Something Sublime

Shady Ladies In Review

It's taken me a while to get my act together and edit my photos from Shady Ladies.  Just in case you all were wondering what it was like...it was fabulous!

This was the first year, so it was small and relaxing.  We had such a great time and I'm so glad to see more Texas venues opening up.

Winged Thing by Linda Manning Findley

My students were lovely, incredible, positive...well, you get the idea.

And, I was thrilled to get to know Rice and Earl a little bit better and have them sit in on my classes.  Rice is wonderfully laid back and supportive and Earl is a fantastic photographer...unobtrusive, quiet and kind.  Just what you want in a photographer!

Here I am at vendor night, either setting up or tearing down; not sure which.  Someone took this while I was absorbed in something other than what I was supposed to be doing...

 

Having never been to Salado, Texas, I learned that it's a great place for an art retreat.  There are tons of photo opportunities around town, including this bike fence, and several nearby places to get unbelievable bar-b-que, if you like that meat-and-potato kind of thing...which, of course, Wife Whisperer does.  We tried a place that rhymes with shuffle without the "l" and I can't even begin to spell it but the food was outstanding.

  I know, I know...who needs another shot of roses?  But, dang, they're pretty!

 

More smoked meats at Robertson's Hams and, yeah, the sandwiches were to die for but the best part about Robertson's is the patio draped with gigantic wind chimes.  They're really way bigger than they look in this photo and they sound divine.  They also seem to have some sort of old door fetish at Robertson's, so I took the opportunity for a few texture photos.  You can never have too many of those.

I'm thinking Shady Ladies might be an annual event so keep a clear spot on your calendar for next spring!

Off The Table

"Jump Shot"

Jump shot:   A shot in which the cue ball or object ball is caused to rise off the bed of the table.

I absolutely adore this necklace.  So much so, that I totally copied it from Jen.  Well, not totally, mine is a tiny bit different, but mostly...I copied it from Jen.   Jen had the brilliant idea to use one of Susan's brand new staple bezels from Objects and Elements,  with a couple of their pool ball slices.  (By the way, the 7 ball is supposed to be a shade of red...anyone know why this one isn't?)

Wife Whisperer is a long time player (who would have guessed that?) and one of the early things we did together was play pool.  Ok...my job was to stand at the side of the table and look good...or smart...or something.  I can't play worth beans.  But, he can.  In fact, we both grew up with pool tables in the house and have one now.  I still can't play.

But, I think this is a spectacular use of vintage pool balls.  And, these staple bezels are ingenious!  Objects and Elements has so many new and clever offerings.

This is really fitting in with my biker chick/cowgirl groove.  Now, I just need a bike...or a pick-up...or a horse or something...

The Long Run

It wasn't a shotgun wedding.

But, there's a shotgun involved now.

A hard won prize for 25 years of mighty skilled whispering.  You took a wild pony, bucking and running, and tamed her down into something mostly manageable.

 

That's some pretty fine wife whispering.  (You're good with that gun, too...congratulations on your perfect round!)

Ready for another 25?

International Charm Day

My sweet internet friend, Amber Dawn, is hosting International Charm Day, again this year.  The date is April 28 but, if you go to her blog, she's doing lots of fun things before that.  She'll be giving away a copy of the book "A Charming Exchange" (I'm honored to have artwork published there) by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae.  Anyone can play, just go to the International Charm Day blog to see how.  This is my charm...a tiny gem tintype, cut into a heart shape with brass trim "flames" added to the top...

...and a religious medal dangling from the bottom.  The heart is tiny, about the size of a nickel.  Stop by Amber's blog and have fun checking out the goings-on there!

Directionally Challenged

I picked up the most amazing strand of chunky amber some years ago, in Wyoming.  It's hung in my studio, being admired and fondled, for a long time...waiting for the right moment to come alive.

 

You'd think that, living with hiker/camper men, I would know my way around but I've got to be one of the most directionally challenged people I know.  Maybe that's why these old compasses appealed to me.  They remind me of woodsy trails and moonlit evenings.

I have to credit this sweet girl (Amy, on the left...Pam on the right) with inspiring me to do something with these vintage compasses.  When I got to see her at Adorn Me, Amy was wearing a most beautiful compass necklace (of her own creation) that I wish I'd taken the time to get to know better.  

I wanted my pieces to have a Western twist so I added some sterling bench beads and, on this one, a gorgeous sterling clasp from Cathy Dailey.  This one's all mine!  But, I made one for you too...

"Orientations" 

Available on Etsy

The focal for this piece is a vintage brass Russian compass....beautiful patina...goes just right with the rough amber.

I say the compass is "vintage" but I'm thinking it's probably an antique.

The sterling bench beads are a traditional part of Southwestern style jewelry...

...and a sterling toggle clasp finishes things off nicely.

Hmm...I'll bet these pieces go perfectly with cowboy boots...

Come Fly With Me...

 ...at Shady Ladies Altered Art Retreat.  It's not too late to sign up for my jewelry making classes this coming weekend in beautiful Salado, Texas.

This Saturday, April 24th, I'll be teaching my Wrapped in Silk Bangle Bracelets.  These bangles are lovely and so addicting to make!

We'll also be making a variety of whimsical wire and paper flying creatures in my Winged Things class this Sunday, April 25th from 8:00 am to noon.

