WIA Sunday 31st August

[LadyArowana]

Hi everyone, sorry didn't make it back here Friday or yesterday, explanations of which later ........

Andee, so good to see some Andee pix, I miss them. Always feel a tad guilty starting the daily thread and not putting something inspirational in there.
Real bummer about the cold, hope you can rest up with lots of booster Vit C etc and that it doesn't hit too bad.

Pam, I was too late to see the cottage, but I'm sure it will be lovely. Great to have it all set for next year. Definately something to look forward to. I'm glad you liked Lukes teacher for next year. She probably has lots of ways of dealing with disruptive little boys, so I wouldn't worry. The trees will happen eventually, a pain about the no electricity thing, but better than carbonised lumberman in the back yard.

Rita, that is some progress for Eric at least. Must be terrible for him to be given so little help, quite shocking in a rich country, and hardly equipping him to help himself move into being a productive part of society. I hope he can get the problems sorted with the referrals. Cassies feet don't look tiny, but I'm sure that's just the angle of the picture. Are the nails big enough to paint ? I could see you slotting the toes into those separator foam things that keep you from getting the polish icked up and doing a rainbow or something. How fun that you scooped up some extra beadies.

Maggie, the cabin has huge potential, such lovely views and everything. The shower looks like it might need an upgrade, but a toilet that is clean and flushes is pretty much doing its job. Hope your helpers are recovered from school today and motivated to work.

Gwen, must be strange to have thunder and lightening and no rain. That hardly ever happens here. End of August we have had some really heavy ones. Last week at the coastal park there were big pools on the grass and the toads were in there singing, we could see their throats inflate, a real chorus. Chicken pie sounds awesome, it's one of my faves but not too many places do it well. It's a good sign if Rocky walks on his leg, I hope it just looks nasty cos its healing, not much you can do if he is a 'no touching' cat, just food and something to drink.

Claire, glad you got lots of house jobs off the list. A cottage might be a better idea with the dog, B and B's can expect you to be gone all day and it feels unrelaxing to be cooped up in a room. Even guest lounges can be less than inviting some places.

Barrie, hope the baby doesn't drool on the keyboard great stuff in S and T, and loved the costume too, can see why your son was pleased.

Hi to Angela, Sylvia and any of our other regulars that I've missed.

Nothing progressed on the rental place. I called the Co 4 times during the business day on Friday. Receptionist was useless, kept saying she would message the guy and he would call back which didn't happen. His mobile went to voicemail and so I sent a text to it, no response. Sent another e.mail and no response to that either. Asked to speak to someone at the Co who could give me an update and was told that only the person who I was dealing with could access the system for it. I am very very angry, because it's only 2 working days till we leave. Have a feeling that they have either made a monumental screw up with the booking, or it's just a scam altogether. I thought that he was ignoring my messages and calls to his mobile because he could see it was a Singapore number, but tried yesterday with my UK mobile in roaming mode and it was still unanswered and switching through to voicemail. All I can do is persist in trying to get him UK time tomorrow and Tuesday. I am cross with myself for not following up earlier, but I thought a week in advance was ok and that an exchange of e.mails was all that was necessary. Guess we may be back to carrying pans of water, and a few hundred pounds poorer. At least we weren't planning to be there more than a few days beginning and end of the two weeks. But I may be back to square 1 on finding another place to hang my hat, ( and gloves, got some of those Friday ). Hope things are better for everyone else. Fiona

[Ritazart]

Fiona, I don't think I have ever seen one of the foam toe holders small enough for her tiny feet and toes. I think her feet are about 10 cm long and about 4-5 cm wide at the toes. She has funny little nails that grow nearly straight up on some toes. I am sure she would love to have them painted though. I don't know if she would stay in one place long enough for them to dry though unless I could convice her to sit in her wheelchair for the painting. She loves her feet and would undoubtedly love them to be all pink and girly. Have you tried calling the building directly if there is onsite management?? Is there any way to check with them if it is in your name during the time you have paid for?? Good job finding gloves in your climate.

