Jane Deaux

Skates!

2011-09-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

I finally got my skates this past Friday. I waited patiently for weeks so that I could get on with my life.

Friday evening, I went to the rinks and joined the class. Man it's tough! I had no idea what to expect, but seeing as I am an ex ice skater and later switched to roller skating, I had no problems getting back on the horse. The difference is, Roller Derby is meant for speed, and speed is what I like. By the end of the night I was scrimmaging. It whoops your butt!

Saturday I woke up and was back at the warehouse for a skate clinic. I think thus far being a jammer and skating banked track is my favorite. Again, it's the speed. My competitive nature came back in full throttle, but this sport is so hard. I am in for the long haul as this is exactly what I needed. I have so much to learn.

On another note, you burn so many calories that I wasn't prepared for that I think in the whole 2 days I skated, just skating alone was about 4200 cals. I am starving and I have to be careful. I already have an appetite like a Lumberjack.

Hello

2011-09-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

I said I would be back. This time I mean it. Trying to stay on top of it.

Sonya Rasi and I were just talking about how we got cheated on summer, I agree. For Southern California, this summer blew through here like a bad date. It seems though it is now trying to come through mid September. Last week it was 100 degrees, then it was 60 and raining, then climbed back up to the 80's again.

I always talk about moving far away from here, but I don't think I would be able to handle the weather anywhere else since my blood is accustomed to this weather now. I love West Coast weather and East Coast water temperature. You win and lose.

Hello Again!

2011-09-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Oh boy,
I have been missing in action!

Life has been crazy busy, but good. I have so much to catch up on. Work has been slammed, jewelry making has been almost nothing these days, but it's hard to stay in doors on the weekends when you work in an office all week. The last thing I want to do when it's 80 degrees outside is sit in fluorescent lighting all day. It's been a struggle. But now that Fall is almost here things will be back up and swinging.

I joined Roller Derby. It all started with a Groupon for a fitness class. I am probably one of the few who actually HATES going to the gym or exercising unless it's a sport or something super fun to do, I don't even like Yoga. Yeah I said it, so sue me. I had no idea I could just join Roller Derby or I would have done this a long time ago. Thats the kind of exercise I can do.

Anyhow, hope you all are well and I swear to be a regular again on my own blog. :)

Ciao

Catching Up

2011-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

I am desperately trying to catch up on life. I feel so far behind lately. I never realized with how quiet life was with a handicapped car, how much stuff I didn't get done.

Oh I was busy all right, but not with things that I would liked to have been busy with. Now that my ride is smooth and sound, I feel like there is so much to do and see. I feel like going anywhere. Sometimes I just get in my car and drive, because I can.

I was worried right after I bought my beast, since of course gas rose right at the same time, but I have to say the gas milage on this thing is pretty darn good, for an SUV it's averaging about 19-20 mpg. My explorer was more like 13 mpg on a good day and this gas tank is a tad larger. I like that it has a gas estimate meter to tell me how many miles I have left in my tank which even new, my explorer was never correct and the gas sensor seemed to go on the blink often, hence running out of gas when it said I had a half a tank.

Saturday I am going to visit my mom, something I haven't gotten to do much since the last car was unpredictable. AAA comes in handy but I would rather not be stuck on the side of the freeway if it could be avoided. I am planning a road trip with my old friend Stacy, we met at the drug store when I was 18 and we have been friends ever since, life got in the way so we got disconnected for a number of years, but we always seem to find each other some how.

I have been scouring the papers looking at new places of residence in possible Long Beach. I have found some lofts that I adore and it might be a possibility in the next few years if I keep playing my cards correctly and don't decided to flee California with all of the upheaval of a disastrous economy here. I am not normally an alarmist type person, but I really cannot see how this mess is going to get any better anytime soon. I am somewhat tired of giving all my hard earned money to the state with ridiculous taxes, insurance increases, crazy rental prices, etc. I am tired of paying for people who won't pay for themselves.

Long Beaches cost of living is a little better than where I am since it's LA County, not as expensive as Orange County and you can still be by the beach. Basically I can get more for my money. So until then I plan on staying where I am and possibly in the next year, relocate.

I haven't made a stitch of jewelry in weeks, but I have been hoarding stones. I need to get cracking which is on my list, along with some silversmithing classes in Long Beach.

Until then, hope life is fantastic!

And She's Home!

2011-03-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Finally finally finally...... It's way bigger than I remember when I drove it. It rides like a truck, which I love. I can finally go wherever I want and not worry!

Change Has Arrived

2011-03-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today I found out that I can pick up my new car Monday. Having great credit pays off, no car payments for 90 days! Sweet!

No Shame

2011-03-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

For the last year or so I have lived with housemates. I wanted to save money and pay off some debts which is working out rather beautifully at the moment.

The house I live in now came with this........ Her name is Angel, named after Buffy the Vampire series. I call her Monkey or Birdie. She looks nothing like an angel but rather more like a baby owl. She is really funny with a non cat personality. No cat grace whatsoever and no shame at all, very un-lady like. She is a Scottish Fold and this is how they sit most of the time. I adore her and I am very allergic to cats haha.

Change.......

2011-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

This was our blog challenge for last month on the chatty metalsmiths team, but as usual life got in the way and I forgot. I have been so damn busy for the last few months that I have senior moments often.

I have spent my whole life working to change and doing myself a great disservice by allowing other people to dictate or tell me what they thought was wrong with me, or how I talk to much, or I am intense, or I am too sensitive, or I am to this or that. I took those things to heart, very much to heart, much more than I should. Spent a great deal of time trying to break those tapes in my head and the job isn't quite complete, but it's loads better than it was.

Over the last few years I have been on what you call a life changing binge. I have experienced so many curve balls, and while my best is to fight tooth and nail against these and resist, most of the time I just rode the wave to see where it took me. Not always ending up where I wanted to be or ending up with what I wanted or thought I deserved.

During this process, I let many many people go from my life. I was tired of being judged and "should-ed" I am a grown up for crying out loud not a 3 year old.

Change isn't easy for me by any means. I use to give too many second chances and ended up a door mat more times than I care to admit. The last few years I kinda changed all that, not as quickly as I would have liked to have, but its a process. You see I see people for who they are underneath, not exactly what's surface. I always see the potential.

Well I must admit, potential don't get you shit. Took me along time to get the definition of potential and for it to sink in.

The past year was another round of cleaning out the closet again, something that seems to be a reoccurring theme for me. I don't look at all of it as loss but more so as what I really don't need anymore. Not that I like it or accept it gracefully, but I can't do a damn thing about it, unless I want to continue to be miserable and unsatisfied in personal relationships or life. It's just change, it hurts.

This past year brought family deaths, illness in the family, my job has grown and changed, my friends have changed, the one who I thought might be the one disappeared, my relationship with my mother changed for the better, my car brought changes for the better and still is, probably the most patient lesson I have yet had to face, because Attorneys work in their time, not yours, but as it's at it's end, it's still bringing change, because as of this moment I have no idea when the $$ gets here, so I can close that door. But it's change and it's good. Hind sight is always wonderful to have, however sometimes I cannot see anything for a very long time.

People grow up and grow out of things. I certainly have. What I loved 2 years ago, I no longer love. Where I was happy and felt like I was supposed to be, feels like I no longer belong here anymore, sometimes I feel like I can't imagine myself being here forever, and wonder where I would thrive best. city, nature, ocean, farm, house, loft, shack, foreign country, south, west, snow (even though I don't like it), etc. I have no clue, but I have felt stuck for awhile and can feel the changes coming.

I don't hate change, it's part of life. It makes life interesting. I sometimes go through it gracefully and I sometimes go through it in an ugly sort of way.

Friday is Here at Last

2011-02-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a week like this.....

Then this happened.....

So I am shutting it down and watching this.....

Finally It's Over!

2011-02-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

Finally, after so many months of waiting and wondering what the heck and being a prisoner to the unpredictable car, I finally settled my lemon law suit for my Explorer. In just a few short weeks, I will be the new owner of a 2011 all black 4Runner! I drove it, I love it, and for an SUV it has gas Eco mode. Now I can finally spontaneously go anywhere I want to, just like I use to do when I had a trustworthy car.

Shop Updates - I Was Very Busy Today.

2011-02-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

First up - update in Jane Deaux De Luxe. Did I ever mention that Mookaite Jasper is one of my most favorite stones? Well, it is. It reminds me of the giant jawbreakers you could get at the Arcade when I was a kid.

Mookaite - yummy

This manicure is done, kaput, over with. Lasted exactly one week!

Montana Agate in the most awesome swirls of colors

Next up is update in Jane Deaux. Like I said, I was very very busy today :)

Oi' Time Flies! Shop Update.

