3-27-18


I've been working really hard these past few days to sort through, organize, photograph 
and pack up the remaining LEGOs that we have. It's been a beast.
Today, I gathered about 50 listings worth of hats & hair, and photographed them.
Now to the listing...

It's been interesting from a photography aspect to try to make realistic photos
 of basically bits of plastic... while still keeping creative.
And, all the while, taking care of mom... so I've been up and down the steps alot.

Even though I've been exhausted, I've been having trouble sleeping.
So last night, I started a new work of fiction called "Bruno, Chief of Police". 
It's fantastic.

See you all tomorrow!


3-23-18


I am exhausted. My hubby believes it is emotional exhaustion, as things have been so crazy these past few months... and I tend to agree with him. That said.... I made a fantastic dinner... cleaned up the house a bit... took the pup around the yard... and did a bunch of work on the computer.
Hopefully later, I can work in the studio a bit later.
See you all tomorrow.

3-22-18


Today I am trying to get a few more of the Legos listed on Ebay... 
and putzing around the house.
Yesterday I was able to get mom to a doctor's appointment.... a 6 month check up of sorts.
And we talked to her provider about getting some meds for chronic pain issues and anxiety.
It's all good. ... and my cactus is blooming 💗

3-21-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Her eyes were always towards the skies.

This is Ellen, and her dad, Joe at the zoo.
Ellen loved the zoo, and every chance she could... she convinced her parents to take her.
It was always... "Let's see the big cats"... then, "Let's see the elephants!"....
but always, always... "I have to see the birds."
She was fascinated with them... but more importantly, she was obsessed with flight.
By the time she graduated from high school, she had gotten her private pilot's license.
By the end of college, she had a degree in Aeronautics.
She joined the Air Force as an officer, and quickly gained advance after advance.
Soon... NASA came calling... and she didn't hesitate.

Years later, she sat by the window of her Vermont apartment...
writing her memoirs. What was it she could tell the next generation?
Aim high? Follow your dreams?
Nothing too contrite.
 But she would regale them with stories of her shuttle excursions,
her years in the space program... and her flight to Mars.
And she would always end it with.... "aim for the stars... but shoot for the moon."

3-20-18


The Winter Aconite is blooming!

Today I've been busy trying to catch up on things...
and so.. the vacuuming, dusting and sweeping is done...
the dishes and laundry are done...
the garbage has been gathered and the compost taken out.
I went through my emails.. .and did some things on the computer.
I made my bed. I put out birdseed.
I took care of my mother.
Everyone has been fed.
I cleaned out the fridge.
And then I tried to sort through the remaining LEGOs that I have, 
so that I can start listing them on Ebay....
which is where I conked out.
Tomorrow is another day.


3-19-18


Spring is almost here, and the winter aconite is blooming at the Episcopal church yard. 
The sun is shining, and the birds are singing. 
Today the daughter and I both had appointments at the hospital.
Kristin's appt was a follow-up post surgery, and went well.
I thought I was having a consult for a mass on my thyroid, but it turned into a short procedure and biopsy.
Apparently, my lump is the size of a lime, and they pulled 3 full ounces of fluid off of it.
Most likely it is nothing, but official results will take about 2 weeks. I know the doctors were concerned about it being another
(it would be the 6th) episode of cancer that I have had.... but I believe we may have dodged that one. 

See you all tomorrow... I am taking the night off 💛

3-16-18


Fresh strawberries from the FFA kids! They are amazing. It's so wonderful to get fresh fruit in the middle of winter. It's lightly snowing out... birds are busy at the feeder... and I've got Tony Bennett on the radio for mom. I was up most of last night, sick... not sure what's going on there.

Last night I finished up a necklace...
It showcases some incredible faceted Black Spinel beads, a center focal of Titanium Druzy,
and some vintage carnival glass beads. The closure is Bali silver.
And (far below) are some matching earrings.
See you all tomorrow for my weekend post.


3-15-18



It's cold, and it's snowing... so I thought I would share a photo I took this past summer of some daisies I picked in my yard. I was finally able to sleep last night... and made up for the past 3 nights of no sleep/ little sleep... and now I feel a bit 'drugged'.... but it's all good.

Last evening I was able to work on some small projects, 
and completed these 2 items; which I just listed in the Etsy shop.

Below: Faceted HydroQuartz briolettes, wire wrapped in sterling silver, and accented with sterling charms. The ear wires are also sterling, and have ball ends. Total length is about 1 1/2 inches.
**About HydroQuartz: Not a real stone, this is man-made glass with a super cool history. Developed during WWII, it was created to be used in place of natural quartz in machine components. Of course, it's been perfected, and now is available in all kinds of colors for jewelry and decor.

At the bottom: I love the more minimalist look, and this one is amazing. Three luxurious inches of gemstones center a fine filigree silver chain with magnetic clasp. Total length is about 17-18 inches.
Featured gemstones include Orange Aventurine, Peach Moonstone, Opalite, and real Australian Opals. $35



3-14-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

Today is a 'no spoons' kind of day...
and so I will simply wish MIKE... a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
(wherever you are, hope it's a good one)

3-13-18


I'm exhausted.
It's a 'no spoons' kind of day...
and so I will show you a couple pair of earrings I worked on late last night.

The first pair (below) features aged brass beads, leaf charms and findings
... along with some incredible Occupied Japan era Ceramic beads.
These are along! at about a 3 inch dangle length.

And further below...
More aged brass findings complement Swarovski crystals in a champagne tone,
and some vintage faceted Czech glass beads.
Dangle length is about 2 1/4 inches.

