Where has the week gone???

Man! it WHIZZED by!!! I've been trying to master the camera, and its winning as evidenced in the above photo...I didn't have the lights off, go figure............., I have spent about 9 hours trying to become a better photographer and reading the book on the Canon Rebel-I don't think its sinking in..................

Its been recordbreaking hot here the past 2 days which has made me really unable to focus. It was 97 yesterday, 89 today. I understand those are normal temperatures for alot of people, but not for San Francisco. We are delicate little orchids in SF and used to cool, damp days. No apts have AC and this is the ONLY time you will hear me say "thank god we don't face any sun". Its been so hot in here as it is, I can only imagine how miserable the apts in the front of the building are. I feel bad for the cats, especially Mr. Schmoo who is Himilayan and really unhappy right now. We have fans running and curtains drawn and trying to keep it as cool as possible.

I did finish this lot of necklaces this week. I have more pendants but ran out of chain, must order some this week. I also put them all on the website tonight. Tomorrow I hope to get more pics resized, update the site and get out that darn newsletter I keep putting off!

I've gone Buggy!!!

Of the many jewelry things I've collected over the years, I really love vintage copper jewelry and 40's vintage plastic cicada pins. I love these bugs, but they are near impossible to find now. While I look off an on for them, I haven't gotten any in a couple of years so I FINALLY got off my duff and made some reproduction ones. I antiqued a couple with black to bring out detail, then painted the top left one with an iridescent paint to make it more realistic. I think I prefer the purist plain color ones, but someone else may like the painted ones. I'm going to play around with some more colors today then I'll put some on the website in a few days, in the resin section.

Rob has been gone all week to Cowtown (aka Columbus) to visit his Mom. I made her and her girlfriend making neckwarmers in red & gray because they are huge Buckeye fans. I'm not a scarf person and I personally dislike having all that stuff hanging in front, getting tangled in my purse, my hair, my coat, etc...But some people love giant scarves-so I was taking a chance sending those-I wasn't sure they'd like them, but Rob said they absolutely loved them.

Speaking of, I need to make myself a few neckwarmers to wear! I knit up one from a single I spun when I first started spinning. Its supersoft baby alpaca with red angelina. I love it but the knit slanted-so I pulled it out and knit it again. Its still slanting slightly. I have to try and block it. I don't have a quilters square (cat peed on it!) and my ironing board is thin but I"ll give it a go today. If it doesn't work, I'll pull it out again then ply that yarn, the reknit it. I REALLY dont' want to do that!

Today is cleaning up the house, I put up the small pink tree upstairs, and the tiny aqua on top the microwave late last night to get in the Holiday spirit. I have stuff ALL OVER that I need to pick up and make the place presentable for when Rob gets back.

Lots of holiday shows this weekend too I want to go to= tonight I'm going over to Craft Gym for their trunk show- Indie Wrap Up. Tomorrow, I may hit up Secession Gallery for their holiday show then on Sunday its Threads over at the Convention Center.

I've put up this sweet Raven ring in my Etsy shop today. Its a prototype, and I'd like to do more, but not sure if/when I will. They are in vintage ring bases that I have, so there will be a limited number of them. I also put up an Art Purse I did with a vintage Barbie image on it-cute!

I'm on a kick to clear stuff OUT right now. There are a couple of reasons for this-one is: I need to get a new camera. My Nikon is a fine little travel camera, but I'm finding out it isn't good for taking good closeup pics of jewelry...sigh...I've been lusting after a Canon Rebel for over a year now, and more and more people I know have them and love them. The price has dropped quite a bit, and its the camera I want to get. Just need to make the $$$ for it!

And reason #2 is: I've decided to completely re-arrange our living set up. But in order to do that, I know that I"m going to have to get rid of at least 33% of stuff in my work room and probably 50%

Thats hard for an artstuff hoarder-I might NEED those broken eggshells SOME DAY!!!

Truth is, I have been yearning for a streamlined, cleaner, organized space where I can FIND anything I want to use for a while now. Even though I have stuff organized, I have so much, I often can't find things. I need to get real with all the stuff I DON'T use and let it go to someone who will use it. Do I need this pasta machine and motor when I don't do polymer clay anymore?? do I need the clay? Do I need all this metal/bits of wood/stuff when I'm not doing any art right now?? I think I'd be happer with LESS stuff that I'll use, than all this stuff sitting here not being used but making me feel chaotic.



I want to move my work stuff out to the front area where the kitchen/living area is now. Its really cramped as a living room, but WHEN I cull my stuff down, I think it will make a great workarea/studio. AND I'll be able to invite people over for open studio and to have craft party time.

The main reasons for this are that the current set up works but doesnt' feel right, and I REALLY need a bedroom with a door...Love my cats but dear lord they are BAD at night. I need to lock them out so I can sleep without Puddin' draping herself on my pillow or Nef waking me up by clawing my face, or Silver walking over me back and forth back and forth... And I feel a bit overwhelmed by all this STUFF in my room. I can't feel productive in here.

So-I'm going thru stuff now in addition to creating, marketing, listing, etc..... I KNOW I won't be able to clear out 33% on the first go round, but thats ok. I'll do it 2 or 3 times and get it down. Also, I'll be more aggressive with selling off stuff too, and will be listing more on Etsy and Ebay as well as my own website. I'm also actively looking for retail stores to carry my stuff too. Busy busy but I know if I can get clear on my vision, I can make it happen.

so busy....

I'm neglecting my poor journal!!! Once I get this book submission stuff out of the way, and do the table layout for our venue=I'll be ALOT better!

So to keep this blog fresh and readable-here are some pics of resin jewelry I've made, photographed but still need to put on the website.

I put a couple of things up on my etsy shop, so go have a lookie there too!