I don't know where to start!!

I did have a rough start this morning. My workout was great, but when it was time to get dressed, I had one of those I HATE ALL OF MY CLOTHES, I LOOK HORRIBLE IN EVERYTHING. WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN TODAY AND YESTERDAY THAT WOULD MAKE MY CLOTHES LOOK SO BAD ON ME?!?!?!? I am embarrassed to say it took me about 1 hour to get dressed. That is really silly at my age. I think I still have a long way to go in the vanity department. So, are you wondering if I came up with a brilliant outfit? Ha! nope.

I have my Alpha "weekend away" this weekend. It's not really a weekend away. We have a big dinner tonight and a day long retreat sort of thing tomorrow. When am I going to do the grocery shopping? Hmmm, maybe Chris can redeem himself and do it for me. I bet he will. I would hate to have to do it on Sunday. I don't like doing any chores on Sundays, it feels yucky.



I do want to mention that my good friend Sara has been interviewed by her local TV station about her jewelry and keeping it as GREEN as she can. I could learn a lot from Sara because I am not overly enthusiastic about being GREEN. If chemicals will get me where I need to be faster and easier, I will use them. I am selfish in this way. Perhaps lazy as well. Please, don't throw anything at me, I know this is a irresponsible way to live. I do give myself a bit of credit. We recycle cans and bottles. We use those spiral funky light bulbs in our lights, and we bring our own cloth grocery bags to the store. I'm not all evil.

ANYWAY....... back to Sara.........

http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=130051



I also want to mention that I am running a.....

WEEKEND DEAL Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It's a Buy 2 Get 1 FREE!

Okay, last thing. I have a couple new designs I posted in the shop. These are an excellent price, I wanted it to be affordable if someone wanted to purchase them as a set.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33538961

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33537374

I need to run. I still have orders to package and ship before I leave.

later taters

Ridiculous

It is only Wednesday and I am wiped out. We have had more appointments/meetings/errands/bible studies in that past 3 days than I care to count. I have a few minutes now (I just got home from Will's teeth cleaning and I need to leave in 25 minutes to go to 2 meetings 3 towns away). Chris has been kayaking with all of this rain every minute he gets so I am getting a bit resentful and told him so this evening when he came home stinking of his wet suit. (wet neoprene that has not been washed in awhile stinks to high heavens). I am working on new designs and finished a couple of orders. I set the wrong stones in one pair of earrings so I will have to redo those tomorrow.

Gosh, I really don't have anything to say so I will disable the comments so you lovely ladies do not feel like you have to comment when all I have done is complain. OH, I feel a GRATITUDE LIST coming on!

I am grateful .....

I am able to be of service to my husband and children (cough)

I have the opportunity to be active in my church

My relationship with God is improving every day

I feel better already!

Oh, darn. I need a picture for this post........... Hold on a sec.

Okay, I just ran around the kitchen snapping pictures.

I said to Chris.... "smile, I wrote in my blog that I am resentful and need a visual."

I gotta run.................

I did not disable comments as promised. Sorry ;P

Bar Dangles and Turkey Chili

I don't know what to call this line of earrings. I am going to make many more. The first thing that came to my mind is Bar Dangles. I usually stick with my first thought when it comes to naming jewelry. Sometimes my first thought is silly, sometimes inspired, sometimes brilliant, and most of the time it simply describes the item, hence Bar Dangles.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33294726

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33295120

Oh.... I threw this together before doing Yoga this morning. Turkey Chili for my boys this evening. This scrumptious chili packs 25 grams of protein per serving!

I have Alpha tonight so I try and cook supper ahead on Monday's. Thank goodness for crock pots. I premade a new recipe for Alpha Pot Luck yesterday. All I will have to do today is pop it in the oven for 40 minutes and it will still be nice and hot when I arrive at church. It has been a real good morning. I made a ring that I kept for me and I love it. I rarely leave a ring on for more than a day before I decide I really am not sure if I want to wear it all of the time. This ring is a keeper.

Oh geez, hold on, I'll take a pic......

I need hand cream.

I have another idea for a thick band minimalist ring. I hope I can play with the idea today.

I need to run and list the earrings in my shop!

Later Taters!

Back to natural.... sort of.

