Rainfall Necklace

Actually, this is a new version of a previous design. This style of necklace, with a bold graphic in wire hung from tubing on a thin black cord, is something that I really enjoy creating. I love the clean, modern line. Modern, but also somewhat tribal. Really appeals. I've done others of these and there will be more in the future. The response to them has been very positive, which is even further encouragement to continue making them! I currently have another design in stock, but don't yet have a photo of it. This particular piece, Rainfall Necklace, is currently available in my Etsy shop.

Valerie Earrings

I love when my customers suggest something that's a great idea that didn't necessarily occur to me. I created a necklace that used these elongated riveted loop elements with a bead as part of the chain. The customer asked if I make earrings like that. *doh!* Well, I do now! I currently have them available with three different beads: a warm, orangy red aventurine, a cool green aventurine and sweet yellow jade (see photo). I've oxidized the loop, then tumbled it for a nice gun-metal grey. The earwires wrap around the top. A design that I'd like to think is sort of unique. I call them Valerie Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Miracle Whip Facial

No, this isn't some weird sexual proclivity. It is about actually giving yourself a skin treatment with something you might have in your fridge right now.

I've never had what would be considered good skin. Because of this I never gave much thought to skin care as it didn't seem to matter or make a difference. I also grew up in Miami where we spent hours out in the sun. These two things have me, at this late date, trying to make up for lost time. *cut to shot of Judi going down drugstore aisles dumping loads of expensive creams and such into basket* Various and sundry products have yielded various and sundry results. One of the things I have found that does work (for me) is not found in the drugstore, but the grocery store. Online I found out about using Kraft Miracle Whip as a peel. I read that facial peels are a good way to help renew dull, tired, damaged skin. Spa peels are very expensive and I couldn't see myself spending that kind of money on my skin. I was willing, however, to drop a few bucks on a jar of Miracle Whip (uh, no, there wasn't one already in the house...). Even if I just tried it once and it didn't work or I didn't like it, it wasn't a big deal.

Here's how it works: you slather a thin layer of the stuff all over your face (and on your neck if you want) and leave it on for 10 - 15 minutes. The vinegar acts as a peel and the mayo part acts as moisturizer. After time is up, you rub your face with your fingertips and you'll see the skin balling up. It's amazing! I tend to use this just before I step into a shower where I wash the rest off, and then, because the mayo is a bit much for me, I gently wash with Noxema (my normal face wash).

The pros: this stuff works great for me! My skin feels wonderful. It seems to be smoothing some of the little wrinkles and evening out the tone. And, since it's only a few dollars and there are lots of applications in each jar, it's a great value (and is more effective for me than the expensive stuff).

The cons: well, frankly, Miracle Whip stinks. Smear it all over your face and the smell can be overwhelming. I can actually deal with the smell, but the vinegar fumes make my eyes water. For the 10 minutes, I either fan myself, walk around, open a window, or deal with it. It also leaves my skin quite red for an hour or so after use, so I don't use it if I'm leaving the house right after my shower. It's recommended to avoid sun exposure after use (of any peel) because you've just removed a layer of skin and you're susceptible to burning and sun damage.

There are other "from the kitchen" skin treatments I've read about - honey, plain yogurt - that you can Google to learn more about too. And that's today's Beauty Tips With Judi!

Chicken Butt Fresh

While I was out and about yesterday, I was driving by my neighbor Frank's house. He was sitting outside, so I stopped to say hello. Frank is just shy of 91 and is as sharp and sprightly as any 30 year old. I first met him through my daily forays to the dog park where he goes to chat and let his big dog, Herkie (short for Hercules) run around - both Frank and Herkie are the respective human and dog mayors of the dog park. I hadn't seen either of them since Kana died back in February and I stopped going to the park. Dr. Frank, professor emeritus of psychology at PSU, knows something about everything, can chat about anything and has led an incredibly interesting life. Considering some of the things he's been through and seen (like concentration camps) he's got an intensely positive outlook about it all. It's always entertaining to hang out a bit with Frank.

