New Beads Coming Soon

The fruits of last weekend. The top, middle and bottom mandrels are all using the glass from Val Cox's sampler pack that arrived via Santa's UPS truck. :) I just love the teal and blue in those polka dotted beads on the bottom!

The ivory and chocolate swirl beads above the teal polks were made for Pearl & Pebble who won my last naming contest. She received one of those beads in the giveaway and loved em so much she needed a dozen more! Those beads are now on their way to the tundra for her :)

Close-up pics coming this week!

Goings On in the Wenzel Household

It has been a long coupla weeks. My Chloe Bean has had a 102+ fever every day since Friday, December 11th. Do you know how long that is for a five year old? To be stuck at home with Mom & Dad while they work and not have any friends to play with? Eons. It is truly eons for the girl child.

Tonight we made our third trip to the doctor's office and found out whatever she had has now turned into walking pneumonia. We started five new meds to combat the pneumonia, infection, rash/hives and itchiness. Thankful we now have a name for this pain and a treatment to get her back in school by the start of next week (crossing fingers for this Friday, but we'll see). Even with this high fever, she has kept a great disposition and has felt pretty good. She has also become quite proficient using the ear thermometer.


The other main event (which is more draining) is that our 18 year old boy cat got extremely sick last night. He has had hyper-thyroidism for the past three years, which has slowly taken his 22 lb frame down to 6 lbs. Last night, he threw up blood all over our living room. It looked absolutely horrible and I could only imagine how awful he felt. We called a neighbor to come stay in the house while we drove Keeters to the emergency vet clinic. We knew before we left that we would likely be putting him down.

When we arrived, all of his vitals were much lower than normal. The veterinarian ran through at least a dozen tests they could run through, but ended with she didn't think any of the tests would help him. She agreed that euthanization was the best decision. The most humane. But oh, how hard that is. The weight of that decision, that responsibility, is just so staggering. It never ceases to churn my stomach with pets, but I know we made the right decision last night.


I am taking the rest of this week off from work to regroup. To spend time with my girl child as she recovers. To wrap Christmas presents. To bury my Keeters boy once this rain stops. To re-organize the house and clean in prep for the upcoming company we will have beginning next week. To make new jewelry. To spend time on the torch when the girl child is napping (if I don't nap with her!). To bake cookies. To ship presents. To write our yearly letter and get it sent out on time, rather than sending our Christmas cards in July (like I might have done this past year). And to clean out the 40+ beads I made this weekend and get them photographed so I can blog about them. :)

Go Enter This Contest!

Win a $25 Artbeads.com gift certificate here! Lorelei also posts a facebook link to another chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Artbeads.com. How cool is that?!

New Beads Coming Soon

For the first time in almost a month, I got to spend hours n hours on the torch this weekend. Woot! I had several orders to fill. I ended up making over 40 beads!!!

Unfortunately, these are the only beads that I have gotten cleaned out and photographed. I like them alot and originally had plans to make similar ones in a deep red. I like how the fine silver melts into little dots as more heat is applied to it over the glass. And on red, you can see a trail of where the silver touched, even after it draws up into these little balls.

But then this weekend came and Santa delivered a five pound package with the Val Cox sampler pack inside. A BIG THANK YOU to Lorelei for her big heart, belated bday and early Christmas wishes for playing Santa after seeing my wish list. She totally rocks!!! It was a spendy pack of glass and I would never have expected one of my friends to go all out. Seriously, that would have been alot for family. I was very touched.

Anyone want to guess what might be headed her way in another week for under the tree? :)

The Loot

Just thought folks would like to see what Pearl & Pebble won from my Need a Name 2 contest. :) A dozen beads that would sell for $35 in my Etsy shop.

New Jewelry

I made these red and green beads quite awhile ago (I even have another set, just a little bit redder for sale here), but didn't know what to do with them until recently. I had bought some really cool beads in Philadelphia at the 2009 BeadFest and realized the Apatite and quartz beads would be a perfect match. The Apatite ovals are more blue, but the green on my beads has quite a blue tint. The earrings are waiting here for you. :)


Here is the bracelet, using the small coral quartz beads and medium size ruby red quartz. I love how they sparkle!

In the necklace, I used long sterling silver tubes to separate the beads. I think it is pretty eye-catching, but what do I know? I'm only a masked lampworker carrying a lighter around in my pocket for the next unknown bead emergency ;)

These black and white ones were a special request I received a couple of months ago from Perrii to make in time for Christmas. I made alot of different black and white beads, but decided these were my favorite. There is a small core of white under several layers of clear. In some of the beads, the clear tugged on the white, forming a little outward spiral of white which looks pretty cool. Then I used wisps of black over the top. With all of the clear glass in between, the black wisps create little shadows on the white underneath.

