Honor Student

How was your weekend? They are always too fast around here! We had Supper Club on Saturday, the theme was cheese and my Apple & Roquefort Cheese Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette was delicious! I guess it should be since it had a $20.00 wedge of cheese crumbled on it! The weather was beautiful here this weekend too, "Fall" colors are everywhere now and my favorite time is after a rain when the colors are more saturated.....great for taking pictures!

We got up extra early today to take Jesse to school to have breakfast with the principal! He just nonchalantly told Ed yesterday that he was supposed to have breakfast with the Principal on Tuesday. When Ed asked him what for he informed him he was an honor student, not having any idea what that really meant. We informed it was a big deal and he should be proud. He's such a good kid, I mean seriously, he is wise beyond his years and sometimes makes more sense of things then I do! I really do marvel every day at the young man he is becoming :-)

Part of my bracelet shipment came yesterday and the rest should be here tomorrow! I promise as soon as I get them I will take pictures and get them up alongside the new beads. Ok?

I'm teaching another class this weekend at the bead store...SILVER FUSING!! I know, I'm excited! I started fusing about 3 1/2 years ago, some of you probably remember. I made a couple of really beautiful "sets" that I sold at the bead store and on the website. I had every intention of making components to sell alongside some of the bead sets I had, but I just never had the time...the kids were keeping me really busy back then. Anyway, the class will be fun, we are making a bracelet and hopefully a necklace if time allows. I'll be sharing my tricks and going over safety too :-)

Mr. Westmeyer is home this week, don't' worry, I'm keeping him very busy!! He has a long list to get through lol!! I've even asked him to go ahead and put up the Christmas lights since the weather has been so warm. It's something I DONT want to do in the freezing cold!
I might even train him on bead cleaning.....yep....that will really go over big!

See you all soon!
Shannon

Happy Friday!

This week went by so fast! I'm not listing the Christmas Shop today, it will be Monday possibly Tuesday before I can. I will be putting up the new bracelet style with my next update, and as of yet the bracelets are still "in transit". That's ok, I have lots of work to do....it looks like I will be making silver charms all weekend! Yeah! I might even fill the shop with a couple of my bracelet and earring designs this year.....just not enough time to do it all!

I will be meeting my niece and nephew this weekend. I have not seen my brothers kids in over 4 years, they rarely make it back to Ohio to visit. Long story short, my brother is going through a divorce and has the kids. Sad I know. They will be staying with my mom and dad until they can find a house and get situated. Anyway, Hallie and Jesse are excited to meet their new cousins! They are the same age so they will have much in common I'm thinking. Christain will be going to school with all of Jesse's "old" Indiana friends...Jesse is very jealous of this fact! Hallie has even cleaned her room in anticipation of meeting Andrea for the first time....that's a miracle, let me tell you! Remember the cheeseburger happy meal i found last time?!

We have Supper Club on Saturday....the theme is "CHEESE"! I was assigned "salad" and can not for the life of me find anything on the internet I want to make...besides a good old fashioned Cesar salad with homemade croutons! I could make it the way they used to....table side with egg yolks! I even though about a Pear and Goat Cheese salad and my favorite...Tomato, Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella with balsamic vinegar...yuuummmy! I'm not sure about using tomatoes when they're not in season....there's nothing worse then a mushy tomato in my book! One good thing, I get to actually "see" my friends again! We have been sick for so long around here I feel socially inept! I missed Book Club last night too, I had no time to complete a book last month with all the "sickies" I had to attend to.

What are you all doing this weekend? Christmas shopping maybe? It will be here before you know it!

Groove Thang

I LOVE this hand blown chandelier!!

I'm back! I'm on my second round of antibiotics, the kids returned to school yesterday, the hubby went back to work...life is once again normal...knock on wood. Holiday buying has kicked in, everyone is placing orders for Christmas! It's hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner...sigh. I am working on all of your orders and getting ready for part II of my silver charm collection....yes, there is a part II! I will have my Holiday Bead Collection up on Friday or Monday, not sure yet, I have lots of orders to fill first! I was on the fence with Christmas beads, but recently had a "conversation" with a customer regarding "seasonal" beads. She makes up several "seasonal" designs and takes orders for them at her shows. She said even though many of her customers like everyday designs, they also like something special for the holidays. I thought that was a good idea! You will just have to wait and see what I have this year!

