i've been "tagged" by my dear friend pam, over at the fabulous blog, housemartin. she insists that it will be fun to list 8 facts about myself. i'm going for things that might not be obvious about me from reading my blog.

1) i'm a skin care geek. my line closet is full of amazing product (due to the day job, really) and i wear sunscreen 365 days a year.

2) i collect cowboy/cowgirl boots. both vintage and modern. i never forget a beautiful pair of boots. (the pair above are late 1930's cowgirl boots)

3) i love heights. cliffs, tall buildings, you name it. an on-going fantasy is to get to go to the top of one of those massive construction crane that companies who are building sky-scrapers use. 

4) i have an acute sense of smell and like to sniff artwork at galleries. weird, i know.

5)  i've got a terrible sweet tooth that will likely be the death of me.

6) i always pick up a penny if i see one in the street.

7) someday i'd like to become a birth doula.

8) in the past i've worked as a farmer, artist's model, waitress, teacher, florist, cashier, personal assistant, retail manager, art school director, on a factory assembly line, bookkeeper, chambermaid, furniture salesperson, barista, and the list goes on...

just a yummy plant image from my trip to greece i hadn't posted previously. i used a section for my bread + butter banner  in the etsy shop. it's like a giant flower made from the softest flannel or boiled wool. i'm a big fan of this chauky pale green color, too.

i'm suffering from too many ideas at the moment in the studio. it's got me making things, but feeling like i am spinning in circles. i am like the white rabbit, running along with his pocket watch, always behind schedule. the more jewelry i make, the more excited i am to create and the ideas pour into my head like champange. i'm drunk on it! and so it's often hard to know which thing to do first.

honestly, this has been a life-long problem - having more ideas than i know what to do with. some wouldn't consider this too much of a problem. but i am aware it gets me stuck sometimes. a few years ago, i got unstuck(and i was really stuck) by choosing just to concentrate on jewelry. to put aside for a while my painting, photography, printmaking, fiber arts, installation and sculpture. just to focus on one thing.

here i am and that one thing has expanded into so many ideas, i am swimming in them. how glorious and rich! as i go back to the day job today, i am whistful.

i want more. more time in the studio. more time to just be.

these beauties are blooming outside my apartment. giant artichokes gone to flower? that is my best guess. the color range on them is incredible, from the russet brown inner leaves to the most acid, bright purple spikey petals. i generally don't love purple, but these babies are knocking me out! and the pin cushion shape is so inspiring.

i'm imagining a baubly big ring... 

sweet little silver bell earrings with a freshwater pearl drop make a tiny, fairy bell sound when you shake your head. today's new addition on bread + butter!

a little peek into the bread + butter shop on etsy, for those of you who have not yet checked it out. this choker length necklace is made from the softest merino wool in a yummy, true olive green. i form the wool beads by hand, starting out with just "fluff" and felting the wool into a ball. after they dry, i thread them onto hand-dyed silk ribbon, in this case a lovely deep rose pink color. the piece is light and comfortable to wear. whenever i am out wearing mine, everyone comments on it and more than a few want to touch it. so be prepared for some positive attention when you step out in this!

coming tomorrow, corsage bracelets and some tiny fairy bell earrings! stay tuned...