Magnolias help people breathe.

And so does doing what you want to for your life.

I have to say that deciding to sell my family glass business and make jewelry for a living is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. The last two years have been rather draining. I worked at County Glass for five years, owning it for four. My mind would wonder. Everyday I would come up with a new scheme of how I was going to get out of that business. My brother was supposed to buy it, I was supposed to come in streamline everything on the computer and then move on. Metalsmithing masters at SIUE or something like that. But, Mr. smarty pants brother decided he did not want the business and guess who was next in line. An offer I couldn't refuse. I would have the business for ten years, it would be paid off and I could sell it. It came with all of the employees, except my brother. Most of them had worked there for 20 years. Little old me was in charge of men who worked for this business for 20 years. Isn't that funny. I day dreamed about becoming a metalsmith, but did not think it would make the bills. Some how I settled on a Master's in Social Work. For some reason that was a compromise in my head. I could not quit County Glass to become a metalsmith, but to become a Social Worker was acceptable. I was accepted into the Wash U program. That was it! It was my out. I told my parents who took it pretty hard, offered the guys who worked there for 20 years to buy the business and we were on our way! Or not. I finished my first semester at Wash U. I loved it, but all I could think about was making jewelry. After my first semester the deal still hadn't gone through for the sale of the business and I decided that Wash U was too expensive and I was going to drop everything to make jewerly for a living. This was a year after I had told the guys that it was theirs if they wanted it. There were too many parties involved in the sale. I still owed my ma and dad who had very conveniently divorced right after I bought County Glass. I desperately tried to negotiate the sale, with no luck when finally in April of 2006 the guys said they weren't going to buy it. Uhg! Meanwhile, Steve and I had gotten engaged in New York! That's the Mullberry Street Bar where they used to film the Sopranos. Aren't we a couple of gangsters?

Upon the news that the guys weren't going to buy the business I decided to stay. It was a lucrative business and I figured I should get responsible since I was getting married. The little responsibility voice in my head. Sometimes I think I should ignore that voice. I tried to put my heart into it. I tried hard, but it was so hard because i was so miserable there. It was a very difficult business. Glass breaks and people who buy glass don't care, they just want their glass. I can't remember the timeline anymore, but soon the guys came to me and said they were giving me their two weeks, starting their own business in competition to County Glass. Double Uhg! Without the two of them, the business was nothing. I am perfectly incapable of lifting the huge sheets of glass that it took to install shower doors. I cried and cried and cried. I thought my life was going to end. I don't know why I was so upset, because in the end I talked them into buying the darn thing. One week of heavy negotiations between my rents, Gary and Jeff and the sale went through. One week...that's all it took in the end. I was extremely nervous to drop everything and start on the jewelry, but I wouldn't change it for the world. If you are considering getting out of the rat race, I for one highly recommend it.

Dirty, Dirtiness

Today I was outside photographing this necklace. I have had this image of the necklace in my head for a week now. I created most of it and then ran out of material. I thought it was going to be so fabulous that it would be my banner display for my blog. I made it the display because I had my heart set on it, not because I love how it turned out. It definitely wears better than it photographs. Mostly I find the more excited I am about a piece, the less I like it. Anyway, I finished taking the pictures of this necklace. I call it "pretty little things for life". I was in a froo froo mood when I made it. I open the door to go outside and out shoots Andy onto the porch and out the dog gate that I so neglectfully forgot to shut. I have it up there for that very reason. Because I can't seem to keep the dogs in the first door. Apparently I can't keep them behind the second trap door either. As a rule of thumb, I've learned never to chase a dog, they think it's a game. I typically say the word "treat" very rambunctiously, squat at the top of the steps and call them. Voila! He came right up to me. As I swooped him up telling him what a good dog he is, I see this woman walking down the sidewalk about three houses down. She peeked around a tree and said "Amie?, are you Amie King." Or something like that. I can't really remember because I was so concerned with the fact that I hadn't showered for a day and a half (yikes!). See, I work out of my home and it is so easy to wakey wakey, drink the coffee, and go downstairs in the same thing I slept in and make jewelry. The woman, who I think told me her name, but again I can't remember it because I was so concerned that I might have a glob of mascara under my eye said that she was in that antique store Roots which I love so much and also down the street in another great antique store called Eclectica. She said that both of the women mentioned my name and my jewelry and so she was walking and thought that it might be me. Now, I am sure that the woman who owns Eclectica told her that I was building a retaining wall in my front yard and that is how she found me, but I feel horrible that I wasn't nicer and I hope that if she reads this blog at some point I can reintroduce myself. Hopefully I will be cleaner, and without dog in arms. And maybe at that point my house will be suitable to invite people in. I have had such a horrible time keeping this house in guest allowing order. With four dogs and the fact that I still haven't completely unpacked, it is impossible to keep it looking nice. Not that it ever did look nice.

