South Dakota Part II !!

Tues We took a tour that hit several local attractions. First up, Reptile Gardens, which the owner touts as the largest collection in north America.. at least in the number of types in the collection. In addition to reptiles, they also had prairie dogs.. they had the kewlest enclosure for them. you could look into their pen above or below... Jesscera is demonstrating the "below" method. Makes you wonder who's studying who, us or them ??? And of Course they had crocodiles there. Jesscera is petting a baby in this picture.

Next is Bear Country USA, which is a drive through animal park. Jesscera confesses this was her favorite part of the trip!! We were able to get quite close to the animals, and the macro on the camera did the rest. Here is a picture of 3 bears in a small pond, and a very good shot of a bison... the bison was maybe 15 feet away. Actually makes for a nervous bus ride, there wasn't a fence between us and the bison!!

The really great thing about the tour is we got "VIP" service. At bear country that translates into feeding the baby bears!! There were 8 of them, and while we couldn't' touch them, we could throw at them a mixture of popcorn, marshmallows some sort of feed... I think they liked the marshmallows the best. In this picture, Jesscera is maybe 2feet away from the baby bear.

This last pic at Bear Country isn't a real bear.. they have a bear statute on top of the gift shop. I thought it was great, the way the bear is "peeking" in!
Next Mt. Rushmore, the biggie of South Dakota tourism. Now I've been before, in fact this is probably the 4th? time I've seen it... Jesscera and Jerry liked it. You can see Me and the BooBoo in front of the mt, and then here is a close up from closer spot, not the normal view for mt. Rushmore!

Then Off to crazy horse. Now in prior trips to the Dakotas, I only saw crazy horse from a distance, and very little was done.. ( this would have been middle 90's I think) So this was more interesting to me than Mt Rushmore. It's actually got much more of an emotional wallop. this is the quintessential picture at the site: the statue lined up with the actual mountain. Very interesting!!! Last on the tour Roger ( the bus driver / tour guild, he was a hoot!) drove the bus on iron man road in Custer State park... let me tell you, he is very skilled, that is a very narrow twisty road and I think we scared the Dejesus out of every other driver on the road with us!! LOL More to follow.....

We Went to South Dakota This Summer!!! Pt 1

Wow! We had much Fun, even if the first 2 days of the trip was well, not as promising!! First Stop Friday Was Sioux Falls, home of some of my "best friends" ... Fellow beaders Named Cathie & Sue, with friend Matt (he who carries lots o' beads for the girls at shows!) I am ashamed to say I didn't get any pictures of them together or at least any that turned out. Anyway, we hit town around 5;30pm, and got together for Chinese and Good company. I finally got to meet Cathie's Hubby Johnnie. I've known Cathie & Sue for years, but never had a chance to meet Cathie's charming husband before! Then we visited the falls that Sioux Falls are named for. It really is a nice park!!!




Unfortunately Jerry got sick that night (food poisoning??) and stayed nauseous for a few days. Meanwhile Jesscera developed a rash or infection around her eye. By Saturday she was so swollen on her left side of her face she could hardly see!! We took her to a local urgent care clinic and they gave her both antibiotics and allergy cream. They were not sure which it was either. That evening Johnnie made a mess of the best tastin' BBQ and we were back on the road. We stayed in Chamberlain that night, and on Sunday headed for Rapid city with lots of stops.. For example we stopped at the 1880 town for lunch, and decided to check out the rest of the town. Little did I know Cisco, the original horse from Dances With Wolves was still alive!! The sign states he is 31 years old. I am not a horse person, but you can tell Cisco is special. Jerry calls this my "horse moment" Jesscera and I petted and talked to him, and he kept doing little horse bows and tricks. He looked you straight in the eye and it really was a moment. Then it was badlands time, taking scenic by route 240. The picture with Jerry ... he is way way way out on a ledge.. the new camera takes pretty good pictures, I'm a good 50 feet or more away from him. Then here is one with me and Jess, just hangin' out in the 102 degree weather, enjoying the scenery while we melted. Thank goodness for our hats!!

Then Wall Drug (of course!! ) and then to Rapid City, which would be home base for the next 4 nights. The hotel is very kewl has a built in waterpark. Our room was a large one with a divider, and had a microwave and fridge.

