Travel and Fresh Metal…

Recently arrived home from a trip to sunny Cancun Mexico. A week in the sun and the water was wonderful. After about 6 days I am ready to return home from anywhere but it was good times had by all of us. We really wanted to take our two kids out of the country as well just so they could experience life lived in was other than what they know. It was good for them. The water in the Yucatan Peninsula is known for being crystal clear and aqua blue. We snorkeled and scuba dove, swam and ski jet skied, ate, walked, toured the Mayan ruins. The Mayan ruins are one of the wonders of the world and I now have more information on that then I’ll ever need. (Our tour guide has a Phd Mayan culture.)

Mayan temple is not really a temple… it’s a calendar. The Mayans kept such accurate track of time that their calendar has a leap year every 5,000+ years. Nasa uses the Mayan calendar and developed the Atomic calendar with it. Pretty smart for 4,000 years ago. Twice per year on the Spring Equinox and the Fall… the corners of the temple create a shadow down the stairs of a slithering snake- ending at a huge stone carved snakes head which. We were there the day after the Equinox…the day of the Equinox 50,000 people there to see it.

Traditional Spanish town about half way to the Mayan ruins. This church was built in 1545, destroyed of course in battles, rebuilt in 1705, some town Mayors murdered in it and the church was painted with their blood..eeekkkk!!!!!!!! This is one of the only churches in the world banished by the Catholic church because of it’s gruesome history. I did not get an accurate story about this church either…the language barrier kept a lot of details from me.

Guy in this town making Mayan charm pendants for tourists while they wait. He is working in a space the size of a closet with people lined up out the door.

Under ground Cenote…

Just loved this Flatbed bug 🙂

Savannah snorkeling…right after this photo we saw a fish as big as we are and he was standing his ground so we turned around like a couple of chickens.

The end of our travels to Mexico… it was very hot there and actually when we got home to 35 degrees it felt refreshing but I have always loved it here in Wisconsin.

Nail Through My Heart Necklace With Handmade Chain… This photo is not the best… the stone is awesome! I love making this necklace and this is the best one yet! Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/521810847/sterling-silver-heart-necklace-handmade?ref=shop_home_active_2

Labradorite ring with Aquamarine Gemstone. This was a custom order and my apprentice made it, Kali… she really held down the fort here while I was gone. Without her it would be very difficult to take a vacation for a week. I just cannot keep track of orders, emails, shipments, and production without help. She is a great help and is also becoming a very talented metalsmith.

Palm Root Fossil and Citrine… handwoven viking knit chain. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/506828562/sterling-silver-necklace-handmade-one-of?ref=shop_home_active_52

Crazylace Agate and Vanadinite…handmade solid cable neck wire. I just made this Thursday but it is sold. These are really my favorite pieces to make…the unexpected stones turned jewelry, the rough with the polished, the ugly and the pretty…. I am glad that you all like my crazier pieces because if you didn’t I couldn’t keep doing what I love to do, so thank you. I am at a point in my life where this is what I am and there is no turning back, just going forward and learning/evolving.

To anyone I went to High School with I will be in the Oconomowoc Art Show this year August 18th and 19th… it’s as close to Fort Atkinson as I can get so please stop in and say hello. That is a new show for me and had several of my Door Co. customers ask me to apply there because they live in the more southern part of the state. I just got news that I was accepted in. I will not be in Madison this year. I just decided I do not like the Urban environment and the great expensive of the show. I would rather be in the grass at a park then on hot pavement in between high rise buildings. Other shows are listed on my events page. Summer will be here soon. Happy Spring to all and God bless you and yours.

Keith and Corrine’s Wedding

 Had the pleasure of attending a beautiful rustic wedding this weekend. I have known Corrine about 10 years… She had a wedding that was all Wild Prairie Silver style… What a great day! I made her jewelry for her, her husband Keith and her bridesmaids. She has a beautiful diamond engagement ring and I made a white gold comfort fit band to match it. Also Corrine and Keith had sterling bands made with sayings on them. His stating ‘Better Everyday’ on the outside on the inside: ‘Breathe Relax Love.’ Her ring stating Breathe Relax Love on the outside of the band with three little turquoise finishing the wording… Bridesmaids had turquoise earrings and red dresses.

While meeting with Corinne to drop off her jewelry she said that on the morning of her wedding she was going to go and help ‘set up’ at their house. I said, ‘Are you crazy? I’m not doing anything I’ll go and help. You get pretty and worry about your hair and don’t worry about setting up. Well, there was plenty of help, fantastic family and friends of both Keith and Corinne~ and it was a perfect day.

