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THE MULLIGAN STEW JEWELRY PHOTO ALBUM

Friday, September 27, 2013

One door closes.....one door opens.

My goodness!  So much has happened over the last six months.

As I have heard it said...one door closes, and another door opens.

In May, I had posted about our local Farmers Market.  The building where it was located burned to the ground at the end of April.  Over 60 of us lost everything we had created to sell because we kept our booths and all of our crafts inside the building week to week.  Over 200 pieces of my jewelry were destroyed in the fire, as well as thousands of beautifully hand crafted items made by the other members of the Market.

This tragedy did not stop the Farmers Market members from continuing.  The very next weekend, the Market was open for business under the grandstand at the Fairgrounds.  And it has continued to be open every Saturday since.  The building has not yet been rebuilt...but it will be.  The fire destroyed a building....not the spirit, courage and hard work of the members.

I have decided to give up my membership at the Farmers Market.  It was a difficult decision to make.  I prayed about it, cried about it, and thought about it for months before I decided.  It is like moving away from the family you love.  Many of us remain friends, and I am thankful for that.  We spent years together, encouraging one another, sharing our stories, being a Market family.

It was the first place that I started selling my jewelry.  So many, many people showed me so much kindness....so much support in my venture.... and they still do. 

One door closes, and another door opens....

In April, by pure coincidence, I was accepted at the Riverside Artists Gallery for my Jewelry.  I only had a handful of pieces to bring in.  Since then, I have been having fun meeting more people, and creating more jewelry.  And seeing many of my friends from the Farmers Market visit me at the Gallery...which always brings me tears of joy and warms my heart.

On Sunday, September 22nd, The Gallery held their annual Artist Studio Tour.  Many of the artists at the Gallery opened their studios to the public.  Several of us demonstrated our creative process on site at the Gallery.  I packed up my tools and some unfinished pieces, set up a small table in the Gallery art class room, worked on a couple of bracelets and met some nice people.

Our event made the local newspapers!  And I got mentioned as well!  My husband brings home a copy of the newspaper, and there is my picture on the front page.  Now that's a first!  He and our cat think I am "all that and a bag of chips" today!  My son and daughter in law told me how proud they are of me.

I am doing laundry at home today, and counting my blessings. 

And I am grateful and honored to be noticed.  Here I am...double chin and all!




Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A Trashy Experience

This morning following breakfast, I was cleaning up the kitchen as usual.  Going about a routine that I have, without much thought, repeated tens of thousands of times in my life.  Today was different. 

I have always kept a trash container in the cupboard under my sink.  I grew up with the same habit.  It is a small container, lined with previously used grocery bags.  It gets emptied about twice a day because it is so small.  My son likes to kid me that I need to get a "real" trash container.

I went to remove the filled bag, when several aroma's caught my attention.  Beautiful aroma's.  Fresh coffee grounds, sweet fruity strawberry hulls, maple syrup on the edges of a few pieces of French toast, the sausage link scrapings from the frying pan.

I smiled as I enjoyed how the recent past continued to add a sensual beauty to the present. 

I doubt that I will want to make it a practice of smelling the trash. 

Today, though, I had a wonderful "trashy" experience.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The River City Farmers Market - a photo journey down memory lane

I wanted to post a photo journey of our Farmers Market.  Most of you may know that our building and all of its contents burned to the ground this past Monday morning.

We are going to rebuild and remake, and continue on.

The goods may be gone....the goodness is not.

Here are some pictures of what we looked like inside the building, and what we will look like again......








































Saturday, April 13, 2013

My Creations for The Bead Soup Blog Party

It is time!  The Bead Soup Blog Party 2nd Reveal!  Time for me to show you what I have created.  But first, a few things I want to share that are most important:

A BIG thank you to our host, Lori Anderson. For the investment of hundreds of hours of time to make this opportunity possible for all 500 of us.  For toughing through it all while dealing with a serious illness. Thank You Lori!

Another important "Thank You", to each and every one of you who are taking the time to stop by my Blog to see what I have created.  I am humbled to be in the company of so many participating Artisans.  Please consider stopping by some of their Blogs as well.  I know there are a bunch of them, and that each one would dearly appreciate it if you have a chance to take a look at what they have done.  They are listed below. 

What is the Bead Soup Blog Party?  Besides a bunch of FUN?  Lori pairs two of us to swap jewelry making supplies: including beads, a focal, and a clasp.  Who we are paired with and what we get from our partner is a surprise.  The only rules are to use the focal and the clasp that you have received from your partner.  There are three reveal dates where we post the results of our creations for everyone to see.  Then we "hop" to the Blogs of the other participants to see what they have created.  This is the 7th Annual Party, 2nd Reveal.  The 2nd Reveal was rescheduled to April 13th, and the 3rd Reveal is now scheduled for April 20th.  To learn more, check out Lori's www.BeadSoupBlogParty.com

My partner is Kathleen Gallant of Partners In Charms.  Her Blog is: http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com/

This is what my wonderful partner sent to me:

Awesome, huh?  My eyes bugged out when I saw what was in my package!

The Pure Silver toggle and leaf are hand made using Precious Metal Clay.  They are exquisite!  The focal is a semi-precious Obsidian Stone.  Gorgeous!  Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals, Sterling Silver Bead Caps and lovely red raspberry colored Quartz beads.  An inspiring and truly delicious "Soup"!
 
I had SO much fun with these beautiful pieces!  I made two necklaces.  I challenged myself to use every single piece of the wonderful Soup that my generous partner sent, along with some goodies of my own.

