tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45164667236447213962024-03-13T17:46:29.499-07:00Bear Chick's JourneyThis chick is taking a journey called Life. Wanna come along?Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.comBlogger352125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-10291411217137358782015-08-30T18:08:00.000-07:002015-08-31T17:02:43.047-07:00Leftover Inspiration<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A few weeks ago, I was sitting at my work space, sorting through the detritus of previous projects, when I came across some short lengths of round chain.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />I love that chain design because it’s really versatile--big but not too big--great for necklaces and bracelets. But these lengths… Hmmm… Connected with a jump ring, they’d be a good length for the long earrings that are in style lately. But, of course, if they’re Bear Chick, they need more color. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> So, into my bead boxes I go to find some small beads--yeah, purple is perfect. I connect these with simple loops, then make another unit for the top with a focal bead. Both the chain and beads sparkle and move when I walk. Mmmm, the sample pair is mine!!<br /><br />Once I made the first pair, I had to go out and buy more of the chain to make this design in a color wheel of colors, plus black and crystal.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick?section_id=5107494&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick?section_id=5107494&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRftG0LCuIO7ZKD918tdMyJBFOiR5otIULdQSrUDDAacdwPSOn-PBve3U-v-y3lHLHAD3tur2rEuvBwO8UDigQBYdISO2Zc3dxL0YV-ajryYR5MyShR2hX9zEu3ICUIcm8Mxa7QFkJgM/s320/IMG_1383.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on picture to see earrings on Etsy</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then I had to make an extravagantly long single earring. Just ‘cause I could.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What leftover craft or art supply, food or ?? has inspired you to make something new?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Look for these earrings on my Etsy and Aftcra shops and if there's a special color you'd like, let me know! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #274e13;">C’est La Vie!</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">Do What You Love!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></a><br /><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span><br /><span style="color: blue;">https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick</span></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick"></a></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-48682633102585306102015-08-16T18:50:00.000-07:002015-08-16T18:50:44.077-07:00Aftcra--Crafted by American Hands<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Aftcra. A somewhat unwieldy name for a website (it’s an anagram of A Craft) but it’s got a lofty mission--to be a marketplace for handmade arts and crafts made in America. With Etsy succumbing to the siren call of Big Business (they began public trading in April) and letting their original handmade promise be crushed under the wheels of profit, both buyers and sellers are looking for a virgin venue.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.aftcra.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Click on the logo to go to Aftcra.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nHCiS3Z-m5HFtpFtklf0ZZmTotqaqzKR3rV0_akDcte9g2UyZWoh9Qs2Do9G487R9wwg5UXjHzuYM8BmUYahquZZFxTKI9HFygJ2oh7SkgBhxBeN-AZVcE0otHxknH9oXkNBWbdPIzY/s1600/aftcra-logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Click on logo above to go to Aftcra.com</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a seller, I was happy to find Aftcra. It’s always good to diversify and not have all your products in one market basket. Etsy has gotten so big and full of cheaply made junk from overseas, that there’s a tendency to feel lost in the shuffle. It’s sad, because Etsy appears to be the marketing gold standard right now for decorative and personal items but it also seems like buyers are overwhelmed by the sheer number of products returned in a given search and the wide variance of quality and price. This has been a double edged sword for me, because, even though I’m told that as a seller, I am responsible, to a large extent, for driving customers to my shop, just as I am on Aftcra, I have to say that a lot of my sales on Etsy have been to people who actually did find me through Etsy searches, not my Facebook or Twitter feeds. What I’m hoping is that Aftcra draws more attention to itself because it’s such a small venue at this point, with more opportunity for the sellers who are giving it a chance to be seen in searches. And part of their appeal and unclutteredness is that they do not allow vintage items or supplies, so it’s strictly finished goods, thereby lessening the volume of search results for buyers. A win-win for everyone! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick/listing/136706/manatee-manta-ray-dolphin-tassel-necklace-filigree-rhinestone-pendant-focal-sea-creatures-mermaid-clasp" target="_blank"><img alt="Sea Creature Tassel Necklace - click to see Aftcra listing" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpraXJnCgolqRsBHJ_GQy28rh0hNsYRGgOXDhqrsqEmw1rCjkgUXuSOZDwnGtMmwTvFneydvmwQHvpXLz8eUgx5yBc0ONp58e4bInNCJWK1q-UUECOZhBK580AI2X1LJqCzznFQVf4cA/s320/IMG_1260.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sea Creature Necklace-click on picture to go to Aftcra listing</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Could Aftcra go the way of Etsy and get too big for it’s britches? Only time will tell. I’ve seen other start ups either bite off more than they could chew (Goodsmiths) or get greedy (Artfire). For now, Aftcra is a privately owned, family owned and woman owned endeavor that has it’s heart in the right place. The site itself is bright, clean and user friendly and I can tell you that several emails I’ve sent have been answered promptly and helpfully. The minimum price of a listed item is $10, which I think encourages quality products (folks who sell small things like greeting cards package several together to meet the $10 minimum).<br /><br />I will always have allegiance to Etsy because it’s been my most successful selling venue to date. But I hope that whether you’re a buyer or a seller, you’ll check out Aftcra and bring a little American Handmade business their way. My shop URL is below. <br /><br />Happy Shopping and Selling! <br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">C’est La Vie!</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">Do What You Love!</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick"></a></span></span></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-51691077883282782652015-08-03T10:55:00.000-07:002015-08-03T10:58:57.858-07:00Bear Chick Reads - The Hanged Man by P.N. Elrod<div style="text-align: center;">
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The Hanged Man combines the best of science fiction, Steampunk and mystery together in one action packed story. Alex is a young woman serving as a crime scene reader in Her Majesty’s Psychic Service. A Christmas Eve hanging drops Alex into the middle of a governmental crisis, in which she battles traitors, monsters and her own broken family. With the aid of a reluctant new member of the service, Lt. Brooks, and other reliable accomplices whose descriptions might give away plot points, Alex leads us on an intense adventure through the heart and underground of London. I loved Pat Elrod’s Vampire File series (if you haven’t read those, get ye to Amazon!) and I‘m hoping HM Psychic Service has many more fine installments on the way.<br />
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Mare’s Scale of Literary Wickedness<br />
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Wicked Boring Yawn-don’t bother </div>
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Wicked Good Don’t run any red lights getting to the library but worth reading</div>
