Saturday's the Big Day

Well, October 30th is almost here. The first day I launch my business by setting up at the St Mark's Holiday Bazaar. 24027 Pennsylvania Ave, Lomita from 10-3... Hope you can stop by if you live locally..

I've been busy shopping for display items and finally getting down to the business of making jewelry.

Now it's a wait and see affair to learn if it will be raining that morning...
Makes it hard to figure out my display set-up because I don't know if I will be in a 10x10 area or limited to one six foot table..

Life is never boring...

I made some beautiful earrings using semi-precious stones I bought at the Gem Faire in Costa Mesa on Sunday: peridot, garnet, carnelian, amethyst, iolite. The colors just shine, the shapes of the stones are briolettes and faceted rondelles. They look like delicious candies.

Tonite I've been stamping out words for sterling silver bracelets and necklaces... dream, faith, love, trust, joy, hope are just some of the words..

Tomorrow is my last day to get ready.. I will be making enamel pendants and earrings.. Hopefully I will get necklaces made using some of my sea glass and beach stones..

oh and I will be working on my fabric flowers...

Time will tell what gets accomplished by Saturday but I will jump right back in on Sunday bringing to life the ideas crowding around in my brain...

Busy as a Beaver

Well, that's not a word so relevant in our society today. How many of us have even seen a beaver in the wild busily building a dam? I'm lucky to have seen them several times...They just keep cutting down trees, swimming over to the dam or lodge and shoving in the sticks, amazingly the sticks are the same length. How do they do that without a ruler?

That phrase "busy as a beaver" does describe my days right now as I progress with getting my website ready and open for business.

Plus I'm busy making the items I will have for sale at:
 St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Lomita on Sat, October 30th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located at 24027 Pennsylvania Ave. I hope you can stop by if you are in the area.

These are some of the goodies I'm working on: enamel earrings and pendants in various shades of blue, orange, red, purple, plus copper and sterling silver earrings some with semi-precious stones. I also will have stamped word pendants. What special word has meaning for you: Hope, faith, dream, inspire....?

I hope to get some Thanksgiving table runners made using the nuno felt technique.
Well, this busy beaver better head back into the jewelry studio...my torch awaits..

Plans coming to fruition

Oh boy, after months of business 'stuff', the fun begins NOW with making items for my 'shops'. Too bad I have to take sleep breaks, I could just create 24/7...I hope to have my webshop stocked with goodies approx Oct 16th.

I learned alot of techniques at the Kentucky enamel workshop I attended Sept 25, 26. There were 20 of us from all over the USA. As usual, a pleasure to interact with other creative folks.

As always, my travels and nature inspire my creations. I made a quick trip mid-Sept trip up to Cayucos and Cambria, darling towns located along the Central California coast. If you haven't been to the Central California coast, the fall season is a great time to visit. Check out the Cayucos Chamber of Commerce site for info. http://www.cayucoschamber.com/
I especially love the scenic drive on Santa Rosa Creek Rd. The "interesting" road (at times it is barely 2 cars wide) goes through many different types of terrains and habitats. I saw a flock of wild turkeys this trip.

I took lots of photos during the 14 mile drive and while visiting some beaches. I like to photograph doors and bikes. I found both on this trip: a cute bike outside a Cambria business and a door in the town of Harmony, population 18. (okay, I think that might be a 'generous' count on the number living there)

I collected the 'cutest' naturally polished beach stones in Cambria. Some look like prefect cabochons a lapidarist would do. The stones on the beach were so colorful, they reminded me of Lake Superior, Michigan rocks: blue, green, white, red, black. I might even have found several moonstones. The area is famous for moonstones, although technically the stone isn't a 'true' moonstone.The plan is to use the tiniest blue ones (I believe they are jasper) on some earrings.

I will be drilling holes in sea glass and beach rocks for necklaces and bracelets. (Did you know I LOVE! power tools?! Harbor Freight and Home Depot are my kind of stores...)

We've had some wacky weather the last 2 weeks. 113 degrees and then rain a week later... I hope y'all are enjoying a beautiful Fall day in your area.