Artin' it up...

Every Thursday is "ladies day"... can't remember if I've explained the origins of ladies day here on the blogeroo or not. For the sake of eliminating confusion, here is the rundown (if you've heard this already, feel free to skip past this next part)...

Probably almost 7 years ago or so, in the interest of getting my Grandma out and about one day a week, my mom started picking her up every Thursday to go out to lunch and to run any errands either of them may have had to run. When we moved back home after living in Delaware for a few years, 2 month old baby Lillie and I were invited to come along on the Thursday excursions. Shortly thereafter, my sister was included and from then on, Thursdays became known as "Ladies Day". Even though Grandma has been gone for a few years now, we have carried on the tradition and to this day, every single Thursday is Ladies Day. I tell ya, just knowing I'm gonna have at least one day during the week where I will for sure get to get out of the house is a GODSEND!!!!!

This past Thursday my brother Chris and his little girl were able to join us (yes, I know Chris is not a "lady" but we do occasionally allow men to join in the festivities). I have a friend who is an AMAZING photographer and since she had one of her photos on display at our local art center, we decided to go there before lunch, check out the photo, and let the cousins play for a while in the kids corner.

The following are several shots from our adventure...

Me trying to trace my face in the mirror...

My graphic designer brother showing off his "way cooler than anything you could make" flower creation on the magnet wall... he doesn't really have crossed-eyes...

My sweet magnet-wall kangaroo (in your FACE Chris!!!)...

Muscles (you should have seen the pics that didn't make the cut) :) ...

Trying to stick Baby Sophie to the magnet wall...

Taking a breather on the orange couch...

The light-up lego table... I couldn't resist...

YAAAY!!!...

Following the maze...

Looking up...

Ok, I am going to BED!!!... tomorrow starts a new work week and what better way to kick it off than with a day of jewelry-creating!!! I can think of nothing finer... unless that jewelry creating is accompanied by sipping something from Starbucks... which could be arranged...

Happily,
Emily

"Peek at my Pad" Thursday #19"...

This is a shot from earlier this morning when we were getting ready to leave the house... notice the girls are wearing their heavy winter coats again... and if you squint hard enough, you can just barely make out the fact that it is SNOWING OUTSIDE.
It's SPRING ALREADY!!! AARG!... though I am NOT in western Soutn Dakota (or northern North Dakota for that matter) so I suppose I really don't have anything to complain about...

Happily,
Emily

What's green or red with chains all over?...

Ok, as promised, here are some better, more complete shots of the "Green Peas" bracelet I made a few weeks ago...





(apparently my habbit of biting the inside of my mouth is a little worse than I thought).


AAAND... in the interest of remaining mysterious, here are a few peeks at the "heat" bracelet I mentioned yesterday... apparently I take some sort of sick pleasure it torturing people...



Now, to be fair, I CAN'T very well be responsible for sending any of you into a bracelet overload-induced COMA now CAN I?!??? I just wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

hehehe...

Happily,
Emily

Busy little bee...

To be truthful, I didn't realize just how much I had made between my 2 work days last week, yesterday, and today, until I gathered it all together to take pictures!

In an effort to conserve space, here it is all in one spot. :) Some are completed custom orders, others will be available in my shop soon!
In addition to all this, I completed another crazy bracelet... this one features the colors associated with "heat"... pics to come... :)

Happily,
Emily

This little guy...

... thought one of the lights I use for photographing my jewelry was a little window out to a very sunny day and tried no less than 15 times to fly through it, only to bump into the bulb over and over, falling back on top of my light box.Gotta give him points for tenacity?!??

I have a few more pieces to work on during my Tuesday workday and once they're finished I'll show it all off. :)

Happily,
Emily

Artillery upgrade...

When Mr. G walked through the door yesterday, the first thing the girls did was show off their new guns (see blog post from yesterday). He was, OF COURSE, quite thrilled at the prospect of actually, FINALLY, having some "boy toys" in the house, but upon further inspection, it was IMMEDIATELY decided that the foamey-dart guns purchased from the dollar section at Target would just not suffice.

We packed up and headed out to dinner together (always an adventure) and afterward headed IMMEDIATELY to the closest place that we knew would have just what we were in the market for...

The following are a few photos of the happenings once we arrived back home...

These just happen to be "China guns" as well :)

OK!... of to the curtained off section of my basement, otherwise known as "my happy place" to finish a few loverlies!!!

Happily,
Emily

PS HAPPY SPRING!!!!!... I though it would NEVER come...

"Peek at my Pad" Thursday #18"...

I'm gonna kind of fudge a little and make this post a 2-fer...

Half "Peek at my Pad" and half "Kids say the Darndest Things"

This is a picture of my sweet Isabel standing on the toilet in the main-floor/little girls bathroom. The walls are a canary yellow color that I don't know I would have chosen again if I had to. I think I would have gone with something a little less... electric (this picture really doesn't do it justice)...She is checking out her new faomy-dart gun we got at Target today for $1. Purple is her FAVORITE color so naturally, we had to get it. Lillie got a blue one and their conversation on the way home went like this...

Isabel: "Hey Lillie, what does my gun say?"

