just 2 weeks away......

woot! Beaverdale Holiday Boutique will be back in 2 weeks...  I'm getting excited!! This weekend I have plans to make a few steampunk inspired Christmas tree ornaments... I've already got holiday-inn, White Christmas and Love Actually ready to go to help me get in that mood.

Hopefully I'll have pics this weekend......

perspective and patience, a thought ramble

Lady Liberty IV: 1960's adding machine gear, vintage clock key, vintage watch face, the standard is from a 1949 singer sewing machine ( or 1952, don't have my notes handy) . 

Last year when Walking Dead season 4 started up I was soooo bummed.  We had just dropped the satellite and  didn't have TV at all.  Now a year later and Season 5 is on, and it's OK.  Netflix has Season 4, but Jerry really doesn't have time to watch it, and I'm thinking now maybe it's just better to wait until the series ends, whenever that is, and watch it all the way though.  Last year I really really missed it, and now, I figure I'll catch it eventually, no hu-hu.  It's amazing what some distance will do for one's perspective. 

I bring this up because perspective is so very important to life.  There are things going on right now, or have been going on, and If I can just step back and give it some space, I will be in a better place.  I will have patience for things to sort themselves out.

You always hear how "old folks" (whatever that means now-a-day) have that long view, and maybe I'm reaching a age where I can at least attempt that.

My personality tends to obsession, which doesn't encourage patience.  Obsessions have urgency, they are all about the now, not the maybe later... 

They say with age obsessive behaviors tend to lessen, as well has folks who have depression, etc.   Behaviors don't go away, they just mellow out somewhat.

I would like mellow.. the last few weeks have been mellow.  I could get use to mellow.

I think the next time I do etched bracelets, the words perspective and patience will find themselves on one.  Calm, peace, peaceful spirit, stoic, warm, floating.
 

Just hanging out in the studio.....

Lady Liberty III : vintage clock parts, brass, patina and paint, chain.

Today is mostly about reorganizing things.  When I do shows week after week, I often pull stuff out of my nice, neat boxes and through them in bags to drag with us, just so I have something to play with at slower shows or maybe have just the thing on hand to customize something for a customer.

I've also been restocking items, and they need to be put away... and I've been buying some new stuff to play with --- some I leave out in my creative thinking piles but most will be put away.  Things that don't talk to me  ( or I have way more than I need) I'm putting in my sale pile for my destash site.

So that's what I'm doing today.  I've made a couple of bracelets, and I'm setting stuff aside for a resin day some day soon, and I plan to make rings tomorrow, or tonight, depending on where I'm at on organization project.  As I hit stuff that I want to work with, it's going in the creative piles on my back table.

So all in all, I'm having a happy, peaceful putter day in the studio.

Best of all, my desk will be clean again and I will know where all my stuff is!!!! woot!
 

cuffs are done

 OK, I finally got all my cuffs done! I think they really turned out well.  I ended up using screw rivets on all of them, I think they are my favorite type of cold connection at this point.

For those scratching your heads, screw riveting is using little brass screws and nuts to attach pieces together.  The riveting part is once they are screwed together, I cut the screw down and then hammer the left over flat on the nut... so it's both screwed together and riveted.  I really like the finish look this gives and it's realllly secure... believe me!  I've messed them up in the past or had to remove one for some reason, and you have to cut it apart.  These suckers are not gonna fall apart that is for sure!!

feeling giddy!

Projects I've laid out to work on, many of these are done now.... but some are not...

This weekend I'm trying to list like a manic on my destash site so of course I've been looking at other listings and like a complete mad woman buying up a storm!!  Our postal lady will be worn out going back and forth with packages!!!


But I'm buying stuff to play with, to spark my creative energy,  and some of it just makes me drooool and I can't wait to get them!!

I've bought quite a few lots of mixes as well.... including almost 30 pounds of vintage jewelry bits.  Now,I don't expect to find 2 much in this lot, but it's soooo cheap, I only really need to find 3-4 items to make it pay for it's self. 