2011-02-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

Shop update was a bit delayed, life happens. New stuff in Jane Deaux with more coming and Jane Deaux De Luxe will be updated this weekend.

In lieu of V-Day here are some hearts for you lovers out there and of course the never ending resin studs.

Wednesday Treasuries

2011-01-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

Treasuries!

2011-01-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

New Shop!

2010-12-28T19:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I opened another Etsy shop call Jane Deaux De Luxe. I wanted something to house my bigger items separate from the smaller pieces.

New pieces that have been made and already added to the new shop.

Montana Agate

Owyhee Jasper

Red Creek Jasper

Turquoise

Tumblr

2010-12-27T22:50:00.001-08:00

Most of you that know me, know how much I disliked facebook. I found a happy medium.
TUMBLR!
If you have a tumblr account, you can find me here
http://janedeaux.tumblr.com/

She and Him

2010-12-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

Last night I got to hang out with she and him. They fight for my attention.

She is most adorably sweet and just shy of 4. Her parents adopted her from China when she was just shy of her 1st birthday. Michelle, who is my coworker of over 9 years and a friend, went through a very grueling long process along with her husband to get her.

Watching her grow has been something special actually, as she adjusted to a completely new environment and learned a completely different world and language and to parents she only met when they came to take her home. She is smart, hilariously funny, very shy, and very quiet. (perfect kid). She loves to sing and makes up her own knock knock jokes.

She doesn't like him very much.

Or if she does it's a secret she keeps to herself. He is my favorite dog. He is older now and I learned last night he is going deaf. Kinda sad, but his sniffer works more than ever as he follows me around waiting for something to fall out of my hand to eat. His tooth rolls over his jowl on one side as he drools silently, and never makes a sound, waiting.... Michelle use to bring him to the office once a week and he would bolt through the door going from office to office and cubicle to cubicle looking for some poor soul to food stalk. And he sits and he waits and never takes his eyes of you. Until one fine day he took a dump right in the middle of the office kitchen. He hasn't been back much since.

She likes to cuddle and discovered last night that her hands were much smaller than mine. She walks down the stairs by herself now. It's amazing how fast they grow up, but she is very special to me. When I go to visit the Yee's, I go mostly to see she and him. I see Michelle just about daily. I grew up an only child, so this is the closest to nieces I get.

Winter Sunset

2010-12-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

Winter Sunset

porcelain jasper and sterling silver necklace

This beauty can be found here.

December Glitter

2010-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

We have had the craziest rain storm the last few days and I have to say I love it! When it rains, I don't feel guilty for sitting around and reading or watching movies. My internal get up and go voice, shuts the hell up momentarily.

Work has been so busy the past few months and it will feel very weird to be off on vacation the last week of December. However, I still have to have my work laptop near by just incase :)

Surgery has been postponed. I decided to trust my intuition and get a second opinion. Something just wasn't sitting right. I know I will need surgery, I just feel it needs to be done by someone else, I had these horrible thoughts of getting medical bills for things not done and after a little investigating the Dr. I was correct. I love my intuition when I listen to it, saves me trouble, money, and drama.

Ford is fighting me tooth and nail, of course. However, I didn't expect it to get this far. The inspector came to over see my car on Friday and as I knew he told me it was only a matter of time before the transmission was to give out again. He found all kinds of things wrong with my car, that shouldn't be wrong with a car with 53k miles. Oh well, right. What am I going to do? Good thing I have extended warranty, another intuitive buy back in 2009.

I have been on a stone buying adventure the past few weeks and have quite a small collection of newbies that are in process now. I set some of the older ones I had yesterday and finally finished a few pieces that were somewhat in the works back when I moved out of the shop. I am trying to be very good and "finish" what I started before I move onto something else. Seems like there is a lot of unfinished business going on in my life lately.

I was planning on moving again sometime after the first of the year, but with everything that has been going on it looks as if that is on the back burner for a while. I do miss living alone and having my space and quiet and I miss my stuff that has been in storage for a over a year. But I have paid off 16k in debt this past year so I think that outweighs everything else and surgery isn't going to be cheap, even with insurance. So oh well.

Hope everyone it having an awesome holiday thus far and hope your New Year is even better. I know 2011 will be much better for me than 2010, especially if I can get all the loose ends tied up.

This is as close to "tree" as I get this year :)

Winners!

2010-12-12T20:57:00.000-08:00

We didn't have much of a contest but the 2 winners are.

#2 - dothetwist
#1 - k.o'brien jewelry

email me at ugrogers@gmail.com and give me your mailing address.

Time For a Blog Giveaway

2010-12-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and the Holidays are around the corner and I like to give stuff away.

In the Winter I always miss Summer, it's my favorite time of the year. I am giving away 2 pairs of Hot Pink Resin and Sterling Silver studs, in remembrance of Summer.

Here are the rules.....

1. Comment back on what your favorite season of the year is.
2. Follow my blog.
3. Spread the word about the contest, using what ever means of Social Networking you use.

Contest ends on Saturday December 11th at 9 p.m. PST. Two winners will be chosen at random and the results will be posted back here on the blog.

Good Luck, have fun, and stay warm!

It's Settled

2010-12-06T22:31:00.000-08:00

Surgery is scheduled for December 28th while I am on vacation! Scaaarrrrryyyyy. BUT, I am so excited. I will be able to breath again, well at least through both nostrils rather than part of one. I might not get sinus infections anymore or at least not every other month. My nose will quit bleeding all the time. The bone spur that has grown inside will be removed, hence breathing right and the tissue can grow back. My allergies will most likely not be what I or anyone thought they were. He says I will have much more energy (like I need to be anymore hyper than I am) since basically I am a 6 cylinder car running on 2 since my nose doesn't work and have not been able to breath correctly for a very long time. My migraines and sinus headaches will go away. My face won't hurt from my glasses resting on the bump the damage caused. My nose won't be crooked anymore from the trauma. My ears will unclog and I won't hear sloshing and most likely I will be able to hear again like a normal person.

When I saw my CT scans last week. I was in shock. I had no idea that this was the cause of everything that has been wrong for so many years. My original diagnoses from the Allergist in 2004 was Sinusitis and allergies. No one ever thought to get a CT scan and send me to an ENT and that steroids and sinus flushes weren't working and how come? Because the inside of my nose was so damaged, the medicine cannot get to where it was supposed to go. The Dr. said to me he couldn't understand how I functioned for so long. I said it was because A). I have a very high pain tolerance B). I just thought this was the way it had to be and C). I don't go to the Dr. unless I am sick or in pain and the pain I am pretty much used to after all these years. The only thing that got me to go, was because I couldn't stop smelling cigarette smoke (I don't smoke) and my migraines that were once every so often, were about once a week and were messing with my vision.

Also, I don't have sleep apnea which he was worried that I did, so thank goodness for that because my mother does and usually its hereditary.

So I will post pictures hahaha. Black eyes and all.

Cyber Monday

2010-11-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

10% off everything in my shop and free worldwide shipping today!

Shop Jewels Update

2010-11-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

Just a few more to add.

Skulls and Pearls Shop Update

2010-11-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I have been working on this pearl necklace for a few years. It started out as fun, but after making hundreds of head pins, I asked myself, what did I do this for? I am also known to have a short attention span.

Well, it's finally finished. A little under 200 peacock freshwater pearls all hand wrapped one by one.

Lady Death posts that have been half done forever are also finally complete. Both will be in the shop this evening.

Black Friday - Cyber Monday

2010-11-26T18:14:00.000-08:00

Everything in my shop is 10% off until Monday night the 29th.

Happy Turkey Day....Turkey!

2010-11-23T23:13:00.000-08:00

It's almost here! Truthfully, TG is one of my least favorite holidays, apart from Easter (I believe in science in case you were wondering). I could care less about sitting around gorging myself until I want to vomit. Oh wait no, that's the girl who just moved out of my house that does that. I am actually not a real holiday type person at all, not matter what occasion it is. Unless it's your birthday and we are tight, I might make that a holiday. I like to buy gifts or make them.

All though this year, I barely celebrated my own birthday in October, except a quick dinner with my mother and some cupcakes at the office, my birthday didn't exist. Which is totally fine! I got myself some Botox for my lovely scowl in early September for an early gift (one I swore I would never do), which I might add is coming back... Note to self..... More botox, after I have my sinus surgery.

Anyhow, Every year I tell my mother, please don't make me (I'm 38)!!!! Our whole family is in Tennessee and if we see them at the holidays it's at Christmas time or in April for my Grandmothers birthday. So I do it for her, but we compromise because I get the guilt trip.We are going to the casinos in San Diego County instead. Drive down Thursday morning and be home early Thursday evening and sneak off to the movies by myself while the rest of the world is passed out on the couch.

