Meet Melody...the Mannequin...

Today, a mannequin arrived in the mail. She's about 25" in height...and 18" wide and she's decoupaged in yellowing sheet music. The word "Melody" is imprinted just above her left shoulder.

Once here, I put her in the car...

riding next to me, mind you.

She has no head, but she's quite classy.

I drove to the park with new and old necklaces in hand.

We piled out of the car.

Melody the mannequin in one arm...necklaces and camera in the other.

There were some stares. But, alas...they didn't matter.

She's the perfect model. No griping. No sighing.

And absolutely free of charge.

My rustic, bold adornments look fabulous 'bout her neck.

Rustic and rich in the Colorado sun.

I even caught a glimpse of the "Indigo Rhino" in the shadows.

See if you can find him/her???

Coming Soon to Your "Neck" of the Woods...

Like a kid before Christmas, dreaming of beads I had yet to touch.

All in eager anticipation of the Denver Bead Show.

Couldn't afford Tucson.

Had to wait

and wait

and wait some more. Oh so impatient.

And then...

Oh happy day!!!!

It's Sunday and

my bead stash has tripled. In short, it is ginormous. Pardon if that isn't a word.

New Thai Tribe silver, rustic wooden lime green, boho brown and candy apple red. Caramel orange and lovely lapis blue.

Turquoise. Turquoise and more turquoise.

Ancient silver rounds and clasps.

And then there are the pendants...

Pendants that make me ache to match them with glorious beads of all shapes and sizes.

All coming home to roost.

All coming soon to your "neck" of the woods.

My background photo log wasn't ready for the invasion: Brown and dull and shabby.

Add beads - and POOF all is colorful, creative and rich.

Had I only known this all my life, I'd have avoided all those pitfalls and pity parties.

When Janet's down and out, give her beads.

Let her play in them to her heart's content.

Let her be with her beads.

Aaaahhhhhh....

Imogen Heap & Trash a La Mode...

I'm digging both right now. If you haven't heard Imogen, I suggest you rush out and buy her new "Ellipse" CD. Electronika wonders include:

"Between Sheets,"
"Bad Body Double" (a personal FAV),
"Swoon" and "Little Bird."

Robert and I rocked it all the way to Boulder and back on Saturday.

As for Trash a La Mode on etsy, her prints are as whimsical and wonderful as the name implies.

As for me, I've designed a new collection for Spring/Summer 2010. I'm calling it Boho. And you'll find it at IndigoRhinoDesigns.etsy.com

a bit less bold, but not less elegant than my other pieces. Rustic,

organic,

sweet, powerful.

May you wear it on good days and bad. Walking in the rain. Or the sun.

I've named the new necklaces "Wanderlust," "Bliss" "Grace" and "Remembered."

Ciao for now.

Ranch Life 2009

Every year I become a cowgirl for a week.

This year I went with the Echo Canyon Gang to Drowsy Water Ranch in Granby, CO.

Most of us have ridden for years...some have horses and some don't, but we all get to be kids for six days and seven nights.

Team penning.

Herding. Barrel racing. Woo hoo.

Great food.

Border collies gone wild.

Cozy cabins in the woods.

Roping. Rodeo. You name it, Drowsy Water has it.

Family run and operated since 1977, they own their own horses.

Mine was a blue roan named Mariah.

She was fleet of foot - a true cutting horse with a penchant for horse treats, nose rubs and soft whispers.

Wish I could take her home with me.

Corgis: Pieces and Parts

Today, I went for my daily walk with the dogs. I took my camera to take stunning photos, but instead I got "pieces and parts." A tail here. An ear there. Fur streaking by the camera. No smiling Corgi faces until the end. Hope you enjoy the journey with my furry little friends. Winston (he's the long one) and Sake (the short one).

My Favorite Things...

Oh, the list is long and varied.

Cydwoq shoes: see beautiful black boot in photo (visit Cydwoqshoes.com)

Kick-ass cowgirl boots with stars. Oh, yeah. (there were a few pair at sundance.com last time I looked)

Lolita Lempicka: Why have one when you can have three in different glass bottles no less?

And things that are even better than my favorite things?

My latest adornments alongside them!!!

See boots, necklaces and Lolita Lempicka working in tandem to make this girl shine!

There you have it. My Corgi is a jewelry hound. It all started with the pink and white polka dotted collar I bought him last month. Next day, he was like a kid in a candy store poking in my closest for new pieces. I caught him in casual “what, me…a jewelry hound???” mode trying to make a getaway with the loot he’d taken. These shots aren’t the only evidence. He left a couple of bracelets on the stairs since they wouldn’t stay on his paws while running. The one consolation? He only takes pieces from my most recent collection at indigorhinodesigns.etsy.com. At least the pooch has good taste.