Holy cow!

Many of you know that I am a cross-stitcher. I have stitched for many, many years now as my Mom taught me when I was very young. However, in recent years, my stitching has sadly fallen to the wayside in place of beading. I am making an honest effort to correct that now - and although I am not spending as much time stitching as I used too, I have found that I have missed it - and that it is time to make it a regular part of my life again.

So - for the first time in years - I actually have pictures to show you of my current WIP (that's work-in-progress for those of you who don't know). I am doing this as a SAL (stitch-a-long) with my dear friend, Julie. We started this on April 6th - the day before my birthday - and this is what I have done at this time. Julie is doing some crazy-ass rotation where she rotates projects every 2 weeks - and she has approximately 3,000 projects in this rotation. (OK - I was exaggerating a bit there - it's more like 300. Oh - all right - fine. It's really about 20.) Anyways - she currently has about 200 stitches in hers - mine has about 1600 in this picture. I am determined that she will not get ahead of me on this project. Even though she only works on it for 2 weeks at a time - she does not work, so she is able to devote a LOT of time over those 2 weeks to stitching. This design is called Storykeeper by Selena Fenech - and the pattern is made by Heaven and Earth Designs. You can see the project in it's entirety here

Isn't it cool? I am really loving this piece so far as you can really see it coming together already. HAED's get their detail from shading - not backstitch. So there are loads of colors changes, but you can really see the details in the piece already.

I will have another update fairly soon. I've already but in another 400 stitches since I took this picture before I started stitching yesterday.

So what do you think? Do you like it?

It's 3AM and I must be lonely...

Bah - and now I will have that song stuck in my head. Why do I do these things to myself?

Actually - to comment on the title of the post, I am really not lonely. Just awake. Sadly, I have learned that though I have tried - and tried and tried - I will *never* be a morning person. Ever. I love the peace and quiet that night brings. Ansel is hopelessly a morning person. He does not understand how I can stay up half the night and I don't understand why he is so unbearably cheerful in the morning. Really - it is annoying, irritating and downright aggravating. Yesterday morning I got up at around 9:30 to use the bathroom - but I was half-asleep and headed back to bed, because 9:30 is still early to me (yes, yes I know this is sad). I can't remember the entire conversation because well - I was half-asleep but he said something, and I mouthed back - which I am prone to do. He started grumbling - which he does all too well - and said "I could have picked a nice quiet girl over here. 'Yes Ansel. Whatever you say Ansel' but NOOoooo I had to pick the one that was all talky because she was more entertaining. I could have had a nice, quiet peaceful life....but Noooooo." I started laughing - because he is so good at this type of thing.

Actually that brings to mind another story - many of you have heard this one because it is so daggone funny that I tell everyone that will stand still long enough to listen. About a year ago or so - I was putting laundry in the washing machine - Ansel was in clear eye shot of me. He asked me, "What are you doing?" Before I could think about it, I shot back "Vacuuming." He looked at me and said, "I don't know why I put up with you - 5'2" and 5' of you is mouth." Hehehe....

Some of you may wonder what the point of this post is. Really - there is not any reason for it other than I felt like blogging tonight - and sharing a little of myself.

Oh sure - I can tell you about the wonderful show I vended at last night. And how my friend, Jaime's band (Shadow Prophets) kicked some major ass. I could bitch and whine and moan that I had no sales, but then tell you I had a great time anyways. I could tell you how I banged my head until I gave myself a headache while rocking out to headlining act Tommy Peacock. I could also tell you that another local group (KLNZR) uses a hearse for transporting their equipment - and that you know at that point something fun is going to happen with that group. Or that being a witness to Fallen on High's wedding proposal was awesome.

I could also tell you that I am going to be taking some pictures of some new jewelry this week and hopefully getting pictures edited and listings made so that you can see some new items from me.

But I won't because really this blog entry is about giving you a glimpse into my life. =)

I have a winner!!!!

I am so incredibly happy to announce that I have a winner for my contest! This was a really fun experience for me on so many levels. So many people were willing to share me on FB with their friends and family - or Tweet me on Twitter. And I had some really wonderful bloggy love as well. I want to tell you all "THANKS!!!" from the bottom of my little pea picking heart. It is SO hard to get your name out there - and the more people that see my shop, the better it is for me on so many levels.

Congrats to Kristi - she was kind enough to Tweet me several times. I only had 45 entries for my contest - so this improved her chances quite a bit. I will be sending her an email shortly and I will be posting what she chooses when she does.

Thanks again all for participating. I really do appreciate it. Although it will be a while before I do another giveaway, I will probably do this again in the future. =)

Unintentional Hero

Once in a while, I will happen upon a story that makes me think that the human race is not completely doomed for failure. In today's world, where reality TV, news shows and the internet showcases the worst of the human race in all it's many forms, it is a welcome and refreshing change to hear about something, well - different.

Yesterday, I happened to see a news story on Yahoo about a photographer in Pennsylvania - about 4 hours away from where I live - who had the guts and the courage and the temerity to stand up for what she believes in - the things that she holds as right and true. Here is link to her story:

if you're ugly, I won't take your photo | indiana county, pa photographer | personal

Here is a self-employed woman - who only has herself to listen too. She decided that listening to her conscience was more important than money. And she took a HUGE risk by doing that. Wow. She refused paying customers because they were bullies - and being mean and hurtful to others on Facebook of all places - not exactly the most private forum in the world. I'd like to think that I would make the same decision if I were in her shoes, but the honest to goodness fact is that money is a powerful motivator in this day and age. Thank you Jen McKen for standing up for what you believe is right. I can only hope that one day, stories like yours will be the norm - and that what we have grown accustomed to in our current society (the hate, the deceit, the anger) will be the "unusual" story of the day. You have given quite a few people hope - and have become an unintentional hero for many, many people. May you have loads and loads of business - because it is truly deserved.

