An Etsy Feature I really Like!!!

This------------------------>

When you have finished listing your item, you have the option to
Publish
Save as Draft
or
Edit.

I have found that
Save as a Draft saves me time.
I can prelist a product and then when I have the time, simply finish by pressing the
Publish button.

I love this feature on Etsy! 

Pixie and her Therapy Dog Work

Pixie is doing a good job as a therapy dog.  We visit two different nursing homes, and her jobs are different at each place.  She gets a little confused.  At one nursing home, she visits the patients in their rooms.  At the other nursing room, we only visit with one patient and any other person who would like to come over and see her.  This does tend to be a little confusing to her, since she is ready to take off and go to the rooms at both places. 

As you know, Pixie and I are working with hospice patients.  I still don't know why we were contacted.  One day, I simply received a note from the director of volunteers at hospice asking if Pixie and I would like to volunteer with hospice.  I did do some thinking about, and I finally filled out all the paperwork and waited for us to pass the background check.  We did, and now the rest is history. 

Pixie brings a lot of joy to the people we meet in our work.  The majority of the people I see are very near death.  They are very old, and most are unresponsive.  However, the people who seem to love Pixie are the staff and patients who are still active and moving.  I see the smiles on their faces when they pet her or hug her and tell her how beautiful she is!  She loves this!  Pixie never tires of hearing that she is beautiful.  She never gets tired of getting those ear rubs either.  It makes me feel good that she can bring some of these very tired workers some joy during their day. 

The other thing that Pixie really loves is that after a long afternoon of visiting, we stop at the Dairy Queen and she gets a doggie dish of ice cream.  Nummy.  When we get home, Pixie crawls on the couch and she is asleep for the rest of the evening.  Working draws a lot of energy from her.

We made a visit today, and Pixie is still tired.  She didn't get a DQ today, but she will tomorrow!!!  She made a lot of people happy today!

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

This weekend,

I made some polymer clay buttons. 

Although they are not ready to sell yet,

I'd like for your to see them.

They do need to be sanded and varnished and have a patina added.

I like these buttons, and I am thinking of adding a section in my Etsy store called

Buttons

so I can sell them.

Now, after looking at these buttons, 

and, 

remembering that they are not finished yet,

if you could help me by answering some questions,

I would appreciate it.

 

Question 1:  These buttons are between 3/4" and 1" across.

Should they be sold in set or should they be sold alone.

 

Question 2:  If sold in sets, should these buttons be sold as mixed sets

or the same button in each set?

 

Question 3:  How many buttons should I put in to a set?

Okay, here are the buttons.

When these are ready for sale, they will be fantastic!

So, can you help me with the marketing part of the buttons by answering the question?

I would appreciate it!!

Thanks.

We Must Always Remember...

I Heart Macro! - Spring is really here!

I Heart Macro!

Focus on Life - Week 21 - Reminisce

My treasures!

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Clare writes called Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1)  Somedays, it's really difficult to find a good thing, but everyday this week, there was a bit of love and a bit of laughter.  Sometimes, I think that's all that we can ask for, so when it happens, it is joyous!!!

2) Pixie loves going to the nursing homes.  She loves the ear rubs and the tummy rubs and all of the people who give her attention!!  I have to smile as we walk through the nursing homes.  She gives so many people so much joy!

3) I mowed the lawn yesterday.  Oh, my!!  The lawn was very long!!  All the rain that ended our drought has caused the grass to grow.  You won't hear me complaining about mowing the lawn this year!!!

A New Project

Bracelets

for 

Hospice.

The hospice care for which Pixie and I volunteer are putting together baskets for new hospice patients.

Items such as blankets, soaps, lotions, and other useful items are going to be included in each basket.

I'm making stretch bracelets.

Tonight I made 10 bracelets.

You can be sure that I'll be making more, but this should be enough for the volunteers to start using.

I'm so grateful to be a part of this group.

I've met some wonderful volunteers and patients.

It's a true blessing!

I Tried to Follow Directions, and I Came Close!!!!!

In the last issue of the

Soda Lime Times,

a digital magazine devoted to lampwork glass beads and lampwork bead makers,

I saw

Hannah Rosner's 

pendant tutorial using those ever popular bell flowers on a wire.

I didn't have all the flowers she showed in the tutorial, but I came close.

 

Here's the result.

 

 My pendant is a little different than Hannah's, 

but I'm very happy with my work.

If you'd like to see Hannah's tutorial,

visit Soda Lime Time's.

Click 

HERE 

for the link.

You can buy the current issue.

I never miss an issue!!!

 

Thanks,

Hannah!

