Tammy's Treasure Chest

Hello

2010-10-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody! I haven't blogged in FOREVER! I have been so busy with my shop and with life in general, I've neglected my friends.

Lots of things have happened since I was last here! I bottle raised 10 two week old puppies, and they all made it. Then when they were 4 months old, Parvo struck. I lost 2 of the 5 puppies that were still here, and my inside dogs got it from my clothes. I almost lost Oscar, my weenie dog. He spent 4 days in the hospital, and it almost drove me insane. It was like one of my children was sick. Thankfully, both of my house dogs made it, and everyone is fine.

I was going to add photos of Oscar but the STUPID Blogger uploader stopped working! So you can see him on Flickr

My son had surgery in May, and is just now getting really well. He had to take 2 quarters off from college, but at least it gave him some perspective, and now, instead of art, he wants to go into medicine. He's really good at art, but there's not really a lot of money in it. There is in medicine!

I've been staying fairly busy with jewelry work, but not as busy as I want it to be. :) This year has been up and down for me with my Etsy shop. I now have a new Artfire shop, too, but I haven't sold anything there, yet.

I'll try to do better with my blog, and I still have some bugs I haven't shown you yet!

Sunday

2010-04-11T16:43:00.000-05:00

WOW! I have got to do better with my blog! Sorry! Things have been busy around here with just life stuff.
My youngest was diagnosed as bipolar and put on meds, which seem to help.

I finally bought a car! After 8 years of driving my beloved truck, I found a Chrysler 300 and I bought it. It's not new, because I don't believe in buying new cars. Too much loss with depreciation. It's an '05, but it drives like new. I love it! I've wanted one of these cars sice they first came out. I love that it's a full size car, and it has a gorgeous, low stance. Perfect! Anyway, I guess you can tell I'm proud of it :)

In other news, my Etsy shop has died! I have no idea why, but business is pitiful, and that's not good. I think I'll make a new website of my own and see if that will help.

Sunday

2010-03-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Sunday. The end of another busy week, and the beginning of a new one!

I hate it everytime the time changes. I think it's stupid to force our bodies to adjust to the clock. I slept until 11:30 this morning because my usual wake up time is 10 to 10:30. Now I have to train my brain to get up an hour earlier. UGH!

I've been waiting all week for today, just to watch a movie! Well, not really a movie. Tonight on HBO is the first part of a new mini series called The Pacific. It's a WWII movie based on the real lives of three couragous men that lived through it. It's produced by the same people that made Band of Brothers, which is my all time favorite WWII movie.

The Pacific is about the battle in Japan, and I think it will be as good as Band of Brothers.

My Papaw fought in WWII, but he didn't go to Japan. He never talked about it much, and if we asked he just gave short, to the point answers. After watching Band of Brothers, which is based on real men's stories of the war, I can understand why he didn't want to talk about it. It was horrible!

My Papaw lied about his age on his Social Security application so that he could go. There were a lot of children fighting in that war, because the government didn't care how old you were. If you got your parents consent, you could go. There were children there that were barely in their teens! Papaw had to lie because he didn't have parents. They kicked him out when he was 8 years old! EIGHT! He had 4 brothers, and they kicked them all out because they couldn't afford to feed them! WHAT!? He didn't talk about his parents either. He just said they weren't worth knowing. The only thing I know about them is that his mother was native american and his father was white. That's it.

He died 18 years ago from Mesothelioma, and I miss him to this day. I loved that man! Somehow, he turned out to be a kind and caring man that adored his family, and he worked hard his whole life to make sure they had what they needed. He's the reason I love WWII movies. When I watch them, I feel his presence with me.

Stones and Doggies

2010-03-10T10:52:00.010-06:00

My 2 favorite things! :)

I finally managed to get Sadie (new earless doggie) to be still enough for a few pics.

She's adorable and a real sweetheart.

She's always smiling, even though she has no ears!

All they need is a little love and attention.

Here's the chocolate lab.

She's beautiful, but still young, so she's a spaz and fairly destructive! But she does kill mice in my shop! And I wish she would go home. I think she belongs to a man just up the road, and I'm going to find out.

And I have to include my baby! The old man. Red.

These are my other babies. Stones! I have had a thing for rocks for as long as I can remember, and I used to spend hours sitting in the driveway, looking for cool rocks. (Yes, I was a weird kid!)

I'm going to put some closer shots on my Flickr page, so if you want to see, you can, but I think that's enough for here! :) I also have some faceted stones to post there.

I'm Baaaaaaack...

2010-03-08T11:43:00.011-06:00

I've neglected my blog!

Life has been pretty busy, and it's hard to find time to do it all, but I promise to try harder. I've missed all of my blogging friends.

My youngest son is starting his 3rd quarter at Tech! My daughter in law finally had surgery to remove the cyst. She has endometriosis, and will eventually have to have a hysterectomy, which she wants now, but the doctor won't do it. He says she too young and may want more children. She doesn't!

I spend most of my days in the shop working. Business has slowed to a crawl, but it's still alive, so I keep working! It gives me something to do, and an excuse not to leave the house! I'm such a homebody, and I hate going anywhere.

I have 2 news dogs that just showed up here. I don't know how they always find me!
One of them is a small terrier of some kind, but some asshole cut her ears completely off. She has tiny little points that you can't see because of her hair. She looks like a racoon in the face because she's grey with a black mask. She's adorable and sweet and I don't know how someone could just throw her away.
The other one is a half grown chocolate lab. She's a big, beautiful, sweety and I think she must belong to someone, because she looks healthy and cared for, but she won't leave.

I guess I can show you a couple of my new things, since I haven't done that in so long!

This is my Bayou King alligator eyeball ring.

An African Tribal Mask that I made just for fun:

And a Poppy Ring to match my other Poppy jewelry:

That's about enough of that! I would show you picks of the dogs, but they are to spastic to photograph! If I go out there they're all over me, and It's hard to get a pic, but I'll try later. I'm sure most of you have never seen a dog with no ears before.

Well, I'm off to read some blogs, then go to work for a bit.

2009-11-13T19:28:00.002-06:00

Well, we went to Shreveport 5 times and they did nothing! Everytime we go they just schedule another appointment. Yesterday we had to be there at 8am for blood work because she was supposed to have surgery next Tuesday. We had to leave the house at 5am. When they saw her, they didn't do bloodwork and rescheduled her for Dec. 4th.
Today at about 3:30pm she started hurting really bad, so i took her to the ER here at home. Whatever the mass was, it has ruptured, and now she's in the hospital so they can monitor her red blood cells and make sure she's not bleeding internally. If she is, she'll have emergency surgery.
I am very mad about all of this. It is ridiculous what she's been through!
I haven't been blogging, or working on new things lately because I just don't seem to have the energy. I feel very down and out, but it's nothing new to me and it will pass eventually.
I hope you are all well and don't ever have the healthcare problems that we've faced the last few months!

Update

2009-10-23T10:09:00.003-05:00

We got an ID and I took my DIL back to the doctor in Shreveport. The drive was nerve-wracking! It rained all the way there and back, but when we got there it was STORMING! There were tornado warnings and it was bad! We had to park in the paid parking lot and walk a long way to the office. A very nice man drove by us and handed us his umbrella! I could have kissed him! It was a thoughtful and sweet thing to do. :) My son had given his umbrella to another student at college because his was stolen while they were in class, so maybe it was "pay it forward" for that.
They saw her this time and we have to go back next week for simple surgery so they can look inside with a scope. At least something is finally being done!

