The continuing life of an amber pendant

The amber pendant as a work in progress....
I started on the bail, not looking great at this point. This one is going to be a real evolutionary work. I can hardly wait to see what it wants to be when it grows up.

Done! This is the completed pendant. So much for a quick and simple setting. I guess this piece of amber just wanted more flash. :-) It's always fun for me to see what something ends up as. I guess that's why I enjoy working with wire. It sort of happens on its own; sometimes, I'm just the hands.

We had a fairly successful show Mother's day weekend in Old Town Shasta. I was a bit miffed about Shasta allowing all the import booths. In fact, they had put an "imports" sign right next to my booth!!! Of course, I had them move that, but I still spent all weekend watching green plastic garden frogs on a stick going by; very disheartening. I'll be writing a letter to them about how they are hurting the show. I have a real hard time understanding how they can't see the direct cause and effect (losing crafters) of allowing imports in.

It'll be a shame if after 12 years, I have to drop this show from my schedule, but we don't do shows that let just everyone and their third cousins twice removed in. I don't mean that to sound snobbish, but I find that generally speaking, once imports are allowed into a show, the show spirals downward rapidly, both in attendance and sales.

Off my soapbox now, I promise to post a more cheerful message next time. :-)

Only two more days to work on jewelry before leaving for Lakeport, CA. I'll be working on Hairskewers and earrings today. I hope to get a few rings done as well, but may have time to make some while at the show. This show is rather laid back, but good jurying. Stop on by to see some very nice crafts: Memorial Day weekend at the Natural High School in Lakeport. And, don't forget to stop by my booth to say,"Hello."

Getting Ready for Shasta

Well, took a full day, but I think my boxes are all labeled and sorted so that NEXT time everything will have a place. I keep hoping to hit on a system of packing for a show that will make tearing down easier. Heck, it's only been 19 years....

This year we'll be in the RV park, because the kids are having the roof torn off their house for a remodel, so it took a bit longer to pack than usual. Then of course, when I went to burning CD catalogs, I realized that my 2006 schedule was still on the old and there was no link to this blog. That meant that I had to make changes to the file, then burn. Next, after I thought all was packed and ready, I realized that I hadn't packed up the new jewelry! Ok, that's done. Then the final, "Oh my gosh!"

Hmmm, don't have confirmation for this show in my files.... Don't have the copy of the application for this show is my files.... Don't have record of show fee payment for this show in my files. I never received an application.... I"M NOT IN THE SHOW!!!!

Luckily, I have the home phone number of one of the promoters, called her, and she FAXed me a form. She also put me in my same spot, and I'll just take the money with me to the show. That was very close. In all my years crafting, this has never happened before. I now have a reminder sheet in my Palm Pilot, with all my shows listed and the date they usually send the applications.

Watch for the end of this.... This pendant was supposed to be a quick and simple wrap. I had this great Amber chunk and found there was a hole (filled with sand) in the center of the piece. So, I decided I would put a stone in there. Of course, then it needed a second stone in the other cavity to balance. When I got to the top, I didn't have enough wire to finish a proper bail, so had to add wire. In order to do that I decided to do a woven bail for strength and design. This is where I am. I wonder what it will look like when I'm done. Hmmmm, put it aside until after the Shasta Show.

In 2 weeks we can pack up again and go to Lakeport, aren't craft shows fun?