What's Going On ...

An lo, there were new Icicle beads...

and all was right with the world...Working from the Valentine colors the other day (pink, black, white) I added a splash of Lime and pinch of Amethyst with just a sprinkle of Pumpkin and created a whole bunch of neat, bright beads for the Icicle earrings...This round is 'create your own, mix and match' but I've included 5 or 6 sample strands so you can see how they work together...a nice mix of colors and styles, I had a ball just pulling them outta the box and coming up with the samples...groovin'...

Everybody's workin' for the weekend...

9:10pm - I've got the Icicle earrings back in stock, so the PayPal buttons are active again...and I'm working on beads for them tonight, but they won't be available until tomorrow afternoon...i'll also have some show and tell earrings from class, I just put them thru the tumbler and they came out very shiny and groovy...see ya'll tomorrow...

didja watch Jack beat up Cummings...sweet...

Yes, i am back at work today myself...I have a load of beads and goodies going to the post office in a few minutes, and then its time to get back to work...earrings, beads and beads...any requests for a specific color combo? I was thinking of doing some BRIGHTS for the Icicles, per request..and who doesn't like bright beads, right? of course...Guess I should put up a new poll asking for color sets, but I typically work in what I feel like, what excites me, which I know can be frustrating, but at least i get beads made when i do that...I truly come to a screeching halt when i try to force myself to do something that doesn't inspire me...boo...

So, go get yourself a dose of Cowbell on the Garage Sale page and I'll be back with more fun and goodies before you know it...there's always something cookin' at Blackberrybeads world...before you know it, it'll be time to pick strawberries and make cobblers again...rock and roll...

BeeYOOOOtiful day...

while it is sunny, cool and gorgeous outside, I am being disciplined and working inside...packaging and shipping this morning, soldering this afternoon...i have a few 1" earrings to create, and a few more 1.5" earrings to do...they are all cut, filed and hammered, next up is to solder the balls and wires on, clean, tumble and complete...so I will be updating the Icicle section as soon as I have them completed..I don't like to sell stuff unless I have it 'in hand'..otherwise, I tend to take a LONG time to get it made (as I'm sure many of you realize)...SOOOOO - lets get a move on!!

Oh, and I brought back the Garage Sale and Ready for Pickin pages by request...perhaps I will add new things to that Garage Sale page...bwahahahahaha...

Whats my name...say my name!!!

I'm up really late (really late) surfing around for an old tv soundtrack that I'm not having much luck finding, but I did run across one of these websites that I find simply fascinating...If you like useless trivia like I do, then you should visit this page on Stage Names - Real Names...I knew some of these like Judy Garland was really Frances Gumm, and of course Marilyn Monroe was Norma Jean Baker (there were more in here that I knew that I have no business storing in my brain, like Tony Curtis and Cary Grant's real names - my braincells should be used for the greater good like curing cancer or something)...but did you know that Chuck Norris is really Carlos Ray? Wha???? and Tony Randall was Leonard Rosenberg??? Things that make you go 'hmmm'...

I'll update again when I get up tomorrow...whenever that may be...gotta go back to the list, or at least try to find the soundtrack I'm looking for...I've also downloaded another fistful of free ringtones to my cell phone..."Don't Fear the Reaper", "Bittersweet Symphony" and a couple of my favorite Cure songs, "Lullaby" and "Lovesong"...rock on and go paint your fingernails black...

9:30am - I'm here! I'm updating 'below' last night's entry cause I think its more interesting to read than what I have to say this morning..ha...the only good news is I've made a few more Valentine's beads (and one icicle beadset to go with it) so I'll go clean them and post them for ya...just one set,tho, as far as I can tell...well, lemme go see how many beads I really have, before I commit...

Its raining buckets outside right now...the hard driving rain that makes so much noise you have to turn up the tv...we are SO low on rain that it could rain for a week and we'd be happy...the roses are soaking it up with a straw, the yard is happy, I just hope it rains all day while I stay inside all snuggly and dry...Bagheera is sleeping to the left of me, Lady is on my right leg, I'm wedged in here pretty good...might be a few minutes before I have anything to post...ha...

All natural materials...

Well, I was going to go on a tirade about Faye Dunnaway who was on CSI last night, but chances are ya'll don't wanna hear it...all I can say is, i hope she has stock in Silly Putty and Chicklets, cause her whole head looked like it was built from those two materials...

