Weekend Wrap Up

Well, well, well. I guess it's been a tiny little while since I've last posted on my blog (this is also a little late, I should have posted it yesterday). I have no excuses except that life got really crazy. *Warning this is going to be a long post*

As I did mention in previous posts, my boss decided to leave the university and go into private practice. It was not a decision I wanted, but it was the decision he made and I didn't really have that much say in the matter.  That decision did mean that I would be loosing my job. My very beloved job in a lab that him and I started from the ground up. To say the least, it was a difficult time for me. I had to try my best not to be bitter or angry.

The worst part about it (okay, him leaving was the worst part), was that no one seemed to know when my last day was. I talked to three or four people and none of them could give me a straight answer. So I started to panic a bit. What if I just showed up and didn't have a job any more? It was more than a little nerve wracking to not know what was next.

But I pulled myself together, updated my already awesome CV, and applied for a few positions. I applied for four positions and got called back to three of them. I'll admit, I'm a little hurt I didn't get called back to all of them, but I'll get over that. And out of the three I got called back for, I was offered two (I turned down the interview for the third because I had already accepted a position, so I may have been offered that one as well). I accepted a position at the vet school with a new hire. It's not quite the same research I've done in the past, but it seems very interesting and I'm excited. I'm just moving down the hall from my old lab and closer to a lot of the people I know and work with on a daily basis. My first day is October 1st, so only a short while longer in my old lab. It does still make me sad that I'm leaving all the things I helped create behind and that the university is loosing a great researcher, but it's time to move on.

While all of this was going on, I was offered a part time gig teaching a continuing education class at Madison College. I will be teaching an Etsy intro class similar to the one I teach at the library. This one is a little more broad and doesn't cover quite as much, but I think it will be fun. My first class starts this week and I've been working my butt off to get my training done, my syllabus turned in, contacting everyone I need to, checking my class roster, and getting my actual class ready to go. It's been exhausting, but exciting. I can't wait to start. And yes, I will still be teaching at the library as well.

I've also been working on a number of custom orders for one of my best customers. I've finished up two more beaded cuffs and I started the design on a new bead embroidered gauntlet for him. These are the last of the projects for a while. I need the holidays off.

So those are a few of the reasons why I've been neglecting this blog. I'm going to try my hardest not to do it any more, but no promises. I do have photos of my new bead storage and few other projects I'd like to share this week, so don't forget to stop back. And if you don't see any new posts, go ahead and get on me for that. 

New Cuffs

So I've been a little lazy with the blog lately. Ugh, this always happens this time of year. I'm busy with all sorts of life things, that I forget to keep everyone else up to speed. I'm sorry.

So how about a few photos of some new cuffs. I've been going through all my old patterns and I'm finding a bunch of things that I've never beaded up. So my goal for the summer is to work up as many patterns as I can and get both the cuffs and the patterns up in my etsy shop.

So the first one is a butterfly cuff.  Obviously.

I had a client a few years back that wanted a butterfly bracelet, so we worked on a few different ideas. This was one of the rejected ides, but I still really liked it. So I worked it up and now it's up in the shop.

The second one, I really like.

This simple plaid pattern was made for a client that wanted just a little bit of plaid (about an inch on each side) on the edges of a bookmark. I liked the plain so much, I extended the pattern and made it into a full cuff and put it up in the shop. And look at that great button I pulled out of my button collection, perfect match. I'm in love with this and I think I might make myself one. I also think it would look great is other colors.

So that's what I've been up to. The patterns for both of these cuffs will (okay, should) be up by next week. And I'm hoping the share the photos of my awesome bead storage system with everyone by next week. Yay!

Weekend Wrap Up

Whoa, it's been a long time since I last time I wrote a blog post. What have I been thinking? What have I been up to? We've been busy, I think. Since J has finished school, I feel like we're constantly going but not really accomplishing much.

I bought two new lens, which is fun. I bought a new macro lens and I bought a telephoto lens. I've been practicing using them. I've also been working on my composition and my photoshop skills. Slowly buy surely I'll get good at this. :-)

I've been so busy with work because the fiscal year ended on June 30th. It's always busy this time of year. We have to get a bunch of things finished up before the new fiscal year starts. But now the new fiscal year started and we can get back to a little bit of normalcy.

Our 4th of July was okay. We were very busy and traveled all over to see friends We cooked out a lot and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We had a few bonfires and made delicious smores. It was nice to spend time with our friends. But it was exhausting and I'm actually glad to be back to the normal work week.

I did make a little bit of time for beads! I finished a new custom order. I'm so happy with it and I'm hoping my client likes them as well. I now have to work on a few new patterns and look up some bead colors. I also have a few new cuffs that I need to get photos of them and then get them up on Etsy.