Monday we went caving, to Crystal Cave and to the Black Hills Cave, jerry was happy.. he loves caves!! I can't remember which cave this picture is from.. it turned out pretty good considering we were 100's of feet underground!! And then we came back and let Jesscera play in the waterpark for 3 hours, so she was happy. That is Jesscera tipping the water bucket. More in part 2!!

Pendant Pictures

Well I'm back safe and sound from South Dakota!! I'll try to write about that soon, but I don't have more than 10 minutes and I wanted to show my pictures of pendants made before I left! First up are 2 more "dragon wings" without crystals.. they are made in copper and pearls, these are actually the prototypes that made up the fossil dragon wing necklace.

Next I made this heart up with copper wire. This heart is glass. Not completely happy with this, but it's OK. ( it was very hard to wrap, very slippery, and it kept slipping out of the wrap!! )
Next is another Reuther style wrap. Funny thing is I keep doing these wrong, I keep going left or something when he goes right. Oh well, they look great, but I know I"m not "doing them" right, it's kind of odd. And the Back is ugly... Vintage occupied Japanese glass cab, gold filled wire.

Next is a very simple agate stone with copper, I was trying to go very minimal on this, I think I looks nice!! not as secure as the Reuther style or the border style, but I like the simple approach.

This next one is an arrow head copy, also done very simply and with copper. To continue the "simple" theme I did this donut.. now I"m really happy with the donut... it took like 1 minute to do once I figured it out, and it looks great!! I need to find some more donuts!

Then I tried another Reuther style wrap, it failed miserably, so I cut it apart ... and found that part of it looked cool... so I added a crystal dangle in the middle. I like how this looked, not sure I captured it in the photo very well.

Then I tried again, and this time it came out beautifully!! Couldn't be more pleased, in fact I've claimed it as my own, and wore it on my trip!!! I really should sell it... but I think not for now at least.

YOJ: Week 23, 28 & 29 wooo hoo I"m caught up!!

Week 23 : Water to drink. This really captured my imagination, and I played with a couple of different ideas.. one I still want to do at some time... but what I ended up was working in my head about how you need water to live... and that juxtaposed with how many people out there just coast in life, without really taking all it can offer... without "drinking" it all in. So I call this "life to drink" It's a pin approx 3 inches high, I'm very happy with out it turned out, if not how long it took!!! As a metaphor I'm quite happy with it.. you never know what you will get in life, but it comes in a pretty container and has a red straw. If you keep that in mine and suck hardy, life can be good! The technical aspects of it I"m very pleased. Its the first pin back I've actually made, all the pins to date I've just wired on a manufactured finding. As you can see in the pictures that wouldn't have worked, I didn't want a pin back to interfere with the openness of the piece. I've never done so much binding in my life, it took hours.. and using 21ga as the base makes it very light and delicate. I've very lightly hammered it for strength, and I"m going to tumble it once I get the chance.

Week 28: with this week I'm caught up. Theme is Phoenix or Dragons. Ok I"m kind of squeaking on this one. I was playing around with pearls and copper wire, and decided to make one in pearls, crystals and sterling... turning the pendant upside down and then sideways, I realized how much it looked like a wing... a very simple pared down one... and I started to think "bone" ... so Fossil Dragonwing was born. I love how the earrings turned out.. the pendant is done in 21 ga sterling, the earrings in 24 gauge. 24 is sooo soft it's hard to make it retain the shape.

Week 29: As I'm out of town next week, I not only had the goal of catching up, but getting 1 week ahead, so I can stay caught up! Themes were Bronze Beauty ( whatever the heck that is!! ) and mercury raising. I don't know about where you are, but the weather the last few weeks has been hotter than hot! It took me very little time to come up with this one, I call it "Too darn hot!! " It's pretty self explanatory. I did a very light texture on the sides of the frame, to give the hint or suggestion of the gauge marks.

no pictures this time..... but Happy Camper Kat!

