As I was signing into today I wasnt even sure how long it had been since i blogged. A year. Oh well, a blogger I am not, I try sometimes. Mostly I just like to make jewels! I am only blogging today because I needed some room to tell a story about my holiday jewel experience.

I managed to send out 287 orders during this ordeal. Much thanks to those that purchased my creations. Sorry to say that I messed up on 6 orders myself(ok maybe 1 or 2 more) I admit, all my doing! The post office lost 7, only 2 now found. Not bad out of so many unless you are one of the ones who didnt get to give their gift or wear their jewels. For those I truly apologize for the problems with your orders. I tried my best to get everything meticulously made and out in a timely manner and for the most part I succeeded. For some I didn't, and know that I do feel bad your order failed to arrive in time. The patience and understanding from most was much appreciated in this trying time.

December began so nicely, little did i know it was the calm before many storms. The 2nd week of December my son got the flu (and missed school for a week). Autism and being really sick doesn't go together even under the best of circumstances. Then he gave me the flu. And it was a week long knock you on your butt kinda flu!!! It put Daniels behavior in a whole new perspective!!! Raised the empathy factor alot. The next week is when the snow began.

The first day was so beautiful! Then Record snowfall for 3 weeks solid. Wake up to new snow daily (sounds so pretty doesn't it!). No school. As of today Daniel has been out of school for 5 weeks ...Getting around town was hazardous! Piles and Piles of snow!

During the next 2 weeks we actually had snowfall of about 8 feet but there was some melting (Not MUCH!). We had 5ft+ high drifts from roof snow removal all around the house. On each side of the driveway were 5ft piles from daily shoveling so I could get to the post office.The silky white landscape was 3ft deep. It was such a sight!!!! Not one I am use to seeing around here.

If you have never lived in snow you cant imagine the amount of shoveling involved to just get out of my 1/4 mile driveway. I am so ready to move to a tropical island....

Just as everyone was tired of the snow and work involved in maintaining normalcy came the 16" of rain in a 12 hour period. All this water on top of the 5 feet accumulation of snow.

Imagine the acrtic where all the ice floats in the serene blue water. Except this water, along with the big ice chunks, was sand and muck full of debri, moving fast and growing higher by the minute. The town of Morton was deluged by water from the mountains that surround us on all sides. The wintery landscape became one of muddy destruction all within an hour. With people trying desperately to save their houses and animals and selves.

Outside my door the water started to rise. The slow meandering creek that borders the house became a raging river. Spilling its banks changing course thru my driveway creating paths it wasn't meant to have. The 2 neighbors houses below me and mine were all in danger of becoming part of the ever increasing water flow. The water took all the driveway gravel and left 4" of sand. I was afraid the entire hillside would come tumbling down as it had further along my hillside. Just about a 1000ft from me water poured thru the neighbors barn only 20 ft from their house. All that mudd and trees crashed onto the main road and pasteur below. This scene was repeated on more than 50 other hillsides and creeksides thruout this town and many more beyond. The entire county and parts of the state are a disaster area. Some are still being rescused from water filled streets.

Thankfully we were able to build a dam on our creek and truck in some rock to get the creek(raging river) back on course and saved the houses. Once the water receded the landscape was eerie. Resembling nothing of its former order. Nor of the wintery landscape of the last 3 weeks. Some of the piles of snow remain. The creek is back to a gently flowing pace. Amazing the new path it created.

Some pictures:
Rising Water
And Rising


The first dam(crested after photo, would need more!)

The experience of Getting my oldest son back to Evergreen State College (much to his relief) in the snow is yet another exciting snow shoveling, wheel gripping, anxiety producing experience worthy of its own blog entry or a short novel. Now things are beginning to get back to normal. I have been making new jewels, many unique creations, and hope to get pictures done as soon as I finish here. Tho I may go watch the golden globes instead. I think I am still in recovery mode.

My final thought for this blog entry is that the December holiday season shouldn't coincide with the flu, 500 year record snowfall or 100 yr floods OR school closures.

But that's life isn't it.
We cant choose our path the way the river did, we are just along for the ride.

Best wishes for a happy 2009 ....

Cheryl

Angelite Gemstones

Angelite semi precious gemstones are my new favorite rock. Ok, the blue african jasper might be tied for that position but Angelite is perhaps the softest looking gemstone I think I have ever seen.

It is such a powdery look to it. If a cloud were blue then that would describe these stones. They are exquisite!

Angelite is believed to enhance telepathic powers and bring the wearers closer together thru the mind. And to communicate with angels and how it got its name.

It is a fairly rare stone that was a million years in the making.

For inner harmony and to help bring a sense of oneness to yourself and those around you, try some Angelite.

Here is one of my creations using the semi precious gemstone:



More gemstones later...

