Finally! Something new

I finally got around to making a couple of new things. Nothing spectacular, but I've been so UN motivated lately! There are tons of new ideas in my head, but I just can't seem to make myself do anything, except what has to be done. I have to make 2 rings today, because they sold, but I don't really want to!

What's wrong with me?! I guess I'm just a little burned out from all the Christmas orders.

The first is a pair of simple wire wrapped Mystic blue topaz briolettes. The stones are gorgeous! They sparkle and shine with so many different colors!

The second is a new bracelet, done in copper with my new stamps. I ADORE these stamps! I just stamped Breathe on it with 2 hearts. I really like it!

Well, it's New Years Eve, but I don't party anymore, so I guess I'll just stay in my pj's and work today.

Happy New Year to all of you! I hope the new year brings good things to every one of us.

Merry Christmas!

I just want to wish all of my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

P.E.P.E.!!!!

I bought a combination P.E.P.E disc cutter, and I LOVE it!

I have been working myself to death with the old cheap one. It never cut a clean disc. The new one cuts perfect circles with no clean up on the edges!

I got it from Metalliferous. They were the least expensive, but it is well worth whatever you have to give for it. I can't believe the difference!

I just had to stop by and tell you all how great this tool is. I'm still busy with Christmas orders, so I'm going back to the shop now.

Oh, my leg looks crazy, but doesn't hurt too much anymore! I'm going to have some interesting scars though! Little circles all down the back off my leg. Lesson learned.

Hot Rings and Parachute Pants

I thought that I was through with Christmas jewelry a few days ago. I was working on the last order I had, and then they started again! I'm still so busy I can barely keep up.

I was in the shop yesterday, working away, when my Mom called. It's a long story so here's the jist of it. I had to stop what I was doing and go run new cable for my son's satellite tv. He wasn't home, but if I didn't go do it, they wouldn't have TV when they got home, and I didn't want to here the bitchin'.

Now I'm aggravated and mad, because of the whole situation. I went back in the shop to try and finish what I was doing, soldering rings.

I don't even know how I did it, but I reached for the tweezers to pick up a red hot ring, and the ring fell off the soldering block onto my leg. I jumped up to knock it off, but I had on those flannel-lined wind pants that are made of parachute material. It burned through them INSTANTLY, and was now IN my pants leg! I danced around the shop, shaking my leg. Both pitbulls are running from me cause they think I've lost my mind. (The new pitbull is because my son got her, now doesn't want her) I finally get the ring to come out the bottom of my pants leg, but not before it burned the crap out of me. It left 2 half circle burns on my thigh, where it went in, then somehow, the next place it touched was the back of my knee. I have a perfect circle and a bunch of half circles there, too. OUCH!!! It really hurt for quite a while.

So, the moral of the story is-don't solder when you're pissed off and don't wear parachute pants in the workshop!

I hope your day was better!

Ben Stein

Freida, over at Deer Mountain Wood Art has this posted on her blog. I decided to copy it here instead of just linking to it, so maybe everyone can read it.
Please feel free to pass it on.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession :

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham 's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina ) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem ( Dr Spock 's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves..

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it. no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

New stamps

These are my new stamps from Beaducation! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them! I've been pushing them for all of my personalized jewelry, because they are so easy to use. You can get a straight line with little effort, and they just look so cool. Yeah, I said it! I know "cool" dates me, but hey, I'm old.

Tonight I'm feeling my age. It's after 10pm and I'm still working. I was caught up for about an hour today, then the orders started rolling in again. YAY! It's hard work but I love it! I'm working for ME!

I have to show you my new purse! I adore it! It's the one from Twisted Tree Studio.




It's awesome!

I found this last night and I couldn't resist it! If you knew me in person, you'd understand why I had to have it!



It's a tiny little felted possum necklace from Motley Mutton It's so cute!!!

