a rather grand ring

You know those times when you are working on a project and for whatever reason it's taking you longer than expected?  And you wanna finish but you start to think maybe you never will?  That was me and this ring.  Partly it was due to vacation interruptus.  But I was also a little intimidated.  She was a big undertaking.  But now that she's done I'm so enamoured with her!  I adore the contrast of the robins egg blue Larimar against the striking black of the vintage glass cabochon.  And the mix of glass and stone, new and vintage, and the texture in the Chrysocolla with all of its veining and shades of blue and black....nature sure knows how to make some pretty things!

When it came to the back I didn't struggle one bit - I knew just what belonged on the back...

Hopes were built like shining spires

Reaching up and spearing skies

I just imagine the ring itself reaching towards the sky in all of its grandeur!

I appear to be stuck in a Bob Geldof loop.  I don't think that is particularly a bad thing...
 but I will try to venture out soon...

So, this little (BIG) lady will be making her debut in the etsy shop tomorrow...so if you feel you need her  just stop by.

Thanks y'all.

how we tried to ruin the filming of Blue Bloods all by ourselves.

You may or may not know that I am kind of a fan of Tom Selleck.  And by "kind of" I mean I adore him with every fiber of my being (possibly a slight exaggeration, but not by much) and I watch Magnum pi about 50% of the time I am working only to switch out for Perry Mason because yes, I own every season of both on DVD.  So yesterday, when Tom and I saw the signs posted that Blue Bloods would be filming about a block away from the apartment I kinda flipped!  I was torn between wanting to stalk the street the whole day or playing cool New Yorker who doesn't get worked up about these things.

              

It's kinda cool, whatever is filming, movie, tv, commercial, whatever, they have to post signs saying what and when they are filming.  A couple of days ago we saw them filming a Kevin Bacon scene of The Following...13 year old me would've had a conniption fit over this!  I lost count of how many times I saw Footloose in the theatre...

Soooooo, we did sort of scout it out today, but none of the trailers had Tom Selleck or his characters name so I started to let it go.  Then around 7:30 or so, coming home from dinner we saw all the lights on...we walked right through the middle of all of the hubbub before we saw Donnie Wahlberg standing right there.  I had probably rubbed elbows with him.  We watched for a bit and it was pretty interesting.  It is totally insane how many people, how much equipment, and how much time goes into just one scene.  After a bit of seeing that the New Kid seemed like a nice guy we headed back to the apartment.

Here's where the fun happens.  It's 11:30 and time to take the dogs out for one last break.  Off we go. They are STILL filming.  We walk the dogs and then head back ... The side of the street they are filming is full of crew and extras and lighting and cords of all shapes and sizes...no one was keeping people away so I tell Tom that I'm gonna get closer and take a photo of the whole production of it all.  I'm seriously right there behind the director, I'm futzing with my phone trying to make sure that the flash is off so that I don't disrupt their filming and then I hear it.  "Uh oh."  I look up wondering what might have happened and I see The Business Man, out of his leash, running into the middle of it all.  Yes.  Yes he did.  The assistant director reaches for him all that is running through my head is:  "pleasedon'tbitehim!  pleasedon'tbitehim!  pleasedon'tbitehim!"  And then the squealing, squirming, and yes, biting begins.  The poor man can't grab him because The Business Man is on his back wriggling and snapping and screeching like a howler monkey with a microphone.  I'm trying to get him but there is so much equipment that I'm trying to lean around.  From there it was a blur.  I somehow snatched him up and practically ran across the street i was so embarrassed.  I had so wanted to be the cool New Yorker and instead I was the starstruck hayseed from Texas!

Once I regained composure I calmly walked back across the street, leaving my ill behaved dog with Tom, and apologized to the asst. director.  I asked if he got bit and he VERY nicely assured me that he was fine and that he was just worried that my (hideous) dog would run into the street.  Some other crew member said "I didn't know if it was a dog or a monkey!"  The director had turned around and was laughing.  So apparently we didn't ruin anything.  

