Ugliest Necklace Ever

It's the cork from the bottle of wine that Erin and I are currently enjoying in ISTANBUL! It has a hairpin stuck in it and I am letting it share the same space as my beautiful necklace due to lack of materials. Too many beautiful things to enjoy to pay too much attention to this little snafu. Here is a brief look at what we did today.

Istanbul I have Arrived!

It was a long flight and a quick pit stop to our 'otel left me with little else to create a piece but the clutter found in the lobby in the form of a sightseeing info card, some dentil floss and the string from my earplugs. So, enjoy. I am off to enjoy a glass of wine in the city.

Great adventure

I am off on an adventure and completely unable to update the blog like I want due to lack of connectivity SO I am going to be creating pieces on the road, photographing and will upload in chronological order upon return to the states.

So EXCITED!!

I'm headed to Turkey this afternoon and I can't wait to see Erin! I am making today's piece early since the day is packed and I will be traveling tonight. This is my arrival gift for Erin. Coper wire, glass beads and copper chain. Next post from TURKEY!

A Little Something for Me

I am giving these pieces away throughout the project, but I wanted a new piece for myself. I made this little necklace out of recycled broken necklace and silver wire bent into a ring.

Happy ALMOST Birthday Michelle - Spoiler

Looking forward to my Philly trip. Silver ring with hammered gold blob.

Happy Birthday Laura - Spoiler Alert

Happy birthday Laura!! I made this lovely little silver ring for you. I will see you in about a week and so will it. Silver and silver casting grain. Can't wait. Making Michelle's tomorrow.

Memoriam

He was a lovely little buddy who will be missed dearly. This is for Riva. His last whisker, left on his little bed. I grabbed it the day he passed and sealed it in this small glass vial and capped it with a silver lid.

Motivation begets Motivation

I made it to the gym on a Saturday. That in and of itself is a feat. What I found on the sidewalk outside of the gym was motivation for this lovely little piece. I believe that they are a seedpod to some conifer tree. Not really sure. They look like a pinecone but much tighter. I like them. They make great baubles. Found pine cone thingys, silver wire, reclaimed silver ear wire.

New Leap Day?

I sort of fucked up. I got so engrossed in what I was doing for the evening, spending a lovely spring night with my husband out on the town, I completely forgot that I even had this obligation. So, I didn't make a damn thing. You know what, I am human. You know what else, it's ok. I am going to reflect on this space in the same way graphic designers do. It's intentional negative space. Purposefully put into place to allow the rest of the work to stand out and shine.

Requiem for a Friend

This is a piece for Tere. Nothing special, just got me thinking is all. Wood, silver, rubber.

Creativity Strikes Like Lightning

This evening's activities were brought to you by a storm that canceled Spencer's soccer game. We both came home and he started playing drums while I got inspired by a few pieces laying on my studio table and a hot glue gun that had been left on...oops. It left these little droplets that seemed fun. So I made a few more. Add an elastic cord, some silver findings, KAPOW!! Lightning creatures. They look more like mutant jellyfish to me. The drum beats to it's own tempo. It sounds like a samba. Ratatat Tat Bam Clang!

Inch by Inch

that's usually my mantra for running, every step really counts, I can't go very fast and I have to walk often, due to a leg injury, but at least I am out there. This afternoon I was reminded again and again that I am doing the right thing, or at the very least, it's officially spring. I got hit in the face by no less than 6 inch worms on their descent to the earth from their trees. The first two were cute, I won't express what I said upon getting the last few little gifts. But they inspired me to make this pendant.

Also inspiring, Noah Scalin, the person responsible for getting me motivated to create something daily for a year. I got to hear him speak again today and he reaffirmed the reasons that I am creating and writing and putting myself through this little experiment. Little steps, and limiting myself. I'm going to try to keep my ADD self limited for some time to making just what sparked this, Pancakes and Pendants. I am not going to limit myself if I get a wild hair to create something greater, but I think that putting a few boundaries on what I make for a while will help my focus. Which I desperately need right now. Happy Spring.

( and as I was finishing this I found one more little guy crawling up my arm )

Kimchi for Me!

I ALWAYS crave kimchi after yoga, I don't know what it is, but I feel like I have to have it. This evenings kimchi creation is brought to you in the form of a noodle dish with beef slices and caramelized onion with buckwheat noodles.
Set a pot of water to boil.

