Wolf's Den

Work in Progress, nearly done by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

Got a couple things to post about today, I think...

Continuing in the 'bit of home' theme, I made a dish the other night that my mom used to make when I was growing up. Once again, I added my twist on it. Heh.



She called it 'Eggs Ranchero', I call it good. It may not look appetizing, but believe me, it was/is.

I have a new mascot in the Studio. It seems to have taken up residence on the wall next to the computer. It tried climbing up yesterday, but fell down again, back behind the desk and I didn't see it the rest of the night. Today, it climbed back up, then over to the window, where, I assume, it's contemplating a place to build a web.



( Continued.... )

Yesterday, I dropped nearly $400.00 on an eye exam and a year's supply of new contacts, all in the name of getting my driver's license renewed today. Turns out, that while my vision HAS , in fact, improved in the 5 years since I've last worn contacts, I was still borderline 'should not be driving without them'. Yikes. That was not cool. Was rather depressing, actually.

Today, I not only got the Driver's License renewed, I also received my new SSN card in the mail and a rather hefty package as well...



So I sold my DawnFire silk scarf earlier this week. As I needed seed beads in certain colors, I went looking to see if my favorite Czech glass seed bead seller had those specific colors.

( continued... )

So, last weekend I bought a Ammonnite fossil pair from a vendor in the Farmer's Market, with the intention of beading them.



It's been awhile since I had a desire to do nothing but work on something. Yes, I have 2 other beadwork projects in progress, but right now, neither are speaking to me, as far as wanting me to work on them. This one, demanded I pull beads out and get to work on it, immediately.



Yes, my projects tend to be demanding. This one, I wanted to follow the shape of the stone, but it dictated that I not do that. No matter how I tried, it simply would not go. So I capitulated.

8 hours later, spread over two evenings... With a little help from Max, of course.



One way or another, one of the Boys usually has a hand.. err, paw, in whatever I'm doing. Mark gave me the idea of putting beads or something in the 'gap', which I had planned, but wasn't quite sure how, exactly, until I got to that point.










So, that part is finished. I am now working on the necklace portion of the piece. While doing laundry today, and listening to The Cruxshadows, the piece finally told me its Name as well(yes, I take beadwork or quilting to the laundromat, doesn't everyone? ), which will be revealed in part II when I get more of the necklace portion finished.

I bought a bunch of beads from my usual seller, and this weekend, hope to get some more of these gorgeous stones, in other colors, to bead up too.}:) Namely that black and grey pair he had....

So stay tuned for more...

Ok, not really...

Buit it is the first time I've been in a Etsy 'Storque' article.

Pretty nifty if you ask me.


Ok, off to do mundane things, like laundry, and work on a new beadwork piece.

After spending a night alternately being crushed by a Max kitty sleeping on a shoulder or hip, and almost shoved out of the bed by a Mark, we got up and headed downtown to the Science Museum and the Farmer's Market.

Science Museum was fun, even though it's more geared towards kids. They have a extensive rock and mineral collection. *drool*



Then we wandered the Farmer's Market, as there was a candle seller Mark wanted to buy a geode candle holder from. The center is bored out, and you burn a tealight in it, the light glows through the geode, which, yes, is dyed.}:)



On the way, we stopped at the ROCK!!! seller and I picked up a pair of flat ammonnite fossils to bead up. I plan to go back next week and get a couple more sets (that's how they're sold, it's one piece, sliced in half, into a pair of identical pieces). There were some really cool ones that I hope he still has next week, as I'd like them as well.



The older lady I bought my German Bearded Irises from 3-4 years ago was back. I found out the name of one of my Irises, this one-


is called 'Stepping Out' and has won NUMEROUS awards. So yay, one has been re-identified!

She had a clump of that Iris and one other, that she had the blooms of. So beautiful, a rich, deep purple, throughout, called 'Royal Knight', so naturally, I bought it. Hey, I didn't have a solid, deep purple like this. Next year, when it blooms, I'll have photos.}:) It's been planted out front, where the rest will eventually be transplanted this year as well, after they bloom and I split them some.

Then on the way home, we passed a guy having truck issues. No one stopped to help him, as he was trying to push his truck out of the road. Mark pulled off and helped him push it off to the side. Eventually, they got it started and we kept out fingers crossed that he made it to where ever he was headed ok. It pissed us off that all these cars just drove right on by, and around him, and WE were the only ones, going in the opposite direction, who bothered to stop and help.

Went grocery shopping. Picked up more reusable bags from Kroger, up to 9 total now. And got groceries to last nearly a month for less than 140.00, and still had three reusable bags left over. We did good. Saved over 21.00 in coupons. And not a single plastic bag in the bunch. Yay.

Planted the new Iris out front. I now have Siberian, Japanese, and German Irises now. I told Mark, if I can get a new Iris once a year, I'd be thrilled, as they are my absolute favorite flowers.