I'm hunkerin' down for a long day of beadmaking...I typically get started after 4:00pm due to 'life' things going on, like vet visits, Tues class, shipping, errands, and that's not including if I bother to answer emails the same day they arrive...but today - nothing is on my calendar, its a wide open day...the dog is enjoying the cool weather in the backyard, the cats are chasing each other and I'm firing up the torch...I have some things to make from yesterday's offering (like the black hearts), but I think I may just play today...try something new, or pull out my class notes and try something I learned ages ago but never practiced...I always enjoy play days at the torch, cause I don't have any specifics in mind...Oh, I DO need to make more Icicle beads (and more earrings too), so I'll get some bright colors made for ya'll...that may be what I spend the day doing...we shall see...

Ok, I'm ready...and here are the beads...

I'm FINALLY getting around to listing one of the Large Raku Lentil sets that I made over the holidays...its a rockin' cool thing...wear it as a bracelet, or use the beads however you like...up on eBay tonight...check it out when you get a chance...

Its noon and all is open on the Pickings page...Oh - be sure to hit REFRESH to see what sets have sold, so you aren't disappointed!!

Bagheera is fine, thanks for asking...it was his yearly checkup time, and he's getting older and is an outdoor kitty and we just wanted to make sure he was ok...bloodwork, weight, etc...right now he's inside acting cranky and chasing the other cats around...I guess giving blood didn't set well with him and he's taking it out on everyone else...he and I have been in the backyard playing in the mulch, so he's not upset with me at least...

I've uploaded a 'taste' of the beads to come...see ya'll in an hour...

I have to wait until B is done with his Dr. visit...its scheduled for 10:00am and it'll probably take an hour, maybe longer...so lets just schedule beads to be posted at noon my time (central) and that way you can get your life underway....I've had folks email me, saying they had to keep checking my site till I updated, they couldn't leave the house till they knew what i was posting (I'm flattered, but that's kinda scary!), so I know ya'll want to be kept up to date and I try to do my best to help ya'll out...

Valentine's colors...black, white, pink, red...hearts...swirls...dots...I think you'll be happy...see you at noon...

Beads...tomorrow...

I have been trying all week to get time at the torch, and 'life' has been getting in the way (as John Lennon said so eloquently)...So, I have proclaimed I will have beads tomorrow...this way, nothing can stop me from getting on the torch today...

well, except that I'm making a trek to a cool town about an hour outside of Austin to pick up some very cool heavy metal iron scrollwork grates that I hope to put in our garden walkways...pics after I bring them back...but I'll be out this morning, cold wet hair whipping around in the car, but I promise it won't make me sick...really...i don't think it will...i already have a headache, how much worse could it get??? back later...

The Neverending Spring...

Not that I mind, mind you...its just been a fabulous calm, warm winter...perfect of the Vampyre, I take it out all the time with the top down...when I see other Miata's (called "MX-5" now, like their European counterparts) with their tops up when its sunny and 75 outside, I think 'what are you thinking? - this could not BE any nicer for a top-down drive"...oh well, my top is down most of the year, if I didn't think a squirrel would build a nest in the floorboard, I'd keep it down all the time...I wish I had a garage so I could do just that, but maybe one day...

Just got back from a long, interesting smithing class...am still working in copper, did lots of cutouts..next week I'm going to 'sweat solder' some brass and silver onto a large copper cutout I made today...I've never done sweat soldering before, so this will be fun...you know, there is a LOT of prep that needs to be done in silversmithing - I see other jewelry makers who don't finish ends properly, their stones are set poorly, they don't even CLEAN their finished pieces (they admit there is firescale on the piece!) and yet, folks buy their stuff...I don't get it...would you pay money if someone brought you spaghetti that had been dropped on the floor, and meatballs that weren't cooked thru properly? What is it about people who buy unfinished stuff, is it appealing in some way I don't get? I like hammered, shabby chic looking stuff, not everything has to be perfectly shined or lined up in little rows, but there should be something said for a proper construction, right? do you buy cracked beads? Hell, I don't even like selling beads that are slightly out of whack - my friends go thru my beadjar and yell at me 'what is wrong with this bead????'...but if I think its bad, then its bad, and it stays in the jar...(or some folks steal the beads from me, which is fine and all, but yuck to that)...do you buy half eaten loaves of bread from the grocery? I guess I just don't understand what folks think is acceptable...