But it's time for the Beverly Hillbillies to return to Texas.

                  

This is the photo I got of the production.  Pretty cool, eh?

The Business Man

 

My little cutie patootie turned nine today!  I can hardly believe it!  When he came into our lives eight years ago we didn't plan on him staying...in fact he had an adopter all lined up, but then he got sick and we found out that he had a liver shunt and might require a very pricey surgery.  And on top of that his social skills were, um, questionable.  So Tom and I decided he could live out his life with us. Eight years later and his liver condition is much improved!  I wish I could say the same for his social skills.  Although they came in quite handy today when an odd looking guy on the street asked me to buy him lunch.  It's funny, New York City is FULL of dogs, tons of them! but people still walk by and act shocked when we are walking the dogs.  And they just reach at him while I desperately try to scramble backwards hurriedly saying "he's not that great with strangers!" when what I should be saying is "he's down right wicked and he will turn into Linda Blair before your very eyes if you don't back off!"  

He's come such a long way from Hurricane Katrina to Texas to vacationing in NYC.  And I think he knows it.  He's chock full of piss and vinegar!  What he lacks in size he makes up for in personality.  I would love for you to meet him but in case you never have the pleasure:

• He has a fairly serious lisp.

• He has strabismus (he's cross eyed).

• He has an open line to The Donald.

• He's quite the clothes horse.

• He walks on his front feet to pee (it's just more dignified!)

• His favorite show is So You Think You Can Dance.

• His favorite actor is Jessie Tyler Ferguson.

• When he sees his "grandmother" he reaches for her like a big ole baby!

• He has his own office which he uses for mergers and acquisitions.

• He would very much like to be the star of Instagram (#thebusinessman) and gets mad when other dogs get more "likes" than him!

Our sweet little Business Man fills our lives with laughter.  It might sound odd to be thankful for a hurricane, but if it had to happen I am so glad it blew this little guy into my life.

baby steps...

It took me a little while.  At first I felt desperate to make this ring.  But once I had all of the pieces cut out I hit a brick wall.  I don't really understand it.  Emotions are a total mystery to me sometimes.  Things that one day feel healing and cathartic the next day feel scary and intimidating.  As our trip to New York got closer I knew I wanted to bring the ring with me so it was time to put it together...I keep thinking I should be typing finish, it's time to finish the ring, or say, "the ring is finished" but I absolutely loathe the way that sounds.  I don't want it to be finished.  I'm just gonna say that it is now ready to wear.

I love it.  Looking at it mostly makes me happy.  The day before it was "ready to wear" I didn't think I could do it.  I actually had to stop and start a giant new project to purposely overwhelm my brain.  But the next day I came back to it...  So strange the way the brain works.  

Well I've been out walking

I don't do that much talking 

These days

These days I seem to think a lot

About the things that I forgot to do

For you

And all the times I had the chance to

-Jackson Browne

I'm back. And I can breathe.

We landed in New York City about two hours ago and I felt like I could breathe better the minute we walked off of the plane and into the airport.  The calm I feel when I'm in the city is something I have never been able to put my finger on...but it is palpable.

My plan for this trip was to try to get some exposure for the new line of work...not sure if that's gonna happen...but there might be a possibility that popped up today.  Cross your fingers for me pretty please.  I'm hoping to show them the pieces I finished this week...

