So ..

I have been working on some things, keeping my hands busy and being creative is good for my mental health. There was a time when I made pot holder after pot holder after pot holder. I have been told this is a very healthy strategy. When I am having trouble concentrating or focusing on things that are bothering me, making something makes me feel like a superstar! 

This blog was started a million years ago to promote my Etsy shop, and then I kind of drifted away from that and it became a personal blog. I've decided to reopen my shop with a different name, a different style, and for different reasons. Regardless of why - it is now open. 

Funny, when it was open to begin with I was really into customizing my blog and attached the link to my shop at the bottom of this page. If I click on it now it will still take me to my new shop but I have no idea how to change the actual picture of the link. I've forgotten how and it seems too hard to devote time to. 

Although, I may have accidentally jusr figured it out. Lol! That is too funny. The brain is a wondrous thing that works in mysterious ways. :)

Dealing.

Losing 2 cats last year was tough.  I wanted something .. wasn't sure what .. a photo collage, a little figurine .. I didn't know.  Something.

Click on the pic to see it bigger

This is my something.  Had it made by Organic Rust Creation on Etsy.

Can you say excited?  I think it's beautiful.

Sparking my imagination!

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The purpose of this blog was to promote my jewelry. What jewelry?  The jewelry I design in my head all the time, what did you think I was talking about?


I really enjoy making jewelry but I don't particularly enjoy photographing it or trying to sell it.  But sometimes the smallest thing sends me skittering off in a new direction and doggone it if I'm not going to be fabulous at it - again, in my mind.  


Today I was trying to catch up on my blog reading and I read this post, over at The Beading Gem's Journal.  Pearl writes the most interesting posts, links to awesome tutorials and introduces readers to new techniques and trends all the time.  I particularly enjoy some of the articles she writes about the history of gems and jewlry.  She makes it so interesting!


I tried chain maille after reading something on her blog.  After I read that post on her blog today, and watched the tutorials - off I was for literally 2 hours scouring the internet for a starter metal stamping kit.  2 hours I really should have been spending doing laundry, cleaning my house, and maybe wrapping presents.


Finally I managed to convince myself this is a gift for myself I need to wait till after Christmas to buy (probably because it's too early in the day to be shopping on Ambien).  But just wait - I'll be terrific at it, you'll see!


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Is this redundant?

This is the Byzantine weave. How cool is that??? My biggest problem is with my eyes, being able to see if the rings are actually closed. But this is practice and learning, so I'm not very concerned. Aluminum rings, I wasn't going to buy Sterling silver to learn with, but I am finding this very interesting. I really want to learn how to incorporate beads but I'm in no hurry.









Fun!
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For Bev & Pearl

I needed something to keep me busy that would actually interest me and I had decided to try chain maille jewelry. Both Bev and Pearl are quite good at it and I have said over and over - that's too hard! I'm not going to try that. But I tried it. I picked the easiest weave I could find for my first attempt and I made myself a bracelet!






Thank you everyone for being the best bloggy friends out there. I appreciate all the support, it does help!
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Lexie's Bracelet

Last week I was reading Bev's Jewelry blog when she showed the steps she uses to make "Lexie's Bracelets". Lexie is a young girl who has been fighting brain cancer since she was only a few months old. She has a CaringBridge site where you can read about her, she is now 10 years old and continues the fight.

But back to Bev - she makes jewelry (Lexie's Jewelry) which she gives a portion of the proceeds of - to cancer research (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA). I thought it was a terrific thing she does, and since Lexie has recently had some measurable growth of her tumor, it would be a good time to buy me some jewels! Isn't it pretty? Made with 5 colors of Swarovski pearls and Bali silver daisy spacers, it's so simple and subtle, easily worn with almost anything! Looks good even on MY chubby wrist!












I just couldn't figure out which picture I liked best! Thanks Bev! It's beautiful!

Can someone give me a clue?

It's a bead problem.




I bought these "beads" probably 2 years ago. I don't remember what they were called or what they are made of.




I have made them into a bracelet which I can't really put in my shop unless I know how to describe it!




Do they look like silver? Is that glass? I know those are tiny little flowers, real ones.




I don't like to misrepresent anything but I just don't remember! Does anyone recognize this type of 'slide' bead? Expert opinion maybe? Hell, I'll accept guesses. Thanks so much!

I haven't JUST been sitting around.

I've been trying to get some things done but I have discovered something. Putting my jewelry in my shop is not part of it I enjoy.



You have to take nice pictures, make sure they are the right size and square usually works best.




Then you need to decided on a price - many different ways people do that.