[BeadTowne]

Oh Fiona, It's not sounding good. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that things will be resolved in your favor. So sorry this is how you have been spending your time, not to mention the worry that goes with it.

Rita, I would think Cassie would love pink toes and maybe you could do a few at a time. There are some fast drying types, maybe you could try one of those.

Claire, A cottage sounds ideal and the best choice for Cassie. What area are you thinking about? Sounds like your house is non-stop home improvement projects. Does it ever end?

Gwen, I'm a bit like you where I can become a hermit quite easily. There are some things I love to do by myself and others I need that push out the door. Have to find ways to meet people up here. My family is near by now, but I need more than them. Glad you have church each week. Are there any types of classes that would interest you? That's one thing I may look into, photography or something.

Going to get myself moving to the cabin soon. My sister will bring my dad and her family up later this morning. I will have some helpers and some fun. The art show was wonderful, but why is it when I want to spend money I buy nothing? Did try on rings, but I just found myself wanting to find my own jewelry in all of the boxes.

[Andee]

Quick hi from me. Cold is in full bloom, I've spent the 2nd day in bed, with a fever and wrapped in various layers of clothes and sheets (despite outside temps of 30°C). I have no idea how I am supposed to manage an entire work week feeling this crappy...
Sorry all, not up to reading and writing....

[TheBlueBetween]

hi everyone, I don't think I made it here to post yesterday though I did come and read a few times... interruptions I guess. Am feeling very impatient with all that is undone and impatient to get going on things... story of my life.

Am looking now for a tennis coach for Luke - lessons, whatever. It looks like we have to join a club to do it plus the cost of the lessons. This is going to be expensive, but he's SURE this is his THING and he's going to the OLYMPICS to play TENNIS. His coach this summer was pretty impressed with him at his age, but yikes. I'll find something that is afordable and that I don't have to travel an hour one way for.... I will.... (yes that's an affirmation )

Am also planning my front garden. I'm thinking some white birch trees, a hedge of some sort with an entry arch with climbing roses or clematis... and a strawberry patch. maybe some blueberries. Maybe even some rosemary. A rosemarry hedge maybe? LOL, so many choices, the choices kill me, I like them all.

Oh, you guys were talking about printers recently - did someone have a great one to recommend?

Andee, do you have sick days to call in with? Feel better soon, and I hope this doesn't last a whole week... 3 days should be more than enough. (((hugs)))

Barrie, that costume is great - is that for halloween already or some other party of somesort? What did he decide about school, anyway? We were at petsmart the other day getting hamster litter and saw some dog costumes and Luke twisted my arm and talked me into getting the black one with glow in the dark skeleton bones for Zoe and a witch costme with a black cape, hat and green hair for Kesia. Haha. I love Halloween, am planning my decorations in my head already. Oh, I made one of her hearts once, rather, inspired by, of course. I made it on mandrel though and the biggest problem is the possibility of the mandrel release breaking. I don't have a tool for poking holes or I'd try the other way. Should have gotten one at frantz. Darnit!

Rita, have you seen some of those adorable shoes for kids on etsy? I think some of the watermelon ones in the WIA are etsy shoes - they are more like slippers so maybe easier to get on her. I'm glad she loves her feet, she sounds like a pretty positive happy little girl.

Oh Fiona, I hope it's not a scam and it all works out - that's awful! How frustrating Here is the cottage, I saved the photos before the link went dead:




Maggie, how soon before you get to make beads??? Bummer your art show was not successful in taking your money! I find I have a hard time finding jewelry I want to buy these days too, or when I do, it's very very expensive. I used to buy something every festival I went to.

Gwen, so glad you got more rain! This new Gustav isn't headed your way, is it? I too can become hermit-like, it's one of the reasons I insisted we move out of our tiny country town and into "town" - hermit isn't good for me, all the time. Still, bad habits are hard to break.