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Wicked Cool Good enough to spend 50 cents for a library hold so you can be the next to read it</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Wicked Awesome So damn good, if your library doesn’t have it, get it from Amazon</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Mode of reading: Hard cover book</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">C’est La Vie!</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">Do What You Love!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick"></a></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-27007192310957671542015-06-20T11:09:00.000-07:002015-06-20T11:12:11.188-07:00Guitar Pick Jewelry<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last year, when we were in the Boston area, The Husband got himself a guitar pick punch at a local comic book shop. He goes through guitar picks pretty fast and planned to make them out of old gift cards and expired credit cards. Now he has quite a collection.<br /><br />Fast forward a year. I’ve been borrowing his punch to make cute guitar picks for jewelry. Sometimes I buy gift cards specifically for their graphics, like these: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> They were Walmart gift cards available around Easter.<br /><br />Unlike The Husband, I have to make at least one hole, sometimes 2 depending on the design, so I also have a hole puncher. It’s supposed to be for metal but so far, it’s been fine for the plastic. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I've also used the specialty scissors to cut unusual shapes as a background for charms.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span> I love adding the beads, charms and chain to the picks to create little one of a kind treasures. You can find them in my earrings section on Etsy <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick?section_id=5107494&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">C’est La Vie!</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">Do What You Love!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</a></span></span></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-56030253331548166282014-10-25T22:44:00.001-07:002014-10-25T22:47:02.279-07:00A Month of Thanksgiving<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To kickstart the Holiday shopping season at my Etsy shop, I’ll be offering a deep discount on one item a day from October 26 to Thanksgiving Day! And if you use Coupon Code FALL14 at checkout, you’ll get an additional 20% off on your entire order. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here’s the first deal--Was $32, now $16:</span></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo64mXbp0FMr0nFh1JInAFSJKPXqHUev8jF7HyrP_EMxsVGZhW54P-aM_qgNSkm6kPeoZxtvBoH502-TcjF_PsHEpzIhAmBA0SFiINS1lS2hQAklsjkISxkg-wVG9iy_D1FIi1tP4J9U/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62835025/daily-deep-discount-vintage-brass-floral?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span itemprop="name"><span style="color: blue;">Vintage Brass Floral and Blue Crystal Pendant with Brass Chain Necklace</span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Check my Facebook page ( <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BearChick" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/BearChick</span> </a>) or Etsy shop ( <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick</span></a></span> ) every day for the <span style="color: red;">Daily Deep Discount</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whether you’re shopping for simple, cute earrings, one size fits all bracelets or sparkly necklaces, you’ll find something for every Chick on your list.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And don’t forget, the FALL14 Coupon Code at my vintage/destash shop on Etsy gets you 15% off! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">C’est La Vie!</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">Do What You Love!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></span></span></a></div>
<br />Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-75645774103870279332014-08-31T16:19:00.001-07:002014-08-31T16:19:21.364-07:00What’s Up? Steampunk and France!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It’s been a while, boys and girls. My creative mojo has been on hiatus. I took a French class. I stressed out at work. I visited friends and family in the Boston area. I ate way too much. I read a lot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sometimes I feel like I stepped back from my inner life and my physical life. I retreated. Don’t know why. These things sneak up and hide themselves in your head, so you don’t realize you’re not doing anything--creating, exercising, thinking. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But lately I’ve been getting creative again, making some jewelry and working on a Steampunk character. For those of you who don’t know what Steampunk is, it’s basically a Victorian vision of science fiction--think H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. More recently, read the Leviathan series by Scott Westfield or Gail Carrigers’ Alexia Tarabotti books (which mix Steampunk with vampires and werewolves). Steampunk is anything goes--from corsets to tricked out weaponry, top hats to gears as embellishments. Characters range from scientists and royalty to adventurers and ladies of the evening. We already have our reservations for the HRH Steampunk Symposium on the Queen Mary in January, so I’m gathering materials and making my costumes and accessories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cats are a big part of my character, Felina Reid’s, life, so they will figure in parts of my costume. Like my hats--yes, those are cat ears! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC0a3lz7WQob6DR_coZChglgRNKb-8TC9ns-2RZO-Nx7tjN-BMPlGhQevVKC7Rysfyvi6GBBYl2vge0g-j85OHflRf6VEaIwn52muPkRqX2l_wpI2m58XAY-db82aUUdkFZimL7gLXC0/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC0a3lz7WQob6DR_coZChglgRNKb-8TC9ns-2RZO-Nx7tjN-BMPlGhQevVKC7Rysfyvi6GBBYl2vge0g-j85OHflRf6VEaIwn52muPkRqX2l_wpI2m58XAY-db82aUUdkFZimL7gLXC0/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And the embellishment also features a cat pin.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ7FSu78Vnm5zCxuAEwmjhgTS5hP5wbkPcEytCapKOE0cWVsMT1-sxjbFkdBAiDKsTdbhmJEGBMFOfKMdDW20iGflaAT3mzbov0rVxJkQIiUvtiWkygdopbEls50MgUd1rsrcvMBoE_0/s1600/IMG_9637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ7FSu78Vnm5zCxuAEwmjhgTS5hP5wbkPcEytCapKOE0cWVsMT1-sxjbFkdBAiDKsTdbhmJEGBMFOfKMdDW20iGflaAT3mzbov0rVxJkQIiUvtiWkygdopbEls50MgUd1rsrcvMBoE_0/s1600/IMG_9637.JPG" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierNpMr86fzaqaTbLiK-g9bvJ8SckxZccyMI2l7ApziIRh80-EdMm1-Z74aE-JzNztn412So95hGxenqPAnkPoD0J5O7PTkVNVsHN4CaJ9ODL01-SLAnxFKGVKY2un85LI3nBcbQpsaP4/s1600/IMG_9645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierNpMr86fzaqaTbLiK-g9bvJ8SckxZccyMI2l7ApziIRh80-EdMm1-Z74aE-JzNztn412So95hGxenqPAnkPoD0J5O7PTkVNVsHN4CaJ9ODL01-SLAnxFKGVKY2un85LI3nBcbQpsaP4/s1600/IMG_9645.JPG" height="279" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’ll be making a drawstring bag (and probably my skirt/bustle) out of velveteen fabric I used to use on my tables at craft shows. The fabulous trim I found on Etsy.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8PMt_OxbEdn8VnSgt4zoD0JHI9dNDgBcle23aO82P-Gqy07NXrY_x3cuaQupaZ6SzZXlX4kU-9_m4PP-k2Aucpr0S0M_QcjNoJK0BRaZVXFK64HcaEC6PDgwuC6OLppLqY1AlOHlXLw/s1600/IMG_9641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8PMt_OxbEdn8VnSgt4zoD0JHI9dNDgBcle23aO82P-Gqy07NXrY_x3cuaQupaZ6SzZXlX4kU-9_m4PP-k2Aucpr0S0M_QcjNoJK0BRaZVXFK64HcaEC6PDgwuC6OLppLqY1AlOHlXLw/s1600/IMG_9641.JPG" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We’re also planning a trip to France next year. The Mom recently gave me a monetary gift to start a Paris fund. I wanted to go next year for our 35th anniversary and this money gave that dream a big boost! The Husband is a military history buff, so naturally wants to see the D-Day beaches in Normandy. I’m a museum rat and flea market shopper, so that’s what I’m looking forward to in Paris. You’d think the Louvre would be #1 on my list but it’s actually the Musee D’Orsay, since I love the Impressionists. We also love to walk, so seeing Paris on foot is going to be exciting. I remember walking in San Francisco--a walking pace at ground level allows you to see so many tiny, amazing details! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love the planning of a trip as much as the actual travel, so lately I’m either elbows deep in beads or French tour books.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSOb2nTuQpxEmZb31D9Fl7Y_oXSg0etVFCGGfHAsj9hBjhBJXDLW_mq8pscGi1GLok9igWzIJTlZ9Wx2er1fljEDXMDwEcAUjLfCTr2rLPCuYp-cHzRflIWprgFEPQBU-SI2MPtINht0/s1600/IMG_9646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSOb2nTuQpxEmZb31D9Fl7Y_oXSg0etVFCGGfHAsj9hBjhBJXDLW_mq8pscGi1GLok9igWzIJTlZ9Wx2er1fljEDXMDwEcAUjLfCTr2rLPCuYp-cHzRflIWprgFEPQBU-SI2MPtINht0/s1600/IMG_9646.JPG" height="320" width="279" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’ll keep you up to date on what I’m making and planning!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></span><br />
