Self imposed homework...

So I buy books like most people buy milk. Obviously I cannot possibly read them this fast...and this irks me. I have been buying business books for a few years now and reading one here and there. I have been hoping that by osmosis I would retain the wisdom from within the covers. It has not been working. Sooo, I have decided to tackle these stacks of books with a plan...I have been giving myself homework. I have a small amount of free time right now...with managing a bar, Manic Trout, training for the half marathon, Tyler, family, friends...you get the idea...I have only two chapters to read a night but I am getting somewhere! I am already all sorts of inspired...I am reading a book about wildly successful women...and its wonderful to read about these women overcoming obstacles of all levels and dominating! I am even more ready then ever to bring Manic Trout to the next level, so watch out world, here I come!

For the next 13 weeks...

Am I crazy? OK don't answer that...I agreed to my sister Holly's request on Monday to run a half marathon in June. A year ago I was very into running, I was all set to run a 5k and was ready for it...then it was cancelled and I moved to a place where I could walk my dog for hours around a pretty village and traded that for running. Up until the flood I was doing my work out videos regularly too...and walking...but then the flood came, followed by the snow. Fortunately I have an active day job, so all hope is not lost...Tues I began my 13 week training, well that was practice day...today was the real beginning. I have my training schedule posted, I drove the mileage for my runs and printed them out on map quest, and I have started giving myself pep talks. I am not one to turn down a challenge, but I am one to admit when I cannot physically do something without hurting myself, so I will give it all I got and see how I'm doing by race day...wish me luck!

I wish I may, I wish I might...

There's this fun little web site out there called Dumpr that you can use to see your work in a museum, so i tried it. It makes me sad. It looks good. One day...

Woman on a mission...

I am on a quest this year to expand the wonderful world of Manic Trout and establish many wholesale accounts. Well in preparing to do this I have realized a few things, one of which is that I cannot mass-produce the pieces I design that use vintage materials, as my materials are limited. Yes, there are some places that will gladly work with me to use my limited supply lines, but I want to think bigger...so I have been trying to create jewelry that still retains the unique flair that my work is known for, but with materials that I can ensure I will have unlimited supply of. So here is the debut of one of my first designs, its rather delicate and leafy, and I think it works. Made form Czech glass, brass charms and brass findings...will soon be available on Manic Trout.

Daily Blog Obsession

So does any one else have an obsession with checking their daily blog rolls? I feel as though my day is incomplete if I don't stop in at each of my beloved daily blogs. In fact it even has inspired me to post daily, I love to read the daily musings of designers and cool ladies and like the idea that someone out there I have readers...Hi Mom...Hi Dad...*waves*, and they look forward to seeing what I am up too.

My sisters gave me a goodie bag on my birthday and it brought back an old addiction of mine form high school...Cadbury Cream Eggs...its been just enough time that I can finally eat them again after a bad over dose of them...oh my I’ve missed them!

Warning...I have a new camera!

Watch out world, I have a new camera and will be inundating you with my photos now...mwah ha ha ha...that’s my evil villain laugh. Who are we kidding though; I am sure that I will still not be out there going snap shot happy. The main reason for the camera is to take photos of my art...but those will I believe improve greatly. Ok, I was playing around already in the hour since I picked it up from the post office...speaking of office, I am so irritated that Macs have to wait until the next year to get a copy of office released for them. I was all excited that Microsoft 2007 Office was released, but no...we fabulous Mac people have to wait for the 2008. OK back to the camera...Photoshop CS2 was available for both platforms at the SAME time by the way...yeah, I dwell...so here's a photo...a pile of Bottle Cap Magnets getting all dressed up and ready to go out into the world...

Mailing List Sign Up

So you may have noticed that there is a mailing list sign up on Manic Trout and here on the blog. Well I just wanted to let you, my adoring fans all know that every Monday I am drawing a mailing list subscriber at random and the lucky winner will receive 50% off of one item of their choice (excluding oil paitings). Besides a chance for a deal, when you sign up you will also receive notice of new items and promotions and be kept abreast on all the happeings of Manic Trout...so go and sign up...now!

Oh Crap, I'm 30.

Today is my 30th birthday. I have to admit, things could be a lot worse, I honestly am rather thrilled with my life right now...I have spent the last two years grabbing it sharply by the reins and making sure it veered in this direction, and I am quite proud of how I've done...but I still have reached the first birthday when you no longer want to admit your age. Its tough to turn 30, there are entire books written about it...I even read a few to prepare.

Well I decided that it was about time I started taking better care of this body I have been beating up for three decades...I already have laid the base work in the past few years...I have drastically changed my diet, exercise and bad habits and I feel great, but I have completely given up and abused some areas...like my feet. I am on my feet a great deal as I bartend 40+ hours a week, walk my dog all the time and am in general pretty active... but I have not done more then paint my toes once a month for the past 5 years, and my hands are so dry that they actually flake. So today I treated myself at a local spa and enjoyed a parfin wax and buffing of my fingernails and a nice long soaking, scrubbing and smoothing pedicure. The best part is that my friend Shanley works there, so I got to girly gab at the same time. It was great, I am hooked...I'll go back once a month, my feet look so pretty! Where is the warm weather, I am ready for strappy shoes and flip flops! My toesies look so good I'll show you...the fuzzy pic gives the allusion that my feet are not so pale they are almost blue...
Next week I think I will go to the dentist, which I only drag myself to do once a year instead of twice...well at least I floss...

