Almost A Giveaway!

Hello all,

Thank you for your wonderful responses, questions and comments for the giveaway!  What a rich cast of characters you all are!  For those of you that had to fight with the comment feature, I do apologize.  Not that I can explain it to you, because that would require that I first understood it, which clearly, I don't.  It might be that you have to set up a persona at the open I.D. spot.  OOhhh how exciting.  Here's your chance to have a whole new persona! Or maybe join the blog, be a member, that might work!  Really, I can't help you out with it, other than that.  If the alert says that your URL has illegal characters, I don't know what you've done.  Hey try being a law abiding citizen for a change, see what that does for you.  Try it, you might like it.

Well it's been a busy week, but then, aren't they all?

You know the drill....first, I make you suffer through pictures of my jewelry.  Now really, isn't that what you're here for?  Not for my witty dialogue certainly!  So these items have been listed recently

Sterling Sea Urchin Bracelet, I put my chasing tools to work on this one.



That was just in case you all wondered if I know how to use materials other than glass eyes and wire.. Are you impressed?  no, huh?  Tough crowd!   

well maybe, just maybe this will do the trick

River current at Shoreline

I know, I know, but I LOVE working with upcycled materials!

That little design has been etched onto the metal
but this has been imprinted with my rolling mill....

a little texture mixed up with some raw ametrine crystals, yummy!

This next one will surprise you cuz it's all delicate, yes, I made it!!!  I can do delicate.

Fine silver replica of a fossilized alligator scute that my dear friend Kathy sent me!!  She sent the fossilized alligator scute, not the silver replica.  Tho, neat trick if I could get her to do the casting of the replicas.  hey Kathy, you listening?
 You won't see that pendant on just anybody's neck, now will ya?

That's some of what got listed this past week.  Here's a few of the things I'll be listing this next week...
be patient now.....remember, patience is a virtue and I'm helping you perfect that quality...... there'll be some giveaway info coming up soon...

This is a foldformed necklace, if you like hammering, you've got to try this technique! 

Yes, these are foldformed too!



one more and mind you, this one is neither delicate nor hammered metal...

those rubies are rocking it!

You didn't see that coming did you?  Hot pink snakeskin!  Yes, it surprises even me.  Those are little bits of raw rubies on a cushion of burgundy flocked paper.  Quite regal even if it riding around on that sassy snakeskin. 












You've all done very nicely with this little exercise in patience improvement training.  A+ for all of you, except for that one of you whose been grumbling through the whole process.  You know who you are.

See here is where I was going to get your opinions, for instance-do you want me to make some things like this for my shop?...

Get it? Cruel fate?  getting eaten by a giant starfish as your buddy is enjoying himself in the sun and surf up on the surface.. hey there's a bathing beauty in this equation too......
and I was going to share my tale of woe about this....

and you know you really want to hear about that, don't you?  well, maybe if you ask nice....yeah, you're gonna hear about that anyway, next time.  When I've recovered from the trauma.


So you want to know about the giveaway do you?  I don't blame you.  Why else would you be reading this blog?
Here's the deal...In the name of fairness, I'm giving it another couple of days until I make the big announcement of who won the fabulous giveaway prizes!  Why?   Well cuz now I've cleared up the problem with commenting, so there'll be a flood of new scintillating comments. You wouldn't want those hoards of people to miss out on their chance, would you?  Me either.  Though I don't think anything could top the comments we've already got, cuz you all are brilliant commenters!  Raising the bar a bit here, aren't we?  Besides you're all wondering about prize #3, aren't you?  Yeah, I guess I could show you what it's going to be.  And let you know that our ever elusive
 mystery judge is awarding that prize.  And that she's already leaning very heavily towards one of you.... so are you sure that you want to know?  doesn't the air of mystery keep the excitement alive?  Sure it does, but since you're hounding me like a pack of dogs  (ok actually, no one has even inquired.  great self -restraint people!) here it is....





oh wait, I forgot to edit that picture...can't show you a subpar photo now can I?  so let me paint you a picture with my incredible word description instead.  Prize #3.......Is a rare thing of beauty that will glisten and gleam, in it's aura of delicacy as it encircles your neck, declaring this one fabulous fact about you...........yes it actually does have something to say.   hahahaha that makes a few of you nervous, doesn't it?


well now if you want more info about a giveaway, check this out
Jewel Identity's Giveaway

Petra has a wonderfully fun giveaway going on over at her blog.  To whet your apetite, here's some beads I just received from her all the way from across the pond, which of course makes them even more special.   

