Ice Resin

I haven't worked with Resin since the summer.  I had a lot of success when the weather was warm and knowing that I'd be less successful once winter set in.  I've been asked to make several necklaces for Christmas gifts (and figured I'd make a few of my own while I was at it) so I had to figure out how to make this work in our chilly Colorado winter home! 
My first pour yesterday left some strange circular patches on the face of the resin.  It seemed that the last "top off" of resin was not warm enough and pooled on top of the other resin.  It was still early in the resin's working time so I don't think that had much to do with it?   Today I warmed the room with a space heater, warmed the resin AND placed the pendant bodies on my electric griddle that I use to dry my PMC clay.  Keeping the metal pendant bodies gently warmed seemed to do the trick! 

Good Friends

I took some time to get together with a few good friends today and it was the pick-me-up that I needed!  Cindy and Rebecca worked with me at a previous job and I sure do miss seeing them on a daily basis.  Often when you go through a very difficult situation in life you come out the other side a stronger person AND knowing who your true friends are.

We are volunteering at a wonderful non-profit organization in the Denver area called SpayToday.NeuterNow.   I became aware of this group a few years ago while working for an animal welfare organization.   It provided us a very affordable way to alter all our animals prior to placing them for adoption.  They provided low cost spay/neuter while maintaining a very high level of professional spay/neuter.  If all you do is spay/neuter surgery you get very good at it!   In order to fill the increasing need for low cost spay/neuter surgery they are expanding their current space and need grant/donation funds to help defray the cost.   Cindy wrote successful grants for the shelter I worked for while Rebecca (as the previous communications manager) is a phenomenal writer.   I help where I can usually providing background and gathering information.   Let's hope that together we can get them the much needed funds to expand this wonderful cause.
Here is a link to their website if you'd like to check it out:  http://spay2day.org/.   Remember....they are a 501(3)C and all donations are tax deductible!

Foster kittens

My foster kittens have headed back to Foothills Animal Shelter to get spayed and neutered.  They should now be up for adoption.  It was a few months between fosters and we really, really missed it!   I knew it was time to go back when I kept finding them in my studio playing with the leather cording that hangs on the wall....absolutely irresistible to kittens!

Back to Blogging

It's been a long time since I've blogged on my own...the last few years I've been blogging for the animal shelter I worked for.    It was inspiring and I miss it terribly.  I had a blog when my kids were young, mostly to keep my out-of-state family informed on what my family was doing out in Colorado.  
Now I'm back to blogging as a creative outlet for my art and for my life.   I've been making my own jewelry for over 10 years and just a few months ago I started my own company -Three Dog Studio.  Named after the three dogs that grace my household they lay at my feet when I create.