You all know I've been working on a new website, well, with the new website comes a new mailing list! It's more professional, will have more options and of course it's "private", the only downside is you have to sign up for it again. I'll be sending out a special email to everyone that's currently subscribed to my Newsletter with a link to sign up for the new one. Everyone on my new list will be in for some special holiday "treats" this year!! I'm up to all sorts of good stuff!

My dear sweet Hallie Jo was outside today after school raking leaves under the "squirrel" tree, that would be oak tree for you and me lol, when she accidentally stepped in dog doo. Unbeknownst to her of course, she tracked it through the kitchen, the living room, up the stairs, down the hall to the office where I am currently typing. Oh, did I mention we don't have a dog? Our neighbors do! Dinner is now on hold!

See you all soon!!

BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNER IS.......

Good afternoon everyone! I am so happy with all the positive feedback the Signet Charms have been receiving! AND I am so happy to be finally sharing them with you. I will be posting at least one bracelet design next week and the rest of the Victorian Era Charms. I'm also making a couple of other "surprises" with them. This could be your "One Stop Christmas Shop"!!

Thank you to everyone that played!

Here is the number Random.org generated today!


The lucky winner is.....ELAINE R. CONGRATULATIONS Elaine! Please contact me if you haven't heard from me!!


Other News: Halloween was a total downer this year. The kids could not go out due to the flu but neighbors brought treats over and kids did "reverse trick-or-treat" for Jesse & Hal. Watching everyone behind the glass door was impossible for them. They did put thier costumes on that I spent $80 on!! I guess that's a positive. Ed wanted me to just turn the lights out and keep the door closed, that would have been very hard for me to do, but looking back now it wasn't a bad idea. Yesterday was Hallie's first day without a fever!!! Ed has had it the last 3-4 days and was OOC yesterday. Jesse is "good", doing breathing treatments to make sure it doesn't settle in his lungs. Their Dr. called last night to check on them and gave us one bright spot in all this...Hallie does not have to get the H1N1 shot! Jesse "should" since he was not tested for it, even though he had it, he should still get vaccinated for it. Ed & I are also good to go! I feel "good" today also and am just ready to be over all of this, seriously, it's been almost 3 weeks of sickness here.

Ok, I'm making Chicken & Noodles today for the "sick people"! I hope you all have a great weekend!!

H1N1

Hey everyone. I'm NOT running behind today as usual, I have 2 sick kids at home. Jesse is running a low temp with body aches. Hallie has H1N1 for sure and a pneumonia on top of it. She's running a 103-105 temp and nothing is working for her. We are headed to the doctor's office and will probably go to Children's Hospital from there. It's very scary to see her this way....please say a prayer for us today.

UPDATE:::

THANK YOU to all my bead friends for your well wishes and prayers. Hallie is resting at home, thank goodness, she is on Tamiflu for the H1N1 and an antibiotic for the pneumonia. She's not out of the woods but I can see the sparkle in her eyes returning :-) Jesse is on Tamiflu as a preventative measure so it doesn't settle in his chest.....it's going to be along week here. No Halloween party and no Trick-or-Treat night. That wasn't an easy one to explain :-)
I will see you all tomorrow...knock on wood lol!


UPDATE::::
10/29/09
We are ALL home sick today, everyone is running temps and I am trying to get the kids to take it easy. They are stir crazy from being home all week, Hallie has been home for almost 2 weeks and is beside herself. A neighborhood friend did leave a get well card for her in the mailbox....it made her day! Thanks Jules :-)

I AM posting beads tomorrow along with releasing the CHARMS! Sorry to keep you all hanging but I'm a "mom" first...I hope you understand!

NEW Bead SPECIALS and GIVEAWAY!

