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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Getting to try a little something different

At my day job (as an architect) I've done a bunch of fun things with some of the other people in the office. We've done cookie swaps, a competition called CANstruction (google it for more info), various community service projects, heart walks, etc. It's always been great fun and I enjoy doing things like that.

The group that I've done the cookie swap with is going to do a handmade card swap. It's got a Thanksgiving/Holidays theme. I've never really made a handmade card in my life. Not counting the colored ones that you do in school. I have no idea where to start. I have to make 8 identical cards. I've been searching all over artfire for handmade cards with holiday/thanksgiving themes.

I think that I have some good ideas but I'm not really sure. I just need to make a trip to the craft store and start buying some stuff and run with it from there.

Monday, September 28, 2009

I wish that I was this good with wireworking

Check out Sharon's wire work, amazing isn't it? I hope to be this good at it one of these days.


I may just have to try and find a way to make myself a pair of these.....
Click on the post title to go to her website.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

What I learned on my summer vacation

Remember when you had this assignment during the first week of school right after summer vacation? Yea, me too. I got back from our little mini vacation on Hilton Head Island a few hours ago and this blog post started forming itself in my head when I was somewhere on I-16.

The trip took me about 4.5 hours so I had a lot of time to think being that I was on I-16 for about 100 some odd miles and I had a few highways to go before I made my way home.

Some of this applies to the business but most of this does not so enjoy anyway.

1. There are morons on the highway. No matter what highway, what state the highway is full of morons. Why people can properly merge with a right on ramp but not a left one amazes me. Why does everyone need to slow down to look at what's happening? Why does the one idiot on the highway always end up in front of me when I'm in the left lane going 80 and they decide that they own the highway so they will go 2 miles above the posted minimum speed limit (40mph in case you are wondering) And don't get me started on sympathy breakers, just because someone in the other lane is breaking does not mean that YOU have to break as well.

2. I never realized that elevators in South Carolina were under the office of Elevators and Amusement Rides. This oddly makes sense (free fall at six flags anyone?).

3. If I'm going to wear my bathing suit that has the gold rings on it I get some fairly interesting tan lines. Yes I now have a perfect circle of tanned skin on each hip bone.

4. If I'm going to hang out at the pool all day it would be a good idea to be in either full sun or full shade. My right side is more tanned than my left. It's a nice gradient right in the middle of my stomach.

5. Always, always, always bring my jewelry business cards with me wherever I go. At the entrance to the lighthouse in Harbor Town I was complimented on the bracelet that I was wearing and of course I had the cards but they were in my other purse conveniently in the hotel room all the way across the damn island.

6. No matter how fast you want to go it will take you FOREVER to go anywhere on the island. Mainly because the highest posted speed limit is 35mph. Also because anything worth going is no where near your hotel.

7. Cell phone reception is crappy at best on the island. Except for at the top of the afore mentioned lighthouse. Can someone please put a cell tower on the damn island? Is that really too much to ask?

8. If you spend a whole day at the pool and are eating and drinking at the pool your are not walking off the pool deck without spending at least $100. It's too easy to raise the flag on your lounge chair.

9. If your cover up is black remember the black flip flops, or at least the pink ones. The brown ones are ok but I look like an idiot when I where them together.

10. I like to shop. No matter what store I go into I'm going to find something that I want to buy. My husband is just going to have to get used to it.

11. Dive bars have the best food, period.

I think that's it for now. If I can remember anything else I'll post a follow up. Happy Reading!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Some random thoughts

So in a few hours I'll be pointed towards the coast on my way to Hilton Head. I finished everything that I set out to do yesterday so that was a bonus. I'll have to post some pics of the weekend when I get back.

Yesterday my sorority sister, Brandy, called me up. She received my package for the auction. She really loved everything that I put in. That really made me smile. The best compliment that she gave me is that nothing looks like a craft project. Apparently some of the other sisters were inspired to make some stuff. I do work hard to make a quality product and I'm constantly trying to improve upon my skills. I'm just worried that Brandy and her mom will hijack my jewelry before it gets to the auction!

