CnK Designs

projects and paintings

2011-04-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

it's been awhile since i have blogged and it's all because of this rug. i received this beautiful hand-hooked rug a few weeks ago and i have been in a frenzy ever since. walls have been repainted, curtains redone, chair pads recovered and new hardwood is coming.

all this is happening in the the living room/dining room area. the dining room chairs before were this neutral and boring stock fabric.

i pulled the grape color from the rug and recovered them in this fun larson fabric. much better!

in addition to taking on the redecorating project, i have also been doing some painting. this is a canvas that i started a couple of weeks ago at the makerie art retreat. i took flora bowley's painting class and the canvases were our experimentations of different techniques.

i took the canvas and continued on to create this painting, using many techniques and ideas from flora's workshop.

i also took a canvas print that was hanging in our living room and gave it a whole new life. the original print was something that i knew i would not be using at all in the new color scheme and decor, i also new that i would probably pay as much for a blank canvas of this size as i did for the print. so, i gessoed it and painted this...

it makes me happy every time i look at it.

top 25 mom-shop!

2011-04-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

i just received some sweet news, circle of moms has nominated my shop as a top 25 mom-shop. yay! twenty-five shops were nominated and now you get to vote. you can vote once a day until april 25th. if you would like to take a minute and vote for cnk designs you can click the button below. thanks!!

the creative retreat

2011-04-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

i went away for the weekend. by myself. this is a big deal for me, i haven't done anything like this in over 10 years. 'this' being taking time for me and only me. since having kids every vacation, getaway and adventure has pretty much been centered around them. it will continue to be that way for another 10 years so this was definitely something special.

i went to the makerie creative retreat in boulder, colorado. not far from home but a whole different world. it was amazing to be surrounded by so many generous women that i could connect with immediately because we are all their for the same reason. we were there to nurture our creative spirit, follow our heart, relax, and make great art.

my first workshop was photography with alessandra cave. alex is an amazing photography, her images are striking and she is a great teacher.

my goal for this class was learn skills to be able to capture those everyday joys that come with kids. take amazing photographs of our Kids that TRI athletes and have an eye catching blog.

we talked about perspective, telling a story, depth, lighting and more. we talked about camera settings and angles. i felt like a had a great grasp and start on all of this. then we talked about patience. this little word that keeps coming up in my life this year. patience. definitely something i need to work on.

here are some of my favorite photos from the afternoon all taken on the chautauqua park grounds.

my second workshop was painting with flora bowley. have you seen her paintings? they are amazing and she is just as amazing. she is a terrific teacher, everyone was talking about the energy in her classes. hours flew by as we painted. we painted with wild abandon. it felt great.

my paintings are yet to be finished but i have a great start. i will post them when i finish them up.

weekend getaway

2011-04-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited to be attending the makerie creative retreat in boulder, colorado this weekend. i have always wanted to do something like this. something just for me, something to really look forward to. the venue will included classes, speakers, hikes and yoga, meals, and a creative market. i'm looking forward to meeting other women who have a passionfor creativity and from learning from the amazing artist teacher.

the first class i will be taking is a photography class with alessandra cave. the class is entitled from snapshots to photographs. i am thrilled to be able to meet alessandra who is a regular contributor a shutter sisters and of her own site gypsy girls guide. both are very inspiring sites that i read regularly.

i have always admired beautiful photography and the unique perspective of many of them. i

have a great camera but have never taken the time to really learn how to use it. there is so much involved in photography. i hope to scratch the surface enough to be able to participate in some photo challenges, capture the everyday joys of life and preserve some great memories.

i am also going to be taking a painting class with flora bowley. her paintings are amazing and every one of them grabs my attention. i have been experimenting with painting for awhile now and absolutely love it. i want to dive in a little deeper and challenge my creativity. i want to get my hands dirty and leave some of myself on the canvas. as flora says: let go. be bold. unfold.

new retail partner

2011-03-25T17:50:00.001-07:00

i am excited to work with my newest retail partner, the vintage lady, in historic harpers ferry, west virginia. harpers ferry is known for its amazing views, unique shops, hiking trails and historic significance. it is situated at the confluence of the potomac and shenandoah rivers where the states of maryland, virginia and west virginia meet. the vintage lady carries jewelry, accessories and clothing handmade by artist around the world.

you will find a large selection of cnk designs items at the vintage lady as well as this piece inspired by the beauty of harpers ferry.

beautiful morning run

2011-03-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

it has been awhile since my last blog post. i have been busy with several wholesale orders as well as redecorating the front rooms in our house. i will have photos of the changes soon.

i had to take time to get a good run in this morning. it was beautiful, warm and calm. the wind has really been blowing the last couple of days and expected to again today so i knew i had to take advantage of the calm morning.

i had a great 6 mile run on one of my favorite trails right near our house, the highline canal trail. this trail is part of county open space and runs for miles. it starts about a mile and half from my front door near this old farmhouse. i had my iphone with me and had to stop and take some photos.

the trail goes for a couple of miles through a working ranch where you run with the cows.

the cows normally don't even look at you as you pass through, however, last spring on a run the whole herd was running and stampeding right towards me. one of the scariest moments of my life. i had nowhere to go but into the icy cold canal beside the trail. luckily the cows turned at the last minute and i didn't have to soak myself. it took me awhile to have the courage to run the trail again.

feels like spring!