Just click here to go to the Shady Ladies blog and you'll see the registration button on the right side. There will be a catered bbq dinner Saturday night, a vendor event and shops to visit in Salado.  Should be a great time...I'd love to have you in class!

With Wild Abandon

Look who popped by today...

 

This has nothing to do with the glories of spring but, fyi, the very wise and very talented Michael deMeng has put up an astoundingly astute post here, about sharing our artistic gifts.  He's such a smart guy!

Have Boots, Will Travel-My New Teaching Venues

 
  You may have noticed a tiny little box in my left sidebar like this one.  I'm thrilled to have been invited to teach at the Creative Soul Retreat in Australia, March 2011.  Yes, I know...it's a bazillion hour plane ride.  I'm not sure how I'm going to manage that but Wife Whisperer has agreed to join me and hold my hand.  Big bonus:  my friend, Richard will be teaching there at the same time...bringing my other friend, Jane, along with him.  Love the fact that they'll be there.  The very talented Ingrid Dijkers will be teaching, as well.  I'm looking forward to meeting her.  Susan just returned from this same venue and had a great time...I can't wait for my turn and to meet all my Aussie friends!

I've also been invited to teach in the Washington D.C. area this September by my online friends, Cindy Wimmer and Jeanette Blix Ryan.  Quite a few of you have been asking me to come to the East Coast so I'm really excited about this opportunity.  I'm not sure what classes I'll be teaching at either of these venues yet so check back here and I'll get the details posted.  What do you think...is there anything specific you East Coast folks would like to see?

Locally, I'll be teaching twice, here in Texas. In June of this year,  I'll be up in College Station teaching a day-long resin class for Brazos Valley Jewelry Artist's Guild.

I'll also be teaching for the lovely ladies of Ten Seconds Studio at the  Bra Free Weekend retreat house, in Colleyville, near Dallas...in October of this year.  This is going to be a weekend retreat and looks to be lots of fun.  The retreat house looks wonderful...lots of studio space and lots of overnight accommodation space.  But, who needs sleep?!  I'll be teaching resin and jewelry making classes.  Check back here for specifics.  I hope to see you in one of these places!

I Wanna Be A Cowboy

Well, not really.  I'd like to make clear:  I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be...a cowgirl.  Now that we got that out of the way, Wife Whisperer had no business letting me loose, alone, in Cavender's Boot City. 

The smell of leather in that place just makes a girl giddy. Dang it. 

Plus, there are cowboys in there.  And, some of them work there.  And they have a way of talking up their lady customers that makes all thoughts of a budget go right out the window.

I realize that, after living approximately 20 years in Oregon (home of the Pendleton Roundup,) living approximately 20 years in Texas, and several years in Wyoming...I'm coming a little late to the cowboy boot game.

For a gal whose lived her life in and around cowboy country (and a shoe lover, no less) my closet has been strangely deficient in this one area.  And worse yet...I haven't cared.

Until now.  I suddenly realize that I've missed out on something all these years.  How did I get away with it all this time?  Living without a single pair of cowboy boots?

Well...I guess it's about time to put my house (closet) in order.  So, instead of trying to justify my newly found boot obsession by making excuses about charming salesmen, fancy stitching and beautiful design,  I'll just say that...I fell in love.  Right there in Cavender's.

Who knew cowboy boots could look like this?

There's no turning back now.

Wife Whisperer, beware...

Bead Reaming 101

This is a post that I previously published on the Objects and Elements blog and thought you might enjoy here:

Here's the scenario:  You're in your studio, working away in a creative fugue.  The piece you're creating is completely inspired and everything is going smoothly until you decide to add a string of wire wrapped pearls to the piece.  The pearls are lovely but, darn!...those tiny holes are way to small for the gauge of wire you want to use.  Not to worry...grab your electric bead reamer and the problem is easily solved.

 

The electric bead reamer is one of those tools that, at first glance, you may think is not absolutely necessary for your studio but, I promise you, you will use it...a lot!  This tool is not a drill, so you won't be creating a hole where there was none but it's a must-have for beads that are drilled too small or holes that have been clogged.  It's especially handy for enlarging the holes in pearls, which are always drilled very small.  The diamond coated bit works easily and quickly.    It's very important when using the electric reamer to work under water.  I know this sounds scary...water and electricity...but it's necessary in order to keep the bead and bit cool and to contain those tiny flying particles that can be toxic.

 

I use a shallow plastic container and fill it with an inch or less of water;  just enough to cover the bead I'll be reaming.  You won't be immersing the motor of the reamer but just the tip.  I repeat:  do not immerse the motor!

 

I have a dedicated pair of small, inexpensive pliers that I use for reaming.  I've used the very high tech method of wrapping the jaws in masking tape to prevent my beads from being scratched.  I'm sure there are fancier ways of holding your bead but, this is my quick fix.  As you can see from the photo above,  there isn't much water in the container.  Insert the tip of the reamer into the bead before turning on the power.  It may be easier to hold the bead against the side of the container so that it doesn't wiggle and spin.  I usually ream through one side of the bead, flip it, and do the other side.

 

You'll get a considerably larger hole (bead on the left) by using the reamer and your choices in wire gauge won't be limited any longer!