My New BFF...

Blog Friend Forever that is. Her name is Jen Swift and she is a master at crafty wire work. I've been reading her blog, Art As Usual, for about a year now and have really felt as though she is a kindred spirit. She's a momma, she's a Christian and she's crafty too. All traits that I can totally relate to. She's not just crafty in the wire area either. She, like me, likes to have her hands in many different mediums. Transformations seems to be a specialty of hers as well. She's one of those people who can see something new and different in something old. A little wire here, a little paint there and next thing you know she's got a masterpiece.

A few weeks back I caught this post of hers and immediately fell in love with the wire tag she showed in the picture. I convo'd her and asked if she could make my business name, 2 If By Sea, in wire for me. She said that she would. Not only did she agree to make it for me, she insisted that it be a gift! You don't meet too many people like that these days. I got my wire pieces in the mail this week and I just love them! I am prepping a collaged background on watercolor paper now so that I can use it as a background for my firm name. My intent is to make a new banner for my blog and my Etsy shop.

Thanks to Jen for your friendship , generosity and kindness! You rock!

Magazine Fanatic

i'm a magazine fanatic. there, i said it! you know what they say? the first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. i got all of the issues shown here in one fell swoop. i have multi-year subscriptions to Cloth Paper Scissors and Stringing. that's my first issue of Digital Studio you see there. oh my, the eye candy in there is to die for! yes, i'm a Martha Stewart fan too. her recipes are easy and healthy, plus the colors on this months cover were so darn cute i just had to buy it. check these out if you get a chance!

**GO**

This little beauty is now for sale in my Etsy shop!

It's perfect for summer and features one of my favorite Jade Scott Pendants.

Hurry before someone else gets it!

the buried life

But often, in the world's most crowded streets,

But often, in the din of strife,

There rises an unspeakable desire

After the knowledge of our buried life;

A thirst to spend our fire and restless force

In tracking out our true, original course;

A longing to inquire

Into the mystery of this heart which beats

So wild, so deep in us - to know

Whence our lives come and where they go.

Excerpt from The Buried Life.

A poem by Matthew Arnold (1852)

*BaTiK BeAuTiEs*

What's that? You say you like batiks? Well imagine that, me too! Did I say "like", oops, I meant L.O.V.E.! Here are some of my latest acquisitions. Actually I've been collecting these gorgeous pieces over the last few months, I just forgot to share them with you until now.

I know this blog is supposed to showcase my jewelry, but like other creative souls I know, there are other loves in my life. Batiks. Oh yeah, I guess I should throw in the hubby and kids too!

Have a fabulous and blessed week. I'm on vacation! Woohoo! Look out bead shops, here I come.

*Finding My Own Voice*

Last month I bought a copy of Shona Coles' new book, The Artistic Mother. Since then I have pretty much carried it with me everywhere. I take it to work every night, to Dr.'s appts and road trips. Somewhere in the book Shona suggests that in trying to find your own artistic voice sometimes it's good to imitate the art of those that you admire. That's where this journal page came from. I am a HUGE fan of Donna Downey. This page was inspired by a piece that she recently did in her inspiration journal. I want to continue trying this method and hope that through imitation my authentic artistic voice will emerge. Even if it doesn't, I'm enjoying the process! The page isn't finished yet. I still want to journal my thoughts and add some finishing touches...

Where Has The Time Gone?

I just realized that I haven't posted since last Wednesday! Whew! It's been a whirlwind of activity at our house since then. Let's see, I took the kids to Grandma's last Wednesday, Hubby had surgery on Thursday morning, picked the kids up on Sunday morning, dyed Easter eggs and then we hunted said Easter eggs at least 4 or 5 times.

Somewhere in between dropping off the kids and helping Hubby recover I got some good art time. I was able to prep 2 more pages in my Urban Art Journal (I'll share those tomorrow) and I got my beading table in order.

I've been complaining about how overflowing my art table has been and how hard it has been to get anything done at it. The photo above shows my husbands' solution to my problem. He went and bought a shelf and put it up for me yesterday! Woohoo! Everything you see on that shelf was formerly on the table. It's been a mess for a while now. Thanks Honey for my new shelf!

I've got a show coming up next Saturday, April 17th. It's for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority Alumni and a portion of the proceeds benefit a charity called Learn to Read. I seriously need to make some new jewelry sometime before next week. As usual life has gotten in the way and I'm waiting until the last minute to get anything accomplished.

I've got some great new fabric and beads to share with you guys as soon as I take a few pics I'll post them along with my art journal pages.

That's my week in a nutshell. I hope everyone elses' was calm and productive. My boys are asleep now and I think I may go take a quick nap.