Christmas Morning in the Desert...

Wishing you ALL a MAGICAL holiday season!

Success!

We did it!












The Renaissance Faire was a great success!

The first day was sooooo windy and cold. It was horrible. We actually took the tops of my tents to keep them from blowing away. The only good thing about it was that my wind proof racks worked! Nothing blew off and we were not chasing my product around park. I was proud of myself for designing and building them.

The final day was beautiful and very crowded. We sold almost every item I had. My daughter joked that if it went for a third day we would be sitting there with one table and 5 items thrown on it. It felt good! I worked so hard for months and was so nervous. We had a great time in our costumes too. My girls looked so cute!
Thanks for all of the well wishes and for everyone who stopped by my booth. It was a pleasure and we look forward to next year!

Autumn Visitor

I had a nice visit from a Road Runner this morning...

He walked right up to my office window and peeked in. Made my day!

Brooches

Some fun stripe patterned brooches for the Renaissance Faire. I hate to waste a good sheet of stripes so these are made with the little left over bits.

Of course I have to add some brass bits and some sparkle. I always love to add sparkle!

Sentinel...

New Dragon Sentinel to watch over tiny treasures.

This is on a slide top tin that I made into a necklace. A little Dragon's Lair with a red dragon keeping watch.

I tried these out at a recent show and they all sold so I am excited to make more for the Renaissance Faire next month.

A lesson in Listening...

My work space is such a mess...again. I keep telling myself to clean it up but I get sidetracked or busy or I think I will do it later, blah , blah, blah. I remember thinking just last week that when the kids start school I will clean my office.

The kids started school today and I went into my office to get to work and my chair hit the table and I knocked my clay/supply/cubby right on its head.

CRASH!!!!! 15million little jewels and brassy bits and clay cane designs all went flying. This is a small section of the mess. It went into the hallway and the kitchen as well. Think fireworks. Boom!

I just stood there for a good 5 minutes wondering where to start and getting kind of glassy eyed at the whole mess. Then I thought, oh, I should have listened. I kept telling myself to clean up and get organized but I just kept putting it off.  It really is not 15 million pieces but it might as well be. Now I have no one to blame but myself. Should have cleaned it up weeks ago and I probably would not be sorting through every last little do da on the floor. Oh , well. Lesson learned and now I know exactly what I have. Or at least I will know when I am done picking through the big pile of stuff. What a mess. Life Lesson # 4789- clean your room.

Picnik

I learned about this FUN photo editing site from the Etsy Forums.

It is free for general use and has lots of fun photo editing effects and fonts. I made this  post card to announce my upcoming show schedule.

There is an option to buy a membership which gives you even more fonts and effects.

I LIKE it!
http://www.picnik.com/app#/home

Mermaid

I have been working on some Dragon's Lair type Fairy Doors but I got sidetracked...
A really nice etsian had an idea for a Mermaid Door.
This is my first try and I am so happy with how it turned out. I can just imagine this at the bottom of the ocean with little sea creatures coming and going and maybe a mermaid or two.

Here there be Dragons...

Getting ready for the Renaissance Arts Faire

Huzzah!

I have just been accepted into the Las Cruces NM
Renaissance Arts Faire. My kiddos are excited as we have to decorate my booth in the theme and we have to wear Renaissance Garb. Should be FUN! We have until November to get our costumes and decor so we are busy deciding what to do.

Meanwhile I picked up a copy of "Mixed Media Mosaics" by Laurie Mika

http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Media-Mosaics-Techniques-Projects-Embellishments/dp/1581809832/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311974338&sr=1-1

What a fun book with some beautiful  artwork and great techniques.

Here is a pendant I made inspired by Laurie's book and the Renaissance Faire. The crown is a wood cutout not clay although......I might have to think on that idea.

Huzzah!

Bug Season

It's that time of year down here in the desert when all of the creepy crawlies come out.

This is my way of facing my fear.
I hate bugs but I must admit that I am also fascinated by them. They are so intricate and come in the most amazing colors. I look at them while goosebumps are rising on the back of my neck and I fight the urge to run away screaming and flailing my arms. I am trying very hard to coexist with the little creatures. As long as they stay out of the house we are good.

New Favorite Etsy Shop

I discovered a fun Esty shop last week.

Fallen Angel Brass
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61790283/the-garden-gate-72mm-art-nouveau

I purchased this beautiful brass art nouvaeu ornament and immediately had to create something with it.
They have such beautiful brass components and it shipped so fast which was great because I hate waiting. Lol.
If you are looking for some unique and fun jewelry findings check them out.

Complimentary Colors

There is a reason why they are called "complimentary colors".

Mmmmmm!

Never gets old...

This just never gets old...

Each year my girls grow some sunflowers and I never get tired of watching. I have been keeping my eye on this one for a couple of weeks and it is just peeking out to say hello.

So beautiful!

May the 4th be with you...

Living life, loving my family and celebrating obscure holidays in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Stay away from the "Dark Side", laugh, and have a great day!

It is good to laugh...

I just have to share because my sister is so funny and I really needed a good laugh.
My oldest is on the golf team and they have been golfing a lot. I tease her and tell her how I wish I could have retired at 16 to golf everyday. She gets to miss school and visit golf courses all over New Mexico and even Texas. This is the result.(see funny tan line). So I sent this picture to my family letting them know how good it is to be on the school golf team and my little sister emails me this without any message or comment. Like one is needed. Ha, ha!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/19/an-in-home-foot-tanner-for-just-230/
Thanks for laugh Sis. I will start saving my money. I think it will make a great birthday present.