I just had to share this with everyone... Last Sat was my last show til August... I've had back to back shows every weekend since May 5th. While I enjoy talking to customers and the $$, I"m so glad for the break!!! I'm getting low on basic inventory needs, and frankly, I love the idea I have some time to make some great pieces!! Doing the Winter Queen's necklace reminded me how much I love to really get into making bigger, time- intensive pieces. We are also taking a week long trip to SD as a family, I"m very excited about this!! Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some pictures of the pendants I've made over the last couple of days... I'm also working on "Water to drink" from week 23, and trying desperately to come up with an idea for "Phoenix and dragons" Week 28. I'm supposed to be thinking mythical creatures, and all I can seem to sketch today is flowly heart designs.. once of which I"m dying to try cause if it looks as good in real life as it does on paper, it's going to be wicked!!! maybe I'll just give up and do it and call it "dragon's heart " or something ! LOL Anyway, even though it's a quick break ( doubt I'll do much beading on the trip!! ) I really needed it to recharge the batteries and just have some fun... I love to play with my wire and beads!!

YOJ: Week 26th & 27th

OK I"m off topic for week 26th... I had 3 commissions last week I had to get done, so they took priority... not that I"m upset about that, as one of the commissions I had soooo much fun doing!!! Yep, Winter Queen's Crown the necklace and matching earrings is done!!!

Here is a shot of it almost done, as I"m working on assembling the piece and finishing up the end sections. And here are several shots of the finish piece. They are dark, I think I need to replace my ott light.. but it's already been mailed to the lucky and hopefully delighted customer! I am so pleased how it turned out, It just seem to flow out of me.. it's over 7 hours of work spread out over the last 2 weeks. Considering I"ve had a show each weekend and I work full time (besides the art!) and a mommie to an active 10 year old, I"m impressed with myself for getting it done within the 2 week time frame. The necklace and earrings have over 33 feet of wire in them, a bunch of pearls and small silver beads. I used 3 different hammers on it to achieve the look, and a neck mandrel. I love how the earrings turn out also... I have a big piece of wire that I bent for this project, but after getting the other sections done it didn't look right to me.. so I 've got a framework for another piece. I"m thinking major color this time!!

OK, Week 27th's theme is "Flames of Passion / Fire in the Belly", and actually my 3rd commission this past week works right into this. The customer wanted a red necklace for her daughter to wear at Cancer benefit. Considering the theme, the necklace is well, red, and a benefit is something to feel passion about. No wirework on this one, and I wish the picture was better, the drape on this is wonderful! I used the allure components and Swarovski crystals in Siam in different sizes. I like the earrings also. The customer hasn't picked this up yet, but I"m sure she will be pleased how it turned out.

YOJ Week 25 and preview of Week 26

This is the 2nd Lantern Jewel I've made, I call them Victorian bird cages, as that's what they make me think of.. Especially this one, with black crystals. I don't think I'm going to darken this one, I like contrast between the black and the whitish of the silver.

I made this piece in the hotel room last Friday night. It's kind of funny really, I was hammering away like at 11pm, and realized I wasn't home in my studio and I probably shouldn't be hammering away at 11pm in a hotel where I could possibly be keeping people up. I got so lost in the creative process I just wasn't thinking!! Fortunately no one complained so hopefully that means no one minded; I would hate to add to someone 's bad day or anything.

This is especially funny when I think that 3 months ago I didn't carry my hammer, block and wire to shows. I didn't feel comfortable doing wire work around other people, I only liked doing it in my own studio by myself. Now most art is sort of a lone occupation, it really doesn't invite company. You tend to ignore other people ( or the time! LOL) if you get into a piece. But it wasn't that absorption I was afraid of.. I just didn't feel competent to play with wire with others around. After all I've been doing this jewelry stuff for over 10 years, I have something of a reputation to maintain. I am somewhat like my name sake, a cat... if I make a mistake you will never know it.. because like a cat I am always on my dignity. (think licking the paws like nothing happened after a fall, that's me!) Well now I am either competent enough or I just don't care anymore, I just want to play. I love to have my wire with me, so if someone wants something alittle more complicated or a ring re sized, I've got my basic hammers, block, cleaning cloths, wire, and ring mandrels. I would carry all of my wire tools ( I am the proud owner of 3 different bracelet mandrels, and 1 neck, and new new texturizing hammers woo hoo!) but Jerry would kill me, he thinks I haul too much around at shows as it is. He's probably right, and I have to agree with him they are darn heavy. One time I wanted to take the tumbler to a show.. I think that's the closest I've been to divorce yet. So I settle for a couple basic sizes of wire, my favorite chasing hammer, block, and few minor tools.. whatever I can fit into 1 Plano box. (my normal equipment for shows: set of pliers/tools, full stock of crystals in 4mm and 6mm, a selection of bigger crystals, a "small" variety of other beads and findings.. and now my box of wire tools. It probably weights 50 lbs for my "just in case" beads and tools at a show. you never know what you will need, but you really can't drag your whole 400 + sq ft of studio with you!!)