Howdy Ho...is all well with you?

I've been shipping for a few hours now, there was a LOT of stuff to package and the labeling is still taking place, but while I'm waiting for the labels to print, I remembered I had a couple of goodies to offer, so i've posted them for ya'll...groovy...

Its finally 'winter' outside, not 70 or 80 as its been since October...I actually have to wear long sleeves- and I was 'cold' yesterday since it never got over 50...wow..too bad it'll only last a few weeks, then the true heat will be back with a vengence...

But, while its chilly and sunny out, i'll be inside working...i have earrings to make, beads to make, beads to ship, emails to answer...

I took yesterday 'off' while it rained and did some research on planting companion plants..did you know Roses love Garlic? I bought a book with that title...there are plants to scare away bugs and critters, so I'm gonna see if I can do this w/out resorting to toxic sprays and powders - no one wants that...

So, if ya need me, I'm here...workin'...oh, we have a delivery of 3 yards of decomposed granite arriving this morning...i know i know, very exciting, right? yeah...

My class never happened on Saturday- turns out the instructor combined her Sat classes into the morning session, but forgot I was coming at 1:00, so I ended up turning around and came home...we finished digging out some of the front yard and putting mulch in, just in time to let the rains work their magic on it...so nothing new to report there...

nothing much else to say right now- I'm boring!...the dog needs to go chase something and I'm eating mini wheats...look for beads later this week, I'll have some cool stuff for ya, but I need to get these hearts to ya'll first!

Saturday in the park...

All the bead deliciousness from yesterday is now spoken for (my buddy Rene in Hawaii swooped in for some goodies, she's 8 hours behind us, but still picked up some sweet sweet tasty treats)...sounds like I need to eat some chocolate or something, I'm having a 'sweet' convulsion I guess...

This afternoon I am taking a 'make up' class in my smithing studio - I skipped my regular Tuesday appt so I could stay home and sign up for Bead and Button which took exactly 4 minutes if you remember...but I've never attended a saturday class, so it'll be fun meeting new students...

I found lots of copper sheet that I don't remember buying (probably ordered from a catalog and it sat around) as well as some old sterling sheet and tubing I bought for my last class 2 years ago, so I have more stuff than I originally thought..I have no idea what I'm going to do in class today, in fact most days I don't have a plan, I just show up and see what happens..for some reason i feel like I should be prepared for class, but the instructor is very cool and said as long as she feels like I'm not wasting my time, its fine to show up and learn something new...there's so mucht that I don't know, that its easy to learn something new...I will probably saw some silver today and see what happens...

a 'cold' front moved in last night, so its feeling more like Christmas now...we'll go get a tree and decorate it - what...? oh...well, we'll have one month of winter, if that, and then it'll be caterpillar-a-poppin Spring...there is a convention of the 'pillar's on our passion vine that are all about the same size - large...i know they'll all turn at the same time and we'll have butterflies zipping around like mad...(Abigail tore the wings off one yesterday, it was quite sad)...today and tomorrow is a 'green' garden convention and we'll be going down to look at stuff, and feel like the Austin crunchy granola hippies we are...we have a hybrid, we use organic compost and fertilizer, I even have a 'Keep Austin Weird' shirt (well, two actually)...i don't have any birkenstocks, tho...

time for some breakfast, and I'll be working later today...I have a load of RINGS to post - any of ya'll like rings? these have been waiting for me to get to for a few months (or years, actually) and I'm ready to start parting with them...prolly go up on the Garage Sale page...look for them later tonight or tomorrow...rock on sistas...

I left my heart...In San Francisco...

So come pick up a new heart from me now...! I did the same 'shopping cart' thing with these beads, lets hope it works as well as it did with the items from yesterday...I am still working in Valentine colors, and hope to have some small sets for ya'll next week...but who doesn't want a groovy red or black caged heart for Valentine's Day or any day for that matter...rock on!

Valentine's Day is on its way..

Oh don't remind me...another year older...bah...I'm seeing more and more grey in my hair every day...they are wired and kinky hairs and I'll look like Witch Hazel in another 10 years, but that's ok..I like the idea of looking like a crazy grey haired freaky woman with lots of cats and scaring all the neighborhood children...(all two of them)..

