tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48127728807219225842024-03-13T23:00:28.204-07:00MetalsgirlMy Metalsgirl blog is mostly related to my work... www.metalsgirl.com , but my personal thoughts, goings-on, etc. tend to seep in as well. Along with the more than occasional mention of my dogs or foster dogs. Hope you enjoy!Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comBlogger471125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-80027990941752326472017-11-07T18:01:00.000-08:002017-11-07T20:47:10.496-08:0040 year friendiversary aka road trip down the west coast with three killer people and two brilliant dogs
It all started at Dupre Elementary, Lubbock, Texas, 1977.
My mom, our dog Permella, and I had just moved so that my mom could go to graduate school at Texas Tech. We didn't know a soul. But the first day of first grade would change all that.
My mom and I didn't remember this but one night over dinner a few weeks ago my best friend's dad reminded us that our meet-cute happened in Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-27469469111957404202017-08-30T20:03:00.001-07:002017-08-30T20:06:47.703-07:00Baking Relief - Hurricane HarveyA friend of Tom's is making a few home cooked meals for some Houston evacuees here in Austin. I committed to making four loaves of bread to contribute to the dinner. In my over-zealousness, as I'm prone to do when baking, I've made two extra loaves...
I've been mulling over ideas on how I (we) can help all those affected by Harvey. Donating a portion of jewelry sales was an obvious option (and Tom Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14956181006287112399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-19537971361526470152016-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:002016-08-23T21:41:48.904-07:00Christmas in July, er, I mean AugustIt's Christmas in July!!!!
Well, it was supposed to be anyway.
I've been doing this week long Christmas in July sale for several years now and I love doing it! It's fun, it pushes me to try new things, and I get to have more interaction with my customers.
But somehow this year time got away from me. This year has been nutty so it should be no surprise to me that I am not 100% on my Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-558726046624895912016-08-03T22:27:00.001-07:002016-08-03T22:27:42.809-07:00And the winner is...
Well I'm true to form, that's all I can say. I know I told you all I would draw the name out of a hat on Friday...well instead I drew the name out of a bowl on Wednesday! So sorry that I am so so tardy!
I enlisted Dana to shake 'em all around and draw the winner winner chicken dinner!
And the winner is...
Gaylynne!!!
Congrats Gaylynne...you will soon be getting a goodie Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-85173260156586197142016-07-26T11:55:00.000-07:002016-07-26T13:51:49.046-07:00Goodie box give away!A few years ago, right around my birthday (like it is now), I made a necklace with the sole intention of giving it away. I had been inspired by a goodie box that I'd just received from my Dad and I wanted to create a goodie box that would include this cool necklace.
Well it's been almost three years since that last goodie box so I think we are way past due on a follow up!
I've been Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-92129425490324156272015-10-22T10:15:00.001-07:002015-10-22T10:15:10.378-07:00what I live forA couple of months ago I was approached by a customer (Lili), who quickly became a friend, about making a ring for her inspired by her three dogs. Hello! This was made for me! As we discussed the ideas for the piece she told me that one of her babies had TCC, the exact same cancer that Clarence had. Over the next several messages I shared every up and down, every treatmentMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-39211387035377777322015-09-28T17:48:00.002-07:002015-09-28T17:54:10.049-07:00beach discards seriesIt's that time of year when we all look up and say, "Where has the year gone?!?" I actually have one foot steadfastly in the hope of Fall and one foot lingering in the vestiges of Summer. Actually, the only thing tying me to the warmth of Summer are the memories of the three days we spent at the beach and wishing I could Samantha Stevens my way back there right now. ItMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-76424073426940041112015-06-18T10:41:00.000-07:002015-06-18T10:41:16.201-07:00how a little red cotton ball changed my life.
If you know me at all you know that if I have the opportunity to
make a short story long I'm gonna take it! So let me start with the
short story: Volunteer. That's it. It's good for your heart and soul.
That's the short story.
