Happy New Year !!! Happy New Decade !!!

Two posts from me in one month !!! wow... sorry my blogger friends I have been very busy as I am sure you all are too... But I just couldn't let the new year come without wishing you all a Very Happy New Year...

The year has gone by seemingly fast. I can't believe that my son is going to be 18 next month and my baby girl is turning 15 !! A lot to be thankful for in my life... and some special people to be thankful for (C & C)!! Someone told me yesterday that I was just glowing with positive energy... how cool is that... Could be because I was on a high from delivering a custom piece that has been in the works over 6 months... and it worked out perfectly... (more later)

I have enjoyed reading your blogs and commenting occasionally. Hopefully next year will bring more time for posting :)

So see you next year... Love, Deb

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Hello everyone... just want to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas. May you find the Joy and the Peace reflected in your lives during this busy time....

I want to thank you for being my blogger friends. Have been wow! busy but will sit down soon for a nice long post...

Love, Deb

Boutique and Fundraiser...!!!

I am participating in my very first event this coming weekend. Am I ready?... ha ha ha I'll probably pull an all-nighter Friday night... just kidding ! Ok so just wanted to share. If anyone is in the area please come on by and introduce yourself... This is going to be fun !!!

http://thedesignerscollective.webs.com/apps/calendar/showEvent?calID=3826933&eventID=51433986

Another great celebration... Tocadora Leather Cuff...

Hello again... I am posting about The 100th Etsy Sale for Tocadoro Leather --- YAY Jennifer is having a celebration by giving away this leather cuff !!! See details below... go check out her fab cuffs here....





http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6316984

If you are on facebook add Tocadoro Leather here...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/TocadoraLeather?v=wall&ref=nf

I'm celebrating my 100th+sale on etsy!!! Not bad for four and a half months of selling!! *throws confetti!!!* SO. Because I'm feeling the love, I'm going to give away THIS cuff. My dear friend Carol Dean Sharpe has the BEST giveaway... method and has graciously allowed me to use it, so:For your chance(s) to win this cuff, you can do one or all of the following:

1. Leave a comment here telling me which of the creations currently listed in any of my shop you would most like to give or get for Christmas and why.

2. Blog about this give away and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

3. Twitter about this give away and leave a comment letting me know you did. Be sure to reference @Tocadora in your tweet.

4. Share this post on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so.

Please be sure that I have a way to reach you, so leave your email or your etsy store name or something in the comment as well. If you do all four of these things, you will leave four separate comments and have four separate chances to win. You could, of course, choose to just do one of the four, or two, or three...and that's okay as well. Just enter! It could be an early Christmas present for you or a friend, mother, or daughter.Entries are due by 8am Monday morning. I will draw after that and announce the winner here and on Twitter!Read More

Easy Wire 2009 - With a Give Away !!!

Dear Devoted Readers LOL... go check out this great blog that Carol told me about. This is Sweet Bead Studio by Cindy Wimmer. She has some really nice pics on there.... I am going back later to look more.... She is having a contest... She has an Etsy store too... Love the Willy Nilly # 4 bracelet....

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5230698

http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/?p=1992

What lunch with the girls can lead to…

I have been playing with wire for a few months now… taken some classes at http://www.farrinoconnordesign.com/ , bought a few tools.. bought some more… Anyway I have a friend Marisa that came from out of state, she is the cousin of my best friend Claudia (and we have known each other a million years). So we all got together last Saturday for lunch and to catch up… Also included in this crew is S-I-L of same best friend Vera… Marisa makes jewelry she is mostly a stringer… I did not realize that Vera was into making jewelry… anyway after lunch we all meandered over to Farrin O’Conner Design Studio…(you know the car just drives there, even when its not my car…) Once there we all drooled over the yummy beads and gemstones… and I introduced my friends to the fabulous staff there…. Hi Sue !!! They have displayed throughout the store various pieces from past classes etc… Marisa saw a “scarf pin” made out of copper and said she wants to learn how to make stuff like that…

Marisa and I had planned to get together and play with our toys (beads, wire) anyway… but now it was all of us… so we stopped by my house on the way back to Marisa’s moms and picked up hammers, block and more wire… then we had a hammer-fest !!! Here are the pieces made by the girls on Sat. Marisa had to get to a football game, Claudia had to get home and Vera the same…

I went over to Claudia’s after taking care of Happy and Cabby... We had fun playing and Claudia made this necklace and earrings for an event the next day… Isn’t this great ? It has a native vibe going on with the turquoise and lava beads...

