Home, home, not on the range...

Well, I made it cross country and all is just as I left it... sort of.

All my stuff is just as I left it but, there are no more weekly Saturday Markets in Beacon. Going to be the Second Saturday only now. So, I'll be there on September 12th. Which means I'll be at the Mower's Market in Woodstock a little more regularly until I start doing more jewelry parties. Oh, and I'm going to be at the first Squish Art Market at the Arsenal in Brooklyn on Sunday August 30th.

I'll have some more jewelry in different retail locations around by next month too.

But more about that later. I want to tell ya'll about the trip back across to NY.

I met up with my dad in Denio Junction and went hunting for Opals. That was fun AND I found a few too. They're all Opalized wood and some of them are pretty cool. Of course, that means I have a lot of partially Opalized wood AND plain old fossilized wood too. We also went to a place where there were supposed to be Fire Agates on the way out and I found a piece of rock that looks like it could actually be Fire Opal OR, a really nice Banded Red Agate or Carnelian. Not really sure since I haven't found any pictures like it or someone to tell me what it is. Let you know when I figure it out.

We're already planning another trip out there for next year though. Til then, the Opals will be curing and then I'll figure out what to do with them. (Dad took all the pictures on that leg, so I got nothing for you. Sorry).

After the Opal hunting, I drove up to Missoula to visit Bill. We hiked and saw some high mountain glacial lakes (it was raining so, again, no pictures) and then went to Gem Mountain and found some Sapphires. Only two were deemed ok for cutting, but they said it would take 6-9 months for me to get them back, so I took them home with me. Along with the smaller and fractured ones AND a couple Garnets and a nice little pebble of Hematite. Oh, and a bag of bigger rocks too.

That was fun too.

I love digging around in the dirt for nice rocks. I have a LOT of them to wrap and polish and play with too. Guess I know what I'll be doing this Winter;}

Oh, and here's a picture of the Gem Mountain part of the trip.

The rest was DRIVING, driving, Driving. I saw some great things - as I drove by - and got stuck in a LOT of construction traffic past Illinois. Probably would have been back a few hours earlier if it weren't for all the stopped dead then 15 miles of 20 MPH driving that occurred from Indiana to NY. Road rage did also ensue (after 9 hours of driving through that kind of thing, it is really inevitable).

One of the really amazing things I saw I couldn't get a picture of. No place to pull over and then it was dark. Along my right side there were plateaus as far as the eye could see AND it was raining on that side (not where I was or the other side though) and really wide rainbows were coming down - STRAIGHT down - from the clouds and landing on the plateaus. I saw a double one with lightening striking to the side of the smaller second one.

Really beautiful and amazing! Wish I had that picture!

Wish I was still in dry heat with cold mountain nights too... well, I never did like the humidity much and it's been raining a lot with high temps so, it's pretty much like living in a sauna. Not my favorite place to live....

Ok. So I'm ready for Fall, what can I say? That IS my favorite season.

Last Park Silly Market, and then...

Well, tomorrow is the last Park Silly Market for me. Then it's off to Nevada to dig up some Opals (really this time. Not like the Diamonds).

This time I'll be between Heber and 7th (right side heading toward 7th; should be somewhere in front of Zooms). Hope to see a bunch of you there!

Everybody wish me luck for the Opal hunt!

After I find a ton of Opals, I'll be heading North East to Montana for another friendly visit, and hopefully, a dig for Sapphires too. Already planning my return to Southern Utah in Spring for some fossil and Topaz hunting. I just love digging around and playing with rocks! Doesn't everybody? ;}

Ok, that's the news for now. Should be back in NY by next Monday. See some of you at the Beacon, Hudson River Market the following Saturday (August 22).

See some of you tomorrow! Wish for a beautiful, gentle windy day with no down pours (yes, it's been strongly gusting and bursting forth from the clouds frequently these last few days, so...) - fingers crossed for a good day for an outdoor market.

Blah Blah Blogging... In Utah

Well, we made it to Utah.

Tomorrow is the first Park Silly Market for me. I'll be on Main just below 7th on the left side heading toward 9th (orange row, number 9) under the umbrella.

