Non-Bead Related, Boy Related.

So Tuesday was J's band, 4 Aspirin Morning, first ever live performance. Well that's not fully true. They've played at a Trek store for about 10 people and they played a birthday party for the same people. This was there first ever live show not just for friends and family. Their first "paid" show, even if they were paid with pizza and beer.

I have to say it went really well. They played two sets, and J was amazing as usual (I might be a little bias). In all honestly all of the guys were amazing. They really did sound great.

It was pretty loud because the bar was so damn small, but oh well. And a lot of people showed up, which made it even better. It was fantastic to see people really enjoy their music and get up and dance like crazies. Hell, even the locals were getting down.

The night started at about 8:00.

The second band to play was The Cloth Sea. They were a lot more mellow and a nice contrast to the craziness of 4AM. I really liked their sound.

The best part is the bar owner liked them so much that both bands will be playing in a new bar in Beaver Dam this Saturday. It's not really the big time yet. But it's still pretty exciting.

Hopefully this will lead to more exposure and more gigs (maybe in Madison).

I say Madison because I'm not use to the small town bars where they still allow smoking (for now). I ended up with quite the sinus infection, but it was worth it.

I was also put in charge of photographing this shindig. Which was something new for me. I'm use to still life on a macro scale. I told them they had to stand really still and I was only going to take close up shots. But I don't think I did too bad. I've also been enjoying playing around with the pictures in PhotoShop. Hopefully by this Saturday I'll get a little bit better shots.

If you're in WI this Saturday and are looking for something to do, stop by Liquid Therapy and Grill and watch three amazing bands, no cover. The festivities start at 8:00.

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Now I need to get back to the import things, like beading and making patterns. I've fallen behind on that stuff due to this nasty sinus infection. But I promise to have some more beady goodness soon. Take care and enjoy the weekend.

Pictures (top to bottom): J playing guitar, 4Am, The Cloth Sea.

It's February Already!?!

Wow, the end of January has just been crazy for me. I've been scrambling to finish up my challenge piece for the EBW challenge. I've changed my mind a million times on how I want it to look. But hopefully I'll get that finished up tonight and I'll have some pictures later in the week with what I came up with.

Work has also been crazy. I'm on my own for a couple of weeks, and boy has it been crazy. But that's how it works, if you're short staffed, then all hell is gonna break loose. But I think I'm handling it just fine.

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I have some new pieces that I want to share with the world, but I've been putting off taking pictures of them. So I offer you a cuff I just re-listed. This is one of my favorite cuffs; my 80's-tastic cuff.

The colors are just fantastic in it. They are so bright and wonderful. I really wanted to keep this one for myself, but J reminded me that I can always make myself another one. So off it went to my Etsy store.

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Then the last little plug for today. If you live in South Central WI and don't have anything to do Tuesday, February 2, 2010, you should stop by the 1850's Inn in Juneau WI to watch 4 Aspirin Morning (J's band) and The Cloth Sea. No cover charge!!!! Come see some great ska music! TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2010!!!!

The sound quality is crap in this video (it was taken with a camera), but you get the idea.

A Helping Hand

Well the beginning of the year has been good for many, but has been sad and hard for others. I want to take time out of my normal blog posts about my latest creations or funny pictures of Yoda to tell you about some of the fund-raising efforts that is going on for these people.

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First off is fellow blogger and Etsian; Tanya Boden of Aardvark Silver. She is in desperate need of heart surgery. She needs this surgery and cannot have it until she has raised the funds. Please stop by Tanya's Blog and read her story. She is offering discounts in all of her online stores, as well as having a $250 giveaway. Stop by her blog, Facebook Page, or Etsy store for more details.

You can visit the Have A Heart For Tanya Facebook Page for more information and also items from fellow crafters and artists that are donating the proceeds to Tanya. You can also donate HERE, any donation, even if it's $1, helps. Please help her out.

I will be donating all the proceeds from the sale of the above earrings to Tanya. Please click here for the earrings. **These beautiful Earrings have sold, but you can still donate to the Mayday Fund for Tanya!**

Though I do not know Tanya personally, I have gotten to know her through Facebook and her blog. Please donate.

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We all have heard about the horrible earthquake that has hit Haiti, and then they were hit by another this morning. The people of Haiti need help.

A group of Etsians have gotten together and opened the Hearts for Haiti Etsy Store. It's a collective of donated items from Etsy Artists and all of the proceeds (minus etsy and paypal fees) goes toward the Earthquake relief.

I donated a pair of beaded hoops. These hoops, along with a large variety of other items, can be found in the Hearts for Haiti Store.

These earrings will only set you back $25 and you'll be helping the relief effort. Click here for the earrings listing.

Please stop by the Hearts for Haiti Etsy Store and help a wonderful cause.

Also check out the Craft Hope Etsy Store!!

Black Tie

One of my New Years resolutions was to go through all those half finished projects I have laying in my bead room. I wanted to divide them into two groups; take apart and finish.