That's about it. Not really all that exciting. A little bit of beadwork. A little bit of cookouts. A little bit of enjoying the weather. Not much other then that. What has everyone else been up to? I hope everyone had a good 4th of July.  

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Wrap Up

Wow, what a weekend! It was a busy, happy, celebratory time here! J graduated with his masters of engineering. Well, technically he graduated in December, but he got to walk the stage this past weekend at the UW Madison ceremony. It was a full day, that's for sure.

We had to get down to campus at 9:30am to pick up his gown and have class photos taken. I entertained his parents while he did this (we got some coffee/tea and sat at the terrace). He had decided to forgo the large UW ceremony (it was all graduates in Camp Randell) because it was very hot and humid and he was more excited about the afternoon ceremony (oh yes, there were two ceremonies). So we headed downtown to get some brunch (and I got myself a couple of bloody mary's). After brunch we headed up to the Kohl Center for the ceremony. It was a nice ceremony with all the engineering graduates.

I am so proud of everything he has accomplished. It's not easy getting a masters degree while still working full time and remodeling a home. I don't know if I could have done it. I'm proud of him and what ever the future hold for us.

And even though it was a super busy weekend, I did find a little bit of time to work on my latest custom project. I better hurry up, this is due next week. Fingers crossed I get it finished in time.

So how was everyone else weekend? Did you attend any graduation ceremonies or are you getting ready to do that? Did you enjoy the weather or did you have some of that scary spring weather? I'd love to hear from you.

Weekend Wrap Up

Why hello Monday. I guess this means it's time for me to start my week. Blah. Well, not really. I really do enjoy Monday's. I know it's weird, but I enjoy getting back to a normal routine and getting things done. Not that I didn't get things done over the weekend, I was a hard working girl this past weekend.

I've made pretty good progress in the studio. I am so close to having the new studio finished and ready to go. I got my small storage containers up, now they just need to be alphabetized. I got shelves up in the closet and things put away. Now I just need to build my bead storage, find a counter top for my torch area, and put up a shelf or two. And I'll be all set. Super creativeness can once again happen. :-)

I also got a little bit of work done on my beaded tin. The sides of the tin are now painted a nice glass black. The only thing left to do is decide what I want to do with the inside of the tin. I might add some leather or I might just paint it. I'm not sure. But I am pretty happy with it so far. I'm hoping to get some better photos of it soon. Photos that really show off it's beauty.

I also got a little bit of work done on a custom order. This is the beginning of a bead and stud leather gauntlet. I'm really excited to see this one finished, but it's a lot of beadwork. So I'll just keep working at it and I hope to reach my deadline of the end of May. I really hope I can accomplish that.

And finally we did get to have a little bit of fun. It was a good friends birthday, so we went out for dinner and drinks and a show. Here they are with the musician while J tries to take a photo. It was a lot of fun and a nice break from all the work.

So that was the weekend here at Casa de Three Fates. What did everyone else do? Did you do something craft/artsy or did you enjoy the nice weather outside?

Weekend Wrap Up

What a weekend!  I am exhausted and ready to get back to some sort of routine.  Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun this weekend.  We cleaned the whole house, top to bottom, on Saturday.  It was nice because it needed it bad.  Then we had some friends that just moved back to WI over.  It was the first time they had seen our house (hence the cleaning).  Then we went out for an amazing dinner and some drinks.  It was so nice to see them and spend some time with them.  I think we might make this a once a month thing :-)

I also got some work done in the studio.  I painted my shelves grey, which I think looks really nice with the yellow walls.  I even started putting them up.

And I got the pegboard up, so my tools have a home.  It's still a bit of a mess, but I'm happy with the progress.  And of course, I wouldn't be able to do anything with out my helper cat, who has decided that she needs to be with me at all times.  Not on my lab (she is NOT a lap cat), just with me.  Great!

I also started adding the glass pyramids to my latest custom order.

I really like how it looks.  I'm excited to finish it up this week to see what it looks like finished.  I hope he likes this one.

And finally, I have started on the second cuff in this custom set.  This will be the fourth cuff using this pattern, but just the colors have been changed.  So this one will look like the one above when finished.  I am liking the color combo on this one, but I'm a little scared my customer won't.  But I guess we'll see.

So that's a quick recap of all the happening here in Three Fates land.  What was everyone else up to this weekend?  

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Review

Well this is a day late, but that's okay.  It was a busy weekend and I needed to get caught up with a lot of stuff yesterday.  :-)

Like I said, it was a busy weekend over at Casa de Three Fates.  I got a lot of things moved into my new studio and unpacked a lot of boxes.  It's so exciting.  It's slowly becoming a studio.  I just have to put up my shelves, build a bead container holder, and figure out what I'm doing with my lampworking things.  The rest is pretty much done.  I should have some new photos this week or next week. 