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Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-42037906212750572682013-08-05T20:14:00.000-07:002013-08-05T20:21:06.422-07:00How A Compulsive Reader Rolls <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My name is Mare and I’m a compulsive reader. When there are none of the below outlets for me to peruse, I read posters in the doctors office, signs in the windows of fast food places, those little A-frame advertisements on restaurant tables for seasonal drinks and desserts. And I’ll read them over and over again until the doctor or the traffic signal or the meal arriving interrupts my obsession. I’m not looking for a way to cure myself. Far from it! I’m embracing all the ways to read!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Books will never go the way of the dinosaur. There will always be people like me and Captain Jean Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise who will have a soft spot for paper in this increasing age of technological libris. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or the people of Milton Keynes, who staged a campaign to empty their library of books, to show the evil town council the need for the Stony Stratford branch library (read story:</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jan/14/stony-stratford-library-shelves-protest" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jan/14/stony-stratford-library-shelves-protest</a></span></span></span>).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our house is filled with shelves of books and piles of magazines. I have a standing Saturday morning date at my local library, dropping off what I’ve finished that week and picking up new material. It thrills me to be the first to put a Newly Acquired book on hold. Sometimes I stop into the bookstore on the ground level and a few times a year they hold book sales, too! And still, this is not enough for me, the compulsive reader. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love the Kindle app on my phone, because even if I’ve found myself in a situation where I don’t have a real book (??!!), I always have something to read (yes, I always have my phone with me…). I buy books for my Kindle that aren’t in the catalog of my local library. What my library does have, though, are e-books you can download through Amazon to the Kindle app, which I’ve done several times. Also, there’s a trend recently for authors to write short stories or novella’s exclusively as e-book content. They usually run from .99 cents to around $5.99 and serve as welcome little treats between full books. Read my latest Old School Mare blog post to see how I’m using my actual Kindle device for school: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://oldschoolmare.blogspot.com/2013/07/bonjour-mes-ami.html" target="_blank">http://oldschoolmare.blogspot.com/2013/07/bonjour-mes-ami.html</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a problem with magazines. I find them a great temptation and, as stated, have heaping piles of them wherever I sit for more than 10 minutes… When I bought the Kindle, I was hoping to use that for magazine subscriptions. What I didn’t realize is that the black and white Kindles don’t support magazines… Someday I will get a Kindle Fire but for now, my local library has a subscription to Zinio, an online magazine system. Their selection is limited at this point but I have been able to access issues to read the one or two articles I was interested in without having to pay the $4 or $5 to do so. Awesome!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other thing I’ve been doing lately is getting books on CD’s at the library. I download them to my phone and listen when I’m walking or at other times when I can pay them most of my attention (making jewelry, washing dishes, shaving my legs). Usually, the books I find on CD’s are things I may not have noticed in my usual sections of the library (mystery and non-fiction/travel), like The Girls of Murder City about the women who the play and movie Chicago are based on and Then Again, Diane Keaton’s autobiography read with good humor and emotion by Keaton herself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I feel like I’ve gone to the Dark Side by embracing alternative reading methods. My father ran a printing press for most of his working life (it was at a box factory, but a pressman is a pressman…) plus my Day Job is doing payroll for a local shoppers publication that has seen a sharp downturn in recent years. But I think as the world changes, some things diminish and other things expand in a natural progression. Writers still write and readers still read and the variety of ways we can partake of words and sentences and paragraphs will always keep the Force strong within us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></span></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-51212773122960285972013-07-04T16:53:00.001-07:002013-07-04T17:08:02.308-07:00Snip Snip!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s the biggest reason I refused to cut my hair short: Too many times I’d hear that once you get to A Certain Age, it’s time to cut your hair. Just like at A Certain Age, you buy your first bottle of Geritol and your first pair of orthopedic shoes. I always admired Dyan Cannon, who kept her hair long and fabulous way after she “should” have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Of course, that was back in the day… Seems that now, anything goes--long (Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer), short (Judi Dench, Jane Fonda), gray (Helen Mirren, bless her)… But still, I was dismayed when the urge to cut my hair veered into obsession mode. I didn’t want to look the dreaded Certain Age…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As much as I deny it, I am of that Certain Age when hair starts to suffer. Breakage left me with a fist full of strands after every shower and my hair started to feel a bit coarse and dry. Hot oil treatments and vitamin B complex have helped but I really wanted a fresh start with my crowning glory--excise the unhealthy, frizzy length and get the rest really healthy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Over the course of a few weeks, I kept reminding myself that it was my hair--long, short or in between--people will form their opinions and those are none of my business. I’m just trying to be happy and healthy. Have I mentioned that my hair is an unusual purple shade? If I’m not worried about how people perceive that, why in the world worry about the length?! Sometimes, we make ourselves crazy over the dumbest things. I’ve heard it referred to as “unexamined beliefs” -- buying into something for so long and not giving it the thought required to determine if it’s true or, more accurately maybe, relevant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, I went to a chain salon to get my hair cut, having faith that it was the right thing to do and I’d find someone great to do the deed. I had a picture of Carla Gugino with just the style I wanted. Christina and I had a great conversation about how my hair would act with a cut like that, how I may have to use mousse, etc. and she made sure I understood it might not look exactly like the picture, which put me at ease, having proved she knew her stuff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">When she made the first big cut, about 8”, I felt so much lighter. And when she was finished cutting and styling, it felt totally natural. I let it dry on it’s own and the wavy curls I ended up with had a bounce and fullness my hair hadn’t had in a long, long time. The part is slightly off center--I’ve always had mine right down the middle--and it makes a nice, subtle change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I don’t miss the length at all. At first, I was making that classic flipping motion long haired girls do without thinking, tossing hair back over their shoulders, but that didn’t last long. And it’s still just long enough to tie back if I want to. And it’s so much easier to take care of!! Wash, scrunch, go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, the moral of this story is: Just do it! Whatever it is you’re reluctant to do, stop holding yourself back and just do it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Gotta go. Time to get my hair trimmed. See ya!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #274e13;">What</span> You <span style="color: #274e13;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></div>
