Cherry bounce

Just pitted 3#s of Yakima cherries to make cherry bounce--an old pioneer liquor recipe. I added brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and grated nutmeg. It will sit in a "sunny, warm place" (if I can find one!) for ten days. Then I'll fill the gallon jar with Jack Daniels and let it rest in a cool, dark place until Christmas.

Wish it were ready now! I have a four-day weekend and I'm wishing my family were closer. I have fond memories of entertaining Ellery here two years ago. There's nothing like a small town 4th, but way more fun with kiddos!

Newest necklace

Great weekend--sunny, warm (low 70's--hey, we live in Washington!) Soft jazz on the radio and time to play with my stash of beads. I was inspired by the tumbled sea glass beads and think this will look great for summer.

for Ellery, keeper of the fairies

My granddaughter, Ellery, has discovered fairies. My great-grandmother, Polly Plimmer, from England helped me see them in the flowers in her garden when I was about Ellery's age so I helped Ellery find them the last time I got to visit with her. Since then she has made several houses for them including one with air-conditioning! I made this necklace for her this weekend as I think it is fitting for a fairy keeper. Who knows--the Queen of Fairies may visit soon!

Memory necklace

The picture is of my mom at about age 16. On the back side of this necklace is a quote from Colette--"let me never forget that I am the daughter of a woman, who herself, never ceased to bloom all the decades of her century." I miss her. What a great model she was for me in so many ways--loved life, laughed at herself, accepted whatever life gave her.

Hop head

This is a bracelet hanging on a real hop plant that I made for Kathy. She loves IPAs--the more bitter the better. The silver plate says "hop head" and the round object is actually a flattened bottle cap from an IPA. I used an italic stamp on the metal and "hop head" looks more like "bop bead". Kathy and my husband drink beer together. We all went to the Portland Beer Festival two years ago. You might know the quilt pattern called "drunkard's path". Well, the path they walked on the way home would have made a crazy quilt!

Dog's Best Friend

This is a bracelet I made for Barb. She is the ultimate dog person so I made her the leather cuff bracelet by sewing tiny sead beads along the edge, riveting a copper plate that I stamped with "dog's best friend" and attaching a dangle of beads and two silver dog bone charms. The copper plate was one of my first stampings and took many tries including one on which I spelled friend as "freind"! All of this is a learning curve, which is what makes it so fun for me.

Welcome to the Grandma ranks

I made this necklace for Ellen after Jake was born. The tiny silver charm is stamped with his name and the dangle has an "emerald", which is his birthstone.

Susie's bracelet

Every time Susie hears the bracelet jingle (and it does!) she is reminded to exhale and that she is loved.

Blair's birthday necklace

Every little girl should feel like a princess, especially on her birthday. This necklace is made of colorful beads and stacked resin flowers.

pastel of calla lily

I painted this last year from a picture a friend did of a calla lily in Santa Barbara. I love the soft shapes.

found art coachkeeper made for Pam McLean

I collected pieces for over a year before putting this together for Pam, who is the CEO of the Hudson Institute. The photo doesn't show the detail, but it is loaded with symbolism and was created with great affection.

Getting started

Slow day. Decided to creat a blog for the future craft business. Have absolutely no idea what I'm doing but love to learn!