Dolls & Artists

I absolutely adore Mary Englebright and have been collecting various things of hers for years and years. Every Christmas I get a new calendar of hers, with a different picture and saying for everyday of the year. I always saved all of these and used them sometimes for cards, or little pictures {like the "Save The Whales" one in my previous post}. In doing so, I've grown quite a collection and I just can't bear to throw them out. So, I decided that I would scan one everyday and post them on my blog, so I can share them with you and then I won't feel quilty about throwing out the paper version. Of course, these will be random sharings, and sometimes not even have anything to do with my post. I did have to share one of my most favorites with you today, though:

Isn't it the best! I just love the detail in every little aspect of the picture. It's just awesome. I try to bring the same amount of detail in my jewelry designs, but I don't think I have quite the patience as Ms. Mary :0)

Now I have to share the cutest little doll I ever saw. As a child, I was scared of dolls. They all looked so creepy to me. At night I would cover their heads with something so they couldn't watch me while I slept. I never wanted dolls and never asked for them for Christmas, or my Birthday or anything. I had some Barbi dolls, but that was about it. Any other dolls I ever had, I never played with or even felt comfortable around. So, Tuesday I was making my daily trip to the Post Office and I was starving. I hardly ever stop @ McDonald's ~ maybe 4 or 5 times a year, max. Anyway, when I do eat there I always get the plain cheeseburger Happy Meal with a coke. I'm @ the driveup and the lady says "girl or boy toy" {which I'm thinking something esle, but we won't go there in this segment}. Anyway, I say "girl" and then I get my stuff and go home. I saw this little package in my bag and just really didn't pay that much attention to it. I looked at it today and saw that it was a tiny "Wicked Witch" from the "Wizard of Oz", which is my absolute favorite movie of all time. I have 2 DVD's & a VHS. So I look at the little doll, still wrapped up in the plastic and she just looked back at me with an unmarkable stare. So I threw her in the box that I was packing up for "Goodwill". But then, I became like the Grinch or something. My heart grew 3 sizes for this little doll when I noticed that her eyes had closed. I quickly removed her from the box and the packaging and her little face lit right up. I decided then that I do like dolls {at least I like her}. I found a place for her right above my computer and looking towards my desk that I sit at to make jewelry. She's looking at me now, while I'm typing this. I decided that I need somebody {or something} to be my cheerleader, or coach if you will. I imagine her saying "you can do it" and "get off your ass and do something construtive". You see, she has to be firm, or I'll just sit and piddle all day. Not that I don't get things done, I do. Just not as fast as I would like. Now I have her to "crack the whip":

Not only did I manage to get my whole computer desk cleaned off and the file cabinet cleaned out, I had 10 packages I got ready for the Post Office {not to mention having to make everything that I had to mail}, plus I got these awesome earrings made and listed {you know where}. Please do check them out when you get a moment:

I named them "The Jetsons" and most appropriately so. Can't you just imagine "Jane Jetson" wearing these, or even "Daughter Judy". And heck, these days maybe even "His Boy Elroy".

I'll post pictures of my totally organized & clean computer desk tomorrow. My little witch is staring at me now and saying "ok, enough typing, you have things to do". And so, my little peeps, I bid you farwell & goodnight. Hope you had a wonderful Thursday and hope you have an awesome Friday. See you soon ~ xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

Saving Whales & Organization

Hey my little peeps! Hope all is well with everybody and that you didn't waste 2 hours of your time tonight watching American Idol {which I did} and now I am donating my hard earned money to help those in need {which I hope all of you did, as well}. Anyhoo, I've just been busy, busy today cleaning out, packing, throwing away, donating, making stuff, drinking to many margarittas (hee hee), etc. So, if you find any typos, please just ignore them, or forgive me, whichever you prefer :0)

Here is the first peek at my seemingly organized closet & work area:

My new obsession is "Fuze ~ Oolong Tea" It's awesome and, good for you, too.

I love my little Buddha statue. He's just so peaceful. Here he is holding a little picture that I love, created by my favorite Artist, Mary Englebright. I cut the little picture out and glued it on some mat board so I could have it forever. It says "Save The Whales" and, on that note, I made this awesome little necklace and listed it today in the shop:

And I named it, most appropriately, "Song Of The Humpbacks". I love the Humpbacks. They are just so peaceful, yet massive. Here is a picture I took when I went Whale Watching. This is a picture of a tail, which is called a "fluke":

We adopted a whale named "Coral" who is seen quite frequently in Gloster, MA, feeding on Stellagen Bank. These whales are called Baleen whales, which means that they have no teeth, but instead have these "filters" and they just ingest masses of tiny fish daily. These tiny fish are called Krill and actually look like small shrimp. Along with the Krill, the whales ingest masses of Plankton, which are tiny organisms in the ocean that are vital to the survival of most sea life.

