Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Our last stops were the national monuments of Wupatki and Sunset Crater.   Besides just enjoying saying the name ‘Wupatki’ we really enjoyed seeing this pueblo and the exhibits.   Wupatki is north of Flagstaff, Arizona in the shadow of Sunset Crater.   Today occasional earthquake tremors still get residents attention.   The remains of the pueblos in this area are from the 1100’s when the people banded together to build a farming community.   Sunset Crater’s eruption left a thin coat of ash that enriched the soil by absorbing moisture and preventing evaporation.   By 1180 thousands of people were farming here.   By 1250 the buildings stood empty and the people had moved on.   Some resettled in areas close by and their descendants still live in the area.    Artist's concept of the original pueblo  Ruins Today I found the techniques of building with rock interesting.  There was a variety of natural color, shapes, textures and craftsmanship. The rock work combined

If you are like me, you have boxes of things that you just might need one day.   When I’m making something that looks good but isn’t what I want right then, it goes into one of those boxes.   And yes those boxes are organized with the hope that I will remember to look in them.    We jewelry artists work with tiny parts and I still wonder how to organize, catalog and remember to look.   Maybe part of the creative process is the surprise of finding one of the pieces. I just finished a necklace and did not like any of the clasps I had in my fastener box.   I took out my wire and made one.   I did not think it looked like the necklace either.   So I made another and another and finally made one I really liked.   Into the ‘fastener box’ went the ones that were not perfect for this project.   I realized that I was starting a collection of my handmade fasteners.   I have brass, bronze, copper and silver.   I think I need to make a piece of jewelry starting with the clasp!   Just sharin

The Navajo National Monument was a magical place for me.   It was small as monuments and campgrounds go. We drove around to get our bearings and to see what we wanted to do the next morning.   We talked with the rangers and decided to take an early morning walk on Sandal Trail.   Both campgrounds had open spaces for camping and on this trip that was unusual and welcome.   We arrived early evening and were able to take a short walk.   There were beautiful blooming bushes, a few birds and sunset!   After making ‘camp’ in the back of the truck and setting out dinner, I even had time to sit and enjoy the sounds and smells of the forest. Sandal Trail is a paved trail from the visitor center that ends at Betatakin Overlook.   I stood looking out at a breathtaking cross-canyon vista and then looking down at what is left of an ancient village framed by a sandstone arch while time stood still.   I could almost see the children playing on the upper ledge; hear the women weaving