My Goodness, Where Did the Week Go??

I can't believe it is Friday already! I've barely been out of the studio all week, and am finally almost caught up on orders. Not caught up on gallery items, though. I am just so excited about these new opportunities - the two new galleries I mentioned before, plus a little boutique in a mall, and a museum gift shop that is opening in June. Oh, and I will be having a booth at our local farmer's market which opens in April. They have added artisans this year, and I've also joined the new board for this rapidly growing local market. I'm also hoping to sell cut flowers and herbs from my garden - we'll see how that goes. My plan is to use the garden for excerise - hopefully this will work, since my elliptical trainer is still gathering dust in the garage. Too bad metal smithing isn't good exercise, ha ha.....

All of the above is my excuse as to why I haven't blogged all week. And, oh, yes, there are those pesky taxes that are becoming more urgent with each day that passes - eeeek! I did finish the citrine ring, though, and have a new set of stacking rings with labradorite and green moonstone, and the start of a new series I'm calling 'Silver Tuxedo' ready to photo. So, here is the photo of the citrine ring, which I also finally listed in my 1000 Markets shop today. And now, more caffeine and down to the studio. See you all later!

Irai Citrine and more Fun with Metal...

I have had this 8mm round Citrine from the Irai mine in Brazil for more than a year, and couldn't decide what to do with it. The Irai mine is known for producing these lovely deep reddish-orange citrines, which are supposedly not heat-treated. I was playng around with a hammered copper focal and decided that the citrine looked really pretty with the copper. I set it in a simple little setting and dangled it inside one of my fused silver circles. I will be doing some additional pieces that are variations on the hammered, V-shaped focal - lots of embellishment possibilities here!