And I love love love the scavenger hunt of sorting through a huge box of stuff, finding that 1 or 2 pieces of treasure in the dreck!!

stuff in progress

I'm adding layers of patina to these, eventually they will be part of my brass cuff line.

 Stuff I'm working on....

I'm looking forward to this weekend... my cold seems to be better, so hopefully I'm on the mend.  I'm starting to feel like working on jewelry, and this weekend I plan to spend time playing with stuff, no pressure to preform.  I am also starting to gear up etsy... I'm starting with the destash because that pile has grown alarming and threatens' to topple over on my head if I don't start to whittle it down!    After I can make a dent in that, maybe I'll start on the jewelry site as well.  I've still got some musicals to watch and pj's to wear.

I started this over a year ago, and it's been sitting in the pile staring at me.  it's time it because a wearable piece of art.

Going Fishing.......

1950's reel plate.  I painted/inked the fishes, and vintage key.

OK, I'm not really going fishing, but it kind of feels like it.  I don't have another show for over a month, and then probably nothing til late April.  I have 3 commissions to work on this weekend, but other than that, I'm good to create, read a book or goof off, or even (shutter) wash dishes.

I'm probably going to be irregular on the blog for a few weeks (OK not like I have been good lately ! ) but I will post pics or tell tales as they come.

I'm really excited I can just putter in the studio, guilt free!! If I make stuff, great, if I don't, that's OK.  It's such a huge sense of relief and freedom, which will probably lead to great creativity now that the pressure is off!!

Having said that... if anyone wants something special done, or wants a home party, now would be excellent and just let me know.

Last Farmer's market of the year! (for me)

It's the last Downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market for me this Sat 8-noon.

It's the last official show for my season as well...  I will be in the Trinity show again this year, but that's all that's planned for now.  I'm looking forward to catching up on the house alittle, reading more for at least a few weeks.  I really need to recharge my batteries so I can come up amazing new designs using old recycled junk.  I can't wait!!!!

The worst part of the show grind is I can't really focus on new designs.. I don't have the time to make artistic left hand turns, I have to stay on the path or I won't have enough inventory for my shows.  I want to have the time again to make mistakes, and then take those mistakes and make them into masterpieces!!

I'm getting older and doing 20-25 shows a year all crammed in such a short time is getting harder to do.  This time every year I feel just soooo tired and worn out.

Maybe it's time to look at galleries again?

So this weekend I plan to finish Farmer's market, finish the commissions I have lined up and then I'm going to just relax for a few weeks... stock up on parts that I'm low on and just see what moves me.  Course if I get a good idea this weekend I can always work on it.. it's just soo lovely to have the choice!!

Time in a Bottle.......

Little glass bottles with vintage watch parts

just pictures

My favorite from the last batch of leaf bracelets.  I love how the dragonfly's tile curves lovingly around the largest cog.

not really in the mood to blog, just tired... but here are pics from recent jewelry.  I'm working on another lady liberty necklace this week. 

And Jerry's favorite.. He likes the Mother of Pearl finish on the vintage watch face.  ( which admittedly is hard to see in the photo)

WOW

Had another great great show today in Cedar Falls IA.... Amongst the many sales, Mr. Octi is gone.  I always meant to to do a special blog on him, never got around it.

Next weekend is Valley Junction Sunday Sept 14th.  This year it's called "Fall Art & Upcycle Market" 
which makes it right up my alley with my Mechanical Romance line.

I doubt I'll blog much this week, it's very busy ( as if normal work and getting ready for shows wasn't enough) as it's my Baby girls 18th birthday!!

wow.

I mean.. wow.

I can't be the mom to a 18 year old... I mean she's legally a adult in a few days.

wow.

Taking Flight

I like the chain I used on this

 I'm sooo pleased, I got this gone in time for Cedar Falls this weekend! yeah!

