MOVING CROSS-COUNTRY

MOVING OUT DAY AUGUST 7TH, 2008

I can't believe that I've been in Anacortes Washington for a month today! With all the unpacking and painting I've been doing on our new home, not to mention the fact that I was without internet for almost 3 weeks, it's been difficult to keep up on my blog.

I thought I'd share a few pictures of our trip half way across the country from our home in the rolling hills of Eastern Kansas (Kansas City), to the flat prairie of Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado, through Montana and Idaho and finally into the Cascade Mountains and West Coast of Washington State. In all, we drove about 2100 miles in four days, sometimes being in the Jeep for about 10 hours ! Ace, our cat, was a real trooper and did very well staying in his carrier the whole time while in the car. Fast food was the only option for lunch as we didn't want to leave him in the car with temperatures in the 90's and no shade!

Here are the pictures. Not the best since most of them were taken through the windshield of a vehicle, but it will give you an idea of the changing terrain.

Windmills generating electricity on the Kansas Prairie

Ace looking pretty wide eyed wondering why his life is being turned upside down!

A bright end to a rainstorm in Colorado

Somewhere in Idaho, coming out of the Rocky Mountains (I think!)

Not such a shabby place to be stopped for road construction and a quick picture - going into the Cascades of Western Washington State.

Home in Anacortes, WA- A typical view while driving around town (on a not so typical sunny day when you can see Mount Baker!)

Hopefully this will give you an idea of how far our family traveled in such a short period of time. We're enjoying being back where we can see the mountains and the water everywhere we go, being closer to my side of the family and dear friends, while enjoying the slower pace of life in our special little town. Naturally there have been a few adjustments, like getting used to the cooler temperatures, missing the summer Kansas sunshine, colorful birds and butterflies, being closer to my husband's side of the family, and the awesome shopping of a big city, but I think we're all very glad to be home!

Making a PMC Button Pendant

DISCOVERY:
This isn't as much a tutorial as just a way to share my latest discovery in working with PMC or Precious Metal Clay. A few months ago I bought some silicone molding compound called "Amazing Mold Putty but had never really found a way to put it to good use. Recently when I was sorting through some things in my sewing room (actually packing for my big move) I came across this beautiful old button. I don't even remember why I bought it or what garment I must have used its mates on... or maybe it was a button that belonged to my mother. I really don't know, but immediately I thought that it would make a great mold for a PMC pendant.

IMPROVISE AND CREATE:
Problem... because PMC shrinks by 10-15% I knew it would be too small after firing, so instead of using the mold I cut around the circle to make a "stamp" instead. After impressing my stamp in the wet clay I added small strokes to create a "pie crust edge" to give it a larger diameter. The picture above shows my stamp (mold) ,the original button, and my pendant before firing. The original button measured 5/8" and my pendant ended up being 5/8" with the added edge to give you an idea of the shrinkage factor.

OXIDIZE:

The picture above is a great example of how the oxidizing process really brings out the details in your silver piece. You'll notice in the after picture there is so much more depth to the floral design, plus as an added bonus it looks much more "vintage" like my button!

DISPLAY:

The last picture shows my new addition to my Etsy shop, Beadin'ByTheSea called "Button Box Treasure".

MORE INSPIRATION:

Now, of course I've looked through some of my clothes and I've discovered one more "pendant worthy" button! I have a feeling you'll be seeing a few more of these designs in my shop. Stay tuned. Of course I have to move first. Yikes in 5 days!

See you later!

SANTA COMES TO ETSY FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I really should be packing but I promised that I would write about the "Christmas in July" sale that is happening throughout Etsy. Many shops are having sales on their entire shops or stocking up with Christmas Items. You can check it out here. In the search bar, make sure you type in "christmasinjuly" and you'll find all kinds of neat stuff, I guarantee you! It runs from July 21- 31, 2008 so get going and have your Christmas shopping done early this year.

With my big move coming up I haven't been able to do too much but here's what I have for my Christmas in July Sale for my shop Beadin By The Sea. I made some of these Christmas trees last year for gifts but found it very difficult to find all the "parts" especially in late Fall as many places were out of stock. I ordered early this year so I would be better prepared. I thought they looked so pretty all hanging together in the different colors. And here they are on my new "model".

And... Merry Christmas in July!

SAME TIME, LAST YEAR

I'm in the mood to "muse" this morning. Would you like to "take a walk" with me and my thoughts?

Do you ever stop to think about what you were doing the same time last year? Or two years ago? I think we tend to do this more when we've had significant changes in our lives. As a family, our lives have gone through a few twists and turns the last few years!

It occurred to me yesterday as I was making a new necklace to add to my Etsy shop. Someone suggested to me on the forums that I name it "Hawaiian Sunset" because of the tropical flower pendant I had made, combined with the colors of pink, peach and tangerine orange. I realized that this very day last year we were on our way to the beautiful island of Kauai for a much needed vacation. But that's not all! Last year at this time we had just lost our beloved little kitty named Cleo. We had moved from Washington State to Kansas in March and were just settling into a new house. Well where does that lead to now?

...A total turnaround! It sounds crazy, but we have sold our house and are moving again in a few weeks. Yikes! Talk about twists and turns! There are a lot of things we love about Kansas, but we miss our little town in Northwest Washington more. I will miss the Midwest thunderstorms, the fabulous shopping in Kansas City, the bright sunshine, the many varieties of colorful birds, wide open spaces, the beautiful manicured golf course neighborhood I live in, and mostly being a little closer to my husbands side of the family! I have to say I will not miss the summer heat and humidity, the thunderstorms (I know I said I like them too), the gigantic bugs, the busy traffic, freezing cold winters and a few other things I won't mention, but all in all it has been a great experience for me. I have always lived on the West Coast, either in British Columbia or Washington.

Take a moment and think about where you've been, where you are now and where you'd like to be a year from now. A whole lot can happen in a year. Just ask me, I really, really know!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!

Wishing everyone a safe and fun, Fourth of July! I am a Canadian living in the USA but I can still celebrate the birthday of this wonderful country (yes, I know it has its flaws!). These photos were taken at a fireworks display in our little town of Anacortes, Washington in 2006. For a little town of about 15,000 people they put on quite the display. We would go down to the water with our hot chocolate and popcorn (and blankets!) and see the show.

This year I'll still be in Kansas, but we have reason to celebrate this week because we finally sold our house last Monday after being on the market for 5 months. If all goes well, we'll be back in our beloved little seaside town by August and I'll be down by the bay watching the fireworks in 2009!

As a way of celebrating in my Etsy shop Beadin By The Sea, I have made some "Celebration Earrings". Check it out, you might just find something you can't live without! These earrings are free with a purchase from my shop but only until midnight tonight.

I'M FAMOUS !?

Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since my last post. I really haven't given up on blogging. Lots of things have been going on lately primarily having to do with trying to sell our house in Kansas in this dismal housing market. But enough of the gloom and doom for today... I was excited to find out yesterday that I was featured on a blog dedicated to showcasing artists called "Mindless Pursuits". I applied a little while ago and yesterday was "my turn" to shine. Please read about it here!

I'm wondering if this bracelet should become my signature piece. I sold one to a gal on Etsy and this is her feedback; "A beautifully crafted bracelet that really wears like a poem on my wrist! I LOVE IT and will be back to buy another of your pieces. Thank you so much".

My reaction: "Pretty cool", and then I made another one for my shop!