Road trip and a few random thoughts.

vintage dog tag and crystal.....

 Yet again a couple of pics from the files, showing you wonderful, one of a kind jewelry that is.. yep.. already long gone. 

I swear I actually do have some inventory!!  It's just when I get busy sometimes I skip the picture, and when it's one of s kind.. then it's gone. 

I really need to get better about that.

I think I've been sort of depressed.  (no! really????)

I think I'm sort of better.  I have actually been sketching designs at odd moments, which is a really good sign that my brain might actually work again someday soon.

I think I'm Peri-menopausal.  I really won't say anything else about that.  Your welcome.

We took a small family jaunt to House on the Rock and took Baby and a friend this time.  We left on thurs afternoon, meandered up and Hit the House on Fri... it's just as strange and friendly as I remember it.  Seriously if you are in that part of WI anytime soon, it's worth a trip, it's good family fun and it's a unique collection of stuff.  It's what happens when a artist has money to spend and builds his own museum.  Eccentric fun at it's clean, ketchie best.

We went to a cave, we did antiquing and hit every used book shop we could find.  Even worked in a bakery and a game shop... In short, the perfect, mini BarronMiller Driving vacation.  Even had a few bucks left when we got home.

Came back the back way, through McGregor IA, and saw the pink elephant and the gaint strawberry on a stick . 

Next mini trip we take we want to go to Mount Ida and see the castles. 

Because we BarronMillers thrive on good clean ketchie fun.

This coming weekend will be another mini roadtrip, as Jerry and I will be hitting the Highway 141 longest yard sale

domestic sewing machine from the late 1920 - early 30's and clock cog.  this is one of my favorite bracelets I've made for a long time... it sold at the first show at had it at. 

More Pictures....

Yesterday in Marshalltown went great! the weather was beyond awesome!!

Sales were good, decent tenderloin by food vendors, interesting entertainment and music.... a really wonderful show.

chain is vintage, added charms.  This one sold some time ago....

Elegant steampunk... Victorian like lacy plaques and hard edgy gears... also long gone.

This one didn't last through my first show with it.  I need to buy more brass owls....

Now I'm "off" the show scene for a couple of weeks.. we are fitting in a quickie family vacation, Jerry and I will celebrate our Anniversary  ( 20 years.. wow) I'm trying to knock some clean into the house, and got to get stuff situated for Jerry's school, Jesscera's school, Jesscera's book, etc etc etc.  And somewhere in all that I need to fill in some inventory holes. 

so yeah, no rest for the wicked, no break for the good....

I leave you with a couple of pics from the files ---- If I don't get a chance to blog I hope these hold you til then!

just pictures today

1920's singer sewing machine tag

1952 singer sewing machine

1940's voltmeter tag

this Sat in Marshalltown....

Lady Liberty, she's already sold, I kind of miss this one.... 2nd in a series of 3, working on the 3rd one now.

Guys, my heart is not really into blogging right now, but I did want to give a heads up, We have a show in Marshalltown IA this weekend... it's a fun show by the name of Linn Creek Art Festival held on the grounds of the art center.  It's really a fun, laid back kind of show.  I'm hoping we are under the trees again, but since so far the weather report sounds awesome, I guess where ever they put us it will be fine.  They are stepping up even more than last year... there will be a concert after the show as well as entertainment throughout the day.  Seriously, if you are in the Marshalltown area, this is the thing to do on Saturday. 

Random thing: my spell checker doesn't like Marshalltown, it wants to change it to Marshmallow. 

I just think that's kind of funny.

Memorial service this weekend

Poss - Dec 22nd 1918 to June 3rd 1914

Tonight's activity: making memorial candles for the family.  It's a tradition on Jerry's side of the family, but Jesscera wanted one for Poss, so I am making some for the service on Sunday.


Nothing really to them, sticker paper, software and a cheapo candle in a glass. 

Step one: cry happy memory tears mixed in with sadness
step two: create a design and fit to the candle at hand.
step three: nag the man to peel off the price stickers (this is probably the hardest step)
step four: print out labels, cut to fit, and add them to the glass.
step five: maybe cry alittle more.

I can almost breathe......

left over chain and very kewl vintage key

I'm soooooo tired.  I'm sooooo emotionally drained.  This weekend it's Farmer's Market, and then next weekend we finally have Aunt Poss's funeral. Today is 4th of July, which I hope everyone is enjoying to the max... I stuck my head outside and it's ** BEAUTIFUL! **

Me?  I'm going to spend most of the day in the studio, just playing.  yep, I have given myself permission to do whatever the heck I want.  I'm not gonna worry about my low inventory, I'm not going to freak out on how few earrings I have, I will not concentrate on trying to get a few extra chainmaile bracelets done --- I'm just gonna goof off in the studio, and if I actually end up making something, swell.  If not, that's OK too.  I'm giving myself the gift of NO EXPECTATIONS,  NO PRESSURE TO PREFORM, Nada!