We all got together Sunday night for delicious lasagna that Marisa made and don’t forget the Cosmopolitans to go with… We were joined by Vera’s sister Miriam and it was good to see her and catch up… the girls finished their pieces and made more… I was mostly helping and teaching (what little I know) and didn’t make anything except some funny earrings that look like the wheels of an airplane!! (sorry no pic - embarrased) There was a lot of talk about an upcoming party!!! Happy Birthday Diane!!! and some giggles about some of the shapes the wire was taking on.

But went home and on Monday, made this bracelet, showed it to someone, who bought it and got an order for another while I was wearing it… Meanwhile back at the bench… playing with wire I came up with this heart… at first I was mad because I didn’t get the two sides even (ya think?) but decided it looks good crooked… still trying to figure the necklace part… Wow I am finding that I really love working with the copper wire and now want to get yet some more tools…

I want to thank Marisa for coming to town so we could all hang out… Vera for bringing copper wire… Vera is so creative let me tell you… We did agree that we should do this once a month and I think that is a great idea! Don’t you…

Back to School !!!

Well, its been a long summer for us. Missy went back to school today and she is now in 9th grade... wow where did the time go?? she was just 8 yesterday... On about 4 hours of sleep for me, I got up and she actually got up on her own!! and ready for school. She laid out her outfit last night, showered, straightened her hair after waiting for it to dry naturally. Becuase we don't want to fry anymore of the "skunk tail" than is already done...



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Happy is not too happy today, she watched all of us getting ready to leave this morning and was very mischevious too. Michael had a meeting at his school but starts on Thursday. Poor puppy... I'm sure she will find something to chew up to get back at us... but the bedroom and bathroom doors are all closed and garage door too... hopefully she doesn't eat the couch... My beads are tucked away or out of reach on the table... so the bead stealing dog can't get to them...
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Labor Day weekend was nice. I took last Thursday and Friday off to add to yesterday... but didn't plan ahead to go somewhere so was just at home... Although Missy and I did drive down to Laguna Beach about 3pm on Saturday... We really like Laguna.... we got there at 5pm... it is a long way down the coast... we did not swim, we walked the beach,walked through the Wyland Gallery, (which I never tire of...) then poked around the shops. We had dinner at a mexican restraunt that we like and were serenaded by a mariachi band... Missy was surprised at my knowledge of the songs being sung... Walked the sand one last time and watched the sun go down... drove home along Pacific Coast Hwy... I told her we could take PCH all the way to grandmas in Alameda... if we wanted to...

Sunday was a lazy day and yesterday too for that matter. I spent some time working on the cuff. And am really liking how it is coming along... Also Missy and I watched a movie Bring it On... which is always best seen while eating Dark Chocolate Raisinets... you get more out of the movie that way... ha ha ha

So today was back to work and start of school... Hope you all had a good weekend and holiday.

Can you spare a quarter???

One of the blogs that I follow is by Gary Craig... this post that he did is both humbling and thought provoking. In this time right now when so many are in need... this is a much needed good thing to read... Have a great weekend... Deb


http://eftcommunity.emofree.com/blogs/eft_blog/archive/2009/07/26/could-you-spare-a-quarter-so-i-can-get-something-to-eat.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

Just checkin in...

Sorry it has been soooo long... been working on a few things and busy with summer, kids, new doggie, etc...

This is Happy... we adopted her from the Pasadena Humane Society end of June. She is lying outside Michael's door waiting for him to get up... that pink thing was a bear, but is now a poor chewed up piece of pink... Happy likes to get all the stuffing out... she doesn't eat it just likes to de-stuff... We had to have some rules regarding the couch pillows. Happy is a Weiner-Beagle we are pretty sure. She loves to go to the dog park but gets nervous if too many dogs are saying hello at the same time.

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Went to a few bead shows....

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Took some classes at Farrin O'Connor Design Studio in Pasadena... http://www.farrinoconnordesign.com/

Signed up for some more....

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Bought some wireworking books... Bead on a Wire by Sharilynn Miller and pre-ordered her book Contemporary Copper Jewelry...