I have accomplished the first part of this resolution, I've gone through all of them and taken apart the ones I didn't like or knew I would never finish. And I've started finishing the second group of projects.

This was the first project on my list. I started this necklace a long time ago. Probably about this time last year. I wanted to make a thin beaded lariat necklace. I always love the way these look, but have never tried on. Well, then I slowly started to loose interest in this necklace and it got set aside.

But then came the new year. I want to be more on top of things this year. So I started back up on this necklace. It was going well until I noticed I was going to run out of silver lined seed beads if I tried to work the full length. I knew I would loose interest with this necklace again if I had to wait for a bead order, so I decided to change the design.

I shortened up the necklace so it's only about half as long as the original design and I added a bunch of branched fringe on the ends. I had no idea how

I was going to finish off this necklace. I tried to think of as many different ways and I came up with the beaded ring. I used this design before on my Rising Sun Necklace. I used it to add a little bit of visual interest.

In this black and silver necklace it adds a visual interest, but it also finishes up the necklace and allows the wearer to adjust the length a little.

I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. I really like the way it looks on . It adds a touch of class to any outfit.

This necklace is in my etsy store, so for more info click HERE.

Treasury Thursday!

I need to get this posted before this wonderful treasury by Momgen expires. My Rising Sun Necklace was featured in this fantastic treasury; Be Mine..... Thank you so much Momgen. Please make sure to check out this beauty and click on all the other fabulous items.

Yoda!

Yoda's been itching her ears again, so we have been making her wear the cone again. She looks so cute!

Voting Time!

Don't forget to stop by the Beadweaving Emporium Street Teams blog and vote for your favorite entries in this month's challenge. The theme this month was Winter Splendor and the entries are just beautiful. Go vote for your favorite today (voting is open until the 15th).

Matching Bracelet!

I have really been enjoying working with the St. Petersburg stitch. I really like the way it looks. It's very pretty.

So after working on my necklace with my ArtBeads items, I decided to make a cuff that went with my Antheia's Bounty Necklace (I finally came up with a name).

It's just a simple blue and black cuff using the St. Petersburg stitch. I think it looks really pretty.

I finished off the cuff with two metal flower beads I have been hoarding for the perfect project.

It really compliments the necklace well. It brings all the beautiful blues out in the necklace and because it's simple, it doesn't overpower the necklace.

I'm happy with this one, I can't wait to make more with this wonderful stitch.

This one is available in my etsy store, HERE.

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I've started applying for art shows for this year. I've already applied for my first one that will be held in Madison on February 13th. I'll know by next Tuesday if I was excepted or not. I have my fingers crossed because I really think this will be a good show (and it's in a bar, a fancy one, so J will be happy he can get a cold one if the show is too boring for him). So hopefully I'll have good news early next week. And then I'll keep everyone posted on other art shows.

Green Triangles

Just a quick post for me today.

I listed these great little beaded triangle earring this morning. I made them last spring and I just forgot to ever list them, I can't believe it. I love these little guys. They are so much fun. The beads are this great super bright green color. They really pop.

If you'd like to learn more click HERE to go to my etsy store.

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I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year.

We had a quiet celebration with just the two of us. We went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants for dinner (it's in an old church) and then just spent the night at home celebrating with some wine J brought back from his last trip to Canada (we forgot to get champagne). It was very nice.

Now with only a few days left of my vacation I'm trying to get everything done that I promised myself I would get done over these last two weeks. I do this every year. The only real thing we accomplished was spoiling the dog into thinking she doesn't need to be in the kennel any more. Now she just sits in there and whines, bad owners!

My New Creation!

I am pleased to introduce my newest creation. I haven't thought of a name for it yet, but I'm working on it (you know the holidays and all).

I received these lovely beads from ArtBeads.com a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to get started. I have decided that this blogger program is a fantastic way for me to push myself and try something new each time. This is the perfect opportunity for me to leave my comfort zone and explore new techniques and ideas.

I'm not a huge fan of fringe; I love the way fringe looks, but hate working it up. It's time consuming and well just seems to give me trouble every time I try. But this time I was determined to make it work; the beautiful Czech glass leaves I received were definitely inspiration. They were absolutely lovely. It was very difficult to pick just a few from ArtBeads large collection of glass beads.

I also decided to try a new bead stitch; St. Petersburg. I've always loved how it looks, but just never tried it. So I used black and blue seed beads to create a delicate beaded necklace that compliments the fringe and flower pendents. I think this stitch looks like vines growing on a stone wall. Very natural and organic. I'm really happy with how it turned out and have a few more ideas on how to use it in the future.

I am also in love with these fabulous Hill Tribe Silver Flower Pendents. I've always wanted to order some of these flower pendents, but just never have. They are absolute stunners. ArtBeads has a fantastic selection of Hill Tribe Silver Beads and Pendants. Each silver item made individually by the Karen Hill Tribe in northern Thailand. Just beautiful.

