Put the gecko on it. And then had absolutly no idea where to go! But I think I "went" just fine!!!

Even made matching earrings for the necklace:

Linda Peterson had given me this bracelet almost 2 years ago and it matches so well that I simply added 3 tiny dragonflies to make it a perfect match:

so, the gecko and the dragonflies are .999 fine silver. Pretty cool what you can do with diecut silver on jewelry!

I may actually have to start wearing some of this!!

Don't you wish you were going to the Metal Clay World Conference? It starts one week from right now!!!

Edited to add:

oops! I forgot to mention that the 4 coral looking beads that are round.....those are polymer clay beads that Linda made. They match the cylindar stone perfect! Amazing that you can't tell polymer clay from stone.

Inspired

When I work with the Star of David.....I am so inspired to do my best. And this may be one of my very best. I'm not really a beader....but I totally taught myself how to string, crimp, attach, measure, fix, re-do, repair.....with this one! It took about 4 attempts - I was determined to get it perfect!



Turquoise stone and beads. Swarovsky crystals. Sterling silver wire, spacer beads and findings. .999 fine silver diecut star of david center piece.



The Star of David - the Magen David - the shield of David - the symbol that we are seeking the Messiah's return.

Faith that inspires design.

Altered polymer clay art

I do not like polymer clay. I do not like anything about it. But I fell in love with this strand of polymer clay beads made by Peg Harper.....who is fast becoming a dear, dear friend!



So, yes, Peg, you may just get me to do something with "your" clay one of these days. After all, you managed to get me to join the local polymer clay guild....but I'm going to work to get you to change the name to something more generic....take the poly out of it! LOL!!

I took Peg's beads (and yep, I do want to learn how to make them) and added fine silver diecuts to the sop and dangled swarovsky crystals from the bottom.



So as long as Peg makes the beads and I can aler them....I think I've found a new love.....Peg's poly beads and my fine silver diecuts:



I'm telling you.....northern Colorado is just full of amazing artists! I keep meeting new ones all the time and am beyond impressed with all of the incredible talent that surrounds me!!!

So Peg.....what would happen if I altered the steampunk heart?

LOLOL!!!

Oh! The Shoes!!!

Well, I had to make something to go with the shoes and decided to give myself a bit of a challenge. What could I do with just 1/2 sheet of Art Clay Silver paper type?



Great necklace! I was just so happy when it all came together. I used a little Sizzlet diecut that I've had forever. Looked it up and of course, it's no longer available to purchase.

Once I had the necklace made, I just knew the shoes were going to match. They took about 1/3 sheet of paper type....not much at all.



I can hardly wait to get to the convention! I may just wear these the whole week long!

So, today is July 4th and I just want to say a huge thank you to anyone and everyone who has ever served in our armed forces and fought to make this country the great place it is to live. I just pray that we continue to fight for freedom and that we fight to give Israel all of the land that was promised to her. Happy 4th!

Just a jewelry-making machine!

I have several pieces at various stages of completion....this one managed to get finished today:



Fine silver butterflies, swarovsky crystals, sterling silver beads, wire and findings mingled with dyed seashell beads.



I really don't like purple, but I can handle this one!