Things old, new and blue

I first of all want to thank my friends who leave such encouraging comments, I do very much appreciate them! It continues to amaze me, how many people I have been able to encounter because of this blog and other online venues...ie. etsy, twitter, facebook.

That being said, I wanted to share what I have been working on this weekend. It has been damp, dark and rainy, leaving plenty of reason to get on with some creating! I also found plenty of reason to lay around until the afternoon, with my sweet little dog Tia cuddled up next to me on the couch. She stayed there longer than I did, I sort of had to climb over her when I decided to motivate. She just stared at my with those huge brown eyes, looking at me like I was crazy.

The first thing I did when the rain let up, was pull on my running clothes and lace on my sneakers, armed myself with my music, and headed out the door. The heavens must have been laughing at me, because when I was two or three miles away from my house, it started pouring again! The creek I was running along was totally swollen and about to overflow. I saw some ducks swifty, go gliding by on the quick running water. It was sort of cute actually. They looked like they were on a fast amusement park ride. And then a dog and a house swirled above my head. Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating about the dog. Anyways, I am training for a half marathon and decided it was time to add another mile to my run. I continued in the run until I had sloshed through nine miles. Actually ten had been my goal, but it was raining!

Well back to the creating I mentioned, a long ways back! I have had this piece of brass sitting around for a while. Have been just staring at it wondering what I would make. It had already been forged, heated and had patina applied, so it was all set to go. I also have had these black speckled robin egg colored beads laying around for a while. Didn't mind just looking at them, because they are my favorite color. They were not doing any good just sitting there, except entertaining me, so I created this necklace. It also has a piece of brass filagree added and a vintage religious medal.

I also decided to retake pics of this broken china bracelet I had made last year. I had a similar one that was that first thing I ever listed on etsy! It was so exciting when it sold.I plan on listing both of these in my shop today, will be back later with the links!

During our dreary day yesterday, hubby was cleaning up the garage. I decided, since I had recently actually 'broke' a china plate, by mistake this time, and because of the fact that a buyer told me she had been keeping watch for some more broken china jewelry in my store, to go out and start working on a few pieces! It was actually quite fun. More to come on that one!

Lessons learned

It has been a tough few weeks here, for me at least. Usually I don't give in to defeat, but I have felt close lately! I am not getting much done in my little art 'scene', but that will come off the back burner eventually! This past weekend we attended a benefit for my friends mom, who has pancreatic cancer. I think alot of people choked back tears as they heard her, a strong, brave women speak to the crowd. Just writing this is reminding to change my attitude! I feel like I have my own challenges right now, but going at them with the wrong mindset is not going to help. Negativity creates negativity. I am not preaching, I truly needed to write that and see it! So I am off now to start a brand new day, and make it a better one than yesterday.

Hi Strangers!

This is an aceo that I created last year. I have since sold the original, but am thinking of creating a digital print with it. Hmmm.....Also have been contemplating taking an online of continuing ed. course at our local college. Haven't decided which on to take yet. My choices are of course narrowed down to a digital photography course or a jewelry course. Both are quite tempting. The jewelry course is three sessions with Stan Plotner. I discovered how stunning his work is after doing some online research. He is an accomplished metalsmith jewelery designer.

Okay...opinions. What would you rather do. Anything I know about either subject, photography or jewelry, I have had to learn on my own. There is always more knowlegde out there though! If given a choice, what would be yours? Photography class or jewelry?

A Hot Summer Weekend!

Finally! It feels like summer! I am loving it and wondering if it will be short lived. It was a clear,but hot summer day today, and the weekend is supposed to be the same. The whole neighborhood seems to be gone this weekend, (including hubby, who is at "hunting camp") and I am sort of lonely! But sort of enjoying it also. Have put together my little mental list of things to do...read, catch up on movies, spend time with my youngest son (Casey) I already did a long run, which lasted about two hours. It gave me a LOT of time to think about some things. This afternoon I went out on a little photo shoot! Oh, and watched a scarey movie...by myself, and became totally freaked out! It was "The Haunting in Conneticut", and a little more gory than I prefer. I also have an excuse to watch 20/20! Yes, major nerd here. Usually, on Friday nights, we are over at our neighbors house enjoying a backyard fire. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love those nights, but also like an excuse to stay home and veg out. My excuse this weekend is just perfect...no one is here.

