mis•cel•la•ne•a

Decisions, Decisions

2011-01-28T10:24:00.005-05:00

I have a handyman coming over to fix a hole in my kitchen ceiling (mind you, I paid a plumber $125 already to get that hole) and, while he’s there, I've given him the task of moving my kitchen light over to be centered above my table, rather than in a random spot in the middle of the kitchen. Yes, since the previous owners took out the island, the placement of the light makes no sense ...

So, I’ve narrowed my choices down to these two. And I have to decide TODAY. On the one hand, yay, I get to go to IKEA tonight (girls’ night out with Elisabet); on the other hand, I have to actually make up my mind and bring one of them home.

I like the simplicity of the top one—easy to clean, and it matches the stainless steel in my kitchen. However, I like the sassyness of the bottom one, but will it be too much to try to keep clean (you do know that my kitchen is covered in olive oil, right).

Decisions, decisions …

Lost Little Fishies

2011-01-06T21:06:00.006-05:00

So, as a single mom, working full-time, I don’t have anything better to do than to … do something more, right … ? Right. Because, I don’t have to cook and clean and work and do laundry and cook again, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Hence, I’ve decided to do another closet project. This time, I’m taking on the smaller of the closets in my bedroom and making it into a … wait for it … OFFICE! Yes! Well, actually, not so much an office, but more like a studio. A closet studio. Or would that be a studio closet?

Either way, this is what I’m starting from.

the left side—not too bad, except that bookcase is coming out

straight ahead—a tax preparer’s dream

supposedly there’s a floor under there somewhere

In preparation for this great undertaking, I slowly started moving some things from this closet to any other available space. Did I mention I was doing it s-l-o-w-l-y? As in, “Ooh, what’s in this box?!” This, of course, is followed by the opening of said box.

Imagine my great surprise when I found my ceramic fish!

I haven’t seen these little fishies since I moved to the apartment five years ago. I’m so excited I get to hang them this weekend … and I bet that’ll take much less time than emptying the rest of that closet …

Christmas Shopping

2010-11-23T10:19:00.007-05:00

So, this happens to me every year when I set out to begin my Christmas shopping ... I don’t have that many people to shop for, and I try to limit how many things I give my girls (still under the illusion of Santa Claus, right), so, it should be fairly easy, right? Right. With a lose plan I head to the mall ... or Etsy ... And I end up ...

“Oooh, I’ve wanted these for so long. I’m getting them. For me.”

“Oooh, I think I need these, so I’m getting them. For me.”

“Well, the girls need to think Santa remembered me, too, so I’m just going to get this. For me. Eh, I mean, for my new collection.”

Needless to say, I still have to go shop for my girls, and a few other people. And maybe I’ll just pick up that thing for myself. You know, that thing I really have to have.

Sigh.

P.S. You can find more lovely earrings by my dear, talented friend Ginger here. Check your local stores for memory blocks by Sid Dickens.

My favorite color: Pink

2010-11-15T14:07:00.002-05:00

So, there is not a whole lot of creativity coming out of me lately. But there is a whole lot of pink appearing around the house ... but mostly just in the eyes of my children. We have been battling pink eye for a week now. Yeah, fun, not so much.

Here’s to a pink-free week to the rest of you.

Color Me Happy

2010-11-05T11:38:00.010-04:00

This month, the lovely artisans of Etsy’s Best Kept Secrets is discussing color. Is it important to me? Does it influence my designs? The short answer is, yes. I’ll quote myself from my Etsy profile:

“I have always been fascinated with color and form. When I was little (just a few years ago, of course ... eh-hum!), I colored just about anything and everything. Since my mother was an artist, I was blessed to always have paper and coloring books, pens, markers and crayons handy.”

I love working with colors, and I’m blessed to have a full-time job that involves color and form. I have incorporated the same principles into my jewelry designs, pairing my favorite colors and stretching my imagination trying to color outside the lines. But not only that, I have gone from being a girl who wanted every room in her condo white to incorporating just about every color on a color wheel on the walls of my house.

Looking back at what I have created, I see that I tend to gravitate toward the same color combinations over and over again—the same colors I like to surround myself with on a daily basis: blue and green (both colors are in my bedroom), pink (my youngest daughter’s bedroom) and purple (the brand new color in my foyer), gray and black (this fall’s favorite colors to wear). But I also use more yellow in the pieces I make—and the layouts I design—than I would ever wear on my person (yellow is just not my color … and yet I just painted three walls in my dining room a golden yellow).

But, is color the only thing that inspires me? No. When I design pieces, I start with the focal stone and depending on the shape and the color, it may end up taking me in a completely different direction than I had first planned.

Take the gorgeous oblong kyanites below: Normally, I would have paired them with green garnet or Prehnite, but this time they were really calling out to be paired with yellow. Yellow? I must have been homesick at the time!

Is color important to me? Does color influence my designs? Yes, it certainly does. Even when it takes me in a surprising direction.

Something about cashmere

2010-11-03T10:31:00.004-04:00

Yes, I could definitely go for one of these cashmere scarves from Restoration Hardware (I know, it’s a little funny). The two grays seem to be the colors of the season, and ones that I personally am drawn to more and more. But then, the black is classic, right? It would go with everything. And what about that garnet one? I have a winter white coat, need I say more. Decisions, decisions!

Bedroom Issues

2010-10-29T09:22:00.005-04:00

So, I’m on a quest for a new bed. I was so set on one from IKEA, because it’s dark (almost black, which is my preference), it’s nice and, of course, very reasonably priced (read: downright cheap!). But then I started shopping around ... I guess I shouldn’t have, because now I don’t know which one I want. Yes, the one from IKEA is still the best option financially (meaning, I could actually go get it this weekend), but should I let money decide on something that I will more than likely have for a very, very long time?

OK, so my three choices are:

The Hemnes bed in black/brown from IKEA. Very simple, very inexpensive, solid wood.

The Brighton Coffee bed in dark brown from Crate & Barrel. Nice details, solid and engineered woods, reasonably priced.

The Plateau bed in dark brown from West Elm. Minimalistic (is that a word?) design, solid wood, very simple, no need for box springs. But do I really want to give up my box springs? And, it’s only available online ... but I really like it.

You see! So, what’s a girl to do? Maybe I'll just go buy myself that zebra-print chair instead. After I paint the foyer and hallway, of course.

Psst. What did you think I was referring to with that title?

On My Wish List

2010-09-30T09:08:00.008-04:00

I need something in my kitchen. Something to sit on and something to possibly keep the clutter from collecting on the counter tops. Something like this from Pottery Barn.

I want my guest bedroom to serve as a ... guest bedroom! But I also want it to be my studio, once I finally get back into making jewelry. The full-size bed that now lives there makes it impossible to fit a desk or anything else in it. So, it’s a good thing I fell in love with this daybed from Crate & Barrel. My future guests may not appreciate the pull-out trundle, but it’s not like I have enough overnight guests to warrant a whole bedroom set aside just for them, right. *hint, hint*

I’m also trying to make a serene spot out of my living room, which is virtually child-free (there’s no TV in there). I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg (since I’ll need those moving all this furniture around), so I’m leaning toward a sofa from IKEA. How long do you think it’ll remain white?

Wish I could write this clearly

2010-07-01T16:27:00.004-04:00

What color are your toes? Mine are …

2010-06-22T09:16:00.003-04:00

To buy or not to buy, that is the question

2010-03-26T14:34:00.002-04:00

I saw this chair quite a while ago and decided it would look great in my foyer. It just happens to be on sale right now, so the question is: Do I get it now, or do I wait and run the risk of it not being available later?

What is is with me and bags?

2010-03-04T13:29:00.007-05:00

I get email updates from lots of companies … daily. Sometimes it’s annoying. Actually, most of the time it’s annoying, but I still don’t unsubscribe, because you never know … right. So, I have a few favorites even though I rarely, if ever, can afford to actually buy anything from them. One such company is Sundance. Yeah, this just popped in my inbox today:

So, what do I zero in on? The bag. The suede bag. *head desk*

Isn’t it just fabulous?

Can I have it? Please. I’d even take the yellow one.

I didn’t mention that I just recently bought a bag, did I? A suede bag. But, it’s black, so maybe I need a blue one?

I need help.

Belated Tales of Blessings

2010-02-04T10:17:00.003-05:00

I know some of you already know, actually, most of you probably already know, my long tale of acquiring a house. I prayed and waited and waited and prayed and I was finally blessed with the house I had claimed as mine for over four months. I cleaned and spackled and sanded and spackled and cleaned and painted and cleaned some more. At long last, I was able to move in the day before Thanksgiving, but the work didn’t stop there. I bought a new water heater, a new toilet, had the garage door repaired, had a shower faucet repaired, had a gas line moved, a brand new stove installed, a brand new dishwasher installed, electrical wires uncrossed and a house fire averted. It’s been a busy three months—and pictures are long overdue—but I’m finally sharing two of my Christmas-decorated rooms with you here.

Here’s wishing you a truly blessed 2010! In my camp, the year is off to an equally busy start as the last one ended.

Dining Room

Living Room

On My Wish List

2009-12-14T14:04:00.006-05:00

Restoration Hardware

Sundance Catalog

Bijoux d’Odalisque on Etsy

ArtonCrafts on Etsy

Too little time ... or not organized enough

2009-10-16T12:24:00.002-04:00

I have apparently totally neglected my blog for months now ... oh well.

P!nk hair

2009-08-17T11:21:00.002-04:00

No, not quite, but I think P!nk has fabulous hair—just look at this! Well, she looks fabulous all over, but I’m really tempted to go short on my own hair and thought this was a great look. Do you think if I get this haircut, I’ll get that flat stomach, too? No? Drat! Well, I’ll settle for the hair, then.

I am so looking forward to this!