In the necklace, I used ivoryite barrels and onyx coins and discs in between my lampwork beads. The onyx and ivoryite were mined in Southern Arizona by a man who runs Sweetwater Gems. I met him at the bead shows in Tucscon in 2007 and have been hoarding, I mean protecting these beads ever since.

And that's another Marsha Neal Studio ceramic pendant dangling front & center. I had been looking for stone pendants, but didn't have any luck. I asked Marsha if she could make any black & white pendants for me and she sent me a TON to choose from. I took pics of them all with the necklace partially strung to show Perrii, who agreed with me that this was the best one.
The necklace and earrings are now on their way across the globe to land under a Christmas tree for one lucky lady. I hope she loves them!

Another Winner!

Sadly, my first winner did not leave an email for me and there is no contact info or place for comments on her blog. So after a week of waiting to hear from her, I am choosing a new winner through Random.org.


Out of the 29 comments left on I Need A Name: Part 2, 28 of those counted and Random.org chose #1.

Congratulations to Pearl & Pebble as the new winner of a dozen free beads! Check out P&P's blog and Etsy shop. Raspberry Chiffon is the new name for my purple beads, going into my Etsy shop this week!


Please send me your address so I can get some cools beads shipped out to you ASAP! :D

My Wish List

I want one of these. Not the cocoon. Just the baby. Although, I do really like the cocoon. I want for the baby to stay this small and quiet and cute. Perhaps I should just make the picture my wallpaper. For more wonderful baby pics (to get your baby fix!) and adorable photography props, check out Jolie Anne's shop!

I think these white balance lens caps look pretty cool. Would be nice to never, ever have to fool with white balance issues ever, ever again. Ever. Santa, a 52mm would fit all of my lenses. :)

Water for Christmas. Just twenty bucks will provide a supply of fresh, clean water to one person for twenty years. I know there are tons of different charities and so many here in the states for excellent causes. But the stat that 4500 children die every. single. day. because there is not a clean water supply squeezes my heart. And it makes me so very thankful that I am right where I am. That I have the family I do. That I have my health. That I don't have to worry about the water my children drink will cause such horrible digestive problems that they won't live another day. It also makes me feel good to know I am making a difference in someone else's life, whether it is giving to Water for Christmas, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, United Way, Susan G Komen, local food banks or so many others. I don't know that I will ever feel like I am doing enough, but I will continue trying and giving.

Val Cox's sampler pack of glass. These colors are stunning. I want them. Not that I have any place to put them. My glass cabinet is completely full. But I would find room. Even if it means taking over the kids' game closet and giving away Candy Land. I would make room. :D

This is way too spendy for Santa, so I am slowly stocking away my dimes & quarters. But it's still on my wish list of what I am saving for down the road. Way down the road.

Five pounds of this might hold me through spring. My supply of clear has dwindled down quite low.

But most importantly, the things I am wishing for aren't really things. Not anything that can be bought in a store.

I'm wishing for health.

For peace (please Santa, days without any fuss or whine would be so totally awesome!) and contentment.

For patience.

For the wisdom of knowing when to keep my mouth shut.

For the inner-knowing of how to raise my children into thoughtful and caring individuals who give back to their community.

Who don't question their self-worth, for any reason.

Who find a purpose for their life doing what they love and being fulfilled with what they do.


What is on your Wish List?

Where I've Been

After we returned from our cruise, I was in mad-dash mode to get more jewelry made for the craft fair the very next Saturday. Then continued on in that same mode to finish several pieces of jewelry wanted in time for Christmas. Not that this is a valid excuse for not blogging, but I'm going to use it. :D

Below is a floating necklace I made, as well as a matching pair of earrings. A friend saw the beads in my Etsy shop and emailed me "Make my wife some pretties!" And so, this is what came out. I first had to make more of the same beads, since I had only 7 in my shop.


I stared at my boxes & boxes of beads for spacers, but nothing looked quite right. In the end, I decided just swarovski crystals on either side to make into a floating necklace would be the best. Nothing to detract from these beauties.

I haven't been on the torch in three weeks because we've just been into so many other things. We had grandparents visiting (which was absolutely awesome and ended too soon!) and birthdays to celebrate and laundry to do. Oh, the laundry! But I carry my lighter with me in my jeans pocket. It makes me feel just a little bit closer to my torch. Like I could fire it up at any second, if I want to. :)

My Mom's birthday was in the middle of all this, but work was out of control that night as I worked two separate outages until 7pm. Mom had to take over making her own birthday dinner. And her cake. Todd's sister helped with getting it stacked and frosted. Thank goodness for family members willing to help out and takeover when I couldn't be in there. I finished with work just as dinner was being cleared from the table. Just in time for cake!


