AAhh....the difference a soap can make...!

If you keep up with my blog posts at all...you know I belong to a very talented group of women known as UWIB ( Unique Women in Business). We support each other's businesses by making 1 purchase each month from another group member's store. The purchase doesn't have to be a big one, there is no minimum....trust me this is no hardship with the talent in this group. A lot of the woman have Etsy and/or Artfire shops to choose from.

About 4 months ago, I ordered some lip balm from Michelle at Flameworks. They were pomegranate and mango flavored. They had the perfect texture and flavor..! She was very quick to ship and it was packaged perfectly, I was very pleased.
In July, I ordered from Michelle again. I ordered her new flavor of lip balm...Coconut. Ok, now you know as well as I do, that coconut can be done badly...but I wasn't worried..it was perfect as always..! I also tried Michelle's vegan deodorant. We've all heard how bad store bought can be with some of the things they put into it. Michelle's works like a charm.
Now, to the reason for this post. Along with my lip balm and deordorant..Michelle sent me a sample of her soap. It was called Black Misson Fig. At the time I thought..that was very sweet of her, but I'll never like a "fig" soap. So, I put the sample in my shower and forgot about it for a few days. I picked it up when my "regular" bar was getting low and started lathering it on....! WOW...!!! I loved it...! It has a very catchy fragrance..very refreshing and energizing...! All from something I never would have tried on my own...! I had to go order a full bar...! Very good marketing technique on Michelle's part let me tell you...! She sent me a sample of Black Raspberry this time...I'm almost afraid to open the zip lock...afraid I'll have another obsession...!
If you get a chance stop by Flameworks and see what Michelle has to offer, she has a large variety of flavors and sizes on most of her products. Tell her Dawn sent you...!

Lost Wax Casting Lesson

I got to go play..I mean learn more about lost wax casting last Thursday with my friend Horace. I started buying Horace's cast silver a couple of years ago and he has been kind enough to teach me his technique.
This first picture is of me heating up the solid silver to a liquid form in the centrifuge. To the right of me is the large kiln Horace has that holds the cylinders that the wax has been burned out of to make way for the sterling silver in the centrifuge.

The second photo is after the cylinder has been put into the centrifuge and the spinning has started, throwing the hot silver into the molds.

Photo three is of me moving the hot, hot cylinder putting it into cool water to wash the material off the silver pieces. It comes off very easily and you left with the silver pieces on a "button" of silver. ( photo 4) They are then cut off, cleaned and pickled. Then they are tumble polished.

I am having such a great time and am learning so much from Horace. I am hoping soon to be able to make my own wax molds and cast silver pieces that are my own signature pieces. The next time I go out there, I will have some photos of the beginnings of this intricate process.

Who Knew...??

I had an awesome time last weekend at the Ocean Springs Art Market/Fresh Market in front of the Mary O'Keefe Cultural Center. We had a great turn out and am happy to report that the Fresh Market will be with us again September 5th. It would be awesome if they continue to combine both markets to the benefit of both Markets..but what do I know?

I was doing some internet research the other day and discovered that we have Art Markets every weekend..!

- Pass Christian has a Market every Saturday from 8-11 at the War Memorial Park on Hwy 90.
- Waveland has a Market on Wednesdays from 6-12 and Saturdays from 8-12.
- Moss Point's Market is from 9-1.

I am probably going to check out a couple of these this Saturday and see which one or ones would be the best fit for me.

I will also have my Fall Schedule of events posted on my web site very soon. I am also finding the best date for my Annual Home Show.

For your viewing pleasure today, I have posted pictures of a couple of new pieces. I made a Chakra bracelet with Swarovski crystals and Crystal Quartz. I also have these stunning Crystal quartz Mini Lotus Pears made into gorgeous teardrop hoops. Both are available for sale in my Artfire Studio.

Dragonflies Again

I have been on a dragonfly kick again. I just love these little sterling silver charms...they look like they are flying around the edge of the bracelet. I used faceted Moonstone and stick pearls in both bracelets. I couldn't quite capture the the flash of the moonstone on camera though...it is stunning...!

I used green apatite and tiny peridot gems in the first bracelet as well as one of my favorite Swarovski colors..Erinite.

In the second bracelet, I used yummy Kyanite coins and Sapphire Swarovskis. Kyanite comes from the Greek word kyanos, meaning blue...no wonder I love it...!

The green Dragonfly bracelet is for sale on my Artfire site right now.

Summer Starfish

I can't believe Summer is half over, I'll blink again...and it will be Christmas ( cringe..so sorry). Not that I don't love Christmas...but the time is going much too quickly..lol. I am getting my info together for my Fall Schedule which I will post soon. The Peter Anderson and the George Ohr will be here before I know it..lol...!
I just listed some more of my Czech Glass Charm Earrings in my Artfire Shop . I have dolphins, starfish, sun faces, seahorses, sea turtles and fish. Quantities are limited, I am finding it harder and hard to find the glass squares.
I found my Naked Sandals on another blog yesterday..! Unique Women in Business is a supportive, fun group to belong to. We support each other other in business and in life. If you are a Unique Woman in Business and want to join, you can follow this link and tell Erin I sent you...!

Butterfly or Moth...?

I got up yesterday morning with the intention of cutting back the massive amounts of Honeysuckle that is growing on the back corner of the house. It's something I have to do about twice a year. Yes, I planted it there, seemed like a great idea at the time. It was plant I had growing in a container at my last apartment, and well contained it was. Once it got into the ground...it let loose...!

Oh the fragrance of those Honeysuckle flowers....it is one of my favorites and usually one of the first bloomers of Spring. I will usually get another smaller bloom in the Fall, but we have been so lacking in water, I think the plant started rejoicing when we finally got a couple of good showers and blossomed a little.

So, back to the story..I went out yesterday morning with the intention of cutting it back before Fall...and what do I see...but this beautiful winged creature flitting from flower to flower collecting nectar. He/she stayed around long enough to go grab my camera and catch some pretty good photos (if I do say so myself) and to weaken my resolve to take down the plant...sigh. Maybe that's why that little bugger was there...to tell me it's just not the right time. He/she is a beauty though...! If anyone knows what kind of creature he is..please share your insight...my study of Lepidopterology is not what it used to be.

SATeam Feature

Just a quick post today. I got my google notifications today and was shocked to see a feature about me on the Starving Artists Team Blog. I remember submitting the information months back...but forgot all about it.

Here is the link if you'd like to have a look-see...! SATeam Blog

This gorgeous bracelet was one of my favorites....it was recently sold. It was one of those sales you have mixed feelings for...you love that it found a new home...but cherished it as a favorite....sigh.