Trinkets And Tomes

My newest piece

2012-01-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Well, I have taken the first step toward metalworking. It is just a little step, but like the proverbial elephant, I am taking it one bite at a time.

Well, the piece is a pair of domed earrings. Specifically, polished aluminum (3/4") discs that I cut out of 21 gauge sheet metal, textured with a ball peen hammer, polished with a rotary tool and finally domed in a dapping block. I hung them on Sterling Silver ear wires and jump rings.

All, in all a good start.

2010-08-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Flavor of the Southwest Pendant
Moukite focal with Ocean Jasper accents and wrapped in Copper

2009-09-07T10:26:00.001-07:00

Talk about Labor Day – lol!

Today ‘s my son’s Birthday!!!
Growing up fast that little bugger (all 6’2” of him.) He is turning 19 – sigh. Time flies, doesn’t’ it?

Well all, enjoy your “Labor Day”, I’m off for cake and company with my kids!!!!

2009-08-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

I Made Wire Chain Today...

and it was fun.

2009-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Work will be starting up soon again ... sigh.

     Work will be starting up soon again. For those of you who might not know, I am a middle and high school teacher. I have been teaching for 15 years now. Returning to work is bittersweet this year. I enjoy my time off, but because of the economy this summer has been more of survivalist mode than relaxation mode so I will be happy to go back. But due to the economy, I am going back to a pay cut. And to top it off, I live in California where teachers are taking a big hit employment-wise - Gotta love our Gov.

     Yes, I do have a job, for that I am grateful. But sometimes grateful just isn’t enough. How long can you be grateful for struggling to make ends meet? So I have gone back to school myself and become a student again. I need to get short sighted about my life in the near future, so I don’t become overwhelmed by things. I tend to get impatient and want change NOW!! And when I don’t get it I tend to get depressed.

     It will be long days for a while, but hopefully in the end I will be rewarded with a better life. We’ll see.

2009-07-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

My Latest:
I Call It… “Pretty in Pink”

Sterling Silver and deep rose Swarovski Crystals

2009-07-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I Just Get Tired…

Sometimes I just get tired of dealing with stuff, and I am not talking about depression or wanting to do something more serious.   No, I am talking about the day to day stresses. There have been times where there has been so much responsibility in my life that I have said “Stop the World, I want to get off” just to get a little respite.   But for me that means more handing off to someone for a day or two so I can get a rest. I am tired of dealing with things alone now.

I am divorced, which is a decision I made and would make again.    I did not make it lightly. You don’t leave 16 years of marriage lightly.    My two children were 13 and 15 at the time.    They decided to come with me rather than stay with their father.    The three of us made a new life.    It was difficult, (didn’t help that dad turned out to be a “deadbeat” dad.) But that was then, one moves on.

Now my daughter is married to a lovely young man, (he is a Marine in the the armed forces and currently on WEST PAC) and I still scare him – lol!    Oh, the mother-in-law rep :)

They just celebrated their second wedding anniversary.    She is also going to school to be a Physical Therapist.   She is dealing with life’s responsibilities just fine.

My son has finished his first year at University and will soon be returning to continue his education.    He is the proverbial college kid.   (How I miss those days of carefree learning.)

I am extremely proud of my children.    The only regret I have is that I could not give them more.

Now I can concentrate on me.      Finding out who I am has been a new journey. I am now no longer primarily MOM or the Mrs.   I am Maria.    Who that is, I am not quite sure yet.

I am no longer the Maria I was when I married. Yes, I still like some of the things I used to, like sketching and cooking and writing, but I have also discovered new passions: jewelry making for instance.     Some, I have yet to discover.

I am returning to school to further my education.   I have to, there is only my income.

I am tired of being near the bottom of the pole, am tired of the struggle that entails, of all the times I have to watch money.    Everyone has to watch money I know, but I am getting tired of not being able to go to the doctor or the dentist. rather than just saying “oops, can’t eat out tonight”.

I am also tired of the ups and downs.    Whenever there is light at the end of the tunnel, another bend comes and the light disappears.

I just got an e-mail today that the registration fees for the classes I registered for, and have already paid for, have increased 30% and that this is a retroactive increase.    So my registration is on hold until they are paid - again! (Here we go, another bend.)   Thank you Gov - (yes, I live in CA)

And all of this I have to deal with myself.    Yes, I have my kids.   I even have my own mother, and my kitties of course.    But all of them are not quite the same.