Anyhow, just because I don't care much for it, doesn't mean I can't wish you a happy one. So HAPPY TG!

Favorite Movie of the Week

2010-11-20T22:23:00.001-08:00

Gamer - with Gerard Butler. I love Sci-Fi movies and this one totally gets your adrenaline going. This is exactly right up my alley.

Book Review - The Hunger Games Trilogy

2010-11-20T18:38:00.000-08:00

I am not normally one for "tweeny" type books and was quite surprised at myself that I actually got sucked into the twilight saga, which I read the whole series in less than a week. But, I just discovered The Hunger Games trilogy and have to say these were the most addictive books I have ever read. I bought the first book on Monday and had to go back and get the other 2 later that evening because I knew I was going to be irritated when I finished one and didn't have the next. I had them all read in less that 4 days. I have a reading problem.

This wasn't very "tweeny" in my opinion, which is good. It was great for a sci-fi post apocalyptic story about a futuristic type oppression and the government puts their children into a Gladiator Ring to fight to the death and only one survives whose family will never starve again. Truthfully, the author made it to where the future could be believable and actually be like this and not so mystically out of touch with reality. When I first learned about this series it was compared to the Twilight Saga, they have nothing to do with each other and there is no comparison, except teenagers, that is about as far as the similarities go. If you like Sci-Fi, you must read this series. I just found out they are making a movie out of this and a great film it would be.

Light at The End of the Tunnel

2010-11-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

After years of what I thought were nasty allergies, and having chronic headaches and messed up vision for the last few months, followed by sinuses infections and bloody noses, I finally went to a specialist this week and I need surgery!

I am told that I will finally be able to breathe correctly and that the cause for most of the sinus drama is that the left side of my nose does not work at all and none of the nasal steroids I have been on can even reach my sinus cavity. It's all happening so fast and I have a sleep study and a CT scan tomorrow. Hopefully this will be the best Christmas present I have ever gotten. For years I assumed I had to suck it up and deal with it, I had no idea the inside of my nose was so messed up from breaking it. Hopefully no more migraines, no more bloody noses, no more goose honks when I blow my nose, no more infections.

My boss is hoping that they have to re break my nose so that he can see me with 2 black eyes. HA I say, but I know that it would make my office happy since I torture them with my piss and vinegar attitude at times. I am hoping they fix the damn bump in my nose while they are in there.

New Stuff

2010-11-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

New stuff being listed in the shop now!

Big

Little

Heart Necklace

Where Has the Time Gone?

2010-11-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Friday and usually that's a good thing. However, I haven't gotten everything done this week at work, so it looks again like another weekend at the office. Which is fine, but where does the time go?

I still have a bunch of jewelry to photograph and list. Holidays are just about here and I feel so unprepared.

I still love my iphone. Seriously some of the best money I have ever spent.

Round 1 Down

2010-11-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

This has been a crazy week. Our company had 4 engineering conferences over the course of the last month and a half and this week it was in Irvine. It was actually fun. Usually it's serious business as usual but when you take them bowling and give them a bunch of beer, things can get quite comical. Last night was the dinner and then bowling, with some of the nerdiest people I have ever met. We had 6 lanes with about 8 people per lane and I think 4 pitchers of beer per lane. We bowled 3 games and I got home way too late. I have videos and pictures so that later I can get a raise haha! Next is the Development Conference, we see what I can get out of that one!

Office

2010-11-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

Photos of my travels yesterday and this morning to and from the office, using the Hipstamatic, and various iphone camera apps.

And I'm Off!

2010-11-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

I swear September and October flew on by. It seemed there was not enough hours in the day to get accomplished was needed to be done, and now it's bleeding over into November. Social life? What social life? Lately my social life consists of uploads to Flickr and Twitter via iphone and the few minutes I can barely catch up with my Metal friends on Etsy.

However, I love being busy. I cannot stand to be bored with nothing to do. I made a huge decision to let go of my shop this past July and was going to take a "hiatus" from making jewels for awhile and let this season pass. Yeah... that didn't last very long, I swear I was going to crack if I didn't do something. I moved what I could for now to my office at work, where I had been spending most of my time anyhow. It's enough to keep me going for now and not feel so lost. I tried knitting again and completely lost interest, sewing doesn't have the same results that jewelry does and doesn't hit the spot like it did 5 years ago. Besides the only thing that has a metal oil smell on a sewing machine is the motor, so not the same as dirty metalsmithing tools. Ah so nice to have that smell back.

Trying to get caught up and prepared for the holidays for the Etsy shop while managing a huge workload at the office, scrambling to finsih my value drivers so my boss likes me more next year, all of the conferences, and end of year uh oh's. You would think I would have lost 10 pounds by now, but it seems that Sour Gummy Candy and Coffee are my vices (yikes) and sugar makes me crazy and mean. Oh well.

Finally got new business cards, stickers, a photo cube studio, new supplies, and have been taking pictures like a madwoman trying to get used to this stupid camera I bought last year that I still don't love. I swear my Canon with 5mxps was better than this Samsung with 10.2 mxps.

Anyhow, new stuff in the shop slowly being uploaded over this week. I have tiny resin pendants that I actually like ( I don't like tiny jewelry on myself ) and new necklace that I need to take photos of.

This one is in the shop now. 18" and 16" chains available.

I Really Loathe the Dentist

2010-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

Not my favorite thing to do, by any means. Years and years and years ago, I had braces for about 4 years. My Orthodontist was an ass and he was a rough handed man. He gouged my gums often and since he was across the parking lot from the Montessori school I attended he would call my mother at work to let her know I wasn't wearing my head gear and all hell would break loose.

Now I am not talking "neck gear", I am talking full blown head gear. When you attend a small private school with that, you might as well sign away any popularity slip you had hoped to get at some point and throw yourself into the dorky dweeb category. Kids are mean. I should know.

That being said I have NEVER liked the dentist. It makes me sweat, nervous, and stress before an appointment just to get my teeth cleaned. I do not like instruments in any of my orifices. Luckily, I have been going to the same Dentist since 1998 and she knows me well and works with my inability to cooperate. She deserves not only my money but a medal. Truthfully I have never had a bad experience from her, ever and you would think I would have long gotten over it, but nope, I haven't.

So my toofers are super clean and I got to drive home and stare at this.

Favorite New Saying

2010-10-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is good! I will keep this in my mind for anytime in the future I need to remind myself of this.........

"If you are stupid enough to walk away, then I am smart enough to let you go"!

People Keep Asking Why I left Facebook

2010-10-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

SO here is the answer.

I didn't exactly have the best past of people, places, and things. However, I am a benefit of the doubt giver over and over and over. Last February I joined for 2 reasons really.... 1. to have a Jane Deaux fan page and you cannot have that without a personal page ...... 2. to find someone and I found that person. SO the very beginning of September I watched a nasty situation go down via FB between a few people that I care about that was very public and since I was already on the fence about deleting my account, I decided that this wasn't something I wanted to see over and over again.

At first it was fun and cool to "catch" up, but slowly over the course of months I realized that I wasn't interested in re-treading though my past in hopes to reunite with old comrades. I am prone to become a product of my environment, if I am around drama, I feel it and it makes me so anxious and uncomfortable, I become tired, bored, depressed, and can get sucked in, etc, etc, etc. I did reunite with a few people and that was cool, but for the most part it was like watching the Life Time Movie Channel every day.

Every few weeks or so I would subtly delete people. Nonetheless, it always came with a nasty email just after, about how I am a bitch and why did you delete me. We are talking grown people in their 40's. One day I did a run through of all the people in my list and really there were less than 20 that I would be interested in keeping in touch with. So rather than reading and going through the whole mess of drama and to keep my own sanity I decided to pull the plug. I must say it was instantly satisfying and I cannot believe how much stuff I got accomplished since and I have had a much better attitude.

I have a blog, twitter, flickr, email, and a phone. Countless ways to communicate. I am also a firm believer in the Art of Intimacy through talking and expressing and I would like to keep it that way.

Donovan - Season Of The Witch

2010-10-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Ghostly Thoughts

2010-10-25T20:52:00.001-07:00

Eye See You

2010-10-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Do you see me?

Loose Lips Sink Ships

2010-10-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

'Nuff Said!

The Sky Isn't Falling

2010-10-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Damn I love my phone!

Random Chaos

2010-10-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Not sure what happened here, but I am pretty sure this must have been a man that was in charge of this display. Women would NEVER put pantiliners in the chips and dip section and especially next to white creamy queso.