I've also been working on a couple other things, and will share when they are done.
See you all tomorrow.



3-12-18


well, Monday has arrived.... fresh and somewhat persnickety.
Today is normally my cleaning day, but I don't think I am up for it.
So... I am sitting back, visiting with my mom ... and making more coffee.

I made a couple pair of earrings this weekend.
Below is a pair with some stunning faceted REAL Emeralds.. and some vintage handmade Celtic knot charms. 
Below that, is a pair with gorgeous faceted Blue Topaz.
Then... I made a set of prayer beads that are Judaic Inspired. 
The number of beads reflects the number of knots found in Jewish prayer shawls, 
and the beads are lovely iridescent blue and green handmade glass, and two sterling charms.



3-9-18


I feel like I am so 'out of spoons' that I can't even think today.
It is what it is.
Rest well, my friends....

3-8-18


This is an older photograph from a few years ago when we lived in Albuquerque... 
but I thought we all needed a little bit of sunshine today.

I've been trying to keep busy, in between taking care of my mom.
Things have been very crazy this week... and I am exhausted.
Fortunately, my Aunt, who was in ICU all last week... is finally on the mend, and went to a rehab facility yesterday. My daughter is slowly, but progressively healing from her surgery last week... and I am waiting results on some testing I had. It seems like things come in bunches ...
I've been working on some simple jewelry pieces... using up bits and bobs I've had lying around.
Like most all of my work, it is original, and one of a kind...which is fun.
You will not see these anywhere else.

Below: MoonStone charm dangles with Old Stock Australian Opals
Next: Re-fabulous! Salvaged costume jewelry bits and Swarovski crystals
Next: Gemstone dangles and silver plated findings.



3-7-18


Back in June 2016, I started a new "series" of posts... if you will... 
 And so on Wednesdays; I've been posting an old photograph to inspire your creativity.
Write a poem!   
 Plot out a short story.
 Have inspiration for a piece of art or composition.... let your artistic soul shine.
--and occasionally I write my own sordid story or poem. 
 (you can click on the photos in this post to make it larger to see).

~~~

She was a fright.
She was a force.
She was the devil in a print floral dress, and not in a good way;
...not in any way you'd want.

It's not that she was horrid to look at... no.
In fact, she was probably a very beautiful woman at one point.
But Miss Nell was no longer a woman folks would gaze at wistfully.
In fact, folks tended to not even want to make eye contact with her;
for fear of her wrath being leashed upon them.

Her full name, was Anelia "Nell" Charlotte Trotwood,
and her heart had been turned to stone along time ago.
There were rumors of a young love, torn from her because of war...
 but no one knew for certain. No one dared ask.
She had no family... and yet, everyone was her 'business.'
Whether it be who was on the school board, who was running for office, who the local minister was visiting... right down to little Billy Neilson who took out the trash for his grandparents. Everything was under her steady gaze and microscopic scrutiny.
She fussed over what the stores displayed in the windows. What the newspapers printed.
Who the ambulance was called for. Whose dog was running loose... and whose car was parked at the bar last night.
She criticized everyone with equal abandon. No one was safe.
Least of all, herself.
Because, unbeknownst to everyone else... she was, in fact, hardest on herself.
Those thick stockings and long dresses she insisted on wearing all the time? They covered self inflicted scars.
Her endless array of hats served merely to cover where she had pulled out her hair in fits of loathing.
Only her precious cat, Minx, knew of her suffering.
And when she was found quite still in her bed at the age of 93,
it was Minx who laid upon her chest... never moving... never screeching... with eyes full of sadness.

3-5-18


This is what is currently on my nightstand... from our local library. 
Even though ours is a small local library by most standards... our head Library makes great choices in her
yearly selections and makes fantastic use of the funds she has to work with. It's always fun to go there, and I confess,
it is hard for me to not drag even more of the books home than I do.
Like working on my jewelry, I find that I have to almost 'schedule' time to read... often late at night after everyone else has gone to bed.
It's easy for me, as I worked nights for so many years ... to stay up late...
but very difficult for me to get up the next day.
But then, that has always been the case.

It's nice to have had Kristin home more these past few days... she is supposed to be resting since she had surgery on Wednesday. And... to be honest... she is resting more than she usually does.. .but that isn't saying much. I will say, she has been very good about not lifting things more than 10pounds... which is her limit. But like me, she is anxious... even this closely after surgery, to get back to being more productive. 

Mom's memory loss is much more acute these days... often asking the same questions within only a minute or two from the last time she asked. She fixates on certain things... and has completely lost recollection of others... it would be rather interesting if it wasn't so sad. Plus she needs physical help with all her daily things, as she is unable to walk far, and not steadily. Sometimes it is beyond her ability to make it from one room to the next. Her sister has been acutely ill in Bradford Hospital... and we've all been very concerned about her. She is my mother's only living sibling, and only 3 years older than my mom. 

 ZeeZe is finally feeling a little better after jumping off the bed the other day and hurting his foot. 
I am so grateful it wasn't more serious. 
Here are a couple pair of earrings I made this weekend...

*Swarovski crystals, faceted Black Spinels and gorgeous moonstone. Lots of sterling wire and chain.
*REAL Rubies! Faceted gems from India, wire wrapped with fine gauge sterling wire.



for the weekend


Some days I get so frustrated because I feel like I don't always get a whole lot done. 
But we all need to remember that living life as an artist .... means we are creative in many ways. From making dinner... to the way we decorate our house... to even how we arrange simple wildflowers in a bouquet for the table. It's the intention... it's the thought that goes into everything we do to make our lives (and those around us) more artful.