More Christmas!

So yesterday I finally got some presents wrapped. Unfortunately, I'm not totally finished shopping...I just can't really get in the mood for it this year. I also made 2 batches of hard candy last night, my brother asks for cinnamon candy every year so I have one batch of that and a butterscotch. Tonight I made orange (per request of my hubby) and now I'm working on a batch of butter rum. I managed to get the 23rd and 24th off of work (we have our Christmas on the 24th) so tomorrow will be another day of cooking. I am planning to take green bean casserole and pumpkin fudge to my brothers house but we are supposed to get some ice and snow tomorrow and since my brother's family lives about 2 hours north of here we aren't totally sure we are going to be able to go. :( Even if we don't make it up there, we still have 2 other parties to go to and then my husband's parents are coming over to our house after all of that to exchange our gifts. It will be a long day but I'm sure it will be great!

Christmas and secret Santa

I mentioned in an earlier post about being a part of a secret Santa exchange on LE (lampwork etc) and I thought I would give a bit of an update. I have received a few more packages with frit and shards; some shorts; some warm fuzzy socks, candy; graphite marvers (!) and I also *won* a digital camera!! I have been thrilled with all I have received and was able to send out 4 gifts myself this week. I seem to still be behind on Christmas shopping and wrapping and....ok pretty much everything. I purchased some more gifts for my dad today so I think I'm finished with him. I seem to be having a lot of trouble with my hubby though this year. I have a few things picked up but I still need to get some other things, I just can't decide what.
Also I just found out today, through the grapevine sort of, that I did get the night shift position I applied for sometime back. The woman in that position now will be retiring soon so I don't know when I will take over but it won't be for at least a month I don't think. Hope that all works out well...
I made a batch of Eggnog fudge the other day...I don't usually cook and had never attempted fudge before but it turned out ok. VERY sweet and it was a bit hard so I think I would alter the recipe some the next time, but it was good for something festive and different. Well, don't have much else to write about today, hope to get some new beads posted soon, but just can't seem to get motivated to do much of anything right now...maybe AFTER Christmas! :)

Curiosity

A few days ago my hubby and I began putting up our Christmas decorations. For years now I have been painting little village houses to put out during Christmas, they take me hours and I am lucky to get one done per year, we have 3 put out. Anyway, I had some extra batting from the quilts I have been making and I thought I would put that under the village to look like snow. Our village is in our dining room/living room sitting atop a buffet given to us by my in-laws and I laid the extra batting on our table and it hasn't quite made it back downstairs to my craft studio yet. My husband is working nights right now so he is gone to work before I get home and tonight when I came home from work, I found a very funny picture when I opened the door. Bobo had made his way up on top of the table, "fluffed" the batting and was napping in the middle of it on top of the table! I wish I could have gotten a picture of it, but he was down before I got the chance. I laughed and went on. Finished up the second quilt I was working on and came downstairs to check my e-mail and such and got a very pleasant surprise from Debra Jennings, her Starburst Nebula tutorial was in my box as a "secret" Santa gift as a result of the amazing thread over on LE. As I was posting my thank you for the gift I kept hearing a noise behind me and I knew Bobo was in here with me, but when I turned around, this is what I saw.





See if you can spot the very curious doxie in these pics amongst all the scrap material, candle scents and other unfinished projects and supplies! :)

Candles and other smelly things

I actually got one thing checked off my list tonight! I used to make candles to sell before I started lampworking and I still have a lot of the stuff and every year I still get requests for them. It takes me quite a while to make them anymore because I lost one of my designated wax melting pans during the move and all I have left is this smaller one. I managed to get about 14 or so done tonight and that is more than likely all I will make this year (before Christmas anyway). I also managed to pour a few tarts but I may make a few more of those, just depends on how much time I have when I get other things done. When I was digging for supplies for the candles I also found some of the salts I used to use to make bath salts so I whipped up a batch of that too so it can be "curing" before I package it to put in gift baskets or whatever....this is what happens to me, as I start working on things that are on my list, I think of other things that I didn't add, or forgot to add or whatever and this is why I end up being up all night the night before (we actually usually do our Christmas on the 24th at around midnight) finishing projects that are to be used for gifts!





Also, thanks for the words of encouragement yesterday, it really means a lot to me! :)

Busy time of year..

Well, I am 95% finished with the quilt I have been working on so I'm excited about that, but I realized today, Christmas is really creeping up on me and I have several other projects I have yet to complete! I need to make a batch of candles and some tarts, I have a few pieces of jewelry left to make, some beads that need cleaned, photographed and listed, cookies to make, house to clean, presents to buy, presents to wrap....does it ever end?! I really do love Christmas, mainly getting together with family and friends, but I always push myself so hard to have everything perfect that by the time it actually gets here I'm overwhelmed to say the least. There will be things on my list that don't get done, and it WILL be OK... :) This year we are having people over to our house though, and that is a first for us because this is the first time we have had a home big enough to accommodate people so that adds a little extra stress, but also a sense of pride because we have worked so hard to get to this point in our lives and it will be nice to share that with our families.
OK, enough typing, I have work to do! :)

Something NEW!!

