Shifting Focus

I've gotten away from posting here, and that's really too bad; it's fun to write and post. I have decided to mix more "life stuff" in with the art stuff. Since my readership currently is really small, and basically composed of people who seem to be interested in my life (i.e. friends), I'm guessing this shift will work okay. If not then I suppose people won't read it, but that's okay.

Well, the last couple of days have been pretty quiet. Tasja had her tonsil surgery yesterday, and seems to be doing okay (she has discovered the wonders of Vicodin). Mostly I have been frantically making jewelry, driving Keith back and forth to work in Woodridge (his car fried and died), and making mushy food. Throw in some laundry and some Internet, with a side order of phone calls and some doggy care, and you've got my day. I'm really enjoying how quiet it is.

My job has gotten to be awfully stressful--but hey, I have a job, so no complaining, I guess. It's just that we are being given less and less time to accomplish more and more stuff. Enough of that. The point is that when I come home, I want to recharge, because more often than not my day leaves me burnt. Those who know me well know this ain't a new song I'm singin'. But it is more true than it used to be. Thus why I'm frantically making jewelry. Frantic, not because I'm under pressure, but because I like working at a fast pace. I find it more challenging. Today I have made two spiral knot necklaces, two stretchy kids' bracelets, and two bead and wire link bracelets (sterling). Now I am making a bead and wire link bracelet to keep....out of borosilicate beads I have had for about three years now and have been trying to decide what to do with. One set is blue and green, while the other is aqua and brown. They don't exaclty match, but that is part of the zing of using them together; they are related, but not closely, like second cousins. Will take a photo when I'm done.

Tomorrow I am getting a big box of wire in the mail. The best part? Completely free! I had about six years worth of scrap wire, plus some wire in gauges and shapes I didn't want to use, so I sorted it (hours of work), bagged it, boxed it, and sent it to Rio Grande. I included a note to them telling them what to send me back, and in what proportions (by percentage). Turns out the stuff was worth well over $400! Who knew? So I have a big box of wire coming. That ought to keep me busy for awhile. The moral of the story: always save your sterling and gold-fill scrap.