Chit Chatting into February - Chatty Metalsmiths Monthly Chat Thread

[#1]

Hey all - welcome! The more the merrier 'round these parts - we don't bite! Please just keep the rules in mind ( no calling out, play nice etc etc)

Who are we? Wanna be on the list? Click on "Discussions" and find the thread that says "Introduce Yourself" and follow the instructions there. Not on the list? It's because you haven't added your name!

AbellaBlue = Jessica
AHeronDesign=Anna
aimeepawluk = Aimee
ajjewelrydesigns = Angela
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlegriaDesigns = Marina
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
AmyEstelleMetalworks = Amy
anidem = Jesse
AnnealedHeart= Amanda
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
BrazinHussyStudio = Carol
BrendasBeadsandMore = Brenda
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
BurlapBudda=Jen K.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
coldfeetstudio = Deborah
corybethy = Cory
craftysou = Soula
cutforyou = Keith Cler
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DeesumDesigns= Molly
DeirdreCunningham = Deirdre
Dharlee = Dharlee aka Debbie
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
DragonflyDreamers=Wendy
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
Emerald Eyes Jewelry = Angela
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FlaviaBennettDesigns = Flavia
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
gailwilliamsjewelry=gail
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
happyment = Rasa
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
HappyTurtleDesigns = Ken
Hartleystudio = Ann
Hellfire Workshop= Michael
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
InstantArtifact = Ashley
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JaneDeaux = Gabby
JaneDeauxDeLuxe = Gabby
JazznJewelry = Kathy
jdwoody=James
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrybysala= Lori
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
JooniJewelry = Yoko
Juliekirkjewellery = Julie
JudithGayleDesigns= Judy
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
KateCalcottDesigns = Kate
KBerlinMetalsmith = Berlin
KellyDesignStudios = Kelly
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KipkalinkaJewels= Christine
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LaraLewis = Lara
LauraRoberson= Laura
lavomatique = elizabeth
LCarlsonJewelry = Liesl
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
LjBjewelry=Laura Jane
LilyEmmeJewelry = Valerie
litapsilverj = Lita
Littlecherryhill = Emma
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
Loveinatangle=Nance
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
madstarsilver = Marilyn
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
MariTStudio = Marina
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MetalAdornments = MorganRae
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
MoMoMetals = Mo
MostlyStoneware = Kathy
mizgeorge = george
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OiseauMetalArts= Damon
Oldetownsmithy= Roy Dunn
oller13= Vegas
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
panterapens = Matthew
Pinkcoyotejewelry=Lee
Ppennee = Pennee
Prox = Jen
PureDichotomy = Wendy
Quite Clever Jewelry = E.B.
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
RI Beach Jewelry = Paula
Ristra Ranch = Vanessa
rmddesigns = Rachel
rockaholic=Peggy
RyanQuantzStudios=Ryan
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
SeaglassReinvented = Korie
Seek2sustain = Francesca and Claudette
Senobar=Senobar
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
SilverspotMetalworks = Jessee J. Smith
SimpleDesignJewelry=Lisa
slathered = Sharon
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
SweetOliveJewelry = Amy
SylviaAnderson= Sylvia Anderson
Taitaya= Marleena
Tattooedgrannysgoods = Joni
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSilverExperience = Beth
TheSilverPearl = Mary Anne
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
TeklasTreasures = Kyra
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TuHu=Donna
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UnionStudioMetals= Michelle & Margarett
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
WiredHeArtJewelry = Misty
wpcardenas= Wanda
xekebcustomsilver = Victoria
Zenamels = Julie
10Fold = Erica
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina

[PureDichotomy]

yes... itchy im sure. but he's a dog. hes always itchy. and always stinky. but I love him for some stupid reason.

[cgwhitfield]

Sue, just boil a bit of water, drop in coffee, off the heat and let it sit for a bit. If you're fussy, pour it through a coffee filter. Presto, caffeine.

[SToNZ]

I feel the same way about my aged sticky poop machine.

[SToNZ]

Or gulp down a cup of strong tea before getting behind the wheel to head to Starbucks.

<-- decides to stay off Toledo roads this morning

[SToNZ]

I have decided today is tax day.
Fun times.

[Former_Member]

If a meteorologist says 90% chance of rain and it doesn't rain, that does NOT mean the meteorologist was wrong.

To measure the meteorologist's accuracy, you have to track results over time. For example, if he (or she) says 90% chance of rain 10 times, and on 9 of them it rains and on one it does not, then that's perfect accuracy.

[PureDichotomy]

Yes Matthew, alas this is true. Unfortunately they botch the snow totals around here constantly. which is the difference between preparing to hunker down and wait for it to end so we can shovel and plow OR leave the house and not worry about it.

[khmetalwork]

Sue Szabo from lsueszabo says

here's my morning crisis. my coffee maker is broken. OMG. i can't even put on a pair of socks without coffee
-------------
that was me last week...

bought a new coffee maker and the old started working again, pfft.

[cgwhitfield]

Here, I'm at about in the middle between the two closest real weather reporting stations that are 100 miles apart. And in an area where coastal systems and continental systems often butt heads.