I have a few orders to work on today, and I need to be in the shop, so I'll make this short.

Here's my newest weird bug
I think it's a type of Sphinx moth but I'm not real sure. It looks like a jet plane to me! It was really neat, and weird!

I'm Having A sale!

2009-10-17T20:42:00.004-05:00

I decided to have my own little Weekend Deals sale! It's a BOGO sale. Buy one item at regular price and get one of equal or lesser value at 50% off!

Maybe it will generate a sale or 2.

In other news: My DIL's mother finally got her birth certificate, after we've been trying to get her to for 2 years. Now I'm taking her to the DMV on Monday to get a photo ID then we go back to Shreveport on the 22nd. Maybe this time they'll see her!

A Vent on Healthcare

2009-10-08T19:51:00.003-05:00

or the lack of it!

This is a rant because I'm so mad and frustrated I want to cry.

My daughter in law has a mass in her lower abdomen. I sent her to a doctor here in Columbia, with a blank, signed check on me, to pay for whatever they had to do, and they wouldn't see her because she doesn't have insurance. What kind of crap is that! Is insurance better than cash? Well, we finally got a doctor here at home to see her, and they did x-rays and ultrasound, but can't tell what it is. They set up an appointment at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, 3 hours from here. I took her over there today, because her mother said she couldn't take off work. The poor child is terrified that she has cancer, and needed her Mom, not her mother in law. But, I'm all she had so... We get there and drive around for 30minutes trying to figure out how to park. All the lots were gated and required an access code. We did NOT have an access code, and have no idea where you would get one, so we finally found a pay by the hour lot about a 1/4 mile from the clinic. It was over 90 degrees today, but we walked over there, sat for an hour, only to have them tell her, no, they won't see her because she doesn't have a photo ID.
She doesn't have one, because her mother left her birth certificate AND her social security card in her purse, in an unlocked car, and guess what! Her purse was stolen! This was over a year ago and she hasn't gotten a copy yet! The hospital where she was born says her BC was never signed, so they won't give out a copy without proof of parenthood. She was adopted, and doesn't even know her real mother. Her adoptive Father lost the adoption papers! I swear to you, I want to choke the living shit out of her family, if you can call them that.
This afternoon, after the day from Hell, her mother calls to say she did get a copy of the adoption papers and will TRY to get her birth cert.
But get this, we walk ALL the way back to the truck, pay to leave the parking lot, and WHAM! I'm rear-ended! AGAIN! It's not a really hard hit and I pull up to exit the lot and stop to check my truck, and the poor woman hits a pole. Her brakes had failed, so when I pulled up her car took off again, and to keep from hitting me again, she hits a fence post! I was so hot, tired, and aggravated by the health care crap, that I just told her not to worry about it. We managed to get her car out of the way of traffic in the lot, and I left. My brakes have failed before, so I know it happens, and it's scary. Now I get to buy a new rollpan(specialized bumper that tucks under the tailgate, for you non-car people!:) and get it painted, again.
I feel like crying!

Stones

2009-10-07T22:26:00.004-05:00

I don't have anything new, but I did start something this afternoon, after I finished up my orders. I'm making a setting for the half cylinder Rosettea Picture Rock. It's so gorgeous! I thought I would show you all some of my latest obsession. I am completely addicted to stones! I have quite a stash now.

I bought this gorgeous Pinolith Jasper from Stone Clouds on Etsy

These awesome Rosetta Picture Rocks

and this gorgeous Bird's Eye Rhyolite from Hans Westermark Stones

A Bug That Isn't

2009-10-06T18:01:00.004-05:00

I don't have any new jewelry today, but I have been in the shop working! I actually got a few sales. YAY!

So I'll just show you a stange little "bug" that probably we all know and grew up with.
The Pill Bug but known around here as the Roly Poly!

From Wikipedia:
Armadillidiidae is a family of woodlice, a terrestrial crustacean group in the order Isopoda. Unlike members of the family Porcellionidae, members of this family can roll into a ball, giving them their common name of "pill bug", or the more recent and increasingly popular terms, "doodlebug" or "roly poly" which have been used regionally as early as 1968.
The best known species in the family is Armadillidium vulgare, the common pill bug. These arthropods commonly feed on decaying vegetation and are found under logs, under animal excrement, garbage pails or any other place where moisture can be found. Moisture is essential to pill bugs due to their breathing organs, which are like gills. Although they often thrive in damp areas, pill bugs have often been known to live in dry beds. Their defensive posture is curling up into a ball to present their armored exterior. They are the unique prey of the woodlouse spider and play host to specialized parasitoids in the fly family Rhinophoridae.

It is only about 1.4cm long and is most closely related to crustations like crawfish and brine shrimp, so it's not really a bug at all!

Finally..

2009-10-03T20:50:00.002-05:00

I had one sale today. It's the first one in a week! I sure do wish it would pick up again. I have college to pay for and things to buy! :)

I did manage to make a few things today. I finally made another Poppy necklace, and I intend to make a ring to match.

and this Relic necklace from the book "Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet"

A pair of Picasso finish Czech glass earrings in crimson red

and this pair of Blue Crystal Luster fire polished czech glass earrings

That's about it for my day. Real exciting huh?

Attention Gail...

2009-10-02T13:54:00.002-05:00

This is just for Gail at 13 Flowers Journal. I can't comment on your blog! There is no comment button. I wanted to tell you your rings from yesterday are awesome and I love the copper etching!

WOOHOO

2009-10-01T14:13:00.004-05:00

I actually accomplished something today. I took pics of my 2 new rings and got them listed in my shop, finished a necklace that I had laying around for over a week, got pics and listed it, AND made a pair of earrings and got them listed too! I'm on a roll! LOL

Here's a Morrisonite Jasper ring

A Mexican Crazy Lace Agate ring

Volcano Cherry Quartz necklace

and last but not least, fire opal Czech glass earrings

Now if i can just figure out how to get folks to buy the stuff...

WOW

2009-09-29T22:53:00.005-05:00

It's been almost a month since my last post! My husband has been home for 3 weeks, so I haven't gotten much done.

My Etsy shop is DEAD right now, and 1000Markets isn't any better. You'd think I'd have tons of new stuff to show, but no, I don't! I did make 3 new rings, and have some more stones almost ready to set. I only got pics of one ring though. I'll take the other's tomorrow.

Here's one ring

It's Baltic Amber and I really like it.

And here's a weird bug for you!
The Cotton Boll Weevil

The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the US from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all US cotton-growing areas by the 1920s, devastating the industry and the people working in the American south. During the late 20th century it became a serious pest in South America as well. Since 1978, the Boll Weevil Eradication Program in the US has allowed full-scale cultivation to resume in many regions.

It is much smaller than it looks in these pics. 6 millimeters is TINY! I have no idea why he was on the side of my house that night, but he was, so I took his photo!

Oops! Almost forgot my new favorite pair of earrings! These leaves reminded me of Elephant Ear plants, so I added a "drop of water" and the stems.

Maybe now that I have the whole house to myself I'll get a lot more done!

