It's another one of those "I can't fall asleep" kind of nights, and while I was sitting here checking out Facebook and Pintrest, I got to thinking about my poor neglected blog.  I keep saying I am going to be more proactive with my blog and then it kind of goes by the wayside again. 

I have decided that I want to post at least once a week and would LOVE to post 2 or 3 times a week.  I also want to post about more than just jewelry and jewelry related topics, so I have decided to change the format of my blog to include more of my life and some of the other things I love to do besides create jewelry. 

My Father-in-law passed away in October and left us his house.  We debated quite a bit about whether we would sell, it, rent it out, or move into it.  Well, it was always my father-in-law's wish that we live in this house, but the house needs a lot of work.  It's a great house, with great bones, but it needs serious updating and we said that we were never going to take on another remodel.  You see, every house my husband and I have owned has had to have a major overhaul.  It was great fun for us when we were younguns, but we're getting up in years now and it just isn't so much fun anymore. 

Anyway, we made the decision to do as Dad wished and we have moved into the house.  So, my new blog series is going to be the journey of making this house our home.  We have already started on a couple of projects, so I will start posting some pictures.  Maybe blogging about it will make it seem more fun and not so much like a LOT of work!! 

So, standby by for the trials and tribulations of our newest remodel project and have fun with us along the way. 

Hey, I think maybe I can get to sleep now.  Good night

Our next show will be in beautiful Medford, Oregon on September 15th and 16th.  We are very excited about doing this show because it is our first show out of the Northern California area and it's going to be held at this really cool farm.  

It's only about a 2 1/2 drive from Redding so I'm hoping to see lots of people I know there.  Here is a link to all of the information.  Hope to see you all there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/201626829963279/

We are very excited about an article featuring Lorie Lynn Designs in the Enjoy magazine this week.  The article was written by a dear friend, Kimberly Boney.  
http://enjoymagazine.net/articles-1/jewelry-with-a-purpose

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted here.  You know that saying - Time Flies When You Are Having Fun? - Well, I guess I have been having a LOT of fun!!!

I guess I will tell you about the latest change in my life.  I have started a new venture with 3 amazing ladies; Kimberly Snowden of Garnet Heart, Ginger Mallard of Le Papillon, and Sarah Bos of Sara Bella Homes.  We have all come together as Altered Wing Studio.

Altered Wing Studio is this amazingly creative working studio where we each have our own work space, a classroom area, and a small, but lovely retail space where we sell some of our creations.

We all teach classes in various art mediums including; painting with Anne Sloan paints, jewelry design and construction, mixed media arts, fiber arts, collage, and many kids crafts.

We held a fabulous Open House on August 4th where we offered $10 classes all day!  So many people came to check us out and take the classes (and nibble on the goodies we offered).  It was such a wonderful day.

We will be adding more and more classes every month and we have some really fun things planned for November and December.

Please check us out and like us on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AlteredWingStudios?ref=ts

We are in the process of building our website where all of our classes will be listed and stories of our adventures will be posted.  Check out our progress:  www.alteredwing.com

Weekly Reflection

How many of you loose your enthusiasm this time of year for things that you normally LOVE to do?  I truly hope I am not the only one. 

I have been having such a time for the last several weeks - struggling to find the energy and enthusiasm I usually have for creating, and having it, for some reason, be out of my grasp.  I don't know if it is the weather or the normal ups and downs of life, or a combination of the two. 

I am a warm weather and sunshine kind of gal and the rainy, cold, dark days do make it difficult for me to want to actually leave the warmth and snuggliness (I know that's not a real word, but I like it) of my bed and my cuddly little dogs.  Sometimes I think I might be part bear - lol.  I just want to hibernate - pull the covers over my head and wait for spring! 

I know one thing I have done - and I have always had a tendency to do this - I have taken on way more than I can humanly do.  I have to remind myself once in awhile that I am only one person and that I can't take off on every little tangent that my brain wants to take me on.  Right now I have a booth at Oregon Street Antiques, jewelry at Palo Cedro Gift Gallery and the Enjoy store, and I have 3 etsy shops, and I'm trying to build a studio business.  Oh, and I'm one of the promoters for The Burlap Harlot Show - and I sell jewelry and home decor at several local shows throughout the year!!    Add to this being a wife, mother and grandmother - Think I might be just a little bit overextended????  lol

 So, I have been doing a lot of thinking on where I can scale back and one of the decisions I have made is to leave Oregon Street Antiques and I'm considering closing one of my etsy shops.  

My love,  and where I want to focus right now,  is in creating my jewelry, learning new skills, and promoting my studio. 

So, I'm hoping that with a little less on my plate and on my mind, I can regain that enthusiasm I know I have in me somewhere! 

Wish me luck!! 

Learning A New Skill

I have wanted to learn to enamel on metal for so long, but I was always afraid to dive in.  I thought I would need to buy all of this expensive equipment - a bigger kiln, trivets, enameling fork, and on and on.  Oh how happy I was to find out I could do it with just my torch and a bead mandrel!! 

Thanks to a wonderful friend, Ginger, who is also an amazing jewelry artist http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeBeauPapillon; I have found a new addiction!!

This technique turned out to be so much easier than I thought it would be and the results are just amazing!  I love watching the color come alive as the piece cools off.  The possibilities are endless!! 

Now everything I look at I wonder if it can be enameled!!  lol