I Love Gold

First attempt at using gold (brass) for the crescent shaped earrings, and I like it.  It's a bit challenging to pick bead colors to go with gold; silver is more neutral.  I'm inspired by Witt's bold color moves though. The next few goldies I make will be less reserved.  

Medicine Lake Art Shantys

This weekend is the last weekend of the Art Shantys.  What better way to spend a warm winter weekend, than to check out some outdoor art?  You should go! Bring yourself a thermos of coffee/hot cocoa and you'll find yourself there for a few hours enjoying the event. That's what happened to me two weekends ago, minus the hot beverage that I wishes I would have brought. 

Just a few short miles away one Medicine Lake, there are at least a dozen shantys for you to check out.  I'd recommend the Naught Shanty, the Audio Adventure Shanty, the Dance Shanty, and of course- the Sashay Shanty....

It was really cold out on the weekend we were out there and so most people were seeking warmth in the shantys. The Sashay Shanty was packed to the brim with lovely clothing!  Here's a shot of our necklaces.  

-and here's a peek at one of the trunks of clothing.  Everything inside the shanty is made by local artists and anyone can go in and try things on.  

And here is one of the necklaces you can try on in the shanty, by Witt of Witt and Lore.  This is the biggest one we've made.  The mother of all beaded pendants.

Go to the Art Shanty's website to read up on hours, shanty details, get directions.  http://www.artshantyprojects.org/

 Soon, I will run out of these vibrant colors I've been using on my trip and my remaining tubes of beads will feel bland to me. Till then, I will work away, and spread the love to local transplants of Sayulita, such as, Julia (above).  Officially, we have a couple owners of Witt & Lore in Mexico. Sadly, as of now, we will not be selling our jewels in a local boutique here in Sayulita. Time has run out, and I will be pushing forth on the rest of my trip through Mexico and Central America.

 My colors "below the border" are-a-changing. They have become bold and somewhat chaotic which can explain some towns I've visited thus far. Above, is a town called Guayabitos. The town is painted mad with every color I have been working with in the last two weeks. In some ways I feel like it was screaming at me to take notes and plunder on through its nooks n' crannies. And I DID!

-W

Daisy Chains

This is our Grandma Judy and she started it.  She's the one that bought us our first set of beads back when we were living in Dallas, Wisconsin during our single digit ages. We headed off to Ben Franklin in Barron to make our purchase- beads, thread, and needles.  We were going to make those daisy chain necklaces.

 Here we are, 20 some years later still playing with beads.  Thanks Grandma.

One last  photo of the lovely mexican nail shop on my walk home. As much as I would love to have a set of these acrylic appendages on every one my ten fingers for the duration of my trip, I have to be frugal and pass. One day.
"One Sweet Day"- Boyz 2 Men

I was able to get my travel companion to model a few pieces of jewelry that I will be taking to one of the local jewelry boutiques in Sayulita. I thought I was getting sick of the color mustard, but then we moved in to our host, Maranda's casa. This mustardy sanctuary has rehabilitated this affliction and looks damn good with the color combinations I've been conjuring.

       

Valor Color.

I don't know if it is being in a new surrounding, or if I  became bored of all the colors I was working with in MPLS, but I've become a little buck-wild with all the colors and textures here in Mexico. I can't stop. I am not even sure if people in the northland will be attracted to the new necklaces I have been creating, but I sure am excited about these beaded pendants. 

I am taking a whack at selling my jewelry at a local jewelry store here in town, but I have given up on the dream of selling our jewelry out of my suitcase on the street side next to the local vendors. I've experienced firsthand the territorial vibrations that vendors can emit at craft shows, and stepping into a community of vendors who are doing this to make a living- well, lets just say "this tourista  ain't gonna go there"

New work space. Thanks to our ever so humble host in Sayulita, Maranda.

Shipping to Minneapolis.

I don't know about you, Lore, but I have been touched by the wonders of Mexican nail art in Mexico. Imagine the jewels that could be created if we took  notes from all the Mexican mamacitas who have bedazzled their hands...