It's about time...

...for some rain and a shop update!
It's finally raining and although it's not raining cats & dogs, men or even sideways...I'll take what I can get. My new little fig tree will drink it all in!

Now for the shop update, it's about time for that as well!

The Collection

Natures Paintbrush

Taos

All available in the Silver Lining Shop.

Have a great Wednesday!

Sun-Ringday!

How does free shipping sound

for a Sunday?

All my rings are posted without postage today, Sunday only!

Tiger Stripes

Golden Agate

Magena

Here's a taste of what's ready to go!

Rock Candy

I've been cutting and collecting "pairs" of cabochons for a while now.

I find the practice of visualizing and shaping something that I would like to accomplish...so I practice and practice. The result? I have about  20 pairs of all kinds of stones just waiting for me to handle them.

I would like to introduce my Rock Candy Collection:

June Heat

Lady in Blue

Remember Me

Rivers Edge

Each of these are listed in the Silver Lining Shop with a small story that lead me to the naming of these beauties!

Enjoy!

Site Update!

I've finally got some time on my hands to update the Silver Lining shop and here! It's been a busy bit with work and catching up in The Studio.

I've had a bunch of remants lingering, just waiting for me to get some time to saw away on them for some additions to my Puddles collection: 

Hammered Tears

Brushed Tears

Cown Moulding Earrings

Hanging Tears

As soon as I got back from my summer workshop, a week of learning "Forming" I purchased a Synclastic Stake. It's a strange looking tool but it helps in forming some of the coolest designs, most importantly for me; Memory Rings:

Patterned Spinner

Hammered Spinner

My Spinner or Memory Collection

Everything is now in The Shop!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

To Begin Again

I have spoken in the past of the line I try to walk between my FTG (Full Time Gig) and my limited time in the studio. In just the past week I have committed to two more classes (each just for a day or the weekend.) and have put aside any further shows through the hottest part of the summer. I am even contemplating not attending the Farmers Market through September...I am struggling. There are days I awake and I can tell very quickly whether time is on my side or not, recently time has not been my friend.

Since returning from our summer trip my head has been swimming with ideas but it seems they only swim in circles. Each time I walk into my studio I am greeted by an array of projects started and abandoned due to lack of time or sheer desire to complete them.

This morning I took a long walk, well before the mercury had a chance to creep into the 90's, then a swim and headed into my sacred space. Today I entered with new eyes and was able to begin those sparks of ideas again.

All of these dreams that have been sitting patiently finally took flight:

 

The Ice Princess Ring

Two pair of earrings, part of my Puddles collection, with a pair of my new

"Crown Molding" earrings.

Two more with a hammered texture.

...and finally earrings that were started in class almost two months ago!

As I sit and type an evening storm is brewing and the temperatures have dropped again. This time of the year the thunder rolls across the sky slowly and for us unfortunately, it is usually off in the distance. The light shows are amazing and I almost always stop to stand in the entryway of the house to watch. (I apologize but I have tried to photograph this spectacle but is impossible.) The remainder of this evening will be dedicated to updating Der Shop and cleaning up.

In the background my tumbler is spinning with the last of today's completed projects and the thought of spending most of tomorrow in the studio again is enough to keep my dreams full of what I can work on, free to know that I can finally move on!

Have a great evening!

Back on the Range

We arrived home Sunday evening...oh, how I wish I could have stayed another week! Jeff and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with 2 lucky ladies that are both staying at William Holland for another week of classes, I am so envious!

Before classes ended on Friday all of the rooms participate in a Show and Tell.

(The time is very limited, it's just before lunch so I did not get to enough tables...)

Emmie's flowers from our Forming Class

Jeff's Glass class

Ginny's first piece from Wood Carving.

Once again, a great week of learning and laughter! Friends were made, and skills were tested.

When we headed up to William Holland last year we stopped off in Atlanta to overnight with my best friend from High School, Melody and her husband Lew. We did the same this year, on the way home. Dinner was wonderful in a trendy Atlanta restaurant. It seems I have begun to acquire a taste for "Shrimp and Grits". Since they were on the menu I had to have them to compare them to the meal I had at Farm 255 in Athens, my meal was just as spectacular! Who knew? What have I been missing all this time? (When we arrived home I looked up some recipes...Do you think it could be the butter and cheese? No wonder they are soooo good!)

Sunday we woke to a beautiful morning, the view from our window was picture perfect!

Mel and I spent a leisurely morning loafing around while Jeff and Lew attended an early morning car meet. Breakfast was had in the backyard...we said our goodbyes and headed back to Florida.

All in all we had another memorable week and are looking forward to heading back to William Holland. I strongly suggest this type of "time off" for anyone that follows any kind of passion. The collection of personalities, art and nature is sure to energize anyone! That said, I am very thankful for Jeff's willing participation, he always seems to enjoy the week is always happy with what he accomplishes. In the past week I've continued to experiment with the techniques learned during the week.

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. ~Henry L. Doherty