I am over the moon with how this piece turned out!  It is by far my favorite back plate I've made to date. And the bit on the back is a line from one of my very favorite Jim Croce songs.  If you're a young'n and have never listened to Jim Croce or, gulp, haven't even heard his name (that thought makes me die a little inside) go iTunes search him now.  There is a lot of music that I love that I will admit has not stood the test of time...for instance, I adore Andy Gibb but maybe he wouldn't make it today...maybe.  Jim Croce though, beautiful lyrics, music, voice, just soulful.  His music is funny and real and honest and you need to know it.  In fact, I feel so strongly about this that I just decided something - go to iTunes or YouTube and look up Jim Croce.  Check out any of his songs, but my favorites are: Roller Derby Queen (hilarious), One Less Set of Footsteps (my favorite),  I Got a Name... Go listen, come back here, leave a comment telling me what you listened to and what you thought of it (you can tell me I'm crazy, it wont hurt my feel bads).  Leave your email address and I will send you a coupon code for 20% off of any item in my etsy shop.  I'm telling you, I love Jim Croce!  Sadly he passed away at only 30 years old.  Within the music industry I think he is considered a huge loss, specifically for his writing.  Ok, I'm climbing down off my soap box now.  Whew, I got all riled there for a second and I didn't even see it coming!  Moving along...

This ring.  She has a story.  I found these precious little vintage reflectors and snatched up all four that they had (two red, one green, and one yellow) like they were gonna sprout legs and run away if I didn't act fast!  I felt like they were just begging for a second life as something beautiful, a little beacon on someone's hand... This is the first one I set.  it was really fun because Tom and I collaborated quite a bit on this one.  He is always super supportive and lets me bounce ideas off of him constantly, but this time he was even more into it - I think the fact that it was this cool little object of mysterious origin sparked his interest...I think it was a perfect melding of our ideas and she turned out beautifully.  When it came to what would go on the band or back of the ring I struggled a bit...Tom and I mulled it over for two days and then one afternoon it came rushing into my brain with full force: "Be a spark and glow awhile".  It was exactly what I wanted.  

Be a spark and glow awhile

You'll be dead a long long time

Be a shooting star 

and in one mad moment

Burning bright

like the night

Make us stand in awe

Now, I could so easily climb right back onto my soap box because the artist I have borrowed this from is one of the most amazing human beings ever - that no one in this country seems to know about but I'll just share this with you and I'll move on to this exciting news...

I've got a New store carrying my work!!  I'm giddy excited!  The shop is in Eugene, Oregon and what is just plain awesome about that is not only have I been wanting a store in Oregon for eons, two of my VERY favorite cousins live there (I love you Bren and Christi!) - so Plume Red, I might just have to visit!  I am officially volunteering for a trunk show!  The cool thing about this is that the owner found me - and I can honestly say, after looking at photos of the store, I would have been clamoring to be in this store if I had known about it!  So - win win!

Ok, one last thing and then I've gotta jet - I made this ring last week and I think I wanna turn it into a whole super hero series...who's in?!?!?  I'm thinking BAM! and ZAP! and, for you Big Bang fans, Bazinga!  I've found some incredible vintage Lucite cabochons that look like a bulls-eye that just scream super hero!  I've got this image in my head of all these girls wearing these rings with their fists pumped out in the air feeling all sorts of empowered!  Can't you just see it?!?

That is the only thing about being out of town, I keep getting these ideas that turn into urges to work and I don't know what to do with myself.  I meant to bring some wire along to just do some chain or something but I forgot...

Alrighty, it's actually day three of my trip (took me a little bit to wrap up this post) and I'm gonna try to find something to eat in this city full of possibilities...

Nighty night my dears...

ps  If you are interested in any of the jewels in this post please keep an eye on the etsy shop.  I will post them over the next day or two.  Or let me know if you want one and I'll hurry up and get it posted!  Sometimes I just need a little kick in the pants!

The week in review...

This week has been busy, a busy bee kinda week.
Here it is in list form, take a look:

• work work work
• show applications
• car trouble, new brakes
• Seven's acupuncture appointment
• nyc pop up rental research
• custom orders out the wazoo
• a visit from a new friend/jewelry shopper
• dinner delivery to the parents
• last details of last weekend's redo-the-bedroom project
• and just to keep me sane, a couple hundred (I wish!) episodes of the West Wing

And then here it is in pictures:
Work, work, lots of work!

agate and druzy ring.  the back says "starry eyed".

dendritic opal ring.  the back says "harness hope"

Seven started acupuncture last week.  

