1000 Markets

YAY! Amazon payments is finally working for me and I got a sale in my shop at 1000 Markets! http://www.1000markets.com/users/tammystreasures

I'm slowing adding more to my shop there and I'm changing my photos in both shops. It will take a while because most of my items are made to order, so I have to wait till I make new ones to take photos. If I have time, I'll make some things ahead. It's just hard to with rings.

Speaking of rings...since I made the diamond ring, I've been itching to set more stones, so I ordered some really pretty ones, and I'm going to make some rings! I think I'll do size 8 for most of them, because 7 & 8 are my most popular sizes, but I can't wear a 7, so I'm going with 8. That way, if they don't sell, I can keep them! LOL

Oh, anybody know what solder to use with rose gold? I ordered some, but I have no idea what solder will match best! Barrie!!!


Almost forgot... CUTE PET PICS!

Red
Oscar
Odie

More new pics

I am slowly replacing my product photos. I absolutely adore this new camera, and I can't believe I struggled with the old one for a whole year! I used to take 50-60 photos just to get a couple of good ones. Now almost every shot is a good one.
Here are some before and afters. The difference is AMAZING!






Well, I finally went to the eye doctor last week...I have to have BIFOCALS! LOL I got the progressive lens without the line, because I think the line would drive me nuts. They should be ready this coming week, and I'll be glad to get them. My eyes seem to get worse daily, and my reading glasses just aren't cuttin' it anymore :) Isn't getting older FUN?!

I Set A Diamond!

Here's the diamond ring! It turned out pretty good. I just hated to do it, because it was such a beautiful ring that the stone came out of.

It is a real diamond and it's huge! I took it to the jewelry store and got them to unset the stone because I didn't have a prong lifter. They checked it before they took it out. It is 1/2" long by 1/4" wide and I have been terrified that something would happen to it!

I sent photos to the customer and she loves it, so that's all that matters! I'm very glad to be finished with it, and that it worked out so well.

The band is a cigar band style because it had to be so wide. It's 18g sterling with 2brass leaves framing the diamond. I set the stone in a gallery wire bezel that I trimmed with bead wire. I cut out the back of the stone because diamonds need to breathe. Crazy, huh?

I really like gallery wire! It's so much easier to work with than flat bezel wire. It's also 22g so it's a lot thicker than a regular bezel. I will be setting more stones with it now!

We didn't get a tornado last night and I'm sooo glad! It just stormed, again.
Today it was just cold and no rain tonight. YAY!

More Tornado Warnings

Enough is enough!

I'm terrified of tornados, and for the 3rd night in a row, we're under a tornado warning. It's pretty and sunshiney during the day, and then just before dark the thunder starts rumbling way off in the distance. It's much scarier at night, because then you can't see them coming. I hope we dodge the bullet one more time!

Not a lot going on today. I've been working on the diamond ring most of the day, and it's coming along, but I still don't like it! I guess it doesn't matter if I like it, as long as the customer does. I sure hope she does!

No pics today

I didn't get to play with my new camera today. I had a couple of orders to make, then I started on a custom ring for a customer.

I DO NOT want to make this ring! She sent me her original engagement ring to have the marquise diamond taken out and put on a sterling silver square ring. The diamond is 1/2" long and 1/4" wide!!! When I got the ring in the mail, I emailed her and asked her not to do it. I could size the ring up a half size and make it fit better. She thought about it a couple of days and then told me to go ahead and make the new ring.

I worked on it this afternoon and got the band made and the gallery bezel wire cut and shaped. It came another storm, with tornado warnings, for the second night in a row, so I came in from the shop. I'll work on it tomorrow, and when I finish it, I'll take pics. I just pray that it turns out like I want and that she likes it. This one may take a little while to get just right!

I'm in LOVE!

My new camera came today, and I love it! I got the Canon Powershot SX110 IS. ( Sorry Stacie, I didn't get your info before I bought it!) I snapped these pics just playing with it! The only editing I did was to crop them. The first one is an ink pen laying in front of my keyboard, IN THE HOUSE!!! WOO HOO!(Don't look at the little dust particles there)

The light is horrible now because it's late evening. Usually a photo would be impossible for me in this light. NO MORE!


This next one is with the old camera, and edited to death!

I wish I'd gotten it a long time ago, and not listened to all the folks that said "Oh it doesn't matter what camera you have, just use macro" BULL! It matters!