Weird Bug

2009-09-03T20:55:00.004-05:00

I found this moth on the porch of my shop, (which seems to attract a lot of weird bugs for some unknown reason!)
I have no idea what kind he is, and I didn't find it online. Maybe one of you can tell me!
It's about an inch long with those very weird hairy legs. When I touched it, it flew away, and it's wings were a gorgeous reddish-brown when open.

I worked a little bit in the shop today. Not on orders, unfortunately, but on some things I've put off for a long time!
I found these awesome little intarsia globe beads on Etsy, and since my boys always tell me that I live in my own little world, I had to have them so I could make my little world real! :)

LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALE!!!

2009-09-03T11:40:00.002-05:00

I'm not in the gift guide, but I am having a 15% off sale through the 7th.
Come by and check it out!

Almost Autumn!

2009-08-31T00:32:00.004-05:00

Fall is in the air, and I'm so glad! I LOVE Autumn!

The trees are much prettier in their colorful clothes, the air is crisp and clean. It's just wonderful!

These are some leaves I found in my yard, and the last thing is a Persimmon that fell from the tree by my house.

I was in the shop all day, working on orders, and when I finally finished, I realized I had made a stupid mistake! I had 4 stamped stacking rings, with names on the front and dates on the back. All of the dates are off center! So tomorrow I'll make them all again. (Sigh) Never work when you're really tired! :)

Oh, here are my new favorite earrings! I made them a couple of days ago. I can't decide which ones I like the best.

College!

2009-08-21T17:35:00.002-05:00

I feel like my life is spinning out of control right now!

My youngest starts to college in a couple of weeks, and it is horribly expensive! Tuition and room and board were mostly paid for by the scholarship and Tops, but the supplies and books are ridiculous.

I bought him a new Macbook for graduation because I knew he needed it for college. Now I've had to buy an $1800 Adobe Creative Suite 4 for it! Everyone in the Tech School of Art has to have that program plus a $200 printer. At least it came with a free Wacom Intuos Tablet.

Today we spent a chunk on art supplies for class, and now we have to stock his dorm room. Thank God most of this stuff is a one time deal! I couldn't do this every 3 months!

If you have small children, and you expect them to go to college, start saving up for it NOW! It is not cheap!

Weird Bug

2009-08-19T12:33:00.005-05:00

The Jumping Spider (Metacyrba genus)

Jumping spiders, all of which are in the family Salticidae, are among the most interesting spider groups to watch. Jumping spiders come in many sizes and color patterns. Active hunters during the day, they have good eyesight, relying primarily on movement to locate prey. They stalk their prey before attacking in a fast leap. Jumping spiders put out a line of webbing when they jump and can sometimes be seen dangling from this silken dragline after a leap that fails.
Many jumping spiders are bold, stocky and often brightly colored. They often have conspicuous bands of black and white on their bodies or legs. Others have velvety red abdomens and some even have metallic colors on the chelicerae. Jumping spiders have eight eyes, with one large pair in the front. Like most spiders, jumping spiders are not considered hazardous to humans and are unlikely to bite unless cornered or handled.

My son found this little guy dangling from his hair! He was tiny, about 4mm long. The reason I knew he was a jumping spider was because while I was photographing him, he leaped at the camera! I've seen lots of black and white, hairy jumping spiders, (and been bitten by one!) but never one like this.

My hubby went back offshore and will be gone a month this time. I'm working a little, but I've only been doing what I have to do. I'm burned out right now, but I think it's just the heat in the shop. I don't want to work!

Blog Giveaway By Nova Design

2009-08-06T11:35:00.003-05:00

Nova Design is giving away a gorgeous pair of earrings and I want them! :) So I'm blogging about her blog! http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/2009/08/amazing-blog-giveaway-for-my-silver.html You may notice she is included in my treasury, too, but that was before I saw the giveaway!
Anyway, check it out, but DON'T enter! :) I want them! LOL

Treasury

2009-08-06T11:06:00.003-05:00

I snagged a treasury on Etsy yesterday! At first it said I didn't get one? When I checked today, there it was! So here it is, check it out: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=74452
I would post a pick but I don't know how :(

UPDATE! I did it!

WOW

2009-08-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

I'm really falling behind with my blog!

My hubby has been home since June 13th and I can't seem to find time for everything.

I've been working in the shop everyday, but it's mostly orders. I made a few new simple necklaces, but that's it! Right now I'm working on a huge order of earwires, which is not something I normally do. For one thing, I hate making them, and it takes a WHILE to make 100 of them!

I did make this bracelet as a special request. It says There, But For The Grace Of God...which has always been a favorite phrase of mine. I think I'll make one of these for me!

I'm not going to bore you all with necklaces, but I will show you a new bug. I don't have a problem finding those!

This one is a Reddish Brown Stag Beetle that landed on my shirt one night while I was eating a salad. He was so heavy, I knew it was something big! This guy was about an inch and a half long and over a half inch wide! Scary but harmless.

Lucanus capreolus
Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle

When confronted by people, the male beetles may rear back their heads and open their mandibles, but actually these pincers are capable of little more than a very mild nip to a human.

Male Reddish-Brown Stag Beetles fight with other males of their species over females.

These adult beetles are nocturnal and feed on tree sap. They are also attracted to lights. The larvae feed on the decaying wood of tree stumps and fallen logs.

Another Weird Bug!

2009-07-24T20:22:00.003-05:00

The Walking Stick

The Phasmatodea (sometimes called Phasmida) are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (in Europe), walking sticks or stick-bugs (in the United States), phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects (generally the family Phylliidae). The ordinal name is derived from the Greek "phasma" meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Their natural camouflage can make them extremely difficult to spot.

I found this one in the doorway to my shop one morning. It was not a good place to hide so I moved him to the grass, where you can barely see him!
I've found a lot of walking sticks here, but they were green, brown or green and brown striped. This is the only cream-colored one I've seen!

And this is an anole lizard, that eats bugs! I love lizards, too!

And this is my baby, Oscar. The wonderful weinie dog! He sleeps in some very awkward positions!

I've been really busy with orders this week, so I've had several stones just sitting on the bench, with the bezels all ready to solder. Maybe this weekend I'll get them done!

Weird Bug Of The Week

2009-07-16T16:21:00.003-05:00

The Robber Fly (Asilidae)

It took some searching to find out what this one is! I finally found it!
This one was in my house one night last week. My son and I took pics then took it outside. It was a really weird looking bug!

Here's the info from Wikipedia:

Insects in the Diptera family Asilidae are commonly called robber flies. The family Asilidae contains about 7,100 described species worldwide. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis. Many species have long, tapering abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied bumblebee mimics. Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees, ants, dragon and damselflies, Ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders.

I don't like the fact that they kill butterflies and dragonflies, but the others I can live without!

Not a lot going on around here besides work, but that's a good thing! I'm just chillin' in the house right now, cause the shop is a sauna in the afternoons. If you have any extra rain, send it my way! :)

Ode to Lisa!

2009-07-11T19:02:00.004-05:00

Lisa, over at Lisa's Lovlies makes some gorgeous jewelry, and she does it assembly line style! I took a cue from her style and tried it out. I made all of these at one time!

Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper Ring

Pipeline Canyon Agate Ring

Willow Creek Jasper Doublet Ring

Colorful Onyx Necklace that I'm donating to the wildlife rehab. (Changed my mind about the dragonblood)

Vintage Lucite and sterling necklace

There was another ring, but I burned a hole in the bezel wire, so I have to start over on that. Thank goodness it happened early on! It was a small one too, so no great loss.

I have a LOT of stones to set, and more on the way. So I have plenty to play with!
But tomorrow I have 4 orders to make so I guess I'll play later.

Dragonheart

2009-07-09T12:12:00.002-05:00

I finally got to make something new!

The first one is a dragonblood jasper necklace. I love dragonblood jasper! The red streaks really do look like blood. I'm donating a piece to a charity called Wings Of Hope, and it might be this one.

They are a wildlife rehab facility here in Louisiana, and the only one in this state that rescues bats. Since I love animals, I'm donating to their auction.

The ring is just another stamped one, but without a spinner. I'm kinda tired of spinning rings! :)

It says-
love you once, love you still
always have, always will

I'm working on several more pieces but today I'm being lazy. It's 12:30 and I haven't even showered yet! :) So I'm off to do that now.

Weird Bug Of The Week

2009-07-07T19:04:00.002-05:00

Okay guys, here he is, and you've probably all seen one once or twice. We call them Granddaddy Longlegs around here!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Opiliones"

Harvestmen are eight-legged invertebrate animals belonging to the order Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. As of 2006[update], over 6,400 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the real number of extant species may exceed 10. Well-preserved fossils have been found in the 400-million year old Rhynie cherts of Scotland, which look surprisingly modern, indicating that the basic structure of the harvestmen has not changed much since then. Phylogenetic position is disputed: their closest relatives may be the mites (Acari) or the Novogenuata (the Scorpiones, Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae).[2]

Although they belong to the class of arachnids, harvestmen are not spiders, which are of the order Araneae rather than the order Opiliones.

In some places, harvestmen are known by the name "daddy longlegs" or "granddaddy longlegs".

In other news: It finally RAINED! WooHoo!!! Sunday morning at about 5:30 it started thundering so loud it was deafening and lightening was striking trees right behind the house, but I didn't even care! I was just so glad to see it raining. We got several inches and Monday was a lot cooler. I hope it rains some more!

I haven't got any new jewelry to show you. I've been busy, but it was all orders from my shop that you've all seen.

OH! I did get some new tools from Beaducation, while they were having their $th of July sale! Yippee! I got some ring bending pliers that I LOVE! I don't know how I've gone so long without them! I also got a new Fretz riveting hammer, (Love it, too!) and new sheet metal shears, and Lindstrom flush cutters. I so love new tools! I'm an addict! :)

Weird Bug Of The Week

2009-07-01T16:56:00.003-05:00

I've decided to do a series on my blog! Wierd Bug Of The Week!

I know I've already had one this week, but we'll just pretend it was last week. :)

Okay, here's this weeks bug:

"Graphocephala coccinea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Graphocephala coccinea is a meadow and woodland-dwelling species of brightly-colored leafhopper native to North and Central America, from Canada south to Panama.[1] Common names include candy-striped leafhopper, red-banded leafhopper, scarlet-and-green leafhopper and red-and-blue leafhopper.

G. coccinea is about 3⁄16 of an inch (5 mm) long and has vivid blue (or green) and red (or orange-red) stripes on its wings and the top of its thorax combined with bright yellow coloration on its head, legs, abdomen, and elsewhere.

Leafhoppers feed on plant sap with the aid of specialized mouthparts."

He's a tiny bug, and I didn't realize how colorful and neat he was until I got the closeup macro shot. The world is an amazing place if just look down sometimes!

This is the view into a birdhouse on my front porch! Inside that hole is a tiny little wren. I see it's mom bringing it bugs to eat all the time. Today he's got his little mouth open trying to cool off, because it's still over 100degrees out! Poor thing!

And this I have no idea what it is! I found it on the ground while I was looking down! It's hard, and kind of woody, and really wierd!

So look down and see what interesting and tiny things you find!

Found him!

2009-06-29T22:23:00.002-05:00

Whatsthatbug.com

It's a slug moth caterpillar, called a Crowned Slug (Isa Textula).

What is THAT?!

2009-06-29T17:05:00.004-05:00

Look at this awesome BUG! I have no idea what kind it is, but it's wonderful! I have had a fascination with bugs and rocks my whole life.

My hubby found this little beauty in his truck. He though it was a leaf, at first, then he brought it to me, to see if I knew what it was. Nope! But I like it! If anyone knows what it is, please tell me!

This was my disaster for the day. It's a Mookaite Jasper that looks like a bloody claw. Awesome stone! So I made the bezel, got it all ready, put the stone in, pushed the bezel over and SNAP! The stone BROKE! Right at the black line at the top! It almost broke off straight, where I could have just made a new bezel for it. But NO! It left a corner on top. Oh well, them's the breaks I guess! So I'm stuck with it now.

I hope everybody had a better shop day than I did!

It's 1 AM...

2009-06-26T01:00:00.005-05:00

and I just came in from the shop! I can stand to be out there after dark, cause it's a LOT cooler.

I had a couple of orders that had to be done today, so I can get them in the mail tomorrow. After I finished them, I made this ring.

And it wasn't fun! I had so many problems with it, and it's just a simple ring. Then when I put the stone in, the bezel was too deep. The stone wasn't cut really well, and it's not even on top, so that made it worse. I cut the bezel from 24g fine silver, after carefully measuring the stone! I guess I measured the fat side. Oh well, it's done and it's okay. Wonky, but okay.

Oh! I have a question: What the hell is the super sharp point on a burnisher for? I mean, other than scratching the crap out of whatever I'm trying so hard not to scratch! I managed not to scratch this one, but usually I dig a deep gouge in my almost finished work, and have to start all over with finishing! HATE that! I want a burnisher with a round end.

It's still hot and dry as a bone here. I so wish it would rain!

It's too HOT!

2009-06-23T18:56:00.002-05:00

I'm melting! It was 102○F at 5 pm today. It's been that way for DAYS! I sit right in front of the A/C in my shop, and it's STILL too hot. It's hard to get any work done.

All I've done for a while is just what has to be done! It hasn't rained in I don't know how long, and everything is dried up and miserable.

You know that song "Too Cold At Home". One of the lines is "It's too hot to fish, too hot for golf, and too cold at home." Well, it's too damn hot to fish, and that's HOT, people!

I hope it's cooler where ever you are.

Website Grader

2009-06-18T19:42:00.002-05:00

See that little box on the right? It's my grade for this blog!

I found this cool website grader in the forums at Etsy. My shop got a grade of 94! YAY! My blog didn't do so well, but who cares?

Go there and see how your shop grades. It's a helpful marketing tool and tells you what you need to change.

What a MESS!

2009-06-18T15:35:00.004-05:00

Okay Sherice, this is for you!

I told you I'm messy and this is what it looks like. :) I'm so ashamed (but not enough to change!) If I clean it up, I can't find anything. This is probably how it would look if you could peek into my head! I'm just a messy person, and it doesn't really bother me! LOL
When I first got the shop, I couldn't work, because it was too neat and clean!
I had to make a mess so I could create!