2011-03-15T16:41:00.001-07:00

we had a gorgeous 74 degree day here in colorado this weekend. yay!! we took advantage of it and played hard.

i went for a long run on the back roads among the grazing horses and cows. beautiful! in shorts and a t-shirt of course.

the kids spent the entire day playing with the neighborhood kids, building forts and having nerf gun fights. my husband washed the cars. bliss!

koda dog pranced all over the yard and napped on the warm deck

chase hunted and caught numerous grasshoppers

natalie did a ton of swinging

kaden climbed and played ninja

the cyclists were out in full force

a perfect day in colorado!

be open to whatever comes your way

2011-03-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

the third point in 'the art of creative thinking' list is to be open to whatever comes your way. you know, all those things we take for granted every day from the grubby little hand of your five year old offering you a candy heart to the bird singing outside your window. there is inspiration lurking everywhere and opportunities in hidden places. people around you who could influence your thinking and even change your life. open your eyes to it all and don't put up any blinders.

i have always admired beautiful, expressive photography but never thought it would be something i would dive into. i really do have enough hobbies already. but the opportunity came up for me to learn a bit about photoshop and a retreat become available where i will be able to learn tricks and techniques for capturing those special moments. i could have gone with my first reaction and let the idea lay dormant because i really didn't have the time, but something was pushing me towards giving this idea or desire a chance to bloom. i haven't gotten far into learning much at all and already i am completely hooked. i'm glad i allowed myself to stay open to what was coming my way.

sweet six

2011-03-02T17:07:00.001-08:00

my baby turned six today! it's funny how it has changed his whole attitude. he believes that this magical day has allowed him to do some much more. his walk has a little more swagger to it (and if you know kaden you wouldn't think this is possible), he has a bit more confidence and believes more in himself as his own person. all because he is now six.

i love these young ages and how easy it is to make their day special. they just want to be with you and have you fuss over them a bit and it is the best day ever.

happy birthday little man!

notice the details

2011-02-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

listen to what your life is trying to tell you. this is the second point in 'the art of creative thinking' by julieanne kost. i take this as a cue to notice the details, beauty and people around you. take them in and listen to their message. don't fight what your heart and soul are trying to tell you. if something feels right but was not your original plan, go with it. sometimes taking the path less traveled leads to amazing discoveries.

i am learning more and more to listen to what is in my heart, notice the details and delight in them. i am learning to take the path less traveled and that it is okay to stray from the masses. i am learning to soar and be my authentic self.

we had a light dusting of snow this morning here in colorado so i took my camera outside determined to notice the details. it's amazing how there is beauty hidden in the drab and grey morning. a little searching and listening and the details popped right out.

new in my shop

2011-02-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

these handmade resin bezel were just listed in my etsy shop. each one is handcrafted from silver and ready to be filled with anything you can imagine. mixed media such as photos, flowers, herbs, small images, colored resin and more work well. many additional designs will be trickling in so come back often!

master your tools

2011-02-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

i recently came across a writing by julieanne kost entitled 'the art of creative thinking' which really got me excited about exploring the importance of creativity in my life. why do i have this need to be creative and what can i do to keep the creativity flowing?

in her writing julieanne lists several 'prompts' or exercises to help nourish the creative juices. i thought i would explore one of these exercises each week and see where it takes me. the first idea is to 'master your tools.' i took this to mean never stop learning, there is always room to explore and expand.

this one is not hard at all for me. i LOVE to learn new techniques or try a new spin on an existing one. i am always trying out something new. currently i am diving into photography and photoshop. i have always admired the artful blogs with beautiful photography and longed to be able to produce one for myself. the photos above are my latest attempts. they are all the same photo with different editing techniques. i am having a blast!

i am also very excited to be attending the makerie retreat in boulder this year. i am going to be doing a photography class as well as a painting class. two hobbies i can't get enough of lately.

hit the road

2011-02-17T15:45:00.001-08:00

running. it was another beautiful day here in colorado and i was finally able to get out and enjoy it with a great run. after a round of sickness and sub zero weather it has been awhile since i have been able to be outdoors for a run.

my training has officially started for the season. i am tentatively planning a sprint triathlon, an olympic triathlon and a half marathon. my choices are a bit limited this year with the entire family racing! my hubby and chase and natalie are also planning races which makes us on the go virtually every weekend. it's going to be one busy summer.

