Distinctive Style & Design

The year that was!

2009-07-25T01:53:00.002-06:00

Last year at this time I started on a year of ups and downs that I am very glad is finally getting back to "normal" whatever that is! Because of a lung condition I had to take some medication that I absolutely hate, and along the way ended up with a broken pelvis and fractured vertebrae as side effects of the meds. Thank heavens those have mostly healed. Now, however, I'd embarked on another journey with my teeth. They are having to pull all the teeth I have left and eventually make me dentures. Since I have so little bone in my lower jaw, they had to do a graft this last week when they pulled all the lower teeth. Next week they pull all the top teeth. After another 6 weeks I may have some upper teeth, but it will be at least another 3 months before I have any lower teeth. Did I ever mention that nothing is easy when it comes to dealing with my body and it's health?

On a more positive note, my good friend and "sister" is redoing my web site into one that is more professional. (For some strange reason I have yet to fathom, she actually LIKES to do this!). For my part, I'm working on some new and exciting designs to put up when it's done. I'm having a lot of fun working up new ways to use wire and gemstones as well as having bought some really neat gemstones to make into rosaries.

Along with all of the above, I hope to be able to put some more time into learning new techniques. Last year wasn't too conducive to doing that because moving around physically was hard most of the time. Since that has gotten easier, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at some of the new stuff. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. There are a couple of technical things I need to work out, then I can get started working.

I'm hoping to get some pictures of what I'm working on up soon. My computer crashed and I've been working with a newer one and putting in all the information I lost from the other one. None of it was able to be recovered from my old one, so this is just stuff that has to be done before I can play. Hopefully most of it will be done soon and I can get back to doing what I love--playing with wire, metal and gemstones!

The trials of the web...

2009-01-28T16:34:00.002-07:00

I just found out that my domain had expired and someone bought it. My hosting company didn't let me know that it was up for renewal as they did last year, so I got caught with it expiring and of course, someone else bought it, probably with the thought of asking me to pay more for it to get it back.

Fortunately, a very good friend of mine has been working on my site to update it for me and she caught it. So, we're going for another version of my name and get it on another host and back up again. I am so blessed to have her helping me, since most of this still goes over my head. I'm not sure why, but learning all of this web stuff just makes my head go in circles and I only seem to be able to digest it a little at a time. Once I finally learn something, it seems to stick, it just takes me forever to learn it!

I'll let you know when the new one is back up again. We think it's going to be about the same http://www.rosariesjewelrybylaura.com/ just without the "and".

On another subject, I've only got one more month of taking the prednisone and then we'll see if I go into remission and can get rid of some of these side effects and actually feel like a human being again! To the pelvic fractures I've added 2 compression fractures in my thoracic spine which took some getting used to, but I can still work on making my rosaries and jewelry. Hopefully I can get through this without any more bones breaking. Since they do this spontaneously there isn't much I can do about it, but hope that once I'm done with the prednisone they will eventually heal.

At least it's never dull around here! To add to the fun, my car needs a completely new power steering system. Today it got new hoses. Next is the pump and last will be the rack and pinion. That's when I can save up enough money. Hopefully, when I get this car in good running condition, it won't end up being totalled like the last 2 were. Having someone run into me and total my car every fall is getting monotonous. At least this car is heavy enough that hopefully if it happens again next fall, no one will be hurt.

Well, back to work on my studies so I can work on my jewelry and get new things posted on my new website.

Curve Balls

2008-11-12T00:21:00.002-07:00

There are very few things in life that are certain, and this summer and fall has proven that every adage is based on truth.
After numerous tests, plenty of docs and people including myself being thoroughly frustrated, and spending 10 days in the hospital we finally found out what's wrong with my lungs. However, the treatment is almost worse than the disease and that's being hard to me to wrap my head around, along with all the weird side effects that come from taking this particular drug. At least I'm breathing fairly well most of the time now, but it's going to be a long time before I even resemble the person I was before I got to where I am now. The meds I'm taking have put about 70 pounds on me and it's mostly from extra fluids and fatty deposits in all the wrong places.

While I was working on trying to come to terms with my health and what needs to be done to make it better, my car was totaled in a parking lot by a lady who tried to go from a parking lot of one store to the parking lot of another through the back door of my car on the driver side. This is almost a year to the week of when it happen last year. Hopefully I'm now in the car that is going to last for more than a year this time!

The keyboard on my computer died, so I'm borrowing my roommates until tomorrow when I can go pick up a used one so we can both use our computers at the same time.

She got a call from Mexico that her grandkids needed winter clothes so last weekend she took the bus to El Paso to take them some clothes and got back Mon morning dead tired and with a migraine. I was able to fill in for her on Fri night after we dropped her off at the bus station and again Mon morning while she got some sleep to get rid of the migraine.

Since the problem with my lungs surfaced, the docs said no working with chemicals or fire in my jewelry making, I've been working on my wire skills and stamping things on metal to personalize things to make them special. I've also been working on making necklaces on satin cord or velvet cord to make them easier to afford this year for Christmas. I found some glass picture frames that can be put on cord for Christmas ornaments, or for rear view mirror of the car for pictures of loved ones, and making family necklaces and bracelets with stamps of initials of first names alternating with the birthstones of the family members as unique jewelry. The new designs are done for the fund raiser for the Catholic Biblical School this year and now I just have to get them on the flier and my blog for people so see and decided what they want to order. I've also found some wonderful wings and beads to put together for angel earrings that I need to get started on. Just need a whole lot more energy and someone who could add a few more hours in the day!

