Feeling Positive

I have been going through a sort of metamorphosis in  both  my personal life, and business life.  Shedding my  skin, and becoming the person I want  to be. 

 The people that were bad for me have faded away or changed for the better.  My work has become something that moves me and gives me such pleasure .  You could probably tell by the way my shop has changed that things are going in another direction.

Here is a book on my bedside table.

I will be around more next week!   Enjoy your weekend. 

Taking Risks

Beware the dangers of risk taking!


You just might lead a more interesting life.

Strange things might happen to you.




You might stand out from the crowd.





You might discover hidden talents.




You might venture into the unknown by trying something new.





Then you will learn something new.





You might fail, but true failure is never risking anything at all.





Then surely you’ll discover something about yourself you never knew.





Then you’ll be proud of yourself.





You’ll be more interesting.





You’ll have a story to tell.






And that alone is amazing.

Loved this list!  Read the whole post here!

images via tumblr

photos via tumblr

Four things

1.  First thanks so much I love you all and value all the support brought my way!  Really it has brought me such peace.

2.  There will be a spectacular shop update in all my shops today.

3.  Third  this is a kick ass recipe for dinner rolls from my ever loving haunt http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2010/11/herb-dinner-rolls.html


******Herb Dinner Rolls*******


•1 cup of water

•2 tbsp of butter, softened

•1 egg (hold under warm water before breaking it)

•3 1/4 cup of bread flour

•2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

•1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

•1 tsp dried oregano

•1/4 cup of sugar

•1 tsp salt

•3 tsp regular active dry yeast

Place all dough ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Select the dough cycle and press start. Once the bread machine stops (it was one and a half hours on my machine). Grease a cookie sheet. Divide dough into 15 pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Brush with butter then cover with a cloth.

Let the dough rise in a warm place 30 to 4o minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy.

 
 
maybe something you could whip up for Christmas or just because!  
I am crushing on this blog.   There I said it! 
 
 
4.   I was featured on another blog and it was nice to see so thanks to her! 
http://hivennn.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsy-feature-gaia-metal-studio.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Hivennn+%28hivennn%29
 
 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Holiday weekend!
 
 
Kathleen xxoo

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.”


– Joseph Campbell

It has been an overwhelming and hectic week.  Everything I wanted to get done sat on the back burner while life stepped in and shook everything up.  That is what makes life interesting really. 

So wanted that piece of wood to take home but.......yeah way too long

(isn't she sooo cute?)

 

Craziness still equals fun if you let it!  Hope you had a happy, crazy, amazing weekend as well!

This week has been a bit frustrating because of my thumb and the realization that most movements stretch the skin between your thumb and pointer finger.  I have restorted to taping my thumb to my finger to eliminate accidently causing more harm.         Sigh.....

Inserting something pretty for a mood lift.......

Much better!

   On a brighter note I have been drawing up a storm  some new ideas and buying wonderful cabs for new rings.  Shopping really does take your mind off the pain....Shhh its what I tell myself !  

I will be taking it easy one more week  then I will be posting Pictures of crafted jewelry and maybe a painting.  I have a few paintings  that im working on, but  I am just waiting for them to speak to me to see what direction they want to take.  

Tomorrow I am posting the most amazing meatloaf recipe on my blog.  Most people say....   Meatloaf really?  I say yes and  it really is quite tasty, tender and will change your mind on meatloaf if you do not have fond childhood memories of it.  Try anything and everything once.  Then once more to make sure!   See you tomorrow.

 Hope you had a creative day!

did you ever dream of selling everything you have or just walking out your door with your favorite things to move?




I don't know if I' am going through a life crisis or what. I really have been thinking of it at least four times a week.  Not sure what that means really. My thoughts run to Italy where I spent a few years during school to learn abroad. I also think of my dad's family being from Puerto Rico and living there to brush up on my Spanish.  The other place is Greece that I think of .....it might be the blue waters that suck me in or to live in a more relaxed place where life is more important than work. I have gazed lovingly at other parts of the country as well where there is rock climbing and visions of green as far as the eye can see.v Feeling like a child every time I see something new with such surprise and intrigue. Maybe.......... Yes!

Coast in Puerto Rico

Greece

Tuscany Italy

How could one decide with these seductive pics?
I think at the very least I should start planning a trip. Paging out to do so.... then off to the Bat cave!

I used to live in a large town and had access to many jewelry, metalsmithing classes and always meant to fit it into my class schedule.   Something always came up  with life or lack of room in my schedule.    I forgot about it and moved to a small town and now none are available.  Silly really.  I do like that Connie Fox at Jatyau is coming out with many videos to help the newer smith and to help people progress that aren't able to take classes.  Looking at others work and see the progression on blogs has been fun and interesting as well.  There are a few I' am dazzled by.  I have also developed an interest in leather again.  We used to head to the Tandy store to buy projects when we were kids.  Mixed media  pieces like jewelry using leather  and belts with buckles is really appealing.


