We went downtown yesterday, in particular to go by the bead shop for some supplies I needed.

On the way, we passed through the Farmer's Market, and I remembered that a fellow Etsy seller and Roanoke Etsy Street Team member, routinely has a booth space there, most weekends.

So I was quite pleased to see Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen, complete with an awesome array of her wares.  We spent a few minutes, chatting, before we headed on to the bead shop, with the intention of coming back to buy a few soaps.



I can't honestly say enough about the quality of these soaps, just based off of looks and scent strength alone.   Just with them sitting in the same room, their scents freshen the place.  The sizes are quite generous , at 3.6oz to 4 oz, and 95% organic in most cases.  Prices are great, considering these are handmade artisan soaps, what you would expect from a high end boutique in fact.

The scent and color range is quite extensive as well. You can't simply chose just one. And if you aren't into soap, she also carries sugar scrubs and lotions in her delectable scents too!  

Rebecca also has an online website, besides her Etsy shop, where she shares news,promos, and recipes, among other things.

In her shop, she also has a select variety of hand mixed Teas as well. Yum. That's going to be my next Etsy order, I think.}  Or may be more soap!

Soo... ordered beads from Fusion Beads on Thursday. Got the notice they were shipping yesterday. Open mailbox and found my order here TODAY. O.o  Wow.

Don't think I ordered enough though. Bummer. They are exactly what I already have, so should mix well. Yay.

Got the main piece to my April Challenge piece in mail today as well. They sent me the larger one at no extra cost. Fine by me. It also seems to fit the over all design better with the larger piece though.   Revamped a part of the design. Looks much better.  No, I'm not telling.

Went downtown to visit the bead shop for end caps for this other commissioned piece from Mark's work. Forgot the St Patty's Day parade was going on.  Disappointed in the way the bead shop is now. It's more like a create your own design/jewelry, bead party place. Very few Delicas, etc to speak of anymore. Mostly larger focal type beads and charms.  Found the bead caps I needed though. And a cool copper articulated fish.

Walked through the Farmer's Market. Met a fellow Roanoke Etsy Street Team member, Rebecca of [link] . Oh my.  Bought 4 of her soaps. Did I mention we really didn't need soap, but man do these smell awesome just sitting here! Mark picked out Sage & Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Pie. I picked out Bay Rum (Mark actually LIKES IT! He hates Bay Rum! Wow!) and Blackberry Sage.  Will have to go buy some for my mom next week.}

Now the Hrmm part.

The buyer of Spring in the Forest left feedback. While yes it is a very good thing she left positive feedback, and apparently that's her mode of operendi, it doesn't tell me anything.

Did she like it? Hate it? Was there something wrong with it? It not what she expected? Didn't fit? What???

Also.. other than a brief, and somewhat terse, message on Monday about still gathering materials for that necklace she wants commissioned from me, I've heard nothing. So as of right now, I'm thinking the commission from her is a no go.   I wasn't really counting on it until/unless I had the package of what she wanted made into a necklace in my hands, but the thought of it was nice.

So while it was a nice, albeit brief, pick me up and affirmation of my talent, it's now become something of a let down. And yes, Carol Dean, those voices are a-clamoring, the locks are straining.

Oh well.

I just need to go look at the wonderful comments from fellow EBWers on DA and all my sales and the awesome beadwork from Anna and Carol Dean and I'll feel better.

They had a devastating fire  overnight, March14.

Firefighters managed to save 38 animals.  14 cats died.

However, they need YOUR help.

Please donate now by doing one of the following:
  
Call Safe Harbor with a credit card number- 561-747-5311
  
Make a donation at one the following banks:
  
Enterprise National Bank
185 E. Indiantown Road
Jupiter, FL 33477
  
Enterprise National Bank
North Palm Beach
11811 US Highway One
North Palm Beach
  
Bank of America (any location in Palm Beach County)
Account Number 8980204402058
Humane Society of Greater Jupiter Tequesta Inc.
  
Or send a check to:
  
Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary & Hospital
P.O. Box  1843
Jupiter, FL  33468-1843
  


In addition, Squeaky at InsaneJournal is running a one day sale on Perm accounts and perm user pics. 50% of all proceeds go directly to Safe Harbor.

They will not only need food, bedding, and money, they will need foster homes for the remaining pets.  If you can help, contact them.

More here.

Sometimes, coming up with unique and catchy names for my pieces is almost as hard as it is to create some of them.

