Preeeety Lampwork Earrings

Click title to see them in my shop. :o)

More new stuff. Still pimping my shop.

For the whole month of July my Pearlfection bracelets have been on sale for only $10.
That sale ends tomorrow at midnight EST. If you want some truly gorgeous jewelry pieces to give as gifts for birthday or Christmas, now's the time to get'em. After midnight tomorrow all bets are off and they'll go back to their original price ranges of $15-25 and well worth every penny. Getting them for $10 is a steal considering they are OOAK and completely hand made.

Autumn Dreams

Just listed tonight. Please have a look. (Click on title)
I think something gets "lost" in the pictures. My bracelet and earrings sets are so very beautiful in real life. In fact I've got a few people that keep buying them before I ever get a chance to list them. LOL Thanks for looking.

Goin' Gold & Gem Grubbin'

I won't be around for a couple of days. The family is going here: http://www.goldngem.com/index.php
It's in Cleveland, Georgia- about 4 hours away. We're going to do a little gold panning and gem mining. The boys have wanted to go this for quite a while now. We saw an episode about this place on the Discovery channel last month and that made them want to go even more. lol
It should be a real treat. Even though it's only a 4 hour drive there and back we're still going to either camp on site or get a motel for at least one night. I figure we'll wear ourselves out and won't feel like driving back the same day. Should be back by Monday though. :o)
I hope I get a lot of great pictures to share with you. More later.

Bracelets, bracelets, bracelets!!!

**Bracelet Clearance**
ALL of my bracelets and bracelet/earring sets are only $10 each until July 31st. Convo me with the one(s) you want to purchase and I will adjust the listing for you! There a few $30 bracelets and yes, even those are $10! Please have a look.
Happy Shopping!

You can find them here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055265&section_id=5123768
and here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055265&section_id=5077482

I do gift wrapping and gift notes free upon request and each bracelet always comes in a cute drawstring sachet.

Introducing NEW Pearlfection Jewelry

Pearlfections are my new designs with genuine pearls. Please click the title and have a look.

Some 4th of July pics.

At the motel.

Caleb and Vivian just arriving at the pool.

Alex looking at what I don't know. lol

Me after a dip in the pool. You can blow this one up to hang in your garden if you like. It's scary enough to keep the birds and other animals out.

Caleb and Vivian sitting on the bank after the fireworks playing with their glow sticks. (Which I bought over 75 of, by the way! lol When we got back in the room for the night we had a lot of fun playing "hot potato", ring toss and at least a dozen other different games with them.
I took a picture of all the glow sticks, bracelets, batons spread out on the bed but it came out too blurry.

My favorite shot of the fireworks. I love that it's not perfectly in frame. This one will be a 5X7 when I get it printed.

We ordered pizza for dinner and had it delivered to us poolside. I was lucky enough to snag us a table. We spent the whole day at the pool and I got sunburned. Totally didn't expect I'd even get in the pool and completely forgot to bring the sunblock. DOH!
And well, there you have it. :o)

The Winner is...

Sorry the announcement for the winner of my Etsy shop contest is a little late.
Caleb drew Scrapper Al with this entry: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5609087

I'll be contacting you for your address and your pendant will be on its way to you soon. And don't worry, I'll add a jump ring to it. :o)
Congratulations!!!

Making the most of this summer.

Last year at this time Chris had only been working for CPT for about 7 months. It was well into summer and me and the boys didn't really go any where or do much of anything. It just felt too weird going and doing things without Chris.

That summer passed us by and by late fall we were all about to go out of minds with cabin fever. I don't think we realized exactly how little Chris was going to be here. We just kept waiting for that time when he would have more home time.

It was at that point that I decided this summer would be different. I was determined not to keep putting our lives on hold just because Chris wasn't here. Of course we all wish he was here, but he can't be, so life must go on. We can't sit and go stir crazy in the meantime.

So...Today the kids and I have a motel room reserved in the next town over. I am taking my boys and my niece, Vivian. The motel has a pool and the kids can swim all day if they want.
It's also right across the street from the fireworks show the town is doing tonight.

We'll have a great "front row" view of the fireworks without having to fight the crowds. No fighting traffic to get back out on the main road either. It'll be real nice to watch the fireworks and simply go back in the motel room for the night.

Tequila Sunrise Pearl Bracelet

New for July 3rd.
This gorgeous bracelet has a mix of three strands of genuine cultured pearls in tangerine, mango, and light yellow.

Bracelet is approx. 7.5".
Pearls are approx. 5-6mm in size each.

New today.

Just listed. Please have a look. :)

Big, Huge, SALE.

*INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE*
Buy one pair of earrings and get the second pair half off.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055265&section_id=5077481

*FREE*
PLUS for every pair you buy at full price, not only do you get a second pair half off but you can also chose something from this section for FREE!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055265&section_id=5102819

Basically you can get 3 pairs of earrings (think early holiday shopping) for under $10- $15- or $20 depending on what you chose. I can't offer a better deal than that! Please have a look. Thanks!


How to take advantage of this?
You can add the items to your cart, checkout, but do not pay and I will send you a revised invoice. OR, if you want to pay now I will refund the difference back to you. If you're really confused just convo me and I'll "walk" you through it till you've got what you want.

Gone again!

If you don't see me for the next couple of days don't call out the search party! LOL

Chris has to work at the office the next couple of days-the office is 75 miles away.
So, instead of driving back and forth both days I'm going to go with him and get a room for the night.

I don't know where I'll be staying but I plan on bringing the laptop with me in case they do have a wireless connection.
---------------------------------------------
Off topic...
Isn't that flower pretty?
Me and my friend Karen made it. She tore the layers and chalked it. I added "water" droplets, glitter, made the leaves, and added genuine cultured pearls to the center. Around on the back is a wire loop (that I used to thread the pearls in place), and it could be used to hang ribbons from the flower, or prop it on a shelf. It's way to nice to use as a gift bow. It's more of a keepsake. I think it would look good next to the fine china in a china cabinet. But, that's just me. :)

Right now that is the only one of it's kind but I've been trying to convince Karen to sell them on Etsy. They're totally different from all the other flowers I've seen there. What do you think?

They take quite a while to make though. I wouldn't part with it for less than $15 or $20- no way, no how. LOL

Kinda funny, kind of sad.

I can't believe that I'm going to admit this but maybe it will give some of you a good laugh...

First let me remind you that Chris works a LOT. He is typically only home for 4-5 days out of an entire month.
He wasn't able to be home for any of the major holidays or any of the birthdays in our family.
By some miracle he was sent home on June 15th, and so for the first time in what seemed forever he was still home for Father's Day on the 17th.

Well, the 17th passes and so did the 18th and 19th. In all honesty we were a bit astonished that he hadn't been called back to work by now.
Anyway, I don't know where our minds were! At about 3am on the eve of June 20th it hits me like a ton of bricks that -YESTERDAY was our wedding anniversary and we both COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT IT!!!! I mean HOW did that happen? June 19th was our 19th anniversary. That should have been easy to remember! LMBO
This has never, ever happened before.

I guess there really is a first time for everything. It's so sad yet so funny at the same time.

I think we both forgot because he's not used to being home and I'm not used to him being here either. He was away at work on our last two anniversaries and we must have gotten out of the "habit." And as "luck" would have it, he was called in to work the very next day on the 20th so we weren't even able to go out for dinner and pretend like we remembered. LOL

Chris knows I love him. I don't need a special dinner or a fancy gift any way. I know that forgetting the day doesn't mean we don't care. I know that I am loved. Heck I'm spoiled to bits!!
Happy belated 19th anniversary to us. This is me raising my glass and looking forward to 19 more. :o)

New and Clearance

*INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE*
Buy one pair of earrings and get the second pair half off.
You can add the items to your cart, checkout, but do not pay and I will send you a revised invoice. OR, if you want to pay now I will refund the difference back to you.
I've decided to keep this sale going until my shop is down to five pages, or I change my mind. Which ever comes first. :)
Happy Shopping!

Back To What Really Matters.

Cherokee National Forest

Today the family went on a picnic and I enjoyed it so much. I LOVE living in the mountains of Tennessee more than I can ever express with words. Every time we get a chance we take off for a path unknown and it is so, SO much fun. There is beauty around every corner and signs of simpler times can still be found in many areas here. Ahh, relax and take in the fresh air and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. :)

This is a little dog (beagle?) that greeted us when we arrived at the picnic area. She didn't have a collar but I do believe she has an owner. She was very quiet and sweet. We shared our dinner with her and she was such a polite eater. LOL She ate calmly and tenderly. I wonder where she lives...

This is my honey bun and one of three reasons I get out of bed each day. I tell him but I don't think he realizes how much better I feel when he is home. I love you, Chris. ((hugs))

There were several adjoined ponds and they were chock full of Goldfish! Have you ever seen such a thing? I haven't. They sure did like the biscuits we fed to them.

The adjoining ponds on the property.

Chris went for a walk a bit deeper into the woods and took this picture of a stream he happened upon. It's beautiful!

I "stitched" two photos together to try and give a better idea of the view from our picnic site.

OMGosh. This cabin was nestled away in the mountains on the way to the Cherokee. On our way to the park I just got a fast glance of it and knew I had to get some pictures of it on the way back out. I LOVE it!! I really wish I could have gotten a picture of it from the side to show you.

