Shorewood Country Club '09

I'll be sharing a booth with my sister-in-law, Erika Lynden of Moonstruck Design!

My New Ambition

The past week I've had to put the studio on hold.  My poor husband came down with a horrible stomach bug that wiped him out for a good portion of the week.  While trying to be a good care giver I decided I'd also better focus my attention to the neglected household.  I've been cleaning the house for the past week (It was pretty bad.  Beyond embarrassing.)  By now, I've gotten the house pretty much cleaned up.  There is just a little bit of organizing to do in the office and spare bedroom.  Once those are done, I'll be tackling the overwhelming basement (and garage if it doesn't get too cold).

I've made the decision to be more aware of the condition of the house.  Mike and I are trying to figure out how to change our lifestyle so we are able to keep up with daily chores better. It makes such a huge difference in my mood and motivation when everything is in it's place.

I'm hoping that once the house is all organized I'll be more motivated to work in the studio.  I need to find a balance between my husband, work, house and studio time.  I've got to figure out a way to maintain my energy. 

The past three weeks have been very tough for me.  Before Mike got sick, I didn't have an ounce of energy to do anything.  I had such a hard time getting out of bed, and staying out of it.    Work was difficult, studio time didn't exist, and poor Mike would come home from work and all I'd want to do is go to bed.   I think it was just the onset of the fall like weather that drained me.   Now that I feel like myself again I need to make the most of it and figure out how to get back on track.  

Shark Dog

WARNING:  Before you feel any sort of pity or shame for my pup in his Halloween costume, it is important for you to know that my little Milo LOVES dressing up.  He gets excited when I take out one of his many outfits.  So, without pity, please enjoy these obscenely cute images of my shark dog.

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween!

Just Listed!

Just listed in my ETSY shop!  Check it out here!

Big Order!

My biggest order of metal yet has finally come in!  I ordered a boat load of argentium silver sheet, wire and tubing for a bunch of projects I'm working on.  But what I'm really excited about is the copper and brass that i ordered for acid etching.  I have so much that I want to do!  I also ordered some 24gauge copper to play around with.  I want to do some fold forming, and then enamel it using the torch firing techniques.  I can't wait to get going! There's not enough time or energy for my big plans!

Fisher-Price Holiday Craft Show

WOW!  I can't believe how fast October is going by!  I was thinking about my upcoming show with the perception that I had at least two more weeks to work on stuff.  My sister-in-law, who is also participating just informed me that it is THIS week!   I guess there will be some things that won't get done, but I'm prepared enough for the show without them.

The show I'm doing is a holiday sale at Fisher-Price.  We set up a table and chit-chat with designers and engineers all day as they pass by.  It's a one day event, and not open to the public, but it is great advertising, as many of the employees frequent the other local shows in town throughout the year.

I did this Christmas sale last year as my first show.  Since then I've done two outdoor shows, and two indoor shows.  I feel like I've come a long way!  I hope to do many more next year.  This year was filled with weddings and other events that prevented me from applying to more.

Let the Christmas shopping begin!

All In Perspective.

Monday's studio day was spent at the Dr.'s office, and at the blood clinic having my blood drawn.  I had some routine blood work done that almost killed me!  OK, yes I'm exaggerating.  I didn't almost die, but I DID almost pass out.  I've never passed out in my life, but I got so worked up about having my blood taken that I started shaking and feeling dizzy... couldn't feel my limbs except that they were cold, and my abdomen was on fire. I started dripping with sweat.  When my vision started closing in and blurring, the nurse made the decision to take the needle out to let the life back into me.

After a 20 minute breather, the color had mostly returned to my face and she was able to stick me again to finish the job.  This time she moved me to a chair that reclined so I was able to lay down.    I was calm throughout the session, and didn't want to make a big deal of anything, but I still felt so silly that my fear of needles is a little unreasonable.

I was able to give her the 9 vials she needed to complete the tests requested.  But after that, I went straight to bed.  What would I ever do if I had to give blood all of the time?  I guess I'd get used to it, but boy I don't think that would be easy.  I started thinking about all of those individuals who need to give blood on a regular basis, or those who need dialysis.  God, how can I be so afraid?  I felt pretty ashamed.

I left the clinic that day not thinking much of my test results.  I went on with my week at work.

Yesterday happened to be another studio day.  I started out my day with a phone call from the Dr.'s office.  My tests came back, and my vitamin B12 levels were abnormally low.  I thought "no big deal, I'll take a supplement".  But the nurse went on to explain that I can't take a pill to get my levels up because I lack the ability to absorb B12 during digestion.  I listened on to hear her say that I will need to have my doses regularly injected for life.  daily at first, weekly and then Monthly.  I would have to learn to give myself shots, or have my husband learn how to inject me.

I was in a little bit of shock.  I've always been pretty healthy, and to say that there is a part of my body not functioning was very scary.  I'm not opposed to medication, in fact, I do take regular prescriptions daily.  But the thought of having to inject medication into my arm was very unnerving. 

That afternoon, Mike and I went to visit with the nurse so she could show us how to start the medication right away.  I'm so lucky to have Mike.  He was a huge comfort, and the fact that he was calm along with the nurse made me think that "hey, this isn't a big deal".  My body isn't able to do something... but we can work with it.

I am tired frequently, I'm being treated for depression, and my memory has been so bad lately.  I blamed my tiredness and my lack of memory on the medications that I have been taking for my depression.  I started to feel so much better that these traits that I have (including bouts of depression), are not traits at all.  They are symptoms.  All symptoms that are being caused, or made worse by my lack of B12. 

Instead of feeling scared and in shock, I started feeling good!  Good that I am able to do something about how I feel.  My treatments, however scary they initially seemed, I realize are no big deal.  I got through the first injection just fine!  Mike did  a great job.  I didn't even feel it!  Now all I have to do is be thankful.  I realize how lucky I am to be able to maintain good health.

Knot Necklace

I'm playing in the studio with my "signature pieces", for lack of a better term. I'm taking the components for my knot earrings and stringing them to figure out a way to create a collar style necklace.

So far, this layout seems to be catching my eye. Two little knot bodies per wire at varying lengths. I have a long way to go, but I'm excited about taking the knot series to a different level!

New Photo Booth!

The jewelry store that I manage is getting a new website shortly, and all of our inventory needs to be photographed so it can be put online. Sooooo, my boss had me order a photo tent so we can have professional pictures taken.

Here's the fun part. Once the photos are taken for the website, there's not much room in the store to keep this mammoth tent set up. He told me I could take the whole getup home and use it for my own jewelry! How cool is that?!

Below is the old booth that I was using (well, actually, this is the one my professor uses, mine is a little bit more primitive). While it took some pretty decent pictures, I'm really looking forward to seeing what the new booth can do. So far the images taken for work look pretty impressive! I could see the oil smudge from my finger prints in perfect focus on a ring I photographed! The lighting that came with the tent is great and the tent does a wonderful job of diffusing hot spots!

Monet at Giverny

This is the first of many collaborations between my sister-in-law and I. Inspired by Monet's paintings at Giverny, we created this piece from sterling silver, rhyolite rainforest jasper, pearls and sun stone.

I fabricated the silver pieces and set the pearls into them, and Erika laid out the components and assembled the necklace.

I'm so pleased with the way this first piece turned out. We've already got the plan for our second design. The next design is inspired by Georges Seurat.