I changed my hair. Again. I was tired of the blond. The blond was getting too blond. I took a huge leap back to my dark brown natural color but with a bit dark red. I was going to have my hair dresser do this, but money is tight and I wanted to save a few dollars. I like it very much. I was surprised how much my boys love it. I also discovered that Chris has harbored a resentment toward my blond hair for some time. I had no idea. He loves my hair dark. It is strange when I catch myself in the mirror, it will take a while to get accustomed to it.

Chris and I had a day of celebration yesterday. We reached out fitness and weight goals. Actually we surpassed them! We allowed ourselves many nasty treats and a luxurious Italian dinner with cannolis for dessert. It was excellent. What were we doing while we were not eating? We napped. Yup.

I am easing back to reality today (kind of..... there is some pumpkin spice caramel cake left over and I just had a piece). Church was inspiring, thought provoking, and down right incredible. But that is the usual at Trinity. I have a long list of "things to do" today. I need to put together a resume and think about beginning a job search. Lisa's Lovlies has had the worst week to date since the first month on Etsy. I really need to let the horse die. Or at least work part time :)

I am doing a small show on December 5 that I need to begin preparing for. I have a design in mind for my table and the displays. It is original and very me. I am excited to get started. I also came up with a new design for earrings last week. I fabricated 2 pair and need to set the stones.

See y'all.

WEEKEND DEALS ~ 20% OFF.........

guess what I am doing????

If you guess correctly, I'll send you a prize!! I will post the answer if no one guesses it before I post my WEEKEND DEALS promo tomorrow.



Good Luck!

Diamonds!

Chris gave me a gift he purchased in Herkimer NY last weekend.......

2 pairs of beautifully cut Herkimer diamonds. He has been pushing me to do more prong settings as of late. I think I am going to keep one pair for me. What a wonderful tax deductible surprise!







The jokes went over well at Alpha last night. I added a bit of off the cuff humor. I grabbed the microphone, said Hello, and began....... "There once was a man from Nantucket....." As I saw some of the folks begin to look very nervous I said, "just kidding" and got on with it.

Today has been a bit busy. I woke up, worked out, shower, went to community bible study, dentist for teeth cleaning, dentist again to have my new crown put on, home (now), Will has orthodontist at 4pm, make supper, Danny has Teen Bible study at 6:40 yadda yadda yadda. I live in the country so church, bible study, dentist etc is 20 minutes away. I am currently eating cottage cheese with pineapple using a BRAND NEW TOOTH! It looks amazingly real. It is a molar. I need one more but the Dentist said I could wait 6 months of so. Thanks goodness, they run about $1400 a pop.

About half of the leaves have fallen to the ground. It is just about time to do our first round of raking. We do 2 rakings and then a quick clean up with every branch is bare. It takes a lot of time when you live in the middle of the woods. The good part is we can rake our leaves on a huge tarp and drag the tarp into the woods and dump them. We don't have to bag them and take them to the dump. Oh, yeah... you city / suburban folk have garbage men don't you???? We don't. No such thing 'round these parts.

I'll be seein' ya

Jokes and New Jewelry

I was asked to tell a couple of jokes during dessert tonight at Alpha. I tried these out on my family last night and they went over very well. What do you think?


After the christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong.Finally, the boy replied, “That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys!”


A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story.From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again.Finally she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?”“Yes, sweetheart,” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.”“Oh,” she paused, “grandpa, did God make me too?”“Yes, indeed, honey,” he said, “God made you just a little while ago.”Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”

I think they are precious :)


Okay, now here is the jewelry.......

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32883581

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32883899

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32882501

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32882997

My foot felt okay during my workout this morning. I did all of the push ups without any problems. It is not swollen, but I have new bruises. I am keeping my fingers crossed I will be able to do Plyo (jump training) tomorrow. It's a busy day, I feel like I could type forever on a million different subjects right now, but I have to make myself get going.

Later taters.

Saturday Morning Post

It's been a c-c-c-c-c-cold week for this time of year. It's been 30 degrees in the morning. It's much too early. Our winter is very long, it does not need to be longer. I do love this season though. Last night I had to wear the super thick fleece pj's that I normally won't need to think about until the end of December......

