Jingle Bells Doggie

One of the boys put these jingly antlers on the dog--I don't think she's feeling the Christmas Spirit so much...

Just Recently Dropped into the Shop...

After yet another request to recreate my golden berries earrings in sterling, I decided to do what I should have long ago and added them as an item to my shop--in the original 1 1/2 inch diameter and the more demure 1 inch diameter version.



Something new for me--I am beginning (slowly but surely) with just a small amount of cursing and and frustration, to add bezel set stones to my work. For some time I've dreamt of perching my wire wrapped flowers atop vines and leaves formed from sterling and flame and this is the first I'll be offering for sale.



Next is a long, narrow stick all wrapped and encrusted with gemstone flowers and petals. Rich shades of blue, aqua and green make these sing!




And now we arrive at my favorite--just look at those labs! Beautiful smooth, polished petals of labradorite wrapped in my signature style flower and fastened securely to my random coiled band. I love it!!!

I'm Committed to Creating with Sterling Silver this Week...

For so long, I've been using gold fill and 18k gold--it's just been my mood I guess. And I often receive custom requests to recreate items in sterling. I've pulled out the silver wire and I'm getting busy!



In fact, these little blue daisies may be my favorite flowers yet. Simple, perfect little blue dangles for your ears.


And these long elaborate dangles with plenty of semi precious stones on silver headpins made by me! Rose quartz, tourmaline and sapphire--joy!

These and more being dropped into my etsy shop today!

A Sunday in July

Our eternally rainy spring and early summer has finally given way to some sunny, warm weather. This shot down the front pathway--once dotted with puff balls of allium has now given way to thick stands of purple coneflower. I have a gazillion coneflower in my gardens as they self-seed incredibly readily and have now started to control the population by scattern Preen granules. I could cut them down before they go to seed, but the birds really seem to feed on the seed heads so I like to leave them up a while.

Ashley spends her time by the pool "fishing" for bugs, leaves and anything else floating by. She stands on the first one or two steps and darts around at the slightest ripple.

Posted a few new goodies in my etsy shop this morning. I was finally productive over the weekend. I've been feeling a bit stalled and maybe now the spell has been broken.

Summer Fun

This past weekend I brough the camera out to the front yard to capture the kids on the swing--amazing fun.
Our property only has one tree of substantial size as it used to be cleared farmland. We had the tree doctors out several years ago to trim what needed trimming and they added metal braces for extra support to some of the larger branches. My hubby climbed out on a high limb and added this simple tree swing and it is loads of fun for swinging.


Effortlessly flying through the air--just be careful and hold on...


I've spent the last couple of weeks in a metalwork class at the high school and learned a lot. I hope one day (maybe next year) after I've had lots of practice, to incorporate bezel setting and soldering into my work. Here is my first, quite imperfect creation:
And added to the shop this week:



Signing off!

Cafe au Plume

Nothing goes better with my morning cup--!

Spread Noisy Plume goodies to all the lucky ladies of Missoula today--but save some for us :)

More plume love here: http://nancymckay.blogspot.com/

Oh, Darn...

Once again, I failed...

..didn't stake and criss cross the stems with string to support the 15 gorgeous peonies I have in the front garden. And of course it rained hard this week, again and again, so my beauties are drooping to the ground under the ponderous weight of the luscious, ruffled pink petals.


When will I learn?
They do manage to be beautiful despite my neglect.

In the shop is a pair of earrings inspired by lush peony beauty.