Makes you wonder whom exactly is in charge of displays in stores? I don't know about you, but the artist in me gets physically uncomfortable shopping in places that are aesthetically unfullfilling to my eyes. It's almost as bad as Christmas shopping at the Gap when 16 sales people ask you in 5 short minutes if you need help and you keep repeating yourself that "no you don't, your friend is in the dressing room and you find their clothing aesthetically unpleasing". Damn they are persistent. But no I don't need any queso or pantiliners, but if I am hungry while PMSing, I know where to go to kill two birds with one stone.

Then there is this person

she is like a mathematician/engineer/genius/unicorn/superhero all in one. She wears a cape under her work clothes, farts marshmallows and spreads magic and she is always trying to figure thing out and get to the bottom of stuff out like this.

And this....

Then she sends me things like this on my iphone for my birthday, that she stayed up all night drawing with her finger instead of sleeping because her boyfriend is coming home in 3 short days from Australia and she has insomnia.

This is Aquatrainer - we encountered him on one of our many adventures to Target across the street from the office. She does crap like this to my food. Therefore I never leave anything on my desk anymore that is edible.

I Don't Care What You Think About Me

2010-10-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me that you can have a blog, and it's purpose is to post whatever you feel like you need to say, do, or show, but there is always going to be that one person who is so uncomfortable for whatever insecure reason they have, with what you have to say, that they feel it's their purpose to tell you so. I don't care if you think what is coming out of my mouth is negative. This is my blog, I am an adult and I can say whatever the hell I want! If you don't like what I have to say in the moment of emotional passion because I am a human being, not a robot that fakes or denies my self of feelings, thoughts, and words.... Then don't read my fucking blog!

It's bad enough that I have people in my life that I feel like I walk on eggshells around and have to watch what I say and not mince words.

Dang It's Been Awhile

2010-10-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Life has been such a whirlwind lately. Too much to do, not enough hours in the day, and so on and so on. I have been across the US from one coast to another and in about 5 different weather patterns all in 2 weeks. My sinuses and my ears are super happy.

I finally filed a suit against Ford for my lemon of a car last month. I am still waiting to see what comes of this. They have denied the original request to buy back my car, so my attorney filed suit on Thursday. All I have to say is this transmission that they just rebuilt AGAIN, isn't going to make it 6 months and is already shifting weird again. I upped my AAA to the plus package that has 100 mile tow radius on it, incase anything happens, since for now it has to go to the dealership only for repairs. Yesterday, I was running errands before I went to the office, and when it came time to turn in the air conditioner, it makes a loud clunk and in the floor boards of my explorer, it feels like something fell out of the bottom. Not only that the drivers side vents I noticed, don't get cold like the passengers side and one vent just feels like the fan. I also noticed that the week I was gone when we had a serious heat wave, when I returned home, there is more huge bubble spots of paint on the hood. I swear this is turning out to be a nightmare.

I have researched my year and model of car to see what kind of issues others have with it, and it's interesting that my car turns out to be number 12 on the list of worst cars out of 20. It also tops the number 3rd spot for most problematic. How it goes from number 11 to number 3 is beyond me.

I have been researching cars to see what might be next in line if I actually win this case and get a full refund. So far the only thing that I actually like that seems reliable is a 4Runner or a Tundra. I'm a truck kinda girl.

Yes, I normally buy American, however, in all of the research I have done, including asking my extended warranty people what cars get the most repair claims. Chevy was number 1 and believe it or not Honda was number 2 so I scratched the Pilot off my list. The base model it now comes in is okay looking but in order to make it look snazzy you have to add so much to it that I might as well buy a Mercedes GLK350, it turns out to be the same price, no kidding. All though the MB GLK350's cost of ownership over 5 years is ridiculous and I am not paying $200 for an oil change every 3500k miles.

My warranty lady said that most American MFG'rs are having "parts" made in China now and even Ford has 3 plants in China (lemons or cherries?). I have owned 3 Fords and this was definitely my last. I have completely lost faith in them as a whole. My last Explorer was a lemon as well, but I had high hopes it was a fluke. I decided that Toyota has been under the microscope so much this past year that they are highly unlikely to make a crappy car again and everything will be double and triple inspected this time around. My original hope was for a Chevy Silverado since I grew up with Chevys and heavy duty trucks towing horse trailers. But those were high up on the problem list, bummer.

I don't know if any of you out there know this, but you can buy a car through Overstock.com. It actually saves you a lot of money. I met a few people in my travels lately that have done so and said they not only saved a ton of money off nickel and diming, but that the haggle headache wasn't part of the program in the purchase. What you pick and build is what you get. After you go through the process of building your car you want, you print it out and it gives you the list of dealerships that will give you that price and the whole process takes an hour or less, if you have your own financing. This is of course for new cars, but they also have used as well.

I almost fell for an 71' International Harvester Travel All in bright orange, and even though of course it needed a lot of work, I wouldn't have the time to be "car-less" while it got rebuilt and restored but damn if it wasn't giant and gorgeous..... Someday.... that is one of my old dream cars.

So hopefully I can get this car drama behind me, and I can go on about my life and resume to normal.

I miss making jewelry, but I have been able to make small items. I think I found a temporary place to make stuff for now, so I will see how that goes.

Stir Crazy!

2010-08-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that this is driving me quite mad. When you have creativity (i.e. metalsmithing) at your hands free for the taking any day you like, when it's packed away in storage, you seem to notice and realize how much you took it for granted when it was in front of your face every single day for years.

I am trying to remember what kinds of things I made, pre needing a torch for soldering! I have to make something. It's literally driving me insane hahaha. I was determined to take a break and give myself a rest but I don't think it is possible.

I have been searching through the supply houses and etsy for vintage beads, cabs, and pre made bezels. So that at least I can still keep myself involved in what I love. So much for a hiatus! Creative workaholic for sure.

One Week Left

2010-07-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

We decided that we are leaving a month early, which means I have exactly 6 days to move my studio out of the shop. The packing has started and I have to admit it's weird. As I put things in boxes I keep wondering if I should or not. I have no idea how I will survive without my flex shaft or hammers in hand, but I know I will, but it will be strange. Until then, carry on!

Goodbye Old friend.

2010-07-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

The decision has been made. After crunching numbers a few evenings ago, I decided that it was time to let the studio go for now. It must be the right thing to do because I feel so relieved from the pressures of having to make to support and that wasn't exactly going my way the last few months. I don't know if it's the economy or an over saturated jewelry section of Etsy, but at this point, none of that matters.

For the first few hours before I decided to make this choice, part of me felt like a huge failure for not making this work. I had to tell myself that sometimes things don't work the way you want them to for a reason and just because I am not pulling in enough money to pay the rent, fees, materials, and make a profit right now, does not constitute me as a failure.

Truth is the faster I let this go, the quicker the credit card I have been diligently paying off goes away 2 months sooner in September and I will have a huge chunk of change back in my savings every month. It was the only way I felt that I would be able to breathe again. I had ignored the signs for many months, thinking that giving up the shop was not an option because where was I going to work to keep my Esty shop strong and not have to put all of my stuff in storage temporarily and where was I going to flee to get some sort of privacy after my day job and away from home and be able to turn up my music as loud as I want and not worry about disturbing anyone? But after crunching the numbers, I saw what I saw on paper and had to let my ego down easy and take care of business. This is temporary.

This place has been a blessing to me for a year. I have had many good times there, many new beginnings, new friendships, and lessons. I will miss this place a lot. Again as I stated a few days ago, I believe that everything happens for a reason and the best is yet to come.

Until then Goodbye Old Friend.

It's That Time Again

2010-07-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

Things don't always work out how we hope they do. However, usually what is next is better than before. At least in my experience it is. I don't always recognize it right away, but the answer and clarity always come in due time.

The economy isn't all that great and honestly didn't really effect me personally until the last few months with sales on Etsy. Which is fine and all, as everything has an ebb and flow and I have had my fair share of slow months over the last few years.

This time however, I pay for a studio to work in, rather than working out of my home. The last few weeks I have been contemplating whether or not this was something that I can continue to do and keep myself on the ball with my goal of having some things paid off at the end of the year. Today I talked to my shop mate and she is feeling the same way, we both agreed that we are putting out money that we aren't quite getting back. We haven't made a decision yet, but it's definitely being considered as to whether we cut our loses and let the warehouse go. I won't be without for too long as I never am, but I really loved my space and getting away from home. I believe that all things happen for a reason, so this time there is no kicking and screaming from my end.

With that, I am having another BOGO on stacking rings. I had already planned on it, but it seems appropriate at the moment to go forward with it now.

iPhone and Camera Apps

2010-07-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am in love with pictures taken with a Holga. I have one that I have never used, because I am too lazy to go to the camera store up the street and purchase medium format. When I get around to having the umph to go, or remembering to go, they are always closed.