Look at my Owensk. He just loves to help and jumped right in to secure the clasp on Mom's new necklace that I made for her. :)

Hoping to get back on the torch this week to make new beads. I still have more jewelry orders to fill. And am slowly learning different tricks in Photoshop that are fun (for my family pics, since I don't do anything other than crop my bead/jewelry pics so colors stay true).

I can't believe Christmas is 18 days away. My shopping is pretty much done, but I'm still working on photographs/calendars for all the grandparents. So much to do. So little time.

Are you ready for this Christmas?

And the Winner Is....

Out of the 29 comments left on I Need A Name: Part 2, 28 of those counted and Random.org chose #23.

Congratulations to S&J of That's What Love Is All About is the winner of a dozen free beads!


Please send me your address so I can get some cools beads shipped out to you ASAP! :D

*****12.3.09****************S&R, I can't send you your free beads if you don't email your address :) Your email is not on your blog, nor does it allow comments :(

Please contact me by December 7th, or I will go back to random.org to select a new winner. Thanks!***********************

Weekend Craft Fair

My friend Kara invited me to get a table at a craft fair her church was having this weekend. I got confirmation I could have a table our first night on our cruise, so I had barely a week to prepare and make more jewelry for this sale.

Here's the cutie patootie I got to hold on/off throughout most of the show because my friend Wendy surprised me and came to hang out for the day. Meet Logan. He is diligent about eating every three hours and makes you work hard for keeping peace. But he's just so dang cute!

Here was my table. I only had three vertical displays for hanging the goods, but I think they were enough.

I had my worry stones out in little boxes all over the table and they got fondled plenty, although only one went to a new home.

Here was Marcie's table of gorgeous crocheted hats, ponchos and chihuahua sweaters. I hope she starts up an Etsy shop because her work is awesome with beautiful colors. I bought a wonderful poncho from her and she's making a matching hat for me. I can't wait to get it!

Kara came and hung out with me for awhile before buying a few Christmas presents. My friend Martin also came, as did the grandparents with my kids in tow, my Mom and SIL. Todd even helped me set up at the show and then dismantle and load up to go home. I don't remember the last time I did a bead or jewelry show and had so much fun!

Don't Forget to Enter!

There is still time....you can go here to leave a name suggestion for these purple, swirly beads for a chance to win a dozen free beads.

These are the beads that Sarah won from a similar naming contest in October.

Thanksgiving

husband

kids

family

friends

pets

faith

torch

camera

job

roof

wheels

flowers

life

turn signals, when they are used

grace

kindness

helping others

making a difference

Jimmy Stewart

It's a Wonderful Life

angels

innocence

forgiveness

cookie dough

Moms

grandparents

Dads

magicians

warm weather

Etsy Sale on Black Friday!

Buy One - Get One 50% off in both of my Etsy shops on Black Friday, November 27th through Sunday the 29th!

New items coming to both my bead shop and my jewelry shop.


*My jewelry shop will be closed on Saturday while I am at a craft fair at Shallowford Falls Community Church located at 3662 Shallowford Road in Marietta 30062, just past the Sandy Plains intersection. The fair is 9am - 4pm.

Goodies from Marsha Neal!

When I got home from our cruise, I had a little box waiting for me. It was cram-packed with TONS of beads! TONS of beads from Marsha Neal Studio. Can you say "Heaven"?

Seriously, look at all of these little, itty, bitty, bebe beads! These pairs are perfect for earrings. Or smaller focals. How I wish I could wear earrings because I'd be keeping alot of these to make earrings for myself!

And these longer pendants. I bought one of these from Marsha in Philadelphia at the BeadFest 2009 and love how it looks in the necklace I made.

More of the larger variety. I am having serious issues deciding which beads to keep. I really don't want to send any back to her. But I must. I must, because I know it would take me way too long to make all these beauties into jewelry. Way too long for me to make my own beads to go with them. So I must choose carefully. And perhaps hold onto them for an extra day so I can lovingly hold these bebes.

You can buy your own lovelies directly from Marsha in her Etsy shop here.

Vacation Pics

This was the majority of my vacation on the cruise boat with my honeys. Lounging in a comfy chair on the top deck, reading a book. I swam in SPF 50 before leaving my room, so I'm not any tanner than when we left last Monday. But it was so nice to get away and just relax.
Relaxing like this was in order for hours every day as we refused to take the elevator and were 8 floors down from the restaurants. Sixteen steps in every flight and climbed up at least five times a day made for a couple of huffing and puffing adults with sore knees. :)

We got off the boat in Cozumel and walked around for a few hours. I LOVE how blue the water is around this little island!

