A story

Once upon a time I started making magnets:



To make this magnets I would measure long planks of wood and saw them by hand.



This was a time-consuming and sometimes inaccurate work. I couldn't do a bunch at a time. (the ones below are sanded...separate step)



I ran out of blanks recently and bought four boards. After much procrastinating, I measured them off yesterday and aimed to cut them all today:



Dad saw me and said, "Let me show you how to use the table and radial saws." *gulp* We donned some safety gear and...



Done! In less than half the time and far less physical effort, I have about 150 new magnet blanks waiting to be sanded. I'm so happy...and empowered. Now it's time for cake.


_{recipe from smitten kitchen, photo is mine}

[dots] v4

I finished a fourth set of dots earrings, tiny little beaded pretties to dot your ears with a touch of color and a lot of style. That's the copy I made up for them. I'm always a little tentative when I start a new set, but then I photograph and they're so cute...I just love them.

Chels, Paleo, Sunnyside, and Chunk in Choco from nearest to farthest. They're all on sale for 15% off. !!!

Project Decon

I could probably make another column (are you groaning?) of all the things I've deconstructed and made over. It's a different kind of fulfillment when you take a finished piece and change it to your liking.

This is a necklace of my mother's. Neither of us like to wear really long necklaces. (I love to look at them and admire ladies who can pull off the look) She wants me to shorten it and make a pair of earrings.

I took a before picture, because I rarely do and she thought I should. Plus, I'd had the idea of photographing necklaces on hangers, in lieu of a mannequin, for a while. So, two birds with one stone. Now, to unmake it.

Inspiration

I'd been a bit of a slump. They are a fact of creative life and seem to strike me around the same time every year- April-June, though it seemed to skip last year. (must look into that) Going through them is rather...well, hellish. Half-baked ideas, limited resources or know-how or motivation. Motivation is key. You *can* do anything...if your heart is in it. And mine wasn't in creating.

Coming out of a slump is like being born...or something. (I don't actually remember being born) It's like I'm starting all over. So it's fitting that I'm starting the shop over as well.

The trigger this time was the lovely Chelsea of Papercakes. We talk on Twitter and Flickr and I realized she had a love for the color combo of aqua and turquoise. Honestly, I'd never thought of putting the two together, but did see that they were very complimentary. So I took out my beads and thread and made up a few pairs of earrings. They will be listed soon.

And I'm back.

Post Picture: The earrings I made, inspired by Chelsea.

ThisNext:: Mississippi Clock - White

This isn't handmade, but it's clever. Kinda hard to read from the pic but each line so 'one mississippi, two mississippi, etc.' Plus, you know I heart clocks.

As seen on Chad's page.
From Target

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(via chad)