2009-08-13T09:39:00.004-04:00

My Budding Artist

2009-06-30T09:35:00.005-04:00

Both of my daughters love to draw and color, and in typical fashion I get all kinds of artwork to put on my refrigerator. Some good, some ... well, let’s just say they get filed somewhere else. These two, however, will not go on my fridge, instead they will eventually—hopefully soon—get framed and displayed in my new house. Elisabet did these in her 3rd grade art class. Her monster is so dark, and yet so lovable and original. But I especially love her self-portrait, the way she sees herself.

Life Lessons by Regina Brett

2009-06-11T21:07:00.002-04:00

Regina Brett’s 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here’s an update:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

A Modern Bathroom Tale

2009-06-05T09:07:00.003-04:00

A dear, dear friend of mine sent this to me and I had to share. I do not know the author, but it was definitely a woman. And probably British. Enjoy!

When you have to visit a public toilet, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it’s your turn, you check for feet under the cubicle doors. Every cubicle is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the cubicle. You get in to find the door won’t latch. It doesn’t matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern ‘seat covers’ (invented by someone’s Mum, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your bag on the door hook, if there was one, so you carefully, but quickly, drape it around your neck, (Mum would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!) down with your pants and assume “The Stance.”

In this position, your aging, toneless, thigh muscles begin to shake. You’d love to sit down, but having not taken time to wipe the seat or to lay toilet paper on it, you hold The Stance. To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser.

In your mind, you can hear your mother’s voice saying, “Dear, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!” Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday—the one that’s still in your bag (the bag around your neck, that now you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do, so you crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It’s still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn’t work.

The door hits your bag, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest and you and your bag topple backward against the tank of the toilet.

“Occupied!,” you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, while losing your footing altogether and sliding down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it’s too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper—not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try.

You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because you’re certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, “You just don’t KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.”

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl and spraying a fine mist of water that covers your bum and runs down your legs and into your shoes.

The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force and you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You’re soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You’re exhausted. You try to wipe with a sweet wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can’t figure out how to operate the taps with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it?) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman’s hand and tell her warmly, “Here, you just might need this.”

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used and left the men’s toilet. Annoyed, he asks, “What took you so long and why is your bag hanging around your neck?”

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with any public restrooms/toilets (rest??? you’ve GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers that other commonly asked question about why women go to the toilet in pairs. It’s so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your bag and hand you Kleenex under the door.

Jack of All Trades

2009-05-04T18:39:00.015-04:00

I am blessed to know and be surrounded by talented people both at and outside of work. I’ve chosen to highlight three truly creative and inspiring individuals in the next few weeks, starting with Jack Simonetta. Jack is an amazing person, a caring friend, and coworker. He is a graphic designer and owner of PB&J Gallery together with his partner Bob Burkhardt.

I remember always having markers and plenty of paper to draw on as a child. I would pick a color and just doodle one endless line around and around in overlapping circles. Then I would meticulously color each space created, one color in each area, until the whole thing was a tapestry of color.

What is your earliest memory of any sort of artistic endeavor?

Tough one. Maybe it was in kindergarten. There were cardboard building blocks that I would always gravitate to. I remember stacking them to make “buildings.” I still like to play with blocks!

When you started exploring your artistic talents as an adult, what medium and style did you first adopt?

There wasn’t one medium or style that I did, although it was mostly 2-D drawing and painting. In college, I did a lot of expressive, fauve-looking stuff, simple with bold colors. Matisse was my idol.

Tell me how your style has changed over the years and if there was a connection to something changing in your personal life.

When I was a young adult and afraid to express myself, or wasn’t even sure how to express myself, my art was at times very dark and introspective. I was attracted to German Expressionism of the early 20th century, its use of color and stark shapes. Hands are very expressive, so I did a lot of hands, sometimes covering eyes, mouths, faces showing a lot of grief. These past 10 or 15 years I’ve learned to get emotions out in healthier ways, not holding things in as much, forcing them out in my art. Because of this, my art has become more free, lighter at times, but still expressive. It’s as if there’s more room in me to express more things than just the darker side of me.

Another conscious way my style has changed is that it might be getting looser, less controlled, more spontaneous. It’s been a conscious effort to not render things exactly how they are, but to interpret them through my experiences. I want people to bring something of their own when viewing my art. Sometimes I do return to a more controlled style, I think, to prove to myself that I can draw “correctly.” One of my goals is to work abstractly and still evoke emotion from people.

I think this conscious change in style has to do with my personal quest of figuring out for myself what this world/universe is all about. I read a lot about living each moment rather than in the past or in the future. I read a lot about Buddhist teachings, as well as other religions, and history and space to try to form some answers for myself. These have all affected my art in my push toward a less controlled style.

In addition to using all sort of different mediums on paper and canvas, I know that you also sculpt. How long have you been sculpting and what are you working on right now?

I’ve been sculpting for about six years. My newest sculpture is an oversized soapstone hand.

How do you deal with writer’s block, so to speak? How do you get the creative juices flowing again when you feel like you’ve hit a wall?

I’ll usually sit down and not think about representing something. Just play with the movement of my hand with a brush, using whatever color attracts me at the time. I guess it’s a sort of visual meditation that clears my head of trying to think of what to do next. Not that it shows me what to do next, but it lets me continue creating something until the next thing finds me.

Tell me what was the inspiration for your latest watercolor series?

Somewhere in my mind, I saw a visual of cliffs coming down forming a small pass-through. I did a quick watercolor while I was working on a series of women’s faces just to get it down. When I returned to the subject later, it changed into cliffs going into the sea. The last piece I did was using thinned down acrylics on canvas emphasizing wash-like brushstrokes, kind of like finger paints.

What would you like to master in the next five or 10 years?

Tapestry weaving. The craft-like quality of weaving attracts me. I bought a book on it once, and Bob even bought me a portable loom, but it looks like an art that you have to be taught, not try to figure out from books.

Top to bottom: A relaxed Jack; “Sunset Marsh,” probably the first painting of Jack’s that I saw and admired; “Remixed,” one of Jack’s many fabulous paper collages (of which I own two); “Adulation,” one in a series of men’s faces; “Reaching for the Moon,” a sculpture he recently sold and shipped to Texas; “Scylla Charybdis,” one of several in his most recent watercolor landscape series.

A little excited

2009-04-27T15:47:00.003-04:00

For some time now, I have been itching to do something to highlight some of the talented people I’m surrounded by at work and in my private life. I have tried to determine the best way to do it and finally decided on mini interviews featuring three artists this spring and, hopefully, three more this summer or fall. Starting off the series will be Jack Simonetta of PB&J Gallery in Kirkwood Station, a new artsy development in east Atlanta. Jack is one of the most multitalented artists I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the past four years. Look for his interview and a taste of his work to appear the first week of May.

To give you a sneak peak of Jack’s work, I offer you a detail of one of his pieces, but you have to wait until next week to see the whole thing.

So, what up?

2009-04-20T13:42:00.004-04:00

Social networking has become very popular. We have MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter and Plurk, among others, I’m sure. I have passed some by, thinking they are not for me, and embraced some. Facebook is easy to use and helps me keep in touch with my computer-challenged mother in Sweden. Flickr is a great place to drop my photos for comments and encouragement, and to keep a few of my favorite shots of the girls within easy reach. Twitter was OK ... until I found Plurk. I am totally hooked, and it seems, so are the other Plurkers. My friends on Plurk seem to be the same group of enthusiastic jewelry designers as on Flickr, but here we can keep a running dialog without having to refresh the screen. It’s all happening right there, with lots of fun emoticons to liven up the comments. It gets hysterical some times.

Why don’t you come check it out here?

First pedicure of the season

2009-04-12T19:02:00.003-04:00

They always make them look so good … and I can’t reach them anymore. Sad really. And yes, my toes are very much right next to each other, despite the fact that I wear lots of pointy-toed shoes. And I like ’em that way. So there.

So over it …

2009-04-02T08:58:00.002-04:00

Malena has a fever. Again. I stayed home with her for two days, took her to school yesterday, and last night her fever was back again. So we’re home today. Again.

This has been the longest winter in the history of mankind. Well, at least in the history of winter colds and unexplainable viral infections that won’t give up their grip on my daughter.

So very, very over it …

New glasses

2009-03-17T19:01:00.003-04:00

I was long overdue for an update in my look with glasses ... I can’t even put in writing how old my previous glasses are. So, what do you think?

Green camisole in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

There’s a lot of love

2009-03-03T12:48:00.008-05:00

Between all the squabbling and the running and the screaming and the sometimes total mayhem, there is also a lot of love between these two.

Taken after Malena performed as a Slurping Kitty Cat from “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?,” in her kindergarten class’ presentation of the Dr. Seuss book in honor of his 105th birthday. Elisabet was dressed—and painted—in all black for the “Cat in the Hat” day at her school.

Hmm ...

2009-03-01T17:10:00.002-05:00

Elisabet left a present in my bathroom. Perhaps she ate something that didn’t agree with her stomach?

Slight misunderstanding

2009-03-01T14:02:00.002-05:00

Despite the title of my last post, the weather gods decided to dump this on us today. I don’t understand. Do they not know that we live in the south?

Spring is Coming

2009-02-26T12:07:00.004-05:00

See, Malena thinks it’s already here. Leaves on the trees. Birds in the air. Little girls with pigtails playing outside. And a flower with carefully drawn leaves that form a heart. I love how children always look at the positive. Helps me keep my mind on the right thing, too.

Another Use for Condoms

2009-02-19T20:40:00.005-05:00

I thought these were so clever, I couldn’t resist adding them to my blog. The things people come up with. No pun intended. These are from the Fall 2008 Condom Fashion Show in Beijing.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

2009-02-14T18:34:00.009-05:00

I just received the nicest of surprises in the mail, from my dear friend Sirpa. She had asked me earlier in the week if I had received anything yet, so when I knew something was coming, I rushed to the mail box every day, but ... nothing. Until yesterday. And what a lovely box full of pretties it was. Everything was so carefully wrapped, even my girls ooohed and aaahed over each little bag and bow. Each little gift—with ties to Finland—was carefully selected for me. Most precious was probably the letter she wrote, telling me about each company and its history, and more importantly, about Sirpa herself.

