TGIF!

I am happy that it is Friday. My darling boys will be going to my mothers tomorrow morning. They are going with Grandpa to a Manchester Monarchs hockey game then sleeping over. HURAH! Ya know, I have always wondered if I was a really good mother. I have heard numerous mothers, many many times talk about not wanting the kid's summer vacation to end and that they would miss them terribly when school starts etc. I must tell you the truth, I despise summer vacation, or ANY school vacation for that matter. Frankly, I can't wait for the boys to grow up and move out. You all may think I am a terrible person for having such feelings, but I can't help it. They are my feelings and I can't make them change. But please, don't get me wrong, I absolutely do love spending time with my boys, and I love them more than life. is is wrong for a mother to NOT want to devote their entire life to their children? I read Nie Nie http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ and she is so incredible with her kids and husband. She lives for them and finds pure joy in them so that is fills her up with love and is complete. I just don't have that. Maybe we are not all meant to have that. Am I supposed to have that???? Sheesh, I just came here to post pics of my new earrings, what the hell happened?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20408608
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20409020

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20408211

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20407855

Later Taters!

I did not get very far with creating new earrings yesterday. We received A LOT of snow and I was shoveling much of the day. I did get a good start but as soon as I started burning holes in bezel walls etc, I knew it was time to call it a day!

The snow is now up to our downstairs windows and the fence on the side of my house has only about 2 feet showing! We are going to run out of places to put the snow. Last year Chris was on a mission to melt down our tallest snowbanks to make room. He used one of his burn barrels and filled it with scrap and let it burn. This must sound ridiculous to many of you southern folks!

Chris and Danny did find a great deal on some "twin tip" skis last night! They traveled all around Nashua in the middle of the storm and finally arrived home safely at 7:30pm.

I'll tell you, I find it fascinating that a huge double batch of chocolate chip cookies can not last more than 2 days in this house!!!!! A double batch yields about 100 + cookies. Well, maybe much of the reason is that this is how my dear husband eats his cookies and milk.

He does not bother with a plate....... he just takes the whole cookie jar in the living room with a vat of cold milk. oh, I gave him some hair because he looked cold.

So, today I will be finishing up those earrings. Hopefully I will be posting them tomorrow morning. I want to do another tutorial, I am not sure on what......... I know Carolyn wants one on stud earrings. Carolyn.....what type of studs? You just make a bezel and solder a little piece of sterling to the back? SPLAIN !

xoxo,

Lisa

Another Snow Storm!

No school again today! It is snowing very hard, it's about time to go out and do a shoveling pass. Danny went to work with Chris. They are going to get Danny new skis after work. Danny busted his riding rails on the terrain park. Kids are VERY EXPENSIVE!! We purchased a new Burton for Will when he buckled his board on an "A frame" transition.

Oh, I just had a thought........ Chris and Danny are gone so I don't have anyone to help me shovel the driveway and paths. Usually either Dan or Chris use the snow blower while I shovel the old fashioned way ( I have never used the snow blower). I prefer manual labor, but having a bit of help is good too!

I am currently working in the studio. I have a few orders to fill and I am planning on creating 4 pairs of turquoise earrings. We'll see. I tend to be a bit too ambitious when I am selecting my cabochons from my stash. It is so hard for me to choose stones that I usually grab many more than I should for a days work! Very soon I will be creating some new rings and necklaces using some incredible new agates and a variety of incredible vibrant jaspers. I can't wait!! My shop will definitely be alive with color!

Much about nothing....

I did work in the studio all day yesterday and enjoyed a relaxing evening with a nice early bedtime. Today I am fulfilling many domestic duties. I moved the wool braided rug my mother and father gave me a few months ago to the living room. It is an incredible rug! I am very happy with it's new location. Our wall to wall carpeting in the living room really needs to go.........soon. I am also making sauce for spaghetti tonight. it is simmering in the crock pot as I type. The house always smells amazing on sauce day!! Other than that, nothing is new. I would love to dazzle you all with an exciting post with lots of juicy news, but alas..... this is as good as it gets and if you ask me, it's pretty darn good.

So it's Monday already!

The weekend flew by for me. I did end up going skiing Saturday, but only after Chris and the boys helped me polish and vacuum the house. It was very nice of them to help me with my chores. I did not ski for very long. I was foolish and did not have enough layers on. I did not realize how cold and windy it was outside. Chris brought me home after awhile and went back to snowboard with the boys. I had a very lazy rest of the day.

Yesterday was busy. Sunday school, church, pot luck lunch, grocery shopping, tuna casserole, and finally a hot cuppa tea and a good movie :)

LuLu watched the movie with us. She was kicking up a blanket and producing some severe static cling!

In this picture Danny was facilitating the static cling process.......

My poor little poo.....

I have a full day in the studio today! A rather long list of orders has accumulated from Etsy and others. I am definitely going to put the space heater in my studio today. It is heated but it has many drafts when the thermometer reads -4 degrees! it is supposed to be frigid all week. I hope Will is bundled up properly today. He is up north at Loon Mountain for the day with Tucker (teachers workshop day).

ttfn!

To ski....or not to ski.....

I ended my work day perfectly yesterday with a evening of skiing. The conditions were excellent and it was pretty warm (30 degrees). Chris and I had a great time. I added a few more goodies to my shop this morning. I am debating if I should clean the house and organize paperwork today OR blow it all off and go skiing all day. I have a feeling I will be skiing. The sun is shinning and the slopes are beckoning me. There is nothing like swishing down the mountain with music blasting in your ears, it is truly wonderful!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20141934

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20141602

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20141438

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20141785

ttfn!

The Garden.....

