bye 2010...its been fun :)

Last post of the year.  I don't really do resolutions but i do make goals.  Last year was the year I get my house in order.  It isn't perfect but, I did very well.  As of yesterday I can have company over again.  It's been a long while since I have been able to say that.  The kids rooms need to be cleaned up and the carpet shampooed but other than that we are good to go.

So, this year I am going to work on all things financial.  I want more budgeting, a bigger emergency fund, and all around making more and spending less.  So, this seems like a small goal but it really isn't.  I shop when i am stressed about money and other things which is detrimental to financial security.  So, I have to learn to manage my feelings instead of hide from them at the store.

I have also named 2011 the year of awesome.  Positive thinking!

Now for something a little different

One of the things I love to do besides jewelry is to shop for deals.  I just found really good printable coupons for Campbells soup.  They are sponsoring a new contest to try something new at sweepstakeslovers.com.  If you want to play the contest or print the coupons go to:

http://www.sweepstakeslovers.com/sweepstakes/?p=TryCampbellSoup.com

Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog :)

Mommie musings

While driving the kids to school, I asked the what they want to be when they grow up. My daughter piped up with I want to be a jeweler and work with you momma. My son said he wanted to be a salesman, and sell my jewelry. It was so flattering to hear but bittersweet at the same time. I try to be realistic when they say things like that. Mostly because I know how they will change in just a few short years.
My son always wants to sleep in our bed. Last month, I cleaned up his room and got him to sleep in there full time. With the start of school, he started sneaking in our bed at night. I keep encouraging him to sleep in his room but a little part of me misses him. I know it won't be long before my mere presence will embarrass him.

My daughter always tells me that she never wants to grow up so she can stay with me. I tell her that she is welcome to stay with us but she doesn't really have a choice about growing up. My heart breaks a little everytime she makes this statement. I know that not only will she grow up but the last person she will want to be around is me.

Someone posted on facebook that they would love to go back in time and hold their children as babies again. That resonated with me because of our conversations. I've tried to savor it and slow it down but it still feels like these eight years have flown by.

Necklace and other fun stuff

I am having such trouble being motivated lately.  It is like a took a lazy pill and it won't wear off.  I have been managing to do everything on my three step action list (sort of like a todo) but it is HARD. I got all my orders off and finished resizing a ring.  

I hate resizing rings.  I am finding that just because I can doesn't mean I should.  I just don't have the equipment to do it in a timely manner.  It takes me three days from start to finish with all the torchwork and polishing.  So, I'll do it but I am charging for the service.

I started working on a necklace for me tonight.  It is an orchid carved out of agate really pretty an unique.  I am using agate, Italian onyx, and glass beads for the necklace portion.

I also made this necklace with doing wire work.  I worked the chain out of a design I saw in a magazine.  It listed it on Etsy just yesterday.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51027916/wire-wrapped-chain-necklace-with-faceted




I think I am going out with the guys tomorrow to see the new Predator movie so that should be fun.  This weekend is all about cleaning!

What is fashion?

I've been watching the Housewives of New York City (my guilty pleasure) quite a bit lately.  I love the fashions they show and expecially love fashion week.

I remember in middle school trying to figure out what made popular girls popular.  The one thing I noticed was how they dressed compared to myself.  I think that is when I first became aware of fashion and how much your appearance affects your everyday life.

Watching the movie The Devil Wears Prada reminded me that you can't let it change who you are.  My daughter got the American Girl book of secrets.  One of the secrets was to define your own style.  She has tried many things and has remained true to herself.  So, even if something is in fashion doesn't mean it will work for you personally.

So, what defines my style is comfort.  If I am not comfortable, then I don't look good.  What defines yours?

Oscars

Oscars were amazing last night.  I don't normally watch but I like to see what jewelry trends are popular.  This year was more earrings and bracelets.  I also saw quite a few hair adornments that were breathtaking.  You can go look for your self here http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/package/gallery/0,,20332759_20349134,00.html.

I think I am going to watch Precious and The Hurt Locker out of curiosity. I had avoided Precious because I knew it was hard to watch.  The Hurt Locker isn't something that would normally appeal but I'll watch it anyways. 

My favorite jewelry came from Maggie Gyllenhaal.  I loved her earrings and the hair piece she had made.

Exciting!

I am being featured on http://girlygirlgiveaways.blogspot.com/. I have another review coming up on Le Petite Owl.

This week has been all about learning how to resize a ring. I had to saw, and solder the ring to get it down a half size. I am working on the finishing touches right now. I am also making another rock pendant for a client.

The ring


Here is the pendant. I haven't done anything to it yet but I will be lining with with fine silver and then adding a bail. I love to work with druzy.


I am having trouble waiting for spring so look forward to some flower and spring like designs. It is still cold in Texas which isn't our norm.

More later:)

TGIF

I've also been going through my jewelry and books in an effort to get my office clean and am selling a bunch of things on ebay, making new designs to sell on etsy, and building a website for my daughters school. It's come out pretty nifty so far and I'm getting to be pretty good at building a joomla website. I am also installing about a billion plugins for the extra things they need.

Oh yes, I have been really digging this new to me planning website. It has one of the BEST free s I have seen. It even has them split up by the way you work. One is an action plan for time management and they other is freelancer plan which helps manage projects. They also have a plan to get bloggers organized and a way to find out when you work most productively. If you want to check it out I highly recommend it http://www.productiveflourishing.com/premium-planners/.

I'm going to go wrap some wire and relax

Jelly Fish Earrings

I love jellyfish. They are kind of mystical creatures to me. I was born in Bermuda and at the time the jellyfish did not have stingers. My mom use to tell me stories of how she and her brothers played with them.

This is a link to a post from Livejournal

This lady but up a series of animated beading lessons. How cool is that????

http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/13006008.html?view=149041336&style=mine#t149041336

Blogpress

I found a new nifty app for my iPhone. Maybe I will be able to give more consistant updates now :)

Do what I say not what I do

My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was five but we used all natural remedies until just recently. This doctor I take him too makes all ADHD appointments at 11:30. The can't be at any other time. So because his school is 1 hour round trip I kept him home in the morning.

I made the appointment over a month ago we were all out of meds and had to make this visit. We got there at 11:28 and waited almost an hour to be seen. This doctors office has a policy that you have to reschedule if you are 15 minutes late. If you cancel after 24 hours, then they charge you a fee. So, if you are late more than 15 minutes it costs 50.00

I told the nurse we had been waiting quite a while and she said OOOooo we've been busy lots of sick kids. I felt like demanding my $50.00 fee...

I was a good and smiled at her. My son on the other hand informed her that she wasted his day and he couldn't go back to school. I swear I didn't laugh :)

Google Friend Connect

I am trying to follow people in blogger but google is giving me loads of trouble. I'll figure it out eventually.

Also, still collecting money for haiti. I may end up donating all or a portion of my sales.

http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/mithrildreams is my donation page.

Thanks!

Wire Wrapping a Pendant

Here is a new technique that I have been working on. This is a practice necklace so you might see some flaws. I made it from black wire, glass beads, and a whole lot of patience.

Help for Earthquake in Haiti

I set up a page to fundraise to help out with the earthquake victims. I saw some of the pictures and what has happened over there is just awful. If you can help out in any way, just go to my page.

http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/mithrildreams

Thanks!