Now that the kids are home from school and summer is in high gear, I decided to take a workshop "just for me". Yesterday I went to Marquette to this great bead store "Bella Beads" and took a workshop presented by Beth Millner(.com) on silversmithing. I've always had a love of silver and copper jewelry and wanted to learn how to pound, manipulate and distress it. I loved it!!!! Beth was a wonderful teacher and she does beautiful jewelry - check out her website. I worked all afternoon and completed a pair of earrings - and I can see how my artwork relates to the new work of metals the shapes, texture and colors are repeated in the jewelry just like in my paintings. It was fun to do something just for me and take a little time to play. I also have been busy working in the gardens and all the rain in June has helped to make them glorious, however, my cutting garden/seeds need to be replanted. I've posted photos of the front garden/entry to my studio/gallery - don't you just love the BIG ROOSTER!!!