Holy awesome rings, Batman!

Last night Allen and I logged onto Etsy and there, on the front page, in the recently listed items, were these beautiful rings:

Aren't they gorgeous? I've seen anything like these before! They're made by an Etsy shop called ZulaSurfing! The colors of the natural gems and stone are so eye-catching and mesmerizing! I can't wait to own one of these!

Also, since I've still had the last bits of flu, I decided to make a Myspace for Etrelle's. And I did. It's right here. I'm really impressed with the layout; I was just hoping the colors came out right. Now we're just trying to build up the friends. Please feel free to add us!

The Outside

There's nothing that can make you appreciate the outdoors more than being cooped up inside. It's been wonderful being able to enjoy the morning air instead of just coughing and staring through glazed, unfocused eyes.

So I took some pictures.

My yard is a beautiful sight in the morning. Maybe it's the way the light shines through our remaining trees, or maybe it's the light wind blowing each vine and branch around as if they were animated. We used to have so many more trees. So many more plants. I loved the natural look of the landscape. But our yard was being suffocated by pepper trees, and unfortunately a lot of trees were already doomed from pine beetles. It'll grow back, though. It'll grow back.

Time to heal

Oh, this past week has been horrible. Well, really just Wednesday through Saturday. This flu has been a rough trip. Too weak to even blog! Fever, chills, aches, coughing, sinus trouble, upset stomach.... what more could you ask for? And it's the worst when everyone in your house has the same flu, so there's no one around to pamper you.
But all this time spent at home has allowed me to find some new Etsy favorites!
Here's an awesome change purse by zomb!
He's adorable! And he'll eat your stuff!
Just looking at this little guy makes me feel better. Hopefully I'll scrape myself off the computer, go into the store to gather packages (and make something, if I'm lucky), head to the Post Office, and then into a short shift at my night job.
All in all, a productive day. Compared to the lousy past few days, anyway.

The Simpsons

After 18 years I am still in love with this show. Actually, it's been longer since I remember seeing them on the Tracy Ullman show way back when. I remember being Bart's age and watching the episode where he was going to fail his test and have to repeat the fourth grade - but at the last moment he wowed Ms. Krabappel with a tiny bit of trivia about George Washington and passed with a D-.
How can this show keep me mesmerized and watching, from elementary school through adulthood? Maybe it's all those jokes.

Ralph Wiggum: " Your toys are fun to touch. Mine are all sticky."
Also Ralph: "Hi, Super Nintendo Chalmers!"
Also Ralph (to old people): "You're wrinkling. Somebody should iron you!"

Last night for movie night we watched the movie (which I had seen before with Allen) but even repeats can make me smile. Matt Groening, you have done a fine job, sir.
And I miss Futurama. That show was fabulous and if you don't think it's funny you should remove the wadded up balls of dirty socks from your head and replace them with a brain that understands satire...Spider Pig, Spider Pig..... Does whatever a spider pig does!

More Buddy Love

I love making these little Buddy bags! They're incredibly cute and durable!
Right now I have these 5 plus two brown ones and a genuine ostrich that aren't shown. I really need to get some other work done (for real) but I can't stop making these bags. Help me, please. Buy one now to validate my obsession!

DreamLand (Again)

I can't help it. I don't eat spicy food before going to bed. Sometimes these things just happen.
This post is a duo, because I'm also showing another fabulous Etsy find!
These amazing photographs are from Smacshop. They're absolutely brilliant pictures - check out her etsy store! The images are incredibly similar to many many dreams I've had. Maybe my head works with grainy film.
Last night's entertainment involved some highly powered explosives and swamp monsters. Because we were in a swamp. Who's we? I don't remember. At the end a group of us (who were those people?) trying to escape the massive destruction on large inner tubes down a river.
I usually write what I can remember of my dreams down in a little notebook, but today for some reason I decided to draw them out. So it took a little longer to get on paper.
And on a side note, Allen said that during the dream I posted about last I was flailing and grunting in my sleep and at one pointed shouted out "No!"
I do remember him waking me up to ask me if I was alright. I assumed (at the time) he meant I was snoring.

Circus Freak Squids

Bicycleocean has done it again.

These amazing squids made me laugh entirely too much. Pins or magnets! And don't forget to look at the other squids, too. And the chewbaccas. And the hats....

Bead-O-Matic

I am strangely attracted to bead-making.

I just can't stay away from my polymer clay too long. Every time I go to the craft store I linger a little too long gazing at the sculpy and bead-making accessories. I don't even have an overwhelming desire to make jewelry. Just the beads. How weird is that?

In my Blenderbach store on Etsy I have an enormous amount of handcrafted polymer clay beauties available. Each one is unique and shiny and ready for a talented hand!

I Had a Disturbing Dream

I always have disturbing dreams. Actually last night's slumber stories are completely mild compared with the night before, but I won't scare you...

