Watering Dogs

Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows that I have dogs. 5 of them right now and I have had as many as 8! I won't do that again! 5 is definitely my limit unfortunately and I say unfortunately because there are so many dogs who need a home that I would really love to have the facilities and the finances to have more. Anyway, I thought I would share with you their water bowl!! Doesn't that sound exciting!!? lol! But, seriously, we have had a few different water stations and set ups over the last couple of years and finally we have found something that works great and looks beautiful. It was a little expensive, but it has so many great features that I am not complaining. For one, it keeps me from checking on water several times a day. 5 doggies go through a lot of water in a day, especially here in Florida. So, what is this great waterbowl you say? Here take a look!

It's a waterfall we got from Lowe's. My husband added a float feature so that whenever the water level gets low, fresh water fills it up! It also has a drain and because of where we placed it we can simply open the drain when we need to and give it a good cleaning and add completely fresh water. The kids (dogs, don't let me confuse you!) seem to love it and I love having a water feature on my deck. Much more attractive than their previous water bowls scattered all over everywhere. I forgot to take a shot with some of them drinking from it, so I'll have to do that and post those later! Oh, it also has a cool light that makes it look awesome at night. I don't think our dogs care much about the decorating around it, but I like to do that from time to time. This is my latest design. Anyway, there you have it. Just thought I would share a little of my home life with you. Thanks for stopping by!

Lengths and clasps and things...

I just finished a new necklace and because of some information I saw in a blog poll, this necklace is smaller than i usually make. Small beads with a small pendant. It seems a lot of people would like more petite jewelry than I usually make. I also read that a lot of people prefer lobster claw clasps which I seldom use. I mostly use toggle clasps because I think they are really lovely and I also find them easier to put on. So, I have an idea not to finish this necklace, but to list it without the clasp and allow the purchaser to choose the type of clasp. While they are at it they can choose the length from 14-16 inches since it should be choker or just below choker length. Other sellers may be already doing this though I have never seen it in anyone's shop. The only thing I have ever seen is jewelry makers offering to adjust the length of something if necessary. So, what do you think? Should I try it and see how it works and what people think if I get any feedback? Or am I not thinking of something I should be and so this isn't such a great idea? Let me know what you think! I would love to hear from you.

Cassidee B Update

I hear that Cassidee is doing pretty well. She is still on chemo and will be for a while. It's a long treatment. I guess the last PET scan showed some reduction in the tumor on her lungs and that's good news! (She had a Wilms tumor that spread to her lungs and you can find out more about Wilms on her website. I think she has a link there telling about this childhood cancer.)

There will be another event this weekend for fundraising purposes, but there will not be a trust fund set up for her.

If anyone reading my blog wishes to donate to Cassidee to help her and her family cope with the financial crisis that an illness like this causes, please feel free to leave me a comment and I will find out how you can mail your donation to her uncle who is handling the business end of this.

Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming!

Here is a link to her website and blog: http://www.cassideeb.com

Aqua Blue

I love this new necklace I just listed. I hope someone else will love it too and want to make it their own. I really think it is gorgeous. I am a terrible model for pictures so I don't do it, but it does look really great on. I tried it on with a black sweater and wow! I also held it up to a denim colored dress I have and that also looked outstanding! There are so many things it could be worn with and I think it really makes an outfit. I guess I should make some earrings to go with it. If you sell jewelry, do you find that sets sell better than single necklaces? And if you buy jewelry, which would you rather buy?

One of the really cool things about this necklace is the czech glass black rectangle beads. They have these silvery/blue circles/dots in them and they pick up light and flash different colors. Really great little beads I think. A friend of mine actually found these beads as he was looking around on etsy for some beads he thought his wife might like in a necklace. Isn't that a nice thing for a man to do?? :-) This necklace isn't for her, but I will be making a much daintier one for her with a sterling silver chain and those beads. I haven't worked the whole piece out yet, but that much I do know about it so far.

Getting more jewelry ready for Christmas is something I need to get to. I have been so out of it with being down from the RA that I haven't been making jewelry like I would like to. But, here's another piece finished and hopefully someone will find it just perfect for them or maybe as a gift for someone else.

Hope!

I haven't been doing much of anything for a couple of weeks now. I have been having a lot of difficulty with pain and my knees have been so swollen and painful that I have not been able to walk well.

Saw my dr. yesterday- I have a great primary care doc- and I am hopeful that I am going to be back on track very soon. I feel better today, and I noticed that my usual morning pain did not last as long as it has been. That's a really good sign.

Ok, enough about sickness! I am ready to get myself back into my craft and into my life!! I have one gorgeous necklace that is almost finished. I also have a couple of little cell phone/ipod charms that I am going to post. They are fun to make and people like them I think. Maybe they will be nice stocking stuffers for some. I think my bookmarks make nice stocking stuffers too and they are also nice as a part of a gift. Iif you have a nice book you want to give to someone, one of my beaded bookmarks will just complete the gift perfectly!!

I'm off to see if I can get some things completed!! Have a great day!

My New Purse from an Etsy Seller, Of Course!!

I am really so excited to be buying as much as I can handmade! I just love etsy and all the really fabulous artists and crafters on the site. I have made a few purchases from several different shops, mostly for supplies. Everything though has been outstanding.

I had this purse in my favorites for several months and I finally decided to buy it after a lot of perusing shops on etsy to be sure it was THE one for me! So when it arrived I was very excited. And it was worth the wait! It is just beautiful. Well constructed and prettier than it's picture. The greens in the fabric used on the back of the bag are more vibrant and the yellows on the front are just softer and more lucious than I could tell from the pictures. Anyway, needless to say, it was everything I dreamed it would be. So! Where did I get this fabulous purse you ask? I purchased this purse from http://www.nansredesigns.etsy.com/ and it was a very pleasant experience. The shipping was very quick and Nan is very easy to work with. She is happy to do custom orders to suit your tastes including those looking for a vegan friendly bag. She does a lot of repurposing and recycling of fabrics so her shop is also very eco-friendly. What more could you ask for? She obviously has a great eye! her shop is order friendly and eco friendly and her prices are just right. Take a look around and see what you think. I would love to know too, so feel free to leave me a comment.

I love the back of this bag. Many parts of the bag were upcycled, recycled material. Like the tie dye print on the front. The back though is a cotton batik print. Check it out.

So sixties, at least it reminds me of that. And you can just throw this bag right across your body, or you can tie up the strap and wear it on one shoulder, whichever you choose. I like the tied look personally, for now anyway. She has a large selection of really great bags in a number of different styles to suit almost anyone. Here's another link! Check her out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5744617