That reminds me that I went to pick up mail from my old house on 59th st. this weekend. A lovely young couple bought it from me. I lived there for 6 years and it was my first house. I put a lot of love into that house and I really miss it. The new owners have completely redone the back yard and it looks fabulous! I got a tear in my eye. I can't wait until I can get this house into living, working, I love my hizzy order. In dedication to getting this house in order I have made a necklace that I call "Rule the Roost" implied, don't let it rule you, which my house is doing right now along with all of the dogs. Especially the one that just jumped on my computer while I was typing. The other day he did that and it broke my c key off. I couldn't copy and paste for a whole two days. Mac replaced it for free.

You Will Not Win Cesar Milan

I've had enough of your tight leash, your sits and your stays.
No longer will you keep me from chewing the walls and the furniture legs.
Uh Oh! Busted
Till next time Cesar Milan.

Ahhh Fall.

Fall makes me want to redecorate, paint, get things in order, and start new projects. I get so inspired this time of the year that it is hard to keep up with myself. I barely want to leave the house because there are so many fun crafty things I have in my head that I would like to execute. I also get nostalgic for things that I used to do. Like going to estate sales. I used to have a booth at an antique mall with my friend Nicole, but she has moved twice since then. It's absolutely necessary to have someone else relying on you to get up at 6 a.m. And you have to get there early if not first in order to get the goodies. There is nothing like the feeling of walking into an estate sale and knowing that the person who used to live there had appreciation for beautiful things. Color and anything old makes me want to ravage through the house. The folks who estate sale are serious. No one looks at one another and they literally don't care if you are in their way. It is a totally different culture. And I find myself so engrossed sometimes in the beautiful sheets, material, or handmade quilted dogs like this one that I don't realize I'm rudely blocking someone ability to get through.

I couldn't resist that little dog. It was a little more than what I thought it should have been marked, but it kept staring at me. It must have known that I rescue dogs.

Steve is outside being a workin' man. My niece is one and a half and she calls any man who is outside, no matter what they're doing a workin' man. He's finishing our five tiered retaining wall and patio. He and our friend Pat have been working on it all summer. I bet they wish the trees looked like this all summer. Steve's the cutest. He's such a trooper. He doesn't really enjoy all of the outdoor labor, but keeps pushing on. I love him!

Not to mention the weather. He was out there some weekends when it was a sweltering 100 degrees. I usually was inside watching HGTV on how to build retaining walls. And also how to landscape retaining walls. I am going to try to do mostly native plants out there. I have been researching and cannot wait until next spring when I get to dig into the ground. I look forward to the days when I pull up to the house (we don't have a driveway, because we live in the city) and think, ahhw, what a cute house, that's my hizzy, I'm so proud that that is my hizzy.

Steve's band Strawfoot had a show last night. They all dressed like the freaky circus people. Steve was the insane clown.

He looked pretty insane.

The Chicago show is fast approaching and I have been downstairs in my dungeon soldering, sawing and filing away. I made five pieces this week. My goal is to average 7.5 pieces, but it was a really crazy week with the fosters. I don't want to talk about it though. I have already complained and talked everyone's ear off that I know. And I will spare you.

