Monday, June 25, 2012

Summer Vacation

It's vacation time! I took a much-needed break from routine and visited the Windmill Museum in Lubbock, Texas. Boy was it hot! It was worth it though. The outside part of the museum is free and is made up a couple of acres filled with all sorts of awe-inspiring windmills, including a spinning mill, like the ones from Don Quixote...
  
...and even a giant modern wind turbine that has a base as big around as my first college dorm room! The best part of the museum? A 1889 steam-powered tractor! I must have spent an hour investing all the wheels, gears, and mechanisms. Old things are always so much more beautiful and detailed than modern things. As a bonus, this particular tractor had a lovely pin-up girl holding a kitten painted on it-- especially cute because the tractor was a Kitten brand

Sooooo sunburned!
I felt inspired by the pretty country gal and couldn't resist posing like a pin-up myself! :) 


In addition to touring the museum, we went to the bead store and found some fun new baubles for my latest design: bullet bracelets! I'm super excited to get all the stuff we've been working on listed in the shop. I promise, promise, promise I'll get it all up by this Friday! 

- Liz
<3

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Gems, Minerals, and Shop Updates

Today, Amelia and I went to the annual Carlsbad Gem and Mineral Show at the Living Desert Museum and State Park. There were so many amazing specimens! I always get small things like fluorite, agates, cabochons, and rough garnets while Amelia likes to pick up exotic specimens, especially pink ones! Of course they aren't just "pink" to her since she is studying to become a geologist. Here are some of my picks from last year, including two picturesque cabochons and plenty of diamond-like fluorite crystals. The two small baggies are gifts from my sister. One bag is polished river stones, mostly agates, and the other is filled with rough, iron-rich quartz crystals.


I didn't buy too much this year because I am trying to save up for my wedding. However, I did find plenty of time this weekend to make some fantastic, new jewelry designs, including a few more complex necklaces! I am most excited about this design, which I am fondly calling "Cthulhu Hunter" because the beads look like they washed up from the depths of the ocean.



The beads are handcrafted ceramic with a stunning sea-blue glaze mottled with sienna spots. Be on the lookout for it in the shop along with the new Clear Aurora Crystal Bullet Necklace and Ready-Aim-Fire Earrings!




 
I've got plenty more bullet casing jewelry finished, just waiting to be listed. We haven't forgotten about you vintage lovers, either! In addition to jewelry, we have some wonderful mid-century Peas and Carrots wallpaper listed and some new goodies on the way:



I hope everybody had as wonderful a weekend as we did!

<3
Liz