If you don't have time to read more you can stop right here. Just volunteer. Somewhere.
Here's the long story:
Way
back in 1999Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-19831215305833762172015-06-01T15:29:00.001-07:002015-06-01T15:33:25.959-07:00Month long FUN!
For years I've had this idea...
it's not a new idea actually...
or even my own idea...
so me saying "I've had this idea" is totally wrong!
Lemme start over!!!
So, I've been wanting to do this thing that was totally somebody else's idea!!
Lemme start over again. Uggg.
There's this exercise I've been wanting to do for years.
There we go.
A lot of art workshops do it...Basically Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-11991732800334538642015-04-24T15:06:00.000-07:002015-04-24T15:09:38.026-07:00Our little Francy Pants
This is quite possibly very old news but...WE GOT A PUPPY!!!
The last three years have been hard in the dog and cat part of our lives. To be specific we have lost eight in the the last three years. Ugg. All of our dogs are OLD. We've actually been so lucky that all of our animals have lived to what many would consider and oldish age and most to very ripe old age...but Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-3214041946950253132015-04-22T13:41:00.001-07:002015-04-22T13:41:02.935-07:00the scariest place on earthThere is no possible way for me to explain, convey, share, describe, depict, illustrate, portray, or in any way make you understand the sheer magnitude of...of...of...well......this place!
Let me back up a bit. Before our last trip to New York one of my dear friends and fellow jewelers did a little recon to try to discover some possible hidden spots where we might find some great supplies Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-61697608588898519862015-02-27T09:06:00.002-08:002015-02-27T09:06:26.547-08:00kicked to the curb, vol. 2
This was the second time I landed in NYC in the weeks following Christmas. No matter where you go in the city, uptown, downtown, east, west, Brooklyn, Manhattan, on every street there are the carcass's of people's Christmas trees. I am utterly fascinated by it. This is the second time I've tried to do a little photo tribute to these discarded trees whose job has come and goneMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-81585011220154497762015-01-20T12:42:00.001-08:002015-01-20T14:04:35.537-08:00a dingo and a pig...On Tuesday November 25th, two days before Thanksgiving, I had to say goodbye to two of my babies. I think I'm still in shock. Even now. Even nearly two months in. I don't think it's fully hit me. Everything was so chaotic around the holidays, Thanksgiving, setting up shows, doing shows, Christmas, travel...I was blissfully distracted. But now I'm not and I feelMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-45089770427552138912014-11-25T00:36:00.000-08:002014-11-25T00:38:37.783-08:00life is not for sissys. sometimes I'm a sissy.When does it get easier?
I find that I pray a lot these days. I'm not really an organized religion person (aside from my sophomore year in high school when I became uber involved with the youth group of my local church but I'm pretty sure it was 99.9% about a boy).
But now I'm praying for another reason. I'm begging for relief.
My life is hard right now.
I'm barely getting any sleepMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-15623186214305955202014-08-31T08:50:00.000-07:002014-09-02T07:57:16.933-07:00no one wants to be Eeyore's BFF.I've been reading and reading and reading all of the wonderful posts about Robin Williams over the days since his death and the outpouring of love is truly amazing. I'm so glad that, from what I've seen, people are being respectful and kind. And the fact that this has opened up more of a dialog about mental health issues might be the one silver lining.
I've had my own battles with Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-88263568037857533222014-08-20T20:09:00.001-07:002014-08-20T20:09:24.036-07:00Did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world?
Seriously! Tom and I look at Seven almost daily and and tell her that she is the MOST beautiful girl in the whole wide world! And she is. I know she is. I am convinced that anyone who sees her and thinks 1.) that she is a plain brown dog or 2.) that she is a HE, those folks need to get to an eye dr. stat!
