Mod Pods

New in my Etsy shop...

I don't have a lot to say at the moment. I am getting over a terrible head cold so the past few days have pretty much sucked. The Spring teaser of weather we had has now turned back to freezing cold and I am getting stir crazy! Hoping this week gets better! Thanks for stopping in and for your support.

Kick Counts, Heels vs Flats, and When Nesting Goes Bad

Not to mention, the post with the peacock tops I've been able to stretch into pregnancy!

Well, I haven't blogged in a bit so I thought I'd do a quick catch up of what's been going on with us. I am now going to the doctor every 2 weeks and everything is checking out normal. They told me I have to start doing these daily "kick counts" where I choose a 2 hour period to count and make sure the baby has moved 10 times during those 2 hours. Of course I have felt the baby moving for some time now, but when you assign a number to it, the worry sets in. Of course it seemed like that very next day he wasn't moving much. What if he only moves 9 times - what does that mean? But, no worries. It's all in my head these crazy thoughts. As you can see below, Biscuit is trying to get in on the action. That's another thing.... not only do I have to keep track of the kicks on the inside, but I have to avoid the little paw kicks on the outside. The dogs don't understand why they can't use my belly as a stepping stone to my face for kisses.

A few weeks ago, I was plagued with a side symptom of pregnancy (believe me, there's many) - an ingrown toenail (due to the extra weight and swollen feet). I have never had one before and hope to never have one again! I tried to nurse it myself for a few days before the pain during the night became so bad that I couldn't sleep. It actually would shoot up the bone in my big toe. So I ended up at the foot doctor for him to work his magic. I won't get into detail - just like I didn't get a close up picture of it - but it still took about a week to heal after that. Ouch!

During this time, I wore my flat, roomy winter boots to work which looked a little odd with dress clothes. Because of this - and because of the thought of swollen feet now until the end - I decided I should invest in some cute flats to wear for Spring. Normally, my everyday footwear has some kind of a heel on it. Not a high, spiky heel but rather something chunky or a wedge. In past years, I've bought cute flats only to give up on them after a few wears. They would hurt or rub in some way or another no matter what I tried. I would buy inserts or spongy shields for the heels or toes. Nothing worked. But every time, I convince myself it will be different. I found some cute Skechers and bought them in brown and black. I wore a pair yesterday (after wearing them around the house for a few days to break them in) and found that nothing has changed. I think I just have to accept the fact that the structure of my feet are not made for flats. I wish that weren't the case because there are so many cute options out there! Flat boots are fine because the encompass my whole foot. But anything else will cut into my heel and across the top of my foot - weird!

Lastly, the "nesting" urges can be quite weird. I decided last weekend that the blinds in the bathroom were beyond dirty. So, into the bathtub they went where I meticulously washed each slat, slicing my finger in the process. While I'm at it, the silk plant way at the top shelf in the bathroom needs to be washed too. Oh, and the silverware tray! Just odd little things that you normally let go in your normal cleaning routine suddenly are top priority. Also, about this time last year I made a huge mixed media canvas for our kitchen that consisted of paint, scrapbook paper, stamps, etc.... There were 2 sections of it that bothered me that I didn't think looked "right". So, I finally decided to redo them. That meant resealing those sections once they were done with the clear texture product I used. That lead to me being picky about the edges and touching up this or that. I am proud to say that it is once again hanging on the wall and I feel like someone should take away all of my art supplies so that I do not drive myself crazy over it!

Anyway, that's about it for me lately. I think I need some jewelry studio "therapy" - soon!

Blue

Everything I made in the studio yesterday had some blue in it. I am not sure why, but I just went with it. Maybe the baby boy had something to do with it? Hmmmm. I just got these pieces listed on Etsy:

Multi-Faceted Dreams

Lisa Peters Art focal pendant matched up with a variety of chunky faceted beads strung on cotton cord and chain. I liked mixing the Industrial Chic bolts with vintage decoupage in!

Beach Comber

Featuring a polymer clay focal from Humblebeads
Delicately Charmed
I fell for these turquoise painted metal disks at Michael's - the paint is kinda chippy on them and I love that about them!

So many "if's"...

