o, world.

{wonderfully} Busy.

So much happened this week{+end}. My afterschool art classes finally got into full swing. The kids painted, glued, drew, collaged, sculpted and built. I got a sticker that said 'I love you', more hugs than I can recall getting in the last several months, and two drawings of Wolverine.

I went to the thrift for the first time in awhile, where I bought several wonderful things: a cracked, kelly green coin purse that is essentially useless but un-pass-up-able, being practically perfect in every way (very green, very old, very tiny), an old, red leather bag with a very confusing strap, and...



...which quickly, excitedly became...



I made a necklace for a friend's wife...



...and something I can't show you quite yet with these Moo cards.



I spent Saturday wandering around Cincinnati, which kept my over-excited (Moo cards! Silverware to slice up! Tiny coin purses! *falls over*) brain from burning out, and made for some lovely photo ops.



The light was perfect, and I took more pictures than I had in a long time.



And now I'm here, catching up on emails, looking forward to tomorrow's dinner with my parents, and to next week's finishing of above-mentioned projects and the start, inevitably, of a few new ones.

The View From Here.

I spent much of this week preparing for the launch of my holiday jewelry line, sawing and sanding (repeat until covered in silver dust..). I took a day out, too, to make an item for Artworks" fundraising art show, Secret Artworks. Rated as the top fundraiser of 2007 by Cincinnati's CityBeat magazine, Secret Artworks is a 'fundraising event featuring the exhibition and sale of 5” x 7” works of art from local, national and international artists. All works of art sell for $75 each. The ‘secret’ behind each piece is the identity of the artist – which is revealed after the work is purchased.' I'm so excited to be one of the contributing artists! As one of the artists who has work displayed, I get to attend the fundraiser, which is even more exciting - however hermit-y I am (and I definitely am), I am always, always energized (I was looking for a less hokey word, but it's late, and I could not come up with one. I am sorry.) after spending a night with like-minded arty folk.

So, yes. The view above is what I saw most afternoons, after my run, and my quick lunch, as I sawed and sanded and soldered and polished. It was a wonderful week.

Today I made some earrings.

All finished, they look like this. One pair went to my mama, allll the way out in Utah. The other? Mine, all mine.

Another day, another brainfart.

Dear Titanium,
I love you. Your blues and purples, your golden browns and yellows. Your hypoallergenic..ness? makes me weak in the knees, your lightness makes me giddy. I am yours.

Dear Self,
Why didn't you bring your camera to work today, you moron?

I made you a pendant, but I melted it.

Looks like I'm throwing up a gang sign, eh? My gang is currently made up of one over-eager metalsmith who couldn't be bothered to submerge her PLASTIC piece in water so the torch wouldn't melt it as she tried valiantly to solder a jumpring on. Wanna join? Initiation involves one picking up of a hot piece of metal before it's cooled off and/or accidentally resting your forearm against your JUST used solder pick, a couple sandpaper burns to the fingers, and the purposeful melting of the most difficult part of one of your most intricate pieces.

Hardcore, bitches.