Tucson, La-La Land, And Other Travel Destinations

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

Always Drink Upstream From The Herd

Always drink upstream from the herd…. It’s wise advice, and I share it frequently. But, I don’t always follow it myself. Because lately it seems I’ve been drinking upstream, downstream, next to, and with the herd. Well, it’s my birthday month, what can I say? But, enough about March for now, let us remember February…..

February was AWESOME! Once again, the crew… and by ‘crew’ I mean my husband and our travelling zoo of three dogs and two cats… piled into the camper and headed South to Tucson, Arizona so I could attend the Gem & Mineral Show. That’s where I buy the stones to make my jewelry, but there are other attractions, too, like  Mexican food, really good margaritas, warm, sunny weather, great hiking trails, cute javalinas, friends… and really good margaritas… Aaaaaanyway, so it’s been brought to my attention throughout my life that I do not exactly have a “Type A” personality. However, I think it’s safe to say that my husband does. He is driven, assertive, ambitious, organized, and proactive. I am relaxed, easy-going, with no sense of time schedule, and in some cases, I lack an overriding sense of urgency. The phrase “la-la land” got its start with me. You can imagine how irritating this would be to a “Type A”. And thus, I have paid very close attention to my husband’s examples in this regard. So, when planning this road trip, first to Tucson, and then on to Tubac where I would vend at the five day Tubac Arts Festival, I was on top of it. I made reservations. I inquired about having pets. I got phone numbers, addresses, directions, and time schedules. I looked up the weather forecast. I even charged my cell phone, all grown-up-like. It was as if responsibility was just flowing all over my plans. If you are “Type B”, DO NOT DO THIS. Do not think you are suddenly “Type A” ever. I will tell you why. Because you will forget the tent poles, that’s why. Yes, the canopy tent that I use to vend my jewelry at out-door fairs and festivals, the main reason for driving the fifteen hours down there, requires POLES to set it up. This did not sit well with my husband.

So after the meltdown, I approached another vendor, who makes beautiful ceramic, mixed-media pieces by the way, and asked if they might have an extra canopy tent lying around and if I might borrow it for five days. And SHE DID! And I COULD! So, in hindsight, the forgotten tent poles were a tragedy, but they provided an important lesson. The lesson to be learned from this experience is…. Don’t Even Try. And to think I am just learning this lesson now! Believe me, I will have this mastered by my next birthday.

This brings me back to March, which is not only my birthday month… it is also Customer Appreciation Month! Seriously, you guys rock! On my Cowboy’s Sweetheart Facebook page I learn just how kick-ass you all really are! For example, one of my fans recently completed a triathalon, another just took a job developing the Adaptation Chapter for the US National Climate Assessment, another is recently married, another recently engaged, another works tirelessly to promote sustainable and renewable energy systems… They are yoga instructors, art teachers, photographers, dancers, perfumers, florists, musicians, pilots, cooks, students, writers, and moms. I am surrounded by some of the best people in the world! These people love what they do, just like I love what I do. So here’s what I want for my birthday…. I am offering a chance to win a $50 Cowboy’s Sweetheart coupon to any of my Facebook fans that post, by the end of the month, a photo that best exemplifies themselves doing what they love. (Keep it clean, people!) In the comment space below the photo please put a caption, such as, “I love…(fill in the blank)… Now you may be asking yourself, ‘Well, who determines which photo and caption is the best?”, and the answer is… I do. Since it’s my birthday month and all! Sound good? Okay, GAME ON! 

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Happy Trails To You!

Posted on January 3, 2012 by admin

Did you catch the 75-foot float in honor of Roy Rogers in the Tournament of Roses Parade yesterday? What an elaborate tribute to the “King of Cowboys,” who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in November! Not only did the grand finale float  feature a 35-foot-tall classic image of Roy Rogers framed by a silver horseshoe inscribed with his name and pearl-handled dual six-shooters on each side, it also was the first time the real Trigger and Bullet were on the float. Rogers had them preserved after their deaths, with the trusty steed forever posed in his signature rearing position. Now…. is it just me, or is that weird? There were 100 golden palominos leading the float, each presumably representing a year of Rogers’ 100th birthdate in November, which was cool. But if you caught the end of the parade you would have seen one of the horseback riders get tossed off its horse.                                                                                                   

I kind of feel like that horse as the new year gets underway. Whoa, 2012! I said WHOA! I’ll be reviewing 2011 and setting my goals and aspirations for 2012. Cowboy’s Sweetheart will be at the Tubac Festival of the Arts in February, and I’m really looking forward to it. Tubac is an artsy community located south of Tucson, AZ. This art festival, from February 8th-12th, is the town’s major event of the year. It showcases the work of hundreds of visiting artists, craft persons and musicians from around the country and Canada. The Tubac Arts Festival had its start back in 1959 and is the longest running event of its kind in the southwest.

Always remember… Some trails are happy ones, others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts!

