A Little Link-a-palooza and a Laugh (at myself)

It's really a shame how much the weather affects my mood and motivation. It's overcast and dreary here today and I'm really having to push myself to get anything done. Sigh. Am I the only one with this malady? What affects your motivation?

I really want to mention the great laugh I had Wednesday evening. Here in the states, the Fourth of July is our Independence Day. It's a day of bar-b-ques, watermelon, and fireworks.

Tons of people flock to their favorite firework-watching spot over the course of the day. Once the show is over, they all trudge back to their vehicles and homes.

This was the middle of the road. . .there was a car to my right stuck following the people walking.

As we joined the masses in this trek, I couldn't help but imagine that this is similar to what it would look like in apocalyptic scenarios, or that it's what a zombie hoard would look like. It really tickled and frightened me at the same time (I kinda like to be scared.)

It just goes to show you what an overactive imagination I can have and how easily amused I am.

Anyway. . .since my motivation is running low, it seems like the perfect time for

**Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio offered up this pretty sweet spiral wire clasp tutorial a few months back. I'm finally getting around to sharing the link. Maybe someday I'll get around to actually trying it out!

Cindy's Spiral Clasp Tutorial

** Handmadeology gathered up a pretty neat list of 25 Things to Do on Your Lunchbreak to Further your Handmade Business. Whether you have a lunchbreak or not, I think this list is a really great example of some tasks you can do pretty quickly to get inspired, manage your business, and think outside the box.

**Mary & Patch has a tutorial on altering plain metal bangles with macrame. I really love all the color it adds.

I've a PILE of videos to watch saved up. See. . . .I've got no speakers and heaphones don't seem to work on this desktop. As such, I really need to sit down with the iPad and the Apple TV and get to watching. Maybe soon I'll have a list of those for you.

For now, I'll leave you with the three items I put on sale today. The first two are from the Suor Angelica collection. Please note that although I've marked those items down, Melanie will still receive the 50% of the ORIGINAL price, not the reduced price.

Cross My Heart Necklace

Music Dreams Necklace

Bright Blossom Necklace

The bottom has finally dropped out of the clouds. Maybe once the rain passes I'll get my sunshine. Wishful thinking?

Monday's Menu, a Giveaway, and New Items

It's a really beautiful day today so I've got the windows and doors open. The kitties are LOVING IT!! I'm just trying to stay focused long enough to get some work done. Dang, it's hard!

I did get the Menu made!

Breakfasts: Peanut butter banana smoothies, breakfast burritos, cereal/oatmeal, waffelized monte cristo sandwich, eggs w/bacon & toast, whole wheat carrot muffins

Lunches: Paninis, leftovers, soup w/grilled cheese, bean burritos, chicken salad sandwiches, pepperoni pizza puffs, turkey quesidillas

Dinners:

Crockpot beef stew w/rice

Grilled chicken with lemon basil pasta w/salad

Turkey chili w/rice

Grilled shrimp w/green beans & crispy smashed potatoes

Ham steak w/mac-n-cheese & peas

There's more Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Somehow I failed to mention last week that Rebekah at Tree Wings Studio is having a giveaway. It's open until tomorrow, so hurry over there and enter to win one of three sets. This is just one of them.

I've got two more items in the shop. The first is a new one for the Suor Angelica fundraising for my friend Melanie and the second is a re-listed necklace just in time for this beautiful weather.

Suor Angelica Charm Bracelet

Island Carefree Necklace

Now to get back to enjoying this beautiful day. . .errr. ..I mean cleaning and working. Yeah, that's what I meant.

Menu and Suor Angelica JUNK Necklace

Let's make this a quickie okay?
Really, I guess that's completely up to me.
Ok. . .here goes.

It's Monday, so it's time for another Menu Plan Monday.

Breakfasts: Cereal/oatmeal, breakfast burritos, whole wheat waffles, hashbrown baskets, muffins

Lunches: Pizza quesidillas, tuna noodles, pizza (from freezer), lefrtovers, ham sandwiches, soup w/grilled cheese, chicken salad

Dinners: 

Gouda stovetop mac-n-cheese w/mixed veggies & salad

Taco stuffed shells w/salad

Grilled chicken w/corn on the cob & crispy smashed potatoes

Crunchy garlic chicken w/green beans & yellow rice

Head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more Menu Plan Monday.


I added another JUNK necklace to the shop. This one is to benefit Melanie's Suor Angelica fundraising.

Suor Angelica JUNK Necklace

I've got lots on my plate today and the nieces will be spending their spring break with us for the last half of the week. Soooo. . .we'll see if I'm back any this week or not. If not, I hope you understand. Thanks!

Fundraising for Suor Angelica Opera

Last week I mention in my BTW post that I've been working on making some jewelry to benefit a friend who has been given an extraordinary opportunity. Since I finally got a few of those pieces in the shop this morning I figured I'd share more about this (with some of the jewelry I've made scattered in for good measure.)

Cross My Heart Necklace

My friend, Melanie, has been invited to sing the lead role in Puccini's opera Suor Angelica this summer in Rome as part of Operafestival di Roma 2012. As you can imagine, this opportunity could be life-changing for Melanie. While it includes four weeks of training and a week of performances, the cost of tuition for the program is rather steep.  As such, she is doing everything she can to try to raise the funds in order to participate.

Modern Religion Necklace

That's where I come in. Melanie approached me about making some jewelry that would symbolize Suor Angelica and donating a small percentage to her Rome fund. I thought this was a fantastic idea and a way that I could help her. So, 50% of the sales of the items in the Sour Angelica Fundraiser section of my shop with go into Melanie's fund.

Music for Your Soul

Since I am not familiar with the opera, Melanie informed me that it is about a nun, Sister Angelica, who lives in a convent. She uses flowers and herbs to make medicines for her other sisters. Melanie will be performing this production in an actual church in Rome. How cool is that!? Anyway, based on the theme of the opera, many of the pieces in this collection have crosses and music notes. I will be making additional items for the collection, but I wanted to get the ball rolling on my fundraising efforts for Melanie.

Music Dreams Necklace

If you are interested in helping Melanie achieve this dream but don't want to have to purchase jewelry from me, please visit Melanie's fundraising site for Suor Angelica in Rome. You can donate there, follow Melanie's fundraising efforts, and even see a video of her. Remember, every little bit helps!

Rose Garden Necklace

If the current items in the shop don't appeal to you, please come back by my Suor Angelica shop section another time as I will be adding more items as I get them made. Remember, 50% of all monies collected from the items sold out of this section will be going directly to Melanie.
Thanks!

BTW: Wild Week

What's with this week already? It's kicking my butt! I feel like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back. So let me go ahead and get a blog post out so I can cross SOMETHING off my to do list today!

It's Bead Table Wednesday!!

Here's the current state of my craft desk.

It's covered with crosses and music notes because I've begun a project to help raise funds for a friend of mine who has been selected for the lead in an opera in ROME! However, she needs some help to get the money together to actually go. I'll be sharing some more information about this fundraising effort very soon. For now, here's a few of the pieces (also on my bead table) I've completed for this effort.

The BTW Flickr Group has more beady goodness!

Oh, and there's a new necklace and a re-listed necklace in the shop.

Lady Victoria Necklace

Woodland Pal Necklace

It's back to the grind for me. I hope you're having a much more productive week!