Can I show off a little?...

I can't remember if I've ever posted any pictures of the jewelry I've made here. So forgive me if I indulge myself.

Last night, I made a new ring that's probably the best one I've made yet. Now, understand that I had stopped making this pattern for a bit - because I had three of them crash in a row. Kind of made me reluctant to try again. But, I got back up on the horse, and went for it. The result is this Tiger Eye ring that I'm really proud of.

Sorry if these pictures are a little too large and showy - I was hoping you'd be able to see the detail in it. Like I said, I think it's the best ring I've made. What it all starts with is some pieces of Sterling Silver and Gold Filled square wire and a Tiger Eye cabochon. From there, it's all hand work and plier work, and if all goes as it should (and in this case, it did!) the end result is a ring.

So I smile, amazed at how far I've come in one year. Last year at this time, I was wondering if there was any future for me, and the only jewelry I had made was stringing beads into necklaces. A year later, God continues to reveal Himself through deep waters, and I'm learning more and more about wire jewelry. (and LOVING it!) A lot can happen in one year, including learning more lessons about grace and mercy than we ever expected.

WHEW! I made it! Danced all around the edges of one of the banned topics without actually breaking the rules. :-D

eJewelbay goes down like the Titanic...

Vicki figures that it was just a case of too many pendants all available. But neither of the pieces sold. Ah well... we may try them again, or we may do something different to see what will sell.

I've noticed that I have a tendency to get into things just about 2 seconds late... when I started storytelling, it seemed like that was the exact time that storytelling became popular again, and you couldn't throw a stick without it hitting a storyteller, who, immediately began composing a tale about it. Now, it seems like there are wire jewelry artists all over the place, so even the most unique stuff (which mine isn't...) gets lost in the sheer mass of it all.

But, I love the work, and the bills are paid... almost. :-D

One note of concern for folks to pray about... we are approaching the point where there will be no more money to keep my mom's house afloat. We've been managing the bills for the last 3 years, but we're reaching the point where there will simply be no more money to keep it. We were hoping that it would sell, especially after the repairs we had done to it, but as you well know, real estate is dead right now, and there doesn't seem to be much hope for it to sell soon.

God will move according to His time, so we're praying He will either sell the house when things don't seem to be selling, or will show us what we need to do next. Thank you for joining us in prayer about this!

Welcome to The W's W's for 2007

This blog is Topher's fault. Originally, it was intended to journal a trip through a medical fast. Since then, it has morphed into random stuff that has lost readers at a rate only slightly slower than the space shuttle escaping the atmosphere. But it continues - mostly because there are people who'd like to know what's going on with Vicki and I, so Vicki always tells them to check here.

Thus, I soldier on. Not bravely, but there you are.

As people who actually read this thing know, (oops - there goes the booster rocket. Another 25 readers gone. :-D ) 2006 was not among my banner years of hope and joy. 2006 was a toughie, and I want to say thanks for walking through it with us. I know that the events of last year had many, many of you praying for us on a daily basis, and we appreciate it. The fact that we are here, a year later and surviving pretty well, is a testimony to the prayers of God's people and to His mercy and grace.

But, this is 2007. So, I've decided that there are certain topics that shall be banned from the blog. It's time to launch them and move on... So, if you continue to read this into the new year, here's some things you won't have to read about...

Being laid off (It's been a year now, and lamenting about it changes nothing. It took a while to get through it, since that was my life for the past almost-20 years, but enough.)
The joy of working from home (because a certain small someone has threatened me with various graphic and vile happenings if I mention one more time sitting at my desk, sipping mocha cinnamon coffee while she drives her 50 minute commute. In the snow. Uphill. Both ways.)
A complete report of every single cotton-pickin' retirement community that I play at (I do reserve the right to mention cute things that happen, but you already know that I play there, and I truly LOVE it!)
Sadness, depression, and pity parties (I'll get to the miracle that occurred in my life just recently - suffice it to say that we'll not be lingering in the darkness any more!)