Well so fun a day ahead, BIL's birthday the other day and so he's coming to lunch. he had invited me and frank to dinner last minute plans, and Luke wasn't invited so we said NO thank you, poor Luke felt all left out, he loves birthday parties of course, lives for them. BIL is very good at making people feel left out or overlooked and I'm not putting up with it. I'm surprised I was invited, I'm usually not included either, he just likes to take Frank away whenever he can and gets mad when frank says he's got plans with his family already. Ick. So anyway, have to figure out what to serve for lunch. Too bad I don't have Gwen's chicken pot pie

for now.

[Ritazart]

Maggie, I am not too surprised you didn't find anything at the art show. If you are like me, I look at other peoples work and think, I can make that, or I can get it on Etsy cheaper, or I like the ones Maggie makes better!!! Have fun with your family today!!! I will check out the quick dry polish and give it shot. I am getting excited to see what she thinks. I'll bet it will tickle her.

Andee, Bummer!!! What else can I say, except take good care of you and try to get some rest. That is the best medicine beside vit. C.

Pam, I wondered where you were yesterday. Yup, that is the house I was visualizing. I think it is really cute. Nice job on “being talked into” Halloween costumes for the dogs. Be sure you take lots of photos. I will have to look on Etsy at the kids shoes. The ones I have seen always seem to list ages, but I need more info. She actually wears the tiny sizes for kids about 6 months usually. I just bought a pair that are a tiny bit bigger than the last ones, but I haven't gotten them together with her feet yet. I think the perfect dessert for BILFH would be sour grapes. Check the Bisquick website. There is a recipe for Impossibly Easy Chicken Pot Pie, super quick, easy and delicious. Plus you get to try out a new recipe on him. (You can call it a science experiment.) I am so glad Frank didn't buckle to his manipulation and refused to go. That is a good step in the right direction.

BBL Off to work shortly.

[claire.c]

Hi everyone
I've not got a great deal done, but somehow I have been busy all day. The jacket is now lined, only the hem and cuffs still to do so maybe this evening will see an end to it. I'll probably be so fed up with the sight of it I won't wear it for months! It is a winter garment I suppose so that's OK.

Several things are still on my list for this evening, none of them will take long though. Tomorrow I shall put in my holiday request, fingers crossed it will be OK, then we can get booking. It will only be a few days, go on Saturday morning and back Wednesday night, that's why we will be staying in the north, only about an hour's drive from Calais.

Gwen, what a pity about the bread, can't think of a reason as I don't know much about sourdough. I do have a very good book called "The Village Baker" by Joe Ortiz which explains about different types of bread. Maybe one day I will try it, not sure if I'd like the taste. I have to push myself to do things too, once went through a very bad phase of feeling low and not doing anything, luckily a friend pulled me out of it. Now I am careful not to go there.

Rita, the jewellery make-overs sound fun, are you going for authentic vintage look or more modern takes? Stitching elements to velvet ribbon for chokers can be a simple way of using bits.

Fiona, that rental business is worrying, have you taken a look via Google Earth to check it exists? How did you find it in the first place? If you want me to make any calls or do anything do ask, it can be very frustrating at long distance.

Maggie, we are looking at the Somme bay, around Abbeville, for our holiday. Current favourite is a very strange looking cottage, it sits by a lake and has a grass roof so acts as an observation hide too. Not that you can hide from the ducks, blogs from previous visitors say they hammer on the windows demanding bread. Such a pity nothing tempted you at the art show, your brain is probably still a bit overwhelmed by all the changes.

Andee (((HUGS))) I do hope you feel better soon. If you are too ill to go to work that is all there is to it, you have to stay at home.