One thing I'm looking forward to is making a wire wrapped lariat or lasso rosary for a 50th wedding anniversary for some in-laws of the man we take care of. I've ordered the material and can hardly wait for it to get here so I can start working on it! I"m also got a couple of orders for personalized bracelets and zipper pulls for kids.

Well, time for bed so I can try to get my body working better than it has been lately, or at least some much needed rest so I can get started on all my new projects!
Hope to have some pictures posted soon of some of my finished items. Until then, I hope everyone is having a great fall and is planning for a holiday season filled with family and friends.
Laura

Circus

2008-07-08T02:12:00.002-06:00

Ever feel like your life turned into a circus when you weren't looking? It seems like I woke up one day, had these really strange clothes on, a whip in one hand and a whistle in the other and was told, "OK, now it's your turn to make things run, and Oh, by the way, we've added another ring just for you!"

While it's been hectic, there have been some fun times along the way. My roommates daughter and grandkids came for a visit, which was an unexpected happy event! She didn't think she'd get to see them this year, and her daughter called one night and said she and the kids were offered a ride to Colorado from California and were coming. We scrambled to make adjustments in her working schedule, so she could spend as much time as possible with them, and it really worked out well in the end.
When Teresa's daughter's family goes on a vacation in California, they try to take the kids to the beach. When they got here, the youngest kept asking me when we were going to run into the beach so she could play in the ocean. She had a very hard time understanding that we didn't have any oceans in Colorado!
One thing that made up for it though, was the swimming pool in the motel. They would have loved to spend the whole vacation in that swimming pool if we'd let them. They are both at the age where they seem to be part fish.

I finally got all the rosaries for our parish finished, as well as the ones for the priest who took them with him on his vacation to give out. I designed a line of jewelry for a general store here that carries my stuff. The teenagers were asking for some necklaces, bracelets and earrings they could buy that would fit into their budgets. With the price of gas and food these, days, that's something I can identify with! I'm taking them in tomorrow so we'll see what they think of them.

I've been dealing with a health problem that has even my doc stumped. I'm hoping to at least get some of the symptoms under control when I see him this week so I can enjoy what's left of the summer! The most frustrating part right now is that I can't seem to breathe and walk at the same time. Well, actually I can't seem to do much of anything and breathe at the same time. Kind of cramps my style! While we may never know what causes my body to do this, if we could at least get the symptoms under control, I could hopefully get back to my somewhat normal life.

I've got some jewelry designs running around in my head, and I'm hoping that when they get a couple of things fixed and working on my body I'll be able to get back to designing again! The silver and stones are calling me again, so it's time to answer the call of the powers above and get cracking again!

I hope that all of you who live in places that Mother Nature has taken aim at are slowly recovering! This has certainly been an active spring with all the tornado's, floods, fires, and now hurricane season upon us! I pray that all of you affected are getting the help you need to put your lives back together! Please know that there are many of us who've gone through either the same thing, or close to it who are pulling for you and thinking of you every day as you try to get some normalcy back into your life!

I'm going to try for a couple of pictures next time. I've got some stones that I haven't had him to use and I need to see what they want to become! Hopefully I'll talk to you again soon! At least sooner than it's been lately!

Not a post I wanted to write

2008-04-22T23:30:00.002-06:00

This isn't exactly a post I wanted to write, but I need to let you know what's going on, or at least the little I now know about it. It seems my web site, as well as my hosting company's web site are missing in action. So far I haven't received any responses to my calls or emails so I have no idea what the heck is going on. I've been with them for a couple of years and never had a problem so I'm hoping this will be resolved soon! Or at least they'll let me know what's going on and what to expect. Kind of hard to sell rosaries and jewelry when people can't see anything on your web site!!

In the meantime, while I'm working to find out what's going on, where to move my site if I have to, or just generally try to untangle this mess, if you need any special rosaries, or jewelry, please feel free to email me at RnJbyLaura@aol.com and I'll be sure to get back with you to help you get what you need.

I regret this inconvenience! This isn't something I would have put on my top 10 list of things I wanted to happen today! Kind of matches the downward spiral that has been my day today. Here's hoping that if tomorrow can't go up, it will at least go sideways!

I appreciate your patience while I try to get this resolved as quickly as possible.

New Year, already!

2008-01-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

My roommate went to El Paso to spend Christmas with her mom, daughter, and grandkids. Before she left, I gave her a bag with presents in it for everyone, except we forgot that her niece would also be there. Fortunately, her niece has the same name as she does so when the package for "Tere" came out of the bag, her niece thought it was for her. She was very flattered to get a very "grown-up" necklace and earring set.
When I called them to wish them "Feliz Navidad" Tere told me what happened, so that meant that she was without a present from me for Christmas. So, since I had made both of her daughters a bracelet like the one above, but with heart charms on it, I decided I'd make her one to match. Naturally, I didn't have any of the heart charms left, so I decided to include some of my heritage on it with the Claddagh. It's the Irish symbol of love, loyalty and friendship. The bracelet is made from 16 gauge wire, which I handcrafted into a double chain. The center piece has double hearts on it on both sides. The chain is argentium sterling silver, and all the components are regular sterling silver. It feels both heavy and silky. Teresa is coming home tomorrow, so maybe this will be a "Prospero Ano nuevo" present instead of a Christmas one.

Now that Christmas is past, it's time for me to start getting the rosaries made for my parish. First up is the 100 for the Confirmation kids, after that is the 50 for the RCIA class, and finally are the 200 for the kids who are making their First Communion this year. Since Easter comes very early this year, I need to get them all done as soon as possible. I've been working on them since last summer, but somehow, other things get in the way and it always seems like I have more time than I actually do! Now, there's no excuse for not getting on the ball and getting them all made. My Catechism class doesn't get back in session until February, so I'm going to be concentrating on making rosaries for the rest of this month.