I finished this necklace off with beaded end caps and a wonderful Bali Sterling Silver "S" clasp. I am really happy with how this necklace turned out. It looks so pretty on, it's definitely on my list of favorites.


Disclosure - I have received these products from ArtBeads free of charge to honestly review. I have not been paid for this post.

Christmas Gifts!

I just finished up a couple of necklaces I made for my mom and my MIL.

I really love these beaded rings. I was practicing my beading around objects, and I completely misjudged the size of the steel washer I was beading around, so I just finished them off as rings. I've always loved seeing beaded rings and other shapes, so I'm glad I've (accidentally) learned how.

I received these great bead mixes the other day and couldn't wait to get something made with them. I really think my mom and MIL will like these. They are simple yet really pretty.

I made myself one that was using a green and gold seed bead mix, I love it. (J says it looks like a wreath).
I also got new backgrounds for my pictures (new scrapbook paper). Ok, so maybe it was a gift to myself while I was out Christmas shopping. I was super excited to use it on some new pictures. I love the way the first picture looks.

Playing Catch Up!

Wow, you can definitely tell it's almost Christmas around my house. This is the time of year where everything is crazy. So my blog always seems to be what suffers.

J got back from China on Saturday. He had a good time, but is happy to be home. He brought me back some really nice silk slippers and a fun fat panda stuffed animal. He also brought home a fantastic chest cold (no it's not H1N1, he was vaccinated). But luckily he is off of work for the rest of the year, so he has plenty of time to rest up and get well.

Yoda's doing good. She's learned how to jump up on the couch, so now no place is safe in the house from her. Crazy puppy!

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I'm in a couple of treasuries, yay!!!


This first one is really pretty, all different shades of blue. My blue beaded hoop earrings are featured in A Shade of Blue created by Momgen's Corner.


Then my cosmic storm necklace was featured in Cosmic Man created by Christine's Beadwork.

Thank you both for featuring my work. Please stop by these fantastic treasuries and click on all the wonderful items.

I also was interviewed over at K. Nice Artworks Blog. It was a fun interview, thank you for featuring me. And don't forget to stop by her etsy store, K. Nice Artworks, for some really great jewelry.


And last but not least I want to thank everyone who has hearted my store. I have finally reached 600 hearts. It really does make me smile. Thank you everyone that has stopped by and liked my stuffs enough to heart me store.

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Don't forget that there is still free shipping on everything in my etsy store to anywhere until further notice. We're still working on Yoda's vet bills from her surgery. So stop by and get some really unique items and save a little dough.

Ok, I think I'm pretty much caught up on everything. Stop back soon because I have a couple of exciting things planned.

Thank you all!!!

Snow Day!!!

So today is a fairly rare occurrence; the UW-Madison has canceled all classes. This is actually pretty great news for me, that means I get a snow day. No I'm not a student anymore, but that means that all non essential (that's how they put it in the email) staff and faculty are to stay home. WooHoo! See kids, adults get pretty excited about snow days too!

So today, I plan on getting some things done that I've been putting off. I plan on beading my little butt off. I also plan on playing with Yoda for a while, she's teething right now and wow is she cranky. Who knew such a little puppy could be so moody.

And unfortunately since J is in China for work right now, I get to go out and shovel the snow (0urs and our neighbors). I'll be doing this by myself because Yoda is not so fond of the snow. Hey maybe I can get Toonces to help me out. She loves the snow. She's been sitting at the patio door since last night crying.

So to all my friends out there that have been, are currently, or will be pummeled by this storm, keep warm and safe.

I'm off to shovel, oh great looks like it's picked up again and there are huge flakes falling. At least it looks pretty. :)

Time to get into the Season!

So Thanksgiving is over and I've been given "permission" to put up the tree. It's one of my favorite things to do. I don't really decorate for any holidays, but the Christmas tree is a staple. I mush have one up. My first tree was a two foot tall white tree because I had such a small apartment. But I don't care, it was still awesome.

We decided to decorate the pug also. What's cuter then a pug dressed up in garland. So we wrapped her in our red tinsel. Yoda had quite the opposite reaction then I expected. She was so frightened that she just sat in the middle of the living room. She did try to run away once. But then she just became paralyzed with fear. Who would have known that this crazy puppy would be scared of garland. But she looks cute, so that's all that matters.

While we're on the topic of Yoda, she's doing really well. She down to getting her meds only twice a day instead of three times a day. We're also going to start weaning her off of her prescription food and onto normal puppy food. The surgery seams to have been a success (I forgot to give her any medication one day and she had no neurological signs of illness). She still needs a blood test, so I'm hoping to get that done soon.

She's really started to fill out and gain some weight, which is a great sign. She's almost big enough to jump up on the couch now (where will we escape from her crazy running around the house).

Holiday Cheer Treasury

I found my Light Blue Beaded Christmas Ornament in this wonderful treasury, Holiday Cheer, created by StudioElan. Check out this great treasury and click on all the other lovely items in this treasury.