Bad at Blog Titles

Yup, that's me. I figure it should be short, sweet, and get to the point. However, I never have a clue what the title should be.

I haven't been around much lately and haven't been commenting on your blogs. I have a really good excuse, though. I've worked 60 hours the past couple of weeks, and I've also started a new semester and have a ton of homework. I haven't made any jewelry recently but I have purchased lots of beads. My boyfriend says "you used to be a jewelry-maker but now I think you're just a bead collector."  How true. I have all sorts of ideas running around my head, but working 15 hour days and then coming home to do homework doesn't leave much time.

I am going to make a huge effort over the next couple of weeks to make some jewelry, blog, and visit your blogs on a more regular basis. When I got home from work last night (yes, Sunday) around 10:30, I logged into my Google Reader and had 245 unread blog posts. So instead of crying like I wanted to, I sat down and looked at almost all of them tonight. I didn't take the time to comment because the thought was just too overwhelming. Tomorrow we start anew.

Thank you for visiting my blog. It occurs to me that now that I have a jewelry blog, I really need to start making some. I'm getting there - be patient.

I leave you with this - a picture taken from my trip to Maine last month to visit my boyfriend's family. One of our nephews took this picture. (Yes, I consider them "our" nephews, even though they're technically his. We've been together for six years - and they call me Aunt Tara. That's good enough for me).  I let him use my camera one night when we were having a "lobstah suppah" out on his parent's deck.  He took this on the tree swing while spinning around as fast as he could. I thought the picture turned out simply amazing!

Love this picture.

Coolest Giveaway Ever!

Look how pretty!  This is one of Maria Grimes' "Tide Pool" pendants! I love them so much, I can't even tell you! I haven't purchased one yet because every time I go to her website, they're all sold!  Anyway, she is having a way cool giveaway and you should probably click here to go read all about it. She is going to let the winner pick one word and she will create a set of beads based on that word. My go-to word in these situations is "beach" because I love the color palate and anything near water is a happy place.

I'm Alive...

...but crazy.  I haven't visited your blogs this week or even my own. I worked 67 hours last week and I start a new semester this week, so that means I'm going to be even more busy (busier?) I am exhausted and don't see it improving any time soon. At any rate, I'm still here, but it may be a little while before I'm able to blog again.

August in Phoenix

It ain't for the faint of heart.

It's Almost Friday...

...so I am going to ask my Friday question a little early.

Can I first say that I just now figured out how to respond to comments? I'll try to do that from now on, so you don't feel like you're talking into a void. I have been desperately trying to strike a balance between my personal life and my work life but it's just not working right now. I have worked 62 hours already this week and I still have to work tomorrow (Friday).

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to last week's question. I appreciate the insights and will definitely take them to heart.  I'm definitely thinking at at the end of every month, I'd take everyone who took the time to answer my Friday questions and put them all in a hat and have a giveaway. I'll give that some thought.

Here's this week's question. What do you do when the muse escapes you? Do you push through it and create something anyway? Do you look at artwork to inspire you? I've been working so much the past month or so that I feel like I don't have a single creative bone in my body at this point.  I sit down at my little workspace (a corner of my kitchen table and all my supplies are in a box under the table), and it's like I'm being tortured. So how do you get through it?

Want.

From Jane Perala Designs

From The Classic Bead

From Kelley's Beads

From Jangles

From Meadow Sky

From Summers Studio

I'll be back tomorrow!

I Won An Award!

Thank you to the lovely Elisabeth of Beads for Busy Gals!  I won a Versatile Blogger award! 

Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Pass the award along to 15 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fabulous
4. Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award! (this will have to happen tomorrow)

Seven random things about me:

1. I don't know when I was born. I was found in a garbage can in the winter of 1974 in South Korea and taken to an orphanage. They think I was about a month old, so they gave me a birthday the month before. I was adopted when I was five months old and a few years later, the orphanage had a fire and burned to the ground. There is no record of me left in Korea that I know of.
2. I have a serious Coca-Cola problem. I consume WAY too much of it. Seriously.
3. I love my job, even lately, when I'm working 60 hour weeks. I do wish there were two of me, though, so I could get a little more rest. 
4. I started taking piano lessons when I was three years old. I attribute my ability to type 130+ words per minute to that.
5. I don't really enjoy sweets - I'd rather have a crispy, salty snack instead of candy.
6. I have never wanted to have kids, even when I was young.
7. About a year and a half ago, I decided to go back to school part-time and it was a great decision. No matter how stressed I get in a semester, I still love the fact that I'm back in school.

So the next thing to do is award this to some other bloggers. This award has been going around so long now, though, that I don't know anyone who hasn't been tagged. Since I worked 14 hours today, I'm going to give myself a free pass and work on tagging some blogs tomorrow.

ANOTHER Giveaway!

The beading community is so generous!  Here's a giveaway on Copper Diem.  Check out these beauties!  Seriously, head over there and enter to win!

TGIF!

Hi, all!  Thank GOODNESS it's Friday! I worked over 60 hours this week at my day job and I'm worn out!

I wanted to pop in and say hi and thanks for commenting/reading/following my blog. You guys are awesome! I love you guys!

One of the real reasons I started this blog is to learn from the experts!  I have a lot of questions rolling around in my head that I need to put out there and get some help on.  I'm a Newbie Beader, after all!  So every Friday, I'm going to put up a post and ask for some advice/guidance.

This Friday's question is kind of two-part. I've decided that's not cheating. :)

Up until now, I've only worked with silver-plated findings. I haven't tried gold or sterling or any other metals, although I do have a few things in gunmetal that is astounding me, design-wise.  So my question is this - if I wanted to dip my toes into the pool, where's a good place to start? And copper and brass look the same to me - what's the difference? I really like the look of the Vintaj stuff. and I think their prices are pretty reasonable and I like designs I've seen with their components.  I'd also like to start trying sterling silver. I have a few things here and there, as I can afford them, but not a lot. It's a bit out of my price range at this point.

So, who is your favorite supplier for stuff that isn't silver-plated?  Who has the best prices and selection of Vintaj?  My local Hobby Lobby has a small selection, but mostly just charms.  I think Rings & Things has a pretty good selection, but do you need a wholesale license to shop there?  And I know to get the basics - jump rings, wire, pins, etc., but what else should I get?

And that brings me to part 2 of my question. I'm not selling my jewelry right now (see above re: cheap materials), but I might someday. Is getting a wholesale license something I should do now so that I can shop at these places (and for the Tucson Bead Show next year)?  Or should I wait until I'm ready to start selling?

Help me, please!

Thanks, guys - you're the best!

Giveaway!

Tish is having a giveaway, y'all!  It's so easy to enter - just leave a comment on this post and tell her your favorite subject in school.  The giveaway is for a pendant - just take a look at this one she posted: 

Look at that wire work!  I'm in awe! Someday I want to be able to do wire work like that!

What are you doing still hanging around here? Click and comment!  On the other hand, don't - I want to win!