A New Day

I wish I could post something like:

It's a new day and I feel GREAT!!

That wouldn't be the truth. It IS a new day. And I do feel pretty good.

Definitely not GREAT - but 'good' and for sure better than the past couple of days.

I do need to thank everyone who commented here or on FB on in email.

THANK YOU!!!

And thank God for grace and mercy and never letting me go.

And thank God for all of YOU!

I really am so appreciative for all of you who take the time to read and better yet engage with me - via comments or email or FB or Twitter or wherever! I am a busy person so I really appreciate the time and the efforts, no matter how small it may seem to you - its big to me.

really really.

I get email notifications of comments and today I had one from an older post of mine, asking about my engravers ball/block. I posted back in the comments but will also note here that the block either came from Creative Metalworks or Contenti (contenti link to econo model but they have others).

As I was looking at the comment on that older post, I saw one that I had forgotten about. It was a blog award. !!

And so timely................its the Sunshine Award!

How ironic!

When I was feeling LEAST 'sunny' that I would be brought back to that old post where Odin was giving me a sunshine award. Life is strange. But good. Even when I'm not. :)

Thank you Odin!



I'm supposed to award 12 bloggers...but since I haven't even awarded the full number on the last award I received...I'll just say thanks to ALL of you!

Phillipians 1:3
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Seriously.

I really am thankful for you.

Some of you have been a constant presence since I began this whole jewelry journey and began blogging

For instance -
Chris Kerr (website)
and blog who I feel like has been here since my beginning and she still comments and encourages me!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!??

There are too many of you really to name you all - and I would hate to overlook anyone just because my brain isn't making all the connections at the moment. But I really need to send a shout out to Evalie -- I appreciate you my friend!!!!!!!

In addition to those I know and love - there are over 800 subscribers to this blog! Blows me away.

And the page hits are well over 3000 a month (another constant surprise) .....and visitors from SO far around the world. I LOVE that about blogging. All of the interesting people, from different walks of life. I don't get caught up in numbers but I do have a tracking system on my website for business reasons and it carries over to the blog for free, so occasionally I will glance at the geographic origins of hits on the blog - amazing. While I don't know who comes from where, I can't know WHO is visiting, its interesting nonetheless - in the last 24 hours we've had hits from the USA, Germany, Poland, Romania, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Brussels, Belgium, Israel, and Norway! whoa.

Thanks guys! And if you have never commented, please know you are welcome to do so. Anytime. I'd love to hear what you have to say and know what you are up to and how you found my little blog. :)

~Janice

About time - 'eh?

Yea, its about time I wrote something.

I have an impetus to writing today which is good because I've just not been in the mood to write. We are way crazy busy at home - some good, some not so good - such is life. But its bone-weary-tiring kind of stuff. To the core.

What got me to write today is that a friend gave me a bloggy award. YAY! :-)

I luv that about cyberspace. If you want....if you try....you can surround yourself with great, fun, talented, encouraging, sharing, amazing people. I am VERY blessed to have those kind of friends in the cyber-world. Truth is, most often, I don't even really differentiate between the 'two worlds' - its just life. Because ya know, just as in the 3D here and now world (which can sometimes be referred to as the in-your-face-can't-get-away-even-if-I-tried-world), online there are people I am closer to than some who are just 'acquaintances', And then of course there are those I bump into on occasion that I wouldn't even really call either, but we're polite. ;-) And then you have the 'others' who I try NOT to bump into here or there because they just suck the ever lovin' life out of you.

But, back to the award. :)

It came from one of those online friends that I don't see too often these days, but I know she's there - I read her, I suspect she reads me - we chat now and then -- and its 'real'. She's sweet, kind, encouraging, and funny. She's also really talented.


She's Jen - from Little Epiphany and Pulled Sugar Designs

Isn't she pretty?? (hope she doesn't mind the photo - but hey, its on her website!! )

Visit her site.






So she gave me this award.

Its pretty too. :)

Pretty people with pretty things.....

So nice.