I have spent a lot of money on Etsy this week, but it's all for me! LOL I'm supposed to be Christmas shopping, but I keep finding stuff I have to have! Oh well. Merry Christmas to me. :)

I hope you are all as busy as I am!

I'm it, again!

My friend Freida, at Deer Mountain Wood Art, wants to know more about me and has tagged me! So I'll try to think of seven more things you don't know about me. HHHMMMM:

1. I laugh so hard I lose my breath, at really stupid things

2. I embarrass my children, by acting like a teenager sometimes

3. I LOVE Playstation2, and will play for hours on end

4. I HATE housework AND cooking

5. I, like Freida, put things away so I'll know where they are, and I never see them again!

6. I have mice in my house, and I can't bring myself to kill them (but my rat terrier, Odie, is doing it for me!)

7. I'm a fairly decent auto mechanic!

Well, now you know a bit more about me, and it's your turn!

So instead of following the rules, (because I'm a rule breaker:), if you are reading this then you've been tagged and are welcome to play along!
It's always fun to learn new things about your friends!

Featured Artist

I was the featured artistan today on The Artisan's Challenge! Stop in and check it out!

Just wanted to drop in and brag! LOL

WOOHOO!

Happy Dance!!!

I'm doing the happy dance today! I finally got high speed internet service that works out here in the boondocks. I was so sick of dialup! My cousin got Alltel Wireless and she said it was awesome. I didn't think it would work here, cause she lives 4o miles away, but it WORKS! I can actually upload photos in just a few minutes, instead of hours! I'm so psyched!

The earrings were inspired by Diane at Rosa & Josie's. She made my gorgeous garnet swings, and I love them so much i wanted to make beaded earrings. mine are garnets, too, but they are faceted briolettes. I love briolettes, and have gone on a supply buying binge! I get excited when the mail comes, because I get something gorgeous and new!

I hope you are all as happy as I am today!~ Yippee!!!!

You learn something...

new everyday! My Dachshund, Oscar, has acne, of all things! I didn't know that was even possible, but apparently, it is.

I took him to the vet this morning because he has a HORRIBLE rash under his "arms". There are big knots and some are red and raw. That's not the acne though. The vet doesn't know what it is and gave me a salve for fungal and bacterial infection, to see if it helps.

I thought he had earmites, cause his ears stink and he shakes his head alot, but the earmite meds weren't working. Well, that's because he doesn't have earmites, he has yeast in his ears! Never heard of that either. We got drops for that.

I told the vet that he gets these bumps on his face, and they make a hard, red lump, then they open and get well. THAT'S acne! I guess he is a "teenager" because he's 2 1/2, so that makes him about seventeen in dog years! LOL

I really should be working right now, but I just don't have the energy. I'll have to work tomorrow, but I'm gonna have dinner with my family, too. Since my Mom is right next door, I don't have to go anywhere. That makes it a bit easier.

I wish all my blogger friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to remember all you have to be thankful for.

My new earrings...

I didn't make them! These are my GORGEOUS new earrings that my friend Diane at Rosa & Josie's made for me. She liked my tiny little star earrings, so we traded. I got the better end of that deal! If you think they look good in the photo, you should see them in person. I LOVE these earrings!

They are dark oxidized sterling silver and faceted garnets. My birthstone! She didn't know that when she made them, so fate must have stepped in there.

There's not much going on now around here. I worked a little today, should have worked a lot, so tomorrow will be busy. My Mom wanted to go to WalMart, so that's what we did. I don't like WalMart, but I feel bad if I don't go with her. We don't get to spend a lot of time together, and she lives right next door! We both have busy lives, but it nice to know she's right there if I need her.

I hope you all have family close to you, too.

Look at what I got in the mail today! It's called "Moonlit Elk". It is STUNNING! My good friend Freida at Deer Mountain Wood Art made it. You really should check out her shop. There are some beautiful pieces there, like this one! She also sent me several goodies with it, and I love them, too! THANK YOU, FREIDA!

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my hubby. He likes deer and such. I'm a wolf person myself, and my whole house is done in wolves and Native American things. This will look great with my other stuff!