<br />Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-57479843318344700512013-06-29T17:21:00.000-07:002013-06-29T17:21:49.665-07:00Nose Art and Paintings and Sculpture, Oh My!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Husband enjoys the heck out of the Palm Springs Air Museum. I admit, usually I zip through a few exhibits and go read in the café. But since we hadn’t been there in quite a while, I was a little more engaged because the set up had changed a bit and there were some new things. We ended up together in the café for lunch. Aside from the 105 degrees we braved to see the planes outside, it was a good visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s some of the fun nose art on display:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is a painting on tiles that local school children contributed their skills to. It’s a beautiful piece and I saw the image on t-shirts in the gift shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Doesn’t this sculpture make you want to go outside and leap around barefoot in the grass??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And here is the Tuskegee Airmen mural by artist Stan Stokes. I didn’t think I’d be able to get it all in the photo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s his blog, detailing the unveiling of the mural, attended by 7 of the Airmen themselves: <a href="http://stanstokesredtails.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://stanstokesredtails.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You can see a passel of Stokes’ murals and painting at the Palm Springs Air Museum, as well as the Ronald Reagan Library and the George HW Bush Library. Military art is his specialty but he also paints sailing ships and cool cityscapes with cats.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></a>
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Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-82469466463977562922013-06-17T21:21:00.004-07:002013-06-17T21:24:22.473-07:00I’m Back~With Artful Things<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, my creativity has been at low ebb for a while. I guess we all go through this, at different times in our lives. The Day Job zaps energy and the will to create. I feel like I’ve been in a library-shaped cocoon, reading and avoiding the world. But lately, I’ve been jotting notes for things I want to write, create and, gasp (!) sew. While texting with a friend a few weeks ago, I looked up a cameo company online and bought a bunch, which will be showing up in my Etsy shop soon as necklaces and earrings and even pins (!). There’s a stash of fabric in my workroom and patterns I got on a super sale at JoAnn. And I’m even thinking of starting classes toward a general ed degree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Right now, I just want to get blogging again. Expect to see art around town, book reviews (I’ve discovered a lot of new mystery series lately), new jewelry and just things I find interesting and think you might, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Last week, The Husband and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in Palm Springs. Today, I’m going to post some art from around PS and their great art museum. The next blog will have nose art and some other paintings and sculpture from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here we are, posed beneath Marilyn Monroe in her iconic pose from The Seven Year Itch. This great gal, a huge sculpture by Seward Johnson, is quite a draw!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I knew you were wondering!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We saw this sculpture a few years ago and we’re still amazed by it. I keep expecting her to blink!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Her feet are so dang lifelike!</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is a performance art piece on a 12 minute loop. It mesmerized me. So simple--a woman holding a container of milk--but so fascinating. I think because it was presented as a piece of art on the wall, the fact that you could see her breathing and working to keep the container steady but dribbling on the floor and her black dress, it was like watching through a window. And she never looks up, never tries to make contact. Hmmmm, that does make me a voyeur?!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here I am with Your Dog, in the front lobby of the musuem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">No explanation--just fun! I posted this on Facebook with the caption, “I’ll never get these dishes done!”, contributed by The Husband.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Loved this Glass House</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Loved this Glass Man. His pants are concrete, I believe, but the jacket and the head are glass. The jacket and hood seems to have been painted, but the back of the shoulders and the face were left raw, creating the glow of light. Beautiful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I was taken with these ornaments hanging above the second tier of the museum, even before we discovered that each of the 100 pieces holds a note or piece of artwork from artists all over the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And here’s The Husband, with a driftwood horse he admired.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And just to show that art and beauty are everywhere, here's a beautiful flower we saw on our way to the museum. So bright and happy!!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Coming soon, The Palm Springs Air Museum!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Do <span style="color: #274e13;">What</span> You <span style="color: #274e13;">L</span><span style="color: #274e13;">ove</span>!</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-34066226847166742122013-03-29T22:39:00.002-07:002013-03-29T22:45:13.017-07:00I *Sparkle* The Husband<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know it’s been a long time since I posted. Sometimes life intrudes…</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But I have been a little creative. One thing I tried this year is a tunnel book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Behold, The Sparkly Husband:</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Working in layers is like a puzzle. I think I did the words backward, but it’s still readable.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGnfoYOYnRZDeYpjDluFHVsHBjd6zr1prKe63hJEdJm9XVMhc-6rLeF1oXlgzFAM2ckYl-rZUmhr-BXMrJse1tQWppoqfgdC_i4wmByLCOmQ3exlwnKxkyptZmCOLd7RbbDec3yX2pC0/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGnfoYOYnRZDeYpjDluFHVsHBjd6zr1prKe63hJEdJm9XVMhc-6rLeF1oXlgzFAM2ckYl-rZUmhr-BXMrJse1tQWppoqfgdC_i4wmByLCOmQ3exlwnKxkyptZmCOLd7RbbDec3yX2pC0/s320/IMG_7702.JPG" usa="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> This technique is so limitless—you can use different papers or backgrounds for each layer. Words, stamps, photos, glitter, paint—oh my! The possibilities! Next time, though, I’ll sketch it out and do more pre-planning for color, placement and general design. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Husband really liked his tunnel card and wants to try his own. He’s a master at pop up cards, so this should be easy for him. We’re planning a tunnel book day soon, maybe for some upcoming birthdays!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What </span>You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN"></span><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></span></span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-24042890543708290512012-10-11T20:56:00.001-07:002012-10-11T20:56:07.886-07:00Jewelry From Jewelry <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Husband and I were at the mall a few weeks ago. This is, at most, a half yearly event. We're not really mall folks… But I do like to zoom into Forever 21 while I'm there since they have some really cool jewelry. Do I buy it to wear? Au contraire! I buy it to cannabalize and put my own Bear Chick twist on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I found these amazingly sparkly earrings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">They are so big, they naturally presented themselves to me as pendants. So I added some complementary faceted beads and gold chain and voila!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm thinking of sending this into a bead magazine as an example of looking at jewelry in different ways, with an eye to creating something entirely new.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What do you use in your jewelry or art to give it your special take?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></div>
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Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-43539000358202812172012-10-08T21:07:00.001-07:002012-10-08T21:07:17.169-07:00The Long, Hot Summer<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'm not a big fan of heat. The last few months in Southern California have zapped my creative mojo. The Husband, The Cats and I practiced our best melting imitations, quoting the Wicked Witch of the West--I'm melting, melllllting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But, knock wood and grab a lucky 4 leaf clover, the worst seems to be over and we can look forward to more fall-like weather. And a return of the brain cells that preside over creativity (I think they fled to the back of the fridge!)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's a couple of new Halloweeny designs available at my Etsy shop now:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/110915431/mummy-zombie-walking-dead-earrings"><img border="0" height="283" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYOLapzig0WHEfqNjgIIZLFNKsSLYiJBtNLoD2iCw8GXjBMbzXAkkn16h-I8dj3N5Eo9EVZuQ63RN5zxYCz5Crhw_V2wqE1LNbrX1QTi641IBg2lC_Gs3erk6CIw82zAJU6q2tczVCxc/s320/IMG_7237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of a Kind Ceramic Necklace</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Fall, Y'all! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">www.bearchick.etsy.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</a></span></div>
Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-45147712668347605032012-07-22T18:56:00.000-07:002012-07-22T18:56:44.386-07:00Lake Princess by Gary Hong<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I bought this colorful swan print at the Yorba Linda Celebration of Arts, a local art and craft show, many moons ago, from the artist. Gary Hong paints beautiful scenes of animals and landscapes in Southern California.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to highlight the green or the pink in the painting, so I bought a white frame and tried to match the technique with similar colors. Whether it blends or not, I like it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-90847037258305353542012-07-18T20:02:00.000-07:002012-07-18T20:02:05.649-07:00Cat Woman by Margo Zafer Nahas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have a dream that a piece of artwork I’ve picked up at a yard sale or antique store will turn out to be worth millions. Or at least thousands… This is one of the pieces I fantasize over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It’s number 16 of 100 signed prints of Cat Woman by Margo Zafer Nahas, the award winning illustrator of Van Halen’s album cover of “1984”~you know the one~the smoking angel!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The other thing that makes this piece unique is the fact that it’s mounted on a cabinet door. I don’t remember where I got it--I’m sure it was a yard sale--but the combination of the cat theme and the cabinet door was too cool to pass up. I didn’t realize who the artist was until I did some research when I got home.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Isn’t this awesome!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It’s dated 1972, it’s 16 out of only 100 and it’s on a cabinet door. Please tell me it’s worth a mill!! A thou?? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-28292696413743675602012-07-15T19:33:00.001-07:002012-07-15T19:36:29.092-07:00Blogging for Serial<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, Life and The Day Job have intruded on creativity lately. When I get home, I just don’t seem to have the mental energy to think up a whole blog. So sad!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But I’ve decided what I can do is write a series of bite size serial blogs about things that interest me right now. Or things that might interest you. A picture and a few words. Yeah, I can do that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">For my first series, Art Around My House:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0CKq1GUFowBn5BNH4e29GcNCHefIgRlIkrs8LPLGMXC_CA8TRH2zK9aQOdx-GVUQKiEPQ9liL8-300pByLxWM7Vm4pQJG9I_8M-l38RvfsDAhyNzffemR6dfvg6YlN73SLRCMKG0lRA/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0CKq1GUFowBn5BNH4e29GcNCHefIgRlIkrs8LPLGMXC_CA8TRH2zK9aQOdx-GVUQKiEPQ9liL8-300pByLxWM7Vm4pQJG9I_8M-l38RvfsDAhyNzffemR6dfvg6YlN73SLRCMKG0lRA/s320/IMG_6749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is a fine art print of Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler (the full version). If I’m not mistaken, the original of this extremely popular painting sold at auction for over a million dollars a few years ago, shocking snotty art critics who didn’t believe that popular would translate to big bucks, especially when the artist is still alive. So there, snotty art critics!!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Vettriano is a Scottish artist whose work is sometimes thuggish but always tells an interesting, usually noir-ish, story. This print, Back Where You Belong, hangs over our bed. I love the colors and warm emotion of this piece.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #274e13;">What</span> You <span style="color: #274e13;">Love</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-57634096458634774532012-05-28T17:08:00.001-07:002012-05-28T17:08:25.373-07:00A Package From Bear Chick<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have selective creativity. I do some things well, like jewelry. But there are other things I have very little imagination for, like gift baskets. I try to put a special touch on the packages I send out to my Etsy customers~they’re not as razzle dazzle as some I’ve seen but I’ve gotten good feedback, so they seem to be appreciated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Even though I send out my jewelry in boxes and padded envelopes, I always line the box with bubble wrap. And because the bubble wrap is so blah, I use a piece of tissue around it so when the box is opened, it’s festive and colorful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I made templates for both my earring and necklace boxes out of cardboard. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDbmdKitbLo-xmL0y06N2A0FzrhC11RaDwDHNm5_nJBQT4OrTX7kWNwA96gsfYY4T0VcpsLnDTj4Xdxa2o-nZGS7YQldHLQuOuKEAL2v-WGZxJr7NsWj_G_yRgh4lsM_b7QjeRkYml20/s1600/IMG_6330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDbmdKitbLo-xmL0y06N2A0FzrhC11RaDwDHNm5_nJBQT4OrTX7kWNwA96gsfYY4T0VcpsLnDTj4Xdxa2o-nZGS7YQldHLQuOuKEAL2v-WGZxJr7NsWj_G_yRgh4lsM_b7QjeRkYml20/s320/IMG_6330.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I cut the bubble wrap to the exact size of the template and the tissue a little longer so the bubble wrap is completely covered when it’s folded around the jewelry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgo1G3INwzS-Ew7amoZheCcGq_uJQfkHiA7frZEtCHO-MbMUeCjc_s0P6anDDwS4gff6lIY0-h2XrIDOtBnv73RboLtGPblLql2gUvTGqKdScuiPBU2tHXrp-i6yb0CHNIx3YZXOUMCs/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgo1G3INwzS-Ew7amoZheCcGq_uJQfkHiA7frZEtCHO-MbMUeCjc_s0P6anDDwS4gff6lIY0-h2XrIDOtBnv73RboLtGPblLql2gUvTGqKdScuiPBU2tHXrp-i6yb0CHNIx3YZXOUMCs/s320/IMG_6335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then I put my Bear Chick sticker on the box. I remember my grandmother having her jewelry in boxes with gift shop stickers on them. I guess because some of the places where she bought her jewelry were owned by friends, I always make the association that there’s a person behind what’s in the box, not some faceless manufacturer. Just a little warm fuzzy for me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqSJLC5YLXwYUeyqjTDFnacvUvMFwLcan73gPPOgAIwQO6sOwBUU7zPXMWZJRSNrV0mzltrSLJRQGb6uvqmN916cBxL-L5mJf5p2tMZ8E3Q_CqLLziVbxwqN2OMWgI-uxRGfxhOOU_eo/s1600/IMG_6332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqSJLC5YLXwYUeyqjTDFnacvUvMFwLcan73gPPOgAIwQO6sOwBUU7zPXMWZJRSNrV0mzltrSLJRQGb6uvqmN916cBxL-L5mJf5p2tMZ8E3Q_CqLLziVbxwqN2OMWgI-uxRGfxhOOU_eo/s320/IMG_6332.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The last thing I do is create the labels for the mailing envelopes. My return address is in my company colors, green and purple, plus blue, which are the cool colors. The customer address I print in the warm colors of red, orange and yellow. They make for a very colorful envelope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If you’re an artist, what special things do you do for your mailings? If you’re a customer, tell us what you like and don’t like about how your goodies are mailed to you.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #274e13;">What</span> You <span style="color: #274e13;">Love</span>!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-57510337967655820472012-05-21T19:50:00.000-07:002012-05-24T20:09:46.091-07:00Railfest 2012 Orange Empire Railway Museum<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here's a few video's of The Husband with Bandit Band, where they performed this weekend. The bass player is my friend, Barbara, from The Bead Society!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxBUBSP3fSokdaHMDKMwLzrDLzPoHB7pNu_gi9gGfPF9IdhVsVlzJL65LI1mrZj8Nb_JjQY7A7wdEdB1XrDbIaPse0B0qTsXjGzjrcRHA9rfMiyDB3zvscBHEVPkkc9BzFIPpJhpl7s/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxBUBSP3fSokdaHMDKMwLzrDLzPoHB7pNu_gi9gGfPF9IdhVsVlzJL65LI1mrZj8Nb_JjQY7A7wdEdB1XrDbIaPse0B0qTsXjGzjrcRHA9rfMiyDB3zvscBHEVPkkc9BzFIPpJhpl7s/s320/IMG_6325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRt0ylv3qU"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRt0ylv3qU</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Bandit Band Spoon Song</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atVqBpyMKn8&feature=relmfu"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atVqBpyMKn8&feature=relmfu</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A Boy Named Sue</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For some reason, I can't get the video's to upload correctly here, so follow the links to YouTube.</span><br />
