A Wonderful Weekend...

What you see below is the awesome, inspirational art of Diane Cook, who joined us for a weekend event that included our first trunk show of the year, and two days of workshops with the owner of Rosa & Josies. She was accompanied by her adorable husband Alan, who was a real trooper, helping with setup and assisting when needed....

Here is Diane with our lovely Connie, who has gone blonde! Don't you love it?

Josie gets in some hammer time, work hardening a piece of metal on the block...

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and we had the windows and french doors thrown open on the south side of the house and Buddha Bar VI playing in the background as people worked.

And here is my precious Ada, holding up her wonderful tassel for her necklace!

We had a wonderful time both days, and although both classes were packed, I'm sure there were plenty of people who would have liked to have come that were not able to. We can look forward to another visit from this creative Texan next year, but in the meantime, you can visit her Etsy store to see her lovely creations, including her new "Romancing the Cuff" kit and tutorial...

Upstairs, downstairs...

This is what I smelled when I came upstairs yesterday. The kitchen was warm and yeasty, and redolent with the aromas of this fresh, crusty boule and the lemon zest and fresh rosemary that scented it. This is a 'no-knead' bread that Alain is fond of making, and it is baked in a covered cast iron pot in the big oven...

Downstairs, work awaited me, and I got busy finishing up a dozen of these necklaces for a client. They need only for the crosses to be hung on them this morning, and they will be ready for delivery...

This is also work, but a little bit more fun, as these are new designs. These are being readied for a show, and a trunk show for buyers. I am having such fun working on these, and they are full of vintage chain, as well as this custom glass chain with the handmade looking glass nuggets. I love their irregular and organic look...

These purchases from the last gem show were calling out to me, and I let myself play around with them a bit. Since finding some irregular Czech glass beads that were so evocative of the ocean, I have been attracted to that palette, and these were so perfect. They look like they were pried from a reef somewhere and tumbled in the surf...

Here's a closer look...paired with that rope textured chain, it looks for all the world like pirate's treasure to me!

I love these little beads. They're going into necklaces combining vintage glass bead chain, and a variety of vintage brass beads and filigree elements. A little time intensive, but I love how they're coming out...

I pecked away at the trunk show, culling some of the larger pieces for the trays, and tucking smaller items and collections of blink by color or type into the little acrylic boxes. Still so much to do!

I spent part of the early afternoon looking over these love letters, still tied up with cotton string from 1930. So sweet, and look at these pince nez eyeglasses! They would have hung around the wearer's neck on a lovely length of ribbon, and been perched on the bridge of the nose when needed. It translates from the French literally to "grip the nose," which they did quite admirably...

We also got the merlot vine moved from its spot by the window to just across the deck. What an undertaking! For one thing, we had forgotten just how heavy the wrought iron hinged panels were, and getting them into place at one corner of the arbor style cover was a feat in itself. Then the vine had to be coxed, tendril by tendril, off the small frame on carefully settled on its new home. We are hoping it will be happy there, and by next season will have covered more territory on the patio cover. I am envisioning grapes hanging down just within reach...

Long, long weekend...

This weekend proved to be a long one, as I had a deadline to meet with the jewelry line I sold last year. So it found me working on Saturday while in the store, fitting clasp and connector assemblies to 48 necklaces, and then spending Sunday completing and packaging another 24 necklaces in two designs, as well as 48 pairs of earrings in two different designs. I was pooped by the time night rolled around, but it's good to know I can step up to the plate when needed...

I did sneak out to the flea market quickly on Sunday morning and connected with another little batch of goodies for the upcoming trunk show later this month. I was happy to pick up some amazing bone and ivory pieces, more cut steel, some cannetile silver filigree and good buttons....

I also landed on this scrumptious load of antique lace, which always makes me happy. Yards and yards of it, in beautiful aged tones, and quality and workmanship that put a smile on my face when I unrolled it all and looked at it. Simply heavenly! In the back, are rolls of openwork and pulled thread trims and there is lots of lovely old cotton insertion lace, plus a beautiful antique ruched ribbon trim edged in bronzed metal thread.

Regrettably, my trip to the flea market was really short, and I spent the rest of the day and evening in my studio, but at least there was a little truth and beauty tucked in there!