Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

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.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

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!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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!~

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

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!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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~

Sunday, November 9, 2008

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~

Monday, November 3, 2008

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