Ok, whoever read all of this gets an "A" for the day ~ that's the science lesson kiddies. I hope you enjoyed it :0)

I'll be cleaning out more stuff tomorrow, but I'm getting up early to make a few things. I'll be listing them in the shop, so be on the look out.

Have a super great Thursday :0) xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

Keys, Turquoise & Leather

Hey everybody! Happy Tuesday. I hope everyone is have a wonderful week, so far. I got up early today so I could get a few new things made & listed and then it's off to continue cleaning out my studio ~ eek, what a chore. I have collected "stuff" for 45 years in various containers & boxes thinking that I may use it one day. So, I now have 8 boxes of "stuff" for Goodwill and then I'll be boxing up a whole slew of stuff to sent off to Anda @ Etsy Labs. Shew, I'll sure be glad when I'm done. I'll be sure and post photos of what I'm sending to Etsy and I hope they find good uses for it all. Anyway, here are a few new things I made and of course, you know where to find them if you want to see more pictures:

The Skeleton Key ~ gorgeous Black Onyx, an antique coin & key.

Gorgeous Turquoise, a huge brass coin & faceted Labradorite..

Yummy - Clementine {Natural Carnelian} & Gorgeous Smoky Quartz Briolettes, strung on the most scrumptious Chocolate leather you ever saw. They are way lovely.

Well my dears, off to the closet to start on my project again. I hope you have a wonderful evening. xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

The Gashlycrumb Tinies & Buddha Heads :0)

Doesn't quite go together, but oh well. I just had to share my little Buddhas that arrived today. I put them all together, so they would stay happy & smiling. But then I thought, ummm - what if they end up being like some of the mean & nasty people on Etsy and start fighting, or turning into "sock puppets". That would not be good. Here they all are, just as happy as clams {for now}. Let's have some fun and click on the picture. It will take you to my place on "Flickr" and you can pick out a little head to call your own. I already picked the silliest one for me, since I am about as silly as they come:

I just love them.....

And now for "The Gashlycrum Tinies". I just love them.

I found this lunchbox in my closet that I cleaned out yesterday while Etsy was down. A few of the little folks could actually represent some of the mean & nasty Etsiers as of late. I'll let you guess which ones. Now, here goes the whole alphabet ~ I hope you enjoy it.

• A is for Amy, who fell down the stairs
• B is for Basil, assaulted by bears
• C is for Clara, who wasted away
• D is for Desmond, thrown out of a sleigh
• E is for Ernest, who choked on a peach
• F is for Fanny, sucked dry by a leech
• G is for George, smothered under a rug
• H is for Hector, done in by a thug
• I is for Ida, who drowned in a lake
• J is for James, who took lye by mistake
• K is for Kate, who was struck with an axe
• L is for Leo, who swallowed some tacks
• M is for Maud, who was swept out to sea
• N is for Neville, who died of ennui
• O is for Olive, run through with an awl
• P is for Prue, trampled flat in a brawl
• Q is for Quentin, who sank in a mire
• R is for Rhoda, consumed by a fire
• S is for Susan, who perished of fits
• T is for Titus, who flew into bits
• U is for Una, who slipped down a drain
• V is for Victor, squashed under a train
• W is for Winnie, embedded in ice
• X is for Xerxes, devoured by mice
• Y is for Yorick, whose head was knocked in
• Z is for Zillah, who drank to much gin.

I hope you have a wonderful evening. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Oh, and all the new stuff is up in the shop, so please do check it out. xxoo ~ Kathy

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everybody. When I woke up today I just felt like making several things that reminded me of how beautiful our Earth is and the precious things that come from it. Of course, these will all be "For Sale" when Etsy decides to spring back to life sometime today {we hope}. So, if you want to see anything in greater detail, please do check the shop later on:

I love these faceted Smoky Quartz/Citrine briolettes. They are absolutely gorgeous. I hope they sell fast, or I'll end up keeping them for myself. And, that little turquoise & skull bracelet is "to die for". It's just so cute and perfect for Spring & Summer. Now last, but not least, I have to share my orchid. It's awesome and the blooms are so heavy that I'm afraid it will break off soon:

All of these blooms are on 1 stem. Plus, there are about 4 more pods that are still not open yet.