Right now I'm organizing about 6 months worth of buying materials that haven't ever really gotten put away.  I've had several thoughts ( and I've pulled some pieces aside to contemplate further)

At some point I'll hit something and will have to just work on it, that magic spark of creativity will burn bright for that baby...

but if not, then at least my workshop will be more organized than it has been for some time. 

And it's OK either way.

See ya tomorrow at Farmer's Market, Bright and Early... and maybe  ( or maybe not) with something new.. but I'll be in a better place mentally for sure.

yeah yeah I know......

A work in progress.....

I haven't been posting like I should... just so busy and so much going on in my personal life... things should be calming down in 3 weeks or so.. I won't have shows every weekend, and hopefully family members won't be in the hospital or dying on me.

This weekend is probably my biggest show of the year... ArtFest Midwest at the fairgrounds.  If you are in Des Moines this weekend, you absolutely cannot miss it!! It's free, parking is free, and they run shuttles back and forth between this art show and the big downtown one. 

And it's in the building with the piping hot, fresh from the oven mini- chocolate chip cookies.  Yum!!

Sat hours are 10-6pm, Sunday 10-5pm.

Seriously, get your butts down to the fairgrounds this weekend!!

Sewing Machine cabinets.....

Normally we buy old sewing machines loose... but a couple of weeks ago we scored 3 old treadle machines still in the table.  They were in rough shape, and after researching the machines, one was from 1905, one from 1908  (see pic above) and  the white machine was from 1918-1920. 

wow.

That's pretty old.

So we put them on craigslist. 

wow again.  I've never had so many people interested in a posting before... by day 3 I had 7 different people wanting one or all 3 of them.

I'm glad to report they went to the home of a fellow artist and craftsman who makes the cabinets into high-end tables.  

So this is a happy recycling story from end to end!!

remember that big box of watches I was waiting for?

wrapped up in old cigar boxes, nice touch!

 I got it the very next day after I blogged about it here but things have been so chaotic I didn't get a chance to share ... and it was a AMAZING box! It had over 25 complete, gorgeous pocket watch movements in it, probably as many "bad" ( the movements aren't really pretty but they have cogs and gears to salvage from them), a ton of empty cases (some of which I've put up on etsy here ) lots of misc parts, even a couple clocks parts & faces.

I've pulled a few items for my inspiration pile, and I've given Jerry some of them to dismantle for the parts.  I just love buying big piles of Junk and finding treasure!!

I'll post a sneak peak on my facebook later this week, just in time for MacNider Arts Fest in Mason City this Sat , 9-5pm

This is MOST of it spread out.  I put the "good" ones out in rows of 5....

But nothing was truly bad!

Note  -- I even got a few little tin boxes! total bonus!!

OMAHA WENT GREAT!!

vintage pocket watch face, vintage key, painted wings, brass stampings and chain.  Oh.. on small pink crystal cause I can.

but now i'm sooooooo tired.

Goodnight!

SAD

vintage crystal, and vintage crystal shoe bucket.  It's hard to see in the photo, but this baby is beveled on the edges and oh so sparkly

Poss passed away peacefully on Tues afternoon.  May that wonderful, feisty lady, the grandma of my heart!  -- rest easy.   Jerry and I will be in Omaha this weekend for the Omaha show.  I may not be my normal outgoing self, but I'll try not to burst into tears at odd moments.  (at least not where anyone can see me)

Poss would be happy I'm out selling my jewelry, she loved jewelry and she loved mine... I gave her many pieces as gifts, and she bought from me for both herself and friends. 

She also loved teddy bears.  I'm  really thinking I will have to do something with a teddy bear in her honor.....

Ribbon, vintage key and bucket as a necklace....

Poss

It's hard to think.

Poss is 95 years old.   She is the sister of my Grandma.  Family legend is she picked up the nickname Poss because when she was born she looked like a wrinkled up possum and it stuck.  Just the Poss part -- no one would dare call her possum!

She's a tough old bird-- always has been.  I get the feeling she wanted kids but she and uncle Ed never did.

My mom is the oldest of 8.   She spend some years living with her grandparents, which means she lived with poss when Poss was a teen-- and later she lived with Poss and Ed as a young adult.  She was living with them when she met my Dad.