Getting my new studio in shape was fun, but I guess I wanted more.  Saturday night J and I went out for a friends birthday.  We had a nice dinner and drinks after.  I got a parking ticket, the first one of my life.  But, things like this happen and we had fun, so I guess I can't complain too much.

Then on Sunday, J's parents stop by for a short visit.  We haven't seen them since Christmas, so it was nice.  We grilled out.  It was the first grill of the season, with many more to come.  I made steak, salmon, asaragus, and portabellas.  So, pretty much a meal of all my favorite things.

Because there was so much going on this weekend, I didn't get a lot of time to bead.  I did make some time and I finished up all the beadwork on my latest custom order.  Now I just need to add the pyramids and finish off the leather and it will be done.  Woot, woot.  

 
I do love this pattern.  This is the third one he's had make in this pattern and I have one more to make him.  I'm pretty happy with how they look when finished.  I love the colors of this one and I can't wait to see it finished.  My goal is to have it finished by the end of the week.  Let's see if I can do that.

What did everyone else do over the weekend?  Is the weather starting to look spring like where you are or are you one of the lucky one's where it's always beautiful?  

Finished, I think!

So my plan was to have some really nice photos of my new stuff, my mom's bead embroidered flower and my beaded tin.  But, I felt like crap this morning and barely made it into the lab.  And the only reason I did go to the lab was because I have a undergrad student on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and no one else is crazy enough to be there at 7:30am.  So that's where I am as I write this. Which means no pretty photos of my latest pieces. 

I did finish my beaded tin.  I think.  I'm letting it sit for a while and see what I think of it.  I think I like it, I'm just not completely sure, this is the first one I've ever done.  

This is where I am right now (I promise I'll have better photos by the end of the week).  I think I like the top, but I'm still thinking about the sides.  What do you think?  Keep it, change it?  I'd love some constructive criticism. 

Weekend Wrap Up

Another weekend has passed and another Monday is here.  This past weekend was nice, nothing too exciting happening here.  J and I did some shopping.  J got a new coffee maker, which made him quite a happy boy.  We went to a friends house to watch the playoff games (the game did not end very well) an then celebrated their son's 5th birthday.  It was nice.

I have been working on a new beady project.  I've been working on my first beaded tin.  It's been pretty fun.  I decided to start with a small tin and then I would work my way up to a larger one.  Hey, we got a ton of tins laying around the house after Christmas, I had to find something to do with them.

 
Here was my first attempt.  I liked the beads towards the inside, but just wasn't feeling the rest of it.  Sometimes that's how it works.  So I ripped out most of it and started over.

I'm much happier with the second attempt.  The little glass flowers add some dept and are also pretty fun. 

This is where I am right now.  I've started beading around the sides.  I'm pretty excited to get this done.  I should be able to finish this little guy up soon and then it's one to a bigger project.  I've already started thinking about what to do next. 

But before I start on another tin I should really finish up this guy.  I'm working on it, I promise.

So what did everyone else do this past weekend?  I'd love to hear about it. 

Monday's Weekend Recap

Another weekend has come and gone and now it's Monday again.  And what a dreary, overcast, cold Monday it is.  We are supposed to get our first snow fall today and tomorrow.  Good news, I don't live in northern WI, were they may get up to 14 inches snow.  I'm not quite ready for that.  I'm not quite ready to get that winter coat out, but with the weather predicted for this week, I think I'm going to have to.  Blah.  Someday I'll live somewhere that it's warm.  Someday.

This wasn't that exciting of a weekend around here.  J had a lot of homework to do because his final presentation is coming up soon.  His group is the first group to present at the beginning of December.  That's great because he'll be done early, but it's very stressful for him to get all that done in such a short period of time.  I'm so proud of that boy and I can't wait to throw him a huge party this December when he finishes up his masters.  So exciting.

So what did I do this weekend?  Hmmmm.  I recalibrated my laptop battery.  It's an exciting life I live.  But what did I do that was beady?  

Well I finished up a guitar string bracelet that is off to it's new home in MD.  I love these bracelets.  I have a few myself and I love to wear them all stacked up on my arm.  They are a lot of fun and I hope it's new owner loves it as much as I do.

I also got a little bit more work on the large red leather gauntlet done.  I'm about 80% done with the studs and beadwork.  I would like to finish this up this week so I can get it glued by this weekend.  I'm excited to see this finished because it is the first gauntlet I've ever made.

I even got a little bit of time to work on my solar system project.  I started attaching the planets to the canvas and adding some paint.  So far I only have the sun attached, but I plan on working on this today, so hopefully I'll have a couple more attached by the end of the day.  This might be the most exciting project I've done in a while.  I'm in love.

So that's what I accomplished this weekend.  Tomorrow I'll have an update on the artist reception at Ebling Library.  That was a pretty neat event.