I have been watching in amazement on you tube the  videos that are available.  Its pretty amazing  that there are videos for everything you want to do or see.  Don't mind my surprise I am not one for change and fight it every chance I get.  So behind the times yes. 

This also was interesting to me and helpful.http://www.sparkplugging.com/craft-boom/10-ways-to-diversify-your-income-as-a-crafter-or-artist/   so much information so little time!


This weekend we are heading to some caves I have heard about at a state park to do some hiking.  Pics will be incoming after my adventure.  My daughter told me to hide my neck because of the bats and doesn't believe that they don't suck your blood. 

So have a great weekend and stay safe!

Some things I saw today.  I had a day where I was able to do everything that was lazy, relaxed and calm.  The dogs and I took a walk around the yard and town.  Hopefully you had a wonderful day too!     Kit Kat.

Going going going

I have been modifying my shop and getting so much done.  switching out inventory as well as upgrading many to sterling silver and copper.  I have also been trying to get yard work done as much as I hate to do it in the dead of summer the grass isn't going to cut itself!   I really have an issue with hiring someone because it just seems they cut up my flowers.  I have been working on natural fencing like rows of azalea bushes, knockout roses and muscadine on a fence for grapes.  We have run the blackberries on there and honeysuckle.  smells really great.  I know though and I'm starting to see the muscadine is going to be a total headache.  it is just as bad as wisteria plant it and it grows all over.  I will post pictures of the garden once its completed. 

On the jewelry front I have been acquiring everything I will need to start working with sterling silver sheets and reordering my wire and some gemstones that I have been eyeing up.  I have ordered chain as well to get some necklaces in my shop.  I cannot wait to get some smithed jewelry and start taking all the info I have been absorbing in books.  I will put it all to good use.  My only issue at the moment is finding a vise I like.   I love vintage but they are usually really heavy.  We shall see.

Diet and health wise.  I have been doing better since my fall on my butt possibly bruising my tail bone....more annoying than anything I had to take a week off from working out.  I am back at it. 

See you soon.

Moving right along

I have been without a camera for about a week now.  It is a blow when that is how you post things to the Internet.  That hasn't stopped me from being creative and taking the steps to revamp my whole Etsy shop.  Upgrading to totally handmade  jewelry and sterling silver finding / stone jewelry. 

I have a bit of a stone addiction I must say.  I have been thinking about opening a shop on Etsy that will take most of my extras to sell.  I like visually to surround myself with many types of stones.  I have been collecting stones from walks, vacations, playground as a kid as long as I can remember so I guess I got a bit out of control when it came to having so many lovely stones at my fingertips.

It is kind of nice though to thoroughly plan your next move rather than feeling rushed with making jewelry, learning new techniques, updating Etsy and taking pictures for the site.  To simply be forced to create.  It simply is more therapeutic.

Thinking

I was just reading some blogs I follow looking at the progress they have made over the years in their professions and life. It finally hit me that I have been preparing to "start" doing some smithing of silver for about two months. I have been gathering and organizing with the intention. I don't have a desk or the equipment or the room etc. I just realized I have what I need to get "started". I guess I should get off here and go!

progress

SO I have been getting organized. Moving things around.  Organizing both life and potential work.  Preparing for things to come.  I really  have been driven lately to move in a business direction to the point of donating my entire extra room to jewelry and painting.  Its really hard to eliminate so many things that have been a part of your life for so long.  to cut the ties and let things find new homes and walk away from. I have realized I would rather have given so many things away rather than constantly keep moving them over and over.  I never bought in to the phrase most organized people used.  If you move something three times that means you aren't using it and haven't used it......or the idea of haven't worn it or used it for a year. Move on and get rid of it.   Now that is what I'm using for my life.  Every part is being dissected and put under the microscope to be analyzed and moved to the correct spot...or discarded to find another home. 

I will be starting on my journey soon and hope by the end of the year I can be proud of how this year flourished.  I really hope that within a year I can focus solely on art and metalsmithing that working elsewhere isn't an issue. 

my working out is going pretty good I have finished my Amped two weeks and have moved on to Chalene extreme with a dash of boot camp.  It has lots of lifting in the extreme with some cardio and band work with the boot camp.  work it~.

jewelry

I just started and got my etsy site up and running finally .  The items are listed along the pages and at the bottom.  The new year is moving forward nicely.

Merry Christmas

Here is something for the parents.  It really is cute to watch santa fly around the world with some video of him upclose to entertain the kids today. 

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html


Today is all about cooking for me because I like to have Christmas carefree .  I think parents are putting batteries, opening packages that even magicians would have a tough time opening, and teaching /showing them how to play. I found a secret for such issues.
Nohing like opening up ten or more video games and your child saying how do i play this?   My secret is.....open everything lol.  I get out all the directions, put batteries in everything, and load Ipods, Itouches, get everything ready then wrap! 

Hope everyone gets what they wished for and wanted this holiday season ...I know i have.

baking

I think what most people forget this time of year is traditions... baking cookies, cooking big dinners, staying home and enjoying friends and family.   Today Ms. big on traditions  I baked and baked and baked.  I did this with some cute elves.