still here!!

wow.. hard to believe it's been over a month since I logged in here.   This working full time, sure takes a big chunk of your time.  After working from home for seven years, then being unemployed for a year and a half, it seems like I'm never home anymore!  I know Daisy is finding it much harder than Keila.  But, I am so glad Keila is now part of our family, and keeping the Dais company while I'm at work.
I have been finding it harder to fit in beading time, and then throw Christmas in on top of that, I'm lucky if I even remember what day it is.. lol.
I just entered a draw for some Apple prizes, and thought I'd share the link... in case anyone else would like a chance for a nice start to the new yr.
http://promo.dealfind.com/?sub=1?&utm_source=promo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=appleprizepack

hope all is well with you and yours.. talk soon

the daily beading continues

I did my beading Thursday after I blogged.  Friday night I was late getting home from work, and missed going to the football game, so instead, watched it on tv and beaded.  Eskimos won and locked up first place in west!  go Esks!!
 Saturday, I got distracted by some new beads that had arrived earlier in the week, then I started checking to see who had sales online, and ended up putting in another order.   LOL .. shopping online is waaaay too easy =)  After all the looking at new beads, I never actually did any working on my current project!
Today was kind of a lazy day.  I played with the dogs in the yard for a bit, then we all came in and had a nap - great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!  Went to visit Mom tonight, she is very happy I am keeping Keila.  Mom loves Kee's little white tip on her tail.  Been playing on FB since we got home, and catching up on the forum, so will stop now and get at least a few mins of beading in before I'm off to bed. 
Hope everyone had a good weekend and is ready for another week.  =)

NaSeeBeMo

I've taken up the challenge posted on Beading Daily blog:  http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/11/01/national-seed-beading-month-let-s-do-some-seed-beading-every-day.aspx
With this new job, I am going to have to learn to plan beading time.  My free time has been severely cut back!  lol   So, I am going to spend 15-20 mins on a bead soup herring bone bracelet I am working on, then I'm off to bed.  Both dogs already curled up and fast asleep  =)

Happy Halloween!

Boo!! 
I can't believe it's been two weeks since I made an entry here!  Life is speeding along these days...
I've started a new job... so much for my retirement.. lol.  I like the job, but will be on a steep learning curve for the next few weeks.  Big decision tonight... do I try and come up with a costume to wear to work tomorrow??  Have I left it too late to pull something together? (oh darn.. lol)
Then last Sunday, Daisy was sick.  Nothing like rushing a wobbly, vomiting greyhound to the emergency vet.  They kept her over night as she was pretty dehydrated - they suspected she'd eaten something toxic or moldy because of the vomiting... whereas I was more concerned with her stuggling to stand and walk.  Took her to our own vet a day later... turns out she has an ear infection.. which most likely affected her middle (inner?) ear, so she was dizzy with veritgo.  She's been getting eardrops all week and is doing much better!
And, I am officially adopting my laste foster... Keila.  She's been with us a couple months, and is an absolute sweetheart.  (no bias of course!! hee hee).  I'll have to get some pics posted .. she and Daisy look so much alike.  Mind you, the longer she's here, the less she looks like Daisy to me!!  I'm also happy Daisy has her for company now that I will be away at work all day. 
No more all-night computer sessions!!  I'd better get ready for bed.

Hope you get all your favorite candy tomorrow!

Found my buttons and a great giveaway..

I found my bag of buttons!!  I was going thru my stash of gemstones and what do you think I found?  I have no idea what was going thru my brain when I put my buttons in that drawer of my bead cabinet.  lol  No wonder it took me so long to find them!  Now I can finally finish my 'Stained glass' bracelet.   Anyone ever wonder what happened to that piece?   I want to get it finished and then I'll post pics (as soon as I find the battery charger for my camera!)

Another thing I want to share with you.. Fusion Beads is having a great giveaway!  A really nice selection of gold-filled findings.   Here is a link to the contest: http://fusionbeadsblog.com/2011/10/13/gold-filled-basics-giveaway/  Good luck everyone.

