Quote of the week

Someone on IMDb called this movie "comfort food" and that's just what it is. It is hilariously silly, nonsensical and to this day I tell people if I paid something for them "I want my two dollars!" which is really a quote in itself, but not the one I chose for today.

Lane is a typical teenager. He drives an old car, he's trying to get by, be one of the popular kids, and goes out with his girlfriend Beth. His enemies on the road are two guys who not only drive a faster car, but one of which also likes to announce this over big speakers on their car roof, talking like Howard Cosell.

Then Lane gets dumped by Beth and is devastated. He's on his way home when the two pull up next to him.

"Truly a sight to behold. A man, beaten. The once great champ, now a study in moppishness. No longer the victory-hungry stallion we've raced so many times before, but a pathetic, washed-up, aged ex-champion."
Lane puts his (slightly eccentric) racing gear on, yells "All right, let's go!"  ... and drives right into the car in front of him. If only he knew that is just the beginning ...

Better Off Dead, USA, 1985

Give me a pair of lampwork beads ...

... and I'll make you a pair of earrings. Give a whole bunch of artists a pair of lampwork beads each, you'll get some very different earrings.
That's what we found out when we had the lampwork earring challenge at the Jewelry Artisans Community.
Our very own Nicole from N Valentine Studio generously donated the lampwork beads which arrived in an incredibly short time, even from Canada to Germany and the UK!

And here's what we did with them.

Caroline, our Crafty Chimp, says she doesn't prefer her earrings to be too fancy. Nothing like a pair of danglies is what I say!

Our next member to finish her earrings was Michele from MCStoneworks. One of Michele's specialties is to use patinas on her beautiful pieces. To pick up the yellow from the beads, she turned the birdies yellow, too!

I started to get nervous, so I put in an extra shift ;-) I'll show you mine at the end, though.

Dawn from Jewelry Art by Dawn loved how there was blue on both sides of the beads, so she decided to try something else and turned them sideways. She also found the perfect matching lapis beads to go with them.

We are still waiting for two more members to post their earrings, but we don't want to be impatient. Do we? DO WE???
Nah, we are not pushy and I'll make sure that you get to see what they made, too.

And last, but hopefully not least these are my earrings.
I settled for fall colors and crocheted hoops from brown copper wire with a mix of seed beads.

If you are game, you'll find the whole thread about the challenge here. We'd be happy to welcome you in our community and if you are a jewelry artisan yourself, why don't you share your work with us?

Quote of the week

Sean and Claudia, an Irish-Italian couple who had to get married at an early age, lead a conventional life with their three kids in their house on Staten Island. Do they really?
Today's quote is from the time when Eddie, Sean's brother, who has loads of dark secrets decides to put up a yard sale ... at Sean's house.

Claudia's coming into the house holding a toaster.

Eddie: Ah Claudia, I see you're interested in the toaster.
Claudia: Yes, Eddie, I'm interested in the toaster because the toaster is mine!
Eddie: How often do you actually use that thing??
Claudia: Still got my toast in it!!

Little does she know that she'll have to run after her porch swing in a little while to buy it back ... 

Grounded For Life, USA, 2001 - 2005

Quote of the week

Today's quote is about .... love.

Sam's mum just died and his stepdad Daniel is worried about his behavior. Sitting on a bench together they get to the core of the problem.

Daniel: So, what's the problem, Samuel? Is it just Mum or is it something else, huh? Maybe school? Are you being bullied? Or is it something worse? Can you give me any clues at all? 
Sam: You really want to know?
Daniel: I really want to know.
Sam: Even though you won't be able to do anything to help?
Daniel: Even if that's the case, yeah.
Sam: Ok. Well ... truth is, actually ... I'm in love.
Daniel: Sorry?
Sam: I know I should be thinking about Mum and I am, but the truth is I'm in love. I was before she died and there's nothing I can do about it.
Daniel: Aren't you a bit young to be in love?
Sam: No.
Daniel: Ah, well. Ok, well ... I'm a little relieved.
Sam: Why?
Daniel: Because I thought it'd be something worse!
Sam: Worse than the total agony of being in love?
Daniel: Er ... No, you're right. Total agony.

Do you remember your first love?

Love actually, UK/USA/F, 2003

P.S. I was in a bit of a hurry - after all I have a new electronic thingy to hook up and I have to watch the latest movie with my favorite Indian actor -  and a very real cat tail on my keyboard didn't make it easy for me to write, but it was still better than trying to write with the whole cat on my shoulder. That's why you won't get a big intro this time.

Interview with the artist - Charlene from Char's Jewelry Box and Holiday Stocking Co.

It's really hard to think of holiday stockings at a temperature of 88° F, but today I want you to meet the lady behind the stockings and behind that pile of beads. All together now, say hi to Charlene.
 

