Creative Spurt

I finally had some time to myself today. Boy is that getting harder and harder to find. I was able to sit and make some jewelry which is truly my relaxation. I thoroughly enjoy playing with color and texture and creating something pretty. Today I created 4 somethings pretty...2 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings.

I have had these beautiful gem grade Swiss blue topaz briolettes for quite some time. I have a pair of them and at first I thought I was going to make earrings with them but I ended up using one for this necklace. The stones are just stunning and really don't need much. I just accented with a gorgeous Akoya pearl for a simple, yet stunning necklace that can be worn everyday yet still be special.

The second necklace is an eye catcher. Part of my Sticks and Stones Series it features some truly magnificent pink Biwa pearls paired with large, smooth prasiolite (green amethyst) nuggets. Smooth gold fill rounds provide additional texture and accent.

The earrings are dainty and feminine. The first pair features sterling silver orchid posts studded with tiny, sparkly cubic zirconias. Falling below are mystic colored topaz in pink, fuchsia and green with a sterling wavy bead and a pearl. Simple yet unique.

And my final creation for the day was a lovely pair of earrings again featuring the sterling wavy bead. This time with a pearl and mystic prasiolite. Next to it is a headpin with golden apricot topaz and a prasiolite cube. On sterling leverbacks.

I had a wonderful day making my new pieces. They are in my etsy shop . So check them out, literally, heh heh.

I am participating in the Weekend Deals on etsy this week. All non - sale items in my shop are 20% off through July 6th. You can pay and I will refund you or just wait for a revised invoice. Remember too, all non - sale items always ship free; except to Italy which has a discounted $5.00 shipping charge.

The Colors are Upon Us

Things must really be progressing on the yurt. Yesterday the hubby took me into "the big city" AKA Missoula so we could go pick out paint colors. Woo hoo! I had a basic idea of where I was going but certain colors were up in the air until I knew what was happening with things like the bathroom floor and kitchen counter.

I thought we were going to tile the bathroom floor but while we were in the paint store we were introduced to this cool eco product called Marmoleum. It is made with linseed oil and jute and it is totally environmentally friendly and MUCH easier to install than tile - ie: no grout. Hubby was thrilled at this as he has never installed tile before and the thought of it was not making him happy. I found my whole thought pattern for the bathroom changed. We are now going with this cool grey Marmoleum tile called Eiger. Sounds totally rugged, eh? But this is where it gets a bit girly. The wall color is the raspberry with the yellow going in the linen closet and in the toilet area. It will be a WAKE UP bathroom.



Don't they look cool together?

The hallway and bedroom are also being done in the yellow with the bedroom closet being painted the raspberry. Obviously I am not afraid of color.....

It gets better....

My craft room is being painted in this delightfully relaxing color. I really like it! It's greener in person. The computer really messes with color.

And the stairs leading up to the hallway and the back of the wall to the hall closet and to the craft room are also being painted in the green with the yellow on the upper walls. I know this sounds too confusing for words right now so you will just have to wait the three years it is going to take to get this all done for the photos. heh heh

My kitchen is going to be this nice subtle color.




It is a rather saturated red in person.

The living/dining area is truly going to be a subdued color. It's about time I suppose. Here it is...it will go well with the navy blue woodstove and grey hearth. All of our light fixtures are energy star and are stainless steel so I think this color will look good with them. Plus this room is mostly windows and has a ton of natural light.

The kitchen and the living/dining area are really one big room so the two colors will meet. I think they will look nice next to each other.

So here are my colors. Anyone who has seen my jewelry or who had been in any of my other houses is not surprised right now. I love bright colors!!!

UPrinting is Cool

I am sure you have noticed my blog sponsor UPrinting. I have to say they have been just wonderful to have as a blog sponsor. They are very responsive when I have questions and I have been through their site and have found their product line to be quite thorough and well priced. Last week they had the very nice blog photo contest which I wrote about here. I love the photo of little Kevin that I have entered. It ends on June 29th with the winner notified on the 30th. Keep you fingers crossed for me....

Now the wonderful folks at UPrinting are offering all their sponsored blogs 500 FREE business cards. This is just great for me as I was just getting ready to order some and was just last week looking through their site to figure out which ones I was going to get. Don't tell them that though...

They offer many options for cards and I am going with the 2 x 2 I think because they are slightly different than a standard business card. But who knows I might just change my mind by the time I get there....

