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So, my mother, in typical Jewish mom fashion, has been nagging me to get my business license to sell my jewelry. And I, in stupidity mode, told her that I'd probably do it by her birthday. Which is this Friday. That isn't the bad part, per se. The bad part is that I don't have a business name and haven't been able to figure out one that really calls to me. Help? I'd create an actual poll, but it requires one to be registered with DW which not everyone is. What do people like off this list? A) Bead aerie B) The jewelry nest C) Delightful designs D) Other (list suggestion) talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/556026.html. Please comment there. If you don't currently have a DW account, you can use OpenID or create your own account for free.Tags: beading, help needed, jewelry, polls
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I feel like I should be posting a lot, since canyonwalker is out of town and I have a lot of free time, but I've fallen into a minor depression. It's completely situational and will work itself out. However, it's annoying I always have things I want to say when I'm in it, but I never can find my words. It's still hard for me to find my words, but let me try to push it out anyway. 1) I'm in this downward spiral because I've been back on my cane for 1.5 weeks now, and not 100% sure when I'm getting off of it. canyonwalker and I had an epic, would have died if we weren't experienced/hadn't had emergency supplies with us, hike over President's Day weekend when we went out with my cousins[1], and it tweaked my back some. My back didn't go out then, but just over a week later. So I've been dealing with living by myself in a three story house with a screwed up back, while I'm on a cane, and holding onto my spoons tightly. I can force myself to do the necessities, but other than that I'm on the dang couch vegging so I have enough energy to do what I need to. Let's not forget about the fact that the car that is easiest to get in/out of was in the shop for most of the first week, so it was even more draining than it should have been to get out and about. I've got awesome friends who would help out, but I've been accurately described as being "pathologically independent". *shrug* What'cha gonna do about it? To take the pity back a step, I am getting better each day, especially as I have regular physical therapy and massage. That doesn't mean I'm not starting to get stir crazy that walking 1.5 miles is enough to make me limp for the rest of the day and contemplate just cutting the leg off. Not that it would help any. Also, my new doctor's office really went above and beyond for me. They bought the practice from my old doctor so nominally they have my records and know that I'm a chronic pain patient. But knowing it and properly reacting to it are two different things. They got me in for an emergency appointment, listened to me when I explained my history, and gave me the anti-inflammatory and breakthrough pain killers I needed without looking at me as if I wasn't worthy. I was concerned that without an advocate (spouse) who could be more "objective" that they'd look at me like a drug seeker. I'm incredibly pleased at how it went. 2) canyonwalker's father is in the hospital again, and while he's been talking with his siblings some, I'm also doing some of the coordinating since he's out of the country and I'm not. It's been on a knife-edge each day whether I might go out there before he gets home, and whether we will be leaving the day after he gets home to get out there. Spoiler alert: We still have no idea. He's sick enough to be in the hospital, but he's been sick for a while. We can't go out for every bout, or we'd be traveling every few weeks. We were already starting to plan a trip before this bout, and I'd rather go out in a few weeks planned than emergency right now if I had my druthers. However, fate doesn't usually listen to my druthers, so we're taking it day by day. 3) I'm now officially re-diagnosed with IBS. It's weird, but I had forgotten I was diagnosed with it as a child. Then again, when I was a child, doctors didn't tell you anything. The diagnosis was all "eat more roughage!", so I don't feel too bad about forgetting about it. I'd already made changes to my diet while waiting on the blood work and it was helping some. However, the diagnosis means that they can prescribe me some medication. I'm only on my first day of Linzess, and I'm already a fan. I'm pretty much a fan of anything that's not narcotics that gets rid of my pain. However, as much as it helps the pain, I swear to Elath that if it causes me to gain weight, I will be off it faster than you can blink. I'm over having my medication causing me to gain weight. I still have another 30 pounds to lose that the (&$(%*&*$ nerve medication caused me to gain. 4) In good news I had a decent first interview today with a company. It's not a management position, but it is a knowledge management position. I consider that a fair trade-off. I'll find out mid next week how that goes. I'm crossing fingers, but not toes or holding my breath. 