BEAD SOUP CREATIONS

Sorry for posting a day late, but once again was in the hospital.  I was unable to originally post a pic of the soup I received because I was having problems with Chrome and my blog and was unable to access my blog. First, here is a pic of the soup I sent:

Soup I sent

Here is a pic of the Soup I received.  (The turquoise necklace and anchor bracelet were freebies and not actually part of the soup.)

Soup I received

My partner's blog can be viewed here  http://www.tappingflamingo.blogspot.com/

I, unfortunately couldn't seem to come up with anything for the ribbons but I did make three items.

1) Using the purple beads, focal and very beautiful clasp along with some of my own beads, (I wanted to pick beads that complimented her beads but didn't not take away from them. I hope I succeeded.) This is what I created.

 Necklace using purple beads, focal and clasp.

2)  I also made a bracelet using some of the flower beads she send along with some flat flower beads and leaves from my own stash.

 Bracelet using flower beads

3)  She sent a few paper beads she had made and was hoping I would try to use them.  I  really didn't know what kind of beads you would use with paper beads so I made a simple bracelet using a few seed beads as spacers.  (the paper beads  are really very cute!)  Nice work Terry!

Simple bracelet using paper beads.

I hope everyone like the items I created.

Tracy!

The list of participants can be found here

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

The 3 'n 1 Earring

I hope to get better pics soon, but after about the 40th one today, I decided it was best to take a break and try again later (better than throwing my camera or phone against the wall!) Anyway, here is a new earring I made earlier today. I am calling it my "3 'n 1" earring. (I am actually thinking about adding an ear cuff to it). Of course this earring can be made as a "2 'n 1", "4 'n 1", etc. depending on how 'holey' your ears are, lol. Let me know what you guys think

Tracy

Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry

Let's Try This One More Time!

OK, so, the last time I was here, I had said that I was going to keep up with my blog on a regular basis.  Did I lie?  Well.....not intentionally.....

I had said, and I did mean it, that even being sick, I would do my best to post at least once a week. This was in late Nov., 2012.  Well, as it always seems to happen, things went every which way but the right way!  

It began with one of the worst things anyone can experience.  Let me give you a little background:

  My mother and father divorced when I was 4 and I was raised by dad and step-mother.  I did not see my real mother again until I was about 23 or 24 yrs old.  At that time, I lived with her in Alabama and Florida for just a couple of months.   My sister Tye was in Jr. High, my brother Bennie was in grade school and Micah and Twilla were both toddlers.  After returning to California, I spoke with my real mom now and then but we then lost contact (she was experiencing problems that we don't need to get into) due to her moving around a lot.  I did not see or talk to my brothers and sisters until I found them on FaceBook..... about 25 years later!  

Now....back to my original train of thought.... just a few weeks after reuniting with my sisters, brothers and mom, on-line, we found out that my mom had lung cancer.  Everyone, including the doctors, figured she had at least a good year before there was a chance of her passing on.  Since my boyfriend, my son, and I live on my boyfriend's seasonal work and my SSI. any trips we take have to be planned and saved up for ahead of time.  We, unfortunately, don't have a 'nest egg'.  So we were making arrangements to visit my mom and the rest of the family in Alabama sometime in May or June, 2013.  Well, during the middle of January, 2013, I was in the hospital for one of my regular bowel obstructions when I received a phone call from my brother Bennie.  The doctors had given my mom about 10 days, at the most!!!!  

After getting released from the hospital and back on my feet, I hopped on a Greyhound and made the trip to Alabama, alone.  (it was a 2 day trip but I actually had a nice ride and met some really great people).  

