One class down (Friday night's sweet Foxy Mama group did me proud!) and four more to go. At least this weekend, they're all in Austin, and only one a day! Tonight we get to play with Piazza Perline. How I love that bracelet.
I posted on the Texas Beader's Yahoo group yesterday to let them know about WildFire and that I was selling it on Etsy, and I've been putting together packages to mail out today ever since! I'm almost out of the black in 125 yard spools, but I reordered yesterday so I should have more by the end of next week.
I also offered to them, and now I'm offering to you also, a free 3 yard sample of WildFire if you'd like to try it before you commit to buying. Just email me at jill@tapestrybeads.com, and send me your address.
I've got a BUNCH of those to mail out too - all the envelopes are addressed already - now I just need to go sit with Sickie in the living room and make the samples.
Yes, Mom's still dragging, but I'm seeing a bit of progress. She's got a little more pep in her step today as long as that step doesn't last longer than 10 minutes. We've been laughing at Winston this morning since he found a new "toy." He got his paws on a an empty 3 liter bottle of my Diet Coke, and is chasing it around the house frantically. He can't get his jaws around it, so it's the ultimate game of chase - he'll never catch it! I need a video camera to document the antics.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Come on now
People - PEOPLE! The Dow dropped another 600 points today? What in the world is going on?
Know what I'm going to do? I'm not pulling my money out of my bank (Washington Mutual/Chase) and I'm not selling stocks. I'm going to BUY stocks. Yup. I'm choosing this time to invest money in the stock market, because when are we going to see these kind of low prices again?
The sky is not falling, Chicken Little. It's simply sagging a bit. But if cooler heads prevail, and we all stop the panic, things will turn around. Seriously.
Mom's attempt to go back to work today lasted a whopping 90 minutes. Her workmates voted her off the island and made her go home. I'm hoping to make her take another nap this afternoon.
Meanwhile, I've started sneezing today. Please....nooo.....
Know what I'm going to do? I'm not pulling my money out of my bank (Washington Mutual/Chase) and I'm not selling stocks. I'm going to BUY stocks. Yup. I'm choosing this time to invest money in the stock market, because when are we going to see these kind of low prices again?
The sky is not falling, Chicken Little. It's simply sagging a bit. But if cooler heads prevail, and we all stop the panic, things will turn around. Seriously.
Mom's attempt to go back to work today lasted a whopping 90 minutes. Her workmates voted her off the island and made her go home. I'm hoping to make her take another nap this afternoon.
Meanwhile, I've started sneezing today. Please....nooo.....
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
All shipped out
A rather large pile of packages got mailed out for all corners of the US today. I love the Automated Postal Kiosk at the Post Office...no longer do I have to wait in lines to work with a clerk. And honestly, I can wiz through those screens faster than they do.
I do miss the days when I was able to print my postage out on my computer via Stamps.com, and then simply leave the packages for my wonderful postal carrier to pick up. Now that we're in suburbia, we have a community mail box across the street from us. There's a slot to drop of envelopes to mail out, but you can't leave packages. Bummer. Ah, well. It gets me in clothed and out of the house on a regular basis - Mom keeps working on me to get my time in the sun to absorb Vitamin D. I dunno. Do Vampiras need Vitamin D? I'm pretty sure that's a benefit of being the undead.
I had a miserable night last night, trying to design something that looks awesome in my head, but horrible in practice. I finally realized that trying to force yourself to design when the mojo isn't happening is not very smrt. It wastes time and causes frustration. It's not like I don't have a gazillion other things to do, so I just need to concentrate on getting those items accomplished until the mojo comes back from vacation.
Mom is going back to work tomorrow, but it's sure going to be a rough day for her - she's got very little energy back. Her coughing is not as bad, though, and her head isn't pounding quite as much. A bunch of folks have mentioned knowing people who have the flu already. Evidentally, flu season is starting early this year, so don't delay in getting your flu shot. So far, so good with me avoiding her germs. I do have a weird, gravely voice the last few days, but it's just from allergies.
I do miss the days when I was able to print my postage out on my computer via Stamps.com, and then simply leave the packages for my wonderful postal carrier to pick up. Now that we're in suburbia, we have a community mail box across the street from us. There's a slot to drop of envelopes to mail out, but you can't leave packages. Bummer. Ah, well. It gets me in clothed and out of the house on a regular basis - Mom keeps working on me to get my time in the sun to absorb Vitamin D. I dunno. Do Vampiras need Vitamin D? I'm pretty sure that's a benefit of being the undead.
