Wild Life

So I am out in my studio at the bottom of my property yesterday afternoon - it's a gorgeous day, sunny, 30 degrees (mid 80's for those south of the border!), wind in the trees, radio burbling away in the background, and I am happy at my bench creating some new rings and necklaces.....

I look up and there's a HUGE racoon coming into my studio - I leap about 4 feet in the air and scream, racoon takes off up the nearest tree (60 foot oak) and then all hell breaks loose!! He has disturbed some birds who are nesting, obviously he is threatening their young brood - they are dive bombing him and creating the loudest cacophony you can imagine... this goes on for about half and hour or more. I am feeling so guilty, its my fault the racoon is up there...

Later I hear more mayhem from across the yard - my cat Moby is having a field day with an injured young bird - of course this I can deal with - Moby is chased off and the wee bird recovers enough to fly off. Is this the same bird family traumatised earlier?

Can't wait to visit the peace of my studio again this afternoon...at one with nature..

Tagged!

I have been tagged
(thanks reneedesigns!)
So seven facts about myself:

1. I have a neurotic cat with an electrical wire fixation named Moby (assoc. Dick, Starbuck, black coffee....black cat)
2. I love travelling to remote corners of far flung countries for extended periods of time
3. I have a serious chocolate habit
4. I have zero talent for languages (and have recently gone deaf in one ear - perhaps I really am meant to focus on the visual)
5. I have never been so happy since escaping the clutches of the corporate world. I do not miss cubicle life or middle managers in the slightest!
6. I adore HOT spicy Thai curries (followed by a small piece of the highest quality chocolate I can afford!)
7. (OK - two out of six facts encompass food, perhaps that says more than anything!) - I am writing a cookbook based on favourite family recipes of ancestors and relations, illustrated with their photos. (Make that 3 of 7.....)

I will now as per the "game" tag the following 3 talents:
simonewalsh, flickaalice, allthingslittleput

Leather & Gold

My next project, beyond the simple organic rings which are my passion, will be some organic plain and tactile pendants linked with leather.

They will evoke the wild west and the earth and will be simply irresistible for those in love with ergonomic shapes.

Simple. Sexy. Soon!

Playing With Metal

So my latest love is palladium white gold! - when burnished to a matt satin finish its just glows and vibrates a gorgeous gun metal grey.

Some history of white gold
White gold has always been popular as a platinum alternative. It was traditionally alloyed with nickle, but this brought along with it some unwanted cousins: irritating allergy risks and a brittleness that was difficult to work with.
There is also the issue of plating with rhodium to improve the colour.

So, a gold alloy was developed using palladium, which is a great gold whitener. It's non-allergenic, it does not need plating, and as I mentioned already, the colour is epic!
It is not inherently brittle, and it works great with the drill.

I will be posting a cross in my store made of this most delicious of metals; check by the end of the week!

Jewelry on Etsy Team

I have just joined with a wonderful team of fellow jewelry artists at etsy under the team name JET.

We plan on participating in cross promotional and cooperative activities as well as providing a great way to find some eclectic and talented artists.