Spring!

Today was the first weekend day with actual sunshine since what feels like last fall. The high was a balmy 50 degrees- but the sunshine made it feel like the tropics.  We went a bit weekend warrior crazy and managed to cram a ton into one day. It has been so rainy for so long a glimmer of summer makes me giddy happy.

The girls were up right around 7 and so had a leisurely breakfast. Hubs got the girls ready when I was out in the garden weeding and starting some more seedlings inside. I made the mistake of letting the girls a few weeks ago pick and plant from seed packets – so have a bevy of very healthy who knows what.  So managed to plant some of them strategically around the yard – the weather tonight is supposed to plummet into the high 20’s so will probably freeze everything out there.

So first stop was the Zoo which is a lovely location that has a view of commencent bay and if you get there right when it opens not crowded at all. Polar bears, carousel and lots of special activities because of earth day. We all had a blast.

  

Back home for the little ones naptime and with Maren outside – gardening, chalk drawing, and smashing up various plants to see if we could make a paint that would dye paper.

Then after nap, dug out the bikes from the garage and headed for the playground. That had it’s ups and downs – literally – and was obvious it was time to go home after a bit.

Chinese take-out for dinner and now all snuggled in our bed in pjs watching a movie.

Ahhh I love weekends and I love spring!

#33 Project Runway Inspiration Jewelry

Etsy Metal is a curated team on Etsy of metalsmiths that are wonderfully talented group of folks and I spend a fair amount of time looking through their member profiles and drooling over jewelry. For their members they have a invitation to a challenge – to participate in creating an object that was inspired by the most recent Project Runway Show. I had this in mind when I wrote #33 Project Runway Inspiration Jewelry on my 35 Things I want to do When I’m 35. The essence of my claiming completion to #33 is the same but the method changed.

A couple things of why I didn’t do the Project Runway challenge…#1 I don’t watch TV – makes it hard to follow a TV show! In previous seasons I watched the episodes later via on demand, but I think what happened was that I had a co-worker who also loved the show and so we could talk about it and that was the motivation to watch. I honestly don’t even know if it’s still on or when the season cycle starts. I don’t really feel the need to ‘force’ myself to watch TV either. #2 I am not a member of Etsy Metal. I think part of the fun of doing something like this is that you can interact with your peers and see what everyone else is doing, get feedback and whatnot. When I conceived of this I would have participated from afar creating things for myself but without the interaction (or motivation)

I ran across the Year of Jewelry Project 2011 and it fits my rational for wanting to do something like this perfectly. Basically, the theme changes every week and you are invited to create and submit a picture and description of what you created. They open up participation on a quarterly basis – so serendipitously I saw it the day prior to accepting new participants. I believe it was started through the Creative Wire Jewelry Forum, so there is many folks that work in wire and wire wrapping – but looking through the posts a fair amount of metal workers as well.

I look forward to sharing the variety of new items that I’ll be working on. In looking ahead I am already scratching my head on the “Gods and Goddesses: Thor” theme…but I am sure a little research will trigger an idea.

Year of Jewelry Project : Week 11 Theme is Spring has Sprung!
I have a whole bunch of copper electroformed plant shapes that I created as part of my Take a New Class and Learn Something New goal and have been wanting to make something with them. I initially made a bracelet by forging and bending the sterling wire and soldered and wrapped the copper seed pods to the front. I am not entirely pleased with the result, so I put it aside for a bit.

Next I used more copper seed pods and soldered them together and hung them from the hollow copper branch that previously had some of the seed pods attached.  Happy spring!

 

Oh its cold outside

It’s a cold lazy Saturday with nothing on the agena so this morning has been spent letting the girls imagination run wild and me just providing suggestions- assistance-accomodations along the way.

I think their original inspiration was finding their swimsuits and we now on hour #3 of “Beach Party” activities and games.

We set up beach towels on the “sand” of our kitchen floor. We colored bags of water using ink from old markers to make water bags with toys inside. We made our chairs into umbrella chairs with some serious use of masking tape. We packed a picnic and had snack on our beach towels. We drew colored seashells. We take breaks to sit next to the heater when it turns on for the warn summer breezes. Now they are swimming in the bathtub. I can take next to no credit for all the fun because it’s all been from their lead.

I think after lunch we’ll put on our snow pants and do the opposite.

Thankful

Sitting here in a turkey and wine induced sleepyness after the family, fun and food for Thanksgiving I was browsing through photos on my computer and came across a few that struck me.

One thing that I did not expect from the jewelry business endeavorer is the absolute fascination of my nearly 5 year old.   Trying to explain to her what I do for my 9-5 job is confusing and perhaps not that interesting.  But my studio is sacred ground to her and the respect that she gives it continually surprises me.  She was working on a drawing the other day at the table and her 2year old sister comes up, and she boldly declares that it is her studio and that she is making artwork.    She draws constantly, and also has recently added to her repertoire a whole series of necklace designs.

So, based on her design, we’ve been working together to create her necklace.

The photos perhaps do not give it justice, but he necklaces that we create together are prized possessions.  And it is so wonderful to be able to support and encourage her creativity as well as have very special things that we work on together.  Perhaps I have a young metalsmith in the making.