Voting Ends Monday....

My necklace is in a Reader's Challenge on Susan Lenart Kazmer's blog. I am only a couple votes ahead and the voting ends Monday - please, please go vote and then ask your friends to vote. I wanna win really, really bad - all the help is much appreciated!!!!

Living in the Present

I donated a piece of jewelry for a fundraiser my niece was doing at her school in CA. I received their newsletter in the mail last week and finally had a chance to read it. At the bottom of the front page, there was a quote by Storm Jameson (not sure who he is, but it was from him speaking to the 2010 seniors) It really struck a chord with me, especially with some recent events:

I believe that only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Most of us spend 59 minutes an hour living in the past, with regret for lost joys, or shame for things badly done (both utterly useless and weakening)-or in a future which we either long for or dread. Yet the past is gone beyond prayer, and every minute you spend in the vain effort to anticipate the future is a moment lost. There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute - here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle. Which is what it is - a miracle and unrepeatable.

Let me ask you this, how do you spend your minutes of your day?

I know over these past couple years, I have learned to look at life very differently and many people do not agree with it, but it's my life and I don't want to have any regrets or what if's. I intend to live life to its fullest, and yes, it has been with some risks and I have learned some very hard lessons, but again, it is my life and I will not live with regret.

Earring Finding Class

I will be teaching an earring finding class at Bead Paradise on Saturday, August 21st.

I was tired of having the same old, store bought earring findings for all my work. Now that I know how to make my own, I believe my earrings stand out more. I will still buy some of the niobium ear wires though, the bronze colored ones go great with some of my BronzClay stuff.

The Sonata Ring

Yesterday I took a fun, short class on wire wrapping rings at Bead Q. My dear friends Mary Ann and Deb also took the class. We started out using copper to practice with - I had no idea how easy this is.

For the practice ring, I used the bronze Art Wire in 24 gauge for the coil and 18 gauge bare copper wire for the base. I had a great vintage bead from a necklace my great aunt gave me to take apart.

For this beauty, I used 24 gauge wire for the coil and 20 gauge for the base. Deb gave me the gorgeous bead from a strand that she bought at Bead Q - I made the coil part right before I left on this one. When I got home it took me no more than 5 minutes to complete it! Well, then it took a couple minutes more to dip it in LOS and clean up with steel wool. Guess what I'll be making more of?!

Industrial Chic Contest

Susan Lenart Kazmer is having a reader challenge using her new Industrial Chic components that are being carried at Michaels - I just saw it on her blog Objects and Elements today. The deadline was at 5:00. I think I submitted my entry at 4:50 - I hope it got there in time!

Art by the Falls

This morning we are going to set up my tent at Art by the Falls. This is my favorite show. I'm bummed that the forecast is calling for rain both days, but I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that it holds off or just misses us like in years past.

Here are just a few pics of what to expect:

It's show time!

I'm getting ready to do my only show so far for the year, Art by the Falls. It's June 12th and 13th. I'm a little bit in panic mode, I've been so busy I keep putting off making my goodies to sell. I stopped at Bead Paradise Saturday and picked up some loot. Ruth bought some amazing stuff when she went to Tucson. Hope I can get everything assembled in time!

I was able to get at least one batch of BronzClay done. I'm going to be doing some cool toggle bracelets. Well, they look cool in my head, I hope they turn out like I'm envisioning them.