I also did a little Christmas shopping for myself! I'm getting this purse made in a beautiful brown leather,


with these turquoise stones!

The wonderful folks at Twisted Tree Studio are making this for me! I can't wait to get it. It is just sooooo me! They have some awesome stuff! Check them out.




I also bought these stamps from Beaducation! I've been waiting for them to get more, and they sold out twice before. Today they sold out in 36 minutes, but I was on the list for them, and I got them this time! They're lowercase letter stamps, and you can't find them anywhere! The only ones I could find had to be specially made and cost about $400! No thank you! These weren't cheap, but you only live once. Another Christmas present to myself. YAY!

Well, enough about me. Business has been okay, so I'm working, and that makes me happy. I hope you all are happy, too!

The Porch...

Here's my new porch. Well, not MY porch, more like Red's porch! LOL He's my shopmate, that now lives in my shop. The stepladder is to keep the door almost closed at night, so he can come and go as he pleases. I don't worry about anybody going in and stealing my tools, because who would? There's a pitbull in there that doesn't let strangers come around at night. A robber would get a nasty surprise in my shop! :)

Red is 8 years old, and he was stolen once. I think my husband's cousin took him, and sold him, because a stranger couldn't have taken him. He was gone for about a year. One day Chad (hubby) was driving out of town and saw him at an old barn. I guess he was on his way home, and had almost made it. Now he's terrified of gunfire, which we hear a lot, living in the woods. He gets under my workbench, against my legs, and trembles when he hears it. He's also scared of buzzing insects! LOL I guess he's been stung before.

Here he is enjoying the morning sun on his brand new front porch! See him peeking around the post at me? He's waiting for his morning treats, so I guess I better go get them for him.

Have a great Hump Day!~

Music to my ears

That seems to be my theme for this past week. Business has been almost nonexistent so I worked on a few new ideas.

I love the treble clef set. I thought it turned out really good, and would make a nice gift for a music teacher or music lover.

Then I decided to make a sterling silver guitar pick, because both of my sons play. I used a real pick as a pattern and cut this from 24g, so it can be used as a pick. Then I thought it needed something, so I stamped it, and hung it on a chain!

The leaves I love! Because I love leaves. I added a couple of my teeny spiders, just because. I don't love spiders, but these are cool, and they are therapy for an arachnaphobe! ME!

I'm working on a few custom orders, but it's too cold to work after dark. The little electric heater in my shop is not getting it. I have to find something bigger and hotter!

Hubby left a ittle while ago, headed back offshore. He made me get behind on some orders this weekend, because he decided my workshop needed a front porch! I then had to help build it, and fell behind. He doesn't think that matters, because he doesn't think what I make matters, but it does to me and to the people that give their hard earned money for it!

My good friend Diane at Rosa & Josie's told me she loves stars and wanted to trade me for the earrings. YAY! I love trading with friends! It so cool to be able to own something one of my cyber friends made! She's making me some beaded earrings, cause I don't do beads. I hope she loves the stars in person, too.

Well, I guess that's about it here. It's very cold at night and coolish during the day now, but that could change tomorrow. You never know in Louisiana what the weather will be like. They always say, "if you don't like the weather in LA, just wait a little while and it will change!" So true!

Just working a little...

Today I'm running back and forth from the shop to the house (no running water in the shop) making 2 spinning rings and a man's bracelet.

I just dropped in for a short post. Wanted to show you my newest earrings. They're little bitty stars that I soldered on to sterling silver tabs, but they turned out really cute! I have some new leaf earrings, but it's raining, so no photos today.

My spinning ring was featured on a blog the other day! I meant to post it then, but you know how it is. I'm a procrastinator, sometimes. Here's the blog it was on, Sweet Figments. It's a great blog. Check it out!

Well, back to work! Later~

New Stuff

These are my latest creations.

The first is a child's sterling bangle bracelet that I made for a customer. I never even thought about children's jewelry until I was asked to do this!

