And The Winners Are

The Official Contest Drawers! Look at Ruru..he couldn't jump up there on his own but he tried (and I helped him). He is doing so well and this event was dedicated to him!  Wes drew the names and Ruru purred.  We had 12 names in the drawing and the winners are (and this was a truly pure drawing):

Necklace-Leslie
Sterling Hoop Earrings-Kathy, Michelle, Hal
Bunny earrings-Tami

I may need your addresses, so e-mail me jennie@jlkjewelry.com.

This is a pay it forward, if you have a blog, please do a give away like this. If not, then commit yourself to doing 4-5 random acts of kindness (above and beyond the ones that you normally do!!)

What a fun thing this is and I know you will all enjoy "paying it forward"!!! Keep it going, think outside the box!

Pay It Forward

I was the receipient of a pay it forward event on Leslie William's blog. I have had so much going on in nursing Rusty back to walking, company, shows etc that I am now finally getting around to this! for those that followed Rusty, he can walk, can't jump up onto things, but he is doing really well. And his fur is growing back in, though he may  not want it in this weather.

Pam and I just returned from a great trip to Dataw Island in SC where we stayed with wonderful friends, kayaked, rode bikes and had a generally fantastic time!

Here are the pay it forward items. Everyone that makes a comment on this blog gets their name put into the hat, and Wes will draw the winners. I'll give several days for comments. So if you want a chance at some free jewelry, just make a comment!

Sterling silver necklace with a peachbloom pottery stone and black onyx.

Hand forged sterling silver hoops (1" diameter)

Pottery cab earrings, sterling silver earwires

Pottery bunny cab earrings-sterling silver ear wires

Morning Garden Walk

The past two weeks I have been consumed with caring for one of our cats Rusty. he developed two very bad cases of toxoplasmosis and gingivitis. Two awful infections that led to partial paralysis. He is making progress, though still unable to walk or support himself. He did pull himself along this morning for a tiny little ways. Thank you to everyone that has been sending good thoughts to him, they are working!

Coming in May, (once I have my two shows: Spring Days in Cary this Sat and Historic Rosedale in Charlotte on May 7) behind me and Rusty back on his feet, I will be doing a pay it forward give away. I won a beautiful Hawaiian hat band from Leslie Williams and now it is my turn! I'll post some images of iems that I will give away to 5 people chosen from a drawing of everyone that posts a comment on that posting.  Part of my bargain with the universe was that if Rusty gets back on his feet, the first one will be a nicer piece of jewelry. So check back later in May!

I took a little walk around the gardens this morning. We are under tornado warnings and hope nothing comes this way, and our thoughts go to all those already affected.

Irises in the patio pond





The 3rd of the clematis to start flowering

These petunias in 3 colors are coming up everywhere! We have several hundred of them just in the pots!

Purple irises-the blooms over here are over 6"

All the rose bushes are flowering



Peonies getting ready to open up



Apple mint anyone? No? Then spearmint or lemon balm? All three make a wonderful tea, hot or cold! Massive amounts growing here!

And in the vegetable garden

The end of the second lettuce and spinach crop. This is from the February planting. YUM!

Lots of big asparagus, this is twice the diameter of my thumb.

Beans and squash. Wes started the squash, cucmbers and tomatoes from seeds.

Brandywines

Onions are getting big and round

A New Lower End Line Coming Onboard!

Bunnies made a debut in Hickory. These are also available in a sterling silver setting as a pendant for $36!

Springtime!!

After last year's drought I was worried about some of our plants, but things are coming out like mad. Both bleeding hearts by the patio are in bloom.

The peonies are coming up

Daffodils are still blooming, we love these white ones

and I found one little violet. Wes says violets are weeds, but I love them!

What a great time of the year! I wish it could be like this for everyone, everywhere.

Hickory, Dickory, Show time!

Catawba Valley Pottery Festival is coming right up. I will be back after a two year absence and am looking forward to seeing familiar faces!

I picked up a new Nikon Coolpix yesterday. My Canon and Olympus are just a little too big to take along comfortably to shows. This is my first try with it. I think I'm going to like it!

Now despite fabulous weather outside, time to make some earrings from the freshly fired load of cabochons.