Baby's first Christmas

Tell us a little about who you are and where you come from.

Ah, the dreaded question. Who am I? Well, I'm a work in progress, mom to 3 grown children, gramma of 3 awesome grandchildren age 6, 7 and 9, wife of a really super guy, and I am designer/creator of handmade one of a kind jewelry and holiday stockings.
Where am I from? Now that's a really long story, but I guess I could say New York as that's where I spent my early childhood. At the age of 14 we left there heading west, then north to Alaska, south to Arkansas, then back to Alaska. Currently I live in beautiful Oregon, the southern part about 100 miles north of California.

What's your craft/art and how did you get to it in the first place?

Lately and for the past 6 years I've been making jewelry which began out of what I felt was necessity when I worked for a well known bead company in the customer service call center. It made sense to me to know everything I could about jewelry making and supplies so that I could provide customers with the best answers to their questions. Having experiences in techniques as well as product knowledge would be helpful. I quickly became addicted to this art form which has helped me to relax, stay centered, be happy and give to others.

Asymmetrical copper seed bead earrings

I think this is one of the most asked questions - where does your inspiration come from?

There's no one specific area where my inspiration comes from. Sometimes it's a color or something in nature. Other times it's a song or sound I hear. Shapes often inspire me, too. It's pretty random, but one thing for certain is when the mood hits me I have got to go with it.

Tell us a fun thing about yourself.

Not sure if this would be considered fun for everyone, but I really like kid related movies. My all time favorite to date is "Despicable Me" which I have watched at least 40 times, mostly with my grandkids. They always ask to watch it when they come visit and I gladly oblige. I mean how could I possibly say no?
(Cat's Wire: No chance. I love that movie, too!)

Indigo blue Swarovski earrings

Do you do other crafts, if yes, what?

Yes, I also sew. For as long as I can remember I've had a knack for doing things with my hands. What I mean is I have a keen tactile sense. I love the feel of fabrics and the many things you can do with them. I began sewing as a child making doll clothes. Later on I made clothes for my kids, then on to stockings for the holidays and still do to this very day.

Which one of your pieces is your absolute favorite? Which one was the hardest to make and why?

Oh, I have so many favorites, it would be impossible for me to choose just one. The most difficult piece though is easy for me to say. That would be a wire wrap bracelet I made several months ago. It was my first attempt at something that is totally wire with each link having to be a specific size and shape. Connecting the links was a major challenge to me. The end result was really pretty, but I still need to work on the technique before I call it good. I took a photo of it dangling in a wine glass that had pink pearls in it, then posted it and got lots of positive feedback which was reassuring that I could accomplish a new skill.

Deep red howlite teardrop necklace

Is there someone whom you admire and who inspires you?

Not an attempt to garner any favoritism, Catrin, but I truly admire your work, and nearly every piece I've had the pleasure to view has really knocked my socks off! You inspire me and that's the truth.
(Cat's Wire: Please excuse me while I go hide my red head under a blanket ... thank you, Charlene!)

If you had free choice of just one supply you can use for your craft/art, what would you be dreaming of, no matter how expensive?

That's an easy one to answer, and it would be precious metal wire in different gauges and hardness, preferably gold.

Do you sell online, if yes, where can we find you?

I sell my jewelry online at Char's Jewelry Box on Zibbet and from my Facebook page when you message me. I also sell stockings online at Holiday Stocking Co. where I also have some of the jewelry and my husband's fine art paintings.

Buffalo Shield

Is there anything you feel you need or want to tell the world outside now?

Come visit my shops or any of the networks that I'm on, and please be sure to comment on my posts because feedback is always appreciated and helps me to grow.
I'd also like to thank you for this wonderful opportunity!

I want to thank Charlene for letting us get to know her a little more.
Be sure to check out her shops and have fun browsing!

Quote of the week

I wasn't a flower child myself, but being born in the mid-60s today's movie still gives me a flashback of my childhood. Who needs a believable story if they can have fun? Of course I rather do like roadmovies anyway, and I do love this movie.

1989. Hardcore FBI agent John Buckner is supposed to escort old hippie Huey Walker to jail for an offence from 20 years ago. Things do not quite go the way as they are planned. Huey escapes from the train in John's clothes, John ends up in jail and Huey gets himself abducted by two guys mourning the loss of the 60s because they think that he is the FBI man and want to exchange him for their hero.
When the two go down to the cellar where they keep him tied up, they agree on disguising their voices, so he won't recognize them from the bar where they met earlier ...

Barry (talking in a funny voice): We're gonna exchange you for Huey Walker.
Huey: I can't believe this. I've been abducted by the Vienna Boys' Choir!
Barry: Ah-ah, we're desperate men!
Huey (imitating Barry's voice): Well, you sound more like desperate women!
Barry (in a deep voice): Don't push it, buddy.

Flashback, USA, 1990