durango arts festival!

the show was totally amazing, in so many ways!

i had a really great time, met a bunch of wonderful people, and got so much excellent feedback about my work.

i had a perfect spot and the weather was incredible. (i was very inspired by a lot of other folks' booths. my displays that brandon built are beautiful, but now i need to work on the background of the booth and i need to come up with some way to get things up to eye level.)

patty just might be the world's best sales person. she had this wonderful little schpeal that she said, sort of talking about me like i wasn't there, then introducing me, as if i were famous or something. i am not very good at selling my own stuff, but she is amazing! and, because she is so good, i far exceeded the amount of money i had hoped to make. my trip is definitely on!

this sweet little guy just loved this little prehnite with epidote necklace. (you know how i feel about that stone.) i felt like he needed to have it, so i asked his dad if that would be alright and then gave it to him. he was so grateful, and came around the booth to hug me several times before he left.

and i met these incredible ladies, denise and ravelle. i think we will be lifelong friends. their jewelry is family-made by these two and diana's husband, humberto. it is this gorgeous multi-metal, riveted, whimsical stuff. we actually did a trade, which was awesome. they each got a ring. here's what i got:

(don'tcha think?)

teresa (tajones1463.etsy.com) and wayne had a booth there too. we got to go out to dinner afterwards.

this here is jason, an awesome glassblower. he is going to be making me some incredible, small borosilicate glass flower cabs. i am very excited!

this woman's booth was beautiful. i bought myself a lovely mug from her:

i told her i had just "found my voice" and this was perfect for me.

from this guy i bought two kids' books for the girls and a sweet print for glenn of different animals playing instruments. his work was awesome.

i also met a woman who is a metalsmith instructor at UNC. she had such great things to say about my work and invited me to join COMA, colorado metalsmith association. she also bought a ring. and, the "among the white storks" piece prompted several conversations about my upcoming trip. during one such conversation, a woman overheard and said that she lived in san francisco. we talked for a while and by the end she had invited me to stay at her place when i'm there! also, the owners of the only gallery in durango that i've ever thought would be a good fit for my work, azul, asked me if they could carry it! i haven't decided what to do about that yet. it was just a really magical time...