shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
Every time I try to get to my LJ page, I keep getting some adds taking me to fill out a survey that I DON'T WANT TO FILL OUT!!!

Cripe!

Ridiculous. Totally ridiculous. No wonder everyone's coming to DW
shalyn: (pic#320753)
Well, I took the plunge and listed some items on etsy. My Shop

I hope to get some bites.  If anyone has any ideas on how I can make my descriptions better, please, chime in.  Honestly, I totally embrace constructive criticism.

I'm really enjoying the heck out of what I'm doing, but am running out of room for all this stuff!  Which is why I'd like to sell some of it.

Actually - I'm also hoping that my embroidery designs will sell.  I'm going to finish the Zodiac, then start in on other constellations.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to find this type of picture for constellations?  Yeesh!  You'd think they'd be a dime a dozen, but nooooo.  I've spent hours looking for good constellation pictures!

So anyway - criticize away.  And ideas! I'd love ideas!

(And any artists out there - while I'm still at my 'simple design' education, if you'd like me to attempt to digitize any of your designs, I can try!)

shalyn: (pic#320753)
I give you a new online magazine:




This is the brain child of one of my dear LJ friends - [personal profile] aranel13 She's always in search of articles, advertisers, and, of course, subscribers.

Go. Look. Love.
shalyn: (pic#320753)
I've made a whole slew of little pouches, and am now doing the finishing touches, by adding the cord, and beads on the end, and still need to take pictures.

ExpandTrials and devastations of being crafty )

I'm thinking that maybe it's not all that because the design is so plain - that something else, with more 'ooomph!' to it, will work better.

I'm eager to hear any and all opinions on this.  One of my thoughts is to make the outer 'ring' square - it might convert better.

shalyn: (pic#131030)
Well, I broke down and bought the PED Basic software and card reader/copier thingamajiggie.  Last Sunday I spent the whole day downloading free Embroidery patterns.

I also purchased Embroidery Magic 2, so I could create my own patterns.  It works pretty well, but is pretty manual.  You paste your picture on a grid, then start coloring in to place the stitches.  Kind of annoying - I want EASY.  But the software to just convert a graphic to an embroidery pattern runs $1000-3500 from the few I've looked at.

I'll do my own for now, thankyouverymuch.

I've created two patterns - I haven't embroidered them yet.  Almost afraid to!

So, meanwhile, I created two more button-down cases with belt loop thingies, and two pouches.  Contemplating sending those with the beaded dragons to Cavaticat so I can get some opinions.

ExpandSo, wanna see? )
I actually like the pouches better.  I wanted to put snaps on the cases this time, but couldn't find my snaps.  Since brownkitty didn't care for the buttons, I was going to try something else.  Since I plan on selling these, and since they don't *have* to be used for Tarot Cards, I wanted some way to fasten them.

My next trick will be making a large bag - the bag will hold the Tarot book (some decks come with a manual!), and will have a built-in pocket (I hope) for the deck.  Also, if I can figure out a good cloth design, it would fit in there too.

So - what do y'all think this time 'round?

(BTW - those lines are tailor's chalk that I still need to brush off.


shalyn: (pic#131000)
Christopher.  Gave me quite the scare today - I honestly thought I was going to have to put him down.

On Saturday, sometime, Christopher started throwing up a bit.  Gagging, then puking.  But he only did it a couple times, then seemed fine - he wasn't acting sick, but he was all over me this weekend.  I just figured he was making up for when I was up in Cleveland.

Well, last night I gave the kitties their treats before I went to bed.  Christopher began eating his, then immediately threw them up.  And he was all snuggly with me.  I thought it was a return of the crystals - back in...2004? 2005?  we shelled out about $1100 because he had crystals in his urinary tract, and ended up with the kitty equivalent of a sex change operation.

Russ told me that if he required major surgery again...put him down.  On the one hand - yeah, I understand that you can't continue to dish out money on pets.  On the other - he's my baby!  For most of today, I was trying to think of ways to come up with money so I could get him taken care of.

So, I had a 3:50 dental appointment today, so made a 5:00 vet appointment.  Actually made it with five minutes to spare.  (sidebar: you know a song is long when you get home and it has just started playing.  You run in the house, retrieve cat & carrier, run back out with cat, hightail it to the vet, and same song is still playing.  Don McLean's American Pie, in case you're interested.)

Back on topic...Vet took temperature, felt his tummy and said bladder was fine, eyes looked clear, no problems whatsoever that she could see, so her last act was to look in his mouth.

HE HAD A FUCKING NEEDLE STUCK IN THE ROOF OF HIS MOUTH!

