Julsbeads

Julsbeads is MOVING. The blog, the FB Page, the everything!

2012-01-29T10:32:00.000-06:00

If you are just returning after a (too long! I've missed you!) absence from this page, then you probably don't know I am moving to Oregon. So let me fill you in. I am moving to Oregon.

(no matter how many times I say or type that I still get a chill from head to toe. Oregon, y'all!)

I've some pretty big plans in the works for my new home, and in the interest of getting everything cohesive and streamlined for those plans I am making some necessary changes now. I am tying up all my loose ends under one big fat bow~ and that bow is called StudioJuls.

I will no longer be writing on this page. I spent 142 hours this morning transferring this entire blog to it's new home.

You can find it HERE ( http://studiojuls.blogspot.com/) and HERE (http://www.beadnik.net/)

It's the same page, just with 2 different search possibilities. Fancy.

But wait, there's more!

I will no longer be posting to my old FB Page (Julsbeads). All new work and information will be included on my NEW page. (StudioJuls)

If you'll pretty please come and like it~ I promise to like you back.

STUDIOJULS on FB.

If you don't, I'm pretty sure I'll still like you at least a little bit anyway.

ALSO!?

If you have me in your email contacts, or if you think you might want to share a big ole juicy secret with me at some point in the future~ please update my email address as studiojuls@gmail.com.

I will be cycling out my prior address over the next few months, and I'd hate to miss out on your missives!

To make up for all the boring reading above and window hopping work for those of you who will continue to walk along with me on this crazy journey~ I give you THE CUTE.

My baby turned 15 yesterday.

We had bacon for breakfast,

chicken for lunch,

Carob chocolate cake for dessert,

and late yesterday evening

she found a big pile of poop

to roll around in.

So we also had a bath.

15 years is far too short a time

to be blessed with so much love.

THANKS, GUYS.

For hanging out with me for the past fews,

for laughing along, crying beside,

holding my hand, kicking my butt,

sharing your dreams,

and supporting mine.

We've got so much more in store!

Julispeak will return to Studiojuls shortly,

unedited and unimpeded.

Consider yourself warned.

"Rollbacks" my a**

2012-01-27T10:59:00.001-06:00

Dear Walmart,

I realize that you don't necessarily care that I feed the poor starving homeless stray cats that convene at my door, nor about the fact that I like to bathe, brush my teeth, and wear clean clothes.

But really? $89 for what's in that cart?

Be careful. I'm starting to believe you might possibly be the DEBBIL.

Love (but not really),
me

Going on Faith.

2012-01-25T08:54:00.009-06:00

Several of you have asked over the course of the last month "Why Oregon?" I realize that for many of you I sort of dropped the whole thing on y'all all ninja like, so for those that want to know~ here ya go.

Honestly? I don't know. All the places I've been, while a very extensive list, did not include Oregon before my trip there this month. Yet I've felt pulled there for years...a random longing deep down in my soul that I could neither understand nor explain. I've several friends that live along the Oregon coast, and a couple of times over the years I've undertaken the planning to go, but things happened in my life to make me delay. Things like taking care of my daddy when he was sick, being here for my brother when his life turned upside down with the death of our baby Christian, and most recently helping out with my Nana after my grandaddy's passing. Needs. Things that mattered more than my desire to go across country to figure out how a faraway place related to my dreams.

My trip was made possible this month because of a very dear friend and beautiful soul. That's part of the story I am not ready to share yet, so I'll begin with that first morning on a rocky beach in Yachats I spent just breathing...and praying.

I sat on one of those rocks and had a long conversation with God. I can't recall a time I was ever more open to hearing him, more willing to sincerely accept his answers to my questions. I knew in my heart I was exactly where I wanted to be even though I still didn't understand the why of it. Was I supposed to be there? I asked for a reason, something to explain my need to be there. What I got was the purest feeling of peace in my heart...beyond any words I possess, beyond even my own ability to process. There was a giant rainbow falling into the water~ so crisp you could see the distinction of every color fading into the next~ from the brightest yellow to the deepest purple. That rainbow hugged me. There's no other way to describe it. I'm not sure at what point I began crying, but as I looked up into the clouds to thank God for such a beautiful gift there was an eye in they sky. As crisp and defined as the rainbow, and as I stared into it it moved across the sky without changing...looking back at me, seeing into me. Assuring, affirming, answering and amazing me.

I felt a dialogue open up between God and I more lucidly than I could have ever thought possible. I felt him sitting on the rock beside me, imagined I could hear the words he was speaking to my heart. And I cried from overwhelming gratitude and love. I don't really know how long I sat there, but when the tears subsided I cracked a joke saying "The only way this could be better is if it snowed right now." It was at that exact moment that a breeze blew at me, kicking up the protein foam that builds up on the coast from behind some rocks...blowing it all over me, all around me.

And I laughed. The innocent joyful laugh of a child.

I knew I was home.

I have a long road ahead of me. So much to get done. It is overwhelming and terrifying to undertake such a massive move into the unknown alone.

Yet my cup? It runneth over.

I couldn't do this without the love and support of my family and friends. Thank you guys, so very much, for being part of my life journey.

We're going places, baby!

~~

First Shop Update of 2012.

2012-01-24T10:20:00.000-06:00

Does anyone else feel all empowered and mystical when you say TWENTY TWELVE? It makes me feel like I should be wearing a magical cape and a tiara and shiny golden cuffs.    Strong. Motivated. Able.

This is going to be a year of much upheaval. And of much settling down. A year of change. And a year of constants. A year of happiness, of challenge, of moving on....for me, for many of my friends in the cyber world, and maybe for you, too.   Something tells me we are all going to ROCK IT, and I'm looking forward to sharing the ride.

I did a small update to the shop this morning, and I'll do another update tomorrow. For now I'm working on getting the house photo worthy so it can go live, listed, and online tomorrow.    I'm hoping for an offer by Friday, and if I just jinxed it by typing that....I'll shoot for Saturday instead.

Yes, indeed. My plans for 2012 are magnificient and when I get settled on the other side I want you all to come visit me in Oregon, k?   We'll make something beautiful.

Studiojuls.com

This is what happens to me in Oregon.

2012-01-23T14:40:00.001-06:00

I'm planning a shop update tomorrow ~ I've no shame in saying it is the most beautifully inspired work I've created in a long time. You won't want to miss it.

I'm packing up my house and playing catch up on photographing all the new work, but I'll get back to regular bloggy blabber in the next few days.

Thanks for hanging out during my hiatus. I've missed you!

~~

My inner child is acting like an angsty drama-filled teenager.

2012-01-19T09:27:00.001-06:00

My body arrived back in Bama on Tuesday, and I'm hoping my heart and soul show up soon too. So far I've accomplished a rather large pile of absolutely nothing, which means I am tripping over the open luggage taking up my living room floor. I'm giving myself a gold star for at least opening it, but I kind of had to since I'm fond of brushing my teeth.

I'm in love, y'all. Oregon is .... there isn't a word good enough that can come close to even thinking about describing what Oregon is. In a good way. The best way possible in fact. So this is where I tell y'all that I'm moving as soon as possible.

I've lots of other things to tell y'all but I need to ride out the sudden and unexpected depression of no longer being in Oregon first, k?

So.dang.beautiful.

Wanna see what I see?

2012-01-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

Boring photos of a vacation that you aren't on. I'm sorry, and you're welcome.

2012-01-11T09:23:00.001-06:00

I would say this is my favorite spot along the walk at the beach, except every spot is my favorite spot.

Morning~

Afternoon~

Oregon Beads.

Because inspired doesn't even come close

to describing how I feel.

I've only 6 days left on this trip to have the awesome,

and then I think I'll go back to Alabama and sell my house.

Really, Oregon?

2012-01-04T17:04:00.003-06:00

You had me at Hello.

Moving Forward

2012-01-01T08:51:00.000-06:00

About this time last year my blog post reflected on and recapped bits of 2010. I've decided to bypass that tradition this year and instead focus my energies on right here. Right now. This moment...because it is the only one of it's kind.

I don't believe in resolutions that aren't lived. I won't be making myself any promises for the coming year or even telling myself that it will be The.Best.One.Ever. Instead I am going to continue living as I am at this very moment~ Comfortable and Open, Loving and Loved, Blessed and Grateful.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Happy New Year, Rockstars.

You are beautiful.

If you ever wanted to own an actual physical part of my soul, here's your chance!

2011-12-30T09:16:00.004-06:00

Miss Venus here:

Did This:

So in a few minutes I'm gonna go ahead and list her at StudioJuls

along with this~

Because THAT is a much better image

with which to exit a blog post.