Quite accurate about 24 hours out, beyond that for the week they predict temps and precip %, it's an impossibilty although they give the same level of detail. I have low expectations of accuracy.

[PureDichotomy]

Me too. Im about equidistant from the White Mountains to my north, the Seashore to my east, the Connecticut River Valley to my west and Boston to my South. take your pick. My weather gets to me from any of those places at any time.

[SToNZ]

This is fun...glad to see our troops can have a little fun over there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H96-TwrwY7M

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

Morning everyone. Thank you all for the support. I was furious last night. I can handle the 2 barn shifts, she won't be there, and I don't have to correspond, so it all works out.

It is SNOWING here!!!! Like crazy! We have not had a snowfall all winter, so this is pretty nuts. Yesterday, it was in the upper 50s.

I am going to have to cancel with my instructor tonight because of the weather...but that means I get some studio time at home...yay! I have a couple of bracelets I want to finish, and I am working on a bracelet design out of one of the Lapidary Journal magazines to practice my fabrication skills. I think this design will morph into other designs, and I'm pretty excited about it. :) Funny though, I'm working on it with guidance from my instructor, so we are tweaking the steps a bit, lol.

[2TrickPony]

I keep a back up french press in case my coffee system breaks down, but I'm a little far from the nearest cafe.

good morning!

you've all heard about the 0 - 100 percent weather reports I get here. lol.
the White mountains sound like something out of Lord of the RIngs.

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

<=also had to run out for coffee this morning...Sue, I feel your pain.

[RistraRanch]

Hi Chrissi, I owned and managed a barn and a was a trainer for many years. What is it about horse people and drama?! I have my own theories, but regardless, hope you can survive your barn shifts with minimal discomfort and move on to better things. I've met the most wonderful people through my life in the horse world, but I've also met the worst...Making jewelry and being in my own little world is such a refreshing change from dealing with crazy horse people!

[2TrickPony]

I heard reports of snow in Arizona too. only 3 inches, but they're not used to it.

[lsueszabo]

good idea on the press rachel. although, i am just around the corner from civilization so it's not hard for me to get some. it's just a PITA.

[kimberlybelldesigns]

Good morning. I need to go for a run and I'm procrastinating.

We could just call Kim "the head hunter".

Sue, I hope you made it to Starbucks ok. That's a bad way to start the day.

I'm hoping for no more snow in the Northeast, Wendy. You all have had enough.

My friend talked me into going to her Melaleuca presentation last night. Has anyone here used their products? I don't like that you have to join and buy about $60 worth of products every month. They also do a scare tactic telling you that all your major brand cleaning products are hazardous. I think I'm going to tell her it's not for me.

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

Grandabon--I'm not sure what it is about crazy horse people either. This is a long-standing relationship...I boarded with her for over 10 years. She is also a flight nurse, and the nights she works 24 hour shifts, are the nights I do the barn for her...it has now morphed into taking on shifts whenever she is out of town, and she has really abused my generosity and then tries to guilt me into taking on more and more, so that she can take off on whatever trip she wants to go on. She has a difficult personality anyway, and after so long, I need the change. The move was more about my growth and development...but she can't let go, and she is not someone you can easily talk to. I tried on many levels, using all sorts of tactics, from talking in person, to voicemail, to text, to email and finally handwritten...it's just been a mess.

The new barn is wonderful. Fantastic level of care, extremely nice people, and just a breath of fresh air. Everyone has been very welcoming, and it's the first place I have ever boarded where I just felt at peace and at home. The barn owner there has given me a report every morning on how the horses are settling in, and everything has been so easy. It's quite the contrast.

Oh Kim, I'm sorry you had to sit in on that. I knew a couple of people who sold Melaleuca...it's a strange company. The products are really good, but the company is just weird. I definitely can't stand the whole pyramid marketing set-up. The only ones who win, are the super aggressive...not my style.

[Former_Member]

....and now I want Starbucks

:)

[Former_Member]

I guess I could make some tea here at work though... Earl Grey

What kinds of tea do you guys drink? I want to explore

[kimberlybelldesigns]

Hi Cory. I usually drink green tea and at Christmas time Stash has an herbal tea called Christmas Eve that I love. I always stock up when I see it. I like Earl Grey too.

Chrissi, I also worry that after I sign up it will be hard to cancel the membership. You have to send in a form by mail. I envision the "we never got your form." response. I don't see how I will save money if I'm buying stuff I don't need to satisfy their monthly minimum.

[Former_Member]

Kim, I have heard green tea is good for you but it has a strange afterflavor for me :/ I will go and sniff the Christmas Eve and see what I think. Thanks!

I have just started getting into tea because 1. I love caffeine and 2. it's a good excuse to eat the honey that my parents harvest :D

[cgwhitfield]

Hi, Cory. I'm no help in the tea department.

I'll drink it to be polite, but with every sip I'm wishing it were coffee.

[ChrissiLynnDesigns]

I can totally see that too, Kim. I am trying to remember how difficult it was for my friend to leave. I vaguely remember her having some difficulties leaving them.

It is very much a hot tea kindof day here. The snow is still coming down! I'm a little concerned on how I'm going to get home tonight.