May 5, 2006 I'm so freakin' nervous that I'm shaking. Could be the extra strong coffee I'm having, or it could be that I'm FREAKING OUT over the free lottery I'm having.
Yes, that's right, FREE. As in, ZERO DOLLARS.
Click here to enter (the drawing ends tomorrow), and if I don't see y'alls names on there I'm gonna beatchoo. Kay?
Apr 30, 2006 Krystyn, oh lovely lovely Krystyn, did my Hyena Cart store. It's so delicious that I have a drool stain on my shirt, and am consantly licking my computer screen. She is a fabulous rockstar, and I want to marry her.
So I'm in the process of moving my stuff from Shitsy Etsy to my new, hip location. It's been hellish, but thrilling at the same time. Kind of like having kids, no?
Since the new cart supports things like COUPONS, and DRAWINGS, and LOTTERIES, and CATEGORIES,, I'm going to have a free giveaway once I get everything all set up. The only downside is that you have to register to buy something from Hyena Cart, but I think you have to do that with Etsy anyway, so I guess it's not that big of a deal. The incentive to get free shit will be worth the signup, I hope.
This has been a great dream of mine for a long time, and I want to sincerely thank those of you that took the time to encourage me, and help me, and do things like buy kickass fabric, and purchase slings for your friends (and yourselves), and just allowed me to vent and whine when things weren't going smoothly.
I've been doing this for almost two years now, and although I have a lot to learn I know I would've given up a long time ago if it weren't for some very key people who generously, kindly, and firmly kept me on this path. There are too many people here to list, or link, but you've all been so wonderful. By encouragement, inspiration, or compliments, it means a lot to know that people care about what I'm doing. There are those of you out there that probably don't think you've helped at all, but you have. Pinky swear.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. So much. <3
Apr 29, 2006 I haven't been blogging lately, but I promise I have a good reason. Several, in fact. We've been cleaning upstairs, and painting, and replacing toilet seats, and shampooing carpet because our roommate moved in.
I've been making ads for various websites for Planet Zebes. I'm moving my store from Etsy to Hyena Cart, (with the uber cool Krystyn's help, thank jeebus, even with as busy as she is... what a SAINT!).
I've been listing stuff with Season's Originals, and selling my pendants online at my momma board (with a pretty decent response, HUZZAH!).
I've been playing with kids, stressing out over Charlie's development, and cooking dinner every night. I've been on the phone consoling my sister because her husband is an asshat, and trying to plan a birthday party for Marissa, Phoebe, and me, since we all have birthdays in May. And my birthday is on Mother's Day again this year. Stress.
I've been trying to keep track of messages, and buying supplies online, and following up with customers, and trading stuff. I've been checking blogs, but I don't seem to be able to leave a comment without being interrupted by mail, or kids, or messes, or phone calls.
I want to make more time to blog, and more time to comment, and I have a feeling that everything is going to settle down very soon. Tonight we're going to a party for a friend that Bryan and I haven't seen since Marissa was 2 years old, so we're pretty excited about that. Tomorrow, I think, I'll actually get a chance to sit down and blog, and to leave comments for people.
And breathe.
Apr 25, 2006 Nenny came over again yesterday, and we practiced some more. She's getting really really good with applying the solder. I'm getting really good at watching her and oohing and aahing over how pretty her pendants look.
I did make a couple more pendants, and I think I'm getting better, but I definitely still need some practice. Who would've thought that it would be so hard to apply hot, dripping metal to glass?
The orangish one was made with crayon shavings, which we placed between the glass in the hopes that the soldering iron would melt the shavings (it did). It was Nenny's idea, and a damn fine idea, too, until I squeezed the glass while the crayon was all melty, and it squooged out the sides of the pendant. I guess delicacy is not my forte, eh? This one measures 1"x1", so it's much smaller than the monstrosity I made on Sunday.
The second one I made using tiny little leaves that I left out to dry, and I plucked them off, one by one, and arranged them in the shape of a flower. Seriously, by the time I was finished arranging the leaves, Nenny had already completed a whole pendant. This one is 3/4" wide by 1" long, and I really like this size and shape. I think I'll make more like this.
I can't stop making these, they're so addiciting! I dumped the kids on Bryan yesterday (for longer than I'd like to admit) so I could go outside to my "workshop". I KNOW! I'm so excited!
I just heard a little voice around the corner say, "Mommy. I'm awake!" Must. go. snuggle.
Apr 24, 2006 My friend Nenny (not her real name, but that's what the kids call her, and I like it, so I call her that, too) and I had this kickass idea for necklaces. She wanted to do guitar pick necklaces, and I suggested that we do them sandwiched between two pieces of glass, and solder around the edges.
Nenny's mom (who I want to adopt me) sent us some supplies, and Nenny picked some stuff up, and I bought a thing or 8, and we sat down to work yesterday to play around with this stuff.
It was WAY DAMN HARDER than I thought it would be. Nenny was much better at it than I was, but we both kind of sucked a little.
One of the benefits to not having a real job is that I got to play with our stuff today, and practice my "technique", while Nenny had to go to work and earn a living (SUCKAH!). So, I made this (and of course I'm not going to show you my first two attempts, so after you see this last attempt, and you see how it's not that great, you will understand the depth of my suckage on the first two):
Yes, yes, I know it's horrible (but I tried to sweeten the pain a little by showing you my cleavage, did it work?). I'm still learning, but what I've learned is..... I have a lot to learn. I anticipate my next one will be better, but I can't promise anything.
So, the pros and cons of this particular necklace:
Pros: I made it myself; If someone approaches me in a dark alley I can use it as a weapon; I made it all by my damn self; in a gale force windstorm I'll be anchored pretty securely; it's cute (in a sloppy sort of way), the weight of it strengthens my neck muscles.
Cons: Definitely not something you want to wear if you're on a cruise and the boat sinks; it took a long time to make; it's not very neat-looking; I'm worried I might brain one of the kids (or myself) if I turn around too quickly; the size of it is pretty ridiculous; it looks like I wrapped tin foil around the edges.
I have some ideas on how to make it look better, so I'll keep trying. In the meantime, stop laughing at it. I will hit you with it in the face, and then you'll DIE.