But I digress...the reason for my announcement is I'm working on hearts heart and more hearts, and will have a bounty of beads for ya'll to-morr-ow...not today, but Friday...manana...come see me then...

So, are ya'll diggin American Idol? I've read that folks think Simon is being mean - isn't that why we watch? For the trainwrecks and smart alecky remarks? Paula in all her drugged up goodness, Randy trying to be fly but really being a tool and Simon - the only voice of reason and honesty in the room...idiot 17 year old girls who can't sing and ugly dorky guys who have no business being in the room - dressed as Statue of Liberty or a Martha Stewart Spring Linen advertisement...Its all about airtime and these weirdos are getting it...and I'm laughing...I'm glad we're seeing SOME decent singers, it gives me hope in the world that there is talent out there, but we have 4 months of watching decent (not great) singers - lets watch the freakshow while we have the chance...and this is coming from someone who HATES reality TV...I didn't even watch the first season of this show cause I used to feel bad for the freaks, but they obviously are setting themselves up for this - its not like they are being pranked...so if you're going to lay it out - then play it out...wow, when did I become Eminem?

So much to DO!

I've been up forever, and have started this blog 3 times, but the dog keeps taking me outside to work off her energy...i need to setup a fake rabbit and just turn it on and let her chase it around the yard...so I can get to work!

Time to shoot some pics of some goodies...time to make beads..time to go to the Post Office..time to answer emails...time to eat breakfast? ha...i brushed my teeth, that'll have to do...

Sounds like loads of ya'll are going to B&B - sweet...and ya'll got the classes you wanted, which is fantastic...my buddy Mick signed up for a bunch of Susan Lenart Kazmer classes and missed 3 of 4 of them...she tried telling me that they wouldn't fill, since its the third time SLK is teaching them, but I didn't buy it - I changed my schedule and chose other classes and now I'm glad...I think we'll have to just go to Mexico for a seminar with her - road trip in the Mini! heh...

B&B is a hoot - if you get a chance to save up your pennies and go, you won't be sorry...I wish I could do both that and the Gathering, but I like the variety of classes offered (and the lack of egos, from what I've heard) at B&B, the 'anonymity' of it, the choices of beads, metal, wirework, stringing projects, books, to choose from...granted, I've never been to a Gathering, so I can't speak from experience, I'm just going on what others who've been there have told me...the show I don't think I can handle is Tucson...talk about 'going broke'..good grief...talk about buying stuff I don't need and would never use...I'm not strong enough to attend Tucson - I would definitely need a straight jacket to walk those isles...

B&B Registration countdown

12:04 - well, I dunno what it means, but I got into all the classes I signed up for...maybe I am taking the stuff that no one else wants...it'll just be me and tumbleweeds in the rooms...only took me 4 minutes to complete everything, and I wasn't even hurrying..in fact I think I was kinda lost cause I had to input each class number and do a 'search' for it to come up...is that how its normally done? I dunno, but I'll be happily learnin' me some PMC, fine silver soldering, boroscilicate color reactions, cold cap connections, gypsy wire earrings and other groovy things...stay tuned babies!

I'm up early (early-early) this morning - like 6:00am - which is crazy early for me (7:00am is my normal rise time)...but I need to organize some beads for Nancy to get her ready to ship everything today...yeehaw...and then Bead and Button registration is at NOON today, so I have to be ready w/all my little choices, numbers, credit card, and whatever else hooha that I need...

last year Brian registered for me while I was farting around in Italy (has it been a year already?)so I don't know what I'm doing exactly...all I know is, its going to be stressful and I doubt I'll get all the classes I'm requesting, but I've got some good backups listed, so I hope it all goes as planned...

what I've learned from last year's show - keep your time occupado or you will walk the show floor and spend all your nickels...I had the entire Friday off last year and I spent it (literally) at the show...this year, my time is filled wall to wall...I'll have time to do the show Thur evening, and that will be enough...in fact, I am thinking about listing some of the goodies that are on the B&B page - I haven't used them and they are still in the same bag I brought them home in last June...see any Pacific Silverworks that might interest you? hmmm? hmmm? There's nothing wrong with any of it - but if I haven't used it in 8 months, I probably won't...and why leave it just waste away in a bag when it could be adorning your gorgeous work, right? That's my philosophy...I'm not saying I won't buy anything this year, but I will have a little friend on my shoulder whispering "will you use that, how badly do you need that, put it down and come back in an hour and see if its still here"...I can be pretty stingy when I want to...look at all the pretty things, but don't touch...maybe I should wear a fake cast so that I can't pick anything up!?!?!