I am super excited about these necklaces! They are unique, charming, and very substantial. They are fabulous on a short, medium, or long chain depending on the look you are going for. I suppose I could have priced these much higher, but in these times I thought I would make the price fairly modest (don't get used to it).

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20114774

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20114362

There is more to come. I have two new pairs of earrings and two rings I will show you tomorrow. They are not quite finished yet!

New Additions

These Dry Creek Dangles flew out of the shop as soon as they were posted! Thanks Michelle!


The turquoise wrap ring on the left is a custom order (thanks Suzanne!) The Blue sprout wrap ring is here...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20017377

I created a sweet set for Valentines Day. This is not typical of me. I don't usually make seasonal items but I thought Hearts are perfect no matter what time of year! The hearts are hand cut from copper sheet and warmed by my torch to a pretty rich pink patina. the stacking rings are my favorite!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19997057


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19996755

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19996516

Today I will be creating some new pieces with these beauties!

ttfn!

xoxo,

Lisa & LuLu

Name That Stone........

I purchased 2 cabs from a new supplier. They sold them as "multicolor Turquoise" and "Purple Turquoise" I am not a bone head, I realize these stones are not turquoise but I just love the colors so I purchased them. Do you know what they are???? Help!

The WINNER of the Glowing Green Turquoise Ring is......

Current broken saw blade count at 2:34 PM EST ~ 10

10 Random Facts About Me......

Jaime http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/ challenged her readers to list 10 random facts about ourselves, so here they are!

1 ~ I hate potatoes, I have since birth

2 ~ I ate soap until about 3 years ago

3 ~ I have a messed up tattoo on my foot

4 ~ I don't like to bathe (but I do it anyway)

5 ~ I know endless food facts.....calories, fat, fiber,carbs

6 ~ I am a selfish person

7 ~ I complete all tasks I begin

8 ~ I am vain

9 ~ I have really bad back teeth

10 ~ I love my dog as if she were my child

Oh, and #11........

I made this

Howdy!

It has been a snowy weekend. We were graced with 8+ inches and I am so grateful. I think Chris is getting out of work early today and we are going to ski/board later this afternoon into the evening. There is nothing like skiing in fresh powder. I shoveled yesterday but we received another 3 inches last night and it looks like I need to shovel again.......

This is the entrance to my studio...

The side yard....

The front....

Little LuLu freshly groomed!

I am creating new jewelry today, yeah! I think I want to add a couple of simple staple designs to the shop. I have not done that in awhile. I do have one custom turquoise wrap ring to make today, I love making wrap rings. Oh, I did make a little something new late last week, I am absolutely in love with the result!

The stone is Butterfly Wing Jasper with nice plump garnets

ttfn!

~~Glowing Green Turquoise Ring Give Away~~

I am having a give away!!! This ring has been created with vibrant green turquoise flooded with matte black matrix. The stone has some surface texture and that is why I am offering it as a giveaway and not selling it in my shop. This ring is a size 8.25.

Please post a comment on this post if you would like to enter the give away. I will draw the winning name via video on Wednesday January 21. Good luck to everyone!!

**Oh, if the winner does not come forward within 24 hours of the drawing, I will select another name.

I finally finished listing the jewelry I made over the weekend/yesterday in my shop. I really need to get moving on my list of regular orders, gosh.....it's already 12:40pm! EEK!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19680002

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19682143

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19681762

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19681474

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19680354

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19680962

This ring came out beautiful, but the surface of the stone has some texture, so I am thinking I may do a give away........ what do you think??

Setting the Stone.....

Part 3

I am going to do the 3rd part on Monday, I ran out of time!

Soldering The Bezel

Shaping a Bezel

There is nothing very exciting to report. That is probably why I have not blogged in a couple of days. Skiing was beautiful last night. They boys just went up to the mountain a few minutes ago. It is 10:40am and I am still in my Pj's eating breakfast and sipping my 3rd cuppa coffee. I did ship quite a few packages this morning, that is always time consuming. So, being caught up and in good shape with my orders I will be creating some new things today!! I love it when the day is mine to create what I want. We do have to go grocery shopping sometime this evening, but that's about all. Maybe Chris and I will get in some night skiing after the groceries.

The shop has been very slow for the past week or more. I am hoping it will pick up soon, I am sure it will. The slow times usually do not last very long. Well, I guess that's about all for now. I need to get my fleece on and go run!! Have a great Saturday!

You Gotta Be Kiddin' Me!

Well, school was cancelled today due to ice. It is pelting down freezing rain as I type this. Oh, joy. So instead of my little angels working their little brains sitting at a school desk, they are here, on my studio couch playing the X Box. Time to work with the Ipod in me thinks.

EXHIBIT A

William is scheduled for an after school hair cut he needs desperately. I usually cut the boys and Chris's hair, but I did not feel like cutting Will's this time. Besides, he likes getting it cut by "the hot girl" at the salon. He and his buddy Tucker go to the same girl.

I did work all day in the studio yesterday but I did not finish. This is as far as I got.

Most of the work is done, now comes the fun part! Adding the hooks, posts, rings, pickling the settings, polishing, and setting the stones. Setting the stones is the best part. I really want to make a couple more rings with the 2 white buffalo turquoise cabs I have. Hopefully I will be able to do that this week. I did add some pink sapphire stacking rings and a simple pink sapphire necklace to my shop. I LOVE pink sapphires. The pink is so soft and liquid at the same time. I thought they would be nice additions for Valentines day.

Chris will be gone for the day. He is putting in a new shower for our Pastor at the Parsonage. Thank goodness it is only 10 minutes away because the roads look nasty.