The Clematis on the fence have started blooming. Need to get photos. They're doing very well this year.

It's been raining, off and on, today. Supposed to be thunderstorms this afternoon/evening. And thunderstorms tomorrow as well. I'm hoping for rain, as I need the dirt in the raised bed settled out so I can get my seedlings planted. They're rapidly out growing their seedling planters.

After we took care of groceries, I dug out a KFC coupon and we went to get dinner. Needless to say, we won't need chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, biscuits, coleslaw and mac&cheese for a few days. Now will we have to cook this weekend. LOL.

The New Jersey Devils are out of the Stanley Cup running. They lost again last night. My Detroit Red Wings won, in overtime, last night. So they go to a game 6 against the Nashville Predators, at Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit. This should decide whether there's a Game 7 and who goes to the Finals. Mark will now be cheering for my Wings, naturally, just like any other year when one of our teams gets knocked out.}:)

My hair has faded at the edges, to a fiery red-orange,with hints of red-gold. Mark says it looks like fire. Really cool.}:P The top is still very red too. I really like this brand of hair color.}:P Need to get photos of it as it is now.

Sweet! I'm on the Daily Deviants feature.

I finished the DawnFire scarf last night. Now I need to get some really great photos of it, and get it listed.

This is the last of the 'bright' scarves for awhile too. My dark side wants equal exposure and to that end, I have one scarf dyed, one stweing and one waiting its turn. Need to find certain silver charms for them as well.

We went to the bro in law and sis in law's house for dinner last night. Had chicken alfredo, homemade, with steamed broccoli. Was VERY good and I ended up bringing some of mine home. They had been whispering and being secretive much of the evening while we were there, so I knew something was up. So I was only mildly surprised when they brought out a cake with a birth day candle on it and started singing Happy Birth Day. They gave me a giftcard to Barnes and Noble as well, always a good, foolproof gift for me.}:)

Kat mentioned that the Mom in Law was thinking of taking us all (7 of us) to Disney in Orlando next Feb. For a week long trip. All expenses paid type deal. Seems that taking a plane would be cheaper right now than taking a train. Ugh. Mark said if we do go, we need to take a day and head to Tampa to see our friend Dean. Fine by me. It's still in the thinking about phase, so we'll see.

Their only comment on the hair was 'why red?' to Mark. When he said because I wanted to do something different, they said, well it IS different. So no clue as to whether they liked it or not. Oh well. Chuck, their neighbor, liked it.

Today I did laundry early this morning. I thought the point of laundromats was that they had washers and dryers that worked. Apparently we are sadly mistaken. Only ONE of the large washers was working. And half the dryers were out of order too. Sheesh. Luckily I didn't have much this week, or I'd still be there.

Then I moved a bunch of old planters, and the dog kennel that we really need to get rid of, to make more room to build a raised garden bed. It's days like today that I miss the Truck not running. What I could have done in 1 load with the Truck, I had to do in 2 loads with the Car- once to Lowe's for more cinder blocks and gravel, then to Wally World for cheap (HAHAHAHA) topsoil that I can augment with compost. Sadly topsoil ain't cheap anymore. So I only got half of the bags I'm estimating needing.

After moving cinderblocks 3 times, bags of gravel 3 times, and bags of topsoil twice, I'm beat. Tomorrow, I'll spread the gravel and layer in what dirt I have. Hopefully Friday, i can get the rest of the topsoil I need, then I can get my seedlings all planted.

Went by Barnes& Noble, got 4 books, Mercedes Lackey's newest Luna book, Robert Aspirin's newest series 1st book and both reprinted copies of Robin McKingley's The Hero & the crown and The Blue Sword (I have original paperbacks, but I think only of one.}:( ) Then I hit Subway for lunch. Now I'm home and tired, and waiting for 4pm to roll around before I go pick up Mark from work.

If you haven't done so, go by the Etsy BeadWeavers blog and vote on this month's Challenge entries (mine's #17, hint, hint, hint}:P ), then go by SandFibers' blog , leave a comment saying you voted and be entered in a drawing to win one of her cool beadwork rings.

I entered this year's Bead Dreams competition. With my EBW Monthly Challenge entry piece. I find out by April 25th if I made it past the juried judging to the actual Competition itself. But I ENTERED, that's what matters.

Now, I must go take photos of DawnFire.

I was asked by a fellow Etsy BeadWeaver, Lolos, how I did the branched bead fringe on my Flower of Fire's Heart piece, as it was using a spiral rope chain as the base.

So this post is dedicated to her...( And I hope I can make it clear enough}:) )

Trio is 3 different Habotai silk scarves I am currently working on. Fresh from the pole, 2 are Arashi, 1 is Bomaki.

I'm also working on another beadwork piece, as yet to be named.