Thank you so much, Sirpa!

Each gift was so nicely wrapped, and the two gold bags were tied in a way I had never seen before. The girls and I marveled at each little goodie.

The aftermath of reluctantly tearing through all the pretty bags.

All the pretties revealed. Earrings by Aarikka, a bracelet by Sirpa herself, a reindeer from Pentik, magnet, tags and note cards by Minna L. Immonen of MinnaKortti, a bag by Marimekko, and chocolate and salmiakki by Fazer.

Wearing the lovely earrings from Aarikka.

Woot, woot!!!

2009-02-12T19:07:00.006-05:00

The lovely miss Brandi of Brandi Girl [blog] and Brandi from Catie’s Blue [Flickr] nominated me for the much coveted and somewhat elusive Marie Antoinette Award for … right. For being one of the most awesome bloggers ever. Or something like that. Hmm.

The rules are:

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

My nominations are, in no particular order:

1. Claire of Claire Pearse
2. Sheela of Eclettica
3. Anna-Karin of SmåBlå
4. Maryam of Maryam of Marrakesh
5. Deb of Crysallis Creations
6. Joanne of JoJoBell
7. Natalia of Realisation Creations

Impatience

2009-02-11T22:09:00.002-05:00

So, I’m not very good at waiting. And right now, I’m waiting very impatiently for two packages to arrive. Not just one, but two. One expected and very coveted by several Flickr friends. The other a complete surprise until a couple of days ago, when dear Sirpa asked if I’d received the package she sent me. I love surprises like that, especially from Finland and Sweden. And Malaysia and England. And Poland. Or from anywhere, really. Except the IRS, don’t like those very much.

Winter Woes

2009-02-04T09:06:00.003-05:00

You know, if it’s going to be cold in Georgia (15°F/-9.5°C currently), it should be cold with lots of snow like this, not just cold.

I’m Coming Undone

2009-01-29T14:38:00.010-05:00

I have had a song severely stuck in my head for the last two days. Does that ever happen to you? They say you need to listen to the whole song—and sing it too?—to sort of get rid of it, but in my case that only makes it worse. It’s not a bad song—and thank God, it’s not a corny song—it’s just getting a little ridiculous. I have watched and/or listened to the video on YouTube probably ten times now. It’s a haunting song and the video is a work of art, in my opinion. Funny thing is, it’s not the kind of music I generally listen to anymore. In fact, even back when I still listened to mainstream music, I didn’t listen to this band. I only recently researched their sound after reading an autobiography by one of the former members*, and most of it is way too heavy and dark for me, but this one song …

I think the lyrics are ingenious. The melody is haunting to say the least. And the bass is just very pronounced in a way I don’t usually hear in a song. I don’t know, maybe you need to judge for yourself, but I’m pretty sure most of you will be surprised at the sound or the group, especially coming from me. I don’t know how to post the video in my blog, so watch it here.

*The book is “Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story” by Brian Welch.

Gray, gray, gray … inside and out

2009-01-28T12:57:00.005-05:00

THIS is what I want to do …

… but this is pretty much what I’m faced with …

Sixteen Facts About Me

2009-01-27T18:34:00.003-05:00

I was tagged by both Hee Soon and Patty on Flickr to post a photo and 16 things about myself, and then tag 16 people in return. Not sure I managed to tag 16 people yet (we are a rather close-knit group and everybody ended up tagging each other), but here are my facts:

1. I graduated with a degree in business administration (ekonomiska linjen) and worked in a bank in Sweden for three and a half years before coming over to the U.S. to go to college. Yup, banker.

2. I am a Christian and although it isn’t always easy, God has given me the strength to endure the trials that I have had to go through.

3. I’ve studied German, French and Spanish and would love the opportunity to live in those countries long enough to speak fluently. Or at least listen fluently.

4. I tore my right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, for those of you who are not familiar with medical terms) skiing on moguls in Crested Butte, Colorado. I had to have surgery to replace it (with a piece of my own hamstring). Yeah, I had no business being up there, but I got a snazzy knee brace out of it.

5. I don’t really like Chinese food anymore. I had too many servings of questionable chicken, so unless it’s from P.F. Chang’s, I don’t really want it.

6. I am the proud aunt of the Swedish Pro Superbike Champion 2008.

7. I worked at Systembolaget, the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly, a couple of summers when I went home from college. We had wine/ beer tastings once a month and I had my regulars hanging on the door every morning before we opened. It was hard work, being on my feet for eight hours a day, but a fun bunch to work with.

8. I’m a Swede with a Finnish name, living in America, driving a Korean car.

9. I loved being pregnant—well, at least the first time, the second time not so much—and would love to be pregnant again, but I don’t want any more children. Go figure!

10. I have a great sense of direction and never get lost. I have, however, gotten sidetracked a few times, but I hate asking for directions.

11. I love being by myself and I rarely feel lonely.

12. When I like a movie, I love watching it over and over ... and over again, until I can’t stand watching it again for a long time.

13. I recently finished two creative writing courses online. I loved the first one, didn't love the second one, and now I’m totally burned out. Hmm ...

14. I love to read, especially non-fiction. Last year, I read a book about cadavers and I just finished a book about brain surgery.

15. I love computers. I love email. I love the Internet. I love online chatting on FB and photo sharing on Flickr. I love to blog. But I hate that my butt gets bigger and bigger while sitting here with all this virtual love.

16. I’m amazed that I found sixteen things to say about myself after all.

A Tribute to Friends

2009-01-24T08:00:00.017-05:00

This post is a little belated, but it is not too late. It’s a tribute to friends. New friends.

The older we get, the harder it is to make new friends. Busy lifestyles with full-time work, dinners to prepare, children to read to. When do we have time to meet new people and make new friends? If we work outside the home, we may be fortunate to have coworkers we have something in common with, but very rarely do we form the kind of friendships that we did in childhood. We may even somewhere along the path make a new friend who becomes a best friend. I have been blessed with two of those. I met JoAnne almost fifteen year ago in a yoga class, when I was at a truly low point in my life. She has been my prayer warrior, my shoulder to cry on, my support when the winds around me blew too furiously. She’s the older sister I lost when I was seven, I’m her younger sister in place of the older one she has a broken relationship with. Carol and I met more than eight years ago, when we were both pregnant with our first children, due dates one day apart. Over the years, our friendship has changed, like waves on the sea, ebbing and flowing. We’ve gone through a pregnancy together and the deterioration of our marriages together. We have survived our divorces together and been single moms together.

In the last year, I have been blessed with new friends through the Internet. Although I have never met them in person, I feel as if they are true bosom buddies. I sense through the words they write, that they have beautiful hearts, not just the beautiful faces I see on Flickr. They have a passion for what they do and a deep generosity of spirit.

There is Anna-Karin, my sparring partner, my tower of strength, my greatest cheerleader and encourager. Together, the two of us make up the female version of Abbott & Costello. We sling virtual mud cake at each other every chance we get, knowing that there is a deep friendship behind the banter that can handle the friendly abuse. I find it amazing that we have bonded over cyberspace, when it feels like I just sat down for fika with her at a café in Stockholm. Maybe one day I will get to in real life.

Then there is Lotta, a quiet, sweet soul. She pops up every now and then with some amazing new design, seemingly undeterred by what everyone else is doing at the moment. She is the calm in the storm, the whisper when the winds are howling. So sweet, so beautiful.

And then there is Magdalena. What can I say? Magdalena is one of those amazingly creative and talented people you feel blessed to know. She works hard, she has great taste, and she is generous to a fault. She is one of several talented Polish girls—I think it must be something in the water.

What is even more special about these three amazing women, is that they all sent me lovely birthday and Christmas gifts last year. I frequently drool over their creations and beg for pieces to be sent to me, but these gifts were totally unexpected. I am in awe over their generosity and kindness, and I will treasure their gifts for a lifetime. But more than that, I will treasure the gift of their friendship.

The ring is Anna-Karin’s signature style, and a lovely birthday gift to me. No. 1. Long and Dangly Earrings from Lotta. No. 2. Gingembre by Magdalena No. 3. Sterling and Amethyst Earrings from Anna-Karin.

Should’ve been a go-go dancer …

2009-01-22T21:09:00.006-05:00

So, I was on a quest to make the best chocolate chip cookie ever. Why? I have no idea. I saw a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate chips, the 60 percent cacao kind and thought, “Wow, I bet those would make great chocolate chip cookies.” I looked on the Internet (because all my cookbooks are still in moving boxes from last summer, when I almost moved) and found a recipe for “Absolutely the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies.” Really, that’s what the recipe was called. I also researched further and found quite a few tips on how to make the cookies even better. Armed with all this new knowledge and all the ingredients—or so I thought—I fought to find the time to actually make the cookies. Tonight, yes, tonight was the night.

I gathered all my ingredients on the counter and realized that, hmm, perhaps my butter should not have an expiration date of January 2008. Fortunately, I found two sticks of butter that looked like they would do. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember when I had actually bought them, but they looked good, so I melted them as recommended. After stirring in the sugars, white and brown, I tasted the mixture … interesting, but it had a rather rancid taste. Just to make sure, I had another taste … and another. No, I don’t think it was supposed to taste like that. Really. So I went to the store, and while I was there I got some more eggs and the latest In Style magazine. I was going to need something to read later on while enjoying these wonderful cookies.

Back home again, I started the melting process over again, finished the cookie dough and let it cool in the refrigerator for just a few minutes while the oven was heating up—another trick I learned from all my research. In the meantime, I sat down to help Malena with her homework and looked down to see that my lounge pants were inside out. And I just went to the store dressed like that. Come to think of it, I had also already taken my bra off. And I wonder why I can’t get a date. Strange.

