Now 7.05

Went to the thrift store and scored four shirts to be used in wristlets. Yes! I picked up another thing that could be used in my display at the market.

Got the best message from a Flickr contact/Etsy seller. She's just wonderful. *cough*HRMB*cough* She didn't do it to get a shout out. That's why she's awesome. Anyway, I'm changing, how I think about myself and my art. I really love my photography shop. I'm stepping beyond the 'attempts' and 'amateur' labels for myself. I'm am artist. I am. :)

I still have a ton of things I want to do for the show. I was able to find the cello bags for the photos at a store. Sometimes I just don't want to have to pay for shipping. These were a good price. I'm happy. Another thing to check of the list...if the list was that comprehensive. I should make it that way...then I'll feel like I've accomplished more. Reverse psychology or something...it may help.

Post Picture: Newest listing at rJax

232

I took a metal class yesterday. I sort of fell into it, the class. It was given by Etsyan Heart of the Fire. She has a gallery/studio not far from my house. I'd seen advertisements for her gallery, but I didn't know she was on Etsy until yesterday.

I made the bracelet in the picture. I lurve it! The class was about hand-forging and soldering. I made the rings in different sizes, which was tricky because the wire did get work hardened from the wrapping rather quickly. I cut them, filed them (loathe) and soldered them. I quenched them, pickled them, bashed them, gashed them, and had them tumbled. It was a while in the making, but I love it. It was a small class...only two other ladies. But it was fun...late, but fun.

[about the title]
It's America's 232nd birthday today...well, we celebrate it today. Happy 4th of July, my readers! (even if you're not American...still ought to have a good day)

Excitement

Wow!

So the show/market is a go! I'll get to meet some people from the CT Etsy Team and do my first show. I have a lot of hope for this. I'm so excited, I could barely sleep last night. Ha!

Also, in a tumbling-along sort of way, I've gotten myself into a metals class tonight. It's a long story how I even found this class. I knew of the studio but wasn't looking for it yesterday. Anyway, I called (which is a miracle...I HATE the phone) and the teacher/owner had moved the class up to tonight. It was scheduled to be the end of the month. So I'm excited about that too. I'd be forging sterling wire into chain...w00t!

So I'm like really excited. I need to calm down and do some work before the class at 6:30. I've sanded 6 blocks today, but that's it so far. I'm so up and down and excited. The show's in 11 days so I have time, in theory to accomplish a lot.

Post Picture: One of my clocks. Timepiece-love runs in the family.

Workin'

I'm beginning to ramp up production for the show. I have a ton of things I want to make duplicates of, mostly magnets. Some things that are currently made-to-order, I want to actually finish. Some things that have been ideas that I'd make one day...today, or the next few, has become that day. My mind is racing, searching for new ideas (not that I really need any) and wondering how I'll display stuff. Wondering if I should buy a table and a canopy thing...or just a table for now. Racing, racing, racing...but excited in my super-guarded way.

Post Picture: Newest listing at rJax.

Sudden

As I was about to start this post the weather jumped pure wicked. I think it even hailed. There were rumbles of thunder and buckets of rain. It's still thundering but has calmed down I don't remember when that stop scaring me. It was just so sudden. I wish I'd had time to get a better pic. It was really something.

I also have a chance to do a craft show/farmer's market in 2 weeks. Mind you, I've never done a show and am a little beside myself. I do this, leap into things with little prep time. Like the address page and my 4-H outfit. I think I can do it.

I just cut some more wood. I like sawing wood way more than sawing metal, it's easier to cut and correct straight line cuts in wood. I use a flexible handsaw of my dad's. and a clamp. It works wonderfully.

Went e-searching for new packaging supplies. I want plastic tuck top boxes for one thing and kraft boxes (cotton-filled boxes wrapped in brown paper) for the rest of my stuff. Ideally, I'd like boxes in the 5 colors that have become part of my branding: brown, orange, teal, red and green. But I'd have to buy a case of each and I don't need 500 boxes. Still, that's looking like it'll cost about $100 to get everything I want. Whew!

Post Picture: My shot of the sudden fury.