365 Day Project

This New Year I am going to give The 365 Day Project a go. A good friend of mine is doing it and I thought I would see if I could keep up with it as well! Each day in 2012 I plan on posting a photo that I take from my iPhone throughout that day. Some days will be just a photo, other days may be several, we will just have to see. It will be a window into my life so to speak.....

I am looking forward to the new year! With it I wish for much peace, happiness and lots of love for the world.....

Happy New Year

Seattle

Had a wonderful 2 days in Seattle with Whit and my family! Couldn't have had better weather or a better time!




We went to the space needle, EMP (experience music project), IMAX, great restaurants and tons of fun just walking the streets of Seattle and Christmas shopping!









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Daydreaming

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Santa's workshop....

This is my new silversmithing area of my studio. I spent a few days rearranging and making room for the new bench. I totally cleaned and organized everything.....

It is going to become Santa's workshop for the next few weeks! Got any good ideas for me????

Photo of the Day....

Hawaii Dreaming......

Another photo using the blender app.

I am looking forward to returning to the warm waters of Hawaii. It has become a yearly ritual for me. I look forward to swimming in the warm waters with the turtles and photographing the migrating humpback whales again soon.....

Photo of the Day....

Whale's tail.... still playing around with the blender app.

Have a wonderful weekend! I am looking forward to spending mine with family and friends.

Life is VERY GOOD!

Spirit Flight

I have been playing with a new app called blender. You can take 2 photos and work or blend them into one.

This photo leaves me with much peace in my heart.....

Home Again

I had a wonderful time in Austin teaching for Jim and Rose at Austin Blue Moon. If you are ever in the area..... or even not, this is an excellent place to take a workshop. The studio is excellent, Jim and Rose are just the most hospitable hosts ever and their store has everything you could possibly want!

I taught a lapidary class there and I believe Jim may have the students beads posted on his site. We made galaxy within beads. This is where you make a galaxy bead, add a lot of clear around it and then cover it up with frits, powders or whatever you like. After the bead has annealed we then use lapidary equipment to open windows to the bead to see the galaxy within. The students rocked it!

Me with the wonderful Jim and Rose Berry! I tell ya they are the best!!

I had a day off before my class and Jim taught me how to blow Christmas ornaments! I am totally hooked on making these now! I think I must have made about 2o in a hour and half! Jim is an excellent instructor, he is offering classes there for $65.00 and you get to make 10 ornaments! If you are in the area be sure and check this class out.... bring the family and make it a family affair.

For those of you who know "Uncle Al" he stopped by for the afternoon to visit. I love Al. He has such a kind gentle soul. I always look forward to seeing him on my visits to Austin. He always makes my day!

It is so nice to be in Texas and get to see some of my family as well. On this trip I was able to see both of my sisters and my niece and one of my nephews.

But as always I love coming home!

I had seen this workbench in Costco right before I left for my trip. I asked Whit to see if they still had any left and he told me they had all sold out.... well..... this was waiting for me in my studio when I got home! If any of you are looking for a nice bench to work on (for silver work in my case) this is the bench! The height is perfect!!!

I do believe I have the best friend, life partner and husband in the world!

I love you Whit!

Gallery Walk

Stop in The Port Townsend Gallery this Saturday for Gallery Walk! It is going to be a great show!

It runs all month

A merry band of jewelry artists have joined together to present “Pieces Of Eight: A Collection of Treasures From the Eight Jewelry Artists Of Port Townsend Gallery.” The group wanted to kick off the holiday season with a little sparkle and shine, as well as spotlight their diverse work in a variety of media. Come and meet the jewelry artists at a reception during Gallery Walk on Saturday, December 3rd, from 5:30-8pm. Light refreshments and holiday cheer will be served.

Galaxy Within

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Now that was FUN!!!

Today was a typical Northwest rainy kind of day. I woke up with a cold..... but decided it would be a great day to be in the studio. So out to the studio I go.... I was playing with making some rings with gypsy set rubies. Well it wasn't really going all that well. I think I will take a class and see if I can learn the correct way to do this instead of my made-up way!

So then I get a text from a good friend saying that she is going to the casino.... and do I want to meet her and her sister there... Well am I ever glad that I decided to go!!! WOW this was so much fun!!! I walked out of there ahead $1,700.00!!!! I am putting this money away for Tucson, it is more than enough to cover my airfare, rental car, hotel and food! I don't go to the casino very often but I have to admit the casino has been awful good to me this year!

Tomorrow I plan on making some galaxy within beads to get ready for my upcoming trip to Austin. They should be done by Tuesday and I will take a few photos to show ya!

Have a great week my friends!

Photo of the Day

This beautiful rainbow appeared on Thanksgiving for us!



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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We again had another awesome day with friends and family. Every year Whit and I invite many of our friends for a Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before. It seems to be growing year after year!

As usual there was lots of laughter, story telling and great food! This video will give you a little glimpse into our wonderful day.

Hope you all have a great Holiday weekend! Remember to shop local.... support your town and local shops and artists!!!

Great Day

I'll never tell what we were up too!!




We had a great day at our craft show! Good turnout for a first time show. So nice to visit with so many of the town folk.