I know I haven't posted in forever, and there are several reasons really, but I will spare you the details of most of it. As I think most of us, this Christmas is going to be tight for me and it is difficult for me to not be able to do the things I normally do for my family. Several years ago, I got the brilliant idea to make a quilt for my mother in law for Christmas....and, well because I am a *bit* of a procrastinator and I don't really sew well, and my sewing machine broke...it never got done. Did I mention I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and that if something doesn't turn out the way I think it should in the beginning I will often not finish it? Anyway, after we bought our new house and I had more room again, I bought a small sewing machine. A few weeks ago, I happened across someone talking about rag quilts and thought "I can do that"....see why I haven't posted in a while?! :) I thought it looked much easier than a "traditional" quilt in that, in my mind, it didn't have to be as perfect because you are going to clip all the excess so that the seams will "rag". I still had some of the fabric from the quilt I was going to make years ago and managed to find some others that matched it pretty well to be able to blend with it. The thing I didn't realize is that with a rag quilt, it's going to take you twice as much fabric if the front matches the back like mine does. I told my hubby about my plan and he basically rolled his eyes and didn't say anymore until I asked for his help with a "pattern". I showed him the blocks that I had done and explained that I wanted a decent sized quilt but not too big. We layed out the blocks I had and subtracted the amount for the seams...and then he told me I needed forty some more blocks! Anyway, it took me just under a week, but I DID finish it! :) (Hubby was truly amazed!) Here are a few pics of what it looked like before all the blocks were stitched together, and after it was all finished. This one has a total of 120 blocks (with the same fabric on the back, so 240 pieces of fabric). Not sure I still think this is an easier way to make a quilt, but I like the look of them and they do go together much quicker (for me anyway). Now I'm working on my second one that will be for my hubby, he knows he is getting one but doesn't know what it looks like so I can't say too much yet in case he actually reads this! :)

Finally a NEW Listing!

I finally got some pictures taken of some of the beads I have had laying around here for weeks now; I even managed to get one set listed! :)

I had a decent time at my Granny's yesterday, but the drive wore me out (couldn't have had anything to do with only 4 hours of sleep the night before!) It is a bit frustrating to spend much time there though for several reasons. My grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago and has had a stroke as well, but for some reason my Granny still seems to believe there is nothing wrong with him and that he is "faking" and only does the things he does to irritate her. She on the other hand, is severely depressed but refuses to acknowledge it or be put on any medication for it. It all just makes me sad. As I said though, yesterday really went pretty well all things considered. She made a peanut butter pie for me (my fav!) and she is the ONLY one who knows how to make it right! We visited for hours and ate till we felt we would bust and then visited some more. I left home at 9am and got back a little after 7pm and it really did make for a very long day, but well worth the trip!

Well, off to edit more pics and maybe list something else in my Etsy store!

Oh, and here is a pic of the set I just listed!

Time for a trip

Well, tomorrow is my day off and a week or so ago my Granny called and invited me up to her house for a smallish family get together. My hubby has to work but Bobo and I will be making the 2 1/2 hour trek north tomorrow. It will be nice to see some of the family at least because I have to work on Thanksgiving and won't get to go (one of the many *joys* of being a nurse). I told them I would try to bring some sort of dessert to bring along so I made a batch of Buckeyes that I still need to go dip in chocolate! They are pretty tasty, if you like peanut butter especially! :) Click here for the recipe!
With any luck I will get around to taking some pictures of beads on Monday and get some new things listed, I've been slacking a bit...ok, a lot! ;)

For a cold night

It has been cold here the past several days and cold weather always leaves me wanting some homemade soup. Today I decided to try one that I have never had before and was very pleased with the results. Here is the recipe:

Cheesy Corn Chowder
6 large potatoes peeled and cubed
1 teaspoon salt
1 lg onion chopped
1/4 c. butter
2 cans (14 3/4 oz each) cream style corn
4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
3 c. milk
8 oz Colby cheese cubed

Place potatoes in large pan, cover with water, add salt and boil until tender. Meanwhile in a large skillet, sautee' onion in butter until tender, add bacon and corn and heat through. Once potatoes are done, drain them and put them back in the pan then add the milk and heat through. Add the corn mixture to the potatoes, then add the cheese and heat until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. (Serves 12-14)

I changed it up a bit by using only a medium onion and I cheated and used fully cooked bacon and added more than the 4 pieces called for. You will likely also want to salt and pepper to taste but it makes a really good soup!

Better

So after I wrote last night I went back to bed and didn't get up until it was time for me to go to work today and I can't believe how much better I feel today! I am home on my supper break now eating some oatmeal before heading back for the rest of the night. Thanks for all the concerned comments! I think whatever it was is pretty much past for now, luckily! Maybe that means I will actually be able to get some things done this weekend! We'll see...

It always gets worse before it gets better...

