Now Is The Time

 This Saturday - at the Liberty House in Seward from 9-5pm - I will be selling my inventory of soldered glass pendants at HALF PRICE!!!

 All of them? YES!!!

 I've decided not to carry a huge inventory of soldered glass pendants anymore...I've been making them since 2004, and now want to focus on your custom items instead... like pendants of your sweet babies, and your beautiful grandchildren...

 I will still be making soldered glass pendants as they are ordered, but just not carry such a large inventory of them.

Even these wonderful round pendants will be half price!!

Red Path Gallery

 

Recently a new and amazing Art Gallery and Tasting Room opened in Seward.

It's called Red Path Gallery.

 

 I do have a few jewelry items in the gallery - 

 The building was built in 1886 and was originally a bank. Look at the lovely vault in Melissa's Studio...

 This is my space...

 

 Below are some of the stained glass feathers I've been making exclusively for the gallery.

 There's an amazing collection of art at the gallery. An eclectic group of artists, really.  - please visit the Red Path Gallery Facebook Page to see more... then stop by and have a glass of wine! Tell them Rachel sent you!

The Fire Pit

Ever since we moved to Two Dog Pond I've wanted a fire pit. Tim isn't as much of a pyromaniac as me, so if I wanted one I needed to build it. Today was the day for that....

Step One: go look at every stone option in town. Ask how many it takes to make a circle and then use whatever number you think is right. Te correct answer is twelve.

On the driveway, lay them out in a circle and measure the diameter.

Haul all your shovels and a can of spray paint and a couple of bricks and a level to the site.

Since you know the diameter of the fire pit, tie a string around a can of spray paint and then spray a circle the size of your fire pit...

Start digging! This is the point where I realized that my paint circle was way too big. 

Try to make it level. Or not...

First layer down..

Second layer down...

Dump in all the pea gravel...

Add the third layer and you are done.

Lashed Wrapped Bracelet Two Dog Pond Style

 I was asked to make some lashed wrap bracelets, so I tried it!

 I found many instructions on-line and they all said use size 12 beading needles and size D cord... I had some needles, but no idea what size cord I had so I guessed it was D and proceeded to try to thread it through the freakingly tiny needle. I bent the head - no big deal, I can straighten that with a pliers, says me. Then realized there was a giant knot on the other end....

...after fighting with needle and thread for an hour, I did figure it out and proceeded to complete the bracelet. I like it, but wanted mine earthier...

 ...so I made some buttons out of deer antlers...

 last year Terry, the big-game hunter from Montana, sent me antlers, bullet casings, and turkey feathers.... I have been having fun with them ever since.

 This lovely skull hangs on my studio wall - a trade with Ed for a necklace for his wife.

I ordered some thinner leather, some size D cord and will attempt this again. If I was Chan Luu I would charge a million dollars for these...

The End.

Getting Back On Track

 A custom necklace...

 There were a few requests: Incorporate an "M", a "2", Travel (1949 Pfennig), a key...

 A few more bug (and an upside down bird) cuffs

 An Eagle Feather Pendant (It's about 3" long)

Bittersweet

Last week my dear Mother passed away. She was a lovely lady with a quick wit. Because she lived in the same town as me, and my siblings all live far far away, I had the privilege of spending lots of time with her and getting to know her as a person and not just as my Mother. She had dementia, so there were times I wasn't sure she knew me, but she was almost always sweet and funny. It is a bittersweet passing because she was ready to go and it was time, but she made such a difference in her world that she will be greatly missed.

On Taking A Vacation

 I've been on a WONDERFUL vacation for almost two weeks. That's me and my sisters. They all live in Southern California. It's so much fun to get together with them... even though they might kill me for making a gif file of them.

we went to an art festival in downtown Santa Ana. It was great.

 My sister Bonnie and I try to take a roadtrip together every year. We travel (and drink) well together. These aren't in the right order, but above is a photo of me being overwhelmed at the Remnants of the Past show in San Luis Obispo.

 A Greek Festival with lots of dancing. Bonnie danced until she was told it was too hard to learn.

 Beautiful art in Cambria.

 Did I mention we drink well together?

 The Beach in Cambria.

 

We took one of those painting classes where you drink wine and paint...

I don't want to burn your retinas, so I won't post a picture of my painting. It was fun though...

More Turquoise and Reworking

 These items are all for Gatherings on the Blue. Judy brought over pieces of things and whole things and things to take apart and put back together in different ways....

 I "test drove" this one and could have sold it three times!

 bracelet.

 Carnelian and Coral. So pretty.

 Three different giant earrings I domed and bolted. Each has a unique pattern or texture.

 Slider Necklace. Abalone leaf, MOP butterfly, tiny fresh water pearls.

Statement Piece. Seriously.

A Morning Thrift

I had to run some errands in town this morning, so stopped off at our local Thrift Shop...

I bought the bag of thousands of paintbrushes so I won't feel guilty when I use Mod Podge and then forget to wash the brush... The 2 quart jar will hold a collection of treasures or Red Vines.... The pegboards and little wooden pieces will surely fascinate small children (or me)... the girdle clips might just end up on some necklaces! I also found a really cool pocketknife, some handmade lace, and a grout sponge.

KaChing!

The Power of the Pyramid

 I've been experimenting with crushing wine bottles and melting them into little pyramids of goodness. I think they would make great paperweights or even display pieces for my bracelets. Or - just a good excuse to drink more wine in lovely colored bottles....

They came out of the kiln looking like this:

 

I tried doing a fire polish in the kiln, but it didn't look much different, so I sprayed them with a crystal clear sealant for that "just licked look".

 

 You can see a small chunk missing on the solid blue one. Evidently, when you drop glass on a ceramic floor, it can chip. Ha.