Ah it's been a moment since I stepped away so much has changed in my life in the last few years. There has been major surgeries, changes in all areas. I have once again stepped into my jewelry studio to try to begin again that journey I started so long ago. At this moment I am focusing on stamping jewelry. I am so inspired by the love of Native American jewelry and have always been. Their art hits me right to my soul, I will have to work hard to get my creations that are so inspired by their pieces of wearable art to any kind of a acceptable level for myself. Its odd I have never been a perfectionist before but since I have started stamping the need for it to match up has become a strong factor in my work. Oh my gosh there is so much I want to do. I keep hearing in my head these strong words "Patience grasshopper patience" which of course has never been one of my many strong points in life
     Last few months i have worked on a set of Native American Inspired Silver Pearls some also call them Navajo Pearls but since I am not a navajo I don't think that is okay to call them that. A lot of my jewelry that I  make is inspired by this wonderful culture and art of the Native American People. I think it appeals to me so much that they made their art with such few actual tools that they didn't create themselves out of other materials. This is so fascinating to me, reminds me of my life as I was growing up seeing my father do this we always called it the "Make Do Thing". Going to town for spare parts was like a 15 or a 25 mile one way trip and a farmer doesn't have that much time to waste in a day so it make do with something else to fix this or that. What i have been creating lately

The Return of the Missing

Well hello everyone I am back in the saddle on the road to bringing my art out of the closet and it feels pretty darn good. Those of you who have traveled with me on this life journey know just about all of the ups and downs of my life on this journey. A couple of months ago I started to feel the pull of the studio and the cabbing shop. As we all know those of us who take these little hiatus from time to time always come back when the siren of creativity calls us we simply answer and I did just that. these are currently in my etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/NancysCabs?ref=search_shop_redirect. And yes finally got a new name, next step is a new banner to go along with it. I discovered some new rock called Kaleidoscope and its awesome. Working on some new cabs for the shop so welcome aboard if you are new and if you have been hanging with me on this journey of discovery of alot of different things that are metaphysical or spiritual or a free tutorial here and there or just in discovery of new metalsmithing techniques or rediscovering old ones. If you have any new things you would like for us to try out just let me know and we can all start a journey together. I am working on getting the metalsmithing studio up and running again so lets go folks start a journey together.

It's happened again another wild animal crossing my path

     What is up with all this I keep asking myself. My life has taken a lot of turns in the latter years in different directions so maybe I should expect the unusual to take place once again. I am a spiritual person, I practice mindfulness on a daily basis and I am always in search of peace of mind. So let me tell you this story.
     First of all this is a rough moment in my life the beginning of a new semester at college, hurt my back pulled muscles, lots of lil issues in my personal life going haywire. On my way from one of these haywire issues I encounter a wild boar on the side of the road. He just crosses over in front of me like it's nothing casually walks across the road and starts down the road in my direction that I am driving. I'm like wow is this unbelievable or what in broad daylight he's just walking around like its no big deal. Now me being the superstitious person I am just had to rush home and see what this symbolic meaning has in store for me. Well I'm certainly hoping he's a spirit guide for me because I sure could use all his strength right about now. Look it up very interesting reading. 

Life's Little Messengers

Do you often have an animal cross your path and wonder if it has a special meaning to you at the precise moment in your life? I do believe this to be true. Yesterday on my journey through my day I encountered a red tail hawk. Now you have to understand I do live in the country in the farmlands of America. John Deere tractors like kind of place. Anyhow I was on my way to meet someone and there he sits up on a lightpost. Now of course me being me has to stop and really look at him I mean come on mother nature at her finest in the greatest moment of a national geographic moment, truly it didn't mean anything that I was on a country road in the my area of the words I just stopped my car and checked him out . Now of course he wasn't to impressed by the human gawker so he flew to the next light pole and I followed stopping once again to gaze in his splendor.He was magnificent so strong and powerful looking I was very impressed. So on my way I went in amazement of having this encounter. Which brings me now to the topic of this post Beliefs life's little messages. Of course like any good computer info seeking person I searched to see what this could possibly mean for me. Well according to info seeking person like myself  the red tail hawk means to prioritize and eliminate distractions. Hmmm well this is definitely food for thought. I just wish I knew exactly which part of my life it applies to maybe its my whole life. Interesting, does anyone else know of any special meanings of a red tail hawk sighting. He really was awesome. I feel very honored that he allowed me to observe him so closely. 