Another habit I've really been working on is sketching whenever I get a good idea. Sometimes it's impractical, like at the $$ job, I'm sure my bosses just love me whipping a sketch pad out and telling the customer on the phone, "pardon me while I diagram this earring idea I just had, just takes a minute!! " Still I carry a pad in my back pack and on breaks and such I have been known to draw and doodle. Another strange thing: I've noticed some of my best ideas come to me while I"m either heading to, during or walking back from the bathroom. Not sure I want to explore the whys of this 2 closely, as I think it might reflect badly on my personally.. LOL. Still I was telling Jerry the other day I need to buy extra sketch pads and just leave them in the bathroom, to save the mad scramble of trying to figure out where I put the pad the last time.

My last show went very well, and just about my favorite part: someone bought Winter Queen's Crown (see http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/2007/04/week-17-happy-fish.html )and was so enchanted with it she wanted a matching necklace and earrings. Oh how I wished I had all my wire stuff on me at that moment!! Not that working on that large of a project at a show is practical... fortunately she's very understanding and I'm to mail it to her when I'm done. It's all I've been thinking about this week, and it's been the main thing I've worked on ... I now have all the pieces flatten and I think I have the arrangement that I'm pleased with. Right now it's spending 2-4 hours in the tumbler. Since I will be adding pearls I pre-tumble. Tumbling with pearls is risky at best. Below is a sneak preview of Winter Queen's Crown II & III: I"m going to use it as my YOJ: week 26. I can't wait til next week when YOJ 3rd quarter starts... it invites lots of thinking about concepts and techniques so even when I don't follow the topic, it's a growth artistically. It feels soooo good to stretch muscles, artistic or otherwise!!

Bead & Button pt II & Year of Jewelry: Week 24

Sat I had my class- Kanto Lantern Jewel http://beadandbuttonshow.stores.yahoo.net/b07186.html (Janice's website: http://www.wiredarts.net/jbclasses.html ) Let me start by saying, I've taken 2 classes at B & B prior to this class, and I've been vastly disappointed. So while I really looked forward to this class, I had major anxiety. I"m very happy to say the class went great, I learned new skills, had a blast learning and she even talked me into a set of hammers!! ( http://www.wiredarts.net/tools.html ) Ok she didn't have to talk me into it very hard!! LOL !! I love tools. Here are pics of my Lantern.. though I have to say it makes me think of Victorian bird cages more than Japanese lanterns. I've already got pages full of ideas and scribbles modify the basic construction, to make them my own. I think I actually impressed her alittle.. instead of eating lunch ( you get a 2 hour break) I grabbed food, bought a quick strand of large beige faceted pearls and and was back in 1/2 hour.. I just wanted to keep working on my pendant. I finished it differently than anyone else has done in her class.. I ran wire through the bottom loops and strung crystals and the bells on it... to create more of a fringe effect than dangles. I needed the larger pearl because only tiny pearls came in the kit, and I really wanted 1 large dangle on the bottom.. again I"m thinking Victorian cages here. Since I had the strand, I also made a chain, bail and clasp to go with the pendant. I had it done by the time she came back from lunch! LOL I get so excited sometimes When I"m creating things, that's why I love making jewelry.. especially wire jewelry, you just never know where it will take you, and the ride is fun to boot. (and I"m counting this as week 24 to catch up.... I've had so many shows I've gotten behind on YOJ... bad Kat!! For those who are keeping score, yes, I'm temporary skipping week 23.. I've actually got a piece I'm working on for it.. I just don't have it ready yet!! )


