Summertime Creations

Summertime is a time of adjustment for me.  For example, I have already missed 2 appointments........because I have no idea what day it is!  (I need to start using my phone calendar I think!)  Anyhow..........................

The kids are home, the days are long, and I begin to get lost in everything.

We had a fun day at Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom last week, which was a real treat for us (my kids have never been to a real amusement park!!!).

Then, Julia and I took a day and worked on her needle felt kit.  She rocked this little bunny, and we both fell in love with the craft!

Then I had a show last weekend, and it didn't go very well. 

 It was VERY discouraging, since it is like the 3rd show in a row (and some last year) that I didn't do well at.  And I mean, I am not talking about "not where I'd like it to be".  I am talking, some of these shows barely paid for the booth.  UG!  I was really blue.  My jewelry has definitely gotten "artsier" and "weirder" the last couple years.  It is beginning to appeal to a select (narrow) group.  Sadly, with shows bringing less buyers, and less of those buyers being "my customers", I am not doing well, and having trouble figuring out what the next step is for me.  The next level of shows, would be the big ones, the indoor, NYC, Maryland shows, that require travel and fancy indoor pipe and drape.  Not only can I not invest in that, I am not sure I am quite "there" either.

So, I am mulling things over.  I think I need to revamp things, like my website.  I need more signage at shows, to explain what I do.  

To give my brain a break and cheer myself up, I decided to do some linocuts that have been in my brain for far too long.  I Love carving, and have been wanting to take my carving from the beads and back to prints.  I finally gave myself permission to just make them already!!!!  Sometimes, I just need that.  

 This heart with an eye turned out JUST how I wanted it too.  I didn't have sketches.....I did the border first, and thought a heart would fit nice in it, and of course, it needed an eye.  so I sort of winged it, and I am quite happy with how it turned out.

 The prints themselves are just quick practice prints.  I think I will be making more and perhaps offering them at my shows as well.  Can't hurt to try, and they make me happy.  They will also be a lower priced item, which is nice.  I think I am doing good making prints that still match my aesthetic.   

 LOVING this Moonlit Lotus (there are some trilobites in the back as well)

Finally made a stamp for my bags, my heart with wings logo!!!

and here are two prints (still first run, not good inking on them) in frames.  these will go in my studio, all for me!!!

Art really is therapy for me.  I cannot believe how much making a few prints has lifted my spirits.  I will figure out my next step.  It will work out.  when things aren't going well, its time for a change, and change is good.  

Now I must get back to the grind.  I am trying to finish up a new class for Craft Art Edu this week, and it's a FREE one!  You won't want to miss it!!!!

How is your summer going?  Anyone else have summer brain?  I hope next week will have me a bit more plugged in to a schedule.

Family Time - a Refreshing Break

If you are fairly new to my blog, then I will fill you in a bit.  Making jewelry is my full time job, but it always comes second to these guys. 

 

(the lookout over the Grand Canyon of PA or Pine Creek Gorge- my hubs and three kids)

 

We took a little break to spend some time up north in Tioga County with my parents and in- laws last weekend.  It was some great family time, and I really needed that mental re-fresher.  Suddenly the kids are at an age, where I feel like they need me a lot more- not to take care of them like when they were smaller, but emotionally, and to teach them about stuff.......

 

It's had me a bit frazzled, since I have a lot on my plate business wise.  Sorry if I've been two weeks behind on everything (for those of you waiting for stuff)......this trip was just what I needed to jump back into work full force- kids allowing that is.

 

My husband has been going to Tioga since he was a boy.  He'd go with his Dad and hunt and fish, and go with the family for lots and lots of vacations.  They have family friends up there and know it like the back of their hands.  I had gone up with him a few times before we had kids, but last weekend was the first we got to go as a family, and had all our parents with us to boot. 

 

It turned out to be a great Fathers Day weekend, spent with my three favorite Dad's.  Here are my kids handing out the cards they made to Justin.

 

 

We stayed at a place called the Rough Cut Lodge, and we can't recommend it enough.  It sits right on the Pine Creek.  The cabins are up a small hill and overlook a field that goes to the creek side.  The kids just ran around the field, and we could watch them from the covered porch (and each one has a porch swing too).  The cabins were great!  I don't' mind roughing it a bit, but you don't rough it in these!  They have fire pits, volley ball nets, picnic tables by the creek and nice benches so you can watch the kids play in the creek. 

