shop update Feb 14 2016 at 10am

I'll have a shop update on Sunday morning, Valentine's morning in fact.

I'm planning to push the go button at 10am Central time (that's Chicago time)

If you are interested, you can find the shop HERE.

Thank you!

a big batch o' stones

All set for this Sunday's shop update. I hope to get them loaded into the shop for a preview on Saturday night and then they'll "go live" Sunday at noon, central time.

Hope you have a great weekend, all.  Happy Friday!

stones!

Here they are, my latest stitched stones.  I think there must have been some extra magic attached to the stones I hauled home from gitchigami because these stones really flowed for me.  They're larger than most of my stones and feel really nice in the hand.  Visually, I find this batch really appealing, too.  I hope you do as well.

I decided to try something new and though I'm not sure it's something I will do after this, I felt it was worth a try.  Instead of putting these in my shop as normal, I have put these up on ebay.  You'll notice that they're priced below what I normally price my stones of this size and complexity so if you're so inclined to bid on one, you might just snag yourself a bargain.

The auction is only up for a short time, but for those that seem to miss out on the stones when I list them, I hope this will provide a larger window of opportunity.

Below are the stones I have available and their individual links to ebay.

You can see a list of all of the items I have for sale on this link HERE.  I do combine shipping for multiple purchases so feel free to bid on more than one. :)

If you would stop by and have a look and help spread the word I'd really be so grateful.

 'Golden Cocoon' 

'Lichen'

'Earthen Treasure'

'Adrift'

'Great Waters'

'Summer Storm'

'Under Amanitas'

'Sparkling Snow'

'Centered'

'Caterpillar Dance'

Thanks so much, everyone!

starting with stones

A new stone finished, a new stone started.

An early start to the day, courtesy of that daylight savings time shift, had my fingers at work before dawn.  I suspect I'll be slightly less energetic at the end of the day than I am right now.

Those that follow my page on facebook may have seen this photo already, but as you can see I have a few stones on my table.  The small ones are headed to Art-o-mat but the large stones will wander off to my shop as soon as I finish a few more.  I'll keep you all posted.

I have an interesting week ahead of me and having these stones in front of me, all color and weight, somehow makes me more grounded and uplifted at the same time.  Like a good stretch, if that makes sense.  I don't know, I haven't had coffee in a while, that might not make sense.

Anyway.

Hope you all have a great week.  Happy Monday.

inside I might be Indiana Jones

The stone I finished yesterday, adorned with delicious little handmade clay beads from my neighbor Haddie up the road.  One of a handful I'm sending off to the Sheldon Museum of Art's shop in November.

It reminds me of the jungle reclaiming long-forgotten relics like the ruins I saw in the jungle in Belize, tucked away in the vegetation.  Our guide explained that there were ruins all over, there were so many that they were commonplace, nothing special.

It was anything but commonplace to me.  I love the feeling of discovery, it speaks to my inner explorer.  I always wanted to be Jacques Cousteau or Indiana Jones when I grew up.  When we were kids, my cousins and I would dig up blue mason jars, molasses jugs, Victorian button-up shoes, and more from alongside the railroad tracks.  These things filled us with excitement.  Far from ordinary, far from commonplace, these were real treasures.  

Now my discoveries are found in the woods and most of my excavating is done at the antique store but I still get that thrill when I find the good stuff.  Treasure.  

How about you?  Do you have an inner explorer?  A treasure-hunter lurking under the surface?

completed stone - eml in Wisconsin

 

When Ellen from Wisconsin sent me her stone I knew immediately that I would need to incorporate some element relating to dragonflies in it.  I've gotten to know her a little over the past few years and I know dragonflies are a passion of hers.

 

I didn't want to stitch a literal dragonfly on her stone, but instead wanted to bring a touch of dragonfly to the design. 

 

 

I chose a blue that reminded me of the dragonflies I see in my yard, and used stitches to suggest the structure in a dragonfly wing.  What I wish you could see in the photo, but can't really, is that the thread I used is iridescent and shimmers when you hold it in the right light, much like a dragonfly wing itself.

 

It joins the growing gathering of stones.  Thank you, Ellen, for sending it to me.

I've gotten a few more stones in the mail, thank you so much to everyone who has sent one.  I still need more so if anyone else would like to send a stone to me, I'd love to have them.  You can get all the information on this post HERE.

Have a great day, everyone!