Well, I'm off to clean out a closet and throw more stuff away. I hope you are all having a great Earth Day & Happy Sunday. xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

I was tagged by MsBelle, so here's 10 things about me that you probably don't know:

1. I smoked cigarettes for 27 years {started when I was 13 and quit 6 years ago}. It was a terrible habit and I wish I had never smoked, but @ least I did have the willpower to quit.

2. I started working @ a Life Insurance Company when I was 16 {part-time file clerk} and stayed there for 21 years! When I left I was the manager of the annuity department.

3. I love to write stories {and tell them, as well}. That's what I try to do in most of my jewelry descriptions - tell a story about the item, rather then just describe it. Because I would hope that if someone were describing me, they would have a story to tell, as well.

4. If there is such a thing, I used to be a "hippie head-banger/punk rocking gal". Me and my best girlfriend, Chris, would go out dancing & partying almost every night when we were in our 20's. She lives in Los Angeles now, but boy do we have some stories when we get together. The things we did - I'm just glad we are still here to tell about it.

5. I love rocks & shells. I can stay in a creek looking at & collecting rocks for days on end. My best friend, Sharon, lives in Perdido Keys, FL and she is just like me. When I go visit her, we slap on a gallon of sunscreen {at least I have to} and then we peruse the beaches for hours and hours looking for shells. When she comes to visit me in NC, we stay in the rivers & creeks looking for rocks.

6. I love all creatures & critters, big & small, slimy & fuzzy. However, I am totally and almost to the point of hysterically petrified of a cockroach. Even typing the word makes me jumpy. I don't know what it is about them, other than the fact that they always seem to want to fly and land on my face, like one did when I was a little girl. I never use the word "hate" because it is just so unforgiving, but I can honestly say that I "hate" cockroaches.

7. I love to draw & color. Give me a box of colors & a coloring book and you won't hear a peep out of me for hours. When I don't have a coloring book, I just draw & color pictures around words I write in my journal. I'll have to take a picture one day and post it for you to see.

8. I love reading & writing poetry & quotations. I have several books {well, lots of books} and I can just read that stuff all day. I also make up poems and quotes of my own to use in greeting cards & letters to friends.

9. I'm a certified website designer & networking geek! One time I had three computers lined up on the floor and had them all networked together. Now this was before you could just go out and buy a router, so it was not that easy. I still maintain a couple of websites that I created for people, but I'm more into my jewelry now and I let technology go ahead and pass me up. It just got to fast for me to keep up with.

10. I spend way to much time on the computer, when I have a gazillion other things I need to be doing. Thanks, Ginger!

I'll write more later ~ off to be creative & productive. xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

I went to Hobby Lobby for jump rings and then......

.....look what I came home with. I love it! It will be a beautiful and welcome addition to my new studio. I may start incoporating some of Emily's poetry into my listings, where appropriate of course, along with the classic rock stuff that never leaves my brain. Right now while I'm typing this "We are the Champions" is softly playing in the back of my mind. Don't ask me why, as I've not heard that song for eons and it never was one of my favorites. Just seems as though no matter how much I concentrate on any one thing, I always have music playing in my head as well. It's like having a built in I-Pod, but unfortunatly, I have no control over the song choice. Does that happen to anybody else? I'm curious to know. I really like this photo of my picture, as well. Can you see me in the glass with my camera {it's like a peek into my soul}. I can't wait to get it all hung up and in its proper place.

I just have to share this awesome rose bush that is taking over the front of my house. It is massive, I tell you and the pinkest pink you ever saw:

Of course, I had to take a picture of my nosey little friend who came out to see what all the commotion was about. Right after I took his picture, he promptly returned to his hiding place in the bricks.

Well, I'm off to make some more gorgeous things and do some laundry and other things I need to do. So Happy Tuesday and I'll talk to you all later.

xxoo & peace ~ Kathy

An Amazing Artist

I decided just to post this here, rather than have it at the top of my blog. You can always come to this post to see it. I love to watch it when I'm having my coffee, or just need to take a breather. Be sure and turn up your speakers ~ the music is mesmerizing. Enjoy ~

I'll be back later to post more. Have a happy Monday!!!! xxoo ~ Kathy

Buying & Selling

This is one of the necklaces I sold today. I just made it this morning with some of my new stones. They are gorgeous chunks of organic Green Garnet, looping around an antique copper coin with a beautiful smoky quartz teardrop. I just love it! I'll have to make one for myself {maybe tonight}.

