I have a HUGE problem on my hands

All I want to do is make rings. I have so many other things that need my attention but all I can think about is making more rings. More rings!! And then.. I want to keep them all. Which doesn't really work since I need to sell them in order to be able to make more. Why won't someone send me a truck load of sterling silver sheet and wire so that I can tuck myself away in my cave and make endless adornments for fingers of all colors and creeds?? Why, Lord, why?

Sigh...

So anyway, this is ring number three. I love it with all my heart. It came out exactly as I envisioned - modern, clean, like a tall drink of Summer pool water. Yum! I gave the silver a brushed finish which makes it look even more amazing on a well tanned hand. (Imagine that my serial killer hand above has a little more color than the prison pallor you see in the photo...)

Some of you have already seen this ring (#2). I posted it on Facebook last night to get some opinions about shiny vs. oxidized. Most agreed that this particular ring looks pretty marvelous all nice and shiny.

I've put both in my shop.
And if you would like to be a part of these endlessly fascinating conversations feel free to join my Facebook fan page or friend me directly. :)

My first ring! Hooray!

Yesterday I met a goal that I have had set for myself for what feels like many years now. I set one of my porcelain pieces in silver and made a ring. Yay! I'm kind of busting my buttons over this! I've wanted to do this for so long but have only recently been able to acquire many of the tools I needed. I've been pouring over books and watching countless videos on Youtube for ages and yesterday I finally just did it.

I think I held my breath the entire time.

It's far from perfect but not a bad first effort. And now I know what not to do (less solder, buy a really good set of files...) for the next time.

I celebrated by eating the biggest hot buffalo chicken sub smothered in blue cheese dressing I have ever seen... :)

Peacocks in the house!

I've just put a bunch of these peacock focal beads in the Extra shop. The lovely and talented Heather Trudeau, otherwise known as The Peacock Fairy, used one of these beads in a necklace that is currently featured in the Summer issue of Stringing Magazine. Congratulations Heather! And for those of you who have asked, here they are! You better grab them quick because I don't plan on making any more for a looooooong time.

Pssst! How do you like the new look of my blog? I'm very smitten with it. It's sleeker and modern.... and my little Petey looks quite fetching in black and white, don't you think?

A work in progress

Thank you, everyone, for all your kind and wise words in response to my 3:00 am rant. I'm feeling better now.

Getting the words out helps the ideas flow...
and drawing with wire is making me happy today.

It's a work in progress...

Having something to say

It's been nearly a month since I've blogged and I must say.... I needed that. I just haven't had that much to say. Actually, perhaps I've had too much to say. Those things tend to go hand in hand, as odd as that may sound.

From time to time I get tired of things. Tired of people. Tired of jewelry. Tired of other people's jewelry. Tired of my need to waste time looking at things that will in no way further my own work or cultivate the type of inspiration that can feed my creative soul. I get tired of reading about people who say things like "creative soul." I get tired of learning lessons and finding meaning in everything or beauty in unexpected places. Beauty is everywhere, I know, but maybe it would be more fun to find the ugly in things; look at something, pick out the least attractive part and just let it be ugly. There is real, honest beauty in that.

The past month has been less than great. It's felt like a series of blows to the head (including two actual blows to the head which may explain this blog post) that have left me dulled. I've had the feeling of needing more coffee for weeks now - a substance to wake me up and make me resemble something human. This fog will lift, I know.

I've been thinking too much a lot and reassessing my work and there will be changes in the future. I need to make work that pleases me first and foremost and then I just have to hope that everyone else will feel the same way. I'm done working for others. I take zero pleasure in that, as selfish as that may make me sound, but I think it's what every artist should do. Prostitution might pay, but what good is it when it's no longer fun?

And on that note.... I'll bid you goodnight. It's three in the morning and I'm starting to feel like I might actually be able to get some sleep. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far. And please, don't take any of my comments personally. I am not taking about anyone in particular or about any specific thing - I am just ranting about anything and nothing. That's what crazy people do. ;)