This is real international clay here folks.  Very exotic stuff.  That's why it produces teeny tiny little brains and bezels and toothy horns and.....

Lookit that adorable fish, would you?  these are little beads, the detail is amazing.  And there's foreign rocks and seashells and seaglass.  how cool is that?!

oh and Petra, these next pictures are for you

OOOPS subpar photos!  Cringe, shuffle, shame.....I swear I edited those........  anyway, these guys like to hang out with their buds at the boys wing of the home for wayward juvenile delinquint peacocks.  troublemakers one and all.  So just turn your neck this way......see?  How hard was that?
You see, we have these beautiful birds in the middle of nowhere, USA as well, but ours don't have quite the lush accomodations that yours are used to.  And ours don't actually live at our house,  or eat our people food or come into the house for a visit whenever they want.  You've got a charmed life, I'm telling you.  The peacocks not you, Petra.

So there you have it folks!  Another couple of days to find out if you've won one of three, yes three!! Stupendous, Incredible, Magnificent prizes.  ok, fine! a few more days till you find out if you've won some of my jewelry.  Really, people, just humor me a little, would ya?

Thanks for visiting and a warm welcome to all of you newcomers; Richelle, Greer, Joren, coffeefreak53, beatnheart, Juliette Williams, Corvid Delights and her delightful daughter, restless, owlparty, martinis for 2, amith13, skye, rosalie, kira, diana, birdflew, jackie, quilting jewel 39 and last but certainly not least- only jolie. And by way of email, welcome to Deborah and Melissa! 
Love your comments- THANK YOU!

and here's your weird animal of the week photo.  I learned my lesson to never ever have a child in a photo with an animal again.... the scorn!!!!!

Farewell



Cuatro, Quatre, Four - Giveaway update

Hi all,

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments!  I am enjoying every one of them.  I'm looking forward to responding to each of you.  Not quite yet, though.

I've received a few emails alerting me to the fact that some of you are having trouble commenting.  I'm sorry about that. What has worked for some is this;  you first have to "join" my blog via gmail and then miraculously it allows you to comment!  Mysteries of blogger, eh?   Please don't hesitate to email if you're having trouble with getting the comment feature to work.

We have another week or so till the giveaway ends.  Yes, we have a guest judge!  No pressure for you there!  :)

BTW, I kind of thought you would all be worried that a sweet little child was sitting on the back of a big dangerous gator.  Not so, you're all feeling sorry for the gator!  Really, she weighed all of 45 pounds.  It didn't hurt the gator!  Besides that was his claim to fame.  He's a star afterall not a purse! 



Hello guys and gals,

How presumptuous of me!  I meant Hello fanci and Petra, and welcome to Stregata and Alice.

Thanks to all of you helpful ladies- I appreciate the pointers and kind words.  Fanci is an amazing blog mentor, and I'm sure she appreciates all the pointers you're sharing with me too.  Aren't ya fanci?  Getting a bit of a break, eh?

So you're wondering if I've been up to anything this week, are you?  Oh yeah, I've been busy.  I'm sporting two lovely suitcases under my eyes as proof.  And not just puny little carry-ons either, the big ones.  Mega bags!  Xtra large like my pictures for you gals

Want to see? Before my BIG announcement?  Why yes, there's a big announcement later on.  Stay with me here.

                                                                         I listed this

                                                       Whoa that woke you up, huh?

And these that have fossil seashells caught in a whirlwind.  That's exactly what you were thinking when you saw them, isn't it? Yup, great minds think alike!  hmmmm or do fools seldom differ?

                        and for those of you who are a tad bit more cultured, there's these

                                 Black tourmaline and quartz with textured tin and sterling.

Just now listed these beauties

            Modern Victorian Assemblage 2.  Yes, there's a 1, but I jumped ahead as I'm prone to do.

A few more, bear with me... then the BIG announcement you've all been waiting for!

                         these have lovely buttery Hessonite stones.  Aren't they yummy?

Upcycled printed tin with gravel texture, czech beads and blackened Vintaj embossed metal.