Ah the pictures of Sue's visit

The stone is one of mine that I had previously cut it's a chrysocolla. This was made of copper and silver and brass. A mixed metal cuff. She went to her family reunion with a finished piece of new jewelry. 

WOW

Wow that is all I could think to call this post. The studio is up and running. There is still alot of tweaking it to get it just right but it is workable. Sometimes all you need in life is a friend to make it all better and she came my friend Sue from Atlanta. Its after midnight and we sit here making jewelry just like old times although we need our other friends, Amy, Nancy and Jill but we are managing. Its so much fun when you create with a a friend. She sits there just making jewelry like she has never stopped although she hasn't touch a bench in a few years its all coming back to her here in my lil make shift studio made of second hand stuff and casts off on a college student budget even though I"m 54 years old. lol. We are creating that's all that is important. I've made a pair of di x's gold earrings tomorrow I have to drive to town which is 30 minutes away to buy peroixide to make a mixture to clean the nu gold in not suppose to put it in pickle my other friend tells me.  Sue is working in cold connections of course she using one of my cabochons Ive created I will take some pics when they are done and post them here on the site. Hurrah I am happy in my new lil studio Im back to creating. 

I've Survived

     Yes I have survived all of it. All the drama has led me on a path of self discovery and man am I learning new stuff everyday. I won't lie and say its been easy cause it hasn't. Let's catch up shall we? The first semester at the new college has ended with me doing good in my classes which were Elementary Algebra, and a Psych class. Yes I had to start the whole Algebra process all over again since each college has rules about classes that are prep classes when you transfer. Oh well I will just learn it a little bit more . The college was good took my first online class man  I loved it so much easier than actually going to a class it was great. Now we are on to the second semester here , yes I'm once again doing an summer semester. Of course this time I am trying something new, taking three classes two online and one in the class room. Hopefully if all goes well I will be finished with core classes this time next year Hurrah.
     I am working again, which is a good thing, I am blessed to be able to enjoy my job. I work with a great group of girls all of us on our own personal missions in life. Very blessed in that area. I have made alot of new friends since I've moved here as well as meeting up again with old ones from the day of high school. which is really cool I think.
     I have also started dating again. Not really certain on what type of a relationship I want with a great man but some type of one. With school and work it doesn't leave alot of extra time for any fun but I am having the time of my life. Life is really good and I am happy and at peace mostly except for math. lol I have branched out and tried online dating. I have met alot of wonderful men and then some not so wonderful but life is full of that everywhere, this online dating thing seems to be the norm for the world so I am gingerly stepping my feet in and getting them wet. As I said I am having the time of my life.
  Finally my little studio is being put together once again. The lure of the jewelry siren has been calling for quite some time. I knew I would never be able to stay away for long. I wanted to settle in and get use to going to school and working before I started back in the studio. I know time will be a big issue for me so I am sorta of going to master some of the techniques I've already learned and try out some new ones. I think my creations will be one of a kinds mostly. I find repeating designs very boring and not stimulating. I want to always enjoy my creating not think its something I have to do. Still putting a few things in order so I am going to finish that up and start creating once again. Also life has blessed me with the online dating thing to meet a wonderful fellow artist who is also a jewelry artist. He specializes in casting so we will be working on several projects together so you will be seeing some of that cross these pages. I have also met a wonderful photographer who does some unbelievable work. Funny how we have all met through a online dating site see you can find friends everywhere in life if you look for them.
     On the home stuff I am starting my redecorating. I just completed my first DIY project which may not seem like much to some people but when you are on a shoestring budget its the small things that count alot. I replaced the toilet seat in the master bath yeah I know not to exciting but it was a lesson . I never knew there were screws under those little caps, lol. Its completed, its mine and I did it all by myself and I am darn proud of it. All I can say is check Pinterest its the coolest place ever I have alot of  ideas of stuff from there in my head check out my boards Nancy4133, bye everyone

Update on adventures of my life

    