(PS. 25% off Sale price still applies until Midnight! Coupon Code: OREGON)

I'm not sure where Monday went, but Tuesday and Wednesday must have gone looking for it.

2011-12-29T12:13:00.003-06:00

It's Thursday, y'all. Like...already halfway through Thursday. Which means I only have 4 days and a wake up before I slap my mouth with half a xanax and get on an itty bitty plane for my hop to Atlanta, where I'll keep the other half of that xanax handy in case TSA makes me want to swallow it, too.

It also means there is only 1 day left in my Year End Clearance Sale...to which I added 4 new Mega Blowout listings this morning.

http://www.studiojuls.com/

These are already super reduced in price, and with the added 25% discount they're practically FREE.

I thought with Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party sign ups also starting in a few short days it would be neat to offer a few collections.  Ya know... 1 for you...1 for your soup...1 for you.

Math. It's like sharing. Only better.

I'm out of time, y'all, and after tomorrow so is the sale.    Thanks for the great response, awesome saucies~ everything thus far is shipping today and all purchases made by midnight tomorrow will ship Saturday.

~~

Can I just say that I love y'all? Yes, You. And You.  And especially you standing in the corner over there. Let's all go to lunch some time.
~

Guess What!?

2011-12-28T18:15:00.004-06:00

Remember THESE awesome OOAK coppery hearts?

It was wicked hard to do, but I listed a few of them today anyway

as well as some other hearts and a few crosses.

I also finished making the last of the $15 custom order sets

which means every purchase so far will ship tomorrow.

Squee!

Who's rockin' her busy schedule this week?

Mama Is.

That's who.

And tomorrow she might even

make time to brush her hair.

Carbed Out, Amped Up, and Pretty Dang Excited. +End of Year Clearance Sale!

2011-12-26T11:27:00.004-06:00

Mama made Christmas dinner, y'all. Which means I ate more than 4 people should have...including an extra helping of banana pudding.

Mama: Let me know what you think of the banana pudding ~ I used a secret ingredient this time.

Me: Woah! It is really really good, but I'm not picking up on the secret ingredient.

Bro: So what is it, mom?

Mom: Banana.

Me&Bro (sharing a concerned look): ...

Mama: EXTRACT. Banana extract.

~

Christmas Eve was very special and a little bit sad for us this year. Y'all know my Grandaddy passed in April, leaving my Nana alone in a house big enough to contain my awesomely giant southern family for the holidays where we've had our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for longer than I've been alive. Nana's not been doing well in recent months. Age is finally starting to get the best of her and she's not really able to be alone. We have been taking turns staying with her but the time has come to figure out a more permanent solution, and Nana has decided to go live with my Aunt in TN. I've caught myself crying a few times over the weekend because while I am so very grateful for 40 years of tradition and memories, it is not easy to accept the inevitable end. It has been a beautiful run, and none of us could have asked for better.

~

The time has also come for me to take a few steps forward myself. I love Alabama and it will always be home in a certain sense of the word, but it is not where I want to spend the rest of my days. So on January 3rd I am getting on a plane to go check out another state. A far away state on pretty much a different planet that has been visiting my dreams for several years. I'm equal parts nervous and excited, but isn't that always the way of it when starting over? God is opening doors I've been staring hard at even though I have no idea what is on the other side, and I'm way too stubborn not to walk through them.

So I am having an End of Year Clearance Sale on all OOAK jewelry and Julsbeads listed at StudioJuls. EVERYTHING is 25% off, and I will be adding listings throughout the week. The sale ends on 12/31 so that I can get everything shipped before I head to Oregon.

Yes. I said Oregon. Which sounds like a lovely word for a coupon code, so let's use it, k?

25% off every purchase

Coupon Code: OREGON

Sale ends 12/31.

http://www.studiojuls.com/

Thank you for your love, friendship and support of my work this year.

I couldn't follow my heart without you.

~~

Imma just be over here doing NOT A DAMN THING.

2011-12-23T19:29:00.005-06:00

I'm toast, y'all. I feel incredibly good and have thoroughly enjoyed this past week of last minute Hurrahs, but I am stick a fork in me DONE. For the rest of the weekend I am not going anywhere near anything that even jokes about pretending to be remotely related to something that resembles an impersonation of work. Mama's about to get her chill on so she can relish the other important things in life. Like family and friends and rest and Jesus Christ.

And presents.

What? Don't act like we haven't met.

I had a custom order for 3 necklaces in the pink Beautiful Love combo this week, and I was so not paying attention the night I made them that I accidentally encased them with the wrong transparent. At first I was all "@&*#!" but when I actually looked at the mistakes I realized how flippin' awesome the color is. How awesome is the color you might ask?

Firey Coppery Red Silver Flash awesome.

For the moment I am tucking those babies in at night with a bedtime story and a kiss, because the color I accidentally used to encase them was my last rod of the now unavailable Amber Rose.

I also used my last rod of Kalypso pink on those suckers, and NOW WHAT, JULS? You can't do pink without pink! I found myself smack dab in the middle of a very sucky spot.

But improvisation? She is my friend. I'm pretty sure after this that I owe her lunch and an all expenses paid trip to wherever she wants to go. Which means Tahiti, because if I'm footin' the bill that's where we are going.

After several very not right attempts, I finally mixed up some Clio and Dark Trans Lavendar and came up with these...oh so close to the target blend but oh so much better than the target blend in the department of GLOW.

Ska Wee to the Nth degree.

Here are the necklaces~which I truly wanted to keep 1 or 3 of:

Pam also purchased this cross and wanted a necklace for her Mother-in-law:

And part of me wanted to keep it also.

My life is a truly blessed one, my friends. I pray the same for each of you every day.

Even though I said I was gonna, I don't have the energy to delete the $15 sets from Studiojuls right now. If you wanna snag 1 I totally understand. The remainder of the orders will be shipped next week, once I sober up from the intoxication of people being extra nice to one another. I love me some Christmas.

To you and yours from me and mine~

I was going to say I can't believe Christmas is in 3 days, but the state of my studio tells me it's true.

2011-12-22T15:47:00.000-06:00

These are Christmas custom orders that flew out the door yesterday~

I still have several orders left to complete and bead sets to make, so I'll come back around when I'm too exhausted to do anything other than use my words. See ya then!

~~

North is 90 miles Southeast of Due West

2011-12-19T01:05:00.003-06:00

"But where are the black people?"

In case y'all forgot~ I'm southern....and right now I'm sittin' here with tears rolling down my laughter cramped cheeks.

~~

Once around the Son ~ With Love

2011-12-18T11:47:00.001-06:00

I don't think I've told y'all that I've had this dream for 6 or so years of opening a little gallery to be used as a Christian based teaching studio where artisans of different media could share their experience and gifts with others wanting to learn in a loving environment of fellowship. It would be called Once around the Son, because I think that's the best way to spend this life on Earth.

So far it is still just a dream ~ a dream that inspires me in ways I could not fathom without it.

My cross necklaces are named in honor of that inspiration~

Once around the Son~

Joy has set up camp in my heart

and my glass can't help but

reflect that in my

With Love

series.

Country at Heart~

Sweet Romance~

In Love Again~

Merry Christmas, y'all.

You make the whole world a brighter place,

and I'm blessed to have you in mine.

~Juls

I'll think of a Post Title later, k?

2011-12-16T12:46:00.008-06:00

(By request to give a few people a little more time I am extending the deadline for purchasing the $15 sets at Studiojuls until next Friday, Dec 23rd at noon. That's the latest I can leave the made to order sets available in order to create and ship them before I take a 2 week break in January. Thanks for the great response, y'all~ I'm on top of the orders and all sets purchased so far will ship by mid week.)

~~

Do you know any bikers? I'm talking the tatted out, Cut wearing, bandana and beard having badasses that drive around town on their loud motorcycles scaring small children and self righteous people (who ignorantly assume bikers are akin to gang members and thus a drug addicted, violent, wife beating menace to society).

Around these parts Bikers frequently hold something called a Poker Run...which is pretty much what it sounds like. You pay an entry fee, ride from bar to bar and draw cards. I'm sketchy on exactly how the game is played, but that isn't the point of this story so let's just pretend for now that you won. Yay!

Poker Runs are fund raising events that have benefitted a myriad of people ~ sick children, Hospice, families left behind due to an untimely death...there are many reasons to hold one. I've been to a couple and I'm not even sure I can express what a wonderful experience it is to share a day with so many generous and kind people. When the speeches are made and thanks given, there isn't a dry eye in the house...and that includes the meanest looking dude in the bunch...because at the heart of the matter he too has a huge one.

