April Showers... I mean.. Blizzards

I can't even believe this. What planet am I on?

Spring!

My house!

Yesterday:


Today:


Yesterday:


Today:


Weather Deer does not lie. It was 70 yesterday, and snowing today. I'm starting to discover that I can predict the weather here: Every day I have off from work, it will snow!

Hand Made Business Card Holder

Fantastico!

Made by the fabulous Agniezca of HAREandDRUM! Also- excitingly- made in Montana! Visit her *amazing* etsy store for more business card holders and mind blowing hand embroidered wall hangings. My favorite:


According to her information, Agnie (such a great name) designs and finishes, while her mother does the expert embroidery. I've done quite a bit of embroidery in my day, but I can't say I know how to do that! (or it would take me so long that I'd charge $1,000 for it. Grab it from her for only $25!)

A word about Rio brand tumblers

Worst barrel closure design imaginable. If I had to think of a way to make a container water tight in the least effective/ most annoying way, I couldn't do better than this glorified rubber band. The good news is that Rio Grande, as a whole, is a quality company that realizes they've made a horrible piece of equipment, so they're letting me return it past 30 days, and paying for my shipping to boot. So I ordered the Lortone tumbler, and I'll tell you how it goes on Wednesday when I get it.

Otherwise, I've made a couple dozen earrings and ordered or made just about all the jewelry furniture I'll need for my booth. And then, just to subconsciously prove to myself that I can't actually do anything for very long without disaster, I pre-cut all of my necklace chains 3 inches short. So guess what's arriving with my tumbler? 20ft of new chain. I'm still going to use the stupid pieces I have, I'll just have to design a new necklace/bracelet that needs 4 1/2" segments of chain.

New House, old clothes, approaching deadlines

My mom and dad came to visit last Thursday, and the boy and I are officially moved in to our new old house next door. Luckily, my mom LOVES to organize kitchens, unpack, and hang curtains, so I haven't had to worry about a bit of it while I've been working my bazillion part time jobs. It's a friendly house, for sure. I am not intimidated of it in the dark or scared of its creaks and moans, it's like an old friend. Things are still scattered around, and I'm not unpacked except for my studio, and it's not organized at that. There's a lot of paperwork to be done for the "business", and a WHOLE lot of making jewelry to be done for it... and a whole lot of booth design to be done for it... It's like a sinking ship. Every day I get deeper in the hole. On May 1, 2, and 3rd, I'm doing a craft show in Great Falls, that's actually taking place inside the big shopping mall. My first craft show ever, my first production line ever, my first independent business venture ever. I might be in over my head, but I'm fighting through it. I went shopping this morning for some display items I needed, receipts, packaging, etc, I have a little more stuff to order from my metals supplier, and then I need to make some friends to borrow stuff from.

Sneak peak of new production jewelry:



Sweet, sweet vintage clothes, blowing in the dusk breeze:

I can smell the mothballs from here

Wall

House Shots

Before:


After:


This house was really a piece of art. I feel bad having dismantled it.

"Spring" means nothing in Montana

More. Snow.

When I was in Virginia, I missed snow SO MUCH. I missed it every time I saw a blizzard reporting on the news, I missed it every time it rained, I missed it every time it got below 40 degrees. I am over it! Leave me in peace, weather! Or at least be like Montana's supposed to be and give me some windy 65 for a day or two before it dumps again!

In other news, the most exciting thing EVER:




Even the molds are cute! Thank you Joanna Gollberg, for suggesting GM Casters Inc. in Philly PA for all my casting desires. It took about 2 and a half weeks, and actually turned out to be less money than I expected.