Went for a short walk and Dave saw this little guy. He didn’t appreciate being shooed off the road but he was likely to get squashed where he was.
Snakes tend to startle me when I first see them but they’re amazing creatures. The way they move is just beautiful.
New manatees. One in ivory, one in grey. I’m really happy with how they came out, although I should probably retake the images. Low light and not having my photo booth setup (the cat seems to think it’s a wonderful bed) didn’t help 
These are sample pieces I made with copper sheet and the new chasing tools and punches my husband got me. Thanks Dave!
Not symmetrical but I rather like them this way.
Camp NaNoWriMo is a more flexible version of the National Novel Writing Month I usually do in November. You can pick your own word count and write whatever you like.
I’m using it to do revisions on my first book. I want to finally FINISH it to the point I consider it done. There’s something about a goal with a deadline and other people working on the same thing that really helps with motivation.
I came across this on a link from another blog… unfortunately I don’t remember where.
Check out this printable Artist’s Survival Kit from Keri Smith, even if you’re not an artist.
It was worth a read and I think I may have to customize it and create my own.
Haven’t posted in awhile so I figured I’d try out my new iPod touch (Thanks Dave!) and see how well it works as a blogging platform… I used its camera, editing software and the WordPress app.
This is a relatively recent pendant. The background is premo’s new 14k gold color textured with a handmade pattern roller ala Cat Szetu. (She did a great demo at our guild and Igot hooked on making them.) The color comes from Daler Rowney inks.
Need some inspiration? Check out StoryBird.com It’s a site that allows you to create your own picture book online.
Some of the illustrations available are just gorgeous and are worth a look just for themselves.
Well, that was fun… *taking a deep breath finally*
I have been neglecting the website and blog a bit lately, but I really don’t want to lose it. So it was a bit disconcerting when my site disappeared and I saw placeholder ads instead.
The site itself and hosting were fine, but it turns out my domain name had expired. Last time we’d renewed it for five years and I hadn’t realized that time was up. I didn’t get the notifications because I was no longer using the email address I’d originally signed up with. I’m not sure if they sent a notification by mail and I tossed it thinking it was junk or I just never got it.
Anyway… It’s all set now, and I didn’t lose the site completely, which was my biggest fear. But I put a reminder on my calendar for next time. So, if anyone tried to contact me in the last couple days, try again It may take a little while for everything to get cleared up completely.
Dave (my husband) is awesome. I know I’ve said this before, but it must be repeated.
He’s the one who bought me my first pasta machine for polymer clay, when I still thought I didn’t really need it. (How wrong I was)
He brings home cool tools and wire and interesting metal bits if he thinks I could use them. He’s even created tools for me – like a specially modified caulking gun which allows me to use the metal clay gun without breaking my hands.
And in September, (just before NaNoWriMo so I didn’t gotten much of a chance to play with it before hand) he got me a Smith Little Torch. It may be mini, but it’s powerful. Speaking from experience, you can melt things quite well if you try. Fortunately, I was actually trying that time… 
I’ve got it set up with the small disposable bottles of mapp gas and oxygen.
Mostly I’ve been playing around and practicing. Getting something soldered isn’t too hard. Getting the stupid little chips of solder to sit where you put them and flow into the seam where you want them instead of all over the outside of your piece– Well, that’s a little harder.
But that’s what they make files and sandpaper for, right? And I think I’m slowly getting better.