Along with the above ones, I also need to get rosaries made for silent auction benefits this spring. There is one for the Biblical School, one for our Parish school, one for Colfax Community Network, and one for Alley Cat Alliance. I also need to get some bracelets and earrings made for ARAS, a no kill shelter for cats that helps me out when I need it with mine. I try to get them jewelry to sell to make money for operating expenses. I've got some made to take down this week, but I've also got more beads ordered for all of the above so when they get here I can get started on everything else.

This is the first New Year's I've spent alone since my husband died. While I miss him and thought of him often, it was really a nice one. I spent a quiet day, with the cats, getting some last minute work done on my web site for an article this week, and generally just being OK with still being here while he's gone. I know having a roommate is a Godsend, and one that I thank Him for everyday, but I'm also glad she could spend the holidays with her family. It will be nice to have things "back to normal" (whatever that is) but for now, it's OK to be alone.

I hope you all have a wonderful new year, full of blessings and very few problems! To quote an old Irish saying:
"May you be in heaven, a half an hour before the devil knows you're dead!"

Blessings

2007-12-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth Christmas without my husband. It's also the first that I've been by myself on Christmas without him. My roommate is in El Paso with her daughter, mom, and sister staying with them while her sister goes through surgery. Teresa will be back after the new year. I'm filling in for her at her job until then, helping care for an elderly parishioner from our Church. I had today off for Christmas because his family was with him.

We lost my husband's favorite cat last Tues to Chronic Renal Failure. He had adopted Teresa after she moved in and it was really hard for both of us to let him go. Even though I'd had him for 18 years it didn't seem that long and he absolutely adored Teresa.

I didn't know how I'd do this year alone, but I've been remarkably at peace today. I got a chance to get some extra sleep, (always a bonus around here!), work on some jewelry, and play with the cats. It snowed all day and I didn't even have to go out to clean the car off!! I watched some lovely programs on the TV about Christmas, and just basically had a day of rest. With the schedules Teresa and I have had this past 6 months, that in itself is a luxury! I went to Mass last night since I knew I'd never get up in time today. It's been lovely to just take time for the cats and me for a change and not having to rush to meet a deadline.

My husband is where he belongs, even if it's lonely here without him. My roommate is a real blessing and we get along great and complement each other well. I'm learning Spanish better, she's doing the same with English, I get to vicariously share her family, and we both get to have someone to live with and depend on. She called tonight and I got to talk with her, her daughter, her sister, and her grandchildren. It's nice having a family, even if it's a second hand one.

My business has done a little better this year than last, and I think I'm finally starting to see that it's going to work. I got some great custom orders this year that I really enjoyed working on. I'm able to learn more skills as a jewelry designer and maker and I'm also looking to broaden my work into another medium as soon as I have more than 1 day at a time to work on it.

We have a great group of people in our RCIA class again this year, and the program that Jay and I worked on over the summer seems to be going well. Since Easter is early this year, I'm also up by my eye balls in making rosaries for Confirmation, First Communion, and RCIA for the Easter Vigil. Also coming up quickly is the silent auction for the Biblical School, St. Pius X parish school fund raiser, the silent auction for Colfax Community Network, and the Alley Cat Alliance fund raiser. All of these I donate to so I need to get that stuff made too. It's all planned out, I just need to make it.

The orders for the Graduation Remembrances for the Biblical school are slowly coming in. Not too many, but at least I'll have something to contribute to the senior class gift this year. I was hoping for more, but maybe this too needs to build a little at a time throughout the years.

I am very, very blessed! I have wonderful people in my life, I have a wonderful parish that has become my family, I have a great roommate who generously lets me share her family, and I have great kids, even if they all do have 4 legs each and talk in meow.

God has been very, very good to me. I hope you have been equally blessed, and that your Christmas was full of joy as mine was. It's hard to believe that it's almost 2008, isn't it?!?

Merry Christmas!

Time

2007-12-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

The last part of this year has certainly caught me by surprise! I can't believe it's December already, let alone almost a new year! We've had a very eventful fall. Right after my roommate had oral surgery, someone slammed into the back of my car when I was stopped at a red light and totaled it, (the car, not the light). Teresa then started her classes for her CNA licence, which went from 3 days a week the first class to 7 days a week, by the third class. It seems they forgot that Thanksgiving comes about the same time every year. Since her school is about a 25 mile drive, and I'm not only her transportation, but also fill in for her with the elderly parishioner she takes care of, our schedule has been on the hectic side. We've had to stop occasionally just to figure out where we're supposed to be next!

We got the first really cold blast of winter today. It didn't snow a whole lot, but boy it sure is cold out there! I'm still trying to get used to the sun going down so early now we're not on Daylight Savings time anymore. It seems like the day just gets started and it's almost over. I don't think I'll ever get used to the change in the fall.

A wonderful lady is starting a new gift shop in Oregon that showcases artists. She wanted me to send her some of both my rosaries and jewelry to put in her shop. I feel really lucky to get in on the ground floor, and hope this is successful for both our sakes! If you are near Burns, Oregon anytime, stop by J and L Arts and Crafts Gift shop and see all the neat stuff she's got up. I'm looking forward to working with her for a long time.

Well, guess it's time for me to start getting ready for bed. I teach a class on the rosary tomorrow morning, and then I have some custom orders to finish so people can give them as Christmas gifts. That only gives me a little over 2 weeks to get everything done. It will be, I just get a little fidgety when I start to get close to a deadline. I'm having so much fun working with all the wonderful beads and wire, I just want to take my time and enjoy the process. (I may have to enjoy it a little faster!)