Fast forward to when I’m happily reading the rest of the instructions, while the first batch of cookies is baking. I never read all the instructions first, makes life a little more adventurous. Besides, I’m pretty smart, I can usually figure out how things work on my own. Well, wouldn’t you know it, they mentioned tablespoons for portioning the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet. Interesting, I was sure I had read something about a ladle.

Maybe I should try go-go dancing instead? After I put my bra back on, of course.

This is what I feel like today …

2009-01-16T14:03:00.006-05:00

Turns out the Airborne I’ve been taking to keep a cold from coming on does not sit well with my stomach … I am miserable and in pain.

Not really into tarot, but …

2009-01-09T21:15:00.004-05:00

I thought the art on these cards were intriguing and the “truth” of my online reading quite spot on. Take a look for yourself.

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I found this site through My Marrakesh.

One thing leads to another

2009-01-08T15:55:00.003-05:00

My previous post took a comical turn on Flickr, and my coworker Jack got a little creative. We have had quite a few laughs over the last couple of days and … well, what can I say. It's me and the gulls.

I really have no shame, do I.

Twenty Years in America

2009-01-05T21:18:00.015-05:00

How can it be that twenty years have gone by already? It does not seem possible, yet here I am staring at the beginning of 2009, twenty years to the day after I landed at JFK. I was alone in a new country. And I was hot. I had just left a snow covered Sweden, dressed in a turtleneck sweater, a heavy winter coat and gloves and here I was, shuffling through the airport with my carryon and not a snowflake in sight. In fact, I think there was a heat wave. Or, it was unusually warm for the season, as they might have said on the weather forecast that day. Personally, I was having a heat wave. Then again, it could have been the fact that I was tired, nervous, and hot from wearing too many layers at a crowded airport right after the holidays.

I came to the U.S. with the intention of getting an associate’s degree in commercial art. That’s what my school called it back then. Commercial Art. I was going to study art and design for two years and then go back home again. Or so I thought. My studies went well, in fact, I graduated top of my class that year, in May of 1992. I got the cap and gown, walked the walk and attended the graduation dinner. My mother, her husband and my brother flew over for the occasion. It was grand. Then I spent the summer back home in Sweden and had some time to think. We were in the middle of a recession, what was I going to do?

Three weeks before classes started back up again, I called the college and said I was coming back for my bachelor’s degree. I remember there was a scramble to get all the required paperwork ready to renew my student visa before I could return. All went well and I studied some more. And did the whole cap and gown thing again the following May, receiving my Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude. I also had the honor of being the valedictorian and receiving awards for outstanding academic achievement and outstanding achievement in commercial art. More than I had ever hoped or dreamed. After all, I just came here for a two-year degree.

With my BA in hand I was entitled to a training permit, giving me permission to stay in the country for an additional twelve months. Looking back at that year, I vaguely remember goofing off and getting closer to the end of my visa. A few weeks before the dreaded date, I realized I had better get a job or start packing. Not ready to return to my home country yet, I started looking. Two weeks before the deadline, I landed a job at a company that for the next seven years became the only entry on my resume, even though it appears under three different names.

I didn’t work my way up as much as get a new position or title each time the company was bought out. I was fortunate to stay, when others were let go. Every two years, I had to hire an attorney to renew my work visa—and pay big bucks for him to do it. My life was lived in two-year increments, with trips back to Sweden every year or two, usually including a visit to the American Embassy in Stockholm to get a new visa stamp in my passport. Every time I walked through immigrations on my return to the U.S., I was just as nervous as the first time, but they never turned me away.

A few years went by—two or three work visas I think—and then I met a man. I had met men before, but this man was different. I could usually tell if a relationship was going to work within two weeks of meeting someone, and usually I determined it was not. And it didn’t. Yet, I tried to make it work. So much wasted time. This time, I knew within two weeks that this was the man for me. I had recently given my life to Jesus, and in return, Jesus gave me a man. Well, I like to think so.

This man and I were married in May 1998. It was bliss. Why wouldn’t it be, we were married in Sweden and honeymooned in Paris. He was my best friend. We shared a lot of laughs. We cried, too. We had a similar sense of humor. We were both very sarcastic. We were as compatible as a man and a woman can be. We were happy. For a few years, at least.

Along came a little baby girl and a green card. I stopped working and became a stay-at-home mom. My little girl and I spent our days taking walks and recording milestones, but something didn’t feel right. I didn’t realize how much I missed my job until I was forced to go back to work two years later. Our finances were bad and getting worse. Our marriage was heading in the same direction. But, there was still a lot of love there. And I enjoyed being back at work at my old company with a new name. My spirits were lifted and I was back in my element.

Then another baby came along. I took some time off work to care for her, before returning to my little gray cubicle to design my heart away. And to lose the love of my man.

The last three and half years have gone by quickly. I have survived a heartbreaking separation and divorce, been blessed with a new job, sans cubicle, and raised two beautiful girls on my own. There are days I want to run away from the responsibility of being their main provider and then there are days when I count myself so fortunate to have two such smart little girls. Strong-willed, independent, headstrong, willful, beautiful girls. They are the fruit of my love. They are the reason I am still here. Even though it would be so much easier for me to pack up and move back home, where I have family who can help out, I don’t want to take them away from their father. This is their country and it has become mine. Twenty years. How time flies.

*1989 with poodle perm in Helen, Ga., 1994 with hair down to my butt, 1998 on my honeymoon in Paris (at the Eiffel Tower), Elisabet and Malena at our old house, 2005 after getting too skinny during my divorce, today in 2009 … mostly happy, especially with the short hair!

My First Published Piece

2009-01-03T18:50:00.006-05:00

And there it is, my first published piece, The Necklace, as promised in the January edition of FaithHopeFiction.com

Perhaps I should write more, instead of devouring one book after another. I’m calling it research, though. I’m studying style, delivery, dialog frequency, and … well, you know, I’m disappearing into the books and forgetting all about the research, that’s what I’m doing. Let’s be honest. So, I will continue to write in my journal, which I began in my first writing class, and when I hit on something of interest I will turn it into an essay for others to enjoy. That’s my new year’s resolution to myself.

My last writing assignment

2008-12-30T14:48:00.004-05:00

Another creative course has come to an end, just like another year is about to. This class was called Writing Your Life Story, and although I plan to do that in the future, it was not for now. I still got a lot out of the class and have a better foundation for when the time is right for me to share my story. This last writing assignment called for us to write “200 words or less, tell me how you feel when you capture in your notebook or writer’s journal the essence of people and places that appear in your writing. Are you excited, afraid, puzzled, delighted, daunted, or a combination of all these feelings?” Since I was not actively gathering information on the people I have encountered, I wrote something a little different. The instructor’s comment is at the end.

For as long as I can remember, pen and paper have been an obsession of mine. When I was around 10 or 11, I started writing letters to pen pals around the world. There was Keiko in Japan, Farhana in India, and Sandra in France. It was so much fun buying colorful stationery and unusual pens and pencils. My handwriting was quite neat and legible back then, and I would constantly play with new ways of writing, sometimes slanting, sometimes in all-caps, sometimes straight up and down. Sometimes it depended on the paper and the pen I was using at the moment. As I’d get used to writing one way, my handwriting would eventually become sloppy and I would make up another one.

Every summer growing up, I would stay with my uncle in Finland. My cousin Anne was just as fascinated with papers and cards as I was, so we would visit a little paper shop where I was first introduced to everything Japanese. Well, maybe it wasn’t everything, but to a paper-obsessed young girl, Hello Kitty! was quite exciting. In that little store, I would stock up on writing pads, erasers that smelled like strawberries and other little notebooks, postcards, and gadgets.

As a funny twist to my obsession, I was more interested in collecting the pads and note cards than actually writing on them. If it wasn’t a letter being written to Keiko or Sandra, I liked the pages left blank. My love for everything paper-related made it challenging for me to actually write something in something so pretty.

When I started my first online writing course a few months back, I was encouraged to start journaling. Around the same time, I started attending a Single Moms group at church, and Claire, the leader, supplied us with pens and journals—it must have been fate that she encouraged us to write. I loved the little black notebook with pink and purple butterflies she handed each of us. It even had an elastic band to keep it closed. I immediate starting using it for my writing class and begged Claire for another one for the group. She was glad to give me one and told me they were from Target. I went and cleaned them out. They are cheap and they are the perfect size to carry around without having to buy a suitcase to lug them around. I also love the elastic. It’s not quite a lock on a diary, but it still gives me a sense of privacy, knowing it won’t fling open at a bad time.

Journaling in this inexpensive little book has given me the freedom to abandon trying to make my handwriting perfect and to just follow my thoughts, random as they are at times. I can also feel liberated in knowing that, although my daughters know how to read or are learning to read, my handwriting is so atrocious they would abandon their attempt to trying to decipher what I’ve written. I feel like my thoughts are still my thoughts and that they can remain private. In a cheap little black book with pink and purple butterflies.

My dear colleague Katja: This IS the best writing you’ve ever done for me, and you’ve done some excellent piece of work.
May I nudge you? I could see this in any women’s magazine that takes essays. OR how about a regional, or local one like Points North? Or how about one of the Christian women’s magazines that you read?
All that said, my friend, do not let this languish in your computer. We must, according to our beliefs, not hide our light beneath a bowl. Right? Eva

It’s that time of year …

2008-12-19T11:34:00.003-05:00

I think I did too …

2008-11-20T19:03:00.001-05:00

New course, new assignments

2008-11-14T15:21:00.003-05:00

My second assignment in the new course I’m taking online, Write Your Life Story, has us practicing dialogue. The assignment called for no more than 100, but this turned out to be 150 words. Oh well.

“Welcome to PF Chang’s,” our waiter greeted us. “My name is Rob, I’ll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“I’ll have your iced tea, please.”

“Same for me,” answered my dining companion.

We both reached for the menus handed to us and said, “Thank you,” in unison.