These are pics of the setting up when we first got there. I had KT come since she is a marketing graduate and now getting her Events Coordinator certificate as well. I thought she might like to see the set up and help with flowers. Corrine grew her own flower supply… It was great to have fresh cut flowers right at your beck and call….

Getting there… almost ready…. Corrine has a wonderful circle of family and friends all pitching in to get it done.

It’s hard to see in this photo but the arbor has a ‘Z’ on the top for their new last name. The couple said their vows here in front of these doors.

What the heck???? These are friends of the groom… They are just practicing with a branding iron that has the couples’ name and wedding date on it. When the couple was done saying their vows they branded a piece of finished wood to hang in their home. This board was just one practice run….

I thought this was super cute because the cows came to the wedding too. They were curious ~ What’s all the fuss about?’

Congrats to you both. A perfect day and met several wonderful people. A day to remember for many for years to come.

ArtStreet Preview….

Agate and Pearl Sterling Silver Necklace

Ocean Jasper Handmade Teardrop Chain. I can’t tell you how good this necklace feels on… it’s smooth and weighty and beautiful.

Crazy Lace Agate and Garnet Gemstones….

Been working hard at my bench for ArtStreet. I have more pieces that these but won’t get the pics up before the show. Please visit: http://www.joykruse.etsy.com to see individual listings.

I’ve also had some family things going on that have needed my attention in far away places so it’s been a whirl wind of a month. ArtStreet always marks the last week of summer and that is hard to believe. I don’t want to believe it. I guess if I lived in an ‘endless summer’ I would tire of it….

Attention Deficit Summer

Attention Deficit Summer…

It’s been really crazy busy: kids have lives now that they are getting older yet they can’t drive so drive, drive, drive around. My son Wyatt has his first job, sports and has been to two different camps hours away. The calendar looks like a truckers log book.

Above piece is an Aqua Nueva Agate and Amethyst Necklace. The agate stone swings from curled sterling above it. It sits beautifully on the neck. I regret to say that it is sold. It did not last long online and I will miss this beauty.

THE SHACK! This is my father-in-laws SHACK….. Everyone calls it ‘THE SHACK’ and for obvious reasons. It is a shack. It has electricity but no running water. It is in northern Wisconsin and we go up here every year and goof off. The guys go fishing (sometimes Savannah and I fish but the boat is getting too small for all of us to fit in) and Savannah and I bum around at the beach or wherever.

This is the nicer building of the two… yes, it’s the outhouse 🙂 The Danger Keep Out sign is priceless on the outhouse.

LeLand Blue stone and a piece of Iron I found while taking a walk on my own land… This piece is also already sold. I loved making it, love that a part of my land is incorporated into the piece…  and the patinas turned out just perfectly.

This is the Jeep that picks ya up after you’re done rafting at Kosir’s Rapids Resort. My husband has been coming to this place his entire life with all of his brothers and sisters, especially as children. ‘THE SHACK’ is right down the road and if you’re a sissy and you HAVE to take a shower you can take a shower here…bring your quarters though.. it costs a few dollars to get the soap outta your hair.

This is after the rapids and if you’re little (say 5 years old) or just want a tan you can tube down this lazy part of the river and Kosirs will pick you up at the boat landing an hour away.

My most popular item… a simple, rustic handmade cross with a custom tag… I love to make them and I hope all the people that have one are still loving theirs for years and years. This one is heading out to Albuquerque New Mexico today.

Landing 11 on the Peshtigo River Flowage (this is by THE SHACK)

Our third year sponsoring a team… and being a coach. It’s been so fun, again, there is nothing like heading out to practice at 530 at night and you’re kinda tired or ready to let the day come to a close and a bunch of smiling, silly, fun kids all under the age of 12 run around you in circles with boundless energy. It’s great. They are great, really, really, great bunch of kids: all of them. If you ever get the opportunity to do something like this go for it. You don’t have to coach just be a sponsor and go to a few games and hang the team photo in your shop/business/office/building… it’s a great motivator and a very positive thing for your community. The kids just light up over popsicles, Gatorade and maybe even a game that gets won.

I hope you are all having a busy, fun summer… It’s going by way to fast. Art show this Sunday 10-4 Art In Park in Appleton… I am usually on the corner of two streets on an end so see you there. It is fun for all ages like a festival. Berstrom Mahler show was last Sunday and it was the first time I have done that show when it wasn’t 100 degrees. It was a nice turnout so thanks everyone.