Hello ladies! Oh how I've missed you all!! I have decided to stop talking about "being sick", I think I may be jinxing myself. Hallie is home AGAIN today, only this time a 101 temp and CROUP! Yes! Croup! Does it ever end? This child is still hacking her head off (so is her Mom!)and is just pitiful on the couch. She will miss Brownies today so that sets into motion another round of phone calls "canceling" my schedule tonight. I am getting better, it's been a slow thing with this flu, one day I'm fine and the next I have a temp and feel terrible...but, hey, I said I wouldn't talk about this!

On to very exciting things! I will have NEW COOL BEADS tomorrow....I'm not tying myself down to a time though, it will all depend on Hallie and how she's doing. She's a very demanding child when she's sick! I am also working on a HOLIDAY BEAD SELECTION, with a twist of course! Although they are "seasonal" beads they will be edgy and contemporary in design...so, if you’re looking for Holiday Beads that are classy & modern without the holiday "cuteness"....you've come to the right place! Now that I've said that, I'll say this....I know there are many of you that like the traditional Holiday beads and I will accommodate you (of course) with my most popular sets from last year, along with a few new ones! If YOU have any ideas or color combinations in your head (hint::hint) please let me know! As always, there will be an incredible selection at the bead STORE this year!

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

The Story behind it all!

I have collected, for quite some time now, vintage jewelry and wax seals from other countries. I've made wonderful friends in London and Scottland during this process and have purchased most of the vintage jewelry pieces with the intention to cast and reproduce some of the components and design elements....see...I told you I've been busy! However, my vintage wax seal collection took a back seat for a while, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them until one day.......Ms. Hallie Jo showed me
the way. I was cleaning up the downstairs living room, throwing dried up Playdough away and emptying water from her "kitchen" pots when I noticed she had taken a stamp and made a pretty design in her playdough.....and that is how all THIS started. Her wanting to play with a wedding cuff from the early 1800's, me saying "No Hallie, that's very expensive, I know you don't understand that now but you will one day". Her protesting back to me, arms crossed "I wish I had my own stuff to play with"! Me thinking to myself......Hmmmm.....I have friends that cast....what if....... I am working on the casting process, very cool, I mean very cool things for you jewelry designers to use. I have to work out a few details yet but it's all coming along.

It's been 6 months but the wax seal initials will be ready tomorrow...just in time for Christmas! I am working on a few other things too. I have a Scottish Thistle charm available, made from a vintage 1700's stamp! I also have some very endearing Victorian charms available, all made from vintage 1800's wax seal stamps. All pendants include a 16' fine silver chain with the option to upgrade to a longer chain if you'd like. The initial charms come with the option to also add a birthstone. Hallie is modeling her "H" with a February birthstone in it....she helped make it!
One more thing...I will be adding bracelets to the selection by next week! I have to say these are just beautiful, each one different and unique...full of personality just like their inspiration :-)
I will have more details tomorrow when they become available.

BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am giving away a vintage Initial Charm necklace this week! Here's what you have to do...don't worry it's easy!

To enter::

Leave a COMMENT on THIS post! You have until FRIDAY at midnight...I will announce the winner on October 31st, Saturday morning! Good Luck!



Ok, have to get back work while the house sick person is asleep!

Disinfecting

Yep. Hallie is home sick again. Low temp, runny nose and hacking cough...just when I thought she was over it. I'm getting my arsenal out today....everything is getting cleaned and disinfected. Jesse is the last person that needs this! I am taking him out of school tomorrow to get his flu shot, along with myself and Mr. Westmeyer. I did register our "family" to get the H1N1 vaccine at our Board of Health, that's the only place you can get it so far, he has allergy asthma and is at greater risk because of it so I don't want to take any chances you know? I feel damned if I do and damned if I don't in this situation anyway. The flu is in all the schools now so I think it's too late but I'll cross that bridge when we get to it. SO much to worry about being a mom huh? This is going to be a long winter.

Thanks to all the wonderful ladies that showed up last night for class! I had a great time but it was a long night, didn't get home until 12:30ish. I still want to have Specials on Friday, it will all depend on the current "situation" here! Hopefully no one else will be sick (knock on wood). Back to Ms. Hallie....it's lunch time.