This is my first try at making something pretty in the kitchen and actually being careful while doing so. So, I took a picture, because usually the only thing that I pay excruciating detail to is my jewelry. It actually tasted good too. It is vegetarian chili, which I am usually not that fond of when I follow a recipe, but changed this one up a little, adding a little more spice and different beans. The little corn cups are to die for. I meant to journal what I changed, but in the tiredness of it all, I forgot, or didn't have the energy. I don't remember. But, I am planning on making for our annual chili cookoff and hope it turns out as good. Half the time I am unable to do the same thing twice. That is why I am going to start journaling when I cook.

Poor little Devil

I took Andy to the vet today because I had a feeling that he had an ear infection. My intuition was right. And, we're thinking that the big gash in his ear is not from another dog, but from him shaking his poor little head so much that he caught his ear on something and ripped it. uhg! So he threw the biggest fit at the vet. I almost cried, the poor stubborn dog would not sit still for anything and cried like a hyena. If only we could talk to them and they could understand that it's for their own good. Every experience with each dog is different and so interesting. Never a dull moment. In the mean while he ripped is ear open again after all of the nights I have spent sleeping next to him, waking up every time he moves to make sure he's not shaking and scratching. Now look at the poor little devil. Isn't he adorable?

Chunky Monkey

I have been working on this new idea for a couple of weeks. I wanted to hand cut the top to the encasement, creating my designs on the top piece of silver. The problem is trying to get the tin to stay in its spot. I figured it out! And here is the result. Keep checking back for more designs like this. They are a lot of fun to think up. I especially like the contrast between the delicateness (if that's a word) of the surround contrasted with the words "sweet chunk". The whole time a made this piece, I couldn't help but to think of my dog Floyd, because he is chunky and sweet.

All of the dogs and turtles.

This is Andy. He is a sweet terrier mix, new foster. I have never had a small dog before, and I love him. He is my little lovey lap/foot dog. If he doesn't look all that together in the picture, it's because he has a humorngous slice out of his ear that he can't quite figure out, and can't seem to stop attacking his head, right now. He has quite a hole in his neck and head from trying to get rid of the demon on his ear. Dogs aren't really that bright. They tend to attack wounds because they don't understand that nobody is causing the pain, they just want it gone. Andy is going to be a brilliant dog for someone, besides his species unbrilliant attack of his own sores. What are ya gonna do? We're working on it. Sores heal. As you can see by the pics, Andy and I have bonded tremendously, in just a day and a half.

Turner's tentative adoption didn't work out. The woman who was planning on taking her is also having her 90 year old mother moving in with her and was understandably a little overwhelmed. Here are a few words about the Turner monkey.

Turner, a 3 yr. old 56 lb. Greyhound mix was found as a stray in Iowa. She was very timid upon her arrival into our home. After being shown that we were not going to hurt her, she has turned into a loving and loyal dog. She plays very well with our other two dogs in the house, and is a joy to take on walks. She is the best dog I have ever walked on a lead. Turner needs a gentle, loving home that will treat her with the love and affection that she deserves and is able to give in return. She is playful in the yard, but like a lazy kitten in the house. When she runs outside she looks like a deer. She throws her toys in the air and does 360-degree turns to try to catch them. Whoever ends up with Turner will be very lucky. We would keep her if we didn’t already have two of our own.

This is my latest commission necklace called Slow and Steady. It was purchased by Nancy, one of the three lovely women who own and operate ROOTS one of the BEST antique stores in St. Louis, located on Sutton in Maplewood. These ladies really rock, so you should go visit their beatiful antiques. They have great taste. I called this necklace slow and steady, because I try to remind myself to enjoy not only the means to an end, but also the process. I always have to remind myself of that. Slow down, right?

Rahrrrrrrr!

Animal Abuse!! Ringling Brothers and Carson / Barnes Circus

The Ringling Brother's Circus is coming to St. Louis. If anyone is interested in passing out literature on the abuses of the circus, please contact me. I will be there. I'm also going to be making t-shirts to boycott the circus. They will be available on cafepress. All of the proceeds will be used to print literature. Any leftover proceeds will be donated to PETA's campaign against the circus.

