Carnivale time

This is one of my favorite simple pieces that I did just upon returning from Florida.  And I sold it this weekend.  YAY me!  But alas....there is more to the story....
I received a note that my husband's aunt and a friend had been shopping in my space, and OOOPS, they broke a bracelet.  Only, funny thing - the bracelet wasn't one of mine.  So I got to play sleuth for a few days, and finally, put it all together (except for the bracelet itself) yesterday.
There is another beader who slyly chose to put her sparkly, somewhat gaudy, and not very well made jewelry items just  katty corner from my space in the craft mall.  I say slyly, because she was assuming at the time that people would eventually, if not routinely, mistake her items for mine, and purchase them more readily.  Unfortunately for ME - it works for her.  The mystery of the broken bracelet was solved by discovering a matching necklace in HER booth.  Apparently Aunt Nancy and her friend 'assumed' that the jewelry across the way was also mine, and purchased several items from IT, along with the Carnivale piece of mine.  She was quite disappointed to hear that this had happened, as her friend is already on her way back to parts unknown.  Oh well.  It's not like the booths aren't marked with our names, but people that don't understand the concept of each space being a different vendor don't really pay attention to that.  I left the broken bracelet at the front counter to be passed along to the other beader.  Not quite sure how to overcome this sales obstacle without being present from 10am to 8pm EVERY SINGLE DAY.   
Anyway --- getting the blog thing out of the way really early today.  Not quite sure what the day will bring (is anyone really ever?) but the PLAN is to do my monthly inventory, make up a Birthstone sample poster, and do some EBay investigation.  NO actual beading in the plan for the second day in a row.  I can't stay away too long....too many ideas rattling around my brain.
TTFN - and Happy Beading!

Almost missed it already

Shew.  Time flies.  Managed to get my display cases 'de-christmased', and do a little straightening at the shop.  Before I know it, it's 4:30 - and then was paid a visit by my favorite GREAT nephew - CALVIN!  What a busy 2 year old.  It was nice to visit with Steph and Kim, too.  Miss her lots since she and my brother split up.
So I guess I don't have much to actually blog about today, and not even really any good photos to post - but I can leave you with my 'ponderance of the day' -  Why do OLDER drivers, (age 70 and UP) NOT GO ON A GREEN ARROW?  I encountered this situation TWICE on my way to the shop today.  TWICE.  Laid on the horn.  Nothin'.  But if they are as deaf as they are blind, then, well.....
So if you have any input as to why they can't seem to follow simple signs and instructions, I'd like to be enlightened.  Until then, I will simply be frustrated and pondering....
TTFN

Typical Monday...not

First of all - it's snowing buckets.  Yuck.  So that takes care of my mid-morning trek to get my sales check for December.  Since my hubby has to go and cash HIS check later, I'll let him chauffer me to get it in the 4X4.    Bills and rent must be paid today, though - so make the trek we will....
Second of all - it's hubby's turn to have computer virus issues.  Now I'm REALLY glad that my laptop is wireless, with my own printer, so that I can be completely independent of him.  The Computer Geek is coming to get the hard drive this morning - and who knows how long he'll be without it.  Then I'll be constantly kicking him off my laptop because he'll still need to check email, and of course, play his games.
So instead of my usual Monday morning errands  -  I'm doing my daily blog instead.  But at least one thing came of this snowy, yucky, messy Monday morning - my kitchen has been scrubbed and polished from floor to as far as I can reach (not quite the ceiling.).  That is kind of good feeling....

De-Christmas-ing

Our family get together yesterday was nice - the kids were all well behaved, and LOVED their gifties.  Always too much food, and lots of laughs. It was nice to have a quiet, covered space to retreat to for a few minutes, and take in the beauty outside.   Lake effect snow fell all afternoon, but luckily only made the roads slick for about 10 minutes of the return 2 hour trip.  Sometimes it pays to live in the center of the state....
This has been a busy day. Taking down the tree, removing the last of the Christmas touches from here and there and everywhere around the house. I'll probably still find a little bear here or an ornament tucked there for a few weeks - I can never remember where I put them. Some of the Christmas ornaments - being beaded, sparkly, crystal and irridescent white - get left out all year long, hanging from the leaves of the ivy along the plate rail in the dining room, amongst the suns, the moons, and and the stars....  
Back to blog tomorrow...
TTFN

Day 2

I'm blogging now just so I can keep my 'blog a day' promise.  However, since we're off for a wonderful day with my husbands family AGAIN, all the way across the state (2 1/2 hour drive ONE WAY) I may have more to 'blog' (aka complain) about later. 
And - great way to start the new year - my husbands desktop computer is now infected with the same lovely virus that MY laptop had back in October.  Only his has lots more on it, and is older - so it may not be repairable.  We won't be able to do much about it today - or tomorrow for that matter.  We'll find out on Monday what if anything can be done.  But we definitely don't have the cash for a new system....
Finally.  A call from our niece letting us know WHO she chose to ride with to that family occasion.  Just an hour before we need to be out the door.  When will the 'youngins' start being more responsible about those things?  She's 23 with a kid of her own!  You would think she would have just a little more respect for her elders.... Can ya tell that THAT subject has been bothering me lately?  Crazy kid....
So to blog or not to blog later today - that is the question.  Guess you'll just have to wait and see....

Marguaritas With Lime

The top photo shows the color detail much better - but here she is.  I surprise myself yet again by creating something even better than I had thought it would be.  I will be wearing this to a family gathering tomorrow, and then I MAY put this one for sale.  Especially since I've been selling several of my art pieces lately.  Or maybe THIS will be the piece we put on EBay in our attempt to get some interest there.  Hmmm.  Much to ponder on this first day of 2010.  For those of you beady friends that are wondering - this piece is comprised of Yellow Turquoise cabs for the focal and the clasp (seen in bottom photo).  There is also yellow turquoise interspersed throughout the netting, along with Labradorite, Freshwater and glass pearls.  I love the BIG silver chunky glass pearls.  Picture them as the salt around the rim!  Anyway - enjoy.  It's making me want the real thing right about now.  Guess I'll stick with my Traverse City Cherry latte instead....
TTFN

Ok...here goes

Happy 2010 everybody!  Whew!  I don't think anybody is gonna call 'do overs' on last year.  Let's just move on and manifest a GREAT year health, happiness and prosperity-wise.
As I have written previously, 2010 is 'a blog a day' year for me.  So here I am, at 7:50AM on 1/1/2010 writing my first day's blog.  And some days - there may be more than one.  I am going to really try hard to at least blog a little bit every day.  I find that I like it.  It's much easier than 'journaling' long hand, although I love to sit and write too.  But that takes away too much bead time!  And I'm having so much fun with that.  It's become so rewarding to have that little bead shop of mine.  I've outlasted 5 bead shops in the area - there are just 3 others left.  I had so many new customers in the last few weeks, all unexpectedly but happily surprised at my selection and my knowledge.  Thank you.  And the more beaders that find me, the more profitable it becomes!   I received an email this morning from the gals at LRSH (Little Red Schoolhouse) that I was the 6th highest seller of the YEAR!   whooohoooo!!!!!  And 2010 is going to be soooo much better.  I can feel it.  (for those of you that don't know, my bead shop is inside a craft and antiques mall). 
And by the way, I will be blogging again later today - because I need to post the finished photos of "Marguaritas with Lime".  Done.  And it matches my lime velour top perfectly.  Kinda proud of this one.  Will I keep it or sell it?   Hmmm....photos later!
TTFN