Flower of Fire's Heart by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

WIP for the Etsy BeadWeavers Monthly Challenge for April

I'm further along on this piece than shown in this photo, which was taken last night, about 4 inches further.

The Main componant has yet to be added to this piece, as well as the other side being fringed as well.

Better photo when I finish it. This is mainly a teaser shot.

A piece just doesn't want to be photographed properly.

Case in point is my Spirit of the Cove piece.

I took 2 sets of photos of that piece. Both on sunny days.

tHe first time, they came out so badly backlit, that you couldn't edit the photos to see the details without ruining the integrity of the photos. Today, I retook them, and while I'm still not entirely happy with them, you can definitely see details and they were a vast improvement.

Knowing me, I'll retake them again sometime, in an attempt to improve them.}:)

But for now, I guess they'll have to do.

I have a new scarf waiting for its beadwork trim. I need certain charms to go on it, and have to wait until payday to order them. It's a very interesting scarf, one that Mark gave me the idea of doing. Not my colors, certainly, but someone will love it.

I am also getting ready, as soon as I move Max off the design table, to fold an Indigo base dyed scarf to prepare it for shibori. This one, if it does what I want, should come out gorgeous, with blue undertones and red and purple highlights.

I still need to finish my EBW Monthly Challenge piece. I still have roughly 12 more inches of branched fringe to do, then to attach the main componant and bead it. SHOULD be finished by next weekend, I hope. Also need to finish the commissioned piece for the guy from Mark's work. That will only take a few hours, tops, though, so not too worried about that.

Back to work I go...

Spirit of the Cove by *WolfSilverOak on deviantART

Just because I can....



Aries helping out in his own special way. By blocking access to the mouse and keyboard.}:P

More tomorrow... maybe.

I don't agree with some of the negative traits, mainly because, well, I don't feel I have them.}:P

Procrastination on the other hand...

That I have in spades. I still haven't wrapped those 2 silk scarves yet. I completely forgot about the 2 color run sitting in the dye cups in the closet. Oops. I haven't been working on 'Water' lately. Nor have I been working on this piece for the Sept bead competition. Double oops.

I did wake up to a delicious breakfast in bed- choco chip pancakes and an omelet. Yum.

However, I really need to get that 2 color un finished, so I can get it listed. Did you know.. that on all my fabrics, all the shipping goes to Akita Rescue? Now you do, so now you can go buy some! }:P

Ok, to work I go....hey what's that!? Oh how cool! I have so got to try this sometime!

Ok NOW I'm off to work on stuff, I swear!

Crap, I forgot I promised Mark I'd make him some Pizzelles today. ARGH. NEED. MORE. HOURS. IN. THE. DAY.


Edit, 3 hours later- Yes, yes, still procrastinating.

Sometimes it's nice getting spam mail in the snail mail. I got a free CD 'book' of Mozart's Musical Masterpieces. Huh. This is actually something I might sign up for... at a way later date.}:P but for now, thanks for the free CD.}:P

Oh and I'm about to plant me some radish seeds and bell pepper seeds. Whee.}:P I'm running out of room for my seed trays. LOL

Voting has started on the Challenge pieces.

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com

There are 32 entries this month. Choices, choices.

To vote, on the right side, click on the small circle next to the number of the piece you want to vote for, then click Vote! at the bottom of the list.

And pass this on to as many as you think would be interested, so we get more votes overall!

Thanks!

So I emailed my mom last night, telling her I was sharing the awesomeness. Of which, being a commissioned for a freeform peyote beadwork piece was the awesomeness.

I then called her today and told her to be sure to check her email. We proceeded to talk about dad and his physical therapy on his hand (he had surgery a little over a week ago to release a 'trigger finger') and HER doctor's appointment about HER wrist (she fell not 2 days after dad's sugery and broke her wrist but good, needed pins and a plate put in).

After a nice 30 minute chat, we hung up.}:)

A few minutes later, she calls me back and asks, "When you're big and famous, are you going to forget us little guys?"

Love ya too, mom.}:P

This was the email she sent as well-

"You've got to be kidding. way too cool. Oh my gosh and all those words.
WOW. did they ask for a specific pattern/ or what? "

LOL.

Parents are hilarious sometimes.}:P

My recent email to the EtsyBeadWeavers list...}:P

Sorry, couldn't resist.

So anyway, the buyer for 'Spring in the Forest' ( http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7643534 ), convo'd me with a question that I really don't have a clear cut answer for...

"I was wondering if you also do custom
pieces in the freeform necklace? "

*twitches*

I have never been asked this before, so I have no clue how to go about answering the question. I mean, obviously it would depend on what they have in mind- color, size, beads, etc.

But in terms of pricing, do I get a deposit, what.. I have no answer...

What do YOU do? WHATdo you do? WHAT DO you do? WHAT DO YOU DO????