I just purchased an iPhone last week and love the fact that it has so many photography apps. I seem to be obsessed at this point, but I guess that isn't too bad of an obsession to have right?

Anyhow, I purchased the Hipstimatic and the Toy Camera to start. I spent the end of last week and the entire weekend seeing what this thing can handle. I had no idea what I was in for. These are some of my favorites over the last few days.

Lady Death

2010-07-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Finally was able to get to the shop last week to finish these up. I have since been to continue on with this line and get the necklaces and the other sets of earrings made and just can't get with it.

I like how they turned out. The are in the shop now!

Nothing New

2010-06-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

I have nothing new really to report. I am finally towards the tail end of being sick. I have had nasty bronchitis over this past week. Just as of this morning started to finally cough stuff up to clear my lungs out after finishing my last antibiotic pill yesterday. Man it has been a long time since I had been sick. We have an epidemic of whopping cough waving through So-Cal, thanks to people not immunizing their kids. Luckily I had all my shots last year for that stuff, when I got my Tetanus shot.

I realized over the past week that I need better ventilation at the shop and that may or may not have helped contribute to my issue. So I am trying to find the best, most cost effective way to do this that works.

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Front Page

2010-06-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I was on the front page! YAY. Finally.....

Resin and Ramblings

2010-06-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

This week was a very interesting week. Sometimes I wake up and it's like life is a big smack in the face. Things you thought were one way, actually turn out to be another. I am on a cleaning spree again, of ridding toxic debris from my life of people, places, or things. Most of the time these epiphanies come to me while in the studio. That's the time I think I am most in tune with myself besides sleep.

It's interesting when you can see whom in your life you can talk to about certain things, and whom in your life you cannot. It's interesting as well, to see how differently people perceive a situation and the difference of what they see as truth versus what you see.

I feel like over the last few months I have all of a sudden grown up. No matter that I am 37, I just feel like all of a sudden, the things that were acceptable to me are no longer acceptable and I am getting flack for that. Oh well, it will pass as it always does. Boundaries are not easy to set, and it's when you figure out whose on the same wave length as you, but it still doesn't make it any easier. I fall and skin my knees a lot and sometimes my impulse control is weak, but I am getting the hang of it!

I love the fact that I can go hide in the studio to recharge my batteries and get away from it all. I have lots of new stuff that is complete and almost complete. Recently I had talked to someone about my stuff being carried in a store. The reply was I need to put together a line. I don't know about any of you, but that isn't how my creativity works and is most likely why I was bored as a graphic artist. I cannot make lots of things of one item unless it really makes my heart sing. My creativity comes as it comes and what comes out of my hands comes out of my head and once it is produced into something physical, it leaves my brain waves completely. I have tried countless times to re-create something only to be completely disappointed with the out come. So if not having a line keeps me from being in a store, I accept that.

Here is a new piece that I created a few weeks ago, but had yet to capture the right color of the resin and finally got it right yesterday after tons of photos. I let my hands take over and whatever comes out comes out.

New Things.

2010-06-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

New stuff in the shop now!

Vacation

2010-06-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

I am in dire need of a real vacation. Not hanging out at home like I always do, or visting family in Tennessee. That doesn't count!

I could go to Fiji in Septemeber if someone wants to give me 4k. But that isn't going to happen this year. I just found flights to Hawaii in August for $351.00 round trip. That's super cheap. I am thinking I might have to do it. I keep hoping though that my work will send me to the Honolulu office first to help out and then have an extended stay and I really would't have to pay for the whole trip, but the chances of that are pretty slim to none as well.

I just feel this intense need to get the hell out of here. I hope this year brings lots of travels.

Making Up For Lost Time

2010-06-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

I have been on a whirlwind lately. Busy, busy, busy! That's the way it goes. I feel like I missed out the last few months, with weird wishy washy personal business that sucked the life out of me, shop drama, and just plain ol' missing creative mojo. So lately I have been making up for lost time. My new space is private and I can blast my music as loud as I want and sing off key to my hearts desire and never hurt a soul!

Diana brought me a coffee pot yesterday (WOO HOO), so now I am sure to never leave the shop. I prefer earl grey in the evenings but since I am slightly vertically challenged and barely able to reach the microwave on top of the fridge unless I pull out a stool, I will skip the ceremonial bullshit just for tea and go for the coffee.

Here are 2 new additions added to the shop last night. I have more sitting on the bench that will be completed over the weekend. Enjoy!

This and That

2010-05-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

I have a nice sunburn to start off the season. Usually by now I am pretty brown, but we have had unexpectedly weird weather so far this spring.

I have been working my tail off at the shop. Yes, we stayed and kept it. I finally have a room to myself with a door. It's lovely. I spend a lot of time there now!!!!!

New stuff for the week that is already available in my shop.

enjoy!

Been Awhile

2010-05-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I have written anything or even visited my blog. Life has had some crazy twists and turns lately. Just when I think I am out of the woods on one lesson in my journey, another one crops up!

I am not going to lie, Tennessee was a disaster visiting my family and I most likely will never go back. I did however realize that even though the South is in my heart, I belong here.

I came home from my trip to find that my shop mate that I rent from gave notice without telling me, so now I am scrambling to find someone to fill her shoes so that I can stay. I have a few interested parties but nothing nailed down yet. I was paying a little too much for the amount of room I was using and now if I stay I will take over the whole area where I am and be willing to pay a little more. Hopefully this works out in my favor to keep this place. If not there will be a greener pasture elsewhere. But really this place rules!

It's funny how things work. I know this was the best thing for me anyhow since I was almost unable to be creative with all the stuff that is in there. Her business is estate liquidation, so in essence she has lots and lots of things. For someone like me it's a tad overwhelming and hard to be creative when things are aesthetically out of place, chaotic, and make me anxious. Hopefully if I get to keep the shop it all calms down and stuff gets made!

I do have one resin ring complete, but I had left it at a friends house and got it back yesterday. I will photograph and list.

tootle-loo

Fire Wire and Overdrive

2010-04-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I spent time with my awesome artist friend Kristen Ferrell. That girl exuberates mass creative energy. She's super tiny (more petite than I am), with the biggest presence of anyone I know and she's real and genuine. Not easy to find around here.

Being with her is like a breath of fresh air. Her presence grounds you immidiately and opens the flood gates of creativity all in one swoop. She's married to my friend Brad and when we met we became super fast friends. I left her house last night, close to midnight with a head full of fresh ideas and an aching to get to the shop. I had the hardest time sleeping, because my mind was in overdrive and I was so excited to produce with my hands what was filling up my head. I wish I had a Fire Wire port in my head to download everything that is going on in there to my computer for future reference, since it's too fast to jot down in my sketch book.

I am trying to convince her to collaberate with me on some ring designs. Hopefully she will!

Ramblings

2010-04-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to the sterling silver, vintage flowers, and resin project. However, when getting to the most crucial part yesterday I realized that I am completely out of some of my flex shaft attachments for grinding and sanding in tiny places. I have had this huge RIO order saved in my shopping cart for weeks since the price of silver went up again I was going to wait until it went down, but I had to order stuff now so I could finish.

Hopefully I will have it by the weekend so that I can get this stuff complete before I leave next week.

Sometimes

2010-04-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things work with ease and seem to flow with no hurrdles to move over. Other times things seem to make sense, but then again don't. I think my biggest lesson sometimes is trusting people for good advice when I feel vulnerable, only to realize later after it's been processed, while something works for them, it most likely doesn't serve me and leaves my thoughts even more muddied that they were previously and feeling more confused after the fact and not knowing whats actually mine and what is thiers.

This is when I love being able to call my old therapist and get a reality check when my thoughts and feelings are out of sorts and I cannot make sense of what is in my head and in my heart. She is biased and she puts my back on track with a few swift words and a gentle kick in the ass and reminds me that even though I have good people in my life, doesn't mean I have to share anything with them including family, because most of the time the adivce I get is an opinion or a should from thier own experience that isn't mine. Everything is different for everyone, we are not the same, we don't behave the same, we don't think the same, we don't sleep the same, we don't eat the same, etc. She reminds me that I am smart enough to find my own solutions and in tune enough with myself to find my own way. She reminds me to be careful whom I share my stuff with and feel what I need to feel. She reminds me that other people do not know what is best for me. Only I do.

It's amazing that I forget that sometimes, but so true in the end.