So I talked yesterday about having a headache; though I think that is really a bit of a mild term for something as painful as that was..Anyway, it is thankfully gone today, but the nausea stayed. Of course I had to go to work (no fever or anything) so I just sipped Sprite all day and left as soon as I could which turned out to be three hours early. Got into bed at 8:15 and just crashed there for quite a while before I apparently dozed off a bit then the alarm went off at 10pm so my hubby could get up from his nap and go to work. After that I couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and ate a little something and I seem to be better now. At least whatever it was I feel better now! :)
Mallory (aka rosebud101) posted a comment yesterday asking if I was a nurse and suggesting I see a doctor...probably would have been a good idea, but I think because I am a nurse I put off going much longer than I should most of the time. The last time I went for an "illness" I had a headache for 8 days straight before I finally broke down and went because I thought "There really isn't anything they can do for a headache that I can't do at home"....turned out to be a sinus infection so if I wasn't being so hard headed I wouldn't have had to suffer as long! So, if I have any other symptoms tomorrow, I will take your advise Mallory and see a doctor. :)

Bad, then good, then bad.

Today was a very strange day for me. I had to go in to work earl today for a class given by a person with less education than me about a subject I already know, and needless to say I wasn't exactly thrilled about it. While there I learned that they have hired another nurse for the position that I was trying to transfer to which means that they didn't go through the proper procedure to do it (if they did, I would have had another "interview") so I was less than pleased with that too, even though I knew what was going on to some degree. Later in the day, my boss called me in to her office, which is usually not a good sign, but this time she wanted to tell me that she thinks I'm doing good. That is BIG for her to say something like that, and especially to take time out of her day to call me up there and tell me. I have had a lot of problems since I started back to this job (about six months ago), but lately things seem to be going a bit better, so I am hopeful that things will work out.
As the night wore on though, I started not feeling well and I still have a really bad headache. I would call it a migraine, but I think it is more like a really bad sinus headache. If it isn't better tomorrow, I will have to break down and go to the doctor. :( So, that pretty much sums up my day, bad, then good, then bad again!

FINALLY!

I have been having problems with my computer for weeks now and I finally figured out what was causing it was a piece of malware known as xp antivirus. It is an extremely smart little bugger! For me, it kept popping up saying that my computer was infected with loads of spyware to start with. I found the program and deleted it...I thought. Then I kept having problems with my home page changing and when I would search for something online, it would come up like it normally does, but when I clicked the website I wanted to see, I got redirected to something totally unrelated! That was all annoying enough, but then it shut down my computer without warning and I could only get it to start back up in safe mode! I did some research and found that a simple "uninstall" will not get rid of this and everything I was reading recommended different pieces of information. I tried several methods of manual removal and still had problems. Then I found a site that recommended MalwareBytes' malware removal tool, but I couldn't get to the website to download it because the xp antivirus is way to smart! So I finally found download.com. I was able to download the program from there and it seemingly removed the rest of the program but my computer still wasn't working right! So I downloaded ccleaner also from download.com and ran it. It also caught lots of trojans and things and fixed several registry errors and my computer was running faster, but still only in safe mode. I was beginning to think I was going to have to take my computer to someone who knew what they were doing when I came across Computer Hope.com and stumbled on to this post which suggested downloading yet another program called SDFix which you can download here. I followed the instructions and finally my computer is fixed! I am so glad that I didn't have to take it somewhere and pay loads of money to get it done! Best of all, all of the things I needed to download were free!
Now I can finally get back to listing some beads! :)

Everybody wins!

So, since I only had two people respond about my bead giveaway, I decided that you both win! How fun is that?! So, Mallory and Jennifer, please send me your addresses to nursekb08yahoo.com or via etsy convo and I will pick your prizes and get them out soon. Not really much else to say from me, it's cold here...like 34 or something like that which is pretty unusual for us in October. My in-laws (as much as I hate that term, they are FAMILY!) have some friends visiting from Louisiana this week and we are going to breakfast with them bright and EARLY in the morning, and I am NOT a morning person so I really should be off to bed...

Lucky me, are YOU next?

So I told you all in the previous post I had won a bead from StudioMarcy. I knew that I would be ecstatic with whatever bead she decided to send to me, but I did not expect for her to pick one of my favorites from her shop and send it to me! I was beyond thrilled, I think my poor hubby was a bit scared that I was that excited over a bead! :) Anyway, here is the bead she sent me (hope you don't mind Marcy, I used your pic. It is better than I can take!)



So not only did I get this amazing bead, but about a week or so before that I also won a bead from Jennifer Cameron of GlassAddictions! I haven't had the chance to take a picture of it yet, but it too, is truly amazing! It is from her Insomnia series which is just beautiful! I will try to get a pic of it sometime this week.

Anyway, now it seems that it is time for me to give back. I have been lucky enough to win two beads so now I will give away one of my beads! Post a comment here giving me a two or three color combo to work with and from those posts I will let my hubby draw a winner for a free bead! (make sure you leave a way for me to contact you!) I will let this run through Sunday and try to post the winner on Monday, Good Luck!

The Bright Side of a Bad Day.

