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.

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...

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 !!!