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Friday, October 24, 2008

Get in the Spirit. . .

of Halloween! These many not be too spooky, but they are unique and interesting.

Check out this Tribal Mask Carved Bone Knotted Pendant Necklace for Men or Women
from Superiorstones

or these unique Day of the Dead earrings from Moonmystic!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Featured Etsyblogger - bfbeads!


Want the perfect gift for a new mom? Check out: Baby Friendly Beads
There are a lot of unique jewelry that your baby can tug on while he or she is doing "baby business."

Also check out her other shop, Mama's Magic Studio for some fun and whimsical gifts.

You can also check out her blog: Mama's Magic

Friday, September 26, 2008

Joeyandaleethea- Featured Etsybloggers!

Want to have the most fashion forward baby around?
Visit Joeyandaleethea .
They've got some cool duds for your cool dudes and dudettes and they've managed to make some of those "necessities" hip also.


Fall Colors. . .




Raking up the leaves to jump in the leaf pile was always my favorite part of autumn. Red, orange, and yellow fluttering leaves fluttered to the ground just waiting to be raked up. For some reason, jumping in the leaf pile never got old. Raking never even seemed like work because the end product was so much fun. You could throw leaves at your brother and it didn't hurt. You could bury your brother in the leaves and he could still breathe. . . The leaves were the nearly perfect plaything. It was always sad when it was windy and the pile dispersed or it rained and the leaves got soggy.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

You Say Tomato. . .




Our tomato garden has flourished, even though there hasn't been much rain. My son (3)has been watering it and my daughter (7) has been weeding it. It has also saved us some money because tomatoes have really gone up in price this year. Now, we are overrun with tomatoes and some of them are doing very inappropriate things. . .

Friday, August 29, 2008

Going to the Beach. . .



When I was young, it was always a big event when my mom would take my brother and I for a day at Lake Superior. We would bring a little picnic, wear our swimming suits, bring some towels, bring our pails and shovels and our ball, and head out. It was always an adventure because it was a bit of a walk from the parking lot to Black River Harbor. Part of the hike was over this creaky suspension bridge that spanned the Black River and it would be sweating creosote in the hot sun. From the bridge, we could see the fishing boats that were not currently fishing, moored to the docks, eagerly awaiting to go out. As we came off the bridge, we could also see the two rugged breakwalls formed from many, many large rocks which protected the harbor from the huge white-caps that Lake Superior is known for. We would find a spot on the beach and my mom and I would immediately start looking for agates. I would usually find the first one, but occasionally, she would trump me. Not much actual "swimming" ever went on. The temperature of Lake Superior never really gets very high, so it was usually just a bit of wading until the numbness set in. But if it was really hot, there was an occasional full submersion and then we were refreshed for the rest of the day. Then we would tromp back to the car with buckets full of rocks and armloads full of driftwood.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

20 Years After High School? Not So Old. . .






I just had my 20 year class reunion and here is a little presentation I gave.

Twenty years seems like a long time, so in case you are starting to feel old, here are a few things to help make you feel a bit younger. . .

Ever feel "Footloose" anymore? Well, Kevin Bacon just turned 50.

Remember what it felt like to be "Like a Virgin?" (I mean the song. . .lol.) Madonna just turned 50.

The Rolling Stones have been giving us "Satisfaction" for OUR ENTIRE LIVES! Mick Jagger just turned 65 (and is older than my mom!)

Ever give that "Rebel Yell" anymore? Billy Idol is 53.

Remember when Van Halen told us to "Jump" and we said, "How high?" David Lee Roth is 54.

Remember raising your hand if you were "Sure."
(At this point someone chimed in about Mr. Martinson's yellow pit stains.)

Remember when the world wasn't politically correct?

Remember when candy bars were really big and were 25 cents?

Remember life before the Internet? (Me either.)

Remember Pong? (Enough said.)

Remember changing the channel WITH THE KNOB?

Remember when cartoons and shows were just cartoons and shows and not movies . . .
Scooby Doo
Underdog
Dukes of Hazard
The Incredible Hulk
Spiderman
Batman
The Flintstones
And Remember that Underdog had a "Super energy pill" that he used to take? What was that? Speed? Steroids? What a great role model. . .

Here are some inventions of the 20 years that may not have been invented during the 80s, but at least became mainstream during the 80s. Some are obvious and some we may have forgotten about.
1.Microwave Popcorn (Remember Jiffy Pop? That stuff never worked. . .always burned.)
2.email
3.digital cameras/video recorders
3.gameboy
4.MP3s & iPods
5.Cell phones & blackberries
6.Laptop computers & Powerpoint
7.GPS & Doppler Radar
8.WiFi
9.Voice mail &Caller ID (Remember having to answer the phone to find out who it was?)
10.Pay at the pump
11.Debit cards
12.Disposable contacts
13.Ziploc Bags and Post-It Notes
14.DVDs, Tivo, & Satellite TV
15.Purell Hand Sanitizer
16.Remotes for TV, garage doors, and cars (Remember having to GET UP to change the channel?)
17.Karaoke & XM radio
18.On-star
19.lettuce in a bag
20.The Clapper