New Stuff

2010-04-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

New resin studs listed in shop now!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/janedeaux?section_id=5272527

New Stuff

2010-04-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

I spent a good portion of the weekend doing jack s**t. I went shopping, something I don't actually love to do, but will when bored or in dire need of something. When I say shopping.... Target, Ikea, and online don't count. Most of my friends know that when I need some sort of creative bump I cruise through Ikea. The colors, the textures, and weirdness help get me cranking again...usually. If DWELL had a store like Ikea, I would cruise through that instead (Sorry Tess). I had a plan to drop a little cha-ching on new supplies and metals but it looks as if silver just went up another dollar. Two weeks ago when I added it to my shopping cart it was two dollars less. DAMN. See there is some truth in the "Early Bird Gets the Worm"!

So about this new stuff. I finally busted out the resin and made some tiny stud earrings for spring and summer. I have this thing for New Wave and the colors that I used are the flag colors from the album Vacation from the Go-Go's (it's a nostalgic thing). I did a few pairs of each in regular sterling and oxidized. I have about 25 pairs.

I need to get them photographed, perhaps today and possibly listed in the next day or so. Stay tuned!

UPDATE - Picture. I don't like my camera I bought in October. I have never gotten the results I want from it.

DANG

2010-03-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger of the late! I promise I will be back with something possibly interesting to say and or show next week!!!!!

New Stuff

2010-03-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

Finally listed more stuff in the shop today!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/janedeaux

New Stuff in Shop!

2010-03-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Just listed some new rings. Well, I made them a few weeks ago, but I had not been able to get the pictures the way I wanted them. So now you see!

Yep

2010-03-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today was awesomely warm. Finally in the 80's, this is why I live here damnit! :)
It was way to nice outside to go to the studio after work, so I got nothing done today. Maybe tomorrow, it's supposed to be like this all week. The best part is the shop won't be cold, when I do finally stroll in.

Summer is just around the corner

2010-03-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

I'm finally glad it's warming up and I'm glad that we turned the clocks forward. Summer is my favorite time of the year and spring makes me excited. I don't know why, but summer makes me feel free. Winter is more layers of clothes and staying inside and I feel bound up. I don't dislike winter but it semi makes me depressed and I definitely get house fever.

Summer to me is a time to utilize what was reflected during the winter months, so I guess in a sense it's a wake up from hibernation.

I finally have some new things to list and some new stuff in the works that isn't anything like I have done before, but has been in the works for a while. I was trying to find my footing to execute what was in my mind and on paper to hands and metal and find the confidence to make it happen.

I have pictures of some of the new things, and more on the way.

It's True

2010-03-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

Arrogance overrides beauty.

Blah

2010-02-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

Today was blah. Not in a Debbie Downer sort of way, but just blah. As a matter of fact it's been this way for a few days now. No inspiration, no motivation, just plain ol' apathy. Sounds like a song. Usually though, when I feel this way, it's my body's way of telling me to slow down and regroup.

So rather than fight myself and the world around me, I'll just lay low for a couple of days, it's much nicer than giving someone the bird. I thought with the new mess of goodies I just got to play with at the shop, that I would feel compelled to go, but I am not. It's cold in there, my ipod broke, and there are only so many records I like in Diana's collection. SO spring needs to get here so when I get off of the day job, it's still light enough for the roll up doors of fresh air when I get to the shop.

My friend is coming out next week from back east and I am excited over that. I hope I get to drag her around ol' Costa Mesa for a few hours until her work people tell her it's time to leave. She will only be here for one day, but hey one is better than none right?

I am so ready for winter to be over.

BOGO Stacking Rings Sale

2010-02-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, except this one lasts for 10 whole days.

From February 18th until February 28th buy one set of 3 and get another set free.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40613604

Eye Candy for Your Book Shelf

2010-02-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

I love the classics, but being a graphic designer, I love them even more with hard bound illustrated covers.
One by one I am buying these. I got Jane Eyre around Christmas time and I just bought Wuthering Heights about 5 mintues ago. Look how beautiful they all are. I am the queen of removing "paper" covers off hard back books, so these waste nothing and they are shelf candy.

Running in Circles

2010-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

This past week I tried with everything I had to get some new pieces complete, and nothing happened. It seems every time I went to the shop, I stopped, I stared, and I left. Funny how creativity works that way.

Yesterday I was finally realized, it was because my work area was a disaster. I am a firm believer in clutter clearing and if I feel stuck, it usually means something needs to be cleaned and organized. So I spent a few hours cleaning, sorting, and organizing. Then I was able to kinda sit down, sketch out some new stuff, and work on finishing a ring band thats been sitting since last week.

Valentine Sale

2010-02-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

From now until February 14th get 25% back when you purchase anything from the Valentine Section.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/janedeaux?section_id=6793559

Something to Love

2010-02-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Tess from NovaofSweden has been rather on a roll lately. One of her recent makings has my heart doing flips and half gaynors. It's so spectacular and unique that I feel everyone needs to catch a glimpse of this one of a kind beauty of a ring.

New Rings Bands

2010-02-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

As promised here they are.

Sterling Heart Ring Band size 8.5

Men's Sterling Hammered Ring Band size 11

Sterling Unisex Ring Band size 9.5

All available in the shop now!

New Rings

2010-02-05T19:36:00.001-08:00

Just finished up some rings. Need to take pictures and will list them tomorrow!

Finally!

2010-02-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Finally, my student loan is paid off. This sucker just stayed pretty much the same since I got out of school. It never seemed like it was getting any closer to getting rid of it. By some miracle, my grandparents took it amongst themselves to take care of it. What relief and how grateful I am is beyond words. Thanks GP's

The Twilight Saga

2010-01-29T23:51:00.000-08:00

For some reason I am picky about movies I watch and books I read. I remember when the Twilight frenzy happened and I immediately blew it off to be a teen-age cheesy movie, just like a Hanna Montana thing or a Jonas Brothers concert, and really tripped out on the hoopla it stirred, and then never thought about it again.

Last Saturday night while I was folding my laundry, Twilight was on TV. So I decided to kill time and give it a chance. I mean really what else was I going to watch at 11pm that I haven't already seen and I surely didn't want to be depressed by the news.

Anyhow, boy was I wrong. I got sucked right into that movie so much that the next night I watched it again since I had missed the first 30 minutes. But by Monday morning that wasn't enough for me, I was curious even more. I don't know why but I was having my own frenzy. So Monday afternoon I got the book which I knew would tell more of this interesting story and finished that by Tuesday afternoon and was again in a frenzy and I wanted to know the rest of the story. SO I went after I finished that one and got the next book. Long story short I read the entire series from Monday until tonight. I just finished about an hour ago and I have to say. This the best series I have ever read and I am super sad it's over. I was glad I got to watch the movie first so that I could have faces and images of where this all took place in my mind as I followed along. It was nice to take a break in fantasy land for 5 days and escape reality while I let my body relax after the last few stressful months.

The movie was awesome too, and I am excited to see the next ones.

Storm Before the Calm

2010-01-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life gives you a storm, you never know how long it will last before you can feel the sunshine on your face again. This ring symbolizes those times of my life. It was rocky and stormy, but I knew the light at the end of the tunnel would come. It's the change that takes place before you grow into another path of your life.

This ring is made of Crazy Lace Agate and sterling silver.

Love Tokens

2010-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

Tokens of Love, for your ears.

WIll be in the shop tomorrow

Finally

2010-01-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

Finally this crazy weather, storm, pattern of whatever is over!!!!!

Now I can get on with my life and get back to what needs to be done. I guess living here it is easy to take advantage of clear skies and rainless days and get use to not making the most of it.

Why Do They Do It?

2010-01-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

High speed chases are probably just about the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Not only are they dangerous and kill people, they are just plain, well, stupid!

It's not like they are going to get away with it. I wonder sometimes what actually goes through someone's mind as they get in the car and decide to run. It just makes things worse and then the news spends the entire hour talking about this, rather than the tornado/storm watch we are on for tomorrow, so I can figure out if going to work is in the cards for me or not tomorrow.

Many years ago when I was in my early 20's (many many years ago), my god brother Andy, who was a year younger than myself, was driving home with some friends late at night, and just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, adn was killed by the suspect of a high speed chase. He was so young and had such a long life ahead of him. It was sad and could have been prevented. The sad thing is the guy that hit him was most likely released after a few years, even though he killed someone. It's just the way it works.

Before the Storm

2010-01-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

I moved into my new residents over the weekend before the rain started Sunday. I can see all the busyness of Newport Boulevard and almost see the water from my bedroom window. But, the best part is the sunrise and the sunsets that I get to see out of my 3 large windows. This was so beautiful Saturday night and I took it as a sign for "New Beginnings".