I had to work tonight and it was not a great night. I had to send two of my staff to the ER for tetanus shots after being bit and scratched by the individuals we care for. I still don't really know anything about the whole transfer thing I posted about before other than that it will be at least another 2 weeks before any decision will be made and that now I know they don't have to take into consideration that I already work there because I have been back for less than 6 months (the initial probationary period); they can hire someone from off the street with no experience and throw them over there with the one other nurse who had 4 months of experience there and only psych experience before that in a mostly medical building....makes since right? Well that is the state of Misery (yeah, I know it's spelled Missouri, but if you live here, you know) for ya!

Anyway, I won a bead! Not just any bead mind you a Marcy Lamberson bead! She makes the most amazing whimsical pieces you have ever seen! I have never seen a bead of hers that I didn't like so I am sure I will love what I get! Be sure and check out her blog and her Etsy shop, you will see what I mean! ;)

I have a pile of beads that need to be cleaned so I will have them ready to be able to take pics tomorrow if the weather cooperates, but am I doing that? No. I am blogging, and then I am going over to the abc.com website to watch last nights episode of Grey's Anatomy! It is the only thing I really ever watch with any regularity, but since I work on Thursdays I always have to wait until Friday night and watch it online. It works for me though! Maybe I'll clean beads after that....maybe.

Enter to win this beautiful quilt!

was reading some other blogs today and came across a post about this giveaway to win a quilt! It's a really beautiful quilt and I would love to have it...as would hundreds of others from the looks of the blog. Go ahead and enter yourself too, click here to go to the Pigtails and Snails blog and enter!

Me, the KLUTZ!

So I have had the last 4 days off because I was walking up the stairs at work last week and had a really sharp pain in my back. At first I thought it was just a fluke muscle spasm or something, I walked around a bit and it seemed fine so the next time I was getting ready to go up to my office, I took the stairs again and got the same pain again. When I got upstairs, I called my chiropractor and made an appointment for the next day and went on about the evening (along with 600 mg of Advil). Went to the chiropractor the next day and had a few ribs out in that area which he put back in and I thought nothing more of it, it felt better so I came home and went back to bed (I'm not a morning person!). When I got up again later and put my pants on, same sharp pain. So, I called my primary doctor's office and made an appointment with the NP on call. I normally don't go running to the doctor for every little pain, but one this was a big pain, two I knew I couldn't work with it (as I have said before I work in a psych facility and you just never know when you are gonna need to run!) and three, I'm still on probation at work so I have to have a doctors excuse if I'm not there. Well, the NP wound up giving me two days off though she really didn't know what was wrong, it really isn't "typical" pain of anything...duh, I already knew that! But she did give me some antispasmodic medication and told me to "take it easy". The medicine knocks me out and today it still hurts. I am starting to think maybe I somehow tore a muscle or something. Anyway, it's back to work tomorrow. To make things even better, today I fell twice and twisted my ankle so now it hurts too! Good thing I'm not as clumsy with glass, I would have already caught myself on fire by now! :)

New Series

A few posts back I spoke about a new series I had in the works. Well, it is finally time to show it to you, at least the first of the series. I got this idea after finding out what the October challenge would be for LEST (Lampwork Etc. Street Team) on Etsy; breast cancer awareness. I have made very few goddesses to this point but the idea of a "Survivor Goddess" popped into my head as I was trying to think of things to create for this challenge. To me, a goddess represents the beauty and grace of the female form regardless of size, shape, age, color...or whatever else. I was so excited about the idea of this that I made several before it occurred to me that some might be offended by this...if you are one of them, I am truly sorry. I didn't create these to offend anyone, the plan is to raise awareness. As part of the challenge on Etsy, the proceeds from anything pink and these goddesses will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Please help me support this great cause!

Sponsoring a Giveaway!

Well, our day was pretty good today. We did some shopping (and spent too much $$) and dinner was GREAT but it was a long day! I almost forgot that I am sponsoring a giveaway on Simply Sentimental the Blog this week; click here to go check it out and enter to win this sterling silver necklace with one of my own handmade hollow lampwork pumpkins!

Busy week

This has been a bit of a busy week so I haven't been able to get as much done as I had hoped. Hubby and I celebrated our 1 yr anniversary Sunday, my Dad came down yesterday to take us for lunch, I had to work today which also happens to be my husbands birthday so we just got back from dinner at his parents' house. We have had a good week, just a very full week. I wanted to get some bead photos taken but it has been too cloudy outside and the ones I take inside never turn out quite right...
Tomorrow we are going to a "nearby" big city (about an hour away) to really celebrate our anniversary since he had to work on Sunday. We are going to do a bit of shopping and eat at Outback Steakhouse (thanks to gift certificates)...then back to work on Thursday! :(
I have four or five new sets of disks to put on Etsy once I can get the pictures done, and am still waiting on pictures for the release of my new series; I will get there, it's just taking longer than I had hoped!

My boring life...

So I managed to get to leave work a bit early tonight and what did I do when I got home? Cleaned my carpets. Yep, exciting don't you think? It did need to be done, but it wasn't what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do was work on the "something new" I am sure you are all waiting for. I guess I probably mentioned it was a bead series? I can't remember now...anyway it is. The style though is what is different for me. I know, I don't really have a "style" but I think you will see what I mean when I show you. It will probably be early next week before I am ready, but maybe before.