}:P

( I' a little nuts, what can I say)

Update-

It's a deal. I got my first FREEFORM PEYOTE Stitch beadwork commission.}:) This is huge for me. Wow. I'm still giddy.}:P

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day. We celebrate the day AFTER Valentine's Day.

Why? Because 16 years ago yesterday, Mark asked me to marry him. On bended knee in the mud outside the bowling alley on Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan.

We usually give each other something small, not too extravagent. This year, he went a little more extravagent.}:P



Yeah, he so out did me this year. LOL This is what I got him-



Then we grilled out some hamburgers and watched 'Holmes on Homes'. Yup, we lead exciting lives.

So today, we headed up to Harrisonburg, mainly to go to the Shenadoah Heritage Market, but also to walk through the mall there.

The Mall was a bust, the Banshee Car started acting up in the parking lot, should have been our first clue that the Mall would suck. 20 minutes later, we walked back out again and headed to the Market instead. Could have sworn that Mall was better than that. Oh well.

We got the the Heritage Market, and the Banshee Car was running fine. Go figure.

We browsed the greenhouses there, seeing what plants they had ready or near ready, then looked in the produce store, checking out their stuff too. Nice looking hothouse strawberries, but we decided against getting any.

When we went into the main building, Mark decided to look through the antiques. We found a bunch of books, made note of original Nancy Drew series books (first edition printings to boot) and said we'd come back for them. He found a book he wanted, 'Band of Brothers', I found an Original 1939 first printing hardcover edition of Pearl S. Buck's 'The Patriot'. No dustjacket, some wear on the corners, but otherwise in awesome condition. One of these days when we feel more up to it, we'll go more thoroughly through the books.

they have a 'Kitchen Corner' there as well, that sells some hard to find stuffs. I needed new rubber spatulas, and my mom in law has some really neat wire handled ones*. She couldn't remember where she got them, but I found some exactly like hers there. As well as a 13x15 pizza stone, (still need to get a round stone from Wyvera on LJ though, as mine had broken early last year. )

We then hit the Pantry store, and stoked up on Chai Black Tea(4 bags!}:P), granola, ground ginger, pure vanilla extract, blueberry pancake mix... yeah. Love that store.

Then we headed home. And the Banshee Car behaved the entire way. Odd, that.

Hit the Valley View Mall on the way home. It was PACKEd. Seems there's a Keith Urban concert tonight(yay?), and everyone was at the Mall prior to the concert.

Ate dinner, a late anniversary dinner of sorts, at Smokey Bones. Got a dessert of their fresh made donuts to go and came home.

And that was our day. Fun too, thankfully, once Mark stopped stressing over the car, it just didn't want to be at that Mall.

So I'm bored with the 3 colors of Manic Panic I usually use on my hair. A regular customer works at a wholesale salon supply store right down the street and has been trying to get me to stop by for a few months now. So I did on Thursday.

They (CosmoProf) carry two lines of semi-perm hair dye, one I believe is 'Colorworks', the other is Paul Mitchell's 'InkWorks'. Because I don't have a professional haircare liscense, I had to have him buy the stuff for me. I just told him what I wanted.

So I'm trying a color and a brand I've never used/done before(I use Paul Mitchell Brilliant Brunette Shampoo/Conditioner religiously, love the stuff and Shineshock is AWESOME), so in the next few weeks, I'll be sporting a new color.




And last but not least, a few teaser shots of my Bead&Button Bead Dreams entry piece I'm working on.



In the beginning, all I had was bowls of beads...but a few days later...


And that's all you get for now.}:P

* Mine are like these, but in three sizes and green.

Congrats to AnotherCountry for winning the Etsy BeadWeavers Monthly Challenge for Feb08!

I came in 2nd. Apparently it was a very close race, I lost by 1 vote.

See I don't check the blog during Challenge voting very often. That way, I can be surprised like this. Mind you, I promote the hel out of the Challenges and such, I just don't look at the voting scores after I cast my initial vote, except maybe once or twice (my vote went to Enso's gorgeous piece, incidentaly, and I could have sworn that piece would vastly beat mine, go figure)

I looked at it this morning prior to heading into work (yes, I still have a regular job, it's a 1-2 times a month thing.}:P, means extra money for beads, silks, chainmaille rings and dyes), so knew I'd come in second.

What I didn't know was that AnotherCountry got called away on personal matters and had dropped out of the Challenge before the voting had ended.

It made sense to leave her piece in there, after all, she did create a very cool piece for the Challenge and does deserve every vote she got, that Pony was alot of work!

Because of her withdrawal, the choosing of the Monthly Challenge theme for April fell to me, as 2nd place winner. So I guess I did win, in a round about way.

Pretty cool.

Except now.. I have to think up a theme. And I hadn't put ANY thought into it. After all, I didn't win.}:P