2 weeks left...

Until my giveaway is over! I am terribly excited to have new followers here on my blog. I am not always the best at updating, but I have been getting better. =) This contest is open to everyone - international as well as domestic and here are the quick and easy rules:

I need your help promoting my shop: blog about me, share my shop on FB or tweet my shop and get an entry for each promotion into my drawing to win a free item from my shop. This is up to a $60 value - which only excludes 1 item at this time. Let me know so I don't miss you. I have decided to run this through the end of August - with the drawing on Sept 1st! So still plenty of time to improve your chances to win.

You can find me on FB @ Gems By Jules

On Twitter: GemsByJules

On ArtFire: http://www.gemsbyjules.artfire.com

On Etsy: http://www.gemsbyjules.etsy.com

I've been busy creating and making new items. Hexagons seem to have taken over my life for now although there are definitely some more skulls coming into my inventory. I am happy with the results so far. I always have new earrings and possibly some rings in the works as well right now. So lots of new items - just not enough hours in the day to get things beaded.

Speaking of skulls - here is a sneak peek of the necklace I have made up and ready to go (the picture is not the best quality - but it will do for now. I apologize that this is really not up to par for me - Ansel erased the program that I normally use to crop images and make them better - so no idea what I am doing with the current program.) I have gotten a lot of great comments on this necklace - including quite a lot of interest from men on this one. Not that they would actually buy one for themselves - but there has been a lot of studying and interest. =) I happen to think it is adorable.

I am off of here for tonight - I have developed a pounding headache in the meantime - thinking that the issue with the missing picture editing program and trying to learn a new program may have something to do with that. ;-)

Who wants a giveaway?

You do? Really? Well, that is exactly what I am going to do. =)

After giving this some serious thought today, I have decided that it is high time that I give something back to everyone that has supported me over the years. So - here are the details:

Help promote me and my shop. Blog about my shop, like me on Facebook and share my shop with your friends on your page, follow me on Twitter and re-Tweet my shop. I will give you an entry into the drawing for each promotion you do. Simple. Easy. (I am limiting the number of chances per day to 5 to help make it fair for everyone.) I will close entries on August 25th and draw a name on Sept 1st. (Please note - if you blog about me - please let me know either through FB or Twitter so that I can give you an entry. I will see the shares on my Twitter and FB feeds - but unless I am following you I will not be able to know about blogs.) Also - if you are following me already - that's great and I love you for it! Just promote my shop to get an entry. ;-)

So what do you get if you win? The winner will get to choose from ANY item in my shop - up to a $60 value - which at this current time only excludes one item! YAY!!!

Here are the links to help you out:

To find me:

http://www.gemsbyjules.artfire.com - ArtFire Store
http://www.gemsbyjules.etsy.com - Etsy Store
on FB: Gems By Jules
on Twitter @GemsByJules

Good luck!

Things are a'changin'

It's been some time since I posted and I have actually got some news to report. I am finding myself with a lot of upcoming opportunities - known and unknown. (I have some irons in the fire - but they are really nowhere near formation at this point.) Let me tell you what I have in the works...

At the end of June, I was contacted by a promoter through my ArtFire store. She was looking for jewelry designers to work in conjunction with fashion designers for Boston Fashion week. At first, I was very skeptical as I was pretty certain that this was a phishing attempt. So I started searching - and Googling and looking for anything and everything I could about this show, the event, the venue and sites. It this appears to be a completely legitimate offer. Sadly, I would not be able to raise the necessary funds to go by September, but I am truly flattered - and excited by this prospect.

A few days after this, one of my dear friends, Jaime, contacted me about a music and arts' festival called Sounds of Distinction. Now Jaime is in a band called Shadow Prophets and they were playing this event and theyneededvendorsandwouldIbeinterestedeventhoughitwasreallyshortnotice? So I contacted the gal - Natalie - and she kindly informed me that I would be welcome and that there were no booth fees and that I got keep ALL of my sales. Whoa. That's amazing. I went (it was July 9th) - and although I didn't sell as much as I would have liked, I really, really, really had a great time at the event. I heard some amazing local music talent - including Jaime's band. (By the way - if you like heavy metal/hard rock - I highly recommend them. Jaime is an amazing guitarist and vocalist.) I also got to see some great art - and I got a chance to meet new people and see an old friend. Best part? I have been invited to do another show with Natalie on Sept 3rd. And I am intensely excited about this as well. I never dreamed that I would end up working with a promoter.

This has in many respects opened some new doors for me - and I think it will continue to do so for me. I am looking forward to the opportunities that this may bring for me.

In addition I am looking to vend in more local events and shows. I am wanting to do more at this time with my jewelry and I think it is high time I get my butt in gear and start working on getting my name out there more. I am determined to be able to make a living off of this. I want to be the one in charge of my life. Not a work schedule. Not a boss. Not a manager. Me. Little ole' me.