My latest piece is no exception.  I'm trying to get it listed, as I know the person who wants to buy it is waiting impatiently, and here I am stuck on the fool name.

*beats head on desk*

Silly me.

Ok, got a name, thanks to the EBW list and Twitter friends.}

So I unwrapped the other scarf that I had on the pole. And my first thought was, 'Great, who's gonna hate me on the EBW list now....'

The hubby and I make a great team. This is the second scarf he's helped pick colors for that has turned out spectacular.

Cox is having email issues.  Apparently it's just the East coast as well.

I can send but not receive. I can't even look at my emails on the website.   They have no idea when it will be fixed.

Not cool when I have a potential Etsy order coming in at anytime.

So Mikayla came over yesterday to make cookies with me. And to give her mom a much needed break, as Sat she had a birth day party for Mikayla and dealt with half a dozen or so kids, aged 7-8 roughly, running around.

So we made cookies.

Read more and see the delicious photos here!

Made chocolate chip cookies with Mikayla today.
Used both semi-sweet AND chocolate-caramel.

Yum.

Will have photos later. WE're beading now.}

Did I mention she's 7? And likes beading and cooking?

Yeah.

Took a 'What's your birth date mean?' quiz earlier (see here- [link] )

I don't agree with some of the negative traits, mainly because, well, I don't feel I have them.}

Procrastination on the other hand...

That I  have in spades. I still haven't wrapped those 2 silk scarves yet. I completely forgot about the 2 color run sitting in the dye cups in the closet. Oops. I haven't been working on 'Water' lately. Nor have I been working on this piece for the Sept bead competition. Double oops.

I did wake up to a delicious breakfast in bed- choco chip pancakes and an omelet. Yum.

However, I really need to get that 2 color un finished, so I can get it listed. Did you know.. that on all my fabrics, all the shipping goes to Akita Rescue? Now you do, so now you can go buy some! }

Ok, to work I go....hey what's that!?  Oh how cool! I have so got to try this sometime!

Ok NOW I'm off to work on stuff, I swear!

Crap, I forgot I promised Mark I'd make him some Pizzelles today. ARGH. NEED. MORE. HOURS. IN. THE. DAY.


Edit, 3 hours later- Yes, yes, still procrastinating.

Sometimes it's nice getting spam mail in the snail mail. I got a free CD 'book' of Mozart's Musical Masterpieces. Huh. This is actually something I might sign up for... at a way later date.}  but for now, thanks for the free CD.}

Oh and I'm about to plant me some radish seeds and bell pepper seeds. Whee.} I'm running out of room for my seed trays. LOL

Voting has started on the Challenge pieces.

[link]

There are 32 entries this month. Choices, choices.

To vote, on the right side, click on the small circle next to the number of the piece you want to vote for, then click Vote! at the bottom of the list.

And pass this on to as many as you think would be interested, so we get more votes overall!

Thanks!

According to my husband.

He told me last night, that he is glad I'm not sane.

Why? I asked.
Because my life would be boring, he replied.

This morning, he sent me an email titled WANT!, and had a link to a comic book he wanted. I responded with a link to a handmade teapot on Etsy (I was listing stuff and watching the Recently Listed bit), his response was 'Ummm, interesting'
I emailed back, I LIKE IT!

His response?

'Like I said life would be boring without you.'

hehe.

Soo.. while waiting for the materials for my comissioned beadwork piece to arrive, as well as the major componant to my April Challenge piece, I'm dyeing up a 14"x72" Habotai scarf to shibori.

And I have another scarf that I'm handpainting part of before I dye to finish, as well as a second 2 color run to get started in the dye.

And my dad wants a copper chainmaille cuff now too. Because he wants a wide one, I'm thinking either Helm Weave, or Japanese Weave. I told him I'd make him one for his birthday, which is in May.}

As far as my Etsy shop goes, everything I currently have finished, has been listed.  Here's hoping for more sales. I need more dyes, Kona and rings.}

And... there goes Max attacking the paper bag again...

My recent email to the EtsyBeadWeavers list...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

So anyway, the buyer for 'Spring in the Forest' ( [link] ), convo'd me with a question that I really don't have a clear cut answer for...

"I was wondering if you also do custom
pieces in the freeform necklace? "

*twitches*

I have never been asked this before, so I have no clue how to go about answering the question. I mean, obviously it would depend on what they have in mind- color, size, beads, etc.

But in terms of pricing, do I get a deposit, what.. I have no answer...