This book is fabulous... order it here...

http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Copper-Jewelry-Step-Step/dp/1596681438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251157199&sr=1-1

read her blog here...

http://wirejewelrylessons.blogspot.com/

Learned some new techniques from Bead on a Wire...

How to wire wrap wire

How to make my own links....

like these heart links...

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Been working on a new special ordered cuff...

Bought these Lasso Hoop Earwires from my friend Rocki at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6033823 and made these fun earrings... those are also her Swirl Headpins...
Made these fun earrings with Lava Beads and... Rocki's Interchangeable Copper Spiral Hoops then made a necklace to go with...

WOW !!! Great Contest... Giveaway...

I saw this great giveaway cross posted on Tracey N.'s blog Thanks Tracey !!

Go check out this blog and sign up to follow. She is doing a great giveaway... whoever wins will be lucky indeed... Good Luck all... Hurry ends tomorrow Friday !!! Check out her Channeling Morticia necklace...

Deb

http://silverparrotdesigns.blogspot.com/

Happy Mother's Day !!!

Just want to wish all my gals a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!! Enjoy your special day and take some time for yourself... As for me, my kids are cleaning the whole house and taking me out for a meal... I'll let you know how that turned out... LOL

Love, Deb

PS... this beautiful orchid pic was sent to me by my friend Barb who lives way up northern Cali and her orchids are loving the moisture in the air... Thanks B !!!

Want to share something with you...

This is a really important EFT event... so much so that when they went live yesterday at 5pm my time, over 40,000 people were trying to access at the same time... the servers really took a hit. I got an email today saying that there is still time to register and it is still free... AND they have fixed the problems... so if this is something you are interested in finding out about go check it out.

Deb



The EFT World Summit April 20 – 29 2009


· A major EFT Conference.
· Eighteen top EFT experts present (in this order):Carol Look, Nick Ortner, Dr. Patricia Carrington, Carol Tuttle, Margaret Lynch, Bob Doyle, Gwenn Bonnell, Dr. Sandra Radomski, Rick Wilkes, Loretta Sparks, Rue Hass, Brad Yates, Dr. Alexander Lees, Lindsay Kenny, Steve Wells, Ron Bell, and Jessica Ortner (they will reveal things that they’ve never shared in a live event before)
· There is no fee for the conference.
· No travel or hotel expenses.
· You access it online in your own home.
This nine day event begins on Monday, April 20th –– Starting in the evenings, with 2 major presenters a day, you listen to any presenter any time within the next 24 hours at no charge…
You can still attend this event without charge if you REGISTER NOW !

Belt Buckle # 2

This was actually done quite a while ago, just never attached to the buckle blank... Thanks for looking...

I am in the process of moving... We got the opportunity to move into a (very) little 2 bedroom house in Pasadena. I could just walk out the gate at the back of work property into my new driveway... LOL Is that a good thing??? It has a little yard and my son is envisioning partys!! my daughter is looking on-line for puppies... !! Hopefully this will all get done this weekend and it goes off without a hitch...

Have a great day !!!

Love, Deb

My Cuff is Done !!!! Finally !!!! Sigh...

Well.... I have finally finished my first bead embroidered cuff... I took a class at San Gabriel Bead Co... using a gift certificate that my friend Donna gave me for Christmas... and for a 6 hour class all I had done at the end was the I attached the focal cabochon and one side of the fanning nibblets around it... That is because my cab was a good size and you are bezeling 2 beads at a time on that first round... I used a chrysocolla cab for my focal and on the sides, also pyrite cabs, turquoise, coral and lots of black beads all shapes and sizes... Anyways... In whatever time I had free (when I was in the mood) I worked diligently at this and it really was fun... I love how it turned out and it is nothing like what I originally planned... So for the future I will do earrings and a pendant (I already have the cabochon for that! ) But first I have some catching up to do... Donna wants me to change the length of her necklace and I need to restring some puka shells for her (since last May shhh)... And fix 2 broken bracelets...

Thanks for looking and comments are appreciated...

I just finished this bracelet for a friend... my BBF best beady friend Carol... http://beadsandbirds.blogspot.com/ and have to get that in the mail soon... :-) This pattern is designed by Christina of Good Quill Hunting http://www.goodquillhunting.com/ who is also my good beady friend... Anyway the bracelet is called Ice Bracelet and you can get it from her etsy shop where she also has the pattern I do believe..... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6005454

Christina is my beading idol... She does the most exquisite work and is always encouraging me to try something new... So Thanks Christina !!!