“Do you know what you want?” I asked him.

“I have no idea. I haven’t eaten here for a while. Do you have anything to recommend?” He opened the menu and perused the selections.

“Well, I haven’t had anything here that I didn’t like,” I answered. “Of course, I tend to pick between my two favorites every time I come here. Maybe I’ll try something new today for a change.”

We both sat in silence for a while, looking at all the options as Rob returned with our drinks. “Can I interest you in an appetizer?”

Oh dear, I’ve been tagged!

2008-10-31T08:55:00.004-04:00

OK, so my dear friends Yazmin, of A Pretty Rock, and Joanne, of JoJoBell, tagged me, so I have to tag five people in return and give you Six Random Things About Me:

Consider yourself tagged:
1. Maryam of My Marrakesh
2. Leeza of LeezyBloggs
3. Sirpa of UNELMIA JA SIRPALEITA
4. Holly of Bijoux D’Odalisque
5. Mike of Dutton Art

Six Random Facts About me:
1. I just finished my first Creative Writing course ever ... and I’m sad it’s over.
2. I hate wearing socks in my shoes. I’ll wear them to bed at night, but they come off in the morning.
3. I’m going to be 42 in less than two weeks and most days I’m still wondering what I want to be when I grow up.
4. I would love to take a year off to travel the world with my two girls.
5. I love my job, but I’m not sure it loves me. I am on my third computer in three years … I don’t know why they keep breaking.
6. I hate running, except in a forest. Running on uneven ground, where I stand to sprain my ankle or break my neck is just so much more fun than a flat trail.

Writing Assignment No. 5

2008-10-22T09:48:00.002-04:00

Marianne felt the phone in her pocket vibrate and answered it before it started playing the tune of "You're so Beautiful." "Hello?"

"Hi, it's me. It's an emergency." On the other end of the phone was Marianne's dear friend Caroline.

"What's going on?"

"I just got off the phone with Thomas. He's threatening to take me back to court again."

"On what grounds?" Marianne asked. She felt for her friend. She has been through so much already, Lord, she thought, isn't it time she got a break. "Hey, give me a second, I have to get off Ziggy and open the gate."

"You're talking to me while you're on your horse?" Caroline started laughing.

"Yes, and I had to stop and open the gate and join the others on the trail," Marianne chuckled. "I have been neglecting him lately, and he was none too happy about the short ride today, but enough about us. What's going on?" she asked again, as she closed the gate behind her and got back up on her Tennessee Walker.

"So, Thomas called me about the girls and the upcoming holiday and before I knew it we were arguing about money again. He is now severely behind on his child support payments, and somehow he still makes me out to be the bad guy. Now he's supposedly got an "ace" up his sleeve and is taking me back to court. I know I should put my trust in God, but I am so tired of fighting like this."

"Tell me exactly what he said," Marianne encouraged her friend, knowing that a burden shared weighed less. She had been there herself just a few years earlier. The ugly divorce that came just nine months after her wedding vows. She struggled for so many months on her own and learned from her mistakes that she should have reached out to her friends, no matter how scared she was to appear the fool for marrying Harry after only knowing him for four months. From her own experience, she learned that everyone needs someone to confide in, but more importantly, everyone needs someone to pray for them.

Caroline recounted the ugly phone conversation she had just had with her ex-husband and waited for Marianne's reaction. She was sure of one thing: Caroline had handled herself much better this time. From the sounds of it, she had not fallen apart, and she had not hung up on him or threatened him in return. She'd come a long way from the young blushing bride she had been ten years earlier, when she and Thomas had married. Maybe she had needed to grow up a little more. It seemed unfair that this was the way God had chosen for her to mature, but no matter how difficult they would sometimes seem, Marianne was confident in God's ways. She continued to listen patiently as her friend relived the last half-hour. She knew how much Caroline had already been through, losing her husband, losing her house and taking care of two children on her own. When Caroline finished talking, Marianne thanked God for her friend before offering her encouragement.

"It sounds to me like you handled this very well, Caroline. I am so proud of you for not falling apart and for keeping your composure. Remember, we don't fight flesh and blood, but the powers and principalities." Marianne knew that Caroline was familiar with the scripture she referring to.

"I know. And thank you. I'm proud of myself, too."

"I really don't think Thomas has a leg to stand on. What judge is going to listen to a man who is already breaking the law by not giving you what has been court-ordered?"

"Well, that's what I was thinking, too, but I still get so scared that he is going to be able to hurt us in some way."

"Let's pray right now for God's protection and for His strength and wisdom," Marianne said as she began to pray for her friend.

(668 words)

And the instructor said:

It's going VERY WELL, Katja. You know we must be creative and you know why. So just let it flow into your private writing time. Eva

Writing Assignment No. 4

2008-10-19T14:57:00.006-04:00

As I look at my necklace, I begin to remember where I was at the time I made it. I was living in the only house I’ve ever lived in. A lovely split-level house that I had made a home for my husband and our children. I had recently picked up a new hobby I had been thinking about for quite some time. I remember my first trip to a bead store and how overwhelmed I was. I looked in awe at all the sparkly and shiny stones and beads in all shapes and sizes hanging on the walls. I have become quite familiar with bead stores since then, but that day I felt like a fish out of water. I looked at all the treasures in all the different colors and walked out without purchasing anything. I didn’t return until years later, when I had a plan and a purpose for my trip.

I remember leafing through one of my favorite catalogs at the time. A catalog filled with handcrafted articles, such as leather belts, boots, skirts, sweaters, and jewelry. The most beautiful jewelry I had ever seen. With each book that came in the mail, I was intrigued with each of the artists’ individual style. I also realized that I would never be able to afford any of them, no matter how simple they seemed. I thought back to my first visit to that bead store and thought, I can make something like this. With a picture of a very simple pearl and silver necklace in mind, I returned to the store and bought a strand of pearls, a bag of sterling silver balls, beading wire and a lobster clasp. Armed with my purchases I went home and made my first necklace.

As my confidence grew, I created my own version of the very popular Y-necklace and that is the necklace I have in front of me today. It was birthed out of love for citrine and peridot. I can’t recall if I realized the significance of those gemstones back then, but they are not lost on me today. My birthday is in November, which has citrine as its birthstone. Peridot is the birthstone of August, the month my two daughters were born three years apart.

This necklace, in its simplicity and its complexity, represents me in a different place. I have since gone through a heartbreaking separation from the love of my life. I have survived a divorce I believed I would never have to face. I lost my house before foreclosures became a trend. For the past three and a half years, I have shared custody every other weekend with the man I thought I would grow old with. This necklace takes me back to the time before and makes me sad. This necklace also brings me to the present, making me look around and see all the things God has blessed me with. I have a job I love. I have too healthy girls. I have friends whose shoulders I am allowed to cry on and who I can support in return. I have a roof over my head, a reliable car, clothes and shoes, and we have never gone hungry.

More than that, God has blessed me with creativity, with resilience and with unconditional love. I have learned that I can do it. When I think that there is not one more ounce of energy in me to raise these girls on my own, I find myself doing it. When I feel utterly defeated, He sends someone along with a word of courage. When I am in need of being comforted, He brings me love in little arms and little kisses. This necklace is proof that things made with care will last, and items treasured become more valuable with time. Whether they are children, friendships or the love of God. (646)

The only thing my instructor said, was:

Nudge: Check the guidelines for www.faithhopeandfiction.com. Okay? Eva

Hm ... I guess it's not negative, at least?!

My Third Writing Assignment

2008-10-10T11:44:00.004-04:00

Jonas turns the light on in Molly's bedroom and gently puts a hand on her back. "Time to get up, Sunshine." Molly stretches and tries to open her eyes. This morning, she doesn't want to. She turns her back and tries to pull the covers back over her head to keep the light out. "Molly munchkin," Jonas prods her, "if you don't get up, I can't fix you happy-face pancakes." Molly peeks from under the blanket. "Five," she says. "That's a lot of happy faces. Are you sure?" "Mmm. Two." "OK. Two it is."

Jonas leaves his precocious 4-year-old in bed and starts to prepare breakfast. Soon Molly comes and wraps her little arms around his legs. He treasures their sweet little morning ritual. He often finds himself prodding her along, but he still treasures the sweet, sleepy girl he has been blessed with. "Let's eat some pancakes," he announces, "and then we have to brush our teeth and ..." "And put some clothes on," Molly finishes his sentence. "That's right!"

Today Jonas decides to walk Molly to preschool instead of taking the city bus. There is a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and they laugh as they make tracks on the sidewalk. Jonas slides his feet to make it seem as if his feet are as long as skis and Molly giggles as she tries to do the same. Her giggles stop when they reach preschool. "Daddy, are you going to pick me up?" "Of course, don't I always pick you up on Mondays?" "I think so, Daddy." "How about I promise you so." Jonas bends down to take off her jacket. He gives her a squeeze. "I will be back to get you in six hours." Molly watches her father leave, assured that he will be back later. (302 words)

I didn’t make the dialogue breaks here, thinking I’d save some space!

And the instructor's reaction:

You gave me chills, this is wonderful. Is it part of a novel? Tell me yes. Eva

I think I am totally excited and soaring and on cloud something or other! On to the next assignment, right!

Second Writing Assignment

2008-09-29T14:44:00.007-04:00

Write about a color in the first person. Yeah, right! I thought this little exercise was going to whoop my fanny! Sheesh! The easier it sounds the more complicated it can get. Anyway, here’s what I came up with …

I am calcium aluminum silicate. I know, I don’t sound very exciting, do I? How about if I tell you I am more saturated than the green in a Christmas tree and more lucent that the lichen on the rock in your backyard. I am less valuable than emerald and tsavorite, but far more precious than green quartz and hessonite. I can be as varied as from lime to kelly, from avocado to olive, from spruce to Douglas fir. If you shine a light on me, I might be so dense that no light will pass through me, or I may be so translucent you will see a whole world in me. I am vivacious, but never listless and dull. I am moss on some days and fern on others. Some might call me plain old green, but there is nothing plain about me. My name implies I have been likened to the gooseberry. My name is in fact grossular garnet.