Danny had his Home Coming Dance last night. He and his girlfriend had a great time. He was home safe and sound BEFORE curfew. My lil angel (cough). He looked so incredibly handsome. It was a semi-formal. Chris left with his kayaking buddies to upstate NY yesterday afternoon. They are kayaking the Moose River all weekend. Will and I were the only people home last night so I took him to Subway. He has not had anything but super healthy food for the past 3 months (not including what he purchases while out with his friends), so he was a very happy boy. I rented him a movie as well. I ate a sub for the first time in what seems like ages. Do I have a terrible stomach ache right this minute???? YES! I deserve it. I knew it would happen. It will pass. Danny and his girl are going to the home coming football game this afternoon with other friends, Will is raking the yard (he's grounded), and I need to get in the shower and go to a morning meeting then come home and work in the studio.

OH, yea......

I was the only person taking the State test for my LNA reinstatement so the instructor gave me my grade after I completed the test. 100%. I was floored! Now, hopefully I won't have to use it!

Introducing.......

The "Top Button Brooch"
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32653482

A very simple concept. Just a bit of "somthin' somthin' " to jazz up a plain sweater.

This is a custom order I finished this morning.

Oh, and my new bangs.....

I am lovin' that brooch.

Show? No? I Dunno......

I have been feeling like I should try an do a SMALL show to sell my jewelry. I want to give it a try, I think. I have heard it is a lot of work to get things set up. Table, unique and beautiful displays, price tags, receipts, credit card acceptance account, cash box, nerve, and all that. It will be a bit of an investment, but the more I think about it, the more I get excited.

The ball started rolling in my head when a friend from online Cindy from http://devinedesignsjewelry.etsy.com/ gave me a call. She had my number on a business card I had sent along with a purchase sometime ago. It was a wonderful surprise. She called the evening I twisted my foot. I did not call her back until the next morning. We had a wonderful and long conversation about just about everything. She told me about a couple of small shows she is preparing for. I was immediately intrigued. I knew most folks on Etsy (or many) did shows. I was never interested. I am interested now. To enjoy customers face to face. How wonderful. I will need to work harder than ever to build an inventory, but I think I can do it. Chris can help with building displays. I think I can get everything I need on the cheap ($300???) anyway....... if any of you who are reading have any advice about shows, PLEASE COMMENT!!!! I need all the help I can get. Sara from http://www.sarathomas.etsy.com/ has already been a big help giving me a few tips. Doing this with a friend would be terrific, but I know no such person/people off-line. I am wondering how long it will take me to prepare. I am afraid of booking a space and not being ready when the time comes. That's silly, I am just a bit skittish because this is unknown territory and I am not a big people person.

Enough about that. How's my foot? Well, it's the same. I can't move it side to side and it is still very swollen. The calf that I injured last fall is acting up as well because I am using those muscles to protect my foot I guess. That's what Chris says anyway. What the heck?!?!?! Guess what? This stubborn mule (Chris' words) is working out anyway. I could not to Plyometrics (jump training) yesterday, that was out of the question. Today is back, biceps, and ab ripper. I think I will be fine.

I am taking my state test to have my LNA license reinstated tomorrow afternoon. I am hoping I will not need to use it. I need to study tomorrow.

I think today I am cutting my bangs. I think. What do you think???? (oh, and YES, I know how to cut hair, in case you were wondering)

Amanda Pete always has the cutest and best bangs.

I take this very personally....

I cried as I took it out of the tumbler.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32477952

I am not very experienced with stamping (stating the obvious), but I really don't think that matters

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32477525

I kind of look like I have been smokin' my socks in this pic.....

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32478918

First piece of animal jewelry I have ever made. I never thought the day would come....

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32479741

That stone is something special.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32478465

That's all for now I think. I believe my whole wheat dough is ready to punch down and be shaped so it may rise again. I am making stuffed bread for Alpha tonight. Spinach, feta cheese , garlic, and a bit of tomato sauce rolled inside of home made whole wheat bread. My mouth is watering. I am making 2 loaves so Chris won't throw a tantrum.

I twisted my foot or some such.....