OK, and so apparently I am supposed to tell ya'll 7 things about myself that you don't already know. But that might be hard. I have a tendency to go on and on and ya'll probably know just about everything about me. Hmm, or seeing as how I'm a rather private person, maybe you know next to nothing about the 'real' me...but...

OK.

Numero uno: I wear socks to bed most nights, even in the summer.

#2 (yea, english is my first and only real language): (and oh crap, I just re-read the whole 7 things and Jen says its seven things NO one knows about you. umm, I have to say that THAT is not gonna happen. If NO one knows - there must be a REASON!!)

ok, back to #2: uh, can we stop at numero uno?

hmm. ok, #2: I suck at talking about myself.

oh, you already knew that you say??

does that mean that #2 doesn't count?

I'm counting it. and we're moving on.........

#3: I firmly believe in the ten second rule. Truly. I think a little dirt is good for us and too sterile an environment is scary. Now that does NOT mean I don't inspect. I do. And I discard when necessary.

#4 (oh yay!): I'm a very private person. Yes, I know I just said that up there, so maybe you've known it for like 5 seconds. And Yes, maybe you find it hard to believe as I blog, blog, blog...but really, I'm a very private person with a REALLY small circle of close friends.

#5 (we're moving right along now!): I have secret daydreams of being a big time singer. Guess they aren't so secret anymore. And its not really a big dream...just more like a little daydream when I'm rocking out on my way to work.

#6: Jack Bauer and I have a thing. Not only was this a secret to you - its a secret to him too. For now. I'm just waiting for the right moment. Like a split in the time continuum or something..mayeb a ripple in time..I could fall through a shed wall (as referenced to the children's book - The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagen) - see #7 below)

#7: I read the same books my son reads. And while that might not be terribly surprising or weird when you understand that I do it so that I can chat with him about what he's reading, what might be weird is that I actually enjoy some of them!

WHEW! I didn't think I could come up with '7', but there you have it.

And now I have to pass this on to 7 more bloggers. Well, Jen already tagged some that I would normally tag -- so let me think...here they are in no particular order:

Paula from bell'alimento
I 'met' her on another food site - we exchanged blog addresses...and I've been reading her ever since. She has a great food blog and hosts fun giveaways. Check it out!

Barrie - who blogs here
She may not blog consistently ;-) but she's a good read and a good friend and deserves to have some fun with an award!

Hans - no blog list would be complete without Hans. He is one of a kind. You can find him blogging here

Then there is Stevie B. - he's a total Hans in the making. He has that same razor sharp wit and is super smart and talented....and he's opening up more and more on his blog. . . so you all can see what I've seen for quite some time. He blogs, where else, but at Stevie B. Jewelry


Am I done yet?

Dang, only 4 so far. But I have to go. So I'll come back to this later tonight with the other 3. I already have one in mind so I just need to figure out the other TWO!

Ciao!

(edit to add - I think all you recipients are supposed to pass it along - but if won't hold it against you if you don't. But as an alternate I expect one hell of an acceptance speech/blogpost. ;-)

A two-fer day! Spread the LOVE!!

YAY! I received some LOVE in the form of an 'award' - a Spreader of Love award! YAY!

Candace was kind enough to bestow this upon me. First she bestows me with that gorgeous necklace and now this!!! She is a total Love Spreader. She is super nice, very prolific, and very hmmm (now don't take this the wrong way) 'basic' -- like it just seems, from the little I know of her so far - that what you see is what you get - no ego or added frills or posturing - just basic Candace. And how refreshing is that!!!? In a world where it seems you have to dig and dig and dig to uncover truths and reality and genuineness.