It was small but not as small as it looks. From the side it was longer and had a large stone base. Truly as rustic as it gets and makes my heart skip a beat in excitement! This is the home of my dreams. Honest to God- it IS! I would love, love, love to live in this rickety old cabin up in the mountains, by the stream. I can just see my old baskets, a rocking chair, a quilt or two, and a little garden out back. Be still my heart!

There were roadside signs of homemade jams, jellies, honey and apple butter at the main base of the mountain but I started running my mouth- making conversation with the guys and forgot to keep an eye out for the "store." I doubt that it was open being as it is Sunday but I plan to find out where it is some day soon.
There was also a log cabin rental place that we passed. True, genuine, bone fide log cabins! They are privately owned by a couple that built them on their land. I wanted to stop and get info. on renting one but when we left from our picnic a really bad storm had set in and we weren't able to stop and check. Must do that also!

And last but not least a little bouquet of Brown Eyed Susan flowers that Chris and Caleb picked for me while on the nature walk. (YEP, they're in a coke bottle, LOL. That's the only "vase" we had at the moment. Isn't that sweet?! My favorite of all the wildflowers.

So there you have it. A nice day with family, food and no worries!
AHHHHHHH. :o)

My Etsy Vent!

If I had to rate my Etsy experiences as a buyer and seller on a scale from 1 to 5 I'd have to give it a 3.5 right now.
The reason it doesn't get all 5..., because some sellers there have deemed themselves the "Almighty" and will go out of their way to cut you down.
If you aren't part of the official administration and you're not pointing out REAL Etsy rules or guidelines then it's none of your business.
I'm referring to members that have made up their own set of rules and laws, if you will. Can you imagine the audacity?! Where do you buy the balls to start pushing your ideas of what is right and wrong on other people? Or maybe I should ask...what courage pills are they taking?!

Let me tell you something. Leave people alone! You are NOT Etsy Admin and your PERSONAL feelings on what is right and wrong do not apply to any one but YOU!

You may wake up one day and decide that you don't like the color green, (for example.)
You might even start a little group with other sellers that also hate the color green. But that does NOT give you the authority or the right to go around sending snarky convos to all the other sellers demanding that they remove every thing that is green from their shops! No sir!

Earlier tonight I went in the forums to post my SNS. For those that don't know it's a regular Sat. night event amongst the sellers. They post sales that are for Sat. night only.
It was started by a few certain sellers way back when, and somewhere along the way it was decided that you can not post your own SNS thread. Rather, you must post only to the SNS thread that is started by the "official" SNS thread starter. Well, I did not know this! I WAS going to post to the SNS thread originally-until I saw that it was 18 PAGES long.

My common sense tells me that there is no way my Saturday specials would ever be seen, much less read! Who has nothing better to do than read 18+ pages of SNS?! So, I started my own SNS thread. Within seconds of my post I was contacted by one of the founding SNS sellers. I was instructed not to take it upon myself to start my own SNS thread, and that I can only post SNS topics on the "official" SNS thread. I got slapped on the wrist and talked down to as if I were 3 years old.

In researching I noticed that not only was this person ten years younger than me (ha ha), but she is a nobody as far as Etsy is concerned. She's just a regular seller/member like me. She is NOT with administration and my seller fees do not pay to have her throw her weight around, and spend her Saturday nights looking for people like me that- God forbid- that made an SNS post off away from the original where it would actually be SEEN! GASP!! The nerve of me.

Since this took place and I've been educated about the type of people behind the induction of SNS I have decided that I want nothing to do with it or them. I do not want my name or my shop to be affiliated or associated in any way, shape, or form with the likes of those hateful, self righteous people. From now on my Sat. Special will be called by SSS, or Super Saturday Specials.
Saturday Night Special is a dumb name anyway. Who's buying a real gun on etsy? DER! You do know that SNS is a reference to the illegal obtaining of firearms, right?
So to you who decide it's your way or the highway...
to you that want to make up rules that aren't official Etsy policy...
to you I say SHOVE IT where the sun doesn't shine. Build a bridge and get over yourselves!

Really great sale tonight! Click here!!!

***SSS Super Saturday Special in my Etsy shop...
Buy one pair of earrings and get the second pair for half off and FREE SHIPPING on your entire order!

Some new goodies for today.

FIREWORKS Pendant
Glittery Gumdrop Earrings
Butterfly Bracelet & Earrings

For the young or young at heart. I personally LOVE this bracelet and earring set. Made myself a set and wear them all the time because they just go well with everything!

Bead Destahing- Click here.

I've made a destash section in my etsy shop. I seriously need to get rid of some beads! Please have a look.
I'll be adding to it regularly so check back every couple of days if you're interested.
Click the title and it'll take you to the destash section. Thanks! :)