I totally understand if you're not up for chillin' in front of the Circus when they come to town, but at the very least please do not play a part in supporting the abuses that come along with animals in the circus. Ringling Bros. denies any abuses, but even without the electrical prods and bull hooks, these animals spend 11 months of the year traveling. They are left to stand in their own feces. And when they are not traveling they are chained. They lose their minds. Elephants are social family oriented animals when they are in the wild. Obviously they are highly intelligent with all of the tricks they pull off for these money grubbing animal abusers who put on this show. Please pass this on to everyone you know. Especially those who have children.

Columbia Festival of the Arts

Not so much my crowd, I suppose. The first day, Saturday was horrible. People weren't even taking my cards. And they were turning their noses up at $35 for a necklace. I mean, I'm not Walmart. The crowd just wasn't there to buy art. Half the people didn't even look into the booth. And there were so many pregnant women. More than I've ever seen in my life. I started counting at 2:47 and stopped at 4:15 and counted 14 pregnant women. And that was less dense than most of the day. Jam packed with pregos. Don't get me wrong, I love procreation, but those ladies with the babies in their bellies aren't going to drop money on a unique body adornment, when they have a unique body adornment growing inside of themselves. Luckily Sunday was a little better and I made a bit of a profit. People were much more receptive and bought a few things. No more shows until December. It's going to be a fun couple of months in the basement. I do have to say about this show though, that the volunteers and staff were some of the most helpful I have ever encountered. They helped unload and setup. It was wonderful. It's too bad they don't draw a better crowd.

Columbia Show

I have a show this weekend in Columbia, MO, and I have been crankin' it. Holy Jebus, I am going to have arthritus at an early age. I'm a little concerned about how well I will do at this show, so I have been busy making small necklaces (50 of them) and earrings (75 pairs). My knuckles hurt. But, after this show, I don't have anything until December and I have some great ideas for new stuff. I'm super excited to start doing the creative stuff again. It has been 3 weeks. Luck has it that the creation of my smaller, more methodical pieces fell on the same week as tv premier week. So, I have been sitting on the couch, filing, sitting on the couch sanding, sitting on the couch forming and more filing, on the couch assembling. It worked out nicely, because I got to watch my shows. I was looking forward to the bachelor (i know, I'm a huge nerd), I'm obsessed with America's next top model (now you've lost all respect for me). Lets see, can i gain it back? I'm hugely obsessed with Law and Order, and I'm working on getting obsessed with Heroes. Grey's Anatomy was disappointing, but I'm still going to try to watch it this season and see if it annoys me. Sometimes it annoys me. Sometimes I can't live without it.

More importantly...Turner, now Tippy has been adopted almost officially. She will be taken by her new owner (my next door neighbor's friend), who lives in Kentucky tomorrow or Saturday. She's a lucky dog because she's going to be in a great home. I love that feeling, knowing that the dogs are placed in superb homes. It's the best. It's why I foster. I will be getting a terrier on Monday. I will post pictures when I get him.

For anyone out there who is looking to adopt, if you want to adopt a pure bred, there are pure bred rescues of every kind, all over the place. So please get on the internet and support your local rescues because it's just silly to pay for more dogs to needlessly be put on this earth when there are so many in desperate need of a loving family. Contact me if you need help finding a pure bred pup in a rescue if you aren't having any luck. I will help and it will be so worth it.

Steve's looking at guns again. haha!

These are my cute dogs Frankie Monster is on the left (the Shepherd mix) and Floyd, the doydy is on the right (as far as we can tell he's a lab/giant schnauzer mixed with a lot of love in his belly. I talk so much about all of the other dogs I have in my home, I thought I'd introduce to the perma dogs. They are sweet because they put up with all of the randoms I bring home.