5) In more good news, I've made three necklaces in the past week, so I wasn't that deep in depression. One was a commission, one is definitely for sale, one is maybe for sale. I need to get that dang business license, but I'm not sure what I want my business name to be. I was bouncing ideas off a friend today, but I'm not 100% sure I liked any of them enough to use them. I also need to get pictures up. Maybe this weekend. Definitely some time next week, if I remember to take the final pictures before we (probably) take our last minute trip out East. 6) In humorous news, the Nazi plumbing truck that was sitting next to the Coexist bumper sticker has been gone since I loudly talked on the phone about the Nazi symbolism as I was passing it and the trucks owner. I don't know if it's coincidental, if the owner quit the company, or they're changing the logo, but I don't care right now. Any day that I can walk (hobble) my neighborhood without having to deal with being reminded of how casual people can be in their anti-semitism is a better day in my mind. 7) Lastly, canyonwalker will be home tomorrow, and I can stop pretending that I'm Rogue and can do everything myself. Even without that, having him home makes me happy. Which makes me think of Billy Joel's You're my home, and I'm going to end this before I get more schmaltzy. Maybe I'll go listen to P!nk's True Love instead to get my head on better. *g* [1]Which I will write up sometime soon. Probably. These past 2 weeks would have been a good time to, but while I don't regret the hike and the pain coming from it, it's still stirring up issues when I try to write it up. talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/551409.html. Please comment there. If you don't currently have a DW account, you can use OpenID or create your own account for free.Tags: anti-semitism, beading, bf, bigotry, chronic pain, daily grind, doctors, ibs, jewelry, job search, list
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With me leaving my last job, I’m starting to get my groove back. I’ve done some beading projects over the past two years that I’ve forgotten/haven’t had a chance to post. Now that I’ve sorted all my stuff, I might also end up making more items too. I really should figure out easy; it’s the best time of year to try and sell things. ( Turquoise Silver NecklaceCollapse )( Sword earringsCollapse )( Jade NecklaceCollapse )( Fluorite Bear NecklaceCollapse )( Malachite Hematite Necklace BraceletCollapse )( Kyanite NecklaceCollapse )( Serpentine Gold NecklaceCollapse )( Garnet, Amethyst, and Periodot NecklaceCollapse )( Seed Beads Amethyst NecklaceCollapse )( Moonstone, garnet, and agate necklaceCollapse )( Fluorite NecklaceCollapse )( Oregon Jasper BirdCollapse )( Crazy Lace AgateCollapse )( Crazy Lace Agate CloseupCollapse ) talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/544642.html. Please comment there. If you don't currently have a DW account, you can use OpenID or create your own account for free.Tags: beading, necklace, pendant, pictures
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When I was younger, I didn't want to get rid of books I didn't think I'd read again, because just by looking at them I remembered the joy I'd gotten from them. On top of that - it's a way for people to take a look at my shelves and get a feel for me. A few years ago, when I realized it was either move into a bigger house for my books or pare down my collection, I cut it by around 50%. These past few weeks I've been thinking of paring it down some more; with everything that has been going on with me over the past year I've been trying to think through am I doing things because this is what I've always done, or am I doing it because that's what I've always done. Well, I'm in the middle of paring down the collection again. I won't say that I'm only keeping the best books - there are some on the shelf I'll never read again but I have pared down to the ones that really had an impact on me as a youth (for example, you'd need to pry my Song of the Lioness books out of my cold, dead, hands - even if I never read them again). I'm going to actively sell the books that are worth $10+/book, and am considering doing the same for the ones in the $8-$10 range. After I clean this up, I need to start making a decision about my comic book collection. At least now I'll have room to put my beading supplies behind cabinet doors in the living room, rather than having to drag them out of the garage every time I want to do something. talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/542727.html. Please comment there. If you don't currently have a DW account, you can use OpenID or create your own account for free.Tags: beading, books, comics, libraries, life
