Vintage charms

The result out of those vintage-looking keys I bought at the craft store a few weeks ago. I took two of them and fashioned a cluster charm consisting of the keys, a white nugget pearl, a clear swarovski crystal, and another swarovski crysal in "vintage rose", hanging from a silver chain of approximately 16" in length. There are two additional crystals worked onto the chain and above the charms.

It has a vintage-y feel to it that I really like. Below is a close-up.


FIRST DAY BLUES

For the most part, the first day at the new gig went okay today, except for the fact that I felt extremely discombobulated all day long. My routine was interrupted, I didn't have the usual familiar faces around me, I didn't know where anything was, and there were a lot of strange faces. I miss my old morning routine that consisted of 1) my morning commute 2) my morning hot chocolate 3) goofing off with my coworkers. I know that my discomfiture is a product of first days being just weird in general, and I expect that it will get better once I get used to new routines and new faces. As one of my good friends told me, I will look back at what I've written today and wonder why I was so upset. But for now, I dearly, dearly miss my old job and the people there!

Yellow aventurine

Just completed this one! I've been working on it for a while, rearranging the placement of the beads and playing around with using green and white polka dot ribbon instead of the silver chain. In the end, I think this is the final verdict: a half strand of yellow aventurine beads, with an asymmetrically-placed white swarovski crystal on the side and a cluster of charms hanging off of it, made up of a sterling silver filigree charm, a white nugget pearl, and a smaller white swarovski bead. They are all finished off with a silver chain, with a total length of 22".

A MUSICAL NIGHT

On Saturday night I went with my sister, her husband, and Mr HD to hear the symphony pops orchestra play tunes from John Williams' movie scores, with the highlight being the Star Wars music. It was wonderful. Aside from Star Wars, my favorites were the themes from Super Man and Schindler's List, the latter's solo violin part performed by the concertmistress herself. It brought chills down my spine! They also played the main theme from Jurassic Park, which took me back to when I played the same music as a violinist with the youth orchestra I belonged to in high school.

At the end of the concert we took pictures with some of the costumed characters from Star Wars who were milling around the lobby, including a Stormtrooper.

A good time was had by all!

The magpie's reward

So after much careful thought and deliberation worthy of the most rigorous scientific research project, I finally decided that since I am such a damn magpie, I will not be getting a nice new purse for my reward (drooling over my sister-in-law and cousin's nice new purses notwithstanding!). Instead, I'm going to get me something sparkly.

To whit: rings!

I've been scouring one of my favorite antique jewelry sites, Fay Cullen, and after many, many hours of painstaking deliberation, I narrowed down my choice to two rings. What I'm going to end up with will actually be a combination reward present/wedding anniversary gift, so I have to make it good! However, I was prudent and set a budget (that Mr HD agreed to), and both rings are well within.

But now I'm in agony because I can't decide between these two, so you will have to help me.

This first one is an alternating sapphire and diamond eternity band in white gold. It is about 2mm thick, and I confess I am heavily leaning towards picking this. I love the sapphires, and the alternating shapes make this ring very Art Deco. Not to mention it is such a dainty ring.




The other one is another Art Deco band, but with just diamonds, also in white gold. It is slightly thicker at 3mm, and I can't decide whether I want a slightly thicker band like this or go with the more dainty band above. A difference of 1 mm probably doesn't seem much, but since my hands are so small it does make a noticeable difference on me.


Well now, I just gave myself a headache. I wish I had this problem every day.

And finally, I wanted to give a shout out to my cousin Mom2Amara, whose last day at work is also tomorrow, before she starts at a fab new job. I'm so delighted that she and I are going through the same event at exactly the same time. It also feels very comforting, because I don't feel quite so isolated and alone as I leave the familiar and venture into the unknown. Good luck, Mom2 Amara!

Studio city

Many of the artists of the handcrafted jewelry sites I frequent often speak about their "studios" where they create their pieces. I don't think mine quite qualifies as a studio, so I will call it my workspace instead (in truth, my quasi studio shares space with the guest bedroom).