Paperwork is not my friend

1:30pm - Whew...my Tx Sales tax is calculated and I've processed for the payment to be made by the 20th, the due date...so what that means is - I'm done! yeehaw...the big income taxes are still due, that will take me a few days probably, but I did manage to organize most of my receipts this morning...and I might put that off for another week or so...I'm ready to eat - I was too worried to even be hungry this morning, but now that I'm done - I'm famished..its like a switch went off in my stomach...yeouch...

Alas, alack (read that the other day, what a great pair of words), I must handle paperwork today..I've already made a list of 'things to do' for today and this week, and the coming month(s)...I even have a list of stuff to list for sale, but I doubt I'll get to those today...my goal is to handle the paperwork that's due by Friday and get some beads made this afternoon...wish me luck with that!

Yesterday was a wonderfully lazy day - we were such coach potatoes that I felt eyes popping out all over me...we watched football and "24" (wow, was that a great 2 hours or what...tonight - another 2 hours...cool) and played around on our laptops...I think Saturday's work in the yard took more out of us than we thought..I see sunburns on both of our faces...

So now its time for me to get a move on...get going...get busy...get on top of things...get into gear...get on down...rock on and I'll check back in later...

RLM Studio is my hero

I stayed up till 1:00am last night and got up early to see all the groovy silver jewelry that Robert Lee Morris was hawking on QVC...I like his clean, simple lines and he just seems like a cool guy...plus I like the video of his studio - I'm sure I could spend hours finding all kinds of goodies in there...I need to figure out how to work in copper and brass - mostly how to seal them so they don't discolor and oxidize...silver is great, but it is getting more expensive, and I'm still so new to smithing that I hate to waste good silver on my mistakes - so I've been working in copper recently (which is why i haven't shown ya'll - its not ready for its big debut just yet), and I need to know what to seal it with...if ya'll are metal workers and have any ideas, lemme know...

I was channel surfing and stopped on some cute animal videos on Animal Planet- and Clementine jumped off me, ran over to the tv and started looking for the birds on the show...it was all rather amusing...I need to get her a 'cats watching tv' video cause I think she would go bananas watching tv...and there is something funny about watching her touching the tv screen trying to find the birds inside...i'm easily amused...

Its a lazy, hazy crazy day here...we are sore from moving dirt and roses from yesterday, so I think today is going to be 'inside work'...watch some football, and get caught up inside...I'm ready for the SuperBowl...hmmm...that doesn't sound like much 'work', does it?

I have been putting off working on my sales tax, but it has to be done...has...to..be...done...

An Icicle Surprise

Ok, the Pickin Page is Open Wide...have fun...

Sorry for the delay, the remaining roses took over our bodies and we had to put them in the ground...The pics are now shot, but I haven't looked at them yet- I'm not certain they are all good, but I'll process what I can and get the rest done ASAP...eww...cold wet dog nose is all over my elbow..I think she wants a walk, but she's 2 hours early..go play, dog! back in a few minutes...

Chantico is going bye-bye...we are very sad...

I know its Saturday and you're probably busy doing Saturday Stuff, but I was busy yesterday making more beadsets for the Icicle earrings...ironically, there is a 3 to 1 vote for 'planned sets' vs. 'pairs', so I have gone ahead and put the sets together for sale...I DO have a few pairs to offer too, though...gimme some time to eat some cereal and get the shots taken, so I'll be back...besides, ya'll should be out shopping or reading the paper or enjoying your day, not waiting on beads from me! heh...

So everything is cleaned and next up - photos...I'm listening to the Organic Garden radio program, and Brian is moving a viburnum to make way for my New Dawn climber that is going in next to the arch in the side yard...I need to water the plants too..we haven't had water in like 2 months, but I've been dilligently watering the lawn and plants, so hopefully everything will pop up in March...

Paraskevidekatriaphobia:

My buddy Annette let me know that the Donner party wasn't the bunch of Crazy Cannibals they were made out to be...whew!

