Finally I am so excited to report that I am in the SilverSmithing (MetalWorking) AND the Jewelry Design & Fabrication programs at SFCC!! I enrolled this semester; the GREAT professional jewelry design & fabrication program that is taught by the woman who started the whole jewelry program at SFCC six years ago, Diane Tintor. Much more about this can be found Here.

It is becoming quickly evident just how much work and time I will be putting into these classes: not just studio and demonstrations; but in open studio and on my own time, but I am more than willing and Dave and I are both committed to whatever it takes.

   

Already I am meeting so many interesting, creative fellow students and I am amazed at how many find themselves taking the same semester programs over and over to really hone and perfect individual skills. I am not sure exactly what my expectations were - but there is SO MUCH more to this program than I could have even known. I really feel that my skills will take a great leap ahead as I understand & master more professional design principles and abilities.

Not to mention a lot of physical labor and elbow grease. The SilverSmithing program is not specifically focused on Smithing for jewelry, but overall principles and skills as taught in the original, ancient art of MetalSmithing.

POUND, POUND, POUND - SAW, FILE, SAW, FILE, FIRE AND THEN...POUND SOME MORE!!

I will update my "Chit-Chat" here as I learn more about these skills and how I can implement them in my jewelry designs in the future. My first projects started last week - *Sinking a bowl* for SilverSmithing; and designing an Overlay or Applique' Silver piece for Jewelry Design Class.

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WINTER - Nov/Dec 05 - Shows, Shows, Shows!!

   

BBBrrrrrrrrrrr.......LUCKY for us - we got to do the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market (slightly north of Santa Fe on the 'High Road to Taos') the weekend of Thanksgiving, which was also the first SNOW DAY here in North Central New Mexico!!

...God bless hot chocolate!

   
(left) The historic Plaza in downtown Santa Fe;    (right) a pueblo-style home decorated with faralitos (or luminarias).

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OCTOBER - The Aspens are turning in Santa Fe - Time to come inside

Here's some of my favorite lampwork sets that just say - "It's Autumn you know - time to harvest some beads"

       

We've been really enjoying the past couple of free weekends, it has been pretty warm up until early this week and we've been able to make it nice and early to the WONDERFUL Santa Fe Farmer's Market that is held in the Railyard District of town.

Talk about colors - the food and the flowers and the people! We had such fun and found so many tasty eats.

       

Of course it's that MAGICAL time of year around New Mexico - THE CHILI's ARE READY FOR ROASTING!!
I can only handle the mild reds, (not the Chimayo reds) but Dave has advanced up to the awesome green Hatch chili's.
They REALLY are addicting!!

   

I just love to see the variety of people who shop the Farmer's Market - it's almost as varied as the organic products, oils, flowers, plants and other goodies & products on sale!

   

   

   

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As we were leaving the Railyard where the Farmer's Market and the next-door Artist's Market is behind SITE Santa Fe (Art Space), we would cross the old Santa Fe Southern Railroad tracks and we kept hearing this rhythmic, energetic, tribal music and so we went over and climbed the stairs of what we later discovered was the Performance Art Space (former railyard building). Inside we were in awe of what we saw. Immediately we were swept up in the African Tribal drum music that was driving the roomfull of colorful, joyus, men & women dancing African Dance.

   

I could just feel the energy and joy with which all these people in this space were involved in creating. Folks of all ages, all sizes and persuasions were following their dance leaders in long rows up and across the dance floor towards the front where the African Tribal Drum group thumped and rattled and funked them along.

Here is a link to a slide show and music: African Tribal Drum & Dance Class Movie - in the Railyard Performing Arts Space - Santa Fe, NM

   

Then a new dance *step* or movement would be designated and row after row of colorful, joyus dancers played it out all the while each line would wrap around the back to only start up their row again. It was really AMAZING!!

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These are some of the scenes of early fall around these parts. North-Central New Mexico is most definitely part of the "Land of Enchantment.

   

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We'll we finally broke down and did it - we got another baby for our tribe - little kitty with sharp claws and bitey teeth. We rescued him from the Espanola Animal Shelter. Originally they told us it was a she so we decided to name her Frida Kahlo (in honor of the incredible Mexican painter) but then when we picked the kitty up they said "Here HE is!" WOW! That's cool tho - we already loved him. So he got the name of Diego Rivera - Frida's mentor and husband.

New Kitty Pix - Nov 05
CLOSER TO FREE - New Kitty Movie!!

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AUGUST 2005 - Been some Theivin' goin' on!!

Well, I was SUPER-SAD to find out that sometime in the last week, between Monday when my partner closed our booth/botique and Saturday we were hit by thieves. My inventory was ravaged quite a bit more than AmyJane's but we do have DISTINCTLY different types of products. Her lossed included some Old Navajo silver and turquoise bracelets, baby bracelets, while my losses included some of my treasured Lampwork/Art Glass sets, gemstone pendants, heavy gauge chain, watch sets, earrings, many silver faceted ball chains with lampwork and other pendants and probably some other stuff I am not counting here.

Sadly we are hit from time to time by shoplifting teams who come through, but up until this point it has been an item or two - mainly *touristy* type items that can easily be resold with out too much uniqueness to them. Turquoise and silver bracelets, necklaces and earrings. But this was a surprise as I had counted on the uniqueness of my main product line to scare off thiefs who may not know what they are or how to resell them.

