Marbles

I came across this beautiful fractured marble at my local bead shop a couple of weeks ago. I found out that they are wonderful when strung onto memory wire because the memory wire makes them sit in the natural hollow of the neck.
I have put this blue one on silver plated memory wire with silver plated and glass beads. It will fit up to a 19 inch neck. You can see more of it in my Etsy store, where you will find some of my other new memory wire listings. Enjoy...

Words To Live By

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
pee on it and walk away.

Spring is finally here

I think Sring has finally arrived in Western Montana. It is still cold at night, in the low to upper 20's, but it warms up in the afternoon to the 50's and 60's. The grass is finally throwing off new green shoots and the horses are just loving it. They jump, run and play as if they too, are celebrating the arrival of Spring. My resident Magpies are busy renovating last year's nests. They have nested in the same tree, just outside my window, for the last 8 years. They usually have 3 to 4 offspring every year and I am looking forward to seeing the new babies. They seem to trust me enough by now to let me help them look after the new ones.
Easter is tomorrow. Where has the last month gone? It will be a wunderful day. The grandchildren, Riley and Ethan, will be here and I can't wait to see the look on their little faces when I give them each their giant, soft and fluffy, stuffed bunny.
Happy holidays to all. Be safe and enjoy one another's company.

Steampunk Airship

Steampunk fascinates me! I was totally engrossed in the movies 'The league of Extraordinary Gentlemen' and 'Skycaptain and the World of Tomorrow'. If you have not seen these movies, they are worth watching. I find the whole 19th century, industrial revolution genre quite addicting. I have just discoverd a lot of Steampunk in the game Final Fantasy too. Very interesting.....anyway, here is a little sculpture that I created this weekend of a Steampunk Airship. All I can say is that I had a blast making it. It is for sale in my Etsy store if you would like to see more pictures or purchase it. It is a signed and dated one of a kind.

The Encounter

While walking through the forest
On a beautiful Spring day
I came upon a meadow
I believe it was in May.

The wildflowers were blooming
The colors so vivid and bright
I was hoplessly enchanted
I stayed far into the night.

I couldn't help but wonder
How this meadow could be so lush
When I heard a sound a'stirring
In the thick underbrush.

I sat there very quiet
When much to my surprise
A little Gnome came forward
The moon twinkling in his eyes.

He carried a rake and shovel
The tools of his trade
He went to work very quickly
And what a commotion he made.

He snipped and he clipped
Made each blade of grass stand tall
Then he slowly stepped back
And admired it all.

He looked up at the sky
And suddenly there came
A small, dark cloud
And it began to rain.

The rain was a soft mist
Just a very gentle shower
So as not to harm the petals
On even a single flower.

Suddenly, he looked over
And saw me sitting there
He smiled and winked at me
Showing no fear or care.

He walked around again
This time without a rush
When all of a sudden
He disappeared into the brush.

I awoke the next morning
Not believing what I had seen
For I was fairly certain
This had all just been a dream.

I started to rise
It was time to go home
T'was then I saw the sign
It read,'Planted by a Gnome'.

Angelika Joy

Copyright 2006