Summer previews? (Please, God. NO.)

March 31, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Guess what was heard Thursday evening around 10:30?

“Attention all cars, a disturbance at (the Ho’s address) between a Marsha (The Ho) and an M.C. Enwerd (The Ho’s Boyfriend), called in by a third party, in violation of a no contact order. Not known if weapons are involved.”

The responding police cars (4-5) did not make an arrest but called in several cars licenses in the area to check ownership.

Lord.

On one hand, I am dreading the thought of her kids *possibly* being around here during summer months. I don’t know if it will happen, but it could. Marsha has never EVER cared for her children during a summer vacation. On the other hand, if having them stay next door with Bumbling Bill and BlackCherry would get those children out of the line of fire and keep them safer, then it would be worth the aggravation.

It’s obvious that the social service authorities around here are too !@#$ politically correct to take Marsha’s kids away from her. They are afraid to look like “racists”, I am sure. And believe me, that card would be played. Immediately.

I think I’ve figured out the only scenario that is going to force the system to take firm, decisive action. It will be a shooting or a major drug bust in the residence.

Did I mention that the house is directly across from a elementary school playground?

Yeah.

Marsha.

Posted by Christine | Filed Under In The 'Hood

Keeping this one, too.

March 29, 2007 | 5 Comments

Another one I can’t bear to part with:

I made it earlier in the week and I’ve been wearing it ever since; I’ve named it The Bayside Bracelet.

It’s made with natural robin-egg-blue turquoise ovals, crab fire agates, a baroque pearl and sterling silver beads and elements. At first I wasn’t sure why I was so enamored with it, but then I realized that it employs my favored color palette of long ago. See?

This is “Jack” from my 1992 diptych titled “Jack and Jill”. That turquoise-y color was my signature for a few years. My painting mentor, Tom, jokingly referred to it as “that Crest toothpaste color that you like to make…” — haha!

It’s nice to see this palette emerge from my mind in another form. It’s even better to wear it!

Pretty jewelry = Portable happiness… ahhhh…. :content:

(Note: Even though this particular bracelet isn’t for sale, I’ll be making other beautiful ones similar to it and putting them in my shop. Keep a watch out for ‘em!)

More again soon, my kittens,

~XXoXOOXOxoxox

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Creative Moments

Monday Music Mambo, two days later…

March 28, 2007 | 3 Comments

This came in right on time from the home office in Mamboville…

Hi again, everyone. Today is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, so I hereby proclaim today as Drummer Day!

Woo hoo! I like it! Let’s go…

1. Name some of your favorite drummers. Or name a drummer if you don’t have any favorites.

Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Bill Bruford, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Phil Collins, Jojo Mayer, Carl Palmer… just to name a few.

2. What song contains your favorite drum performance?

John Bonham w/ Led Zeppelin ~ Moby Dick

Ginger Baker w/ Cream - Toad

Neil Peart w/ Rush ~ La Villa Strangiato

Alex Van Halen w/ Van Halen ~ Hot For Teacher

Mike Portnoy w/ Dream Theater - Hell’s Kitchen

Mike Portnoy w/ Dream Theater - Peruvian Skies

Bill Bruford w/ Yes - Heart Of The Sunrise

Bill Bruford w/ King Crimson - One More Red Nightmare

Carl Palmer w/ Emerson Lake & Palmer - Toccata

Ginger Baker w/ Cream - White Room

John Bonham w/ Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks

Phil Collins w/ Genesis – In The Air Tonight

Keith Moon w/ The Who - Won’t Get Fooled Again

Charlie Watts w/ The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black

Dave Grohl w/ Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

And now, some drummers you gotta see and hear. Just click on the title to go view the YouTube Videos.

(Believe it or not, I vaguely recall seeing this one when it was first broadcast on TV. I was about 4 years old and was totally enthralled by it. Lord, I am OLD.)

Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa - Drum Battle on the Sammy Davis, Jr. Show

Mike Portnoy - Hell’s Kitchen Performance

Jojo Mayer & Nerve - Far

Jojo Mayer ~ Stick Tricks

Jojo’s a total badass, y’all. If I saw him in concert he’d put me in a deep, lusty coma.

3. If you were a drummer, how would you personalize your drum kit?

I’d have big pink bongos, baby!

4. Do you prefer the drummer to simply keep a beat, or do you like him or her to show off a bit?

I want everyone with talent to show off a bit! Our gifts were never meant to be hidden.