Officially the Nerdiest Parents in Alamo

Since moving to a small town without a lot of entertainment options and being the parents of 3 girls we decided we would have to get creative and think up our own fun. We threw a Lord of the Rings Party for our teenager and her friends.
At first the kids were kind of shy about it not wanting to advertise their parents geekdom but by the day of the party it was all the talk at the school lunch table. We had an outdoor showing of the movies and we all dressed up. It was fun and the girls really got creative. Two of my daughters friends showed up in huge boxes, cut and painted like the two towers complete with the "eye" at the top of one. This cute guy hooking up the sound is my hubby as Frodo after Shelob the spider winds him up in her web. We had a Gollum, a Hobbit a Tree Ent Wife and a Uruk Hai in attendance as well as Eowyn and my neighbor who had not seen the movies came bearing chicken wing appetisers and dressed as "Lord of the Wings". Funny!
Now the word is out that we are total nerds and the kids can't wait to throw a Star Wars Party. I guess it is not where you live but what you make of it.

Take the Long Way Home

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d94e4cd06508eeff5651794/take-the-long-way-home?ref=pr_treasury

I made my first Etsy treasury today...
It is a collection of some of favorite items on Etsy and I am inspired by the beautiful colors.

Spring has Arrived

At dusk yesterday as we were outside enjoying the beautiful New Mexican sunset we saw a whole swarm of these on our lilac bush.

We thought they were hummingbirds at first but at closer inspection discovered that they were some kind of moth.

They flitted around and looked drunk with nectar. It was beautiful and I am so happy to have Spring arrive in the desert!

Golf Season

My oldest just made the school golf team.

So, got me thinking about golf......
I made her some cute flower ball markers. They are magnetic so she can change them to match her mood. They just attach to an alligator clip on her hat.

I guess I will have to make her some Tiger ones to match the school mascot. Go Lady Tigers!

It's my Birthday!

The vultures are circling...
My hubby has never been good at surprises but he definitely pulled this one off.

Good thing I am not sensitive to the number issue. It's all goooood! The sun is shining, my laundry is done, I am going to have a great day.

Cherry Blossom

I had a special request for a cherry blossom badge reel. I wanted the little pollen drops (for lack of better word) to stick out. I think it turned out nice. I especially like the dew drops on the petals.

So many possibilities with all of the fun supplies at our disposal.

Desert Rubble on Polymer Cafe

My April 2011 issue arrived today and I thought what a great cover!  As I was flipping through the pages I came across the artist profile and thought what beautiful and fun creations. Then I noticed her dragonfly and hey.... "I know that bug!" It is Lynn a.k.a. Desert Rubble. WOW!
Funny, I saw her picture on the cover and her beautiful pendant and did not know it was Lynn until I spotted her Dragonfly Avatar. Now I feel officially introduced.  Lynn is always so supportive and leaves the nicest comments here.

Without babbling on I just want to say....Congratulations! What a fun spin on steampunk and I love your style.

Check out Desert Rubble a.k.a. Lynn on Artfire http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&sc_id=98936&seller_id=90161&op=new and she also has a wonderful blog  http://lynnsdesertrubble.blogspot.com/

I am in LOVE with that Piranah Fishie!  Great job Lynn! Keep inspiring us!

Leprechaun

Yeah! It 's March.

Spring is around the corner and my favorite holiday is coming up.....
Leprechaun day!

We are getting ready for our wee little visitors and our families traditional "green eggs and ham" or green waffles. Love it!

Rained Out

We are home from the big show.

As you can see from this angry cloud we got rained out for the first two days. :( It was really wet and not much fun. The last day was gorgeous though and I made enough to cover my expenses plus a little profit so all was not lost.

We met some wonderful folks from all over the world and had a great time meeting fellow artists and talking shop with them. I am full of new ideas and ready to get back to my worktable.

Taking My Show on the Road...

We made it through the great freeze of NM and are getting back to normal around here. Water pipes have unfroze and our heat is back on. The kids are finally back to school.

Now I am scrambling to get ready to go on the road. I am vending at the Palm Springs Arts Festival on Feb 18th - 20th in sunny California.

Even though I have been doing shows for 16 yrs. this is my first big "Arts Festival". I am a little nervous but excited as well. I have been working hard and have some fun new works to sell. 

 If you are in the area here is the link with more information. Stop by and say hi. I would love to see some friendly faces.
http://www.palmspringsartsfestival.com/index.html

Brrrr!

We moved here 1 yr ago and they told us we would love it because it does not snow here. Comming from Utah where it snows a lot we thought great, we won't miss the cold.

Here we are.... Day two without heat and now no water. The lines are frozen because they have shut off the gas.

We kept warm last night all wrapped up in electric blankets. Thank goodness the power is still on. I drove all over town and not an electric heater to be found.

The bad part is that we cannot leave. They are going house to house to turn your gas back on and if you are not there....well.....no gas. ??????!!!!!!!!!

Trying to be brave but it is COLD!!!  minus  - 12 last night. My kids are troopers and we are all ok but it does not look like we will heat again tonight. A little frustrated that we cannot leave the house. Folks in the middle of town have heat and water so I do not know why only some of us are affected.  Well...this is the part of life that is the adventure.  I am missing Utah right now. At least they were equipped to deal with the freeze.

Before and After

FREE Tumble Weeds

The great Tumble Weed Round-Up of 2011.

Being new to the desert we did not know what a tumble weed looked like until it was too late. Now we are overun so I recruited the kiddos and we had a round up. This is only a small portion of them.

They are VERY pokey and not fun to play with.

Beautiful New Year...

May you all have
a beautiful New Year!