oregon coasting: begins.

i love beer.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so, we headed off down the Oregon coast.
what a drive!
it has been seriously incredible!
(photos can only describe...)

we lunched at the Pelican Pub & Brewery.
where I sampled a beer flight.
yum!
I think this should be more common!
it's so fun trying all the different kinds!

(Brent...good idea for Redlight for sure!)

the drive was made even more wonderful by my 5 cd Oregon Coasting collection.
o yes.
it has been a perfect mix so far!
every genre imaginable!
(available for purchase when i get back to FL.)
heehee...

so after our yummy lunch...we always split our food!
so we both get to taste everything!
we kept heading south to Newport!

Mariah's gracious friend let us stay in her beach house,
literally...right on the beach!
we went walking for over 2 hours this morning!

anyway, plenty more to come,
with LOTS more photos!

but it's bedtime now.
the mead has kicked in....


xo.

erika&jess' nite out.

erika&jess
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

don't you love the kind of friends that you just click with no matter what?

she's one of em.
since so, so long ago.
it's so special.



we had a lovely nite out last saturday.
lots of giggling.
(it's what we do best)
some whiskey was involved.
and my aunt's cookies!
haha.

well....as of now I'm out on the coast of Oregon.
Good grief...its breathtaking. literally.

editing those pics now.

(like i said, i think the best way to keep track of me is to check out the flickr!)

but I'm having a blast in Oregon.
again, I can't thank my aunt enough for this trip.
it has really meant so much.

she's sitting across from me at our little table now.
editing her aquarium photos...
(phenomenal! we had a blast...those pics will be coming!)
having a red wine, while I sip on my hot mead!
we are 2 of a kind for sure.
I'm so blessed to have her back in my life.

I love you Mariah.


xo.

huckleberry shake!

huckleberry hound : 2
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

had to throw this in too!

huckleberry shakes rule.


that is all.

alpaca!

feeding time!
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so then we were on to an alpaca farm!
(mind you, this is all in one day!)

so now i also want an alpaca!
they hum to their babies!
its so soothing, we were in the "maternity ward",
and it was just full of hums.

and their fur is as soft as cashmere,
and not itchy at all like wool.
there was a fabulous red beanie i wanted...
but perhaps i could get some alpaca yarn and a certain friend of mine could make me a hat from it...heehee!

it was fun.
when we left, my aunt and I discussed the humor in the fact that we were enjoying all these simple, kinda cheesy, touristy things.
but we were! so much!

we met so many awesome people.
and heard their stories, and how they are making it with a small family run business.
it's very inspiring.
and comforting.
there are people who are still just people.
living life.
happy with what they have.

lavender pirate.

lavender pirate : 2
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

ok so i'm sure i'm like alot of folks.
lavender seems super girly to me!
and i think the only time i've smelled it has been some fake candle or lotion.

but wow.
i am so hooked on real lavender.

we went to an organic lavender farm so i could pick some!
fresh! from the plants!

i'm drying it out now.
to make a tincture!
and a room/linen spray from that!

like before, lots more lavender pics if you click on the photo and continue on to flickr!

xo.

purrfect.

purrfect.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

i want this cat.

on our way...

on our way...
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

to Mt. Hood and the Fruitloop!

it's so cool to see terrain like this.
all i'm used to in florida are billboards, billboards, billboards.

macro: pink crazy flower

macro: pink crazy flower
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

the also had AMAZING flowers at the hatchery!

all the buildings were original.
it's like the oldest hatchery or something!

fish hatchery.

through the looking glass.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

we went to the bonneville dam and fish hatchery.

they have a sturgeon there that is ten feet long!!!

its crazy!

i'm getting really good at writing alot for each photo in flickr.
so click on the photo to read more fun stuff about my adventures!

xo.

yes i'm catching up on blogging today.

eat your heart out uncle rico.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so today was jam-packed with sight-seeing!
whew!

i am pooped!

but i really would love to get alot of my pics up tonite.

i tried to write alot on each of the pics on flickr.
so check that stuff out if you want.

this was from our first stop:
Multnomah Falls

so pretty!!

so click on to see more pics and some tidbits of info about the falls.

plenty more to come from today...
petting zoo (which consisted of seven goats and one sheep)
lavender farm (can you say i'm completely obsessed with the stuff!)
alpaca farm (i want one)
a pregnant kitty
sturgeon (the fish)


o yeah and to start it all off,
as we are pulling off onto the first exit,
i look to our left and there is a body on the side of the road.
yeah a human body!
so we pull over and decide it would be best to call the authorities,
considering we are 2 ladies and i don't have my knife on me.
ha.
so we end up calling 911 and as we are waiting an old dude pulls up to see whats going on,
he won't go over and see if the guy is ok either!
(which i thought was kind of redic, but considering the times we live in, i can understand)
so an Oregon State Trooper pulls up in a minute or 2.
she walks over to the body, and when she is about 3 feet away the dude jumps straight up to his feet!!
i almost peed in my pants.
i was starting to get upset and feel really bad about not going over to help the person...
but i'm glad we didn't cos who knows!!

