What Do I Do With This Lot

The cabinet is complete and full of beads, findings,gemstones, etc. I have about 2 drawers that are empty and awaiting my next bead spend.

Now the problem. I thought the men of the house would be fighting over the boxes but there they sit, empty on the dining table.

Hmmmm! One way of solving this problem is ....... Buy MORE beads....

Gift Idea #6

I have chosen today a butterfly happiness card from Southerscraps of Etsy amd my gorgeous necklace named after a fellow JET member Silvercanyons.
Even with the highest cost of shipping, these items together are under $35.00. What a deal, a beautiful card and gorgeous necklace.
On the other hand you could just browse around our stores for some fantastic goodies.
Southernscraps, Beadsme and Silvercanyons

Cabinet Update

How many days have I had it now - 3? I am still trying to sort all my goodies out, inbetween having a bead fondle now and then, coming up with ideas which I sure have forgotten.

I am on the last stretch and need to sort out my purchases that still sit in bags, and to price them up. Oh my that means I also have to remember what the gemstones are, this is a nightmare to me. I can see my Flickr pics increasing and questions flying.

Just a quick post and hope that I can update better over the weekend, I have another gift idea coming up.

Oh and don't forget to check out this post and help a wonderful family in need.
http://beadsme-mandyharvey.blogspot.com/2008/08/pull-together-to-help-someone-darnell.html

Those who have supported we thank you very much.

I Think It Is About Time We Had Our Dining Table Back

As you can see from the first picture I had taken over the dining table as my work bench. The boxes are full of beads, gemstones and findings and this is not all. Quite a few more boxes are laying in the spare room on the spare bed.

So at the Stitches and Craft Show in Rosehill I bit the bullet and bought a craft cabinet from Arnolds Scrapbook and Craft Supplies. $525.00 was so expensive but I never did get an offer from my 'shopfitting apprentice' son to make me one, so what choice did I have if I wanted my dining table back, I had to buy it. (My excuse anyway).

I just don't know no how long it is going to take me to transfer all my goodies into this cabinet. Tonight I spent an hour just sorting through my Swarovski crystals and glass trumpet flowers. I have so much more work to do that crafting is going to have to take a back seat until I have finished. Only one problem I still need to use the dining table to actually work at, at least I will have more room.

The Extended Family

Everyday the King parrots come to visit and peep for food. Usually it is one male and one female or a female on her own with a deformed leg. News must have carried fast as today my husband went out to feed them and found we had a family. At one time today we had 9 of them.

This sure looks like feeding time at the zoo!!!

Pull Together To Help Someone - Darnell

A story of a young man in his prime and his family which need your help.

Darnell is a 20 year old, still living with his parents. Until he fell ill, he worked with his mom, who owns a construction cleaning business. His father is a prison guard. They live in Columbia, South Carolina. Darnell has two brothers, a cousin was also raised by his mom and dad, but he is now grown and out of the house, and another cousin is still living with them currently, she is 9 years old.

Darnell has no health insurance, because his father's insurance dropped him at age 18, and his mom's business is too small to be able to afford an employee health care plan. He has recently been diagnosed with a tumor behind his eyes. He noticed something was wrong when his vision was beginning to fail. He went completely blind in both eyes within a matter of weeks. The tumor is pressing down on both optical nerves. Most recently, his condition turned worse, when he was unable to keep any food or water down for three days. He was admitted to the hospital, and the doctors decided to surgically remove his tumor the very next day. No word yet on his condition after surgery.

The family is in a financial bind. Expensive tests (MRI, eye tests, CT-scans, doctor visits, etc.) all required down payments, and monthly payment plans. The family is falling behind on their regular bills. Although Medicaid has been applied for, bills must be paid until it kicks in, if it is approved.

We ask you to please consider shopping our shops as we are donating money to this for this family (search JETTEAM on Etsy.com), donate money out right and please please please pray for this family. If you are interested in donating money please contact krystal.backer@gmail.com

I Have Been Featured On The DUST Team Blog

What a delight to come home from work and have an email to say I have been featured on Etsy Dust blog click here to see it. What a great article and some lovely comments.

I would like to give a big thank you to Julie-Ann, my reviewer. You can check out her gorgeous creations on Etsy at http://ljjnjm.etsy.com or her blog at http://juliesjewels.wordpress.com

Of course these reviews wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the creators of Etsy DUST team.

Cheers everyone.

A Matching Pair

During the week I received some gorgeous Cinnabar beads and created 2 beautiful necklaces. See one pictured below and available in my Etsy store .

Then a fellow JET team member showed me her earrings. What a great pair. Match and go. Check her Etsy store out for more yummy goodies - LittleBrownBird.

Don't they look great together. Put that little black dress on and add a bit of Asian Spice.

My Fantasy Treasury

I put together this treasury with a cosy, dreamy feeling in mind. Sort of fuzzy and warm. Gosh that sound mushy.

To see all the artists beautiful creations click on the relevant link. The artists are listed below from left to right, top to bottom.