Pam, maybe Luke should choose the BIL's lunch menu, and Frank can cook it. The cottage looks great, and comfortable too. Have you spoken to the tennis coach about what is the best way to proceed with Luke? If you are having an arch then a mix of climbers is good, so you get leaves in winter and various flowers year round. I have mixed feelings about rosemary, possibly because there are so many old wives tales about it, I think I'd stick to lavender, or fuschia for a big hedge.

[Barrie]

Good morning!!! It's a lovely gray day here today - supposed to be sunny, but they blew the forecast yesterday so I don't have high hopes for the sun to poke through the clouds today. And you all know that doesn't bother me a bit!

Fiona, what a PIA!!! Hope it all works out in the end. Hooray for new gloves at least!

Pam, that is the cutest cottage! Too funny about the dog costumes! Cody's costume was for an anime (Japanese Animation) convention in town last week. He does want to wear it for Halloween, so I'll tweek it a bit more so I'm happier with it! LOL Tennis lessons?? Good gravy woman! Where are you going to find the time for that! ROFL! Little known fact - I took tennis lessons as a kid. Loved it, had a blast, but tennis star I was NOT! LOL The best part about it (and I remember it to this day - how weird is that?) was that the most popular boy in school was also in the same class and we became good friends for that year (grade 5). I was the envy of all the girls. LOL

Maggie, I think a few classes might be a great idea. At least it will get you out of the cabin a bit. Hope the family shows up ready to work today! And if you feel the need to go ring shopping, I'm an email away! *wink*

Rita, I'll bet it will be fun to do Cassie's toes!! Freya always has hers painted, has done since she was about 2! LOL Not like me as a child! Or an adult for that matter! LOL

Claire, LOL about ducks knocking on the cottage windows! That would be fun!! Hope it wouldnt' drive Cassie crazy though!!

Gwen, too bad about the bread. At least it tasted good! Sounds like you're in good company here with the hermit thing. Much like Claire, I have to be very careful not to let myself go there. I do love to be at home, with no one around but too much of a good thing is a bad thing!! LOL

Andee, stay snuggled up and warm today, lots of hot tea, vitamins and if you get really stuff, a nice soak in a hot tub with some soothing bath stuff? Hope it's a short lived cold!! Thanks for the pics the past few days - LOVE them!!!

to those that joing us later today. I'm going to head back down to the studio to check out last night's beads. I made about 6 of those hearts. Mine are itty bitty compared to Andrea's. And I need a different pair of pliers to make ruffly edges - Jennifer Geldard uses a funky pair she got from Widget Supply, might have to check into those. I've never seen any similar up here. (Pam, I have a couple of poky things for making holes, but I'm mainly using a pair of tweezers I bought at Frantz that have a right angle bend about an inch from the end of the tweezer, so that they meet like pincers. Hard to describe! LOL) Today is a silver day though, I have a couple of the Geo Cosmo necklaces to finish, plus tackling the huge men's rings. Plus dh wants the puter, so I best let him have a turn! LOL Have a great day all!!! Cheers!

[Ritazart]

Well, another busy day at work. Plus I went through a bunch of the “reject” jewelry and sorted out stuff that just needs to be priced and can go on sale immediately, and sorted out the stuff that has minor repairs needed, and the stuff that can just be remade into new things. It is all new return merchandise, so there is no vintage anything, however there are some nice glass beads and some freshwater pearls. I am sure I can reclaim some of it at least and it will be fun to go through and figure out what it can become. Back home now awaiting the ding of the timer telling me the pizza is done. I let dad decide whether we would have chicken, hamburgers or pizza and he loves pizza. It is our test drive of the new Pappa-roni, stuffed crust pizza from Papa Murphy's. I'll let you know how it turns out. Tess's co-worker rolled her car this morning avoiding a silly girl who swerved into her lane while talking on her cell phone. She dislocated her hip, broke a rib and has lots of tiny cuts and bruises, so Tess will be working more hours for the next week or two to help fill in. Tess is sorry for her coworker, but not thrilled by the extra days. The first extra day will be the first day of school for Athena and Cassie. She can get Athena on the bus, but Eric and I will have to get Cassie going. Her classes are in the afternoon. Oh well, we can do it!!!