we didn't hang around to see what his deal was,
maybe he was drunk and passed out,
maybe he was napping,
maybe he was conducting a social experiement.
we will never know!


but i do know that it does really suck that no one else stopped.
no one would go over.
what a world.
it's kinda sad.


ok.
sorry to put a damper on things!
sturgeon pics are next!
(those are those huge bottom feeders,
huge like ten feet long and 650 lbs!
i like to call them scoundrels.
as i told the hubby on the phone tonite...
hahah. yes i totally meant scavengers,
but i do like scoundrels much better!)

xo.

pod.

pod.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

click on the photo to see it larger!

and we saw harbor seals too!

and a bald eagle!

orca ahoy!

orca ahoy!
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so the next day we went whale watching!!

it was so incredible.
seriously, words cannot describe.
i had some sort of spiritual experience out there.
freaking amazing.

we were surrounded by the J pod.
one side of the boat, there were a few not 100 feet away!!
just cruising along..in and out of the water.

then over to our right, a group of atleast 6 were splashing and playing around like dolphins!
it was a sight to see!
really one of the neatest things ever.

i got some great photos too.
i borrowed my aunts zoom lens.

and right as we were leaving,
one flipped out of the water, a total 180!
and jumped back in with his tail splashing around,
just like a dolphin.....which they are by the way.
i was speechless.

xo.

ferry to Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

then on sunday we took a ferry to the San Juan Islands,
to go whale watching!!!

the ferry was fun in itself.

we stayed out there for 2 days.
it's so neat how some people live out there,
they take boats or the ferry to work.
it's beautiful!

our hotel was about a mile out of town,
and we decided to hoof it.
bad idea with bags full of cameras and computers!
nerd alert! haha.

as for the hotel...
i've got 2 words to describe it,
and you'll only get it if you are a SNL fan:
Welshly Arms.

hahaha. o yes.
hot tub and everything!
and i think swimsuits were optional!


"....although the waters look calm from above,
below is a frenzy of activity...."

bahahahhahahah!!

(you tube it if you don't get it.)

me in the igloo o' bottles!

me in the igloo o' bottles!
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

one of the coolest things at bumbershoot!

recycled plastic bottle igloo!!

i want one!!

click on the photo to go to my flickr and see how the outside looked!

BFF circa 1986

erika & me.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

she's one of those really really special ones.

5 dolla flowers

5 dolla flowers : 2
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

freaking beautiful!

the market is full of them!
i wish i coulda sent some to my mom & gramma!!

most amazing wall ever!

most amazing wall ever : 2
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

one day it will be mine,
o yes...one day it will be mine.

Seattle!

postcard.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

ok so i've been slacking on the blogging...
but not the flickring!
click on this photo to see tons more of my trip!

so...
let's see...

we went to Seattle for 2 nites.
it was awesome!
as the story goes...
i got into Bumbershoot to vend!
super exciting! pretty much got the last booth they had.
but unfortunately we just couldn't make the funds work to pay for it.
but my wonderful aunt decided to keep our hotel reservations,
and we went for the day saturday.

Erika, one of my childhood pals, was going to be there too,
with her boyfriend, who was vending there.
he makes AMAZING recycled belt cuffs.
so cool.
i wish he had a website so i could send you to it!

we got to Seattle on friday, and walked around town a bit,
went to Pike Place Market!
(i'll put up some of the market pics as well...but you should prolly just check out my whole flickr!)
i had the most amazing bowl of clam chowder.
(it's not supposed to be thick!!)
saw the space needle and took fun pics there.

then we Bumbershoot-ed all day saturday.
it was a madhouse!
super fun.
saw some bands, checked out a bunch of indie artist,
i'm definitely doing it next year!
it would be so worth it!

so i'll post a few more seattle pics now!

xoxo.

LAST THURSDAY on Alberta St.

first day in Portland.
wow.
great so far.
had to get a new power cord for my computer...my old one completely broke!
ugh.

