where did december go?

Okay, an entire month without an update is kinda crazy. I know that nobody's life was at risk, but, the whole point of this exercise is to check in regularly, hopefully with jewelry related posts, but other (interesting to me) stuff too.

So, where to start? The holidays are over, thankfully. I have a love-hate relationship with November through January 1. I love being with friends and family, I love the challenge of finding good gifts. Christmas Eve is the one time a year that we entertain. I hate that I have to clean my house up, but I love showing the people around me that they matter by feeding them. I'm a control challenged person (spoken like a true freak) so I get to feeling overwhelmed, when all I'd have to do is ask for a helping hand. Anyway, enough of this weird self pity part of this entry.

Anyway, the turducken took the most time ever to cook in the 3 or 4 years we have done them for Christmas eve. But when you eat at 2:00 am Christmas morning, it's really Christmas breakfast, isn't it? The shame of it is, that I tried very hard this year to get the dang thing on the table at a reasonable hour, and failed. I do have a new plan for next year, so who knows, maybe it will actually be dinner on Christmas Eve for 2008

Also in December, I've been working on my photography skills. I seem to be improving, but I think that my camera may be holding me back a little bit. I don't think the macro is as good as I really need to take the close-up shots necessary.

I got my disc cutter this month, which was very exciting. With a few whacks of the hammer, I can have perfect little circles of metal. My first few projects using this tool were a sort of charm bracelt for my mom and mother-in-law. Each child and their significant other have an etched and domed disc, linked back to back. Then as grandbabies arrive they will have little charms that will hang off of their parents bigger discs. I really like this whole concept, and think I will offer these as custom pieces on my etsy shop. I just have to work out pricing. I really don't like doing the same thing over and over, but, because each disc is hand decorated, and the links can be different for each customer, I think I won't get bored. My sister in law inquired about making pendants somehow, so I'm working that out as an option.

I'm also working out a way to frame those gemstone donuts that are so easy to find, yet, what the heck do you do with them. I think I've figured out an Etruscan feeling type of setting for these challenging little baubles. Pictures to follow. I had technical problems with my jewelers saw, and had to deal with those before I could finish.

Oh, here are some pictures from the show my sister did. I was disapointed about no christmas tree on the ceiling, but everything still looked lovely.

Ohh, and remember my $599.99 crocs, bought over the summer? Well, they went down to $139.99. We received a checked for $400 from our insurance company this weekend. They must have settled with little-girls insurance company, and so we got 80% of our deductible back. Happy New Year to me! I also now have purple mary jane crocs. A fun little Christmas present (no car accident necessary).
Yeah, and to complete, random pictures of my dog, 'cause she's cute.

Okay Abbi, I've been bugging you for an update. Now that I've done mine, I can really be a nudge.

busy hands...

I've been a very busy little bee these past few weeks. The great grab bag design experiment has really been working. Every once in a while, I'll switch something out, for a better choice, but there is a lot of pressure off when a part of the design process has already been completed.
Here are some of the results...

boulder opal and copper, with a big shell flower, serious Wilma Flintstone territory

Lapis with pink calcite, very simple

Incredible peacock colored stick pearls with labradorite and amazonite
Mookaite and coral. Made to be worn with clasp anywhere. Pretty versatile.

Rhodonite with onyx, and fun fringe.
My sis Abbi had asked me to send up some stuff to her for an event in town. She is very active in the arts community up there, and they are planning new and exciting events to attract people to the talented artists up in Northwest PA. I sent 16 necklaces and a mess of earrings. They were decorating for it a couple of days ago, and a Christmas tree installed on the ceiling was mentioned. When I get pics I will pass them along. I am very excited for her and for the opportunities that are presenting themselves. In February, they have this very well attended wood and ice carving event, with participants from all over the world. When I say wood, I mean giant log and chainsaw stuff, not for the faint of heart.
Anyway, besides a wonderful Thanksgiving, that's pretty much what I've been up to.
Oh, I went to a concert in a friends living room Tuesday night. Ed had heard this young singer/songwriter on the Prairie Home Companion. His name is Jon Troast (the greatest thing since sliced bread). Ed was impressed, went to his website. Apparently he had been planning this living room across america tour. For like , a hundred bucks, he comes, plays, and sells CD's, all in the comfort of your living room. (Ahh youth!) Well, he was pretty darn good. If you go to the link, you'll see us in Bill and Ed's living room. I'm in the back right, peeking in. So if you get a chance to see him in someone's living room (or perhaps more boring, a coffee house), go, he's good.

Not an ordinary commute

I commute to my 9-2-5, just like anyone else, but I was struck recently by the beauty I encounter along my commute. Yes, I live in New Jersey, and I have a beautiful commute.
Here's proof...






I do spend some time on Routes 287, and 206, but I'm pretty darn lucky, almost no time spent sitting in traffic, beauty all around.