Thyme2Dream
JenSanCandles
HandmadesbyLorri
Finki
Beadstylin
Tortillagirl
Redwhisper
Southernscraps
Fairytalesunlimited
Jeweledblossoms
Lewfoster
DreamArtist

Etsy has an abundance of fantastic artists, check it out for all handmade goodies. Whilst you are at it don't forget to check my sites out - Etsy and Silkfair .

My New Creation - Berrilicious

I am so pleased with the outcome of this set. An idea popped into my head, I quickly jotted it down on scrap paper and then waited 2 weeks for my materials to come through. Thank you for scrap paper, the amount of ideas that pop into my head and I buy materials then forget what I was going to do with them. Any way I introduce ......drum roll.......BERRILICIOUS necklace and earrings.

You can find plenty more goodies in my Etsy store.

And whilst I was doing the finishing touches, photography and editing Barry was doing this!!

Gift Idea #5

What a delight I have for you this time. You have a birthday coming up and only $30.00 to your name. Well easy. You get a card from Southernscraps with a pair of earrings from my Etsy store. Just take a look at the great example below.What a fantastic idea. Even with the most expensive shipping costs, to purchase these examples will only cost $22.25. Hey that leaves you plenty left over for some wrapping paper and a beer.

What a 1st Of August 2008

It is well known here that August is the 'windy' month. Well we were not prepared for this 1st of August.

Friday started off very weird indeed. Went for a smoke about 6.30am to brave the chill but there was no chill, the wind was warm. Was we in for a storm? Until lunch time it remained gorgeous with sun and warm breeze. Then the shock came, the temperature dropped drastically and rain arrived.


In the evening we watched the news and weather, no warnings. Later in the evening I went outside and said to my hub that it was weird. There was a really strong wind but high so you couldn't feel it. But you sure could hear it through the bush trees. It would start as a gentle blowing sound then get so noisy, you could actually see the bush tree tops bending over.


By 9.30pm I decided to retire to bed but left our electric heater on in the room until hub came to bed. Even though my eyes were closed I noticed the fire go out and opened my eyes to be greeted with pitch black. On came the power again. Hub at the time was down the bottom of the garden with the dogs and was trying to work his way back to the house. Imagine not being able to see a thing and knowing he would have to negotiate back to the house going passed the pool and up the stairs.


By 10.00pm we were both in bed and the wind was now whipping around the house. The power had completely gone now and just to get up for the bathroom was a 'feel for furniture and walls' obstacle course. Neither of us slept much due to the wind and the noise of falling branches and roof tiles flapping. At one time we were wondering whether to get the dogs in and let them sleep in the bedroom just incase we had to make a quick escape. Those bush trees are massive. I also thought that we would wake to damaged cars as many of the sounds were large branches on tin, luckily it was the carport.


2.30am my son arrived home and said that he couldn't get home the normal way as the road was blocked. The other way was just about passable but he was swerving all over the road to avoid big branches.


Decided to get up at around 6.00am and the house was like a fridge. We had no running water due to being on tank water and the power still off. No form of heating as all we had was electric fires and reverse cycle air conditioners. We put the generator on and manged to pump some water through so that we could fill the saucepans, heat them up on the gas hob and have some sort of wash. Did this bring back memories, the last time I had a strip wash in a freezing cold room was when I was a child and my Nan used to say 'Don't forget the back of your neck, your smelly bits including your feet'. At 40+ trying to get your feet up into the sink was a job and a half.


This was the aftermath of the winds. Blocked road (luckily we had another route out) and power lines and poles down.

We deicded to go into the local town and have a big breakfast. Mmmmm. Then back to a cold house.

I telephoned the electricity company and was told we should be back on around 12.30pm. That came and went I telephoned again the response was late afternoon. At 3.30pm I decided to take a drive down the road and look at the carnage and realised that no one was about. Where were the workmen? Late afternoon power on - my big butt? We drove down again round about 8.00pm and they were working away. Yaaaayy. Big trucks and lots of lighting. I really hoped they could get it done as it wasn't just a fact of reconnecting the wires the pole was down.

We prepared for the cold. And the forecast said there may be frost. Great! Found my thermals, on they went with 2 sweatshirts, fleece, 2 pairs of socks, gloves and a scarf. Hub had set up the generator earlier to try and keep our freezer going as it was full of food so he thought if he could do that, then he could get the TV on. OK we watched TV in darkness and freezing cold huddled on the sofa with the dogs for extra warmth. We also made ourselves a bit headachey and sick due to the fumes coming in to the house from the generator. By 9.30pm we were in bed almost fully clothed.

We must have been really toasty warm as we both slept quite well. I woke around 3.00am for the bathroom and noticed the time on my bedside clock. Yayyyy we had power back. Did I appreciate the shower this morning. It was like Christmas.

A neighbour who has lived here many years said that it was the worst winds she had experienced. I honestly thought all through the night that this was it, we were going to lose everything. We are so lucky and if we hadn't had the generator things may have been a bit more unbearable.