Well,  when I was about 6 hours from Alabama, I got the phone call.  My mom had passed away.  I wanted so very badly to see her before she went..... it was a very, very sad moment.   However, my sisters and brothers believe she was holding on as long as she could, waiting for me.  (about 3 days earlier, the doctor's had given her only hours!)
also,  about 4 hours or so before I got that phone call, my brothers girlfriend, who was helping care for my mom, called me and said that my mom was in terrible pain and thought she was doing all she could to hang on waiting for me.  So, I had her put the phone up to my mom and I told her, "I love you, and I want, so much, to see you, but I don't want you to suffer waiting on  me.  Please don't suffer, if you need to let go, I will understand.  Just know that I love you".  It was a few hours later she passed.  I am just very happy that the weeks prior to this, we had talked on the phone sometimes for hours at a time.  So, although I wasn't able to see and visit with her before she left us, I was able to reconnect with her by phone...............

Well, I am sure no one wants to visit a blog and read a novel..... so, I will continue tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am going to post my new earrings made earlier today!

Love you all!

Tracy

Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry

BLACK FRIDAY NIGHTMARE!

While researching possible laptops to purchase, this is what I found:

At Best Buy - Samsung laptop bundle (includes:  sleeve, mouse, and flash drive)  15.6", 4GB memory, 500GB hard drive.  Reg price:  $574.95  Black Friday sale price:  $349.95.   I had to have it!

When we were at Best Buy on Tuesday, there were people camping outside waiting for Black Friday.  I thought, "Oh my God, what a bunch of idiots.  It's not like this is a Hollywood premiere or something!"  Well, ha ha, I guess the joke was on me!

We arrived at Best Buy about 5 min. before they were scheduled to open.  We had to wait in line for 30 to 45 min.  Once inside, there was not 1 laptop under $900 left in the entire store.  WTF!!  I really don't care how many people showed up for the sale, it was only 30 min. after opening.  There is no reason that they shouldn't have enough merchandise to last that long!  So, no laptop for me yet.

But, I do have a chest cold and sore throat now......thank you Best Buy.
THUMBS DOWN FOR BEST BUY

WALMART - 0     BEST BUY - 1     GAMESTOP - 2

TRACY
Visit me on FACEBOOK  

A GREAT BEST BUY OFFER

This computer that i am currently using seems to have one problem after another.  So, I decided that my best bet would be to have it wiped clean and reformatted.  I have reformatted my computers in the past, but now that no one gives you discs anymore and the windows cds are on a partition, I'm lost.  While exchanging my ink cartridges at Best Buy, I asked the manager if he could point me in the direction of the 'Geek Squad' and mentioned that I was thinking about having my computer reformatted.  He said, "I can tell you that it's going to cost you around $200."  OMG!

While talking to the 'Geek Squad', the lady proceeded to tell me about a service contract they had for purchase.  Normally, this costs $199 per year, but since we just purchased a laptop, we could get this for $99.  The thing about this service contract is, it covers 3 computers!  So, not only would both my son's laptop and my computer be covered for a year but I could get mine reformatted.......completely free!  WOW!  Since we have 30 days from our purchase to get this contract for $99, I decided to wait and talk to my boyfriend (since he is the one who will be paying for it).

At home, I talk to my boyfriend.  He says, "Well, you can get it, but let's just buy you a laptop and you can have the computer you use now as a back-up."  Hey, who am I to complain?

For the outrageous price to reformat:
THUMBS DOWN FOR BEST BUY

For the great service contract available:
THUMBS UP FOR BEST BUY

WALMART - 0     BEST BUY - 2     GAMESTOP - 2

TRACY
Visit me on FACEBOOK

ON TO BEST BUY

Ok, since Walmart obviously didn't want our money, we headed off to Best Buy.  Once there, my son located a laptop he wanted and within 10 min., we made our purchase!  I also purchased a combo pack of ink cartridges for my printer; $1 less than the Walmart price! On our way home, we stopped at GameStop where my son purchased a used headset and a game for his Xbox 360.  The salespeople at GameStop have always been very helpful.
THUMBS UP FOR BEST BUY......THUMBS UP FOR GAMESTOP!