Last year, Frank decided to get himself a few chicks to keep in his backyard and the dog park folks got almost daily updates on the growth and progress of the chickens. Yesterday, I inquired about the girls and Frank took me in back to have a look. They are huge and beautiful and Frank seems very proud. I was gifted with three chicken-butt-fresh eggs taken right out from under them. How lucky can a girl get?

Starry Night Necklace

A new design that's actually an old design. The original (which has already been sold) was something I made and it sat and sat on my bench. On one recent foray into bench cleaning, it got put in the "I've got to do something with this" pile. I did. I finally cleaned it up, oxidized it, brushed it, tumbled it and put it on my table at the Saturday Market. It sold the first day out. Seems people really like things like moon and stars (and hearts and suns and stuff like that). So I made more. Here's the Starry Night Necklace, available in my Etsy shop and on my table at the Saturday Market.

Bottle Redhead

Bought the fixins yesterday to make me a coppery redhead today.

Could be a stunning transformation.

Could be scary.

Today's Reality Check

"Shack attack: A couple confronts a demolition crewman before he tears down their shanty home in Las Pinas, Philippines. Hundreds of residents fought police and demolition workers as their slum homes were bulldozed to make way for a subdivision expansion."

Today's Reality Check: New Iraqi Orphan

"Lil' survivor: A bomb that blew up the car this baby boy was riding in killed his parents and brother in a Shiite district of Baghdad. He was found in his mother's arms." More information on this story - one of many daily tragedies in Iraq - can be found here.

The Afternoon Vacation

Yesterday, I decided to take a half a day off. After dropping a couple of orders off at the post office, I drove out to Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. Although I really want to take a (at least) week-long vacation, this seemed like the next best thing on a stunning warm, sunny April afternoon. I haven't lived this far from a coast in many, many years and when I got to the beach - it's about an hour and a half drive from Portland - I realized how much I miss the ocean. I rolled up my pant cuffs and took a long slow stroll down the beach. With the sand between my toes and the tide lapping at my ankles, I stopped to pick up the treasures (in the photo above) as I went. When I got to Haystack Rock, I spent some time checking out the tide pools, spotting the biggest starfish I've ever seen, the neon green anemones, and some little crabbies. Hypnotized by the relentless roar of the waves, I sat down and watched the sunset. It was a lovely afternoon that helped refresh my spirit and I hope to be doing it more.

Festival Carnelian Earrings

Brand new! Bezel set 8mm carnelians are the focus of these fun danglies. I'm liking this design and may expand it to necklaces. Guess I'm just partial to curly things...






I call them Festival Carnelian Earrings and they are available in my Etsy shop.

Cousin Selma

My mother's cousin, Selma, was my favorite relative. A life-long New Yorker, Selma could tell you about most anything in The City. She was a businesswoman before there were such things. Selma was quick to laugh, loved museums and theatre, visiting her many friends and a good Bloody Mary at cocktail hour. She didn't like the subway, preferring to walk or ride the bus so she could see where she was. She lived in Manhattan on the 26th floor of a big apartment building where we would sit on the balcony and chat, her telling me stories about the people and the buildings. Selma died in November 2007 at the age of 93, an incredibly lively and intelligent woman to the end. I recently received a box of the pictures that were in her apartment - for some reason I was the only one who wanted them. The above treasure is Selma as a baby (I'm guessing from 1916 or so). Although I only knew her as an older woman, I recognized the expression and gesture of my favorite cousin immediately.

Rules for Apartment Living

• If you can hear me, I can hear you too.
• If the water pressure in the shower changes dramatically, quickly step out of the flow of water. It’s about to get really hot or really cold.
• If you don’t want me touching your clothes, remove them from the washer or dryer within a reasonable amount of time, then I don’t have to.
• You’re friends screaming up to you in your apartment is never really cute. Particularly after, say, midnight.
• Smoking outside is cool. Smoking outside of my apartment is not.
• Saying hello if we pass is ok. I live here too, I’m your neighbor. Hell, we could even chat!
• If you have an “issue” with me, it would be helpful if you approached me about it first before going to the management. I’m fairly reasonable.
• If you’re posting lists of rules for apartment living on your blog, it’s time to seriously consider finding someplace new to live.

(probably to be continued...)