I am not looking for a love.    I am not at that point yet.   Have to get more comfortable with me first, but it would be nice to be able to hand off all the responsibility once in a while to someone.

But I guess life moves on, so I should too.   Thanks for listening to my little rant.    Sometimes it just helps to get it out.

:)

2009-07-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

My Latest Creation: Eternity Circle

I had fun making it!!

It is 1 1/2" in diameter and
is done in Sterling Silver and Swarovski crystals.

The chain is an 18" fine figaro style with a sterling
lobster claw clasp.

2009-07-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

I Did Well.....

Only missed 1 on my Math Placement Test

YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!. YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!. YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!.

The old gray cells still work!!

2009-07-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Well here I go...

I'm off to take a math placement test. Wish me luck. Haven't done higher than Algebra in years.

Need it to find out what math I should take for my continuing ed.

2009-07-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

Went to the Bead Store Today.

Didn't have to go but HAD to go - lol.

Now my desk is a little more cluttered with all my new treasures.
The house will stay messy a little bit longer.
The dinner will start a little bit later.

And I will follow my passion for one more day.

2009-07-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Things You Don’t Knead (I mean “Need”- lol!) If You Own a Cat

Cats are wonderful pets. They are loving, entertaining and curious creatures. They are also the biggest kids you will ever have. If you own a cat, the following list should be relatable.

1. An Alarm Clock: As anyone who has been woken up at the crack of dawn with a four pawed bundle of wet nosed (and heavy) felinity standing on their chest staring at them eye to groggy eye can attest to.

2. A Demolition Crew: This is inversely proportional to the age of your cat. The younger your kitty, the more fully he or she will fulfill the role of above mentioned demolition crew. Pack up your Breakables!!!

3. A Fur Coat: Ever wanted a fur coat? Well, if you have a cat, here’s you chance. Simply just gather up all of lovely’s unwanted fur that he or she has so generously left for you (on the sofa, the bed , the rugs, the clothing, the etc…) Take it to your local furrier and Voila, after a few days of stitching and binding, a fur coat.

4. A Fly Swatter:I will not even mention the crunching noises …

Instead, I remember one summer night it was so hot all the windows were open in a vain attempt to cool off. About an hour later this 1950 Corsair airplane doing the best imitation of the biggest DRAGON FLY I have ever seen flew in through the open window. Well, my little fly swatter was on it in a flash. The thing was as big as her head!! Needless to say, there ensued 15 minutes of sheer keep away between the three of us. That dragon fly was doing its darndest to keep away from Tinka, who was doing her darndest to keep away from me. I finally managed to win out and get it out the window again, for which I received an hour of evil looks from Miss Fly Swatter.

5. House Plants: When I think of how many times I have come home to find my poor Pothos or Peace Lilies decapitated… Well, you know what I mean.

6. Christmas Ornaments: This is due to the fact that you already have as many as you will ever need. You realize this as startled from the blissful enjoyment of your cocoa and holiday music, you watch the tree start to quake erratically while a furry head pops out from amidst the blue-green needles then pops back in again only to come out somewhere else along the coniferous ladder to stare at you with wide, orb-like eyes before ducking back again.

Surprise, surprise…

2009-07-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

For those of us who have tried to write (and are still writing) let me proffer a little exercise in fun frustration; the 55 word story. Yes, a story using only 55 words no more, no less.

True it is not going to be in the category of Gone with the Wind, but it will be a story. Actually, it’s more of a snapshot really. This snapshot is a wonder in misdirection. You are reading it thinking it’s going one way and then you get to the end. Bam!, you are blindsided - you laugh, cringe, cry or just go – “Wow”.

Here’s an example:

The monster crept closer, the labored raspiness of its breathing getting louder.

Timmy held his breath - Shuffle breathe, shuffle breathe, heartbeat pounding, shuffle breathe.
Why couldn’t anyone see it? Timmy wanted to scream. Look out!
Look out!! He drew a deep breath.

“O.K.”, Dad said, switching on the lights, “bedtime”

Well, that’s a 55 word story. Enjoy! If you want more you can search the internet under 55 word stories. There are even a few other bloggers who have created them. Here’s that link: http://55-words.blogspot.com/

**I use this in my summer school creative writing sections. It’s amazing what the students come up with.