Cheryl

Long time no Blog

It has been a busy 6 weeks since my last blog. I am really going to try to post more often things have just been hectic and not enough time to do much except create jewels and mail them out. It has also been a time of beautiful creations, a cherished son returning home from college, birthdays, a supreme court IDEA case, and the never ending and fun search for unique and beautiful jewelry components.

I made what I feel to be such a stunning piece. I call it the Nonagenarian because the glass jewel is 90 years old. It is a really lovely piece.

I have also been making cameo necklaces. I found some really pretty ones that are new and some awesome ones that are antique. That is the new one of my favorites. The butterfly cameos are exquisite.

I have not designed with the next one, I hope to get them soon. Been waiting impatiently for their delivery!

Going out to get a Christmas tree today. It has seemed odd to not have one yet. We typically get one the day after Thanksgiving but this year my son asked me to wait for him to come back home since he is on the decorating committee. So I waited. It will probably seem a lot more like christmas once the scent of the evergreen tree fills the air and the twinkling lights make my other son's face light up with the wonderment of the spectacle.

A joyous time of year. Blessings for good tidings to be had by all.

Happy Holidays...
Cheryl

Brass Filigrees

I have obtained quite a few brass filigrees and I am in the process of creating with them. I have posted a few. This is one of my favorites:



And I have finally learned how to get a nice aged look to the brass without chemicals or a lengthy process. The brass has such a nice sheen to it. I still like some of the oxidized brass I get from one supplier. Mostly because I like the shape of the filigree. This flowery filigree is one of my favorites.

Here it is used with a stunning zircon glass jewel:



Thats all for now !
Cheryl

Prices and Jadeite

I had an intersting "convo" - shortand for the conversation feature at etsy, basically an internal email system. This person convoed (is that a word) me and said that she wanted to buy some things but was scared because my prices were "by far much lower than other filigree artisans" (her words).

Well my first reaction was to be the snark I am and say I could make them higher if she would like. Instead I just answered that I base my prices on the cost of the matterals and how much time it takes me to make a piece. I guess I don't really get this. I mean you go to Target and see an item and you go to Walmart and they have the same Item for less do you question it ? Or do you say YAY and buy it saving some bucks? Or do you go back to Target so you can spend more for the item?

Granted the items aren't exactly the same in this instance, but I do make a quality product, using only quality components and since my pictures now reflect this even more (YAY) I suppose this will remain a mystery to me unless of course I inflate my prices or raise my per hourly wage :-) For now I am happy with what I make in both workmanship and price.

She didn't end up buying from me....

Another convo was informing the about a piece I had made using Jadeite. Telling me it wasn't jadeite but perhaps Nephrite. Was very informational tho, and I do like to know what stones I am using. The mystery of the stone is still a mystery however. The wholesaler insists it is Jadeite. He also sells Nephrite and does usually know his stones so short of a geological testing I have no idea who is right. The person who informed me tho did seem fairly knowledgable. Maybe I will keep it Jadeite with a Nephrite disclaimer ;-)

This is the piece in question -


If anyone knows I would like to know !

Thats all for now ....... jewels to make !

Cheryl

I love my Camera !

It is easy to use and the pics are awesome ! I have been so obssessed with taking pictures (and editing pictures) that i forgot to blog ! (Like I need an excuse).

I have redone about 1/3 of the pictures and the difference is amazing !

Maybe once I am done I can focus my attention on the blog. Or cleaning out my pool. Or making new jewels (ok I have still been making new ones, thats my biggest obesssion).

Back to the camera and editing !

Cheryl

Great Pics coming soon ....

It has been a ruff week after taking my son to college. Hard to believe only a week has passed... he is having the time of his life, loves Evergreen and is thoroughly enjoying the social aspects of it. Since he took my camera or should I say HIS camera to school with him it forced me to get a new one.

I asked the people at Etsy to post what camera they use so I could get an idea of the pics produced and decided on a Canon SD1000. This camera produced BY FAR the best pictures of anyone's that posted. The photos are crisp and clean and not a blur to be had. I even got a really great deal on one at Ebay ... yes I love Ebay !!!

Will be a major improvement in the jewel pictures!!! I can't wait to get it ! Will be nice to take pictures and not face dissappointment over the quality of photos. It is pretty sad to create a piece of lovely jewels then have the camera demolish that beauty, but that won't happen anymore ! And I hope the better quality pictures produce more sales, too ! It is such a nice feeling knowing someone is wearing what I think are beautiful jewels that I created.

IN the meantime got some new glass and some new czech beads that I am looking forward to creating with. This week hasn't been a good one for creativity but I can slowly feel that urge coming back! The ideas for new jewels are itching to be made into reality again.

And that urge to make glass beads is still burning strong, plan to work on learning that, too! So much to do, so little time.....

Cheryl