Poss has always been a weird mix of older sister and Mother to my Mom.  Which means she is like a grandma to me and my siblings .  In some ways she's been more my grandma than Grandma was-- we certainly saw more of her and Edie growing up.  I remember that when my brother Kit and I visited she would give us baths in her kitchen sink!   She would clean her house wearing a t- shirt and panties because it was more comfy.  

She loves babies and young kids.  Once I hit a certain age I didn't like her , because she didn't seem to like me anymore.  It took me awhile to figure out she just didn't know how to relate to a teenager.  Admittedly I could be a huge brat.  ( still can )

Even when I didn't think I liked her I still loved her.   I remember I tried to call her grandma Poss.  She said she didn't like it it wasn't right-- Vera her sister was my grandma.  She said I shouldn't call
her that but I think she was secretly pleased.  I honored her wishes -- but every time I said Aunt Poss it echo-ed as Grandma Poss in my head.  I like to think she heard that echo as well.

Don't get me wrong - I loved my Grandma as well but Poss And Ed were special and me and my family didn't have to share her with zillions of other Grandkids like with Grandma Vera.    Since my father's parents passed away long before any of us were born-- we needed more Grandparents.  Frankly I couldn't ask for better ones.

I feel better now, thinking about her this way.  The last couple of years she been in bad health, mostly called old age I guess.  The last few weeks she been really confused-  she didn't recognize my husband and I think she thought I was  my older Sister Gretchie.   I thought she was doing ok again or at least not worse but she's not.  They are giving her just a few days and she's under hospice care.

I have her name-- her middle name,  Amal.   It means hope in Arabic.  I didn't know this until I went
 to Israel on a archaeological dig in 1991.  That's not why Poss got the name-- I got it from her of
course -- She got it cause it's a family name passed down for several years.  My mom does genealogy and thought for years it was a Indian name -- that was the family story.   There is suppose to be a couple of Cherokee 's in the family tree but Mom's never been able to prove it.  (This isn't as strange as it sounds -- it was common that if a female Indian married a white man to assume a white name along with the marriage so it's possible  and makes it hard to trace.  At the time it would have been cause for shame so the family would try to conceal it.  Now try to figure it out 150 years later).  A
few years ago Mom found out the truth , which I think is horribly funny.  Amal is the corrupted form
of a doctor's wife name.  I'm not sure why-- but that's a little disappointing compared to hidden Indian blood!
I've always wondered what Poss thought of all of this.  I think she would see the humor in it as well.

hunting pocket watches.....

DRRROOOLLLLL!!!

I realized about 1 week ago I'm dangerously low on kewl watch parts for my jewelry.  Now as a professional hoarder, that means I have less than 100 of something, but more than 5.  Anything under 5 and I freak out. 

So I've been haunting eBay and etsy looking for good lots at reasonable prices.  this is a pic of one of them.. which I'll hopefully get soon.  This one is the "Mystery" lot because it's hard to see what's all included.. but it looks very promising. 

Half the fun is getting a good bargain, and finding surprises... hopefully of the pleasant type.

Fingers crossed!!!

My next show is a new one to me and Hubby and we are driving out to Deerfield IL.  My fingers' are crossed for this as well.... We haven't done a show in IL for a couple of years ( mostly a distance thing) and never one so close to Chicago.   So I'm excited!! If you are in the area, stop by the Deerfield fine Arts Fest Sat and Sun 10-5pm

chainmaile pics and weekend plans.....

This one is so fun and colorful.. it sold a couple of shows ago....

Not sure on the status of these.. pretty sure the 2 bottom are gone

Just finished a fantastic Farmer's Market.. I've got to get a few things to get done for the weekend, and then I can spend all the rest ( and that lovely, gorgeous extra day!) making Jewelry.  I'm actually very excited... I've got some fresh supplies both from Jerry's deconstruction talents and from our friendly mailman, and ideas in my head and I'm ready to go!!   So this entry is short... in my on going effort to clean out my photo files, I present the results from my latest chainmaile efforts.  I tend to do chainmaile in batches.  This weekend I'm concentrating on my Mechanical Romance line as it's been hit hard from all the great shows so far this season....

Fun earrings....

random pictures

1946 singer ready to be ripped apart...

 OK so I do random thoughts from time to time, but my brain in fried in a light mix of extra virgin olive oil and butter, so how about semi-random pics?

vintage key earrings, thank you dear Neighbor!

ever popular and always different pocket watch necklaces....

This is Kya, grumpy cause I woke her up to take her picture.

Variety of brand tags from various machines.  all but one of these is sold.... the bottom left that says Model AAA still left.. from 1950's movie projector...

I'm Back!

vintage pocket watch ceramic face, brass stampings and chain.

Or rather the Internet is!! I'm so happy that I can actually do things on the computer for the first time in weeks without it stopping every 5 minutes!!

