two new castings in the shop

I love making castings, especially when I am just playing with different buttons and little objects.  The daisy casting was originally a full circle of flowers but part of it did not fill with silver.  So sometimes the end result isn't exactly what you expect...and that makes it even more exciting.  I, more than likely, will not be able to replicate that happy accident.

recent trip to my hometown

I recently took a trip back home to document my life in photos.
One of the places that we always went to when I was a kid was Roeding Park. I have so many fond memories of riding the train through the man made tunnel, or paddling a boat on the tiny lake. I really liked to ride the horses on the carousel but was always afraid to ride the ferris wheel. I was amazed to find that the place looked almost exactly the same as it did in the 70's. The exact same little tea cups and roller coaster rides are still working,they had a little rust but kids were still enjoying them as I did over 30 years ago. The exact same cement sculpture water fountain and dragon are still looking good too. I was very happy to run around the park and remember all the joy I experienced there.

Here are a few photos:

greener pastures

I always thought I knew what that saying meant....but now, at 42 I'm not so sure. Does one really have the option to run toward green pastures? Or do we as humans unconsciously choose to keep with what we are used to even if it is dusty desolate path?

I say run to the green and try to keep your feet out of the manure but prepare to get dirty sometimes.

new bits coming to the shop

little feature in the EtsyStalker blog

just click on the little bird and see....

Etsy Front Page--Yay!

my little owl made it to the front page of Etsy...

Goodbye September

my ride took me to the beach...heaven

which path to take?

September was a tough month, I had not one ounce of creative juice. I sat in front of my computer most of the time, blurry eyed and pretty much blank. The only thing that saved me was my bike. After hours and hours of being on the computer I would jump on my bike and head to Golden Gate Park for that lovely foggy air. Then I would come home and forget where my studio was and head to the computer instead.

I feel some creative mo-jo pumping through my veins as I write. Look out world!!!

Flea Market Magic

I am pleased to share my photos of the SF flea market, my Sunday heaven. To me it really is a magical place. I like old things and I like to joke that I was born in the depression.

Etsy Front Page--Yay!

My ruffle ring made it to the front page.

Blog Carnival--First Piece of Metalsmithed Jewelry

Here it is....Oh how I hated this ring, I don't think I even ever wore it. It used to have 3 little balls of silver on one side and 2 on the other (but I sawed them off a couple of years later) because I thought it might help the look of it.

My mom found this poor ring thrown in my studio and she asked if she could borrow it. She wore it for a couple of years and then one day she just gave it back. I guess she decided that it was kinda ugly too.

So when I signed up for this Blog Carnival...I thought, Ya, I remember my first piece...now where is it? I found it while going through my millions of beads, it was thrown again.

I love how you can see my saw marks, marking up the piece and how my bands weren't the same size ( I didn't know how to use the jump ringer)

So anyway...there she is my first piece of metalsmithed jewelry, made in Mexico in 2002 when silver was $4 dollars an ounce. I was very hard on myself then but now I am happy I went to school to learn a skill that has brought me such happiness and freedom.





Here is a list of Etsy Metal team mates who blogged about their first piece of jewelry. I am amazed at their talent.

1.Sara Westermark http://www.sarawestermark.blogspot.com/
2. Nina Gibson http://www.ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
3. Danielle Miller-Gilliam http://www.daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/
4. Beth Cyr http://www.bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com - thats me!
5. duckduckGoose http://www.duckduckgoosestuff.co.uk/duckduckBLOG
6. Caitlyn Davey http://www.discomedusa.typepad.com
7. Laura Crawford http://www.tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com
8. Tamra Gentry http://www.gentrydesignco.typepad.com/
9. andes cruz - http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
10. Cynthia Del Giudice: http://www.cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/
11. libby Rosas http://www.elizabethrosasjewelry.blogspot.com
12. Nina Dinoff http://www.ninadinoff.blogspot.com
13. Clare Stoker http://www.clarestoker.blogspot.com
14. kerin rose http://www.kerinrose.blogspot.com
15.Quercus SIlver http://www.quercussilver.blogspot.com
16. Delias Thompson http://www.deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com

Biggins!

The biggins are here. These two pendants are cast from vintage buttons, one a flower motif and the second a deco style. Both are about 3/4", super heavy and gorgeous.

I will post them to the store (for $69 each) by Monday, if you want first dibs, let me know and I will give you a "pre-post" discount of $10 off.

One thing I know for sure

Is that I love to travel and not in the traditional sense of travel. I just like to roam around without a map and getting lost is no problem. I always want to stay for a few months to get a real feel for a place. I like to enroll in classes or volunteer so I really feel like a part of the community. There is so much of the world to see and I am so curious. I feel something coming on.

Here are some photo collages that I made(all with photos that I have taken on my travels)

Heading your way

I will be adding these necklace to the store by next week.
1. vintage button casting
2. vintage red bead on an oxidized sterling chain
3. reticulated squares drop
4. le cirque circles necklace

cha cha cha

Cha Cha Cha is one of the best known restaurants in San Francisco. We went there for lunch yesterday on our way to the new Museum of Sciences in Golden Gate park (it was free day. By the time we finally made it there, they had closed the doors because they had reached maximum capacity--bummer. But we did have a great lunch. Here are some shots of the inside of the restaurant. It is filled with Cuban religious alters.

new necklaces

Here are a few new goodies for the store. The first is a lemon drop faceted stone, wire wrapped. The second is a vintage brass filagree bead on an oxidized sterling chain and the last is a mini-textured disc necklace. Sorry the photos aren't so great, I've been hooked on using my iphone faux polaroid app for everything.

Making Poetry in the Haight

This guy sits on the corner of Haight and Ashbury a few times a week. He has the best little manual typewriter and bunches of tourist hanging around waiting for him to hammer out a poem. The bigger your donation the bigger your poem.

I have to get myself a poem soon!

My cavalcade of glee Pom Pom ring on Etsy's front page

Amazing Beauty

I can't say enough about Golden Gate Park, I have lived here for over 11 years and I am always amazed when I walk into the park and see such beauty only minutes from my home. Here are some shots that I took with my iphone using my new favorite gadget the shakeit app (gives the shots a polaroid look)

goodies

Finished pieces ready to be added to my store. The earrings are made with some new lovely chain that I just purchased.

new items for the shop

 

 

Two new rings are going to be added this week, I am doing a collection of cupcake rings. And 3 new pendants, all made by me with my new delft casting kit.