My daughter making lipgloss… messy but fun. We made a coffee lipgloss and it was terrible – we threw it out. Other flavors that are good: Orange Crush, BubbLipcious, Watermelon Crush, Lush Lemon, Coconutty, Raspberry Rush, & Chocolate Kiss

All natural with Bees Wax and Coconut Oil: if you have a young daughter or granddaughter give it a try! Look it up on YouTube or Pinterest ~ funtimes. See you all soon I hope!

Happy Birthday KT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KT helps me out all the time… she recently graduated from college and now has a real job… miss her, but she will still be around and help me at my shows, etc.. I hope!

This is such a pretty picture I couldn’t help but put it in here… very possibly the prettiest pic I have ever taken. Again KT Happy Happy Birthday! I hope you are out having a great time with your guy…. Yes, she’s taken.

 

Fresh out of the workshop today ~ Desert Drusy Stone Necklace

Chain is completely handmade as well.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/192593108/desert-drusy-sterling-silver-necklace?

This is a big rough gorgeous specimen stone… If you notice the nice recessed rivet at the top of the pendant. The rivets turned out perfectly and they are perfectly recessed in to the metal ~ was fun to experiment with…. This specimen stone is not too big for a shy wearer. Anyone can wear this piece, well, except maybe Roni ~ (Just kiddin’ ya Roni!)

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/192602553/azurite-sterling-silver-necklace-one-of?ref=listing-shop-header-1

Chrysocolla and Aquamarine Gemstone Necklace ~ I worked for a long time on this necklace getting it to be ‘right.’ I just love it. It has great movement, color and the aquamarines have a lot of flash… Fun to see it come together.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/192603405/chrysocolla-aquamarine-gemstone-sterling?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Here are some pics just taken off our deer camera from down by the river on our land. Great pics of spring time movement in the woods ~ Enjoy!

Look at this Wisconsinite ~ First time on the deer camera ~ A Wisconsin Badger ~ Not a football player or a sports fan but the real deal. Pretty funny.

Tiny little baby fawn….

Coyote… Furry and Noisy.. woke me up the other night yipping right in the yard

He looks fake but he’s not. He must be all fanned out for his girlfriend. Great picture for the deer camera. It’s like the turkey needed a picture for his dating service.

Last one… little guy is getting bigger…. was a taken two weeks after that first one…

Happy Birthday again KT! See you at your graduation party!

 

Is Your Box of Swarovski Crystals This Big????

Got to head out to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee Wisconsin for just 35 hours of buying. The Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee is the largest bead show in the world. The offer over 900 jewelry related classes over a 10 day stretch. It’s a great show. I do not use that many beads any more but there are a couple great stone cutters there and it’s my only chance to pick the stones out in person for the entire year. Above is picture of the truck I parked next too. I think you have a serious problem if this is your box of Swarovski Crystals!!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!! Yes, I am sure they are vendors but can you imagine? It must weigh a ton. (Thank you Tammy Rae for the place to sleep: Lissa and Tammy and Chrissy and Jessica: thanks for the friendship! Hi Chelle! Good to see you too!)

This is Tatiana she is from the Ukraine… I have been joking around with a good customer of mine that we are both moving to the Ukraine for a break in our lives…. I just had to take this woman’s photo for that reason. Here is our ticket outta here with this lady!   🙂

Made these riveted earrings just before I left. They were a pleasure to make and wear at the show! Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/191983849/crazy-lace-agate-riveted-post-earrings?

This is just one box of stones I purchased from Gary Wilson. I helped out in his booth for a while as well and it was a fun learning experience to work at someone else’s show. Great guys, himself, and his son in law, Spencer. Thanks guys for the great stones and good times. I don’t have a picture of all of us and Lissa… what the heck! That would have been really nice to have. Gary got any pics?

Tourmaline in Quartz.. I purchased a few very similar to this one piece…. Yes, I will make a necklace out of it and I can’t wait to do it I already have it planned out in my head.

I cannot remember what this stone even is… hee hee….this will be a necklace too.

Rhodocrosite is one of my favorites because it’s pink. I have not found it in a while in nice thick beautiful pieces. These are just perfect for me!