Tomorrow is Valley Junction Art Market 11-4pm.

I've got to say, I love the hours on this!! As long as Jerry and I get there for set up around 9am, we will be ready by 11.  I actually get to sleep in on a show date!!

Don't get me wrong.. I adore Farmer's Market and we had a lovely time today... but getting up at the butt-crack of dawn really isn't my gig.  I mean for heaven's sake, my company name is Midnight Kat Productions!! There is a reason the Midnight part is in there.  I just don't stick a word like that in my company name just cause it sounds nice....

To get to Farmer's Market in a timely fashion, we get up at 430 to 5am.  Seriously, do I look like the 430am gal to you??

Some shows are even worse.. typically, any show within 2 hours of driving we will drive that morning and save a hotel for a night.  So if a show starts at 9am, and it's 2 hours away, that translates to getting up and out the door by 5am... so it's 3 to 330am call.  ugh!

Still not complaining really, cause we do love Farmer's Market.  One of the nicest parts of a Farmer's Market weekend is we are done by 1pm, which leaves most of the weekend intact for other activities.  And I love the energy at the market.. and the variety of food stuff of course.

We almost always get fresh farm cheese curds, and some of the best bakers in town do Farmer's Market, and you all know how much I enjoy a good cookie.  (Sadly, my favorite cookie pusher at the market wasn't there this morning... Confections by Kelly They have wonderful oatmeal scotchies and snickerdoodles) 

We get to do another Farmer's Market next week... and then not again til July.

Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal!

Earrings, aren't they cute?

The lovely clasp with some dangles, cause everything has to have dangles...

I wanted to keep it simple to really hi-light the wonderful focal bead she gave me!!

 This post will be quick quick quick.... for the past 2 weeks our Internet access has SUCKED.  It works for 10-15 minutes then goes down for hours and hours... so I have this one thin slice of time.

I wish I could spend an hour or so going gushing how lovely the beads are that I received from my Partner Kandice but I've lost the Internet 3 times trying to just get this.

so check out Kandice's website today, and all the other blog hoppers..

and hopefully you get to see this, and eventually the damn Internet gets fixed!!

boy am I tired....

brass wing stamping, crystals, chain. 

Just finished day 2 of the Pella Dutch Market and boy, I'm tried.  The show runs 9-7pm, and that's a long long long day.  One day left... The weather today was sooooo much better than Thursdays' weather... heck, last year we got snowed on!!  And tomorrow's weather will be even nicer, it's going to get up to 68 tomorrow.  So come out, smell the tulips ( yes, some of them are in bloom!) and buy neat stuff at the market.

locket series ........

watch part tin, non branded... I added a new material cog and vintage clock part by rivets on the front.

 Well it's that time again, when I have none.  This Thurs - Sat is Dutch Market which is part of the Pella Tulip Festival.

This starts a chain of shows that lasts for 10 weeks at least, so my blogging will probably slow down as it does every year around this time.  Bead soup reveal is next.. this Sat.

I'm sharing pictures of the first of my locket series.  I've  been planning this for almost a year.  I made one last year and enjoyed it so much I wanted to make more, but I needed the small vintage tins to do so.  I've been picking them up at flea markets and antique shops whenever I found interesting ones that didn't cost an arm and a leg. These three boxes didn't want to be super fancy... but a few in my pile are whispering " I need wings ", "I need a row of crystals hiding inside" , or "I want color".

Those boxes are not done talking to me yet, so I can't make them yet.  Of course if they don't hurry up they aren't probably gonna get made this year...... time time time.

here are the first three.  These just wanted to be simple.. but... a couple of the little boxes are calling out for more more more

Time and Obsession

earrings using vintage watch and clock gears.  I know these don't match, they are from 2 different pairs  :)

"knight in shiny armor" earrings, using vintage pocket watch bridge pieces, vintage clock gears, and brass dangles. 

Making pieces for my Mechanical Romance line --- love playing with the gears, odd bits of metal, etc.   My favorite parts are from watches and clocks.. but you all have probably figured that out. 

It's not just because they are incredibly kewl looking, and amazing to think about- the first ones were hand made, can you imagine???? - because they are about our obsession with time itself.

Do you have enough time to do everything you want?  Will you lose your job if you are not on time everyday?  Look how fast your kids grow up, where did all the time go? How much time did you just waste messing around the Internet?  How long are the commercials on this show?   Why is that car taking so long to move, they have the light!!  Sorry I'm late, I lost track of time.  The train ran on time.  Tea Time.  8 hour work day (HA!)

You get the idea.

Time is indeed a "versatile performer," as Franklin P. Jones once observed. "It flies, marches on, heals all wounds, runs out, and will tell."