You know what that is...Lucy would say 'perhaps you've got Paraskevidekatriaphobia - the fear of Friday the 13th'...I hope you aren't that superstitious that you stay home under the covers today - its too pretty a day to miss...so get up, go outside and enjoy the day...I myself will be cooped up inside, but its all good...the doors are open, the 'outdoor air conditioning' is making things comfortable here and I'll be workin' workin' workin'...This weekend I have the joy of going thru all my PayPal transactions to find all the Texas Sales Tax I've collected, and get it paid next week...the $ isn't that big a deal, its all the paperwork that's a big fat drag...oh well, at least its only one time a year...

and then we move onto our income taxes...hope to get those done early this year and not on the 14th of April...rock and roll..

So sorry that so many of ya'll missed out on the beads...I was hoping the headsup on Wednesday would be enough, but alas, I always end up making folks sad...I've tried night time offerings - they were always a disaster...so the best thing I can do is make more beads and have them ready to go soon...which brings me back to working today...

Speaking of, I've been getting a surprising amount of responses to the new Poll I posted yesterday - the overwhelming response (so far) has been for 'sets that I put together' vs. the 'pairs' of 2 beads and let you build your own combos...However, I think i'll offer some of BOTH cause I think you would enjoy making your own customized combos...(I'm talking about beads for the Icicle earrings, btw)...I remember the days of the 'earring pairs' pages and how fast they flew out the door, so I thought ya'll would like that option better...either way, it's all good...

I'm ready for breakfast...growl...

Bead Fairy has landed...

2:07pm Ok then...I feel comfortable that most everything has sold and I can return to the torch this afternoon...My goal today is to make beads for the Icicle earrings and to post a page where you can come and shop for whatever you like...I put up a new poll asking if you would prefer to buy these in 'pairs' of 2, or in 'sets' like I've offered (the Mango Twist, etc) where I created the look and you buy the beads as shown...

I think I'll post the beads in 'pairs' and let YOU build the look you want, but I will go ahead and offer a few sets that I build, just for fun..but if you wouldn't mind taking the poll to let me know if I'm on the right track or not, that'd rock...(the icicle earrings are sold separately from the beads, sorry if I didn't make that clear)...

12:00 Its NOON - the beads are available...rock on...

11:45am Here's a preview pic - the beads are ready to go, I'll post them at Noon Central...see ya then...!

8:30 amWoo...I haven't had a cache of beads like this in awhile...I'm up early cleaning them and having fun looking at them all...it'll be a few hours before they are ready, I'll post updates as I get closer, so don't worry - you'll have plenty of notice and don't have to hang around your computer waiting...

I have to go get some toast, and get back to cleaning...vroom vroom...

Wait for it...

Tomorrow...Thursday...there will be beads...I have a few sets ready and have more to make today...so this is PLENTY of headsup/warning to get ready - there will be beads tomorrow, unless I am run over this morning while picking up catfood...

I've not been paying attention and have managed to run out of catfood...not something I typically do, but it's happened, and so last night I broke open two wet cans of food and distributed them in 6 pyrex cups...not everyone took kindly to the wet food - you know cats and how finicky they can be (I thought they'd dive into wet food)...

So today they are all singing and giving me big sad eyes...I will be at the store at exactly 10:00am to get them new bags, a backup bag and some more wet cans...no one shall go hungry in the house again...

I also filled all the bird and squirrel feeders, after finding the bags had been busted into by the squirrels, and now there's corn and sunflower seeds all over the deck...Lady was munching on corn yesterday - very loud crunches...why is it that dogs want to eat anything in front of them? She likes (loves) catfood, M&M's, acorns, sticks, rocks, dirt, grass and now corn...dogs are weird...

I think I shall eat my breakfast w/ a guilty look on my face...6 of them all jumping on me at once can't do THAT much damage, can they????? Uhoh, Darcy is at my feet crying...I am a bad person...

What's Goin' On???

Oh, did you see the very very quiet mention of Lance and Sheryl splitting up just before Christmas? I read it yesterday and I dunno how true it is...he's actually pretty quiet around Austin, he doesn't make headlines here and keeps his business to himself...it could just be a rumour, I dunno...hmmm...

