Yesterday, my boyfriend and I got in the car to embark upon our road trip from Denver to my hometown, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As I blogged about earlier this week, I'm doing a jewelry trunk show at a shop in downtown Sioux Falls called Archival Elements. In addition to Moonwater Designs, I work a full-time day job at a nonprofit in Denver. I'm also training for a half-marathon in October, so this past year, I've learned that there's a fine art to achieving balance. It seems like there are never enough hours in the day, so I thought I would bring some show projects with me, figuring it would be the perfect way to get some last-minute things done for the show and that keeping my hands busy would make the trip through Nebraska go by quickly.

The photo above is one project I accomplished... stringing these letters on pale yellow ribbon to create Merry Unbirthday sign. The letters were a template I downloaded from Martha Stewart's website. I just had white cardstock on hand, which I strung on colored ribbon, but her multi-colored version is amazing! I'll definitely be printing more of these letters when I get home. Perhaps I'll make a "You can do it!" banner for times I find myself questioning the whole running 13 miles thing.

It's a tea party!

I'm heading back to my home town next week for a jewelry trunk show at Archival Elements in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year's trunk show event features an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party, so come join us for a cup of tea and some sweet desserts that will be whispering, "Eat Me."

You are cordially invited to join us at Archival Elements in downtown Sioux Falls Friday, July 27 from 4 to 9 p.m. or Saturday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a trunk show featuring Moonwater Designs stained glass and mixed media pendants.

Enjoy a cup of tea as you check out my new line of jewelry inspired by Alice's adventures in Wonderland, featured in addition to my regular collection of stained glass and mixed media pendants created using colorful images, vintage paper fragments, and found objects.

Click below for more details:

lovely art

There are tons of creatives out there I admire, as evidenced by my web browser folder titled "Inspirational Artists." The internet makes it easy to go on a virtual artwalk of both well-known and undiscovered artists all in the same sitting. With that said, it's been a while since I've been head-over-heels smitten by artist's work. I just came across the most amazing paintings by artist Jill Mayberg. Click the photo above to visit her website.

She's going to be in Denver at the big Cherry Creeks Arts Festival this weekend. This festival is one of the most competitive juried outdoor festivals inthe United States, attracting artists from all over the world. I've been in Colorado over 4 years now, and have never gone to this event! I am looking forward to a real-life art walk this weekend.