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Ok, not quite so much. I've made a few more pieces than this over the past year, but here are three that I already took pictures of:  Moonstone and Garnet necklace. I picked the pendant up in SF's Chinatown and the moonstones are from my great-aunt's collection.  Malachite necklace and bracelet. I found that gorgeous pendant in downtown Scottsdale, AZ. For downtown prices, the cost was a steal. For anywhere else, I paid too much. However, the pattern is very unique - and perfect. I couldn't pass it up.  Laboradite and amethyst necklace, with a bit of kyanite mixed in. I found the pendant at a Gem Faire in Santa Rosa and couldn't resist. talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/537923.html. Please comment there. If you don't currently have a DW account, you can use OpenID or create your own account for free.Tags: beading, bracelet, necklace, pictures
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Ever wonder what $400 worth of beads looks like? Well, after my trip to the going out of business sale of a local store, I don't have to wonder anymore! Thankfully, (very thankfully) the $400 was before the 50% off. Featured is fluorite, charolite, amethyst, garnet, tourmaline, silver findings, and I'm sure something else that I've forgotten.  talons / Rake your talons / LinkThis entry was originally posted at http://merhawk.dreamwidth.org/499038.html. Please comment there. If you don't have a DW account, you can use OpenID, or ask me for an invite code (if I know you/know of you). I might have extras.Tags: beading, jewelry, pictures
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Friend & I went out trolling the Oakland jewelry stores, and she found some serpentine she likes. Problem: she doesn't bead. Solution: Commission piece for me! The focal bead is hematite, with other pieces scattered throughout the serpentine. Wasn't supposed to make earrings, but I had leftovers. Can't let them go to waste, no? ( Serpentine necklace with HematiteCollapse )( Closeup of Hematite Focal piece for Serpentine necklaceCollapse )( Serpentine earringsCollapse )Tags: beading, commissions, earrings, friends, hematite, jewelry, necklace, pictures, serpentine
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Found Mama's Bakery on the web, and gave it a whirl for their challah. Mmmmm... goodbye Whole Foods & Esther's Bakery - make room for some actual challah on the block! It's pareve, so it's missing some of the buttery goodness. But it's still the best I've had out here. Took some East Coast friends out to Giovanni's NY Pizza last night & had a blast. Jill's always complaining that she can never find good NY style pizza out here, but she managed last night! And, like any good Italian-American, she went & spoke with one of the owners, found out the history of where his family's from, explained where she was from, and learned almost everything there was to know! He was agreeing with her that it's the water out here that makes them unable to make *true* NY style pizza. But it's pretty damn good, and that's coming from me who doesn't like pizza that much. I've been doing more Yelping recently. I'm going by the basic adage that if I'm using the service, I should give back something. I've been mostly liking it; however, this whole "Yelp Elite" thing boggles me. "Elite" status is something you're supposed to strive for; it claims that you're a trendsetter and you know what all the hot & new stuff out there is. *snort* The Elite's I've seen have mostly been either poor writers, braggerts, self-effacing by doing things such as calling themselves whores, bitches, etc, bullies, and/or just completely full of themselves. I'm not sure why I would want to compete to be part of such an Elite group - especially as I'd need to put up a picture of myself & use my legal name to be so blessed. Yeah. No thanks. Now off to start working on a beading commission. I've got to figure out how to put together the focal piece. Hopefully this will jump start my creativity & I'll start doing more with it. Tags: beading, challah, commissions, friends, pizza, wtf, yelp
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I should be working on my D&D game. Instead, I'm playing around with Flickr options, trying to figure out the service and decide if that's where I'll move my Scrapbook pictures. I haven't decide what to do about LJ yet - my account doesn't expire until November - but I do want to get a poll out there to see what others are doing. I'm here for my friends. If they're not here, it's not as useful. Speaking of useful, I have pictures up now at Flickr, so y'all get to see beading pictures! I'd put up San Diego ComicCon pics, but I haven't Photoshopped them yet. I also need to put up my commentary from SD. Hopefully it'll happen within the next 1-2 weeks, not a few months. And, yes, I know that all the news sites already have their stuff up. But I'm way cooler than them, so I'm sure you'll read my stuff anyway, no matter how late I get it up. *g* ( Amethyst and Dragon EarringsCollapse )( Amethyst and Garnet EyeChainCollapse )( Amethyst and Garnet EyeChain CloseupCollapse )( Blue Quartz EarringsCollapse )( Kimono beads earrings, eventually for saleCollapse )( Kimono beads earrings and necklace for VenkaCollapse )( Teapot earrings and necklace for the Mad FangirlCollapse )( Tourmaline EyeChainCollapse )( Tourmaline EyeChain CloseupCollapse )Tags: beading, flickr, friends, my roleplaying game, pictures, random
