A Place for Everything........

Hello all,

It's been awhile, hasn't it? Time flies whether you're having fun or not, eh?

Most importantly, I'd like to thank all of you for the kind and comforting words you shared with me regarding the loss of my beloved father.  Please know that your comments touched my heart in ways you could not have anticipated.  I re-read then numerous times over these past few weeks.   I appreciate that you took the time to write, share and console.  Thank you all so very much.

We have not escaped the creeping crud that is ravaging the nation, and have been really sick, as no doubt, some of you have been also.  So progress has been slow in the unpacking and getting settled.  But there is progress.  Why of course I have pictures to show you!  It's me after all. 

 Don't I always make you suffer through a gazillion pictures? 

 Today is no different.   

You might want to make your escape now.....

  Many things have been unpacked and found a place to be.  Many things have been unpacked and are sitting in piles here and there waiting for a perfect spot to reside.  Many things are yet to be unpacked.  Especially my studio which I have saved for last.  Well and the garage.  and the... oh nevermind.... We have come to realize all too well, that when you move into a smaller place that is lacking the large basement you used to have, there will be many many piles of things looking for a home.  This just might be my new decorating style..."Pile Chic".  So let's have a look, shall we?

Having fun in the midst of unpacking.  Even the statues wear lampshades around this place.  A non-stop party, I tell you!

I feel like I'm being watched.....

my bangle stacks have a spot all their own.

oddly, my jewelry is unpacked...

shhhhhh

ok, two bangle spots!

ooooh awwwwww

So happy to have made that cast of my dad's hand a few years back.

The one on the bottom shelf.

Shows his skin texture, fingernails and even his scars!

It turned out really well.

I'm thrilled to have this very personal memento 

and the memory of how much fun we had while making it!

Do wish I had known how to make one of my mom's and brothers hands

 before they passed away some 27 and 29 years ago.

As you can see, it's something I do frequently now.

this one.......well.....

it's a cast of one of my brothers hands, made in a hurry

while he was here for our dad's funeral.

it needs some serious work before it gets displayed. 

I cherish each of these hand replicas.

Faces, faces everywhere!

yes, still lots of body parts too....

We love the fun work of ceramicist Shirley Kramer

of Double Dog Studios.

and the ceramic elephant Mr. Wonderful made...

when he was just a small version of

wonderful.

We realized while unwrapping these beautiful treasures, that the vast majority of them

are gifts we have received from dear friends and family over the years.

Which makes them even more precious to us.

this little smiling guy is our mortar and pestle.

He looks remarkably like one of our friends in Illinois, 

which is a bit disconcerting when I'm using his head to grind peppercorns.

Bet you're wondering about the studio....

Lest you think it's all done...

oh no!

Still a shambles for the most part.

Though this picture was taken a week ago, so a bit more is done now.

See, I had this idea that I wanted to have lots of displays

as well as a working studio.

Seemed only fair since I took over the family room for my studio.

You know, trying to make it an inviting interesting place,

rather than the usual total mess that my studio tends to be.

Bahahahahahaha

Not succeeding in that.

Yet.

 

Though there are a few vignettes I'm enjoying

trying to make my supplies look pretty

these lovely gifted headpins have since found a home

 in those little vacant houses shown above

and these

Thanks so much T!

little swan dishes to put bits in as I'm assembling pieces of jewelry

wire display manne

my bins have bins

some supplies look bad,

some supplies look good

My life size studio mascot

and the best movie monster ever!

ran across my instruction sample board from when I used to

teach ribbonwork classes.

and the clock I'm making for my studio

which is just begging to be finished....

still...

after so long I'm embarrassed to say

how long.

More class samples which I am now going to use

since I'm not teaching fabric manipulation currently.

Love this texture!.

Looks like foldformed fabric.,

and these following fabrics, which were altered by machine.

except for the handworked Brazilian roses.

I'm seeing some fabric cuffs....

there's even a tiny little spot to work.  a very messy very tiny little spot...

YAY!

Found my hammers!

and had to promptly hammer something.....

leaves from Pipn's pewter

found some mostly completed components 

so worked on them a bit more and assembled this

amazingly it's already listed!

I know!

It's as if pod people have replaced the real me. 

 Listing before I blog!  whaaat? 

No, still me.

You notice I didn't provide a link to it,

so you could read all about what's in it.

But there is my Etsymini

 over and up on the right sidebar that will get you there if you're so inclined.

I used to work in actual bright colors...

and I have proof

painting on silk.

so much fun!

 both drastically sun faded.

Can you tell by my color choices that I made this one while living in Florida?

Or was it while dreaming of living in florida?

Maybe I just dreamed that I lived in Florida...

naw!

found another landscape quilt.

and traditional quilting

love the innocent sweetness of this one

and the colors

 but obviously not enough to finish it!

 must have coffee

and cups to drink it from...

see?  actual color!

ok back to jewelry....

my already listed things are displayed where I can see them!

love it!

and things to be reworked are right there too

 

and things to be listed...

and things that I just listed or am about to list....

Stone Cottage by Day or Night

assemblage earrings.

These adorable little ceramic houses are made by BeesonPie. 

 I'll be showing more of her components in another post.

I took new photos of this bracelet and re-listed it.

It gets no love in my shop.  I thought maybe it was just the pictures.

Maybe, it's just that people don't really care for it.

raw ruby bits and filigree on hot pink snakeskin.

C'mon....what's not to like?

Is it the color?  Hmmm?

See, you secretly kind of like my subdued color scheme, don't you?

More of my Turkoman goes Modern series.

These earrings were all featured in the 

Winter 2013 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

Some are already listed

(stranger things have happened, you know.  see above)

and some yet to be...

Colorado Wilderness

Golden Door and Twilight Sky

Shadows of the Desert Cliffs

Morocco nights

In Monet's Garden

Campfire Embers

phew!

Well, now we know what happens when there's such a long span between posts, eh?

I'll hopefully be back on track within the next few weeks.

Hope you're enjoying whatever this winter is bringing you, and that 

it doesn't include the flu!

Duck Tracy

(like Dick Tracy, only not)

a wonderful housewarming gift

Ciao