Raw Food

I tried to go raw last week. Key word tried. I don't know man, all the rave about the diet...and it all makes sense. I think I did it right mixing nuts and fruits and hemp protein and lots of greens. We went to Stone Hill winery on Friday because Steve's band Strawfoot played for the Missouri bike race. Thank goodness wine is on the list of raw foods. However, I think I may have over done it. By Sunday morning, after 6 days on the raw food diet, six days of headaches, severe lethargy, and one day of way too much wine, I broke and had myself my favorite breakfast of hashbrowns topped with over easy eggs and salsa and sour cream. Far from raw, but oh so delicious. My goal was to make it two weeks, but I think 6 days of 100% raw was plenty. For those of you who don't know what a raw diet is, it is when you don't eat anything with preservatives, pasteurized, processed, no chemicals or hormones. It's a vegan diet, so no dairy, or meat. And you don't cook anything. But, there are recipes that are pretty good that can keep it pretty interesting for a while. I'm glad I did it, because I will incorporate some of these recipes into my daily eating repitoire, but definitely not 100%.

I am fostering a full bred Greyhound cutie. Her name is Turner and she is totally neurotic. I'm thinking she was kenneled most of her 3 years of existence and she is super uncoordinated so she probably wasn't raced. I think she was pushed around a lot because anytime I take her collar she freezes. I have spent a good portion of the last week pulling and carrying this 55 lb. beauty. That said, she has a great temperment. We are working on potty training since I don't think she had ever been in a house before. She also had to learn how to maneuver steps. She was pretty afraid at first, but now can go up and down short steps. But, if you have never seen a greyhound run and play it is an amazing sight. She looks like a deer. When she runs she bucks her back legs after she raises her front. Steve wants to keep her because although she is playful outside, when she is indoors she is like a cat. Just lounges around or chews on a bone. I think I've already found a home for her. I knew she would go fast because she is sooo cool.

This is a photo of Steve and I on the way home from Art Outside Schlafly show after a 14 hour day of working and then breaking down the tent and loading furniture and jewelry stuffs in the rain. This is a really good picture to show how we felt.

Vandals

This weekend was the Art Outside show. Despite the rain and the vandalism that happened to quite a few artists tents it turned out to be a pretty good weekend. For some reason, some buttwad decided to take a knife to the tents. They didn't steal anything from my tent, but did from the nice lady next to me. Fortunate for us, and unfortunate for Tom Schlafly, he is going to pay for all of the damage...from what I hear....which is super nice. I don't have insurance on my stuff (which will change very soon), so it will be greatly appreciated whatever he can do to help out. My first show after quitting County Glass. It's a little different, because my livelyhood depends on sales now. I am in no way, shape or form a good saleswoman. I really enjoy seeing all of the people though and talking to everyone. It is so different than working at a glass shop. I guess people shop for glass because they kind of have to, people shop for art because they want to. So, yes, getting into the swing of things still. I received quite a few custom orders, so those will keep me fairly busy this week, as well as catching up on the rest of my life which I have kind of completely let fall apart. Housekeeping...yikes! it will be a feat to get the house back in what order it was in prior to the constant jewelry making 2 weeks before the show. Not to say it was in very good order, but I'm working on it. I think I should post photos of my dungeon studio. Lots of people asked me at the show where my studio is. I know there will be a day that I look back on the basement and wonder how I functioned working down there. There is no water except for the wash machine. Every once in a while, after I've made a gazillion trips upstairs, I use the laundry machine water. Sometimes there are still clothes in there and they get a little wet and I laugh. At least I am more attentive to the laundry in the wash though. I'm one of those people who washes and forgets....sometimes I even run it and forget to put the clothes in. I haven't done that for quite a while and I realize how not environmentally friendly this is, so I'm paying closer attention. Back to the studio. I think a video would be a better visual, but I would be quite embarrassed of the basement. I just moved into my fiance's house and combining the two of us rugrats was quite difficult. It would be much easier to move into an empty house. One of these days I will have a semi-professional studio...ihopeihope. I kind of feel like I'm paying my dues and when my dreams of a shiny studio come to fruition, it will make me that much more appreciative.