Well let's bring you up to date on the happenings in my life. I went to Mt.Dora a d did the Art Stroll. I was very dissapointed as well as the other artists that were there. Maybe next time it will be better, but I did get a Art Walk or Stroll experience and had a chance to meet some wonderful fellow artists.
     I am back in school, yeah. I really enjoy going to school and meet ng all the intersting people there. I find it so funny when people I know find out that I am in school at the ripe old age of 53. They are shocked say things like oh I could never do that and don't you feel out of place with all the kids. At school everyone is excepted they really are. The kids are so nice to me and are always willing to help me out if I need info or study with me. They are the greatest. So you can go back to school at any age and feel assured everyone will accept and you won't feel out of place.
     And the last bit of my news I am dating again. I have decided that after a six months hiatus that it was time to step up and try it out. I have started accepting invitations before that I declined and its sorta nice. I am still determined to take time for myself, break ups are hard especially when they are not your choosing and you haven't done anything to deserve them. Karma is all I can say just simply Karma. I truly believe in her and the fact the universe will right itself.
     So its off to another semester and life. I am determined to work on my jewelry again thinking colorful stones or maybe setting some more faceted stones we will see.

Mt. Dora Art Stroll

     I will be participating in the Mt. Dora Art Stroll in Mt. Dora Fl on January 11th from 6-9pm. This will be the first show I have done since moving to Florida. The last few years have been full of changes and new experiences. I have gone through alot of personal drama and did the one thing I never thought I would do which is turn away from my art. It's really hard to try and create when your heart is broken even though you know deep down it will save you if you could just get it started again. Crazy huh? Have you had experiences like this? I am still working with learning new techniques that I will be sharing with you. I am now working with wire weaving. I want to take it  a step further and mesh it in with some metal forming techniques. I will be mainly working in copper and brass since this is a leaning experiment.I had a wonderful instructor Julia Woodman who always taught me to experiment in copper because it was so comparable to silver and cheaper to experiment with. I have long admired Biba Schutz  please take time and check out her work she is fantastic . I love what she does with metal. I am going at this technique totally self taught,  often I think that is a good way to go once you have a little experience in silversmithing it allows you such freedom with no rules to follow. So lets see where it takes me. 

   The earrings I made above are done in sterling silver wire. The instructions for these earrings was found in "step by step wire jewelry , spring addition 2008. There are all kinds of places online to buy tutorials and loads of additional information just use the search engine for wireweaving. Please check back as I further explore other design ideas and share them with you. 

The new techniques update

     Well as most of you know I am going on a mission to try out some new techniques. The is an ongoing journey for me, there is so much to learn in the metalsmithing creative process. So many new things to try to learn and master if you are lucky enough. Since the return to my farm I have very limited places to go to take classes so must of my learning is going to have to be self taught using the web, wonderful friends who are willing to pass on info and mostly just trial and error although having an established research library is a plus. That is something I personally think all of us need, I am constantly returning to these books as my thirst for knowledge is great. Although I will say as I become more knowledgeable in metalsmithing I discover that often books leave out information on some topics which I find rather annoying. 

    The technique I have been working with is stamping on metal. Sounds simple enough doesn't it well not quite so simple depending on which approach you take. Me I am a nonconformist I do not follow rules very well, to free spirited I guess. There are a some artists work that I find so inspiring http://hossrogers.com now his work is totally awesome, I don't know if Hoss just randomly knows how to place these fantastic designs of his or if he is structured and disciplined and measures where and when each stamp goes but his work is totally mind blowing and is one of the true inspirational artist to me. After seeing his work I knew I had to learn and try out this technique please go and check out his work, as well as http://www.etsy.com/shop/gallerydarrow Rochelle does stamping as well as etching on her jewelry which is fantastic. Her designs mimic mother nature. Rochelle was kind enough to give advice to me on stamping. I think its great when another artist is welling to part with information and not be scared that someone is going to steal their ideas to me this shows their strength and confidence in their abilities as artists gosh if I worked day and night it would take me a hundred years to even be close to the level of these two artist, their work speaks for itself.

