Custom Anklet & Camping

Textured side

A long-time favorite customer/friend of Karena Bella commissioned me to create a very meaningful anklet for a graduation gift. As usual, my charms are reversible with a texture on one side and the word/phrase on the other.

Texture & clasp detail

Faith--Hope--Dream

Deb--the chain is sturdy yet not-too-chunky. It measures 8" with a 1" extender so it is adjustable up to 9" total, as discussed. I decided to go with just the 3 pearls, anything more looked like too much. It is simple and she should be able to wear it with everything. I hope you love it! Email me if you have any questions about it. Otherwise it will be in the mail this morning.

It should be a very fun weekend! My husband, dog and I are taking our first camping trip of the season! This is our first time camping with Amos (who I just discovered was trying to eat my bottle of travel shave gel...). He is going to LOVE it! He loves going on nature walks--the place we're going has beautiful trails and we camp right on a creek! I don't anticipate him barking at the wild life since boxers aren't a hunting breed. When ever he sees a squirrel or bunny in the back yard he just studies them for a while trying to decide if it's a moving toy! And they're gone before he can test any of his theories. I am a little concerned, though, about how well we'll sleep sharing a tent with a snoring/tooting dog.

I've got a long list to complete before 1:30pm. My husband said he'd leave without me if I wasn't ready : ) Gotta run--have a great weekend!

Green Light, Go!

I just love this ring! Crazy lace agate & sterling

I have great news! We were able to have another ultrasound last week and the baby is doing very well! We got to hear and see the heartbeat AND watch the baby wiggling and hopping around. I can't even begin to express how happy and relieved I have been. Now I get to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy.

Some other great news is that I brought in the msds info on all of the questionable chemicals I use in the studio and the doctor assured me that with a few simple precautions working in the studio should be fine. So I am getting back to it! I find that lengthy breaks refresh my creativity and am newly inspired. I'll keep you updated with my new work.

Take care--

Buisness Cards

Hi Everyone! I apologize for another long delay between posts. As far as I know (and feel) everything is still going well with the pregnancy. We have another appt. tomorrow so hopefully we'll get to hear the heartbeat. I continue to feel apprehensive about working in the studio with so many toxic chemicals - I am bringing all of the information I have about each chemical in question to the doc tomorrow. Hopefully he'll put my mind to rest about whether there would be any harm to the baby by working with them and I'll be able to get back to it. I am really starting to miss the process!

In the meantime I have been playing around with photography and my graphics program just to do something business related. I was going to have my new cards made but since I haven't been working with metals lately I have had the time to work on it myself. It's been so much fun! So far I am happy with the results--but it's a work in progress.

Take care -

Rest, More Rest and Planting a Garden

Thank goodness for cuddly puppies!

My life has been a bit pathetic lately. Go to work in the morning, come home, find something to eat that doesn't sound revolting, lay down for a while, get up and do some stuff around the house, lay down again, find something to eat that doesn't sound revolting, and (you guessed it) lay down again for a while. In between all of that I am constantly thinking about the business I have that has been completely neglected for the past two months. I am trying not to beat myself up too badly about that, but I am starting to wonder if I'll every feel motivated to work in the studio again!? I am sure I will, but for now I guess I need to focus on this little baby growing inside me. I desperately need to get some new jewelry to Seasons very soon. So one of these days I am going to force myself to work. I just don't feel like myself at all. I never thought I'd need so much prodding and prompting to make jewelry.

Caleb was our rock picker

It was a beautiful weekend! My sister and her kiddos came over and we worked outside all day Saturday. We cleaned out and planted our little gardens and did other yard work. It was a fabulous day. That evening we grilled out - my mom made an amazingly delicious vegetable pizza. I don't think a cheeseburger ever tasted so good!

Amos sat in a cool dirt hole and chomped on grass all afternoon.

Well, I really truly honestly hope to get some work done in the studio this week. I can't promise anything because I never know how I am going to feel from one moment to the next. But I am praying for focus and motivation. Truth be told I am a tad bit nervous to delve into all of the studio chemicals that say "known to cause birth defects in the state of California" on them. I am sure you metalsmiths know which ones I am referring to. That's the last thing I need right now : )

Alright, it's almost time to start supper - spaghetti, green beans, and garlic bread. Italian food has been sounding sooo good lately : ) Have a great night!

The Best Mothers Day Gift...

...Is finding out you are going to be a mom!

We lost several babies a couple of years ago and haven't "tried" since. We found out a couple of weeks ago that we are expecting unexpectedly : ) I have a fantastic doctor who did an ultrasound right away to see how things are going and it's all good! We saw the fluttering little heartbeat and strongly developing fetus (I totally cried right there on the table!). I'd post the ultrasound pictures but at this point it's just a little white blob. We were informed that the chance of miscarriage is less than 5% at this point so we are very HAPPY!

So it's no wonder to me now why I've felt so unmotivated the last couple months. Besides being absolutely nauseous, sick, and tired I am feeling good in my head and heart! I'm excited for Monday - I'm going to get back to work in the studio (finally) and life should be getting back to "normal". Hopefully I'll have some new jewelry to post soon : )

Oh - did I mention I'm due December 25th? Yikes!

Give Away Winner

Congratulations Brittney!!! Comment 7 was the big winner : )

I must apologize for being MIA as of late. Lots going on in the Armstrong household at the moment. I suspect things will be back to normal soon!

Until then...

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Growing up in a small town definitely has it's charms. Prescott, WI (population of approx. 3,800) is home to one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Ten years ago I graduated in a class of only 94 people (or somewhere close to that). It was one of those situations where you knew every one's name, how well or poorly they were doing, and what their interests were. It was the kind of school where your teachers would either look forward to or dread having you in class depending on the reputation of your older siblings.

My favorite subject in school was always Art. Our Art program was pretty basic, Art 1, 2, 3, 4 and advanced. The curriculum was comprehensive, we got to try a little of everything. I had the same art teacher from Kindergarten through High School, Mr. "S". He was one of those teachers students considered to be a friend. He was realistic and encouraging. We'd get to listen to the radio while we worked on our projects and would often get to have "pop days". While I was in Advanced Art he gave me his old mat board cutter and then the Art Award at graduation. He wrapped up a new sketch book in my painting smock (we called them "schmucks") and gave it to me as a graduation gift. There was a group of us, 6 girls and we all adored Mr. S. He let us sign our names underneath the stools we sat on and added our pics to his bulletin board when we graduated.

I remember from time to time old students would pop in for a surprise visit during class. Mr. S' face would light up when they'd come walking through the door. He'd always tell us who they were and how long ago it was he taught them. Then they'd sit and chat while we'd work on our projects. Today I got the chance to be that visiting student. However, it was an in-service day so in the place of students was Mr. S' golden retriever. It was surreal walking into that old art room. Hardly anything has changed, not even Mr. S. He is still the likeable guy I remember. It was fun to catch up and talk as adults. I learned that he enjoys making homemade wine and bread. And he ever so generously offered for me use of the casting equipment since I don't have any of my own. He invited me to come be a guest speaker to his Advanced students working in metals. I am really excited to see what they are working on. It should be interesting...we'll see how it goes. I guess you could say that for me he was that one teacher who inspired me to take the path that I chose. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll be able to call him Karl.

P.S. I looked and looked online and couldn't find a picture of the school...sorry!