Day Two in Tucson. And some MoZart Retreat previews...

Day two... and onto my FAVORITE stops.  First up... the Doubletree!

I sent a selfie to Todd, and he recognized that I had a sunroof that extended to the back of the car.  I had been driving that sucker for a day and hadn't even noticed it.  How bout that?!

So, once we got to the Doubletree, I went right into one of my favorite chick's booths.

She has the most unusual stuff.  It's all vintage  A lot of it is brass.  But I have no idea how to use it.  I asked her if I could take some pics.  And so.. here they are.

I LOVE how she uses something called Gilder's paste (might be one of our retreat projects, since I bought every color!!) to turn the metals different colors.

And she used rivets and nuts and bolts to adhere all the little pieces.  Doesn't that look fun?

All the little sparkles are all glued on afterwards.

YEah.  What's funny, is over the years I have bought tons of these little doodads, but have never used them, cause I get them home and can't, for the life of me, figure out what in the world to do with them.  Well... now... I have pics!!

And THESE!!!!  We are FOR SURE making these!!  And we are adding tassels!!  I made some on the way home from Dallas this weekend, and oh yes!!

Pics of others' pieces.  I love how he used the toggle in the front.  So... idea!

I am totally in LOVE with all this tassel jewelry.  If you like tassels, this will be the retreat for you!!! I think I bought around 100!  All sizes.  Earrings, bracelets and necklaces!

Oh. my. YUM!

Oh yeaaaaahhh... I forgot I bought these end cones too, so I could try to make a few of these pretties as well.  They'll be on the website soon.

And for those not as enamored with the tassel as I... I present to you, the pearl cluster dangle!

These are pretty much easy breezy!  They are stacked spacer beads on a headpin and hung at the end of a little piece of chain.  But I think I'd wear these suckers just about every day.

This company is called Saki Silver, and he handcrafts all these silver components.  He makes my favorite ear wires.

They're a pretty cool shape, don't you agree?!

At another of my favorite booths, they had this cute little bin of shrink dink, hand drawn pendants.  I had to take a picture and share with Ellie Sue, cause I can see quite the entrepreneur in her as well.

I can never get out of Tucson without getting some of these very unique pewter cast charms from... ohhh... I can't remember the name.  Jessi?  Do you?

Look how absolutely cool this is!

Closer view.

At work, a couple of the boys and I refer to our "club" as The Rhinos.  John Wesley is reading a book called Rhino, and it is about strong work ethic and a big drive.  When I found these pendants, I nearly passed out!!  And they were big and manly, so I could buy them for the members of my "club".   I think I might make them a keychain with them.

I have lots of these tulips, and I LOVE the cascading colors of beads on chains.  Oh yeah!  We could SO make this at the retreat.  Retreaters, I hope you are looking and taking mental notes.  Message me here or via email, your favorite things you are seeing on my posts.  Oh, and feel free to also just send me activities we have either done in the past that you LOVED or ones that you'd LIKE to see us do.  I am open.

Suzy and I spent a couple of hours today outlining the weekend, and I think we have a pretty good idea of the speaking topics.  We'll be touching on gratitude, individual strengths that make you YOU, and looking a little more deeply into your Word of the year.  At present, I am thinking bangle bracelets with sari ribbon, religious charms, and tassels.  Tassel earrings.  a mixed media journal.  A canvas with lettering on it.  wrapped crystal earrings (per your request, Amy K!), and hmmm... what am I forgetting, Suzy?!

There will be an actual agenda, and details of the event coming by week's end so you can start arranging travel and planning your trip.

Oh.  Wait.  Maybe we'll do this too!  haha.  I LOVE this leather and waxed linen.

I learned about this cool new technique for beads, to make them look all ceramicitized.  (?)

And although I loved it, I didn't need one more technique at this time.  Can you BELIEVE it?!

Now THIS could be accomplished fairly easily with the religious charms I bought specifically per your request, Tonia!!

As you may have noticed, I am digging ANYTHING wrapped in silk ribbon or twine.  So, naturally, this got my attention.  IN fact, we might make this too.  If you are interested in coming to the retreat, better let me know if you are wanting to do more painting, cause I am really on a jewelry kick since I just got back from this Tucson trip!

Oh.  I'm also really liking anything wire wrapped as well.

We could make resin bezels.  But if you were at the retreat when we tried that, you'll remember the dang things didn't dry!! I think I have that technique perfected now, but anyway.... oh.  we'll see.

I DID, once again, buy things that I think would be awesome for a beach retreat.  And I AM having a beach retreat this year.  Only about 6 chicks can come to this one.  But I collect great projects EVERY year, and then I just put them in the storage area at the studio and say, "Well, maybe next year".  Hmmph.  THIS IS NEXT YEAR!!  I'm thinking maybe the end of August, first of Septemeber.  I'm gonna get THAT one on the books too!

I really dig this stamping in clay type materials, in bezels.  I DO have this stuff, which I bought last year (remember, Jessi?!) and have never actually used.  I am the biggest SUCKER for new ideas/ techniques!!

At one of our art classes at the studio, we etched copper.  I LOVE the process and am surprised at how simple it is.  Perhaps we'll delve into that a bit.  (See below)

Keif, do you read my blog?  Can you make this for me for a display at a booth for MoJoy?!  Sidenote!

Ok... these are more of those, I buy the things but don't remember what to do with the things kind of things!

And with all this gorgeousness, I bid you nighty night.

Hey... I liked the way the "what are you learning right now" question turned out, so let's do this... another question.

If you could go anywhere in the world this year, where would you go?! And if the mood strikes, tell why!

I am itching to go to Bali.  I have seen pictures from there, and it seems like an extremely CHILL place.  They have lots of colorful textiles and funky jewelry, and I LOVE lush forests and being by the ocean.  From what I can tell, I'd be close to Heaven there.
Now you...

MO