It's an idea I've been playing with for a couple of weeks.  The giant butterfly originally was going to be a bracelet of some sort, but it never quite worked for me.  It's been hanging out in a baggie with parts for the bracelet for probably 6 months... I finally took it out of that bag and set it aside and just stared at it once in a while.

Then I was putting away some key materials, and ran across the vintage keyhole and bonk! I knew the 2 had to be together.

I really wanted someone peeking out at me, so a cut out a face from my growing cookie and candy tin collection, and wired her on the butterfly's abdomen, then riveted the keyhole in place.. I added spacers so she's not directly again the keyhole.. I wanted that extra dimension to it.  I wanted to give her alittle shadow to hide in.  The clock face is very old, probably 1900's, it's ceramic and has lovely delicate pattern on it, which seemed fitting to so refine a lady peeking out.

another long view

A lady from 1880's is peeking out the key hole.. or are we looking in on her?

A shot of the necklace in progress

The Ten Books Challenge

I've been Nominated by Susan Yorke on facebook to list The 10 books that have stood out for me.  Since I have things to say about some of the books, I decided to do the explanation part as a blog.. The funny thing is the longer I think about it more books/stories occur to me as important to my life!  Here are the 1st 10 I thought of...

The 10 books that have stood out for me(in no particular order) would be:

1. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
   the whole series is amazing, but this is the first Lois book
I read.  I thought about naming my daughter after Cordelia
but after Buffy came out and I'm glad I didn't.... (not that I didn't
like Buffy's Cordelia but naming your child after her?)
Lois is absolutely my favorite Author.  I could go on for HOURs
on how impressive this book ( the the series) in general
is, but this book is not only very good read it really will
make you think.

2. the Hobbit by Tolkien ( what else can I say about this?)

3. Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  I read this when I was
maybe 12? it made a huge impression on me.. the whole gorilla
warfare part was mind blowing at 12.

4. Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein.  this would be
one of the first science fiction books I ever read, again
around 12.  This and Have spacesuit will travel.  I'm still
a huge fan of Heinlein.  Starship troopers is another
favorite. 

5.Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden  I read this when I was
14-15 and it was a life changer.  At that point I wasn't
into guys, so I was "scared" that maybe I was .. gay? In the mid
80's this was a scary thought indeed.
This book helped me figure out I wasn't gay, but if
I was , that would have been OK as well. We are all
just people at the end of the day. I believe this book
helped me move past my parent's views into my current views
on homosexuality.

My mother was horrified I read this book!  It's one of the really
bad fights I had with her growing up. She wanted the
library to pull the book, which is about the only
time I can remember her hating a book.. I get my love of reading
from my mom, and I consider it one of the greatest
gifts she gave me!

I think she was
afraid I was gay too.. she was probably afraid I was gay
until I met my now hubby. She even asked me once when I
was 21-22... which pissed me off not that she asked but
that it should MATTER either way!  It really doesn't you know.
If everyone was the same how boring this universe would be.


6.Fragments of Isabella: A Memoir of Auschwitz

by Isabella Leitner  I read this in high school and it really
rocked me.  I've always been interested in WWII and the
Holocaust.  This is a autobiographical book, and it's
very emotional. 


7. Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer.  The first heyer I read,
and still one of the best.  1st true regency romance I read as
well... I'm very lucky that way.  Regencies are now
one of my favorite types of books.  Any book by Heyer is recommended
but this one is still special to me.  If you would like to
try Heyer, this is a good option... you can also read Arabella,
Cotillion, or the Grand Sophy as excellent starts.

8. The Heart of Man by Erich Fromm
I read this as a freshman in college. I feel some of my personal
code of ethics comes from this book.