Ok ok just one more.....

  So sweet.  these are titled

"She loves me, she loves me not".  The earrings are sweet, she's not.  She's a vamp.  Sad story, really.  anyway.....

You've paid your dues,  you suffered through all those photos.  A chore, I know....

So now the news... dadadaduh.

It's a GIVEAWAY people!!!!

now is when you pretend to be excited. 

 and here's what you can win cuz you know you really really want some of my jewels.

 now is when you pretend to want some of my jewels...

did I give you enough time there?  ok let's move on then..

here's the loot, count em, THREE!

Prize #1

Prize #2

hmmm I said three, didn't I?  well yes, I sure did.

?

Prize #3

C'mon you guys, you know there has to be a little suspense.

So here's what you need to do.  Write a comment. Ask a question. 

Teach me something I don't already know.  Wait, that's too easy. Scratch that.

 Comments and questions.

My favorite, most interesting ones win! 

 I might even have a surprise comment judge.  Just you wait and see.  so you might have to impress two, yes two people!  Not so easy as it seemed, eh?  You thought since there's only 5 of you reading this blog that it was going to be super simple to win, didn't you?  

hahahahahahahaha (fiendish laugh inserted here)

speaking of inserting things, I really wanted to show you some things from fanci's new shop listings.  and of course, being the best blog mentor ever, she did explain how to do it, how to have multiple windows open at once and copy listings and, really? but......I'm too tired to try some new blog process and risk losing, well you know what happened last time.  Anyway, check out her Mother Of Pearl locket necklace. Insanely cool. And the sold section for her latest bird bracelet and drusy earrings.  Not that it does any good to see what we missed out on, grumble grumble

And Petra's blog has some wonderful new xtra large pictures of her clay eye candy.  You've got to see her sea glass rings.  the glass is all melty in the clay.  LOVE IT!  And you know, btw, she lives by the sea, so the sea glass in those rings is the real thing. And the silver fern on black ceramic is amazing. If you've not visited her site before, I recommend after you enjoy her jewels and new bead collections, you do know about her bead collections, don't you? that you peruse some of her older posts as well.  my oh my, that woman lives in an incredibly beautiful spot! 

So if I had figured it out, you could have just gone straight to each listing.  But c'mon, my descriptions have enticed you to go see their cool stuff, even if you have to navigate through their sites, right? right? And you can click on the links to their sites so really, how hard is that?

ok so you were expecting an interesting animal of the week photo? ok then....

how's this for interesting?

now before any of you think this is a terrible idea, let me just say, that no children were harmed in the making of this photo. In fact, said child thought this was great fun.

yeah, yeah, the gator's jaws were taped shut and a bunch of gator handlers were surrounding them just out of the shot.  so settle down people.

Bye now

Third Times A Charm

Hello all,

Well that's a lie, cuz this is the fourth time, see, I just spent an hour writing a very funny and picture filled blog.  you'da liked it - alot!  Cuz it was FANTASTIC!  But then Preview came along. I will never preview again.  Ever.  Now how is it possible to lose the 'go back' to where I needed to be, to- "publish", at the almost done point?! I'm so good, I can lose a whole hour of work and not even try or know how I did it.  That's how good I am guys.  Really really talented. Award worthy.

 So now I'll do my best to recapture the sense of wonder and adventure I had while writing that other post, filled with extra LARGE photos.  The better much more entertaining post.  Best thing about it,  the last thing I wrote was how you guys had been patiently waiting for me to mess up big time, and I didn't.  just little things.  As I gently patted myself on my back and pressed.... who knows what I pressed that got me here!  sigh.

shake it off....


moving on..

now that I'm done complaining...it is kinda funny, isn't it?

 Oh yeah, I went on and on quite funnily (is that a word?) about all 29 things I've listed.  29!  How it feels like my store should be full, cuz ..... well, 29 listings!  It was funnier the first time.  Trust me.
 Maybe if I go get some chocolate it will help me get over this disappointment....Why, yes, I do think that's quite an effective cure. 

