Valentine's Day . . .

For two people who were airline people, we are used to celebrating holidays and events on days other than the actual dates so Valentine's Day holds little meaning for us in terms of what we celebrate, how and when.  So when an opportunity came up for us to take a daytrip to Tea, South Dakota on the backroads of Nebraska, we were (not) packed and ready.  These are the photos of the road scenes through Fremont, Winnebago, Uehling, Walthill and Homer on Highway 77.  What a beautiful, frosty day.  We'll not get many of these again.

What a beautiful day.  

Tomorrow - our Valentine dinner.

Tres Amigos . . .

Well, this was fun!  In the midst of the 'making frenzy' that is preparing for a biggish show the end of February, stocking galleries and preparing for the summer shows, I took yesterday afternoon to build three beads.  I call them beads because they're open and (duh) not solid.

Punched, drilled, pierced and roughly sanded, these three little guys are fun little pendants - unique, simple and complicated all at once.  They're 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter, hollow, of course, and a treat to make when you're feeling sort of 'challenge-y' and not so 'bent wire and a bead earring-y'.  They are capped with three aquamarine beads for accent - still trying to decide if I like that.  Pretty sure I'll be making more so I'll have my chance to leave the bead off, of course.

No more - no less.  Fun at the bench.

Crafting for me . . .

I have been busting my fanny getting work ready for a big show coming up the end of February and late yesterday I decided it was time to do something for myself.  I deserve it.

I dug around in my old cases of stones that I purchased at the very first Gem and Mineral Show I went to - I say that because the two little turquoise stones I picked up I had taped together and written "27 cents/pair".  Yikes!  A pair!  Must have been a loooooooooong time ago!  Tiny cabs - tiny bezels.  My fingers felt like sausages trying to craft the small bezels, I swear.

These little guys are not even 1/2" making the drop about 1" - swingy and the right touch of color for late winter.  (Spring's coming!)

I seriously love these and will wear them until they fall off my body.  Seriously.

Ice . . .

Coaxing the muse out of hiding with the tempting tinkle of ice, perhaps?  


Yesterday I made up my mind that I'd chain myself to the bench until something was created and with much distracted playing, this piece appeared.  I arranged and rearranged and rearranged again little bits of leftover pieces of silver around this sweet cab of Tourmalinated Quartz and I'm pleased with what appeared.

Simply set with an open back.
Moves easily.

I have a handful of these cabs, some just the size of your fingernail, and each one has the appearance of cracked ice.  Holding them in the palm of my hand looks like a handful of crushed ice.


Maybe it's the icy driveway and shrubs and icicles on the eaves this week that inspired me to set this as ice tongs holding a melting cube - no matter, I'm just happy that errant muse showed up.

What we do on Snow Days in Nebraska

Eddie making a low pass

Okay, we don't do this EVERY time it snows but when the snow is right and the day is right and the Cub is on skis . . . yep.  Can't hold 'em back.

Over the barn

Seriously perfect snow!

And back to the farm

Snow day . . .

 This winter just never got off the ground here in Davey, Nebraska so we really got what we deserved today.  Yep, temps hit 70 earlier in the week and now we have wet, heavy snow with the threat of 8" additional.

At least I won't have to water.

 Finches sing my praises.

Today I am their Queen.

Their seed bearing Queen.

Working not talking . . .

Ocean Jasper and Citrine pinned bead

Here I am with new work and not much to say about it all.  In my last post I said I was going to get back to what I love doing most of all and that is cutting, polish and setting my own stones.  Stop trying to chase what I think will sell and make what I love.  And here you have the fruits of my labors for the weekend.

The Ocean Jasper is a stone I've had in my collection for some time and it worked its way to the surface of the pile on Friday.  The Citrine bead I pinned to a cupped bit of sterling silver and like the way it reflects the golden orbs in the jasper.  Pretty.

Rhyolite and Moonstone Beads

The Rhyolite has the most gorgeous pink, aqua and gold striations - just like a Sonoran sunset.  This stone started life as a matching pair that I wanted to make into earrings but I dropped its twin.  That was not a good day.  However, this little guy, accented with moonstone beads still holds its own!

The last piece I finished is a teardrop of Amethyst Sage Dendritic Agate.  Sadly, the photo doesn't do it justice as the stone fades from deep amethyst purple into olive green so softly.  The dendrites frame the horizon and give it such wonderful interest.

Amethyst Sage Dendritic Agate

I'm happy to be back doing what I want and what I love.  

So there, Almighty Dollar!  I refuse to chase you any longer!  From now on, it's all about me!