The second is a ring that I thought up. I really like it, but I made it too big for me. Bummer!

There's not much going on around here right now. Not many sales at Etsy to work on, so I guess I should get out to the shop and make some more new stuff!

Oh! I did open a new store at 1000 Markets, but so far nothing there either. Here it is: Tammy's Treasures Same stuff as the Etsy store!

Well, I think I'll go put my face on and fix my hair! Can't have people seeing the real face, or they think I'm sick! LOL

Later~

Custom Ring Challenge

I was asked to make a ring to match my Iron Man bracelet. The customer bought the bracelet for her husband and he wears it all the time, so she wanted a ring to give him for his birthday.

I had to really think about this one, but I came up with a design that works.

It's 2 sterling silver bands with the braided copper in the center. I flattened some 18g sterling wire to wrap it together, then soldered those in place.

It turned out beautiful! It is so much prettier in person. I could NOT get a good photo, no matter how many I took. I'm not listing this one in my store, so I guess it's a one-of-a-kind!

The customer said she loves it and wants it, so I did okay! I like being challenged to try new things. Keeps me young! ;P

Baby Steps

Really! This is one (2 actually) of my new stamps. Each foot is a separate stamp, and they are soooo cute!

The earrings are some I made this morning as free gifts to send with orders. The little tiny ring that says JOY is a custom-ordered baby's ring in a size 0!

The customer said that her Mom has a ring that says "love", hers says "faith",
her daughter's says "hope" and now her granddaughter's says "joy". I think that's awesome! 4 generations of women with a tradition!

May you all have traditions!

Do You Twitter?

Sounds like a stupid question, huh? It's a website, and I've been tweeting (that's what it's called, I swear!) for a couple of days and my sales have really picked up.

This is my username http://twitter.com/tammystreasures you can follow me or anybody. It's like a mini blog. You can post little updates about your website or Etsy store, with links, and just post about what's going on. Others see your posts and can find your shop.

There are some great tutorials in the forums at Etsy that explain how to use it. Give it a try. It seems to work!

I was on the frontpage again on Tuesday. This time it didn't kill my sales! I had over 600 views in a couple of hours and I thought it was a glitch! I don't know if I got any sales from it, but at least it didn't hurt. Last time I was on it I didn't have a sale for 3 days! LOL

Well, I gotta go. Lots of people to kill! I'm fighting WWII right now. (PS2) ;)

Tag... You're It!

I haven't played tag since I was a kid! This morning I was tagged by Joanne of Not Your Average JoJo. So without further ado...

Here are seven random facts about me:

1.I'm painfully shy around new people or crowds

2.I wanted to be a veteranarian when I was young

3.I laugh a LOT

4.I cry over sad movies and commercials on TV

5.I kiss my dogs and they kiss me

6.I love living in the country, in the woods

7.I wear pajamas all day when I can!


Okay, the rules are I now tag seven other people, post a link to their blogs here on mine, then let them know they've been tagged. Soooo, TAG your it!!!!

Deer Mountain Wood Art

A Metalsmith's Journey

Chris Kerr Jewelry

Pink Zinnias

Rosa and Josie's

Lavender Cottage
Originals

Nomadic Creations

The Itsy Bitsy Spider...

I got these tiny spiders from Loveland Beads on Etsy! There were 50 of them!



Isn't it cute?!



I got the brass leaf a while back (also at Etsy) and it was just waiting for a cute little spider to come along and have a seat!

The spiders are fine silver and they are teeny! I am afraid of real spiders, but these are to adorable to fear!

I did a lot of supply shopping on Etsy last week. I got a lot of new brass charms to use, and I can't wait to get started. I also got 3 new metal stamps, but they're a secret! You'll just have to wait to see them.

I bought some handmade soaps and solid perfumes from Dennis Anderson. You should check out his shop. The soaps smell wonderful and the solid perfumes are awesome. They last all day! He even included an extra free perfume and it's great, too!

