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

Etched brass

Etched brass, a photo by lorielynn1 on Flickr.

A brass square that I etched with French wording and an etched brass open heart.

New Year Resolutions

Ok, I quit making New Year Resolutions a long time ago because I never kept them.  That being said, I am going to try again this year (I feel the stress already!).  My New Year Resolution is to blog more often - There, I said it!!!  

I absolutely LOVE reading other people's blogs and then I end up thinking about my own poor neglected blog.  I don't know why I procrastinate so bad when it comes to writing in my blog - Maybe I just don't feel like I have anything interesting to say - at least not interesting enough that other people will actually want to read it.  But, I am going to put my feelings of inadequacy aside and write in my blog at least once a week.  (I'm starting to sweat!)  

Ok, here goes:

I decided before Christmas that I really needed to take a break to regain my sanity.  I made a decision to stay away from the studio and not think about jewelry making for at least 2 weeks.  That plan isn't working out so well because I keep having these "ideas" bouncing around in my head and then I think, "Oh, I'll just take a minute and jot this down", and then I'm on the computer looking for supplies..................you get the idea!  

I'm already 1 week into my break and I haven't gotten a single thing done around my house that I was going to do.  I had really BIG plans - paint the living room and kitchen, catch up on mending, make curtains for the dining room and living room, refinish pieces that I want to sell in my booth at Oregon Street Antique Mall.........  The reality is:  I've gone shopping (a few times!), I've done some crocheting, reading, jotting down jewelry ideas, sitting with the dogs, and messing around on the computer. I have slipped a little cleaning and cooking in there so I don't feel totally worthless!

It has felt soooooooooooooo good to just be kind of lazy!  I always go full speed 10-12 hours a day and I am actually enjoying not feeling like I ALWAYS have to be doing something constructive. 

Hopefully I won't get too used to it!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!  

I Am Being Featured

I am so very excited about being featured in Great Finds  madeformebyoaklie.com/greatfinds.html.  You will find a button to the right of this post that you can click on that will take you to a voting area.  If I win I will receive a free ad by Helping Hands Graphic Design or a custom banner set for my  shop.I can also win  a free featured spot on The Gift Shop Handmade Directory and the On Fire Gift Guide scrolling marquees. 

I feel so honored to be included with so many amazing and talented artists. 

Please check it out tomorrow - October 29th.  I would love to have your vote if you feel my piece is the best.  Thank you so much.