Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts

Friday, March 2, 2012

Catching Up

It has been quite a long time since I last posted on this blog.  The last few months of 2011 brought many changes to my life.  I had a total knee replacement and I’m still recovering from it.  I still go to physical therapy three times a week for about 2 hours each day. It takes up quite a bit of my time.  I try to limit my activity on those days so I can concentrate my energies on my knee.  As a result of this and some other changes, my online presence has dwindled to almost non-existent. 

I am trying to become as active online as I was in the past but between PT and preparing to move, it seems that I have no extra time.

That’s right, I said moving.  When we moved to Nevada we knew it was a temporary home for us.  Circumstances have changed and we are hoping to move back to Texas this year.  I’m real excited, 

I can’t wait to be living in Texas again.  We haven’t decided what area of Texas, but we are considering the Fort Worth area.  Know any good bead shops in the area?

The pictures in this post are pieces I made during the last few months. 

I started this post 2 weeks ago and forgot to publish it.  I guess this is a case of better late than never.

See Ya Soon! Click here to read more!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

God Blessed Texas Collection curated by JewelrybyCherylsPurpleCow on ArtFire







Click here to read more!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Texas Artfire Guild: Yee Haw Happy New Year Yall!! Its our Contest time...

Texas Artfire Guild: Yee Haw Happy New Year Yall!! Its our Contest time...: "Rose Pen Hand Turned and carved From JmMCoy Earrings from TheGemmedGiraffe  Individualized carved key chain from CNewcomb  ..." Click here to read more!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Texas ArtFire Guild Contest

The Texas ArtFire Guild is having a contest based on the Six Flags that have flown over Texas.

There are several prizes - Winner Takes All.

Here are pictures of the prizes.
Rose Pen Hand Turned
by JMcCoy on ArtFire



Black Lampwork Cha Cha Bracelet
by cctexan3 on ArtFire

Peridot Swarovski Crystal Eternity Knot Earrings
by The Gemmed Giraffe on ArtFire

Handmade Custom Wooden Name Key Chains
by C Newcomb on ArtFire

Hemp Dog Collar Custom Made
by Sonora Kays Creations on ArtFire

You can read the Contest post on the Texas ArtFire Guild Blog.

Join the fun on the Official Contest Thread in the ArtFire Forums.

If you click on the pictures, you will be taken to the ArtFire shop that donated that prize.

Click here to read more!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Recycling Part 2

Last month I published an article about my adventures in recycling titled "I Talk About Recycling But...". Since then I have learned or remembered a few new things.

I had decided to print both addresses on paper and tape the paper to the front of each envelope. That way it would be easy to remove the addresses and re-use the label. I don't know, but it just looked tacky to me.

Lace Nativity Ornaments Set by recycledyoyos

I remembered at one of my jobs we sent inter-office mail to many places all over the state of Washington. The way we re-used these envelopes was to apply clear packing tape to the envelope where the label would go. 


That made it real easy to remove the label and re-use the envelope.

I also save packing materials (peanuts, bubblewrap, etc) from my packages to re-use when I pack an order.

Amethyst and Green Serpentine Necklace by TheGemmedGiraffe

There are so many little things we can do to recycle and re-use items for our business. Not only does it help environmentally, but it saves money too.

 

What are your little tips and/or tricks?

I would like to thank fellow ArtFire Texas Team Members
TheGemmedGiraffe and recycledyoyos for the use of their photos.  You can click on the picture to be taken to the item listing or their shop name to be taken to the shop.

I try to use pictures of items belonging to those who have previously commented on my posts or my blog followers. I do choose from the comments first.
Click here to read more!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Handmade in the Lone Star State curated by cnewcomb


Good Morning! I turned on my computer this morning to find that my new Mandiye bracelet has been included in a Collection. Handmade in the Lone Star State was curated by cnewcomb on ArtFire and features Texas Artfire Guild members.  Click on the collection to view the collection on ArtFire and click here to go to C. Newcomb's Woodworking shop.

Thank-you for including "Mandiye" in a collection from the greatest state in the nation.





Click here to read more!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Good Morning!

It has been hot outside. I feel like I will never catch up on all the listing I need to do. And there were about 30 other things to complain about yesterday. But that was yesterday. Here is today's story.

I woke up late this morning, kinda tired and kinda bored. I have been working on re-organizing my craft room. the first thing I did today was move my computer in there. I finally turned on the computer about an hour or so ago. Did a couple of things, then checked my shops. WOW!! I couldn't believe it!


Click here to

My largest sale ever in my supply shop both in number of items and in invoice total.

