new work...

I know - it has been quite some time since I was here... but I have some new work to show, so I hope you will forgive me.

I have been trying my hand at a bit of basket weaving with wire. This was my first finished piece...

This morning I decided I was going to give it another try, but on a smaller scale - for earrings. Not that that pendant is big - the basket is maybe 2 inches high and less than an inch in diameter.
But earrings... I made a 'frame' of wire and then began to weave with very thin copper wire (approx. 26ga). After an hour...

I had this... another hour of weaving...

and then another hour...

finished baskets. These are not quite an inch in length.

Finished earrings.

The kittens are doing fine...

and mama looks pretty relaxed - after getting a bigger basket to live in... but wait...

there's more.... another litter, oh my.... well, at least they look healthy and happy...

Wishing everyone a great Sunday and hoping the weather is better than here where ever you are!

new kittens

She did it again....

9 days old...

the s-word and winter inspired earrings

Finally, finally the cold is letting up some. The Eisblumen have disappeared from the window pane. The temps might even reach 0° during the day - sounds pretty good to me. And as predicted - we are getting the s-word - that white stuff everybody thinks looks so pretty... well it is, if viewed on a picture, I guess - like this maybe...

Especially if you are cuddled up like this?

We have had about 4 inches since yesterday, with more to come. So I will be spending lots of time outside in the fresh air, shovelling sn.. I can't say it. the s-word....

But my muse did find inspiration in the cold winter weather and this is what she prompted me to make:

Leaves - just the colour of the leaves still clinging to the hedge; with gems that remind me of frost and icicles...

Hope you are all warm and cozy, where ever you are...

wishing you

a most wonderful New Year! May it bring health, happiness, love and inspiration to all of you.

Like many of you, I am not sad to see 2011 depart. I look forward to seeing what the new year will bring. I wish to continue to follow where my passion leads me; to learn and develop my skills and my spirit.

From me and three sleepy kittens

a heartfelt Thank You to all of you for your comments, support and encouragement. I look forward to continue sharing our journey with you.

last flea market of the year...

It's been a while since I was at a flea market. This morning I decided I had to make time to go to the last big flea market of the year, because there isn't much going on with the flea markets from January to March. Due to the stormy weather that we have had this weekend, I already knew the turnout of sellers would be low. It was. The lot was more than half empty. But that didn't stop me from finding some fun stuff.

More protective pocket watch cases...

An ethnic style necklace - to be repurposed...

Vintage glass cabouchons and flowers...

The find of the day - vintage sterling silver salt shakers... these are made of unbelievably thin silver, so they are very lightweight, but also delicate.

I even got some (real) mistletoe at the flea market - but forgot to take a picture...

Kitten update - the little cuties are crazy rambunctious. The eye problems continue to come and go, but otherwise they are stable healthwise. But, because they have been inside since October, they are not dealing well with the cold temperatures outside. I try to get them outside regularly, to get them accustomed and to give them the opportunity to really run and play, but it looks like they won't be moving out anytime soon.

They are about 16 weeks old now. While they have grown quite a bit, it seems they will remain small cats - particularly Lilith. In the above photo, you can see that her head is much smaller than that of her brothers. The little rascals...

Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday!

work in progress and update on the kittens...

The 'prayer bead' idea has been tumbling around in my head, over and over. The piece I made was not technically a bead, not a box... maybe something more of a scroll? I may find a fitting term someday. Meanwhile, I am working on another piece, so I have a work in progress to show.

A forged piece of copper, some silk rod and a resined piece of paper with the runes that continue to call me. The resined paper has been distressed - making it look like a piece of old parchment.

The kittens have made good progress getting back to health. Although I am finding it hard to believe, they are now about 3 months old. They have grown considerably, although I still think they are very small for their age - but then, their mama is a tiny cat... These pics were taken last weekend.

Frettchen (= Ferret)

Pan

Lilith

Difficult to take pictures of them - they are always moving in high speed; so most of the pics I take show a blur or a tail or don't even have a cat in them...

Last night the temps dipped down below freezing - this morning, everthing is covered in frost and we will finally see the sun again. The last few days have been heavily shrouded in fog.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday.

Finished pieces

I finished the prayer bead piece this week - an archaic kind of necklace. It is big, full of emotion and thoughts.

And the woodland necklace was completed - the focal has moss preserved beneath resin and drops of labradorite. The necklace itself is a medley of labradorite, prehnite, jade and forged leaves, one of which is part of the clasp.

I haven't any new kitten photos to share - there was too much going on this week and I didn't want another pic of sleeping kittens. But they are doing much better - we have finally found an antibiotic that can combat the bacteria we are dealing with; their eyes are no longer infected and they are soooo energetic... Their skinny mama has also put on weight, since the kittens are on solid food and is generally also in much better condition. I am still fighting the cat flu in two of the older kittens, but the antibiotica is also helping there, so I'm hoping we will be through this situation soon.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday.

