Variations On A Theme

 Yesterday, at the request of KathyS who has one of these and wears it alot and could sell them right off her body (she rocks this necklace), I made nine dragonfly pendant necklace. Four simple...

 ...one with pearl fringe...

 ...one on a rollo chain with a lovely Swarovski Crystal...

 ...fancy pounded wire...

 ...crystals and a brass dragonfly...

and this one.

Fast and Furious

 This is the cloud that dumped the hail



notice how it looks like a snow storm in the background?



 that flipped the chairs and ripped up our plants

and knocked over the flagpole.

All in 10 minutes.

The good news? 1.2 inches of much needed rain.

I love you...

...to the moon and back.

I just finished this order for a customer (+1).

I'll be making more. I love them - to the moon and back.

Pipe Dreams Completed and A Lost Bird

 Admittedly, I have completed just two of my Pipe Dreams Necklaces - I loved the class and if it's offered again, recommend you all take it. I have the other pendants all dingled up, but no chains...

This is the Fancy Pants one. I'm pretty sure that's a real 4 carat Ruby....ha.

It's hard to see, but this pigeon that landed on the deck yesterday is sporting a band on both legs. Anyone missing a Homing Pigeon? I have named him Homer. I'm hoping his message can wait, because he's going to be late....

Pipe Dreams Class Update - Midterm

 We're halfway through the class, must be mid-term. These are my Pipe Dream Pendants soldered and patinaed. Now I am going to drill holes in them and add twisty wires to hang them. I've made some mistakes, but who cares! I am having so much fun and learning a lot. Thank you Miss Stephanie!

...this is the Joan of Arc pendant. She left her heart... and a ton of solder.

I'm hoping to etch some silly love words on it. Or "You make my heart burn".

Taking a Quick Break for These Commercials

 Since I'm taking Stephanie Lee's Pipe Dreams class, I've been using my micro torch alot. It konked out (wouldn't turn off) so I had to go to Lincoln looking for one. I found one at Lowe's. Then I thought - maybe the GlassArts Unlimited store will have some brass lamp banding, so I went there. While (OK, I'm terrible with names, but I think this is close) Lavender and April were looking in the back for it, I saw some glass rods. I asked if they were 104's. They then granted my wish of finding the mother-load of glass rods by saying "Oh, are you a bead girl?" Yes, says I, happy they didn't say, "Oh, are you a bead middle-aged-dirty jeans-wearing-uncombed-hair-looking-t-shirt-sporting mess?". They brought out the BEAD LOVERS SPECIAL box from the back... Holy Moley! Just $4 a bundle! Then, because they were taunting me by leaving them in front of me, I kept adding more bundles to my pile until there were only 5 left. So they sold me all of them at a bargain price! Even this box of stubbies! They were just wonderful.

 But - I'm going to have to take the torch back. A candle puts out more heat.

 Here's my second commercial:

I bought this MP3 from Amazon for just 99 cents. It comes with warnings that you shouldn't drive a car while listening.... it's very soothing and since I'm sitting here finishing up some necklaces for an order, it's perfect.  

 I looked under my desk and there's Scootch, zonked out with her eyes opened enjoying the music. In front of my desk is Rumple, totally hyp-no-tized and so relaxed he could float. I'm telling you, it's good music.

Luckily, neither one of them has to drive anywhere today.

End of commercial messages. I'm back to work.

Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It!

I'm taking my first on-line class. It's Stephanie Lee's class, "Pipe Dreams". If you click the picture, you'll be transported to her blog and see her lovely pipe pendants. I think they're wonderful, and would like to incorporate some into my jewelry, so I signed up.... 

  

Here's my first attempt:

Not so pretty. I've been practicing, but until I actually finish something, I'll show you what doesn't work. Like above. And Below. Guess one should make sure what you're heating with a torch is solid metal.

Hopefully I will have some pretty pendants to show off at the end of the week....

...unless I just keep catching them on fire.

Tiny Windows and A Red Rainbow

 

 I'm finding and finishing projects that I started before the flood and everything was boxed up. Shelley was very patient in waiting for the last two windows to be finished for her Hoosier cabinet.

A new phenomenon out here - this was a few days ago... a prominently red rainbow in the south early in the morning. We looked it up in our weather predictor from 1896 and it said that means rain. It rained to the West and to the North, but not on Two Dog Pond. Still - cool red rainbow. It's been over 100 degrees for way too long. The grass is even browner now...We're praying for more red rainbows.

Twinkle Twinkle Apricot Tree

 Quite a while ago (before the flood) I did a post about how I was using bedsprings to make different hanging lights... remember? On the 4th, I made some to hang in the apricot tree...

 last night I got outside to photograph them lit up.

 solar magic all year round.

this is some jewelry I'm working on. It looked pretty sitting on my desk, but none of it lights up on it's own.

More Great Finds!

Beer Stein for Larry

 On Sunday we went to an auction near here. I bid on lots of great stuff, and came home with a few treasures. The muffin tin below is now full of stones and things to add to necklaces. 

 I bought a box of the empty candle jars. Holy. Yes. Today my sd Kira and I went to the Liberty House sale on the lawn and bought some great stuff. Kira scored big with vintage clothing - it looks amazing on her.

 I, on the other hand, bought a wooden box and a tin box. Obsessions of mine.

 More Holiness.

Keys.

 A box of silverware.

 Korean Shot Glasses.

 Back to Sunday's Auction: I bought this wonderful little crockery piece. Now it's filled with Holiness.

 I bought a little wooden Buddha at Gatherings. My husband said "Why did you buy that Buddha?" I said because his nipple is broken off." He thinks I'm nuts.

These prints are BEAUTIFUL. They are really really old and never used. These, too, are from the auction.

Is it annoying when I use the 'Hortonish' setting to snazz up my photos? I knew Horton heard a Who but who knew Horton could funkify a photo? (the heat is getting to me.) I bought more treasures, but I can't remember what or where they are....more later!

4th Of July Announcement

 Above is the really great workbench turned display table I bought at Gatherings On The Blue. Don't you love it? My Announcement is that I won't be doing the 4th of July Show at the Liberty House this year. Family obligations, a flooded studio, and 100 degree heat have me convinced that I don't have the inventory or the stamina to be out in the heat for 10 hours. There are lots of braver vendors that will be out. If you live in the area and would like to come out and shop after the holiday, just e-mail me and bring your friends or your sisters or coworkers or just yourself. I'm building my inventory back up.

 Some of the bracelets I've been making.

Booties I made after seeing them on Pinterest.
I bought the pattern from Bonita Patterns - you can get yours here!