<br /> </div>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-52136533845805089472012-05-12T10:02:00.001-07:002012-05-12T10:11:26.445-07:00Color and Bling in Vegas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Husband and I had the opportunity to meet family in Vegas this week. Here we are with my cousins, Paul and Rita. We’d seen Paul, who lives in Massachusetts, two years ago in Palm Springs but we hadn’t seen his sister, Rita, who lives in Colorado, since the 80’s. It was a really special trip and we had a blast!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB6lWrhJT8e4735iVpg_qiYe2QSxPEx5Bm0nMiOnYt-181w34V9W18GvZGFvoesKBcafcPQE9Ss1DtzhMjMJQDFLbqC_9Isnvg6RlnAMqJThnJLqF9NRo6YI4nRik_fBZzOV-QLZvvkA/s1600/IMG_6224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB6lWrhJT8e4735iVpg_qiYe2QSxPEx5Bm0nMiOnYt-181w34V9W18GvZGFvoesKBcafcPQE9Ss1DtzhMjMJQDFLbqC_9Isnvg6RlnAMqJThnJLqF9NRo6YI4nRik_fBZzOV-QLZvvkA/s320/IMG_6224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You know me--I’m always on the lookout for color and sparkle. Here are a few Sin City examples:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEzGeeu5254ZwSCArzjbk6ViESlXVb948DgiGLVaGw3ZnxBspBA6vBhARTh8G3wqdCerC6EQ1oV3Hxa0pwOWXa0mRwYFJjD7erI99Bk09bvlzHWo4wdLakDWY-wVqacMl6cMyWaiQN_4/s1600/IMG_6259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEzGeeu5254ZwSCArzjbk6ViESlXVb948DgiGLVaGw3ZnxBspBA6vBhARTh8G3wqdCerC6EQ1oV3Hxa0pwOWXa0mRwYFJjD7erI99Bk09bvlzHWo4wdLakDWY-wVqacMl6cMyWaiQN_4/s320/IMG_6259.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A sparkly peacock in a shop window at the Wynn</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUK7yRauzzJ-UQi_CsuIDh4rKumwF_05C0IMtDc8VdrIQG4py4Q71TLUCFxrDo9eS6raCV5qallZFOu728JxdeFYuo7ruYq7TL4E3hV58llkrUkJJzgEBubNCpyriW84VsQSKeI2sY_M/s1600/IMG_6260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUK7yRauzzJ-UQi_CsuIDh4rKumwF_05C0IMtDc8VdrIQG4py4Q71TLUCFxrDo9eS6raCV5qallZFOu728JxdeFYuo7ruYq7TL4E3hV58llkrUkJJzgEBubNCpyriW84VsQSKeI2sY_M/s320/IMG_6260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Wynn, though very sophisticated, was also very colorful. Check out the mosaic floors and the fresh flower balls in the trees</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRYhflq1gLDXgyOuMuhtCKCCY7MAWQNJfwhOe0mJlsALz3BpqdrtLoCByyszZbjWA0g-XJBJ8Rc89AcglMEywnCNpf0VpG-_OtiOhnsujzBh4zKM_-mqhO_R_N5yn67bSur26WJTk_Qk/s1600/IMG_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRYhflq1gLDXgyOuMuhtCKCCY7MAWQNJfwhOe0mJlsALz3BpqdrtLoCByyszZbjWA0g-XJBJ8Rc89AcglMEywnCNpf0VpG-_OtiOhnsujzBh4zKM_-mqhO_R_N5yn67bSur26WJTk_Qk/s320/IMG_6266.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">These gorgeous pagoda/umbrella’s hang in a two story lounge area. How do they keep them clean??</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARV4P-QizT5tE3sxVeNsv90mbvtBRl5YeGaHJEbNjAYPwHK90xUfdA2fkP0Gzu5McNyhkVjPHljXLJP-zxH3-GDWN8zCI8z5ul55rq6fG-Ub3aN2_TgYfcKkwgUWAmLVhyphenhyphenQO26TY0yHk/s1600/IMG_6235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARV4P-QizT5tE3sxVeNsv90mbvtBRl5YeGaHJEbNjAYPwHK90xUfdA2fkP0Gzu5McNyhkVjPHljXLJP-zxH3-GDWN8zCI8z5ul55rq6fG-Ub3aN2_TgYfcKkwgUWAmLVhyphenhyphenQO26TY0yHk/s320/IMG_6235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m a Leo, so this super blingy lion at the Venetian caught my attention! Isn’t he grand?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru-rB0ej8GfXii92pUjDmYvpp-bmqxpAQ3USO9M1K0g6vEs4ryfD49LIXmU3DN1UpMySohdGYRAb8xNG4s9wmWs-ZljRwB1ZGx6gK_VMwQYXbvC2WzMtw0wo82ml5FPOcnTdoystcSO4/s1600/IMG_6247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru-rB0ej8GfXii92pUjDmYvpp-bmqxpAQ3USO9M1K0g6vEs4ryfD49LIXmU3DN1UpMySohdGYRAb8xNG4s9wmWs-ZljRwB1ZGx6gK_VMwQYXbvC2WzMtw0wo82ml5FPOcnTdoystcSO4/s320/IMG_6247.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This is a reflection of a chandelier in the shiny black floor of a lobby. For some reason, it picked up the colors that you couldn’t see in the actual light fixture…</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_P_lLp1PMRwmV_mPl3rJeYqHvexCsXALX75A8HE7s8SJQKqLF7NIIHqrk0czeLPbDOgoK4btY1LUowYXQyJmkwC-fZFGJkGpVt-HUxg2Ic8yjTAX9sIfH5sqQg7cwJJr_GXG64jWkds/s1600/IMG_6222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_P_lLp1PMRwmV_mPl3rJeYqHvexCsXALX75A8HE7s8SJQKqLF7NIIHqrk0czeLPbDOgoK4btY1LUowYXQyJmkwC-fZFGJkGpVt-HUxg2Ic8yjTAX9sIfH5sqQg7cwJJr_GXG64jWkds/s320/IMG_6222.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Part of the spring display at the Bellagio’s Atrium. Doesn’t it make you smile?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #351c75;">What</span> You <span style="color: #351c75;">Love</span>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div>
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</div>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-34694615255400288832012-03-03T16:46:00.000-08:002012-03-03T16:46:00.446-08:00Pins on My Purse<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I haven’t been blogging much this year :-( Life intrudes, so they say…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here’s a quicky. These pins decorate the inside of my purple purse:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjJ8YhtRYbtOuhfx8TJKTcRE6iarN-N6GLdBDrDRdldEViWqAAikFRMIw0FokyuT-XO0t4GWTxUCvXnd5cje5hVVso645CSwkL3RFI60TisesKU8PRcIcaDkabf5rVDG46T-Men-Ir7o/s1600/IMG_6086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjJ8YhtRYbtOuhfx8TJKTcRE6iarN-N6GLdBDrDRdldEViWqAAikFRMIw0FokyuT-XO0t4GWTxUCvXnd5cje5hVVso645CSwkL3RFI60TisesKU8PRcIcaDkabf5rVDG46T-Men-Ir7o/s320/IMG_6086.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I picked up this gem at a boutique in Palm Springs years ago and it’s as true today as it was then!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLddHvMcTsg57WkjIEW1SLlYR2kIpAyAm0LArXch7aVNWiFKqJFHTJcBLPvypLJ_vfHUIcpyvHWOZ-gh3oHPwPQxLLU39G9QhrX3E8FXyCu02vXzpL3VZTw3RBftxZgq0UTmZy0p4DekQ/s1600/IMG_6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLddHvMcTsg57WkjIEW1SLlYR2kIpAyAm0LArXch7aVNWiFKqJFHTJcBLPvypLJ_vfHUIcpyvHWOZ-gh3oHPwPQxLLU39G9QhrX3E8FXyCu02vXzpL3VZTw3RBftxZgq0UTmZy0p4DekQ/s320/IMG_6093.JPG" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My BFF sent this to me from Angela Cartwright Studios. Yes, the Angela Cartwright from Make Room for Daddy and Lost in Space and The Sound of Music. She’s now a gifted artist~make that”unruly artist”~with a clothing line, photography and several books to her credit.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnwI1MWhcgdC6ot0ymetDvIAPDMI-PHqQeYXrXM5fbpsMfPu2sqhVl900skoF6DS50SHD7t6Zf5YDM_MMJ0KwPHVW2o5d1-m_Kk8hRlTtkQYTH9QCQ8KtXoXN_UDplYl2LlhyphenhyphenNLyQ50/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYnwI1MWhcgdC6ot0ymetDvIAPDMI-PHqQeYXrXM5fbpsMfPu2sqhVl900skoF6DS50SHD7t6Zf5YDM_MMJ0KwPHVW2o5d1-m_Kk8hRlTtkQYTH9QCQ8KtXoXN_UDplYl2LlhyphenhyphenNLyQ50/s320/IMG_6092.JPG" uda="true" width="315" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">*blush* The Husband pointed this out at a yard sale and while I was buying jewelry (what else??), he snagged it and presented it to me in front of several amused ladies! </span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #274e13;">What</span> You <span style="color: #274e13;">Love</span>!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-86362329109100075942012-02-06T20:10:00.000-08:002012-02-06T20:10:16.497-08:00My Photographer Hat<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As a small (make that tiny!) business owner, I wear a lot of hats. Jewelry artist, bookkeeper, marketing specialist… And on and on… But one of the more important hats as an online business person is Photographer. On Etsy, you only have 5 pictures to show your products to their best advantage. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My journey as photographer has had it's ups and downs. I started with a video camera that also had micro stills capability. It was a little cumbersome but it took great close ups. Now I have a Canon that I couldn't live without! It takes great shots of everything, from earrings to polar bears at Sea World. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My next challenge was the setup. I think I started on the walkway to the front door of my house, using natural light. Challenge: I had to keep the camera angled so I didn't get the street, foliage or other houses in the background. I moved onto a PVC pipe frame with a white bed sheet thrown over it in my workroom. Challenge: yellow walls, which made the colors weird and hard to fix on the computer. Now I have a lightbox that I love. I set it up on sunny afternoons near my front door:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pz8d9c4ygkAFaw3ZC5QCXml6BgzX37KtVlfdF3YhbqAlDkZ7xaLg5DCoO0JyItMbtwEjrWw9t5SSTPVP-kNNqwR_cX8UcTL0fEE4cJ_-rROcajbhHihsTAtCDR4NLPIw-KNgY2U7MBg/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pz8d9c4ygkAFaw3ZC5QCXml6BgzX37KtVlfdF3YhbqAlDkZ7xaLg5DCoO0JyItMbtwEjrWw9t5SSTPVP-kNNqwR_cX8UcTL0fEE4cJ_-rROcajbhHihsTAtCDR4NLPIw-KNgY2U7MBg/s320/IMG_5950.