Greetings!
Summer is almost over and the busy-ness of Fall is just around the corner. Trying to get a jump on the crazy holiday season, I've been furiously making jewelry in my hot, hot garage workshop. My bins are filling fast, so to make space I'm having a Summer Sale in my Etsy shop. I'm also managing to sneak in some time to paint every now and then and hope to be at the Austin Flea coming up on September 15th. If you get a chance, stop by The Highball to see some of the latest work. I hope you're enjoying your summer!
Best,
Christine
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clean up
I realized the other day there were too many pieces of jewelry sitting in my "finished" box. Time to move them out and make way for new, fun pieces. So, I've created a Summer Sale section of in my Etsy shop. Some of the pieces are completely one-of-a-kind and many are styles I'll probably not make again anytime soon. All of them are ready to ship out immediately. If you need a last minute gift or you've been in the mood to add a new and interesting piece of jewelry to your collection, now is the perfect time.
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tincaustics
My ability to make time for painting waxes and wanes, but whenever I have a chance to get back at it, I'm immediately enthralled and engaged. The hot wax is just so wonderfully fun to work with. It's even a bit difficult to stop and return to jewelry making. Oh oh. . . Read more... |
bone up
Amazingly, it's almost back-to-school time. Mostly we think of school as something for kids, but talking to a neighbor the other day got me
thinking about learning as a lifetime sport. I found out he was toying with the idea of taking a sculpture class, but was really hesitant since it's so outside his comfort zone. After discussing some of the concerns and a bit of gentle(!) encouragement, I think he's ready to dive in. I want to encourage you to do the same. If you're in Austin, here are a few fun places to start:
Color 101--This class is taught by my good friend Kat McTee at the super fab Stitch Lab. If you think you already know all there is to know about color--Kat will make you think again. Whether you are looking to expand your visual vocabulary or needing to pick the perfect paint colors for your house, this class will help more than you can imagine.
Tile Making--Clay is an awesome medium for folks who might be nervous about art making. The material will remind you of your childhood, but Elena Eidleberg's instruction will have you walking out with real 3D tiles you can use as part of your new backsplash.
I admit it. I love cheese. If you also love cheese and haven't yet been to Antonelli's Cheese Shop, drop everything and go right this minute. I haven't managed to get tickets yet, but I want to take their Cheese 101: 7 Styles of Cheeses class. Maybe I'll see you at one sometime soon.
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act up
This is a fun "up dew" that makes use of those nasty, and sadly, ubiquitous plastic bottles. A refined version requires a bit of skill and some tool usage, but a simple version could easily be constructed by a kid. This one holds jewelry, but it's easy to imagine other possibilities. Olives? Pennies, nickles & dimes? Lego mini figs and their accessories? You decide. The detailed tutorial can be found on Epbot.
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eat up
This light, refreshing drink popularized in Mexico is a terrific thirst quencher on a hot summer day. The trick with making agua fresca (Spanish for "fresh water") is to infuse the water with fruit essence without turning it into a smoothie or slushy drink. Feel free to experiment with other flavors such as strawberry, mango, cantaloupe and honeydew.
Ingredients
6 to 8 pounds seedless watermelon, cut into 2-inch pieces 2 cups cold water, divided 1 T fresh lime juice 1 T agave nectar or honey (to taste) Ice cubes Lime slices and mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Cut the watermelon flesh from the rind. In a blender, process half the watermelon pieces with 1 cup of water until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a pitcher. Repeat the process with the remaining melon and water. You should end up with about 8 cups of juice. Stir in the lime juice and agave. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with lime slices and mint.
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