Making Jewelry

I have my pine cone earrings and necklaces in the gallery at Vista House - they called and said they were down to 10 each, so I'm making more to take up for the gift shop there.  I really enjoy working with the silver and beads.  I bought some Oregon stones from my friend Marguerite, also a jeweler and is the new Executive Director for the Friends of Vista House - a job I created and held for 15 years.  The clear ones in the center have a yellow tint, called "Oregon Sunstone".  The denim blue is Lapis Lazuli.  The pinkish ones are Pink Opal, the agate-y ones on the right are called "Sage Amethyst".  The green/brown ones are called "Owyhee Jasper".  I also have some turquoise, agate, new jade and carnelian.  Which stone is your favorite?

Here is my work tray, it's made of oak with a velvet tray insert.  The abalone shell that I use to hold my ear wires is one that Dayle actually found while scuba diving on a 5 day trip in the Inside Passage off Vancouver Island in the San Juans of Washington state.

I designed my jewelry card and print it on recycled brown paper cardstock, and cut them out using scissors and punch the holes myself.  I'm a one man (woman) operation. :-) 

I write the name of the stone on the card so the buyer knows what they are getting.  See Dayle's feet?  Seems they are in a lot of my photos. :-)   

I really like this sage amethyst - it's got mossy looking inclusions in a grey agate stone.  VERY earthy, don't you think?  If you want to check out my Etsy shop, click HERE. 

We got a call from our son yesterday asking if we could keep the boys for a few hours while he and Kristi helped her mom move some things to their new home.  Grandpa whipped up some home made macaroni and cheese and while it was in the oven Caleb curled up in his lap to watch old cartoons and Hayden was on my lap.  Grandparent bliss.

Dayle told me he could handle things while I went swimming.  When I got home the kids were here and Kristi proudly showed me the dollhouse that her dad gave to her.  Isn't it pretty?  The windows even open!!! 

The interior is just as wonderful, all the rooms are wallpapered and it's in excellent condition, it even has nice molding along the floor.  There is just a few things that need repair, such as the front porch railings and the curving staircase needs to be re-installed. 

Even the floors are beautiful.  They didn't have a safe place to put this since the boys are so little, so I offered to let them put it in our guest room upstairs.  Her dad has the furniture somewhere, he will look for it.  

So, I will get back to work.  It was hazy this morning and the temperature got down to 57 degrees F and it's cleared up and is up to 68.2 now.  Lovely summer weather here.  I hope it's nice where you are.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)