I had a miserable night last night, trying to design something that looks awesome in my head, but horrible in practice. I finally realized that trying to force yourself to design when the mojo isn't happening is not very smrt. It wastes time and causes frustration. It's not like I don't have a gazillion other things to do, so I just need to concentrate on getting those items accomplished until the mojo comes back from vacation.
Mom is going back to work tomorrow, but it's sure going to be a rough day for her - she's got very little energy back. Her coughing is not as bad, though, and her head isn't pounding quite as much. A bunch of folks have mentioned knowing people who have the flu already. Evidentally, flu season is starting early this year, so don't delay in getting your flu shot. So far, so good with me avoiding her germs. I do have a weird, gravely voice the last few days, but it's just from allergies.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Etsy store
The WildFire is here! Yippee! I have listed it in my new Etsy store, and have set up the 2mm Swarovski crystals in Crystal AB there too.
One of the nice things about the 125 yard spools of WildFire that I hadn't anticipated is that they come on the same size spools as the 50 yard - there's simply more wound on the spool. Easier for storage and transporting.
I'm running a system restore on my old laptop right now that I think will fix the problems I was having with it. Keep your fingers and toes and everything else crossed for me!!
One of the nice things about the 125 yard spools of WildFire that I hadn't anticipated is that they come on the same size spools as the 50 yard - there's simply more wound on the spool. Easier for storage and transporting.
I'm running a system restore on my old laptop right now that I think will fix the problems I was having with it. Keep your fingers and toes and everything else crossed for me!!
Catching Up
Talk about your eventful weekend! I don't even know where to start...
I had a brilliant and wonderful time with the ladies of the Wild West Bead Society in Fort Worth on Saturday and Sunday. Not only are they good beaders, but they're good company too! Many thanks to Carol especially, who hosted the classes, took me to dinner, and put a roof over my head Saturday night.
Driving home on Sunday, things started getting hinky, though. First, a phone call to Mom delivered the news that she had been dreadfully sick all weekend (I think she has the flu) and that our computer croaked. AGH!!!! I accidentally messed up my laptop a few weeks ago (shouldn't have moved that one file. Ahem.) so it's not working. And now the desktop with ALL our files is in limbo. I'm going to take them both to get some professional help tomorrow, as well as look into purchasing another laptop. I managed to get our OLD desktop up and running in order to connect to the internet which is a temporary solution. I swear - I just need to hire a full time IT person. I can't believe the amount of time I've spent on computer and printer related meltdowns this year.
Mom came home from work early today, and I'm not going to let her go in again tomorrow. She sounds like death warmed over in the other room as I type this. She's also suffering from really severe lightheadedness - so I'm trying to keep her from moving around too much. In the meantime, I'm going to be washing my hands about every three minutes in an effort to stay well. You guys stay well out there too!
I did have a pleasant surprise tonight - the Bead & Button newsletter had a section promoting the availability of videos from Beads, Baubles, and Jewels, the PBS beading show, on their website. Specifically, they pointed people to the video showing a demo of my project, Pillars of Strength. Go check it out! This was the first time I'd been able to see it too, since my PBS station doesn't carry the show.
I had a brilliant and wonderful time with the ladies of the Wild West Bead Society in Fort Worth on Saturday and Sunday. Not only are they good beaders, but they're good company too! Many thanks to Carol especially, who hosted the classes, took me to dinner, and put a roof over my head Saturday night.
Driving home on Sunday, things started getting hinky, though. First, a phone call to Mom delivered the news that she had been dreadfully sick all weekend (I think she has the flu) and that our computer croaked. AGH!!!! I accidentally messed up my laptop a few weeks ago (shouldn't have moved that one file. Ahem.) so it's not working. And now the desktop with ALL our files is in limbo. I'm going to take them both to get some professional help tomorrow, as well as look into purchasing another laptop. I managed to get our OLD desktop up and running in order to connect to the internet which is a temporary solution. I swear - I just need to hire a full time IT person. I can't believe the amount of time I've spent on computer and printer related meltdowns this year.
Mom came home from work early today, and I'm not going to let her go in again tomorrow. She sounds like death warmed over in the other room as I type this. She's also suffering from really severe lightheadedness - so I'm trying to keep her from moving around too much. In the meantime, I'm going to be washing my hands about every three minutes in an effort to stay well. You guys stay well out there too!