Lillie: "It says MADE IN CHINA"

Isabel: "OH WOW! CHINA?! I ALWAYS WANTED to go to China... and now... (said in a very slow, quiet, sinister voice) I have a China gun".

I couldn't help but bust up at that. :)

Happily,
Emily

A few of my fav-o-rite things for today (whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens excluded)...

(In no particular order)...

- A picture I found of three little women all in their braids

- The fact that for the first time yet this year, I got to go outside with NO SORT of coat/jacket/heavy sweater/etc for warmth sake (I did however wear a scarf, but that was strictly a part of the ensemble).

- ...and due to said high temperature, I was also able to OPEN MY WINDOWS for the first time this season (something I've been DESPERATE to do).

- My hair curled up a bit, just like I asked it to (and yes, that is a plain Christmas wreath on the door... still...)

- New earrings (perhaps for moi... haven't decided yet...)

- And of course, I couldn't leave this off the list...I hope you're enjoying some "favorites" today!!!

Happily,
Emily

Snippets...

I recently finished a bracelet that I've been wanting to work on for some time now. This is the second bracelet along these style lines that I have made and I am VERY pleased with the finished product. The first bracelet I made like this was one I made for myself with a VERY special cab that was a gift from one of my absolute MOST FAVORITE people every to walk the face of this planet. She is even more favorite than dark chocolate and Starbucks. :)

I am always stacking up and layering bracelets and necklaces, not only because I like how they look, but because I also love the little jingle jangle you get when one piece of metal bumps into its neighbor. When I made my bracelet, I set out to create one piece that looked (and sounded) as if it were many different pieces, as well as having a lot going on so that it would look lovely and interesting whichever direction it may happen to turn. This one is quite similar.

As I have mentioned before, I also love the idea of having a wearable piece of inspiration. A few words imprinted onto a piece to give that piece meaning, deeper than just it's outward aesthetics. A word or phrase, tucked away, where perhaps you are the only one who even knows it's there. This piece features that as well... a message on the back to be shared soon...

Sadly, I wasn't very happy with how most of the pics turned out (it's harder than you'd think to take a close up shot of a bracelet, while you're wearing it) so I'm planning on photographing it again. In the meantime, here are a few snippets to ignite your curiosity...

Happily,
Emily

See what I mean?...

Every Friday I teach art at the school where my kids attend (can't remember if I've said that before or not...). One of the classes was going to be finishing up a project involving the little circles left behind when you take a paper punch to a pile of construction paper. I had a stack of paper and several little cups to punch the dots into and this is the result of my preparation for the class... see anything that reminds you, oh I don't know, perhaps of a blog post from a few days ago?????I looked down at the little color-coded cups and remembered I had my camera in my bag. The kids were coming in for class and I said something like:

"NO! WAIT! DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING! I've GOTTA get a picture of this!"

After a few puzzled looks, several of them started laughing... not sure if it was that I was freaking out about needing to take the picture, or that I was standing on a chair to get the shot.

I'm thinking I may just post a photo like this every once in a while... every time the urge to "color-code" hits and the result is pleasing to the eye. :)

I hope you are all having a loverly weekend! I know I am! The temp is currently 43 degrees (after getting up to only 12 degrees the other day) and they are calling for 64 BY MONDAY!!!!!! HALLELUJAH the end is in sight!!!!!

Happily,
Emily

PS That little piece of yellow paper at the bottom right of the pic is a piece of "cheese" I felt compelled to make when I saw how neat the paper looked after I had punched several holes... it has since been included in a mini diorama I did to use as an example for an up-coming project. Pics of that to come...

"Peek at my Pad" Thursday #17"...

I just got home from my local hardware store. I had to buy a replacement lightbulb for one of the lamps I use when I take my jewelry pics so I thought I'd post a pic of my "photo set-up". Taking good photos is still something I am working on but that light box I bought off of ebay for $19.00 has certainly pointed me in the right direction.Happily,
Emily

OK, so I'll admit it...

...there aren't many areas in my life where I need things to be "just so". Sadly, I can survive pretty well amidst chaos, and I can typically walk past a sink full of dishes several times before the urge to empty the sink "washes" over me (pun FULLY intended).

However...

...where color is concerned, I will admit that I do have some O.C.D. tendencies.

I have this thing about what colors are neutral and what are not. I am being COMPLETELY SERIOUS when I tell you that I TRULY believe that red is, and should be considered by all, to be a neutral color. I base my entire theory on the fact that I have a pair of red shoes that I would not hesitate to wear with any and every single article of clothing/outfit I own. Makes sense to me. The same principle applies to the color green, for the very same reasons.

Orange can be considered neutral but only within very specific parameters and involving only certain shades.

Blue, on the other hand, is not neutral. Don't ask me why.

I also have this thing where I am always arranging things in color order according to my good buddy "Roy G. Biv", otherwise know as "the acronym for the order of colors in the spectrum of light"...

