moving into grown up territory.

so this week, i think i moved a little closer to becoming a grown up.  the husband and i acquired our very first dining room set.  yes, we've been the owners of small kitchen tables and chairs, but never a real, formal set for a dining room.  and it's made me feel a little more adult.  i was actually worried that this particular set was going to be too large for our not so big dining area (the dining room and living room are sort of combined in our place - i guess "open concept" is the term?) but surprisingly, despite it's size, it fits.  and it suits the house.  the mini loved it on sight and right off the hop, claimed her own seat at the head of the table and will now ONLY eat while seated at this table.  it's the perfect place to do homework, sketch new jewelry designs, or surf the internet with the laptop.  very cool.  and very mature.  i'm sure i'll reach adulthood at some point soon.  i can just feel it.  kind of.

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little buds (of creativity).

this weekend, i grabbed some time to put some orders together - and realized i hadn't fired up my torch in a week.  A WEEK!  i don't think that that has happened in a very long time, but recently it has felt that things have been moving a mile a minute (i.e. renovations, entering an apartment after evicting someone and being attacked by fleas, working about 10 hours overtime, and being robbed) and there has been no time to stop and melt anything.  it actually made me a little bit sad because i know that taking a few minutes to make something - or even sketch or research a new design or technique - really helps me center myself.

after everything was resting nicely in the acid bath, i cut some 18 gauge wire and got to making it molten for my new stacking ring design.  based on my open bud hoop earrings (i'm still wearing mine!) these rings are a perfect match!  each of them have a lovely organic feel to them, with a unique texture and look to each of them.  i am a huge fan of artistic randomness, or happy artsy accidents, and because i really don't have much control over the whole melting process, i love how it all turned out.  they are delicate and earthy and modern all at the same time - and also perfect worn individually, or in a huge stack with plain skinny bands.  i think i'm in love!  (again.)

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