Happy Birthday, Mom!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday! Sadly, Mom's all the way in Alberta while I'm here in 2000-mile-away Kansas. But Stephanie and I ate chocolate fondue with strawberries and bananas and blackberries and angel food cake in her honor. Mmm... birthday.

Love you, Mom! Wish we could have spent it with you. We're counting down the days until August! xoxox

I put in a couple of hours in the studio last night but ended up scrapping the piece that I was closest to finishing because it wasn't quite right and despite my most earnest of filing efforts, it wasn't going to be right. So, I'm starting over. I have another piece that is close to completion and one other that is in its infancy. I hope to have all three finished by next week.

In other news, have I mentioned my business cards? I'm so excited about them. They arrived a couple of weeks ago. And no, I haven't even opened my shop yet. But I've already had people asking about my jewelry when I'm wearing it out and about so I wanted to have something to give them. They're MOO mini-cards and I couldn't be happier with them:

Pretty snazzy, aren't they?

In shop news, I'm hoping to be up and running in a couple of weeks. For those of you who are already on my mailing list you'll be the first to be notified. For those of you who aren't... Join my mailing list!

PS. It's an email list as opposed to the Pony Express type. Thanks for pointing out my omission, Mel!

Illness and Inspiration

I have no new pieces to share with you as of yet, BUT I am working on some that I am very anxious to finish and show you! I went to a gem show over the weekend and came home with some inspiring goodies:

However, it's spring break and the kids are out of school (and daycare), my oldest is sick, as is the lovely Foxy... so I haven't had much studio time since bringing home my treasures. But just you wait! You're going to love what's coming.

Dark and Pretty

African purple jasper and oxidized sterling silver.

I dreamt up this piece before I even got my torch. I'd been listening non-stop to Neko Case's  Middle Cyclone (and still am. If you haven't yet, do check it out). I wanted to create something with the same haunting feel. Old, abandoned, dark. But somehow soft and pretty at the same time.

So that's where this design concept came from. It evolved a bit in the translation from my original drawings but I'm really pleased with what emerged.

Finished a new ring over the weekend but haven't had a chance to get any good pictures of it yet. It's too dark tonight; maybe tomorrow.  It's a pretty little (ahem, big!) purple African jasper and sterling piece.

Speaking of photos, I finally got one of the Foxy necklace being modeled:

She's being all modest and won't let me post her face. But you get the idea. This at least gives you an inkling of the size of the necklace. I think it's being worn to the full length of the extender in this photo. It can be worn shorter too.

I have a midterm on Friday (Western Civ) and a gem show this weekend (woohoo!) so it will probably be next week before I have any new pieces to share. But they're all tumbling around in my head with Antigone and Gilgamesh just begging to be released.

Oh my goodness!

I can finally feel spring around the corner!! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed our uncharacteristically wintery winter (I am Canadian, after all!) but I'm more than ready to shed my sweater and feel the warmth of the sun again! Even my coffee is decked out for spring today (thanks DizzlePop!).

It's been a busy school week  (I had two papers due, the last of which will be handed in in 3 hours) so I haven't had any time in the studio since I finished Foxy's necklace. (I also haven't gotten a picture of said  necklace on the Foxy neck.) But I am itching to get back to it! Hope to put in a few hours over the weekend and come out with some new finished pieces to share.

Happy Friday, Daffodils!