There is a Poker Run tomorrow. It is to benefit a family left behind when a beautiful light was extinguished in a car accident on Wednesday. If you are the stereotyping type, you would have pegged Jamie as a biker right away. Her arms were a canvas of ink, her chin pierced, her hair a different glorious color much of the time...but it was her smile that captured the most attention. She was as genuine as they come and one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure to know.

Jamie left behind a husband, 4 children, and the love and gratitude of the many people she has contributed to helping in her short 35 years. It was with her in my heart that these necklaces were created to be donated as one of the raffles at her benefit tomorrow.

This photo of her is my favorite of the hundreds people have shared on FB over the last few days. Such a poignant and beautiful moment in a loving and meaningful life:

Ride with Angels, Jamie.

You've earned it.

I think I'll stop making beads now.

2011-12-13T19:57:00.000-06:00

At least in the form of sets like these Made to Order beauties~

As of this Friday at Noon I will be permanently removing these and all of the $15 sets from the StudioJuls inventory.

If you want to take advantage while you still can, please note the sets will be made in order of purchase and it could take a little time to process yours. I'll make you a deal though....I'll appreciate your patience so you can then appreciate all of the love and careful attention to detail that I put into every single bead I make.

'Cause that's how Rockstars roll.

~~

I'm not quite ready to spill the beans yet, but the winds of change are blowin' and there are going to be some big ones.

To dispel any potential rumors.......these changes DO NOT INCLUDE any of the following:

~bank robbing (So I've considered it. Hush. I didn't actually do it.)
~death (knock on a wooden church pew)
~a sex change operation (HA~ made ya look!)
~Running for chieftain of an aboriginal tribe (although I do understand coors light laden southern click swahili...so I would totally qualify)
~ pregnancy
~marriage

See? Maybe I do have a little sense after all.

~~

Sometimes yelling GIMME THAT at the top of your lungs actually works.

2011-12-13T10:53:00.003-06:00

Although it probably helps to have a good relationship with the person at whom you are screaming. And to maybe not actually BE screaming. But you get what I'm saying, right? Good. Could you explain it to me?

This came in the mail yesterday, and I'm glad I snapped some pictures right away because I have since licked all of the clear glass right off the top.

It is impossible to capture the sparkle and depth and swirling colors of what is quite possibly my favorite cabochon ever. (Please don't tell turquoise I said that.)

I really really reallyreallyreally love y'all, but you could yell GIMMETHAT 'til the cows come home and this baby still stays with me. I'll give it a lick for ya though.

Do yourself a righteous and go take a peek at this crazy good stuff~

Brent Graber

Just don't tell him I sent ya, k?

~~

I really love this idea.

2011-12-12T09:07:00.000-06:00

I started out creating these pairs as matching necklace and bracelet sets~

and then I thought they would also make very sweet mother/daughter sets, too.

You'll find them available at

StudioJuls

Math is kind of Awesome.

2011-12-10T11:07:00.000-06:00

Faith + Love

= Hope

Friday Night Love

2011-12-09T17:05:00.002-06:00

Ultra~Femme

The Blues

Sunset Last Night

For where I live the colors in the sunsets this week have been

so unusual and absolutely beautiful.

This is an unedited pic I snapped with my phone yesterday.

Skills.

God's got 'em!

New Hearts

2011-12-07T11:09:00.003-06:00

I'm staring at this blank window in which to type words, but I find myself oddly at a loss today.

Speechless: (n) That thing that never happens in Julsland except when it does....and then it is usually because I have a large piece of chocolate shoved into my face making it impossible to speak.

I'm off to find a large piece of chocolate to shove into my face before I sit here and exacerbate writer's block, k?

With Love ~

With Love Necklaces

2011-12-04T13:22:00.001-06:00

Pure Romance

Coos Bay

Sunset Beach

Heart of the Ocean

Available at

www.studiojuls.com

I was going to show you some necklaces, but I was too busy napping today to take pictures.

2011-12-03T18:05:00.002-06:00

I'll show you a friend's new baby instead:

Meet Miss Molly~

That football she's gnawing on is about 3" long.

Death. by. Adorable.

I took this picture of the sunset tonight through the passenger window of my Jeep.

So Bluey Blue!

And this one out of the driver's side window a moment earlier:

See the eye?

It was so cool to be looking at the sky while it was looking back.

Why does Kitteh have Fat Face?

2011-12-02T17:25:00.002-06:00

That is a baseball size swelling on the side of his face.

It isn't a solid mass because it sort of jiggled when he sneezed.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Should I be freaking out like I already am?

I have a friend who has access to humane animal traps and since this one

(ironically enough I dubbed him "Face" from the get go because he has such a sweet one)

sneaks over to eat but won't let me get near him I don't know how else to catch him

for a vet trip.

Any ideas?

I'm sorry if the pic upset you,

and I hope this next one makes up for it.

The gay couple is finally okay with me catching them cuddling

and it only took a year of me feeding and snuzzling them.

Baby Boy + I think his leg is broken

True Love

4 Ehva Ehva!

Life is like a box of Hearts. You never know what kind of love you're gonna get. Unless you're getting it from me, in which case it is probably a little nutty.

2011-12-01T10:08:00.002-06:00

It was 28 degrees when I took Chelsea out this morning.

In Alabama.

On December 1st.

That's the kind of thing that doesn't happen around here until mid January, and then it typically lasts for 5 minutes before Hell moves back in. The weather these last couple of years makes me kind of wonder if there isn't a modicum of merit to that whole 2012 thing.

I think I'll work on some jewelry today because the shiny shack looks more like a frozen igloo, plus I have all these pretty hearts to play with and love makes the world a better place to be. Even if it is a little crazy.

~~

New Special of the week~ plus other random tids and bits.

2011-11-29T11:04:00.003-06:00

First I have tell y'all about a comment I received yesterday. I seriously love you people. I'm constantly surprised by the fact that you get me...and yet you keep coming back anyway.

"Whew, I thought a band of gypsies had kidnapped you. Of course, you probably would have loved that, wouldn't ya?" ~ Ellen

I had never really considered it, but I gotta tell ya that is now going straight to the top of my Christmas wishlist. Half because I want to be kidnapped by a band of gypsies and half BECAUSE I WANT TO BE KIDNAPPED BY A BAND OF GYPSIES.

~~

My cell phone died a couple of weeks ago. And by died I mean I probably hit it with a hammer, because that is what 1 dead battery dropped call too many will do to a person who is on what she thinks is her death bed.

It was time to upgrade anyway, mostly because I spend an equal amount of time away from my computer as I do on it these days. What I didn't realize is that the procurement of a Smartphone would 1) make me feel like a complete dumbass and 2) intrude on interaction with people who are in the same room...nay, sitting on the same couch.

Thanksgiving day I found myself surrounded by family while biting my tongue to stop a barrage of profanity over those stupid stupid Angry Birds. I decided to take a break from playing before my head exploded and when I looked around the room I realized every other person over the age of having been born was also typing away on his/her Android/Iphone. I wanted desperately to record a video of such excellent quality time with loved ones, but if you'll see #1 above you will understand why instead of watching said video you are reading about it.

~~

This is an excerpt from an actual conversation I had over the weekend:

B: I didn't realize what I didn't realize.

Me. I realize that.

~~

(Try not to be jealous of the brilliance.)

~~

Special of the Week over at StudioJuls

42 Pretties for $42!

The Color Purple

is also available

HERE.

Cyber Monday Sale!

2011-11-28T08:20:00.003-06:00

Hey y'all. One of these days I'm going to write a wicked long blog post about the last couple of weeks, and you are all going to nod and think "So that's why there's been no Julispeak!" And then you're going to send me pie. Not that I need any more pie....I just really like pie. I'm guessing you still have some hanging around because unlike me you probably didn't shove a whole one into your face last Thursday.

Today only ~ Hello Cyber Monday! ~ all lampwork at StudioJuls is 20% off.

At check out, use Coupon Code HAPPYHOLIDAYS.

My wish for you is that they are~ Happy and peaceful and full of all the right things to make your heart dance.

Thanks for hanging out with me again this year. You make me smile from the inside out.

www.studiojuls.com

For those of you who didn't see this in 2010.

2011-11-19T01:24:00.003-06:00

Yes. We Ought To.

Especially You.
~~

Custom Order Jewelry

2011-11-16T17:22:00.001-06:00

This made even my fever smile.

2011-11-15T10:56:00.000-06:00

~~
LAUGHS! from Everynone on Vimeo.

See those packages resting on the corner of the table that need to be mailed? If yours happens to be one of them please bear with me for a few days while I'm over here trying not to die.

