Feeling the Love From Montana

 Big Game Hunter, TC from Montana {Sweatshop Baby's Grandpa} sent a surprise package today! Holy Cow! I love it!!

 Antlers - he probably found them, not shot them... TC makes beautiful knife handles from antlers.

 More bullet casings to etch and turn into pendants.

Turkey feathers. I have a plan.

Thank you TC! You ROCK!

Treasures

 I just got back from scoring some lovely vintage goodies. The tin biscuit box has been rebuilt with a wooden box and glass top. Perfect for displaying delicious necklaces.

 This old money drawer will display some dingles to add to your delicious necklace.

 Cool architectural piece for above a door.

 GIANT beveled mirror in an oak frame. I'm hoping Tim will hang it above the table.

Great little camera. Not for me.

Great morning!!

New Work Table

 Tim built a new work table for me. It's just the right size. He's amazing.

The very cool stool is from Moxie Thrift. She's amazing too. Go see the great little green stool she has in her shop.

I'm not sure how I'll finish the table, but I have spread out work and cleaned it back off twice already.

Most of what I've been doing is wholesale orders...lots of wholesale orders for which I am quite thankful.

I even bought new underwear.

He Couldn't Resistor

 I couldn't sleep. Do you know why?

Me either.

So - I went to tinker in my studio. I had some etched copper earring pieces and some resistors I was going to add to the earrings...

...instead I made a bracelet.

"He Couldn't Resistor"

Pickles. Pounding. Pendants. Patience.

 The refrigerator is full of Pickles.

 Sisters Jean and Linda spent an afternoon etching, cutting, and Pounding in the Two Dog Pond Studio.

 Pounding while on their knees...

 Pendants.

 Pendants.

 Pendants.

Patience. We signed up with a new internet provider. It's far more reliable than the last, but still I need patience. Something I'm not very good at...

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.