Hope all of you are having a wonderful and blessed Advent and Christmas season!

Remembrances

2007-10-09T01:16:00.000-06:00

The above picture is of the graduation remembrances I'm offering to the Catholic Biblical School's graduating seniors in the Archdiocese of Denver. I expanded what I offered last year so I could give people more options.

The top left corner is the sterling silver bible bookmark with the initials of the Biblical School and a bible on one end, and the graduating year on the other. The crystals are in the colors of the school's logo.

The top right corner is the necklace. It has the school's initials with a bible charm, which are hung from a handcrafted sterling silver wire designed focal pendant. It also has a handcrafted chain of sterling silver wire and can be made at the requested length.

The middle is the key chain. It is handcrafted of sterling silver wire with a handcrafted element in the middle from which the initials and bible charm are hung. The crystals in the middle are in the colors of the school's logo also.

The bottom is the bracelet with all the initials and bible charm hung from sterling silver wire wrapped links of crystal beads in the color of the school's logo. It can be customized for any length also.

All the beads on everything above are Swarovski crystal, the best crystal beads made. The wire used is Argentium Sterling silver wire. It is a new sterling silver with a special alloy that retards tarnishing and makes polishing very easy, when it is needed. With proper care, they shouldn't need to be polished very often.

I graduated from the Catholic Biblical School last May, and I was fortunate enough to go all four years on a scholarship. I am donating 20% of every item sold above to the senior gift to the school. Each year the seniors donate a class gift to the scholarship fund to enable others to attend the school if they cannot financially afford it. It is an honor to be able to give back in some small way. The Biblical School has enriched my life immensely in the time I was there and continues to do so. I'm so glad I can repay a small part of what I've received.

Challenges

2007-08-27T00:41:00.000-06:00

This has been a week of challenges! It started out with my printer dying, and ended up with me getting a new one that won't talk to my computer. Of course the fact that my computer is 8 years old, wouldn't have anything to do with it, would it? Hopefully tech support or one of my computer savvy friends can get them to get along and play nice.

I managed to get some time to wrap come cabs and make a few necklaces. This is one of them. The cab is blue lace agate, as are the large oval and round beads on the necklace. The smaller roundells are amethyst. It is wrapped in Argentium sterling silver, as is the chain and center piece. I made the chain out of 18 gauge wire this time due to the weight of the piece. It's not for the faint of heart! It will definitely make someone stand out who wears it!

I've got a couple more I'll get up as soon as I get them finished. Meanwhile, I'm going to be talking with tech support tomorrow and hoping that they will manage to get my computer talking with my printer!

Time and Tia

2007-07-04T22:20:00.000-06:00

Boy how time flies when your having fun, (or at least very busy!)!. Just when I thought things were going to slow down, the pace picked up. Not that I mind all that much, but I just need to get on some kind of schedule so I can get everything done that needs to be done. However, by the time I do that, fall will be here and I'll have to revamp the whole thing again.

My roommate is going to Calif next week with one of her daughters to visit her other daughter. It's been over 10 years and 4 kids since they've all been together. The grandkids haven't met each other, and grandma (my roommate) hasn't met some of them either. I'm so happy for her. She asked me to make a special necklace for her favorite aunt who lives in Calif also, so this is what I made. She wanted something "long and red with a heart".

I'm also working on some new designs. I had a special order for some rosaries that are almost all done, and then I can start working on making some more jewelry. I'm looking forward to having some time to just "play", although I really like making rosaries also, so it's all play of some kind or another.

I hope everyone is having a great summer, and a very safe 4th of July! Right now my cats are in hiding from the fireworks. They never get used to the sound. If any of you have family that is fighting in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, I hope they get home to you safe and sound very soon!

Mom's Day

2007-05-12T19:34:00.000-06:00

This is a bitter sweet holiday for me. I'm not a mom of any human children, but I am a "Mom" to a bunch of kitties. My husband and I did cat rescue when he was alive, and I've still got the ones that couldn't be adopted out due to either medical or behavioral problems. They are my "kids" and I swear, they can be as challenging as human kids sometimes. However, as hard as it is for me now that my husband is gone, it's even harder for my roommate, who can't be with either her mom or her kids this Mom's Day. Mother's Day in Mexico, is May 10th. Then we have the one here tomorrow, so it's kind of like missing 2 Mother's Days.
In order to make it a little easier, I decided to make her something she could remember this day with, and the necklace and earring set is what I designed and made for her. I gave it to her tonight, kind of "in between" the 2 days, and she really liked it. I'm glad I could bring her a little joy since she's without her family.
The heart is Murano Glass, and the round stones are black opal. The cylinder stones are prehinite, the chain is handcrafted of Argentium sterling silver wire. The chain holding the heart is double, going through the heart and the 2 twisted rings on either side. She said she liked it because it would go with everything. I hope it brings some happy thoughts as she goes through the day tomorrow. She got to talk with both of her daughters, and her mom on the phone, so at least she had that.

To all of you moms out there, whether you're a mom to a human, or like me, are a mom to kitties who lost their real moms, have a very happy and wonderful day tomorrow! I hope your families let you know how much you mean to them.

Finishing!

2007-04-23T15:26:00.000-06:00

I'm in the last stages of finishing up all the items for the Biblical School before graduation. I got all the special order items ready to go tomorrow to the various people who ordered and helped me raise money for the scholarship fund. I also just finished the rosary for my instructor from our small group. It is wire wrapped in bronze, with a bronze center and crucifix, and made with crazy lace agate "Hail Mary" beads. The "Our Father" beads are Kyanite and are a wonderful satiny blue.

