November Bittids

I keep thinking I will get here for a proper update ... and then only feel terribly guilty that I don't. Life just seems to be throwing me one curve ball after another. Just this month alone has been a doozy and the whole year has been like that!

• While I've passed two of the three teaching credential exams with flying colors, I keep delaying the math and science test...and if I continue to delay, it'll cost me another year in the sub pool. And yet I cannot find time to study...
• Macy Blue had managed to learn what to do with toys. While I would like to take creidt for all my running around and tossing toys in the air...it was Sue living here that really taught her about interacting with humans and playing with toys. I got a text one day at school... Macy was cleaning out the toy box! The day our pals left for Portland, we couldn't bear to watch them drive away, so we went to PetSmart for all new toys for the girl. 

 

• For the first time all year, I had scheduled bookings in the larger school district. But two weeks ago,  I got a bad sore throat and while hiking that Sunday, I could barely move. I just felt weak. I drove to urgent care with Macy in the car. They took my temperature and it was 103! I usually get tingly lips with the slightest fever...but not that day. I was shocked! A trip to the drug store followed by hours of phone calls / faxes and emails to cover my jobs before I could take to my bed. 
• Barely 24 hours later, still with a fever, I found out my mother was mugged at the casino. Before I could talk to her, I jumped online and started closing her accounts and phone and sending AAA her way. This led to days of work restoring her life to normal. The asshat takes a purse but nearly rendered her helpless... New drivers license... she is 92. New glasses, new credit cards... The thief took her only electronic key to her car... $80 bucks and a half hour digital programming. New phone. Those things have finally all been restored...but the confidence she lost is gone. 
• And on the same day, I learned my long time tenant at my condo had lost her mother in England... and I have no rent coming in this month...when I've lost so much work already. 
• A few nights before I got sick, I got to go and visit Dave. I was so upset at being sick as I knew I wouldn't get to see him again...and I didn't. While his death was expected, it has hurt so bad. He's my first adult friend I've lost. I've lost lots of family, but not a friend til now. It's just so terribly sad to lose someone I thought of as "young." 

•  Thanksgiving was small and quiet. I spent too much time cooking food that came out awful... but got to visit with an old and dear friend on Friday. 
• Saturday was a dog beach day. Macy just loves the ocean. I never see her smile the way she does at the beach. She often races to the water and dives in the breakwater. The full moon brought the highest tides I've ever seen. Luckily the girl used such good judgement and didn't go too deep while enjoying a romp with her boys! 
• I'm prepping for my annual holiday trunk next weekend... making jewelry into the wee hours. 
• My glass guild will have our annual holiday party next weekend and the following one brings two more events... making me more social than I've been in months. I don't do sockial well.
• Mother is coming for Christmas in a few weeks.
• My bestie's niece that we all helped raise is expecting her first child in March... a girl. I'm gonna be a Gramma! We are all over the moon! So many boys in the family. The niece is the only girl... and now a little girl to spoil!! 

Maybe you'll get why my head is spinning... 

Something Silly

Between my 20 day gig teaching emotionally challenged boys, a lawsuit on my rental property and taxes.... I feel like I have to remind myself to take a breath! There is no time for anything extra lately... like beadmaking.


But I thought I would share my favorite recent bead. It's not perfect and that wasn't the point. I've always wanted to make myself a rottweiler. But I really had no idea where to begin. A few months back I signed up for a workshop on critter beads with Judy Carlson. I wanted to take the class to be able to sculpt some of the more requested beads for the kids in the Beads of Courage Program... it's a charity that allows kids facing life challenging illness to be able to tell the story of their medical journey in beads.

At the end of class, Judy pushed me to try a rott and I did! It was one of the hardest beads I've made because black glass and mahogany glass both look identical in the flame!!! But I did it and I love him!!!

I have no plans or desires to be a dog bead artist...there are plenty of good ones out there...but this one is perfect for me!!

Warning for Shelter Dogs Looking for Homes

Hello good pups and peeps of Blogville! Macy Blue here with a serious warning for shelter pups looking for a good home.

I am imploring all shelters to start asking humans planning to adopt about what kind of work they expect from their pups! Take me, for example. Sure, I thought I was being adopted into a nice home but my momma is a slave driver!  There is a never ending amout of jobs I have to do!

In addition to reminding her to slow down and drink coffee, I have to remind her about walks and hikes and meal times. I don't think she would know when to go to sleep without me!  But that's not all!

Momma makes glass beads and it's my job to inspect them! Let's look at a typical endless day in the life of a bead inspector!

O.K. Momma, whadya make today??

Well this arrangement is a hot mess Momma! Really! How do you expect anyone to buy this crap set of lovely beads??/

And really?? I have to inspect all these??? What kinda super pup do you think I am??