2011-11-15T07:51:00.001-06:00

I spent a few nights with my Nana weekend before last because she was very very sick with some sort of something that hurt from the top of her head to her toes and made her chest feel like it was in a vise grip so badly that she ended up in the ER having all sorts of tests done on her heart. (All turned out ok)

The third morning of my visit I woke up with a 75 lb head and the birth of achy pains. That was last Tuesday. For 8 days I've had first hand knowledge of what that chesty vise grip feels like. Life is beautiful and all that jazz but right now I'd like to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The sick tunnel, that is, not the life tunnel.

I've spent most the last week moving from bed to couch and back again, pausing when I could breathe for a few minutes to attempt something strenuous in hopes of breaking my fever. Yeah. Don't do that, ok?

Bright side. I got 1 of my Christmas trees put up yesterday working in 5 to 7 minute increments at a time. Which means it only took 6 hours.

If you need me for anything I'll be on the couch staring at it through my eyelids between coughing fits during which I yearn to once again not sound like an 80 year old 2 pack a day lifelong smoker sitting in front of a slot machine in Vegas with a cigarette hanging out of her blood red lipstick slathered mouth.

Bling Bling, Baby.

~~

11-11-11

2011-11-11T09:00:00.001-06:00

If it is okay with y'all, I'm going to cheat a little today and send you to my first Veteran's Day blog post. I shared the way I feel about it the best way I know how to the first time, and today I'm likely to toss in something about the sick sickity sickness that I am experiencing this week. Let's be honest ~ noone really wants to read about how when I sneeze stuff comes flying out of my nose. That's just gross.

I kind of hate to follow that with this photo, because...well, you know...the color. But I did make myself a bracelet the other day. It matches one of my favorite sweaters...something else I probably shouldn't admit right now.

Filters. I seem to be missing a few.

A few things including a Bonus Holiday Special this week at StudioJuls!

2011-11-08T09:10:00.001-06:00

1. I've added a Not So Secret Santa button to my side bar, and updated the POST about the project. But since you're here I'll summarize~ If you'd like to Facebook, Tweet, or add this to your blog side bar with a link back to the post, I'm totally down with that. The more the merrier!

2. I am going to be removing all Destash beads from the StudioJuls inventory this week, so if there is anything you want ya might want to get it now.

3. I've had manymanymany requests for more Midnight Raku Links, so I've decided to do a Holiday Special BONUS ITEM for this week and discount 1 set to $20.

I'm going to stop typing now because y'all probably just left to go snag 'em.

I'm hanging with my Nana for a few days~

2011-11-07T10:02:00.000-06:00

Which means I don't have a lot of time to be chatty. I'll make it up to ya though, K? Here are a couple of new sets I just listed at Studiojuls.

Raku Freeform Links #2~

Fiesta~

Raku Links and Tropical Blues

2011-11-04T13:39:00.001-05:00

Midnight Raku Links~

Tropical Blues ~

And Dreamcatcher, too~

Let's get this party started, K?

2011-11-02T11:21:00.004-05:00

UPDATED:

I have added a Not So Secret Santa Button to my side bar. If you would like to share so others can join the fun please feel free to Facebook, Tweet or add the pic to your blog side bar with a link back to this post. It'll be like CHRISTMAS up in here!

Y'all know I love the Christmas, and since all the stores have had Christmas decorations on the shelves for 3 months already I feel less crazy about the fact that my own Christmas decorations are at this moment chilling in my living room waiting to be hung, strung, and lit. What? Too soon? But Halloween is over, right?

I have a Not So Secret Santa plan this year, and you are officially invited to play along. For the next 6 weeks I am going to have a Holiday Special listed over at StudioJuls. This week the special is 5 Focals for $5 each, (plus 1 ugly one for free!).

In addition, once a week between November 7th and December 12th I am going to send a Beady gift to someone random. It might be lampwork, a necklace or bracelet kit, gemstones, or miscellaneous treasures.

If you'd like to be that someone, leave a comment on this post and include your mailing address and your blog (if you have one). You only need to comment once to be eligible for the entire 6 weeks. Tell us something YOU love about Christmas. And maybe your favorite color, too!

Worldwide entries are welcome to play, and if any of you would like to join in the giving fun please feel free to pick someone from the comments and send your own surprise. You never know when your thoughtfulness might be just what someone needs, and who doesn't love making a positive difference?

Just leave a comment with the info listed above and you're in! Easy Peasy.

Happy Merry Joy, y'all.

~~

Some Custom Jewelry and the answer to the burning question on everyone's mind. Ok, maybe not everyone.

2011-11-02T08:44:00.003-05:00

Terra~

These are custom jewelry sets for a local lovely.

Who knew Brown on Brown on Brown would be so gorgeous?
Christie. That's who.

Bama Girl~

~~

Disclosure:

If you are unfamiliar with the game Angry Birds or have never played it, move along.
There is nothing here of interest to you.

SERIOUSLY. Do not go investigate Angry Birds because I mentioned Angry Birds.
Angry Birds is an evil time sucking game that is only slightly more fun than it is addicting.

For those of you who have already been sucked in by the Angry Birds,
have you ever wondered why the birds are so angry?

Curiosity sated.

~~

Let's have some Happy.

2011-10-31T17:57:00.001-05:00

The Color Purple

Studiojuls.com

Not your typical BOO!

2011-10-31T09:29:00.004-05:00

You know how I'm always writing about the crazy that is my life, except lately I haven't had much to say?

It is because I don't really know how to say this, or to whom I am ready to say it.

In lieu of trying to figure it out, I think I'll just go ahead and say it to everyone at the same time in the same place.   And maybe later I'll call my mom.

I found a lump last week, and in a few short days there have been big changes that involve the kind of pain not even I can ignore. Not that I intentionally ignore pain, I just have a wicked high tolerance for it. Like that time my leg bone was hanging around outside my body and I swallowed an Advil and 'walked it off'.

If you're a child of Any Decade before 2000, I'm guessing you've heard that term before.

I haven't had much success with walking this off.   Ignoring it doesn't seem to be working either, probably because the little voice inside my head that is not a doctor but pretends to be while googling Breast Cancer and scaring the hell out of me refuses to shut up.

Anyone have some insurance I can borrow for a minute? Apparently they don't hand mammograms out like candy~ not even on Halloween.

Then again I don't remember being the little princess who ever said "Trick or Treat or squash my boob!",   but that's probably only because I didn't have them yet.

So far being FODEE! isn't as much fun as I'd planned.

~

Fiesta Freeform Links (and another Washed Ashore set), Silver Bells (Is it Christmas yet? NO? I'm still putting up my tree this week.), and Love.

2011-10-30T11:30:00.003-05:00

Fiesta ~

Silver Bells~

She Loves~

Washed Ashore~

(available at StudioJuls)

Doin' what I'm doin'.

2011-10-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

More Freeform Ringlet sets

Adobe~

Tribal Bold~

Believing~

Freeform

2011-10-28T16:00:00.003-05:00

Washed Ashore~

Color Play~

Homo Sapiens~

Creative Voices.

2011-10-28T10:31:00.001-05:00

Cashmere~

Capulet~

Wisdom~

I had fun yesterday.

2011-10-20T10:59:00.001-05:00

Her Heart is her Canvas~

Rain Dance ~

Purple Rain ~

available at StudioJuls

Monster Inventory Clearance Sale.

2011-10-18T11:00:00.007-05:00

All Destash beads over at StudioJuls are now 45% off the already listed wholesale prices. Gemstones, vintage czech, coral, silver, filligree, buttons~ EVERYTHING MUST GO.

The coupon code is GIMMETHAT, and your discount will be applied at checkout.

Shipping is a flat rate of $5.50 no matter how much is purchased, but if your order can go into an envelope I will refund any shipping overages when your items are packed.

I am going in a new direction with my art and *really* want the excesses out of the way.

You can't beat the wicked low prices and fantastic quality, so why not treat yourself to something special?
45% off! Use Code: GIMMETHAT

Offer good Oct 18th ~ Nov 1st, 2011

(Sale applies to all items in the Destash Beads category. Sale does not apply to Lampwork beads)

I will be making several changes to my blog and shop in the near future, some of which you can already see. I'm sure I will gunk things up a bit in the process, but the end result will be a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Promise.
~~

Inspired by~

2011-10-16T13:46:00.008-05:00

In 2005 I took a road trip to Bead and Button. While there I had an opportunity to spend some time with a local friend who, knowing my love for turquoise, took me to the MECCA of Native American Jewelry galleries. I'm talking display case after display case of the most beautifully crafted silver and turquoise adornments completely beyond anything you can imagine. Mouth agape, I began scanning the treasures before I'd even made it all the way through the door. By my second step inside I was already beelining toward a bracelet nestled midway on the 3rd shelf of a 6 foot long display cabinet.