I am now finishing up the rosaries I'm making for the class that I'm in. We've been together for 4 years, and they've all been very supportive since the death of Reed. I wanted to give them all something as a thank you, and since I make rosaries I decided that would be the easiest and best. I'm in a small group within the class and I'm making all of them the same, and the others are in random colors. They are about half done, but I have another week for those so that should be enough time.

I'm still somewhat sad as we pass another anniversary of Reed's death, but then I guess it's always going to be that way. I think it's also going to be sad at my graduation since I started before he died and I always thought he'd be at my graduation. However, my roommate will be there, so that should help.

However, before I can graduate, I need to finish up the assignments! Guess I'd better get back to work on something!

Sadness

2007-04-17T13:23:00.000-06:00

As I write this, I just got done watching the special convocation at Virginia Tech. So much sadness. This is also a week for sadness for me for many reasons. The shootings at Columbine happened this week, a friend of mine died yesterday morning, it's the first anniversary of the death of another good friend, who's husband my roommate and I take care of. However, the one that seems to be hitting me the hardest right now is the anniversary of the death of my husband. It will be 3 years this Friday the 20th, but it seems both longer and shorter than that. Time is a funny thing in grief. It moves swiftly, and at the same time stands still.

Reed would have been happy to see me start this business and I know he gives me ideas for my rosaries and jewelry. He had such a talent for color and design! I know that if he was alive now, we'd be selling his oil paintings instead of my jewelry. I think of all the ways my life has changed in the three years since his death, and I think of how different it would have been if he was still here. I also Thank God that Reed is home with Him and no longer struggling here on this earth! As I watched another class of RCIA join the Church this Easter at the Vigil, I thought about when Reed was received in the church in his hospital room, and a week later we were married in that same room on Palm Sunday. Two weeks later he was dead. Joy and Sadness. Life and Death. I guess this is my time of year to ponder these things.

As I pray for those affected by the shootings both today and at Columbine, the friends I've lost and their families, I also remember what wonderful years Reed and I had together and how thankful I am to God for putting him in my life. I also know that God has more plans for me that involves carrying on some of the work Reed started working with migrant families to help make their lives easier.

I guess this week is a time out of time for me and likely to be that way for many years to come.
Happy Wedding Anniversary, Reed, and Happy Anniversary of your day of going home to God.

Wow! Another Interview!

2007-03-25T20:43:00.000-06:00

This must be some kind of a record for me. Two interviews published just since the beginning of the year! This time I made it into Indie Entrepreneur! I sent answers to questions about my business a while back and then promptly forgot about it! I got an email last week reminding me that it would be in the blog on Friday. It's very strange seeing your own words on paper in any other way than when I'm writing here on the blog, or sending an email. The questions really made me think about where I have been and where I'm going in my business. It doesn't seem like coming up on three years, but that's where it is. I have mixed feelings as I started my business after I lost my husband and that is tied up in the anniversary as well. I have been very blessed these last three years. More about that later. Enjoy the interview and check out the other indie businesses while your there.

Milestones, heritage......

2007-03-16T16:08:00.000-06:00

These are 2 rosaries that I made for a family using the beads from old, broken rosaries that belonged to the mom and dad. They have 2 sons and they wanted them to have rosaries made with beads from both of the old rosaries to use for First Communion. One son is making his this year, the other, next. They sent the centers they wanted used, and asked that I provide the crucifixes. One of the ladies in a bible study group I'm in lost her husband recently to cancer. She gave me some crucifixes that she found among her husband's things and asked that I use them where I could. One was a perfect fit for one of the rosaries for the boys. She and her husband were founding members of our parish. Her husband will now be remembered in prayer by another generation just starting out in his life of faith. I was so honored to be able to work on these rosaries for this family. What a wonderful way to recycle broken rosaries (and most rosaries that are used eventually break, and often are missing parts), and give a child a legacy to carry on. Just knowing that someone else prayed using parts of these rosaries will be such an incentive to these boys. Here's the picture of how they ended up. I was able to use every bead from the 2 rosaries of the parents in these. I added enough other beads to make up the rest of the rosaries. I know they will be cherished.

I just finished all the rosaries for the Confirmation kids at our parish, and now I'm working on the RCIA ones. It's never dull around here right before Easter! It seems like the time just starts flying by!! I'm so glad we got Daylight Savings early this year, and that we're finally maybe heading towards spring! We're heading into my favorite time of year at last.

Fun with wire and crystal!

2007-02-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

The necklace I was making as a special order finally got to it's destination today. I was asked to make a free form filigree necklace and earrings with all of the birthstones of the family on it. It was really a lot of fun to work on making a design that would work, and then see it come into being! This is the result. The crystals on the top of the design are for my friend and her husband, and the 2 on either side and in the middle are the children. My friend treated herself to this for her 50th birthday. The earrings are an "S" swirl and have one of each of the birthstone colors on them.
The tag at the top is my logo stamped onto a sterling silver tag. I haven't been able to get the stuff that makes it black in the grooves so you can see it better. That's one of the things on the list of "things I need or want for my business". It's a VERY long list. It also keeps getting longer! It seems like there is always something new to learn, something new to use to make another kind of jewelry, and ALWAYS there is the need for more silver wire. That's a constant and a given!

