LIfes been hectic more than usual....

Apatite and Sunstone Necklace
Originally uploaded by Serena Coulson Designs

I'm still around.. Managed to make 2 necklaces this weekend the Apatite and Quartz and the Red Rhodocrosite and pink opal. This pretty Apatite and Sunstone necklace isnt quite finished. I need to get silver crimps and caps to finish it. Its gonna have to wait until later this week it looks like. This last week My father in law had major surgery and we've been busy with visiting him after work and this weekend getting everything ready for him to go home and be comfortable. Mix in the usual chaos of a 4 year old and the usual life stuff.... its been exhausting and overwhelming during a time when I am struggling to find some peace in my world....
This evening I did a little bead trading with my mom. I traded a few different beads for some teeeny 2.5mm garnet rounds, 3 mm garnet rounds, 4.5mm carnelian rounds, and 3mm hessonite garnet rounds. I cant wait to figure out what to make with them. I want to shop for beads sooo bad... but I really need to SLOW DOWN! I have been obsessed with aquiring the next pretty set of beads... that gets expensive FAST. Though I have some pretty new things to show for it! But its late and I need to sleep!

Gnight!
~Serena

Apatite and Sunstone Necklace

Apatite and Sunstone Necklace
Originally uploaded by Serena Coulson Designs

Apatite & Quartz Necklace

Apatite & Quartz Necklace
Originally uploaded by Serena Coulson Designs

Red Rhodocrosite and Pink Opal Necklace

Red Rhodocrosite and Pink Opal Necklace
Originally uploaded by Serena Coulson Designs

Red Rhodocrosite and Pink Opal Necklace

Red Rhodocrosite and Pink Opal Necklace
Originally uploaded by Serena Coulson Designs

Finally a few new things to show tonight... Will talk later....

**My 1000 Markets shop is LIVE!**

http://www.1000markets.com/users/serenacoulsondesigns

I just got my aproval email letting me know I am LIVE!   

Time to polish and package my listings for shipping just in case... *grin*   

Now I need to get some items listed on Etsy also...  It will be easier now that my internet provider seems to have corrected our problem... Guess they dont like their customers asking for credits for the DAYS they dont have internet access...  

Another Sunday....

I havent been able to stop running lately.... despite my constant resistance... there is always something that someone ELSE needs to get done... Though some deep discussion with the love of my life has made some changes and has been declining to assist others every time they call.  Yesterday he managed to find the part he needed to repair our riding mower and is doing some much needed mowing(It was a JUNGLE out there...)    Today required a few errands but we made it home and I am playing with some copper ideas.   My latest project has been using older pennies that have the higher copper content..  I have flattened and hammered and dome them today and am trying to decide on a necklace or bracelet.  I got to DOME them!  That new doming block set sure is fun!   Now I have made something new that I really love.  A bracelet with some eyecatching crab agate pillowy shapes, white bamboo coral, carnelian, and red ceramic beads and sterling silver.  I am debating oxidising this one I think it will look nice, but cant decide,  I am thinking of making a second bracelet of similar beads and then oxidising one of them...  

Also today I have been working on my 100 markets shop and finally got it submitted and I am waiting on the approval!      http://www.1000markets.com/users/serenacoulsondesigns

~Serena

 

Sunday... Cloudy... Drizzly...Chilly...Sleepy...

Today is a relax day. Damp cool and sleepy.  A great Sunday to follow a Great Saturday.  

The Art Market.. ended very well after a little chaos.  It was chilly (me huddled in blanket...brrr) and cloudy and the sky decided to open up and get us wet...  we thought it would be the end of our day (and it hadnt been productive at ALL.)  but we rode it out and it cleared up and people showed up!  It drizzled a little more but the vendors and customers were determined :-) .  The cooler weather made it soo much nicer!  I didnt do as well as the last two markets, but it was enough that I packed up happy. My custom earrings were picked up and some of my favorite peices found loving homes.   After everone disperesed some late comers showed up that barely missed everyone... I think next time we need to lollygag some more and hang around for latecomers.  We packed up and went to Gemstone Junction on our usual route home.  Did a little restocking of supplies and lots of laughing and carrying on with Debbie another Jewelry vendor that was at the Market.  

Red Coral Drops

Dalmation Jasper Rondelles and Heishi

Pink  Rounds  (Possibly Pink Opal.)Amazonite RondellesRough Quartz

Quartz Slices

Mookite Rondelles and Yellow oval (I forgot the name)

Brown Zebra Jasper

Now before everyone headed out I snuck off to another booth for some yummy smelling handmade soap from Shawna Kelly I also got a bottle of her Sinus Savers Spray .  Neat stuff!  I had been looking forward to checking it out in person.  A little stock up for cold season that hits our house HARD.   

Now today we packed the kid of to Church with his Papa ( he loves going to church with Papa. ) and ran a few errands..  I convinced hubby to stop by the tool store that was open and I splurged some booth money on a (new toy)  Doming block set!  

I cant wait to get something made with this lovely!  I tried it out on a penny earlier hehe.  My plan is some sterling end caps from recycled silver.  

First I have some housework to get done and then I will play!

~Serena

Tommorow is the Downtown Art Market!

Getting ready...  Not enough hours in the day to get done everything I wanted done!  

Just got the tables loaded up and will load the rest in the morning.  Hoping we dont get rained out!  

I need to get to bed now so I'm rested!

~night!

Oxidising silver....the nontoxic succes! (and a necklace finished!)

Today was oxidising day... haha...  I have three pieces that needed to be oxidised that I kept putting off since I didnt have any LOS.  Today I got brave and boiled an egg... the first one was a failure.... I let it cool some first not knowing it needed to be hot...  So I boiled some more and plopped them in a baggy with the jewelry and smashed them up.  Worked like a charm!  The pieces are now healthily oxided AND were easy to polish of what I wanted polished.  Perfection!  

Amazingly today has been pretty productive!  Even though I slept until almost noon....haha..  the boys slipped out to go fishing this morning and without the interuption I was able to sleep!  We went to lunch with my brother in law who was in town visiting and leaving today and then came home.  I finished a rustic amethst necklace, it was supposed to be the match for the bracelet I just oxidized, but I am not sure if I want to oxides it....  I like it the way it is.... 

~Serena

Labor day weekend lazies....

I have had the hardest time getting in the creating mood and I am counting down the days to the next market!  My distractions:

~I need teeny tiny sterling beads that I cant find

~we just bought fishing liscences and the boys want to go fishing constantly now.

~and shopping for fishing stuff~

~my house is a disaster and I need to clean it

~the man is blaring the television so I cant concentrate.

Now I have a few things done...  today I did a pretty labradorite and crystal quartz pendant.  I am plotting to do a pendant with my pretty white keishi pearls and the itty teeny weeny bitty sleeping beauty turqouise rounds I have, I put them together and they make each other scream!  I cant wait to get something made.... but the distractions!!!  YIKES....  

BUT I am working on it and I have one whole day left! I think I will encourage those boys to go fishing and do some bonding without me....    

~Serena