Till then, stay creative.

New Beady Goodness

I have been a busy little girl when it comes to beady things.  I have been busy at work on some custom orders.  I finished up this bad boy at the end of last week.

 I'm in love with this one.  I love the beadwork and I love the way the pyramids look on it.  I'm dropping it off with it's new owner tomorrow, so I hope he likes it as much as I do.  If not, I would be happy to keep it myself, even though it would never fit me.

Speaking of custom orders, I've been working on my first custom gauntlet (this is for the same person as the cuff above).  The first one is a simpler one; rows of black metal pyramids with a single row of seed beads between each row of pyramids.  I'm pretty happy with how this is turning out.  It's not the easiest to sew through this leather, but it's doable.  Now I'm just waiting on more pyramids to arrive so I can finish this.  I'm hoping to have all the beadwork and studs in by this weekend, so I can get it glued and ready to go by next week.  That's my plan for now.

And last, but definitely not least, is the work I've accomplished on my solar system project.  I finished the embroidery work on Saturn's rings.  I'm very happy with how this turned out and I can't wait to start arranging it on the canvas.  Not only am I going to reach my goal of finishing this before the new year, but I think I might just finish it a month early.  Woot, woot!

  
A quick reminder to all my American readers out there.  Get to the polls and cast your vote.  J and I are going after he gets home from work.  GO VOTE!

Weekend Wrap Up

Ugh, this was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I can't publish a post if I don't write it now can I.  And why didn't I write Monday's post?  Because I was taking advantage of yesterday's beautiful weather and painting the garage.  Exciting.  It really is great being a home owner.  That's how you spend the last beautiful day of the year, painting a garage.  Don't get me wrong, I love owning a home and I love doing DIY stuff, but yesterday would have been an awesome day to go for a bike ride or just sit on the deck and bead/read.  We did manage to get a walk in last night, so I did get to enjoy the weather a bit. ;-)

But let's move on.  What happened this weekend?  Well, Nacho is feeling better.  If you didn't read last week, Nacho had another abscess in less then a month due to fighting with Toonces.  You can read about it here and here.  And don't forget I'm having the Nacho sale again to help cover some of the vet bills.  Use coupon code NACHO20 to get 20% off anything in my etsy store.  That includes clearance and patterns. 

Hmmm, what else happened this weekend?  Oh yeah, I finished up all the beadwork on the solar system project over the weekend.  I am also about 85% finished with Saturn's rings, I should have photos later in the weeks of that.  I'm so happy with how it looks so far.  I haven't decided on arrangement and a few other things need to be added, but overall I think it's looking good.  We had some friends over this weekend and they said it was even more impressive in person.  So I'm glad it's getting such good feedback.  I think I might be able to meet my goal of getting it done before the end of the year.  Fingers crossed. 

I also got about 95% of this wonderful custom cuff finished this weekend.  Now I jut need to punch some holes in the leather and make a cotton ribbon for the closure.  I'm in love with the design and I'm loving it with the studs added.  I glued it yesterday, so tonight I should be able to put the finishing touches on it and get it ready to go to it's new home.  

And last, but not least, I practiced some embroidery stitches.  I've never attempted these types of leaves, so I thought I would give it a try.  I have a sweater that I love, but I put a very small hole in it.  So I used these embroidered leaves to cover up the hole and add a little interest to the sweater.  I learned a lot from these two small leaves and now I can't wait to try it out on some other projects.  

I also wanted to show off this great cat themed treasury that my Down the Rabbit Hole cuff was included in.  Check it out and all the kitty goodness.      

'THIS CAT IS OOAK!!!' by COSIMITA

♥ =^..^= ♥

Artist: Jack Babiloni / OOAK... UCRONIA $39	Boy Patchwork Placemat Break... iasio $23	THE SASSY CAT- ooak- Thick c... PenelopeMeatlo... $24	Little witch/ Home Deco Wall... Adushkas $200
Christmas eve igloo dress fr... NATIPUREIDEA $279	Love Cats OOAK necklace MetallicMuseCr... $200	Fanciful Felines on a Golden... LouAnnsdesigns $215	My Blue Nouveau Art Pin - OO... ApacheMoon $175
Down the Rabbit Hole - Bead ... ThreeFatesDesi... $225	Cuff Egyptian Setmet Cat BondsJewels $425	Purple Jade & Turquoise Cat ... LifeTravelsDes... $265	Funky handmade cat and deer ... PlanetNathalie $139
Here Kitty Antique Fork Ne... WoodsEdgeJewel... $85	Life Size Black Wire Cat Scu... PoppySeedCats $250	Cats & Kittens "Proud M... ACutAboveMemor... $275.24	Artist teddy bear cat, ooak ... ShabbyGoesLuck... $75

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