quiet

Long time. No words. Soon.

the majesty of Bryce

unique ways to shop

I've talked about Etsy treasuries before, but must again. A treasury is a group of 16 items for sale on Etsy. The group has been assembled by a member of Etsy (either a buyer or a seller) and usually has a theme of some sort.

Perhaps an explanation of Etsy is in order as well. I've always said it was an online place to buy and sell all things handmade. In fact, you are not allowed to sell on Etsy unless it is handmade, vintage or supplies for handmade goods. I just googled and found this interesting website which provides a lot of insight... http://www.thenameinspector.com/etsy/

I've tried my hand at a few treasuries and it is not a simple thing to do. But it sure is fun. It's obvious that some of the "theme's" are challenges and the winner gets featured on Etsy's front page. I found this "tag" on one that I was looking at - nonteamchallenge 7 - and discovered that it's a blog right here on blogspot. So since yesterday was my birthday and I could do anything I wanted, I took the challenge and created a treasury with the one item to be used as your theme - the ROSES IN VASE GLICEE. What fun to see how many different interpretations there are to that one piece of art! And what a great way to find unique and unusual gifts without spending hours looking.

Here's a link to the nonteamchallenge 7 treasuries:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/tags/nonteamchallenge+7

Be gorgeous.

holiday shopping

Howdy! If you are looking for sales on designer handmade jewelry this week-end, come check out my Etsy shop. I now have the ability to create coupons on Etsy.

So...

BLACK FRIDAY   through   CYBER MONDAY

Use coupon code CYBER25

at my Etsy shop and get 25% off anything and everything.

simple beauty

This is one of my favorite places in America - White Sands National Monument. Pure simple exotic beauty. 

 

I especially like the wind patterns and the fact that it's warm enough to be barefoot.

 

treasuries

Last night I became a Curator for the first time! I created my first Etsy treasury. What fun and what a lot of work. So what's an Etsy treasury? It's a collection of Etsy items for sale that is created by anyone who wants to do it. I think you do have to have an Etsy ID, but you should have one of those anyway. What a creative way to shop! It is the season you know.


Click on this link and your computer will magically take you there.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cde275e39fc8eef9c97b4d6/all-kinds-of-roses

Be gorgeous ;-D 

collections

I've been collecting new backgrounds for taking pictures of my jewelry. I found this board lying near a storage structure that was believed to be used by Butch Cassidy. So it's likely that he touched it. Way cool. And I like what it does for showcasing this Karen Hill Tribe silver rose necklace.

 And it's really good for stuff that likes to have it's pictures taken in the shade... like freshwater pearls...

fall colors

It's fall in Utah. Nice. Very nice.

custom jewelry

I'm so excited! I just finished a custom order for a necklace and bracelet to match earrings that were purchased a few weeks ago from me. Here's the earrings. Aren't they cute? I love the stone... Peruvian blue opal... it takes me to the Caribbean every time I wear it or work with it.

I had preliminary pictures of a necklace that I'd started for another lady, but never finished because she lost her job. So I sent those pictures as a place to begin our designing collaboration. The rest of the design for the necklace and the matching bracelet came from my customer. Goodness... I'm inspired to make some more blue opal jewelry. I love going tropical in my designs.

 

 

 

Along with my jewelry, there's some southern Utah to enjoy. We're camping (my friends call it glamping) in the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument near Boulder, Utah. Magic. Pure magic. My next entry will have some pictures of the incredible landscape.

ancient voices

This is our second night in a forest service campground near Loa, Utah. We're in a short open canyon filled with red rock walls, red rock formations, Utah juniper, willow and some blooming sagebrush. It's beautiful. It's good to be back in Utah.

A low is stalled over southern California sending storms and heavy rains to south and central Utah for the past two days. There has been flash flooding on the usually dry wash next to the campground. Nothing serious. The bad storms have been passing just east of us. Thankfully.

We walked the dog when the rains let up this afternoon. The dry wash was still running with chocolately red water. I know I'm in the land of the ancients. I heard their voices in the babbling water. I'm anxious to visit their dwellings.

goodbye Birdwood hello open road

I have mixed feelings about heading south for the winter, but they are mostly excited feelings. I'll miss family, friends, and the 5 acres we call Birdwood. This has been our third summer here. We hope next summer brings a house. Yes, the bad economy has affected us trailer trash.

But I ramble. We've spent the last week getting everything ready to survive the winter without us. The outbuildings are just about ready to lock. The last outdoor showers have been taken. Tulips have been planted to greet us next spring when we return. The weather has been perfect. Mt. Hood, I will miss you as well. Tomorrow we leave for southern Utah. Soon I will be able to sit and make jewelry for the holidays. Soon.

harvest

Time to harvest my favorite summer herb. Basil. I cut it with scissors into thin strips and dry it in the bottom of a big frying pan in a cupboard. Then I fill recycled glass jars. Wonderful on salads and in spaghetti sauce. Following the sun means you still can't effectively grow basil in a pot in the winter. Especially if you're a gypsy and moving every couple of weeks. Basil. My favorite summer herb. The color of Kingman Mohave Green Turquoise.

earth shadow

One benefit of insomnia is watching the day break. This morning the earth's shadow was quite dramatic.

It happens on clear days. At sunrise you will see it about 15 minutes before the sun comes up. As the sky begins to color you will see a dark band on the horizon that will gradually lose width, lighten, and disappear with the rising sun. At sunset it happens after the sun has sunk into the horizon and gradually adds width, darkens and disappears when twilight ends.

The first time I was sure it was the earth's shadow was many years ago on Maui. Waiting for the sunrise on Haleakala we saw the peak that we were on top of in the shadow. There was no mistaking that small triangle in the "shadow" band. I do have proof, but it's a film picture that's packed away with the rest of our pre-digital photos. Dick and I waved and waved, but I'm afraid our shadows were much to small...