You need to move that one off the edge of your fancy (NOT!) photo paper Momma!

This stupid seashell is her attempt at being Etsy fancy! BOL!!! Yeah Momma, that looks good! {Insert eye roll}

C'mon Momma! Aren't you done yet??? Geez! You take more pictures of beads than you do of me!

And Momma?? You're gonna haveta 'splain to me why witches need so many boobs... do they have litters too?? 

As you can see, I've clearly been adopted into slavery! Don't let this happen to you good pups! Save yourselves!!!

Mom's Trunk is Open

Hello Good peeps and pups of Blogville. Macy Blue here!

 

Mom asked me to tell you about some trunk thingy over on Facebook... I think she's hoping to get rid of the 87 billion gazillion beads that live with us...I've tried to eat a few, but that's only made mom watch me poop! They aren't that tasty so I don't get why anybody would want them... I'm just gonna copy Mom's post from her stupid bead blog. Check it out if you can... You don't have to be a Facebook member to LOOK...but to comment you do. (Mom says you can email her if you see something you like!)  Otherwise, I hope you all are having a fabulous December!

The trunk show on Facebook is open for business!!! There are ten 10 TEN shopping categories! OMG!


 You will find handmade glass bead jewelry featuring my necklaces:

and bracelets!

There is a category just for earrings ready to go:

And for earring pairs if you want to make your own...or have me make some for you!

There is a gift section that contains platters:

Bead pens

Wine toppers

and Purse charms!

For beads, I have a focals section:

A lampwork sets section:

An orphans and weirdos section:

All Christmas and Hanukkah beads are 20% off!

All Halloween Beads are 30 % off!!!

And finally, a section of commercially made necklaces with a handmade feel... I keep these in stock in case I'm at a show that doesn't appreciate fine jewelry or if my table looks a little thin!

There's something for everyone! I hope you'll come take a look. OH! And there's prizes!!! There are prizes for shopping and prizes for helping me spread the word about my sale!!! 


Here's a reminder of how to shop on Facebook:

 

Hiding

Macy and Otto on the porch yesterday. Otto T. Rotto is hiding a ball in the porch sofa from Macy. Macy is hiding from the camera. These two crack me up!! Macy just adores him and he's so sweet with her, even when he shouldn't be...she bites his ankles and tail nub to discourage him from going in the pool!

Macy's integration into our larger pack is moving along. She's met all the boys except Hank. As he's so sick, that's not likely to happen. She met Ruby yesterday...we took them out for cheeseburgers and they were fast friends and sharing food like they've been pals for years!

Only Chloe and Sue are the only ones left to meet and then we'll try for Otto's pals, Roxy and Riley. The girl should be creek ready in a few more weeks.

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In one step forward, one step back department...UGH... everything I made in my sale, has to go toward my plumbing bill (my wonderful plumber doesn't take plastic!) from a sudden leak in the back yard last week! So I'm NO closer to paying off Mabel's vet bill. ARGH! Just feeling hopeless...

But Mollie's auction has been extended. There some lovely things up for grabs!

A Lot of Help from My Friends!

Wow... you just never know when you touch someone's life... how having a silly dog blog about the antics of one very bossy rottenweiler might impact someone else! Who knew what Mabel Lou would bring into my life?? Aside from the real life Creekerati friends, she's brought all of you! I'm feeling very loved to today!

I was very touched when Mollie and Alfie's mom suggested hosting an auction to help me pay off Mabel's final vet bill...but couldn't really figure out how it may manifest itself...but boy has it EVER! Bloggers from all over have donated and the auction is running NOW

And Walter and Millie's mom did the LOVELIEST write up in addition to donating to the auction! (I should have her write for my fan page!)

Wine Stopper in my trunk show

I haven't even mentioned it here but, the venue where I was selling jewelry in person burned down 3 days after Mabel Lou passed!

It's been such a rough month... This was one of Mabel's favorite places to go with her pal Ruby! They had the best bacon and I would get an order and share most of it with the dogs.  It just all feels like SO much loss... in the past few months, we've lost three from our extended hiking pack, Mabel, the bakery and our buddy Hank has cancer and is not eating.

But I have to come out of my grief and deal with my bills! And, thanks to my friends, I've been on fire! Realizing I would not need my jewelry stash for about a year, I got it all out and created a trunk show on Facebook!

I've got several shopping categories: bracelets / bracelet beads, necklaces, earrings, bar ware, beads and orphan beads and weirdos!

I'm told that even if you are not on Facebook, you can still view the auction. Feel free to bid by email or if that's not up your alley, I do have a website with about 100 items.