My apologies for the lack of details and clarity, but it's always a little fuzzy after I wake up.
I mostly remember the boats in the water; bobbing and throwing and thrashing around so much that I was having almost no success at trying to tie it down and climb in. They were small, like canoes. Very similar to my father's old poke boats. Eventually I parked my "boat" and was encouraging others to join me in my attempt to re-build a society we could live in. (I can only fault my father with this one, who gave me As The World Burns by Derrick Jensen).

The dream ended rather abruptly as I passed a family walking through the flooded streets. There were several children kicking up puddles as we passed by and I was horrified as I looked back and saw that each of the children had two complete faces; one on each side of their head. The faces that wasn't being used didn't appear to work properly and their mouths had been stuffed with rolls of coins.

So..... weird, huh?

Hair Dye Extravaganza

I dyed my little sister's hair last night, much to my mother's dismay. It seems she's forgotten the days when I would come home with blue and purple or green or neon yellow (that was my favorite) in my hair.
Or maybe she remembers all too well....


We love to make faces.


See? I told you.

Well, it turned out nicely, anyhow. Lovely pink streaks.

More Photo Fun

I've edited and cropped and tinted my way to some spectacular pictures!
Buddy outside.

We're so fancy.

Beach parties Beach parties

More awesome pictures to come!! Stay tuned!!

Hooray for photos!

My little sister just downloaded some new photo editing program called Picasa. My pictures are fast becoming super-fab.


I'll be posting more amazing-filled images soon. Hopefully today. But now it is time for work and I must go and finish sandals and cuffs and if I'm productive enough maybe a new buddy bag...

Best Picture Ever

Buy a hat from Bicycleocean. Because I can't stop laughing at this picture in her listing.

Lamination Station

Woo-Hoo! I am now the proud owner of a laminating machine! I used to have to go to my shipping provider and pay $2.75 for each page but now that Leslie is closing up shop at Pack & Ship she's selling her lamination goodies to me!!! I've already begun to go overboard - Check out my new Buddy bag! And my new meaty trio of Cuffs!

Kitties Don't Listen

I told him not to eat the grass. So what does he do?

Exceptionally Curious

Have you checked out Juror2? I while back I got a couple of these awesome t-shirts. They have tons of odd and entertaining t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops. They even have bibs for babies!

Check out their Exceptionally Curious T-shirts today!

The Dude

I've been enamored with the past few days of Mutts comics. I can't post any of them here but I can show the links:
Feb.5
Feb.6
Feb.7

Hats Hats and Haberdashery

Speaking of hats.....

Have you seen Lamegs? She has the most adorable hats! Hats like bears, hats like monkeys, hats like kitties and imaginary creatures! I bought one of these super-fab hats as a gift for my teenage sister, but when it came in the mail I was so impressed I didn't want to give it up!
Lucky for me, Allen got me my very own teddy bear hat for Christmas so I didn't have to go without.
Not a hat person? Fantastic! Lamegs also has the coolest monster messenger bags, headbands, and dolls! But you'd better get them quick, she sells out fast!

No organization

Meaty Cuff Bracelets in the making! (This is the only spot I could clean off and work on)My workspace is a mess. It always has been. I think it always will. It's not that I'm incapable of cleaning. It's just that my efforts are continually thwarted by my family who doesn't seem to share my desire for open space and bare tabletops. The thought has crossed my mind to just work from home.... which I would do if I could drag the industrial sewing machine home with me.
Oh, how dreamy that would be.....

Messier days...

Squids and Wookies

If you haven't already, it's about time you introduced yourself to Bicycleocean. Her amazing boombox squids and Chewbaccas will steal your heart and forever earn a place on your fridge. Each little polymer clay creation is lovingly handmade and carefully designed (I know it's true, I've watched her do it!) to make unique little pieces of art!

Magnet or pin - you decide!

Moonwalker!

Tonight we're watching Michael Jackson's Moonwalker for a Tuesday Night Movie Night feature. I'm insisting on a costumed event, also, so hopefully we'll be swarmed with Michael Jacksons of all shapes and sizes! If everyone doesn't puss out I'll post some pictures. I may just find more films to show from the Hospice 50 cent video bin.

Clean Yourself!

Today I am promoting good hygiene! As much as I would LOVE to shop on Etsy, I haven't been much of a buyer. But one store I can't stay away from is SandyCreekSoap!
When I first found this shop Allen and I had just moved into our new house and I wanted a little something fancy for the new bathroom. The caramel vanilla soap was the first to draw me in!

Along with that the Green Tea soap caught my eye as a gift for my mother. Once I realized the lower prices compared to other handmade soap shops, it was a done deal!
About a week went by and my soaps were in my hands! With free gifts! I opened my pretty packaging to reveal the most delicious-looking soap! Once I got the chance to use it, I was even more impressed! The lather was very full and the scent became stronger with each use!

Since then, I've been hooked. I had to buy at least three more soaps for myself and one for each of my sisters. And SandyCreekSoap is all-natural, so I even bought a bar for my incredibly picky father, who wouldn't touch a preservative with a thirty-foot-pole and medical gloves.
They carry more than bar soap! Salt scrubs, tonics, even flea spray!
I'm almost out! I'd better go check my PayPal account!