Art Outside

The Schlafly show is tomorrw. Since I haven't been working at County Glass, I feel much more prepared. Either that or I've become much more lackadaisical before shows. That is no good since I've only done 3 shows so far. I feel like I should be stressed out, but I'm not. Maybe I am since I'm worrying about whether I'm stressed or not. I've had a lot of fun over the past 2 weeks in my basement creating and I hope it shows in my work. Each piece takes quite a bit of time to make...I wish I could go faster, but I don't want to lose the quality of the pieces. It's so hard for me to make the same thing twice. I get so incredibly bored with repetition.

My adorable fiance is sitting next me with his obsesticca looking at gun websites. His gun obsession is as to my ebay/myspace obsession. Yes, if he looks over, I'm either on ebay or myspace (obsessed with myspace) the whole making friends thing...I can't get enough artist friends. It's making me want to be a painter. Anyway, he's always making me look at guns on the internets and I think it's funny and cute. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of guns AT ALL, but Steve and guns is an oxymoron. He is a very wonderfully sweet and all around great guy. And then he has this gun obsession that doesn't fit...but it's cute. He's not into hunting, just guns and their mechanics and how they look.

In other news, I started my Yoga class this week. It was surreal. I've never taken a real yoga class. I love the idea of stretching and being one with myself, and my body and all of that, but we said a prayer, or something at the beginning of class in a different language, and we had to repeat it, and they swore up and down that it was not to a god, but i don't believe them. anyway, i think I'm going to make them tell me what we're saying next class. I'm positive it's a prayer to a god. which is fine, i just don't want to be tricked into saying a prayer.

I'm getting an Italian greyhound to foster at the beginning of next week! I'm so excited. I need my puppy fix.

Hope to see ya'll at the Schlafly fair. Here is a little preview of what will be there.

animal rants

i think my rescue is going to fold. it's not "my" rescue, but i foster for them and they outed the lovely lady that directs the program in order to bring someone in who is...better??? i don't know that there could be much better than sherrie. i wish that wasn't happenning because I loved working with her. and no one has even contacted me to let me know there is going to be a change.

I found a home for Pauly G.! Well, I didn't, but my friend Linsday did. Super excited about that. A very nice gentleman who she works with is going to give him a lovey home. I love it! Pauly is such a cool kitty.

Today I was at our vet picking up Pauly from his neutering and there was this woman there who rescues mini pinschers from breeders who mistreat. There was this little cutie who was thrown against a wall and his eye was all busted up. Arhg! I don't get it. How could someone do that to an animal.

And then...the woman who rescues these pinschers ran out to get two more. I looked out the window to see if she needed some help and noticed that these two little dogs were running around the parking lot loose. Holy crap! It was right on Watson. Very busy road during rush hour. All of us were out there trying to catch these little ladies who have not had very much human contact because they were caged and makin' babies for the man their entire lives. Again, something wrong with our society.

On a lighter note, this is the second day of the rest of my life! My last day at the County Ass & Beer was Friday. I am super duper happy and psyched to start the new chapter in my life. Since my rescue went kapput(sp?) I'm going to think long and hard about starting one of my own. It's something I've always thought about doing, but it is such a life long devotion that is very difficult to allow for any time for yourself. It may be something I will do later in life. I have a vision though.

Here is a necklace dedicated to the animals. I call it break the chains...dedicated to the anti-circus movement. Please don't support the circus. It is only animal abuse. They use the animals as pawns for their money making and don't treat them well otherwise. Please do not go to the circus anymore.

thanks for listening to my rants.

THAT cat!

Unfortunately I have not been able to find a home for Pauly G. He is going to have to go back to the farm. I don't know, maybe it isn't so unfortunate for him. Maybe we (or just me) anthropomorphise animals and really they are ok chillin' outdoors. Seems like a hard life. But, the guy who lives on the farm feeds the kitties so at least Pauly G won't have to learn how to hunt...it can just be his hobby.