I'm going to be selling rosaries and jewelry a couple of places in the next 2 weeks to help people get ready for Confirmation and First Communion and those that need Easter gifts. I've been working pretty non stop on rosaries for the past 2-3 weeks and while I love that part of my business, I think I'm going through withdrawal from the lack of designing and making jewelry. The ideas fill my head, I just haven't had time to do anything about it. I can't believe it's already Lent! Before I'm even ready, Easter will be here and I have a whole lot of rosaries to finish before then! This is a very busy time of year for most rosary makers. However, I love doing it, so it's really not a problem. The problem is finding the time I need. Have you ever wondered why they haven't figured out how to make 36-48 hour days?? I could sure use a few!

My First Interview!

2007-02-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

This is the rosary I donated to the fundraiser for our parish school, St. Pius X. They are having a casino night and silent auction tonight, and this is going into the auction. It's bronze wire wrapped with carnelian small beads and green goldstone for the large ones.

I was interviewed by MissKittyville.org this month! Here's a link to my interview:http://www.missevilkitty.org/rosariesandjewelrybylaura.html. It's my first as an independent business woman.

The rosary I donated to the Catholic Biblical School raised $160 at the silent auction. That will go toward giving others a chance at a scholarship that I was fortunate enough to get so I could complete the 4 year course. I graduate this May, provided I finish all the assignments! It doesn't seem like four years in one way, and in others it seems like it's been twice that long. My husband was alive when I started, and now he's gone. I didn't have a business when I started and now I do. Since then I've also learned Spanish and I'm also trying to learn how to write in html. So many changes, and so many things the same. I've learned to blog, I've been able to design jewelry for people for special events, I've got a roommate from Mexico and I'm learning a lot from her too. Like I said, it seems both longer and shorter than four years. I guess it will always seem that way.

I'm just finishing up a mother's necklace and earring set for someone's 50th birthday. It's being polished as I write this. I'll post the picture after it's all done. It was a lot of fun to make. It has the birthstones of both her and her husband, and all three of the kids. I'm anxious for her to see it in person.

The last couple of weeks have been very hectic with both me and most of the cats being sick. Hopefully we've got that done and over with!! The worst were Katrina with an abscess on the side of her face and Oscar with bronchitis. I also ended up with bronchitis, but we both sound a whole lot better now. Let's hope it stays that way!

Would you like to??

2007-02-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

Win some great make up and cosmetics? Check out this site of one of my fellow Switchboarders. She's have a contest to celebrate her 3rd year in business, so if you want to try it out by winning, enter here: http://www.jlynnecosmetics.com/jlynne-cosmetics-sweepstakes.html
Tell her I sent you!!

In Hopes of Spring.....

2007-02-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

It looks as though we might be getting out of the deep freeze next week! I'm still navigating the snow in front of my house every day, and trying not to fall on the ice! We've got so much snow, that if the temps go into the 40's next week like they say, I may be writing this next time from a boat. I've got 5 feet of snow piled up in my front yard that's been there since Christmas. When it melts we may have to swim out of here!

I ran into these shell beads and focal bead the other day, and the design just popped into my head. I've been working on it in between orders and rosaries for our parish and finally got it finished.

I like to incorporate fun into my designs and give people some movement. I find myself reaching for whatever necklace or earrings I'm wearing throughout the day, so I try to make some of my designs like that for others that do the same.

The crystal is Swarovski in one of the newest colors, vintage rose. I wasn't sure at first if I liked it, but with the right combination it really pops! The chain is handcrafted with fine silver wire and all findings are sterling silver.

Nothing like a touch of spring in the middle of winter.

Hope you have a great week!

My new Logo!

2007-01-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

Look at the great logo Tabatha made for me! I really like how she incorporated the 2 sides of my business along with the rose which is on the stamp I put on all my sterling silver and gold filled rosaries and jewelry. She did a great job of getting my tag line on there too. Since the name of my business and the tag line are so long, she really had a challenge to work with and I think she did a great job!
She's also going to send me a picture of the birthstone necklace I made for her in exchange for this logo so you can all see it. I completely forgot to scan it before I sent it to her.
Now I'm all set to brave the waters of advertising. I now have banners, buttons and a Logo to utilize. I'm very grateful to Tabatha and her willingness to work with me in exchange for jewelry.

Banners, Buttons, Logos,........A new step for me.

2007-01-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine agreed to barter some jewelry for her work on some banners, buttons and a logo for me. You can see her work here: http://www.tickledpinkdesignz.com
She's still working on the logo, but that should be done fairly soon. Check out what she's made for me so far! The ones above are the buttons and I'm working on the banners but they don't seem to want to be uploaded. Nothing unusual in that for me. I seem to have a love/hate relationship with my computer. There are just some days when it doesn't pay to try and work on it and this is turning out to be one of them. Lets see if I can at least post a picture of one of the necklaces she chose.
Hurray!!! It worked! The other one I don't have a picture of, but it was a birthstone necklace with the colors of her son's birthday, hers and her husbands. It was done in cubic zirconia and Swarovski crystal.
OK, I'm going to try the banners again, but I have a feeling I may have to do that in another post.
No such luck. Guess I'm going to have to work on that another day.

I'm working on some earrings for some goody bags that are going to Hollywood, and also another wire wrapped rosary to donate to our parish school's silent auction. I just looked at the calendar, and Confirmation for the kids and Easter are coming up fast. That means I need to get all the rosaries I'm making for everyone done. Isn't it odd how fast the time flies! It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for Christmas and already we're into the next holidays. I've got to get some of my Valentine's Day stuff ready and then work on the ones for St. Patrick's Day.
I'll see if I can get the banners up on another post. They really are neat. Wait until you see my logo! Tabatha does really great work. Thanks to her I now have items I can use to advertise my site. Now the real work begins, finding places to advertise that I can afford!
Until next time........

One Final Down, One to Go!!!