It was lengthwise, the eye hitting about where the gag reflex starts.  No wonder he was gagging!  I actually stepped forward to get the needle out, then stopped.  I mean, hell, that's what I'm paying the vet for, isn't it?

A needle.  Sewing needle.  With thread still attached.  She was concerned that there was more thread, but the thread was doubled and knotted, and the knot was still on the end.

But a needle.  *headdesk*  I try to clean up after myself when I'm done sewing, but obviously missed this one.

On the one hand...stupid cat.

On the other - thank every deity out there that he's OK.  $128.50 worth of OK, but still, OK.

*faints*


shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
I need some opinions.  Any and all are welcome.

A few months ago I joined a Tarot reading group, to learn more about Tarot cards and other divination cards.  One of the things that people were talking about were making bags for their cards, and since I just got that nice new sewing machine, and was tired of making bookcovers, I thought I would try bags.

I've made several bags now, and like the way they have been turning out, for the most part.
ExpandCut for Picture Overload )

I have finally signed up on Etsy...now, need to know whether this stuff is worth posting or not.  I see there are other people who sell Tarot bags, which is why I was thinking of posting a couple of these.  I'm also going to be getting the software to download more pictures for my embroidery machine.  And the Embroidery Artist so I can transfer other pictures and make them into pictures for my embroidery machine!

I totally welcome constructive criticism. If you want to tell me they suck, that's fine. Just please, tell me *why* they suck!
shalyn: (pic#320753)
No. Not me.  Dammit.

Cat asked me for a beaded dragon or two.  One is finished, the second about 1/3 of the way done.  (Don't worry, Cat, I'll have them to you in time.)

I've been wanting to use these beads that are a marble-y pink.  For a "Breast Cancer Awareness" dragon.  I also changed the design of the legs, and like these much, much better.

The flash kind of washed out the pink a bit, gut it is fairly light pink anyway.








See? New legs!

The other one is going to be blue and gold.

I'm debating on putting a darker pink Breast Cancer ribbon on this one.

shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
Man. The days were both exhausting and exhilarating. 

Saturday we got to Russ' parents' house at about 4:00.  I spent a little time there, then left him there and headed to my sister's.  Had a cookout, had a blast with the whole family - Sister, BIL & Kids, brother, and Mom.  Then went back to the in-laws' place, because that BIL and I were going to a flea market in Litchfield.

Flea market was fun - spent about $20.  Oh - julietvalcouer - I bought a Breyer Horse set of Flicka and Foal from the most recent movie.  Interested?

Also got the cutest brass devil!  I need to take a picture of it.  Some rocks that I now need to find out what they are, but they're pretty cool.  So I like rocks. So sue me!

Afterward, spent about a minute with the in-laws then went back to Holly's.  She and Mom were at the fairgrounds setting up for the fair, so I went and helped.  OMG I haven't sweated so much in forever.

We all went to Mad Cactus for dinner, since we were too tired to do anything else.  The kids were at their other grandparents' house - they spend Sunday nights with the paternal grandparents.

Monday morning Holly gets a call from Wal-Mart.  She had ordered 100 pies from them for the pie-eating contest on Wednesday.  Not big pies, those little personal pies that are about the same size as a pot-pie.  Well - some doofus dingbat at Wally World decided that the sign on the boxes of pies that said "Reserved for Holly", really meant that they should get put out on the floor for sale.  Because, you know, when a sign saying that pies are a special order really means that they should be sold ASAP.  Of course the only other Wally World that had 100 pies was in Oberlin.  NOT a store closer, where we had people we could get to go get them.  And of course the cashier at the Oberlin store had no clue how to ring up 1x100, and instead had to ring them up one by one.  And of course she hits the enter key so many times that she rings up 114 instead of 100.  And of course no managers were around.

I just went and got 14 more pies.  We'd already wasted enough time.  Holly, at this point, is never going to Wal-Mart again.  Since I've got my own personal Kmart boycott going, and she's got her own personal Wal-Mart boycott going, I guess that Target is the only place left?  The only good thing about that trip was we got a front row parking space.

The rest of Monday went fine though.  Went to the fairgrounds again, and worked. Hard.  It was fun.  It rained...poured, actually...but that's normal for Cuyahoga County Fair opening day.  At least it cooled down some.

The kids - Alyssa and Matthew - came with their dad around 4:30.  Matthew was so excited, because he was going to the Demolition Derby that night.  It was just so cute to see his excitement, and he was having quality time with Daddy!  Alyssa stayed with us, and had to go to see the animals several thousand times that night.