I'm winding down on my silversmithing classes, I think i'm gonna take a break for a few weeks and come back at it once I have some ideas I want to develop...I have the basics of how to solder, saw, file, polish, so I can make some basic kinds of things and that's good...but I feel like each week I go, I haven't done any research or designing of a project and so I'm kinda wasting the instructor's time...although I do really enjoy the class...

Not much is going on here, though...I have some things working behind the scene, maybe even for eBay, which I haven't done in a million zillion years...

Are folks still recovering from Christmas? It seems kinda quiet, or is it just me??

Donner the Farmer

I am sore...we planted 5 rose bushes over the weekend, and put mulch/food around all the new bushes as well as our existing trees...but the main reason I'm sore is I shoveled a half yard of dirt out of the back of our pickup...my shoulders are talkin' to me now, boy howdy...plus it was so sunny (and hot) that we have sunburns on our faces and my eyes are puffy from the burn...good thing its overcast and cool this morning, I need a break from the farm...

I'm wrapping and packaging all the goods to send out today, since I didn't get to them over the weekend...I like when my table is covered in strands of beads and earrings, it gives me a chance to see what I've done recently, and enjoy it...

Our wonderful UT quarterback is turning pro - which I think is the right decision for him...if he came back for another year, he could injure himself to the point of never having an NFL career - anyone remember Jason White, the quarterback from Oklahoma? He won the Heisman, and went back to school and blew out both knees and no one has heard from him again...Vince needs to go get the bank while he can still walk (did you see Carson Palmer go down in the first play of his game yesterday? knee injury- torn ACL and MCL)...I know, you could probably care less, but it means we'll have a whole new team next year, and it'll be interesting, especially when Ohio State comes down to meet us in September...I'll be ready!

Darcy keeps jumping on me while I'm typing, so I can't get much done..and Lady is chasing squirrels and making too much racket...I gotta go see what's going on, back in a bit...

The Pink Roses of Texas

While you saw me updating my site each day, I was actually still 'away' from the computer most of the day, and that included email...so now I'm 'back' and have downloaded all 247 messages (mostly spam, thank goodness) and will spend this morning wading thru and answering what I can as fast as I can...remember, I 'stepped away' for a few days, but I was here behind the scenes, its not like I've run away with your beads or anything dramatic like that...alas, no...
Also, while I did make beads yesterday, I made the mistake of doing it during the day - and we all know I work best when the sun goes down...so I have a few beads, and they are bad...All that means, tho,

is that I need more time to get them done...so don't hold your breath just yet, its taking longer than I expected, but you will see beads and they will be good...oh yeah..

SHIPPING- after I attempted to ship some beads last week, my printer freaked out for no apparent reason...but now that I'm back, this morning will be all about shipping...so expect an email w/ a tracking number and all that hooha sometime today...at least Brian is nearby should the printer decide to go on hiatus...it printed a label just fine, no problem, then the next one that went thru, it said 'paper too small, blah blah' and stopped...I removed the offending label (just like the one that worked perfectly 30 seconds before) tried again, got the same message...tried once more (mind you, I'm being charged for shipping each time this fails, rah rah) and on the 3rd attempt when it still failed, I walked away...so lets all chant that this won't happen again today...it better not, or there will be printer guts all over the studio...bah...

And finally today we are getting the dirt to plant the roses...i'm looking forward to that...

ok, back to work...thanks for hanging in, and not freaking out...i'll know more once I start opening these emails...anyone send me any Howlers out there?

Good News and...

well, I am making beads, yes indeedy do...the bad news is - they won't be ready today...I'll letcha know when I'll have them, tho..

I am working in Spring colors because it seems to be the right time to do it...and the colors I chose are ones I haven't done in a long time, or it seems like a long time to me...I pulled loads of stringer yesterday, and even made twisties, so we'll see what happens...

two of my roses are opening up - one of them arrived already open on the plant Wed night (roses that arrive by UPS - how funny is that)

but the two bushes we stuck in the ground on Christmas day have one pretty pink rose bud opening up...I should get pictures, eh...I guess all that chanting has been working...along w/ the rose food, turkey manure, super-mulch (loaded with vitamins and minerals for strong growing kids) and water...i only wish I could smell these things...that's right - I have no sense of smell...in all honesty its never been that big a hinderance, I'm sure I'm mising out on all the good smells, but then I miss out on the bad ones too, so its even...so the roses I'm buying have criteria - they must smell (for others to enjoy), they must be repeat bloomers (blooming for at least 6-9 months, maybe more), they must be fast growers and able to handle the intense Texas sun, they must be double petal - thick and full, with lots of petals that will fall all over the ground and look like a perpetual parade is always going thru our yard...so far, so good...there are some serious thorns on some of these bushes, others are thornless (we'll plant those where Bagheera will be hiding)...I've even got books on what to do with rose petals and how to make potpourri and rose beads...sweet!