2007-01-20T01:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I took the second to last final in my class at the Catholic Biblical School, and now only one more before graduation! I'm in my fourth and final year, and I can't believe how fast it's gone! The year I started, my husband was still alive, and before the year was over he was gone. My life has changed so much since them, it almost seems like another lifetime. I think he would have been proud of me that I've continued with the school and will graduate this spring.
I went to the school on a scholarship because I couldn't afford to pay the tuition. The school is very generous that way for those who want to go and learn about the Bible, but can't afford it on their own. There is a fund for that and I'm very grateful to them for that, and very thankful that I can give something back. They have a banquet every year to honor someone, and raise money. At the banquet, they have a silent auction of donated items. Every year I've donated a rosary for the group I was in, and this being our senior year, we decided to go all out. I'm donating this rosary, of high quality faceted amethyst roundels and wire wrapped in sterling silver. The crucifix is a sterling silver Papal crucifix, and the center is sterling silver Our Lady of Guadalupe. Since the school is starting an offshoot school in Juarez, Mexico, known as the Jerome Mission, and we wanted to honor that in some way. Hence the center of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The others in my group graciously donated some money to help with supplies so I could get very high quality amethyst and use sterling silver. I wire wrapped each bead individually so this will the rosary would be able to be passed down through the family of whoever wins it, as an heirloom if they wish.

On another subject, I'm looking forward to using the new jewelry tools I've been able to get and hone my skills as an artist and designer. I've got some many ideas and designs running around in my head and not enough time to do them! However, I'd much rather have it this way than to not have any designs begging to be made! I've bartered some jewelry for some banners and buttons and a logo so I can advertise my business a little more. I'm looking forward to having them and I'm working on the special order for Tabatha, the lady that's doing them for me. As soon as one more component gets here in the mail, I can get them off to her.

Well, off to finish up a couple of more orders and make some more rosaries. I might even play hooky and work on a couple of those designs that seem to want out of my head and into silver!

Here's hoping the snow we are supposed to get this weekend will just be a couple of inches like they say it's supposed to be! I think we could all use a break from the frigid weather and snow!

DEEP FREEZE!

2007-01-14T23:53:00.000-07:00

We are in the third day of an arctic deep freeze, along with more snow. Even the cats are having a hard time staying warm.
I'm working on some special orders and having fun doing it. I'm designing and making a birthstone necklace for a lady who is designing some banners and a logo for me to use to advertise. I'm also working on a wire wrapped sterling silver and amethyst rosary to be auctioned off to help the Catholic Biblical School. I'm finishing up my last year there, and went through on a scholarship. This is my way of giving back so others can do the same.
Looks like I'm going to have plenty to keep me busy for awhile. I'm finishing the rosaries I'm making for the RCIA class I help teach, and the ones for the Hispanic Confirmation kids. I also finally got some beads that are small enough to make rosaries to sell to the Hispanic community for their kids. They like the kids to wear them so they don't get lost and all the beads I had before were too big and made the rosaries too long. These are just the right size, so I'm going to get started on them soon also. I want to have them done in time for Confirmation, First Communion, and Easter.
In the middle of all this I also have some new design ideas running around in my head competing for time! I'm hoping to get to them also. However, this week is my semester final in my Biblical School class and the second to last before graduation. So studying is what I need to do most right now. Guess I'd better get back to it!
If you are anywhere in this deep freeze, STAY WARM!! Summer is going to be very welcome this year!

What happens when you blink!

2007-01-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

2007 is here already! I know it's a cliche to say time flies, but it really did go very fast for me the last couple of months.
I got 2 custom orders for rosaries and I thought I'd share them with everyone. The first one is for a lady that loves purple and wanted one in lots of shades of purple. The first rosary to the left in gilt is the result.
The second one is for a girl who will be making her first Holy Communion this spring. Her parents wanted her to have a really nice rosary as a keepsake of that and to use for her prayers. This rosary is done in sterling silver with Swarovski crytal pearls and bicone beads. Her mom chose the colors for the rosary and I think it's going to be a hit. I really enjoyed working with both people to made rosaries that they wanted.
I'm finishing up some special orders that got delayed over the holidays because of the snow. I'm still waiting for a package that was mailed the day before Christmas. Hopefully we can get the mail and UPS caught up before we get snowed in again! It's been quite a winter so far and it's just getting started!
Here's wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year! May your blessings be many and your problems be few.

Let it Snow, and Snow, and Snow and ........

2006-12-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

We've been in the middle of a blizzard for the last 2 days, and while it's supposed to clear out today, it's not showing any signs of doing so yet. We have at least 26 inches on the ground, with more coming. At least the wind has died down, but it's still snowing, and snowing, and snowing.

A lot of my neighbors are from Mexico, and they are out taking pictures to send to relatives and playing in the snow. My next door neighbor was kind enough to shovel my walk so I can get out to try and find the car.

My roommate is snowed in at work again for the second day. Even if I get the car dug out today, there's too much snow on the streets to drive a regular car without getting it hung up on the drifts. They're only wanting the snow plows, and anyone with at least a 4 wheel drive and preferably a hummer to try and drive today. I called her and told her I'd try and come to get her tomorrow. She's a home health care aid, so at least she's somewhere warm and has food.

My cats have been sitting in the windows watching it snow and are totally amazed. They don't go outside, but they sure like watching! The next door neighbor's dog is totally thrilled to be out in the snow "helping" with the shoveling. The snow is taller than he is and he's running and jumping into the drifts and having a ball! The cats enjoy watching him do that too.

At least this year we'll have a white Christmas. There's no way all this snow will be gone by then, and we're supposed to get more on Saturday. (Today is Thursday.) After that, however, we're finally supposed to get some sun!

