Blue Lace Agate

I finally got this necklace done! I ordered a sterling silver chain and was not satisfied with the quality so I ordered a different style chain. I was given the two larger pieces to work with and this is what I came up with.The customer was well pleased and I am so glad!

Treasuries!

Country Winter Fine Art Photo
by Dahlia House Studios

One of the wonderful ways to shop at etsy.com is through thier treasury catagory. Treasuries are created by the members of etsy. They can include some really interesting items. If a seller has created a treasury (usually a compilation of thier favorite items) it will be listed on thier profile page. Visit my shop to see the latest treasury I have created called  Snuggling Up To Winter. Just a few things to help you breeze through the winter season!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d024335f6ca8eefb445e0dc/snuggling-up-to-winter?index=2

Stone Bliss Studio: A Couple Finished Pieces

Stone Bliss Studio: A Couple Finished Pieces

A Couple Finished Pieces

Here are a couple of finished necklaces I made and wrote about in a previous post.


Maria's Abalone Shell Necklace

Sterling silver wire wrapped Opal on a sterling silver snake chain.

 The Opal project is from a fellow ETSY seller. She sews beautiful things. You can view her shop at:
http://www.loves2sew.etsy.com/

Sea of Plastic

Diamond Royal Jewel Necklace

Yesterday I got together with a few of my friends to go Christmas shopping. We went to the mall and right as we entered the store, to the left of the doors was a large area of eye popping jewelry. It was very pretty and shiny and a bit overwhelming to me. My friends and I stayed in that area for some time oooh-ing and aaah-ing at everything. When they saw some thing they liked, they would say, can you make this or that? Sometimes the answer was yes, and sometimes no. Mostly no. The prices were incredibly cheap. 9.99 for a necklace, bracelet and earrings set!  How can I compete with this sea of plastic? The items were pretty, but cheap in every way. I can't believe people spend thier hard earned money on such cheap junk!
I spend a lot of time finding just the right beads or chains to go with a certain item I am making. One part may come from Isreal, another from Germany and another from Texas. I don't live close to a bead shop so almost everything is ordered online. I make jewelry because I enjoy creating it. I sell it at a fair price, just slightly above what it cost to make. Hopefully there are some people in the world that still enjoy quality and appriciate something handmade!

Stone Bliss Studio: Mise en Place

Stone Bliss Studio: Mise en Place

Mise en Place

This is a french phrase that translates as "to put in place" It is most often used in the culinary world,  it simply means to gather up all the ingredients you will need, before starting to cook. I do the same thing when I start to make a jewelry piece. I gather all the parts I will need to put it together, then decide on the color combinations I like.
Right now I have several things going on at the same time. I don't have all the "ingredients" for each project yet. I am waiting for components I ordered to come in, before I can complete them.
 

Citrine and Pearls




Soft pinks and  gold




I don't know if I like this one too much. It needs a lighter color.



Abalone shells



 

I don't think I will add a pendant to this one, maybe just make it extra long.


Moonstones




Blue Opal Czech glass



Post Pottery Tour



Mr. Floyds work station

 I had been planning to go to this event for some time. I invited a friend to go with me but  there was a death in the family so I had no one to go with on such short notice. Lovely Kim volunteered to be my driver. We went around in circles trying to find some of the studios. I'm not sure I would be able to find them again on my own. Well, maybe if I would have went by the map, I tried getting there from off of the main path.  We managed to find 5 by 5:00.

Our first stop was Brush Valley Pottery. I am so glad we began here because it set the tone for the rest of our excursion. The atmosphere there was great.So peaceful and quiet. A great place to let creativity flow, and it definitely shows in Josh Floyds work. Kim made sure I know everything a potter knows. Still yet, I know nothing about making pottery except I love it. I saw a chair that looked different than any chair I'd seen before.I felt ridiculous when I was told it was a potters chair. I guess I always pictured a potter on a wooden stool. That wouldn't be very comfortable. I just wasn't expecting a bright white leather chair with black and blue stripes!



Mr. Floyds kiln

 Our next stop was East Creek Studio. Another breezy setting.  I tried to look around but there were too many people. Kim does a quick run through and is ready for the next place. (unless he starts talking to people.) 

Anyhow, I'm not sure which place was which after the first one because we kept getting lost.We found Windblown Studio, Wild Apple Pond Studio, Smicksburg Pottery and Little Mahoning Creek Pottery. When we finally got to Smicksburg, we were starving! I was wishing some of the potters would have been cooking hot dogs! All in all, it was fun.There are some busy, creative hands in Indiana County! Their creations blessed my day.

Not sure which place this was, Wild Apple or East Creek Studio



Windblown Studio



Antique potters wheel, Windblown Studio





Mr. Floyds Art




Mr. floyds art, and my favorite piece




Smicksburg Pottery Studio



Custom Projects

I have been  busy this week working on two projects. A woman I know has these beautiful Blue Lace Agate pieces that she has not been able to wear for a long time. There is only one earring and no chain for the pendant. Originally , she wanted the earring cut and made into two separate earrings. I don't have the tools or experience to cut stones. So we agreed that I would turn the one earring into a pendant also. I'm going to make a double chain necklace. I ordered similar stones to make matching earrings for her. I will upload the final project when it is finished.