Tonight my goal is to go to bed "early", well for me anyway. My husband is working nights right now (he is a police officer) and I have trouble sleeping when he isn't here and usually don't get to sleep until around 4:30 am but tonight I'm going to try. So, off I go...

Something New in the Works..

As most of you know, I am a member of an amazing group of lampworkers who sell on Etsy, the Lampwork Etc. Street Team (LEST: see our link to the left or click here). Our team has a different challenge every month and beginning in October participating members will be donating a portion of their sales to the breast cancer organization of their choice. I have agreed to donate 100% of my profits from all pink beads sold, and anything else marked...

I am really excited about this challenge as so many women are affected by breast cancer each year and I wanted to do something really special, so I have a new series (at least I hope it will be a series!) in the works! What is it? Well, you will have to wait and see! I don't want to reveal everything all at once, where is the fun in that?! It isn't even October yet! :) In reality, I have a bit more work to do, there is a lot more to this than I thought there would be! Anyway, keep a lookout for more info and pics to come!!

Best Friends

It was 66 degrees outside when I got off work tonight and frequently when we are both home together, my husband and I go for a ride in his Jeep with our best friend....Bobo. Today though, we had the top off the Jeep because it was really a very nice day. When it is that cool and the top is off the Jeep, a long sleeve shirt is a must; Bobo however doesn't like the cold one bit. You see, Bobo is a mini wiener dog and he doesn't have much fur! So, we turned on the heat and he snuggled with me and our drive was a bit shorter tonight...and no, he is NOT spoiled I don't know why you would even think such a thing! :)

I Got a Day Off!

I asked for a day off today, and suprisingly, actually got it! :) So what have I done...not much really, but that is the point, right? There are several reasons I felt like I needed an extra day off this week, one is because a very good friend of mine is having some "issues" with her marriage and she just needed away for a bit. We work together, and her husband works there too, so I see some of the things that are going on...anyway, so she came over for a while and we sat and talked some, and had a glass of wine...then she went home. The other reason is....tonight is the season premier of Grey's Anatomy!! :) It is my absolute favorite show and I rarely get to watch it when it is actually on TV; usually I watch it on line (abc.com) the next day but it just isn't the same! So, now I'm off to find something to eat and get ready (comfy clothes, something to drink, etc) so I don't miss a minute of Dr. McDreamy! Less than 2 hours to go!

Help Me Get an iPod Touch!

Ok, yes I'm aware of the whole "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" thing, but as I was surfing tonight I came across a website with one of those "Get Free" things, but this one is a bit different. You get to choose between doing all the "offers" yourself, or signing up for a "referral" program and then you only have to do one offer. I was going to join a book club anyway, so that is the offer I choose. Now all I need to do is get other people to sign up using me as a referral and I get a new iPod touch to play with while I'm torching! Sounds too good to be true right? Yeah, I know...but it just might work; and if it doesn't, all I'm out is the $15 I would have spent on the book club anyway! So, click here and go try it for yourself, just maybe this time we all win! :)

Halloween Beads

Ok, I did manage to get a few pictures today, though they didn't turn out as good as I would have liked...


Here are a few of the beads I will be sending in for the Halloween exchange.



Not much else is new in my world, I did get a few sets of disk beads listed today in my Etsy shop and started to add a few pics to a Flikr album...that's really about it!

The End of a Long Week

Well, it's my Friday, and boy am I glad! I spent 2 days (out of 5) at work as the only nurse in the building...I don't like that much. The position I talked about in an earlier post was put up, and I applied but haven't heard anything yet; and I finally got a chance to make a few beads tonight! I entered a Halloween bead exchage over on LE and I was a couple of beads short of what I wanted to send so I *think* I should have them ready to go out this week. I still have a pile of beads to clean and take pics of for my shop but, as I said it has been a busy week and I just haven't felt like messing with it. Anyway, I decided I'm going to just relax for a bit now before I head to bed, maybe watch a movie (great time to watch a "chick movie") because my hubby just started night shifts again tonight which means I won't be able to sleep well anyway! I probably won't get much done tomorrow either as I have agreed to watch a friends baby :)
I will try to post pics of the exchange beads when I get them done and before I send them out, so keep watching! ;)

Funnel cakes and ghosts

My hubby wanted a snack tonight so I thought I would make funnel cakes! For some reason they always sound better to me when it's a bit cool out than they do when it is hot. Around here you can usually only get them at the fair. Anyway, I made these from pancake batter! Super easy; I just mix it a little thick and since I don't have a funnel, I used a plastic baggie with a corner cut off so very little clean-up either! Mmmm!! :)

I have been trying to work on Halloween beads and fall things for my Etsy shop, but I seem to have trouble staying on task. Tonight though I did get a trio of candy corn listed and a family of ghosts that are also my entry for the LEST team Halloween challenge. (Click on the LEST logo to the left to go to our page) I think they turned out rather cute! If I were a more creative writer, I could have come up with some little story to tell about why the gray one is laying down while the rest seem to be peering down at him, but my brain is gone on vacation....I wish it would come back!

Inspired by Mallory...

Ok, here are some pics of the disks that I have been talking about that I made from my "shorts" after being inspired to try it by a fellow beadmaker and LEST team member Mallory aka rosebud101.