     Any how yesterday  I finished up my first stamping project, with a little bit of success. I did get the stamps on the metal reasonably well. I did learn that I need to maybe mark where I want some of the stamps to go. At the bottom of my earrings I put a pair of horseshoes, well they did not match up very well but thats okay it's a learning experience and next time I will be a bit more careful. They were fun and I love the southwestern feel to them since I am spending more time in the studio I find my designs going more into the southwest area of design well I do live in horse country down here in FL and my farm is located in the rural farming area . I also finally stepped back into the cabbing studio so here are some cabs I created yesterday not bad since I haven't touched  the cabber in three months. Although I do not know what stone the brown one is , it was just a few slabs I had collected from somewhere when I went on my graphic shopping spree a few years ago. Anyone knows please tell me, lol. Oh I still need to add the hooks on the earrings. The other stone is Amazonite  one of my favorite stones. 

Trying out new things Project 1

This first project is STAMPING ON METAL:

20 ga copper scrap
stamping tools bought on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/themysticalportal?section_id=10902780
and another supplier I use http://www.etsy.com/shop/theurbanbeader
these are excellent suppliers highly recommend them!

Liver of sulphur in the bottle
hot water (warmed in the microwave then added LOS)

Brass hammer, I also use this one for punching out disks and dapping.


Here goes , cut the copper I just used a scrap I had since I am experimenting with this technique. I just randomly stamped the design now I know you can plan it all out and get it just so so and perfect but that"s not me. Sorry. I wondered about annealing the metal but thought that may have made the metal to soft to stamp on. Please always remember the hand should be at the end of the hammer when holding it to get the power from the blow to your object. I only hit once. I loved it.

Once the design was stamped I placed a cup of hot water in the microwave and heated it for 1 min , dropped in 5 or 6 drops of LOS(Liver of sulphur) into the cup and dropped in the practice piece. In just seconds it was black. I like using LOS lots of folks don't but I wanted the stamping to show up . Personally I use the green scrubby things you can get at the grocery store for removing the liver of sulphur and it also gives the metal a matte finish which I like instead of the shiny.

In the photos you can see the process I took ,
I see design ideas with this technique , If you have any questions please just ask and I will help if I can. 

It's Been a Moment in Time

Well finally I decided to reopen my blog. I know it's about time, Life often throws us little ups and downs and we learn to flow with them or mostly how to survive them. That's were I am surviving or at least making a heck of an attempt. I have moved once more how home to my farm where I am safe and secure, snuggled in the nature surrounding me . I am starting to pick at the jewelry supplies a little bit, feeling the pull and the lure of my bench. I just kind of brought all of it and just dumped it and tried to forget about it for a while. All artists know we must take a break from time to time, we are such emotional creatures and I think maybe a little bit more sensitive than most people. Our feelings are always so intense no half way measures for us, its full out total emotional impact. So I have picked myself up and dusted myself off, returned to cutting hair for a living, enrolled in college for the spring quarter. Now its time to do some jewelry. I think I am going to concentrate on the unique one of a kind stuff that I so like to make. I have bought some stamps lately may incorporate them into some designs we will see. I still want to flow with the southwest design ideas that constantly flow through my brain, begging to be created into jewelry. Gotta go dig out my stones I feel turquoise or maybe some chrysocolla coming out of the box to put into design elements. We will soon see.

     I am sorry I have been MIA for a moment in time, going through personal issues not of my creating I might add just the recipient of issues. I have returned to my farm to heal and get going with life once again, I simply refuse to ever move again. I have purged and then purged some more. I am a collector of stuff, oh yeah lots of stuff I really do need to make my art. This creative process is a reason to collect stuff. I really think if I cabbed all the rock I own it would take many lifetimes for me to do it all . Simply to much stuff. So I am getting rid of it. Just that simple , getting rid of it. I have already donated or thrown away stuff . As a fiber artist you collect yes fabric. After a moment in time you actually start making fabric of your own, gosh I was afraid soon I was going to be planting cotton , but I stopped in time. Now its rock to dispose of lots of beautiful colorful rock Oh well anyhow I haven't been kidnapped by aliens just busy relocating for the third time in four years but no more I simply refuse to move or fall in love anytime soon. I keep reminding myself I am a survivor .

