Hayden Brook Studios – Hayden Blog

I went to the Goggle Works Factory in Reading, PA to learn the fine craft of silversmithing in precious metal clay. I loved it. I left that day with these finished pieces in hand. I would like to use PMC in the Hayden Brook jewelry line-up for 2011. I am so excited about this new medium. It is perfectly delightful to play with this full quality clay. Mind you, it does have its quirks. I am glad to have taken the class. I would have wasted more money than the cost of the class trying to navigate through the intricacies of the medium. The teacher , Wendy Schuster, did a fabulous job leading the class on this great adventure. I was very pleased. The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen has a high standard of excellence. I took this course though their Workshops Series. Here is a link to the courses that they are offering at this time. GO! Learn something new. It invigorates the soul! PA GUILD WORKSHOPS

This is mostly inspired by the healing ministers Charles and Frances Hunter (http://www.cfhunter.org/).  Brook and I pray some variety of this prayer over our bodies every day. We may lay a hand over our brain, or any area that might need special attention. We’re pretty darn healthy, and we rarely catch any colds or viruses.

“I command every chemical and electrical frequency in every cell of my body to be in harmony and in balance. I cast out/ digest/ and slough off everything that is not from You, Lord… including thoughts and moods.” We attempt to do this in the power and likeness (the “name” of) Jesus.

Spring has sprung in my front yard. This is what i see outside my kitchen window. Daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinths, and our 2 miniature peach trees… 2 different kinds. We have a pretty comprehensive spring bulb garden. In 2 weeks it will look quite different out this window. I am also enjoying our metal sculptures that we get to enjoy year round. The bird baths are also going strong as we see the spring birds coming back, thirsty and needing to bathe!

I have started a chocolate website and blog so I have a special place to share my passion for artisan chocolate.  However, my chocolates probably break a number of the rules that go with the “artisan chocolate” label. I suspect I will always want to carry the title of Amateur Chocolatier, so that I can keep the freedom to live  & create outside of the boundary lines that go with being an official chocolatier.

The Website: amateurchocolatier.com

The Blog: http://amateurchocolatier.com/blog6/

I have been creating my own hand crafted chocolates for a few years now.  I have recently purchased some new tools and supplies.  I am having a lot of fun making some really delicious treats.  Go visit my chocolate blog (listed in my blog pages until I buy a domain for it) to see some very fun recipes, tools, and techniques.

This plate is by one of my favorite potters. We buy a piece or two from many of the D.Lasser collections, and from many other craftsmen, too. We don’t have 2 alike of anything in our kitchen, including our flatware.  So fun! Having problems deciding on your dinnerware? Ha! Get one of everything! You’ll never have to worry about having an incomplete set.And,  the table is always so colorful and pretty. People who don’t live like this are delighted and amazed when they come to our house for dinner. Friends have spent a half hour picking out their fork, knife & spoon combination.  Visit: D. Lasser Ceramics

To visit my fun chocolate blog click here: amateur chocolatier blog.

We decided to make 1000 pieces of jewelry to donate to the kids in the Iris Ministries Orphanages in Mozambique, Africa. Why 1000? 100 just wasn’t enough. Abundant blessings poured out of the overflow from our hearts! Kids LOVE getting gifts for Christmas! It was so fun putting these gifts together, too, like playing “arts & crafts”. We made a bunch of stuff that is quite different from what we do for a living. It is sad to be finished now. Although these children are in orphanages, technically they aren’t orphans. They know Daddy God, “Our Father Who art in Heaven”! For more info on Iris Ministries, here is their web-site: irismin.org. I really would love to visit these people some day! This is a mind blowing ministry. I have tremendous respect for Iris Ministries. They are changing the course of a nation. There is a photo gallery at irismin.org where you will find lots of fabulous pictures of some of the people who might soon be wearing the precious gems you can go see in this photo album link! Merry Christmas Everyone! Let’s count our blessings and rejoice!

Here is a link to more photos of this jewelry,

lots of variety,  goofy fun stuff: Jewelry for Mozambique!

About a month ago we cut off our pony tails and donated our hair.  I cut Brook’s.  He cut mine.  The one on the left was Brook’s…  12 inches!  The one on the right is mine…  10 inches.  But,  last time he took 14 inches off of me,  while I took 10 inches off of him.  I didn’t have as much to spare.  As long as I have enough hair left to use one of our amazing barrettes,  that’s all the hair I need.

Almost cut my hair…

happened just the other day…

it’s gettin’ kinda long…

sing along…..   lallalalalllaaaa

Listen to CSNY:  #mce_temp_url#

I am learning to blog,  and this is my very first blog post.  I do plan to make decent use of this blog site over time.  For now it is about getting the web-page up and finding a way to connect it with the blog.

To celebrate my favorite month of the year,  I am going to attempt to insert a photo of a beautiful September flower!