Thank you.

Just wanted to thank Mary Louise Schumacher at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. I was cruising around twitter the other day looking for art people in Wisconsin and started following her. She has the best links on her twitter seeing that she writes about art. Well she called me and I unfortunately wasn't there to answer but she let me know she was doing a little blurb about the shop in the paper. One of my customers from the Milwaukee area called me yesterday all excited that I was in her paper! It was a very nice little shopportunities feature. A big thanks to you Mary Louise or maybe you just go by Mary...I don't know but thank you.

Inside Persimmons.

Just a couple of pictures of what Persimmons looks like inside. Come on in and check it out.

A few things.

I keep getting these surprise packages in the mail and I love it! This is the second ATC I have gotten in the past few weeks that comes in an unmarked handmade envelope that is just as beautiful as the card inside. They are not signed and there is no forward address. If this is you please tell me so I can return the favor...or just keep sending them to me...I don't mind.

I got a new book by the insanely talented Sally Jean. She is a soldering genius! Her book is amazing go and get it. It inspired me to get out my stained glass stuff and make some stars. I can't decide if I want to leave them shiny or patina them black. What do you think?

We had our first real snowfall yesterday. My little peanut here was so excited when she looked out the window I thought she was going to faint. She must have nagged me 300 times while I was getting ready to hurry up. We went out to shovel and she immediately layed down to make her first snow angel of the winter....many more to come I am sure. I want the snow to melt though because every time we are outside now I get bombed by snowballs...little stinker.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving.

There is so much to be thankful for...

My wonderful husband who I love more and more everyday.

My adorable little girl who I can't imagine living without.

My friends who always encourage and support me.

My family...without my Mom, Dad, Sister and Brother what else is there really.

My dreamy life that I some days can't even believe I am living.

Hope you all have as much to be thankful for and more! Have a beautiful day!

I love playing with metal

I know I often talk about new addictions. Well playing with metal has to take the cake. I had sooooo much fun making this today that I did something I rarely do...I immediately listed it on etsy! I just had no customers and felt I needed to share it with someone. I think only like 12 people looked at it but hey. I was inspired to try it out again by that great book by Jane Ann Wynn.

I took some pretty thin copper sheets and created a box. Then I soldered the whole thing to give it strength an a cool look. I drilled some holes on all sides and then strung beads all over it. Seriously just typing about it made me giddy because it was so much fun. I love mixing things up and the result was very satisfying. I can't wait until Monday to get back in the studio!!!

Holiday on the Lakeshore.

I had a great show this weekend. I sold quite a bit of stuff and gave out over one hundred business cards to people who have never been in the store.

I was also lucky to be next to my good friend Heather! She makes beautiful cement leaf castings.

I've been a busy little elf this week.

Getting ready for Holiday on the Lakeshore. I tried to make a few smallish things to sell. So I whipped up some thread ornaments...Just $4

Some cute Santa keys...just $4 (Thanks Mary)

Kitschmas Wreaths using great old plastic florals, laminated old cards and old ornaments. $30

And last but not least festive soaps. I have had all the makings for soap for a long time and thought little gift soaps would be perfect for the show. I made candy cane, hollyberry and white tea. These will be $4 too.

I am soldering a few holiday pendants and ornaments this afternoon too. I am excited to do a show. I even kind of set up a display before...I never do that. Hope to see you at Fox Hills this weekend!

Just a reminder don't go to the store...I won't be there. But do come after the weekend because I rearranged and it is so completely different. I love watching my regulars walk in and freak out a little. The checkout is in the front of the store now.

...

I found this picture from Halloween. I didn't think any of them turned out. Such a cute little fairy princess. I decided to try black hair that day.

Hey just so everyone knows the STORE WILL BE CLOSED THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!

I will be at Holiday on the Lakeshore at Fox Hills in Mishicot this weekend. You should come, it's fun.

Playing with my pictures.

I thought I would give the white background a try and it seems to be working. I have had a few more views on my new items. It is much easier to edit the photos when there is a white background. I just took them on my windowsill in the morning light. I then bumped up the brightness and contrast in my photo editing program. I think they really do show off my gems a little more...what do you think?

He loves nuts.

And apparently enough to risk his life in crazy dog's yard by breaking into the garbage I set out this afternoon for pickup tonight! I had about a dozen almonds in there that fell on the floor and he must have smelled those little nuggets of squirrel heaven from far away. So cute. The bag actually ended up falling almost on top of him and he hasn't been back to claim the rest of the nuts yet. I think I will just pull them out and put them on the fence where he will be safe from the dog.

Sculpt.it... So much fun!!!

So I got this no bake sculpt*it quite a bit ago but kinda forgot about it. The other day when Molly was with me at the store playing with playdough I was reminded of it, got it out and played right along with her. SO MUCH FUN!!! I used laces, stamps, letter punches and all sorts of other textural things. I came back to these great dried pieces today that are super duper hard. I played with painting them, distressing them and other fun techniques and this is the look I came up with that I loved the best. They are going to make great focal points for necklaces. I think I found a new addiction.

Great like I need another addiction!!!

Happy Halloween

Unfortunately no pictures from trick or treating turned out so I don't have any of my little princess fairy but I do have this one from a pumpkin festival a few weeks ago in Door County. It was so much fun trick or treating this year with her. Last year she was still just a tad too little but this year she was just giddy. When we were finished she gave us both a kiss and said "thank you Mommy and Daddy for taking me trick or treating it was so much fun!!!!" She is such a good little girl. We are pretty lucky people.