Finally time in the studio

     The end of the summer semester is coming to an end, thank goodness. I will have a wonderful two week break in between this and fall semester of school and it's studio time, hurrah!!! As most of you know I seldom talk about my  family and friends although I am truly blessed with wonderful ones each of them. My daughter who has worked very hard at getting her RN license has finished up and she is now an RN. I wanted to create something for her that was special to her and this child always wants jewelry, she loves it as much as I do. Usually she gets the first of anything I create it's just the way it happens in life. I started a set of stacker rings for her some time back and have been adding to them one by one, well she's about to get a bundle of six of them. I know she will love them and its going to be so funny because she will see this blog and know they are coming with me tomorrow and she will be dying of anticipation , mmm I wonder how long before she calls me squealing about them,lol. You will get to see them first and here they are. 

Follow up on Doodling

There is this artist whose work I just love, its so moving and I get to follow the blog here on my site and I always enjoy the work so much that I am going to share with you. Oh how I envy the talent represented here I am so in awe. Now don't get me wrong this is art at greatness not like my lil doodles I do oh I so wish I had this talent oh boy do I. Enjoy the art of the site its totally fab!   http://pinkflamingo61.blogspot.com/

Do you doodle

     I love to doodle do you? Since returning to school I often find myself lost in my doodles, just making little designs for no apparent reason, concentrating just lost in my thoughts. My mind goes in a different place, a place of lines and dots and dashes , black ink and oh my favorite of things to draw , mmms. yes I love to draw eyes don't know why or even when I started doing this in my life I just did. My first memories of drawing were actually of just writing my name, absentmindedly on a piece of paper over and over again. Who knows what a shrink would say to this but oh well. Then one day I just started drawing eyes , lots of eyes. Now they did have great eye lashes and eyebrows but yes they were only eyes. Well now I find myself actually adding noses and mouths always in a side profile , Then suddenly one day I remembered my mom who was a fantastic drawing lady just drew faces like this, maybe somehow since I spent so much time with her this somehow translated over to me, Life is a strange thing at times. So one who can't leave well enough alone did a little bit of investigating and still working on the intrigue of the doodling . Well while trolling for info I came across this and I am going to order the book and see where it takes me ,  Check it out  http://www.squidoo.com/zentangles. When I get brave I will share some of my doodles with you. Till then keep creating its what keeps us all sane. 

Sometimes raising a family is REALLY hard

     I travel down a busy highway to go to school everyday and my highlight of the day is couple of events . One event is that I get to pass over a lake , truly it's always beautiful always every day even in the storms it is beautiful. My other favorite site is a nest on top of a light pole that I have watched from its very first beginnings. I first noticed some native floridian spanish moss hanging from it, that was my first sighting of what will follow. Now remember I pass by this light pole which is at a busy intersection of a major highway here in Mt Dora. Then the next sighting was by far one of the most fascinating. Here I am sitting waiting for the light to change , then up from the tree flies this big bird with a 3 foot limb a fat limb at that in his mouth crossing the intersection in the air, he just lands and sorta drops the limb onto the pole that is now becoming a little bit more full with stuff on top. Yes you are right he was building his nest or his wife was. This began my saga of daily birdwatching at the light , I actually hope the light will stop me . lol Now time has gone by most times one bird sits on the nest the other perches just a few light poles away from the nest. They have gone through intense heat and two tropical storms and daily rain and thunderstorms here in florida for about the last month I mean every day it rains and storms with the heat so high.They have endeared all of this daily. They live in a nest perched upon a super high light pole looking down on lots of traffic daily this is their life and they are raising their babies.I finally got a peek at the babies yesterday while stopped at the light. It was an amazing moment in my life. I want a live feed cam up on that pole so I can see them better, they have become my inspiration for life this pair of Osprey's. The babies are getting big now I have seen them approach the edge of the nest and my heart is so scared for them gosh I hope they don't fall out. I continue to watch daily  this lil families struggle to survive in the wild on a high light pole that is probaly not more than two feet wide and a gazillions of miles off the ground , above exhaust fumes and intense weather conditions and still they thrive, they have adjusted to living in our world somehow and we get to share the wonder and the amazement of their struggle to survive .

Finding cool stuff on etsy!