I liked this little window in the stone wall outside the seaside restaurant we ate lunch at on Wednesday.

This was the view. Pretty awful, huh? I should have gotten much better pics before we left because it was phenomenal! The waiter was funny and teased me that my carne/beef burrito was actually made from donkey. He brayed and hawed just like a donkey. Crazy Mayans!

We had awesome sunsets with an early-rising moon. We were in port in Cozumel, parked right next to another cruise ship in this pic. I think every room had their private balcony.


It was really nice being able to wear tank tops. Outside. At night. :)

I was playing with the remote to my camera and snapped this shot :) How I love this man

I wonder if the crew ever gets tired of blue skies and blue water. I don't think I'd let myself take it for granted.


The getaway was much needed. I'm grateful we had a wonderful set of grandparents willing to come to our house for the week to watch and love and spoil our children. I'm thankful we had the means to make this trip happen for the second year in a row. Thankful for blue skies, time to read as much as I wanted and time to catch up on sleep.

Come Friday morning (the last full day on the boat), I was filled with nervous energy. I wanted to run and run and run. I wanted to be home when I blinked my eyes. I wanted to kiss and hold my kids. I was ready to be with my family again. Todd felt the same. Five days was more than long enough, but much enjoyed.

Somebody in Germany Loves Me!

Ok, she doesn't love me. But she loves my beads. And that's virtually the same, right? ;) Whatever. I'll take the kind words and wait to see pics of what she makes with them, I hope.

Take a look at Nicki's Reef to see her post about my beads. Thanks for the kind blog post, Nicki. You rock!

Large Disks

I made some large holed, large disks. I want to make more. Feel free to throw out color combinations you'd like to see. And no worries, I'm not expecting you to buy them if I make them. It's just a little like how I feel about cooking dinner some nights. It's nice to have someone else decide what I should make every once in awhile so I don't have to think about it. :)


This bead uses the same colors as the bead in my Etsy avatars that I made several years ago. They are ASK-104 colors that are no longer made. I jealously protect these colors and would prefer to just look at them in my glass cabinet than use them up. But I pulled them out and made this. I left this side slightly ridged between colors of glass.

And put this side in the flame longer to melt away the ridges between colors so they would flow smoothly together. mmmmm, I love this green!

That's all for this week. I get back home tomorrow afternoon for a few short hugs and snuggles with my kids before we head out to a celebratory evening with Todd's tennis teams that made it to the ALTA city playoffs and his USTA 7.5 combo state champions. Sunday I can (maybe, hopefully) catch up on blogs and I'll rejoin you again the week of Thanksgiving. I'm thinkin a day-after-Thanksgiving-sale in both of my shops might be in order. Still mulling over the terms.

Have a great weekend!

More Big Rings

I'm having fun using my big mandrels again after a long hiatus from them. For months I have looked up at them on my counter, sticking out of a vase looking back at me. But then I re-dipped them this past week and started making big holed beads/rings again.

I like the square shape of the pink and green bead. And the purple on the turquoise is still a little bumpy because I think texture on beads is cool. :)

Birthday Presents

To myself:

I love the shampoos, handsoaps and lip lubes that Rhonda of In A Lather makes. My husband loves her Clean shampoo, too. He doesn't want to go back to anything we can find at Target.

And from my Mom & Grandma:
Phat Straps makes these FABULOUS camera straps. They detach easily from the camera to be swapped out because she uses great little buckles. This one came lined in soft, minky fabric so there are no rough edges cutting into your neck. LOVE it! (I ordered a similar one a few weeks ago, as well as a couple of lens huggies. Her sewing is top-notch and the lens bags are excellent quality with their silky corded drawstrings and fashionable fabric!)

They also gave me this wonderful laptop/camera bag that I had been dreaming about from Xcess Rize Designs. I love this fabric.
And look at all the pockets inside! So much room and very padded so my lenses, camera and laptop will all stay safe.

I love this new bag and was so thrilled my Mom and Grandma gave it to me. It is perfect for bringing my camera and my beloved macbook with me when I travel. And it came just in time to pack up and take on the cruise. Before you admonish me for not taking complete advantage of this opportunity to relax and unplug (ahem, CZ), I did not take my macbook to check email, blogs, facebook or even my checking account.

I brought it along solely to better learn how to use photo-editing software. Something I very much want to become better at manipulating (family photos, not beads....I want to learn how to make those cool rounded corners and add textures), but have not found any time to learn in the past month that I've had these programs. I'm sure the laptop will be turned on between a multitude of naps and most assuredly with a nearby beverage with an umbrella hanging over the top.