Besides, when a drummer does it, it turns me on.

(Got rhythm?)

~xoxox

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Monday Music Mambo

I really do got stuff to say…

March 27, 2007 | 1 Comment

… just ain’t got no time ta’ say it.

Here’s what’s going on in a nutshell with more details to come:

~ Heading west for Easter weekend to see The ‘Rents and Lambchop (that’s my new name for my older sister, Laura. She just doesn’t know it yet.)

~ Therapy still sucks. Pass it on.

~ Workin’ on this week’s Mambo — it’s a good one! I’ll post it soon.

~ Beading, beading, beading…

~ Painting, scribbling, pasting…

~ Randy and Maizey declare the Spring 2007 Bird Watching season to be officially open!

~ Marsha is still a ‘ho.

Stay tuned. I’ll get it all here eventually.

*********

I found this Kindred Spirit the other day. She’s just like me: a frantic dorkessa caught off guard by an approaching tide of activity, which could possibly pull her under. The goofy hat just completes the picture. Poor, Dorkessa! Don’t fret… *I* still love ya…

~xoxox

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Kindred Spirits

Today’s Forcast: BEAUTIFUL!

March 25, 2007 | 1 Comment

It is awesome outside today - sunny, breezy and delightfully warm! Makes me want to go lie on a big flat rock in the sun like a lizard. I wish this part of the year lasted as long as our dreary winters and scorching summers always do. It’s absolute heaven.

********

I made this necklace last night and I’m really pleased with it. I’ll be listing it in my shop later today, so you can be really pleased with it too, if you like. (Click the name below if you would like to read about the inspiration for this design.)

Calm Waters Necklace

Design elements include:

~ 1 Sterling silver cross
~ Lapis lazuli rondelles
~ Green turquoise barrel beads
~ 2 deep merlot Garnets, faceted
~ Tiny lapis lazuli rounds
~ Sterling silver beads: rounds, corrugated rounds, crimps and flats
~ 1 sterling silver Shepherd’s Hook clasp

As always, I’ve used professional-grade nylon coated beading wire to construct this piece, guaranteeing that whoever owns it will enjoy years of comfortable and secure wear.

This necklace (and more) will be listed soon. Be sure to check them out @ www.infinitepink.etsy.com .

********

My dear friend, Carol, and a few other nice people have asked if I do custom jewelry work — so I thought this would be a good place to answer that.

(Afterall, if you know me well, you also know that I tend to be terrible at answering email and comments, etc. Some days I get on a jag and I’m real chatty, most days not so much. There are a variety of reasons for that, none of which should be taken personally by anyone. The main reason is because I have the attention span of a gnat some days. Other than that I am flawless, as you may also know.)

Anyway…

Here’s the deal about custom work:

If you simply want a particular existing piece of Infinitepink jewelry customized (resized, personalized, etc.) I will be happy to do that for a small additional fee. The fee covers part of my cost for additional materials and I would throw in my time for free.

~ For example, to have a standard bracelet made longer or shorter, add $2 to the price. For a necklace, add $4.

~ Some special circumstances apply for reworking certain pieces, as some crimped clasps are not re-usable. You would be charged for the price of a new clasp plus the regular customization fees listed above.

~ If you would like a special, one-of-a-kind item made just for you, please keep this standard guideline in mind: it is customary for artisan jewelry creators to charge 6 to 7 times the amount of the cost of their materials alone. Beginning designers charge slightly less, more established designers can charge much, much more. The final prices reflects the price of the raw materials (which have cost the artisan time and money to choose and purchase already), use of tools, and payment for their time and expertise.

So, for example: a simple necklace may consist of a $7 strand of gems, a $3 half-strand of pearls, a $3 dollar clasp, $2 random precious metal elements, and 50 cents worth of beading wire.

That’s 7+3+3+2+.50= $15.50 in materials. Multiply that by 6 or more, and you have the price of that particular, custom designed necklace.

I realize that may sound quite pricey to some people, but then again, you aren’t getting K-mart jewelry for your money.

You are getting an item handcrafted with love and attention to detail, made from the best materials on the market. In some cases, perhaps even heirloom pieces that you can pass down to generations to come.

If there are any other questions, please feel free to ask. I love getting inquiries about my work and I will try to answer in detail when my schedule (and brain!) permits.

And on that note, it’s time for me to run. We’re cooking on the grill tonight and I am starving!

Happy Sunday to all… :heart:

Posted by Christine | Filed Under Creative Moments