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Repeat Customers



Of course, all sellers want repeat customers. Well, last week at the flea market, I sold my beautiful Azurite Cascade pendant. This week, I sold my nearly equally beautiful Chalcedony Cascade pendant TO THE SAME PERSON! I couldn't believe it. At least I didn't cry this time. And I had my camera with me, so she let me take a picture. She was also wearing the perfectly matching shirt. Was it fate? This time I wasn't too stunned to get her name on my mailing list either. Now, I need to work on some new stunning eye-catching signature pieces.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Featured Artist: Galacards




Galacards makes great cards and party favors to make your special occasions even more special. She can customize or add extra embellishments to give your cards or favors "that special something."
Need a great gift to go with this card from Galacards? Check out this Dewdrop Necklace from Moon Mystic.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Seller's Sadness


Today at the flea market, I sold the most beautiful pendant. It may have been the most beautiful pendant I have ever made. The lady saw it, wanted to hear more about and just had to try it on. Once she tried it on, I knew she would buy it. And it matched her shirt perfectly. I had tears in my eyes. It was so beautiful, but I was a little bit sad. I put my soul into that pendant. I was beginning to think nobody was going to buy it. And how could nobody buy it? It's gorgeous! I'm still experiencing some seller's remorse. I miss it. . . my creation, my inspiration, an expression of me. . .

Saturday, July 12, 2008

To Swab or Not to Swab


I love cotton swabs. Cleaning my ears is like brushing my teeth- very refreshing. A friend of mine doesn't clean his ears because the doctor told him he shouldn't stick the q-tip in his ear. Two times he was cleaning his ears and he ended up pushing a chunk of wax up against his eardrum and he had to go to the Emergency Room to have it removed. My argument is that if you keep your ear canal clean which means cleaning it consistently, no chunk of wax will get pushed up against your eardrum, but he won't listen. I keep mine clean and it has never happened to me. Doctors don't always know what they are talking about. I think a mature adult can handle the responsibility of sticking the swab in their ear and not damaging anyhing, unless it's already gummed up in there. It has happened to him TWICE. Hmmmm. . . I wonder who is right?

Friday, July 11, 2008

My Daughter Rocks! She's a Rockstar!


So, my seven-year old daughter decided to try out for a play. She was finally old enough. I told her that because it was her first time, she might end up playing a tree or something like that and that she should be happy with that. She was bubbling with excitement. The play was a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The night before, we read through the synopsis of the play on the internet and she decided she wanted to be a fairy. Well, I had to try to gently convince her that she may not get the part she wanted and she should just be happy with whatever part she gets. For tryouts, they had to say their names with expression, learn a dance, and say a few lines. My totally talented daughter got the part of a rock. She was still very excited. She wished she could have been a fairy, but she was excited to be a part of it all. She's my star and she's a rock, so I call her my rockstar! My three-year old son was feeling rather jealous because he wasn't in the play, but he had a cameo role and then he was happy too.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Featured Artist: Sentimentaljourney

Sentimentaljourney is rather new to etsy, but that doesn't mean she's inexperienced. She has a wide variety classy and fun hand-made cards, plus whimsical customizable tutus, colorful teethers, and she can even design a banner for your etsy shop. Talk about multi-talented!



For a necklace to go with the Clematis Cards, check out the Blush Necklace by Moonmystic.




Thursday, July 3, 2008

Treasure Trove


My awesome bead swap buddy, Beadstylin sent me this wonderful selection of beads for the JET Team bead swap. I didn't take the picture right away, so as you can see, I couldn't wait and made some earrings which are in the picture. This was a really fun event that the JET team put on and I'm am very pleased with my new treasures. Thank you, Beadstylin!
beadstylin.etsy.com

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Who's Your Daddy?

Well, it's a question we honestly have to deal with now. My current husband just adopted my daughter from a previous marriage because my ex-husband did not want to pay child support any more (Who would?) and because if something happened to me, my husband and whole family were worried that she would end up going to him. So, it all worked out. It was a rather painless process. We filled out a few painfully complicated forms. A lady (who ended up buying some jewelry from me and referring someone to me who bought a lot)from the juvenile court office did a home visit to make sure our home and my husband were sufficient. (Apparently, they were.) We paid $100. Then, somewhere in Texas, my ex-husband had to sign some papers in front of a judge terminating his parental rights. Then, we had to go to court for about seven minutes. The judge asked my if I understood that this meant my husband was taking on the legal rights of being her father as far as inheritance and such. I said I understood. Then, he asked my husband basically the same thing and he said he understood. Then, he told my daughter her new last name. (We kind of had to bribe her about that part.) Then we signed some more papers and paid another $120 and we were done.
Just the other day we got her new birth certificate. It has my current husband listed as her birth father. It's as if my ex-husband has been erased from existence. Weird.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Featured Artist- Alicia Mae






Alicia has many talents and many shops (three, if you count them), so there there is something for just about every kind of taste.
Her photography shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop_sold.php?user_id=5152176
Her eclectic shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5096340
Her supply shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5354811

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Subway- The Way It Used to Be