9. OK, I am sad to say I don't remember the name of the book.
Read it in high school, and it's a collection of feminist
essays.  One of them was all about marriage.  It's from this
book I decided I would not give up my last name
if I ever got married. I wasn't gonna hyphenate either as
that just seemed a sop to the whole issue.( Jerry and I decided to share.. we
combined our names into a brand new name, complete with
brand new social security cards: BarronMiller.  No hyphen allowed)

10. Maus by Art Spiegelman This is another survivor's tale
of the holocaust, drawn and written by the son (Art Spiegelman)
This is like witnessing therapy in the best possible way.  It's hard
sweaty work but it needs to be done.
if you have never read a graphic novel, read this.  I'm not
the only one who thinks this.. this is the first graphic
novel to win a Pulitzer prize!  Have a box of Kleenex handy
and you will be ANGRY/depressed after reading this, so plan something
to run off that energy/depression.  Having said that, I think everyone should
read this book, along with the Diary of Anne Frank, the fragment book above and watch
Schindler's list.

Busy busy busy......

Recent shot of the booth... from Riverloop in Waterloo

Another grand time at the Farmer's Market today, and next weekend is ....... ARTapalooza in Cedar Falls, one of my absolute favorite shows!

I also have a bunch of commissions.. which I adore!   But that means I'm kind of busy.  (OK... when am I not busy??? )

So I'm very very glad it's a holiday weekend.  I'm planning on wearing PJ's and spending the maximum time I can in the studio Til Tuesday morning and I have to go back to my regular day job.

I hope everyone has such excellent plans for the weekend, whatever they might be!!

5 reasons to love the Farmer's Market....

I love love love love this vintage key on this necklace!

These are in no special order and are by no means exhaustive!

1.  The food.  OK, this might be the top reason... the food!! oh my... cookies, Uncle Wendell's BBQ, wonderful egg thingies that start with a F that I can never spell nor pronounce correctly but are beyond yummy, The Rotatory Club's fresh squeezed OJ, and if you like veggies, lots and lots and lots of veggies.

2.  The variety of stuff.  The Market folks work really hard on ensuring a varied market each week, and they really do an outstanding job of it.  While I would love ( love love!) to be at the market every weekend selling my Jewelry, each and every person who vends there goes through a jury process and are assigned slots based on a an eye towards balance and variety.  Some of the folks are able to do the market each week but it's mostly limited to food sellers.  Except for a couple of vendors that are grandfathered, most of the art and crafts are allowed only up to 8 slots each season.  Most don't get that many..  I feel very blessed I got 7 this year.  For the people who shop every week at the market, this means each week is a different mix.  Just how cool is that??

3.  Leaves the weekend free.  the Market isn't a huge time commitment either for the shopper or the vendor.  It's something you can stop by for a couple of hours as a shopper, and as a vendor I'm done and back up by 1245pm most markets... leaving the bulk of the weekend free !   I can still get together with friends and family and do stuff.  Most show weekends that's the only thing I do... not with farmer's Market!

4.  The energy of the Market.  Most of the people who go to farmer's market are in a good mood, and stay in a good mood... nothing is more pleasant that several thousand folks all having a good time at once. 

5.  My fellow vendors.  Really, some of the nicest folks you will ever meet!!

So, if you haven't been to the Downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market, come on down Tomorrow 7-12pm... the weatherman says it's gonna be a great day! Jerry and I will be the south side of 3rd street again, like we have been the last couple of times....

Chain Chain Chain

mixed chain, old lock and key and a few charms

 I really love working with chain.  for one thing, when a customer needs something adjusted and it's got chain, it's an easy fix. 

This necklace is made using mostly left over pieces of chain, and chain I've adjusted off other pieces of jewelry at shows.  Waste not after all.

The idea behind this necklace is a modern day version of a chatelaine's belt.  I made the necklace long enough you could loop it around your neck twice or hang very long.  The funny thing is the gal who bought it wanted it really long.. I bet I added another 10 inches to it.

I really do love working with chain.

Ode to my Printer....... and Temptation.

 

sewing machine lever, bobbin necklace

I've been missing my printer terribly, as it's been out of commission for almost a week.  I've decided only I am allowed in the future to use my printer, it seems like anytime someone uses my printer without me around it get's messed up.