I plan to do a lot of my Christmas shopping at Etsy this year. I think handmade is the best made!

The Things We Do For Love!

I'm not talking about paying bills for ungrateful children this time :) But thanks to all of you for your sympathy and for putting up with my craziness on that one!

This time it's about pickling Quail eggs. Yep, that's what I'm doing tonight. I don't eat them, but my hubby does.

In case you missed the Quail post, my hubby got 20 quails for his step-father, and they lay a LOT of eggs. We usually get an average of 10 a day. A quart jar holds about 30-33 eggs. Usually he does the pickling, but he's offshore now so it's my turn!

They are the hardest eggs to peel! First off, they're tiny. Second, the membrane inside the egg is incredibly tough. And man, does the vinegar and seasonings stink!

I worked on my jewelry for most of the day. I had a few orders to do and I had to make more of the free earrings that I send with every order.

I have to remake several dragonfly pieces and send them to Canada again. Apparently, they got lost in the mail, or in customs or something. It was an order that I really wanted to get there! It's for Barry's friend. She found me on Barry's blog and ordered from me. The mail is so aggravating! That's the second international order that's gone missing. There's no way to track them, either. I can't see charging $15 for registered mail or even more for priority. I hope the new jewelry makes it to her!

I have several new designs in mind, but not a lot of time right now to make them! When I do get around to them I'll be sure to show you all!

Well, I guess I better go peel some tiny eggs. Later~

My Interview with Soap Deli News!

Today's the day!

You can read about me at Soap Deli News. I can't believe I actually did an interview. I'm not the most interesting person around, and being alone for half of the year, I talk mostly to myself! (and the dogs and quails!)

After I finished the interview, I thought of all kinds of things to say. Especially the things people wouldn't know about me.

I'm a Playstation 2 addict! I LOVE war games (and war movies). I've killed a lot of people in those games, but it helps me NOT kill people in real life! LOL

I'm a clutz! I drop things constantly, trip over my own feet, and knock things off of shelves in stores (which embarrasses the crap out of my husband, but makes me laugh!)

I can't pass a toy that makes noise without pressing the buttons.( also embarrassing for hubby)

I love to dance and sing (even though I suck at both). When I'm alone in my truck, the radio is super loud, and so am I! LOL Looks like I'm talking to myself to other drivers, but who cares?!

I'm a homebody, and would be happy if I didn't have to go anywhere, ever. (This also annoys my hubby, cause he wants to GO all the time) I love pajamas (t-shirt and pajama pants) and would wear them all the time if I could. I DO NOT wear them to town!

Well, now you know a bit about me, boring as it is!

I'm back!

I wasn't really gone, but I haven't been on the computer much lately.

My hubby has been home for a while now, and he had to go back offshore today. I try not to spend too much time on the internet while he's here.

I've also been working a little! YAY! Things seem to be picking up a little for my Etsy store again. Still slow, but steady. I can deal with that!

I did manage to make a couple of new things this weekend.

The first is a pair of copper earrings with a sterling silver ball, and the other is a ring with a crooked star that I was asked to make.

I really should be in the shop right now, as I have a couple of orders to do, but I can get them done in the morning. Right now it kinda feels like naptime! :)

OH! The puppy was picked up by one of the ladies that was feeding him! She took her husband with her and the puppy went right to him! Must be a man's dog! I'm so happy he has a home.

Well, I think I'll go rest a little while! "See" y'all later~

Another update

Sorry to keep everybody hanging! I've been a little busy, and really haven't felt much like blogging.

I think one of the other ladies got the puppy. I haven't seen him since Monday. I've stopped and checked his food and water everyday, and called him, but his food is still there.

I'm so glad they got him! It has been weighing so heavy on my heart. He was such a cute little baby!

I cannot understand how some people can put a baby out on the side of the road and just drive away. The puppies don't understand, and they don't go find a new home. They stay right where they were left until they get run over, starve to death, or somebody else picks them up. It breaks my heart that it happens everyday, all over the world.