I gave the collars for adoptable dogs to the rescue group... and they were very well received!  I hope the collars are good conversation starters for anyone seeing one of the dogs wearing it... and it leads to another retired greyhound finding their forever home.  That's not too much to ask... is it?!   =)

what next?

I have been looking thru my beads, going thru magazines, reading the forum and blogs... and still can't decide what I want to work on next.  I have done 3 more collars since I did all the ones for the picnic.  These latest will be donated to Chinook Winds for their available dogs to wear at meet & greets.  One says 'Please adopt me', the next says 'forever home wanted' and the last says 'you know you want me!'.   I really enjoy making these, but need to sell a few before I make more I think.   So..... what to work on?  I have an order for a really nice looking pair of earrings (from the Fusion Beads inspiration page), but have to wait for supplies to arrive before I can make them.  Suggestions...?

..batteries for the camera died after I got 1 pic of the last one.. and I can't find the charger.

greyhound picnic and what I have been doing

This past Saturday was the annual picnic and fundraiser for Chinook Winds - the local greyhound rescue group I have been volunteering with.  I was invited to set up a table with the other vendors and sell my merchandise.  So, for the last few weeks, I was madly beading trying to get enough collars and jewelry decorated with greyhound/dog charms completed.  I received lots of positive comments, but sales were not quite as high as I had hoped (talking to the organizers after, all the vendors had lower sales this year.. sign of the times I guess).  I did give out several cards, so hopefully, it will lead to future sales. 

Here are some pics:

 

 

 



cell phone / backpack charms



Eclipse... my hero!!

So this blog is not about beads... but thought you'd enjoy it!

The other day I thought Eclipse had been getting into the kleenex in the bathroom garbage.. I was wrong.

Apparently, he was being a hero and saving me from an evil roll of toilet paper!!  It was a close call, the tp roll was in the hallway, not far from my bedroom!  Eclipse managed to wrangle it out of it’s hiding place, the plastic package, and after what looked like an extensive battle, defeat it.  Large chunks of tp were strewn at the bottom of the stairs, across the living room, and on his fave dog bed!  Not to worry, I checked him closely, and he suffered no wounds in the battle, and after a treat for his bravery, was resting comfortably!!



the face of a hero!




 

Eclipse

I just realized I put a pic of Eclipse up on FB, but not here!  I have had him for a week already, and he seems to be settling in.  We're still leaning some of our house manners, but he is such a happy boy, I probably let him get away with too much!
 He had bad rash spots on his back, so is on antibiotics for it.  His skin is clearing up, but getting the pills into him has been interesting.  Took 2 days for him to figure out the pill was inside the peanut butter, and spit it out.  Took 3 days for him to find the pill inside a sealed pocket made from a cheese slice, and spit out the pill.  Next attempt was hiding the pill in a piece of hot dog.  He figured that out the first time I tried it!  So.. until I can think of another way to hide the pills, we're down to sticking my fingers down his throat to get him to swallow!  Neither of us are thrilled with this, but it's for his own good... and I can wash my hands.. lol.


Eclipse and Deb (from Chinookwinds)

 

Eclipse and Cloudy,  brother and sister!





Daisy and Eclipse... nap time!



Give aways!

Two of my favorite blogs are having giveaways!

Therese's Treasures
She has reached 50 followers and is giving away a gorgeous bracelet... Congrats!!

and...

Trolles Verden

A woman of many talents!

Softflex giveaway!

Hop over to Softflexgirl's blogspot and enter the 'first fridayof the month' giveaway.  I hadn't seen this before, but looks like they have some pretty nice stuff they give out every month.
http://softflexgirl.blogspot.com/

greyhound collars

I just found out today, there could be 150-200 people at the greyhound picnice.  I better get beading if I want enough collars.  I was coming up with some design ideas the other day... now just have to get them into patterns.  I think I might do a few single strand collars, with a large split ring, that can be used as tag collars.  Some with lots of crystals and shiny metal beads, for those dogs that like some bling  =)  I'll have to use the heaviest gauge wire possible to make them sturdy.   I've got some interesting lampwork style, and ethnic beads that would probably work really well too.  hhmmm... ideas just flying thru my head.. lol
But... I really want to get these bunny bracelets done first.. so, it's back to work for me.