Just be sure to read the MAIN post on the auction page for navigation tips. Very helpful if you aren't sure about maneuvering Facebook.

In addition, if you are on Facebook, I'm giving away prizes!!! There is a $40 gift cert drawing. for sharing the main post about the auctions. And, that's not all!!! I'm having a $50 gift cert drawing for first prize and earrings for 2nd place for everyone who likes, comments or shares any item from the auction! Likes get one entry, comments get two and shares get three. (Guess what I'm spending Saturday counting???)

 ***BEADS*** are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290258861149023/

***NECKLACES*** are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290266157814960/

***EARRINGS*** are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290281161146793/

***BRACELETS***are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290285367813039/

***ORPHAN BEADS AND WEIRDOS*** are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290289374479305/

***GIFTS*** are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290028454505397/permalink/290494811125428/

 Thank you all for looking!

So I'm clearly not in this alone. and I'm feeling very blessed. I can't thank everyone enough for the their help and support!!

Rainy Hike

Unless you've been under a rock, you've heard we got some rain. First, I'll show you a pic of Mabel in the creek the day before the rain....

 

And here is the same spot the day after:

Miss Thing was NOT a happy camper. Our hike was just laughable. Mabel usually loves to go out rain or shine... but not that day. Just as we got to our parking spot, the rain picked up. 

I have to tell you a bit about my 16 year old jeep. The locks don't work properly... particularly Mabel's door. And the alarm will lock all the doors but hers but if I open her door to lock it... the alarm kicks in! And... the key fob no longer unlocks the doors or it will unlock but not turn off the alarm. Locking the car is... complicated! 

I ran around to the passenger side, realized Mabel's door was locked. I had to: unlock the front, reach in and unlock the back, lock and close the front, open and lock the back letting her out. Just as I shut her door and the rain starts to pound, I realize I've left the umbrella and leash in the car! Lather, rinse repeat! 

I was struggling with my old and underused umbrella in the rain, outside the locked car when I realized that while my back was turned dealing with the umbrella, Mabel had simply walked around the car once and gotten back in and was now locked inside!  Shortest hike ever!!! 

I gave up and got in the car thinking I would go check on the river flow on the levy and we would call it a day. 

I had to open Mabel's door to get my umbrella and...the girl jumped out and took off!  So off we went down the rainy levy. 

It was raining so hard... and it was raining sideways!  It was so cold, my fingers felt like they were being pierced by thousands of needles!  The wind was so strong! 

Mabel seemed miserable by the time we got to the end. She took a look around and instead of heading down to the water, like we always do... 

The girl took off for the homeless camp! I think she was looking for shelter!
 
 I gave chase and leashed her up.  We snapped that pic above (#2) down by the river and headed back to the car, fighting wind and rain and cold all the way back.


My old umbrella finally bit the dust mud half way back... Ain't nobody gonna write a song about this umbrella...

The next day, we made sure there was no way we'd get caught in the rain... Mabel used to love hiking in it, but I have to be aware that my girl is older. I have to listen to her needs...

Speaking of older... Monday is a big birthday. I hate my birthday.... and I've written about it ad infinitum here. But I bring it up because... it's the BIGGEST sale of the year on my glass beads and jewelry. 39% off! Details and shopping codes in my newsletter.

Busy Doing Nothing - Mom's Trunk is Full

Mabel Lou here. Curled up in the sun in Mom's flower bed. Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to but it's freaking COLD here! And that's the sunniest spot in the yard.

Mom's busy ignoring me cause she's made a bunch of stuffs for a trunk show and for a show in da hood...at my favorite bakery where I go with Ruby for our old lady brunch! And get this Mom says I can't even go to the bakery that day cause she's gotta have her trunk! GRRR!

Anyway, she asked me to tell you guys about it but I can't be bothered to get out of the sun so I'm gonna paste some pics and text from her stupid bead blog!

Mom just saw what I wrote and pointed out that the green papers she  gets from the trunk are used to buy me kibble!!! So please consider buying a holiday gift or 37 from Mom cause I like my foodables!!!

Oh and Mom will turn any bead you fancy into a pendant!!!

This Snow man mini is a 99 cent auction today!!!

Even a hammered silver focal!!!

Sets:

Including lots and lots of Bellflowers:

 

Finished jewelry (I made three necklaces and one bracelet just this morning! 

including several pairs of earrings ready for wearing or gifting! (These are MY fave!)

I have some really elaborate pieces as well as some simple pendants:

I have lots of glass bead gifts...in addition to all the wine stoppers and bottle openers I've shared, I've photographed some of my fusing plates!

 

There will be plenty of focals too: 

This will be one of the 99 cent auctions:

Come on over and do some holiday shopping!