To say I was impressed by this cuff handcrafted by a Navaho artisan is like saying puppies are kind of cute or 45 below zero is a little chilly. I tried it on and was horribly disappointed when it didn't fit just right and I stood there turning it over in my hands unconvinced that I shouldn't buy it anyway. I was in love.

The incredibly ~~enabling~~ helpful shop owner suggested I might try it on the other wrist, and the way it slipped on so perfectly made angels sing.

She then showed me the matching ring....and I showed her my credit card.

I wore it earlier this week and was inspired

to duplicate the style in bead embroidery.

With turquoise, of course~

I like to think my ancestors would be proud.

Taos

Natural Turquoise, Upcycled Leather

Cuff/Earring Set

$165

For no reason at all.

2011-10-15T17:11:00.004-05:00

An old friend sent me these today.

The card was signed

"Just Because"

I'm tickled pink.

Gift Certificates now available at StudioJuls!

2011-10-14T10:12:00.003-05:00

A whole lotta sass. There's really no other way to describe the last 3 pictures.

2011-10-13T09:52:00.009-05:00

These are a few beads from a set I am working on.

Silver glass, oh how I love thee.

I'm going to talk about the felines

residing on the Catio again

just long enough to tell you

that they share food willingly

with whatever cat is brave enough

to come in.

Even cats

THAT ARE NOT CATS.

"I am going to stare right at you

(through the door)

while I walk in

and eat this food,

and the only thing you're

going to do about it

is take my picture."

Meanwhile

Baby Daddy is eating his dinner

on the table just

to the left of this guest,

and Baby Boy is laying in his basket

under said table

observing his leftovers

being hijacked.

Guard cats.

I don't have 'em.

(Although I am totally stocked up on

kickass masked bandits!)

This morning I let Chelsea

have free run of the backyard

because it has been cool enough

that snakes are no longer a concern.

I forgot that poop

(duck poop/cat poop/other dog poop)

should be a concern.

My girl is a poop roller.

Show her some poop she can roll in

and she'll show you some rolling in poop.

6 am bath time.

Squee is not a word I would use

to describe it,

and it seems Chelsea agrees.

Stink Eye and the Doggie version of the finger.

Her foot fur and tail fur and mane fur and pretty much

all of her fur had gotten way too long, so I cut it.

Salon ala Mom

Such a Pretty Girl.

Not even my early morning hackjob

can change that.

My Mind. It is changed.

2011-10-11T13:30:00.003-05:00

THIS

is totally my favorite bead collection.

(Ever)

(So far)

Click for big pic.

Lick screen.

When Vetro goes on sale for 70% off...

2011-10-11T13:09:00.001-05:00

mama stocks up on turquoise.

Okay. You're right.

Mama ALWAYS stocks up on turquoise.

The bright translucent yellow is new though

and the only reason I added it to my cart

is that it was $3.41 a pound

which means Frantz practically paid me

to take it.

Sunshine, anyone?

Quite possibly my favorite set of beads. EVER.

2011-10-10T10:08:00.004-05:00

These make me happy that

I know how to melt glass.

Knowing how to melt glass

makes me happy

that I can make them again

because

licking yours would be

kinda rude,

dontchathink?

PS. I am making a cameo bartending appearance tonight, and I think you should totally come have a beer with me. Although technically I can't actually *have* a beer with you, I could stand there and watch you drink yours. I promise not to drool.

I'm actually going to root for Auburn against Arkansas today.

2011-10-08T14:06:00.001-05:00

But to make up for that, I'm going to show you a BAMA necklace set first~

And last.

...I'm in it. How could I not be?

2011-10-06T23:57:00.010-05:00

Baby Daddy.

He may have claimed me first,

but where I go

he goes.

This next beauty is

Face.

He is I think his leg is broken's brother,

and after 9 months

he will finally

ALMOST

not run away

from the human with the food.

(I suspect he has ear mites)

(So does I think his leg is broken)

(They are such sweet hard luck kittehs)

(I am going to feed them...)

(but I can't afford to fix everything)

(If you want to adopt either or both)

(I'm willing to travel to find him or him)

(or any of them)

(a forever home)

Such a sweet face.

This was my front walk

tonight ~

You've already met the precious

I think his leg is broken.

Next up is

"I have a home"

He/she is a gorgeous piglet,

is well cared for and

pretty much just shows up to eat.

Lil' Mama is a tiny thing that had her babies

earlier this year

in the woods out back.

I never could find the babies.

My vet is awesome though

and lets me make payments

when I bring in the strays

to prevent more strays.

Human. NO!

is a talker.

She talks and talks and rowrs and purrs.

(I'll catch a pic of her one day)

(and yes I checked to see if she was a girl before calling her a girl)

(Winning!)

Pretty Girl

is one of 5 beauties that my neighbor

up the road tossed out

when they moved.

She is so sweet and gentle

and I am sort of in love with how much

she favors Baby Daddy.

I'm not so much in love with

the character of the former neighbor.

Crazy Cat Lady World...

If you'll give me your opinion on something I'll give you a kiss on the mouth. Or you know, maybe just a virtual hug.

2011-10-06T09:40:00.002-05:00

First I thought I'd share a photo of 2 of the "strays" (theyarenotmycats. theyarenotmycats. theyarenotmycats) that I feed 9 times a day.

You think that's too much? You try sitting here with a bunch of kitty faces peering in the door ~ first at you and then in the direction of where the cat food is stored. And then back at you. And then back in the catfood direction. And then back at you. It's like the Wimbledon of MEOW.

Baby Girl (who is not a girl at all...I should really investigate that before assigning them fake names because now he is pretty much stuck with that moniker.) showed up in the middle of winter, climbed into Baby Daddy's basket lined with towels and never left. So I added another basket for Baby Daddy, because he is ~~not~~ my cat. I think his leg is broken (and it was) showed up early this year, climbed into the basket with baby girl, and likewise never left. They sleep hugging each other. It is adorable and I've tried so many times to get a photo....but as soon as I turn the door handle they both hop out and look at me like "What? We weren't doing anything! Where's the food?"

Let's review, shall we?

I have a cat named Baby Daddy.

I feed strays every day

including the gay couple above.

I am a DOG girl.

Now if y'all would be so kind as to tell me

which one of these pictures you like best,

find most appealing, suggest I continue using,

etc...

I would be most appreciative.

Organic slate background or gradient white?

Guinevere

available at StudioJuls.

Gorgeous Glass.

2011-10-04T11:44:00.000-05:00

Instead of cleaning off my torch table

I decided to use up what was on it

to create some random beauty.

This is basically an entire Skillz Day

at a wicked awesome price.

StudioJuls!

For real.

2011-10-03T23:13:00.005-05:00

I don't usually even allow a blue rod and an orange rod on my torch table at the same time.

2011-10-03T13:22:00.000-05:00

I haven't had much to offer in the way of creativity in the jewelry department for the last little while...until over the weekend a lovely customer bought a few sets of beads and requested I make something out of one them.

I'm not usually a fan of forced frivolity, because having to do a thing makes the thing not so much fun, but I'll just go ahead and admit that this? This was fun.

It was so fun that when a custom order for

a Bama bracelet came in a little later

I knew exactly what to do~

and now I have to make myself one of those sets too.

Right after I finish the 6 other orders I've gotten

for various college teams.

Including Auburn.

Which is a bit of a challenge

for a Bama girl.

Know what I mean?

Yes? Maybe? Pleeeease?

2011-10-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Y'all KNOW I had to play too!

2011-10-02T08:47:00.003-05:00

Love My Art Jewelry is having a one day cyber sale ~ and I couldn't resist the opportunity to party with so many wickedly talented artisans.

(even though I totally forgot about it until this morning.)   (Because forgetting is the new black!) (That is going to catch on if I keep saying it, right?) (I don't guess it matters though, because chances are I'll forget by then that I said it and won't know who to quote when I repeat it)

Anyway.

Today (SUNDAY) only take 15% off everything at StudioJuls!   Use coupon code TREASURE at check out.

For a list of all participating shops go take a peek HERE.

If you are like me and don't like to be told what to do, let me just say that if you ignore my instructions and don't go take a peek THERE then you will never know about the giant prize package that 1of you is going to win~ including a $15 gift certificate for StudioJuls.

For many of us participating in this sale, our art and these shops are our livelihood. They are how we pay the mortgage and that guy Bill who shows up every month with both hands out.