For real! only 2 more days of County Glass. Next Wednesday and Friday. It is a good thing because I have gotten rather testicle with the customers when they are rude. It is such a strange business. The customers are extremely entitled. I suppose glass is one of those things that people want and don't need.

Let's see, what else. I gave the Frankmonster a horrible haircut today. Poor dog crapped herself at the groomers she was so scared and wouldn't come out of her kennel snapping at the workers the whole time. I got the phone call every pet owner dreads. "Ms. King, Uhm, we're sorry, but we are not going to be able to groom Frankie today, uhm she's too mean." Choke, swallow..oh, I understand, I'll be right there...(i swear I don't abuse my dog) she's just totally neurotic. We are going to take her to training classes for shy and fearful dogs. Not that she's shy and fearful toward us, just the rest of earth and probably planet. So, I bought me some clippers today and went at it. She was so good and patient. She looks so bad, but it's so funny, bald spots and all, she is prancing around like she is a new woman. hee hee.


This necklace is dedicated to Pauly G because I want THAT cat to get adopted!

Ain't nothin' but a G thing

Little Pauly a.k.a. little gangster or just G. has lived a couple of his 9 lives already at the young age of 16 weeks. If you want a kitty with some character, Little Pauly is the one. This little kitty at 8 weeks of age road about an hour and a half on someone's transmission, all the way from Jerseyville to Brentwood. When he jumped out from under the car, needless to say, he was a little frazzled. The guy who's farm he came from was going to take him back and dump him. He would not have survived. He was not in very good shape. Only one burn mark, but his eyes were cloudy and he seemed extremely week. He was malnutritioned, but after vet examination and a little grimey greese removal, the little gangster turned out to be quite the handsome looking fellow.

It has been 8 weeks since he has been with us and although he has not completely kicked his respiratory infection, Pauly is an active and loving and smart kitten. He comes when he is called and purrs more than any kitty I have ever been around. I personally think he knew what he was doing when he hopped on that truck's transmission. He wanted out of the farm life and into the big city where he could be the little gangster he always knew he was.

Unfortunately, one person living in our home is horribly allergic to gangster kitties. So, Pauly has to stay secluded in one room of the house. He gets lots of love and attention from us, but would be much happier in a forever home with someone to love him like a gangster deserves to be loved. Whoever ends up with little G. is going to be very lucky. He is a great kitty cat.

Geez! I can't get that kitten to be better. Her eyes are all snotty and so is her nose. I met a nice girl named Rachel who teaches classes on essential oils (they smell amazing) and she gave me a potion that I apply to the kittens temples to help with the respiratory infection. The vet meds just aren't working, so I thought I would try the oils. I will be a huge believer if they get rid of the infection. I am becoming quite obsessed with the oils myself. Hey if you believe it, it'll work.
I adopted Zoey! to a super nice family. They are wonderful and I know Zoey is going to have a great life.

My studio is all set up in the place formerly know as Steve's house, now we call it "our house". I've kind of taken over. He is so patient, allowing me to move all of my stuff in and most of his stuff out. I love him so bad! And not to mention that I get to have my studio in the basement in place of band practice. I sound like a greedy little jerk don't I. One day we will have a fixed up basement where jewelry and bands can coexist. Ahh...in a perfect world.

I only have 8 days of work left at the County Ass. And then I will be a full time metalsmith! I cannot wait. Oh the productivity that will happen with 5 full days to work on the jewelry. Not to mention the creativity, I hope.

So, we are down to a 3 animal household. My wonderful and beautiful mother took my 11 year old cat Cerveza. She is the bestest cat in the world, and that is why she did not deserve to be locked in a room all day. She will be happy at my ma's and my stomach will not tie in knots everytime Steve sneezes. Well, I have to find a home for one more kitty before the knots go away, but I am on my way. Enough ramblings for today.

being green, earrings and animals

I started composting a couple of months ago. It definitely helps on cutting down on trash. I bought one of those barrels that spins at Home Eco (on Macklind) in order to aerate the compost. I love the idea of making my own healthy dirt...but, I am not quite sure if I am doing it right. I opened the barrel the other day and it stunk to high heaven. I just keep telling myself how beautiful of a garden this sludge is going to make for me.

