Thursday, May 7, 2009
I'll Be Back
No, it isn't Terminator Arnold with the sunglasses saying "I'll be back" as it should be, but how could I resist this Terminator pic with a robotic looking arm that I could have soldered?!
Plus, this pic allows me to add this:
"If you like it then you should have put a ring on it!"
Speaking of rings and jewelry...
After these last few months of craziness, I am finally getting back on my feet with my Etsy shop. Thanks to all for prayers and good wishes while I hermited in my home and took care of family and health and families health.
We have had among other things...severe anemia (me), corneal transplant and newly discovered diabetes (my husband), and a diagnosis which I will keep private out of respect for my 17 year old daughter (which you know is killing me!!!) except to say that while there is no cure for her condition she is now on medication and the road to better health and I diagnosed her symptoms myself! (I love web MD!)
I also did extensive research through google scholar on latest medications and treatments and found cutting edge medication that has shown very good results for adolescent girls with her condition. Our Doc agreed and started her on this med and even asked to keep my little printed out pages of research. My daughter told him "You shouldn't have done that, she's never going to stop bragging about this..." What does she know?! And who needs doctors anyway? Just give me a computer and a prescription pad and I've got it under control! (Note: Not to worry-her condition is not terminal/life threatening and symptoms can be much improved with medication and lifestyle changes.)
Well the point of this ramble is to say that I've missed you all and soon will be back to my old self blogging away at very sporadic and unpredictable intervals and adding new designs to my shop which will of course be previewed here first with giveaways!
So stay tuned...
Monday, November 17, 2008
I Love the City, Part 1
So here it is...our lovely trip to Chicago.
Laur (who didn't pay) found it quite enchanting.
Stepford Dolls!!!
Attending the Midnight showing of High School Musical 3.
Visiting University of Chicago. There's the beloved tour books again!
Giving Bob a piece of my mind after he blamed all Tay's issues on me. (It's always the mother...)
We found some local children to frolic in the park with.
Until one little boy started crying...
And Taylor mocked him.Back to Bob's counseling couch for her.
Well, trust me, there was much more, but I must get back 'in studio' and solder like the wind. (Ooh, a wind reference in a post all about the 'windy city'! Sometimes I even surprise myself with my clever wit.)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A Birthday For Frances
Okay, I forgave the first round of laughing at the library photo, but this is just too much. Can you people please try to restrain yourselves for the sake of my fragile self esteem?!
Ahem. As I was saying...Yes, I was a librarian. ( I'm warning you, don't even snicker or this post is over!) Granted I was messy, loud, disorganized, scatterbrained, constantly laughing, never stern, and pretty much hopeless, but I was a librarian none the less. My kids did not learn much about the Dewey Decimal System, but through invented games, ridiculous skits, super involved and complex crafts, rambunctious scavenger hunts, fun prizes, delicious snacks, ...oh yes, and reading,... I did instill in them a passion for books.
I do miss the kids and my co workers, but I'm not so sure they were sorry to see me go. At least I don't think they miss my heaped trash pile of a desk and loud laugh echoing throughout the hallways at the most inappropriate times.
(How was I supposed to know there was an anti drug rally with moving testimonial going on in the gym? What? Well, no one told me the principal had a suspended student and his family meeting with him in his office! Come on now, if you can't whisper a racy joke to a fellow staff member to lighten tension during a long boring board meeting then really, what is the point of even being here?)
Yes, jewelry design was a wise career choice for me. And speaking of jewelry design...
I just had to make a Frances necklace for Frances. I think it turned out pretty cute. Not my usual themes or colors but still very much in my style.
And also very much in my 'style' is the fact that I have no clue if Frances, the girl, even knows who Frances, the adorable children's book badger, is.
I mean, seriously, is this birthday and necklace even really about her?
Dang paparazzi! I told them no more photos of me and my svelte body in my fishnets... I look like a seventeen year old again!
(Hope the above 'model' is at least 18, don't want to be pressed with charges for exploiting a minor!)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The winners! (and the loser...)
(Are the rest of you feeling a little better about not winning?)
And now...
The front side is both halves of the lady. The back is 2 parts of this awesome Thurston the Magician poster.
Technical Difficulties! ($%#@&*^%)
Friday, October 3, 2008
My First Contest!!!