Sunday flea market

It was cold this morning - really cold. Minus 4°C cold. So, we waited a bit before starting out to the flea market. To no avail - there was thick fog and it stayed cold until the sun finally found its way through just before noon, to make +5°C seem wonderfully mild. Did I just say mild 5°? See what going out in the cold can do to you?

I did make some interesting finds today...

Slightly rusted silver plated bracelet, possibly 1930's.

A small collection of large turned bone rings, although a couple of them look more like antler.

Various sizes of vintage pressed glass flower shapes and beads from a chandelier.

These are a rare find - glass eye cabouchons, some partially painted.

I want to thank everyone that commented (and with such kind words!) on my challenge piece - thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think. Your feedback is so appreciated.

I will leave you with a bit of cute - a photo of two of the sick kittens, which have now taken over my livingroom. Apparently it is a great playground and so many comfy places for a nap... and I can't leave sick kittens out in the cold, can I? These little ones are now approx. 8 weeks old. The eyes are looking just a bit better, but they are still sniffling and sneezing...

Hope you all have a wonderful sunny Sunday, where ever you are!

new earrings...

I finally have been able to put in a couple of hours in my studio to make jewelry - being a part(most of the)time kitten mama has really taken its toll on the other areas of my life. I actually finished a pair of earrings - yay!

Fold formed copper leaves with bone beads, red aventurine, garnet and chalcedony - really long earrings in autumn colours.

 

The weather has turned - we are having a high of 8°C today, to say nothing of the rain and hail showers... the kittens and their mama have moved into the cat house, next to the front door. And because the nights are getting pretty chilly, they have been joined here by Mr. Babysitter (I think he is a sibling of mama cat) and one of the earlier kittens. Everybody is snuggled up to keep warm.

Aaaawwwww - look at that face! Unfortunately, the kittens are having problems with the eye infection again, meaning antibiotic ointment in the eyes several times a day. They are about 6 weeks old now and full of spunk and curiosity. But I will be glad when they are finally weaned and all eating cat food...

Sunday kittens and yes, of course, flea market

Skinny mama and the kittens are doing quite well today. What I didn't mention the other day - the kittens have been with their mama all along and she has been feeding them - but apparently she hasn't been producing enough milk to still their hunger and that is where I come into the picture - additional meals. For her and  for them.

Here they are taking some sun (and a bit of lunch) today. Skinny mama lying in the shade - the big tabby behind her is 'Mr. Babysitter' - he seems to have quite a thing for kittens. He was constantly watching over the first litter and is now taking a big interest in these three, when they come out of the nest.

I did go to the flea market, inbetween kitty breakfast and kitty lunch.And I even found some goodies...

This could be a mountain goat horn tip. Was probably part of a Bavarian charivari - an assortment of Bavarian charms a man would wear with his lederhosen.

Some gorgeous green opalite Czech glass beads.

A tiny vintage buckle and an assortment of antique buttons in glass and brass. 

A strand of etched agate beads - love the color and the matte surface.

And then I found these three vintage display boxes - a rare find. Usually the sellers at the flea market keep these for themselves. They are perfect for storing and displaying finished jewelry.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday and thank you for visiting!

I'm still here...

I know - you probably think I have fallen off the face of the planet. Sorry for the prolonged absence. I am sure you all remember me telling you about the cats that have taken over my front door. Well, things got a little more 'exciting'. You remember the kittens, of course. But another one of the cats had kittens while we were away. Nobody had any idea that she was going to have kittens. She wasn't heavy around the middle. In fact, she is such a skinny cat that I just thought she was beginning to finally put a little meat on her bones. Boy, was I mistaken! I still can't get over the fact that I was not able to detect her pregnancy, because she was so skinny.

Anyway, after we came home, she brought them over here. Three of them. I wasn't exactly overjoyed - the cat head count is pretty high already. And then - she stopped eating. Not entirely. But a tablespoon of food two or three times a day does not count as a meal in my book. Especially not for a nursing cat. So I have been feeding them with a syringe.

This is what they looked like last weekend. So very wobbly on their little legs. They are coming along fine - even though we have had our ups and downs. But they are taking up pretty much all of my free time. But they are beginning to take an interest in cat food and today even had some of their milk from a bowl, instead of the syringe. So things will be getting easier.

Taken today - they had their first real outing this afternoon. Up to now, they have spent most of their time in their 'nest'. Today they had a bit of adventure in the sun.

Did I ever say I was a sucker for kittens?

where we interrupt our regular program for kitty antics

 Awwww.....

All kids like toys - even kitty kids.  I gave them some toy mice - boy, did I make their day!

The big ones are washing up, getting ready for dinner...

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday, wherever you are in the world!