 

Poor Pixie!

Yesterday, Pixie had her teeth cleaned.  Ouch!!!  She came home groggy and mad at me!  Poor girl.  She was in pain, so I had to leave her home and go back to the vet for some pain medication.  She was not happy with me when I got home.  Her leg hurt her, too, at the IV site.  She winced and whined a bit.  She refused to eat, even her favorite treat!
She was still glaring at me at bedtime, even when she was fake shivering.  I'd cover her up, then she'd start panting.  My poor girl had a very rough day.  I hope she has a better day today!!

Raw Polymer!

Here's what I've been working on using 

polymer clay.

This is the raw product

BEFORE

sanding, polishing, buffing, patina-ing

Well, you get the picture.

No, you don't, because you haven't seen them yet!

Just trying out covering polymer clay with translucent to see what happens.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus!

Working on adding faces.  I'm not there yet.

Jesus carries his cross.

Dragonfly!

When these are finished, I'll show them again, and you can see the differences.

I Heart Macro!!!! Spring Flowers!

I Heart Macro!!!

Week 20 - Focus on Life - Looking Up

Looking Up!

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Clare writes called Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1) The weather has warmed up!!!!  This picture was taken on a beautiful spring day!!!

2) Had an impromptu lunch with a friend today.  It was fun!!!

3) We have been rained upon, and it's been wonderful.  I think our drought is over!!!

It was a very big day today...

No wonder the girl is so tired.  It was a very big day today!!!

Pixie and I worked with out hospice patients, and just about anyone else who wanted to pet her.  She loves this. 

Then, tonight, the therapy dog group had a get together at a nursing home.

The girl is truly pooped!!! 

I've Been Thinking...

Yes, I have been thinking about a lot of things.  I've been thinking about art.  I've been thinking about lampwork.  I've been thinking about polymer clay.  Lots and lots of thoughts coming and going.  It's been hard to sit and write this blog.  I felt like I had HIT a wall with a HUGE

SPLAT!

I've felt like there has been a HUGE BLOCKAGE  in my creativity and in so many
parts of my life, maybe all of them.

I have wondered:

Have I gone as far as I can in glass? 
If not, what is holding me back?
Am I tired of glass?
What would I do if I didn't work with glass?
Would polymer clay be a good substitute for glass if I quit glass?
Should I quit glass?

Actually, there were a lot more questions than I am listing.

Well, here are my answers.

Have I gone as far as I can in glass? 
No, I don't think so.  I think that there is a lot more to do and learn when it comes to glass.

If not, what is holding me back? 

I'm not sure what is holding me back.  Part of it might be lower sales than I used to have.  Part of it might be that I need to try other aspects of glass or different ways to use my glass.  I might also need to take some classes.

Am I tired of glass?

Absolutely NOT!!!


What would I do if I didn't work with glass?

I know there are a lot of options, and polymer clay is a big one.  Using polymer and glass together appeals to me.  I have a lot to learn 


Would polymer clay be a good substitute for glass if I quit glass?

It would be different.  I have decided that my first love is and always will be glass.  I know there will be a time when I have to quit glass, and then I will work harder with polymer clay.


Should I quit glass?

No, not right now.  I'll work through this creativity slump, and things will be better.  I have a kiln full of beads right now.  That's what's important.  I think I'll be busy working with glass and fighting this slump.

Pixie cuteness day!

The girl is so tired!

I Heart Macro!! Flower

Flower

I Heart Macro!!!

Focus on Life - Week 19 - Hope

Hope

The Last of This Week's Little Gardens

 This garden took me all morning to make, literally.  

I started on this one at 9 AM and finished after 11:30 AM.

I really like it, though.  Those little rocks were buggers!!!They took forever!!!!

I wanted to make this a little outhouse, but it turned into a birdhouse.

Oh, well, I think I'd rather have a birdhouse garden than an outhouse garden!!!

That's it for the end of the me me me week!!!

It's still a Me Me Me week!!

It's been difficult to torch this week.

I've had a crew here repairing things that needed repairing, so

I had to stay upstairs with Pixie.

So,

I pulled out the polymer clay,

AGAIN!

Here was today's work,

or at least, some of it.

I'll show my little gardens tomorrow.

A touch of Angel.

I still need to work on her arm!

Ooops!!!

Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I really like her!

I call this bangle 

My Seaside Bracelet.

I like them all this week!

More tomorrow 

with my
Little Gardens.

New Beads!

I just wanted to show you a few new beads in my 

Etsy store.

Rich, Organic Blue with a touch of sparkly goldstone!

Click

HERE

to see them.

