I made a collection on Artfire that I think is a lot of fun, enough so that I would like to share it with my blog friends!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Aluminum Jewelry
I've discovered a new medium, and I'm in love! Aluminum. It's bright, it's shiny, it's inexpensive, and best of all, I love the feel of it in my hands. Seriously, I'm one who has quite the thing for touching things, and working with aluminum wire is absolutely blissful.
My first creation in aluminum is a bracelet and ring set. Because I haven't had experience with how aluminum behaves as jewelry, I've been wearing the set-- and getting lots of compliments.
The bracelet is wonderful. I made each link individually, with a feminine spiral on each end, linking them together with jump rings. The great thing about this bracelet is that it is almost weightless. It is so light that I forget I'm wearing it. This is ideal for me, as watches and heavier bracelets never fail to have me tugging and adjusting them all day.
The ring, while beautiful, and a perfect compliment to the bracelet, does have a drawback. It is soft. Aluminum is a soft, soft, metal, and it doesn't take much of a snag to bend the ring out of shape. I have been wearing it for 2 days so far, removing it at night, and it still looks great. However, there have been several times already when I've had to gently put it back into shape. One such time was when I was filing paperwork, reaching my hand between tightly shelved manilla file folders. With a different style of ring, a bit more substantial and compact, this would be a non-issue, but this particular one can lose its shape pretty easily. I'm okay with it, but would certainly need to make that drawback very clear when offering this style of ring to anyone else.
Lastly, I made a butterfly pendant from aluminum. Again, this material just feels like butter in my fingers. I adore working with it. I haven't taken the pendant on a test run, but the only drawback I foresee is that it will not stand up to abuse, such as Baby tugging on it, as babies will do if they get the opportunity. The light weight will be a nice perk.
I look forward to working more with aluminum. At the moment, I can't seem to put it down!
My first creation in aluminum is a bracelet and ring set. Because I haven't had experience with how aluminum behaves as jewelry, I've been wearing the set-- and getting lots of compliments.
The ring, while beautiful, and a perfect compliment to the bracelet, does have a drawback. It is soft. Aluminum is a soft, soft, metal, and it doesn't take much of a snag to bend the ring out of shape. I have been wearing it for 2 days so far, removing it at night, and it still looks great. However, there have been several times already when I've had to gently put it back into shape. One such time was when I was filing paperwork, reaching my hand between tightly shelved manilla file folders. With a different style of ring, a bit more substantial and compact, this would be a non-issue, but this particular one can lose its shape pretty easily. I'm okay with it, but would certainly need to make that drawback very clear when offering this style of ring to anyone else.
Lastly, I made a butterfly pendant from aluminum. Again, this material just feels like butter in my fingers. I adore working with it. I haven't taken the pendant on a test run, but the only drawback I foresee is that it will not stand up to abuse, such as Baby tugging on it, as babies will do if they get the opportunity. The light weight will be a nice perk.
I look forward to working more with aluminum. At the moment, I can't seem to put it down!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Poke Salad, Yummy, Yummy
With springtime, all kinds of plants are coming up! Some that were planted deliberately, and of course, those weeds that spring up all on their own. One of the weeds indigenous to my area is poke salad. (Sometimes known as polk salad or poke salit)
I've always heard that it was edible, but dangerous if not cooked correctly. I've also always wanted to try it myself, but been a bit nervous about the whole poison thing. My grandparents thought nothing of it-- and their parents, with 13 kids, very little food, and eating whatever they could grow or kill, were no doubt thrilled to have it! Today, I researched on the internet, became brave, went out and harvested poke weed, and cooked it up!
It turned out yummy! Tasted very much like asparagus casserole. Even the kids loved it! I bet it would be good with rice in it as well.
If you should choose to try this, research first because doing it wrong can be toxic. You should only use new plants that snap easily when you bend the stem, no red stems or older mature leaves. I only used very young plants.
I'm so glad I finally did this. Not only was it tasty, it felt good to pick something right from the yard and eat it. And it was free!
 | |
| A larger plant. Much smaller ones are used for eating. |
I've always heard that it was edible, but dangerous if not cooked correctly. I've also always wanted to try it myself, but been a bit nervous about the whole poison thing. My grandparents thought nothing of it-- and their parents, with 13 kids, very little food, and eating whatever they could grow or kill, were no doubt thrilled to have it! Today, I researched on the internet, became brave, went out and harvested poke weed, and cooked it up!
 | ||
| After the first boil. I boiled them twice. |
 | |
| Butter, salt, pepper, garlic, onions, jalapeno peppers |
 | |
| Topped with cheese & ready to eat! |
It turned out yummy! Tasted very much like asparagus casserole. Even the kids loved it! I bet it would be good with rice in it as well.
If you should choose to try this, research first because doing it wrong can be toxic. You should only use new plants that snap easily when you bend the stem, no red stems or older mature leaves. I only used very young plants.
I'm so glad I finally did this. Not only was it tasty, it felt good to pick something right from the yard and eat it. And it was free!
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