__________

I am floating right now, as I got this is from my instructor:

I didn’t know, have never known and this was a whole new world for me. Good job. The images jumped from the screen and connected to me at once. I’m delighted with your writing. It is tight and clever (clever is good), and that’s important. You’ve conveyed strong images too. I’ve discovered that the writers who do well with this assignment, seem to truthfully thrive for the remainder of the course … Eva

Perfect Bargains!

2008-09-28T18:48:00.003-04:00

I love it when I can get something at a fraction of the original price! I am usually not a very good bargain hunter ... could be because I don’t hunt. I shop. I just go, when time allows, and usually end up buying everything at full price. Yup. Not very smart, but I am just not that good at looking for the bargains. A month or so ago, I found myself some new underwear. Yes, a girl’s gotta have underwear. I got a couple of pairs on sale (yes, I just happened to find a bargain, but I wasn’t looking. And when I’m trying out a new style, I don’t want to pay full price.). Turns out I loved them and wanted to get more, since they had them in one of my favorite colors. However, they were going to be $10.50 for ONE pair. No way! I’m sorry, I may just be cheap in that area, but I am not paying $10.50 for a pair of underwear. Well, they did have them at a buy three for $24, but I was still not going to pay that. So, I was just going to have to wait and take my chances with THAT color being gone by the time they marked them down. Well, I stopped by the other day and saw that they were finally marked down to a doable $3.99 per pair. However, when I went to pay for them, they rang up at the original price and the cashier said that they were on the wrong table. “Well, never mind then,” I said. “I don’t want them at that price.” But, she was already in the process of telling me she would honor the sale price since it was their fault they were all on the same table. I may not be the best bargain shopper, but I am still blessed. If all it takes is getting three pair of panties for $11.97 instead of $24, it doesn’t take much to make this girl happy! God is good!

My First Writing Assignment

2008-09-22T09:59:00.004-04:00

The assignment was to finish one of five sentences, of which I picked "Looking at Paris in this light ...," and to finish it in roughly five minutes and under 300 words. Here's what happened:

Looking at Paris in this light really reminds me of walking down Champs Elysee close to midnight, after a lovely evening with Jean-Paul. I wonder where he is now? What ever became of him? Does he still set up his easel at Luxembourg park every morning and watch that beautiful group of people do their tai chi? Does he stroll along Rue du Fabourg smoking his Galoise, telling some beautiful young woman she should become a model. I wish I had listened to him back then. Back when I still had the looks and

-------

And that's as far as I got in five minutes ... I seriously think there was something wrong with my egg timer! Well, a little bit discouraged, especially since I made the mistake of reading some of the other entries, I had to do a lot of talking to myself (is that a bad thing?!) to get the courage to try again. I tried planning my story a little better, and here is my second attempt:

Looking at Paris in this light takes me back to that night when I met Jean-Paul. I wonder what ever became of him. Does he still take his easel to Luxembourg park and paint while the others are doing their tai chi exercises? Does he still walk along Champs Elysees with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth? Does he still tell that young lady that she should become a model? I should have listened to him. I should have taken that bold step back when I still had the looks.

"Mammy!" the voice of my grand daughter brings me back to the present.
"Bubby!" I give her a big hug, grateful for the love she is willing to share with her ailing grandmother.

"Mama, what are you doing with that old shoe box?" My precious daughter, always looking out for me and my well being. "Are you looking at those old postcards from Paris again?"

------

Now I wasn't at all happy with that new beginning, so back to the drawing board, so to speak. I wanted a combination of the two, so this last one is after five minutes of writing (from the beginning) and about seven minutes of editing. I'm a terrible typist, which is my second excuse for not being able to produce nearly as many words as everyone else. That and that dang egg timer!

Looking at Paris in this light really reminds me of walking down Champs Elysees close to midnight, after a lovely evening with Jean-Paul. I wonder where he is now? What ever became of him? Does he still set up his easel at Luxembourg Park every Saturday morning and watch that beautiful group of people do their Tai Chi? Does he stroll along Rue du Faubourg smoking his Gauloise, telling some beautiful young woman she should become a model. I wish I had listened to him back then. Back when I still had the looks and ...

"Mammy!" The voice of my grand-daughter, Barbara, pulls me back to the present.
"Babby!" The name she called herself when she was just learning to talk became my sweet nickname for her. I lean over and give her a hug, grateful for the love I always get from her.

"Mama, what are you doing with that old shoe box?" My precious daughter, always so full of concern for my well-being. "Are you looking at those old postcards from Paris again?"

"Yes, dear. Come sit here," I pat the space next to me on the bed. "Tell me about this one," and I hand her the post card with the upper left corner folded over and the little notch on the bottom. My daughter begins to tell me of the river running through the scenery on the card with the Eiffel Tower on the right-hand side. Just like I remember it when I had folded that corner over when my sight was starting to fail me. (261 words)

The Dress & The Boots

2008-09-18T12:48:00.014-04:00

So, the dress (from I.N.C. International Concepts at Macy’s) I purchased about a week or two ago, and now I’d love to have the boots to go with the dress ... yeah, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Not exactly in my budget (check for yourself here). But I can drool, can’t I?! Yeah, I’ll be doing that ... hm ...

What is it with being caught between a very conservative look and a rocker chick? I just can’t seem to stay in the same department, always mixing up the lacy with the leather. And yes, this dress is as much lace as I’m ever going to wear! I guess that’s the fun of it, though, making it my own style. This should in effect keep me from following trends, but alas, I am very much drawn to what’s in the stores at any given time. I do try to avoid buying the obviously trendy accoutrements, if only to save myself from cringing six months later when I see the item hanging in my closet after wearing it maybe twice. I try to fill my closet with classics. Lots of black slacks, black shoes and black boots. I go a little bolder with tops now than I used to. Have a little more fun. Try a few more different colors and cuts. Play a little. Why don’t you try a little more color?

And the winner is …

2008-09-16T20:37:00.005-04:00

So, I have lived with my new hairstyle for 10 days now and I am loving it! I was just so set on donating my hair and just putting up with short hair until it grew out again, but now I think I will just leave it short. For now. For a while!

And for another change in my life, I am contemplating going back to school. Not physically, since that would be impossible, but school nonetheless. Kennesaw University has Continuing Education classes online and I am seriously thinking about signing up for a Creative Writing course. It starts tomorrow, so I guess I have to make a decision soon! Hm ... ya think?!

One Haircut, Three Hairstyles

2008-09-04T10:44:00.004-04:00

I just found this and really like the versatility of this cut. Look at all the options! I even love the slicked-back look, since that’s kind of what I’ve been doing on the days I’m too lazy to wash my hair in the morning. I know, it’s really short in the back, but my hair is going to have to go really short to get the full 10 inches Locks of Love requires. I also think this cut would work with the coloring on the upper right or lower right photos in my previous post. It’s just nice to know I don’t have to go, you know, crew!

My latest obsession

2008-08-21T19:07:00.004-04:00

I don’t usually obsess over clothes (no, really!), but as soon as I saw this on my very innocent trip to the mall at lunch today, I was had. I want this Trina Turk dress. Now. Can someone please buy it for me!!! Well, I thought it was worth a shot. Hm ...

Exploring New Hair Styles

2008-08-08T15:28:00.005-04:00

So, I have a few more weeks before the big cut, but I thought I needed to start looking at different hair styles and color options. For those of you who don’t know, I am donating 10 inches to Locks of Love. I am ready! I realize I won’t have much hair left in the back, but at this point, I don’t care! I am tired of this long hair that is neither straight nor curly, but just something in between that is far from easy to handle and most days less than flattering. Not actually sure what would be flattering at this stage in my life, but the main thing is that at least one child who has no hair left due to chemo will get something to make them feel pretty again.

These are the best styles I have found so far. And I may even choose to go back to blond, just for kicks. It’s easy to become a brunette again, if I feel it’s too much. I just think that if I’m going this short, might as well have fun with it!

Vacation Memories

2008-07-06T18:27:00.015-04:00

If I had to sum up our two-day mini vacation with three pictures, these would be them. All three are from Rock City, which I realized on our way there is actually situated in Georgia. We visited Ruby Falls, a one-time visit for me personally, Tennessee Aquarium, the IMAX Theater and the Incline Railway, another one-time visit. Tennessee Aquarium has been a favorite of ours in the past and it didn't disappoint this time either. But my new favorite is definitely Rock City. I had no expectations before going there, so it was a pleasant surprise to get to enjoy this beautiful outdoor garden of plants, trees and rocks … lots of rocks!

I snagged a Treasury!

2008-06-27T15:08:00.004-04:00

Some of my favorite items and or friends on Etsy at the moment. There isn’t room for all of them, so it was hard to pick without stepping on people’s toes or hurting someone’s feelings. No one has been excluded on purpose. I was just going for the blue-green theme here. I hope you enjoy!

Going on Vacation!

2008-06-25T14:36:00.005-04:00

I have been so swamped at work the last several weeks, in addition to looking for a house, but I am finally taking some time off for me and the girls. I’ve decided to treat us to one night at a nice hotel in Chattanooga, and to several of the area’s attractions. I’m sure there are more exciting places to visit, but since I have to keep everything child friendly, and interesting for an almost 5-year-old, I bought tickets to Ruby Falls, Rock City and the Incline Railway. The next day will be spent at the Tennessee Aquarium, where we always have a good time, and catching a 3D movie at the IMAX theater, which will be fun for me as well since I have not been in years! It’s not cheap to even do such a short vacation trip as this, but I think it will be good for me and the girls to get away for a couple of days together.

Taken on our last visit to the Tennessee Aquarium Butterfly Garden.

I did it again!