and after a good run what is better than cozy fuzzy socks...

and a gummy heart presented with a big smile and grubby hands?

bezels

2011-02-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

here is a quick look at what i have been working on. these are all handmade silver bezels, some with a back and some with an open back. i filled each with resin mixed with fibers for texture and color. i then added some more color and drawings with india ink pens. finally i added another thin layer of clear resin to seal everything. i am happy with some of them and would change some things about others but in general i am so excited to continue with this technique. there are so may possibilities.

father daughter dance

2011-02-13T17:50:00.001-08:00

this weekend my husband and daughter attended their first father and daughter dance at natalie's school. natalie was so excited to go. there was the getting dressed up, having a date with dad and going to see all her friends. we spent forever curling her hair which really doesn't take curl but she insisted, so of course i was game. we dressed her up and accessorized her. put on lip gloss and sparkly shoes. the princess was ready. ready for photos.

the things about natalie is that, in general she is a shy girl. that is until you point a camera at her, then she turns into a complete ham. i love that! it makes for some great photos and since it probably won't last forever, i'm taking advantage of it. the photos below are not great quality (artificial light and un-trained photographer) but they show her quirky personality.

playing with photoshop

2011-02-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

i have finally started the journey of learning the endless possibilities of photoshop. i have had a desire to learn how to use it for years but never knew where to start. i actually downloaded the free trial version last year and attempted to play but was just too overwhelmed.

this time, armed with books from the library and amazing tutorials from the kim klassen cafe, i have made some headway. i call tell already that it will become another creative addiction.

to practice, i grab a few photos from freeflowerimages.com and tried several different techniques. take a look at a few of my first projects.

dreaming of spring

2011-02-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

with a wind chill of -25 one day and extended cold here in colorado i have been dreaming of spring. i put together this treasury of yummy cherry lime colors. enjoy!

cherry limeade

doodling on resin

2011-02-02T17:58:00.001-08:00

here is a quick sneak peak at some of the new pieces i am working on. this line is going to consist of handmade silver and/or steel bezel frames which are then filled with resin and doodles.

some of them will have colored resin, most with several colors and others will have clear resin with india ink doodles and drawings. it's going to be a fun way to add a bit of color and fun.

they will debut in my etsy shop soon. stay tuned!

why do you run?

2011-01-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

i was inspired by a question posed by tribal running on twitter to explain why you run in 25 words or less. there are many reason why i run from spiritual to health to vanity. here are my 25 words on why i run. why do you run?

running crops

2011-01-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

i need (or i should probably say want) some new knee length running tights for this upcoming training season. a pair that covers the knees but are longer than capris. ones that make my butt look tight and firm. one that make me look fast. ones that make me look fashionable.

here are my six fabulous finds, what do you think?

1. title nine kinesio capri

2. pearl izumi aurora splice knicker

3. lucy propel knee pant

4. athleta quick step capri

5. addidas by stella mccartney run performance 3/4 tights

6. lululemon hustle crop

kids winter swim meet

2011-01-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

all three of my kids are part of the kids that tri youth triathlon team that my husband coaches here in colorado. today they had a swim meet for the team. it is so inspiring to me to watch these amazing kids. they have created such a tight knit team who cheer for each other, encourage each other, respect each other and laugh with each other. they have trained together for months and will race together this summer and beyond. some will be doing their first triathlon, some have done multiple races. some are racing to finish and others are racing to qualify for nationals. one things is true of all of them, they are winners in every sense.

chase

natalie

kaden

one of a kind gemstone necklaces

2011-01-26T08:30:00.001-08:00

here are a few of the one of a kind gemstone necklaces that will be going to galili designs. they were a lot of fun to make as i don't usually do a lot of gemstone work. these sell very well with galili's clientele at the gallery but would move pretty slowly on an online site. i am lucky that i get to dabble in a little bit of everything.

i have been working on some new artist series pieces that i will be unveiling soon!

candy gems

2011-01-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

don't they look yummy? these are my latest fun gemstones from a supplier in india. they are so sparkly that i can't wait to use them. these will be used to make some one of a kind, higher end pieces for a gallery in breckenridge, colorado. i will post photos of some finished products.

peace and love painting

2011-01-25T20:44:00.000-08:00

we recently updated my daughters bedroom as she has gotten older and outgrown the pink and fairies that resided there before. her latest favorite color is teal along with all the other bold and bright colors. her request was for a 'peace' room. she wanted peace signs and bright colors.

we went with this theme and i decided to paint a peace sign wall hanging for her and here is what i came up with. i had a collection of cardboard coffee cozy wraps that I had been saving because i know there was something i could do with them. here they make up the peace sign. i also used patterned paper, paint and several different items for texture. it turned out great and fits perfectly in her new room.

