Been Kinda Quiet

I just realized that I have been really quiet here lately. And there is a very good reason for that: I have been busy getting jewelery ready for a couple of shows that I did this fall. One is complete at this point and was a success. The other is coming up this weekend.

I have already done the "I am going to get all of this accomplished" list which starts out with the best of intentions and ends up turning into the "What the hell was I thinking I will never get all of this done by this weekend" list. I have managed to make quite a bit off of "the list," but will still fall far short of all of my goals. I guess this just means that I will have quite a bit to keep me going after this weekend.

Short post for me tonight - but wanted to at least let all know that I am still here and designing even if I am not completing everything as quickly as I would like. After I get past this weekend, I will be listing quite a few new items for my shop which I am excited about.

I'm back...

Just like that proverbial bad penny that keeps turning up, I am back online after a nearly 3 week hiatus due to a nasty computer virus. In spite of feeling completely cut off from the rest of the world, I managed to use my time to create some new pieces. Both of these pieces are custom requests - and I must say that I am well-pleased with both of them.

The first piece is a cuff that I designed for my friend Emily. Her husband, Van and I are long time friends and he is currently care-taker for Shamrock Vineyard located in Waldo, Oh. She requested that I create something with a grape/wine theme - and this is my first attempt. Again - I am well pleased with the result - and hope that she will like it too.

The second one is pendant I created to go with the art deco cuff I created some time ago. Along with creating the pendant, I also made the 22" chain that you see on this piece. It has a gentle spiral to it - which adds a bit of class that I love. I only hope that my customer will be pleased with the end result. I had to learn how to make a triangle for this piece - along with learning a new stitch for the chain. I am always grateful for a new opportunity to learn new techniques that will help me expand my beading horizons.

Now that I am back online I will FINALLY be able to get some items listed to my shop. I may even be able to start getting some things listed tonight. YAY!!! I am happy to be able to have some new items to list - and my pictures are most definitely getting better.

Wish me luck with the camera tonight - I will most likely need it!

In the works....

It's been a little while since I have blogged - but I wanted to share with you some of the projects I have going on right now.

First - I have started working with a fellow Ohioan on a bracelet she had featured on the tv show "Pretty Little Liars." The bracelets are all custom-made with the name of the person ordering - I am making the purple and white bracelets shown. I have literally dreamed about purple and white beads - and I am sure that it will not be the last dream about those.

I decided to take a break from the PLL bracelets - and have been working on an art deco necklace - to match the cuff shown. This was a special request from a customer who bought this cuff - and I am happy with what I have created. Just finishing it up at this point. (Pictures coming soon....)

I have also gotten a special request to create a grape/wine themed bracelet and/or necklace for Emily. Her husband, Van and I are old friends. They are now the care-takers for Shamrock Vineyard located in Waldo, OH. I may be designing some wine charms and other jewelery to sell at the vineyard - I am very excited about that prospect as well. I have already got one design planned out for Emily - just need to bead it up.

I have also designed a gothic cross - I love the look of this one on paper - I can't wait to see it beaded up and "in person."

Last but not least, I am also planning a cancer memorial bracelet in memory of my Dad. I am working with The Sam Bish Foundation - and plan to donate proceeds from my sales to this organization. More will come on this as plans get more finalized.

As you can see, I am keeping myself busy. I am still working as a waitress as my "real" job - and beading really has been taking up nearly all my free time as of late. I guess it is a good thing that I love doing it.

Updates and pictures will be coming soon - I do have a lot on my plate right now - so expect a lot of new things coming from me in the very near future.

Butterflies and Doggies, oh my...

Hard as it may be to believe - hell has not frozen over. Although the simple fact that I have blogged twice in less than a week may make some of you wonder about that.

This design was inspired by a piece of tattoo clip art. I am really pleased with the end product although I discovered that I unknowingly have created an optical illusion. Last week, when I was visiting my cousin, Cheryl, her daughter Caylee was quite interested in my jewelery. She examined all of the pieces - and she really liked this one. She said to me "I really like the pink doggie." At first - I thought I mis-heard her - but then she said it again. And I said "The pink doggie??" And she said "Yes - that's a pink doggie." Now I thought I had designed a butterfly, but after looking at it a bit closer, I do indeed see the pink doggie. It's funny how a 6 year old can offer a fresh perspective on a piece of jewelery. Do you see the pink doggie???