Now that I'm really done complaining (and as all of you, I mean the two of you, who know me and understand my level of computer compentence are picking yourselves up off the floor, from laughing, I mean, not from my frustation vibes flying through the air and knocking you down, neat trick, tho if I knew how, anyway...)

here's what I've been doing this week, described earlier as wonderful, described now as, insert your own descriptive term here_________.  And you don't have to hold back.  Go for it___________

aww ok, well if you really do think it's wonderful, maybe I'll reconsider.....but I digress, again

Here Petra for you, one large, not extra large, though, cuz they overflow into my sidebars, photo of a new listing

Aunt Darlene's Etruscan Wonder

Sea Urchin Necklace

And another, cuz chocolate is amazing....

See, that's EXTRA LARGE and they weren't kidding!

I did, in fact dig these earrings up in an ancient Roman city.  Of course, cuz I'm a dealer in antiquities.  Can't you tell from my other offerings.... like this

and this

Boy Meets Girl

Especially that one, eh?

How about this one?

just seeing if you're still with me

for those of you (two) who might think I photoshopped this, nope, this guy lives in  Louisiana.  Hopefully, he still does and hopefully he's still pink,  You know, after the oil spill.

Pink dolphins, what's next?!  Blue people?  Well, actually, and I mean no disrespect, there are Blue people.  In Kentucky.  The blue Fugates.  Am I a fountain of knowledge or what?   Hey be nice there.

Here's mymystery necklace

ok, I messed that up, but I'm not going to retype that address in again.  See, it's a mystery cuz I'm not telling you what it is.  But the picture was supposed to be above the link.  So just pretend that's how it is, ok?  thanks

So fanci and Petra  how am I doing so far under your expert tutelage?  You guys have been so wonderful to explain all the ins and outs of blogger.  Thank you!  Are you incredibly impressed with yourselves?  ( you should be, no small feat helping me understand where the html goes)  I can hear it now.... "wow, we really are incredibly good at explaining Blogging for dummies.  Now if you'll please explain one more thing to me. How to make a link directly to an item in each of your stores- I would be ever so grateful.  "help me, help me"  she asks beseechingly in the tiny little voice of the half-human, half-fly caught in the spiders web from the old black and white "The Fly" movie.  (now how can you resist that?) Cuz I really want to throw some pictures of my favs from your shops in here.  Yes,yes, I'll make them BIG.    Maybe even really big!

( if my new ability to change font size at random and insert links, plural, is an indication, you guys are awesome! You deserve a raise!)

and welcome to Artistic Rejuvenations  .  Thanks for visiting my blog,  now there's three of you!  Just checked out your blog, very nice btw, lots of body parts- right up my alley.  No people not actual body parts.  Artistic body parts.  What kind of a blog do you think this is?  sheesh

One last thought, if we were freezing in Florida, where I gather it is actually freezing right now, we would be seeing this

Manatee at Blue Springs State Park, FL

They congregate in the springs when the water gets too cold out in the rivers and other waterways.  So being cold in Florida is better than being cold in Illinois.  It's not an urban legend after all.  And no, I don't have a good winter in Illinois photo to share with you.  Is there one?

Adios

remember, I'm not previewing.  All mistakes were intentionally left in for your viewing pleasure. 

Third Times a Charm part one

Hello all,

Disclaimer, this is part one of this post.  When you finish reading it, please continue on and read the second part, which follows immediately after this post.  Self explanatory, as you shall see.  And all that back patting- completely premature, but at this point, quite hilarious.  Enjoy!
What a wonderful couple of crazy busy weeks getting my new anvilartifacts.etsy.com store filled with goodies.  Ok, compared to fanci'c store (apparently I can't spell and no, I don't know how to fix my mistake)  it's not exactly filled.  Listing 29 items feels like it should be filled! Yup, I said 29!  29!!  Hear me all 3 people reading this-29?!  Yeah, feeling like I've accomplished a little bit this week.  Giving myself a gentle pat on the back.  OK moving on now......

Here's a few of the things I've listed, gonna go EXTRA LARGE, Petra, just for you.  (now let's see if I really can.... I hope I can, I hope I can....)

etched Art book necklace

I guess I can!  yahoo!  Let's see if I can do it one more time.....

The Age of Delicacy

I went with medium  for a little bit o variety.

Why it's still on caption is a mystery to me.  Sigh

So I was gonna say See Petra, I got it!  But that was premature.  But I will get it.