Amy Fortunato (Boss Lady)

 

 

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Ruffle Some Feathers In 2012!

Posted on January 1, 2012 by admin

I was just visited by the Post Of Christmas Past: At this time last year, I was snarkily commenting about my annual job evaluation. And two years ago at this time, it was so cold our pipes froze and burst. I am often shocked at how quickly time passes when I look back at the events and experiences of my life. Holidays, simply because of their annual recurrence, are reminders of time ticking away, of people (and pets) who are no longer with us, of things we didn’t do… and of choices we’ve made. And, because they provide opportunities to gather and celebrate with friends and families, holidays are conveniently loaded with the very people who are more than happy to remind us of those choices. Luckily for me though, I’ve never spent Christmas in the hospital emergency room for getting a Lego stuck up my nose like our little friend Josh did this year. (No Lincoln Logs for him!) Every Christmas from now on that poor kid will have to endure a hilariously humiliating ritual of Lego jokes from his family. Such is the nature of holidays… and families. For me, the holidays are kind of neutral… It’s as if the hype and the decorating and the celebrating and the really bad music and the frantic drivers are happening all around me, but I am not in it. I am more of a “Festivus for the rest of us” kind of gal. I find tinsel distracting.

This holiday we got two feet of snow. It came swirling down in fluttery flurries for two days, which kept me busy shoveling for the two days after that. It’s been cold, below 0 degrees at night, so the snow is squeaky underfoot. I am out in the wild weather everyday when I hike our dogs. And I see the darnedest things! Elements of nature, whether small and detailed or grand and general, inspire my work. I never tire of the cyclic, understated, natural beauty that surrounds me. One of my favorite sights in winter is that of birds’ nests. There is something about them: A symbol of aspiration, hope and security, now completely empty and vulnerable on this exposed, bare tree branch (especially in moonlight)… It is a visually beautiful contradiction. Despite all of the stark, wintery forces that would suggest the contrary, the fact that they are still there, tenuously clinging to their barren branches, commands a feeling of hope. When I see birds’ nests in winter, I feel two contrasting emotions at the same time. As a result, I have been inspired to make feathery-nesty-birdy things. And I feel compelled to share one of them with you here!

Feather Necklace With Turquoise

Sterling Silver Feather

Don’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers in 2012! This will be a year of creativity and transformation… I can feel it! Here’s one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite feather rufflers of all time:

“Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”― Edward Abbey

Happy New Year! Amy Fortunato (Boss Lady)


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Speed Shopping

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

We’re getting into the holiday spirit over here at Cowboy’s Sweetheart!

It’s time to cozy up around a warm campfire and celebrate the small acts of kindness that brighten not just the holiday season, but everyday. Here’s a little last minute speed shopping tip for those of you who have already convinced yourselves there’s no time left to make beautiful gift selections before your holiday “deadline” date. You don’t have to get your knickers in a twist just yet, because Cowboy’s Sweetheart has GIFT CERTIFICATES! Yes, it’s the procrastinator’s dream come true. Not only will your gift be well-made, durable, colorful, engaging, and unique, it will also be thoughtful… which is what counts, right?

Please visit Cowboy’s Sweetheart’s Jewelry Bootique to purchase your gift certificate.

Happy Holidays! Amy Fortunato (Boss Lady)

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The Supper Committee

Posted on November 24, 2011 by admin

It’s true! I have assumed a small role in the newly formulated Supper Committee which will attempt to devise an all inclusive gluttony reduction plan by Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011. It has become abundantly clear that The Supper Committee needs to make the tough choices necessary to eat within our means,  just as American families do every Thanksgiving Day in these tough economic times, and it must not shirk this responsibility. As a Supper Committee member, I’ve heard a lot of controversy regarding the “Occupy” movement, and sure, I wish they had a coherent message, but I admire their commitment to bringing attention to the fact that they will no longer stand for Wall Street’s license to steal. We all should be ticked off about the bank bailouts and absence of Justice Department prosecutions. So, I’ve carefully considered a full range of options before offering the Supper Committee’s following menu item. I hope you’ll consider sharing it with your friends and families.

Occu Pie

Ingredients:

12 slices of turkey bacon

(Bacon, because this is what the 99% says they aren’t bringing home)

¼ cup chopped green onions

(Onions, because you may experience some eye irritation while chopping them)

½ cup chopped roasted red peppers

(Peppers, because… well, because Lt. John Pike hosed down a line of seated protesters at UC-Davis with pepper spray. These roasted peppers, however, only rate zero on the Scoville Heat Scale whereas the pepper spray that Lt. John Pike used measures between 8,600,00 and 9,100,00 heat units.)

½ cup of Feta cheese

(Feta, because it is traditionally made by peasants from the milk of scapegoats)

1 cup of 1% milk

(1%, because it refers to the vast concentration of wealth among the top 1% of income earners compared to the other 99%.)