This is the first necklace:


I used one half of the Clasp to Frame a picture of a Geisha Girl, then sealed it in Resin.  The Silver leaf that Kathleen sent was cast using a Geranium Leaf.  It reminded me of one of my favorite leaves, the Ginkgo.  So that is where I went with it.  Here is a close up of the focal and the half of the toggle clasp that I used as a frame.

The subtle touches of silvery blues and greys on the Obsidian Stone focal are reflected in this picture.  Such a beautiful focal.  Thank you again Kathleen for choosing it for me.

The second half of the clasp I received was paired with a silver plated link.  Here is a close up:
Can you see the beautiful floral design on the Bar of the Clasp?  Kathleen designed and made the entire toggle clasp. 

I still had more Soup left!  What to do?  USE it, of course!!!!  

I just had to have another "Gingko" leaf.  It just so happened that I had found one years ago, and had pressed it.  It was so fragile, yet so perfect for what I wanted to do.  After painting it, covering it in several layers of resin, and creating a brass backing for it, I then sealing it once again in resin....the rest of the necklace just came together on its own. 
Here is a closer look.  Please forgive my elementary attempt to paint by hand the Japanese symbol for the season "Spring".  I can only hope I did not end up writing an offensive word...






This is the Bead Soup that I sent to my Partner, Kathleen Gallant of  Partners in Charms, http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com/




I can't wait to see what she did with it!

Here is the list of the Participants from Lori's Blog who are posting for this 2nd Reveal date.  I am headed their direction to see what they have done, I hope you will too.



Agata Grygiel
Ali McCarthy
Alice Craddick
Amy Severino
Ana Krepel
Andra Weber
Andrea Glick
Andrea Trank
Anitra Gordy Boyers


Annette Rivers
Anu Tuppurainen
April Grinaway
Audrey Bélanger
B.R.Kuhlman
Barbara Bechtel
Barbara Mason
Becky Pancake
Beti Horvath
Billi RS Rothove


Bobbie Rafferty
Brandi Burdick
Candida Castleberry
Carol Dillman
Carolyn Gebert
Carolyn Lawson
Caron Reid
Catherine King
Cathy Jakicic


Chandra Merod
Charlene Jacka
Cheri Reed
Cherrie Fick
Cherrie Warzocha
Cheryl Brown
Cheryl Dunham
Cheryl Foiles
Cheryl Gangle


Chris Eisenberg
Chris White
Christina Miles


Christine Murrow


Cindy Ritchie
Clare Etheridge
Cory Tompkins


Cris Peacock
Cynthia Abner
Debbie Rasmussen
Debi Levine
Deborah Brooks
Deborah Read
Debra Behrends
Dorota Żerańska
Elaine Robitaille


Elsie Deliz-Fonseca
Emma Todd
Erin Guest
Evelyn Shelby
Evie and Beth McCord
Francy Inman
Ginger Bishop
Gloria Allen
Hajer Waheed


Hope Smitherman
Ilenia Ruzza
Ilona Hegedűs
Ine Vande Cappelle
Jackie Ryan
Janine Lucas
Jean Peter
Jean Wells
Jeanne Steck


Jelveh Jaferian Johnson
Jennifer Cabic
Jennifer Reno
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Kyrlach
Jenny Robledo
Jessica Brower
Jill MacKay


JJ Jacobs
Jo-Ann Woolverton
Joanne Tinley
Johanna Rhodes Nash
Judy Robinson
Juli Cannon
Julia Gerlach
Julie Bowen
Julie Panusis


K Hutchinson
Karen Martinez
Karen Vincent
Karen Williams
Karin Slaton
Karyn Bonfiglio
Kat Douglas
Kate Dufour
Kate Mulligan


Kate Richbourg
Kathleen Gallant
Kathleen Lange Klik
Katie Nielsen-Nunez
Kay Bolton
Kayla Potega
Kelli Jacobson
Kelly Patterson
Kelly Ramstack


Kiersten Kern
Kim Sparks
Klaudete Koon
Klaudia Tóth
Krista French
Kristin Oppold
Kym Hunter
Lana Kinney
Laura Guenther


Lauren Fenty
Leah Curtis
Lennis Carrier
Linda Murphy
Lisa Johnson
Lori Anderson
Lupe Meter
Lynn Jobber
Mandi Effron


Marcia Dunne
Margareta Saari
                     
Marianne Baxter
Marie Covert
Mary Ellen Parker
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens
Megan Milliken
Melissa Meman
Melissa Mesara


Michaela Pabeschitz
Michelle Tucker
Mimi Gardner
Mischelle Fanucchi
Monica Phillips
Mowse Doyle
Nancy Boylan
Nancy Dale
Pat Haight


Patina Queen
Patty Miller
Pia Kaven
Rebecca Anderson
Rose Johnson
Roxanne Blanc
Sarah Goode
Sarah Singer
Sarah Strover


Shalini Austin
Sherri Stokey
Sherry Baun
Sheryl Stephens
Silvia Sernicola
Solange Collin
Stacie Florer
Stacy Alderson
Stephanie Haussler


Stephanie LaRosa
Sue Burleigh
Susan Bowie
Susan Kelly
Susan of Libellula Jewelry
Susan Sheehan
Suzanne Fragiacomo
Tammi Sloan
Tammie Everly


Tania Hagen
Tania Spivey
Tanya Goodwin
Tanya Wiles
Tari Kahrs
Terry Carter
Theresa Buchle
Tiffany Smith
Tina Holden


Tracey Nanstad
Tracie Dean
Tracy Bell
Tracy Kruse
Veralynne Malone
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom


Facebook Participants


D’Arsie Manzella     
Claire Brannigan Hasemeier
Robin Showstack
Melanie Lemen Swope
Beccy Peterson
Kelli Nelson
Chris Schlicht
Shelley Cole-Kuduk









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