Tuesday I did running around to get stuff for the fair - and myself.  Snyders of Berlin has the BEST cheese puffs, and we don't get them in Kentucky!  So I had to get a few.  Plus some Stella D'Oro cookies.  And Bugles, though now I'm not sure - we may get those here.  Then worked again at the Fair, with getting stuff together and writing up stuff for the gift baskets that were being raffled off this coming Saturday.  Then went out to dinner with a couple of very good friends...and I SO wanted to spend more time with them.  It was just so nice to see them again. 

However, during the day the princess my husband called, asking if we could leave Wednesday instead of Thursday.  So, even though I had planned on calling and seeing a few more people, I didn't.

We came home yesterday, and got here around 4:00.  However, my uncle is possibly coming to Cleveland (he lives in LA) in September sometime...so I have already decided I'm heading up there for a few days to see him, too.  And I'll remember to bring some business casual clothes so I can go to the office and visit one day. 

So now...home, and just realized we are down to our last sheet of toilet paper.  Guess that means I'd best get to the store!



shalyn: (pic#131025)
Got into town (my sister's house - Berea, a suburb of Cleveland,Ohio) last night about 5:00.  I'm already exhausted.  It also doesn't help that today was the hottest day of the summer so far up here.  Bleccch.  That's why I come home, to escape the heat.  Fat chance that!

In-laws got a kitten at Christmas.  She's locked in the basement.  They wonder why she's not all that friendly.  *sighs*  If I only had three cats, I'd take this one home.  But four is enough. Five would get me on the road to "crazy cat-lady"....unless I'm there allready!

Oh, by the way - hey, spellwight, I tried Strongbow last night.  That stuff is goooooood. 

Worked at the fair today - helped set up Junior Fair for the opening tomorrow.  Cuyahoga County Fair opens at 5:00.  Supposed to be another scorcher tomorrow, along with "chance of showers".  Of course, it does rain every year at the fair on opening day.

Need to make some phone calls tomorrow, so I can hook up with people.  I forgot to bring some business casual clothes though, so not sure if I can hit the office downtown or not.

Gotta love vacations.  Just so restful.  not.
shalyn: (pic#131000)
I'm starting to see this more and more often - fanfics, forums, what-have-you. Someone posts that they are going to see and elephant. They want to play and instrument. They want and apple.

Has anyone else noticed this horrific trend? It's starting to drive me just as nuts as there/they're/their and its/it's.
shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
All of you people out there wishing for rain? Your GPS off - it's all coming down here.

Take it. SRSLY.
shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
When someone emails you and says, "I've done , how do I fix it?", I suppose that saying, "Sucks to be you," is not a good answer?

Moronity

Jul. 31st, 2009 09:29 am
shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
You know - if you send an email to your...vendor? contractor? whatever-the-hell, and say, "I didn't get today's email with the reports, can you check to see if something's wrong,"...what kind of answer would you expect?

a. Non-committal "not our fault"
b. Non-committal "not our fault" + un-received reports
c. Any other answer + un-received reports.

I got A.

I would have been happy with B or C, but I got A. Now I need to write back and say..."Uh, moron, can I HAVE MY FUCKING REPORTS?!!11!1ELEVENTY-ONE"
shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
Have a time waster.

Soooo much fun! Sooooo funny.

Try it!

shalyn: (pic#131025)
Someone from the old GAFF (God Awful Fan Fiction) forum found me on LJ because I had joined the GAFF LJ community.

Several of the members got together and resurrected it! Here! *bounce*

They, naturally, are calling it "Why God Why?".

So, I thought that some of you might want to know.

shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
A while back I mentioned that I got a Rewards & Recognition from someone in my firm, which resulted in $150 in gift certificates...I chose Overstock.Com. (The places I *really* wanted weren't offered.)

After camping on 4th of July weekend, I was perusing O.Com and saw that I had a 7.4% discount on whatever I purchased. Well, I wanted this, which was $309 at O.Com.  With the 7.4% "coupon", it was another $23 off. 

End price = $140.

They said something like 2 weeks shipping.  I ordered it Monday, July 6.  It was at my apartment complex office Thursday, July 8.

Played with it today.  Hubby's saying I should get the PED software that goes with it.  (This is another $100, but it's a programmable data card that I can download pics off of the internet to embroider.  Which means I'd be able to really customize things!)

It's so much FUN!  OK, so I've embroidered one thing.  But still!

Now I'll be embroidering up a storm!

shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
Home. Tired.  Thinking of all I want to say in this post.

*yawn*
shalyn: www.dragonchoice.com (Default)
Computer was allegedly stolen out of its box during shipping from our Depot to the field office it was going to.  I emailed the receiver in that office, asking for pictures of the box, and if it was damaged in any way.

His response?

The box arrived in tacked with no sign of damage and was sealed.
 

I think these guys in Milwaukee drink too much beer.