A Tornado and Hail

2010-01-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

We are having some crazy weather. I have read some posts and comments on weather forums and twitter where people say that Californians are Wussies because we have a little rain. Welp, it's not that we are Wusses, it's that we are ill prepared for something that rarely happens here. In So Cal, we don't get enough rain for it to seep into the ground like other places. It just floods and ruins concrete and streets. Yesterday on my way home I decided to stop by the shop and 4 hours of rain had up-rooted and moved trees, knocked down telephone poles, and one street was so flooded you could only see the top of the cars.

Today we had flash floods and torando warnings, it was pretty crazy to watch and one apparently touched down in Huntington Harbor and flipped over a car. So before you judge us So Cal'ers on our bad weather manners, remember this is very abnormal for us to have this kind of weather. I guess the worst is supposed to be tomorrow. But, for now that storm moved out and it's in San Diego now and the sun is shining for a minute.

Moving

2010-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

I have been moving this past weekend. I miss the shop, but now it's storming and the only thing I can look forward too, is my warm house, tea, and my laptop. New stuff coming soon :)

American Health Care at Its Finest

2010-01-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, here is my gripe and it's a biggie. No, wait actually I am so angry I could spit nails. This is what our Government healthcare is like, incase you did not know and have not had the chance to deal with the Government side of healthcare and Social Security.

Let's take a trip back in time shall we? My Cousin "Molly" (name changed to protect family member), who is really my Grandmothers niece, had some troubles in her late teens in the late 60's and early 70's. Maybe drugs were to blame or maybe not, but "Molly" has a serious mental illness that cannot be cured. She has spent the better part of 3 decades being hospitalized off and on, living on Social Security Disability, California State Disability, and Medi-Care. Now one would think Cousin Molly has it going on and she's all care for right?

WRONG - my Cousin has been out of the Insititution part of this issue and in the free world for most of the 3 decades she has been ill. However, state money and SSI doesn't get you very far and the Dr.s that come with Medi-Care aren't exactly top notch and from what we have seen, don't give 2 shits about you, after all it's basicallay Pro Bono if you look at it that way. Cousin Molly has been on every single combo / cocktail of medication you can think of and for 20 years no one seemed to get it right. The last decade, she was blessed with a much better Medi-Care Dr. who seemed to have worked some magic and the cocktail she is on now is working pretty well. But that is not all I am here to talk about. Being this type of person, you have no guarantees that what works now, may not work in the future, so therefor, there is NOOOOOO hope for people like my Cousin Molly. Molly is about as normal now as she can be, but Molly is NOT allowed to have a job that entales her to make any money without losing all benefits - do you see where I am going with this?

SSI & SDI benefits pay Cousin Molly approximately $600 dollars a month and require her to live in HUD housing - most HUD housing I have seen is crap - It's unsafe, drug infested, and down right filthy. Not all but most. And what isn't usually has a waiting list that goes on for years. Okay so HUD rent is $400 dollars and that leaves Molly with about $200 dollars a month to - pay electricity, the phone, take the bus, wash her clothes, buy toiletries, food, and maybe once in a while new clothes if needed. Mind you Molly is about 50 now, I think. Okay so now that you know that part - the even bigger issue is this - There is NO training to help Molly be part of society because you cannot work at all (see above) and keep your benefits, and since her issue has been on going for 30 plus years it's apparent that it's a life long illness and no one can guarantee that there won't be flare ups. So here is this woman who has spent the last 10 years of her life going to college and volunteering at her Church 30 hours a week for free because she is bored. If the system allowed people like this to phase out thier benefits over time while they were able to work and feel better about themselves and not tell them that if you lose your benefits you will never ever get them back, it might change and save some lives. This is part of the reason that there are so many homeless people. While Cousin Molly drives me crazy and it's difficult for me to be around her peronally - I think it's disgusting to watch the system at work in my own family. Molly would love to have a job, she's good at all kinds of things, but if for some reason her medication stops working and she goes back into where ever she goes in her head, she will have no care, if she takes that leap. So if you get my drift, this keeps people from getting better and making a life they didn't have.

Cousin Molly also knows how to manipulate our family and orchestrate her way without you ever knowing, excpet I see it and so does my mother. So I have decided since I can't sit back and watch someone live off of $200 dollars a month for everything that really would like to try to be apart of something rather than her own hell, that I am going to make one mass produced article of jewelry in my shop and after the etsy fees are paid. I will be sending Molly gift cards, not cash, but gift cards to Target, Trader Joes, etc. so that she can have a life, but this will be done without her knowing its me, because this starts a whole chain reaction of drama I don't want to be invovled in and in inch turns into a mile. We have all been down this road before with her. My mother said last night she would like to do the same as well. Molly's mother moved back to Mississippi a few years back because it wasn't that she didn't love her daughter or want her with her, but you have to know Molly to understand the manipulation that happens here, and that Mississippi's State Disabilities Insurance is different from CA and Molly would have to start all over, plus she does have friends and her church. But last night when my mother and I were talking about this, I was so angry, because something we are supposed to believe in keeps you stuck in the inbetween and gives you nothing to look forward to, ever. So I hope that even though I cannot change her or her situation that I can help contribute a little bit without her knowing. It reminds me of how lucky I am to be blessed with good health and a good life, because some of is are not so lucky.

Have Mercy!

2010-01-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

I have had the absolute most atrocious appetite today. The never ending pit syndrome, also known as "pre shark week". Better run everyone and lock up your food, my hormones just got out of prison for the month. Think I am kidding? You have never seen me cram food into my 5' 1" 118 lb frame, its actually a horror movie that leaves my friends puzzled and considering entering me into a food eating contest. The only thing I regret after eating things all day long that I normally wouldn't even look at twice in the grocery store, is the fact that I have had more sodium today than I am medically allowed to have in a week and my bottle of water is down stairs in the car and I am extremely parched, and I am watching a train wreck of American Idol.

I have also decided that I am going to start a new blog on commercials. There are too many that are ridiculously stupid and the companies that release them should fire their branding manager and creative team. No this isn't shark week talking, this has been on my mind since Cool Whip aired that French Vanilla Cool Whip commercial a few years back during the holidays, if you had caught me on a bad moment when that aired, I would tell you I was considering chucking my television set out of the window. Thank goodness I was blessed with silence this year and didn't see nor hear it. But there are many I can add to the list. But for now this is me. Got Food? I thank I dun run out.

Vintage BA BEE

2010-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Aren't they cute? I have sorely neglected The Pink Pistol for far too long. I spent most of yesterday taking photographs of pottery and furniture. These little BA BEES will be in the shop this week.

Gimme Some Skin

2010-01-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

Okay so my major plan today was to stay put in the studio all day, but somehow as usual, I ended up at Eat Chow like I do every Saturday or Sunday. I had the most awesome Egg White Mole Burrito, with my friend Michelle from work, she was able to get a 2 hour pass away from her 3 year old terror.

So after a full belly I headed over to the shop, where again, my plan was to stay put all day and into the night. It was f-f-f-f-freeeeezing in there. Yeah I know shoot me, it was 77 today but not inside the shop, like I said it was f-f-f-f-reeeeeeezing. Then as I finished my first ring (we will get to that in a second). I managed to snip a chunk off the top of my middle finger with my metal snips.... Yeah I know you told me so with those awful scary things and normally I am super careful to not chop off a finger, but I just wasn't paying attention. SO I have a small tear of skin missing and lucky it wasn't the whole tip. YAY for me the emergency room DOES NOT get anymore of my money any time soon, they got enough last year.

Okay now onto the ring. I managed to finished this ring today. I love it and the stone is soooooooooo pretty. It's made of sterling silver and mookaite. The purples, pinks, creams, and glittery sheen in this puppy remind me of a snow cone for some reason. Anyhow, I started on the second ring and that's when the skin hit the fan and then sticking my finger in salty vinegar wasn't fun anymore, that was like torture. So maybe tomorrow, we shall see. My all day excursion was only 4.5 hours long and I am sure more magic could have been made. So enjoy this new beauty who will be in the shop tonight after I finish my beans and cheese with tortilla chips. Did I ever mention I live for mexican food?

Studio Time

2010-01-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

Today I finally have the umph to spend the entire day at the studio. I know you will be jealous when I tell you the weather has been in the upper 70's all week, but it still completely cold in the warehouse. We have HVAC but we need the returns installed and the thermostat put in. It's chilly in there! I know I know I am such a wuss, I wear leggings under my pants and UGG boots and sometimes 2 long sleeves under my apron, even thought its like 50 something degrees hahahaha. But today I think it will be 75 and I can roll up the big doors and that helps suck the cold concrete chilly air out. I got a resin kit for christmas so I am looking forward to playing with that. If you know where I am stop by. Have a lovely day!