new bike sprocket necklace

2011-01-25T19:51:00.001-08:00

here is a new necklace or charm for all the cycling enthusiasts. this bike sprocket necklace is made from fine silver and hand finished for a rustic look. it measures .75" in diameter.

youth triathlon team at ironkids national championship

2011-01-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

they did it! congratulations to the 9 members of our youth triathlon team who qualified for and took part in the ironkids national championship race this past weekend. what a wonderful time they had it st. petersburg, florida. they spent some great time together as a team and raced hard! i am so proud of this group of young triathletes. not only are they promising athletes but they are great people.

i'm also extremely proud that 2 of my own kids where part of the team. way to go chase and natalie!

Tri for the Cure Expo

2010-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is a busy weekend for me. I will be at the Tri for the Cure expo at Bicycle Village in Aurora, CO all day on Saturday. Come by and see my collection of handmade triathlon jewelry! It is always a fun time to connect with such inspiring women.

Even better, on Sunday I will be participating in the Tri for the Cure sprint triathlon for women. It should be a great time among strong women and friends (as long as I don't drown). I will have photos from the expo and race early next week.

triathlon necklace

2010-07-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

i am currently directing my energies into making 100+ pieces of triathlon jewelry. for several years of have supported tri for the cure here in denver. i will be at the pre-race expo with triathlon necklaces, bracelets and more. the expo is at bicycle village in aurora, colorado on july 31st. it is always one of my favorite events of the year. i meet and interact with so many strong and inspiring women.

i am challenging myself to come up with several new designs for this year. here is a sneak peak at one of my first.

now i need to find the time to both make all these pieces and fit in my training (i think i have avoided the need to swim more as much as possible, i need to get my butt in the water). i will also be racing at the tri for the cure this year. it will be a busy but fun, fun weekend.

etsy treasury!

2010-06-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

a big thanks to kristen from mandrin design and fellow top 50 etsy mom by babble.com for including my hope necklace in her celebration treasury.

top 50 etsy mom site!

2010-06-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

i am so excited to have been named on of 50 top etsy mom sites by babble.com. babble is an extensive site for parenting, including information for the new generation of parents on raising kids, food, celebrity, products and more.

cnk designs was ranked #3 in best jewelry, quite an honor considering the other great sites out there. take a look at all 50 top sites and support these amazing moms.

custom work

2010-06-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

i have been making a lot of custom mother's and grandmother's necklaces lately. here is a peek at a few.

my lucky day at the poppy tree

2010-06-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

i have been diving into the world of mixed media painting lately and i am loving it. the other day i ran across the etsy shop the poppy tree. here i found wonderful whimsical paintings and prints done by kelly ann. kelly ann creates cute and quirky characters in her beautifully done art. i quickly became a fan and added the poppy tree to my favorites in etsy.

then a short time later i got an exciting conversation email from the poppy tree herself, kelly ann. i had been her 5000 etsy heart for her shop (that's a hugh accomplishment!). in order to celebrate kelly ann was giving away to lucky me a print of my choice. it was a hard decision because i love them all but i finally settled on 'dandelion wish' shown above. i received it the other day and it is as amazing as it looks. a big thanks and congratulations to the poppy tree!

stop by and take a look at kelly ann's work, you won't be disappointed.

blooming!

2010-06-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

i was so excited this weekend to notice that i had some blooming poppies. i planted these poppies about 2 years ago and they have never bloomed, i'm not sure why. so i was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful blooms. they inspired me to take a tour through the yard to capture a few blooms. so many of these are inspiration for either jewelry pieces or paintings. enjoy!

the poppies!

lupine

colorado wildflowers

roxborough art fest

2010-06-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

if you are in the denver area come on out to the roxborough art fest this weekend. the festival runs from 11-5 both saturday and sunday. there are 65 vendors present plus face painting, petting zoo and parade for the kids. make a day of it and enjoy a hike in beautiful roxborough state park.

i have a booth along with my friend noelle from paper and ice who is selling beautiful handmade cards, giftboxes and more.

roxborough art fest

2010-06-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

here is where i will be all weekend.

come join the fun if you are near by...art, craft, food, music and parade!

field day!

2010-05-31T17:15:00.001-07:00

the end of the school year means lots of activities, hence, you are seeing a lot of my kids on the blog lately because my life the past couple of weeks has been consumed with end of season soccer parties, preschool graduation, the wedding of q & u in kindie class and two field days. we were lucky to have beautiful weather for both fields days (primary school one day and intermediate school the next). it was incredible fun for all the kids and of course the popsicle at the end was loved by all.

i am really enjoying my two new iphone apps for taking photos lately.

the first three pictures were taken with the hipstamatic app and the second three were taken with the camerabag app. i highly recommend both, so much fun!

treasury!