While the water is coming up to temp, slice an onion into strips and slice a small steak into strips, any kind really, but the more marbled the better.

Once water has reached boil, cook Buckwheat noodles according to package.

while those are cooking, stir-fry in another skillet the onions and beef in 1 tbs coconut oil. When almost finished, add 1 tbs soy sauce.

Drain noodles and place in bowl with the steak and onions, place large pile of kimchi on top. Sprinkle with sesame oil and a few candy coated sun flower seeds.

Enjoy with a Spencer. You will need to get your own. Mine is taken.

Old is New Again

I found these two broken and missing pieces while cleaning up the house today and thought that they could be happy together. This earring was one of a set, now missing it's companion, and turned into a pendant. The chain once had a pendant, but after the clasp broke, it's been gathering dust. They met and fell in love and will live happily together until I break the chain again.

Al Fresca

Dinner date with Spencer complete with candles, flowers, linnen and bubbly, all snug and cozy in my back yard at Chef Carra's.

Grilled Chicken:
1 whole chicken, Bell & Evans
rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper, set to grill on medium heat for 45 min

Blue and Orange Sweet potatoes washed and thrown on grill with chicken, cook for same length of time, indirect heat
These will be split and topped with sour cream and a little bit of brown sugar.

Swiss Chard Chiffonade
beautiful ribbons of swiss chard quick sauteed with a little ghee, salt & pepper. Barely show it the heat.

Brown Rice

Enjoy whilst listening to birds welcoming the sweet sound of spring, you know, in early March.

Cooky Crazy Day

I am feeling a little like it's been a circus of a day and these earrings are to complete the look. A neighborhood search for a missing friend after a wine filled afternoon with co-workers was the icing on the cake that was my mother visiting for dinner. Crazy quick puffball earrings for this evening. No fire. Too much vino. Silver vintage ear wire with orange felted balls.

A Little Reminder

We lost a good friend tonight, Riva and I. We lost little kitty,(Ironically since he was at his heaviest just around 30 pounds), original name has been lost in the shuffle of years and memories, once called Sumo by his foster mother, loved always by those who knew him. We will miss you lil man. This is a little reminder ring made in his honor. Take the moments, precious and few and always remember to cherish them.

Grillin' Out, in MARCH

This evening's meal is brought to you by this fantastic 80 degree weather we are having in March. Since spring fever is hitting hard this year, I store bought my miso basted fish filets, rather than making my own marinade, and opted to go for a lovely bike ride to the wine store with my husband in the evening light to get beers for grilling instead. So thank you Trader Joe's.

Steam 2 c brown rice in rice cooker.

Grilled Fennel and Asparagus, trim up, cut fennel into large grill-able sized chunks, and hit with a little olive oil. Trim ends off of asparagus.

Grill on high for 4-8 min. Depending on the amount of done you want.

meanwhile, slice onion and pan fry with olive oil until caramelizing. In a large bowl mix 2 tbs lemon juice, 2 tbs olive oil, 1 tsp salt, ground pepper to taste and 1 tbs honey. Pour in hot onions and mix with grilled veggies.

While you are grilling, pull out that lovely Trader Joe's pre marinated filet and cook per directions. I sauteed on stovetop for 5-7 min.

Serve over brown rice.

Enjoy with hard earned beer and loving husband whilst girlfriends beckon from bikes on the street corner and ring doorbell, peeking in windos like some nymphs begging for you to come play.

Down to Earth

THis piece is inspired and created for someone who is celebrating an anniversary this week. Thanks for the inspiration, motivation and friendship. Many happy returns. Copper, silver, glass beads.

It's Finished

Almost three whole days worth of busting my ass, Saturday does not count as busting, but half-heartedly stabbing at, and I am done. I have cleaned out and re-finished the guest room and guest bath. I am taking this opportunity to announce I don't give a shit if this does not fit into the categories of this blog, I fucking made something and put more time and energy into this than I have anything else in days, it's a damned piece of art is it. 30+ hours of love and I am not sure what else. The before is sad, but it was all white and not really painted. In bad shape. Now it sings!

More Birfday Findings

Still cleaning up after this past weeks events and I found a box full of strange goodies and bits & pieces enough to make a little something. Which is all I have in me today since I have tackled a monumental task; I am in the midst of gutting and re-finishing the guest room and guest bath. Awaiting Matty to move all his stuff in and become a full rommie, not just couch surfer. So, thanks KM for tonights piece.