We loved her new doctor.  She was unbelievably good with Seven.  And I am convinced that she is part vet, part contortionist because she twisted herself into crazy positions trying to get the needle into Seven - all so that Seven could just sit comfortably, not having to move one iota!  This week we had our second appointment.  On the way my brakes started making weirdo noises and my airconditioner wouldn't come on...in 99 degrees and if you are wearing a fur coat (Seven was, I wasn't) that is just no good.  So Tom met us at the vet so he could take the car to the car doctor.  When Tom walked through that door Seven flipped out!  I guess it was so out of context for her to see him there - she acted like the very best thing EVER had just happened!  She was on him like white on rice!  It was precious.
So I've got to get photos of her during this procedure, it is fascinating!  She is actually getting aqua-puncture.  So instead of a needle sitting on the acupuncture point, they inject a small amount of B12 that will sit on the point delivering pressure.  They do this for animals that are more restless so that they aren't running around with needles sticking out all over like a big ole porcupine!  So cool!

My car is getting new brakes and a transmission fluid flush today.  Joy.

Also on the agenda this week: getting my applications out for both Cherrywood Art Fair and Blue Genie Art Bazaar.  For some reason when I have sat down to do these over the last couple of weeks I've had a mental block on what to write about myself.  You are probably like, "yeh right!  You can blather on here for paragraph after paragraph!"  But I am having a block.  But it's time to suck it up and get them done, block or no block!  I'm kinda scared because I am submitting my applications with photos of some of my new work - what if they don't like it?  What if they want old Metalsgirl and not a combination of old Mg and new Mg?  Is my new work related to my old work at all?  Will photos like this get me uninvited?

sterling silver, resin, and copper enamel necklace.

the back says "I want to laugh, cry, jump for joy, shout, and scream"

Mid week I had a visit from a friend who I haven't known well, but is a friend through other friends.  She came over to meet a ring she thought might need to come live with her.  We had a truly lovely visit.  It was one of those unexpected moments, the kind that is even better because you didn't see it coming at all.  She lost her dad early this year and I guess we are having similar experiences with grief and loss and how you ever move past it or through it or just learn to live with it... 

Thank you Nicole.  Thank you for visiting, for crying with me.  Come back and we'll make a lemon meringue pie! 

I made Hatch green chile corn chowder and a ginger peach pie for my parents as a thank you for the washer and dryer they gave us.  I packed it up and snuck it into their house so it would be a nice surprise when they got home from work.  Not to toot my own horn, but arriving home from work and realizing you don;t have to make dinner is kinda cool.

We have been planning to redo our bedroom for a few months now.  Ever since Vincent decided he needed to have separation anxiety and tunneled through the door AND the wall.  We needed an indestructible wall so we decided brick might be just the ticket!  And I needed gray walls.  I am slowly trying to paint my entire house gray.  Next up: paint the exterior gray!  Everything. Must. Be. Gray.

 (shocking, Law and Order is on...)

Vincent and The Business Man like it and they are quite critical!

And last, my desperate, last minute push to find a rental space for a week long pop up in NYC.  When Tom and I decided to head back to NYC just two months after our last trip we agreed that it needed to be a work related trip.  While there we saw several retail spaces available that said "pop ups welcome".  In my naive brain I thought that meant it would be easy to make it happen.  I was wrong.  If I was there it might be easy.  I could deal directly with the owners of the spaces by calling the numbers on the listings...but instead I'm having to deal with realtors and I've come to learn this fact: they don't like pop ups.  So I'm beginning to let go of the idea.  very reluctantly.
My new quest is to schedule some appointments with some stores to see if someone might want to carry my work.  Anyone?  Bueller?  Seriously New Yorkers, I think you would like me.  I'm freakin' pitiful!

So that's my week.  How was yours?