2010-05-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

thanks so much to my fellow etsy metal clay member Lorena for including

my 'strength' necklace in her verde y rojo treasury.

silver and concrete strength necklace

first kids triathlon of the season!

2010-05-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

my husbands youth triathlon team, kids that tri, did their first race of the season today. they participated in tri the rock in castle rock, colorado. the group consisted of 20 athletes ranging in age from 13 to 4, including my two, chase (8) and natalie (6). some of them are pretty experienced but many were doing their first ever triathlon. they had so much fun and have become such great friends, the parents are amazingly supportive and encouraging and the kids have just blossomed into little athletes. i had an absolute blast watching them!

chase and natalie, the little triathletes

natalie before the swim

little bro kaden enjoying an apple

chase at the finish, those are aunt lesley's clapping hands

natalie at the finish of her first ever triathlon

work to be done!

2010-05-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

here is a look at my jewelry bench at the moment. it is littered with finished metal pieces that now need to be assembled into actual wearable jewelry. i will add chains, strings some beads, wire wrap the gemstone or stitch them to leather.

these pieces will go towards fulfilling a wholesale order or become stock for an upcoming art fest at which i will have a booth.

kindie field trip

2010-05-07T12:14:00.001-07:00

i was able to go with my daughters kindergarten class to Lowell Ranch in Castle Rock, Colorado on an all day field trip this week. i say i was able because the amount of parent involvement in our community schools is totally amazing. they have so many volunteers it comes down to a lottery system to determine who gets to go.

we spent the day on this large working farm learning about bees, making butter, planting seeds and interacting with the animals. the highlight for natalie was seeing all the little chicks chirping happily under the heat lamps, apparently i was enjoying them as well, i forgot to snap a picture.

the kiddos feeding cowboy the horse

this is oreo, he joined our group on the tour, following us everywhere we went. apparently he is a great escape artist.

daisy the cow

my great group of kindies, natalie, whitney, sam, joey and evelyn

custom work

2010-05-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

here are a couple of photos of some recent custom work i have done. i really enjoy doing custom work and making pieces that are going to be really meaningful to the wearer.

hand etched tandem bike

back (how sweet!)

this personalized charm necklace was uses mixed metals and script lettering

soccer marathon

2010-05-01T19:30:00.001-07:00

what a day today! we left the house at 7:15 am and did not return until 5:00 pm. in that time we fit in 3 soccer games, 4 errands, picnic lunch and triathlon swim practice. i don't think we have ever had a day this packed with non stop going before. the three soccer games and triathlon practice were spaced just far enough apart that there wasn't time to go home but plenty of down time that we needed to fill. in the end, we survived and the kids behaved exceptionally well but me, i'm exhausted!

some action shots...

chase going after the ball, playing striker

natalie about to shoot it in the goal, playing with the boys

kaden (white), don't let the size deceive you, he has the speed

waiting to plant!

2010-04-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

Here are all my little seedlings patiently waiting to be planted. The weather in Colorado is not cooperating too well right now. It is expected to freeze the next couple of nights so I guess I won't be doing any planting this weekend. I have a mixture of annuals, perennials and vegetables to plant.

We live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where the deer like to graze. Our yard is frequent feeding grounds so I have been slowly replacing all existing plants that the deer really love with plants they are less likely to eat. I am hoping that one day my apple tree will be tall enough that the deer can't reach it!
The Colorado State flower is the Columbine which is not only beautiful but the deer leave it alone.

where you will find me

2010-03-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

i have made a few plans to exhibit at some art fairs and expos for 2010. you can find me at one of these great events.

Roxborough Park Spring Arts Fest

June 5th and 6th

11 am to 5 pm

Haney Park

Roxborough Colorado

www.roxborough-park.com

Tri for the Cure Expo

July 31st

9 am to 3 pm

Bicycle Village

Aurora Colorado

www.triforthecure-denver.org

etsy front page!

2010-03-17T08:10:00.003-07:00

my 'pals' necklace made it to the front page on etsy last night. it was an alternate but did manage to make it all the way. thanks etsy!

more mixed media painting

2010-03-13T18:21:00.001-08:00

so continues my love affair with paint and color. lately i could spend all day glueing, painting, cutting, smearing and dreaming. i have a need to redecorate my life with bright, happy colors.

this painting is on canvas and i used acrylic paint, oil paint, paper, floss, ink and fibers.

dream in color

new stuff!

2010-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

i have finally been making some time to list some new items in my shop. more will be trickling in this month. i am pleased with how these turned out. i have been having requests for some bigger pieces so i have been exploring and experimenting a bit more. enjoy!

courage, strength and beauty necklace

rustic bloom necklace

quiet strength necklace

wholesale pieces

2010-02-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

here are a few pieces that are off to Galili Designs in Breckenridge. i have been having fun working with raw, uncut, organic and recycled glass beads lately. now i just need to find the time to add some of these new designs to my website...

painting!

