Silver Fusing Class

I must sadly admit that I cannot light a gas grill, so I was a bit leary about taking a class in silver fusing. You use a butane torch to heat fine silver. I was able to create a few things without even so much as a scorch to the skin! We made headpins and earrings complete with ear wires. It was a great time and it's especially nice to meet people that love the craft.

Jewelry

Someone asked to see the jewelry that I've been making so I thought I'd post a photo. Quick description from top left cw:
1. coat hanger earrings-black wire, orange/blk. bead is a real seed.
2. glass blk./white dangles w/ red crystals
3. copper tinged leaf with turquoise and orange dangles
4. 28 g. wire macrame w/ pearls and copper textured beads
5. Swarovski crystal ring (on stretchy cord)
6. green glass w/wire spiral
My favorite place to make jewelry is the Bead Cache in Mansfield. The shop is small (cozy), and has the best selection of supplies, knowledgeable employees, classes...etc.
I am currently working with hemp and other fibers to make variations of friendship bracelets.
Take care

July 20, 2009

Hi ....just a short note and a couple of pictures.

Steve...stops in his tracks! What the....! Is this the biggest dragonfly you've ever seen? His eyes were like marbles. He flew up into a tree. Very cool.

Garden Festival at Tranquil Lake

Saturday we visited Tranquil Lake Nursery for their annual Summer Open House. They are located on River Street in Rehoboth, MA. As usual the fields of colorful daylilies were breathtaking (should have brought the camera). Try to visit in the next few weeks when the lilies are at their best.

Athyrium hybrid, “Branford Rambler”

Always looking for something unusual, I purchased a trailing fern for my shade area and two air plants. I put them on a piece of drift wood next to the garage. It’s very interesting how they get their nutrients…not from soil. They collect dew/rain and transport the water by way of specialized cells, to their plant body…cool! I may try to wire the TBX to a crook in the driftwood. The plant uses its short root system to hang onto host trees.

Tillandsia Hondurensis (left), and Tillandsia Brachycaulos X

Canoeing the Mashpee River

Here we are, me the grunt up front, and Linda Catalina, the rudder woman, crusing down the calm waters of the Mashpee River. We spotted a Green Heron feasting under a dock. Linda claims she saw some jellyfish. I think she was just seeing things and was a bit dizzy from steering us in a zigzag pattern for many miles.

Wanted
Ruddering Lessons
(for my friend)

Out of focus Green Heron

Summer is Finally Here!

Summer has finally made it to Seekonk. Our tomatoes and peppers are growing nearly as expeditiously as the weeds. Mother nature brings us all things....I happily watch the tadpoles turn to frogs and toads, and note the young birds, bunnies, woodchucks and opossums scurry in the backyard. Of course I am not so delighted about the consequences some of these little creatures bring about as they voraciously devour the flowers and vegetables. The carrot tops have been eaten as well as the entire snap pea population. Thanks to those adorable little bunnies, I have very few buds/flowers on my annuals.

Despite this downside of nature, I would never hurt these little creatures. This is not the case for the "Mr. McGregor" in the neighborhood. Last night as I was walking around the yard, there was a commotion by the trash bin. A large woodchuck appeared to be trapped between the garage and a trash bin. He was on his back making some blood curdling sounds. I moved the bin, but he did not run. He appeared to be in distress and died a short time later. My main concern is that he may have brought some of what killed him onto our property. I am worried that the dogs and cat might find it...whatever it is.

Steve finally hung some of the bird houses he made over the winter. I especially like the yellow house with the glass flower on the front. We bought lights for the pergola at the Christmas Tree shop. They are strands of silver stars with star cutouts in the (tin?). Uh oh...does that mean they'll rust soon? We also have some interesting lighting by the pond. Steve hung a gazing ball in the Mimosa tree and a large wine bottle stuffed with tiny lights. Last night he noticed that moths were flying around the globe. I'm hoping the bats will notice...we need help keeping the mosquito population down.I've posted a few pictures...I hope to be able to get one of the humming bird soon.

Take care and enjoy each day!

Steve can shoot flames from his head.

The glowing globe

A heart shaped bottle on the ground with lights inside and baskets of Impatiens hang from the Mimosa