New work for Art & Soup Show in Omaha . . .

I've been pretty busy in the shop getting major work stockpiled for an upcoming show in Omaha, Art & Soup, as well as several galleries. The cat animal help really isn't so much help but they are good company.

I finally feel like my work has a cohesive look to it and I've found my artist's hand so I'm pleased with what I'm turning out. Of course, time will tell if anyone else is as pleased but it was a good holiday season and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Spring look and feel to these pieces will do well.

I look at some of my work from years past and think it has a rather hodge-podge look and laying all of this out on the worktable to inventory makes me smile.

What is it about . . .

. . . spreading my new work out for inventory that attracts these animals? Oprah guards the earrings

and Ink stakes her claim in the middle of the necklaces and bracelets.

They're such a big help.

And sometimes it's all about me . . .

I've been really, really busy working on new pieces for two upcoming shows and galleries and replenishing things ever since the beginning of January. Quite honestly with all of the snow and ice we've gotten recently, staying inside in my cozy little shop has been pretty easy. However, I find that working on production stock is not always artistically satisfying so creating something for myself today was all about lynn.

I've wanted to make a 3-d piece for some time, a box shape or a bead - I wasn't quite sure what. So today I got out my 26ga sheet and punched two 5/8 disks then punched two disks out of those making little doughnuts (mmmm . . . doughnuts) I cut a strip of heavy gauge bezel wire and made a ring a bit smaller than the disks, soldered the three pieces together so that I had my little open bead and I drilled two holes in the top and the bottom of the sides. I oxidized the doughnut (mmmm . . . doughnuts), brush-finished it with an old emery board and hung an imperfect smoky bead of Aquamarine that I had cracked earlier this week.

I really like the whole aspect of this pendant and I think it will only get better with age and wearing against my skin. It's an everyday piece just for me.

Valentine's Day . . .

These sweet litte earrings are so simple. No embellishment. Nothing fancy. They are what they are and I love them.

Valentine Hearts abound . . .

Heart earrings everywhere! They're quick, they're easy and it's time.

Snowbound Workshop . . .

Funny how two feet of snow can spur you into action but that's exactly what has happened since our first snowfall at Christmas. It seems that being housebound for several days and succumbing to the solitude and inability to get out and do I-don't-know-what gave birth to a growth spurt in my little studio.

I have two trunk shows in the next six weeks and building up my inventory has been as simple as just staying in and creating. I am replenishing the galleries and stocking up for the times to come when I'll be out in the Spring air, something I hope comes soon.

Ya gotta believe it when the sign says . . .

Yes, the sign says ROAD CLOSED and yes, that is a truck at the top of the hill but this guy thought he was smarter than the sign. m.m.m.m.m.m - nope, he isn't.

On a brighter note, temps are going to be in the mid-30s this week. Ah . . .

Earring-alicious

So I found these wonderful gemstone beads on limabeads.com - a little bit of Rainbow Soocho Jade and a little bit of Agate. I'm in an earring mode this week and I need to spend a little time hibernating in my studio. These two little guys were turned out yesterday.

Time to 'git bizzy for Spring' and these will certainly get me started in the right direction.