Below is a big, messy picture of a majority of my pieces that survived the theivin'...I brought them here to FINALLY take some much needed studio shots of them as I haven't done quality, tabletop photos of my pieces since my studio has been down prior to the big move last summer.



I have a piece I had jokingly been calling my *masterpiece* (including lampwork from Dan/K Oregon, and others) and wanted to have it done for the collectors who came through during Indian Market last weekend here in Santa Fe, but it became more complex and required a re-design so it wasn't ready in time. Needless to say, I am thankful for that, as it's still in my inventory and not in a theif's hand. You can see it on the left front side of the picture.

But all of this makes me more determined and focused to get my entire inventory (past and present) online and for sale as well as having it in my booth/botique. We have until the last weekend in October to make the most of our Artist's Market @ Jackalope in Santa Fe and then it's on to the holiday selling season and day-shows, festivals, trunk shows and maybe the mall again. OOHH the time she does fly.

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JULY 2005 - SUMMER'S HALF GONE ?!

Wow hard to believe - but true - it's July of 2005 and we have lived in Santa Fe now for almost a year. Whew, this summer is much easier to handle (in a temprature sort of way) than any of those in the So. Nevada & Las Vegas area. We're not prisoners in our house and when they say 'Monsoon Season' here - they actually mean it!

Other big doin's have been my booth/botique at Jackalope here in Santa Fe. ...........

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MARCH 2005 - THE MOVE IS FINALLY DONE!!:

Hard to believe...but TRUE. We finally moved into our new (and hopefully FINAL) house the very end of February. If you haven't heard from me, or I owe you correspondence or feedback - - please keep hope alive. We have been swamped.

Also at the same time as the move, of course it all happens at once, is setting up for my spring-summer booth at Jackalope here in Santa Fe. Jackalope.com is a really cool 5+ acre indoor/outdoor mercantile and they have so many things, and artists and crazy animals running around, if you are even in New Mexico you MUST stop by! Anyway we have been having to build from scratch for this new development this year and I am just barely still finding all my studio supplies.

Well all for now - so much to still do, but hope to bring some more updates again soon. Keep checking back.

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UPDATE January 2005:

ALAS - - I have to admit my eBay Storefront and my www.i-feel-pretty.com web pages are in sad shape :-( right now, as I have done nothing since the sudden illness & death of my mother and move all coming at one time in July/August. So keep hope alive and I will finally get that back in order. I *had* a great gallery of my work up there - but alas it's gone now! Fear not, firstly, beacuse it WILL get better :-). We FINALLY sold our house in Las Vegas, NV (so much for that scalding HOT real estate market) and while we are still renting here in Santa Fe, our new home will be finished by early March. And 'March' is appropriate as that's what we'll be doing - marching all our 'stuff' in storage over to the new house and finally - after seven months - UNPACKNG. I guess I can no longer say "It's in a box...somewhere!"
But all in all we are very blessed to be in such a wonderful place as Santa Fe, to have encountered some really amazing folks, my husband getting into a great high-tech job within the elite field of smarty-pants in this area. And our new house...wow that will be awesome. And hopefully the last move for a long, long while! :=)

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UPDATE July-August '04:

As of Late July we have a couple of MAJOR things happening in our world. First my mother passed away and I have been out of town caring for her and now we will be again to attend the services. Secondly the LONG-AWAITED move to Santa Fe, New Mexico is FINALLY happening! On Saturday July 25th we are 'LEAVING LAS VEGAS' and will be settling in Santa Fe the week of July 27th - August 2nd. New contact info will be made current for everyone from us at that time, in the meanwhile you should still be able to use my existing email and website information. If I am remiss in communications or such, please be patient, it's not my intention. ~Thanks for your understanding.

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Oceanside @ Bodega Bay, Northern California - Christmas 2003 - Dave & Jelly Bean

UPDATE Fall-Winter '03:

Well things are and will be pretty crazy for us the next few months - I tell you this as I beg you to please BEAR WITH ME! We are planning to move a couple of states away to New Mexico, so in addition to running with this company start-up and our tremendous growth, we are taking trips, looking at houses, talking to employers, preparing this house for sale and on and on. WHEW! It's a ton of work but we are really focused on this goal -- we must get out of this desert [we've both spent many H-O-T years here] and on to someplace with a more creative and open energy. Big changes ahead - but all changes lead to something good - but a lot of backaches too!!

I am now learning Silver Smithing - and I have a dedicated design studio, such a treat and a relief - we can see the floor in the living room again!

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PHOTO FIELD TRIPS

View From the Desk - Ever Changing Views of Nature from my desk   |
New Kitty Pix - Nov 05

CLOSER TO FREE - New Kitty Movie!!

African Tribal Drum & Dance Class Movie - in the Railyard Performing Arts Space - Santa Fe, NM

Our New House in Santa Fe, NM

Snow Roller Dog!

Judy & Rod's New Horse Spread in Texas - Pre move-in

Judy & Rod's New Horse Spread in Texas - Post move-in AND Sedona the new pup!!

Phil's place - Santa Fe, NM - QUICK TIME - Movie (LARGE FILE!)

Phil's place - Santa Fe, NM - QUICK TIME - Movie (SMALLER FILE)

Spring Break Snow in New Mexico!

Evolving Studio Setups!

Check out my  Local & Global Networking - Unique & FREE!        Business & Social Networking      
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY!!

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