Now its my turn - Here is how it was given:

The award goes like this...to any of my blogging friends out there, who take the time to leave a comment, a word of encouragement, or a compliment on something that I created and shared. The rules are:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

lllllllllllllllllll

1. Award Logo - a

2. Link to Candace - a, a, a

3. Nominate 5 blogs - see below

4. Link to their blogs - see below

5. Leave a message for my nominees - getting to that.....

Nominees:

1. Swati - Not only does she encourage me, but she makes me laugh and since laughter is the best medicine maybe I should start calling her Dr. Swati. :-D Seriously, she's been a constant source of encouragement for the past...well, gee, must be a couple of years now. ((hugs))

2. Katherine - Better known online as KMJewelryStudio. I always have to do a search to make sure I have her correct name correct. :) Her dad calls her Katie though. ;-) Katherine and I bumped into each other in blogland and have been mutual followers and encouragers. Katherine makes really really cool jewelry - great designs - AND she plays the banjo. HOW COOL IS THAT?

3. Vicky - Also affectionately known as GingaSquid, or just Ginga sometimes to me. Vicky is extremely encouraging, has a great sense of design, and is just way too fun. Her particular sense of humor suits mine very well. She's a GREAT friend!

4. Melissa - Melissa is a 'popper-inner' (everyone needs one of those!) She pops in and out with a word of encouragement and a hug. She lives not too too far away from me (the wonders of the internet - finding people in your own backyard!) and I've semi-invited myself to her house - one of these days............! Her hubby is also quite talented - see him here

5. Last, but defintely not least - LISA!! Lisa is a new friend whom I hope will become a very old friend one day! :) Lisa is a lovely lady who makes lovely rings and has a lovely blog where she says lovely things. OK, seriously - she's a blast. I lurked for a long time at her blog - not really sure I 'got' her....but the thing is - there's nothing to get - Lisa is just being Lisa - its genuine, she's genuine. She inspires me with her jewelry but also with her fearless honesty and courage to share her life with us all .

I could list so many more - but I'm going to follow the rules this time!

Now its up to all of you to go forth and spread more love.

I know you can do it!

~Janice

An award, who me?

Did I get that right? Someone wants to recognize me? Really? YAY!!!! This is just what I need in the midst of the chaos in my life right now! What a way to make a girl feel good. :) And not only one award, but apparently two people nominated me! YAY again!

The first one I became aware of was from Cheryl of Lavendar Cottage Originals. Thanks Cheryl!

Then I discovered that Tammy from Tammy's Treasure Chest had also put my name up! THANKS Tammy! :)

I have to say, it really IS a good feeling. To be reocgnized at all, much less by peers - its wonderful! So apparently I'm supposed to give a grand acceptance speech all in good fun.

Sooo, mine goes something like this:

Thanks to the internet for providing an avenue for my complusion to grow into a serious sickness! Thanks for the hours glued to the keyboard in search of tutorials and tips in the early days. Those days of searching have morphed into late nights on jewelry message boards/forums making new friends and learning even more. THANKS to all the new (now old) and even NEWER friends for encouraging and supporting the sheer maddness of my life! Thanks to Contenti for providing such great service and ease of shopping (online of course), thanks to Thunberbird supply for their rock bottom wire prices......thanks to my employer for a paycheck. Ahem...thanks to everyone at the Jewelry Artists Network forum - you all keep me going! And of course thanks to my family, who smile and nod politely when I show them each new bobble, weird thing, gem, piece of metal, tool, etc that I bring up from the depths of the basement.

I'd be no where with out you all.

*grin*

And I am to nominate 7 others. OK, here we go:

1. Hans Meevis: http://hansmeevis.blogspot.com/ -- not only because Hans makes SUCH beautiful things, but he also gives so freely out of his wealth of knowledge.

2. Stevie B: http://steviebjewelry.blogspot.com/ -- great person and such an inspiration!

3. Cindy: http://jewelrytales.blogspot.com/ -- she is a wonderul artist and adds a story to so many of her pieces, its worth seeing! Go, go there now!

OK, this is tiring!! I have to find a few more - sticking to my criteria or blogs that are recently active and have a good number of posts as well as illuminating content. :) Will be back....

4.

And here are the ruls:

Here are the rules if you’re nominated:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you’ve nominated.

6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body’s mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant!

(now you can see why its so tiring!)