Falcons, babies, and swords--oh my.

A friend posted this on my Facebook page today (thanks, Chris P.!). I think singing "Happy Birthday to You" will soon be replaced by this song. It would do away with any worries about having to pay compensation to the copyright holders.




I must say it's strange that the only place I could find this particular Saturday Night Live sketch was on sites based outside of the US. Do Americans have something against this sketch or Tenacious D? It wasn't even on Hulu, where you can find practically everything from every SNL show. Weird.

You say it's your birthday.

As you can see, I wasn't very impressed with my birthday cake today.

Though I did look very stylish.

Photo from the dreamcats tumblr. *If anyone has the original link, I'd appreciate you sharing with me as I can't locate it on my computer :(

Pardon the delay.

Being that I am the Queen of Slackers, it should come as no surprise to anyone that I have failed to keep to my estimated schedule for posting the rest of the new items to my Etsy shop. Let's just say probably sometime next week, and hope that I can meet that vague deadline. Hey, anything's possible.

In the meantime, please enjoy some photographs of my trip last Sunday to the Yale Center for British Art.

Coming attractions. UPDATED 7/23/10

UPDATE: The two braided silk necklaces are now in my Etsy shop! I hope to have the bib necklaces and the braided bracelets on Monday.

Photos of new necklaces for my Etsy shop. For some reason, it takes me longer to photograph and put them into my shop than it takes me to actually make them. Why is that?

Remember, you can click on these or any other photos here at {gemmifer} to enlarge them.

First we have two braided silk thread necklaces with geometric wooden beads. I've been wearing the one I made for myself (always good to test new products before putting them up for sale) and though the braid has gotten a little softer it is holding up very well; silk is a very strong fiber. I wouldn't suggest wearing them while swimming or bathing but the braid can handle getting wet if you gently blot it and leave it to dry. I don't know about the beads, though; they should probably stay dry just to be safe.




Second, we have two bib necklaces of metallic wooden beads with rayon ribbon ties. The beads look much heavier than they are; you will be aware of the weight of the necklace but it isn't bad. These I would definitely say to keep dry; a small splash or a bit of rain most likely won't harm them, but no shower, bath, pool, lake, etc...




I still plan to make a version of the bib necklace with wooden beads that I hand-dyed, but that will be in a later update.

I'm actually working a few hours tomorrow (for the first time in weeks; I've almost forgotten how to do my part-time job) then a small gathering to go at night. Sunday is the wedding of one of my very closest friends (we've known each other since kindergarten and been the best of friends since third grade--AKA many, many years ago) and her wonderful fiancee! Many old friends who have scattered around the country are coming to town to be there, so it will be an even more special day.

What this all means is that I won't get around to posting these necklaces on Etsy until early next week. Check back here for an update on Monday, and have a great weekend, whatever you have planned!

Gold rush.

How simple and beautiful are these earrings by Erica Weiner? In a word: VERY.

This photo from Erica's blog is just lovely; a field of sparkling gold nuggets.

A day in the sun.

Before the East Coast was hit with this unbearable heat wave (at least by East Coast standards; I'm sure there are many of you who would beg to differ) over the July 4th weekend I decided to enjoy a day in the sun. Not being one for lying on the beach, I packed a bag with a bottle of homemade fizzy lemonade, a sunhat, and a really good book, and headed out to a favorite spot. After I was laid off I started keeping a beach chair in the trunk of my car so I could stop any time I found a nice spot for a bit of fresh air, so I was all set for the afternoon.

Cold Spring Harbor was founded in the mid 1600s and later became a whaling town. It lies on the north shore of Long Island and was a favorite of my family for day trips when I was growing up. It's about a 30 minute scenic drive from where I now live, so the trip is almost as pleasant as the destination (almost). I stopped at Crumbs on the way for a cupcake to enjoy with my lemonade. Although it was good, it was by no means near the best cupcake I've had. Didn't matter; the sun, salt air, and beautiful scenery made up for it.

My final destination in CSH was a small park that sits right along the edge of the shore. There are lovely big trees if you want a shady spot to sit, and lots of open space if you enjoy a bit of sun. I always park myself under a tree with my big sunhat on. Friday was an especially perfect summer day, with a dry breeze and temps peaking in the upper 70s. It's incredible to think that less than a week ago I eagerly wanted to be outdoors; now I am holed up in my bedroom, the one room with air conditioning in my apartment, praying that it can cool the room to below the 84 degrees it currently is.

Chill.

We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave, and it's too darn hot here in NY this week. I thought some of my photos of snow people (just trying to be PC here, folks) would help those of us on the East Coast of the US imagine that we were someplace cooler.

And since she is the queen of jazz, here is Ella singing for a sweltering summer day:



Stay cool, wherever you are!

Experimentation.

Just a few of photos of a new idea I'm experimenting with. Braided silk thread with geometric wooden beads. I hate being my own model, but am available for shoots at a moment's notice, so, whatever. I'm liking the simplicity for a summery design; what do you think? I'd love your feedback!

M.I.A.

Sorry I've been missing in action recently... my ongoing job search has been taking up quite a bit of my time, as well as working on a headpiece and veil for my very close friend who is getting married in less than three weeks!

I'm hoping to soon get back to posting more regularly, and adding some new designs to my Etsy shop*, including some braided silk necklaces with wooden beads, those bracelets I keep mentioning, and some bib necklaces made with dyed or painted wooden beads (my favorite item right now). Also necklaces of silk cord with hand-blown Venetian glass beads. Further out I'm planning some silver and gemstone necklaces, including a modern take on the charm holder. *The photos above are a preview of what I'm working on.

To my fellow Americans (that sounds like I'm starting a political speech!), I wish you all a very happy Independence Day weekend. To my Canadian friends, I wish you a very happy Canada Day, and to all my other friends and readers, I wish you a fabulous weekend, whatever you do!