Tomato Tomahto

You say tomato, I say tomahto...either way they are my favorite things to grow, there is nothing like a fresh picked tomato! I have 6 varieties of tomatoes growing in my garden this year, my favorites are the grape and the heirloom variety. The grapes are so sweet like candy and a great snack to nibble on. I also like  to roast them to toss into pasta and for pizza. This is my first year growing the heirloom tomatoes and they are HUGE, very meaty and tasty. Today I picked about 7 and I am making a fresh sauce. I do not follow any recipe just a little of this and that. Olive oil, fresh garlic and chopped onions, fresh basil, some red pepper flakes, salt,fresh ground pepper and let simmer. I will need to add some tomato paste later to thicken it up. An easy sauce that you can do so much with.

What's your favorite summer time veggie? Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

ADDD

Yeah, that's what I've got....ADDD or more commonly known as Attention Deficit Dusting Disorder. Some-days it just hits me. I start doing one thing and then before I know it a dust rag is in my hand and I am re-arranging and dusting. Then I go back to my studio and start working and it starts all over again. On days like this I just have to let the syndrome take over and be glad my house gets semi cleaned. 

I have not shared a picture of Captain Morgan in awhile so here he is in all his glory! This is his usual sleeping position, he is the silliest of cats! Lately he has taken to sleeping with us in a space between our pillows. This was taken at like 3 in the afternoon and he is already staking his claim. He sleeps like a rock there is no bothering him one bit!

 Pondering...
I have been giving the thought of offering a line of my jewelry for wholesale. It would have to be pieces that are easily re-produced but still staying true to my esthetics and offering one of a kind pieces. I am not new to wholesaling as years ago I had a very successful wholesale business called "Country Glen". I made handpainted copper pins and sold to stores through out the US via sales reps. It was a great business but all I did was work. Due to the economy, and a severe swing in what the retailers were willing to pay and then our move to the South things changed and I was done. I got really burnt out, when you make over 10,000 pieces a year it wears on you.
However, I am now ready to jump back into that market but in a very limited way and on my terms, not on a rep that I am trying to satisfy. A few things I need to get are some printed jewelry tags and earring cards. Can anyone recommend a good on-line source? I rather go by a recommendation than out of the blue. The ones I use now are good for shows but not for store displays.
Well, I better get back to my dusting...have a great evening!

Laugh Darling

Here is a whimsical piece I call "Laugh Darling". An assemblage or collage pendant. My most favorite part is the old Victorian pin that says "Darling", how cute is that? 

Created with Verdi patina-ed and etched copper , a resin charm created from a vintage dictionary definition and stamped,hammered copper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Queenie

I suppose we all need to feel like a queen once in awhile. Yesterday was kinda my day as it was my birthday. Although the day is really like any other it is nice to know it is your special day and you own it. So, what did I do? I puttered (my favorite thing to do)...visited with my good friend and neighbor, make some jewelry and did not get dressed until 7pm. Ate Chinese food that I did not have to cook or pick-up and then went to play cards with some friends. It was a nice day.

So, if it's not your birthday and you want to feel Queen like, maybe this long necklace will put you in the mood. You can find it here.

...if you would like one of these crowns you can also find them in my Etsy shop.

Hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying their weekend!

 

Make Magic

make magic

 some future projects...

I finally got it right! For the last few weeks I have been having the most difficult time etching copper....spending hours getting the metal ready, stamping, designing...then 95% of them would not etch. I was so frustrated! I bought new acid and peroxide...still not working. So I tried again, this time checking Google...(picture me banging my head against the wall). I had the damn ratio's wrong. Instead of 2 parts peroxide and 1 part acid, I was using 2 parts acid and 1 part peroxide. sigh....

So finally I am back in business!

you can find this piece in my Etsy shop.

I have also listed some new etched pieces and some copper blanks for painting and or stamping. You can find them here.

....and here she is!

You know I have been looking for one of these gals for sometime. So when a friend of mine said she found a dress form I had to go and get her. Here she is in all of here glory! 

She certainly has been around the block a few times...she is missing her base and has some boob problems, but she is all mine and  I love her!

I am debating on repairing the rips, or just trimming the muslin back. The form will be great for my booth display, so eye catching! Hopefully my DH will be able to make a base for her.

On my way home from Kentucky the other day (after picking up my new girl) I stopped to take a few pictures. Here I was in the middle of corn fields and farms. It was hot as usual and the cows were cooling off. Whenever I see cows in the ponds it just makes me smile. 

 Only one curious cow turned my way and then went back to swishing her tail.

gotta love Picnik...so many fun things to do to your pictures.

A glimpse at my Antique booth

The other day I spent about 6 hours at the antique shop working on my booth at Bright's Antique World. It really needed a good cleaning and re-arranging, this is something I always puts off but when it's done it is so worth it. I don't usually just move a few things around...I move everything around even the furniture.

I have a hopeless addiction to transferware dishes.

 ...and white ironstone.

I also have some of my jewelry designs for sale as well. 

Today I am spending time in my studio where I can relax. The last few days were busy with estate sales and cleaning and pricing new finds for my booth. I found an awesome set of  teal blue rosary beads yesterday so I will play with them today.I finally found via a friend something I have been wanting forEVER! I will share "her" with you tomorrow.  Hope everyone is having a great relaxing weekend. As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Grape Candy

 I tend to stay away from bright colors (does turquoise count?) in my jewelry designs but today a little jar of colorful polymer clay beads was calling to me. This piece and many more will head over to a shop in historic Franklin Tenn. called Heart and Hands, a shop that sells only items handmade in Tennessee and I have been selling there for a few years. I am trying to be better about keeping my inventory up as my sales are great when I am well stocked.

 Looking at the beads all I can think about is grape candy and sticky fingers.

These fabulous polymer clay beads come from Hande Burge of Aslancrafts.etsy.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Hot Connections

 As promised here is the book I mentioned in yesterday's post, "Hot Connections" by Jennifer Chin, published by Potter Craft. When I was first asked to review this book my first thought was no, because my skills are not in soldering. However I am very glad I agreed. This book has a wealth of information from basic metal skills, annealing, drilling,how to use a jewelers saw, riveting, how to make jump rings, applying patina's along with sanding and finishing. Great color photos and clear precise directions. The book continues with what is needed to set up a soldering station and then on to easy and more complex projects. 

I really liked what Jennifer had to say in the Preface of the book. "Before you begin soldering, I'd like to offer some advice: First,, there's no one "correct" way to make jewelry, only techniques that provide direction and encourage experimentation with tools and materials."

Here is what inspired me to  make my ribbon earrings yesterday.

  Although my earrings are quite different from these shown here, this book inspired me to try a new technique I had not thought of before and create something that was more in my style.

Hot Connections is 160 pages of easy-to-follow resource for people who have experience making jewelry and want to expand their skills to include soldering in their creative repertoires.

Copper Ribbons

It is extremely hot and steamy here in Tennessee so I am staying put in my nice cool house! We actually have been having a heat advisory for the last three days. Today I am working on earrings and it seems my color palette is non-existent as I am only staying with one color...Turquoise.  Here is a glimpse at some of the pieces I have finished.

These may actually be good to wear in this heat...just shake your head a bit and you have a nice little breeze going on. 

I was inspired to make these from book I was asked to review. Although my skill set is different from the ones in the book, these came out more like me. I think we all adjust according to our abilities and skills when it comes to following instructions in a book. What a book does for us is inspires us to create and hopefully learn something new. I think you will be surprised to see what type of book it is and what my interpretation came from....tomorrow I will share the book with you!

You can find Copper Ribbons on Etsy.

Stay cool friends!