Twelve Days 'Til Idyllwild

It's twelve days until I leave for Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains above Palm Springs in Southern California. Some people plan ahead for a summer vacation with visions of sunny beaches, tall drinks and tan bodies. I am busy assembling tools, materials and nonflammable clothing for participating in Metals Week at Idyllwild Arts Center . This is my kind of vacation. . the kind I've always wanted. A whole week to work with and learn from one of the world's most talented goldsmiths, Harold O'Connor.

When I first found this workshop, I was convinced that I would be in "over my head" if I signed up for "Surface Embellishments" with this fine instructor. I'm over it. Now I realize this is exactly what I need at this point in time--to be challenged and completely immersed in metalsmithing for a week. The excitement is building daily!

Metals Week at Idyllwild includes contact with five other instructors including Joanna Gollberg and Fred Zweig. I look forward to learning as much from each of them as time and energy allow.

A Taste of Summer

Here is the second treasury to feature one of my items this week. Scroll down until you
find a wrinkled copper cuff bracelet--and there you will find me. I hope you click on some of these items and let the curator know how much you like her selections.

'When summer goes with earthy tones ...' by LeBouiBouiaBouBou

Just because the summer matches with orange tones .... and like the sun is an nature's element , I choose to include all the natural element arts ...Let's celebrate the sun ,summer and vacation !!!!

Stonehenge III TheGreenManStu... $20.00	Orange Stone Pendan... katevonchaos $65.00	Southwest Pueblo Sh... WildWilderness... $30.00	RoseWood IN STOCK R... SASessories $
A girl looking thro... IroiroColors $285.00	Copper Triangle Ear... Lisalane $24.00	Wall Art Wall Decor... walldecors $29.99	Terracotta Spiral E... TerracottaToys $15.00
Pick Your Color C... bellasattictre... $0.20	Clouds at Sunset. ... SuzyRocksDesig... $28.00	Recycled sari silk ... tocamade $18.00	Red Banded Agate an... JewelryByJacob... $15.00
Mandarin and Satsum... honeyandjampho... $19.00	Sunshine Calla Lily... CountryDreamin... $15.00	Handforged, Foldfor... FusedNTwisted $55.00	Exotic Satsuma Glyc... ThePigAndThePe... $5.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

A Touch of Lime

One of the great things about being an Etsy Seller is the support from other sellers that you receive in the form of having one of your products selected for a treasury. It is always a pleasant surprise, a nice compliment and really good marketing. Below is one of the two treasuries in which FusedNTwisted was featured yesterday. Many thanks to www.etsy.com/shop/EleganceFarmHome!

'Sublime, with a twist of Lime' by EleganceFarmHome

Nonteamchallenge 32 Treasury, inspired by the Mystic Pearl Chalcedony Earrings. Enjoy:)For more info on this team visit:www.treasurychallengenonteam.blogspot.com

watercolor necklace cynthiacallan $36.00	Vintage Silverware ... WoodenHive $9.50	Key Lime-White Belg... nikid $18.00	Vintage Magnifying ... ClothandPatina $52.00
Mystic Pearl Chalce... karinagracejew... $38.00	organic baby quilt ... SewnNatural $120.00	Pure Linen Ivory He... RiverOfRomansk $43.90	Set of 3, Fine Silv... FusedNTwisted $32.00
Lime Green Linen St... Overspill $7.00	LOVE Letters Weddin... hoganfe $168.00	greenleaf lace cami... fieldstudy $148.00	Green Linen Purse/W... joanyg $50.00
Vintage Big Skeleto... frenchfelt $8.50	SALE 25 % discount ... ArtbyChapin $71.25	Oxidized sterling s... MisoPretty $28.00	Made to Order / Cus... paintsquare $135.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Home For Cinco De Mayo

One last visit to Old Mesilla on the way back to the El Paso airport and then we flew home in time for Cinco de Mayo.

A Typical Tourist Trap in Old Mesilla

You might expect the shop in this picture to be found in a touristy area but you would be surprised to see the shop across the street from it. The shop across the street is a Nambe store with a great selection of Nambe at reasonable prices. We used amazing restraint with our purchases.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Mexican Decor at La Posta, Old Mesilla, New Mexico

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is a day that commemorates the only time the Mexican army ever defeated a foreign power. According to history books, Mexico's defeat of the French kept France from pouring money into the United States' Confederate Army for at least a year. While some may think it was a good thing that France was unable to support the Confederate Army, I think we probably pay more attention to the abundance of Margaritas and guacamole. Cinco de Mayo is said to be celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. I think we have seized it as another reason to party.

Familiar Sights and Tastes

I Could See Mexico From My Porch--Or My Car

I have driven this road many times since most people in Southern New Mexico drive to El Paso, Texas to shop. We were always amazed to look out of the car and see another country. I think the hill pictured here says Ciudad Juarez at the top. It used to be exciting and now it makes me sad knowing that the people of Juarez daily live in fear of the drug cartels.

Sopapillas--Unique New Mexico Staple

After several years in California, I had really begun to think California Mexican food was as good as New Mexican food. I was wrong. There is no comparison. I was in green enchilada heaven most of this trip. Sopapillas were just an added plus.

Stones Found at Black Hat Stones

A Nice Piece of Sherry Topaz Crystal

A Larimar Cabachon

Which ones do you like best?

A Wild Ride To The Land of Enchantment

The Ceiling of La Posta Restaurant in Old Mesilla, New Mexico. Magical.

Tuesday my daughter and I flew into El Paso, Texas in the middle of a sandstorm driven by 50-60- mile winds. At least they were tail winds but the flight from Phoenix to El Paso was a totally white knuckle, teeth clenching, stomach churning, beverage free experience. The captive audience of the full-to-capacity flight broke into spontaneous appluase as the wheels touched down and the wings finally stabilized.

The drive from El Paso to Las Cruces, New Mexico was equally thrilling. The 50 mile per hour winds caused pieces of rooftop ventilation covers and highway traffic signs to levitate and cross the freeway in front of us.

Since we have been well spoiled by California weather, this inconvenient truth was foreign to us and a little unnerving. We headed for our favorite Mexican restuarant--La Posta in Old Mesilla, New Mexico. By then, the wind was blowing the New Mexico real estate horizontally into our eyes, mouth and lungs as we walked from the car to La Posta but the vision of enchiladas and margaritas lured us on.

A Fountain Framed by a Ristra of Red Chiles in the Entry of La Posta.

Yes, besides eating I did find some stones to purchase on this trip and you can see those in an upcoming post.

What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon by NASA via Flickr

This vintage photo is a perfect example of "feel the fear and do it anyway" although
I think those of us who watched on earth were more fearful than Buzz Aldrin.
To quote one of the last lines from the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?". . . "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" That question goes through my mind often. I use it to move forward when I'm stuck. So my question to you is,

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I would love to know but most of all, I hope you answer it for yourself. And someday, when I know you better, I'll tell you what I would do. I hope I've done it by then.