First craft show in 15 months

Last weekend from the 14th thru the 16th, I was a vendor at a local winery art market.  It was an excellent venue for me to get my feet wet again.  The show was about 5 hours daily and inside with tables provided.

I took all my new wired beaded necklaces (my newly learned jewelry making craft) and all of my copper wire wrapped jewelry using mostly gemstone beads.

In addition, I took my crocheted cat beds and the Kat Nap mats that have had interest.

Happy to say I had a few sales that covered the cost of the entrance fee and a little more.  So, I guess I am back in the craft show market.  I am considering exhibiting at a pet fair this weekend (again inside ) trying to sell my cat beds, the Kat Nap mats and the catnip socks, which are already big sellers.  I stuffed 20 newborn infant socks today with batting and catnip. Just needs sewing of the top and they are all finished. I'm also crocheting more of the Kat Nap mats, but due to the pains in these tired hands, that can only be done for a few hours at a time.

Sunday I plan on returning to the new artist market that is only a couple of miles away at a local mini market and restaurant.  Great hours, Noon to 4:30 Sunday afternoons.

Good morning.  I will be working on my current necklace project of red Aventurine  and turquoise natural but polished stones.  Again it is copper wire wrapped with silver spacers.  The Aventurine are nuggets where the turquoise are flat oval beads.  A teardrop shaped stone (possibly turquoise) has been wrapped and will be front and center.   Final length should be around 21 inches with a toggle clasp. I consider this necklace medium weight. When conditions (meaning the kittens allow me to work) agree, I can usually complete a necklace in two mornings.  I try to work on important projects early in the morning when the 'furbabies' are resting after their morning exercises and breakfast.

Photo to follow after I finish (and locate my glasses).

I think I'm back.

Seems like a lifetime since I've posted anything here.  Life has been busy here at Fort Krag (as my husband calls our home).  Now that we are edging closer to the 70's life mark, we are slowing down and our bodies do not always do what the mind is ordering or even requesting.

As I posted years ago now, we have feral cats living next door.  Apparently there is the cat radio that streams when any kitten gets sick, all they need to do is cross into our yard and sound and appear as pitiful as possible.  Within hours, the kitten(s) will be warm, cleaned up, medicated, and fed.  As of this time, January of 2014,  I/we have rescued six kittens, losing only one.   Even though it has been an extremely successful and satisfying endeavor,  it has also been most difficult as I care pretty much 24/7 for each kitten rescued.  Which means I've nursed each one back to health, bottle fed both kitten formula and special meds for anywhere from snuffles to pneumonia then bronchitis.  This last fall we were gifted with 3 very sick kittens within two weeks.  They have all survived, but two have been to the vet twice and vaccinations are coming up soon.    

So with these last three babies, that makes nine feline children in our home.  That is more than a generous family pack so I have decided I can no longer care for the feral cats next door.  It will be a difficult decision for me as I love cats, but I cannot continue to take them in and care for babies.

Last year was kind of rough on me physically as I injured my shoulder lifting a canopy into my vehicle for a show so I was unable to attend any craft shows all season.   I did continue to create, lots of knitting and crocheting as I healed and attended physical therapy for months. Then in September I visited an old friend in Upstate New York for just over a week and we spent that entire week visiting great places and photographing. Even got to the Montreal Botanical Gardens for the Topiary show going on!  I shot almost 2000 images those few days and loved every minute as my friend and I used to attend photo workshops in Pennsylvania together and hadn't connected for 13 long years as each of our spouses had retired and we moved to different areas of the country.

Within the last couple of months, I have resumed my working with the copper wire and creating some new pieces of jewelry.  I have completed just over a dozen new works and will be doing a small show on February 1 to see how much interest my work gets and to see if I can still handle the work and stress involved in craft shows.

This copyrighted image is one of the images I took when we visited a wildlife rehab center.  The manager was a wonderful lady who took time from her very busy schedule to remove this owl from his cage so we could photograph him.  Gorgeous Bird.

Too old to be staying up till 3 AM

Last week my husband's band had a gig playing from 10pm to 1 am at a local club. As I really enjoy the music of said band, I always try to go when they play local. After the job was finished, the business transaction completed (getting paid), and all the gear torn down and packed in various vehicles, goodbyes said, we headed home. With the usual drive home, locking the gate, parking the car, and getting in the house, the clock had edged just past 2 am. After a short unwind period for the musician, getting all the furbabies settled in for the night, it was 3 am and we were just heading for bed.