I worked on a picture tonight for over and hour, hopefully I can create a writing to go along with it, and post on my sodistressing blog within the next day or so. My posts here, and there, have been fewer and farther between lately. Not for lack of wanting to though. My new job has some weird hours and this ol' girl is just not adjusting easily to them. I don't sleep well and it seems I have spent more time trying to deal with the effects of no sleep/schedule change, than anything lately. That along with a slight bit of stress from it all, I wake up and my mouth is sore from clenching my teeth shut all night! So, all that said, I am happy to at least get one post up a week!

I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful weekend, take a deep breath and sit back..at least for a few minutes! (number one on that little mental list of mine!)

A Segmented Pin

Here is another creation from Mary Hettmansperger's book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & River". This is her segmented pin design. This wasn't quite my favorite project, but I do like how the patina turned out!

I made these earrings last week. The image on them is of a man pulling a cart. The image looks somewhat oriental to me, I am not sure.

Other than that, not many new creations! I do have some ideas for a new project floating around, and actually started some sketches for it. Time will tell though!

The Best Things In Life

The best things in life are free, so the saying goes. So true also. Free: meeting new people, letting someone else affect your life, giving more of yourself. One of my closest friends' Mom is very ill. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year. I would never know who this women was, be it not for my friend. But now there is just one more person in my life that I somehow have connected with and care about. She has been going through her home, cleaning out old things, giving them away. She sent a whole box of old jewelry to me. While I am thankful for this, it is going to take some time to decide what to do with these pieces. I want to create something that shows strength and beauty, for obvious reasons!

This is the web site her family has created to update people about her upcoming benefit.

http://louannwarren.com/

If you are reading this and live locally, and would like to help or attend the benefit, just drop me a line!

I recently recieved this beautiful painting in the mail! It was from a blog contest by Bonnie Zeilman. She is a very talented artist from Canada. The painting is called Fern Afire. I plan to display it in my front room, which is also my husbands office. This is a link to her etsy shop.

Bonnie Zeilman

And speaking of best things in life, here is another one! My son Corey! We had a little graduation party for him yesterday. He graduated from our local community college earlier this year. He has since moved to Albany and I really don't get to see him that much anymore. He may or may not be mortified that I put his picture on here! It just seems he gets more and more handsome everytime I see him! He "announced" yesterday that he wants to go back to school to be an RN. He would be wonderful at this, he is such a kind, gentle soul. Though I have always said I would not recommend any child of mine become a nurse, (for many reasons, another post all together!) I am proud of that fact that this is what he wants.

Hope Falls

We went hiking yesterday, up to a place called Hope Falls. I have decided to rename the place, calling it Jenn Falls. The name says it all, clutz that I am! Two times I fell, everyone else none!

This is the second set of falls that we came to. It was quite a ways from the first, and seemed mostly an uphill hike.

The weather was beautiful, the bugs weren't all that bad. I just wanted to stay and camp out for the night, it was so peaceful.

There were a few scary things along the way, like this tree. It is freaky but I still liked it. Also, I have heard there are black bears up there. I think I heard one growl! Actually it was sort of funny, we where hiking back and I did actually here what sounded like a low growl. I ignored it for a moment, and then a few minutes later my friends asked if I heard a growling noise. Guess it wasn't in my head! I am sure it was nothing or else it would have had us for dinner.


This little puppy followed us up the rocks to the top of the first falls, which is quite big. He had quite a few siblings with him, but he was the only on that scampered up the rocks after us. His owners were calling him to come down. He stood on that rock shaking like a leaf, looking down and over the falls. He decided to back away from the edge just as I was going to grab him.

This is the side view of the first set of falls. There were quite a few people there.

This is the second set of falls, just as pretty as the first, but a bit smaller.

It took us quite a while to find the right road that lead to the trail, we actually passed it early on.

While we were driving we saw quite a few dear. Funny thing, we didn't see any in the woods on our hike. These two were amongs a whole field of others.

This is little on was just grazing along the side of the road.

My husband, not being the athletic type at the moment, was pretty tired when we finally arrived at the second set of falls. He moaned and groaned all the way, but boy was he happy on the way down. Visions of chicken wings danced in his head, as we planned on stopping on the way home for some pub food, which included chicken wings! Actually I think they danced in everyones head at that point, it was late afternoon and we were starving!

I hope everyone else had a nice weekend also! Off to plan my next hike!