2010-02-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend working on this mixed media painting. It measures 22 x 24". I used acrylic paint, paper, cardboard, ink and charcoal. It was just what I needed, it was a definite soul soother. I'm so excited to do more soon!

newest retail partner

2010-01-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

i'm so excited to have another local retail location. this amazing gallery in breathtaking breckenridge colorado now carries my handcrafted jewelry and hand painted artist jewelry boxes. galili designs is located right on south main street in breckenridge and carries an amazing collection of artisan jewelry, paintings and mixed media.

resolutions

2010-01-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

okay, i'm a little behind put i did finally think about what i would like to accomplish in this grand new year. here is what i will accomplish in 2010...

- i'm actually going to pay attention to this blog and post at least twice a week

- i have a plan and schedule for all the art festivals i will be doing this year. it will be a first for the actual plan

- i will also be working on improving the presentation of my tables at these fairs. i want something both unique and memorable.

- get a good haircut. my hair is always in a ponytail or confined in some way. i need a glorious haircut that makes me feel beautiful. a good color would be nice too.

- get back to lifting weights regularly. i have not been so good at this the last year as i have gotten busier with work and i can tell. time to put a little muscle back on.

- paint! i am having so much fun with this new obsession. i want to expand my knowledge and spend a lot of time experimenting.

- take a fun family vacation. it's always fun to take the kids out for new adventures.

fruit!

2010-01-08T18:27:00.001-08:00

for several months we have been part of an organic food coop. in this very short time i have become an organic fruit and veggie snob. it's amazing how flavorful and juicy it is. the outside may not look as pretty but inside it is heavenly. you can certainly tell the difference from non organic store bought fruit and vegetables. i can only image that this also means really good things about the nutrient content also!
i also love not having to shop for the items in the store. i pick up our selections once a week from a nearby neighbors who have volunteered to be the area delivery location.

the medium fruit box from colorado door to door organics

we use door to door organics who we have been extremely happy with. the selection is always excellent and we are able to make substitutions or skip a week if we are on vacation. even better they work with our local PTA and make sizable donations for every box that is purchases. it's simple and so so good. check them out and see if they offer service in your area.

new in my shop - artisan jewelry boxes

2010-01-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

every girl needs a pretty place to keep her treasures. these new handmade jewelry boxes do the job perfectly. each box is a one of a kind hand painted piece of art. new boxes will be added regularly so check back often.

Treasury!

2009-12-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lori from Moda Di Mago for including my mixed disc necklace in her List Full of Wish treasury.

I'm honored to be included among these talented ladies who are all members of the Etsy Metal Clay team.

frog!

2009-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

thanks to foundhandmade.com for featuring my frog prince necklace in their frog blog!

be sure to browse through their many categories for your handmade holidays!

new book

2009-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

i'm proud to say that my husbands second book is now available!

here is a short description:

Burn more fat and conserve precious carbohydrate stores while reducing the likelihood of gastrointestinal (GI) distress. That’s the simple bottom line of this book. Metabolic efficiency describes the relationship between fat and carbohydrate oxidation across a variety of exercise intensities. Many athletes are extremely inefficient at using their almost unlimited fat stores as energy during exercise and rely too much on very limited carbohydrate stores.

The purpose of Metabolic Efficiency Training: Teaching the Body to Burn More Fat is to provide athletes of all ages, abilities and sports sound nutrition and training concepts that will improve the body’s ability to burn fat. This book will provide very specific nutrition and exercise recommendations that will guide you through each training cycle with the end goal of improving your ability to use fat as fuel. Gone are the days of needing to consume a high amount of calories during training and competition. By improving your body’s metabolic efficiency, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of calories you need during exercise. The end result will be improved health and performance with significantly reduced chances of GI distress.

To order your copy, visit fuel4mance.com and click on "Books/DVDs".

my new kitchen

2009-11-16T17:25:00.000-08:00

months ago i decided that my kitchen cabinets REALLY needed to be refinished. i also have a lot of cabinets (i love that about my kitchen), so having them refinished was going to cost a bit of money. being the diy addict that i am, i decided i could do them myself. months and months later they are done! i love how they turned out.

this is what they looked like before. plain oak, no hardware and sun damaged

here is what they look like after

here is what i did:

- took off all the door and sanded them and the cabinet frames

- primed everything

- painted on 4 coats of canvas corp cabinet and furniture paint with a brush and then smoothed with a roller (8 hours of drying between each coat)

- added walnut gel stain in the recessed areas and edges (rubbed it on and let sit for 1-2 minutes

and then rubbed it back off)

- painted on 3 coats of matte polyurethane

- added hardware and rehung the doors

i also added a chalk board on the end of one cabinet as a message center

i love the end result and now i'm thinking a new facet and refinishing the floors would make them look even better...

recent custom work

2009-11-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

here is a look at some of the custom orders i have been working on this month. i love being challenged to try new things.

stacking organic mothers rings

large bronze triathlon key ring charms

leather and african trade beads necklace

family crest and bike necklace

halloween!!

