new earrings

Finished some new earrings.

Forged copper rings, sari silk, freshwater pearls and garnets...

- Gypsy - 

Vintage bone game pieces - hand carved with runes and a mysterious glyph on the reverse. Adorned with garnets, feathers and silk fiber.

- Journey -

spring rain

 We finally received some rain - it has been quite a while since it really rained here and everything was way too dry. The early crops were already beginning to fail - seems there is a problem every year in spring now. Either too cold, hailstorms, too dry... it is always something.
But now we did get some rain - not enough - but we can still hope for more. Everything in my garden got washed and now it seems so incredibly green. And the spring flowers...

Alpine clematis

Columbine

Ferns look so fascinating when they unfurl

Seems like Murr finds them fascinating too. This is the little guy that has 'occupated' our house since early February. Apparently, he thinks this is his home. I haven't been able to trace any owners, so I guess now it is.

Sunday flea market - again!

Another glorious Sunday and flea markets - yes, that is a plural - we did a flea market double feature today! What more could a flea market addict like myself ask for?

Easter is coming up - look at all the Easter bunnies...

Lots of chandeliers.

Then we drove to Regensburg, a very old city situated on the banks of the Danube. Which is where the flea market was too.

See?

And now for the treasures - of course, not every flea market day can be as great as last Sunday. But I managed to bring home some booty.

Apparently, it was a box kind of day.

This box was full of vintage lace.

Another box had an assortment of these vintage pocket watch protective cases.

I couldn't resist the cute brass thimble with the lily of the valley stamping.

And the third box was full of these game pieces. They look as if they are made of dyed bone. But I have no idea what card game they are used for, so they will probably end up in my jewelry...

A few other finds - some bangles of unknown material; a little cherry locket; a mother of pearl piece, once probably a spoon handle, that someone turned into a pendant.

Beads! Of carved bone, antler and sea urchin spines.

And I found these two amazing brass tins - actually containing the silver solder! I have never seen solder like this before, it is much thinner than sheet silver solder, like a foil - so I am wondering if it is suitable for use with sterling silver, or does it just refer to the colour? Has anyone ever seen something like this before?

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

new pieces

Some new earrings...

Spirit

Spring Buds

The Inevitability of Spring
The green mother of pearl beads are courtesy of my dear friend, Sharon.

The Ghosts of our Ancestors

Sunday flea market

The sun is shining, Max has the whole day off and it is Sunday - if that doesn't spell bliss, then I don't know what. Off we went to the flea market. It was a glorious day for treasure hunting.
Come take a look...

Some vintage velvet ribbon - this is actually a pretty celadon green - I don't know why the camera insists that it is teal...

A vintage film camera case - there was a film camera (super 8, I think) in it, although not the camera that belonged to the case.  I am 'donating' the film camera to Max's camera collection. The case is going to be my purse...

A 'book' about the painting of the Renaissance era.

A bunch of small keys, dating old, vintage and antique.

And then I really lucked out - look at this exquisite mother of pearl brooch!

There were two of them!!! This one is even more intricately made - all sawed by hand!

And a printer's drawer! This is more narrow than the usual ones - but it is originally so. Not a regular sized drawer that was cut apart. Sigh!!!

Today was truly a day of treasures! It isn't always that way.
Wishing all of you a Sunday that is every bit as wonderful as mine has been so far!

In the studio...

working with these...

What will this turn into?

out in the garden

We are having amazing weather and instead of rummaging through boxes at the flea market, I am rummaging through the plant debris in my garden - sort of spring cleaning, I guess.
The weather is very warm for April. Not likely to stay that way, but warmth and sunshine are very welcome after the long winter. The kitties are loving it. The birds are loving it. I am loving it. Even the plants are loving it. Take a look....

Clematis shoots.

Bleeding heart shoots, surrounded by columbines.

Primroses.

Hellebores. I love hellebores...

Wild violets. These pop up in the garden wherever they want. They're wild things, don't you know.

Wishing you a wonderful spring Sunday, wherever in the world you are!