I did have a pleasant surprise tonight - the Bead & Button newsletter had a section promoting the availability of videos from Beads, Baubles, and Jewels, the PBS beading show, on their website. Specifically, they pointed people to the video showing a demo of my project, Pillars of Strength. Go check it out! This was the first time I'd been able to see it too, since my PBS station doesn't carry the show.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Missing the fall
Sigh. It's this time of year that I most miss living in Wisconsin. I was born there, and lived mostly in La Crosse until I was 14 and the family moved to Texas. Fall leaves turning colors in the most radiant and spectacular display. On the down side? Raking the falling leaves. On the up side? Jumping into the big leaf piles over and over again!
It's sweater weather already in that part of the country - highs of 60 degrees and lows down to 40. I'll be lucky to wear a sweater before Thanksgiving in Austin! Needless to say, I don't have the lovely collection of comfy, cozy, sink deep into them, sweaters I used to have. I usually try to keep one on hand to wear during our usual ONE true cold spell a winter down here.
I purchased some amazing beads at Nomadic Notions the other day that I simply had to have - they remind me so much of the fall tree colors that I long for. My sister-in-law saw them and adored them too and I briefly thought about making a necklace for her birthday with them. But maybe I'll use something else. I think these beads NEED to be mine.
It's sweater weather already in that part of the country - highs of 60 degrees and lows down to 40. I'll be lucky to wear a sweater before Thanksgiving in Austin! Needless to say, I don't have the lovely collection of comfy, cozy, sink deep into them, sweaters I used to have. I usually try to keep one on hand to wear during our usual ONE true cold spell a winter down here.
I purchased some amazing beads at Nomadic Notions the other day that I simply had to have - they remind me so much of the fall tree colors that I long for. My sister-in-law saw them and adored them too and I briefly thought about making a necklace for her birthday with them. But maybe I'll use something else. I think these beads NEED to be mine.
Wheee!
This weekend will prove to be a challenge - teaching four classes in three days in two cities that are 170 miles apart! Tonight is Austin, Sat and Sun morning is Ft. Worth, and Sun. night is Austin again.
Gail L. emailed me to tell me she loves reading my blog because it makes her feel good to know that someone else's life is crazier than hers. I dunno - I know how crazy people with kids can get. Mine is certainly a different kind of crazy. I did offer to throw in a free Winston with her WildFire purchase, but she only wanted the cats. Lightweight! The cats are EASY. Winston is HARD. But so adorable and sweet and funny that you can't kill him. Survival of the fittest works again.
Speaking of WildFire, it's due to arrive on Tuesday. I've got half the first order of 125 yard spools reserved for those who emailed me, and I plan on letting the Ft. Worth ladies into the pre-order frenzy too. So if you know you want any 125 yard spools, be sure and email me soon. (jill@tapestrybeads.com) I still have plenty of the 50 yard spools.
Mom will work this weekend on getting a webpage up for the WildFire. Um, Mom - did I tell you that? :-)
Gail L. emailed me to tell me she loves reading my blog because it makes her feel good to know that someone else's life is crazier than hers. I dunno - I know how crazy people with kids can get. Mine is certainly a different kind of crazy. I did offer to throw in a free Winston with her WildFire purchase, but she only wanted the cats. Lightweight! The cats are EASY. Winston is HARD. But so adorable and sweet and funny that you can't kill him. Survival of the fittest works again.
Speaking of WildFire, it's due to arrive on Tuesday. I've got half the first order of 125 yard spools reserved for those who emailed me, and I plan on letting the Ft. Worth ladies into the pre-order frenzy too. So if you know you want any 125 yard spools, be sure and email me soon. (jill@tapestrybeads.com) I still have plenty of the 50 yard spools.
Mom will work this weekend on getting a webpage up for the WildFire. Um, Mom - did I tell you that? :-)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
2mm Swarovski Crystals ordered
Oh, wiggle! I got 5 new colors of the exquisite 2mm Swarovski crystals ordered today. It will take 2-3 weeks for production, and then they'll be on the way to me - and then to you! Here's what I picked for the first round. It was so hard to make choices!
From top to bottom, Chili pepper, Sahara/Sapphire, Rosaline/Light Rose, Champagne/Aqua, and Sphinx/Peridot. YUMMY (you can click the photo at the right to get a much larger image)
As soon as I have them ready for shipping, I'll post a link to the website where you can order them. I plan on having them both on Tapestry Beads, as well as my new Etsy shop. I already have the Crystal AB 2mm Swarovski's listed on the Etsy shop.
I also got the tracking info for the WildFire, and it's scheduled to arrive on Tuesday next week.
Teaching at Sun City yesterday was a true pleasure. The ladies soaked it up and asked for more and I really adored their high spirits and lovely projects for show and tell. I can't wait to go back!
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