2009-11-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

here are my scary little monsters on halloween

racecar driver Kaden

sweet little witch Natalie

Birdman (aka Chase)

snow days

2009-10-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

we have had some crazy snow in colorado the last couple of days. where i live in the foothills we have gotten somewhere between 25 and 30 inches of snow. this does not usually happen in october!

the kids have had two snow days in a row, it's still snowing so who knows maybe we will have 3 snow days in october, more than we usually have in a year.

we have been snowed in so what have we done to pass the time. here is a list:

- cleaned out the basement, and i mean clean - everything

- moved my studio to the newly cleaned basement so i can spread more, i've added a painting station

- set up a homework/computer station for the kids in my old studio space

- built a wicked sledding ramp

- drank hot chocolate

- made chili and cornbread

- lots of drawing and coloring

- spent some time on my blog, finally

- watched hannah montana the movie

- watched the denver nuggets beat the jazz

i really enjoy these unexpected days of time together.

mixed media class

2009-10-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

i am currently taking a mixed media art class at suzi blu's les petit academy. the class is petit dolls and here is a look at my first drawings and shading work.

i am so excited to work more with color. i love working with metal but it is not always easy to incorporate color and everyone needs a little color in their lives.

i am hoping to you some of my original artwork in some of my jewelry designs. i am having a blast so far...stay tuned.

one sad dog

2009-10-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

well, our overly friendly dog Koda had a little accident about a week ago. he insists on jumping up on the fence to say 'hi' to anybody who might pass by. our fence is a split rail fence with the wire attached to keep certain critters in and others out. koda apparently sliced his leg good on this wire fencing and had to make a trip to the emergency room for stitches. stitches in his leg mean a cone for his head, a fact that he is not too happy about but quite amusing for the rest of us.

so this sad little dog has managed to escape from his cone twice and proceed to chew off the tabs that are used to strap it around his next. he is smart about it too. he goes out in the backyard down below the retaining wall where we can't see him and does the deed down there.
now he not only has to wear a cone on his head but he is also not allowed outside by himself anymore. this is going to be a long 3 weeks!

etsy front page

2009-10-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

yay!! my 'dream' necklace made it to the front page of etsy.

More Great Things

2009-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

I am proud to say that CnK Designs' Hearts Desire bracelet has been selected as the item of the hour on Artfire. Artfire is an online marketplace for handmade goods from artisans around the world. Once a again I am thrilled and honored by the recognition of my work.

ITEM OF THE HOUR
BY: cnkdesigns
Hearts Desire bracelet

Featured!

2009-02-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled that my Join Together necklace was chosen to be featured on the icraft home page banner. It is quite an honor. They did such a wonderful job with the picture that I am going to have to figure out how to do this for all of my photos!

Sledding

2009-02-02T15:21:00.001-08:00

The thrill of sledding! It apparently does not diminish with age. I had so much fun sledding with my family on our last mountain getaway vacation. We had some great tracks and jumps going by the second day.

My family along with my sister's family and the grandparents all spent a good 4 days up in Keystone Colorado doing some skiing, sledding, snowshoeing and swimming. The kids had the most fun with the swimming and sledding, both of which we had to do every day we were there. Me, I enjoyed the peaceful snowfall, the lack of a schedule and being together with the extended family.

Someday I am going to have my own mountain home which I can escape to a few times a year. I am a mountain girl at heart.

Facelift

2009-01-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

If you have visited CnK Designs on Etsy or Artfire recently you have noticed a change. I have changed the look of my studio a bit, a new more colorful, more me banner as well as a new logo and a few new items. I wanted to make these studios represent me and my work the best way possible.

In addition to these changes, my blog has moved to here to blogger. I will be keeping you up to date on all things Wendy and CnK Designs with short and sweet posts. You can sign-up for my newsletter and find links to my favorite things.

My website at www.cnk-designs.com will be shut down for now. I have been spreading myself too thin trying to keep too many sites up-to-date. I will be concentrating my efforts on the handmade markets of Etsy and Artfire. I respect all that they do for us artists and enjoy being part of that community. This will allow me to focus my time on creating - the part I love most.

Why Handmade?

2009-01-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Buying handcrafted goods has become a way of life for me. Why? Handcrafted items are unique, artistic, well made and absolutely fun. The pillow on my sofa is not going to be the same as the house three doors down. The necklace around my neck has personal meaning to me and those handmade soaps, love them! As buyhandmade.org puts it, "The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left people all dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. Buying handmade helps them reconnect."