So I want to thank y'all ~ YOU, yOu, and EwE too ~ for supporting handmade, for creating and sharing your own beauty with the world...for being here right now to read these words. You rock my world.

~~

Last Call, Y'all!

2011-09-30T09:19:00.001-05:00

The $10 specials on lampwork sets at StudioJuls end tonight at midnight. I added a few new sets I found hiding out in the studio. I say they were hiding out because I might have made them, cleaned them, strung them and even gone so far as to photograph them before promptly forgetting they existed.

That's how I roll these days.

Better go git ewe sum while the gettinz good!

Head's up, Bead Babes!

2011-09-29T09:05:00.000-05:00

There are only 2 days left to get in on the $10 bead set specials listed at StudioJuls! The sale ends tomorrow night at midnight.

In other news, the season premiere of Dexter is this Sunday.

Dexter!

Sunday!

(YAY!)

I have a new gray matter crush.

2011-09-28T08:05:00.001-05:00

There are many many manymanymany words about this Photo-manipulator's skills that I could use to fill this space right now. Instead I'll say simply He's Got Them.

These are 2 of my favorites~

You'll find more HERE.

New Beads ~ Create 3 Focal/Earring jewelry sets or 1 BIG BANGING NECKLACE!

2011-09-26T09:21:00.004-05:00

~ Tribal Safari Collection ~

~ Tribal Turquoise Collection ~

Both collections are newly listed at

StudioJuls

And just a reminder~

The $10 bead set specials

also listed at StudioJuls

vanish on September 30th.

*POOF!*

It takes a special kind of person to come up with this stuff~

2011-09-25T08:27:00.006-05:00

If this doesn't make you laugh out loud,
we should probably never do lunch~

Running Man

And um....

LSD, anyone?
(alternate title: W.T.F.!?)
(NOT safe for work~ partial nudity)
(plus the You Tube title is...weird)
(But it is....ballet)
(And it loads very slowly, so I guess you'd have to be sort of twisted to make it to the end)
(like I did)

~~

Now here is a much better mental image

with which to walk away from this post.

source

I really dig this song~

2011-09-22T15:11:00.000-05:00

and this guy's badassery.

I'm pretty sure I want to have his babies.

~~

Got Turquoise?

2011-09-22T10:42:00.003-05:00

I am thinning out my turquoise stash and have 3 of these lots up for grabs:

Each lot contains:

16" strands:

4mm round

7mm round

6x8mm nugget

2x5mm rondelle (average size, rustic strand)

12x15mm nugget (average size, organic strand)

15mm Coin ~ 8 beads

30mm Coin ~ 5 beads

25mm Donut Focals ~ 3

8x14mm Lanterns ~ 10 beads

You'll find the listing

HERE.

It's Tuesday!

2011-09-20T11:20:00.003-05:00

(just in case you were wondering)

Sea Dreams ~

The Woodlands ~

Both sets available at

StudioJuls

Sheba woke me up at 5 am this morning

so I would get out of bed and put food in her bowl

even though it already had food in it.

After coming in from the studio around 8

I've discovered the real reason

she won't ever allow me to sleep in.

This is MY bed y'all,

and she's all crashed out

smack dab in the middle of it

which I thought was kinda cute

so I took a picture

and when the flash

and clicking sound

woke HER up

she had the audacity to look annoyed.

If I told you that I was eaten by a giant pink elephanpotomus and that is why I wasn't able to finish my Bead Soup creation ~ Would you believe me?

2011-09-19T08:27:00.001-05:00

I didn't think so. Probably only because you've never seen a pink elephanpotomus.

I'll make it up to y'all soon. Promise.

~~

Southwest Style ~

available at StudioJuls

Winter is comin' to visit, y'all.

2011-09-15T14:42:00.002-05:00

And it is bringing beautiful things with it. Things like black jeans! sweaters! boots! and scarves!

Which means we're also going to need some classic elegant color~

Available at StudioJuls.

PS. The $10 bead Specials will be ending in a few days

so you might want to stock up while you can!

Find them HERE.

The only reason I haven't chucked everything and moved into a tent on an obscure beach is that I'd have nowhere to keep my bead stash.

2011-09-14T09:41:00.004-05:00

And that would just never do.

~ Tahitian Treats ~

You'll find them HERE.

I wanted to take a photo of the beautiful sunrise through the trees this morning, but the batteries in my camera were dead. That has nothing to do with this post though.

2011-09-13T09:08:00.002-05:00

If I told you I was sitting over here shaking and sweating like an addict and I REALLY NEED a fix, would you believe me? I hope not.

Except I am. And I do. I finished watching season 2 of Sons of Anarchy and ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? If I don't get my hands on season 3 soon and find out what happened with X and Y I'm going to fall into a writhing pitiful pile of nothingness.

First world problems, y'all. I got 'em.

~~

I finally decided how to finish the cuff I started last week:

Nakoma

(Native American feminine for great spirit/warrior)

Handmade lampwork centerpiece

Turquoise

Upcycled leather

$160

The Making of a Hot Mess: Volume 874

2011-09-12T08:57:00.004-05:00

This is really kind of a tutorial for any fellow glassies who have also held on to the itty bitty rod shorts that result at the torch. Personally I do it for the nookie, and by the nookie I mean I have no idea why I've kept the bits and pieces for the last few years.

This is the process I went through to make this cabochon~ it is time consuming but results in something unique and uses up what would otherwise be wasted glass.

1. Collect all the little bits and pieces from your torch table

without having a single good reason

or any kind of plan for using them.

2. Shove 'em in a drawer.

3. When that drawer fills up find another drawer.

4. Accidentally rediscover your Slumpy molds

and make a mental note to try fuse molding those

shorts into cabs.

5. Have a tropical storm come through

and demolish your beach plans.

6. Get out some thick canvas and a hammer

so you can beat the crap out of the glass pieces

that are too big for the mold

because today is as good as any

to try out your idea

since

you do not have beach sand between your toes

and you were totally supposed to.

7. Sort the pieces for color mixing.

8. Take a blind guess at how much glass needs to be

layered in the mold and slap that sucker in the kiln.

(after coating the mold in kiln wash)

(which is boring)

9. Ramp up to 1450 and hold for 20 minutes

because you are experimenting

and looking up on the internet to find out

if that is the right way or the wrong way

is also boring.

10. Open the kiln and discover that only

1 out of 4 actually looks anything like it is supposed to

and they all have jagged sides.

(boo)

10.5 ~ Heads up. Don't open the kiln to peek because

it turns out those molds don't like the temperature change.

At all.

11. Take those jagged babies to your shiny shack

and introduce them to the Diamond Max.

12. Grind the edges smooth.

13. Put them back in the mold adding more glass

to the really wonky ones and fire 'em again.

14. You may have to repeat steps 11-13 a couple of times

to get a feel for what exactly is the right amount of glass.

15. Fin.

Here is a sneaky peek at a repurposed twistie cab

being made into a cuff~

Mardi Gras. Got some?

2011-09-11T09:19:00.002-05:00

Every day around here is a bit like Mardi Gras. Only without giant cups of beer. And there aren't any drunk girls flashing boobs for beads. And the floor doesn't smell like something that once was (and still should be) inside a person's stomach.

Ok so maybe the only Mardi Gras-ish thing I've actually got going on is my bead stash.

Close Enough.

Vintage Czech Glass Cabochon

Upcycled Leather

$115

9/11/01

I'm not going to honor the atrocities

of 10 years ago today by rehashing

the horror of watching it unfold.

What I will do is

honor the memory of those lost

and the incredible selfless bravery

of those who fought to save others

with every ounce of love and gratitude

my heart is capable of.

I'm here.

I remember you.

Source

* Used as a synonym for bitch because I try to keep this blog family friendly.

2011-09-09T10:02:00.006-05:00

I've been asked so many times if I watch SoA, and every time I respond in the negative with "nah, I caught half an episode and just couldn't get into it" whomever has done the asking kind of snarls at me.

(For those of you also not in the know, SoA = Sons of Anarchy, a show about a biker club which I assumed meant beating women, doing drugs, and shooting people. Feel free to judge me for judging.)

I found myself flipping through Netflix and came across the first 2 seasons of SoA and decided that maybe if I started at the beginning I could discover why my friends might kind of hate me for not liking it. Within the first 5 hours I was Truly Madly Deeply in love with Jackson and wanted to nominate Katey Sagal for every possible award (including best male lead, the woman's badassery knows no bounds). That is all I am going to say because I'm working on my snarl and if you don't like or check out the show for yourself let me know so I can practice it on you.

