Moab Utah & Arches National Park - AWESOME

Wow was Moab great & Arches National Park beautiful! Getting there from the Colorado border was rather bland at night, but when we woke up it was beautiful. Driving at night & waking up in the morning when travelling is like Christmas...you never know what it's going to look like outside or what adventures await!

I highly reccommend anyone driving through Utah experience Moab! I don't think our travel books gave it enough attention. You can rent jeeps, experience rock shops (to a wire wrap jewelry artist's delight), good food, reasonable gift shops & accomodations, & the park is STUNNING! You can drive it and hike parts of it at your leisure/pace. The drive out of Moab was beautiful too...sorry to leave so soon! Thanks to all in Moab & Mother Nature!

A Day in Rocky Mountain Park Colorado!

Here's a few photos of our day in Rocky Mountain Park, Colorado! They are of a bridge to nowhere, an elk, & me in front of the mountains! The views were breathtaking & the Elk were everywhere. Driving got a bit scary when we were at high altitude on a snow-topped mountain, so we turned the car around and headed back down. YEP WE'RE WIMPS! We have mountains in Up-state, NY - but nothing like this!!

A View of Colorado!

Wow! Colorado looks much prettier during the day! The snow on the mountains looks like it is melting into the clouds. One photo was taken on the road and the other was taken from a Walmart parking lot. Can you believe... Walmart with a view! We made our way to Denver & Boulder; great cities with plenty to do! Warm during the days and COLD at night! We learned quickly it's easy to lose your breath when you exert yourself a mile above sea level. Are we ever out of shape! Tomorrow we head to the park. We wanted to hike, but I think we'll be driving or they'll be air-lifting us out of here!

I Thought Kansas was Supposed to be FLAT!

Today we made it to Denver Colorado. I thought Kansas was going to be flat & boring...it was beautiful! The landscape was gorgeous-- the sky went on forever. You could watch the cloud shadows roll along the hills. Toward the end it was kind of flat, but still pretty. The only rough part, the lack of good food & cities. I'm sick of Wendy's baked potatoes & salads, & Burgers!!

I swear I saw a dead kangaroo on the side of the road in Kansas. I might have just been in the car too long. Later I saw a coyote run accross the road, maybe that's what my Kansas Kangaroo really was. Another interesting observation was a store with a sign that said 'Guns, Gifts, & Antiques.' An interesting product line to advertise on one sign!

Corn, Wheat, & a View of Our Car!

Here's a couple pics of the thousands of acres of corn & wheat we passed in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, & Missouri and I included a picture of us driving our yellow car behind a super shiny truck! We were making faces, but I don't think you can see us--just looks like our car has eyeballs! Strange ways of entertaining yourself while driving & driving & driving & ..................

West of the Mississippi!

We're officially west of the mississippi! 12+ hours of driving yesterday from Columbus, OH to Lawrence, KS! Wow did we see Lots & Lots & Lots of corn! Somehow we managed to avoid all of the storms and tornadoes tearing through the midwest! I don't know if we missed them or just didn't see them! Today's destination-- COLORADO! We hear it's snowing there!

Fabulous Wire Wrapped Rainbow Moonstone!

I had to post this...this is one of the most beautiful pieces of rainbow moonstone I have ever had the pleasure of wrapping!!! This stone is quite clear with irridescent rainbows of aqua, blue, and golden yellow!! A truly amazing piece--mother nature at her best! This is what rainbow moonstone is all about--unfortunately, this quality & size is hard to come by these days! Enjoy the view (I'll be placing this piece in our store)!

So Long Hair & New York!

We've been packing & scurrying to get everything finished & ready for our drive accross country! We'll be leaving to drive from UPstate,NY to Arizona on Monday! We're excited! I'm hoping we'll be able to post some pictures & travel tales while on the road--so stay tuned! If anyone knows of great places to stop for food, sleep, or beads and cabochons (the essentials) let me know!! I hope I find some cool treasures to wire wrap!

