Second Saturday Rocks (as always!)

If you weren't roaming the street of midtown's grid last night...then...well...you plain and simply missed it!!! July's Second Saturday was one of the biggest yet! An interesting and ebullient crowd filled the streets and most of them found their way to the McMartin Realty parking lot for Park Your Art.

This wonderful and well attended event featured several artist's, crafters, and jewelry designers. Out in force were some of the lovely ladies from The Sacramento Craft Mafia, me (of course...or I wouldn't be blogging it!), Rain of Rain's Embellishments, Erika Ashley of Charming Co., and joining us as a browser and fantastic supporter was Stacey of Bouton Blue. Park Your Art was also host to Jason Branz's photography. Who is not only a very talented nature photographer, but also is my former next door neighbor.

The beautiful pictures of the Simply Strands table were taken by Amy of Peptogirl Industries, crafter and photographer extraordinaire!

P.S. Check out The Bead Fetish's Second Saturday Sale...last day!!! (till next month!)

Sunday Update!!!

Hey there wide world of Internet blog readers!!!

What a wonderful week it was!!! Happy Belated 4th of July=)

The beautiful Pizza Pie you see at the top of this post was made by my own sweet pizza chef, Jason. This is a mixed berry desert pizza and it is a wonderful treat for a hot summer night!

Here is the recipe...I recommend more sugar on the pizza and the berries and more berries than you think are sane!!!

Mixed Berry Dessert Pizza
Ingredients:
Pizza dough, as instructed4 teaspoons plus 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar¼ cup crème fraíche ¼ cup mascarpone cheese3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream4 ounces fresh strawberries, quartered2 ounces fresh blueberries2 ounces fresh boysenberries1 ounce piece of white chocolate
Method:
Prepare pizza dough as instructed, about ten inches in diameter. Lightly pierce the pizza dough with a fork. Sprinkle with four teaspoons of the sugar. Slide onto a hot pizza stone and bake at 500˚ for five minutes or until the sugar has begun to melt. Carefully remove the pizza and add the berries in an even layer. Return to the oven and bake for an additional eight minutes or until the dough is cooked and the berries just begin to release their juices. While the pizza finishes combine the remaining two tablespoons of sugar, crème fraíche, mascarpone cheese and the heavy cream and whisk until combined. Carefully remove the pizza and let rest for about four minutes. Cover with the mascarpone mixture and garnish with shaved white chocolate. Slice and enjoy.

If you want to learn to make pizza like this check out Jason's next class!!!

Saturday, July 26th

Pizza Hors' Dourves5:00–7:00 p.m. $25, Hands-On class. Wine will be served. Must be 21 to attend.

With Jason Jonas, Whole Foods MarketPizza - Few types of food are as versatile and surprisingly simple to make. From thin to thick to deep-dish, it runs the gamut. This class will briefly explore the history, styles and adaptations, and go into the tools and ingredients necessary to make amazingly delicious pizza hors'dourves (little snack foods served before or outside of the main dishes of a meal). Participants will roll out and create their own pizza from a variety of toppings.

Take Me Out to The...Bead Fetish?

Well the title pretty much sums up my weekend. Beads and Ball Games!!! Both very happy things=)

So there two exciting events coming up in the professional jewelry career of your truly.

1. Class at the Bead Fetish on Wednesday, July 2nd from 6-8:30 pm. This class will teach you the basics about working with wire. Craft wire, sterling, or gold filled (depending on your fancy)...this is a great jumping off point from basic stringing into the more complex world of jewelry design. The skills one will learn in this class can be carried forward into earring making and more whimsical wrapping. So please call the Bead Fetish today and reserve a spot!

2. Craft Alongs with the Sacramento Craft Mafia. The SCM is going to hosting one Craft Along a month on the Second Tuesday from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Java Lounge on 16th and Broadway.

Each month a different member or affiliate of the SCM will be hosting a special topic to expand the craft knowledge of the greater Sacramento area. Please come out and join us for a little time to concentrate on craft away from the distraction of pets, kids, and television. (Instead you the welcome distractions of girl time and JAVA!!!)

This month's Craft Along will be hosted by ME (picture Tyra...if you get it this is funny!!!) on Tuesday, July 8th from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Java Lounge. We will be concentrating on wire working. I will be providing wire and some beads, but please bring your own tools if you want to get down on the wire. If wire is not your thing please don't hesitate to come out anyway. Bring WHATEVER craft floats your boat...just come out and hang with us=)

I leave you with a impressive photo of the depth of my Bead Fetish. This is my newly organized bead collection with Ned one of my teddy bears on top. Ned was handcrafted by Missy Balance owner of Mohair Circus...she is amazing!!!

My First Class

Well...the time has come! I am going to be teaching a class at The Bead Fetish =) This Wednesday night I will be the teacher for Beginning Wire Wrapping...I am so honored that the lovely women of The Bead Fetish are trusting me to lead this wonderful class. I will take some pictures at class and post them...then you can all share in my joy=) Yay for The Bead Fetish!!!

The Hottest Lot in Town

So...where is the hottest (coolest!) place to be on Second Saturday in Sacramento?

...A Bar?
...A Club?

NO!!!

The hottest spot in town is the McMartin Realty Parking Lot! If you haven't come out to this event for Second Saturday...the you haven't truly experienced Second Saturday.

There is an awesome mix of crafters and artists in a prime location on the midtown grid. You get a little bit of everything...especially a good dose of the ladies from the Sacramento Craft Mafia. We have had members out there every month practically this year!

More to come on this awesome event...pictures too!!! But now you know...be there or be nowhere!!!

Where did the Week Go?

Has it really been a full week since my last post? I feel like it has been about two minutes. Lots of jewelry making took place...but gosh...a full week!

Anyway...not too much to say right this moment...just wanted to make a post so you all know that I am still alive. I will leave you with some pictures!

Sunday, Funday!

Who doesn't love a Sunday? Especially the most beautiful Sunday to hit the greater Sacramento area in quite a while!

I woke up early and got to spend four beautiful hours watching Sex and the City and making all kinds of crazy jewelry.

I made a bracelet today that was black cloisonne beads with little flowers on them. I swear that I have visited the factory they were made in when I went to China. This is a picture of the glazes that they used to fill in the enamel part of the piece. They made beads and vases and ornaments and pretty much every other item that could be cloisonned was!

This was one of the men that worked in the oven section. Could you imagine 8 hours a day of standing in an oven and pulling vases in and out of the heat...and I get tired and hot doing office work!!! Makes me very thankful for my job and the lifestyle I have.

This is what the showroom looked like at this weird and wonderful factory/friendship store/restaurant...they really combine things (kinda like Disneyland!)

A detail of one of the beautiful vases. There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and they were all different...it was magical!!!

More to come on the other exciting places and jewelry related sites that I went to visit in China.