 

Julia and My Mom aka: gram

kids at the huge table inside the cabin

 Aiden in the little creek that runs into the bigger Pine Creek

 

Julia and Collin collecting bugs and stuff

None of us could keep out of the water for very long, soooo inviting

Me and the Hubs

 

Look at that backdrop!!!

 

Collin found a skull while hiking in the canyon- of course!

in the canyon, water pours down all over the place!

The kids, they did a long hike with us, about 6 miles

Julia, always in the water

On our snack break - she is my girl!!!!

I am sure Collin would have just wandered off in a daze of collecting things if I let him...he kept creeping further and further, not even caring where we were

 

Rarely seen picture of brother love, no brothers were harmed during the taking of this picture

 

This was Collins first time really fishing, and he did great!  He brought home the biggest fish!  The boys said they would bring home dinner, and they sure delivered!

 

They were yummy!!!!!

 

Collin ate the whole thing!!!!

 

 This was our backyard for the weekend.  Can't beat that.

 

 There were other families there too, so the kids found friends to play with

 

 Julia grabbing a snuggle with my parents

 

 

Our porch hangout for the weekend!!!!

 

This is a shot from the lookout again- such a beautiful view

 

and we saw this guy the first day on the way down the mountain from the lookout.  He wasn't too happy we disturbed him...he was happily munching on something, but slowly walked away when we stopped to get a picture (from the car of course)

 

We had a great time.  Best of all, there are tons of fossils there.  The kids and I collected tons of them from along the Pine Creek.

 

This run of rocks stretched on and on.  You just had to flip them over to find if they were fossils.  Since they have been in the creek for who knows how long, many are worn on one side, or the fossils themselves are being worn away...which was kinda cool too. I came home with a lot of rocks.  A LOT!

Here you can see some of the little marine life impressions that were common

I even found small ones that would fit perfectly in a bezel.

 

 These are all fossils on them- some are better then others, but they will all make some sort of interesting jewelry

 

 

And I just could not pass up all the perfectly rounded stones!  These will be getting drilled for jewelry use, and if I have time, to sell as sets for bead fest.  I washed them last night, and need to drill them through the next few weeks.

 

So that is where I was for a long weekend last week.  The kids had their last day of school Thursday and we left early Friday.  I am jumping into the studio - starting now- to make a lot of jewelry this week for a very exciting secret project!

 

Then its onto beads and jewelry for The Tinicum Arts Festival in July and Bead Fest Philly in August.  

Blurry Week...Exciting Stuff.....

Well, this week has been a blur!  Halloween was snowy on the east coast for the first time in my lifetime!  So many power outages, trees down, absolutely crazy!

My Aiden was sick, just a cold, but opted not to trick or treat.  We share all the goods anyway.  Here were my little ones................

a snow princess and a viking.  Homemade snow princess outfit is an old flower girl dress that was given to us, white gloves and hat with a tiara from her princess collection, and the viking is sisters jean jacket turned inside out to reveal the fur, sisters ugg boots, pirate hand hook from previous years, and viking hat made from tin foil and masking tape.  I loved it.  So fun to make your own costumes.

That was Monday- on sunday and monday we had some house guests that were displaced due to the power outages (my mom and poppop).  It was very nice to have some time with Poppop, and he and the kids had a blast!

Then Tuesday I spent most of the day in the ER with Aiden....asthma out of control.  He's ok.  He just needs that extra strong neb now and again.  I just wish he didn't have to suffer with it.  But its all he's known, so he's a trooper about it.

Yesterday was Halloween withdrawl craziness in my house, with Aiden home and collin tired, it was chaos. 

I did begin the patina process on my new copper clay pieces, made copper leaves and Loop T Loops for the shop and took some pics.
Here are some of my new pendants I made from the Antique Bible molds I made (in copper clay).  Here are a couple (check my Artisan Accents shop this weekend for the listings...

dragon fly- each one has little hidden crosses in the artwork (since they are from an antiqued tooled leather Bible cover)

LOVE this one and heart key with a cross

dragonfly with multi-holes for dangles

drgonfly tri-connector

heart and cross bird pendant

and last but not least, this beautiful star of david pendant

Today I am kicking butt and catching up.

NOW, for the exciting news part.

Stop by here tomorrow to find out how you can be part of the biggest art bead swap, chain, giveaway thing EVER!  (ok, maybe not ever, but maybe)  Its awesome and fun and being held by Love My Art Jewelry.

Here is a sneak peek.......