I did have an unfortunate brush with nature (or, nauture had an unfortunate brush with me). I was almost to work, it was the first Saturday of tax season, a frosty February morning. Out of the corner of my eye a flash of color. A small "bonk." Out of my rear view mirror a pheasant is rolling toward the side of the road, his little harem watching nervously, safely from the lawn they had been crossing. I was unable to stop, and when going home a few hours later, I did not spot him on the shoulder. I hope that he was just stunned (and maybe a little embarrassed) by his running into my wheel. I was only going 30mph (the speed limit on this particular road), so maybe he made it.

So, what is the point of my little tangient, you ask? I guess, to say this to all y'all out there whose sole experience in New Jersey has been the Newark airpport, or the Meadowlands for a concert: New Jersey is beautiful, you just have to venture off the turnpike. On second thought, this is such a tiny little state, and already pretty crowded so maybe I shouldn't work so hard to convince anyone else how great it is here. We already know.

PS: yes I took most of these pictures while driving, but you know, I didn't try to frame a shot or do anything fancy. I just snapped while going along, to see what I would get. Two of them I pulled over, because I wanted a something on the side of the road, and I can't get clear shots from the side while moving. No more dangerous than that lady who was tailgating me so close this morning that I could smell her coffee.

yes, I still make jewelry...

Lately, I have not really been keeping up with my jewelry blogging. Recently, my SIL helped my by dumping out all my stone beads on my dining room table, and helping me put together combinations. Sometimes you stare at the same two beads, forgetting all the other beads you have put away. So they sat on the table for a while in matched piles.

Then I wanted to have people over for dinner, so, the piles went into sandwich baggies, and put into my storage containers, marked "grab bag, if you take it, you must make it". The whole point being, I should just grab a random bag, and use what's in it. Hopefully, it will make the composition aspect a little quicker.

Here are three necklaces I've made so far using this "system."

This one is a wire wrapped red agate wavy disk, combined with peridot jasper, olive jade, peridot and more red agate

This one is probably my favorite so far. I will put it up for sale, but I must admit that I made sure I would have enough stones left over to make one for myself. It's substantial, lizardite (a form of serpentine) puff ovals, with onyx rondelles and small lizardite rounds. The lizardite has the coolest texture.

The spiderweb jasper on this one is amazing as well. The irregular web pattern along with the randomness of the coral, offsets the squareness of the beads. I've had the focal piece for a while now, and finally figured out something to do with it.

pics for october 3 post

Okay, couldn't get blogger to let me edit the post for the 3rd of October, so had to create a new post to get these pics up.
Here's the necklace that the dumbest "torch" ever helped me make




















Here's the first thing I ever cut out of sheet. It was always supposed to be a leaf, but at first it just looked like a misshapen heart. It has since been etched for the veining, a tube rivet was added for the bail, and it was antiqued and tumbled. It's pretty big, about 3 inches square

Arrgghhh! Where does the time go?

I am completely amazed at how fast the end of this summer whizzed by. Just completely befuddled. Anyway, no pics to post today, just thought I'd let anyone who's interested, know that I haven't completely abandoned my blog. It has been sitting here, forlorn, wondering what it had done to deserve this neglect.
Well, what has happened since my last blog (not necessarily in chronological order)?

Car is fixed, insurance company still trying to get money back from little girl's insurance company.

Sister-in-law and her hubby announce their pregnancy! Very cool, first of our lot to procreate. Will report on first "bump" sighting. It's so fashionable to call it a bump, that I just had to succumb.

Went to a Rutgers game, had a great time tailgating. The weather has been very cooperative of all the tailgating that has been going on this year.

Painted (most of) the new office entry way. Have to finish a couple of things including but not limited to: fixing the "saddle" into the entry, finish painting the storage room, do decorative painting to bring together all the bloody colors we decided to use, paint the trim, put the epoxy coating on the floor (oh shit, now I'm sweating).

Went up to PA to help out my sis and her hubby (with little sis and Mom). Attempted to prep and paint 12 foot high extremely damaged window casings. Not nearly enough hours in two days to get it done, but made a dent.

Went to Genesis concert. Good news, not nearly the oldest people there. Pretty good show. Very impressed that they acknowledged that they were in New Jersey, not New York!
Hey, for anyone who stumbled on this blog from somewhere across the country, THE MEADOWLANDS ARE IN NEW JERSEY, NOT NEW YORK! The Giants and Jets play in NEW JERSEY!

Started teaching myself to solder. I apologize to my burnt up fingers and the copper I tortured for hours. Results, a pretty good looking necklace (will post pics later) and the confidence to get real equipment to torture more metal. I believe this could be the start of something real cool!
I also tried fusing some fine silver I had, and that was OK, but way to unpredictable to have given me any confidence about it. I am intrigued about fusing, but I think I will pursue that more after getting soldering under control.