16 New Button Rings For Sale!

In all of the excitement of the video showing me making the button rings I completely forgot about the whole inspirtation for the demonstration! When the videographer was looking around my studio she saw the pile of recently made button rings and loved them...so that's what I demonstrated and then I promptly forgot to post them...so here they are!

16 New Button Rings from my excellent stash of Vinatage Buttons are now available at Manic Trout!

Fred Flare's Next Big Thing

So I have been thinking and planning and thinking some more...Fred Flare's Next Big Thing is fast approaching and I am trying to decide what to submit. Not all of my stuff is the right fit and so much of my stuff is one of a kind. I will of coarse take any thoughts on this. You can comment or email me. I'm so nervous though...I have decided that I will only submit one item. I'm thinking that my Zsa Zsa Bling Rings may be the best bet and I have just ordered 406 vintage crystals hoping to have stumbled upon a undred or so of the right size and shape on line. Cross your fingers for me!

Oh Yeah, Check me out...

So there's this great blog called Mixed Plate. You may have seen it on my blog roll over there on the right as I check it out daily. I also happen to advertise on this lovely blog and I was interview by the lovely Liana which is posted today, Yay! So run right on over and you can learn all sorts of new things about the girl behind Manic Trout...check it out here.

Manic Trout in the Poughkeepsie Journal!

What a wonderful way to wake up...by seeing your necklace on the cover of the largest area newspaper! There is a lovely article about The New breed of Crafters, its a revolution...and crafting is called the new rock and roll, the article is about three of us local indie crafter ladies. You can read the article here

The jewelry splashed all across the article is from Manic Trout and there are also photo's online here, numbers 4, 5 & 6.

If that's not possibly enough, there is a 3 minute and 20 second video of my making a button ring and talking...although they managed to edit out everytime I smiled, so imagine I am smiling away :) Check that out here. (I could not view the video with Safari, so Mac users may need to make sure they have a plug in if that is what browser you use. It worked beautifully in Firefox.)

Ok...thats my news for the day...Yay!

Indie Fixx Spring Gift Guide is Here!

Well I was all excited that Spring was here and then last night two feet of snow were dumped on my life...oh well. While I wait for the air to be more spring like again I can at least get my fix (yeah, bad pun I know) shopping the Indie Fixx Spring Shopping Guide There are so many wonderful goodies, and I would like to let you know thatManic Trout has a great necklace in the Spring Jewelrysection...so you have to check that out.

In the Spring Cleaningsection I discovered my newest lust item...I would adore some sheets from Luxury Lab Linens. Now the problem is figuring out which ones...my birthday is the 22nd...hint, hint...and then you can make the decision for me! I do love Just Like Heaven...
mainly because they're pink, although not quite bright enough...I really prefer the Mnaic Trout pink instead...tough choices...

Snowed in on a Friday night.

The world outside is covered in fluffy snow and I have the first Friday off in months because of it! There is no sweeter joy then unexpected free time...so I have been futzing around my studio, playing online, working on bottlecap magnets and making a necklace inspired by my living room decor.
I have collected a few japenese fishing bobs from the bottle shop and love their colors and handblown shape. Tylers mom gave me the awesome "Happy Ball" for christmas this past year and it complements the fishing balls so well that I tend to gaze at the table top rather then the tv when watching movies. I have a bunch of lucite fishing balls too in an great bottle green that are scattered around the living as well room and as often happens, while playing around at my jewelry desk I was inspired!

I need to tweak a few things, but I love it...even though its a bit tangled...I love this old dress form, also found at the bottle shop, and thought it such a nice backdrop, but is high up and I was too lazy to get a stool to make the necklace look right...what, its my night off :)

My new favorite thing...

I was just trolling through my daily blog roll, which is growing weekly btw, and stumbled across this amazing piece by Peter Callesen titled "Alive, but Dead" and made from paper. I almost fell form my chair when I saw it...it evokes so much emotion...from feelings about projects in the past to a pure and raw connection visually, I just had to share this...

Collecting in NH

I have returned from my trip to NH, I was visiting family and spending some time rummaging around dark corners on Antique Alley, gathering up supplies. I found some fabulous items for my newly arranged apt. but best of all I bought oodles of buttons and chandelier crystals...
You can see them gathered here in a box I just received and truly love that my stepmother passed on to me...having gotten it herself from my grandmother...I think it will house my massive collection of pliers...so anyway...I have new goodies to play with now...so I shall.

Back to work...

I know its been a long time coming, but I am finally posting new jewelry on Manic Trout again as my studio is back together. The Chariots Rise Necklace is the first available...so if you have been waiting for this day to arrive, it has... ...you can be lucky enough to make one yours for a mere 80 bucks.


The spring/summer 2007 line is coming along nicely and will be available a piece at a time beginning next week...most likely towards the end of the week. As in the past, the new items will start appearing here first...a preview of what can be expected...so check back often.