I simply love etsy. I love seeing all the really cool interesting creations people make and love all the old vintage treasures you find there. Etsy is the best entertainment around especially if you live in Mt Dora Fl. Another story for another day. Okay back to etsy , while I was doing my brain downer from homework I search etsy and check out facebook and my flickr and all this cool stuff that keeps me somewhat sane from doing math homework Algebra totally sucks trust me. So here is my coolest  find for the moment   http://www.etsy.com/listing/84586371/25-sprouting-seed-faces  I think these are the coolest thing I have maybe ever found on etsy, I love them gotta have some of these babies , are they the wow or what ? Made me laugh my self crazy I love them . Okay folks not making jewelry these days trying to get through this summer madness of school , for certain the last summer I ever spend at school . Duh? Oh well something else to put on my knownledge list of information in life experiences. Summer school gotta love it. 

Things that make you smile in life

Do you find a little smile sliding across your face ever so often, along with a lil chuckle. I often photgraph  unusual stuff. And sometime I am really lucky in my meandering through life travels to find some really cool stuff like these. I love the lil spotted donkey he is so cute, I have seen a spotted one before. I am working on a series of southwest jewelry and started collecting photos for inspiration, he is part of the series photos I am using to work from for inspiration. The flowers above him are Flocks, they grow wild here in Florida as a child I use to pick handfuls for my mom to set on the table, they always bring back such wonderful memories once I even tried to transplant some of course they didn't live, they have to live in freedom in the unconfined world . The colt and his mom are my cousins , every other year he has a colt  it is so wonderful to watch the baby grow up, he keeps them by the road so all of us in the community can be apart of his growth I am sure his mom just loves us pulling off the road to admire her baby. The tree lined road is the road you turn onto that will eventually lead you to our farm, I have always loved coming home after traveling around in the world to this tree lined road I always felt like I was finally coming home when I turned on the road. I hope you enjoy my photos I am not a photographer oh I would love to study photography don't get me wrong I just don't have any extra time to give to doing it, time is in short order in my life right now. I hope everyone has a wonderful week this week, I am still trying to find my way back to the bench it's been week since I Terrible I feel the loss greatly. Take care. nancy

Ah the summer begins

Oh how I wish I could take off for the summer, maybe just jump in a  car and just travel like a gypsy. Go places I have always wanted to go to. As I get older I think of the famous 'bucket list". Do you have one ? There is so many things I want to do and places I want to go, gazillions of them. I think I should try to accomplish a few of them this summer , this is something I will have to ponder, now that I am a student and just doing my etsy shops money is really tight and darn it always seems to take money to do stuff doesn't it. I will have to think on this one. Maybe just one thing on my list something cheap there must be something. 

I haven't been spending much time in the studio lately. Still messing with my pods, I can't seem to get myself satisfied with them somehow. I look at them and now they seem big for earrings anyhow to me they do. but a group of them in a pendant would be cool, I saw something like them in a design thought way in a zine and I could join them for a pendant, interesting thought, but since I am not into to making replicas of something to many times that may present a problem, they are suppose to be fun an experiment not something to stress over.   The one thing I hope to be able to do this summer is some more experiments on techniques , I am such a mad scientist when it comes to jewelry. I love to experiment see how far my imagination will take me. Time of course is my enemy is it yours too? Does anyone out there have any ideas on how to successfully manage this wild beast called time. I have just started my summer semester in school and once again math is the demon class I have to take. I so wish I could start to enjoy it but not happening ever I don't think , now I do enjoy learning and mastering the formulas of how to solve something. I must admit to this, but since I have two more semsesters of it I had better adjust to it hadn't I. There is so much studying to be done in math class, every day one must give it its due time of study. The college where I go has a fantastic learning center which is where I always do my homework so if I get stuck there is a tutor to help out man is this a life saver. whew. and I have a study group which also helps. The problem is there is no extra time left over and I have picked up this horrible habit of watching Law and Order and all those other shows like that on TV , I don't ever watch TV so what is up with this? Its like brain dumping, no thoughts , just watch no brainer I am getting to like this to much, so no bench time . I must make time for my bench , maybe I need a schedule that could perhaps help. Do you have any ideas you could share with me I would greatly appreciate it if you would send them to me truly . So in the meantime I will just try to discipline myself to making a little bench time here and there this week. After all this is how I make my living , making stones and jewelry duh, Nancy get with it. lol