In the midst of pretravel chaos...I decided to chop my hair off! Enough with the long ratty hair. Now it's short enough to stand on end!

Who says dogs can't smile?

Little Ollie hasn't been feeling well, but he managed to enjoy a roll in the grass the other day... I think I even caught him smiling! He's going to miss this when the snow starts to fly! I wish rolling in the lawn brought me this much joy...I wish a rubber rat would entertain me for hours too...Oh well, thank goodness for chocolate, warm baths, fuzzy pajamas, snuggly blankets, and a good movie!

Thank You to An Ebayer who Made My Day!!

I have been selling jewelry & polymer clay on ebay for just over a year...doesn't seem like it! I've been a full-time on ebayer since February of this year. Prior to ebay, I tried the art show circut--fun but EXHAUSTING and expensive--after food, gas, a place to stay, dog care...

I miss meeting my customers face to face! I miss teaching them about wire wrapped jewelry and stones, I miss getting to know them, sharing a laugh or designs, & ideas with them. It is amazing how some pieces of jewelry just come to life on the right person! I love having people try on my designs and wear them. I love feedback (not just ebay feedback, but hearing from people), it inspires me & helps me to better my designs & skills. I'm not an asembly line artist...which is probably why I'm not rich (not even close). I love creating & I take great joy in knowing others enjoy wearing my creations! Hearing from people who like my jewelry is like fuel to the fire that inspires me!

THE OTHER DAY I RECEIVED ONE OF THE NICEST SURPRISES EVER!! A tiny box was in the mail from a customer... and inside was this CUTE little kewpie doll, a photo of them with the hugest contagious smiles, & a little note so I would know who they were......THIS REALLY MADE MY DAY--I can't even put it into words!!! This little 'Kewtie' is on my workbench & everytime I see her I smile...they didn't miss a stitch--she has a little weiner dog and a beaded sash that says "We love SWJ (Sculpted Windows Jewelry) "! What talent to create something so personalized & special! THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDESS & THOUGHTFULNESS! Opening your package is a moment I will treasure forever!

I have been blessed to have 'met' some of the nicest people on ebay. They inspire me! I started this blog so everyone could see & get to know a little about the person that exists behind the scenes of the ebay store... I enjoy corresponding with & creating for all of you! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for being great ebayers, a.k.a. people!!! Keep the communication coming!

A Praying Mantis with Attitude!

Look who was tapping at our front door! This little guy (well not too little for the bug world)! I haven't seen a praying mantis since I was a kid. This little guy had some attitude! He was FAST! I couldn't believe it, he turned his head, looked at me, & then he jumped at me and scared me half to death! I chased him and got a couple good pictures. Then I tried to save him from the kids next door and he had his own escape plan-I lost him! Hope he was fast enough to avoid them! (My letting out a hoot when he jumped at me sparked their curiosity). I got a couple of cool photos...I bet a photo of me jumping and screaming when he lunged at me would have been a lot funnier though!!

Wire Wrapped Pumpkin Pendant!

My first wire wrapped pumpkin of the season! I wrapped this pretty pumpkin for an ebay customer today! He came out so cute I think I'm going to have to make one for ME! This is one of my siganture freeform settings. I let the wire go where it wants to....each piece turns out to be a One-of-a -Kind original! I'll be listing lots of Halloween, Fall, and Christmas wire wrapped jewelry tonight & throughout next week!!!

Looks Like Fall is Here!

Looks like fall is here! It's been chilly and rainy for over a week now! We saw our fist flock of Canadian Geese & the leaves are getting a little pink...what happened to summer? It seemed so short this year. This is us in the sunflower patch.

I'm finally getting into fall and winter polymer clay & jewelry designs! I hope eveyone likes them. I have so many different ideas my hands can't make them fast enough! I've been on a quest to find 1.5 inch snowflakes for a design idea....I haven't been having much luck yet. I used to hate when the stores started putting Christmas stuff out in August...now that I'm searching for something, they can't put it out fast enough for me! Go figure:)! I'll probably find them and change my mind!