Naptime with Kittehs

Ocean Jasper

While looking for something completely different ( Paintbrush Jasper, which creates plant-like rich landscape portraits as its cells form ) I stumbled upon this stone and promptly fell head over heels in love, procuring four cabs over the next few days with six more on the way.
There is just something about the orbs.... imagining how they formed, what an artistic hand mother nature takes in creating our world, and how they were only ever mined in Madagascar and are not continuing to be found, so they become rare collector stones as the years go by.
I put them on a hand-painted plate from my mother's china collection that she gave me in October, a tea set. I should use it. Beautiful things should not sit on shelves, rest invisible but for someone searching for a more serviceable bowl in the china hutch -- yes, they should be seen.

Tiger Lily Belt, Finished.

Oh how this bloomed in my heart last night :)

Tiger Lily Belt Part Deux

The two sides have become one :)






In other news, I napped today, which I rarely if ever do. This week has been teary and weird for me, and resting in midday with Jones in the curl between my knees and stomach ( I am a side sleeper, proudly ) refilled so many empty wells. Sometimes rest is the greatest healer we can know.
Anthony and I have planned our little ten day trip to Hawaii and are renting the most dreamy cottages, one steps from Anini Beach and the other right near the River ( both on Kauai ). We are so excited and so lucky to have this getaway at the end of October. My mind is on the dreaminess of hot outdoor showers and a kayak to call our very own for five days. Pinch us!!






And this is why I can never do anything elegant after I antique leather: ( my fingertips are so very brown, though you cannot really tell! )

Under a Watchful Eye

Janey was not the least bit bothered by the quake once it was over.
Jones was incredibly distrustful of the floor and kept making eyes at the bed like it was the source of evil.
I have been nervous and uncomfy ever since it happened.
I had a panic attack. I think it's time for some re-examination of the stark and profoundly moving idea that we are beloved grains of sand. I am an East Coast girl and I do not want to go via some pancaked building in an event that makes your heart beat like an overcharged drum machine -- I used to call my mom and say, "Wee! We had an earthquake just now -- how refreshing!" but today having heard the water sloshing in my toilets while I stood alone in my hallway without the benefit of company to make me laugh or to cling to, holding out an arm on each wall to steady myself I can safely say I've had enough.
The solace for my nerves has been my tools.
I am and have been working on a custom order that is such a lovely idea and so much fun to work on.




As I write Jones is looking at me like this:



Sleeping with one eye open. I love him so. Love my family so. Feel strangely frightened now that the "in a split second" everyone who faces tragedy has described is not so far away and that truly living for this moment is all we can do. I for one am going to eat Citron Tilapia and then go out and see the world.
Sorry so grim, I am just (literally ) shaken :)

Shakey Shakey

Woah-- That was a big one -- 5.8 in Chino Hills, which is about twenty miles southeast of us. I feel all wobbly knee-d and wish to relocate immediately :)
To somewhere still. And Floodless. And Tornado-less. And Hurricane-less....hmmmm... where is that?

Glorious Profusion

I love bulk orders, because it's a fully formed group of colors and textures that create a little force field around themselves. They belong together, and I know this as I am creating the final pieces. It a joyful sadness to part with them, as they become constants for a little while and then they find their true homes out in the world and I bid them bon voyage.

Serenity Boulder Opal

Last fall I fell wildly in love with boulder opals and snatched up a bunch of preforms ( which you polish yourself ) and some lovely little one from Thailand ( Australian, though! ) ( and of course some from Australia ). Now is the time to set them, and as I do, the purpose of each one becomes apparent: its personality creates a vibe strong enough for me to make out what the words should be. It's a lovely feeling to know them so well.
This little gemmy blue beauty is the serenity opal, and around around it on the backing are the words "Serenity * Peace * Stillness*"

Take Flight

In the Sunny Rising Metal Shop : ( http://www.sunnyrisingmetal.etsy.com )

The Marriage of Leather and Sterling

FInally: I thought they'd given up on each other and I on them. Foolish me, believing so little in true love :)

Journal

New to Sunny Rising in the Etsy shop.
Eeek!

Found It

It started with my bags, tooling phrases on the part that gets held against the wearer's human form: hand, side, hip, rib..... a blessing, words of comfort - private if wished to be, but also easily shared by a quick turn of the arm:
"Grow Love"
"Explore"
"Peace"
"May the Bluebird of Happiness Sing in Your Heart"
"May Joy Bloom in Your Heart"

I figured; I do this all the time in traffic and in public: as I pass the cars going in the opposite direction I open my heart and wish them well wherever they are going- ( Note to self: learn to do the same thing to people who cut you off.)- why wouldn't I make my feelings concrete and tangible? Hence the tooling.

It will now extend into metals and stones, beginning with this first necklace:
"All Love Surround You"
It was previously shiny and bare and desperately missing something needed: it feels so complete now.

Cabs

Omigod, I saw pictures of this stone and thought it would make the most amazing jewelry. I have finally found my concept: bezel-set stones with phrases wrapped around the silver outer edge of the piece.
For instance: these are wild horse magnesite stones ( one is going to my dear friend The Plume, and should she be reading this the surprise is surely done for ) and one Turquoise stone that I am in love with. For the first wild horse magnesite that I will be setting, the words "Run Free on Sure Feet" will circle the stone.
I am positively over-caffeinated with delight and expectation that when my 1/16 inch steel alphabet stamps arrive I will get to work madly with a very holy passion.
My list of custom orders with the leather goodies overfloweth, so I must stop writing and tool like the wiiiiind!!!

Learning to Photograph Metal and Stone

I retook the pictures for the Turquoise necklace in my Metal Shop ( http://www.sunnyrisingmetal.etsy.com ) this morning -- I discovered that the most gorgeous prop in the world is the crown from the victorian bed my parents gave Anthony and I --

you see, my parents have long slept separately as my father tosses and turns and hits and kicks and snores like a banshee in his sleep, so when we had the big house they had one bedroom with two beds.

Now that there is a small house they gave one bed to us, and sice we live where the earth moves I decided the crown might be best on our mantle, as it is sharp and spiny and should we quake at night I'd hate to have my ears pierced three times instead of twice.
Behold the power of hundred and 40 year-old wood!! It's like a before and after for our dear Lichen Necklace :)
Before:





After:

OMG!!!!