City, Stream, and Stones

Our family excursion last weekend to East Tennessee was a blast! Fun was had by all. Our first stop was Chattanooga on Saturday where we went on a walking tour of the riverfront area. If you haven't been , you should consider a trip there. It is a beautiful area with plenty to do for all types of interests. My main interest, of course, was the arts district. We began our walk near the Hunter Museum of American Art. We didn't go in this time, I'll save that for the next visit. They have recently opened a walking bridge across the Tennessee River and that was our route to the arts district...amazing views all the way across.

This is the path coming down from the Hunter Museum

This is part of the Renaissance Park on the NorthShore. There is much more to it, such as a huge carousel and a fountain that has animals that spout water and water that comes from the ground and children and grown-ups play in it.

Hubby and meAll along the street, there are brass footprints with dance steps labeled.
The next one is called "The Kiss."

Hubby and I had to try it out.

This is a small art market that is a part of Art 'til Dark which is on every first and third Saturday, March through November.

This is the Winder-Binder Folk Art-Outsider Art Gallery


We spent the night in Etowah and then the next day we went to the Hiwassee River to go kayaking. It was a three and a half hour trip and the rapids are up to a class 2, which is not too dangerous but just challenging enough to be exciting.

Windsor in the rapids

Hubby in a calm part

Christina coming through the white water

Me, taking a break to look for stones, which I promptly brought home and made into jewelry.

Stones and textured copper

The rocks will cry out.

Sticks and stones

Here is a little finale...Windsor taking the hard way down into the water.

New Series

I have been working on some new necklaces based around some gemstone cabochons that I have had for several years. I didn't want to use bezels so I got an idea from a necklace that I made in college, to attach them with tabs cut from the surrounding metal. Here is what I've come up with.

I just listed the one above in my Etsy shop.

The one below was inspired by Steph, who sent me a beautiful Egyptian coil bracelet.

Trees

Trees

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Alfred Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

Vision Bracelet

cAt PlAyiNg DeAd

This is a bracelet that I just finished. I seem to have a thing for these eyes. They keep showing up.

Medals For Everyday Heroes

I saw that line in a jewelry magazine as a caption under a piece that was somewhat abstract...just a square with different colors. The piece of jewelry didn't speak to me, but the the caption got me started thinking about pins that one might give to someone in appreciation for who they are and what they do, or as encouragement to achieve, so I started making this series of pins/medals. I thought of the courage medal that Oz gave to the Cowardly Lion and the heart that he gave to the Tinman. This is what I've come up with so far.




These will be posted in my Etsy shop.

Baby Name Necklace

This necklace was a commission for a lady that is getting ready to have her first baby. She wanted the necklace to have the baby's name. Even though the baby is a girl, I made the necklace in blues and greens, with dragonflies and leaves, for a nature theme. I think it's pretty cool that when Allie grows up she can wear a necklace that her mom wore while pregnant with her...an interesting keepsake.

Antique Store Inspirations

It's always so fun to go browsing through an antique mall. There's one near my house that I occasionally get to visit and last week I treated myself to an outing. I found several interesting odds and ends and when I got home I was inspired to make this necklace from an old change purse, several broken old necklaces, a vintage glass button, and some rusty keys. Every element came from that trip to the store, except the wire to put it together. On a brass tag, I stamped the words, "remember when." Inside the purse, I decided to add a little more history. It contains a 1941 wheat penny, a 1 1/2 cent postage stamp, bits of an old post card, two WWII food ration stamps, and an old photo of an anonymous couple.
One could make up one's own story to go along with the contents or put in personal mementos.
Another inspiration for me is Nina Bagley's jewelry.
I will be taking it to this month's sale at Silo Studio on Thursday.