WALMART - 0     BEST BUY  -  1     GAMESTOP - 1

It was a couple of days before I got around to changing the ink cartridges in my printer.  Dummy me, I opened, not only the box, but the individual wrappers inside when I realized I had bought the wrong cartridges.   Ut oh!

Well, I decided to call Best Buy (knowing for almost certain I was screwed since I opened the packages inside) but decided to give it a shot.  The guy I talked to on the phone said, "Normally we can't exchange them once the individual packages are opened, but if you can come in tonight, I will go ahead and exchange them for you."  Wow!

When I told my son we were going to Best Buy, he informed me that his headset didn't work.  I asked him, "Where's the receipt?"  His answer, "I don't know."  So, I call GameStop.  I talk to the manager and ask him, "We don't have the receipt, but if the saleslady remembers us and remembers selling us the headset just a couple of days ago, can we exchange it?"  He says, "Don't worry about it, come on in and I will take care of it for you, no problem."  Wow, again!
THUMBS UP FOR BEST BUY.....THUMBS UP FOR GAMESTOP!

WALMART - 0     BEST BUY - 2     GAMESTOP - 2

TRACY
Visit me on FACEBOOK

More Than Just Jewelry!

It Took A Few Days

But

Here I Am Again!

The past few days, since my last post, I've been wanting to come back here and, like I said, keep my blog active.  However, I didn't have any jewelry news to blog about.  Then I thought to myself, "Just because it's named 'Nutkitten's Jewelry Blog', does that mean that the person behind the "jewelry" can't have anything to talk about besides jewelry?"  I post on Face Book almost daily so why can't I share those things here....so, between jewelry news, that's what I'm going to do.  

My son and I had an interesting weekend while shopping for laptops so, the next few posts are what I shared on Face Book about our laptop shopping experience.  Actually, here is where are shopping began, at Walmart.

While shopping for my son's laptop Fri., our first stop was Walmart, after all, he just started college and didn't have a ton of money to spend, so where better to start. Well, he saw one he wanted but we didn't see any other than the display. So we ask an associate, she goes to the back, and not finding any, gets another associate with a Telzon (

spelling?). The employee enters the product # and informs us that two of them came in on the truck that they just finished unloading. Just as we reach the stock room, we run into one of the guys that unloads the trucks. She asks him about the laptops. He then answers her in what, he thinks, is a whisper. I, of course, hone in and hear all, lol. He tells her, "There's stuff stacked all over back there, I don't want to look through that stuff." So, she turns and says to us, "He says that there were no laptops that came in on the truck." If either of them were employed by me, that would be their last day! When I told my son I was going to go on line and make sure that corporate was made aware of this, my son, like so many others, says, "Like its gonna make big deal to them." Well, I know, for a fact, that Walmart did not become the success that it is by telling customers or potential customers, "we don't feel like bothering with you right now, go take your $400 somewhere else." 

Needless to say, we didn't purchase a laptop at Walmart.  So..... off to Best Buy we went.......

THUMBS DOWN FOR WALMART.............. WALMART 0  (there will be thumbs up or down for a couple more stores in future posts)

See out Best Buy shopping experience Tmo.......

Tracy!

I'M BACK!

Since I haven't posted since Nov 1, 2011, I'm not sure if anyone stops by anymore, but if any of you do......thank you!

I've had a rough year; been sicker than usual.  I have been hospitalized 7 times this year and then there were many, many times in between when I probably should have went to the hospital, but as I really dread doing so, I managed to suffer through at home.  I was even transported by ambulance one of those times to Thorton Hospital in La Jolla, which is about 200 miles from home.  To make being sick and away from home even worse, it was a couple of weeks before Christmas.  Luckily, the doctor was able to release me on Dec. 23 so that I could be back home for Christmas.

Unfortunately, I am temporarily removing my website/store (Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry) as I do not have the energy right now to constantly maintain it.  However, I plan on putting the site back up very soon.