I try to help, but I can't save them all.

Just wanted to let you all know what's happening.

I hope everybody has a wonderful weekend~

Puppy Update

I went down to feed the puppy today, and he was there. He came to where I was, growling and crying at the same time. He wouldn't come close, but I sat and talked to him and he was wagging his little tail. I tried to tell him that I wouldn't hurt him, but he just doesn't believe me yet. I'll keep trying. I want to get him before he gets run over, because it's going to happen if I don't.

I don't need another dog, but my heart won't let me not try to save him, so I'll keep feeding him and talking to him, and maybe he'll see that I would never hurt him.

Maybe God will watch over him until then.

All Is NOT Lost!!!

I was beginning to think that people just didn't care anymore, but I was wrong! Thank God!

There is a bar on our road, and it is on my way to town. For some reason, people have started dropping off puppies there. In the past month there have been 3 different sets of them.

In the past, I have tried to be the one-woman humane society, and picked up every stray. But having your heart broken when something happens to them or you have to give them away, is too much. I've stopped picking up ALL of them!

One puppy was there for several days, and one day, on my way to town, I decided that if he was there when I came home, I would get him. Well, thank the Lord, he wasn't! Some other sweet soul had picked him up!

There have been several more since then, but they have been disappering. Today, there was one little black puppy left, just sitting by the road. You could see his little bones, and I cried all the way home.

I decided that, if I couldn't bring him home with me, at least I could feed him. So I got a bag of dog food and went to feed him. When I got there, the woman with the sweet soul was there, with a bag of food! She said she picked up the first puppy, but she couldn't catch this one. So we gave him some food in a bowl she had left earlier. While we were talking about how horrible it is to drop off puppies, another girl stopped. She had picked up the other puppies before this one. She was still trying to catch him.

I was touched and so very happy that there are other people who feel the same way I do! It was a very uplifting thing and I was much happier after meeting them.

So all is NOT lost! There are still some wonderful, kind, caring people left.

A Few New Things

Since nothing is selling I had time to make a few new pieces for my Etsy store this weekend!

There's not much going on, so I got in the shop and worked.

The first ones are 18g wire that I balled on the ends, then curved so they'd hang right.

The second ones are some simple squiggles that are hammered flat.

Lastly, I made a new stacking ring with 12g wire that I hammered flat, then stamped with my name.

Maybe these simple designs will do well. I like them, especially the comet tail earrings.

Now I'm off to visit everybody's blogs! I love to see what's going on.

Two posts in One Day!

I don't usually blog twice a day but I just found some awesome blogs, and this post was so funny I just had to add it!

It's on Contrariwise ramblings blog. Go check out this blog! It's informative and funny! Here's the post I couldn't stop laughing at:

9 Amazingly Simple Home DIY Solutions

1. If you’re choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. presto! the blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. then you’ll be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape. if it doesn’t move and should, use the wd-40. if it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember - everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.

I love anybody that can make me laugh! We all need to laugh when we can, cause things are not so funny right now!

Etsy Frontpage!

I was reading the forums at Etsy yesterday, and saw the link for the frontpagers at Flickr. I went there and searched for my user name, and to my astonishment, there I was! My stacking rings had been on the frontpage on Tuesday, and I didn't even know! It didn't help my sales but it sure does make you feel good! LOL I didn't even know I was in that treasury.

Sales have died! Maybe the frontpage isn't a good thing, because I haven't sold one thing since I was on there! I was selling at least one item a day, but for 3 days now, nothing! I guess the stockmarket has affected everything. Even me!

I think it was the stupidest thing our government could have done, buying those banks. Why not just give everybody in the US a million dollars, then they could pay off all those bad loans and the banks wouldn't be in trouble! Where does it stop? Are they now going to bail out every business that is going under?

AIG is under investigation since their bail out, and lo and behold, a week after the government gave them all that money, they sent their employees on a $440,000 retreat!!! WHAT!

