the workshops: silver smithing

I met Canela Lemoine a couple of years ago at Spark. We had an instant connection because a) she lives in the town where my husband grew up and b) she is also a self-taught silversmith with a love for cowboy boots and embroidery.

The thing about Canela is she is hard core. You would never know this by meeting her. She is soft spoken and cheery. But the truth is she works hard. Really hard. Her business is absolutely booming right now and she does all the work by herself, by hand. With six kids and a husband still in school.

Like I said, hard core.

I haven't been doing a whole lot of silver smithing lately and Canela is one of a very small handful of people that I know will teach silver smithing better than I ever could.  She is passionate about her work. She likes sharing this passion. She is patient and practiced at teaching (six kids remember?).

Her class will rocks your socks. No doubt about it.

Students will be making a wide (10mm) band. Canela will be teaching stamping, texure, soldering and finishing. Everyone will leave with a beautiful, personalized ring.

During our lunch breaks, Canela and I will be happy to answer questions about starting an at home business and balance of work and family life. 

If you are considering taking the Prospector Workshops, don't wait to register. We can only accept a limited number of students.

gingerbeards

I'm not one for facial hair. It's not that I don't like how it looks. It's that I don't like how it feels. I can't abide a brillo pad scruffing up my face.

The Sugar Daddy has a penchant for facial hair. And so goes the battle...

I'm in the kitchen, in my bathrobe, chopping carrots and tossing them into the crock pot. Sugar Daddy comes into the kitchen and pours himself a bowl of cereal. Very nonchalant like.

"I see you haven't shaven today." I say not looking at him.

"Uh huh." He mumbles through his cereal.

"Growing a beard again?" I ask, still not looking at him.

"I thought I'd let it grow and enjoy my manhood for a while."

"Well that's fine. You know what it means though." He ruminates on this for a while. He stands and brings his cereal bowl to the sink. The Bird runs over and affixes herself to his pant leg. "Da da da da da" she says looking up at him with silver dollar eyes.

"You know", he finally says turning to me, "It doesn't really matter because if it isn't you putting the kibosh on that, it's one of the kids. I'm becoming accustom to a life with no affection."

"I see. Well I'm sorry to hear that you are leading a life of solitude and desolation. I mean, how do you even carry on?"

The Bird is now twisting in and out of his legs repeating her mantra. "Da da da da da." He looks down at her and she says, "Hi." and flashes him a big tooth smile.

"You think it's a joke but I am seriously the one person in this house that doesn't seem to count. I mean, are you even making that dinner for me?"

"What? What are you talking about? I'm making this stew for our family. Would you like me to make you your own special bowl? I could make a smiley face out of cheese for the top."

The Bird has lost interest in legs and has decided to dismantle the Tupperware cupboard. Frankie Valentine is working up a fuss, which he tends to do when people argue. Sugar Daddy picks him up and comes back into the kitchen to deliver his retort.

"You could be married to Jeff." He says with his eyebrows raised nodding his head like he just gave me the what for.

"You could be married to Denise." I say softly.

Frankie Valentine is patting Sugar Daddy's spiky cheeks with his fat baby hands. His eyes are wide. At some point he decides he must have a taste and he comes at Ben with his mouth open.

After a moment I say, "Look honey, I just don't like the feeling of a beard on my face. It gives me the ebee jebees. You know that."

"Yes but do you know how many times I've had to deal with your sticky lip gloss? You don't see me refusing to kiss you."

"What sticky lip gloss?"

"You know that pinacolada crap you wear."

"Ben, I had that lip gloss when you were in law school. That's like twelve years ago."

"Still."

I let out a sigh and put the cover on the crock pot and set it for eight hours.

"All I can say is if you choose to keep that beard, you better save any piece of food you find in it because not only will you not get any lovin, you probably won't get any of this stew tonight either."

At this point The boy comes down, ready for school. He ignores me and goes strait to his dad. "Dad, tonight is man's night right? Just you and me right?"

There is a discussion about what will take place during man night until it is time to leave for school.

Ben is taking The Boy to school because he's helpful in that way and not at all like Jeff.

"One last thing," I say before they walk out the door. "Once you grow this beard, and start living as a hermit when nobody loves you, will you take the children with you?"

******************************

How to make a yarn beard

Supplies:
felt
yard
elastic
sewing machine

Step one:
Cut the felt to fit your face in the shape of a beard.  Draw three lines as guides onto the felt with a Sharpie.

Step two:
Loop the yarn in two to three inch loops. Following the guide lines you drew, sew the top of each loop onto the felt.  I find it easiest to loop the yarn as I sew.

Step three:
Sew elastic in between the rows of yarn on each side.

Step Four:
Snip the loops on the bottom.  Trim the beard.

Step Five:
When wearing your beard only speak to people with an accent.  Hillbilly or Irish brogue work well.

The winner of the "Toil and Trouble" Girl's Loft kit is Jenny K. who said, "I'd love to be the winner of one of those great kits. Those candy cones would be great for the "Neighborhood You've Been Boo'd" tricks. Hang one of those on your neighbors door, ring the doorbell and RUN! Thanks for sharing!"  Congrats!  Send me your shipping info!

granny chic scalloped bracelets

Having two babies has taught me to plan ahead. For the most part anyway.  I still leave the house without an extra diaper on occasion, which baffles me. You'd think I'd have the kid stuff down to a science. I don't.

But I am planning ahead for Christmas.  I'm already looking at different gifts I'd like to get for people. I'm thinking about what I might like to make the neighbors.  I'm keeping my eyes open for a cute stocking for Frankie Valentine.

And I've started making gifts for girlfriends.  Which brings us to today's topic.  Crocheted bangles.  They are granny chic. They can be made quickly. They are seriously the easiest, cutest handmade gift around. 

What you will need:

* small crochet needle (2.10mm-2.27mm)

* cotton pearl embroidery thread (I like Valdani, or you can often find DMC in your local craft store)

* thin metal bangles or hoops (round works the best)

* jewelers glue or super glue

Now as you all know, I suck at writing patterns. However, I can tell you that all you need to do to make these darling scalloped bangles is to single crochet around the bracelet until the metal is completely covered. Then, to create the scallops, chain seven, skip five stitches, single crochet and repeat until you have gone all the way around. Tie off and put a small dab of glue to secure the knot.

I own one pair of hoops and these are it. I love them. Same pattern, just on a smaller scale.

I worked up a lavender pair for a teacher gift.

For a seasoned crocheter, these bracelets can be made lickity-split. If you have the know how, you can change the pattern to make shells or something else fancy. For the beginner they might take a little finesse, but they are totally doable.  I dream of wearing ten or more on one arm. They would make a gorgeous statement piece. They are like friendship bracelets- for adults.

Oh and last but not least? Presentation is everything. Brown craft jewelry boxes can be found without too much effort.  Add a little lace and ribbon a you have yourself a seriously awesome handmade gift.