Essential Adornment at Etsy

I finally opened a store at Etsy, Essential Adornment. I'll be selling my jewelry here, as well as in my other store and at art shows.

I only have one listing, but more will follow.

You can't have too many!

Shoes, that is. Also chocolates, but that's another post.

This year during my quest for shoes with actual arch support and style I discovered Keen shoes. I think I have seven or eight pair now. The arch support is better in some than in others so you kind of have to try them. My favorites so far have been the Newport II (the first sandal I've been able to wear in about ten years), and the Mary Janes. See here: Hartsong Handworks blog for an earlier post on these two.

I may have some new favorites though. I just got these Oxfords and the Ochoco athletic shoes in. They were on sale at Sierra Trading Post. I love them and the fit is great!

I still intend to get the Mary Janes in every color available, though.

Frogs & Fish, Oh My!

One of the things I really enjoy doing is taking photos. Not just any photos, but photos that are up close and personal. Critters and flowers are two of my favorite subject.

Here’s an emerald green tree frog. He was in the plastic tent I put over the goldfish pond last fall.

Here’s a different sort of frog (or is it a toad?) from a couple of weeks ago. There are about a million of these in the yard now ranging from dime size up.

And here is one of my goldfish, coming up to get a piece of food. He's just below the surface of the water.

Happy Birthday to Me

My best friend Billye made this necklace and earring set for my birthday recently.

Yes, I am a cat lover! The beads are bone, coral, and chrysanthemum jasper. I like it so much I have worn it several times this week.

Quest for Antarctica

Recently I was at a show in Tyler, Texas when a former customer came by. A couple of years previously she had purchased some Amazonite earrings from me. She told me she had selected them because the green/blue color made her think of Antarctica and she really wanted to go there. "And did you?" I asked.

She did. Turns out, she got a job in Antarctica (washing dishes) and wore the earrings I made while there.

I think that is so cool! And daring! Antarctica is one of the remaining areas that's not fully explored, right up there with the bottom of the ocean, outer space, plus some jungles and probably some mountains in Tibet and China. It's really cold and I admire anyone daring enough to go someplace that cold. My feet get painfully cold about November and don't warm up until March so I'm pretty sure I'd be at risk for some amputations.

Plus, she was wearing my earrings. I'll never go to Antarctica, but at least my earrings have been there.

BTW, the education level among the janitorial staff in Antarctica is the highest of any place in the world. That's because there aren't many openings or chances to go there and people with doctorates will apply for any job just for the great chance to work in Antarctica.

I don't know what her other dreams and goals are, but I hope she's as successful at accomplishing them as she was with this one.