¾ cup gluten-free baking mix

(Gluten-free, because it is harmless)

3 eggs beaten

(I suggest using a whisk rather than a billy club)

½ tsp. dried thyme leaves

(Thyme, because it’s a wastin’)

Cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels and crumble. Preheat oven to 400º and grease a 9” pie plate. Place cooked bacon, onions and peppers in pie plate and sprinkle with feta cheese.

Combine remaining ingredients in medium bowl and whisk until blended. Pour over cheese in pie plate. Bake at 400º for 30-35 minutes until set and puffed.

Serves (and protects) 4-6

Happy Thanksgiving! I am just so stinkin’ grateful for all of you!

Amy Fortunato (Boss Lady)


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Shooting From The Hip

Posted on November 13, 2011 by admin

I try to wake up with the sun, but I keep smacking the snooze button thinking ‘just a few more minutes…’ and only after about the fifth time do I roll out from under a pile of dogs and kitties to start the day. Is this so WRONG? Ultimately, I emerge happier, more confident, and more certain of what I want… Coffee. Isn’t that what everyone wants when all the clocks are spinning backwards?

Now I’m sure you’re thinking, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD please shut UP about your LIFE ALREADY, which….is fine…. because I just want to show you this one little thing I’ve been working on and then I’ll zip it. If you’ve visited my Cowboy’s Sweetheart vending booth recently, then you’ll know that a few months ago, I was working away, being all creative, when I got an idea to combine some of my skills in photography, print-making, and watercolor painting to create THESE mixed-media images. Each image is individually hand–painted and has the appearance of a vintage print from a previous era. They are also matted with acid-free, museum quality mat board and protected in a plastic sleeve. Compiling and organizing the frillion photographs I have taken over the years has really emphasized the fact that I am surrounded by some of the most simple, understated beauty in the world. These images attempt to celebrate a little of this unembellished western landscape because: 1. No matter how old I get, and no matter how many times I see it, I never tire of it, and 2. I like to share, and 3. I don’t actually have a third thing. So basically, here are a few of the images. Incidentally, if you could not tell from the above description, I will go ahead and reveal that I really, really like making these.

Don't Fence Me In

Classy Chassis

Open Gate

Amy Fortunato, Boss Lady


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Jewelry So Glamorous You’ll Be SCARED!

Posted on October 22, 2011 by admin

Hello, friends!

Renegade Rose Earrings

Brace yourselves people, because we’ve got a slew of things to catch up on over here at Cowboy’s Sweetheart! I feel compelled to share some random updates with you, which, I KNOW, I should have done…..what, weeks ago? I realize that is sort of the basic principle behind writing monthly newsletters and blog entries, it turns out. I need to… you know, write them.

Anyway, first I want to extend a huge, wholehearted T H A N K  Y O U  on behalf of Nolee and her family to all of you who were so kind in donating to her medical bills following her accident on June 8th.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, please see here. I’ve received a very positive update from her mom last week, and that is what I wish to share with you today:

“Nolee began 6th grade at the end of August and she is seemingly adjusting very well albeit learning to write left-handed and utilizing only her left hand. Socially, Nolee has a wonderful group of friends who continually support her and encourage her to do everything even though it may seem daunting. Nolee has had a fairly strong opinion regarding getting a prosthetic – she has not wanted one! We are trying to encourage her to get a prosthetic to assist with balance, etc… and she is more open to the idea. Nolee is such an incredible child, full of grace and wisdom beyond her years. As tragic as Nolee’s accident was for our family, we are truly blessed she is with us today! We are indebted to many who have so generously helped our girl. Thank you, thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!”

You may find my seeming lack of cohesion disturbing, but I’m just going to go on over here and regale you with an impromptu discussion on Ted Turner and prairie dogs now. It may SEEM unrelated, but we’re discussing worthy causes, right?  Because I love and am inspired by the beauty of the western landscape and all of its wild inhabitants, Cowboy’s Sweetheart has contributed jewelry to The Prairie Dog Coalition’s annual gala and silent auction. It is an event scheduled for Friday October 28 that raises awareness about the ecological importance of this keystone species to the Great Plains. A small gesture on my part, but others, particularly Ted Turner, have given generously. He will be presented the Prairie Dog Protector of The Year Award for restoring over 11,000 acres of prairie dog habitat and protecting 150,000 prairie dogs on his ranches throughout the American west. He is returning over-grazed ranchland to thriving habitat for native Great Plains wildlife.  For information on the gala or sponsorship, see here.

On November 5th, Cowboy’s Sweetheart will be at the Jewelry and Holiday Gift Fair in Highlands Ranch. This show features jewelry, accessories, and holiday gifts from the area’s handcrafters and commercial retailers. Honestly, this will be the perfect opportunity for you to throw your hands in the air and declare “I SIMPLY CANNOT LEAVE HERE WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF JEWELRY!” I will have a multitude of gift-giving solutions to choose from… a little something to treat yourself or someone special.

Amy Fortunato, Boss Lady

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