A Little R+R.....

Hubby and I are headed out the door for a little camping trip with the family. Back on Saturday.

Meanwhile, have you checked out my eBay auctions?

Busy as a bee............

These photos should give you some idea of what I've been up to. We've finished the home improvement projects for now. We may add a small deck on the front of the house before winter. The circular tree planting in the front yard that I was planning to redo will wait till next spring. I'm not sure what we will replace the landscaping logs with. Probably more of the stone that's containing the garden area on the left. Anyway, we love how it's turned out. All new windows, storm door, exterior paint, exterior lighting, and some upgraded landscaping. It looks so much better. A big, big thanks to our son's for the work they did for us. It was really appreciated and if it wasn't for them we would still be hard at it!
I spent some time with Linkoln yesterday. He is such a sweetie! Our family is going to spend next weekend camping together. Should be lots of fun and I can't wait!
I've also got a couple Ebay auctions starting this evening, (7 pm Pacific). It's been awhile for the Ebay thing. I almost forgot how....And, I've been getting ready for the next local juried art show which is next month. My entry is a necklace called "Row Boss". It fits pretty well with the "Farms, Fields, and Foliage" theme, I think....I hope!

Candy Corn

I know we need the rain but make it stop! The weatherman says clear skys are on the way. Why do I always run out of propane when it's pouring?

I've just agreed to do an art show in September that will be associated with our annual "Harvest Jubilee" Festival held in Stanwood, Washington, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th. I will be one of four artist's chosen to represent Seagrass Gallery in an event that is brand new, and, is meant to connect area art with the community farm festival that's growing in popularity every year. There will be a juried section with cash prizes awarded, (I was excited about this part!). So, I will remind you, as time approaches, to save the date.

Meanwhile, I've been thinking about Halloween. My contribution...a witch's hat pendant.

The thing about creativity......

There are some days when I sit down at my torch and I simply have no idea what to make. I had intended to make a large, colorful set yesterday, with a few different focal beads that I could perhaps, offer for auction on Ebay. Maybe something similar but not exactly like a couple of sets I've made in the past. I chose the glass colors and set the rods on the rack in front of me. I always work from a photo. Usually a photo of my own beads or maybe a swatch of fabric or something from a magazine. I just sat there.... nothing would come. When I finally managed to apply some glass to the mandrel I wasn't happy with the way it looked so I would put the bead in the water bucket with the rest of the mistakes and not-so-great test beads. I did this several times before giving up. I returned to my office and sat at my jewelry station and stared at all the different plastic bins, jars, drawers, bowls, and trays of beads and components, looking for my muse. This is usually where I find her and yesterday was no exception. I have a tray, it's actually a frozen dinner tray, full of lampwork beads that I didn't have a use for at the time I made them. Maybe I made more than I needed or the color didn't go with what I was making or the bead was the wrong size. Lots and lots of different shapes, sizes, and styles all bunched up together. Well, I started playing around with different combinations. Trying this and that, and finally found some beads and components that I was pleased with. So then, I was able to make a list of beads to create for this project and when I went back out to the studio, in a short time, I had whipped all the beads I needed in the kiln.

Creativity can be a fleeting thing at times. At least it is for me. Sort of like writer's block, I guess. It always returns...thankfully.

"Outside The Box" bracelet and earrings in my Etsy store.