A Parting Shot...

So, here we are at the end of 2009, and looking forward to whatever 2010 will bring us.  It's been one heck of a year.  I resolved a long time ago to stop making New Years Resolutions, and that, at least, has been one resolution that I have been able to stick to.

Anyway, this was the year that I turned 50 (!!!!!).  Half a century, who'd a thunk it?  And I don't feel a day over 49! (Just kidding!)  I'm actually feeling pretty good these days, and yesterday received a clean bill of health from my six-month-is-my-cancer-still-gone checkup.  Very good news!  I am truly grateful, and I know I am very blessed.  I was a lucky, lucky girl.

I usually don't like to spend too much time looking back ( regrets pile up too easily that way ), but the year just passed  has had its share of good times, and I feel I should acknowledge them here before moving on to 2010.

For one thing, I started this blog!  Six months ago, I didn't even know what a blog is, and now I am writing one, myself!  I love having this little soapbox to stand on - Hear ye, hear ye!

I made lots of new friends at the Gemorama store, where I am still teaching chain maille, and enjoying every minute of it.  Thanks so much to all of you - if you're reading this, you know who you are!

Also, I joined a great group of Etsy sellers in Etsy Project Embrace!  Such a worthy cause, and such very nice people - Hey Ginny, hope all is well with you!

And, last but certainly not least, I got to meet my new cousins from Canada, and reconnect with my family in a way I haven't done since I was a wee Sue-tot.  One way or another, I'll be seeing you next summer, Doris and Anise.  I can hardly wait to get back to Ste. Antoine, and catch up with everyone!

There's probably lots of stuff that I have forgotten to mention, but the most important thing that I would like to say here at the close of 2009 is that I wish one and all a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year.  If you're going out tonight, please take it easy and be careful - I'm counting on having you all around to enjoy 2010 with!

SoopSee?

Good morning, all!  Very exciting news!  I've just created a web site for Savoir Faire Creations.  Please be patient, as I am still learning (very slo-o-o-w-w-w-ly) how to work it, but if you click on the I'm On SoopSee badge, you should be able to see it.  Let me know what you think of the theme and format.  I will be making changes as I learn, so stand by, it will probably look different from one day to the next as I am prone to changing my mind about things - a lot!

I've owned the SavoirFaireCreations.com domain name for quite a while, just never quite had the wherewithal to do much with it, except about a year ago when I had to chase a Canadian restaurant off of my domain!  But that's a story for another time...

Happy Holiday Wishes

Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads...

                                                    ...Or maybe it was rawhide bones!

Wishing One and All A Very Happy Christmas, and A Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year

Found It!

Finally located my desk under all of the clutter - hey, it's green!  As for the rest of the house, well, let's not go there!  We had an enormous snowfall over the weekend.  The third year in a row that we've had snow on the twentieth (my birthday).  As a birthday gift, my wonderful family insisted that I stay indoors and be comfortable, while they took care of snow removal.  Thank you, family!

I have been busy, busy, busy the past few weeks.  The fall semester at Massasoit Community College just ended, and I am looking forward to having some time to get my house in order, and to get back to work chainmailling and making some metal clay charms.  I have managed to squeeze in a few projects during all of the last minute madness of Christmas; I just had to make a chain for this beautiful Garnet and Marcasite pendant.  I thought that it had a sort of medieval look to it, and that the Byzantine Y would be perfect for it.  Do you agree?


  Also, finally came up with a suitable chain for this Roman Glass hook and eye clasp.  Yep, you guessed it - another Columbus Chain!  I hate to repeat myself, but it does seem to suit the clasp quite well.

And, last but not least, this Jens Pind chain.  This is a weave that I puzzled over for months and months.  I wanted to understand it, but somehow, I just couldn't.  Then one day, the light dawned at last,  and voila!  It was just as easy as it could be!  Go figure...  I must say though, that the tiny rings required by the aspect ratio of this weave make it a very painstaking project to undertake.  Worth it , I think, when all is said and done, but not a chain to finish in an hour or two.

I am intending to post again before Christmas, but in case I don't get a chance to say it before then, I'm wishing for a Wonderful Christmas season, and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Peaceful New Year for all.  Cheers!

The Hurrier I Go, The Behinder I Get!

If a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind, I've got nothing to worry about!  Between school and dogs and catching a cold, and the holidays, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done.  Like the White Rabbit, I feel as if I am always running around declaring: "I'm late, I'm late!"

I have decided, however, to take some much needed Sue time, and put together some chains and metal clay items.  First on the agenda is a sterling silver Columbus Chain.  To call this weave slinky doesn't do it justice.  Perfect for a bracelet, it lies flat against the wrist, and curves in a sinuous slither, terminating in a beautiful sun shaped toggle clasp.  It still needs to be tumble polished, but is otherwise ready to be posted to Etsy.


Next up, are these Ionic Column toggles.  I have paired this one with a Byzantine Chain.  I love these toggles, the column hangs like a charm, and I'm thinking it will look great on a necklace, with ancient Roman or Phoenician Glass Beads.

Staying with an antiquities theme, I am trying to decide what to do with this Roman Glass hook and eye set which, oddly enough, acutally look like a pair of eyes to me.

Last, but not least, is all of the Marcasite that I bought a little while ago.  I don't know what it is about Marcasite that I love so much, but love it I do!  It would be wonderful to make the chains for all of these great pieces, and get them ready in time for the holidays, but time is slipping by, and I don't know if I will get it all done by then.

Sometimes I wish there were two of me: one to take care of all of the responsible stuff like laundry and groceries and work; and one to play with the fun, creative stuff like chain maille and metal clay and hand made books and paper engineering and... well, you get the idea!