Ginkgo Theme Update

I'm trying to think of what I've completed since the 18k gold Morel mushroom.  Hmmmmm....  I've made a lot of yummy food.  I have tidied here and there, but not vacuumed.  I have been crocheting some silk, slowly.  I've shipped out orders.
I've worked on a commission for ginkgo leaf pieces, 3 sculptural works
 
and one of these pins


While working on the commission, I finished up this copper and bronze ginkgo pendant, which I'll ship out today.


and these ginkgo and rose elements, which I will work into mixed media pieces.


I started dreadlocks in my hair six days ago.  If you are interested you can follow the very slow progress here or here. 

Today I will be working on more leaves and/or working on  mixed media pieces.  I have a hard time to deciding what to do.

Glossy Red Strawberry Inspiration

I made a glossy strawberry pie for the first time yesterday and it was Deeeee-licious.


I have always avoided glossy fillings because I detest a gummy jello-like texture.  I must have had bad experiences with what I called "jello pies" in childhood.   Yesterday I saw this photo from FairiesNest and decided I had to give the glossy strawberry pie another chance.

I ended up using this recipe from Epicurious, based on the Big Boy diner strawberry pie. The filling is a touch runny.  I might try adding a little more cornstarch next time, but I don't want to reach the dreaded gummy-jello pie consistency.  I believe Cynthia will also be posting her recipe on the Natural-Kids blog in the near future.

Inspired by Cynthia's pie and mine, I put together a visual glossy strawberry pie sampler from a flickr search for creative commons licensed photos.


Photo Credits:
1. _MG_8936 copy, 2. Double Strawberry Pie, 3. Torta de Morango, 4. Glazed strawberry pie., 5. Strawberry Pie, 6. Strawberry Cream Pie, 7. strawberry mouse cake | tarta de mousse de fresa, 8. Rex Rockin' New Years Eve, 9. Bite me , 10. Strawberry Pie, 11. Steven Groves Strawberry Pie (2), 12. a piece of strawberry cream cheese pieCreated with fd's Flickr Toys

Beall Woods Wildflowers of April 2010

I updated my Beall Woods Wildflowers of April 2010 photo album. Enjoy.

Fool for a Spool

In Order of Appearance

Hat in Progress


Grape Hyacinth Blossom all alone in the big yard


a bud on the ancient rosebush in the corner flower bed


Fool for a Spool Hat




Fool in the Spool Hat

18k Gold Morel Mushroom and Garden Fun

I've been told that a person can make a lot of money selling Morel mushrooms *wink wink*.  Do you think this will work? 



an 18k gold Morel Mushroom Pendant created with chasing and repoussé- yes made on a delightful spring whim.  Click on the photos for the detailed listing with measurements.

In the garden....


a flower bed near the house with 2 dwarf cherry trees, rugose rose, golden currant and various herbs to fill out the space for a few years until the shrubs really kick in.


the straw bale garden with all of its little vegetable seedlings, a soaker hose, and a hummingbird feeder.


My husband digging out some raggedy old holly bushes, so that we can replace them with rhododendron and eventually a clumping bamboo.

 
Two tree peony bouquets; one in a disposable container for a teacher at school, the other in a teal coffee pot for my cluttered kitchen table.  The one on my table also has a few irises and a sprig of lilac.  I am so happy to have a yard with some well established old fashioned flowers.

Ivy Heart Mixed Media Sculpture

Two Ways to Shop:
I've added a new online shop venue- The Leafylady at 1000markets.  I'm showing and selling many of the same items that you can already find in  Knitsteel on etsy. 

The main difference between the two shops are your payments options.  In the Etsy Knitsteel Shop  you pay through Paypal.  In The Leafylady shop on 1000markets, you pay through Amazon payments.  If you already purchase on Amazon.com, you can use that same payment account to pay for your purchases on 1000markets. 

Another major difference involves customers outside of the USA.  1000markets does not yet accept payments from non-USA residents.  Etsy and paypal do.
In any case, I can easily list in either shop, so if you need an item and want to pay a particular way, just let me know.  I will set it up appropriately in the right shop.

Now for the fun stuff....
I finished up some mixed media wall art that I've been mulling for quite awhile.  I kept asking myself- is it too simple? too trite? too this? too that? 
In the end, I just had to make it, no questions asked.  That is the way art works.  Sometimes it feels like it makes itself.

These are part of the Bound Heart series, hearts and chains.  This time the hearts are like roots and anchors, needlefelted red wool hearts chained to antiqued brown ivy.  The pictures are shown from small to large.  Click on each picture for the details with measurements.







Speaking of roots, let's move on to gardening.  I've been digging and planting like crazy.  I added another flower bed and planted a lot of tiny trees.  The digging wore me out, so I decided to try a straw bale garden for a small vegetable plot.  I think my grandfather is probably rolling in his grave, with straw bales on his lawn.  He was more interested in trees than lawn, but I don't think the straw bales fit his overall aesthetic.

So far it has tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, basil, mint and flat-leaf parsley.  I've got room for about two more plants.   I'll let you know how it goes.  I think my biggest challenge will be keeping it adequately watered.  I love not having to squat when I work on it.  Do a google search for straw bale gardening when you want to learn more about it.  You can start with this website http://www.growandmake.com/straw_bale_garden but there are lots more. 

18k Gold Sweet Heart Earrings

I've been meaning to make 18k gold earrings for quite awhile now.  I don't enjoy making earwires (even though it's quite simple), so I've been procrastinating.  Finally, accepting that I can't buy a decent pair of 18k gold earwires from my suppliers, I went ahead and made these Sweetheart Earrings.


As usual, after all that procrastination, the earwires were simple and worked beautifully for the hearts.


The little sweethearts were created with chasing and repoussé, hammered out from 18k gold sheet metal with my chasing hammers and chisel-like chasing tools.


They dangle approximately 35mm or 1-1/2 inches from the point where the earwire goes through the earlobe.  The sweetheart earrings are lightweight, elegant, and completely one of a kind.

Spring Cookie Fun

Listening (Music) Reading (Books) Watching (DVD/Video) Gaming (PC/Console)

Currently Creative Cookies: Delicious Decorating for Any Occasion By Toba Garrett

This book has good cookie and icing recipes for cute and tasty cookies

Still, my daughter and I can't seem to follow a pattern.  We are having fun, but will not be opening a bake shop anytime soon.

Just look at those incredibly unnatural colors!

Tiny Golden Feather

The tiny golden theme continues.... this time with a feather charm


See how small it is- perfect for a charm bracelet or for a person who likes to wear small but meaningful jewelry.


and the back... I like to show the back because I create these with chasing and repoussé.  They are hammered from flat sheet metal, not cast or stamped.

Inspiration from Beall Woods

Some things that inspire me

beall woods 4-2-2010

Click on the photo above to be taken to the photo album of nature shots from a walk in Beall Woods in Southern Illinois.

18k Gold Shamrock Charm

I love this new small gold charm that I just finished.


It's a traditional Irish 3 leaf shamrock or clover. 



Saint Patrick used the 3 leaf shamrock to introduce Christianity and the concept of the Trinity to Ireland in the 5th century. Since then the symbol has been associated with Ireland, St. Patrick's Day, and the Christian Trinity.



I think it's a beautiful symbol to associate with spring and Easter, a rugged bright cheery plant that pops up early in spring.