Claire, No wonder your cooking is so incredible. You even have a book on bread. Good idea for the chokers. I hadn't thought of that. I used to love making those years ago. What a fun idea. Okay, so what are the old wives tales about rosemary?? I haven't heard them yet. I thought my mom had told me all of them. Obviously she was holding out.

Barrie, Nice job being the 5th grade hot girl!!! I was friends with a boy like that in about the same grade as you. We were friends until he invited me and some of his snobby friends over on the same day. That was the end of that, they teased him and me both. Kids can be so mean. I love those pokey tweezers. I know they are something I will want when I start torching. Tess's boss gave her a bead she made her yesterday. It is shades of yellow and green very organic, and after all the wonderful work I have seen in glass here, very ordinary. But like Tess says, her boss made it specifically for her. I am going to turn it into a pendant for her. Then I am going to go into the shop and look at the beads she has in there for sale now and see what the rest of her work looks like. Aren't I catty today!!

BBL Hope you are all having a great weekend.

[ValleyCreekStudio]

Hi all. The chicken pot pie was wonderful. Not a quick fix but it is ever so good. I got the recipe from the Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook. I love that cookbook and have never had a flop from it.

Fiona, that is so worrisome about the apartment in London. Hope it all works out for the best.

Maggie, I would love to take some classes but the two small towns nearby have nothing. There is a quilting club in one little town but I don't do quilting and have no desire to start another hobby. I think they have a cooking club too but I'm not interested in that. In San Antonio the public schools had adult education in the evenings and you could take all sorts of wonderful things for very little money. I never could take any of the courses because of my work schedule. I'll come up with something and try to stick to it. Bummer you couldn't find anything to spend your money on. I think it always works that way, when I have money to spend I can't find a thing yet when I need to watch my pennies I can fill two shopping carts!

Andee, so sorry your cold went full bloom! Working with a head cold is certainly no fun. My thoughts will be with you and hoping you have a decent week at work.

Pam, that is the cottage I thought was so cute and the perfect size for your family. If the wind currents are right we might get some rain from Gustav. It sure is a big storm. I can see Luke as a tennis star!

Claire that cottage you are leaning toward sounds so cute. You will feel like a Hobbit with a thatch roof and ducks knocking at the window. I think the house may have been too cool for the bread to rise. My folks were here and we were running the air con.

Barrie, sounds like we all share the same sort of hermit crab thing. I have always loved being by myself, even as a child. As an adult I do have a tendancy to slip into depression if I don't really talk to myself. I also suffer from anxiety attacks so trying to push myself to get in the car and go somewhere can make matters worse! Sometimes it seem like a vicious circle. The costume is so neat. After all you hard work I think it is a good thing he wants to use it for halloween. Any decision from him on school?

Did I tell all of you that Chica had babies again? We haven't seen them and she has been moving them quiet a bit. Not sure how many but I think at least two. That girl is going to the vet as soon as she gets these weaned. Sunni is going in late September or early October as she will be close to 7 months then. Rocky seems to be doing fine. Norm says his leg looks terrible but he is eating and doesn't limp much. The swelling was so severe from the bite that the skin ruptured so he has a nasty gash on the inside of his leg. Plus, the venom causes the tissue to breakdown. Not pretty. I do think he will be ok.

I think we are going to try for that road trip once again. We were supposed to go for my birthday but it was raining, then my parents came, then it rained again. There are some caverns about 150 miles from here and I love caverns. It will be good to get out of the house and see something different. I'll believe it when it happens!

[ValleyCreekStudio]

Rita, I forgot to add you! There are some quick dry polishes that really do dry quick. I think Sally Hansen makes one. Going through that old jewelry sounds like fun. Hope you turn up some good stuff for your stash! Will your boss pay you for doing the remakes? Hope you can post some pics!