R: Red
O: Orange
Y: Yellow

G: Green

B: Blue
I: Indigo
V: Violet

...the above principle is demonstrated by my arrangement of a handful of peanut M&M's I was snacking on as my brother Chris and I watched Paramore music videos on youtube (while our mom watched out kids in the next room)...To be totally honest, I don't think I even realized I had arranged them that way till Chris saw them, then looked at me and just said:

"Seriously?"

Ya. seriously.

My shelf of cd's is the same way... not arranged in alphabetical order, or by genre of music... but by album spine color...This "issue" of mine does not keep me from functioning normally throughout society (normal is really quite an obscure term if you really wanna get down to it), and I don't have the feeling something terrible will happen if I don't arrange my nail polish collection in proper color order.

I just do it... automatically.

Seeing colors arranged as God intended (ie: rainbows and boxes of markers) makes me happy. It's like something in the very center of my being smiles for a bit, taking a moment to savor the way the colors just look right when they are arranged properly, all this taking place in the split second before I am snapped back to reality, remembering that I have a sink full of dirty dishes calling my name.

Happily,
Emily

AND THE WINNER IS...

SUCCESS AT LAST!!!!!...



Happy weekend!
Emily

Cliffhangerrrrrr...

Alrighty folks!!! The big day has arrived but here's the deal... I actually drew the winner last night a little after midnight and taped it for a video blog. I then tried no less then 15 TIMES to load the video with no success... I finally gave up and went to bed.

It is now 9:35am and after trying 5 more times to load it, I still can't get it to work.

I would like to try again a little later this afternoon after I'm done at school (I teach art every Friday at my kid's school). If I still can't get it to work, I'll just take some stills from the video and post the winner that way :(

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!

Happily,
Emily

PS I have loaded a video once before to my blog and had no problem but if any of you have any tips for me as to what may be the problem, I'd LOVE to hear them!!!

"Peek at my Pad" Thursday #16"...

Well, it turns out I've been a little less diligent at posting "Peeks at my Pad" than I had planned but FEAR NOT! I shall continue on none-the-less. I've actually had quite a loverly response to it and for those of you who have wondered/asked about snagging the idea for your own blogs, PLEASE DO!!!! I actually started doing this in the hopes that others would get involved and I'd get a peek into some of your cozy dens! The only stipulation I have would be that you've gotta let me know that you're gonna join in so I can sneak a peek!!!

And now, on the the Pad-Peek at hand...

This is a picture of the metal sign I purchased a while back to hang on the wall in the little hallway that leads into our bedroom. I've always loved this phrase and wanted to incorporate it somewhere, somehow, but just wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. I thought about just painting it on the wall or purchasing some of those vinyl wall stickers, but, I was wandering around my local Hobby Lobby*...

*pause for a moment of reflection upon how very STINKIN much I love Hobby Lobby... ok, that's good...

...and I saw this sign. I knew IMMEDIATELY that I had to have it (and the fact that all wall hangings were 50% off that day certainly helped to sweeten the deal).

"Metal sign, you will be MIIINE" I said to myself, and so it was.

I have this thing about having to kiss Gabe goodnight as the very last thing I do before going to sleep but I had to amend that practice due to the fact that I ALWAYS put chapstick on before bed and Gabe HATES Chapstick with a passion. So now it's

"Always kiss me goodnight... right before I put on my chapstick"

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!

Happily,
Emily

PS TOMORROW is the drawing for the big giveaway so if you haven't commented yet, hop back a few days to the "Drumrolllll pleeeeease" post and leave a comment before midnight tonight (Centra/Standard time) so you can get in on the fun!!!

A little love from me to you...

I was packed up a few loverlies to be sent on their way to come life with a few of you, and as I was approaching the post office, a glint of light caught my eye. Upon further inspection, I noticed that a little piece of packing tape in the shape of a heart had attached itself to my thumb, I'm assuming, during the flurry that was my packing session. (Click on the pic for a better view)...I couldn't help but feel a little extra love at that moment. :)

SO... I'm passing it on to YOU!!!... May your day be sunny and may you ALL find a teeny-tiny heart-shaped chunk of packing tape attached to your thumb at one point or another :)

Happily,
Emily

PS I had a few requests to show a close up view of the turquoise ring I made for myself the other day so, here she is!!!...

One for me...

...and one, two, three, four, for you...

In anticipation for Mr. Gabe coming home after being out of town for a little more than a week, thus having today off (Tuesday typically being "work on jewelry all day" day), I put some hustle in my bustle and made a few things on Monday...

3 Custom orders...




1 new pair of OJ earrings...


And a little something for lil-'ol-me...
I've been so busy lately but I decided it was high time I had a little something new for one of my right hand fingers... something in a tall, creamy turquoise perhaps??? It fit the bill perfectly and gave me a chance to fine-tune a new design I've been keen on - layered bezels. I've still got some more tweaking to do but what a lovely excuse! "oh I can't sell this! It's a work in progress... slightly flawed..." (wink wink, nudge, nudge)

hehehe...

T minus 3 days and counting till the culmination of the "Conversation Piece" giveway!!! If you are new to my little bloggeroo, scroll back through to a couple days ago to the post entitled "Drumrolllllll Pleeeeeeease" and leave a comment to enter yourself for the drawing!

Happily,
Emily