And here is a picture of one of my first hollow beads! :)

Also, you may have noticed I changed my template. In doing so, I lost my blog list so for those of you who were on it, it isn't that I'm not still interested in what you have to say but that it will take me a bit to get it put back together. That is the one thing I hate about changing templates is loosing everything I put up! :(

Long Week..

Ok, so I know I haven't posted in several days, but as I expected it has been a long week! As I said in my previous post I only had one day off this week due to a class at work, but now my week is finally over! The class I was scheduled for Friday was canceled and moved to October...I'm not thrilled with that either because it happens to fall on my hubby's birthday but there isn't much I can do about it. Anyway, I have been able to get a few more disk beads done and if this rain ever quits maybe I can get some pics of them...

More classes and Differnt Beads

I just got home from another management class at work, and I think this was the worst one yet! The subject was motivation...hard to get me motivated by making me go to a class at 8am on my day off! Oh, and don't give me an extra day off to compensate for it either, I'll just work 11 days with only one day off, sure that's fine! :( (can you sense the sarcasm here?) I have one more class to go to on Friday and then I'm finished with these, but of course that just means more responsibility.

Some of you may have read in earlier posts about my time with the facility I'm at and how I had to leave when I finished school and then came back later but was put in another building; well it appears that a position may soon come available in the building I started out in. I work with MRDD (mentally retarded/developmentally disabled) people and there is quite a bit of difference between the two buildings, even though it is still the same facility. One building (I'll call it 'A' so it doesn't get to confusing) has more "medically fragile" and lower functioning individuals that require more care and the other ('B') has higher functioning individuals with more behavioral problems. As far as the individuals are concerned, I really like both buildings, there is still so much to learn and so much to teach them and I really like that aspect of the job. On the other hand, I don't feel like much of a nurse most of the time because I'm in building 'B'. The staff are a lot different as well, 'B' has more staff that are in my age group as a whole than the other does so there is more gossip and drama than 'A'. I did have some issues with a few people in 'A' while I was there, but I think I'm better prepared to deal with it now than I was a year ago; so I'm kind of hoping that I get to go back to 'A' and that things will get better. But I'm also trying not to get my hopes up too much in case it doesn't work out, I don't want to be disappointed!

Now, back to beads! I think I have posted before about the amazing "team" that I'm a part of on Etsy, the LEST Team (see our link in the upper right corner of my blog); anyway, they are an amazing group! Always willing to help out other team members with advise and promoting and encouragement..anyway one of the members "rosebud101" ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181465 ) been making these beads for a while out of "shorts". They always turn out really cool, but they are usually disks which I don't normally make....well, I tried it last night and now I'm stuck on them! I must have made fifteen or twenty last night! She always says how fun they are and I though, yeah right, I can't make a disk to save me! But I've been practicing and she is right it is fun! I like that I don't have to think about it much, I just pile all my shorts on the table and start melting! Believe me, I got some strange looks from my hubby though when I told him I was making beads out of nothing but shorts! :)

Florals!

I am really excited about a couple of new floral beads I just finished! One even has cz's in it. Why am I so excited? Because these are some of the best ones I have made AND they didn't break! I know it is just part of the process of learning what works and what doesn't but it is so frustrating when you have a bead that you think is going to be amazing, and it is....until it splits right down the middle! :( I also managed to make my first hollow bead tonight....followed by several more once I figured the process out. I think it was hollow beads that first attracted me to lampwork years ago, no commercial bead can even come close to comparing to them (or any other artisan-made bead imo!). My husband even liked the hollow one, which is really saying something for a man who could really care less about beads! :) Anyway, the florals are up in my Etsy shop, here are the pictures.

Invaded by an Alien!

My shop has been invaded by an alien! Ok, so I made him in my shop, but he sure is cute! Just listed him in my Etsy shop, his name is Mortimer. I have been trying to work on some Halloween beads, but I have so many ideas running through my head it's hard to decide what to work on next. Since I have moved indoors v. being in the garage, I make a lot more things and have a lot more ideas. Now the problem is I want to make things all the time and don't want to fuss with taking the pictures and writing descriptions and getting them listed; it really is quite a bit of work! I'm working on it though! I have several new things that will be listed over the next week or so.
Ok, off to the "real job". :(

Now what?

OK, so I get to work today and the lady I was talking about yesterday was sent called into the building supervisor's office, presumably about the issue yesterday; and came back to our area in tears and not speaking to anyone. My boss (one step below the building supervisor) called me later to tell me that she had discussed the issue with the woman and it was determined that she did not need to be written up for anything at this time! And, now she doesn't have to cover that area on Tuesdays (the only day the "new" lady works on our shift)! Now what do I do? I feel like I have been totally undermined. I am not kidding, I have never been yelled at like that by anyone before, and certainly not from someone I supervise! If I had talked to MY boss that way, you can bet I would have been written up if not worse! I don't really care that she doesn't have to cover, but isn't it a bit discriminatory that they are telling her that she can cover for everyone except this person? I feel like now nothing I say to her matters because she can just go to my boss and get whatever she wants...
I swear if I could figure out how to support myself through my Etsy shop or lampwork somehow, I would soooo quit my job right now!