2008-05-13T20:33:00.005-04:00

But, I have to say I was rather conservative. There were two additional strands I really wanted, but these are the only ones I need for a specific project that’s been in my head, bursting to come out, so I only ordered these. AND, I’m even sharing half the sillimanite with Sheela (Eclettica), so I’m really doing really good ... or so I’d like to think! Ha!

In a New Direction

2008-05-05T19:51:00.009-04:00

I have been somewhat inspired lately to make earrings. Different earrings. I think I am at a point where I can safely say that my style is changing. This is the direction I want to go. It’s fun! I’m having fun again. If other people enjoy what I make and want to buy it, wonderful! If they don’t, I will still keep making what I want to make until God tells me to stop.

The first pair—Blueberry Sorbet—features a new stone for me. It’s called Angelite and has the slightest little shimmer to it. I paired these long smooth drops with faceted rondelles of amethyst and smooth ovals of pink tourmaline. The second pair—Champagne Bubbles—features faceted beer quartz coins topped with faceted rondelles of Oregon sunstone, rondelles and smooth ovals of tourmaline in different shades. The third pair—Dreaming of Sweden—has gorgeous ovals of kyanite with a cube-faceted lemon quartz above it. They are accented by faceted rondelles of blue apatite and smooth ovals of yellow tourmaline. The fourth pair—Spring Lilacs—has beautiful romantic drops of pink opal topped by a cluster of sparkly, faceted moonstone rondelles and a few pink tourmalines.

I’m ready make more, and I have several of my Flickr friends to thank for being there to lend their support and to spur me on, even when they had no idea I was struggling. I have seen and met more talent on Flickr pages than I could’ve ever imagined and the best thing is that, although we are all making jewelry and are essentially in competition with each other, there is nothing but genuine love and admiration for each other’s work. I never get the feeling that we are competing. At all. Except maybe to have the most amount of gemstones. LOL! I have found a group of people with the same obsession for sparkly things as I have—and it’s a good place to be!

Gemaholic Anonymous

2008-04-29T13:34:00.004-04:00

Yup, I'm the official charter member at Flickr! And as one of the true gemaholics, I have, yet again, splurged. At least this time I have an accomplice, as Emily, of Emily Gray Jewels, is splitting at least one of these strands with me.

London blue topaz and smoky quartz. Yum!

My drug of choice

2008-04-02T08:30:00.004-04:00

And now, I’m putting myself on a buying ban. I’m NOT EVEN going to the Bead Show this weekend. There is no point …

Amongst the best of friends!

2008-04-01T11:31:00.005-04:00

Darling Jo at Gemheaven Jewellery in Cornwall, UK, included me in her Treasury on Etsy! She is such a Sweetie!

Hearts Me

2008-03-27T17:34:00.009-04:00

I know 130 isn't much for some people, but I'm excited as can be!!!

Beadaholics Anonymous

2008-03-24T19:16:00.004-04:00

Yeah, yeah, whatever! I know. But I got them anyway, so there! Microfaceted 7mm lilac amethyst rondelles and 8-14mm (!) smooth spessartine garnet pears. I’m in heaven!

A Bracelet and A Necklace

2008-03-23T21:34:00.005-04:00

That’s what I made this weekend, and I feel very good about that. I had not created anything in a looooong time (Did I say long time?) and was feeling quite … not-so-good about anything! So, I decided to tackle some instant gratification: a simple chain necklace with an antique Tibetan pendant. And something more complicated: a very gemmy bracelet featuring smooth prasiolite nuggets, London blue topaz, Oregon sunstone (see previous post about my new love!), moonstone, dark citrine and phrenite.

I won, I won, I won!!!

2008-03-21T09:01:00.005-04:00

And I spent, I spent, I spent! Yeah, yeah, whatever! We already know I have a ... whatever. Here they are! I got one in an Auction, the other as a Buy Now (on eBay, where else). I hope they arrive looking at least this good. The first one is a bottle green apatite, the second one aqua blue apatite.

Did I already mention green is my favorite color? Blue is a close second. Especially blue kyanite, which one of my dear Flickr friends has been tempting me with lately. Alas, I will have to stay away from any more bead shopping, if I intend to have any money to spend at the next Bead Show, which is April 5-6, which is a child free weekend for me. Yay!

A few purchases

2008-03-12T19:16:00.009-04:00

My hands have been slapped (just joking, Lotta!) for not sharing my latest treasures from my local bead store, when they had a 50 percent, plus an extra 15 percent off sale for their member(s), i.e. me!

Here are my finds: faceted roundels of red spinel (raspberry red) and red spinel (redder red) and pink tourmaline. I have, as usual not had time to sit down and make anything with them yet, but … as I just finished my freelance project this week, I will be able to claim my own time again starting next week … if there is such a thing as “my own time” with my two little girls.

I also fell in love with these two strands from two wonderful Etsy sellers. The first one, smooth grossular garnet, from Wynna at glimmerbeadtrust.etsy.com and the second one, Oregon sunstone, from Derek at opalillusions.etsy.com. Yeah, well … I didn’t just fall in love with them, I ordered them. Got the first one and they were beautiful! And I got the sunstone, which I learned is real sunstone and not the manmade stuff most people sell and I stay away from. Let’s just say, “Wow!” They are fabulous! Absolutely gorgeous stone! Nothing at all like the commercially pawned sunstone ...if I may be so crass … and I may, since this is my blog! Ha!

Just because I feel like it!

2008-03-11T15:18:00.002-04:00

Neglected no more!

2008-03-09T11:58:00.004-04:00

I have completely neglected to post anything here in a long time … I’ve had no time for fun and play* for the last three weeks while working on my annual freelance project, but now … I’m done! It’s a good feeling! Well, I’m actually not completely done, yet, as I still have to send it to the printer, but my client has approved it and that’s a major step in the right direction.

Anyway, I thought I’d say something, just to say “I’m alive!”

Also, I managed to get a half-decent picture of a project I finally finished, after a long nightmare of getting more of the same chain I started this necklace with a year ago. Now that it’s done, I’m not so sure I like it. I am always so disappointed when I have, what I think is, this great idea and I finally manage to find both the time and the materials to make it happen and then … eh! I’m leaving it alone for the time being, but who knows … it may get taken back apart again.

*I don’t mean to insinuate that designing this project is not fun, but it’s of a different kind, and it’s not play (it’s for money!), and I miss beading when I’m in the thick of it.

A tiny little chuckle

2008-02-25T14:28:00.003-05:00

The recipe

2008-02-21T12:45:00.004-05:00

In case you are tempted by the previous post, here is the recipe for it. It is quite tasty!

Spinach Pizza

1 10 oz. pkg. of chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 cup margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt*
1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, cubed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 pan. Drain spinach well. Mix together all ingredients except cheese. Fold in cheese. Pour into pan and bake for 40 minutes or until lightly browned.

*if you use salted margarine/butter, I would only use about 1/2 teaspoon salt here.

Enjoy!

Sunday Baking!

2008-02-10T17:28:00.002-05:00

So, I was unable to find a good picture of a spinach pizza for one of my magazines at work last week, so I decided to make the pizza myself (it’s really more like a pie) and photograph it ... here is the result. Haven’t tried it yet, but it looks good enough to eat!

Saturday Shopping!

2008-02-09T16:50:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make. I know, you’re thinking, “Again?” Ha, ha! I have a serious shopping addiction. I can’t stay off the precious gems sites on Etsy and eBay (forgive me all you serious Etsy people for mentioning the two in the same sentence). I would do just fine if I stayed off my computer altogether. I wouldn’t start looking if I weren’t already sitting here with nothing much to do but to look at pretty pictures of even prettier stones.

Oh, what’s the point!!!

Here’s what I purchased today from a fabulous fellow Etsian.

So, just shoot me!!!

Fighting it ...

2008-02-08T15:12:00.000-05:00

OK. So, I’ve been running a low grade fever for the last ten days (supposedly, I have a sinus infection), and my youngest has strep throat as of this morning and the older one has been coughing and hacking for two weeks … I’m exhausted! I can’t muster up much energy to do anything or make anything, except post a pretty picture of the sky to rest my eyes on …

Happy Friday!

I have been …

2008-01-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

… just a little creative and just a little lazeeeee … so, to prove more of the former, rather than the latter, here’s this weekend’s results … I have also been updating my photos on Etsy, so anyone taking a look over there (link on the right) should notice a fresher look … however, it is still evolving, so it may change again! I find myself being a beader AND a photographer nowadays. Not a bad thing, just not what I expected when I set out on my Etsy adventure.

In case there’s any question

2008-01-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

I do actually make stuff with the gems I buy, I promise! Just to prove myself, here are three of the pieces I made last weekend. And in case anyone recognizes the style in the last one, yes, I do have Magdalena’s blessing to show it and to sell it on Etsy. She’s a sweetheart, and such an encouragement and source of inspiration. She has opened my eyes to the possibilities of beaded jewelry design. I doubt I will ever do the kind of work she does, but I definitely liked making this bracelet. Lots of headpins used, that’s for sure! The second bracelet is made pretty much the same way, but it's got more of my own flavor to it, I think.

And in case you haven’t had a chance yet, go check out the updated photos I have started uploading on Etsy (you can actually see some of them right here to the right). I believe they look a lot better now. A little brighter and ... “happier!”

And brighter and happier is what I hope to be after a good night’s sleep, so ... Good night!

Peas and carrots

2008-01-01T14:22:00.000-05:00

So, I thought the lemon quartz I bought a few weeks ago needed a companion ...

Diane at A Cut Above does not disappoint with her gems. What you see in her eBay store photos is pretty much what you get. I wish that were true for other eBay sellers, but ... you live and learn. Not that I have been HUGELY disappointed elsewhere, but also not thrilled. Diane will certainly get my repeat business. Both on eBay and now on Etsy.

Oh yeah, this is whiskey quartz! In case you were wondering ... !