During the past year, I have made a couple pieces of jewelry here and there but not like I had in the past.  But, I trying to get back into the swing of things.   So..........

Here is my first step:  Back to my Blog

My second step:  Participating in Lori Anderson's, 'Memories and Thanks Blog Hop'.  If you would like to participate in this blog hop, you may do say by following this link, or by clicking on the button on the left hand side of this blog.

My third step:  Participating in Lori Anderson's, Non-Blogger (and Blogger) "Season of Joy" Participation Event'.  To view this event and/or sign up, follow this link.  You can view pics of the items created as they are posted by following this link.

Steps to come:  Get back to making jewelry on a regular basis, revamp this blog and give it a fresh, new look, get Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry site back up, and anything else I can think of.

That's about all for now, except that I will try to visit everyone's blog in the very near future and do my best to keep in touch and up to date.

Luvs to all!

Tracy!
Visit me on Facebook

Nutkitten's Jewelry: Great Site to List Your Jewelry Business

Nutkitten's Jewelry: Great Site to List Your Jewelry Business: Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't been here lately, but since my Dr. started me on my new meds, I haven't been much of anything. I am not sure...

Great Site to List Your Jewelry Business

Hi Everyone!
Sorry I haven't been here lately, but since my Dr. started me on my new meds, I haven't been much of anything.  I am not  sure if it's the Thyroid meds or the Cymbalta & Abilify since I started them both at the same time.  I do know that I keep nodding out a my computer and have absolutely no energy at all.  One thing though, my forehead now knows my keyboard quite intimately!!


I wanted to tell everyone about this great site I found. It's called Manta.  It's a business listing site.  You can list your jewelry business here for free.  After I listed mine, I had to play with things (of course).  Anyway, viewing as a customer would, on my page, there were different searches.  (Google search, Social search, News & Article search, etc.).  Everyone should check it out.  It certainly can't  hurt to have your business listed in yet another place on the net.


If you like, before adding your business, click this link, MANTA  On the home page search "Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry" then click same when you get the search results then check out the info it shows and try the reports, different searches etc.  I think you will like it.


I have a couple of new items I need to get pics of and will post soon, I hope.


I ALMOST FORGOT.....


WE HAVE NEW PUPPIES!! (5 OF THEM). HAVE PICS ON MY CELL AND WILL POST SOMETIME TODAY!!!! THEY ARE SOOOOO CUTE!


Tracy
Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry
Nutkitten's Jewelry on Facebook

ROSE BRACELET

Well, I went bead shopping the other day and I found these great hand painted, ceramic, large-hole beads.  I liked them so much, I bought 2 strands of them.  I didn't really know what I was going to do with them but when I got home and looked through my beads I saw some purple agate beads I had bought months before and  voila!  This bracelet was born.  

Ceramic Rose Bracelet with Earrings

About 7 or 8 months ago, my mom had given me a box of old jewelry, beads, etc.  In that mess of stuff I found two round beads that had almost the same design so, matching it earrings too!

The ceramic beads give the bracelet just enough weight to keeps its shape and not flop around.

Now, to decide what to do with the other strand.  I think, since they are large-hole beads, I may do something with chain. But, no vision as of yet.

This set is available at my store:  Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry

Don't forget to like me on FaceBook:  Nutkitten's Jewlery on Facebook

Tracy

Black Matte Necklace

When I saw these black beads with the matte finish, I just had to have them.  I think they make the piece more sophisticated and elegant.


This is the perfect necklace to go with that little black dress!  I also made earrings to match.

This is available at my store:  Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry

Tracy!!

MY BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!!!!!!

HERE IT IS, THE DAY WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR

THE BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!!!!!!

Ok, about 3 weeks ago I had my bead soup complete, or so I thought....then, I pulled up the pic of my soup that I received and, LO and BEHOLD!  I notice 8 green rondelle crystals that, unfortunately, I totally forgot about :(.  Well, I kicked myself in the butt for a few minutes then, figured I better start this blog post. And...HERE WE GO!