Having the down time, (since I can't go anywhere anyway!) has been rather enjoyable. I can't get to any of the places I'm supposed to sell, so I've been working on some new designs, finishing some orders, and making the rosaries for the Confirmation kids of the Hispanic community of our parish, and the ones form my RICA class. All in all, it's been rather nice! There's something to be said for the whole city (and most of the state) shutting down and no one being able to go anywhere! At least this time I've got both food and heat. For the last blizzard, the food was OK, but we were without heat for 4 days! This one is almost fun by comparison!

Merry Chirstmas everyone! Stay warm, and enjoy your families.

"Tis the Season!

2006-12-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

One way or another, this time of year seems to get very hectic! While it's just a little over 2 weeks to Christmas, it seems like there is at least 4 weeks of things to get done.!

I've been working on a new way of making jewelry. I love the look of filigree, but since I'm not allowed to solder, I had to come up with another way of making it look as much like it as possible.

I decided to try wiring the elements together and see if I could achieve the same sort of look, but with maybe my twist on it. Here's the result. I think it came out pretty well, and I'm going to work on some other designs to see what I can do with this method. Hope you enjoy it. I'm working on earrings to match right now.

The chain on this is handcrafted with 20 gauge argentium silver wire and is a double chain on both sides.

Well, back to work! Thanks for stopping by! Let me know what you think!

Flying Time!

2006-11-27T03:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, has the time flown by this year. It's almost December and I feel like I'm still trying to catch my breath from running through summer! I have a couple of sales coming up, and have been working hard at getting pieces made for it. I'm also working on a design challenge that our IJDG is having. Our owner sent everyone the same beads and we all have to design something out of them using all the beads. Mine is starting to come together, but since I don't use many seed beads, it has really stretched me as a designer.

I will be selling a week from Wed at the school that is associated with my church. Every year they have a fundraiser to help with different things the school needs. My late husband was an artist in oils and donated paintings to the silent auction each year. This year I hope to start a tradition of selling my rosaries and jewelry at the school and donating a portion of the gross proceeds to the school in his name. This coming sale will be the first one for the W. Reed Andersen Memorial Fund for St. Pius X Catholic School. Hopefully I'll be able to have a sale a couple times a year to help raise more money for the school. Wish me luck Reed!

Fun with CZ's!

2006-10-27T13:55:00.000-06:00

I made this necklace and earring set for a friend of mine to wear in a very special ceremony. The drops and small beads on top of them are all cubic zirconia, and the double strand of the necklace is out of Swarovski crystal. She wanted the earrings to be long and full, and both of them to have lots of sparkle. I think this fits the bill. I'm taking it to her this afternoon to make sure that it works with the dress she has in mind, and is the right length. I can't wait to get her reaction! I really enjoy taking the description that someone gives me and trying to make it come to life.

Steps

2006-10-09T18:09:00.000-06:00

My friend Shannon started on her Journey today with surgery. She is making the Journey of hope on the way to recovering from uterine cancer. She will be in the hospital for 5 days, and then continue her steps along the way at home. I'm not sure yet what they will be, it depends on what they find during surgery. I'm making the Journey bracelets and key chains she wanted for her supporters so they will be ready for when she wants them. Good Luck Shannon!! My thoughts and prayers are with you! Hope to see you back soon!

Journals for your journey

2006-09-23T18:15:00.000-06:00

Last time I posted a picture of the bracelets I'm offering for you and your family and friends for your journey in coping with cancer or other devastating diseases. This time I would like to direct you to some wonderful journals that a friend of designed. When Shannon first found out about her diagnosis of cancer, she was overwhelmed and went looking for a journal to help sort out all her feelings and fears. Not finding anything that really fit what she wanted, she designed some herself during some sleepless nights. These journals are the result. They are to help you work through all the emotions, fears, concerns, and just plain hard parts of your journey.
When you first get a diagnosis, or someone you loves gets one, of cancer there is an overwhelming feeling of fear and confusion. Using one of these wonderful journals can help you sort through all the different feelings and fears and help you concentrate on the things you can control and have some say over.
Shannon is starting on her journey, and has offered everyone else who may be in the same boat a way to chart their journey. Check out her journals here: http://www.cafepress.com/fosterscreation/1792014.
If you would also like one of the bracelets that I make, either for the person with cancer, or one of their supporters please visit my Awareness page at http://www.RosariesAndJewelrybyLaura.com/awarenesitems.htm. I am also going to be offering key chains with the same charms on them. Check back to see them. I'll put a picture up when I get one finished.
While we hope no one has to go through this kind of trauma, we are glad to offer some help and comfort along the way with items to make your journey easier.

Firsts

2006-09-16T18:40:00.000-06:00

This is my first blog and my first post. I'm hoping the learning curve on this is a little faster and shorter than it is on learning and setting up a web site! That one I'm still working on learning after almost 2 years! I'll be posting pictures of my work here as I go along, and probably before they make it to my web site.
For now, here is a picture of a Journey of Hope Awareness bracelet that I made for a friend of mine who just found out she had cancer. I hope to be able to offer these soon on my web site for anyone who would like to have one. The concept is that there are 2 charms that are permanent--the color of ribbon of the cancer or disease involved, and the angel holding the ribbon as a symbol of those in your life who are helping you through. The rest of the charms can be added as needed, from Faith, Hope, Cure, sandal for walking or running for a cure, support, etc. Some days you may need one more than others, some days you may need all of them.
I'm also going to be designing "supporter" bracelets for family and friends who are making the journey with you. Theirs will be with the color of the ribbon of yours, an angel, and a "support" charm.
Thanks for visiting!