My New Obsession - Chain Mail

I have been wanting to try making chain mail jewelry for a while now. I finally took the plunge and have discovered that I REALLY enjoy it! It's amazing what you can do with some jump rings and pliers! Here are some bracelets that I've made so far. Sorry for the not-so-great photos.

L to R: Twisted, Mobius Flowers, Shaggy Loops

L to R: Byzantine, Double Spiral

I'm using bright aluminum rings instead of sterling silver. They are very lightweight and much more affordable. (For example, a certain pack of bright aluminum jump rings is $6.50; the same size rings in sterling silver would cost $112.00!) So I'm hoping that people won't mind wearing aluminum bracelets instead of sterling silver. I'm sure their pocketbooks will appreciate it!

What do you think? Would you wear an aluminum bracelet instead of sterling silver?

Found this on Etsy yesterday and I just have to share

So I found this shop on Etsy yesterday: City Girl Chocolates



They have these things called "Cocoa Melts." You heat up your milk, drop the cocoa melt in, and once it melts you've got a cup of hot chocolate. They come in all sorts of flavors - from milk & dark chocolate to Mexican.

YUMMMMM. These look amazing! I think I'm gonna have to order me some so that I can "review" them for all of my blog readers. It's the right thing to do. I'll make the sacrifice for you guys. :P

The bandages are coming off today!

I cannot wait . . . I have an appointment later today to have the bandages removed from last week's skin graft! I'll be able to take a real SHOWER! Oh, the luxury! Sponge bathing for a week has been a real pain.

So let's hope that there's skin under those bandages and not just an open wound! Cross your fingers for me!

New Etsy listings

I'm in a listing frenzy on Etsy! I want to get 100 listings in my shop by November, in time for the Christmas shopping season. Here are the items I've listed in the past few days. (Clicking on the name of each item takes you directly to the Etsy listing, where you can see more pictures)

Fossil Jasper Necklace

Ebony Necklace

Ebony Bracelet

Ebony Earrings

Chrysocalla Jasper Necklace

Red Jasper Carved Leaf Necklace

I'll be listing a few more things today!

My Current Favorite TV Show

Have you watched "The Locator" yet? It comes on WEtv at 9pm Eastern time. The previews make it look creepy. But it's truly an uplifting, inspiring show. Troy Dunn is some sort of private investigator who specializes in finding long-lost loved ones. Each week he spotlights a special case - whether it be a mother looking for the child she gave up for adoption, or vice-versa. Troy handles each situation in a very kind, sensitive manner. And the reunions are so joyful to watch!

Check it out. And have a box of tissues nearby!

Here's a link with more info: http://www.wetv.com/the-locator/

LOL Cats - It's been a while

I found a couple of really cute LOL cats; thought I'd share them with you since I haven't posted much in a while. Images from www.icanhascheezburger.com

Ever feel this way? Yeah, me too.

Look closely!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Breast Reduction Surgery - Update

It's been two months since my breast reduction surgery. I am very happy with the results, but I've had a frustrating complication. One of my incisions has refused to heal properly. I've learned that this sometimes happens; the skin surrounding the incision for some strange reason stops trying to grow together. My doctor said that it would eventually heal, but a skin graft was a way of trying to speed things up. So last week I had a skin graft.

In addition to the general discomfort, I'm having to go without a bra for a week. Which is a little strange, since I've been wearing bras 24/7 since the first surgery! I also can't get these bandages wet, so that means sponge baths. Not fun, folks!

I go back on Wednesday of this week to have the bandages removed. Here's hoping that I'm back to normal soon! I really really really really really want to go bra shopping . . .

Abalone Shell Set

I just love the iridescence of Abalone Shell. Similar to mother of pearl, it can be green, blue, grey, silver, or pink depending on how the light hits it. I mixed up these gorgeous beads with coordinating seed beads in different sizes. I love this set! What do you think? (You can click on the captions above each picture to go to the Etsy listings and view more pictures.)

Abalone Shell Necklace





Abalone Shell Bracelet - This bracelet was featured in an Etsy treasury over the weekend!





Abalone Shell Earrings

Newest Etsy listings - Snakeskin Jasper set

I've had these pieces made for a while but just had not gotten around to taking good photos of them. I finally got them listed on Etsy!

Snakeskin Jasper is a lovely stone, despite its name. It has gorgeous swirls of browns, mint green, deep green, browns, creams, and tans in it. I thought it would look best with copper accents. Take a look at the pictures below. You can click on the names of each item to go directly to the Etsy listing to see more pictures.

Snakeskin Jasper Necklace

Snakeskin Jasper Bracelet

Snakeskin Jasper Earrings



I hope you like them as much as I do!

Colorado Vaction

We took a vacation last week in Colorado. My parents came along, and we had a wonderful time! Here are some of my favorite pictures. And here's a link to a web album with a few more.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado City

Echo Lake, near Idaho Springs

Chapel at the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs

Got those pictures taken . . .

So here are the pieces I mentioned earlier -

Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver, and Copper Necklace:



Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver, and Copper Bracelet:



I just love these! I hope you do too! To see more pictures, click below to go to the listings on my Etsy site.

Necklace
Bracelet

Back to making jewelry, and LOL Cat Friday!

I made a GORGEOUS necklace and bracelet last night! I used lapis lazuli, copper, and sterling silver beads all mixed together. Unfortunately, I didn't finish it until late into the night so I didn't do any photography. Guess I'll just have to keep you in suspense!

So, how about some laughs instead? All photos from www.icanhascheezburger.com

In honor of football season: (Go Dawgs, btw!)

That's gotta hurt.

And finally,

You know, that one kinda looks like me when I get some pretty new beads!

Happy Friday everyone, and have a great weekend!