But check them out...you can find all of your printing needs!

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I Won a Sexy Apron!!!

Remember this post where I blogged about the brilliant Julia at The Apron Goddesses? I told you about the sexy green apron she was giving away...well, I won! I am so very excited. Now I just have to wait to get my sexy apron. Part of the prize conditions include having to take your photo in said prize and send it back to the site. I am going to pose with Pricilla. Since Pricilla wouldn't WEAR an apron for me she will just have to pose WITH an apron for me. She did wear pearls for me in this memorable shot...

So stay tuned for me and Pricilla in our next joint photo shoot. And a big thank you to Julia and Modern Myrtle for such a pretty apron.

A New Kid for the Farm

Well, Abby delivered last night. Not the doe or does we were hoping for but our new little buckling is adorable. We have named him Harry after my father. I sincerely doubt this would please him but I suspect he would laugh all the same. He knew I wasn't going to have children so this would be the next best thing, right? I figure the little guy was born so close to Father's Day it was the logical choice. I have two nephews left who don't have goats named after them and they are rather young. At their ages if I picked one and not the other I would just have a fight on my hands and it's not worth it. So without further ado, may I present Harry the goat...

Although that does sound rather like a mob name, doesn't it?

He is a little cutie pie though and he looks just like his daddy, Luke the goat. This is a photo of Luke at two months. That is when Luke came to us. We bought him from a farm in Spokane, Washington.

This is Harry today after he has, uhm, dried off a bit. It's also natural light instead of the stupid flash.

It will be interesting to see if he is going to be a hopper like Kevin.

I Would Love to go to......

Just about anywhere to be honest. A little vacation would be heavenly. But it's not in my cards. But a girl can dream, right. So I learned of this neat new travel site called FatPassport. You head over there and it lets you plug in different parameters for YOUR kind of vacation based on location, budget and what you want to do. Then it gives recommendations for places to visit.

I thought I would give it a whirl and dream a little about getting away from the goats since I doubt the goats would even be allowed in coach. So I plugged in sightseeing budget trips in North America for couples as I thought it would be nice to take the hubby along on my virtual adventure. I'm that kind of girl. It came back to me with a boatload of suggestions for sightseeing opportunities and having seen quite a few of them I can say that they are truly GREAT places to visit.

For example, it suggested Haleakala National Park on the Island of Maui. I have been there and it is a glorious place. Especially at sunrise. I was younger when I visited and getting up at ungodly hours to see the sunrise was not as hard as it is now. I strongly recommend seeing this park. It is seriously gorgeous.

It also suggested Waimea Canyon on the Island of Kauai. Again, another slice of heaven on earth. I have seen this from eye level and helicopter and it is S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G. Grrr. Now I want to go back to Hawaii.

The Statue of Liberty and The Golden Gate Bridge were also on the list. Patriotic and dramatic to say the least and the food in both New York and San Francisco can't be beat.

The next was Chichen Itza in the Yucatan. Now this one I haven't seen so maybe this is the best place for my virtual trip.

There were MANY, MANY more recommendations including my favorite place in the whole wide world Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hmmm, theme going here? I am one of those people who just LOVE volcanoes and the smell of sulphur. I can't tell you how many times I have been to that park - it draws me like a magnet. The helicopter ride over it was an experience I will NEVER forget. Maybe I should work for the Hawaii Tourism Bureau.

But I would suggest you all go play over at FatPassport. I had a blast learning about new places to see and reminiscing about the wonderful sights I have had the good fortune to visit in my life. It's a great place to plan a trip, virtual or otherwise.

Happy News!

My goat Abigail is in labor. We are, of course, hoping for a doeling or two but will be thrilled with whatever pops out. Baby goats are just the cutest things! Last time she kidded she gave us Nora.

Nora is now living on another farm with Pricilla's Sarah but here is her baby photo.

Isn't she just the cutest?

Summer Fun

UPrinting (my really great sponsor) is holding a terrific summer photo contest. First prize is $250 and a 16 x 20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print. Now both of those are things I can use. Some day I will get into the yurt and I will have walls to decorate! So here is my entry. Of course it includes a goat 'cause my life is just full of goats!

I call it Sweet Kid of Summer.

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Happy Father's Day

I want to wish all the wonderful father's out there a wonderful, Happy Father's Day.

The boys around here are celebrating with some extra apple. What better way for a goat to spend the day?