Gingerbread House

2007-12-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

The girls and I successfully completed our first ever gingerbread house!!! It looks nothing like the suggested house on the box, but we are unique designers, are we not?!

And yes, it is a wee bit after Christmas isn’t it, but that’s what happens when two of the designers are away for a week! I guess we will be eating a lot of gingerbread house in the new year!

First Christmas Gifts 2007

2007-12-24T12:22:00.001-05:00

Superb!

2007-12-19T15:29:00.000-05:00

That’s what the quality is on the individual gems I ordered from The Earth Bazaar. They are simply gorgeous! And the single Green Gold one that I received (bottom picture in my previous post) is so thick! These are not “flimsy” stones (if a rock could be considered flimsy!), and as far as I can tell—without actually working with them—the drilling is first class as well.

The same goes for the two strands I got from A Cut Above on eBay. Superb gems (as well as super fast shipping!!!)! Now I’m seriously itching to sit down and make something very “gemmy!”

I’m like a drug user needing his fix!!!

No more beads!

2007-12-18T11:55:00.000-05:00

Just a mangle. A mangle? Yes, a mangle. It’s a bangle for men, but I didn’t let that stop me. It’s very comfortable. In fact, it’s so comfortable, I don’t even take it off at night! I NEVER used to sleep with jewelry, not even wedding bands, but this one ... it stays on! And I only bought one, despite the fact that several look quite nice together ... hm! You can find them at www.jessitaylor.etsy.com (for some reason, it won’t let me make a link today! Bwahahaha!)

I have a serious problem!!!

2007-12-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

Does anyone have the number to the local chapter of Beaders Anonymous? Oh, yeah! I guess if you do, you wouldn’t be very anonymous anymore ... as if what I’m doing is any great secret! Ha! It’s been pretty obvious since I started this blog where my sickness lies. Hm! OK. So, these gems ended up in my shopping cart at The Earth Bazaar. I have not bought individual gems from them before, so I’m curious to see if they look as good in person as they do on the photos, AND how do they compare to the full strands I’ve bought from them in the past? So, this is really research and NOT an obsession. Yes, that’s right.

Are you convinced yet?

Didn’t think so! Oh, well! All I can say is, I have plenty of materials to work with now. No excuses for not making stuff every chance I get.

Oh, and I didn't buy ALL these beads. Just one each of three of them and two of the faceted coin ones in the third picture. I already have an idea ... !

Indulgence

2007-12-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

I’ve been scanning the gems at eBay for the last week or two, and finally stopped scanning and purchased something today. I sure hope they look at least as good as they do on the screen. What do you think?

And in that vein, I will try to actually make something this weekend, while the girls enjoy a visit with their dad. I have a few ideas, but whether any of them come into fruition, or I end up creating something completely different, remains to be seen!

Ruby Clusters

2007-12-01T20:19:00.000-05:00

I finally had a chance to sit down and create something I had been noodling for quite a while. I wish I could sit for about a week and just make all the things that are still in my head ... Thumbnails? Nah, never been much for those, not even in my design work. I like creating on the go! I like seeing it take shape on the screen, when I do layouts, and in my hands, when I work with beads and gemstones.

So, I’m pretty pleased with how these pieces turned out, considering I don’t usually make sets. And I’m not selling it on Etsy as a set, either. But, they do go together nicely, don’t you think?! Lots of rubies and large faceted amethysts in a truly unique shape.

And here are the earrings I made during my last session (see previous post), but didn’t get a chance to photograph until now. You can really see the blue flash in the labradorites this time. I learned a trick to photographing labradorite, but I need a light box for that and ... well, I’m not really in a place where I can set up a light box at this time. Maybe one day ...

The other stone in these earrings is chrysocolla, which I had not seen in this magnificent a blue prior to buying these.

A little bit of pretty

2007-11-23T13:12:00.000-05:00

I’ve managed to tap into a little bit of creativity during the holidays. Nothing major, but at least a few new pieces. Earrings with amethyst, pink rutile and sapphire, and a pair with gorgeous aquamarine drops. Also, a double-strand bracelet with pearls and pink chalcedony, and one with really smooth nuggets of labradorite.

Where’s the inspiration?

2007-11-22T22:46:00.000-05:00

So, if I can’t show you anything I’ve made lately, at least I can show you what my kitchen table has looked like that last couple of days!!!

After the Bead Show

2007-11-17T14:11:00.001-05:00

So, nobody had any Thai silver for sale. That was the only reason I went to the bead show! However, I didn’t want to make the whole trip a total waste, so I bought a few beads … from left to right: green onyx in matrix, aquamarine, aquamarine, kyanite, aquamarine and ruby. Guess I had a thing for aquamarines today, huh?! As you can see, they are all different, though. From translucent to opaque.

And look at these two handmade glass beads, aren’t they just fabulous? I’ve never seen anything like them before! And if you enlarge the pictures, you can really see all the wrinkles in my hand. Ha, ha!

Big fat liar!!!

2007-11-10T11:39:00.001-05:00

That’s what I am! I’m not sure how long “a while” is (see previous post filled with lofty assurances), but traditionally, when it comes to bead shopping, one should hope that it is more than two weeks. Not so, dear friend! Not in my case, apparently. I REALLY just went to my local bead store to use up the store credit I had there. You know, $17 just sitting there, when I could have $17 worth of beads at home instead. Well, I had no idea they were having a trunk show!!! I believe I am in serous need of help!

Pictured from top to bottom of my pile of obsession are: green garnet (or grossular garnet, for those of us who have a serious addiction to gems!) impression jasper, aquamarine (these are luscious ... mm!), gorgeous polished chunks of labradorite, lava, white turquoise, pink tourmaline chunks, and lapidalite jasper.

I’m making no more promises of frugality. Nope! I’m sure I’ll be buying more beads in the next couple of weeks.

A little bit of creativity

2007-11-04T20:34:00.000-05:00

I had envisioned lots of beading for this weekend, but my beading session started out with me just staring at all my new beads and finding myself completely out of ideas!! Figures! When I finally took the pressure off myself to just sit down and make even just one pair of earrings, the creative juices sort of came back—and then I ran out of time. Ha, ha! Well, despite my lack of time, I did manage to finish these two bracelets; one with kyanite—my favorite—and oxidized silver, the other with gorgeous chunks of citrine—appropriate for November and my personal birthstone.

And please, no comments on the amount of wrinkles on my hands and arms, OK? OK! Thank you!

This is it!

2007-10-28T15:37:00.000-04:00

I really, truly am not buying any more after this. At least not for a while. I need to sit down and make something—anything—before I add any more beads to my inventory, which, by the way, is taking up more and more of the space I don’t have!

Pictured are strands of labradorite (I know, I already got some, but this is a different cut), gorgeous tourmaline, beautiful white moonstone, and tiny iolite.

The Earth’s Bounty

2007-10-22T14:58:00.000-04:00

Or at least bounty from The Earth Bazaar. So, they had a(nother) fabulous sale and I decided to make a major investment. It’s part of my feeling like I’m heading in a new direction with my jewelry. I still like doing what I’ve been doing, but I am also incredibly inspired by Magdalena Borejko and Iza Malczyk, not to mention Eni Oken, of course. I obviously don’t want to infringe on their styles, respectively, but there might be some way to do my own take on the wire wrapping. Granted, they have time. I believe all three of these lovely ladies do this full-time. And at least two of them have told me it’s highly addictive. I don’t have time for anything highly addictive! But I would still like to expand on what I’ve been doing so far. And I’m really tempted to integrate silversmithing, but haven’t quite figured out how yet. Kathy, of the soon-to-be-closed bead store KMarie Beads, is opening up a metalsmithing studio, with space and equipment for rent. The only thing is, if I have to start factoring all that into the price of my pieces, it adds yet another element to keep track of. I figured, I’ll start with buying LOTS of faceted stones and see where that takes me … so, whaddayathink?!

There’s amethyst, beer quartz, phrenite, peridot, hessonite, citrine, garnet, spessartine garnet, petro tourmaline, and mandarine garnet, and not necessarily in that order. While I was at it, I decided to attend a private sale with Sir Arun, and this is what I picked up from him. From the back: chrysocolla (this is a gorgeous strand), labradorite (best quality I’ve ever seen!), pink rutile (scrumptious), sapphire (pinks and greens ... mmm!) and, last but not least, black onyx. Can you tell I REALLY like the stuff I got from Arun? He truly has that little (!?) extra, in addition to the fact I get to hold and pick my own strands. I’m in bead heaven!

Coming and going

2007-10-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

So, I downloaded, or is it uploaded? I really don’t know which direction the files are going ... could be side loaded, since the card reader attaches to the side of my laptop. Anyway! Whichever way they ended up in iPhoto, I came across this picture I took of a fun necklace I made a couple of weeks ago, and I realized I’d sort of prepared it for Etsy, but it never made it there. I took it to work, and one of my best customers snapped it up even without trying it on. She’s so funny, “I know it’ll fit.” Yes, but don’t you want to see if you like it ... ? She sees, she buys! Not that I mind, mind you, but I’m picky and sometimes I don’t even like what I’ve made if it doesn’t hang right. Right?

Times of change

2007-10-11T14:06:00.000-04:00

I have been in denial for quite a while now, but I finally owned up to it: I DO want to learn more complicated wire wrapping!! I just bought a tutorial from Eni Oken for the lovely earrings you see here. I already bought a tutorial from Magdalena for a wonderful almond-shaped pendant, which I figured I would use some time in light years to come since it’s quite intricate ... well, I’m obviously getting the itch NOW! Not sure how soon I will actually get the chance to sit down and make these earrings (which I fell in love with as soon as Eni posted them after Mother’s Day), but at least I have the tutorial on hand for when I have all the right materials and lots of time on my hands. Thank God she labeled the project “easy”!

And while you’re here, check out the link I posted on the right for Polish jewelry artist Iza. I found her site through Magda and I am in awe! I’ll just be pleased if I can master making these earrings ... !