I need space and time in order to stretch.

I want to be able to wake up
make some coffee
bake some scones
spend all the rest of the hours with a hammer in one hand and a torch in the other.
fall asleep
and repeat.

I've been a little "off" this week. The time between these trips is a little awkward. Two weeks isn't much time at all to settle back into home and into making.

Today, though, I picked up a file. The physical presence of it in my hand, the repetitive motions, woke something up.

This week I have a lot of preparing to do. I'm going to Venice! and Florence! and possibly places in between...Italia. Mi sei mancato molto.

a jewelry update!

I am wearing the largest ring I've made to date. It is a bit of a strange luxury, having something so large and weighty on one's hand. I want to test drive it tomorrow before I put it in the shop, but I think I may be too hard on jewelry for a piece so large...there is too much surface that could hit things.

I am too tired to think or write so listing will come later.

Tidal Wave
size 8.75
[I took these photos before I completed setting the stone]

[doesn't it look like a sweet little sea creature sitting in my hand?]

Bloodstone Amulet
I will likely take new photos of that one before posting to my shop...I really waited too long this evening to take them and the light was terrible. That is really a rich piece of bloodstone...I hope to acquire more. The back has some nice detailing as well...I love little hidden treasures on the back of pieces, it's like a secret for the wearer. I meant to take pictures of the other necklace I made and had every intention of selling, but I forgot it at home. It's pretty much become a part of my collection, I'm afraid. I am a bit too smitten with it to see it go away.

The next 2 weeks will likely be slow and low-key in my little world of metal. I leave on the 5th for my next adventure...11 days
in
Venice!

I am a lucky girl.

back...

The island was wild, alive, and hot.
I am renewed and refreshed.

Vacation...starts...NOW.

I have officially not turned on my torch this entire week. I am going through a little bit of withdrawal, but hopefully it will just make me all the more ready to take on the LIST when I get back.

In the meantime, I'm going to lay around a lot. I'm going to swim. I'm going to let myself melt into the ocean [which is where I belong]. I'm going to read a lot. I'm going to sketch and will probably be filled with sea-inspired jewelry ideas upon my return. I am going to let the sun warm my skin and everything else fade away.

My reading list:
Ishmael
Pillars of the Earth
A Wrinkle in Time (re-read, it was a favorite of mine when I was little)
Coraline (and I like books written for the 7-12 age group, ok
The Eyre Affair
How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist


Reminders!:
The shop is getting packed up and will be CLOSED on August 30th for a trunk show.
I really don't know how my work will be received. I don't know what will sell and what will not. Some things may return, some may not. Just a heads UP!

And look for at least 2 new pieces on the 24th. Potentially 3, but I'm getting rather attached to the 3rd.


See you when I return!

Catching up on Life

I've been taking an unplanned break from jewelry for the past few days. I think I needed it.

The weekend was exhausting with the horse show and barn work. The humidity took it's toll and going into the hot garage to work with fire wasn't high on my list of things to do.

I did finish 3 pieces (stone setting & polishing - both of which are done in the AC) which I will try to photograph tonight. I don't know that I'll get them listed before my vacation, but I will try to preview them on the blog at the very least.

And, ok, I have to brag just a little.

This is where I'm staying as of Saturday:

That's the pool, but if this picture was zoomed out a bit more it would also show you that the pool overlooks the ocean.

That picture may or may not sum up my lack of motivation to get in the studio...it's time for VACATION!

**photo was found here: http://www.choice1.com/ten-bay-paradise.htm?CID=

it's almost like having a real weekend...

I have pieces going in the polisher and homemade strawberry ice cream (err...ice milk?) going in the ice cream maker. It's very simple...milk, strawberries, honey. And a pinch of salt since salt makes everything better.

From this morning-

This was my "awesome, I just rode 2 tests in a row and my face is red and sweaty and you're taking my picture. awesome." face at the show today:


I had improvements the 2nd test but it still didn't feel great.
I'm ok with that, though, because Cholula was energetic and excited and forward. After struggling with that so much last year I'm thrilled those days are behind us.
More pictures to come later after I go through my camera!

Other than that I'm mostly just sitting around and reading/watching food network. I watch food network a lot. I hate cooking. I do, however, like eating.

I have a pretty low key jewelry list to complete today, and it's more of a "if I feel like it list." So far I don't feel like it. So far I just feel like putting my feet up...I'll just consider it practice for my vacation in a week.

It could be sweet

The ever-present challenge of finding balance
is
challenging.

Funny how that works.

Today there was no jewelry, rather there was cleaning (much needed) and riding (also much needed).

I can't do everything.
Though I certainly try, sometimes.

The next batch has changed drastically in the past few days, as now it contains 3 items from the last batch. They didn't exactly go according to plan. But I'm alright with that, because they will be better than they were before.

What I have to show you is not much but sometimes that is ok. I think they are sweet little morsels of metal and stone.

I hope you think so too.

Sun & Moon Stackers

Tiny Turquoise

Lil pops poppy posts

And that is that! I will hopefully have them in le shop sometime tomorrow.

For the sake of keeping this updated...

Maybe I can work faster than I thought.

Or maybe I just don't take any down time for myself.

I felt like I had some semblance of balance last week:

-I happily worked on my batch of pieces which were polished up last night.
-I rode Cholula 3 times...which is at least CLOSER to my goal of 4-5.
-I sat on the couch and watched some food network (I can't read and sand at the same time).
-I went to the county fair to eat lots of greasy fair food.

Despite feeling somewhat balanced (if the apartment would just be CLEAN I'd be complete), I managed to (almost) complete 6 new pieces of jewelry.

What's that?
I just updated my shop a week ago?
Huh.

Weird.

Pictures later, after I set more stones. The ring I was so excited about - a HUGE, unique chunk of mookaite, is rocking away in its setting. I'm not sure what happened, only that I need to pry it out (shudder) and take a closer look at it's silver home.

I might need to remake the ring in its entirety
and this makes me want to cry.

But with all mistakes I make, I learn something? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm supposed to learn from this ring, other than it's making me very unhappy.

I'm sure I'll have some surge of motivation to take it apart sooner or later.
(Sigh. Second ring in a month.)

Oh, I also crushed my first stone last night. Apparently sunstone is very fragile. Just so you know. Or maybe I hit it at just the right point. I'm not really sure, all I know is that it's pretty much powder right now.

At the rate I'm going [hyper focus!] I'll have another batch to polish before I leave on the 14th!