That is our money they're giving way, and they didn't bother to ask what ANY of us thought about it. We all worked hard for it, so they could give it away.

Well, I don't usually rant on about politics, but enough is enough! I just had to get that out this morning. I guess that's what happens when you only have dogs and quails to talk to. The dogs never answer and the quails just say the same stupid things over and over! LOL

Have a super weekend!

Later~

I Was Interviewed!

I can't believe it!

Rebecca at Soap Deli News was looking for an artist to interview in the forums at Etsy.

I told her I would do it, but I never thought she'd actually pick me!

The interview will be on her website on Oct. 24th.

I think it's awesome that people spotlight other sellers on the sites.

Check out Rebecca's soaps and lotions.

Happy Hump Day!

I couldn't think of a good title and it is Wednesday, so Happy Hump Day!

I managed to make a couple of new pieces for my Etsy today. YAY!

The first is a delicate little necklace with tiny initial charms. I really like it! I was asked to make some of these for a customer a little while back, and decided I wanted them in my shop. Then, I searched for them on Etsy, and there are TONS of them! Oh well, now I have some, too.

The second is a soft square ring that started out as another ring, but I made a boo-boo, and it turned into a simple black band! I still like it though, so all is not lost! Got to salvage the silver!

In other news: My hubby decided he had to have some quails so he could pickle the eggs. Well, guess who takes care of them while he's gone! Yep, me. They're okay, but annoying. They're Pharoah White quails, which means that's what it sounds like they are saying. You know, like a Bob White. But Bob Whites whistle, these sound like something from Jurasic Park!

I've heard them until it now sounds like they're saying Trick or Treat, and Oh My God! All day and all night! The cage is right outside my shop!

They do lay a lot of eggs, but I hate pickled eggs!

Oh well, you have to put up with a few things sometimes!

I better shut up now. I hope everybody is having a great week.

Later~

Check It Out!

I got a new banner, customer appreciation photo, and an avatar all from a wonderful seller on Etsy. flashwithclass, check out her shop. She's great!

The banner is now on my blog, and this is my appreciation photo. I love them!

We did a trade. It's my third trade at Etsy, and it's a great way to get things. They get what they want and so do you!

I think the economic scare has slowed business down a little. I'm still selling but it's slow. They say that holiday sales will be down this year, and that may be, but in my experience, people buy for Christmas. No matter what! I know a lot of people that spend way more than they can afford. I used to, but I decided I just couldn't buy for everyone I know. I now buy for the people I want to buy for! That's all I can do! I have a lot of family! I think most of them will get something handmade this year. What I don't make, I'll buy from the great shops on Etsy!

Y'all have a great week~

Something New!

Finally! I made a couple of new things. Both were custom orders, but they are different from what I've been making! I have a couple more simple things in the works, too.

It gets boring making the same things over and over, BUT I can't complain. At least they sell! Also, practice makes perfect!

The first photo is a ring that i was asked to design. It's a 1/4" sterling band, with copper and sterling wire wraps. i thought it turned out well, especially since I wasn't sure how it would look. She liked it, so that's what counts!

The second one is a very simple, but really cute, necklace. It's 5 copper discs, stacked and held with a sterling jumpring. The biggest disc is 11mm wide, descending to 6mm. It hangs on an oxidized 18" sterling chain. The customer said she LOVES it!

Update on offshore: We don't know what's going to happen! Right now hubby is not working, but he is spending a week in South Louisiana at a school they had to go to.
I guess it will all work itself out. I hope so anyway!

I hope you all are doing well and having fun!

Later~

I Just Have To Share...

My Mom sent me this email and I loved it so I thought I'd share with you all:

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX),Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated,
If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.'

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part ):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash......... Twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lig hts would all be replaced by a single 'This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation' warning light.

I love the next one!!!

7. The airbag system would ask 'Are you sure?' before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna (just in case you don't get this one - 'control/alt/delete).