I made 3 items with my soup.

1.) A pendant and necklace

2.) A bracelet

3.) A pin (or brooch, I guess)

Here is the soup I received from my partner, Stacie Stamper.  It had some very unique Yellow (some type of gemstone) beads (very, very, heavy), some green jade beads, some very beautiful copper beads, some of which were filigree, some copper spacer beads, some blue crystals, the green crystals that I missed, some ceramic blue beads (very pretty), some blue and yellow pressed glass beads, some blue and brown beads, and a copper S clasp.

Bead soup received from Stacie

1.) The Pendant and Necklace

To some of Stacie's beads I added some yellow nugget beads and, I just happened to have some identical jade beads in a size bigger than the ones she sent so I added those.  To the large cone shaped yellow stone, I did a simple coil-type wrap with 22g square copper wire and used this as the pendant.  I also used the clasp she sent on this piece.

Pendant and necklace

Pendant and Necklace

2.)  Bracelet

In making the bracelet, I added to Stacie's beads, the two square copper beads, the two copper flower spacers and the copper heart toggle.

Bracelet

3.) Pin

Originally, I used the Yellow faceted Gemstone beads as earrings, unfortunately, they were way, way, too heavy.  So, I had to come up with something else.  For this pin, I took a copper 4 holed spacer bead and attached it to a pin back.  I then added some copper swirls and some yellow nugget beads.

Pin

I hope everyone likes the pieces I made.  It was definitely a challenge!  

I look forward to seeing what everyone else made.

Please be sure to visit my partners blog:  PARK AVENUE

PLEASE VISIT  PRETTY THINGS FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS.

HAPPY BEAD SOUPING EVERYONE!!

TRACY!

Wire Wrapped Pendant

MORE GREEN!!


First, let me say, I know next-to-nothing about gemstones.  So, if anyone can tell me what kind of stone this is..........MUAAH!


My boyfriend is so proud of himself and wants recognition, so.....
I first did a 'practice' wrap with craft wire.  The hole in this stone was barely big enough for 1 piece of 20g wire and when I did the practice wrap, the additional pieces I had to add to the bottom were not very stable, so.......My boyfriend came to the rescue and starting with a small drill bit and working his way up.........very slowly, lol ...... he managed to make the hole big enough for the 3 pieces of wire I needed.    THANK YOU MIKEY!

I used and unknown gemstone.......MY DUH!......and 22g square gold wire that I twisted in my drill.  It is a simple wrap, but I like it!

AGAIN, ANY HELP IDENTIFYING THE STONE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

I will probably wait until I identify the stone before uploading to my store but, should someone be interested.......just comment here!

NUTKITTEN'S HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY

NUTKITTEN'S JEWELRY ON FACEBOOK

Green Ice Necklace

This necklace reminds me of two totally different things.


#1)  The solid green beads remind me of frozen Kool-Aid, lol.  They have an "icy" look to them.  That makes this necklace great for summer.


#2)  The large white and green beads remind me of some candy my granny always had on hand.  It was a nougat like candy with jelly-like blobs inside.  (It tastes much better than it sounds!)  You can buy this candy, usually in the bulk bins at the grocery store but the jelly blobs are usually red and orange in color.  Most of all, reminds me of my granny.  (I miss her soooooo much!)


Anyway, here it is:

Green Ice Necklace

Green Ice Necklace

This will available tomorrow at my store:

NUTKITTEN'S HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY

Don't forget to visit my Facebook page,

NUTKITTEN'S JEWELRY ON FB

I'M BACK

Sorry I haven't been around for awhile.  I have not been feeling well and didn't seem to have the energy to get out of bed.  I still don't have much energy but feel a little better knowing what the problem is.  I visited the Doctor the other day and found that I have a very low thyroid.  Put that together with the fact that I am anemic and .......Talk about tired, lol.  I am now on thyroid meds but they take 2 to 3 weeks to start working so....just waiting for that burst of energy to come......someday, I hope!


