Birthday Party Time!

Carols' 3rd birthday is on the 21st, but we had his party today.

Grandma Thelma worked her decorating talents on this cute cake. Carlos requested a sheep on his cake this year.

When everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday, Carlos looked a little overwhelmed...

...but he soon adjusted to being the center of attention...

...and by the time the song was over, he was clapping enthusiastically.

Next came pinata time!

Whack it!

Candy!!! Toys!!!

Hope your day was as fun as ours. :-)

A couple of new rings

Larimar and recycled sterling silver ring, size 7

Chunky rutilated quartz ring, size 11.5

That was disappointing...

Well, I just finished watching Oprah. This is not my usual routine - I just tuned in because the vegan/animal rights community has been abuzz these past few days about the fact that Oprah would be doing a show today investigating the living conditions of the animals that become food for the majority of Americans. I had hoped that she would give some validation to the choice many of us have made to live as vegetarians and vegans, but unfortunately, the show amounted to nothing more than a romanticized portrayal of how great 'free range' farming is. Ugh.

Oprah also talked a lot about Proposition 2, which is coming up here in California for voters to decide in November. It would make living conditions for pregnant sows, veal calves, and laying hens ever-so-slightly better than they are now. I have mixed feelings about this bill, although I will ultimately vote 'yes.'

Well, this is complicated stuff and I could go on indefinitely, but I need to go wake Carlos up from his nap and take some dinner to Matt at the fire station, so maybe I'll think about elaborating later tonight and tomorrow...

More New Stuff

Chunky aquamarine & recycled sterling silver ring, size 8

Kyanite & recycled sterling silver ring
{ custom order; sold }

Labradorite & recycled sterling silver earrings for me :-)
(but I can make more if anyone else wants some!)

Dark pink tourmaline & recycled sterling silver ring, size 6.5

This is a big, chunky ring. The stone is really gorgeous in real life.

Forgot one...

I meant to include these in the overstock list I posted yesterday...

I have two of these fancy faceted smoky quartz cabs left. One is 17mm ($28) and the other is 15mm ($26). Email me if you'd like to purchase either or both.

OVERSTOCK!!!

I have come to the sad realization that I have waaaaay more cabs and stones on hand than I am ever going to get around to using, so I'm letting some of my private stock go at really good prices, including some pieces that are a lot higher-end than what I usually sell in my bead shop. I'm posting them here on my blog first, in hopes that some of you, my lovely customers and friends, will just email me about anything you're interested in, to help save me the time of listing every single thing on Etsy.

Vessonite cab, 15mm x 18mm, $18

Vessonite cab, 12mm x 16mm, $16

Pink tourmaline cabs, 10-11mm, $50 each

Pink tourmaline cabs, 11-12mm, $60 each

Carved pink tourmaline cab, 17mm, $28 {SOLD}

Nevada variscite cab, 20mm x 34mm, $44 {SOLD}

Califorina vesuvianite cab, 12mm x 14mm, $34

Mexican fire opal cab, 7.5mm x 9mm, $14 {SOLD}

Pietersite cab, 22mm x 33mm, $36

Pietersite cab, 19mm x 41mm, $32

Pietersite cab, 20mm x 40mm, $34

Blue pietersite cab, 16mm, $14 {SOLD}

Crazy lace agate cab, 28mm x 39mm, $12 {SOLD}

Druzy quartz, 10mm x 12mm, $15

Carved green tourmaline cabs, 11mm x 21mm, $48 (set of two)

Larimar cab, 13mm x 18mm, $10 {SOLD}

Lepidocrocite cabs, $32 (set of three) {SOLD}

Charoite cab, 16mm, $20 {SOLD}

Charoite cab, 14mm x 25mm, $16

Huge citrine cab, 17mm (11mm dome), $20 {SOLD}

Carved watermelon tourmaline cab, 18mm x 42mm, $80

Bi-color tourmaline cabs, 10mm x 22mm, $34 (set of two) {SOLD}

Bi-color tourmaline cab (mostly green), 13mm x 18mm, $12

Bi-color tourmaline cab, 11mm x 22mm, $12 {SOLD}

Bi-color tourmaline cab, 18mm x 24mm, $16 {SOLD}

Faceted Oregon sunstone gemstone, 5mm x 7mm, $8

Faceted Mexican fire opal gemstones, 4mm, $12 (set of five) {SOLD}

Enormous faceted amethyst gemstone, 14mm, $86

Another huge faceted amethyst gemstone, 14mm x 17mm, $68

Faceted aquamarine gemstone, 5mm, $32

Faceted California citrine gemstone, 8mm x 10mm, $32

Faceted Oregon sunstone gemstone, 6.5mm x 9.5mm, $12