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My light box is from Cowboy Studio, through Amazon.com. It comes with several backdrops but so far I’ve only used the white. And even though I don’t let the kitties near it, I have to keep a roll of tape nearby, to remove cat hair!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I just got the small black table so I could have a mobile workspace if I want to watch a movie on my computer, where there isn't really a lot of flat space. Before that, I had the lightbox on the floor--ouch, my back!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">One other thing that I've changed is one of my key props: I used to use a wine glass to hang earrings. If you look at the glass, it looks clear but I suspect there's really a lot of very subtle green in it. I used to think it was picking up color from the yellow walls but even when I switched out to the living room, I was getting strange color, so I bought a white mug with pretty details around the rim and that's worked much better.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKfNZggnYBtZ4io6psbT0UXfRK23qcqldIg_l0kfA8oqRRRmWsv9M1JXUBRMG111cZtaKPp-ukjE0wv1YvAbti7NJ1nvmFXznNfp4luoglpYZT9T_d0jQfhYzRJJHuk_pJF8_YsPJFXY/s1600/IMG_5951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKfNZggnYBtZ4io6psbT0UXfRK23qcqldIg_l0kfA8oqRRRmWsv9M1JXUBRMG111cZtaKPp-ukjE0wv1YvAbti7NJ1nvmFXznNfp4luoglpYZT9T_d0jQfhYzRJJHuk_pJF8_YsPJFXY/s320/IMG_5951.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, now, there are items that I want to reshoot because as I look through my Etsy pages, it's painful to see some of my earlier photography. Here's a prime example:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-IVaj8JJRPJ5D8FNwIQ_TWFfsNNeUWm6JO8bRNjowkWuhkvjfpUVc6h9FymwEuaOSiGhNIDzA2s9z1QzU0IAgCaAGxkXmBD1u6GCg92zVjYyfYbB0DEk5abJytytYh4uMXic2QhYJUA/s1600/DSC05903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-IVaj8JJRPJ5D8FNwIQ_TWFfsNNeUWm6JO8bRNjowkWuhkvjfpUVc6h9FymwEuaOSiGhNIDzA2s9z1QzU0IAgCaAGxkXmBD1u6GCg92zVjYyfYbB0DEk5abJytytYh4uMXic2QhYJUA/s320/DSC05903.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">BEFORE</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">AFTER</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I better get to work, rephotographing some of my earlier pieces so I don’t have to cringe when I go through my Etsy pages!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div><br />
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</div></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-88043548220115610962012-02-04T21:12:00.000-08:002012-02-04T21:12:20.529-08:00More Colorful Shoes!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Every year, we go to a rummage sale at a nearby church. I make a beeline for the jewelry tables but the last few years, I’ve been a little disappointed. Today, I snagged a few interesting chains but that was it… I’m hoping next weekend (it’s a two weekend annual event), they have more to offer.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, I poked around other areas and I’m happy to report I added to my collection of colorful shoes:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dfoPEQ8mPpb_6Yp_XEJXtqRz2OKIR2rSWgfzbcZIQT7FlSDh1D5bWV5fSyj73Yl5Q9nMY8uZSRaXUmrrpkB-BdKfB3PhErfxzEtEg6JB3_6gNJlE3k9U3VVA9iYoKAH9hYNifiwIbT0/s1600/IMG_5945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dfoPEQ8mPpb_6Yp_XEJXtqRz2OKIR2rSWgfzbcZIQT7FlSDh1D5bWV5fSyj73Yl5Q9nMY8uZSRaXUmrrpkB-BdKfB3PhErfxzEtEg6JB3_6gNJlE3k9U3VVA9iYoKAH9hYNifiwIbT0/s320/IMG_5945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">These are sandals with bright primary colors. Don’t hate me if you’re in cold places, but I could have worn these today! It was in the high 70’s here in SoCal. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwnC6aLe-Jpi_YhaaKu-KNrcu73mnrUNsZKcI16f7bGA93VDCkttHB__XF0lBTv-lTJEJ7nmoDqKt2TiHJDR2_YQruSezYf2H1NT49Wep3NRxGquSU6XUzKgv4zzlkBghgghy-_u2cAY/s1600/IMG_5947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwnC6aLe-Jpi_YhaaKu-KNrcu73mnrUNsZKcI16f7bGA93VDCkttHB__XF0lBTv-lTJEJ7nmoDqKt2TiHJDR2_YQruSezYf2H1NT49Wep3NRxGquSU6XUzKgv4zzlkBghgghy-_u2cAY/s320/IMG_5947.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">With so many colors, I’ll be able to wear them with practically anything!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">But these are my real crazy finds:</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1_xKrmSbiGcpzLEoF3wtW2_M6KFD5sNFUIWyJeCEDu2FKOEghFFy1DjaKPJcNzSGC62qNSIMe7V4PlJfHIMjJ5WKvTUi44BEJQUPMmsmwOq1cgw13v86YwLRZJrUjRM_yqeZXkh6ELU/s1600/IMG_5943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1_xKrmSbiGcpzLEoF3wtW2_M6KFD5sNFUIWyJeCEDu2FKOEghFFy1DjaKPJcNzSGC62qNSIMe7V4PlJfHIMjJ5WKvTUi44BEJQUPMmsmwOq1cgw13v86YwLRZJrUjRM_yqeZXkh6ELU/s320/IMG_5943.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Not surprisingly, these goofy little gems were in the Valentine’s section! Normally, I wouldn’t buy a pointy toe, but they’re so dang cute and only $2!</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ70t3K0pZBJ7o0oE9FF3iVH3U8rqLACPXMr0yacS62qQIXJ07yLX6E0tepP-HTjUJ6x2GNeuq4FCRKeRX1PXpl0cfqGevoy9gJA4I7rwVTxggylailLY3GWYZ7jHk8kVo3d8lxg3IrTo/s1600/IMG_5941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ70t3K0pZBJ7o0oE9FF3iVH3U8rqLACPXMr0yacS62qQIXJ07yLX6E0tepP-HTjUJ6x2GNeuq4FCRKeRX1PXpl0cfqGevoy9gJA4I7rwVTxggylailLY3GWYZ7jHk8kVo3d8lxg3IrTo/s320/IMG_5941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Truth be told, I’ll probably only wear them when there won’t be a lot of walking involved--they’re a little tight. But I might be able to manage them at work if I don’t have to walk to the copier a lot LOL!!</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8dZkRHmqmfTnQn7PVIntnSF31yoWrE5JIZ64mtfsUkXnmUm9PN6sw-Ui25icTKpI2oigQ_ymXrjPIFTRIdnMBc_tKl4HhsealRwehdzT8H7qFImmb4DJQC_EMD4AQdcUeGRPy-1LtR4/s1600/IMG_5940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8dZkRHmqmfTnQn7PVIntnSF31yoWrE5JIZ64mtfsUkXnmUm9PN6sw-Ui25icTKpI2oigQ_ymXrjPIFTRIdnMBc_tKl4HhsealRwehdzT8H7qFImmb4DJQC_EMD4AQdcUeGRPy-1LtR4/s320/IMG_5940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the insides are heart-a-licious!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I also snagged a bunch of great tops, including a couple for my favorite folks (don’t want to spoil surprises) and a Bob’s Big Boy t-shirt with a woody station wagon on the back for The Husband.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tune in next weekend to see if I get any good pickin’s! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">PS</span>--If you haven’t already, sign up for my newsletter! On <span style="color: red;">Valentine’s Day</span>, I’m having a drawing for a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate from among all my newsletter subscribers. So go a little bit to your right and sign up now for a chance to win!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You <span style="color: #38761d;">Love</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-28303498923927382132011-12-31T13:45:00.000-08:002011-12-31T13:45:58.700-08:00Video from Sea World<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Since I can't seem to get these on Facebook, here are some video's we took last week at Sea World. <span style="color: red;">Enjoy!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYRxxAAOZTqGO8kZVNc0084jS_oCnBHbRx1hnYzuo0ebb1sdWLPHECh8pXmmD7PH36Qje0Iby1X64rVHVXeg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the first time I think I've ever seen an armadillo. It wanted to dig up the tree in the enclosure!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfkPZvnDpseMA6zDy02bO-kU2mq1yo4oaJWs7hdEm7QQUjwD8yL-TAOtvCnoUjnrg-UfZIFGIvk62hMsorwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Takin' a walk around the enclosure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyyh7c-VUOwsSLJ8-rOX7O1jAJP_4fHRJyH4IT2K9rfof4A3lW8aX7qytxQr6-iAUhXP-GBumiriR78fhm4OA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Just driftin' along<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzUo2l4Gvx0z7k78kldmvKUG3hPTqAPqjnq4-zixxgDFv6wes5qMjlqPhqvpScghzh4h8Ww9rNqPdpnyiUtpg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
