Harder Frost...and more new work

Yes, maybe it's a stretch to pull these two ideas together EXCEPT for a couple of points:
It's really cold outside, so I'm reaching for warm (make that hot!) colors, sometimes....
It's really cold outside, so I'm working in my studio. The campground is nice and slow and everything is under control...plus IMHO, it was just too cold to be camping this weekend! Heck, the water was freezing, there's little insulation in campers, and I'm still not all the way back up to snuff (post-flu) to handle freezing my bippy off (shhh--don't tell my camper customers I'm admitting to being a wuss!) The Vintage Camper Rally went well...but yes, they were all sort of cold.....

But I was dismayed to see the second frost, on Saturday night, was hard enough to basically take down most of my planters--and much of the gardens and fields. It was such a cool, wet summer around here, we were all hoping for a nice warm Indian summer...no such luck, just more rain (and snow last night) and much colder much earlier than usual. I'd say I'll really miss my flowers EXCEPT I have a big pot of bright pink geraniums blooming in my entryway right now and a couple of newly acquired orchids (obtained in February) that will soon bloom for the first time...so things could be much worse!

Now, about my new pieces...I had been collecting larger "stone" beads for a few years now. Not that I had a specific idea of what I would do with them when I got them, it's just they seemed so naturally beautiful, I couldn't resist. Maybe this rock thing is in my blood? My paternal grandpa practiced lapidary most of his adult life, had an amazing "rock collection" and I would spend just hours staring at it...then stooping to pick up rocks of my own--whenever and where ever. So yes, I also have a big collection of "rocks." Many special ones from different places...and many I've purchased to (hopefully) be creative with....

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I started pulling out lots of little drawers and boxes and lining them up and rearranging them here on the studio floor...and I'll be darned if these new ideas didn't just sort of start spilling out. And some of the results I'm posting here...more is here in my Etsy shop.

And what about this super long necklace idea I'm using now? Well, I love versatility (I'm a hardcore Gemini) and it dawned on me that this could be an excellent and original format for.....my rock collection!! It's funny how the mind (my mind) works sometimes. I can't really explain it. Except to say that once I had some new necklaces coming together...I decided that a few new coordinated earrings were also in order. So there you go, the genesis of an idea and a new series! To be continued.....