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the 'Start' button to turn the engine off.

PS - I'd like to add that when all else fails, you could call 'customer service' in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!!!!



Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate - their computer!

I'm Tired!

I've been working about 15 hrs a day, just trying to stay on top of things, and now I'm tired.

I try to get orders out the day of the order or the next day, but I'm slowing down a little! When there are multiple orders, I just can't make it all in one day!

I guess I do it that way because I'm not a patient person, and I hate waiting on things, so I try not to make anybody else wait.

Live and learn.

Speaking of which:

I'm an idiot! Today I burned myself, twice! "You're not an idiot" you say, but wait, you haven't heard the whole story! I was soldering a ring, and holding it with my tweezers. I touched the palm of my hand with the hot end! OUCH! But it wasn't real bad, just a quick touch. But then, a couple of minutes later, I did the EXACT SAME THING IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT! That time it really hurt, and left a perfect impression of the end of the tweezers on my hand. So see, I am an idiot! It still hurts, and that was early this morning!

Well, I guess I better get back to work. I've been sitting here long enough!

I hope you all had a wonderful Hump Day~

Blogging Really Does Help!

It really is a good advertising tool! I sold some jewelry today, because a friend of Barrie's read about me on her blog! I think that's awesome. Sometimes it seems like I'm rambling on just to hear myself. LOL

I don't have any new jewelry to show you, because I've been so busy making the old stuff! Now I don't feel like I'm just playing with jewelry making, it has a real purpose. To brighten somebody else's day. I hope!

I hope you are all happy and healthy and having fun! Fun is important!~

Brilliate Weblog Award!

I'm still snowed under with work! I'm tired but it's a good tired. I'm also very grateful for the business!

I just had to stop in a tell you what a lovely surprise I got today.

my friend Cheryl at http://lavendercottageoriginals.blogspot.com/ gave me a Brilliate Weblog Award!

I just had to show you, and tell Cheryl thank you!

And in the spirit of the award I would like to thank all of my family and friends, who put up with all my creative wierdness! I would also like to thank all my blogger friends for the encouragement and support.

In return, here is my list of nominees that I'd like to receive this award as well:

1. Chris Kerr Jewelry

2.Not Your Average Jo-Jo

3.Barrie's Jewelry World

4.Rosa and Josie's

5.Pink Zinnias

6.Nomadic Creations

7.A Metalsmith's Journey

Here are the rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body's mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant!

Some of you are getting a double award because Cheryl and I seem to have a few friends in common!

Enjoy!

Another Busy Day

This is a sterling bangle bracelet with copper washers. Everybody needs to laugh out loud sometimes! It's good for the soul.
This is a copper ring with a sterling ball that a customer asked me to make. I really like this one!
I soldered a brass leaf charm on one of my soft square bands, and it turned out really pretty. Reminds me of Fall, and I love leaves.
Some more of the same leaves, only this time they're earrings!
These are a set of spinning rings that a customer order for wedding rings. I had a hard time with these because she wanted them really narrow, but I finally worked it out.

I just thought I'd show you some of my new things. These are not what I've been working on the past few days, though! I've been as busy as the proverbial cat, and I'm sooooo glad! Business had gotten really slow, but seems to be picking up now. Maybe people are starting their Christmas shopping early.

I still have 4 Iron Man bracelets to finish, but there's no huge rush on them. I'll finish those up this weekend. I hope!

Update on offshore: They thought they found the rig on the bottom, but now they're not sure that's it. They are still looking for it, but it doesn't look like they'll find it. If someone else finds it and mans it, they get to keep it! Isn't that stupid! I didn't know Finder's Keepers really worked, but apparently it does on the ocean!

Hubby has made himself sick worrying about his job. I don't know why, he knows he can go to work for another company if he has to. He's just a worrier and I'm not. I learned a long time ago that it does NO good to worry! Things work out or they don't, that's just how it is.

I hope you are all doing well and having a great Friday!~