Famiglia

I just HAD to share my favorite new handmade item! Melissa from Little Pink House made this adorable family portrait for me. I am just nutty about her work! Words can not adequately express the joy I feel when I look at this sweet little piece!! Oh, the thrill of custom, handmade loveliness!! AND, Melissa has a delightful blog that you all must check out!

Moving Update

Just a few boxes, one rolling mill, and a solid maple bench (calling in more muscles for those two) and the move will be complete! Look at that light! Look at that floor! Look at that wall color (it's called Contemplation by Behr)! I'm giddy!

While I adjust to my working quarters, my bench will be a bit junked up with the odd box or tool. However, I found just enough space last night to start on a customer's ring and I'm super eager to continue this morning!

So, I leave you with this:
10 Things that Make Me GIDDY!

1. coffee: French Roast with raw sugar and cream
2. sunlight!
3. daylight savings...we sprung ahead! YAY!
4. our family portrait by Little Pink House (more to come on this!)
5. "my" flock of turkeys
6. temps above freezing (melt, snow, melt)
7. my daughter's giggle
8. new friends
9. collaborations (more to come)
10. AND, blogging, of course!

Cellar of Stone

In the process of studio moving, I've seen the light! In the past 15 years, I moved my studio (read: cumbersome benches, steel tools galore, torch set with heavy tanks, and an extremely heavy rolling mill) a backbreaking 8 times....of course vowing NEVER to move it again. However, life is unpredictable and those 8 moves were unavoidable.

So, this is my enlightened part: I discovered that there are items, never used, stashed away in my studio, and have been there for all 8 moves. Why do I hold onto these things? Files, hammers, engravers...never to be touched. AND, gemstones. Lots and lots of gemstones. And gemstone beads. I went through a purple amethyst, red carnelian, and bullet-shaped cabochon phase, stocked up, and used one or two in a piece. Now, I have an embarrassing amount of stones and I'm quite certain that I'll never use them.

As a part of my studio destashing efforts, I opened a new Etsy shop, Cellar of Stone! Lots of gemstones, beads, and the occasional odd bit. I'll be listing a few items each week. Be sure to check it out!!!

New Work

Some new, some old, some reworked. All to be listed in my Etsy shop within the next week. Stay tuned for updates on the big studio move...oh, my aching back!

ACEO?

OK, I admit it, until 2 days ago I was in the dark about ACEO's. I've seen that term everywhere on Etsy, but interested I was not. Etsy Maine Team put together a challenge to design a create an ACEO with a Maine theme utilizing some recycled or upcycled materials...still wondering what the heck an ACEO is...click here.

Being a good little soldier for my team and having a child who has been on the couch with the sniffles (read: not running around, getting into everything, with me trailing behind her), I took some time to crank out my very first ACEO! So, here's a few shots of mine. Crafted in metal (of course), embossed by hand, oxidized with torch flame, and antiqued with India ink.

Materials: recycled copper flashing, recycled matte board, copper wire, India ink

Home

Ahhh. Home. Yes, our time in Florida was magical and invigorating, but coming home to our snowy state, warm home, and daily routine is so very comforting. Many thanks to our hosts, Nannie and Grampa! Here's a photo summary of our vacation!

Feeding the giraffes at the Brevard Zoo

Food and spirits!

The Fun Fountain

Patio Night lights

Gator seeking on the Stumpknocker Tours

Back to the studio this week to finish a few commissions and start NEW WORK! I have a sketchbook bursting the bindings full of new designs and collections. I also picked up some pearls and fossil coral from a dealer....I'm very excited to incorporate these lovelies into earrings!

5 things I'm loving right now:

~home

~a safe flight

~clean sheets

~a sleeping child

~my Florida memories!

Relaxing...

The sun, breeze, surf, and sand has renewed my soul. The temperatures are chilly in Florida, but not as frigid in our home state of Maine (we decided that we really miss Daddy and the dogs, but not the below zero days!). Days have been filled with playgrounds, walks, beaches, and naps. Nights are spent chatting in front of the fireplace with a glass of Shiraz followed by a hearty meal.

Quench Metalworks has been busy, too! Urged by friends and family, I opted not to put my shop on vacation mode. Quench has been on a bit of a roll as of late...closing my shop would have put a stop to that!! I packed all my pieces, postcards, and business cards into my carry-on and successfully passed through airport security. Was it worth it, you ask? YES! I had several sales this week!!! I also discovered that one of my rings is in the Over $100 Etsy Gift Guide. Things are good. Very, very good, indeed!