I finally got around to organizing my beads and supplies and cleaning up this room where I spend a lot of time in - it has all I need to nurture my fledgling business within easy reach, especially my invaluable computer and printer to use for uploading pictures, blogging, shopping for supplies, checking out Etsy, as well as using my actual desk to create my necklaces. I do need a bigger work surface, but for now I just shove everything to one side to make room for my beads and tools.

I'm also just about ready for another set of plastic bins as this one is full to bursting with beads, stones, wire, jigs, tools, etc. I need to find more room, especially as I just bought the following:

Amethysts:

Chrysoprase nuggets:

Dyed topaz:


Green aventurine:

And these cool oval gemstones in a variety of colors:

And lastly, I can't let this day go by without venting about the woman who sat next to me on the train on my way home today. What pisses me off is that since I am small, people almost always choose to sit on the empty seat next to me - they figure I don't take up that much space, even though there are other open seats on the train. My pet peeve is when a big guy sits next to me and proceeds to splay his knees open in what he probably thinks is a macho pose, except what he's actually doing is invading my space. Look, people, just because I'm small doesn't entitle you to take up the space allotted to me. Harrumph.

So this is essentially what happened today with this woman. I had the window seat, where she proceeded to squish me for almost the entire ride home. By the time I arrived at my destination I was one miserable, unhappy, angry, horribly bad-tempered small person.

Flower power

This is my last week at work before I start my new job next week. My coworkers gave me these lovely orchids at my goodbye lunch, along with a generous parting gift. I am really touched. These past few weeks have been very bittersweet for me as I clean out my desk and goof off with people I've known for years. I am feeling simultaneously excited about the new gig, and sad at leaving the old one.

I am also contemplating what to reward myself for landing this job that comes with a nice raise. I like the practice of celebrating milestones with a treasured keepsake, marking all your hard work with something nice to remember the achievement. When I finished graduate school Mr HD gave me a beautiful diamond eternity ring (technically a combination wedding anniversary/graduation present, but the sentiments were the same). This time around, I'm thinking...a nice new purse? A silver fountain pen? Hmm...being the magpie that I am, I am (of course) gravitating towards another sparkly, shiny piece of jewelry!

Dumbledore is gay

Whoa. Mr HD just sent me this article. I mean, I did wonder (especially during those mysterious scenes with Grindelwald in Book 7), but to have it confirmed by JK herself? That's pretty gutsy.

This also brings to mind a popular theory, also confirmed by the author, about characters in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, but I won't say any more about those just yet because my sister-in-law hasn't finished reading the last book.

I'm kind of in shock. Dumbledore, I hardly knew ye.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Two things

Took this from my sister's blog.

JUST TWO THINGS ...

Two Names You Go By:
1. Hazel
2. Haze

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Hoodie
2. Pajamas

Two Things You Would Want in a Relationship:
1. Fulfillment
2. Fun

Your Favorite Things to do:
1. Read
2. Nap

Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. Breakfast
2. Coffee

Two things you did last night:
1. Eat steak at Morton's for Mr HD's birthday
2. Go to our friends' engagement party

Two things you ate today want to eat today:
1. pound cake
2. Chipotle

The last two people you talked to:
1. Mr HD
2. Camille

Two Things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. Ride the train
2. Buy craft glue

Two longest car rides:
1. Home to Boston
2. Home to Beaufort, NC

Two Favorite Holidays
1. Memorial Day
2. Christmas

Two Favorite Beverages
1. Snapple Peach Ice Tea
2. Mayan chile hot chocolate

Two things about me you may not have known:
1. I’m a hard-core Star Wars fan, but only for the original trilogy
2. I am addicted to purses from Target

Two jobs I have had in my life:
1. Usher at Jacobs Field
2. Salesperson at The Gap

Two Movies I would watch over and over:
1. Star Wars Trilogy
2. Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley)

Two Places I have lived:
1. Manila, Philippines
2. Paris, France

Two of my Favorite Foods:
1. Sashimi
2. Medium rare steak

Two places I’d rather be right now:
1. A day spa
2. Denny's (for a greasy breakfast)