Someday...

I am going to have a big yard/garden and I will have chickens.  And I may have found the perfect coop for them!  Check out these awesome Nogg coops by Matthew Hayward and Nadia Turan

Monday's Meow-Mix

Happy Monday.  Happy to finally have my wireless internet back!

Tanaka Who

New Works in the Works...

Working with a lot of brass lately.  Many suppliers market it is NuGold (aka: poor man's gold, jewelry bronze, merlin's gold).  It's a lovely, matte gold color and as the name of it implies, used as a gold "substitute."  I've been noticing a higher demand for gold-toned jewelry here on the West Coast, which is unusual since gold jewelry is more common and often associated with the East Coast.  Of course today, gold has also hit an all-time high.  It's not very affordable or practical to play with and design with.

I'm getting used to working with brass.  I want to learn how to do some soldering with it (I have to brush up on my soldering skills in general - and I'm a jewelry artist!!!  Shhhh - don't tell!).  But it's beautiful.  It polished differently, it shines differently.  Heat brings out different lovely warm shades and it also patinas differently.  Also, wounds inflicted by brass heal much more slowly than silver.  Hmmm.  It's beautiful, tough and rough!

I also feel like I'm growing into a third generation of jewelry style.  I've created a few new pieces that have yet to be named.  I like the general category titled "MMA" for Mixed-Metal-Arts.  My husband argues that it will remind people of MMA as in Mixed-Martial-Arts.  I think I like that, though.  Rough, tough and with its own particular beauty...

Monday's Meow-Mix

Busy times.  Busy times....

Mt. Tamalpais Hike

Hubby and I went for a little, oh - 7mile hike this past Saturday.  May not sound much to some people we know, but it created a bit of soreness for me the following day.  The weather was made-to-order; lovely blue skies with a slight coolness to the air.  We hopped in the car, stopped in the Marina to pick up some sandwiches and water and made our way to Kentfield.  We ended up parking a mile away from the main entrance of the park (yes, that is factored into our 7miles!) and proceeded to trek through lovely hiking terrain.  There were beautifully mossy trees, wildflowers (including an abundance of goldenrod that perfumed the air, along with the bay trees).  We saw little lizards and happy, fat bumblebees.  It was glorious!

Monday's Meow-Mix

Ever-so-grateful for the lovely weather today.  My allergies do protest the arrival of spring, but my eyes and my heart feasts upon it!

Ok - enough sappy sentiments.  Back to work!

Mar