Power On!

I have electrical access at Belmont, and it seems to be working, so bring your Fun Girls Jewelry on down to get cleaned!! It could take an hour for a very tarnished piece to clean up, so plan on having a little down time.

Equipment Problems

So I am working away in the studio trying to get ready for the Belmont show, and I have a tumbler ( jewelry cleaning equipment) full of stuff. This is the same tumbler that I have used for years, the same one that I am bringing to Belmont to clean jewelry on the spot!! It usually works like a dream,except yesterday. Everything I threw in , came out GREY. It is supposed to come out shiny bright silver! And I got dull dull grey. Well, I just had to laugh. OF COURSE it would only happen after I emailed 600 people to bring their jewelry to Belmont so I could clean it!!!! Gotta love it.
I worked with it a while, tried a few things to see what could possibly be the problem. I still don't know what happen, but when I closed up the studio last night, things were looking brighter, literally. Let's see what it looks like today!

Confusion Queen

Not a great way to start the year. Of course I am in a hurry, getting a photograph for the show email, and getting it out so I can actually FINISH the jewelry I have been working on for months. So, if you got my email with the wrong dates for the Belmont show this weekend, the dates on this blog are correct.
I wish I could say it was a plot to see who was actually reading my emails. This sounds good, but certainly not the truth.
I am going to blame it on my marketing department.

Free Jewelry Cleaning at Belmont

I am going to bring my electric tumbler to Belmont to clean up all your FUN GIRL tarnished silver jewelry!!! I will tag it with your name, and throw it in the tumbler. Depending on the level of tarnish, it could take a half an hour, to an hour to make your piece look brand new!!!
Now, the drawback to my plan is that I don't really know if the electrical outlet I saw there really works. So, if you are planning to bring something down, please check this website for an electricity update. I will stop at Carlemont on Thursday night to check for power, and will post the results here that night, or perhaps Friday am.
Hope you can make it! I have some fun new work too!!!

Working Like Crazy

Or maybe I am just plain old crazy. This could be it.
My husband and I are leaving for a show in La Quinta next week, so I am getting ready for my own show season. I should be posting my schedule soon. I won't be at the Contemporary Crafts Market in San Francisco next weekend. I will miss that.
My cat sitter is $244 for a week. WHEW!

Snake Vertebrae!

This is old African snake vertebrae. I love the mix of textures in this necklace, the contrasts of the dark aged bone and shiny freshwater pearls. The vertebrae are very interesting. Each segment fits exactly into the one in front, and behind, like a jigsaw puzzle. These pearls are white, but I may try one with pink pearls as well, or perhaps champagne.
Of course, if you buy it now, you have 3 days to contact me for a return.
Thanks for looking!

Busy in the Studio

I am getting ready for my annual buying trip to Tucson, to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show, which is really about 30 big shows happening at the same time. I don't go to the mineral shows, but I do have many favorite Gem shows, and Bead shows that I go to. Most of the vendors are from other countries, and I swear I have met many people from Hong Kong, whose only experience of the United States has been the booth they are working at the gem show.
Lots of people from India as well, and all over the globe.
What I really love about this show is the hunt for the unusual stones and pearls. There is so much to see, it is impossible to see it all. Literally impossible. And in this vast array of offerings, if one hunts and pecks hard enough, the really unique items can be found, many to never be had again either, I may add.
I have been busy in the studio getting ideas ready, making lists and trying to inform my creative unconscious of what I need to buy. There are lots of stones that I need, so I am making up a budget! Then, I get a "bonus" buy, over my budget, for the extra special thing I find that I have to have, whether it is on the list or not!