Bird Invasion

We have been inundated with feathered friends this past week and I am much inspired to create some jewelry in their honor.
I began by collecting little bird figures from around the house.  They are a great visual reference for different ways to stylize wings, tails, etc.  Today I lined them up on the windowsill to watch the snow come down.  (Yes, we are getting more snow!...very unusual for our area.)

I have also been doodling little bird and flower motifs lately, so I pulled those out, as well.

The bottom right picture above became this delicate little pendant.  I love that the leaf swings freely...that really makes me happy.

I haven't hammered and soldered the earwires for these tiny little sterling birds beads yet, but I love the length.  The birds dangle so sweetly from their elongated perch.  These I will keep for myself, however, because I've discovered I need to make an adjustment.  In order to keep the birds facing forward, I need to make a fixed loop on top instead of using headpins through a hole.  I will like the look of the fixed loop better, anyway.

I've already started another pair and love that the birds I'm making today have a different personality from the first. Even birds need their own identity!

Shiny Things and Food for Thought

This will be a quick post.  Today is a mom day, as I am leaving in a few to chaperone my son's field trip.  I just want to share some pictures of my first attempts at silversmithing.  I am still on cloud nine after my class last week.  My first project was a pair of shiny, dangly earrings...so much fun to wear!

Each project was designed to teach certain skills...sawing, grinding, and lots and lots of soldering:

On the final day, we were able to put a little more of our "selves" into a project as we designed our own stone and wire pendants.  I went for an asymmetrical, dynamic design and was pleased with the results:

Back when I was in art school I remember walking by the silversmith studios and thinking to myself, "What could you possibly do with such a degree?"  It seemed like a lot of  fun, but entirely impractical.  I just didn't know the possibilities.

As I consider this, I realize I have that attitude about a lot of things.  I tend to take the safe road, believing that the "fun stuff" would get me nowhere.  But what if the fun stuff is fun to me because I was born to do it?

Hmmm... food for thought as I take off to spend the afternoon with 300 junior high band students.  Have a great day!

Narnia in Our Backyard

My mind is still reeling from all the things I learned and experienced at my silversmithing class last week.  I love the feeling of all that newness and possibility.  Maybe our snow day last Friday was symbolic of all that "newness" I was experiencing...new friends, new skills, new inspiration.

I have yet to photograph the jewelry I made, but I will say I have definitely found a new love!

Until I get some jewelry pics posted, here are a few snow photos for you to enjoy:

Our day started early, since we knew the temperatures were expected to rise quickly.,  My kids began making snowmen at 7:00 in the morning!

Dakota Joe was beside himself with excitement over all that white stuff.  (We all were, Texans that we are!)  Our overgrown puppy must have eaten his weight in snow.

I loved seeing the woods transformed overnight.  Just for a day we had Narnia in out very own backyard.

All Over Again

Some days are just so amazingly wonderful that you just wish you could wake up and do it all over again. I knew it would be just such a day when we woke up to a dusting of snow.  Now I realize that to many of you, a "dusting" of snow is not noteworthy, but for us it is a real treat.  If you look very closely at the photo below, you will see what a small amount of white stuff it takes to get our attention. 

To make the day even better, I was headed to day 2 of a 4-day silversmith workshop held at Beulah Land, a local B&B.  (http://www.beulahlandranch.com/ ) This is my first experience in silver jewelry formation and I am loving it! 

Our instructor, Mr. Dan Haga (http://danhaga.hagaweb.com/ ) is a gifted artist and teacher and our hosts, John and Sue Carlson are nothing short of wonderful.  As we worked on our projects today, I had a hard time not gazing at the snow that continued to fall, but I did manage to finish a pair of earrings and a bracelet.  I'll post pictures in the next few days!

Finally, as if this day wasn't great enough already, the snow began to accunmulate as temperatures dropped this evening so I ended the day with a snowy walk in our woods with my son.  What could be better?

I am a happy girl tonight and do you want to know the best part?  It's still snowing and I have two more days of silversmith classes left, soooo, tomorrow I get to do this wonderful day all over again!  Now...if only I could sleep...

For the Sake of Giving

Drip, drip, drip...definitely an inside day.  I intended to organize my studio this morning, but as I was getting started, I heard a local radio station request handmade valentines for kids in the hospital.  Hmmm...spend the day cleaning, or play with scissors, paper and glue...honestly, which would you choose?

 

I had the best time thinking about what would put a smile on the face of a child.  I thought about the time I had chicken pox and my classmates made get well cards for me.  I kept those cards for years.  My favorite was made by a friend who was super-artsy, even at the tender age of seven.  I'm sure Deborah is out there scrapbooking and altering books even to this day.  Way back then, she glued a little pouch to the inside of my card and included a tiny note complete with artwork.  I remember pulling that little note out and reading it again and again just because it was so stinkin' cute.  Today I put lots of surprises in the cards, imagining little hands touching and little eyes lighting up.

I loved working with bold "kid" colors and fun images (not to mention stickers and pipe cleaners and google eyes).  More importantly, though, I love knowing that these creations will be given anonymously. 

This year I have a goal to give more just for the sake of giving, without looking for any acknowledgement or anything in return.  Care to join me?  Let's see just how many kindnesses we can share without telling a soul!  Of course this one won't count since I told you about it :) 

Have you ever been blessed by an anonymous giver?  I'd love to hear your story!

In Due Time

Walking along our trail this afternoon, I thought of the many hours I spent clearing it last February and March. It seemed I was out there almost every day.

It's hard to believe that was a year ago. So many things have changed since then. A year ago I worked alone. Now I have two puppies to keep me company. I prayed a lot back then about my daughter entering college and my son moving into junior high. Now they are both settled in their new schools and doing great. Twelve months ago I was thinking of starting a blog, a website, or maybe an etsy store. All of those dreams are now reality and I’m learning to balance it all. While some issues remain unresolved, many have somehow worked out and, sadly, some things I truly enjoyed are just a memory now.

I want to dwell on this for a while...to allow my ever-changing circumstances to teach me to look beyond the present, to count my blessings, and to keep hope alive when things are hard because everything could be so very different a year, a month, or even a day from now. This life is dynamic and flowing with possibilities, creativity, and joy when we embrace and expect change.

Where were you one year ago? What has changed in your life? Be encouraged, my friend. Embrace the blessings that are yours today and believe that what is heavy on your heart may not disappear tomorrow, but it will most definitely resolve in due time.