It's writing the description. How long is it? What is it made from? Think of something descriptive that isn't over the top but sounds nice.




And honestly, I have been away from my beading for so long I don't remember what all the stones are. Labeled? Lol! You're kidding, right? So I have research to do.




But I'm making some progress. Slow, but it IS progress.

… and it feels good.

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Okay, I feel a bit better now.

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So being in my usual state of "I got nothin'", I decided to see if I could go into my bead room and not freak out about the mess it is in there. I discovered it was worse in some ways than I was thinking because my sweet and timid (toilet paper and paper towel eating) cat Norah had been running a-muck with sheets of bubble wrap, knocking some jewelry boxes on the floor and snacking on the cotton filler. Nice. Thanks Norah!


I managed to clear a place to sit and after a few fits and starts, I actually made something! And I figured that since this blog is called A Bead a Day - maybe I ought to show some beads now and then. It's been a long long time. I made a bracelet, yes, only one. But it is made with all handmade lampwork glass beads and sterling silver and I am quite pleased with how it turned out since I am SO out of practice.


And I feel a little better now cause look! I got somethin'!

Newly listed - and fun!

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Remember that silver I got? Yeah.

Garnet and Swarovski crystal chandelier earrings

This is the - There is something exotic about this bracelet, bracelet

This bracelet is lampwork beads and FUN!

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And it felt good.

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I really hate feeling like I'm behind. Behind in my household chores, behind in my bills, behind in my work. And I really hate feeling like I'm behind in making jewelry. Christmas is coming up and I.am.behind.

Not only am I behind in making jewelry for my shop, but I am behind in shopping as well. I do all of my Christmas shopping online. I have done it that way for the last few years at least, and I love it. Just can't go for all the crowds during the holidays, all the hustle and bustle does not feel like fun to me. You see people who never come out of their homes until it's time to shop for Christmas, and with good reason. Those same people generally drive, and you really wish they wouldn't.

Anyway, it's already the middle of November and I have not started my shopping yet. I am usually begging my kids for ideas because by this time of the year I have run out of ideas and need some help. But today I received a Christmas list from my daughter, saying she was sure she was too late, that I was probably done shopping by now. Nope. I'm behind. Argh-h-h!

So, getting into the bead room this evening and making some actual progress in the jewelry area feels really good. I made a few bracelets and a few pairs of earrings and will try to get them photographed and listed some time this weekend.

I paid my bills last night, made some jewelry tonight, and tomorrow - I start my holiday shopping.

In the meantime, chandelier earrings abound and here are a few pictures. Not the photos I will list with, but a few snaps to get the idea. So maybe I'm not behind in everything anymore. :)

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7 weird things

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Reading the road less traveled this evening, Jen did a meme and kindly did not tag anyone. I have trouble doing those things if tagged, I must fold under pressure. This meme appealed to me though, so I decided to do it. 7 weird things about me, and I just know these are things people will find so interesting! Or maybe not.

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I am very good at tripping and falling, I have broken one ankle and sprained the other, twice. Usually I just hurt my pride.

I like to be alone. There was a time I was made to feel badly about that but now I think of it more as being secure enough in myself that I don’t need to surround myself with other people all of the time. Sometimes is plenty. And that person that wanted me to feel bad? Totally insecure.

I love the jewelry I make but I rarely wear it myself. I wear a ring, a necklace, and a bracelet every day, each from my BF. Other than that – I do wear earrings I make, but not much else.

When I was pregnant with my daughter the hair stopped growing on my legs, and I could not taste garlic. I would put so much garlic in spaghetti sauce it was literally hot to other people and I still couldn’t taste it. Or was it my son?

I hate the telephone. HATE it. I answer for my BF and my family. Usually. Other than that – I barely even check my messages.

I go to sleep every night to forensic programs on TV. And if there aren’t any on – I put a tape in of shows that I have recorded for that very purpose. I find them interesting to listen to as I fall asleep, and Bill Kurtis’s voice especially soothing.

I cannot stand cloth on teeth. It’s worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. If I accidentally feel cloth or tissue on my teeth somehow - I literally shudder, cringe, and get a chill. Get goosebumps. If I think about it – I do the same. I just did it. And it will happen every time I read this so I won't read it again.

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Like Jen, I won't tag anybody. But if you feel like doing this, leave me a link so I can see if you're more weird than I am! Here's hoping!!

