Tomorrow is the big day!!!

I couldn't resist this shot of the carnelians glowing....have I told you all how much I LOVE carnelian? I'm completely gaga over them you know. I've even started adjusting the colors in my wardrobe to suit it...just so I can wear my carnelian gems...craziness. :)

So, as I alluded to in the title of this post, tomorrow is the big day! The girls go back to school, and my youngest starts kindergarten! I thought I would be thrilled, and ready to do the happy dance (which a part of me still is). But my little one is nervous...I can tell. I know she's going to be just fine, but it's hard to see them growing up. To see the painful moments. Growing up was bad enough the first time. Now I have to go through it with my kids? Dang.. and how come no one told me about all this when they were itty bitty and soft and cute and cuddly. That I would feel my own heart wrenching along with theirs at times? The worst part is, I am just at the beginning. We have miles to go folks.... Luckily all the happy and wonderful moments outweigh the bad in spades and that makes it all worth while.

This week is going to be hard. A lot of adjustments to our schedule. I'll have to actually go to bed at a decent hour. No more playing at my bench until midnight... I just keep telling myself that after we get past these first few weeks all will be good. My irritability levels are through the roof. I even annoy myself. The end is in sight. I just hope I make it....

The final countdown...

School starts on the 23rd, and I can't wait! I got an email invite the other day to attend a "boo-hoo breakfast" on the first day of school after we drop off our kindergarteners... I'm wondering if they'll be shocked to have me there grinning from ear to ear. :) Don't get me wrong, I love my girls more than anything, but I do better with forced routines. That, and my nerves must be running short because the whining and arguing is really starting to get to me...

I have big plans of course. Spend more time at the gym, spend more time creating, clean and shop without interruption.... we'll see how it all pans out. All this consistent schedule stuff comes with a price though.. and that price is having to get up early. If I had my way, I'd stay up til about 1 am and sleep til about 9:30. but those days are long gone, even in the summer. I am a person who needs lots of sleep, a minimum of 8 hours, so soon I'll have to be in bed by 10:30 and that just stinks....oh well, can't have it all!
Amethyst Juicy PoP Drop Earrings
These amethysts are gorgeous. I love the dark purple, so regal...

I finally made some decisions on displays for the art show. They should be here by the end of the week. I had been agonizing over them forever, and it's to the point now that I just had to take the plunge. I contacted the lady that designed my logo, and had her resize it for a banner to hang on my table, and now I just need to figure out table coverings, risers, and lighting.

I am still in making mode, whenever I can. In fact I am giving myself 4 hours this morning before taking the girls to the pool this afternoon to get some work done.
Juicy PoP Drop Earrings in Mountain Jade and Sterling Silver

And...you all know how I feel about carnelian....

I had a request the other day to remake a pair of earrings, and I had run out of the beads I needed. So I took a trip to The Rock Barrell in Dallas. And, so as not to waste a trip, I decided I needed a few things... and found these luscious faceted carnelian rectangles. I love carnelian anyway, so that wasn't much of a stretch, but I love everything about these beads. The shape, the facets, the coloring, the fact that the stones are different sizes..... I could go on and on...

Well, I better get to work, the clock is ticking!

My first fully metalsmithed ring..

I have a million and one things to do after being gone all weekend at my beginning metalsmithing class. I want to tell all about it, I just don't have the time right now. That, and I'm trying to absorb everything. All I can say is that our instructor turned everything I ever thought I knew about metalsmithing on it's ear.

So, very quickly, I took a couple of photos of my masterpiece.


The stone is.....Carnelian. Surprise, surprise. I am so drawn to carnelian these days, I just can't seem to get away from it, so I will enjoy it until the next stone obsession comes along.

This ring is big. And pretty heavy. I feel it weighing my hand down as I type. I suspect the weight will take some getting used to since I don't usually wear big rings. But I am so proud. I learned so much. I have even more to contemplate. More soon.

New Gemstone Rondelles!

Apatite

Sapphire

Ruby

Carnelian

Padparadscha

Amethyst

My new beads just came in the mail today!!!! Faceted rondelles! My favorites. These stones are so gorgeous. I can't wait to work with them. I'm going to be keeping some for myself, and putting the surplus in my Ruby Mountain Bead shops on Etsy and ArtFire. Be looking for them soon!