After my class we gathered a group to go to the safe house, which is a theme restaurant based on you guest it, spies and espionage. ( http://www.safe-house.com/faq.html ) It's pretty fun, however we were next to a bridal shower who believed in getting the bride so drunk she couldn't walk anymore, and hey, had a few themselves!!! Truthfully, a few of our party also indulged, but I"m not mentioning names.. if I do, then I have to kill you. ehehehe. Seriously you have to have a pass word to get into the safe house, if you don't they make you do silly things ( we were penguins) which are shown on close circuit telly to everyone else in the restaurants. Clapping as you finally make your way into the restaurant is not unusual... After the safe house, we walked around town, it was a lovely night! and hit a chocolate bar in a really upscale hotel.. really.. the bathrooms are nicer than my house!! yummy!!! (the chocolate, not the restrooms) then we retired for the night to our respective hotels, to get beauty sleep and rest up for a few last minute shopping sprees. Sunday we shopped alittle, packed and started to say goodbyes.... worst part of B & B saying goodbye to my beady Internet buds of like 8 ? years now.. then hop into the car for a fairly tame ride home. It always seems longer on the way home.

Bead & Button Report, part 1

Boy! I've been busy!!! I've had shows every weekend since the beginning of May... the only break I've had wasn't really a break, but it was great fun... I went to Bead and Button Show June 7th through 10th!!! I've been to bead and button every year except 2 in the last 8 years. Last year I couldn't get the time off the day job to go, so I went ahead and signed up for a show.. then I found out I could get the time off, but I was already committed. I did managed to run up for 1 day to shop, as my art show was only on Sat. I don't ever want to do that again.. yes I got a decent haul of kewl new beads and findings, but the best part of Bead & Button is the social contacts with long distance beady friends. Fortunately I managed to get the time off from work and Thursday drove up with 3 of my friends: Abigail (http://www.earthwindandwaterdesign.com/ ), Anne, and Julie (http://inacorncob.blogspot.com ) We left for Wisconsin around 830am, and had a grand time driving up. Once we hit the city that changed though. Now if you live in Des Moines, this next bit makes sense... but they have Milwaukee more torn up with construction that Des Moines's Keo Way is!! Didn't think that was possible!!!! Original plan was to park in the bus depot's parking, as it was only $3.00 a day last year, instead of the hotel/mall parking of $15.00 per day. (extra bead money that way!!! ) Problem was that lot no longer existed... completely torn up, and they were building a building on top of it. We hit town around 245pm and wanted to rest up and get ready for the preview shopping ... Anne and I headed out to park and drop Julie off at her hotel.. after over half an hour of sheer frustration, driving around the construction, hitting 1 way streets that all seemed to go the same direction.. we said the hell with it and parked in the lot by the hotel. We got back to the room finally!! At the room we hooked up with our other roomies, Liz ( http://thebadliz.blogspot.com/ ) and Audrey. and headed over to the show to do some power shopping. I love shopping at the preview session.. it's not as crowded as on the other days, and some booths literally run out of stuff the 1st day. Abigail and I did some heavy sterling buys together, and after shopping for a couple of hours we headed to Apple bee's for a late supper. Not so good this year, the service was way down.... but eating with our beady buds made for for it!! For supper we hooked up with another group of Iowa Beaders, Lorna, Pilar, and Karla. Then trooped back to the room for gabbing, presents, and show and tell. Friday, Abigail headed over early as she had an all day class... Liz, Anne, Audrey and I went to the traditional breakfast: George Webb. Then shopping.. this was my power shopping day as I had a class Saturday, so we mostly went our own way til 6pm. I bought and bought and bought... can't wait to see my credit cards!!! Below are some pictures... pearls, silver, art glass, lovely stones, yummy!!!!

I met up with Anne as she was my "date" for an invite only reception to Tierracast. I love their products, and the reception was very nice... wine, lovely little sandwiches, yummy breads, and of course freebies and samples!!! Check out http://www.tierracast.com/ for the finest quality pewter findings and beads... really lovely stuff!!

Fri night we had the most fun!!! This year Bead and Button had an area set aside for beaders to gather at any time of the day or night. We all met up again and had pizza delivered and actually beaded! if you can believe it!!! We stayed til like 1130 or so I think... I really hope Bead and Button have this area again next year!!

part II hopefully tomorrow!!!