Tomorrow we have our annual Thanksgiving dinner here at our home with many friends and family... This year we are expecting around 30!

Have a great weekend!!! Oh I forgot to mention it snowed!!!!

Show this Saturday!

Hope to see some of you here!!!!

1st Annual Art Show of new artist's group
Hands On Art is a showcase of the professional, accomplished artists that are part of the "Fearless Experimental Artists" group. The group of 12 artists has been meeting monthly since March of this year. The group formed as a venue to stretch themselves outside of their boxes of the artwork they each create. There is much exploration, laughter, and new artwork created amongst this loose knit group of like minds. They have found this a fun way to stay fresh in their art activities. The show is a great chance to meet these artists, see their work, and see them at work in each of their mediums. The artists participating are Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Karen Page, Haden Starbuck, Jeannie Fine, Julie Abowitt, Phoebe Huffman, Marlene Newman, and Kath Raymond. They cover a wide variety of mediums from soap to jewelry, to paintings etc.
"Hands on Art" will be 10-4 on Saturday, Nov. 19th, at the Masonic Lodge - 1338 Jefferson.

On another note... I have had several requests to go back to this format for my blog so that people can see my links to other blogs....

More Earrings..

Busy making lots of jewelry for an upcoming show! I am having so much fun playing with color.

Exciting News!

VERY EXCITED to have been handpicked to be in 100 Northwest Artists - a book by Schiffer Publishing!!!!!! This is going to be a large coffee table style book!!

Here are a few of the others that have been done.

I feel very honored and blessed.....

Photo of the Day....

New earring design.

Under the Sea Wave Bracelet and More....

I have been playing with getting different colors on my bracelets this week. Seems like I am able to get the full spectrum of the rainbow if I am very careful. Here are just a few of the bracelets I made this week.... the last one is The Under the Sea Bracelet...

All of these are for sale in MY ETSY STORE

This reminds me of under the sea.... with lots of sea anemone's and starfish. This is a newer patina look that I have been playing with.... Let me know what you think!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!! I am looking forward to our Saturday Market.... working at the gallery and visiting with friends.

Happy Birthday Whit!

I love you!

Toys.....

I think that this should be the official Apple Logo from now on....

Today myself, many family members and friends were all downloading the new IOS 5 operating systems on our iPhones and iPads. All the while I kept thinking how happy Steve Jobs would be to see the excitement of so many.... I hope that from where he is he knows the joy he has brought to me and so many around the world.

looking forward to getting the new iPhone 4S on Friday... anyone else getting one????

tomorrow back to the studio for me...

Peaceful

I am home once again from teaching abroad.... Towanda won't leave my side! Here she looks ever so peaceful curled up sleeping by my side. I feel so at peace as well being back home with my family! I love traveling but always can't wait to get back to them.

I am looking forward to spending much creative time in my studio getting ready for a few local shows here in Port Townsend. I will keep you posted on the whereabouts and dates of these as the time gets closer!

A few friends will be visiting and creating with me.... always makes for a fun time. Well more to post later this week.... tomorrow I plan on working on my Etsy shop.....

talk soon....

Leather Wraps

Here are some of my new leather wraps using silver buttons I have made! Leather seems to be the in thing now. They are so comfortable and look awesome on. These are already sold and I am leaving for CA in the morning but will be back on Monday. So as soon as I get back I promise to get more made and into my Etsy store!!! Also I will have dark brown, deep purple and a beautiful red!

Have a great week!

New Buttons

Just a quick snapshot of some new buttons I made today for some upcoming bracelets for my Etsy shop this week! Stay tuned......

Leaving

Getting ready to go home.... had a blast here! Looking forward to seeing my Sweetie!

I leave you with this photo of one of my favorite spots..... looking forward to returning one day




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More of Ireland

One more day left.... We are going to help Cheryl with a project she is working on, she needs 100 glass flowers made by tuesday and still needs 20 more.... I am going to help get those done then off to Shannon to spend one more night then home!

I am so looking forward to my return next August where I will be teaching glass, silver coring, silver caps and making bangle bracelets! This is by far the most wonderful place I have ever taught. The studio is amazing, the accommodations incredible.... the people, some of the nicest I have ever met. There is so much to do and see within miles of here.... Look up Achill Island when you get a chance, a lot of these photos were taken there.....

well enjoy the photos and I will post more later....

I leave you with this photo of Christine and I high above Keem Beach on Achill Island....

Ireland!!!

Having a fantastic time here! What a beautiful country!!!! And the people......... just awesome!

Here are a few photos of our first two days.

Just finished my second day of teaching... I will post some photos soon of the amazing studio and accommodations here in Mulranny!

Obsessed?!?!?!

I am totally hooked on making these leather wrap around bracelets with Thai Silver beads! I also made the silver buttons for them. Who would of thought that I would ever have a sewing needle in my hand!!!!!

Quick Post

Been busy creating more bracelets, earrings and a few beads. Will post some photos of them before I leave on my trip! Really looking forward to going Ireland this week!

Here are a few photos of some of the places I am going! I look forward to taking my own photos!

Have a great weekend my friends! It has been perfect weather here in the NW.... been spending a little time being very lazy in the hammock and just listening to the beautiful sounds of nature that surround me..... Life is Good!