No Arkansas diamonds revealed themselves to us, unfortunately. Lots of Arkansas Jasper did though. We found some nice Rhodonite, Mica Schist and Agates in the Rocky Mountain National Park too. Stayed in the Manor House at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (not really haunted where we were at least, but a bit run down and very squeaky doors for effect - we assumed) and got up to 12,000 plus feet above sea level. Beautiful Alpine Meadows and a little sleet and wind burn. Very nice.

Oh, and we ran into some almost tornado clouds in Kansas. There was a warning where we were going to stay, so we drove up a little further and the skies cleared. Phil took a bunch of pics with his new iPhone. So, here are some of the pictures from our trip so far:

This is at the Precious Moments Chapel in Missouri just north of Arkansas (we had to get Bethany a wedding gift there. You can ask her about it:). It was kind of like a big eyed children smurf place. Kinda creepy and kind of inspirational all at once.

Lots of people were hoping to dig up some diamonds. No one did while we were there:

The storm clouds over Kansas. They were really beautiful! Didn't manage to get any pictures of the lightening though.

Oh yah. They had the Shining channel at the Stanley. There was a Stanley Steamer one too. They just played the same thing over and over. Obviously, this is from the Shining channel.

The beautiful Rocky Mountains. We got sick on the first day of hiking. Not sure if it was altitude or heat. We went from 8100 feet straight up to 9500 in less than 3 miles of hiking. Strenuous, high altitude, bright sunshine heat hiking. Man, we're out of shape!

The next day we drove out through the park and stopped a lot and did the views and short hikes. This is wayyyyy up there, but not quite the top.

Oh, yah. We stopped at the Dinosaur National Monument when we got over the Utah border. The Visitors Center was closed for repairs, but we got to take a short walk and see about three fossils in the mountains next to it. This is one of them.

So, today we're hanging with my sis and taking a walk around the wonders of Park City. Hiking wonders. The rain is coming so maybe we'll find a few Quartz Crystals washed down the trails. Been a while since I was able to walk around here and find any, but I have a lot of them from back then.

And, that's the trip up to now.

Oh. There is an update on show dates... if you're in the Salt Lake area...

Cousin Matt hooked me up for another independent craft show on Sunday, August 2nd. It's called the Craft Sabbath and runs from Noon till 4pm at Nobrow Coffee and Tea, 315 E 300 S in Salt Lake City. So cool, they were voted best of the Beehive for 2009 by Salt Lake Magazine! I'm really honored to be included and I'll have mostly $50 and under goods with me and probably a lot of new stuff that I'll be making next week (since I plan to sell most of what I have at that level tomorrow;).

Trekking Cross Country, Wanna Meet Somewhere Along the Way?

Hey Everybody!

Just a week before I leave for the vast expanses of the great SouthWest. Stopping in Arkansas for Bethany's wedding and then on to dig up diamonds and get a good scare! Yep, dig up diamonds. Crater of Diamonds Park is just a short (relatively speaking) drive south from Fayetteville and they let you dig in the dirt and keep what you find (for a small fee) so Wish me Luck!

If I find anything good, I'll make something out of it... I like the look of raw diamonds. Oh, and if it's really good, I might just pay off some CC's... That would be nice too.

Then, we're off to Colorado to spend a night at the Stanley Hotel and see if we can get Phil to see a ghost. I've already seen a few and he says he won't believe it til he sees it, so Wish him Luck too.

Then, we're across to stay with my sister for a couple days in Park City before my first, ever, Park Silly Sunday Market. If you're around there on the 26th, I'll make sure to say hi! ;}

Phil has to leave to come back to work right after that and then I'll be on my own - with just my family and friends - for two more weeks before driving back. One more Park Silly before I go and then maybe I'll be stopping at your place for a Jewelry Party?

Somewhere inbetween I might even head NorthWest a bit more and join my dad for a day of opal digging too. Have to get the rest of my Utah party schedules finalized before I know if and when though.

So, what's up with you?

Oh, and here's a picture Phil took of some of the jewelry I made with his miniature watercolors - all originals and some are going to Raindance in Beacon and the rest are going with me to Park City:

There's Still Time to Schedule a Party...

Well, it's getting down to the wire for the big trip cross country.