Oh, Really cool giveaway on one of my favorite blogs. Win a super cute teapot and a tin of tea on Anne's blog Tea Journal

Facebook - it's amazing the people that you can connect to, with, again on that site. You can create fan pages for your business and update your customers. I have a fan page along with my Artfire kiosk on both my profile page and my business pages. If you want to become a fan click here

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A million things to do.....

So it's Wednesday right? Yup, I checked. I've got about a million things to do today to get ready for our trip to Hilton Head tomorrow.

I still haven't started on my samples for the October spotted box yet.... Gotta get on this because I need to get them ready to ship by October 1st. Nice job huh? Did I mention that my commitment is for 60 samples? Yes I am a genius.

I did manage to mail my order from my Artfire studio this morning. So that's one more thing in the done column. See my post from yesterday if you want to see what I sold, I put up a pic.

So today when I get home from work I have to pack, load the car, get the hubby's weekend suitcase and attend a HOA meeting for our landscape proposal.

I'm on my HOA's board of directors and usually All I have to do is go to 1 meeting a month and answer a few emails a month. Right now however, we have already had a meeting with the landscape company last Monday. I had to take the day off work because the meeting was at 10am and I work in midtown. Next time please schedule a meeting during non-business hours, I work full time in Atlanta thank you very much! I'm the only one on the board out of the 5 of us that works full time. The 2 men are retired, one woman is a stay at home mom with 2 little ones and the other woman works 3 days a week. They have a tendency to forget that I do work full time. I'm also the only one on the board with any kind of architecture/construction background, lovely...

This meeting tonight is yet another meeting with the landscaper but for the life of me I can't figure out why. But I'm a glutton for punishment and am going to the meeting. As if I don't already have enough to do tonight.

I just can't forget the extra pair of black socks that the hubby needs me to bring because he couldn't count on Sunday.

Oh, and it's supposed to be crappy this weekend, wonderful. Anyone want to make me 60 jewelry samples and pack for me? Oh I forgot about my last architecture licensing exam that's on October 5th. Finding time to study for that has not been easy but I'm making due.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Really Really Strange Monday....

So yesterday was an experience. Not sure how many of you have seen the news about what's happening in Atlanta but we've had some flooding issues. Long story short we got over 9" of rainfall overnight.

Getting to my job in midtown Atlanta was a bit tricky yesterday morning. I live about 35 miles from the office and I take I-85 to get here. There's the perimeter (I-285) that goes all around Atlanta. Well if you wanted to get from 85 or 285 or the other way around your were just plain S.O.L. because the ramps flooded. What this meant for me? It took me over 2 HOURS to get to work yesterday. Luckily we live at the top of a hill so our house is fine.

When I finally get to work yesterday I notice that my shoe is making a weird noise and I'm also wobbling. My heel of my shoes broke. Just wonderful, on the bright side I had a pair of flip flops in the car that haven't made there way back into the house since Labor Day and we have a shoe guy in the building so Doc is my savior. $11 to fix the busted heel and put new tips on the spikes. Not bad IMO.

Today is working out to be a lot better so far. Driving to work was normal today. The sun actually came out (I almost forgot what it looked like). And the crowning glory, I sold something on Artfire today. Just a pair of earrings but a cute pair none the less. Here's a pic in case your are wondering what the earrings look like:

Simple little pretty Swarovski dangles, black diamond with round silver spacer beads and a surgical steel earwire.

Now I just get to drive home, buy beer, and start to pack for my trip to Hilton Head for a long weekend.

Please don't rain while we're there!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Fundraiser for a really good cause

A few months back a good friend and sorority sister of mine, Emily, was hospitalized because she came down with the swine flu pneumonia and other complications. After over 2 months in the hospital the infection left her system and she's now been in rehab for a while.

My sorority wanted to do something to help her and her family out with her medical bills and other associated costs.

We're doing a dinner and silent auction for her on October 10th in conjunction with her EMS Rescue Squad. Our part is the auction with all the proceeds going to Emily.

