Something Sublime

BoHo Bliss

Ok...I'm just busting to show you these!  Feminine, pretty, jingly...these rock the boho chic look. Remember when Stevie Nicks was at the height of her skirt-twirling fabulousness?  These would have been perfect for her.  I'll be teaching this as a brand-spanking-new class at ArtBliss this Sept.  The info on the ArtBliss website should be up very, very soon so make sure to check back.

I'm so pleased that my BoHo hoops have been received so warmly...thank you!  I'm in the process of filling some custom orders for these.  I haven't abandoned my etsy shop but, sheesh...I gotta say, it's feeling a bit cumbersome to me at times.  I find that it's difficult to find and be found, and to keep up with the listings game.  Sooooo, instead of attempting to list any of my new hoops in the shop...if you're interested in wearing a pair of these in your own ears and can't make it to my workshop, email me:  mocknet@sbcglobal.net and I'll set you up with the particulars.  I've got many different gemstones and pearls...sterling, copper or bronze, textured or smooth...$125.  OR...$80 for classic, simple, elegant metal without gemstones.

Oh...just a reminder:  May 1 (this Sunday) is the last day of registration for my Of Towers and Turrets online class.  Not sure when that class (wonderful fun happening in there!) will run again.  Hey, you guys...thanks again, for your constant and enthusiastic support.  You're the best! xxoo

Texture Tuesday

I know some of ya'll are probably familiar with this site but I've lately discovered it and it's inspiring me.  Sometimes I feel a need to release my creativity into areas other than gemstones and metals and photography has long been a deep love of mine.  However, my photoshop skills are sadly lacking.  I've dipped my toe into Kim's Texture Tuesday challenge, blatantly hoping to win a set of her lovely textures.  But, I'm seriously considering her Art of Texture e-course.  I've got a large photo library in need of playing with!

Morning Inspired

This moment, I am feeling creatively challenged.  But He, obviously, is not.  Thank. You. Lord. (click these photos to see a larger view--you won't be sorry!)

It's nothing serious...just a plethora (don't you love that word?  plethora...plethora...) of every-day-life kinds of things threatening to take over the artsy side of my already-feeling-tasked brain. Household emergencies, insurance paperwork, multitudinous mental preparations for scaling an Everest of neglected laundry.

So, I stepped out for a moment...heard the morning birds...felt the breeze in my hair...got inspired to lift the lens.  Looking to provoke...wanted to share...  How are you???

Hope Triumphant

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say
Christ will rise on Easter Day.
Phillips Brooks

Chic Winners

Thank you SO much...all 101 of you who kindly joined in for my little giveaway.  What a fun way to kick off spring!  The winners are:

Leeta Yarlot...

...you have won my Black and White Graphic necklace.  I hope you wear it happily!

Lisa...

...you have won this leaf pendant from the new Industrial Chic line.  Make something wonderful with it!

Christina B...

...you have won a copy of the brand new Industrial Chic project booklet.  Have fun with it!

All righty now, girls...don't make me track you down!  Email me with your mailing info and I'll get the goods into the mail to you just as soon as the Easter holiday is past.  And, speaking of such...

...today is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter.  Today commemorates Jesus' last supper with His disciples.  For Christians, observances for this day are a time of solemn preparation and remembrance, contrasting with the joyful Sunday celebrations of our Lord's resurrection on Easter day.  I posted this quote on my facebook page today...not quite solemn but I love it, just the same:

It is the hour to rend thy chains,
The blossom time of souls. 

~Katherine Lee Bates

The blossom time of souls, indeed.  Have a blessed day!

A Chic Little Giveaway

Fun stuff in my mailbox...Susan's brand new Industrial Chic line is due to be in Michaels stores by the end of this month.  Susan, and her company, have been going through a lot of changes this past year and she's no longer keeping with the Objects and Elements part of it but she's still going strong with the Industrial Chic line.  I got a big box of it in the mail, including a bunch of the new project booklets to be sold at Michaels alongside the line.  A really exciting part of this for me?  Several of my designs will be featured in the booklet, along with Susan's and the other members of her Creative Team.  Here's a peek at one of them...

So, to celebrate new beginnings, I'm holding a little giveaway.  I love giveaways...don't you? Here are the goods:

1.  My "Black and White Graphic Necklace" featured on Michael's website, here.

2.  One of the new pieces from the brand new Industrial Chic line!

3.  One of the new project booklets from the new Industrial Chic line.

So, there you have it.  Leave me a comment...right here, on this post...and I'll draw three names for three lucky winners.  I'll be doing a few more giveaways too...just because their so dadgum much fun!  Oh...check out another Industrial Chic related giveaway at my friend's spot: Barbe Saint John.

Palm Sunday-2011

Alleluia, how the people cheer
And palm leaves rustle as the king draws near.
~ John Beavis 

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge

Finches and Bamboo, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127)
Emperor Huizong (1082–1135, r. 1101–1125) Chinese
Handscroll; ink and color on silk; 11 x 18 in. (27.9 x 45.7 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
John M. Crawford, Jr. Collection, Purchase, Douglas Dillon Gift, 1981

Lots of good things going on over at the Art Bead Scene blog but if you haven't taken part in their monthly jewelry challenge, you should check it out.  This month's inspiration painting is "Finches and Bamboo."  Are the colors as soothing to your soul as they are to mine?  This palette inspires all kinds of creative thoughts in my head...fresh fields and leaves, garnets and peridot, wheat and earth, amethyst and amazonite heishi.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part...if you go to the ABS blog, you'll see my badge, over to the left. That means I'm a sponsor for the month...which means that one of the prizes for the winner of the monthly challenge is coming from me.  And, guess what I'm giving away?

A free spot in my Build Zone class, the next time it runs!  Whoop, whoop!  I'm not absolutely, 100% positive when it will run again but I'm thinking it will be toward the end of the year.  Whoever the lucky winner is will be in my vast and completely accurate memory banks until then.  Best of luck, jewelry makers!

About My Babies

Right outside my back door, on the brick wall of my house, hang three Talavera pots that I once brought back from a trip to Mexico.  Years ago, we had a little bird build her nest in the largest of the three.  We watched as she flitted back and forth with twigs, grass and what-not until one day, all was quiet and she parked herself inside, on her eggs.  At long last, Wife Whisperer finally felt compelled to check on her and literally got a face-full of baby bird, flying the coop.  I never did remove the old nest from that wall pot...you can see a bit of weed poking out.

All this to say that another mama bird discovered my Talavera pot and made herself at home.  Yes, there's a new bird in town.  She didn't have much furnishing to do as the old nest was mostly still intact.  I checked on her (carefully) the other day and she's tucked deep down in that pot, keeping her tiny Easter eggs warm and dry.  She eyed me very warily and played dead.  In fact she blended in so well that I almost thought she'd abandoned the nest.  Nearly every year, I have a mama bird or two in the yard and nearly every year some bad thing happens to the nest...a storm, raccoon, possum.  But this year, I think I may get some babies!  

Update:  Make that "baby."  I was able to discover she has ONE egg down in there...

Luminarte Guest Blogger

The folks at Creative Imaginations have been kind enough to ask me to be a guest blogger on their vibrant and brilliant Luminarte blog (please click here to see.)  Mixed media has long been a love of mine and, in particular, Luminarte's line of amazing water-based, mica paints.

Their adorable pots of Twinkling H2Os are my favorites but, of course, they've got other equally fabulous products...namely, the Radiant Rain daubers.

So many luscious colors to be tempted by!  Oh...did I mention they're doing giveaways???