New BLOG Template

Well, I was sad to let my old blog template go, but it was going to be discontinued. So for now I'm trying this great art collage for Valentine's Season. Shabby Blogs has the best free blog templates. I will be posting new jewelry very soon, including glass heart pendants I watched the artist handblow on a vacation to Mexico this summer. Very limited edition and so uniquely beautiful for everyday. They should be posted in the next few days, now that I've figured out how to access my website after updating software. It has taken up much time, so I am anxious to get back into full swing. Stay tuned.

Relax and Enjoy

Hello there friends. I am still on the planet. Before Christmas I was just trying to get all the orders out on the sleigh in time. And since Christmas, I've been enjoying some downtime and loving it. Had a wonderful time with both families who live closeby. This week brings lots of time for my girls to to play with their cousins and get all the Mario Bros. gametime they (me) can handle.

Along with recyling all the Christmas trash, it seemed like a good time clean out cupboards and remove "stuff" that had been collected over the years. I'm on a mission to get it done before January 1st. It feels very freeing to see a clean shelf in my game closet and I really don't miss any of it. Old clothes, toys, games, books, bags, magazine stacks and clippings of great ideas for my house that I forgot about, craft supplies for "someday", recipe books from the '80's, etc. etc. I highly recommend you try it. However, my wheels have been turning on new designs. I'm excited to get back to my regular schedule and begin work at my table. The new year will be here shortly. For now, relax and enjoy the quiet moments at home with loved ones. They pass all too quickly.

Thankful

Yesterday was wonderful and I felt very thankful. I celebrated with my family (except my brother's family who is on the east coast). My Mom always goes all out with the full trimmings. The best part is being together as a family. I got to meet my newest tiny nephew, only three weeks old. How tiny and fragile life is. You realize how quickly time passes and that each moment spent with loved ones is indeed a gift. Later today we'll spend time with my husband's family as well. It is so important to stop and be thankful for everything good in your life, and to do it more than once per year. I personally choose to give thanks to God for His unspeakable gifts in my life. Today, we move on to the next season. Christmas is already everywhere you look, and I get even more excited about Christmas. So off to finish my decorating, complete some large custom orders in glass tile and soldered pendants. Enjoy your day!

Recycling Precious Metal Scrap

Just took a class last night on how to recycle my precious metal scrap. And let me tell you that my little sack of cut chain links, jump rings, broken earring findings and pieces of headpins, etc. turned out to be worth something. I was always holding onto it for just the right time and couldn't throw it away. After all, I paid for it, so it felt like throwing money away.When I saw this class, I knew I had to take my sack in and see what I could do with it. People brought in their gold scrap too, so seeing literally hundreds of dollars that was sitting in a drawer prior, transformed into reusable form was exciting. So much fun to melt down the pieces (1/2 oz. or less at a time) with the torch, then pour it into an ingot mold. Within seconds it was cooled and we could quench, pickle (if needed) and then file the edges off to make a smooth tube of sterling silver (@ 2"). Then back and forth through the metal press (like a pasta machine), until tube about the size of a pencil, was flattened into a 8" piece of shiny flat metal. I'm thinking just about perfect for a stamped bracelet cuff or ring with some more finish work. I will have to come back and melt some more. If interested in metalsmithing, check out the classes offered at TMAC. Instructor, Amy Reeves was very knowledgeable and helpful to each of us. You can also pay $10/hr or $30/day to go to the shop and use all the amazing tools they have there-just call first.

Sterling Silver Scrap - Melted Ingot - Pressed

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Sheryl Huber - winner of the vintage lucite Halloween Earrings. She will be in style on Halloween night! Stay tuned for future giveaways. Thanks to all who entered.