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Finally

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I listed the green aventurine and sterling silver necklace in my Etsy shop tonight. Finally. It has literally been months since I have listed anything new. Now all I have to do is keep at it. I took tons of pictures yesterday and this evening, so hopefully I will get at least one or two pieces listed a day for the next week. Uh huh. I'll believe it when I see it too. :)

Now I have to clean up my photography mess, get an order ready to go out, make my lunch and get ready for bed. Hopefully I will be able to get to bed before 1:00 am but who am I kidding? I don't generally move that fast.

My jewelry is why I started this blog but for some reason I got this notion that people would be interested in my electrical problems, my kids, and whether or not I grow chin hairs these days. Okay, I won't stop talking about that stuff, but I really hope to at least do a bit more with my beading. Balance, right? Balance.

I'm going to get up now and listen to my ankles snap crackle and pop as I make my way about my business. They do that all the time now, man, does this aging process ever give up any happy surprises???

I haven't seen any yet!
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My intentions

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I have been having trouble getting motivated to get back into my bead room, and I have sold a few pieces lately in spite of myself. I haven't been trying. I think one of my problems is that my beads have so over-taken that room, along with my daughter piling some of her stuff in there, that the room itself is not appealing to me to go into. Must get that room in hand and hopefully I will pick up those stones and bits of glass and wire and get to work again. Because I really do want to.

There is something else I really want to do. Some time ago I decided to take up quilting. I had no idea what I was doing but I bought fabric and a pattern and I commenced quilting. Sort of. I made a quilt for my former boyfriend and I wish I had photographed it because it turned out really well. At least I think it did - it was my very first quilt and I gave it as a gift. Didn't realize what an ambitious undertaking it would be when I formulated that plan!

After I made that one, I started hoarding fabric. I do that. I hoarded fabric, squares already cut, fat quarters, fabric by the yard if it was a good deal. I even cut out an entire queen sized quilt, sewed some of the pieced blocks together, and when I laid it out to see how it would look as a finished quilt - I hated it. So I have those 12 inch blocks all neatly piled waiting to be sewn together in an unappealing color scheme. Expensive fabric too. Sigh-h. I want to finish it. Even if ends up being the quilt on a closet shelf you pull down when you need that extra blanket, I want to finish it. I have too many unfinished things around here.

But first - I want to finish this one. This quilt is a scrap quilt, made from every color and pattern, even some old shirts and pajamas have contributed fabric. Some of the rows are uneven and my stitches aren't straight. I have not bound the edges and this poor quilt has resided on an ironing board in my bedroom for the better part of 2 years! The cats love it. Argh-h-h.

This quilt was intended to be the one you see folded up on the end of the couch in front of the TV, the one that could go onto the floor with a child rolled up in it. It was supposed to be that 'all things' quilt that was old fashioned and quaint and maybe even a bit ugly but would have fond memories attached.

So in order to keep myself honest and give myself a push - I intend to finish this quilt. By Christmas. That's a generous amount of time considering what is left to be done on it. I'm stating it here so that I will actually do it - and can come back and post some pictures of it when it's complete.

I'm really hoping that a person or 2 will remember this abandoned quilt and ask me about it sometimes. As in "so, how's that quilt coming?" I need support here. Or a swift kick in the behind, but I'll start by asking for support. Make me do this!


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Think pink!!

Finally! I have listed a few new things. I cannot believe how much I've been neglecting my shop lately, I think I've been spending all my time reading blogs. I love reading blogs. Still - I managed to size some pictures and work on descriptions and add a few pieces to my shop. Just don't ask me if I've actually made anything lately.

cherry quartz and Swarovski crystal earrings

Soo Chow jade and Swarovski crystal necklace

Soo Chow jade and Swarovski crystal earrings

It's not to be

I have been reading all the posts about the Blogher conference in Chicago last weekend. I live in the suburbs of Chicago bit still would not have even considered going, I am wa-a-a-y-y too new to blogging. I am still feeling my way around and getting to know people and finding other blogs I like to read. But it has been especially enjoyable to read the posts about this year's conference.

I have been delighted to read about all the girl crushes out there, one blogger for another, based on the relationships they share online and admiration for the skills of others. Or maybe they just want to steal someone else's life, I don't know. So much humor - my gosh I think I have laughed out loud at most of the posts - especially the near universal "privacy to poop" issues several ladies talked about. *giggle* Who designs a hotel with beautiful bathrooms with louvered doors and shutters that open into bedrooms!!?!? What kind of a bad idea was that?! Everybody knows guys wouldn't care, but women? Especially women who don't know each other very well but want to impress all their girl/blog/crushes? Puh-lease!

I will admit to some envy though, I really haven't had many close relationships with women for many years, which is a story unto itself. The friendships built online between some of these ladies sounds amazing and omg so much fun!