I hate being a boss!

I have a total of 2 people that I directly supervise which I realize isn't as bad as it could be, but I don't like having to be the boss! The problem I have with it in this job is that I have to do the same things that they do, so I understand what it is like for them, the bad part is, I still have other people telling me what has to be done. Both of the women that I supervise are older than I am, and have been there longer than me and that makes it even tougher. Plus if everyone doesn't get along, we still have to spend 8 hours together in a tiny room and it can make things a bit uncomfortable. The problem I had tonight is I had to ask one of them to relieve a person in another area; it usually isn't a problem but she had applied for the job when it was available and someone else got it, the woman who was working tonight. The woman that I supervise had a FIT, yelling at me and saying that she wasn't going to do it, it's not in my job description, blah, blah, blah....and for the most part I agree with her. BUT, the lady in the other department still deserves a break too, and it isn't her fault she got the job, and it kind of is in her job description right at the bottom where it says, just like mine does, "and other duties as necessary". All of us disagree with some of the things that we have to do, and there are parts of the job that none of us like, but the problem is this woman is not licenced and the rest of us are, so there are things that she can't do and we can. (the place she had to cover doesn't require a license, it is basically an operator job) There were 2 other people in there while this was going on, and she finally did go do what I asked her to do, but I felt like I was the bad guy! I wound up having to call my supervisor at home and explain what happened so she would be prepared when the proverbial "poop" hits the fan tomorrow! This is Monday for me, and not a very good start to my week! :(

New beads

Well, today has been a fairly productive day. Along with the laundry and various other household things that I hate to do on my days off, I managed to get some decent beads finished today. I hope to get a few more done tonight and work on them most of the day tomorrow but I don't know when I will get pics taken. I have been using my husband's camera lately because mine has suddenly just quit working right, all my pics have lines through them. I really need to get a new camera but I will probably wait and ask for one for Christmas.
This week, I have been playing with some new techniques and have been using my press a little more than I have for a long time. It seems like I go through phases, a couple weeks ago I got some new frit and I spent days playing with them; but I haven't really used them since. I'll go back to them in time, but I don't seem to stick with one style for very long before I have to change it up and do something else for a while.
Anyway, off to the torch again! :)

Another long day...

I just got back home from a management class at my "real job" and let me tell you it was a LONG day! Eight hours of someone reading to you, word for word from the paper that we all had in front of us...makes me want to scream! I am not a morning person anyway, and while being having to be there at 8am is not early to some, to someone who doesn't normally have to be to work until 3pm it is torture! I am hoping to get some time with my torch later this evening after we eat, but I need to finish cleaning the hot tub too as it has been getting cooler here in the evenings and it is my favorite part of our new home! :) And I really should clean up my "studio" a bit, things are piling up and I am starting to lose track of things...strange that I'm such an organized person at work but not in my own little space...

Anyway, here are some pics of a couple of the items that I have listed in my shop this week, another octopus and a couple of pendants.

Still working....

I'm still working on getting new things listed in my shop but this week is a bit tougher because other things in life seem to be getting in the way! Tomorrow I have a mangagement class all day that I'm sure will be absolutly thrilling; anyway I doubt I'll get much done when I get home from there. If I could only figure out a way to support myself on the things I like to do instead of the things I have to do....
I have some ideas in my head for new beads to create, but haven't had much torch time here lately to work on them. I really want to start working on more Halloween and Christmas things...maybe this weekend.

Giveaway winners!

I have contacted the winners of the giveaway! I know, it's late and it was supposed to be yesterday but I've been having problems with my ISP. At any rate the "grand prize" winner is.....sockmonkeyjungle! In looking for a way to contact the winner I stumbled accross her Etsy shop and you NEED to check it out if you haven't already http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5194547 ; these are the coolest sock monkeys I have ever seen! And while you are at it heart her shop and enter HER giveaway on her blog! I did! :)
The % off winners were all notified by email. Be sure to subscribe to my blog as I will be doing giveaways regularly from one of my shops and you don't want to miss them! :)

New Stuff!

I have been busy today taking pictures and posting new stuff in my Etsy shop! I have some new pendants that I'm really excited about as well as some cell phone charms and focals. Here is a pic of my favorite pendant so far.

And yes, today is the last day to enter my GIVEAWAY!! I will be drawing the names later tonight....

Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage is an amazing organization for children with serious illnesses. Beads are given to the children throughout the course of their treatment for certain milestones etc (check out their website for more info!) http://www.beadsofcourage.net/


I have posted before about my collection of beads that I have been saving for them and tonight I finally got them packaged up and almost ready to go. I don't know why I keep hesitating to send them, I keep thinking, in a few more days I could add some more...


I add to the pile each time I torch, sometimes one or two, sometimes everything I make in one session is specifically for them because I feel it is a great program. I have lost friends and loved ones to cancer as I'm sure many of you have; it's part of the reason I became a nurse...to try and help in whatever way I can. I believe that there are times when even a tiny amount of encouragement or hope can be all a person needs to help them get through the next treatment, the rest of the day....the rest of the week....