I mailed about 17 different things for them to auction off. It's all stuff that I've had laying around for a while and haven't gotten around to listing yet. It's a nice mix of sterling, gemstone, glass. I have sets, bracelets, earrings, the works. In the short run I'm hoping I get some sales.

I really do wish that I could be there but everyone is in New Jersey and it would be very difficult for me to be there when we will be heading up there for Thanksgiving to spend it with my family.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

What a great day to stay in and craft!

It seems like it's been raining for days now..... Not continually but for the better part of the day most days. With all this rain who wants to go outside at all?

I'm thinking about getting a jump on the pendant for Anne. She picked out a green glass that really looks like periodot. She's also getting it made with gold wire. I probably should re-string that necklace for my co-worker. My one co-worker, Peggy, will give me necklaces and earrings and stuff that have broken for me to fix. I don't mind doing the fixing but I don't want it to become to big of a part of the business.

I think that I'm going to get started on that pendant.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Found a really cool tutorial in my email this morning

So I open up my laptop this morning and I've got a couple of emails from http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/ Christine sends out a newsletter semi-regularly and there was this really cool earring wire tutorial on it. http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/earring-wires.html Very simple and pretty easy to do. I've made earring wires that are similar to these in the past. I'll have to play around with it. Instead of 20 gauge wire you could also use eye pins if you can get the right length and gauge.

Now I just have to make my pasta salad for the party tonight.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Happy Friday!

So it's Friday (Yay!). I'm excited about the weekend for a few reasons.

The first? My friends Ana & Monty had there baby girl a little over 2 weeks ago and tomorrow is the Welcoming Shower for them. Hopefully it won't rain but we'll make the best of it.

I just have to remember to bring the glass pieces for Anne to look at for the wirewrapped pendant necklace that she wants me to make her. I have 2 that I've made for myself and about 5-7 more that I have done but never had gotten around to listing yet. (I really need to get on that)

By the way Anne has a really great blog that you should check out. http://estreetanne.blogspot.com/ She talks about her dogs, her cat and living with MS.

I'm quite frankly surprised about how many people have really liked the pendant that I wear most often. It's a rectangle of mosaic glass that I've wirewrapped with copper wire. The glass is an amber color. I have it strung on a simple black leather cord. Simple and really fun to make. I never know how it's going to come out until I'm finished because the design has a tendency to take on a mind of it's own. I'll have to snap a pic of it and throw it up here when I get a chance.

And I have to remember to go to the store tomorrow morning and buy the ingredients that I need for the pasta salad that I'm bringing.

Oh, and football. The NY Giants are playing the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night. It should be a really great game. I hope that my G-men wipe the field with the Cowboys. I just have to stay up late enough to catch most of the game.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Interesting form of inspiration

So last night I went out with a few girlfriends to see the movie Julie and Julia. Really great movie by the way. It's really funny because we've been trying to get together to go see it for like a month at least. Most of you I'm sure have heard about it but the basic premise is that this girl, Julie Powell, decides to actually do something with her life and cook all of Julia Child's recipes from her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in a years time. She sets up a blog about it and posts frequently about it.

Well, I'm getting away from myself, let me get back on track. Watching this movie last night made me want to do 2 things. The first was to make that damn beef stew that she burns in the movie (I conveniently have a dutch oven that's brand new to use) and the second is to really get back to my blogging.

So here's the deal, I'm going to attempt to post to my blog 4-5 times a week on various crafting related topics and occasionally throw in some stuff about the rest of my life. Now I'm not doing this to get some kind of recognition I'm doing it to get myself back into good habits about keeping up with my jewelry business.

What could be easier than blogging? (please don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question)

So stay tuned fellow followers, strap in, hang on it's going to be a fun ride...

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

It was time for a change

I've been playing around with getting my hair cut for some time now. I finally decided to do it last week. I normally have shoulder-length hair. I've been told for at least 15 years that I'd look great with an angle cut. I've been putting it off for a while (like I said, at least 15 years). Last week I finally decided to just do it. I checked with the hubby to see if he'd be ok with it because he likes long hair. We found him a picture of exactly what it would look like and he said to go for it. So I decided to share with my fellow bloggers the final result. Enjoy.