Seven has always had her own idea about things. Since Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-83291433519677817632014-07-21T08:29:00.002-07:002014-07-21T08:29:34.616-07:00every year 'bout this time...Every year for the past, I dunno, five years, I've done this week long Christmas in July sale. I don't even remember how the thing started but its kinda grown a life of its own. I thought briefly about skipping it this year just 'cause things are so hectic around the homestead, but Tom and I managed to pull ourselves together and get it done!
So today it begins! We've got a Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-44187180422096322402014-07-17T08:45:00.003-07:002014-07-17T08:45:46.471-07:00Oh happy day
I rarely get mail. I mean good mail, not junk mail or bills. And then
all in one day I get TWO letters! Good, really good mail. With
goodies to boot! A letter from my poppa with some beautiful bird
feathers enclosed and a card from my sister in law with cicada wings
enclosed. How'd I manage that? Just lucky I guess.
xo.
Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-19128145522997478072014-07-12T21:07:00.002-07:002014-07-12T21:07:54.082-07:00a short history of BerkatuWe said goodbye to Berklie at 2:15 am on Thursday.
We reached the end of the line after three and half days in the hospital on IV fluids and meds to jump start those tired kidneys. Tom picked our fur ball up and brought him home. I cozied up the bedroom and we all piled on the bed, me, Tom, most of the dogs, and Berk.
We spent nine hours together before he decided he was Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-24504938499442965812014-07-09T12:29:00.001-07:002014-07-09T12:29:26.228-07:00these days...I miss this little blog of mine.
I'm quite attached to it I realize and I miss it when dumb ole life gets in the way of my visits here.
I write here to share my work. i write here to share the antics and adorableness of my animals. I write here for the same reason I take a hot bath or eat a whole bar of chocolate - it just makes me feel better.
I keep telling myself to take the timeMetalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-81893045320024147502014-05-08T11:26:00.000-07:002014-05-08T11:32:12.239-07:00I can be mighty.I can be mighty.
Most of the time I think i'm fragile. I feel like that is how others see me. Kinda small, pretty fragile. But I can be mighty.
Fragile isn't all that attractive I don't imagine. When it comes to people. Flowers and china sure, but fragile people?
Does fragile = weak? I'm starting to think that fragile is a misunderstood word. Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-83978520398405593402014-05-05T01:44:00.001-07:002014-05-05T01:44:38.455-07:00The goodsI've been thinking a lot the past couple of months, thinking about my work, where it's going, what I want to do, am I doing what I need to to make that happen. I've realized, in all of my contemplation, that I've had my best work year ever. The last 12 months might have been a struggle in a lot of other factions of life, but work has been truly wonderous. I branched out this Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-47589281611109658192014-05-02T13:15:00.001-07:002014-05-02T13:38:07.683-07:00a day in the life of a metalsmith with a new teenager and a whole bunch of dogs
Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since the teenager came to stay. The other night at book club (aka wonderful group of women who help me keep my head on straight) one of my dear friends looked right into my eyes and said "how are you doing?". Her eyes said more than her words. I thought about it for a sec and I said, "ok. I'm really ok." When life is careening Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-33754766451868316262014-04-30T08:06:00.002-07:002014-04-30T08:06:55.936-07:00time to put my guard back upSo I think I had lulled myself into a bit of a false sense of security where this blasted cancer is concerned. It's a fascinating thing, the way our hearts and minds deal with ongoing trauma in our lives...I've been coasting off the good news/outcome of my Dad's surgery for months now. And it was easy to do really. The surgery went better than expected and then all there was to Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4812772880721922584.post-54340409024709866982014-04-25T12:35:00.000-07:002014-04-25T12:41:24.024-07:00organized chaos
Organized chaos. That is my studio. Tom stayed home from work today so that we could have a shared day off...but that quickly turned into him taking my car to the shop and then him working for Metalsgirl most of the day. Oops.
Anyway, he walked into my studio and said "all I know is I'm not sitting THERE!", pointing an exaggerated finger at my bench.
Yeh, okay, it's a Metalsgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01829315197881776621noreply@blogger.com