Can you believe it!! Yesterday around 11:30am I was going down the cellar stairs to let something out of the refrigerator and I turned my foot on the last half stair. I fell on my face and experienced one of the worst pains in my life. I could not move for what felt like forever (probably 30 seconds). Chris was at the dump and the kids were at my mothers. I'm not sure why but I began screaming for Chris at the top of my lungs knowing good and well he was not home. I gave up on this brilliant tactic after a bit and decided I better turn my head and look to see if a bone was sticking out of my foot, I too afraid to look up to this point. My foot was intact, so I proceeded to crawl up the cellar stairs and I thought, oh.... okay, I'm fine. I got some tissue and sat down in the kitchen to rest. As long as I did not more my foot, it was bearable. Chris came home and iced it for 20 minutes and have me 3 advil. He took a look at it and it looked like a bone was poking out the side under my skin and my foot definitely did not look normal. He said we should go have it x-rayed, so we did. I screamed my bloody head off during the x-rays, it hurt. The Doc said nothing was broken and that he suspects that I have a bulging blood vessel or some nonsense. I don't really care, I just wanted to get the heck out of there at this point. So Chris and I left, me on crutches. We went to my brother and sister in law's house. We were meant to attend the BBQ they were having and meet my parents there to pick up the boys. It was fun. My foot started feeling better. It feels pretty good now. I can put weight on it. I think I will make a full recovery very soon.

Oh, my back is much better and the ER Doc gave me special drops for my funky eye.

Danny ended up staying at my brothers to help my youngest brother working today. Chris and Will went to "Don't go to church, be the church" day in Greenfield. I probably could have driven myself to church this morning, but I think sitting tight for another day is a good idea.

Hopefully I will be back later today to post the new jewelry. I still need to tumble it and set the stones, so maybe not until tomorrow.

FREE world wide shipping yadda yadda blah

I woke up with a crazy eye infection and I pulled my upper back doing pull ups this morning. So, I am feeling like crap and very, very bitchy. Go to my shop, buy lots of stuff and ignore the little grumpy woman behind the curtain.

a good day in the studio

I cranked the tunes. Christian radio quickly turned into Black Eye Peas .......

I finished the little pin (brooch) I talked about yesterday. It is very sweet and I think would look wonderful on a scarf or coat. Bulky sweater.

I have 2 rings, another brooch, and a pair of earrings ready to take a sulfur bath. Supper is on the stove.....

Very steamy. Chicken breast, asparagus, quinoa with a honey cumin sauce. It is very yummy!

I better go! See you tomorrow!

guess what she called me?!?!?!?

Yesterday I was chatting with a new friend after bible study. She asked me what I was going to do for the afternoon. I told her I needed to get to work. She asked me what I did for work and I told her I was a silver smith and had a shop online. She smiled greatly and said, "OHHHHH, SO YOU'RE ARTSY FARTSY!!!!!!" I simply said "NO" and almost hit her with my bible.

* if you are confused, see a previous post titled "Are You Artsy Fartsy" *

And this.......

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32202812

I am currently working on my first pin. I call them pins, most folks call them brooches. I just soldered the pin and catch to the back of the piece and pickled it. The catch is opening and closing and everything fits very well I am happy to say. Beginners luck I am sure. I may keep this pin, I dunno. A stunning piece of turquoise, a sunny carnelian andTHE cross. Hmmm, Christian jewelry. I feel inspired.

Yo

The weekend was a good one! Saturday was a rainy lazy day. I did wake up early to work out and Chris and I went to a 9am meeting, then a bit of shopping. I took a little nap and began to work in the studio a bit on these....

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32078865

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32078254

Danny walked in the door with a mangled and bleeding hand. Apparently it was smooched against a rock while he and his best friend were wrestling. His girlfriend and I took him to the ER. Nothing is broken, just badly bruised. We got home to supper ready on the table (thanks Chris). Sunday was church. I experienced something I have NEVER experienced before. I was so overcome with thankfulness for Gods grace in giving His Son to die for us that I cried and sang, cried and sang, and when it was time to sit down I thought I could not handle 1 more tiny feeling or I would drop to the ground. Can you imagine???? I was experiencing so much joy that my brain and heart could not handle it. If you told me this was possible, I would not have believed you. After church I finished the earrings and ring above. We had a pretty mellow Sunday night, as it should be :)

Today has been incredibly busy. Up early, workout/shower/breakfast. Oh, here is breakfast....

Egg whites, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes.

I shipped my orders, paid bills, then put the bathroom back together after our remodel, curtains and all. Dusted and vac the downstairs, wash the kitchen floor. Why did I fuss with my hair this morning????? I listed the new jewelry in the shop as well. Tonight is Alpha and I signed up to make an Italian Entree. I am making 2 pesto and sliced tomato whole wheat pizzas. I hope they don't hate me.

smoochies