Oh YEAH baby!

Did you see that? Did you see the game? It was fantastic!!! and Austin is having a blast, partying thru the night...we stayed home and yelled and made noise here, I wanted to go to the Drag at 12:30, but we thought better of it...this morning the local tv news is at the University Co-op, and there are loads of people buying everything UT related...Rock and Roll kiddies and as always,

HOOK 'EM!

Texas Longhorns Rose Bowl Championship Game

Yeah, that's right...my beloved college football ends tonight with my beloved Longhorns playing in the Championship Game...the tv coverage in Austin is crazy, there are parties everywhere, but we are staying home and watching it on our groovy tv we bought last year...its very vibrant and it feels like you're looking out the window when you're watching shows on it...in fact, yesterday our cable provider gave us 3 new HD channels, one is all about how the wealthy live, and its kinda interesting and frightening at the same time...I can't imagine paying zillions of dollars for stuff, and here these folks just toss it around w/out having worked a day for it - like that freak Paris Hilton...

when I was coming back from Italy last year, I spent the night in England, and tried not to stay at the Hilton just because I knew my $400 would go to Paris Hilton's dog's new collar or something equally as infuriating...but alas, the Hyatt was double the price and all the rooms were booked (perhaps they had the same feeling as me!)...the hotel was wonderful, it was a treat to see English tv and commercials again, but I don't want to watch her or any of those other wealthy kids frolick on million dollar yachts that their hard working great grandfathers built for them...boo...

I sound sour, but in fact I'm in a great mood...one of my roses is flowering, each day it opens a little more...I spent the morning watering the front lawn, and plucking no less than 40! caterpillars off the passion vine (I counted)...I just plucked a bunch off on Monday - i think they are crawling back on..I don't have the heart to squash or kill them, so its kinda a game - if you can make your way back to the vine, you get to live another day...like Caterpillar Survivor!!

So tonight, those screams you hear will be me cheering on the team...last night I watched that Orange Bowl - went into 3 overtimes..I was glad to see Joe Paterno win, I think he's a class act...and tonight will be a rolicking good time...I can't wait!! Hook 'Em!!!

Emerging from hibernation...

I'm back in the world of the living - had a nice few days of no computer, just football, roses and sunshine...its been crazy-warm here, in the 70's and 80's the past couple of weeks, and to keep the car in good working order, I've been zipping around in it...Feels like Spring, the caterpillars are eating so much that they completely stripped my butterfly weed, so I plucked a dozen or so (3 of the 4 monarchs had to go, I didn't have any food left for them to eat) and we dropped them off in the butterfly garden at Natural Gardner...although they don't have much to eat there, but I hope nature finds a way to get these guys some munchies...they picked the wrong time of year to be eating...

in fact, we've had loads of butterflies hatch from cocoons lately, and there isn't much for them to snack on...

the rest of my rose order should be arriving this week, Brian and I dug out 4 circles in the front yard and will plant them..I drew some new plans on our landscape blueprint (did I tell ya'll that I went to college to be a draftsman? yep), and I already know what plants are going where in the front...this weekend is plantin' weekend, indeed...

My smithing class started back up again, after a months hiatus, and I ended up being the only student there, so it was a wonderful personal class...some neat new ideas, some sources for copper sheet for my electroforming, and just fun visiting with the instructor...all in all a good day indeed..

I haven't checked emails yet, so if you haven't heard from me, that's why...I also had a printer malfunction, so printing labels was on hold till that was fixed, which it is (until I fire it up again - we shall see how long it stays fixed) so I'll get earrings and the like out to ya'll this week...

rock on, thanks for not forgetting about me and I'll be back with more groovy news as soon as something groovy happens - I'm sure you're tired of caterpillar news, but its the only thing happening right now, other than I'm experimenting with large lentils still, and looking for some cool color combos that I saw last night on HGTV...