Headed for the other hemisphere

We are officially on a countdown for a big trip to the small island of  Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean! (Yeah, check out that map, its WAY out in the ocean.) As some of you may know this is a return trip for us, having been there in 2008 when my husband was working on a photography project. 

This time we'll be visiting old friends and making new friends volunteering at SHAPE - Saint Helena Active Participation in Enterprise. SHAPE aims to provide training and work related experience for disabled people of working age, with the intention of them leading independent and fulfilling lives.

Much to be done to prepare for this kind of an adventure, much to be done...

Pre pre packing

Breaking in new hikers and starting a pile for packing. 

I'll let you in on where I am headed in tomorrow's post. 

Keen Voyageurs (my favorite), astronomy guide, Bookhou canvas storage box (perfect lightweight travel storage), magnifying glass (because I have boys who need to know), mini s-biner (useful in so many ways), bronze metallic pouch with wipe out interior

About

I'm finally working on an About page for my Etsy shop. I was hoping for some better natural light today to take photos on my actual work table but despite what the calendar says is so cold and overcast here in PA. Spring, where are you? 

mock work table up against a sunny window and Shape earrings in progress

Style Watch

I had an unexpected request last Friday. Apparently People Style Watch magazine is considering my Reef bracelets for their summer addition! Samples (the Three Stack Set) had to be in NYC by yesterday morning. My husband drove 45 mins. to the nearest FedEx and they made it!  

I practiced some photos on white backgrounds before I shipped them off.  Now my colors seem TOO vivid.

Who knows how this will turn out of course. They could say no, they don't want them. They could be accepted and I could have zero interest OR they could gain interest and I would become a crazed, disk making fool.  I decided it wouldn't be a bad idea just to streamline my system for making this particular piece either way so thats how I spent my Saturday. 

While doing so I thought about the permaculture class I'm taking right now and how many other things in my life should be streamlined and put in order according to use and efficiency. 

Last day for give away...

Last day for the give away...but the mock tube rivet how-to stays in place of course. 

I used the tube rivets on a couple other pairs of earrings. This pair is especially industrial, with gold clay (that really looks brassy) as the background piece. 

Have a great weekend! 

Languishing necklace parts

I've committed  to getting my pile of necklaces parts put together.  Truthfully because I like to leave things sitting out in view, to look at them and move beads around, I get myself into this situation often. But when you have an eleven year old boy tell you "I hope you don't mind me saying so...but your desk is a mess", well, then you know for sure its time to make some decisions and move forward with pieces that have been sitting around. 

Be sure to check out my Mock tube-rivet how-to and give away over at my old blog today if you weren't already there! 

How-to and Giveaway

Next Tuesday I'll be posting a how-to,  How I make mock tube rivets in polymer,  over at my Jibby and Juna blog along with a giveaway for one of the pairs of earrings I've made combining my new shape earrings with the technique. 

Comment and follow this blog or comment and sign up for my newsletter (or all three) and your name will be entered into the drawing. (If you already follow this blog and newsletter just comment and you're IN!) The first name picked (out of a hat, by my youngest son) will get the first choice of earrings and the second person picked with automatically get the other pair. Sound ok? 

I need to boost my photography skills so I've been working with shots using a white background. I have a little trouble with the float-y affect but the color and sharpness are getting better.

Have a great weekend!