It's all because I recently joined a brand new team here in Vegas. Can you believe that with the size of this city, there was no Etsy team? Within one month the membership of this team is over 180 Etsy shops. So far everyone is extremely enthusiastic. But I digress. Back to my Good Morning.


Fellow "MadeInVegas" teammate Velma of designsbyv was the culprit behind this purchase. Being the nosey person that I am, I just had to check out her shop.  I have to say again WOW!


Yellow Rose Hair Comb by designsbyv





You know that my favorite is the Yellow Rose Hair Comb.  I am a native Texan and nothing warms my heart like yellow roses.  It makes me wish that I had long enough hair to use it.  The flower looks velvety.  Is that a word, velvety?







Lace and Rose Choker by designsbyv




I love this Lace and Rose Choker.  It is so classy,  She also has the same choker with a white rose.  Methinks she likes roses.







Black Tie Garter by designsbyv






Another classy item is this Black Tie Garter.  I fell in love with it.  And what is that I spy in the background.  Yellow Roses?











Vintage Style Cameo Pendant by designsbyv










I promise that I tried to limit myself to 3 items, but I couldn't.  I have to include this gorgeous
Vintage Style Cameo Pendant









Click here to visit designsbyv on Etsy .If you want to see the listing for any of these items, just click on the item name for the link.
Click here to read more!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Wine and Roses Treasury by Corkycrafts

Every once in a while you view a Treasury that stays in your mind all day.  That's what happened when I viewed this Wine and Roses Treasury by Corkycrafts.

Corkycrafts is a team mate on the Etsy Texas Crafters.  If you are are wine connoisseur or like wine you need to visit her shop, corkycrafts on Etsy,  She makes some truly amazing wreaths and other pieces using wine corks.

I asked her what was the inspiration for this Treasury.  It seems that there was a Wine and Roses Treasury earlier in the month and since she usually has wine as a theme someone thought it was her Treasury.  That one wasn't hers but it only took a little suggestion for this one to be born.  Thank you Corky, I truly enjoyed this Treasury.


This Star wreath is my favorite.  The Texas Star always reminds me of home.


Like all Texans Corky is a generous person.  I am a displaced Texan living in Nevada right now.  She heard me grumbling in our forum about how much I miss the spring in Texas.  I especially miss seeing the bluebonnets along the roadside.  That's all it took.  I found out this morning that my own package of bluebonnet seed is on the way to this poor, homesick Texan. Click here to read more!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Wonderful Way to Wake Up

I woke up this morning to find out that I was featured in a Treasury by a great friend from Texas, Gabeadz..  She makes the most beautiful rings.  My favorite is her Blue Turquoise Carved Rose:





Her Treasury is called "Browny Things".  Please show this Treasury some comment and click love, just click on the title then click on each picture in the Treasury and leave a comment.
Click here to read more!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Gift From...Texas Treasury

I have been included in a great Treasury curated by gabeadz.  The Treasury is "Gift From Texas".


Thank-you gabeadz for featuring me. 


http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=78080




Click here to read more!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

"God Blessed Texas" Treasury

I am very proud of this Treasury featuring items from the Etsy Texas Crafters.  I hope Y'all agree.





Click here to read more!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Oh My Aching Knee

I learned the hard way (which is how I learn) that you should not brag about certain things.  In 2002 I was in my mid-30's and in the process of moving from Washington to Oregon.  The man I was in a relationship with and I flew to Texas to visit my Mother.  One evening we were discussing injuries and broken bones.  Both of them had long lists.  My response however was "I have never broken a bone in my body".  What is the saying about "Famous Last Words". 

Less than 24 hours later I slipped and in the process of falling decided that the best course of action would be absorbing the impact of the fall on the concrete with my kneecap.  A word to the wise, Don't do it!  Your knee is not one of those things that heals well.  Lets see, I had an arthroscopic surgery in 1996.  I have been in physical therapy off and on about 10 different times.  I have received 3 cortisone shots and all the shots do is make me long for the time of less pain before the shot.  Is that how they are supposed to work? 

I was at the point where a decision whether or not I could do something was based on what I needed to do within the next couple of days.  I could not walk or otherwise stress my knee if I had things that needed to be done within 48 hours.  I had to save up my time on my feet.  That is no way to live.

