Wintertime is over!!

Introducing "Winter Tree" - A new necklace (just in time for spring!) I took the photograph in Forest Park a couple of winters ago. I love the leafless, seemingly lifeless tree, but I like flowers and springtime even more.

Visions of New Mexico

I loved the clouds and the mountains and the rivers and the beauty of all of New Mexico. I hope this bottlecap photo necklace does it a little bit of justice!

Remembering My Grandma Becker

My maternal grandmother was a strong, spirited woman. She came to the United States from Germany in 1923 when she was 20 years old, worked as a housekeeper and nanny, and sent most of her earnings back to the her family in Europe. It was post WWI, and Germany was devastated economically. Inflation there was so high that it took a wagonful of Deutschmarks to buy a loaf of bread.

This domino necklace, which bears her image, is a tribute to the woman who loved to laugh, dance, sing, and drink beer. As long as I can remember, she drank two Budweisers every evening, along with a few pieces of chocolate, and we believe that is one of the reasons she lived in good health until she was 96 years old. She was a totally loving and devoted grandmother and I look forward to someday being with her again... "Prosit, Grandma Becker!"

Wintertime Work

Happy Almost-Spring!! This is one of the many Little Visions I created during the past few dreary, gray months... making photo jewelry has definitely brightened my winter! Here's to warm summer days and long hikes in fields of Queen Anne's Lace!

Moose & Monet in the Garden at Giverny

Now Presenting...
Moose & Monet in the Garden at Giverny in Winter!

I took most of the flower photos at Shaw's Garden here in St. Louis. Monet, well, I downloaded him from the internet; and Moose is my very special (and I really mean special!) orange tabby cat. I painted the canvas a pretty green that I mixed myself, and I adhered all the photos and snowflake embellishments onto the canvas board with archival scrapbooking sticky tabs. It's the first collage I've ever made with my own photos; actually it's the first collage I've created since high school. I started it five or six months ago, and it's completion is a part of one of my 2010 goals: to finish things I start!

Lisa Pavelka's Magic-Glos

Right now, at this very moment, I'm experimenting with Lisa Pavelka's Magic-Glos. It's a one-part, non-toxic resin that cures with UV light in less than 15 minutes. I printed out one of my New Mexico flower photos (see above), and sealed it with packing tape; then I put it into a bezel and placed the bezel under a UV lamp, and now I'm waiting for the magic to work. I'll let you know how it goes!

The Heavens are Telling the Glory of God!

Some photographs from my trip to New Mexico (taken from the car.) The mountains and sky were amazing! I'm ready to go back!