Monday, January 14, 2013

The Making of a Tourmaline Necklace

Sometimes I like to make super simple pieces of jewelry - because, really, simple is classic. But then I get a bug to make something a little more complicated. Although this isn't complicated in execution as far as technique it is multi-stepped and time consuming.

I have these teenie tiny multi colored Tourmaline stones and they look amazing when put together in a fading color change pattern. In my infinite wisdom I decided it would be "fun" (hahahaha) to hand wire wrap each and every stone onto a sterling head pin and sterling chain. Phew.

So here are the steps I went through...over the course of three or four hour (I lost track of time).


Starting with one inch sterling silver headpins - these are the smallest headpins out there.

The pile of Tourmaline stones that didn't make the cut...mostly because their drilled holes were too small to fit on the headpins! 


Lining up by shade the "winning" stones.


It's "simple" but super time consuming. And by the end of the wire wrapping my hands were starting to ache.

But I think the effort was worth it...final result:




 What do you think?

Friday, January 4, 2013

Jewelry Supply Shop Reopened

Several years ago I opened up another shop on Etsy for selling gemstones and findings. I closed it down after Marshal was born so it's been kind of quiet for the last few years.

Now, with all my excess stock building back up, I re-opened it! CASTO GEMSTONES

If you or someone you know makes jewelry let them know about my shop. I am not a wholesaler or person who is doing this full time. The items in my shop are excess supplies that are just sitting in my stock pile doing nothing.

Generally though I've been able to get some great deals and I'm passing those on.

Also, I've got some of my grandparents jewelry supplies (cabs, raw stone) that I am not going to use. The cabs are over 30 years old at this point and really pretty.
Some of grandma and grandpa's gorgeous Picture Jasper.

Hopefully I'll be able to get some of my excess stock out of the house before the new baby comes!!!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Attention Coffee Drinkers - Coupons for Creamer

Find your favorite creamer on sale and pair it with a coupon to get the best deal...even better if you can find a store coupon, a sale, and one of these coupons.


$1.00 off when you buy any 3 NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid Creamers



$1.00 off when you buy any TWO COFFEE-MATE® NATURAL BLISS™ coffee creamers


A New Year of Firsts - First Day of School

Marshal had his very first day of school today. I was quite unemotional about the whole thing...mainly just excited for him and wanting it to be a great experience. I'm pretty sure hubby was more emotional overall.

And overall it went great. He was super clingy to daddy when we got there and wanted to be carried everywhere.

All kids, even the three year olds, have to "sign" in with their name...in pre-school you just have to trace over the letters of your name. Marshal traced over his M (a little shakily) and didn't want to do more but I was proud of him for doing at least one letter.

He got his own hook for his bag and coat and hung up his own stuff before going into his new classroom.

Not sure why these photos are sideways...darn Blogger.
The class is small - just six other students, he makes seven. And there are two teachers. Lots of personal attention which is great for him since he's so used to being the center of the universe.

He will go to school two days a week from 8:30 to 11:15 so it's not like he's getting dumped into an institution all week (yet). And he seems to have really enjoyed it. His teachers said he did a great job and even went told them when he had to go potty (one of my major concerns!). They said it was pretty obvious he wasn't used to sitting still in that kind of environment but that he always asked to get up and was very polite. *Proud Mommy Moment*

We went out to lunch afterwards (he asked to go to a restaurant and go inside...not drive through...he's so specific) and I reminded him that we weren't going to do that every time after school. But since it was his first day we figured it'd be a nice treat.

It boggles my mind that just over three years ago he was just a little tiny thing and now he's starting school.