King Tut

Last night was a strange night. I had this manic energy that I could not get rid of until... Until I cut my hair. I don't know what made me do it, but I did it anyway. Just started snipping until I cut off about 3 inches. It is super short. At least, it's super short to me. I'm not sure what to think of it. My daughter thinks it is so-so. Well, technically, she made a face but since I can't type that. Steve says I look hot. Ha! I don't think I've ever looked hot a day in my life. Sometimes, and I do mean sometimes, he can be sweet. Pictures will be forthcoming.


I'm so very excited. Tomorrow there will be no blog and for good reason. I will be in Philadelphia attending the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute. This was our present to our daughter for her birthday. She forced us to put the tickets on reserve like 2 years ago so she is very excited that the day to go has arrived. I'm looking forward to touring the treasures of such a long ago time and, most especially, the jewelry since a lot of my work is inspired by that culture. I can't wait to take the King Tut trolley which is really just a regular old trolley with a pic of King Tut on it. I plan on bringing lots of goodies back so stay tuned for that and tales of my adventure. Plus, there will be somthing new from my shop.

Jewelry Camp

It has been one of those weeks around here, and that's all I'm going to say.

I recently got the new Art Jewelry magazine. I can't tell you how much I love this magazine. I love the way it is arranged, the very interesting articles, and most especially, the gallery. In case you haven't read it, you should.

This month, they had an article on jewelry retreats. Summer camp, if you will, for jewelers.
There are several held around the country, and I'm quite sure there are more than they listed. The article focused on what to expect when you go to one of these retreats. It is very similar to the summer camp you went to as a child. The differences are that you focus on a single class, and now that you are grown, you have a drivers license.

I have always wanted to go to one of these retreats, but various things seem to get in the way. A week or two week intensive study is the best way for someone, a stay at home mom, to study when there aren't any local classes to take. I don't mind sharing a room with 13 others. I have two, Penland School of Crafts and William Holland School of Lapidary Arts, that I am particularly interested in. Both of these schools offer intensive one week classes, but they each offer very different courses in study. I could probably stay the whole summer at William Holland and not take all the classes I would like, but Penland also offers scholarship programs. This year I don't think it is a possibility, but maybe next year.

Here's the other schools that the article mentioned in case you are interested in finding one near you:

John C. Campbell Folk School(offers classes in painting, photography, and other points of interest)
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
MAKER: Metal Art Workshops and Educational Retreat