The Blind Side

2010-01-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

I went tonight to see this movie with a friend. I cried my eyes out, yes siree I did, but then again what is new. For those of you who don't know me well, I have a big ol' sappy ass heart full of empathy. Commercials make me cry, you remember the ones for Liberty Mutual where someone was always there to help someone magically? Yep, that gets me every time. Okay back to the movie.

Not only was this an amazing story on a family with an enormous amount of generosity and love, but I love how much Michael was able to trust them, after the horrible life he sustained and how he still remained heart-ful, open, and accepting to a family he knew nothing about that was completely willing to help him. That takes a giant leap of faith and a huge amount of courage.

The next thing I have to say I like is that this portrayed a wealthy southern family that absolutely did not give 2 shits about the color of his skin, that speaks volumes to me, not only for him, but also for the fact that most people assume that if you are from the south you are racist or prejudice or both. I am from Tennessee as well and didn't know that color difference was still an issue with some people until I moved to California, I wasn't raised that way, so that to me speaks volumes alone. I don't like the word prejudice but I have to say I am guilty of it, but it has nothing to do with the color of skin on anyone, but the attitudes of people. I really have an issue with the "sense of entitlement" attitude that some people seem to carry and I guess I blame that on poor parenting, sad family values, and ignorance. It could also have something to do with the fact that I live in Southern California in Newport Beach. I like to call them Spoon Fed Degenerates.

I was born and bred to work hard, with conservative family values, to do the right thing, to help people in need (within my limits), to find a solution to a problem and deal with it, treat everyone as equals, be polite, and yes share (not easy being an only child). I fall short, sometimes more often than not, but I do the best I can. I was born an only child and only grandchild on my mom's side of the family. Most people assume that means I was spoiled, not really. I had to work hard for what I got but also got to do some things most kids don't get to do, but I appreciated it, well okay except the piano lessons, that I took for granted for sure, and now I kick myself for it. But I learned the value of a dollar and how important it is to treat people with respect. My grandmother once told me when I was in my late teens and had a bad attitude because I was angry with the world, she said "always treat people with respect, no matter how angry you are, someday that person might save your life or be there for you when you need help". That has stuck with me and I will say my grandmother was right. There have been times when I have fallen very very short of that golden rule and got nasty with someone using my finger out the window, only to go to get something fixed on my car or something else and that person happened to be the person who helped me, not only did they remember me, but I felt so foolish for my behavior. I am not good at being mean, unless of course you push me and take advantage of me enough, then the snake fangs come out and venom sprays, but that isn't often and the guilt kicks in quick. I have learned if I want to say something nasty beause I am pissed, I count to 10 before I react, usually that helps before I do or say something I will most likely regret and hurt someone in the process.

This movie reminded me how precious life is no matter who you are or where you are from, and everyone deserves a chance of some sort. I forget that sometimes when I get so wrapped up in routine or my own life. But I have to say this movie touched my heart and made my soul squeal with delight.

And the Winner Is....

2010-01-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

Man 2 people played ha. Oh well. here goes

#2 - novadesigns

congrats!

Till Death Do Us Part

2010-01-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

I know I will probably get some hate mail for this post, but that's ok, I fully accept that. For those who know me know how bad my arachnophobia really is. Yes, yes I have tried it all, lemon pledge, citrus sprays, bug killer, traps, etc. But you know dangit if I am going to continue to get bitten in my sleep!

I must say that the house I have been living in the last 5 months isn't the best place for me, the guy that owns the house is rather a junk collector (spider heaven) and I needed a place to live like that day, he won't spray for bugs and the house isn't exactly up to par, which is why I am moving again in like 7 days. Yes, you can call me a gypsy, I am ok with that. I lived alone for many many years and decided after the fire summer 2008 and a few rounds of therapy for PTSD and my therapists suggestion, that living with roommates for a while just might help me get back on track for everyday things like plugging in a hair dryer, using the stove, and stop running and smelling every outlet in the house. You see I have struggled with this phobia of electricity as well after the fire, anything actually that can cause a fire I have struggled with. How I am able to use a torch to make jewelry is beyond me, except that I know my fire extinguisher is right next to me.

Anyhow back to the spider issue. I have no idea why I freak out on spiders like I do. I have even had a few rounds of EMDR just for this issue and it hasn't worked. So living in this Sanford and Sons type house (embarrased to say) that I have recently, I have been bitten 3 times in my sleep in a one month time span. Okay that is disgusting, and they were not small bites, but big giant ones and I found the culprit he was the size of a silver dollar, legs stretched out and he was living underneath my alarm clock, which means he watched me while I slept and decided when would be a good time to eat me. That still gives me nightmares (the hair on my head prickles as I write this) - The guy who owns the house refuses to spray even though my other roommate was bitten as well. Needless to say I have never had this problem in the whole 37 years of my exisistence. So Megan got me a bug zapper for christmas. This thing makes me feel much safer and I don't have to sneeze after using bug spray (that I snuck into the house). I don't like killing things but I have to say I will kill spiders, they make me shiver and shake if I find them in my home. We tested it the other day at the office and yes siree it works all right.

In California our winters are mild so there is no "spider season" it is all year long. So if you are in the market for something less toxic that works instantly this might be for you. Spiders can stay outside where they belong, but not in my bed in my very clean room, eating on my skin. GRRRRR (going to throw up now)

Here's to you Mrs. Full Time Job Worker

2010-01-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

I read a lot of blogs often, and being a metalsmith on etsy you are exposed to many many blogs about handmade, peoples daily lives, and personal journeys.

I have seen lots and lots of amazing talent day in and day out. Fabulous writers, food bloggers, etsy critics, photography, marketing, fashion.... You name it I have seen it, er well read it.

But I want to take this moment to salute the people who not only run an etsy shop, blog, and have a passion to make handmade and live their dream, but the people who can do it all while having a full time day job, have a family with wee ones, and still have the time at the end of a busy tired day to pump out beautiful pieces of art that comes form the heart and soul, blog about it, and keep going like the energizer bunny.

I am one of those myself. I work for an Engineering Firm in Energy Conservation. I love my job and am lucky to have it. It provides stability, health insurance, 401k, pension plan, paid vacation, paid holidays, constant learning, and a hand full of other perks. I work my ass off every single day, but somehow at the end of the day, I still muster up enough energy to make jewelry. I know there are a handful of other people in this handmade world that balance life as well. So here's to all of you that have a very full life and still find the time to do what truly makes your heart sing!

Forgotten Love

2010-01-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

I use to love Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers when I was a teen. Long ago in a forgotten land right? Well recently I stumbled across this again at Target and bought one. I forgot that I love the subtle color it leaves and isn't goopy and sticky like lip gloss.

New Years Give Away

2010-01-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! 2010 is going to be a great year. I don't really do a New Years resolution since it seems I set myself up for failure if I don't follow through and then get mad at myself for not doing what I said I was going to do and then get mad at myself for getting mad at myself. So in turn it's a vicious cycle and then I do more of what I said I wasn't going to do. So I set goals with no time line and add them to what I would like to improve. We are only human and make mistakes and it seems to me that I learn the lesson when I am damn well ready, not because I say I am but because I feel the shift and decide enough is enough, then it's easy.

A few years ago I tried everything I could to quit smoking and was on Nicotine gum and smoking cloves at the same time. I had been doing this for a while with no success to actually quit smoking. What I was avoiding was that psychopathic feeling you get when you withdrawal from cigarettes. I had that even though I had been using the gum. One day I woke up had a scary episode of heart arrhythmia which I thought was a heart attack and I was only 35 and just like that I was done. That was my last clove cigarette. All though I cannot say the same for the gum but it's a process.

My goal for the year, is to pay off as much debt as I can. I am not swimming by any means, but my goal is to move out of California in about 3 years and buy a ranch in North Carolina and I want to go with nothing more than a cell phone bill, car insurance, and a bunch of saved money in the bank. It's totally doable. My plan started this past summer and to no avail life happened, and of course I got a little behind in my goal, but it is still not far out of reach.

The New Year always brings a fresh perspective on life and after the holidays and all the indulgence with people, places, and things, we tend to set such high standards for ourselves of what needs to change. So this week my give away is all about - What goal do you want to set in your life that you know you can actually do and feel good about getting there?

Rules are:
1. You must follow my blog or you not be picked
2. You must tweet, facebook, blog, etc the contest and answer the above question in the comments section below.

Winner of a Sterling Silver necklace, will be randomly chosen and will be announced Friday January 8th at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.

Good Luck!

And the Winner is

2009-12-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

Saving in Style
I really wanted a Nordic Track exercise bike, but I got the Canon camera I wanted, so I really can't complain!! I didn't get ANY necklaces, so this would be a great addition!!

Congrats to you! I will email you in a moment. Stay tuned everyone, there are more give-aways coming!