Alas, I guess it isn't meant to be for me though. I registered at Blogher. I did. But I can't get in to save my life. I have 18 different usernames and passwords at work alone, not to mention the 104 (approximately) I have here at home - I thought well - I forgot my username. Or maybe it's my password. Maybe it's both! Hey - I'm only an I.T. employee! I requested a new password. Twice. I got a link back - twice, which I think confirms that Blogher recognizes me as existing! Yay! But I still could not get in. :(

I typed a poor-me missive to the powers that be - or the powers that I think - be - but have not heard back. I'm thinking they are looking at it saying omg can you believe her? Should we let her back in? Should we put her through a hazing first - some kind of initiation like forcing her to blog about her most embarrassing moments - and then reading it out loud to all her co-workers??? *snort! guffaw!!* Or maybe poop in a bathroom with shutters open to a roomful of fellow bloggers? No, that would be punishment for them!

Okay ladies - I'm ready, give me my assignment. I am just warning you now though, that if you make me drink alcohol before I blog - I tend to be a real lightweight and have been known to drunk-email and *gasp!* NOT use spellcheck! For real! So give me your best shot! I'm waiting!!

I think.

I was talking to my daughter today about blogging. She is an English major and is a senior in college right now. She is a wonderful writer, and can consider herself a "writer" in the true sense of the word, unlike me. She is smart and witty and can be very opinionated. She always has something to say, certainly always has something going on in her head.

I mentioned to her that she should blog, if for no other reason than to use her skills somewhere other than school, or because it can be an incredible networking tool. She didn't seem too thrilled with the idea of creating her own blog but did say maybe she could do a guest post on mine. What a wonderful idea! But she wants me to give her a topic. That's where I draw a blank.

Dani is very mature and always has been. She is young and playful but she is very thoughtful and thinks things through with a logic which can be intimidating sometimes. She is incredibly sensitive and I would say more empathetic than your average 21 year old. I taught her not to grow up too fast, to enjoy her childhood and not hurry to adulthood like I did. For me everything was about when, when I move out of the house, when I get married, when I have kids. While Dani is planning for her future in the way of a career and forming the values she will live her life by, she enjoys now. She took one of my lessons to heart.

She is simply a good kid. Level headed and sweet and caring. So much ahead of the game than I was at her age, and I feel for the parents who have kids who give them trouble with driving, drinking, boyfriends/girlfriends and what-have-you. My children are not perfect but I can honestly say they have not given me trouble beyond not doing household chores when asked or being lackadaisical about grades from time to time. I'm happy to say the grades are very good now, grammar and sentence structure and all of the things I find so difficult with the English language come easily to both of my kids. Go figure.

I could suggest she write about ridiculous things Mom has said or done, which I am sure she has several examples of. Hmmmm. She's a vegetarian, a feminist and a lover of Harry Potter and Brussels sprouts. Not necessarily together. She likes roller blading and riding her bike, playing four square and camping. She has many, many interests and is always open to new ideas. In some ways she is so very like me, in a much improved kind of way, but in more ways - she is not.

She is Dani. She is my daughter. I know she must have ideas. She should write here at least once, don't you think?

I think.

Addicted for sure

Addicted to blogs. I admit it. I love to read blogs. I told myself that I was going to put a limit on myself, that I would check my regular blogs once (okay maybe twice) a day and maybe take a peek at a few I don't have links to but are in my favorites. So I looked through the list this morning. Not a whole lot of new posts, so when I looked again late morning I told myself the earlier check hadn't counted because I hadn't found new posts. (rationalizing)

Early afternoon when I checked again I justified it by saying to myself that I did not want to miss any new posts from my favorite bloggers - a lot could happen in a couple of hours!

Couldn't it?

Early this evening when I clicked through my list again I told myself it would be the last time today, yes it would, the last time. But it bothered me that one or two of the bloggers I admire hadn't posted in a couple of days and I was just waiting for them to post again!

By 8:30 this evening I was looking again, if somewhat furtively, I wouldn't have been surprised to have found my palms sweating as I satisfied this urge that I was helpless against. I. have. to. know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know of a program, a self help group, anonymous meetings, a sponsor perhaps? Is this normal in any sense of the word?

I'll just tell myself it is - yeah, everybody does this, everybody likes reading about other people's lives, hanging on every word, relishing every well turned phrase, and delighting in every humorous passage! They do!

They don't? Do I need help?
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I'm posting some pics of earrings here, this is a style I like to wear as a casual every day type earring, I have made them with many different stones and in many different colors. Please, have a look!