Snow in my cactus ?!

This is what I woke up to the other day... snow (just a dusting really) on my back patio, the roofs of houses on the way taking Missy to school... It didn't last of course.... Then the next day... 70 degrees again.. What wierd weather we are having... I really feel for those who have lost power due to the storms and am praying for them.

Have a great day everyone...

Work in progress!!

I received a gift certificate for Christmas from my good friend Donna and decided to use it to take a class at my LBS San Gabriel Bead Co. The teacher was great!!! Linda Kavalsky from http://www.lbkartwear.com/ go check out her site... She showed us how to bezel the cab which takes forever doing 2 beads at a time... She showed us all the steps to complete the cuff and one lady got everyones email so we could share finished pics when done.... Linda does stunning work and had several cuffs there for us to look at or buy... which one lady did!

This is only the 2nd class I have taken and it was lots of fun.... there were 5 of us from several areas... Two lady beaders came from as far away as Lancaster... Which is a good 90 minute drive... One lady was a baby wrangler... that is the person that gets babies to act... she worked with Sunny from Lemony Snicket... wasn't that baby so cute... We also had a police officer and a graphic designer... great diversity in beaders... We all have one thing in common... we are bead-a-holics !!!

So what i actually finished in class was the cab and one side of the matte black nibblets... I dyed the Lacy's almost black... but the teacher said there is a product out there that is crazy felt that comes in colors... I used for my focal a really pretty chrysocolla almost square cab... and was going to use 4 small pyrite cabs as accents, but then turquoise and coral jumped in... Then more chrysocolla.. Of course I love using matte black it really makes colors "pop" !! All my cabs were from http://www.farrinoconnordesign.com/ they have fab cabs... Great staff especially Sue !!



This is about a week later... my kids are Mom!!! beading again... you need to take me here... all about them... LOL

I can hardly wait for my day to end at work so I can get home to my beading couch... and see what is going to appear on the cuff next...





This is as of Monday night... I love bead embroidery... So that is the latest and greatest...

Lots of ideas for future cuffs... I am looking for matte black bugles in 3 mm... and I have these fab white stone cabs (name is escaping me at the moment...) that I envision with a black wavy line going down the center... we will see.. I have so SO MANY CABS... so little time... LOL Thanks for looking and reading my blog !!

This is really amazing...

Watch this utube of Gary Craig doing EFt with this lady... go to www.emofree.com to see more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3ln9haNsQg

Debi has been busy....

Made this for my BFF Claudia... Michelle Skobel's "Imperial Majesty" I added extra bead "charms" wire wrapped directly to the magnetic clasp to give her something to pull on...

This is the view that I left the office to see the other day... beautiful...

Zebra Zen

My 13 (almost 14) year old daughter spotted this zebra jasper focal bead when I forced her to go to Farrin O'Connor Design Studio one day before Christmas... She said "Mom this would be a great necklace, don't you think"... So I went back and got it and made this for her... They have these fab matte black beads that I LOVE!!! and I used chandelier earring findings for the bracelet... Missy's reaction " OMG!" Then "Mom, What happened to the X-Box 360?"

Since we are on a zebra kick I couldn't resist these from Michael's and so she got another set... necklace to follow soon...

New Years Second Week !!!

OK I can see that it is going to take more than just throwing pics on here so.... this is the ornament I made for my favorite Auntie (only Auntie)... I had found these blank canvases to try my hand at bead embroidery becuase Carol is making me jealous... This tree I found in my favorite bakery that I used to go to EVERY DAY in Pasadena... Emma's Boulangerie but now they moved and I have only been there once as they are not in the plaza where I do mail/banking etc... for work... : ( But probably better not to have those extra calories EVERY DAY... But I sure miss you Ruby...

Anyway.... these ornaments are some kind of hard satiny stuff that was really hard to sew through (just ignore that blood Auntie...) and I thought hey time to break into new ground or ornament... My mom told me Auntie was starting a new collection of gold and white ornaments... I made the little gold ornaments with my wire and round nose pliers... Anyway I think it turned out good. I'm sure she liked it... another one next year...