The second project is for a fabulous Opal. The picture does not do it justice. I'm not sure what type of stone the opal is inbedded in, maybe howlite?The shape of the stone reminds me of an ancient stone face carving. It is really cool! It has a beautiful green flash that runs vertically. This item is going to be made into a pendant. I will also show a pic of the finished project.

The Underground Artisan's Marketplace Festival

I love going to festivals! I love to see all the wonderful things that people make, it gives me inspiration for my own craft. If you have never been to State College, Pa, this would be the perfect time to go. The scenery this time of year is outstanding! Raystown Lake is close by and a great place to take photos.

Underground Artisans Marketplace

Saturday, Nov 6 
Staring at 10:00 a.m.

at Chronic Town, State College, PA

Artisans from the Centre Region will be selling handmade clothing, jewelry, and stylish home decor; original artwork, pottery, upcycled and repurposed vintage clothing and wares, graphic design, DIY and more! Vintage vinyl will be on sale from The Music Underground.

500 attendees expected.

tags: rock, reggae, alternative, soul, djdancetechno

Cheeseburger

Cheeseburger

So I  live on a farm. My husband has lived here for about 35 years. When his parents first bought it, they farmed it for a few years, but after their kids grew up and moved, they made an agreement with another family to farm the land. That family maintained the property until last year. Over the years we have gained about 5 or 6 cows. When the other family decided not to farm any longer, we had the cows we gained, spend the winter with his herd until the spring then he brought them back here. We had a couple butchered and the four remaining cows we planned on having butchered over the next couple of years. Two mama cows and two calf's are what we had in the spring. The one black cow is kinda mean and pushy with the other mama cow and it's calf. Whenever we feed them grain, it knocks them out of the way and the other cows don't usually get much. It is the oldest and the original 1st cow. We decided since she is the oldest we would have her butchered this fall since her calf was no longer nursing. 
I always have a bucket of scraps to give them about every other day, over ripe tomatoes, fruit, potato skins, etc. She is always "talking" to us when we are outside, letting us know she wants some goodies. When I give them the scraps she charges the other cows so they can't get any.

We tell the other cows it won't be long until she is out of their hair. My brother named her Cheeseburger.

So Kim is outside yesterday and he sees a big brown lump on the ground near Cheeseburger and walked over to see what it was he was seeing. It was a baby calf! We couldn't believe it! We knew she was fat when she got here in the spring but just thought it was because she was still nursing and full of milk. Wrong!

So, looks like Cheeseburger will be with us for at least another year.

My brother will have to get his cheeseburgers some place else!

Indiana County Potter's Tour

If you love pottery, you won't want to miss on the Indiana County Pottery Tour. Nine potters open up their studios to the public to see their beautiful creations.The event will be held on October 16th and 17th 2010. The hours are from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
The names of the studios and potters included in the tour are:
1. Brush Valley Pottery - Josh Floyd 
2. FMS - Michael Smithammer
3. East Creek Studio - Ruth Ferrier
4.Hedman Pottery - Don Hedman  - Guest Potters: Greg Daniels, Randy Meyers, Eva Champagne, Ron Korcznski
5.Little Mahoning Creek Pottery - Nancy Smeltzer  - Guest Potter: Kyle House
6.Smicksburg Pottery - Betty Hedman  - Guest Potter: Yoko Seinko-Bove
7.Stoke Hole Pottery - Birch and Debra Frew - Guest Potter - Cathy Bizouski
8.Windblown Studio - Rita Nichols, Fred Wilber - Guest Potter - Scott Cooper
9. Wild Apple Pond - Janet Runyan

For directions or information about food and lodging, contact http://www.potterstour.com/ or call 814-257-9879

Delmont Applefest

Delmont is a small town near Greensburg, Pennsylvania.On main street there are a couple charming log cabins and if you like antiquing, stop into Salem Antiquities for some great treasures. There are also two more antique shops close by along Rt.66 between Delmont and Export. Schmidt's Springhouse Antiques and Tea At Home With Olivia.

Each year the town puts together it's annual Apple Festival. This year it rained but it didn't keep people from enjoying the festivities. People came from all over with thier umbrellas and hoodies to gawk at all the handmade items. Throughout the weekend there were various activities such as the Slovakian dancers and trades people showing off thier skills. If you find yourself in Pennsylvania in the fall, make the Delmont Applefest one of your stops. You will be sure to find some great crafts and my personal favorite, homemade fudge!

Nutty Bracelet

This is my most recent project. It is made with wedge shaped betel nut beads and an awesome square bamboo agate focal bead. Will be available in my Etsy shop some time next week.

Deer Antler Wine Set

My husband made this deer antler wine stopper and corkscrew set. I had it in my ETSY shop for only a few days before it sold! I had him make another set, and it sold soon after. We are now on the third set. He makes so many cool things! He has a more rustic style. I will be adding more items that he has made to my Etsy shop, as soon as he gets some free time! He was really encouraged and surprised that they sold.