And I know what you're thinking...that I didn't actually watch 5 episodes consecutively. You're right. It was more like 11. OCD, y'all. I speak it.

I was 33% correct (there is a lot of shooting) but I'm hooked. What's more I found myself inspired by Gemma~ the solid, strong, savvy* queen mother of the club~ and this cuff is the result.

Custom handmade glass cabochon

Upcycled Leather

(SOLD)

I still have 6 episodes of the second season left to watch, so if anyone needs anything before 5pm call someone else, k?

~~

I'll just be over here hugging the air.

2011-09-07T09:27:00.001-05:00

That Tropical Storm Lee...he sure knows how to get back on someone's good side. After months of triple digit temps and quad digit humidity in which I drowned several times, yesterday's and today's low 70s make me want to kiss Alabama on the mouth.

Open windows and cool fresh air! The Kitteh was a little confused by this phenomenon,

but she eventually figured it out.

Instead of turning on the AC in the shiny shack yesterday

I opened the doors out there as well.

Which means that kiss I mentioned above?

Would totally involve tongue.

Newly listed

$10 Twinster sets.

(only 2 of each available)

StudioJuls

Coming out of the closet.

2011-09-06T09:29:00.004-05:00

Yesterday's experiment is still underway because those monkeys? While very cute, they are mischievous brats. I'm working on the second trial run today so more on that later.

~~

Yesterday I found myself coming in from the studio and heading to the closet where I stood for longer than I care to admit trying to remember why I was there. That walk~in is pretty much a catch all for things that aren't needed year 'round, art supplies I haven't touched since I shoved 'em in there 5 years ago, clothes, and everything else I have too much of. What I'm trying to say is there is lots of SHINY! so I'm not going to feel bad about forgetting why I am there even during those times I'm standing there naked with hangers of clothes in my face.

The reason I am telling y'all all this is that yesterday I was making beads and stopped for some reason that dictated immediate closet presence ~ a reason that was immediately forgotten upon closet entry. I stood there a good little while surveying to see if anything would remind me before giving up and shutting the door.

I could tell you what I was thinking about for the rest of the day, but how's about I show you instead?

It is only because I have incredible self restraint that I am not walking through a house totally decked out for the holidays right now.

It is also why you are seeing Christmas Beads on my blog in September.

These aren't really Christmasy

but I probably didn't need to tell you that~

available at

StudioJuls!

Reverse Engineering

2011-09-05T11:55:00.001-05:00

I found myself wanting to bead last night, so I slipped a movie into the laptop, started digging around in my focal stash and...drew a complete blank.

When all fails, break out your favorite colors and make the base for a cuff. Eventually the perfect focal piece will become evident. At least according to the voices.

(not digging either of those at the moment)

(but that could change)

(maybe)

Check out these gorgeous $10 sets ~

StudioJuls!

It is raining monkeys and hyenas with this storm, sideways playful giant drops that land in your ears and whisper "you should be at the beach right now" before laughing uproariously. I'm gonna go ahead and forgive them though, because I actually do have an idea I've been noodling for a few months and the weather dictates today is as good as any to try it out.

Tomorrow's photo will either be of something wicked cool or utterly disastrous. If it turns out to be the latter let's blame the monkeys, k?

30 Days of Fun ~ Day That Could Have Been

2011-09-04T07:44:00.005-05:00

Yesterday a friend shot me a text and asked if I wanted to use their beach house for the remainder of the weekend. Did you hear the Squee? Of course I yelled "heck no", so she brought me the keys.

Because I forgot that ignorance is bliss, I thought maybe with Tropical Storm Lee being a butthole in the gulf I should check the weather and see how much yuck I might expect.

Guess what? Much.Yuck. TSLee is obviously the king of Yuck, and I want to kick it in the shin.

Like most of the area there are flash flood and tornado watches for Dale, Coffee and Geneva counties in Alabama, and for Holmes and Bay counties in Florida. Those particular 5 counties are my route to PCB...with the last one being the county in which the beach house resides.

The first giant raindrops fell a half hour ago when I went outside to flip off the storm clouds already beginning to roll in.

It is raining so hard now that I can't see out of the house windows, so I'm thinking hitting that rain head on at 65 mph and daring a tornado to form wouldn't be a stellar decision since I'm quite sure I'd have the window down and a certain finger extended the entire time.

Le sigh.

~~

Let's laugh anyway, k?

INBRED CAT

Football Season! I can't even type that without getting giddy.

2011-09-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

I have exactly an hour and 20 minutes to write this blog post, shower and don my Bama Gear, drop some packages off at the PO, and get to Becky's before the University of Alabama kicks off our season opener.

Roll Tide, y'all!

New $10 sets~

(8x14mm)

StudioJuls!

30 Days of Fun ~ Day 9. You will need a tissue.

2011-09-03T01:10:00.005-05:00

Just.

Wow.

30 Days of Fun ~ Day 8

2011-09-02T10:12:00.005-05:00

I'm pretty sure the idea behind 30 Days of Fun was to have them in succession. You know, like in a row. But me and rules...well, you've been around long enough to understand how much I love 'em. Bless their hearts.

Naturally I am a month into the project and only on Day 8 which pretty much means I'm wringing this sucker for everything it is worth. Much like I do my birthdays. Yes, plural. Wait. Did you not know about my fake birthday? Oh honey, bless your heart. If you need to go ahead and Unfollow, I understand. I won't even tell Santa.

I'm kind of cheating with Day 8 because I'm counting the hours between 5pm Wednesday and noonish Thursday.  It started with a Harley ride to Florida for lottery tickets. What? I already used that one?  Please don't call the fun police. There's more! This time on the way back we stopped for dinner at a restaurant called Mom's Kitchen. If that right there doesn't tell you how good the food was then ewe wuzn't razed up in the south.

Let me interject right here that I sometimes break my own rules, so other people's rules shouldn't be offended if I can't keep 'em.   I stopped eating meat on May 20th after watching Food, Inc. In fact I stopped eating most things. If someone ever tells you that you can't exist on air and water, he/she is lying. Also? If you like food never EVER watch Food, Inc. I can't stress that enough.

Anyway. Mom's Kitchen. Sounds totally Vegan, right? And it was...if you count Country Fried Steak smothered in white gravy as a vegetable. I'm not even embarrassed to admit I ate every single bite of it and if my friend hadn't already finished his I might very well have snatched it from his plate. We seriously need a dictionary that is only pictures, and Wednesday's country fried steak needs to be a whole page for the word bestthingIeverate.

I did walk away from half of the mashed potatoes and black eyed peas and bread, so I was also able to leave any residual guilt I might have experienced laying on the plate next to them. It's the small victories, y'all.

The next part of my fun day was getting together with a couple of friends to do some volunteer yard work for an elderly widow. By yard I mean acreage. And by work I mean 145 bushes, trees, plants, fencelines, mowing, weedeating, cleaning, hauling and getting the kind of dirty I haven't been ever.  It was awesome for so many reasons. I like spending time with the people I was working with. I like pretending I am Danica and this riding lawnmower race is THE riding lawnmower race for all time! I liked looking out at all of it when it was over and realizing I contributed to making something more beautiful, and I really like knowing that someone who needed help got it. I can't think of a better way to start a day.

Just don't wear sandals, K?

~~

I wrapped Day 8 up in the shiny shack gettin' my Autumn on~

StudioJuls!

One of these days I'll probably stop making beads.

2011-09-01T09:56:00.000-05:00

If you aren't laughing right now, you should be.

StudioJuls!

It is 8:13 am and I have already cleaned and strung 100 beads. I've also already eaten an old fashioned cake style sour cream donut and had a cup of coffee the size of a small child.

2011-08-31T08:24:00.001-05:00

I am not a coffee drinker, and by not a coffee drinker I mean I might drink coffee 3 times a year. I woke up with a fierce sweet tooth this morning and thought Calories be damned I'm having a donut and some coffee! Now I'm sitting over here completely bloated out but totally satisfied and smiling thanks to the mom and pop donut shop up the street. Suck it, Krispy Kreme.

I made some twinster sets yesterday~

$10 a set

StudioJuls!

And we'd honeymoon next to the colors in the second set.

2011-08-30T12:55:00.001-05:00

I had a marathon torch session yesterday and finished making the last of my outstanding bead orders. Since it was only 8pm and I was ridin' a mojo high I went ahead and made a few more $10 sets to replenish StudioJuls.

This one right here? Probably my favorite color combo ever. They've started machine pulling the purple (because hello! It wasn't broken, so let's change it!) and now this delicious fuschia purple is almost a memory. Unless of course one has a stash of the original EDP. Or an extra arm to throw out in order to buy some from someone willing to sell it. Anyway, I'd probably marry this color:

StudioJuls!