Met a couple people in the last few weeks at the Hudson River Market who live along the route from NY to Utah who were interested in hosting a party on my trip back. So, if you happen to be one of the people who wants to get some free jewelry and have a lot of fun with your friends, make sure you get in touch to schedule your day before I head West. That means get in touch before the 15th of July. I'll be heading back from Utah on August 10th and plan to be back in NY by August 15th.

So. You have exactly 3 weeks from the date of this blog post before I leave town. So, don't wait. Make your return trip party date today!

Oh, I made some new cameo jewelry too. AND, my first wire sculpture bracelet - with a cameo. They're fashion cameos (resin). That's always a good place to start out, since shell is infinitely more delicate (and much more expensive to boot). Brass and Copper and some vintage chain... and I made some earrings this week too.

Whatdya think:

Cuff from the front

Cuff from the side

Pendant with handmade vintage chain (1940's) I threw a clasp onto.

If you're signed up for my newsletter, you'll get to see the pictures of the earrings and the newer pendant (no chain). They're all pretty in salmon pink and blue...

Newsletter goes out next week. If you're not signed up for the newsletter, there's a link just to your right on the sidebar...

Oh, and I'll be at the Mower's Market in Woodstock this Sunday (June 28th) as well as the Hudson River Market in Beacon on Saturday. Hope to see some of you this weekend!

Saturdays in Beacon... And Then...

Well, it looks like you'll be able to find me in Beacon for the next 5 Saturdays... then skip the 4th of July... and I'll be there on July 11th too.

THEN, I'll be skipping the state to head West.

Stopping in Arkansas for my exceptionally talented friend Bethany's wedding, maybe scooping up some diamonds the day afterward...

Then jetting over to Albuquerque to drop in on a friend or two before scooting on up to Utah to vend at a couple of Sundays at the Park Silly Market, set up at a few Jewelry Parties, and gear up for a couple selling days at a retreat.

If I can swing it before he flies off to Scotland, I might even bolt up to Montana to visit Bill, and take a side trip for some Garnets before going back down to Utah.

If it wasn't for the crazy heat of mid-Summer in the desert, I'd take a serious side trip to dig up some Opals too... leave that for an earlier - or later - time of the year I think.

Then, when I get back up here, probably be at the Hudson River Market on Saturdays through the last one in September or so.

Still waiting to hear back, but I might be in Georgia again mid-September... I'll let you know when I know.

And I might do a thing in Albany in October. Again, let you know...

Then, for almost for sure, I'll be at this year's Indiemade Craft Market in Allentown. Had such a great time last year, I wouldn't miss this year's!

So, if you're going to be near any of those markets or shows, please stop over and say: HI! Otherwise, if you want to have me stop at your place on the way anywhere in between shows for your very own Trunk Show/Jewelry Party, let me know. {You know that I'd rather attend your parties most of the year, anyway;}

And that's pretty much the rest of my year so far.

So...

To recap:

You can catch me every Saturday until July and then again on July 11th on Main Street in Beacon at the Hudson River Market.

I'll be at Park Silly in Park City, Utah the last Sunday in July and the 2nd Sunday in August.

Back to the Hudson River Market.

Might be at Shakerag in September.

Possibly in Albany in October.

Probably at Indiemade the first Saturday of December.

Hopefully, at a whole lot of people's parties in between all those, and preferably for most of October and November. If you want to be one of those peoples, you might want to start planning now. Time is starting to fly already;}

Oh yah, I just finished a bunch of necklaces for Raindance too. I'll be delivering them this Saturday if you want to head over and get yours before they're gone, here's a preview:

From Creative Living 101 (aka It's Art, Damnit!)

Some great Candisa beads from the early 50's (you really can't see how gorgeous they are until you see them in person), and some other gorgeous old Venetian beads on these as well. Plus some precious gemstones and higher end semiprecious (Emerald on one, Larimar, Turquoise, Lapis, & Sugilite on others). 7 new necklaces for this round - all with 40's or 50's Venetian beads - and I'll probably whip up some new necklaces and earrings to deliver to Raindance before I head off to Utah as well. [Remember; I'm only doing this necklace style for Raindance, so if you like what you see, you have to get yours there. It's an exclusive, dontcha know...]

Ok. So that's the news and up and comings. [Can you tell I plan to be a little too busy to type up more than one or two of these before I head out in July?]

Hope to run into a bunch of you in the coming months, one way or the other, and all the best to everyone til then!