Before Ann Arbor...and after

I was describing to a friend today what it used to be like doing the Ann Arbor art fair. Little tiny booths meant needing to change clothes partway through the day due to the heat. Every outfit needed ironing so a big part of getting ready for the show involved my wardrobe. Now the booths are bigger, the hotel too far away to get to and the clothes don't need ironing! Much easier.

It's also much calmer getting ready for the show this year. I'm working hard but this time knowing that I'll get done what I can and it will be fine. I can't have everything or do everything. I'll do my best and that will be enough. Geez, this doesn't even sound like me!

I will admit though to relishing the days following July 21 when my "8 weeks of hell" are over. Everyone is waiting for me to do something for them, finish something, start something or just show up. And it all happens after July 21.

The first Saturday I'm already planning a trip to the Farmer's Market to buy fresh fruit and veggies. It's blueberry season here and I need to start freezing berries for Dick's cereal next winter. Before that I've promised my Dad that I'll work on and finish his finances. He's been pretty patient but only because I gave him a firm date so I can't fail him. I need to feed my tomato plants and at least inspect my entire yard and gardens. I don't even know if my zinnia's are growing.

Real life gets pushed aside during the rush of major art fair season. I miss it more than I can even explain but this year a little more has been let in. Which may be why getting ready for Ann Arbor is calmer this year. I just know I'm enjoying it...

Boston Mills ArtFest

I've just returned from Boston Mills ArtFest where, thanks to both good friends and wonderful customers, I had a GREAT time! It was like the old days when shows weren't as serious, the money wasn't as needed and we were all a lot younger and could party more.

So, first I have to show off my homage to Pat Hecker. Please notice in my booth shot, the red egg shapes on the tops of the booth. These are covering pegs that I thought should be covered with red balls, just for fun. Then I saw my favorite leg/foot shape that Pat uses in her Tattoo Dreams line. So this is my homage to Pat and her work. The fun part was that people noticed them and grinned! What more can you ask for?

The other thing I have to give Pat (and Jon) credit for is my new love of frozen strawberry margaritas. I have yet to decide if this is a good thing or not but it sure was fun!

So the weather was the best Boston Mills weather ever. The humidity was down as well as the temperature and the rain stopped 30 minutes before the big opening party. That alone made the show great since the show is known for hot and humid weather. I can't remember the last time I didn't spend the bulk of my time with sweat rolling down my body. Lovely sight while selling jewelry of course.

Another "blast from the past" that happened at the show was that my sister and her family stopped to see me on their way back to Maryland from our Dad's cabin in Michigan. Kare used to help me with art fairs back 25 years ago. I got to show off my favorite nephew and my sister saved me in the booth when I got slammed with customers. Just like the old days again. I love having her at shows with me. Good sister time.

I came home tired but happy with a big grin on my face. Had to stop part way home to take a nap in a rest area but it was worth it. A fun and profitable time was had. I love the Boston Mills ArtFest.

side note: I can't get the formatting to work on this one so please excuse the running together of paragraphs. I've spent too much time trying to fix it and I'm giving up!

Buried in the studio

I've not given up blogging, I'm just buried in the studio. Busy time trying to get my wholesale orders out as well as make stock for my two biggest shows. So this would probably not be the best time to start experimenting with totally new ideas but as always, it's when I'm feeling the most creative.

Today 2 rings were "born". I made the tops and Elizabeth made the bands. Since it's been probably 15 years since I made a ring, this is a big deal. Back then I was known for my rings and they were high end gold with asymmetrical faceted stones, all one-of-a-kind and pretty darn wonderful. Very labor intensive and I finally just burned out on them.

My new rings are totally different. Not meant to be worn every day, they are fun. Sterling and 22k gold, one with a stone and one with a pearl. Layered with dimension. Simple, unfussy designs. There will be pictures coming soon. These are fun to make so now I have to see if anyone else likes them! It may be one of those naked moments but then again, I love them enough that I'm not as concerned about what others think... yeah, right.

Ruby arrives!

Oh glorious day, Ruby has arrived! A little peanut at 5 pounds, 15 ounces with tons of hair and absolutely beautiful. I've never seen a man grin and glow as much as her father did this morning. And Mom looks as beautiful as she does happy, marveling at her little girl. All is right with the world today! Now I just have to get used to whatever her real name will be. She'll always be Ruby to me... Later the same day... her name is Anna. It fits her beautifully!

One more show and things move on

I'm now well into my "eight weeks of hell" as I lovingly call it and am finding that it needs renaming. I absolutely love this time of year and the pressure it brings. My work gets a little freer and I have more ideas than I have time to make things. Plus there is an end to it. I love this time of year!

So I had one more show this past weekend. Another new one which I hadn't tried before and as delightful as it was to do, I don't think I would do it again. Buy/sell items and filled with low end jewelry means there will be sticker shock in my booth. Sunday only one person wanted to actually see something in my booth and he was more interested in the back and if that was really my signature! It's so hard to know before actually doing the show if it's going to be a good fit or not. This was not. Live and learn.

One more idea junked

It sounded like a great idea. Take a picture of your bench every Thursday and it will tell a story. Only this week it didn't look like my life had moved forward at all. There was more white space but all it did was remind me of all the things I have started but not finished. My eight weeks of hell is not a good time to try something like that. Maybe after. Right now I have to make cool new jewelry...

Story of a microwave

I tend to feel things passionately, I'll admit. I love lots of people and things deeply. There aren't many things I hate but it's with the same passion although it's usually short-lived. I hate my new microwave...

My microwave was a few years old but just did things really well and we were very comfortable together. And then the display lost a couple of lines. Which meant you really didn't know the correct time of day or how much time was left when microwaving. I decided it was time for a new one so started the search.

The first thing I discovered was that microwaves seem to have grown considerably in size. And decreased in power. Most had too many bells and whistles. Finally I found one that worked and wasn't too bad. Brought it home, set it up and started hating it. Shiny stainless inside - big mistake. Can't see in the window when it's on, probably because it's too shiny inside! It's just clunky. Plus it doesn't cook evenly. I don't like anything about it. I hate it. But I'm stuck with it.

Wandering through Home Depot yesterday (can't just get in and out there) I walked by a huge display of microwaves. Something called to me and I had to just look. And there she was. This cute little silver microwave. Since my current microwave is only 3 months old, I'm not in the market but decide to read the book on this one - just for fun. Hum, same wattage as the hated one. Looks smaller. It's much cuter. AND it's only 79.99!!! Which is a whole lot less than what I paid for hated one. She's meant to be mine. I can find someone to take the hated one I'm sure...

Turns out they don't have any more of the cute microwave. Only the display one which they won't sell me. Of course they did sell it in the end. She was meant to go home with me. She looks so cute in the hated ones space! Okay, so she has a funny rattle when she's on but she cooks better and doesn't spend that much time on so I can live with that part.

My original microwave that started this whole process ended up in the studio where it does a beautiful job reheating cold coffee and frozen lunches. But that's not quite the end. Today the display on the that microwave decided to work perfectly again...