I am really looking forward to my maternity leave. I mean, how lucky could I be that I will be off all summer to enjoy the best months Michigan has to offer? But, life with a new baby also comes with a lot of "if's" that I am pondering.....

If I feel good enough and Richard is a good baby, I want to go to the Bead & Button Show.

If I feel good enough and Richard is a good baby, I want to participate in the yearly Art Fair I do every June.

If I feel good enough and Richard is a good baby, I want to have a garage sale to get rid of all the crap that has accumulated in my basement.

If Jon still has his Firebird (which needs to get sold), he wants to participate in the Hot Rod Power Tour that is coming to Michigan in June (right around the same time as Bead & Button).

What if Jon has to travel to Germany for work in June?

Please note that when I say "good baby", I don't mean there is such a thing as a "bad baby". But everyone is different. While I realize that routine is important, I also don't want to feel confined to the house. I dream of getting out to enjoy the fresh air and going for walks! And I don't want to be one of those Mom's who is afraid to take her baby places. It will all just depend on how we adjust. There are so many variables. But, I am not going to put any pressure on myself. Whatever happens, happens. It's just so hard for me to leave everything up in the air when I am a planning personality. But it's going to be great! It's going to be absolutely wonderful!

But, what if I still want to shop at Motherhood Maternity after I give birth? I mean seriously, is this ruffled tank not the cutest thing you have ever seen? Maternity clothes are so fashionable now, I am so going to wear some after the fact!

Your Name

Jon and I met at a small, family owned forklift business in Racine, WI. I had already been working in the office there for about 2 years before he showed up, but I knew the Trudeau name well because Jon's Dad was best friends with the owner Rick Schmidt. Both the Schmidt family and the Trudeau family raced sprint cars on dirt - the Dad's were now supporting their sons doing it. Young Jon was off at college in Illinois, and after deciding to take a semester off he came to work at Schmidt's. And we lived happily ever after. No, really, it was much more complicated than that! But it was once we started dating that I attended my very first dirt race track experience.

Jon looked up to Rick a lot - considered him a mentor and second father figure. The above picture was taken at the track almost 15 years ago. I love the candid quality of it and how they are both deep in thought about some strategy on the track. This was before digital cameras were getting big so I had to scan this copy in. It's the only picture I have of the two of them together.

Rick suddenly contracted a brain tumor and after fighting it for several months, he passed away. Jon was heartbroken. Still dating at the time, he told me if we ever had a boy he wanted to name him after Rick. And so here were are, 10 years later. Our little baby's name is going to be Richard Alan Trudeau (Rick's full name was Richard Alan Schmidt). It is an honor and so meaningful to us!

Motor City

One of the themes that I will probably always create jewelry around is cars. My husband works in the auto industry and is a huge automotive lover. And now that I am giving birth to a little version of him, I am envisioning carrying the little bundle around the car shows this summer!

I think what first sparked my interest in this type of theme jewelry was my discovery of the material Fordite a few years ago. Fordite is layers of old car paint from the factory that has been cut into cabs for use in jewelry. This necklace features a Fordite clasp, a vintage Ford key, and a ceramic "speedometer" from Melanie at Earthenwood Studio (a Detroit native). Double strands on each side feature different types of chain, pyrite, and red beads.

Now available on Etsy

Gorgeous Glaze

When I purchased a bunch of porcelain peacocks from Nancy at Round Rabbit, the glaze on this one was my absolute favorite! So, he went into my extra special stash of favorite things to wait until the perfect beads or design was concocted. The time frame on that can sometimes be weeks, months, even years. I just looked up on Etsy to see that I purchased him in April of last year - so he had to wait almost a year.

Nancy actually just posted some glazes she was excited about on her blog yesterday! I have always been drawn to glazes when purchasing art...... and I remember the pottery classes I took in high school - I loved the unexpected surprise of the glaze the best! It's hard to give these colors justice in photos or description, but Mr. Peacock is a dusty cobalt blue with an undertone of a pinkish tan. While at Michael's last week for their half off sale, I picked up these ceramic rounds because they appealed to me. It was a lovely surprise when I got home and saw how wonderful they went with this pendant.

There were no other beads needed - let the glaze be the center of attention. I wire wrapped a simple necklace, and even attempted my first handmade wire clasp!