Malachite Drusy and Azurite

Bought a lot of Crazy Lace Agate, again a favorite with Laguna, Dryhead Agate and Rhodocrosite

Dryhead Agate

Crazy Lace Agate

Labradorite…drool… I will not be able to keep these as a set. It’s just too expensive. I will split them up and make separate pieces from them.

Petrified Wood… This one I am going to keep for myself.

My Grandmother is doing better. She had a heart attack last week Saturday and is recovering her strength in a nursing home. She is 90 years old and will be 91 this summer. She pushed her call light because she wanted the nurses to see the jewelry I was wearing!!!!!!!!!! I was laughing my butt off at that. We look alike in this photo: same lips, same eyes… When she sees a picture of herself she always says, ‘Who is that old woman?’ She just cannot believe her own age and image. It’s funny how we just want to stay the same. Human nature I guess. This is my Grandmother years ago at about 22 years old. She had just graduated from nursing school.

Home… Sweet… Home….

Great Show!!!!! Awesome People & Weather

What a fantastic show in Sturgeon Bay, Door County Wisconsin. The weather makes it or breaks it. I have loved this show since I have been doing it, maybe five years now….

My kids love it too because there is a beautiful park and beach. These pictures are of a wonderful couple that came to the show. They have both been through a lot in the last couple of years and sound like they have the possibility of a long road ahead. It was their 14th wedding anniversary. The woman (Jill) in the photo is an accomplished metalsmith herself so I am honored that she purchased a necklace. My sincere prayers go out to her husband who has to have a big surgery June 2nd. God Bless…. wonderful meeting you both and I hope we get to meet again.

 

Below is a Fox Mask that I purchased from another artist and he is just foxy!!!!!! I love him. He is in my son’s room. The artist is Nancy Briggs. You can see her work at http://www.nancybriggspottery.com

This sign hangs next to the fox….I purchased this print on Etsy.

Lastly, it’s finally nice here. Grilling pineapple, mango, nectarines along with chicken and carrots on the grill. Yum, summer….

Dodge Street Antiques… in Algoma… I love this can — ‘SUPER PYRO’ Could it get any cooler than this can????????? I really wanted it but it was outta my price range. It will have to have another home with someone else.

Next week is the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I will get some amazing stones and I will send a lot of pics! I am just a shopper at the show this year and not teaching classes so I will have time to take in all the eye candy. I will try and share it with you.

 

You Will Find Refuge Necklace….

To date: this necklace is probably one of the most beautiful I have ever made. Crazy Lace Agate stone, sterling and citrine gemstones…..Oone of a kind. Titled: ‘You Will Find Refuge’

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/185013097/crazy-lace-agate-stone-sterling-silver?

Extremely sharp contrast in style and taste… this is a custom order skull pendant for a man. Skull is carved labradorite stone. It’s a very wicked looking piece of jewelry.

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/185014813/labradorite-skull-sterling-silver?

The class schedule is now available at Peninsula School of Art. I will be teaching two classes in September there. One class is business related: ‘How To Launch Your Etsy Shop‘ It will focus on the ins and outs of Etsy, setting up your shop and navigating the e-commerce so you have the best chance of being noticed among the masses. Class is Sept 15 & 16, Monday and Tuesday. Link: http://www.peninsulaschoolofart.org/le1402.html

Sept 17,18,19th will be a stone setting class. During this class we can really do almost anything. The school is completely equipped with all the tools we need to make rings, pendants, fold forming, etc… From the very basics to the most advanced please come and learn and experiment with new techniques. I will have an assistant so if you need concentrated help with just one area there will be time for that or if you have never made a thing in your life and are terrified of a torch ~ no worries ~ just come to class. Link to class: http://www.peninsulaschoolofart.org/je1415.html

I can’t sign you up…here is the catalog and links to the school; http://www.peninsulaschoolofart.org

Will have an accurate schedule of summer events now posted on this blog on the events page so hope to see some of you this summer. One of the galleries I sell in, The Flying Pig, opened officially last weekend and is open on weekends now until middle of May when they will be open daily. I will be dropping of jewelry there this coming Friday. They usually re-do the layout of their gallery over winter while they are closed. I am excited to see it. I know there is an 18 foot fish moving sculpture hanging from their ceiling… yes, it swims, really…. I saw that the day they had scaffolding up to install it. What an amazing piece! Got to go and get to work! It’s Monday morning, much to do.

My One and Only

My One and Only….