BUT...last night, out of this mess came this! A Corundum Alexandrite and fine silver ring.
I love it and started to keep it, but then decided to list it in my shop. But if no one wants it, it does fit me! :)
It's my first prong setting, too!

Summer Colds...

2009-06-17T11:32:00.005-05:00

SUCK!

I have a cold, and it has made me feel like crap! :( They are so much worse in the summer. The heat just seems to suck the life out of you. It has even made me a day late on a custom order, and I HATE that! I like to finish things when I say I'm going to. The customer was very understanding though, so it all worked out.

Here are the things I made for her, using her Sunstones. I LOVE Sunstone!

This pair of earrings are on my new "Almost Hoops" earwires. I really like them!
She also bought the Sunstone earrings from my previous post.

and a simple, but gorgeous, necklace,

This ring is made with a drilled bead, but you can't tell! The twisted wire is 2 strands of 18g sterling that I twisted in my new flexshaft. I LOVE that thing!!!

This is a rough Oregon Sunstone, and I really like it. I thought it would be a horror to set, but it was so easy!

and last but not least is a copper and sterling cuff bracelet that she wanted to match the Crocodile Tears earrings she bought from me earlier. I really love the design, and I'm going to add it to my shop. I love it when I challenged to come up with a new design!

I also have fallen madly in love with fine silver! It is so wonderful to work with, and it's really not that much more expensive. There's no firescale, and it cleans up gorgeously!

No More Vacation!

2009-06-08T21:39:00.004-05:00

Well...I'm back fron "vacation" and working again. Not much though, cause sales are sloooooow right now.

I did manage to make a few new things when I wasn't goofing off! :)

And these are 5 pairs of cufflinks for a special order.

There was another turquoise ring but I gave it to a friend, and didn't take pics.

Look! I signed the rings! I decided to use my initials instead of my shop name. I may not always be Tammy's Treasure Chest, but I WILL always be T.E. even if I get a divorce! My maiden name is Ensminger! HA!

It's Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:14:00.002-05:00

Please take a moment out of your day to remember all the men and women who have helped this country be what it is today.

It's a depressing day to me, but I was already down, so it's just one more thing to be sad about.

I let Cane go yesterday. I have such mixed feelings about it. I know it was the right thing to do, but I can't help but worry. I have to just leave it in God's hands.

I also put my Etsy shop on vacation for a while. I'm feeling really burned out. I'm still going to be working on jewelry, but it will be new stuff. I guess I just need to renew myself, so when I finish my orders today, I'll have time for being creative, and time to relax!

Having your own business is stressful sometimes, especially when you have to make each piece you sell! Normally I love it, but right now I'm tired. My 5 year old grandaughter told me I look bad! :) Kids are brutally honest, and tell it like it is. She's right, I do look bad.

Not checking my Etsy store is really weird, though! I've been doing it for 14 months, and it's become a habit. Now I walk over here to the computer and then think "Hmm, what are you doing?" Etsy has become such a big part of my life, what would I do without it? I think I would be lost! But everybody needs a vacation every once in a while!

Yummy Turquoise

2009-05-23T23:28:00.004-05:00

Look what I got in the mail!

GORGEOUS Turquoise!

I got it from AZMZGOLD on Etsy.

The first set is 25 stones. The size varies from 28mm by 16mm for the largest down to 4mm. There's some from Sleeping Beauty mine, Morenci mine, and Bisbee mine in Arizona, and Royston mine in Nevada.

They are stunning in person! I can't wait to make some new stuff!

The second set is Morenci turqouise. The small one measures 7mm by 9mm and the larger one measures 31mm by 12mm. I think these will be a pendant.

I have a few orders to finish up in the next couple of days, then maybe I can get to work on these beauties!

Finally...Something New!

2009-05-19T22:11:00.003-05:00

YAY! I finally got around to finishing a new ring!

It's Oregon Petrified Wood Limb Cast Agate. It's a gorgeous stone, with blue-grey and black.

I kept the setting kinda simple, but did a bit of embellishing.

I'm just happy to have time to make something different!

I have to get back to work on orders tomorrow, so I don't know when I'll get something else made.

Cane is doing great and growing like crazy. i think he'll be big enough to release by this weekend.

He won't let me hold him anymore, and that's a good thing. I want him to be scared of people and dogs. He lives in my bedroom right now, so I'm sleeping on the couch with the dogs! Crazy huh? I'll give up my bed to keep a rabbit wild. I have some serious issues! LOL

My youngest son says that someday I'll be the crazy lady that tries to feed caterpillars with an eyedropper! :) He's probably right!

I had to break up a pitbull fight a few days ago. Scary!

My neighbors dog is in heat and my dog got in a fight with another pit. If I hadn't been home, mine probably would have been killed. He's to old for that crap! The other dog had him by the throat, but I got to them in time, so he just had mostly scratches on his face and neck, but he has a hole through his foot and the pad is torn open. It's better now, but still looks awful. The vet said to leave it alone and let him take care of it.

Being a pet owner is hard sometimes!

Well, I've rambled on long enough, so I'm off to check out everybody's blogs. Later!

Graduation

2009-05-15T22:35:00.003-05:00

My baby graduated from high school tonight!

I have mixed feelings about it. I'm happy for him, but sad at the same time.

They had a ceremony on the last day of school,where they had a kind of funeral
to signify burying their childhood.

My son was depressed about graduation for a couple of days. It's a big step on the road of life!

Now the really hard stuff starts, like college, then work, and the everyday drudgery that goes along with it.

I guess I'm just not ready to give up my baby just yet!

Say a little prayer for him and all of the other graduates everywhere tonight, that they all get home safely from their festivities.

Oh, BTW, he thinks he was switched at birth because he doesn't look like me or his Dad! LOL He does have my hands and my build, and my hair. He looks more like my brother than like me.

Raising Cane

2009-05-11T13:54:00.002-05:00

I took a few more photos of the bunny! He seems to grow bigger every day!

The first 2 are of me feeding him, and the others are of my son holding him.

When we got him, he would fit in the palm of one hand, with lots of room to spare.

Well, I took hubby to the airport this morning, so he's on his way to Sinapore now. I needed to work today, but I didn't get any sleep last night and I've just kind of vegetated all day. So tomorrow I'll have to get busy!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T10:42:00.004-05:00

I've been a new Mom for a little over a week now!

This is Cane (as in cane-cutter rabbit:)

Hubby found him after mowing at his camp on the river. He took him away from a Rat Terrier that luckily was just playing with him at the time.

In these pics he is twice the size that he was a week ago! He was so tiny! It took a little coaxing, but he eats from a medicine dropper about every four hours, and has now started eating a little Alfalfa hay too.

I could have cried when he brought him home, because wild baby rabbits don't usually live in captivity. I did some reading and found out that it's because when you wean them, it gives them diarrhea and they die in one day! BUT, if you feed them acidophilus, they can make it!

It's a live bacteria in a capsule that helps with digestion. It's really for people, and is found in yogurt. But it works for rabbits, too! Without it, the baby rabbit can't digest grasses and things. They usually get the bacteria they need from their mother, but I didn't have that, sooo I improvised! :)

He's doing great, and we plan on releasing him as soon as he's old enough to make it on his own. I can't stand to keep an animal in a cage. Especially a wild animal. I wouldn't want to be caged!

