Mm-m-m... cranberry juice...

I asked for a couple of days off work, this coming Monday and Tuesday, so how do you think I’m starting my 4 day weekend? Guzzling cranberry juice and experiencing kidney pain. Gah!

About 10 years ago I had a kidney stone. About a year later – I had another one. Apparently I am not able to pass a kidney stone myself – they had to be ‘retrieved’. The second one couldn’t even be removed on the first try, I had to have a stent put in between my kidney and my bladder and got to pee blood through a strainer for a month before that one would come out. Yay me!

Last night sitting on the couch I started to have pain in the area of my right kidney. That’s the famous stone producing kidney. Lots of pain. I thought I might have to go to the hospital but seeing as all they do is pump fluids and pain meds into you, I figured I would last as long as I could first.

Finally I took 6 extra strength Tylenols and went to bed and rocked myself to sleep. This morning (who am I kidding – it was noon) the pain was more like an ache. I showered and put makeup on thinking that if I did have to go to the hospital I would at least look presentable. But instead of the E.R. I ran to the store and got cranberry juice and Ibuprophen.

So now while some of you nice ladies out there are winging your way to BlogHer – I am at home, in pain, on my 2^nd 16 oz glass of cranberry juice. I’m sure I’ll be fine, and I doubt many of you will be reading my blog while you’re gone. But if you do stop by – just think about me, okay? Have a drink and maybe float a toast out there for me, will ya?

I’m really grateful I hadn’t planned on going cause this would have made it a real drag!

So many beads ..

*Click on pictures for larger view~

I made a necklace and bracelet out of these beautiful stone beads. They are green for the most part, but I do not know what the stone is. I know I wrote it down somewhere but of course I don't know where. I'd like to list these in my shop because they are so pretty - and done ( !!! ) but I need to find out what the stone is first. They look like rhyolite but I suspect they are something else. Any ideas? Anyone?


And these, these are a whole pile of yummy slab beads I got recently that I really need to create some necklaces with. The last necklace I made with slab beads sold within 10 minutes of listing it. I like that!

If you look you can see there are rose quartz, tiger eye, silver leaf jasper, lemon chrysoprase, brecciated jasper, fancy jasper, and classic howlite irregular slab beads. Gorgeous! These are going to make some lovely jewelry!

Need to improve!

Anything is possible. That's what this picture says.

Seems I am not happy enough with my beading. Beading. Hmmm. I don't want to just string beads on wire and try to make pretty patterns. I enjoy what I do - but I really need to do more. I feel a bit like a fraud - I need to try something more. I'm repeating myself. Well - I'm going into my bead room. Maybe I should lock the door and not come out until I have accomplished something new!! :)

I'm not unhappy - just feel something is lacking in my jewelry - I need to make it more my own. Maybe that's it. I feel a bit like anyone can do what I do. I need to develop my talent. It's funny cause one of the big discussions on Etsy has been about underpricing. I tried to get it across that I am an amateur - and I cannot price the things that I make - like someone who wire wraps their stones, makes their own earwires or clasps.

There didn't seem to be any getting it across to some people - that they should be able to charge more because they are better than some of us who have just started. I would really feel like a fraud if I charged more than I do. Even tried to tell them that it was a compliment to them that some of us don't charge as much as they do.

So much concern about driving the market down - seems to have blinded some people to who they are comparing themselves to.

Do not misunderstand, I am not hopeless. LOL! Not by any means! There is a plan in my head to continue to move forward and keep getting better until I know about the different gauges of wire and how to use them. Till I know what a tumbler is for or what a burr is!!! Progress. I must make some. :)

Mostly I think I'm saying - I know I have a long way to go. What I make appeals to some people and I am very happy about that. But I want to make pieces that I am totally internally pleased with. Something that reflects the ability I hope to develop. There, THAT'S what I mean.

I always use more words than I need to get a thought across. Always.