Just Checking In...

I haven't been making a lot of new jewelry. I can't seem to get motivated. Maybe it's the heat!

I have a lot of ideas for new jewelry, just no energy to make it. Business is so slow right now, there doesn't seem to be any point to it. I'm only selling maybe 2-3 things a week. I hope this picks up a little after summer!

I did make these earrings. I used the textured copper I got from Barrie to make the tab-style ones, and I used copper washers and my new, teeny, tiny letter stamps for the others. The letters are 1.5mm. I can barely see what they are! It's a good thing they came in a wooden box with each one clearly marked!

I think my hubby will be home in the next day or so. The hurricane is causing evacs in the Gulf. Everybody that works offshore loves hurricane season. They get sent to a hotel or back home, and still get paid. I hope some miracle happens and Gustav just disappears. Not because of offshore, but because of all the people who are in danger of losing their homes and their lives. We don't need another Katrina-style disaster!

I hope you are all safe and happy and COOL!

Have a good weekend!~

Jewelry Of The Day

I'm on Jewelry Of The Day! YAY! I saw several artists that I recognize just from their work. I didn't know about the site until I saw it over at Chris' blog, so thank you, Chris. And thank you, Eric, for having such a great place for artists to show their work!

I still don't have anything new to show you, so here's a smiling cat that my youngest found on the net. We have a lot of cat pics, but no cat!

This is how I feel today! I hope you do too!!!~

I have a website!

It's still raining here, so instead of slogging back and forth to the workshop, I worked on my website.

I really need some brutal input on how it looks, so if you will, here's a link:
http://tammystreasurechest.synthasite.com/
Be honest and tell me what needs changing or fixing or whatever. I promise you it won't hurt my feelings! I had no idea what I was doing, I just had to wing it!
Hopefully, it will help bring some sales my way. They are terribly slow right now, but it's back to school time, and I guess that's where a lot of money is going. Maybe it will pick up closer to Christmas. I can hope!

I have nothing to show you today. It's been cloudy or raining for days, so no photos. I need sunshine!!!!

I hope you all are having bright, sunshiny days!~

A New Ring

I made a ring from the 2 Books in 1 jewelry making book. I've wanted to try it ever since I bought the book, so I finally did! I really like the way it turned out.

The band is 12g sterling that I hammered and filed to give it a twiggy look. The 2 little broken branches are 14g sterling that is soldered on. I made the leaf from 20g sterling and used memory wire to stamp the design. I used 20g for the little vine that wraps around it.

I learned a new trick from that book today. Stick soldering! It was really easy, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Not much else going on around here, so I guess I'll shut-up!

Have a super fun weekend!~

Enjoying the Workshop!

I really love my workshop! I go in there and shut the door, turn on the AC, and just enjoy making things in the peace and quiet! My sons both visit regularly, just to see what I'm doing, or to talk a little. I'm in and out all day, because I don't have water yet. I do all of my LOS and pickle in the house for now.

My hubby has gone back offshore, so I'll be working everyday for a while. I worked a little while he was home because I had some orders to do, but that's all I did.

Today I made these sterling silver bangle bracelets with slider beads. I got some textured copper from Barrie Edwards, and it is so cool! I used a small piece of the leaf textured copper for one of the beads, and I stamped sterling silver for the other. They each have 2 spinning rings on them.

I really like how they turned out! Making the beads was kinda fun.

Well, I think I'll go play a little Burnout Revenge (Playstation 2) and relax. I love Playstation, because I'm only 42 you know! LOL Hubby says I'm just a big kid, but I like it that way!

You all have fun, too. Whatever you're doing!~

Finally working...

Well, I will finally get to work in my shop today! I haven't done anything because my hubby is home, but he's gone for the day, so I can do something.

I did add the pegboard and the shelves on the left. I also added the trays to the sides of the table. This is my son's art table. He got tired of it taking up all the space in his room, so I got it.

It is a crappy, gray, rainy day here. It has been raining for 2 days now. We need it, but yuck!

School started again yesterday, so it made for a gloomy first day back. Our school system decided to go to a 4 day week, because it will save thousands of dollars in electricity at the school and diesel for the buses. They will go an extra hour every day, and lose some holidays, but they're out on Mondays. I like it, but I'll be happy when this year is over. Tyler is a senior and I'm soooo glad! I don't like the new attendance rules. If a child misses 5 days in a semester without a doctor's excuse, the parents have to go to court to explain why. If they miss 6 or more, the parents spend the weekend in jail. I can see some fights with the law in my future! I can NOT stand to be told what to do! Tyler has migraine's, and I can't run him to the doctor and spend a hundred bucks everytime he gets one! He is a staight A honors student, and I don't see why it matters how many days he misses if he's making A's. I don't think it's going to be a good year! Wish me luck! LOL

I hope you are all having a great week and having fun!~

In Progress...

I'm off to a good start. This is what I have so far. I did add another cabinet to the lefthand side and put the tumbler and the drill on it. Take a good look cause it will never be this neat again! I'm not a neat worker. Usually my workspace is so messy I can't find what is right in front of me! LOL Maybe I'll be neater now that I have such a great space to work in.

I put the air conditioner in with the help of both sons. They both helped me move things in, too. I was really glad the tall one was here, he didn't need the step ladder to put the shoplight up for me. He's 6'3"!

I'll show you more when I'm through.