I haven't been blogging much, because hubby has been home for a month, but he leaves tomorrow, so maybe I'll have more time for all of my wonderful blogging friends!

Until then, I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy Mother's Day!

UFO's Over the High Desert

2009-04-26T12:59:00.004-05:00

I found the most awesome Montane Agate on Etsy! I got it from Lapidarious, a wonderful shop!

Here's his description of it because it's perfect!

"This extraordinary example of fine Monatan Agate is as spacy as the picture within. Little scout ships leaving the big mother ship over the high desert of eastern Oregon. A trip waiting to be set in metal and shown off!
NICE nice material.
Definitely for the adventuresome.
18.46ct. and 24mm x 25.5mm x 4mm in size

Calling occupants of interplanetary craft....."

I looked at it for quite a while, wanted it badly, then finally bought it! LOL It is not for sale because I'm keeping it! It's all mine!

It turned out exactly like I pictured it in my mind, which never happens for me. Usually a design mophs and changes while I'm making it.

The stone just begged for the alien face on the back, so I cut out the eyes on the back plate, and cut a tiny spaceship shape to attach the jumpring.

I LOVE how it turned out!

I also got a gorgeous little Oregon Petrified Wood Limb Cast Agate from him. It's going to be a ring, as soon as I have time to finish it! :)

Right now I have to get off this computer and get to work in the shop. Got a few orders to finish. YAY!

The HUGE rock rings!

2009-04-13T20:44:00.004-05:00

Well, here they are! These are not something I would have done on my own. It was a custom request from a customer.

Her son found the rocks on the beach in East Sandwich, MA, their favorite vacation spot. The biggest, pinkish one is hers and the green one is her daughters. They were special to her and she wanted them set in a sterling silver ring. So I did it!

The big one is not really practical for everyday wear, but it will make a great conversation starter!

I'm not that good at setting stones, so these were a special challenge for me. It was a little difficult but I figured it out! YAY!

I made the setting with a 20g backplate, and 24g bezel. I've always seen people say they used a hammer on a bezel setting, and I thought it was crazy! Why would you hammer a bezel?! Now I know! That's exactly what I did, and it worked great!

I also tried out my wooden vise that is part of my new workbench. It's perfect for holdng a ring while you set a stone. It doesn't mark the silver at all!

Well, my hubby will be home either tomorrow or Wednesday. Not sure which because of the time difference. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it's been a month since he left, and sometimes it seems longer! Staying busy all the time helps time pass though. I'm always in the shop working, so days kinda run together for me.

I did take yesterday off. I wasn't going to but after eating lunch at my Mom's and visiting with the family, I was too tired and full to do anything. So today I've been playing catch up!

I'm a little more used to my glasses, but they still bug me. It makes me tired to try and focus on what I'm doing, and I catch myself not focusing! The piece I'm working on will be blurry and out of focus, because it's a pain in the patooty to keep moving my head till I find the spot! Lined bifocals would probably have been better for work, and I may get them for that. I can wear these everywhere else. Oh well, live and learn, and get old and fall apart! LOL

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Giant coffee cup!

2009-04-09T19:36:00.002-05:00

LOL! I love things that are WAY bigger than normal, or WAY smaller! I found this giant coffee cup plant pot and I could not resist! Now I have to find a plan for it.

I could probably drink that much coffee, if it wouldn't get cold before I could finish it!

Not much going on around here, except work. I still have a few more things that have to be finished, but I think they'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm POOPED!

My glasses are still driving me nuts, and they're making my right eye hurt. That's the good eye!

I got my stones in for new rings, but I don't have time to play with them right now. :( I have 2 custom order rings that are giving mr fits. They're fairly large rocks that a customer wants made into rings. One is pretty thick, and it's going to be heavy, but hey, it's not my ring! It is a pain to set though!

Well, gotta go watch House!

Etsy Find

2009-04-07T18:20:00.003-05:00

I was browsing thru Pounce today (as usual:) and I found the most amazing wire artist!

Her shop is Slc Uniques
and she has different types of things for sale, but I was stunned by her copper wire insects.

I love bugs anyway (Yes, I'm weird!) so I had to share these with you. This is a few of them, but there are more. Check out her shop.

I finally got my glasses yesterday, and I HATE them! I can see really well far off, but finding the right up close spot is aggravating. I'm bobbing my head up and down like an idiot and I can't wear them at all when I'm on the computer. Why can't anything just be simple?!

I got the no line bifocals, and you can only see clearly looking staight ahead. To the side is blurry, and it's hard to find the spot for reading. But, I REFUSE to wear regular, lined bifocals. Damn it! I'm not that old yet! LOL

I got a call from the head of the local art society today. She found my Etsy shop and wants me to join them. It's a juried show where I can sell my jewelry locally every second weekend. I don't have to go to every show, just when I want. There's a $12 membership fee and booth space is free. I'm going to give it a shot, but now I have to really get busy! Or busier!

My youngest is being honored tonight by the school board for making it to State in the Literary Rally. He's not happy about it, but I am. He got an academic scholarship to Louisiana Tech, which is a wonderful college, and it's only about 3 hours from home! YAY! The scholarship is only for $14,500, which will be about a thousand dollars a semester, but every little bit helps. He can't get a grant because of our income, but he's in the TOPS program and they will pay about $2000 a semester, so that leaves us owingabout $8000 a semester. I have no idea how I'm going to pay it, but I will!

Well, that's about all of my news. I'm not a very exciting person! LOL

Feeling down

2009-04-03T21:00:00.002-05:00

I don't know what the world is coming to. What is wrong with people that they feel like they have to go out and kill innocent people? They're almost always mad at someone or something, but they don't kill the one that wronged them. They take it out on people that they've never even met. This latest shooting in Binghamton NY is just as stupid and senseless as all the rest! Sometimes I just wonder where it will all end...How long can this kind of violence continue?
Just say a prayer for all of the world, because it really needs it.

I Still Can't Comment! :(

2009-04-02T18:20:00.002-05:00

And it's starting to tick me off! Half of the blogs I follow, I can't comment on. If it has that little drop down bar, there's nothing in it, and I can't post. So Gail, thank you for your comments, and I love your fold-formed leaf. I've been thinking about getting CLB's book, too! I bought new Fretz hammers from Otto Frei in the closeout section. Sometimes they have seconds, and they are deeply discounted and wonderful!

I had my second sale at 1000 Markets, so maybe the word's getting out now, and things will pick up.

Nothing much going on today, so I guess I'll go for now.

1000 Markets

2009-03-31T20:59:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-29T21:24:00.006-05:00

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!

2009-03-28T23:04:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-27T16:20:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-26T22:07:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-03-25T17:34:00.006-05:00

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!

2009-03-23T09:18:00.002-05:00

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...

2009-03-19T20:05:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-17T08:31:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-09T21:37:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-03-09T16:15:00.004-05:00

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!

I was tagged!

2009-02-27T20:35:00.003-06:00

I'm sorry I haven't been around, but my husband is home until the 16th of March, then he's going to Sinapore. He doesn't like for me to spend time on the computer, so I've been trying to stay away.

I found out tonight that I was photo tagged by Swati at The Purple Flower! I'm supposed to post the 4th photo in my files and tell you about it. Then I'll tag 4 more.