Now, the cats have their own schedule. And they don't care when I get to bed. When you have 4 CATS, they win. So about 6:30 am, they were voicing their angst about the late breakfast feeding (loudly). Grumbling loudly myself, I struggled out of bed, fed the dog, the inside cats, and the outside cats, then collapsed back in bed. Finally drug my tired body out of bed about 9:15 (still morning) since it is really difficult to sleep with a cat sitting on my chest just looking at my face.

Took me 2 days to get caught up with enough beauty sleep to feel human again. So glad I did not have any shows planned for that week-end.

I did get to do a little photography last Sunday. I get to go to a small town with a Mission church (that is still having services weekly) on rare occasions and I did on Sunday. Got a few decent shots and may post a few here.

Art Show results and other ramblings

My sales at the local art show were a little disappointing, but not unexpected. Even though the show had less venders than in the past, quality and talent stayed the same, very high. One of my photographs from China was submitted for the judged event, but paintings were selected for best of show. I will try again next year.

Sadly, the main farmer's market where I have been selling my canned goods has all but ended. The promoters of the market has decided to have the event only one Sunday each month. So, now I am looking for other venues for sales.

Even though the beginning of this post are downers, Life has been throwing good things too. I am really enjoying my new ride. The Escape is easy to load and perfect for show 'cartage'. I am learning that I really like the air conditioning as well.......almost a must in El Paso.......and a black car.

The music scene is in full swing for my husband as well. A happier husband makes for a happier wife. Course, it makes for a busier day too. He works with three different groups and has band jobs with each of the three in the next 3 weeks. I find it amazing that he can play at least 3 different kinds of music and keep straight how he is to play with each group. My husband and both kids got all the musical talents in our family. That's ok, too. I was gifted with 'hands on' talents and the ability to find beauty almost everywhere and being able to share it with all.

Hope each of you Mother's had a wonderful day. Mine was quiet and restful, heard from one of my kids and that is ok. Highlight was getting a card from my Husband that said 'to my Beautiful Wife'. Poor man needs new glasses, but sure made me feel good.

Art show this week-end

Since last Sunday turned out to be such a good show for me, I decided to apply for a small local show that only allows art pieces. Friday evening will be the reception, with a full day of showing and selling on Saturday. I do have a few new matted photos and will also be showing for the juried part a couple of framed images from China.

Looks like this week is going to be another busy one. I finally replaced my van (who carried me around for 11 years) last week. As with almost all second-hand vehicles, this new one has had a few 'fix-me' issues. Today was a dead battery, repaired by buying a new battery, then she was off to have an oil change and bath (aka car wash). Now she is purring and pretty.

The Band my husband is part of are working this Friday evening. For someone in his mid 60's, his Drum playing is simply amazing! Just shows how good Music, and the Love Of, is for a person.

Till later. Go out and enjoy some local Art, support your local Artists too.

Time has so gotten away

I can't believe that it has been so long since I posted here. Life has been very busy for me this year. I have been photographing, knitting, crocheting, canning and generally being 'Mom' to now 4 feline furbabies and our canine 'son'.

We were blessed (?) with a new addition last September who has required a lot of supervision and care as well as learning the house rules. We found a two week old kitten who had strayed from a neighbor's yard and could not figure out how to get home. This meant 4 to 5 weeks of bottle feeding several times a day, taking him out of his cage for exercise and 'potty' breaks. He even went to the farmer's markets with me on Sunday mornings. For being a feral cat/kitten, he quickly learned the ropes and now controls the rest of us. He has a lot of Maine Coon cat, with long white hair and a tail that is at least 11 inches and he is only 7-8 months old.

Winter was a little chilly here in the Texas Desert. Something like a week of 0 degrees. Made us wonder if we had been transported back to Pennsylvania, but we made it with only the loss of some trees. Course we got to replace 3 outside faucets when the water thawed out.

I have been really enjoying photographing lately, the birds are back and our cactus garden is in full bloom so I have lots to shoot.

The farmer's market I sell my 'gourmet fixin's' at has started up again this month. I decided to add some new seasonings and a few sugar free jams since not everyone loves pickled jalapenos.