New items coming

Okay, so I'm in progress on 3 more pieces of furniture: 2 chairs and a small table. The chairs will have some fabulous fabric added with a fresh coat of paint. The table is a favor to someone else and will get a cool graphic. If it's warm enough, I should be able to get them done soon. Lately it's been too damp or cool to paint, and I'm worried about how well the paint will dry. Cross your fingers--it could happen SOON!

Design*Sponge

One of the things I love about the design*sponge blog is the weekly before & after entries that people send in. Some changes are subtle and just right, others are major overhauls--both are always fabulous in their own ways. One artist, who has a shop called knack studio always has furniture I covet. For one, I always wish I had found a TLC-deprived piece of furniture (she always finds GREAT pieces), and two, I am almost always crazy about the results of her work.
Be sure to take a look. And if you haven't yet discovered design*sponge, you better get crackin' because it is full of great info on home design, shopping, and more.

Jewelry Show

I was scouring message boards for the LA area looking for some upcoming shows, and found this one.
I've never been before, but it sounds like it will have a lot of great stuff. It's in March, so you have plenty of time to plan! I'm inking it onto my calendar as I type!
Below is only a PARTIAL description that is included in the link below:

"select dealers will offer a wide variety of gem materials, beads and tools. PLS members will demonstrate lapidary crafts, silver work, wire-wrapping, gemstone carving, and beading. For the kids, the “sand scoop” game offers an opportunity to sift for gems and other prizes."

GEM, MINERAL, AND JEWELRY SHOW
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/eve/999833672.html

A Wee Gem

Here's a mini project I just finished up. A little paint and gold paint pen, a printer, and glaze was all I needed to spruce up this bare trinket box from a craft store. I thought that this would be a nice little compliment to some of my jewelry, especially if giving it as a gift; then it would be more like a complete package. The gold vine design was sketched out first with a very pale white pencil, then gone over with a gold paint pen. That was the only tricky thing about it. Aside from having to wait for the paint to dry, it only took me about a half hour.

Finally

Well, I am happy to say that I've had a productive week thus far! I'm finally getting around to painting two more pieces of furniture, one for me to sell, and the other for someone else. I also added to my jewelry a bit, which is good, although I definitely have more to do.I am so lucky to have a husband that supports my in my quirky quest to create, create, create!

Also, I've been added to a great site full of Moms, called MOM MADE THAT, which supports women who are trying their hand at working at home. Take a look at the site: Amy offers a slew of vendors and information that will interest you, I'm sure.

AND if you live in or are interested in goings-on in the Los Angeles area, take a virtual stroll thru Baby Friendly L.A.

That's it for now--I have more creating to do!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Where have all the days gone? Zooming past me, apparently! A lot has happened since my last post: a new President sworn in, bailouts, nervous groundhogs, naughty baseball players--something for everybody. Some items will affect me more than others. But something that DEFINITELY affects me is that Domino magazine has closed its doors. The THIRD "shelter magazine" that has succumbed to the many pressures the media business faces. Relentless competition and constant upgrades and changes in how people get their news and ideas. (The other two aforementioned magazines were Martha Stewart's Blueprint and House & Garden). Woe is me. I always looked forward to seeing the fresh ideas and trends they brought. I even had dreams (aka, delusions) of someday submitting one of my home decor pieces, in hopes of getting it highlighted. Another thing I liked about these three magazines were the fact that they were perfect for winding down at the end of the day. It was often part of my evening ritual to cozy up in bed curled up and ready to flip through and savor every page. I loved the ease it would bring to mind. Ahhhhh....

(SMACK!!) Okay, that rattled my skull enough to shimmy my brain back into reality. So where is my inspiration gonna come from now? Well, I guess I'll have to rely on--wow--Nature and God and stuff. Fantastic botanical gardens; patterns in a cultural display in a museum; my daughter, picking flowers;nighttime and the moon; dusk; sunset; the ocean; the mountains where I live; a thrift shop or two Yeah...I think that's a good plan.