And I’m not even always having fun!! I started this blog, in hopes to fill it with fun tidbits of my life, share works-in-progress (WIPs), offer free tutorials, and to generally connect with fellow craftsters or people who like to craft vicariously through others. And so far, I have failed miserably at achieving this simple goal!  But I am working at getting back on track now, and hope to start sharing soon. In the meantime, here is a quick run-down of my past three months- January: I had a fantastic time with my brother M and his beautiful fiancee A when they came down to visit for nine days! I am so happy for them both and so proud they are my family; February: A few things happened in February, not all fun. L finally had Saul removed, and then Weise and Valerie were quite sick for awhile. Tim caught it too, and Adler and I were the last two standing. A week later though, Adler was ill for about two days. But boy, he bounced back quick. I put it down to great genetics. These guys rarely ever get sick. And when they do, it’s usually only for a day or two, unless it’s something big. After antibiotics all around, except Adler! everything quieted down for a while… until.. March! We had a WONDERFUL visit with my beautifully talented cousin, Wonder Woman, who came down for TWO whole weeks, and during the second week, my aunt and uncle joined us! WOW! We had a blast, and enjoyed every minute of it. We went to Zilker Park, Lake Bastrop North Shore, and the Outlet Mall! We spent lazy days on the back patio, sipping coffee and watching the chickens. But best of all, we spent time together. Laughing, talking, reminiscing, and reconnecting. It was hard to see everyone leave, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.. right?

After they left, I knew I had days left to submit an entry to the Spring Jewelry Contest, the brainchild of Shannon of Vixen’s Natural Jewelry, and sponsored by Szarka of Magpie Gemstones. I had a few sketches, a few ideas, two of which stood out. My first attempt, a wire-wrapped butterfly pendant that would hang on a chain made of handmade links and copper chain, ended in disaster when just as I had finally succeeded in getting the main body outlined and bedecked in garnet chips with a pearl body and antenna, a wire broke. *GASP* Much cussing ensued, followed by a few tears, and finally, acceptance. Only three stages of grief were covered on that project. So I decided to move on to the piece I had first thought of, and push forward. I created a scene pendant I named “Ode to Spring”, a combination of Copper, brass and “vintage” copper, amethyst bird eggs, with an amethyst mama bird from Magpie Gemstones. Glass flowers and leaves sprout at the tree base while tiny, new leaves start to shyly poke through the tree limbs, and it is hung on a handmade chain/copper chain just as the butterfly would have been. Take a look:

Here is a close-up of the pendant: 

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it did turn out exactly as I pictured it in my head. I received great feedback from it, good, constructive criticism, and I finally got the nerve to “put something out there” so to speak. I have only ever given away jewelry I’ve made, or tidied it away in a shoe box under the bathroom sink. I always look at my work and think it isn’t good enough for the general public and that nobody would be interested, or, as Weise would say, people are going to laugh at me. Guess what? They didn’t.

-Catch you on the flip side…