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BF and I certainly didn't, as we went to Rocky Mountain National Park for a three-day hiking fest. Mmmm... nothing better than hiking at 10,000 feet while it's 80º F out. We did three hikes: the first day we did 8 miles and about 1,200 ft, the second was about 6 miles and just under 1,000 ft, and the third day was 7 miles and a 300 ft ascent. I would have enjoyed the hikes more if my foot hadn't started acting up during each of them. Each day I was a stupid bint going "Yes, I know it hurts now, but it'll warm up" and... let's just say the last day was a test of my willpower to not just sit down and make BF figure out a way to get the car down the trail. All in all, though, I'm very happy we went and I can look back at the hikes and enjoy them. I am under BF's "orders" to not do anything strenuous over the next few days as we're going to Canada on Friday for 5 more days of hiking at Jasper & Banff National Parks. Elath, I'm just a glutton for punishment. At least it's fun punishment. In other news, I've gotten a few more spontaneous compliments of my amethyst and garnet eye holders. I've got two made for sale, and will probably make at least 1-2 more as at least one of them is already taken. I also made some silver & amethyst dragon earrings for sale. I need to get two more pictures taken for posting, and then I'll probably start trying to do some sales on Ebay when we get back from Canada. kitarra has graciously demanded that she clean my pictures up for me, as she's not impressed with my mad photoshop skillz. Hmph. Tags: beading, canada, friends, hiking, rocky mountain national park, travel, type 2 strain
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Two Sunday's ago I was at the REI picking something up, when the woman behind me in line asked where I had found my eye glass holder. After telling her that I make them, she asked where she could buy some. After confessing that I just made them for myself and as gifts, but I'd considered starting to sell them, she chided me for not already selling them. To make a long story short, I met up with her again this Sunday and sold her the Tourmaline eye glass holder that I made a while ago. She also loved my amethyst and garnet one (Why do I not have a picture of that up?!? Note to self - take and post pictures, idiot.), as well as the amethyst and tiger's eye necklace that I showed her (note: ibid). She's probably going to buy those when she gets back from her trip to Greece. I think I should probably make a bunch of the garnet & amethyst eye pieces and maybe start seeing how they go on Ebay. I get tons of compliments from random strangers (including one on a hiking trail in the backcountry of Death Valley!!) for that design. I don't know if I'll really start moving ahead with selling, but I think I will try. It's always a kick when people compliment me on my work, most of the time. Some compliments (like from cheezstk) are great, because I get the impression that they just like the items and it gives me confidence in my work. Other compliments have felt more... sleazy... and made me feel like they're saying that they like it because they want me to give the item to them or nudge me into custom-making something for them. Something the people who know me should realize by now is that if I feel you're just expecting me to give you something, I won't. I make & give things if I feel like it, not because it's expected. I don't know if the people really were expecting me to do that or not, but it left behind a nasty after-taste and always annoys me whenever I think of the "compliments" from them. Tags: beading, pictures
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badiamond and I went to the NoCal Bead Bazaar in Oakland today. Before we managed to even get inside the show, we were accosted by two crazies: one who acted like I was going to have to whirl around and hit him for stalking us, but just admired by Charolite necklace and another who... we're not sure what her point was, but she sure talked a lot about it in the bathroom. Once we got in the show we had a much better time. I spent more than I wanted to, but less than I budgeted; I'm not 100% sure about badiamond. I got a few compliments on my necklace from some people there[1], and found some great bargains. I've already made a pair of earrings tonight, and I'm thinking even more heavily about making items for sale. What I don't want to have to deal with are things such as quarterly taxes, etc. I would like a wholesale license so that when I find things that I want to make - but not keep - I can actually sell them at a slight profit, at a minimum. It's hard to do that right now. I'm thinking of starting with some earrings and eye chains and seeing how well they do on Ebay. If I'm going to be doing this I suppose I should make something off of it. Right? [1]Ego stroking, gotta love it. Tags: beading, friends
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