What do YOU do? WHATdo you do? WHAT DO you do? WHAT DO YOU DO????



-Wolf
( I' a little nuts, what can I say)


So now, I'm collecting the responses to get an idea of what to say and how to go about this.}


(The plot thickens- apparently the buyer is interested in having a group of beads they own incorporated into a freeform piece...Hmmm.. this could be interesting)

WooHoo! It's a deal. I have my first ever commissioned FREEFORM PEYOTE beadwork piece!

The theme is up for April!

Fire and Flowers is the Monthly Challenge for April theme.

Now people will quit begging me to tell them.

Rest in peace, little guy. I'll miss you taking pumpkin seeds from my hand.  I'm sorry we didn't have more time together. I'm sorry I wasn't the best caretaker you deserved. I'll miss you , little guy.

Wow.

My second niece's birth day was yesterday. She's 16 now.  It's hard to believe that it's been 16 years.

Her mom made her a book, with letters, photos and such from family and friends, offering advice that they've learned over the years.

Well, mine's a tad late. Oops. I was drawing a blank and actually had to ask MY mom for help! LOL.

I also shibori dyed a gorgeous silk scarf for her, in one of my smaller sizes. She's not a girly girl, so this small size should be perfect for special occasions.

I hope she likes it.}

Cancer, in several forms, has been a part of my life, for much of my adult years.

I was in boot camp when I found out my dad had to have surgery on his prostate, and they found a spot that might have been cancer.

I was an older teen (17,18) when my brother went through his testicular cancer bout.

I lost a grandfather to skin cancer/melanoma a number of years ago.

When I was working at the store, I knew several customers who were going through their own bouts with breast cancer. One ended up having a mastectomy. The other had to go through a second bout about 2 years after coming up clean from the first round.

We lost a good customer who was also a volunteer fire fighter to a decade long fight with brain cancer.

Not a month would go by and we would get a notice from the office for a jar to collect funds for local children with very serious forms of cancer.

And that's where we come in. Deviants for the Cure needs our help in spreading the word about their club.   

They offer support, they gather funds and in general, simply by existing, they help others.

So won't you help them by spreading the word about them and joining them?

Just finished watching 'Children of Men'.

Interesting. The ending sucked though. I like Clive Owen. Hmph.

Started quilting 'Water' today. Goal is to have it nearly finished by mid May. Wish me luck.

This week is 'let's have everyone else do our research for us and when they provide links detailing exactly what we want to know, disregard them' week.

Going to try top do some Makiage Shibori this weekend. The repeated knotting of threads in fabric should keep me sufficiantly occupied after I get the rest of the house cleaned, while the InLaws are here.

In the same vein as quilting 'Water', I'm planning 3 more pieces in that theme- Fire, Earth and Air. Should be interesting.

DeviantArt is serving to annoy the crap out of me this week.

Please to be stopping with the eating of my fucking photos.

No love.

Me.

This is ridiculous. I cannot be the only person on all of DA that is having issues with photos not showing up in their gallery.

Yes I've cleared my cache. Hel, I've done a disc cleanup, I've even defraged and restarted my computer. NOTHING IS FIXING THIS.

I can't believe I paid for this shit.

I create something that just blows me away. That completely catches me off guard and vastly exceeds my highest expectations.  That makes you not want to stop taking photos of it.  Today, a piece  has done that once again.

I wrapped this silk scarf the same night I wrapped the Water shibori. I just unwrapped it today.

I let it completely dry, then rinsed the hel out of it while still on the pole, washing it with synthrapol as well, to get as much excess dye out as possible.  When the water ran clear, I let it drain, then laid it over the heater vent to dry over night.

I had a name for this piece before I even had it dyed. I knew what I wanted and how I wanted it to look. I got that and so much more....

To read more, go HERE.

Well, i didn't get fish this time, when I unwrapped the shibori pole.

Mark says it reminds him of water, I say it looks like feathers.

We'll see after I rinse it...


To read more and see some pretty cool photos, go HERE.

To blow my computer up, I have added close to 7k in photos from the last 3 years.

Ok , so it won't blow the computer up. Especially since, they'll be moved over onto the external drive when I'm finished uploading them.

See, Since 2005, I would go month by month and put  my photos on a cd. Regular computer issues make one paranoid.

Out of 4 dozen cds, only 2 degraded to the point where the computer sees them as blanks. Not sure what was one them, so no clue what I might have lost.

Anyway.

Expect lots more cool photos, both of Nature and my art, in the weeks to come.