It's a really bad pic, taken with a crappy camera, but it is my favorite dog!

Oscar, the weenie dog! He was just a little baby then, and he was barking at me when I took this.

He's bigger now, but still barks at me for attention. He thinks I belong to him, and doesn't want anybody near me. He will squeeze in between my hubby and myself if we sit too close! He also doesn't like it if I talk on the phone. What a nutty dog!

Now, for my 4:

1. Kirstie at Bonhomie Jewels

2.Candace at C. Gail Designs

3.Jessica at Jessica C.

4.Cheryl at Lavender Cottage Originals

Let's see those photos!

Love Blogs Award!

2009-02-21T11:27:00.005-06:00

I got a wonderful surprise this morning from Stephanie at How Perfectly Imperfect. I am so honored that she gave this award to me!

The award is supposed to go to people who take the time to leave a comment, or a word of encouragement, or a compliment on something that I created.

It's supposed to go to 5 people, but gosh, that's going to be hard to do! I have so many friends that deserve this award! I guess I'll have to pick 5, but just know that I want to nominate all of you!

Here are the rules:

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

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

My five picks are:

Chris Kerr Jewelry

Swati at The Purple Flower

Melissa at Pink Zinnias

Barrie's Jewelry World

Cheryl at Lavender Cottage Originals

I'm breaking the rules here and adding one more!

Diane at Rosa and Josie's

I would love to nominate everyone I know, but I guess I'll "almost" follow the rules!

What Goes Around....

2009-02-15T18:51:00.002-06:00

Comes around!

I truly believe that. If you are kind and help others good things come to you.

A customer found Chris in a Google search. She had a special request and Chris referred her to me!

This pendant is for a wonderful lady that has been her 'mom' since she was about 14 or so. She was a serious gift from God and still is 32 years later. Her "Mom" is coming to her church to lead a retreat and the words are the theme for the retreat as well as what she feels God is whispering in her ear personally.

I think that's awesome and I gladly made it for her. I LOVE it! Beloved has always been a special word for me, and I never thought to divide it this way.

The customer says she loves it too, and can't wait to hold it in her hands.

Anyway, the reason for the title of this post is because I try to help people whenever I can, and I have been trying to help a couple of folks this weekend.

I don't believe in guarding any techneque I use like it was Colonel Sander's Secret Recipe, and if you would like to know how I did something, just ask me. I will try to explain it the best that I can! If it weren't for people willing to share, I wouldn't know anything! So I'm paying it forward, and this weekend it has come back to me in several sales in my shop.

So be kind to each other and good things will come your way.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T10:12:00.003-06:00

Give lots of kisses, and remember...
There is always someone that loves you more than you know!

Gold Spinner

2009-02-13T17:40:00.006-06:00

I order some 12K gold-filled sheet from Monsterslayer. Silly me though it would be gold on both sides. With what it costs, it should have been, but no, it's red brass on the back.

Anyhoo, I made a spinning ring with it, cause I had everything but a gold one!

It's boring, and I don't like it! I'm not much of a gold kinda girl though. I love silver, and copper, especially together.

The gold is just so plain and blah.

Even though it's brass on the inside of the band, it looks like solid gold, just without the high price!

Oh well, not liking it won't keep me from trying to sell them. LOL

Here's the saying for the day:

Be Weird Whenever You Have The Chance

Man Humor

2009-02-10T20:30:00.003-06:00

Okay, some of these are a little off-color, so if you are easily offended, don't read this post. They're not bad, just a bit racy for some! I laughed til I hurt myself!

Okay men, I'm sorry, but these are funny!

1. WHY DO MEN BECOME SMARTER DURING SEX
(because they are plugged into a genius)
----------------------------------------------
2. WHY DON'T WOMEN BLINK DURING SEX?
(they don't have enough time)
-----------------------------------------------
3. WHY DOES IT TAKE 1 MILLION SPERM TO FERTILIZE ONE EGG?
(they don't stop to ask directions)
-----------------------------------------------
4. WHY DO MEN SNORE WHEN THEY LIE ON THEIR BACKS?
(because their balls fall over their butt-hole and they vapor lock)
-----------------------------------------------
(You're laughing, aren't you?!?!)
-----------------------------------------------
5. WHY WERE MEN GIVEN LARGER BRAINS THAN DOGS?
(so they won't hump women's legs at cocktails parties)
----------------------------------------------
6. WHY DID GOD MAKE MEN BEFORE WOMEN?
(you need a rough draft before you make a final copy)
-----------------------------------------------
7. HOW MANY MEN DOES IT TAKE TO PUT A TOILET SEAT DOWN?
(don't know, it never happened)
-----------------------------------------------
( C'mon guys, we laugh at your blonde jokes!)
-----------------------------------------------
8. WHY DID GOD PUT MEN ON EARTH?
(because a vibrator can't mow the lawn)
-----------------------------------------------

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweat-shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, 'What setting do I use on the washing machine?' 'It depends,' I replied. 'What does it say on your shirt?' He yelled back, ' University of Oklahoma .' And they say blondes are dumb...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple is lying in bed. The man says, 'I am going to make you the happiest woman in the world.' The woman replies, 'I'll miss you...'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'It's just too hot to wear clothes today,' Jack says as he stepped out of the shower, 'honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?' 'Probably that I married you for your money,' she replied.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?
A: A rumor
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling your name?
A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How do you keep your husband from reading your e-mail?
A: Rename the mail folder 'Instruction Manual.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Mother sent me these in an email! Hope you at least got a little giggle out of it, cause laughter really is the best medicine!

More new stuff...

2009-02-08T16:38:00.003-06:00

I've been making a few new things in between orders, and since the orders are slow, I've made quite a few! :) This is a 1/2" wide copper spinning ring with 2 brass and 1 sterling spinner.
I reversed it on this one and did a wide brass band with 2 copper and 1 sterling spinner.
These are my "Wildwood Flowers" For some reason men like these. Go figure!
And these I love! They are the big flower beads but in brass. I made the balled copper stamins and quenched them while they were glowing orange, so now they are a gorgeous fushia color.
I sold the other 2 pair of silver ones and the necklace! YAY!

There's not much going on around here. Hubby has to go back offshore tomorrow night. He's only been home a week, but they need him to fill in, and right now, with the layoffs, he can't say no. So I'm washing his clothes and getting him ready to go.

I'll leave you with a little something that made me laugh:

Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him; And Patience for his moods. Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll beat him to death. AMEN

Remember, if you haven't got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart...Then you are just an old sour fart!

Feed The Fish!

2009-02-03T08:54:00.003-06:00

I found this neat little gadget over at Lolley's! Look over to the right under my Etsy widget. Just click the mouse in the water and feed the fish. They will follow the cursor.
Barrie, this one's for you!

My First Hoops

2009-02-02T21:14:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I made my first hoop earrings. Just simple, hammered, 20g sterling. I wire wrapped 2 gorgeous, faceted carnelian briolettes and slipped them on the hoops. I really like them and they're very comfortable to wear.

It must have been hoop day, because Swati made her first hoops, too! I told her that great minds think alike, but hers were so much better than mine! Just gorgeous!