Four great reasons to buy handmade:

1. Unique products.
Handcrafted products are truly unique and many are one-of-a-kind. Artisans draw on their individual backgrounds and experiences when developing and creating. The items are made with love, care and thought.

2. Not mass produced.
Handcrafted products can't be produced overseas or on a production line. We are helping to establish a new economic model when we buy handmade. Crafters also often use recycled materials.

3. Superior quality.
The artist is personally involved in each piece and delivers honestly made merchandise at a honest prices. Products are not marked up purely for their label, but they're priced to sustain a living for the maker.

4. Support artisans.
Because somewhere out there in the world, you are helping sustain someone while fulfilling their DREAMS of being a painter, sculptor, milliner, printmaker, etc. without their having to worry about applying in a big corporation only to be told that "You're not what we're looking for at the moment."

If you would like to see 101 more reasons to buy handmade visit poppytalk
an online street market of handmade goods.

You can also inspire yourself and others to buy handmade by taking the handmade pledge.

New Retail Partner

2009-01-15T10:01:00.001-08:00

CnK Designs is happy to announce it's newest retail partner. Polka Dot Patch Boutique is an online boutique with a trendy collection of baby clothes and gifts, mother's gifts and eco friendly items. Polka Dot Patch boutique is dedicated to support artisans and designers who create handcrafted and unique items. You will find a great selection of handcrafted, fun and funky items for your kids or yourself. Visit Polka Dot Patch Boutique today to browse the handmade selections.

Ready for the Season

2009-01-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

Race season that is. Training will be starting for many athletes soon. Runners, cyclists, triathletes and more are getting excited for a new season of setting PRs. CnK Designs is ready for the season also. We have you covered for your race memorabilia. Triathlon, marathon, half-marathon and more. Many pieces may also be customized to the race.

Visit CnK Designs to ship Triathlon and Marathon Jewelry.

About Me

2009-01-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

hi, i'm wendy. i am...

- a creator of jewelry. i work with silver, bronze and steel. all my work is completely hand created and custom work is happily excepted.

- aspiring painter. i have recently jumped into painting and love, love, love it! i am so inspired by the talented artists out there. i was always scared to try but so glad i did.

- wife to a wonderful husband. married 13 years to my best friend. my husband bob is an awesome athlete, sport dietician, coach and friend to all the kids in the neighborhood.

- mother of 3 kids and one dog. i have a 9 years son, 6 year old daughter, 5 year old son and 2 year old boxer/lab. they keep me busy, busy and blanketed in love.

- athlete. i love to trail run and train for marathons and triathlons. it keeps me sane.

- i also... love how my house looks for that 2 minutes it's all pick up and clean. addicted to so you think you can dance. love to read. addicted to caffeine. love where i live in the beautiful foothills of colorado. have two great sisters. can't live without my iphone. am always redecorating the house. love diy projects. wish i were a better photographer, or at least remembered to bring the camera once in awhile. spend 8 hours a week at my children's various practices. love to garden.

contact me

2009-01-08T13:57:00.001-08:00

i would love to hear from you!

cnk designs
po box 270644
littleton, co 80127

wendyseebohar@yahoo.com

303-242-7956

Press

2009-01-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

As seen on.

Etsy Metal Clay Team

2009-01-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to now be part of the MetalClay team on Etsy. This is a team of talented artist who work together to educated and promote each other’s work. To become a part of the team I had to apply and be voted in based on my work and participation. As you can imagine, I am very excited to be invited to join.

You can learn more about the Etsy MetalClay team at our blog http://www.etsymetalclay.blogspot.com/. Here you will find information on members, metalclay tutorials, tips and more.

Etsy MetalClay is a global group of jewelry artists and designers using silver, gold and bronze metal clays to create their work. We strive to make innovative, unique, and boundary pushing designs -embracing both modern technology and old world traditions.

Wholesale

2009-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your interest in CnK Designs. Please review the information below if you are interested in a wholesale account.

CnK Designs only sells to qualified wholesale customers. You will be asked to supply information about your business as well as a Tax ID#. We currently sell to both Brick and Mortar and online retailers.

Please contact Wendy for more wholesale information at wendyseebohar@yahoo.com

Retail Locations

2009-01-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

You can find CnK Designs at these great retail locations.

Believe in Balance

www.believeinbalance.com

Finish Line Charms

www.finishlinecharms.com

Earth Studio
31 North Main Street
Moab, UT 84532
www.earthstudiomoab.com/

Galili Designs

400 S. Main Street

Breckenridge, CO 80424

Polka Dot Patch Boutique

Barre, VT
www.polkadotpatch.com/

CWW Women's Triathlon Boutique

Boulder, CO
www.cww-triathlon.org