(i'm staying with my aunt Mariah here...she's awesome)

so we went to get the cord, and then stopped at a sweet Goodwill on the way home!
i got some cords for 5 bucks! and a vintage skirt.
super cool.

then one of my oldest friends, Erika called me to tell me her friend would help me set up for a monthly event they have on Alberta St. called Last Thursdays.
so we zipped home, grabbed my stuff and a table and headed back out.

it was a wonderful nite.
i didn't sell anything.
but just the appreciation was enough.
everyone that stopped said, o wow, this is so different, it's so great to see something different.
which is super encouraging considering where i was!
smack dab in the middle of the artsy fartsy district!

so then Erika stopped by with her adorable puppy!
she's amazing.

one thing that i could not get over, everyone smiled at me.
and it totally caught me off guard!
it was great!
people are so accepting and friendly.

so we stayed set up for a bit longer and then decided to pack up and just walk around.
there was a guy handing out fresh lavender,
which by the way might be my new favorite smell!
he had a huge bundle of it and was just giving out handfuls!
it's by my bed right now.
and smells amazing!
(i hear it relaxes you and is good for sleeping...)

so on that note, i'm out.
i'm super tired and still a tad jetlagged.
(so sorry if this post isn't too too creative.)

tomorrow we head to Seattle for Bumbershoot and whale watching!!

i'll be sure to get on the photos too!

xo.

long time no type...

PINKLIGHT 3
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

well.
i won't even try to catch up.
as of now i just arrived in Portland.
i'll be here for 3 weeks!
i'm staying with my aunt.
in the sweet 2nd story of an amazing house.
(pics to come...)

this one is from PinkLight Bazaar 3.
go to myspace.com/pinklightbazaar
to see what that's all about.

i only got 2 hours of sleep last nite.
so now it's nap time.

I'm going to try to keep my blog going for this trip.
that would be awesome.
we already ate at this killer little place the Tin Shed earlier.
I had the most amazing sweet potato french toast.
yummmmmmmm.

hope everyone in internet land is doing good.
sorry i bailed for a bit!

xo.Jess

avocado nest.

avocado nest.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

my avocado pits are sprouting!
i used to do this as a kid...
my mom kept them in the window sill of the kitchen.

i just moved again.
(maybe more on that later.
maybe not.)
so im working on some new jewelry tonite.
i made some killer leather & button necklaces.
i don't think i blogged them yet tho...
go to my flickr to check them out.

bout to go work on some more stuff!

hope everyone is wonderful in internet land...


xo.

sparkler.

happy 4th.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

happy 4th.

life.

Jake Thomas Messina : 6
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

is so complicated.
then you hold a baby.
and realize, that's all it's about really.




my new cousin: Jake Thomas Messina.










sorry for the lack of blog.
i'm having a hard time of late...


namaste.

new photos.

imperial.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so i got to photograph some new goods for etsy.
they came out pretty sweet.
im in the process of flickr-ing them now!


i especially like how this one came out.
the bracelet looks killer.
and i love how the colors pop.

sometimes it takes just as long to photograph
my stuff as it does to make it...
i enjoy that part just as much as i do creating the pieces.




i still need to do another resin pour.
just had a busy week so far.
my gramma had her last radiation treatment
for breast cancer yesterday!!
so we went over and hung out with her for the evening.
i went over early, and while my papa was out getting
some lunch, my gramma and i saw a hummingbird in her backyard.
now maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal, but,
understand that, hummingbirds are by far one of my gramma's
most favorite things on the planet.
she has alot of hummingbird decor, jewelry, etc.
so this little guy hung around for at least ten minutes.
came right up to the window where we were standing,
checked out all the new flowers my grandparent's had
recently planted, and even landed in a tree for a quick break.
it was cool, i don't care who you are.

but for us it was was way more than cool.
it was a good omen.

so that was amazing.


going to have dinner with M & V tonite.
venison & steak!
i love my brother the carnivore! haha.
i'm sure some wii-ing will follow,
possibly some alcohol consumption.
and hopefully photographic evidence!


xo.



o, and new STRAY goodness available on etsy today.

right now.

me : 6.16.08
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

this is me.

in the midst...

japanese owl!
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

of working on resin jewelry.
i want to get it just right...before i unveil it.


found this amazing japanese owl jar
at sal. army.
isn't she wonderful!
the perfect addition to my studio.
her and the deer lamp have become fast friends.
and the little wren isnt alone on the window sill.

new stray goodness up tomorrow...
and a second resin pour.


xo.jess

cast away...

resin & bone : 2
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

so here is the latest stray creation...
not complete, yet.

i cast squirrel bones in resin,
to make pendants.

they look amazing so far!
they are curing overnite,
and tomorrow ill have more pics!
i am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about this.
i have been wanting to try using resin for a long long time.

i also have these amazing pieces of flint from the lake my parents live on.
it's beautiful.
i think that will be a great addition to my resin series.


i also spotted a dead wasp in the driveway today!
he is now on my window sill...
awaiting the next pouring!
haha.



(by the way...
no animals were harmed in the making of this jewelry!
everything is a found object...)

meeting of the minds.

meeting of the minds : 1
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

bones getting prepped for my latest jewelry endeavor.

[layer] series.