The jpeg files are a lot bigger, but it's because it's 9mp. It's worth the bigger files for the better pics.

Oh, I still can't comment on blogs with the "comment as" bar at the bottom of the page! Only the blogs with the box on the side work for me anymore. What's up with that?! So I'm not ignoring anyone, I'm still trying to talk to you, but Blogger won't let me! :(

There's something wrong!

Okay, what's up with my google account?!

I've been trying to leave comments on blogs for 2 days now, and it won't let me!!!
The drop down box isn't there! Just the arrow.

I guess I'll contact Google and see if they can help.

I just wanted you all to know I didn't forget you, I just can't talk to you!
ARGH!!!!!!!

Camera Woes...

I want a new digital camera, but I can't decide what kind to get! It has to be simple to use, and take good photos, because I'm sick of mine. I'm looking at Canon Powershot and Fuji. I don't know!!!!

I made a new bracelet today and couldn't get any decent pics. I have to edit the crap out of everthing just so you can see the item.

This is it. It's 8g copper wire, hammered all around, but flattened on the ends. Wrapped in sterling wire. It's really pretty, but you can't tell from the pics!

Business is slow right now, but it's still there, so I usually have something to make everyday. In between orders, I've been trying to get some new things made. The pollen is so bad right now that it's hard to work. My head hurts, my eyes feel awful, and my nose is stuffy. All of our trucks are a yucky yellowish color. I wash it off everyday, and it comes right back! You can see it blowing around in the air and it piles up in drifts. UGH!

I hope you all are breathing nice, clean air where you are!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm a little bit Irish, so I get to celebrate! Actually I'm pretty much a mutt. I'm Native American, German, Irish, Dutch, and no telling what else! But that's what makes me, ME!


Well, I got hubby to the airport on time yesterday, and sent him off to Sinapore. He was very nervous, because he's never flown on a jet before, and was worried about changing planes, but there was a guy going to the other rig there, and he helped. I hope he likes working over there, but I know he won't like being gone for 28-30 days. He will like being home for that long though! He was home for over a month this time.

I worked pretty much everyday that he was home and it makes him mad that I can't just run the roads with him. Most people don't seem to understand that just because I work at home, doesn't mean I can take off whenever I feel like it! It is still a job, and orders have to be made and sent in a timely manner. I work more hours now than I ever did at an outside job! I almost never have a day off, and if I do, I feel like I should be using that time to make new things. Sometimes it feels like jewelry has taken over my life! :) It is always on my mind.

I did take Saturday off, but it was because I had to. I woke up sick at my stomach hen my neck, shoulder, and left arm started hurting, and hurt all day! I finally decided maybe it was a heart attack, because the pain kept getting worse and spreading! I still don't know what it was, and my neck still hurts a little, but I'm okay.

I did manage to make some new stuff!

This is an intertwined baby ring necklace that a customer asked me to make.

These are my favorite earrings EVER! They look so good on your ears. They have a gorgeous labradorite, a moonstone, and a mystic topaz stone and they can be worn in a lot of different combinations, so they are actually several pairs of earrings in one.

Last is my newest spinning ring in sterling silver with 4 goldfilled spinners. There's more, but I'll save them for next time.

I hope everyone is doing well and having fun, because fun is important! It is to me, anyway! :)

Quick update

Sally of The Bear Affair sent me this "something to think about" and I wanted to share it with everyone.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu

Forgive Me!

It's been so long since I posted, I'm ashamed! My hubby is still home, and doesn't leave until the 16th, so I haven't been around much. I was also very busy with orders for a while, but that has stopped! :(

I stopped in to say that I was given 2 awards! YAY! Once from Swati at The Purple Flower. it's the Spreader of Love award, and since I did it already, I won't post it again, but I was honored to receive it again!

The second one is the Let's Be Friends Award from Kirstie at Bonhomie Jewelry. I am also very honored to receive this one!

Here's the description:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.Now I'd like to pass this award on to:

Chris Kerr Jewelry

The Bear Affair and more

The Purple Flower

Barrie's Jewelry World

Rosa and Josie's

Pink Zinnia's

Unique jewelry by novadesigns

Not Your Average JoJo

I would like to give the award to everyone I know, but I guess I'll try to stick to the rules for once! LOL

I have managed to make several new necklaces and earrings, but I won't bore you with the photos. You can see them all in my shop if you want to.

I guess I better sign off, before I get in trouble, but I will return!