If you want a good buy,

I've been cleaning things out!

These beads might be for you.

Click

HERE

to see them.

I call these 

Midnight Silver.

Click 

HERE 

to see these beads!

 Ready for spring?

These flowers will help you then!

Click
HERE

to see them.

I hope to get more listed today.

Stay tuned!

Thought I'd Show You My Little Gardens

Old Fashioned Garden

A Birdhouse Garden

Someone on Facebook called her

Our Lady of Polymer Clay!

I think she'd smile at that!

Happy Cinco De Mayo and I Heart Macro! Pixie's Nose

I Heart Macro!!!!

Focus on Life - Abstract

Abstract

I wonder what this is?

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Clare writes called Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1) The snow that blanketed areas south of us, missed us.  The little we got melted within hours of hitting the ground!!!  That's my kind of snow, and warmer weather is on the way!!!

2) I had lunch with Sister Alene yesterday.  It was great!  She is a lovely woman and a wonderful example of a religious woman.

3)  The bump on my head is finally getting smaller, and the bruising on my neck is gone.  That is progress!!!!

From Yogurt to Polymer Clay - Huh?

How's that for a Segue-way?

No, I'm not mixing polymer clay and yogurt,

but I am trying new things in my polymer clay journey.

Here's the latest on that.

I made some pots.

They aren't that good, but I have learned lessons from this journey.

It all started with this one.

I had made a cane called a 

Strobel Cane.

I had way too much left over, so I needed to do something with it.

 

I love it when objects jump out at me after the use of the abstract.

See the little red bird?

I think I sanded this a little bit too much,

but that's okay, I'll use it.

More use of left over canes.

I think, again, I sanded a bit too much.

I've got to ease up on that sanding, but I like this one. 

It's abstract, but colorful.

 Wait, where'd this one come from?

Well, you can see there was a little bit of color there.

Lesson learned,

do not use red until you are 

ABSOLUTELY

sure there is no more red, 

ANYWHERE.

The journey is on going!!!!

Let's Make Yogurt - Easy Peasy!!!

Since I have become a true Weight Watcher again,

I have also become a real

Susie Homemaker!

Well, not really, but close!

Now, I am making and absolutely 

LOVING

my homemade yogurt.

I love this stuff, and this comes from someone who used to tell her kids that she was 

ALLERGIC 

to milk so she couldn't drink the white stuff.

(I don't like milk.)

Whew! 

The truth is out!!

However, I do love this yogurt.

It takes about 15 minutes to make.

It's the real stuff.

You can turn it into Greek Yogurt so easily.

Here's what I do.

I usually start about 9 at night.

The yogurt is ready in the morning when I do this!

 I begin by warming up my crockpot.

I don't cook the yogurt in here, I just put the yogurt in here to "brew."

The crock warms up in about 10 minutes.

Next, I pour about 2 quarts of milk into a glass container.

I put the cold milk in the microwave to warm up.

In my microwave, it takes about 7-8 minutes to warm up to the right temperature,

however, I begin by warming up the milk for 5 minutes.

THIS IS CRITICAL to the YOGURT making process.

When I take the warmed milk out of the microwave,

I use a 

DIGITAL THERMOMETER

to test the temperature of the milk.

The ideal temperature to add the yogurt starter is between

102 - 105 degrees F.

This is the temperature range where the yogurt begins to grow.

At a lower temperature,

the culture might not grow.

At a higher temperature,

I can assure you, the culture will be killed.

(Ask me how I know.)

When the milk is heated, 

I add my culture.

I bought my initial culture at a health foods store.

It was a dehydrated culture.

You can use yogurt, but the yogurt needs to be very fresh, and the yogurt needs to have live cultures in it, 

and not just cultured milk.

This is also very important.

I stir in my culture.

I use about a 1/4 cup of starter.

That seems to do a very good job for my yogurt.

Then, I UNPLUG my crockpot.

This is a critical step!!!

I pour my milk into the crockpot.

I put on the cover,

then I cover the crockpot with a couple of towels to keep the temperature as constant as possible. 

In the morning, I uncover the crockpot,

and, guess what?

I have made yogurt.

Now, the first batch I make usually is pretty soupy.  It gets thicker as you brew more.

So, to turn this yogurt into Greek yogurt,

all you need to do is to use a fine strainer.

Gently pour the yogurt into the strainer an let the whey drain.

I guess there are ways to use the whey, but

I've never pursued the different uses of whey.

The more whey that drains,

the thicker the yogurt.

The yogurt should drain about 45 minutes to an hour.

Then,

Ta-da!

You have made Greek Yogurt!

Easy Peasy!!!