Well, thanks to Maryam's Moroccan blog, I've just been crazy making stuff over here. I'm not complaining, so don't get me wrong. I love it though. A whole bunch of brand new customers that enjoy the earthy, organic style of Dornick Designs. I have a few more things to make tonight and then it's time for the Mail Center to open. I actually enjoy packaging up everything. I try to imagine the looks on one's faces as they open up each treasure and if they fall in love @ first sight {I always hope they do}.

Okay, now on to what I bought today! I've been eyeing this little fellow for quite a bit and decided that it was "right time" {one of my Grandmother's sayings} that he came to live with me before he ended up flying away for good and I missed out {which would have been so sad}. Anyway, he is a precious little fellow from "Curster": Isn't he the cutest! It reminds me of how I feel about Louisiana now and the influx of people we have in our town since hurricane Katrina. All the people, the traffic, the noise ~ I just can't take it anymore. I decided that I would fill my new studio with works of art that have special meaning for me. I'm going to purchase small prints, or original works, and have them adorning my walls & sparking my creativity. I can't wait to see this little fellow in person.

Well my little friends, I'm off to take my bath and then wash dishes after a wonderful dinner of Black Rice & Curry Chicken {before you get to jealous of my culinary abilities, it came in a box from Target'} It was quite yummy, though. The black rice turned the sauce a creamy brown color, so it seemed as though I was eating rice with a chocolate milk sauce that tasted like curry ~ Awesome.

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday and I'll be back tomorrow. xxxoooo Kathy

Gorgeous Druzy & Words of Thanks

This is the awesome new necklace I made yesterday morning, while I drank my coffee. I can concentrate better once I've uncluttered my brain with mundane tasks and filled it with creativeness. I really like it, too. It's so clean and simple, yet striking at the same time. Of course, it's for sale in the shop so check it out.

Now, since Lora brought it up and decided that it was "okay" for me to gloat about the whole Hilary Swank thing, I decided she was absolutely right! I should be proud of myself and every once and a while give myself that all to deserving "Pat on the back", if you will. So, here is the note she sent me - pretty darn impressive, I must say so myself:

She misspelled the word "inspirations", but who's counting ~ right. We all know what she meant. I do the same thing all the time when I'm writing. Anyway, the story is, for those that don't know:

When she was in Louisiana filming "The Reaping", she purchased 3 of my necklaces from a shop where I had jewelry on consignment. One of them she wanted longer, so I fixed it for her and I also gave her a few "lagniappe" pieces as well. Not only did she send me this sweet little note, she actually did go on my website, called me and bought 19 more necklaces. She came and met me @ an Art Festival where I was selling my jewelry to pick them up and then took a lot of my things back to the set with her to sell for me (can you imagine - Hilary Swank was selling my jewelry for me). It was quite an exciting thing for me, so thank you all for thinking the same.

I'll write more later, but for now I have work to do. Thanks for reading my ramblings all the time and loving my work. I appreciate every single one of you.

xxoo ~ Kathy

Bead Mania & My Write Up :0)

Well everybody, it's over. I just handed over my very last Tax Return to our friends {yet another perk of being my friend}. I told them that they would have to find somebody new next year and I would be more than happy to give them a referral. I'm just taking a breather right now to say hello and to let you know that I'll be updating my blog pretty much daily from now on (unless I'm on vacation, or something). Anyway, I just had to share my latest indulgence of beads that I drove frantically home to touch and caress and begin dreaming of what to do with. It's just an awesome collection of gorgeous stones and I can't wait to start making lots and lots of new stuff with. Check it out:

I can only hope they have rocks in heaven, because if they don't, I won't enjoy it 1/2 as much as I do here on Earth.

One of my new customers wrote me up in her blog. Please do check it out. She sounds like a wonderful person and such a great story teller: http://www.moroccanmaryam.typepad.com

I've sold tons of stuff the last few days and I just got back from the Post Office (again). They know me on a first name basis over there and even tell me about their kids and stuff.

Well, I'm off to make some new things - my head is spinning with ideas. Please do check out the shop and all my new stuff. The first picture here are some of my new earrings ~ aren't they awesome! I love them. Maybe I had a little inspiration from Maryam and her Moroccan style

Have a wonderful weekend & I'll be back real soon. xx00 & Peace ~ Kathy