We're trying to be a regular old green family here at the King/Simmons household. I try to buy all recycled toilet paper and when we have to use paper towels, we try to use recycled (except when Steve buys them). I don't know if he's all that convinced that he alone can make a difference. I really think it starts with each person individually. If we all start buying products that have less of a carbon footprint, then more companies will begin to offer those products. And yes it will be for a corporate profit, but whatever we can do to make them change their ways will help.


Here is the new addition to the family...well she is a foster addition. It has gotten a little crazy at the new homestead. We have taken in a kitten (Steve is deathly allergic to cats), but I took it in because it rode in a someone'e transmission from Jerseyville and needed some TLC. I desperately need a home for this kitten, so if anyone knows of anyone who is looking for a kitten, PLEASE email me! I also have Zoey, the puppy. Zoey is a great puppy and is going to make someone a fantastic dog. Not that I am complaining at all because Steve is the one that should be complaining, but the whole situation is a little stressful. LOTS of animals to take care of and they all have to be kept in different rooms...puppy just had surgery, the kitten is contageous and can't be around Cerveza and neither of the cats can be anywhere near Steve. I'm like a crazy woman running around the house all day taking care of animals.


Here are a pair of earrings that I just made for a nice lady's daughter. Her daughter is in a band called Leslie and the Badgers. I love her band! The cover of her album is a hummingbird hence the earrings.

Hope everyone is well, will post more soon!

Amie

Art Show

This past weekend was the Art and Air show in Webster Groves. It was great! Despite a little bit of rainy weather and the bent pole in the back of my tent which made it feel like we were going to end up in Kansas, the show was a good second experience. I have heard horror stories of artists being locked up in their closed tent for six hours at a time while waiting for the rain to pass. With that in mind I am going to start bringing a couple of bottles of wine with me just in case. I have not done too many shows yet, but I seriously doubt that I will find another show that the people are so nice and accommodating. I was thoroughly impressed. They set me up with a gig on Fox 2 with Tim Ezell which was about 5 seconds, but awesome and he is such a nice guy you wouldn't believe it...class act. I was also on show me st. louis, but if you blinked you would've missed me. I sold most of my pieces so, I have been cranking in my basement trying to produce as much as humanly possible for the show this weekend at the Central West End. I am pretty pleased with my results, but cannot wait until I can start to be a little more creative and less crunching out work.

Other things are that I sold my house! I will be Steve Simmons' roommmate for the rest of my life. I can't wait!

Oh! and also, I will be on the today show NBC...channel five style on Friday. Who knows what kind of time I'll get, but I figure any exposure is good exposure. Right?

I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

I'm Back!

Hi everyone! Sorry about the long break. It has been a busy couple of months. I have a couple of shows I am preparing for. My first show is in Washington, MO on May 18th to the 20th. I am scared I will not be able to produce enough for the show. But I am sure it will all come together. I have quite a few new pieces. They will be posted below. My second show is on June 1st to the 3rd at the Webster Art & Air! I am going to be on TV that morning, most likely making a complete ass of myself. It will be on FOX 2. When I find out more info I will post. The following weekend I will be at the Central West End show. That is my list so far. Its has been so crazy because I have been working more at County Glass & Mirror. The sale of the business did not go through and I have decided to keep it for the time being. I am getting married next year! so, I thought it would be a good idea to stop only thinking about myself. I am working hard to get back into the swing of things. I am also fostering my 5th dog. She is a 3 legged dog named Panda. The vet thinks that she got her leg caught in a fox trap and that is how it got cut off. So she survived outside alone with a cut off leg. Then she got put in a kill shelter and Gateway Pet Guardians rescued her. She is a survivor, so we need to find her a good home. I will post pictures of her soon.

Honest Labor


Lemon


Rose


Owl