The second pair are just simple long drops, made with brass bead caps, deep red quartz briolettes, and a faceted garnet on top.

The last pic is a necklace I made to match the earrings. They sold already but I will be making more! I love these flowers! I'm just waiting to get them in the mail!

I should be in the shop right now, but it's very cold and I just can't make myself go. I'll have to finish up a few rings in the morning. I also have to get the house clean tomorrow, cause Chad comes in from offshore on Wednesday, and I always try to have it clean at least that day! LOL

New Hammers!!!

2009-01-30T10:16:00.002-06:00

WOO HOO!! I got 7, count 'em, 7 , new hammers in the mail this morning. It's my birthday present to my self, just a day late.

I got 3 new Fretz hammers from Otto Frei! They have this cool discount section with "seconds". These hammers are excellent! The reason they're seconds is something like the wrong color of stain on the handle (I got one of those) or a small blurb where the name is pressed on the side of the head, or a pinhole in the handle. Nothing major, just enough to keep them from charging full price. So I got a #1 planishing hammer, a double ended insert hammer with 9 interchangable plastic tips, and a small embossing hammer. I saved $98!!!

I also got 4 hammers from Harbor Freight! I got 2 new ball peins, 1 stubby and one full size, a 2#brass head deadblow, and a waffle-faced ripping hammer that has a really cool texture on the face.

It's a wonderful day!

Well, it was. Now I have to clean my house and I'd rather take a beating! =0 I HATE housework. Susie Homemaker, I am not!!

Proximity Award!

2009-01-27T21:28:00.002-06:00

Well, I was just catching up with my blogger friends and found out that I received an award from Barrie.

I copied this from her blog:

Proximidade is described as follows:
‘This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for 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!’

The rules are: This blog award should be sent to your favorite eight bloggers and they, in turn should forward to eight of their favorites. You should include the text for Proximidade (above) in your announcement blog.

So, now I’ve got to pass this award to 8 wonderful people, and I choose:

Diane
Chris
Freida
Stacey
Joanne
Melissa
Swati
contrariwise

Each one deserves this award!

I Can't Believe...

2009-01-27T20:49:00.003-06:00

it's almost my birthday, again! CRAP!

I'll be 43 on Thursday. Where did the time go? I feel like a 20 year old, trapped in a 43 year old body! LOL What is even more amazing to me is that my baby brother will be forty on the first of February. Time flies! Where does it go?

I've been feeling pretty creative lately, so I made a few new things.

These are ruby jade briolettes wrapped in sterling.
8g copper wire that I hammered to death, then wrapped in sterling.

A poppy made of hammered brass and copper with sterling center.

My absolute favorite earrings. Silver plated brass tulips with balled copper stamins and brass and copper bead caps.

And a set of stacking rings in sterling, brass and copper.

I have another new pair of earrings, but it was to late to take pics today. I still have tons of ideas too, so expect more new things soon!

Louisiana Weather!

2009-01-23T21:07:00.004-06:00

Well, Tuesday it was freezing, Wednesday was chilly, and Thursday and Friday were HOT! That's our crazy La. weather for you.

It's still warm now, at 9pm, but it's supposed to rain. YUCK! I hate rain! I got a new invisible fence for Red and I want to hook it up this weekend. It's the kind you bury in the ground and the dog wears a collar that shocks him if he gets too close. It sounds mean, but the dog learns really quickly where he can go and where he can't. It has flags to mark it, and they also learn by those. It's better than having him get in the road and get hit by a car. My sons can't believe I'm going to do it. They know how soft-hearted I am, and they think it's awful that I'm willing to shock a dog that I love. I don't like it, but it beats the alternative.

Here's my big baby. He's an American Rednose Pitbull. He really is a sweetheart! He just looks bad.

It's so cold!

2009-01-20T17:40:00.004-06:00

It has been cold all day and it's supposed to be about 20 degrees tonight. For the South, that's COLD!

It's too cold to go to the shop and work, but yesterday was warm and gorgeous, so I did work a little.

I'm still doing a little wire wrapping, and I really like the way it looks!

These are simple sterling sticks, hammered into a "dogbone" shape. I wire wrapped some pretty little orangy-red CZ's and dangled them from the ends.

This pair is hammered for texture and I added a little brass flower and a sterling ball center. It's a good way to use scrap silver!

The Indiana Pendant was an alchemy request in my Etsy shop. The customer loves it, so I love it.

This is my favorite! It's a gorgeous moss quartz that I wrapped with sterling silver, then added a tiny silver dragonfly and a 3mm green onyx.

I have reopened my 1000Markets shop and I'm hoping that I've solved the problem with Amazon Payments. I wish they would accept Paypal there, but for now they don't, so fingers crossed for Amazon. I could really use the sales right now because my hubby may be laid off work in a couple of weeks. Yikes! I hope not!

More new things

2009-01-05T18:02:00.002-06:00

I managed to make a few new items.
This first one is a pair or marquise cut mystic blue topaz earrings.

These are my shabby chic dragonfly earrings, that I made using some little textured silver discs that I bought from Barrie.

And this is a copper and sterling spinning bangle bracelet to go with my spinning rings.

and one really old thing! My truck is 20 years old this year, making it an antique. It still has the original motor with over 279,000 miles on it. It still runs like a scalded dog, and I love it!

Custom order cufflinks

2009-01-01T11:54:00.002-06:00

I like a challenge sometimes. Makes me have to think and be creative!

A customer saw my treble clef jewelry and asked if I could make a pair of cufflinks with a bass clef. hhhmmm. A challenge!

I looked for some charms in brass and sterling, but the only ones I found I didn't like, so I decided I could make them myself with copper wire, and I did it!

I just melted a ball on 20g wire, bent it like I wanted , then hammered the curve flat and made a pointed end. Then I made 2 flattened copper balls to finish it.

I put them on 18g sterling squares and used sterling silver findings that I got from Iza's Supplies on Etsy.

I like the way they turned out, and the customer said they are perfect for her husband, who plays the bass.

I love it when a design actually works like it should! They were just like I saw in my mind's eye, and that doesn't happen for me very often! :)

I rang in the New Year playing Playstation games with my son Tyler. I'm such a party animal! LOL

I hope you had fun whatever you chose to do, and have fun all year!

Finally! Something new

2008-12-31T10:50:00.003-06:00

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!

2008-12-24T23:40:00.004-06:00

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

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

2008-12-16T10:40:00.003-06:00

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

2008-12-14T10:22:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-09T20:38:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-07T22:06:00.004-06:00

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!

2008-12-03T12:45:00.002-06:00

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

2008-12-01T20:50:00.002-06:00

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!!!

2008-12-01T14:51:00.003-06:00

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...

2008-11-26T20:46:00.002-06:00

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...

2008-11-23T00:31:00.002-06:00

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.

2008-11-20T19:19:00.004-06:00

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...

2008-11-19T08:23:00.005-06:00

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

2008-11-18T17:23:00.005-06:00

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...

2008-11-11T12:32:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-09T12:12:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-03T20:57:00.003-06:00

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

2008-10-31T16:11:00.003-05:00

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?

2008-10-29T20:32:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-10-28T08:19:00.002-05:00

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...

2008-10-27T17:23:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-10-26T21:50:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-10-24T11:24:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-10-21T17:14:00.002-05:00

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~