I counted them up tonight and there are over 300 beads in the picture below, some are big and some are small, but each one was made with caring and love; and I even added a piece of courage to each of them!


Please check out their website to see the ways that everyone can help this great organization!


Just for reference, the surface covered in this pic is over 3 ft square.

Alchemy

Well, the Alchemy request turned out alright after all! I made 2 beads, the one that I pictured, and the one that she pictured and sent her a photo of both; turned out that she liked my version better! I didn't really care which one she picked, I'm just glad that she was pleased with one of them! ;) Anyway, here is a pic of the bead made into a pendant. The "T" is to represent the Tennessee Vols logo.

My Stuido

Thought I would add some pics of my workspace. Please keep in mind that these were taken before the ventilation was installed. Also just realized that you can't see my kiln in these pictures, it was probably still packed from the move since I didn't get to use it for a few months! I will try to get some more pics sometime, but this is probably the only time you will be able to see the top of the workbench my father in law worked so hard to build for me! ;)

Bad day.

It has been a really long and crappy day! I have't felt well all day, can't quite put my finger on it but I just don't feel "right". I had to work today and there were a lot of things going on and not enough people to handle them so I wound up having to do a lot of extra things and a lot of things that I haven't done before or don't normally have to do. Not that that really bothers me for the most part, but when you are dealing with medications and illness and things of that nature, it can be a bit stressful if you feel like you aren't well prepared to deal with it. I have two more days to work this week, but tomorrow will be better; it has to be!

Giveaway!!

OK, I said I was thinking of doing a giveaway, so here goes.. Search through my second Etsy shop http://luckybunny2.etsy.com/ and post a comment here with your favorite item. On August 17th I will draw one winner to receive their favorite item FREE!! AND, I will draw 3 others who will receive 25% off any one item from EITHER of my Etsy shops! Have fun, and thanks for stopping by!

Bead Storage

Well, I finally ordered some cigar boxes from beadboxman on etsy! I was looking at them again last night and found a set of 6 for an amazing price and just couldn't resist! He does amazing work, be sure and check them out, here is the link http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5581858

Finally Friday!

Well, for me it is anyway! It has been a really long week for some reason, maybe its the heat. I'm looking forward to a couple of days off work and spending time with my husband and his family...and my torch of course! I have a couple of custom orders that I'm working on and then I'm going to just play. I have a couple of ideas in my head, thinking about a sale next week, or a give away...something.
Anyway, off to bed for now...

Another Direction

Well it seems that an Alchemy request on Etsy is taking me in a whole new direction. I placed a bid for a bead and won it but somehow I misunderstood what the requester wanted, and she misunderstood what I meant too. So, I will be attempting to make something unlike I have ever done before. I won't hold her to the purchase of course, it was my mistake, I believe for not being as clear as I should have. But, I attempted what she requested tonight and it turned out better than I thought it might, but not as good as I would like. I seem to be a bit of a perfectionist in a lot of areas of my life, and this is one of them! When I create something, I want it to be perfect. Of course I understand that with the "hobby" I have chosen, right now for me that is next to impossible; but hey, I can try! I will probably make at least one more attempt to create something that she has no choice but to love, and then send her some pictures and see what she thinks. If nothing else, it was a lesson learned for me to be more specific about what I feel like I can and can't do.....and if all goes well, I may gain some more confidence in my ability and push myself a little harder next time.

Emperor's Grove



Arabian Night
Col. Mustard the Lampwork Octopus Bead
Peach the Lampwork Octopus Bead Here are some pics of some of my more recent work. I have been working on some new focals, but of course I still love to do the "critter beads" too. I bought some new frits from Candice Mathewson at http://www.beadgoodies.com/ and she was kind enough to post a pic of my "Arabian Night" (named after her frit that I used for the bead) on her site with a link to my Etsy shop. Be sure and check it out, she has some great frit!

Once again it seems as if life has gotten in the way and I have failed to update here for some time; I really am going to try and be better about it! I have finished school and passed boards so I am officially an RN now! Last year was really a very tough year between work and school and everything in between and I am really glad to have gotten through it! My husband and I recently purchased our first home together and because of that, I now get to have my own "studio" in the basement. My previous set up was in the garage! I am really excited about it because now it means I can torch whenever I want and not have to worry about the weather. My FIL built me a work station and installed a vent system for me so I have been working away in my new studio for about 3 weeks now.

Before I got my ventilation in I was working on other "projects" that are listed in my second Etsy store @ http://LuckyBunny2.etsy.com This shop features a variety of items from my handmade sterling silver jewelry to bookmarks and hair bows. I apparently have "craft add" :)

I have also joined some new communities, I have a page on indie public, a very cool site that I am still learning about. I have been a member of Lampwork Etc. for quite some time and recently joined their street team on Etsy (LEST). They are a very talented bunch of very supportive fellow lampworkers. Always willing to give advise on how to make your work better, or how to take better pics or even willing to share their techniques on how to make a certain style of bead; a very awesome group! So when you are shopping on Etsy be sure and search "LEST" to find their amazing work!