I wanted to let you all in on this great contest I came across.  There is an online store that sells cellphone accessories at fantastic prices.  I ordered tons of things from them.  For example:  A memory chip for my phone, $3.99, car chargers, $4.99, data cables, $2.99, etc.  Everything has been great quality.


Anyway, here is the contest:


Come up with a slogan for their website, 5 to 25 words.  They will pick the top 3 and those 3 people will win a free "JAWBONE PRIME BLUETOOTH HEADSET".  Contest runs from 09/01/11 to 10/09/11.  Just visit their FB page here:  CELLPHONESHOPNET.  From there, you can visit their store to check it out.  (You can, of course, create a better slogan if you know what the store is about, DUH, LOL).  (They only have 272 'likes' so far so may not be a ton on entries so......better chances of winning).


Good luck to those of you who wish to enter, I have submitted one slogan already and working on another one.


I have a couple of jewelry items completed.  Just need to get pics and will be posting probably tomorrow.  


Nice to see everyone again, I have missed you all!  


Tracy
NUTKITTEN'S HANDCRAFTED JEWERLY

Slave Bracelets

Made two new slave bracelets.  (The hand equivalent to the barefoot sandal).

My son was my hand model for these pictures and wasn't too happy about it and didn't want to hold still or cooperate, lol.  So, until I get a better hand model, these are the best pics I have.

This first one was made on stretch cord with clear seed beads with pink centers and deep pink, almost purple glass pearl type beads.  

Pink Slave Bracelet

Pink slave bracelet

Pink slave bracelet

This one was made using gold, box type, chain, two oval hoops and three blue bi-cone crystals.  This one secures with a gold lobster claw clasp.

Blue Crystal Slave Bracelet

Blue Crystal slave bracelet

Blue Crystal slave bracelet

These will be available this evening at  NUTKITTEN'S HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY

Please don't forget to like me on FB >>>  NUTKITTEN'S JEWELRY ON FACEBOOK

TRACY!

More gum ball earrings

Although these earrings are rather simple, I really like the first pair so I decided to make another pair with some smaller orphan beads.

GUM BALLS

Gumball Earrings

These will be available at Nutkitten's Handcrafted Jewelry later this evening.

Tracy

Bead Soup I Received

I RECEIVED MY BEADS TODAY

LOVE THEM!

I really don't have a clue what I am going to do with the focal and the two matching pieces (when I envisioned putting the three pieces together, it seemed almost pornographic, lol, so I don't think that is gonna happen, lol) The copper beads are just gorgeous.  Unfortunately, one of the millefiori beads was received broken 

 : (

These beads are going to be a challenge for me!!!!!

THANK YOU STACIE STAMPER!!

Tracy

Bead Soup I Sent

I sent my partner her soup with tracking so I know she has now received it.  I also know from our couple of email exchanges that she is very busy so I thought I would post what I sent.

I took this with my cell phone so it's not a very good picture.  I hope when she posts them it looks better. (HOW CAN IT NOT!  LOL)

AN AWFUL PICTURE OF

THE BEAD SOUP I SENT TO STACIE

ARE THERE STARS IN THE SEA?

I HOPE SHE LIKES IT!

1.  Glass Starfish focal (blue, yellow and red)

2.  Blue swirled glass barrel beads

3.  Blue rondelle crystals

4.  Red teardrop beads

5.  Clear glass triangle beads with red centers

6.  Red rondelle crystals

7.  Blue Mother of Pearl coin beads

8.  Yellow beads

9.  Clear beads

10.  Blue disc spacer beads

11.  Small blue pearls

12.  Silver flower spacer beads

13.  Fancy S hook clasp (didn't pic the jump rings that go with it and also some crimp beads I included)

14.  Fish hook ear wires (just in case, lol)

Tracy