[layer] die : 1
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

yay!

new stuff going up on etsy as i type!



i've started a new series: [layer]
super simple.
necklaces that look killer alone or.....wait for it.....layered!
mostly things i've collected that are awesome in their own right.
they just need a little help to become a sweet piece of jewelry.


i also just got everything i need for casting resin!
sooooooo excited about that!
i have big plans for my collection of animal bones!




hope all of you in internetland had a good weekend!




xo.

breakfast for dinner.

dinner : 6.4.08
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

mmmmm.

that's what i made for dinner last nite.
i was so not in the mood for the pasta i had planned.
this turned out to be fantastic.


did yoga and took the big-brindle-dog out for a 3.6 mile walk around a lake.
we actually ran some.
i thought we were going to melt.
tomorrow i'm attempting to walk before the yoga starts, around 7:30.
we shall see how that goes.



bout to finish up tagging all my vintage goodness to take to Etoile,
i'm meeting momma after she gets off work,
we are going to drop that stuff off,
then head to Ikea.
i LOVE ikea.
i especially love when my dad pushes me down deserted aisles on those amazing carts they have.
i thought we were going to get kicked out!
too bad dad's not going today.



so since i started my taking pics of food,
there hasn't been much else.
but i promise there will be!
and there will be some fabulous new STRAY goodies headed your way!
the studio is in order.
i have supplies out the ying-yang.
and some killer ideas!

xo.jess

perfection.

cherry garcia : 6.3.08
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

one serving size of cherry garcia.
heaven in a paper cup.

and i didn't eat the whole pint!

hahah.



had lunch with my grandparents today.
(have i mentioned how much i love being back in polk county...
i do. i love being so close to everyone i love.)
then me and gramma browsed around the bead shop next door.

my gramma was wearing a necklace i made her prolly 3 years ago.
lately, everytime i see her she has something on that i made.
geez. i just totally teared up thinking about that.
(i'm sure the PMSing has a little to do with that as well...)
they are so supportive.
of everyone. no matter what it is we are doing.
and my grandma is at the end of her breast cancer treatment.
they drive 30 minutes each way every morning.
but she always finds time for everyone.
they even came to my garage sale this weekend.
just to hang out and keep me company.
it's amazing.

i want to be like my gramma when i grow up.

old school.

who ordered a keg?
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

i posted a lot of old school pics on my flickr.



yay for memories!

xo.

yum.

breakfast : 6.3.08
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

blue.

breakfast : 6.3.08
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

yoga & blueberries started my day.
along with some way-to-expensive-but-o-so-delicious grapefruit juice.

i've been webpage editing...the new site is almost up!

i haven't been this happy with anything i've done graphically in a while.
so im super stoked!


perhaps the site will be up this afternoon.




errands to run today,
a queen sized bed piled high with vintage clothes, home decor & who knows what to price for ETOILE boutique.
new stuff im dying to work on.
and some laundry.


better get on it.

flight.

flight.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

this is my brother's girlfriend. v.

i love her like a sister.
this photo came out amazing so i had to blog it.


i love the movement.
and i love her foot in focus, grounding her.
and i love the indian.
and i love that she was dancing in this mexican dress while attempting to purge my life of uneeded crap.
totally sober.

thanks v.

o deer.

o deer.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

be jealous of my super awesome vintage deer lamp.
be very jealous.

new STRAY logo.

new STRAY logo.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

well, i just had a hugely successful yard sale.
i'd say $597 is worth sitting outside in the heat,
convincing people that they need things i deemed trash!


and i have been dreaming up a new logo for a week or 2 now.

so here it is.
one of a few.


the new STRAY chick.
in all her glory.


and now it's prolly time for bed.
but i just can't stop revamping!




in other news...
i have a studio.
really.
i have a completely organized,
(photo proof to come tomorrow...!)
completey clean,
completely stocked studio!

yeah.
big effing deal.

i'm so excited i almost peed.
can't wait to show you.


i'm off to work on my website revamp a bit before i hit the hay.


xo.jess

2nd self-portrait.

2nd self-portrait.
Originally uploaded by STRAYcreative

just testing out this whole blog from flickr thing.
i guess it could be redundant.

cocoon.

so i'm going thru a hard time in my life right now.
and i took a photo yesterday that feels pretty represented of it:

my hammock cocoon...




i am trying to change for the better.
so i will be keeping up this blog a lot more regularly.
hope things are good out there in internet land.

key-chain.

ok.
so im working on some new designs.
well more like different versions...



these are all from a hawaiian jail!
and the blue circles are vintage plastic that look like bamboo!
and i soldered all the jumprings, so it's just a continuous chain.
i wore it last nite to see how it feels,
and i think i might cut the keys in half and connect them with a jumpring,
so the whole necklace is more flexible and flows more.



these little orange links rule!

(so do iphones)



more to come today im sure!
and i have my metalsmithing class tonite,
so ill prolly finish my pendant!
yay!

and i walked the dogs 2 miles this morning!
go jess go jess go go go jess.


xo.