1st Etsy Sale

I had a pleasant surprise when I read my email this morning...notification of my first Etsy sale!  Thanks Julie, enjoy your earrings.

Today is International Charm Day!

Yes, today is International Charm Day...next year I will be waiting for holiday.

My first charm is a cap from a bottle of Virgil's rootbeer...now you're probably thinking that's not beachy.  Several years ago we were camping at San Clemente State Beach and we sent the boys to the grocery store for supplies...they returned with was a case of Virgil's rootbeer, ice cream and a story about a delivery man giving them the rootbeer.  Of course dessert that evening was rootbeer floats and our gratitude to the delivery man.  If you've never had Virgil's rootbeer its divine.  (I put a small tube rivet in the cap...really loving riveting...just takes patience and practice.)


The second charm is a piece of seaglass found at Half Moon Bay during a Girl Scout camping trip.  I have many fond memories of camping with my daughter's troop...this is a small reminder of those trips.

International Charm Day

is Wednesday April 28!    The event is sponsored by Amber Dawn...she makes the cutest polymer clay charms be sure to check out her work.

Visit the International Charm Day blog at http://www.internationalcharmday.blogspot.com/ for more information. 

Guess you know what I will be doing today.  I love charm bracelets and necklaces...every Fall I put together at least one Autumn charm bracelet and at Christmas a charm necklace.  Maybe this will be the beginning of a Spring/Summer charm series.

I have been looking at my treasures from our annual beach camping trip...I think I will work on a beach themed charm.

Little Dresses for Africa

My mom and dad call me at least once a week to keep in touch...today my mom told me about her latest  project--"Little Dresses for Africa".  I checked out their website...this looks like a wonderful opportunity for those who sew to touch the life of a child and to spread God's love.  You can check them out at http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/.  The pattern on this website starts with a pillowcase, for patterns with fabric yardage go to http://www.nancysnotions.com/text/pdf/LittleDressesforAfrica_pattern.pdf.  Remember to use cotton for the dresses, synthetic fabrics are too hot.  They can also use shorts for the boys.

Send me pictures of the dresses you make and I will post them here.

I wanna be a cowboy, too

I was reading the blog of very talented jewelry artist Deryn Mentock and she had the neatest pictures of her new, very awesome cowboy boots...
decided I needed to show the world my boots.  As you can see mine are not fancy but I love them just the same...

and I love that you can see the stirrup marks on them ...the result of many happy times in the saddle.

This is Max doing what he likes best before one of those rides...he has no modesty.

And unlike Deryn I do want to be a cowgirl.

Another Purse

I made another purse this week.  This one is for my 16 year old daughter...it has a fun, young spirit...my daughter gave me alot of input while I was making it.  The material for the outside of the purse is the bottom of our family room curtain--it is a very soft heavy moleskin and the lining is a cute baby dinosaur fabric from the big box fabric store.  We raided my button collection and randomly sewed them on the front of the purse...one side has a loop for hanging teenage things on and a button.  I'm throughly enjoying making the purses...but...time to get back to metal work.

I'm so excited...

I have a follower and she's international!  Thank you Dana...I tried to check out your site but the translator leaves a lot to be desired.  I was able to understand that Dana is a jewelry designer too.  It is so cool to know that my blog is being read by someone very far away. 

I have been practicing tube riveting...had problems with the rivets splitting until I realized that I was making them too long...so short rivets = success. 

My husband brought me home a little MAPP gas and oxygen torch today.  I will be experimenting with it tomorrow.  I have some 10 gauge brass wire that I want to braze so that will be my project.  I'll let you know how it turns out.