The first Jamie Noel Contest Giveaway Extravaganza ever!!!
(This tiny photo is supposed to be the grand parade celebrating my contest.) Impressive, I know...
The prizes are: One million dollars!
No, Dr. Evil, it is not one million dollars!(What a jerk, he is always crashing my blog...)
It is even better! (not really, but let's pretend.)
First Prize is: My new jewelry design!
Yes, it's true.
And Second Prize is:
It is circa 1950's and is marked "Japan".(It's adjustable.)I found a small lot of them and bought them all!
And as I have only given this ring to 4 other people, my two girls and my two nieces, you will become a member of the very elite Jamie Noel Vintage Carnival Prize Ring Club.
Just take a look at your fellow J.N.V.P.R.C. members:
Yes, instant cool status will be yours indeed.So how can you win one of these awesome prizes?
And wait, what is my new design?
Ha, ha, my friend, you have fallen right into my trap.
That is the contest.
("What ?! I don't get it?!")
Calm down , let me explain.
Somewhere in my last post ("Prizes! Prizes!") is my new jewelry design. You will have to look at the photos to find it. You may also have to peek at my shop to see what my current designs are. (Hee,Hee..sneaky me!)
When you have the answer then post it in a comment. (If I have done this correctly, the comments on this post will be hidden.) (That's a big 'if'.)
Update: Change of plans. E mail your answer to me at:
Correct entries will be put into the 'contest berret' and two will be randomly drawn. I will film and post the drawing to verify authenticity and to create a sense of drama and unbearable suspense.
Contest will be open until Sunday night at midnight.
Winners will be announced Monday morning.
(Be sure to check back Monday because if it's you, then I will need contact info. )
Okay, on your mark, get set, ................GO!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Prizes! Prizes!
I am going to have a contest on my next post (Friday, Oct. 3) where you can win one of two fabulous prizes! Go tell your friends and neighbors! (Prizes are not those pictured, that is just a festive prizish looking corner of my studio.)
Stop!!!
Don’t go yet…
Don’t you want to read today’s post?
I promise, it’ll be fun.
Let’s start by playing a game.
See if you can fill in the blank on the following sentence:
Once again, my home is a house of ____________.
Go ahead, try to guess the answer by filling in the blank.
Come on! Didn’t you people ever watch The Match Game?
Or anything else that would go with “house of____” . (funky seventies music playing)
If you work ‘whoopie’ into your answer give yourself 5 bonus points! (Charles Nelson Riley's laughter can be heard in the background)
Okay, here’s the answer: sickos
No, ‘house of sickos’ is not the most popular catch phrase, but it’s what we are.
My girls are both sick with bad colds. Everyone is miserable except the dogs.
As you can see, Chewy the Very Rude Dachshund is just happy as a clam to have an all day sleeping buddy. (We love him, but he really is quite rude.)
The good news is that without driving 4 hours each day back and forth to school I have been quite productive.
I am going to now blow your socks off with what I have done.
Warning: Shocking photos below! No, those aren’t the shocking pictures!
These are:
Did you faint? Scream? Think that H-E- Double Hockey Sticks just froze over?! (It may have.)
Yes, I have been organizing my ‘studio’.
What brought on this flurry of organization you ask? Did my husband begging while down on bended knee finally do the trick?
No, this was prompted by one of my trademarked impulsive inspirations. You see, I found this adorable old store rack in an antique store for only $40! In the shop it was black and wire and dirty, but all I could see were neat organized shelves and vintage candy wrappers... (harp music begins to play)
So, I’m very proud of my messy little self and plan to continue this organizing through the rest of my ‘studio’ and home. Let’s just hope this world has enough adorable antique storage containers to keep me engaged until completion.
And with my supplies organized I have been able to work much more efficiently and not spend 2 hours each day looking for things. (Who took my bone folder?!!)
As evidenced by these photos...
Completed orders, boxed and ready to pack:
And finally, packaged orders ready to ship:
So I hope you are all inspired by my herculean effort at (gulp)… cleaning. I’m getting a little more comfortable saying the “c’ word.
Ooops, 'c-word' could be taken in a different way...
But only if you have a dirty mind so shame on you!
(I see I’ll just have to make my next stop there on my cleaning pilgrimage!)
Remember: Contest on Friday! Real live prizes!