Blogging

I think i avoid blogging because i find it difficult to think of new things to say about jewels that I dont put in my listings. Every new creation I list is like writing a blog! Ok maybe it isnt!

Writing about jewels beyond that has always been like a chore left to last. I much prefer creating the jewels. It IS my passion. I could spend most every hour of every day creating new jewels. While listening to Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga.

My other passion is also what keeps me from blogging here. I created the blog as an extension of me and my jewels with an intent to share my passion. My jewels are me. But writing about the jewels has been a problem because when i think about blogging or something to write, I want to write about Iodine.

Iodine is the cure for every disease. Our lack of iodine and ability to use it is the root cause of all disease. Vaccines are the cause of this deficiency.

My other passion. I want to tell every person on this planet they do not have to be sick. This is what I want to write about. To share with the world. This is what is most important.

So to that end I suppose I could create a new blog,so i could write on many topics, but i have this one. Creating a new blog is alot of work I dont have time for! And as Jewels By Nature is an extension of me, it is not all of me, so feel I shouldnt limit my topics.

So the topics of my blog may or may not be about jewels from now on. I suspect if i can become a blogger, and no promises it wont be a year until my next blog ;-) my writings will be more about Iodine, autism, music and the many more extensions of me, and of course, jewels.

Cheryl

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