This guy really wanted to tear that thing off the wall!<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #351c75;">What</span> You <span style="color: #351c75;">Love</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-10337644276912924452011-12-18T18:58:00.000-08:002011-12-18T18:58:42.028-08:00There Are No Mistakes in Art<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">A few <a href="http://bearchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-love-to-learn.html"><span style="color: magenta;">blog entries</span></a> ago, I showed you my first metal pieces. One I made into a cool, steampunk-y pendant. The other I said I’d only be able to wear around the house since my attempt to drill some holes in it went awry. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Well, when a childhood friends’ father, Arthur, recently suffered a stroke, I was feeling pretty useless. I’m in CA and they’re in AZ and even if I‘d been in the same town, it‘s hard to know what to do. But I did want to do something to encourage the whole family. I sent cards. I sent my girlfriend, Gay, emails. But I kept thinking that there must be something I could create just for Arthur.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I knew it couldn’t be something wearable. But the idea of something encouraging wouldn’t go away. It was like a song that gets stuck in your head… Finally, I caught sight of that metal piece on my worktable one day and knew I could do something with that. So I got out my punch and, dang it, again, the hole I drilled still wasn’t where I wanted it! I have since bought a real drill. The helicopter punch I have is great but I need more practice… Anyway, the third hole was the charm!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin22FcFWh4Aydge6vJaDyaQTdKk58yXl2J2anB85hxw-QAb-2rhcRKEJxWGWAb7738ILGMR928M6wfHTJITRzNXaz8SErYlFFxm0r9019HEF81uiXheQBH4-vPaSGFQL4ZzJvQrR9VLMU/s1600/arts+blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin22FcFWh4Aydge6vJaDyaQTdKk58yXl2J2anB85hxw-QAb-2rhcRKEJxWGWAb7738ILGMR928M6wfHTJITRzNXaz8SErYlFFxm0r9019HEF81uiXheQBH4-vPaSGFQL4ZzJvQrR9VLMU/s320/arts+blog2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE00nkaIRfUHsC_s6bdcOkpfQbk-UYksE0jDip51bq_J2eaa6WNANpOzM2UEja_z4PVRibn3LczHnxFoVm0sZt4zM8VJHrIy3ZV0nMITmqJcmJVk2uf68qDkroDXcB8tXmp_7Dj0IKIeA/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE00nkaIRfUHsC_s6bdcOkpfQbk-UYksE0jDip51bq_J2eaa6WNANpOzM2UEja_z4PVRibn3LczHnxFoVm0sZt4zM8VJHrIy3ZV0nMITmqJcmJVk2uf68qDkroDXcB8tXmp_7Dj0IKIeA/s320/IMG_5342.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I wanted to express the thoughts of Hope, Believe and, especially, Faith. So, using charms and green fire polished glass that matched the keyhole on the piece, I made dangles in various lengths and metal colors by threading each component on a head pin and making loops to connect them. I added a short chain to hang it with, hoping he could have it by his bed to see every day and know that his friends and family think of him and are praying for recovery. Gay told me they hung it on a lamp where he can see it.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, even the things we consider mistakes at first can still be given important roles to play!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">PS--Gay set up a page for her dad on a website called <a href="http://caringbridge.org/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13;">Caringbridge.org</span></a>. It’s an online journal for people facing health challenges. Gay and her mom are able to write about Arthur’s progress and challenges and readers can send words of encouragement in the guestbook feature. If you know anyone who could use that type of site, please pass this on!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #351c75;">What</span> You <span style="color: #351c75;">Love</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchick.etsy.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4516466723644721396.post-54421199770817674162011-12-04T10:49:00.000-08:002011-12-04T10:49:39.861-08:00Why You Won’t See Me on Project Accessory<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I love Project Runway. I think I’ll enjoy Project Runway Allstars, too. But you won’t see me on them because I’m not a seamstress.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I like Project Accessory. The best thing about it is their workroom. I think most of us creatives watching lust after that work space, filled with all the tools and materials our little hearts desire, including a wall of Swarovski crystal components (ooo, sorry, I just drooled!).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzlbWijkaNH9-aYgRti-04lyOMmW8I2aK0gZBmaPSPOuY5FQaEwAabZg6ZeU9SZrMHuKMPCJhTZjNXxdecjEfTWSb7C35FLLOop9Ec5H1weNKOJ_o2OCzHSVUzvKQXci7GxXyFbwCTKE/s1600/pa+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzlbWijkaNH9-aYgRti-04lyOMmW8I2aK0gZBmaPSPOuY5FQaEwAabZg6ZeU9SZrMHuKMPCJhTZjNXxdecjEfTWSb7C35FLLOop9Ec5H1weNKOJ_o2OCzHSVUzvKQXci7GxXyFbwCTKE/s320/pa+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nina, with tools and The Wall behind her<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Now, I know Project Runway throws crazy challenges at their designers, like using only things found in a pet shop to create a garment. But in the end, it all comes down to sewing. They may have to step out of their comfort zone to make a gown if their specialty is sportswear but the basic skill is still sewing.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">On any given Project Accessory episode, the designers could be asked to make jewelry, purses, hats, belts, etc. Or shoes. Shoes?!? The first week they were asked to make a pair of shoes, it was painful to watch the models hobble down the runway. It takes a much different skill set to make a shoe than it does a necklace. And probably years to perfect your understanding of the physics and techniques required to create a beautiful, sturdy high heel. Watch the movie Kinky Boots if you don’t believe me. I don’t know that I would have trusted a 4” heel made by someone who had never made a shoe before, either.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47_RFIaehsFBkIUScIln41EDJJA_ZABCdJTQ-WWS_r1c5KhjSohrHgMlg8tj1D52OCsemB8ZFTvPldXdzeZVNa3TnvgXRiJdk2ZyJWfOw87H2dDkSfXhoZ3W_-8F9-N0MvIw3Lw0dZMM/s1600/pa+shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47_RFIaehsFBkIUScIln41EDJJA_ZABCdJTQ-WWS_r1c5KhjSohrHgMlg8tj1D52OCsemB8ZFTvPldXdzeZVNa3TnvgXRiJdk2ZyJWfOw87H2dDkSfXhoZ3W_-8F9-N0MvIw3Lw0dZMM/s320/pa+shoe.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The scariest shoes<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Aside from issues of safety, watching designers trying to make things they’ve never attempted before is weird and uncomfortable. I mean, it’s enough of a challenge to see a jewelry artist try to design a necklace from bed springs but to see a jewelry artist trying to make a leather purse… I’d like to know what the application process was for this show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Some of the designers are fairly well rounded in their skills and present interesting pieces for most challenges. But it seems to me that the majority of the designers specialize and consequently struggle with the pieces they have to create outside their forte which make for uninteresting runway looks. I’m hoping that next season, they’ll pick more all around handy folks who can work with varied techniques at higher skill levels.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ4eAUh9FOs4yBw6xgFtfSVJ7lqyvDullpw79Tl4DoXvVZ1RVAhq2sejf99orj26pAQ4dJqK4OiJG8oXlOXbA8VRjbOrUkirxmpJPOpANbGzUrKH0ZuN1cP3v_AKocaIjb1xHY9llrms/s1600/pa+purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJ4eAUh9FOs4yBw6xgFtfSVJ7lqyvDullpw79Tl4DoXvVZ1RVAhq2sejf99orj26pAQ4dJqK4OiJG8oXlOXbA8VRjbOrUkirxmpJPOpANbGzUrKH0ZuN1cP3v_AKocaIjb1xHY9llrms/s320/pa+purse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Diego at work, designing a bag for his client</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And that’s why you won’t see me on Project Accessory. Build a pair of shoes?! Sew a leather gusseted purse? Create a hat? Wouldn’t have the first clue where to start. But I really admire Brian Burkhardt and Diego Rocha, who seem to be able to not only meet each challenge with well designed and executed pieces but, Brian especially is able to weave his own modern Tribal style into all of his work. I’m officially predicting that Brian will be the last designer standing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbjB_uJotfxXwLcgJUuXVxd6I56GsE68uugLDpUzqdsF2ZkoaA2tq49_zyFJsodSm025Pz6_oMAy-5UwHSOK10p98CHfkPYYRYX6td8TwF-hh1LOchddimuzIQt0MrkjDhpmdWDyFlpQ/s1600/pa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbjB_uJotfxXwLcgJUuXVxd6I56GsE68uugLDpUzqdsF2ZkoaA2tq49_zyFJsodSm025Pz6_oMAy-5UwHSOK10p98CHfkPYYRYX6td8TwF-hh1LOchddimuzIQt0MrkjDhpmdWDyFlpQ/s320/pa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Brian's most recent challenge results. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So, are you Project Accessory contestant material? Could you create a head to toe look with so many varied skills and put your personality into each piece?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do <span style="color: #38761d;">What</span> You<span style="color: #38761d;"> Love</span>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/">http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/</a></span></div>Bear Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062085082202834449noreply@blogger.com1