These lovelies have already sold.  Thank you SO MUCH Theresa!  They're on their way.

Now bear with me, I have a few more pictures for you to wade through... 29, remember?

Yes, I did dig these up in an ancient Roman field.....

just seeing if you're paying attention.  No I didn't list this pink dolphin in my store.  Hopefully it's still living happily in Louisiana.  and still pink.  there was an oil spill there, remember?  so sad

Aunt Darlene's Etruscan Wonder



ok I've put two pictures that were supposed to go below this picture and they went above it!?

and I'm still stuck on "caption"   Help me Fanci, help me  (spoken in the teeny weeny voice of the half human / half fly caught in the spiders web in the old "The Fly" movie)



I'm gonna insert another picture and not enlarge it and see what it does, ok?  here goes....

Ok that worked, kinda, if you don't mind the rest of the blog written in tiny little caption font.
I went back and upsized it after all.  Don't want to disappoint the ladies after all their hard work!

That one I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it's very cool and worth looking up here, whoa check me out trying to get fancy with links....mystery necklace

Can't believe that really worked!  Thank you fanci and Petra for explaining that one to me!

You two ladies are great!!  Fanci, you only thought you quit teaching. Now please (and thanks) 'splain to me how to insert a link to your latest listings cuz I really want to show the other one person reading this what great things you two make.  Yummy new bead collections btw, Petra.


Welcome Artistic Rejuvenations .  Your Body Parts blog is right up my alley.

One more picture cuz you've been so patient waiting to see when I'm gonna totally mess this up...

Manatee in Blue Springs, FL

This is what you could be seeing if you were in Florida right now.  Cuz it's coooold down there.  The great thing about cold temps in Florida, unlike the un-great cold here in Illinois, is that the Manatees all congregate in the springs to stay warm.   So adorable.  But can you believe that's what people originally thought a mermaid was?  Go figure. 

and these are Gar, not so adorable

Adios

 

New part Duex

Hi all

Hey ladies who commented - how nice of you to check out my blog.  Thank you all for the very nice comments.  Let's see what I've figured out in the last few days, shall we? 

Petra,  I'm going to attempt to make my pictures BIG just for you and Auntie Marina.  How's this one

Glam Space Exploration

hmmm, didn't see a size choice.  help me out here ladies, is it hiding?   Hahahaha so it appears I haven't learned much. 

Anyway, listed those today.

and this

The Better to See You With, My Dear

Cuz I know you all love my eye jewelry!

Nikki,   Aww, it would be a blast to spend some time with your sweet Lenix .  BTW- You know my avatar is the best picture you ever took of me, it's actually the best picture anyone's ever taken of me.  In fact I'm thinking of having it made into a mask that I can just hold up in front of my face as I go about my business.  "Why yes, this is my actual face.  I do too look like just this.  No, it wasn't the lighting at Nikki's studio. It's the lighting now that makes me look like this!"  

And yes, I've been published a few more times since we discussed it.  here's the newest one.

well that went in the wrong spot.  hahahaha ok, obviously still not the master of this blog! This is the current magazine, on the newstands now with two of my articles in it.  One on Foldforming and the other on Origami Metal Mesh flowers.  I bet Lenix would like to make those.  There's 5 more magazines with my articles, 4 of them that are actually on my website JL3JewelryDesign.com   

Go to "About Us", then to the "Published" button.  Just click on the covers, then the table of contents, then the article covers, then the title pages of each article.  One mag has 4 articles in it, but most have two.  See I let you know I'm published after the fact, when they're no longer available except for online.  Why you ask?  I dunno.  Cuz I want to make it difficult for you since you won't throw away those pictures of me, maybe. you know the ones...........

Fanci, this ones for you cuz you explained how to do it. TA-DA!  (Yes, Petra, I see what you mean. It's very small)

and this

and this one too

Cuz I told you weeks ago that I would send them to you.  And if you want to see more, I have 237 more photos just like them.  Really, I do. But of different bracelets, because I made 300 bangles.  Alright, that might be an exaggeration, I believe it was only 294  :)  Of course I didn't edit these photos before posting them.  But I did slap sloppy oxidizer all over those bangles, just like you like em.

And here's a photo just cuz it makes me laugh

a blue eyed blond gator ready for a fight or some salsa dancing  

Au revoir all