So, what does that leave me? Well...
My CD, and developments for the next one (Yup - you're still going to hear about the CD... especially if you haven't bought it yet. ;-D Sorry - I'll relax a bit when we've paid this one off... You'll also be informed of the progress on the next one. Yes, there will be a next one. I've already got ideas for three original songs for it, and two hymn arrangements.)
Weight Loss (I'm not going into detail... yet. But suffice it to say that Lord willing, there will be a MAJOR change in this area - hopefully in this year)
Vicki (Especially since our 25th anniversary is in August!)
Ezri, The Wonder Dog (yup - my co-worker here at Wonderllama Studio. She's my buddy, and keeps an eye on me.)
Riding recumbent bikes (I'm REALLY hoping for a new bike this year... we are looking forward to riding again soon!)
Making Jewelry (not only to encourage you to think about purchasing some... but because making beautiful things is good for my spirit. It's one of the things I do to give glory to our Creator God, who makes us creative beings.)
Being a House Hubby (in the past year, I've learned to overcome my instinctive fear of loading the dishwasher, and Vicki's actually let me do a couple loads of laundry... with extensive coaching, pre-setting the machine, and making sure I report on the progress, step by step.)

Finally...

Being a child of God - this is the most important one! God has taught me MANY lessons in this last year. I wouldn't have chosen to have it this way, but I realize this was the only way He could get past the distractions and get my attention. I'm learning, albeit very slowly, and realize some of the purpose behind the events of 2006.

Now, I hear you say, it's all well and good to have made the list of banned topics, but how do we KNOW that you'll keep them banned? Because, you see, there are at least two people who I know read this thing who won't hesitate a second to smack me down if they detect one of the banned topics. So, trust me - Eric (he of Captain Waterballoon fame) and Matt (a.k.a. Slim Jim James McJimmy, he of the mandolin and other randomness) are among those who will let me know, in NO uncertain terms, if I break the ban. There are others who, I'm sure would help out as well. So - no worries. My peeps will keep me honest. True dat. Word to yo... um... goldfish?...

(Wow... we gained back two readers... and lost 15 more when the robotic arm came out to snag a piece of space debris... Ah well.)

Welcome to The W's W's for 2007 - it's going to be a good year, regardless of the events, because God is good. :-D

JeweleBay

Something new for us... we've put a couple of my pendants up on eBay, just to see how they do. If they go well, we'll be putting up others very soon. If you'd like to see a couple of my pieces, check out these links:

African Queen Jasper Pendant
Mariposite Pendant

If you'd like to see others, let us know. We'd be happy to show you what I've been doing! :-D

Titles of the non-rich and non-famous...

I thought this one was cute...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Sir Carlton the Sonorous of Westley Waterless Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

And, as for my dulcet darling...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess-Palatine Victoria the Apocalyptic of Giggleswick under Table Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

And, if you don't think Vicki is Apocalyptic, you haven't seen her when she's ticked at me...

I draws what I likes, and I likes what I drew...

Immortal words of Bert the Anything Man (Dick Van Dyke) from Mary Poppins. My kind of guy - one day, a sidwalk chalk artist, next day a chimney sweep, and at the end he's selling kites. (oh - and the whole one-man-band thing!) Definitely a role model. Let's see...

(to the tune of Chim-Chimeney... or whatever the heck it is...)

When clad in Optivisor and "bending wire" - "I makes what I likes, and I likes what I do."

After a gig - "I plays what I likes, and I likes what I... um... blew?"
(that one didn't quite roll off the tongue as lyrically...)

On being a house hubby - "I takes Ezri out, and she does her doo-doo."
(eeewwwww... Sorry.)

It's just about a year since I became an anything man. And I likes it. :-D Think I'll go bend some wire, after Ezri... never mind.

(walks away, whistling "Chim-Chim-Something-Something-Whatever"...............)