Ok, I used to work at Subway, but that was back in 90-91 when life was simpler. There was only white or wheat; footlong or six-inch. There were only like six different sandwiches: turkey, ham, BMT, the crappy one with the crappy meats, meatball, and roast beef. We cut up our own tomatoes, lettuce, and green peppers. If someone asked for extra tomatoes, you didn't just look at them like they were a terrorist trying to smuggle six ounces of shampoo onto an airplane, you just gave it to them. And you gave them more than one. The only thing I was ever stingy with was the hot peppers and that was because they were HOT PEPPERS and I just couldn't fathom that anyone would really want those on there. The only condiments available were(in separate bottles) vinegar and oil (blech), mustard, and extra thick mayo. And I wasn't a "sandwich artist," I just worked there. We used to cut the sandwiches in the "U" shape so the stuff didn't fall out. They don't do that anymore either. That was why they called it Subway, by the way, because it was revolutionary to cut the bread like a "tunnel" so the stuff didn't fall out. We cut them with these weird knives that looked "kid safe." But I guess now they decided they can save money by not doing that because less stuff fits in there if you cut it the flat boring way. Oh yeah, we didn't wear gloves. We touched money, the bread, food, meat, and whatever else we came across. We did have a little sink where we washed our hands after we touched the money (most of the time.) And we cooked bread and those yummy cookies all day long.
Inspired by:
http://yeahtotallyright.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Stitches and Mom Guilt


So while I was at the flea market and my son was at summer school, he fell off the playground equipment. He cracked his head on the curved ladder and had to go to the emergency room for stitches. It was a disaster because the school only had our contact information and we weren't home. Luckily, the teacher's husband works with my husband, so she called her husband and he got a hold of my husband's parents and they were able to come and take him to the ER. Then, my daughter was able to tell them the phone number for my mom, so she could explain what happened and tell her that he wouldn't be there when she went to pick them up. When they got him to the emergency room, there was a lady there who was suspicious of his injury (and checked out his whole body) and she said, "I'm going to call the school to find out what happened." My in-laws felt bad because they thought that she must have thought that they did something to him. I told them that they must do that for all injuries to children. They gave him a CAT scan and told us we had to wake him up every four hours at night in case he had a concussion. I felt so guilty for not being there. When we finally got home, I asked my son how school was. He said, "Good."

Friday, June 20, 2008

The Sweet Flutter of Success


What is success? It took me awhile to actually feel it. But there were a few moments that gave me a special feeling.
1. Opening my Etsy shop. It just sort of validated what I was doing.
2. Selling my first $100 plus set. I didn't want to part with it. (The Green Amethyst Necklace that is pictured above.)
3. Having customers tell me that they couldn't get to my booth at a previous show because I was too busy.
5. Selling my first $200 plus set. That one really made my stomach churn.
6. Having people call me asking for jewelry. I didn't have to call them.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I'm Knot Crazy!




Or maybe I am.;) I started making quite a few different varieties of my knotted necklaces for the flea market because I don't think the guy who copies me can do them. I have to step up my game a notch. I think these are unique and they can appeal to both genders, so I made so tribal-looking ones (Maori Hook), some flower ones, the very popular celtic knot ones, and the fish. I also made some really big and bold ones with danglies. I also designed some earrings with grade A Amazonite and fresh water pearls that really pop! Gotta really put on my "A" game now, especially with the 4th of July cominig up soon.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Tomato Garden


Well, we have to start growing our own food to save a little money, so my husband built me a cute little tomato garden. It has to be fenced in because the deer and rabbits would munch it in a heartbeat. It's my daughter's job to weed it and my son's job to water it. We also put some sunflowers in it.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Karma is Kool

Well, my "alleged" friend who "allegedly" copied my designs at the flea market has been banned from the local gem and mineral show because he has backstabbed a few other people and apparently, they don't like it either. And, to add an extra cherry on top, I have been invited to the gem and mineral show. Ha ha. Hee hee. That's just cool.

Oh yeah, and I went and looked at his designs. First of all, they weren't even right. Second of all, they weren't very good. His wire-wrapping is loose and messy and he doesn't have articulated bails like I do. He's already cutting corners on my stolen designs, so any customers he stole from me will be sorely disappointed in the quality. I'm not even worried anymore. I'm still upset that he did that, but not I'm not worried.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Mom and Dad are Awesome


My Mom and Dad are awesome. Sometimes I have to remind myself that although they have the amazing ability to annoy me in .06 seconds, they are incredibly caring parents. I had to work last Monday, so I was unable to go to my flea market which is an hour and a half away. My Mom went instead. I'm surprised my Mom even found the flea market, much less my correct spot. I know she was nervous. I know it was really difficult for her (and she's almost 64) and she doesn't know anything about gemstones. Because I was so worried about my mom, I asked my dad to go too, who lives an hour and a half away in the other direction. Together, they managed to pull it off. My Dad sabotaged my booth a bit by putting out some of his fish decoys, but that's ok. Unfortunately, after all that stress and planning, it was a total bust. But I sure know my parents love me and that's worth all the money in the world.