Case in point, Jesscera wanted to print something, put in the paper wrong and it jammed.  Each night after work I would come home and try to fixed it until I reached my frustration point.

 It was soooo jammed that Jerry finally took it apart last night to retrieve a little itty bitty strip of paper approx. 2 inches across and less than a inch high.  So this morning I have my printer back, I am dancing by the computer as I type and I'm printing out a weeks' worth of important stuff I couldn't print until now.

Yesterday morning as I searched the net for instruction to take the printer apart, I of course looked at new printers.

Hubba Hubba.

I am a faithful wife, but as a owner of a printer I admit I stray, at least in my mind.  I was looking at a combo laser printer that did faxing, scanning and printing.  It was under $300.00.  Color.

Even though a few years ago that kind of printer would have been a thousand bucks or more.

So I'm glad Jerry got my printer fixed, cause another day or 2 without my printer and I might have talked myself into buying another........... and if you have to buy one, why not upgrade? 

Thank you Jerry for helping me to resist the evil lures of spending money.....  Damn you Jerry for killing my fantasy......

clock earrings and a little green guy

clock part earrings......

one of Jesscera's little friends... isn't he cute? it's hard to tell in the photo, but he's one of the ones shaped like a leaf.. very very kewl...

The clock from the garage sale

inside the clock.  look how huge the movement is !!

on 6/14/36 a clock maker did something to this clock...

The front with the face... wouldn't this make a yummy picture frame?

resting on my hammer is a bracelet using one of the gears from the clock!

Soooo.. last weekend at the garage sale on highway 141 we
bought this older mantle clock for $5.00.



I'm not sure how old it is.  I couldn't find solid dependable
info on this brand, but it has a maker's mark dated 1936.
Whenever a clock or watch was fixed or cleaned by a clock
maker, they always dated it.  so the wooden shell of the
clock is at least from 1936.

However, the movement looks newer.. and it has no
patient marks, which would likely be there it if was
older.

so i can't judge how how it is.

But I adore it!

I am keeping the wooden shell, it's in pretty good shape.

I'm either making it a picture frame or maybe a shadowbox or something

I begged Jerry to rip apart the movement and I've used one
of the gears already in this lovely bracelet...

I'll have it out this weekend at Riverloop fest in Waterloo
so if you are in the area, stop by and see it in person!

Highway 141 Garage Sale

Most of the treasures lined up: 1 sewing machine, 2 clocks, 1 typewriter, 2 adding machines ( one for a buck!!), a divider for my paints, 3 medial thingies that looked interest, 3 or more pounds of 20 gauge wire, a cash register, a bunch of interesting cookie tins to cut up and a few odds and ends.  We spent under $100.00 total, which includes a few bucks spent on non business " raw materials"

I adore this sewing machine tag!! soon to be a bracelet.... the sewing machine was FREE.  yep.  I  bought old metal bobbins for 50 cents, and walked out with this sewing machine as well...

Last weekend was the 100 mile garage sale on highway 141.

What fun!! I swear next year I will take Friday off so we can do the first day of it.. Jerry and I found some sweet sweet deals for the business, and even picked up a few bits for family fun.  The folks running the garage sales were all smiles and happy, and many said the crowds on Friday were marvelous.  The weather I'm sure was helpful!  Who knew August in Iowa could be so darn ... pleasant?? (word is the harsh heat is coming back soon though, drat)

And most of it was cheap cheap cheap.  Not that a few folks had things priced at unbelievably high prices.. but that's the joy of garage-ing. The trick is to just buy the cheap stuff, and dicker down the prices. 

I  found one old clock for just $5.00, I didn't even try to bargain on that, it had such lovely clock movement!! But most stuff, Offer half and settle for 25% off.  sometimes I get lucky and get my half!

We made it to Bayard and only gave up then cause it was getting so late -- the garage sales started at 8am, and by 330pm they were closing down.

I predict this will be a fun family event for years to come.