I moved to Nevada in 2006 and finally went to an Ortho back in November of last year.  After seeing the results of my tests he came into the room and the first words he said were "Your knee is really messed up".  He told me that the "fix" is to have total knee replacement but at 50 I am considered too young.  So he suggested a series of shots.  When I calmed down, he explained that they were not at all like cortisone.  The compund was a healthy version of the fluid in the knee.  Good knees that is.  The fluid in my knee is deteriorated. I received 1 injection a week for 5 weeks and was told that the effects would last about 5 months at which time we could do it again.  The effects lasted 8 months for me and a few weeks ago I started getting twinges.  Within a week all the pain came back.  

I started a new series of injections today.  You know that there are always rules.  Well I only have one rule to follow.  For 48 hours after the injection, I have to limit the time that the leg bears weight to less than45 minutes at a time.   I can live with that, especially now that I know how good the knee will feel afterwards.  Click here to read more!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Texas - Recommended Reading For Everyone

I received an email today and viola! I have a subject for my blog. You may not know but I am a Texan. I was born and raised in Texas. My first marriage failed (he was not from Texas) and my second marriage is thriving (he was born and raised in Texas). Coincidence? I think not. Texans are different, in a good way. All those qualities that you wish to instill in your children are part of the Texas way of life. If you are not from Texas, please read this so that you can understand why Texans are a proud bunch. If you are a Texan, I know you will get goose-bumps and a tear in your eye. My thoughts are in blue.

Here are the contents of that email:

Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Look at Texas with me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast , and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it they know what it is. It's Texas . Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You might get it maybe after a second or two, but who else would? And even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?

In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup. There is a little bit of Texas in everyone. This is where I start getting goose-bumps.

Texas is the Alamo . Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself . That is the Spirit of Texas . Most people do not realize that the Alamo is the most famous battle that was not won!

We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Davy Crockett, and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes.

Texas is Sam Houston capturing Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana at San Jacinto .

Texas is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests .

Texas is breathtaking mountains in the Big Bend .

Texas is the unparalleled beauty of bluebonnet fields in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas is floating the rivers of the Hill Country on a hot summer day.

Texas is the beautiful, warm beaches of the Gulf Coast of South Texas .

Texas is beaches you can drive on and have many memorable bon-fires with close friends.

Texas is that warm feeling you get when someone asks where you're from.

Texas is the shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.

Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork .

Texas is Mexican foods like nowhere else, not even Mexico .

Texas is chicken fried steak and world famous Bar-B-Q.

Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards, Bass Hall, the Ballpark in Arlington and the Astrodome. (guess now, the Reliant Stadium too)..

Texas is larger-than-life legends, like Michael DeBakey, Ann Richards, Denton Cooley, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Gene Autry, Audie Murphy, Tommy Lee Jones, Waylon Jennings, Farrah Fawcett, Janis Joplin, Sandra Bullock, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Landry, Eva Longoria, Darrell Royal, ZZ Top, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Nolan Ryan, Sam Rayburn, Howard Hughes, George H.. W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, and let's not forget GEORGE STRAIT- PANTERA, the Big Bopper, Tex Ritter, George Jones, Clay Walker, Mark Chestnut, to name ONLY a few.

Texas is great companies like Dell Computer, Texas Instruments, EDS and Compaq, Whataburger, Southwest Airlines, Bell Helicopter and LOCKHEED MARTIN AEROSPACE, Home of the F-16 Jet Fighter and the JSF Fighter, Valero.
Texas is NASA.

Texas is huge herds of cattle, beautiful horses and miles of crops.

Texas is home to the world famous King Ranch. (My hometown, Kingsville)

Texas is home to the most amazing sunsets of gold over an empty field.

Texas is hundreds of deer running around neighborhoods and fields.

Texas is skies blackened with doves and fields full of deer..

Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local high school football game on Friday nights and for the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, and for the night In Old San Antonio River Parade in San Antonio.
To drive across Texas , is to drive 1/3 the way across the United States .

Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities..

If it isn't already in Texas , you probably don't need it.

No one does anything bigger or better than it's done in Texas .

This is important, it is what sets us apart from other states.
By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U...S. That can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. Flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland , California , or Maine , and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17 feet. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Klein Oak High or anyplace else at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. Do you know why? Because it is the only state that was a Republic before it became a state.

Also, being a Texan is as high as being an American down here. Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington , D.C. And we can divide our state into five states at any time if we wanted to!We can become a republic again at any time the voters of Texas choose, and we included these things as part of the deal when we came on.

That's the best part, right there.

Texas even has its own power grid!!

And don't even lie to yourself... Did I mention Live music capitol of the world?

If you are a REAL TEXAN, you won't even need to be told to pass this on.

God Bless Texas !! Click here to read more!