I really could not have enjoyed making a piece more. This necklace has everything I love ~ a huge crazy lace agate stone, a huge piece of sterling silver to capture the stone, and a handmade and hammered heavy link chain. The pictures are a joke. I can’t capture it’s weight in the pictures. I bet it weighs a pound… ha ha ha ha!!!!! Am I insane? It looks amazing worn short like a choker.

My One and Only Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184653993/crazy-lace-agate-stone-sterling-silver?

These beautiful blue Caribbean Ocean colored Chrysocolla stones are to brighten your day! Simple and sweet colorful necklaces. Links: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184647262/chrysocolla-stone-sterling-silver?  and https://www.etsy.com/listing/184655109/chrysocolla-stone-sterling-silver?ref=listing-shop-header-4

Blue Flame Azurite and Sapphire: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184656529/azurite-stone-sapphire-sterling-silver?ref=listing-shop-header-2

Crazy Lace Agate Earrings.. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184657155/sterling-silver-agate-stone-earring?ref=listing-shop-header-1

 This is a Roni sized necklace…. Hi Roni!!! It’s rough and rustic with little moving details and citrine gemstone accents. https://www.etsy.com/listing/184646280/stone-sterling-silver-necklace-one-of-a?

Sara’s Ring: Made this ring as a custom order last week. It is a 8×6 oval diamond, white gold engagement ring with two other wedding bands. The thicker wedding band is cut out to fit the oval diamond locking it in place. The other white band is for Sara to go to work as she is a veterinarian. She wanted the engagement ring to be a brushed matte finish and look like she just dug it out of the ground. The other two rings are polished. It is hard to make a 1 carat diamond look rugged. She is wearing it now! Thanks Sara & Ben for such a great custom piece. Wedding is this summer ~ Best Wishes to them both!!!!

Need a heavy headpin? I made three hundred of these this week, jeez… someone out there is busy wire wrapping something???? Thanks for the great order from my supply shop. These work great on focal pendant beads and large hole beads, like handmade glass beads of Tammy Raes: http://www.glassbytammyrae.etsy.com .  I have these available in any gauge you need but 20 and 18 gauge work the best.

Super Sized Sterling Headpins Handmade: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184652519/sterling-silver-large-headpin-20-gauge?

Elements Unleashed Tomorrow

Made this today…. I love it! The heart is a Jasper Stone…The nail comes from a walk with my daughter out to this old concrete structure on our land. The concrete structure was a wash tank for gravel in the 1920’s. There are still shoots coming of the side of it to load train cars with gravel and the train tracks are still in place beyond the concrete tank (it’s almost 2 stories tall and has 3 or 4 compartments in it so it’s like a building). We found this nail with a lot of other iron relics inside the building and around it. There is a lot shrubs and trees growing around everything so you have to hunt for your treasure!

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/177450381/sterling-silver-nail-heart-necklace-one?

Tomorrow I am heading to Elements Unleashed…. a boutique in downtown Neenah Wisconsin. I hope we hit it off and have a start to a great new relationship. I hope they will be a new retailer for Wild Prairie Silver Jewelry. I have been wanting to go there for about 10 months! That is what winter is for…making new things and developing new business. Thanks for having me Elements Unleashed. From the looks of the boutique I might leave there with a new wardrobe. They have awesome boots. I love boots.

Crazy Lace Agate Garnets… The stick is free to move, nice unexpected movement and it can’t go anywhere…it’s trapped. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/177446446/sterling-silver-crazy-lace-agate-stone?

This is a piece of quartz trapped in a piece of Tourmaline. The stone was great but this is a very unusual piece for me to make. For starters it’s a regular size… a size anyone would love to wear. The chain is 3 cables of sterling silver. I love it and could actually see it on a guy. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/177445737/sterling-silver-tourmaline-specimen?

Last but not least… huge oversized cross…. 3.5 inches long x 3 inches wide on an oxidized chain. It looks great long or as a choker. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/177455087/sterling-silver-huge-hammered-cross?

Wish me luck tomorrow. I hope it works out great. Would be wonderful to have a friend and store in the Appleton, Fox Valley Area. That is new territory for me and my art shows do well there so I’m crossing my fingers. I will post some pics of the store on my next post. Take care and caution in this freezing cold weather. It’s really getting to be a long cold winter. One like I have never remembered. Some good friends are heading to Tucson right now. I wish I was with them. Maybe next year. Good luck Tammy, Rick and Maggie. Enjoy the sun and stones for me. I miss you all. I can tell you are not is Wisconsin anymore. There’s a little piece of magic missing…