[Ritazart]

Gwen, I am not sure how it iwll work out. I think I will get to keep the stuff i can remake in exchange for doing the repairs on the rest. There must be at least 30-40 pieces needing repairs and at least that many I will take apart. Who knows, some of the reject stuff may also end up in Cassie's bead stash. She love little sparkly bits even if they aren't really anything wearable. I love caves and caverns, too. I sure hope you get to go. It sounds like a lot of fun. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Too bad about Chica and another brood. Hopefully not to many of them. I keep sending white healing light to Rocky. and safety to all of them. I could very easily hermit up myself. I love being at home and never seeing much of anyone. I have to force myself to get out. and i usually do. Winter's darkness makes the tendency much worse to overcome. Maybe you could advertise at a "nearby" bead shop that you are looking for a lampwork student. I'll bet you would be a great teacher. If you only took on one at a time you could get by with a small space and only one torch. just a thought. I would love to take lessons from you!!!

[Dawnt0721]

Hi everyone! I've read this weekend but been a bit too tired to comment.

I did come across some of those bail making pliers on Etsy the other day and wanted to share the link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=13701175

Thought they looked nice. I have a tool that does basically the same thing so haven't bought these. Would love to have seen Andrea Guarino's demo. Would love to see your hearts Barrie. Are Andrea's really large?

Have a good night everyone!

[Barrie]

Poor Dawn! I know all about too tired! LOL Those are fabulous pliers!! I'd have bought them instead of the tweezers if I'd seen them first! I'm going to search Etsy for the ruffling pliers that Jen Geldard uses!! They're $5 at Widget Supply, but Canadian orders require a $100 minimum!! Yikes! LOL Oh, Andrea demo'd her Moth beads (super easy to do once you know how!), but I've been admiring her hearts for a long time. And yes, hers are big!! Like palm of your hand big! I know a couple of people that own them. But what got me really wanting to make these were the hearts that Jen GEldard had at the bash. She had small ones like mine (maybe a little bigger) and had an offset hole (like my first ones - oh sorry Dawn, I showed them in Sunday's S&T). Then she took dark silver plum and made a stringer rim around the hole, once reduced it looked like an antiqued metal rivet!! She ran a colored bathtub chain key ring through the hole. Way too cool!!! I'm thinking of lining mine with silver, just because!LOL

Gwen, get Sunni in ASAP!! Vets will fix them before 7 months with no problem, and she could get preggers with her first heat! Which wouldn't be good for her at all!! Hope Chica's kittens are okay. Sunni might enjoy a little brother/sister to play with! Hope Gustav blows out before it hits you!

Rita, the old jewelry stash sounds very cool!! Lucky Cassie getting the rejects!

My brothe popped over for a visit today. His ex's daughter (who is clearly old enough to have a 3 year old daughter herself) came with him. She got my dh to do a tattoo on her lower back (rather tribal looking with an orange lily in the center). So my brother and I entertained her daughter (cute little thing! Wish Freya could have been her for the fun!). We played with Freya's Little People toys, fed one of the lizards a bunch of strawberries (he's the only one I trust around littlies), had a tea party without dichroic, and generally had fun. She was nervous of Bailey and terrified of Jessie, so she kept one eye on the dogs at all times. And of course the cats had to check out the toys. Marv the wonder cat thougth he might like to wrestle with her, but I ousted him before any blood shed. Same with Mean Goofy - he got a swipe in, but I blocked it - no claws and he took off when I gave him the look! LOL Stache stuck around for a few pets, and Bummy desperately wanted her to cuddle him, but she doesn't know how (not like Freya anyway - I think he thought it was Freya, cross-eyed old puss that he is!). But all in all it went well, now I'm beat and want to head to bed but it's too early. I'm watching National Treasure for the third or fourth time, sent my final proof off to the graphic artist for the poster. Sigh, not a bad day at all!! Hope you all have a good night! Cheers!