Funny story for any jewelery makers out there who remember their first soldering work. Months ago, before I had really done enough research (that will become self-evident momentarily) I bought myself the tiniest torch made, ever. Really, tiny. Some emery cloth, brazing rods, and a fire retardant cloth completed my Home Depot trip. I had also ordered a tripod with mesh screen, and some tweezers from Contenti.
Last weekend, I just had the itch so bad to try something that I just said "go for it!" I went out onto my back deck, sawed myself some smallish, egg-shaped rings, and set to work soldering them. I had read somewhere if you use brazing rods, you don't need flux, so I didn't. First thing I did was burn myself with my heavy duty cigar lighter (because really, that is all this thing really is, I don't even think you could do a creme brulee with this thing). Speaking of creme brulee, I have a creme brulee torch, and I should have used it. (I wish I could find that gingko I bought as well) So then I got my rings done, and I wanted to do a couple of larger things. I wanted to solder some frames for pendants, and I wanted an infinity symbol as well. Well, I quickly discovered that I couldn't keep the whole piece hot enough with my little lighter, and therefore couldn't get the brazing rod to melt properly at the joint. What to do, how can I possibly keep the whole piece hot? I had a brain storm. I picked out a couple of pieces of the lump hardwood charcoal that we use for grilling that were BIG. They also had one side that was flattish. I put them into our starter chimney, inside our little fire pit, lit them as though I was going to cook with them. When they got hot enough, I grabbed one with my tongs, put it on the cooking grate of the fire pit. I was then able to put my copper on the coal, and soldered on that. NOT the best surface to solder on (when the carbon was tumbled off, a little pitting in the joint was left behind), but it satisfied my itch (maybe a soothing salve would have been safer). Anyway, when I get a chance, I'll show you all my little fire babies. Once I tumbled them and pounded on them with my hammer, they aren't half bad. I am now shopping for my torch set up. Look out!

Oh, I also started an Etsy store that is currently empty. I am setting up the appearance this week, and over the weekend (after shopping for bridesmaids dresses), I will be photographing my pieces for sale, and making more. I will let everyone know when the Grand Opening will be.
Etsy is a very cool place to buy and sell handmade things. You have to be a member to buy and sell, but it is simple and free to sign up. Check it out!
All right, semi-caught up. Thanks for reading.
Ciao.
Jen

Crocs, but at what cost?

I got some jewelry done this weekend, but before I can post about that, I have to tell you about my errands yesterday.
After lunch, I decided to run to Costco for some office supplies, and decided that on the way I would stop at Dick's sporting goods, to see about some stuff. I am on a mission to find another mushroom chair (for fall and winter tailgating), and I wanted something else that I am ashamed to admit. Dick's also had the Mary Jane style Croc's on sale, and I had decided to succumb to the Croc's madness.
Dick's (yes, I will call it by it's proper and hilarious name for this whole story) is near the Rockaway Mall. From my office, I would usually take back roads to get to this mall, but said back roads are under construction, so I took the 8o (a nod to Fritz), and had to go around the Mall to get to Dick's. I'm driving on Mt. Airy Road, minding my own business, when a Scion XA makes a left turn in front of me (oh state of many jug handles, why couldn't there have been one at this intersection?), I brake hard, but nick the rear passenger bumper of the car.
I am pissed. Really pissed. I just got my car fixed back in February, when a freak winter storm allowed me the opportunity to do 360's on route 206, and tear the front off of my car. I love this car, and am very upset with the little dare-devil left turner.
The Rockaway Township Police respond very quickly, and get us off of the road into the parking lot of the mall. The two girls (I didn't realize until we moved our cars, that there had been a passenger in the Scion). After writing some stuff down, and checking out our driving records, the officer goes to "little girl" first. I can call her "little girl" because during their conversation, I learn that she is only 18 years old, just off of her provisional license. Her passenger is her 16 year old sister. The officer is very kind, but I think maybe a little too kind. He tells her that everyone gets into accidents, and that the important thing is that no one was hurt, that cars can be fixed. He tells her that she is inexperienced as a driver, and that she probably didn't make a very good judgement in making her turn at the time she did. He doesn't issue any tickets, because he can't prove that she was reckless, or that I was speeding. She starts to argue that point, but he quickly cuts her off. She has been alive for a shorter time than either I or the officer have been driving. She needs to take this as a lesson learned, and make sure that she is very attentive while driving. Is she all right to drive, and did she get hold of her parents? She had spoken to her parents, and her mom told her, what's done is done, and to go and get ice cream. I'm pretty sure that the officer has been having this conversation within my earshot on purpose. The little girls get back in their car and go to get that ice cream.
Now it is my turn. The officer explains it all over to me again. I just agree, and thank him, and tell him I'm going to sit there for a few minutes, and make some calls. I have to tell my husband and the insurance company that I have once again managed to injure my car, while the little girls have their cookies and cream cones.
I'm a little irritated by the officer. Not everyone has to have an accident. Until I was in my thirties, I had never had an auto accident. I feel as though this was a perfect example of the weird attitude taken by adults toward children and young adults these days. Why shouldn't they feel bad? Shouldn't they be scared to get into an accident? Shouldn't it be something that has consequences? Shouldn't she have been scared and a little ashamed or embarrassed or something to call and tell her parents? Will she at least be responsible for paying the deductible for her car repairs?
Okay, rant over.
After my calls, I didn't quite feel the need to get right back onto route 80, so I went to Dick's (which I could see the whole time, taunting me in the distance). They didn't have any mushroom chairs by the way. But I did get my Croc's, which after taxes (none) and my insurance deductible, came to $529.99.









My life right now, priceless.


Next entry, jewelry.