Ode ot Abigail...

Today in my office a student shared with me pictures of his Ragdoll cat.
I thought I would share pictures of my Ragdoll cat Abigail.
Oh, she is so beautiful...

She likes to nap...

She has beautiful BLUE eyes...

She is a good sister cat to Eliza...

She likes beads...

And she likes windows and sunshine...

She is funny sometimes...

And she helps me to write. Someone has to spell around here!

That's a wrap. Time to nap..

2011 Jewelry Tea... Sneak peek!!

Tomorrow I am hosting my 1st Annual Christmas Jewelry Tea.

Here's a sneak peek...

This year I did something quite new.

I call it "Inspiration" Jewelry.

I bought some necklaces at a Trade Show in October,

then I reworked them and created matching earrings and bracelets

to go with them,

"inspired" by the necklace's color palatte and stones.

I really like the result.

This one I created the necklace, too.

I called it "Mixed Metal Madness".

And I'm quite mad about it, too!

Blue and White Christmas Tree

Well, I'm back...after taking quite a break from blogging.

Yesterday I put up my little cookie tree. This year it is painted silver and decorated with blue and white and silver ornaments. My Mom and I picked up dutch blue and white ornaments at the Outer Banks last May. I also have a new white owl to add to my growing Christmas Owl collection.

Here's a pretty milk maid!!!

Shoe, anyone?

I love this little windmill...

My snow owls want to meet you!!!

Art and Soul Retreat 2011

Last weekend (after the tornado blew through NC), I drove up to Hampton VA to attend the 2011 Art and Soul Retreat. Art and Soul Retreat is a gathering place for jewelry and mixed media artists. I attended two years ago, and I was thrilled to go again.

On Friday I attended the Riveting Silver Metal Clay workshop by Sherri Haab.  She is one of the nation's best jewelry artists. She's published many books and is on the cutting edge for new mediums and techniques in jewelry creation. She travels all over the nation and around the world giving her workshops. She had just returned from New Zealand and Australia. I've been aching to try my hand at silver metal clay. It was great. Sherri is here (on the right) helping artist Betsy Phillips with her amazing bird pendant.

Here is her book. You can buy it here

I created a silver heart with a purple center!

Note the rivets!!!

You never know who you meet at Art and Soul. In my silver clay workshop, I ran into Betsy Phillips, who used to lived in Greensboro, NC and owned the most amazing boutique  named Rag Poets. Betsy is an up and coming silver jewelry artist. That creative eye that filled her dress shop with amazing clothes is filling her heart and mind's eye with amazing jewelry designs. She was wearing a Buddha necklace she made the day before. I loved it!

On Saturday night, my friend Melissa and I attended the vendor night. The artists who taught classes sell their designs and pieces at this event.

I discovered a mixed media artist named Sarah Whitmire.

I purchased one of her lovely heart creations.

You can visit her website here

Here is my new mixed media heart~

I visited Sherri Haab's booth and enjoyed my visit with her and her terrific assistant Rachel.
Best wishes to Rachel's son, Joshua, who is leaving for a mission this summer.
I hope to take another class from Sherri in the future!!!



One thing I purchased from Sherri is Epoxy Resin Clay~

No firing required!!! Sherri has a new book coming out soon on this new medium.

Sunday I attended a workshop on Metal Embossing by

artist Magdalena Muldoon.



This technique involves drawing designs on 36 gauge pewter.

I bought lots of fun tools.

And this is what I made...

Melissa and I finished the weekend with a quick trip to Buckroe Beach.

Oh, how I love the ocean.

I'm already looking forward to next year's Art and Soul Retreat...





Giveaway at Beaducation!!!

I purchased the book "Stamped Metal Jewelry" by Lisa Niven Kelly recently.



This is a whole new world for me in Jewelry making, and I've been buying up the TOOLS
to get started--letter sets, design stamps, dapping tools, and hammers. Just had to buy two new hammers,
brass ones weighing 2 lbs!

Beaducation blog is hosting a giveaway here.

Visit this blog and get stamping!!!!

Creating New Space

I've been away from my blog for about six months now.
It's time to reconnect.

Last year was difficult in many ways,
so this year I wanted to recreate my creative space.

So, first of all, a new blog background and header
with JW Waterhouse beauties!
I love Pre-Raphelite art.
This was perfect.

For the most beautiful blogger backgrounds ever,
go to Kirsi's site at
http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/

Now I'm also recreating my home office/guest room/jewelry room/writing room.

The colors will be teal, apple green, white, and brown.
So far I have the comforter.
Painting the walls apple green will take place next week.

Notice the lovely new silver lamp from TJ Maxx, my favorite store!

The grand cat Abigail likes the new comforter!

I look forward to working in this new space.

Hopefully many more books will be written here.