Where shall I start?

"When in doubt, I find that retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin..." ~ Albus Dumbledore

I have been finishing up a custom guinea pig charm, and the dog charm is still being worked on and perfected.  Its almost the end of July, I haven't had a chance to start any holiday charms, which means I've fallen behind.  I've also had this idea rolling around in my head for a few weeks now, and I would like to get started on it.  Not sure what the world will think about it when its unveiled, but I think that it will be beautiful.  I'm excited to get started, but uncontrollable forces may hinder my efforts to truck along on with it.  More on that in a bit.

Today I stabbed myself with a rake.  Yes.  A rake.  There are raccoons in my neighborhood.  I love them, but they like to pull the siding back on the garage to climb in and hide.  I normally wouldn't care, and really I still don't mind, but today was hot, muggy, and I had just taken a shower before work.  I tried to pop the panels back in with the rake, and ended up dropping it and it stabbed me right in the thigh.  So there is a scratch and a bruise AND a welt.  Fun.  :P
A week ago today, I bit a great big hole in my cheek by my molars while eating dinner.  I thought it would just turn into a canker sore, and then heal as usual.  I was wrong.  It ended up becoming very painful.  It must have also become infected or something because my lymph node, cheek and jaw on that side of my face are swollen.  More swollen a few days ago, less swollen today, but my jaw aches, and cheek hurts inside and out.  OH! And my ear hurts too, so the whole right side of my face.  Tons of fun!  :P
Now, I'm sure you are all asking, "Jen, why haven't you just gone to the doctors???"  Well, I have no insurance.  I haven't had any for a few years now.  Its okay.  I have paid out of pocket for some things, but this time, well, aside from not really being in the budget, I feel like I can wait it out.  But, a week later now, I might be eating my words soon if things don't change dramatically for the better. 

The last few weeks of work have been wicked busy.  I've been working late a lot of nights.  It doesn't bother me.  I've just been tired, more tired than usual.  Its not like I don't get enough sleep though.  However, a friend of mine, has brought it to my attention that I might have an iron deficiency.  So, I have decided to start taking a multivitamin.  I know I could use it.  I don't exactly eat right all the time.
Still working on balancing work with my shop.  Its been hard.  I hope the vitamins help boost my energy, and I will be able to catch back up on things.

Besides work and illness keeping me from my shop there has also been car troubles.  My little car just had new brakes, new rotors, new wipers, and an oil change and new oil filter all put on.  Things were looking better for it.  Well, then I discovered I had the beginnings of a flat the other day.  I took it to the tire shop and it turns out that the tire was probably the same tire it rolled out of the factory with back in 1999/98.  So, now it has one new tire.  There will be another new one in a couple months hopefully.  The flat tire was so old, they no longer make them, in fact, the company doesn't exist anymore.  As for the other tires?  Also discontinued. But, it now has one nice new one.  :)  Hooray for more car expenses.  Can you feel my sarcasm?  ;)

Speaking of expenses.  I decided to replace my old camera with a new one.  My old Canon only had 4 measly MP.  Now my new Canon has 14 MP!  Its incredible!  :)  I decided its now or never, and bit the bullet.  I picked it up over a week ago.  I had a gift card from my brother and that helped take the edge off.  I justified this purchase in a pretty reasonable way, unlike when I justify things so I don't feel guilty when I buy them.  I use this camera for all my shop stuff.  My old camera's batteries no longer held a charge, and rather than investing in an old cam, I decided to just upgrade.  The old Canon is about 7ish years old.  Pretty long life in camera years.  I'd have to say that's about 92 in people years.  It's been a good friend and companion.  Documenting many many good times.  I'm sure its predecessor will be a worthy replacement.  :)

Yes, I did see Harry Potter 7.2.  Yes, it was awesome.  Yes, I am sad its over.  Yes, I did cry.  I wont go into much more than that.  I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.  :)

And now, unfortunately I will be ending this on a sad note.  If you haven't yet heard, and I'm pretty sure you would have to be living under a rock to not know, and if you are under said rock, you probably don't have internet connection, but what do I know.  Anyway, if you haven't heard yet, Borders is closing.  I bring this up because once upon a time, I worked at Borders for about 5 years.  Borders is where I met my Sweetheart.  Borders is where my Sweetheart works currently.  Its sad news that they are liquidating.  It breaks my heart to see them go.  Not only because we are staring down the barrel of the unemployment shotgun, but because I feel like books are disappearing. 
I love books.  I have many.  I cant imagine a world without them.  I'm not saying that there will never be books, but there is something to be loved about holding a brand new book in your hands, being the first to open its pages, to bend its binding.  The smell of a new book can't be replicated with e-readers.  The feeling of accomplishment when I see how many pages I've passed, while marking my place for next time.  The absolute excitement of the Harry Potter release nights will always stay with me.  A memory I cherish.  It wouldn't exist if it weren't for the actual physical books.  I have many technical craft books, and I like being able to flip between pages referencing what I need.  I don't see myself using an ebook for that.  On my shelf, wedged between children's picture books, is a book I was given by my first grade teacher when she retired.  Its Ed Emberly's Drawing book of Animals.  I have a copy of a Tale of Two Cities that was my Grandmother's when she was in school, inside which she has written her profession of love of a certain actor.  :)
I could go on and on.  I love technology as much as the next person.  I don't think that ebooks and e-readers are useless.  I can see where they can be nice and convenient, but books, real, actual, ink on paper books, will always have a special place in my heart.