I am currently working on another art deco cuff. I have created a pendant to go with it and I am very excited about that. As soon as the cuff is done, I will be beading it up - and then I will be creating another art deco cuff - but will be using different colors this time around. I want to see that one in something a bit different.

I have really been trying to bead a bit more lately, so have been making an effort to stay OFF the computer. I seem to always get sucked into the computer and the next thing I know an entire day has gone by - and I have gotten nothing accomplished. Now if only someone would put more hours in the day, I would be very happy.

And last but not least, for the first time in a really, really long time, I am feeling hopeful. I am not sure what has prompted this - but I actually feel like good things are around the corner for me. I hope that those feelings are right for once, as this is a nice change - and one that I would like to keep around.

Moving On

I did my last post 6 months ago today. The weather was fiercely cold, snowy, windy. And my Dad had just died....my number 1 fan. Many of you know that my parents were the world to me, so losing Dad was exceptionally hard for me to deal with.

To my family and friends - I want to say "thank you" for the overwhelming love, support, caring and concern that I have received over the past 6 months (and am continuing to receive). You have all made me feel so loved, so welcome in your lives, your homes, your families. Whether you are a long-lost childhood friend - or someone I know merely "on-line" please know that I take every kindness to heart where it will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Fast forward to today. Beautiful, sunny and warm - a truly perfect day. I have shed many tears over the last few months - and although the grieving process continues, I have decided that it has time to move on - and try to get back to some normalcy in my life.

That being said, I have still been doing some beading in the recent months as it takes my mind off what is missing in my life. I have some new pieces to show - and needed to get pictures taken of some of the older items in my collection that either had not so great pictures - or just never had pictures taken to begin with which leads me to today...

I spent a simply lovely day with my cousin Cheryl - and her 2 beautiful daughters. Caylee - who is 6 - talked my ear off. (I think she and I will be good friends.) Mia - who is 3 - spent the day trying to get over her shyness - however I did get her approval to come back for another visit so I will give that "2 big thumbs up."

I discovered that Cheryl inherited our grandpa's love of photography. Really - she comes by it naturally. One of my memories of him was that he always had that camera close at hand - just in case there was a flower, sunset, or fruit that needed it's picture taken. This discovery thrilled me to no end - because unlike Cheryl and Grandpa - I *hate* taking pictures of my jewelery. Really - I despise it - loathe it even. It is the bane of my jewelery-making existence. Cheryl, however, got rather geeked about it - and proceeded to spend the vast majority of the afternoon and evening shooting pictures. (YAY for both of us!!!) Soooo - without further ado here are some pictures of what I have been making.

Stay tuned - much more to come. I have quite a few projects in progress right now - including an entirely new adventure with a dear friend of mine that I hope will do well. (It is something that I am fairly sure most of you have not seen before.)

My number 1 fan...

It is with deep and profound sadness and over-whelming sense of loss that I announce the passing of my dear, sweet, beloved Dad, Paul Meister. (http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/obit_view.phtml?id=9281)

Dad - I will miss you so VERY much - I will always love you and know that a day will not go by that I won't think about you or Mom. I know that you are with her again - and sharing quite a few laughs together. I know just how much you missed her after she passed - your grief for her was painful to watch.

I am so happy that you were able to find love again later in life as I know that you just had so much love to give that once just wasn't enough.

This picture was taken Jan 3rd, 2010 at Alaina's 1st birthday.

Dad was simply the best - the best man, the best Dad, the best husband, the best friend. Your wonderful sense of humor endeared you to everyone who met you. Then they discovered you were a fierce, loyal friend - and you had a virtual army of people who LOVED you - not just liked you - loved you.

You fought a good fight - and rallied after so many setbacks. Your strength was an inspiration to so many.

Five years ago, I began making jewelery and Dad was very supportive from the get-go. He actually bought me a computer so that I could sell my wares on-line. I set up my shop on Etsy, and waited patiently for something (anything) to happen. Then one day - I got a heart. I called him because I was so excited to actually have a heart. Here is the conversation:

Me: "Dad - I got a heart!!!"
Dad: "What's a heart?"
Me: "Ummm - well it's someone who likes your shop enough to save it to their favorite places to visit. Oh - Like a fan!!!!"
Dad:" Well - can't I be your number 1 and first fan?"
Me: "Yes - always."

After that Dad was always my number 1 fan - even though I knew that he always had been. I have simply lost my number 1 fan, my best friend, my Dad. I would tell you I love you 100 times a day every day of I could - but I will just say that I will miss you more than anything and that I love you even more.