2011 NC Maker Faire

This past Saturday I participated in the 2011 North Carolina Maker Faire as part of a group called Triangle Jewelry Makers.  What the Maker Faire is, is an opportunity and venue for "Makers" to demonstrate and show off their craft - whether it be hand made jewelry, "yarn" spun from paper, or fighting robots.  It was tons of fun.  There were lots of activities for kids and adults alike.

I thoroughly enjoyed demonstrating the things I made.  Plus, it was a tremendous confidence booster.  I tend to be self-conscious around other jewelry makers that have been doing it longer, or do something different, but today steered me away from that a little.

Like I said, it was tons of fun.  I hope there's one next year.

Another AWESOME Giveaway...

from Lori at Pretty Things!  She brought home tons of loot from the Bead & Button show and is lookin' to share, so check it out!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbooks - June 2011

Well.. June's not even halfway over yet, and I'm ready to reveal my contribution to Andrea's sketchbook.  For me, June is all about strength... all because one Saturday 6 years ago, I learned that I can climb mountains.

See, six years ago, I was a geology student at North Carolina State University.  The very last requirement for graduation was a 5 week field camp in New Mexico and New York.

My sketchbook spread contains the "Reader's Digest" version of my trip.

Of Proud Moments and Lessons Learned

See, I've never been one with much physical strength...

flat feet, bad knees and tendonitis-weakened shoulders saw to that...

However... in the summer of 2005, I proved to myself that I was stronger than I thought...

in more ways than one.

I took a trip that summer.. a field trip for school.

Myself and 14 others, along with our professor and his assistant, left Raleigh, NC, EARLY one May morning.

Two and a half days later, we were 5 states away and 7000' higher than home ina tiny town called

Abiquiu, New Mexico.

We hiked relentlessly for three weeks over varying terrain - 

hills, arroyos, rock faces, open land.

It was NOT easy.  It was hard WORK, and more than once I wanted to quit.

And then there was Pedernal.

Cerro Pedernal is a beautiful, distinctively shaped mountain that we could see from our campsite.

It seemed to be calling to us - to me.

So we climbed it.

All the way to the top at an elevation of 9862 feet.

The going was rough - STEEP hills with sharp switch-back turns.

Then a ten foot climb with the help of my classmates and

I WAS THERE!

I DID IT! I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN!

Looking down at the landscape nearly 3000' below, I realized that I'm much

STRONGER

than I had given myself credit for

- mentally and physically -

The mountain in my drawing is Cerro Pedernal

- my mountain -

My source of strength when things get tough.

If I can climb a mountain, I can do 

ANYTHING

You may notice that my drawing is creased.  What I have done, rather than try and reproduce it in Andrea's book, is to make it a fold-out by gluing it to the page.  This creates a pocket in which my sistahs will find photographs of Cerro Pedernal in real life.  All but one were taken by me. This one wasn't...

My and 2 of my classmates.. I'm the one in the middle : )

Just throwin' it out there...

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Hoo Are You?

1. How often do you wash your vehicle?

2. When riding in a car with someone who usually drives, them or you?

3. How many states have you traveled to or through?
4. What kind of music do you listen to the most?

5. Do you prefer the window down or air conditioning? 

1. Wash?  You're supposed to wash it?  Just kidding, although it definitely isn't often enough.
2.  It depends on who I'm with and how much gas I have.  My husband always drives, but when I'm out with my friends it's gennerally a toss-up.
3.  20:  NC, TN, AK, OK, TX, NM, CO, KS, MO, IL, IN OH, PA, NY, NJ, DE, MD, WV, VA, OR, WA
4. Classic Rock
5.  I prefer the window down unless it's like 9 bajillion degrees out like it has been.

Win it Wednesday at Christie Cottage

Christie Cottage is hosting a giveaway by PopcornPixels this week for Win it Wednesday.  She's giving away a huge set of premade logo graphics... logo, business card, letterhead, Etsy banner set and Facebook profile image.  Check it out at Christie Cottage!