Dog Charms & New Things

A couple weeks ago, it might actually be a few weeks now, I was asked about creating a dog charm.  I took on the task and I am struggling with it.  :/  I've never sculpted a dog charm before, so its all new to me.  I've been trying to do a bust rather than the whole dog.  Keeping the charm small enough for a pendant, but also keeping the details of the dog in tact are both important.  He is turning out to be pretty tricky.
Besides that there has been other things going on in my life that are taking time away from my creative endeavors.  I've been cleaning up the yard with my sweetheart.  We planted some flower seeds.  I think something has already started to sprout.  Unless those are weeds...
I started a new job after a long search for additional employment.  I had the interview a couple weeks ago, and then they brought me in for a trial period.  A couple days ago, they told me they were going to keep me on.  Its exciting and stressful.  New things like this usually are for me.
Mother's Day and my Mom's birthday have both come and gone now.  I wasn't sure what to get her for those, but I ended up finding some things that were pretty cool.  Me and my sweetheart took her out to dinner, and that was nice.
I've been out clothes shopping a few times looking for new stuff for work and a dress for a wedding in June.  Being a girl, and going clothes shopping, doesn't necessarily mean that shopping is fun and rainbows and lollypops.  I pretty much loath looking for pants and dresses.  Most pants don't fit me right.  Dresses are a whole other ball of wax.  I might just have to break down and get pants then make alterations myself.  :/  What a pain.  Plus, I cant stand spending money on clothes.  :P
This weekend went by way too fast.  Hopefully I can find a rhythm between work and my shop and play.  The last few weeks I've neglected the shop, and the dog charm.  I need to get back to working on that as soon as I can.  Which, should be tomorrow. 

Kitty Charm

I recently finished a custom kitty charm.  I've had a couple inquiries about doing other animal charms, so I decided to give it a shot.

I wasn't sure how to approach a kitty charm at first.  If I were to try and sculpt the entire cat, it could lose detail if I tried to keep it the same size as my other charms.  I didn't want to make it too big, then it might look awkward or uncomfortable to wear.  So, I decided to go with a bust.
Cuddles is a dark black kitty with hints of dark brown in her fur.  Her eyes are a lime green and she has a big furry mane.

I wanted to show a little of the process of this charm.  Unfortunately, I cannot find my photos of the charm unpainted.  I will show you the photos of her painted and then after varnishing though.  :)

before varnishing

before varnishing

after varnish

after varnish

after varnish

after varnish

In the end, she turned out pretty well.  :)  If anyone is interested in ordering a custom kitty charm, just send me a message at bluedesertrose1@yahoo.com.  I haven't started officially offering them in the shop yet, but they will be the same cost as a custom guinea pig charm.
I should have a post coming up about the latest custom orders I've been working on.  Until then, :)

Comic Book Wedding

Two friends of mine tied the knot this month on the 12th.  They had a comic book themed wedding.  It was a lot of fun :)  Also, I was lucky enough to be a part in a small way.  They had asked me if I could make the necklaces for the bridesmaids.  I was thrilled!  So excited, and when they told me what they were looking for, I was even more excited.  I started thinking things out, and as time got closer to the wedding, the idea evolved even further.  They had been discussing the boutonnieres for the groomsmen, and it hit them that it would be cool to do the same thing for them as the bridesmaids, but as pins instead.  Plus, special pins for themselves.  Well, I was completely geeked.  Custom work is fun, but especially when someone has adventurous big ideas.  :D

After a few weeks of work they were finished and ready.  I was pretty pleased with how they all turned out.  :)  They looked just as I had pictured them finished, and when each pair walked down the aisle, a tear came to my eye.  I'm sure some would also say, "Lots of people cry at weddings...", but 1. I wasn't crying, my eyes just welled up a little ;)  (my mascara wasn't waterproof and I forgot tissues, no crying allowed. I refuse to have raccoon eyes) and 2. Yeah, I was happy to see my creations, and I was happy to see my friends get married.  :)  Lol, so both.  Go with me on this. 

I waited to post these pictures because they were a surprise for the wedding party.  :)  Here they are though now, in all their awesomeness.

Bride and Groom Pins

Best Man Pin and Maid of Honor Pendant

Groomsman Pin and Bridesmaid Pendant

Groomsman Pin and Bridesmaid Pendant

Groomsman Pin and Bridesmaid Pendant

Congratulations to my friends!

Custom Orders of 2010

Last year was a new adventure for me in custom orders.  Now that the holidays have passed and gifts have been given, I feel its safe to show you all what I worked on. 

Biscuit

 

 

 

 

 Sylvia & Sadie

Nibbles

 Freddie

PJ Bunny

Froggy

(a custom order, but not based on an actual pet)

It was a busy few months.  Most of these were gifts for the holidays.  I really enjoyed making each one.  Once they were finished, and were ready to ship, it was really hard to part with them because they were all so cute and tiny.  :)  I'm really happy with how they turned out.