Love That Dirty Water...

 

Spring break, wonderful weather, so daughter Shann and I headed into the city yesterday to see some butterflies at the Museum of Science.

The Butterfly Garden is a beautiful place; especially after a long, dreary winter.  A virtual kaleidoscope of color and pattern greets you as you enter the room.  Green, blue, pink, orange, yellow - nearly all of the colors of the rainbow are there.  The Garden room is small, warm and steamy; just the way the butterflies like it.  As they meander from flower to foliage, they flutter around you and bump into you - a truly amazing experience.   Sometimes the butterflies like to land and hitch a ride; visitors are advised to check for hitchhikers as they leave the room.  Photographs are encouraged, and if I'd spent a little more time, I probably could have shot hundreds of photos.  But, it got a little warm for me in there, so I did reluctantly leave after fifteen minutes or so.  Even so, I'm glad I brought my camera as I was able to get in a few good shots:

This blue one kept eluding me, until it finally landed

The patterns are astonishingly beautiful

This one is very Savoir Faire!

No trip to the museum is complete without visiting the dinosaurs!

A view of the Charles River from the museum

Faneuil Hall

And finally, for just a little slice of history (and some window shopping!), we paid a visit to historic Faneuil Hall.  I had a really fun day; the city is an interesting place, and the butterflies were a real joy.  Thanks, Shann!

Emerging From Hibernation!

Well, here I am, back again after a much needed time out.  Bandit's death did take the wind out of my sails just a bit.  Well, okay, more than just a bit, but I can console myself by knowing that my old friend is not suffering anymore.  Poor Sunny was so sad and missing him, that we decided to find another pal for her.  So please allow me to introduce Sunny's new pal, Boone.  Boone arrived here this past Sunday, so we are all still adjusting to one another, (this may take a while!), but he seems like a nice boy, overall, and I think everything will be okay soon.

In the meantime, I spotted my first Robin out in the yard this morning, and a funny little Chickadee hopping around on the deck rail - a sure sign that Spring is on its way!  Soon, I hope!


I have been very busy in the studio, creating some new chain maille designs, and experimenting with some new materials.  Ed brought home a whole bag of empty shell cases (spent bullets for those of you who, like me, don't know much about guns and things), and after tumble polishing them to get all of the yucky stuff off, I have been trying to incorporate them into some jewelry designs.  I used the larger shell cases as end caps in a chunky bracelet (probably more suitable for a man?), pictured here:

In addition to the bracelet, I used a smaller, nickel plated brass case as a pendant to hang from a stainless steel Jens Pind chain.

 

I'm working on some other designs that will incorporate shell cases, but don't have anything else finished just yet.

I have also discovered Aluminum!  What an excellent material this is:  strong, tarnish free, colorful and ultra lightweight!  Take a look at these:

 I have lots of new things planned for the coming months.  Now that the sun is starting to shine, and the daylight is lasting a little longer, I am getting the urge to create again.  Check back often to see what's new!

In Memoriam

Bandit
1994 - 2010

Two weeks ago today, my very good friend Bandit crossed the Rainbow Bridge and moved on to a better place.  We miss you, old buddy.

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!