I think its time I wrote something random, don't you?

2011-08-29T11:15:00.002-05:00

Top 5 reasons my nails look like crap:

1) I'm a week over due on my fill.
2) Because I spent my mani money at the vet last week.
3) And at the bar Thursday night.
4) And Saturday.
5) Stop looking at me like that.
6) I'm single.
7) And I like to play darts.
8) This counting thing is too much like math.

Also, have you ever checked out your Celebrity Doppleganger? I tried it a couple of years ago and got Helen Mirren. But not Helen Mirren at 40. More like Helen Mirren at 60 something. Which means that whole doppleganger website can kiss my lily white grits because if we are basing it on facial features I'm actually much more of a Dory.

Brilliant, that one.

New Bead Specials at StudioJuls~

2011-08-28T14:44:00.001-05:00

$10 Sets!

$6 Earring Pairs!

StudioJuls!

Want some Joy?

2011-08-28T01:20:00.010-05:00

If you can't see the video here, click THIS LINK.

I know, right? You're welcome.

~~

30 Days of fun ~ Day 7

2011-08-26T12:22:00.003-05:00

I spend entirely too much time indoors. Mostly because I am self employed, but partly because it is summer in south Alabama. Read that as ItisHotterthanHell.

I've made a concerted effort since starting my 30 days of fun to go ahead and brave the heat. Mostly because I love being outside, but partly because I had gotten so pale I could barely see my reflection in a mirror.

Yesterday I had lunch with my brother and then opened the sunroof, rolled down the windows, and took the scenic route through the country home. Read that as AHalfTankofGasGone.

Totally. Worth. It.

New $10 Bead Sets listed at Studiojuls~ 18 of 'em!

2011-08-25T09:55:00.003-05:00

You'd better go HERE

and

Git Ewe Sum!

($3 shipping no matter how many sets you purchase)

30 Days of Fun ~ Day 6

2011-08-24T13:34:00.002-05:00

My new vanity plate came in. I think it is my favorite so far~

I discovered a flat tire when I was leaving to take Chelsea to the vet this morning, and while that is definitely NOT a fun thing.....having a friend who is willing to come drive you to the vet, treat you to lunch, and then change the tire for you in 100 degree heat is.

This is on my worktable right now and I think I'm going to take a couple of hours and finish it before heading out to the shiny shack. Chels and I need some quality lap time.

New $10 Bead Specials at StudioJuls

2011-08-23T12:29:00.001-05:00

I've got some Skillz Days to finish up and another cuff screaming to be created, and somehow the day is already half over. If one of you could go ahead and use your genius to create a 28 hour day I'll buy you a lottery ticket, k?

You'll find them at

StudioJuls.

I totally want to put this on and party like its 1999.

2011-08-22T11:29:00.000-05:00

This is a custom order cuff I made yesterday, and part of me hoped my lovely client might hate it. Luckily I have what I need to make another one because mama is so making herself one to wear with this necklace.

~ Jenna's Jangle ~

Custom Dichroic Cabochon, upcycled leather.

SOLD

Harley Girl Series ~ Cuff #2

2011-08-21T17:22:00.001-05:00

Notice how this lampwork cab looks both like ocean waves crashing into a rocky shore and a brilliant blue sky kissing snowcapped mountains?

~ The Scenic Route ~

Custom Lampwork Cabochon, upcycled leather.

$145

The biggest decision I am going to make today is whether to melt glass or create a new jewelry adornment. Thank you for being part of my life, Saturday.

2011-08-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of sets I pulled from the kiln this morning~

They are available at StudioJuls.

Just try not to love the thought of this paired with black leather chaps.

2011-08-19T07:45:00.009-05:00

The focal on this cuff was a bead I made last fall. I loved it, so naturally I took a big chunk out of the hole with the dremel while cleaning it. Y'all know how I am about having to use the unuseable, so I stuck it in my stash for a later play date. A few weeks (months? who knows...) ago I did some slumping on a stormy day and turned it into a cab before putting it back in the stash and promptly forgetting about it.

What? I'm forty now. Forgetting is the new black.

I sat staring at my unlit torch yesterday for 20 minutes before my mind wandered back to the motorcycle ride I took last week~ the leaves swaying on the trees, the random mounds of red Alabama clay, black asphalt streaming beneath my feet, the wind hugging my outstretched arms, the rain that caught us at the tail end of the ride and hit my body like tiny silver bullets.

I dug out this cab of perfect colors and spent the afternoon making a cuff, all the while thinking I should own leather riding attire from vest to boots. And a Harley. A pink one. Or maybe turquoise. Also that every Harley girl should own a stylized custom cuff.

Handmade Lampwork Cabochon, Upcycled Leather

SOLD.

Julsbeads

Julsbeads is MOVING. The blog, the FB Page, the everything!

"Rollbacks" my a**

Going on Faith.

First Shop Update of 2012.

This is what happens to me in Oregon.

My inner child is acting like an angsty drama-filled teenager.

Wanna see what I see?

Boring photos of a vacation that you aren't on. I'm sorry, and you're welcome.

Really, Oregon?

Moving Forward

If you ever wanted to own an actual physical part of my soul, here's your chance!

I'm not sure where Monday went, but Tuesday and Wednesday must have gone looking for it.

Guess What!?

Carbed Out, Amped Up, and Pretty Dang Excited. +End of Year Clearance Sale!

Imma just be over here doing NOT A DAMN THING.

I was going to say I can't believe Christmas is in 3 days, but the state of my studio tells me it's true.

North is 90 miles Southeast of Due West

Once around the Son ~ With Love

I'll think of a Post Title later, k?

I think I'll stop making beads now.

Sometimes yelling GIMME THAT at the top of your lungs actually works.

I really love this idea.

Math is kind of Awesome.

Friday Night Love

New Hearts

With Love Necklaces

I was going to show you some necklaces, but I was too busy napping today to take pictures.

Why does Kitteh have Fat Face?

Life is like a box of Hearts. You never know what kind of love you're gonna get. Unless you're getting it from me, in which case it is probably a little nutty.

New Special of the week~ plus other random tids and bits.

Cyber Monday Sale!

For those of you who didn't see this in 2010.

Custom Order Jewelry

This made even my fever smile.

See those packages resting on the corner of the table that need to be mailed? If yours happens to be one of them please bear with me for a few days while I'm over here trying not to die.

11-11-11

A few things including a Bonus Holiday Special this week at StudioJuls!

I'm hanging with my Nana for a few days~

Raku Links and Tropical Blues

Let's get this party started, K?

Some Custom Jewelry and the answer to the burning question on everyone's mind. Ok, maybe not everyone.

Let's have some Happy.

Not your typical BOO!

Fiesta Freeform Links (and another Washed Ashore set), Silver Bells (Is it Christmas yet? NO? I'm still putting up my tree this week.), and Love.

Doin' what I'm doin'.

Freeform

Creative Voices.

I had fun yesterday.

Monster Inventory Clearance Sale.

Inspired by~

For no reason at all.

Gift Certificates now available at StudioJuls!

A whole lotta sass. There's really no other way to describe the last 3 pictures.

My Mind. It is changed.

When Vetro goes on sale for 70% off...

Quite possibly my favorite set of beads. EVER.

I'm actually going to root for Auburn against Arkansas today.

...I'm in it. How could I not be?

If you'll give me your opinion on something I'll give you a kiss on the mouth. Or you know, maybe just a virtual hug.

Gorgeous Glass.

For real.

I don't usually even allow a blue rod and an orange rod on my torch table at the same time.

Yes? Maybe? Pleeeease?

Y'all KNOW I had to play too!

Last Call, Y'all!

Head's up, Bead Babes!

I have a new gray matter crush.

New Beads ~ Create 3 Focal/Earring jewelry sets or 1 BIG BANGING NECKLACE!

It takes a special kind of person to come up with this stuff~

I *really* dig this song~

Got Turquoise?

It's Tuesday!

If I told you that I was eaten by a giant pink elephanpotomus and that is why I wasn't able to finish my Bead Soup creation ~ Would you believe me?

Winter is comin' to visit, y'all.

The only reason I haven't chucked everything and moved into a tent on an obscure beach is that I'd have nowhere to keep my bead stash.

I wanted to take a photo of the beautiful sunrise through the trees this morning, but the batteries in my camera were dead. That has nothing to do with this post though.

The Making of a Hot Mess: Volume 874

Mardi Gras. Got some?

* Used as a synonym for bitch because I try to keep this blog family friendly.

I really dig this song~