LANYARDLADY

Cool cats

2009-11-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

My husband grew up in the country with a barn and chickens and a garden, plus lots of dogs and cats. He loves to tell the story of how his mother would go out on the back porch steps and bang a spoon at feeding time; the cats would coming running from every direction. Some tame, others not so much, he said, but it was fascinating to watch.

So last night I had to show my husband Cathryn's blog, Chile Cats. She tells wonderful stories about her colony of feral cats and shows photos of them all. They each have a name and as Cathryn so delightfully describes, their own personality.

Yes, I'm the dummy that asked if Swirly (my favorite, pictured) was huggable. Cathryn said her husband spurted out his coffee when she passed that question on! These are feral cats, remember?

If you're a cat lover (one is enough for me) or just enjoy looking at photos of pretty felines, check out Cathryn's blog. And by the way, she makes lovely beaded jewelry, too!

P.S. - Cathryn, where did the name Chile Cats come from?

It's back....

2009-11-15T16:22:00.001-08:00

Blogstipation.

Let there be light

2009-11-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

Hope you had a beautiful day today! Our weather was gorgeous, sunny and warm after three long days of Ida's rain and wind. I still am not used to the short days, however. Dark by 6 p.m. is not my thing. I need light therapy.

I searched Wikipedia to find the date of the winter solstice (Dec. 21), also known as the shortest day of the year. I wanted to know when I could look forward to the days getting longer.

This passage described my mood perfectly: "Insufficient sunlight in the short winter days increases the secretion of melatonin in the body, throwing off the circadian rhythm with longer sleep. Exercise, light therapy, increased negative ion exposure (which can be attained from plants and well ventilated flames, burning wood or beeswax) can reinvigorate the body from its seasonal lull and relieve winter blues by decreasing melatonin secretions, increasing serotonin and temporarily creating a more even sleeping pattern."

I'm off to find some negative ions!

The ladies of Steinmart

2009-11-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

Funky Friday is my favorite night of the week, as you know. Put on some Eagles, some JT, some EWF, and bead away while the laundry does its thing.

So tonight it's even better because I got such a nice note from a customer in Ohio. She purchased some lanyards a while back and said all the ladies at the Steinmart in her town admired my work. So she returned to shop again.

"Hope you remember us... we're the ladies from Steinmart." she write. "Back for more. One for me and another gift! I looked through ALL 75 pages of lanyards and still didn't see anything better. Thanks!!"

This made my day! I could never forget you ladies :)

What the heck?

2009-11-12T04:13:00.000-08:00

I checked the calendar to make sure, and it is Nov. 12. More or less a month away from the winter solstice. So what the heck is up with our weather?

For the last two days we've endured hurricane-like conditions: heavy rain, gusty winds, falling trees and blowing leaves. While the temperatures have been mild, the incessant rain and wind are not welcome guests.

Apparently we've gotten a visit from what's left of Tropical Storm Ida, and she has decided to stay over an extra night. I wonder if she'd get the message if I told her to make her own breakfast and lock the door on her way out.

You gals rock!

2009-11-10T15:32:00.001-08:00

Thanks for all the support and good ideas about how I might "branch out" my lanyard hobby. It's great to have input from creative and thoughtful people.

I did make a necklace (pictured) and have a couple more strung, but there will be no photos til I remedy the camera situation! Have ordered some sturdy eyeglass connectors so I'll be creating eyeglasses leashes once they get here. And although we don't wear name badges at work, I can still wear my lanyards as necklaces. Who knows how the word might get around?

To all my blog buddies, a heartfelt thanks. You gals rock!

Giggles and glee

2009-11-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

The family who lives in the new house behind us recently put an enclosed trampoline in the back yard. I hadn't seen anyone back there, even though I knew they had a little girl, and wondered if it would ever be used.

Then yesterday I was sweeping leaves off the deck when I heard the most delightful sound: this little girl having fits of giggles as her daddy jumped on the trampoline and sent her flying into the air! "Daddy!" she would yell. "What?" he would ask. "Do it again!" she would say. And then there would be more crescendoes of giggles and glee.

Not having had small children around in a while, I had forgotten the infectious pleasure of a child's laughter and the heartwarming scene of a young man, now a father, sharing joyful moments with his little girl.

It was worth every leaf I swept to experience it from afar. And it made me want grandchildren!

The last shot

2009-11-08T09:24:00.001-08:00

It has been a beautiful fall weekend here in North Carolina. The leaves are brilliant yellow and orange and red with a fair amount of green still mixed in. I went out to take pictures of the trees, and pictures of Sophie in the leaves. For the puppy album, you know.

So what makes this photo of a dog sniffing crackly brown leaves so interesting? Because it's the last photo ever taken with my camera. Shortly after this shot I dropped the thing, smack on the pavement, and that was the end of that.

I got out the instruction manual to see if I could troubleshoot the problem. I now know why they call it troubleshoot, because the manual is so complicated, confusing and unhelpful that you want to shoot something. There should just be a page that says, "Give up. The darn thing's broken."

So today I am camera-less, which is okay since I haven't been making a ton of new items. If things improve I might get a new one; if not, then I take it as another sign that something else is meant for me.

Meantime, I hope you enjoy the gorgeous leaves at the top of my blog. I just love autumn.

Recipe for disaster

2009-11-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

If you're like Oklahoma Granny and tried my Crock Pot Mac and Cheese recipe, you may have been a little disappointed! Cause I left out an ingredient, that's why!

This delicious and easy recipe calls for one-fourth cup melted butter, which gives it a rich smooth texture and flavor. So, ahem, I accidentally excluded the butter when I posted the recipe a few days ago.

With apologies to OKGranny and others, here's the correct recipe. It's good. Really.

CROCK POT MAC AND CHEESE
8 ounces macaroni, cooked
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
12 oz. can evaporated milk
8 oz. grated mild cheddar cheese
8 oz. grated sharp cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and pour into greased/lined crock pot. Cook on low for 3 to 3.5 hours.

The fork in the road

2009-11-05T17:26:00.001-08:00

I believe it was Yogi Berra who said, "When you come to the fork in the road, take it."

I have come to the fork in the road with my beading hobby. For more than two years sales were moving along, not always great but usually good enough to enable me to buy more beads and support my creative addiction.

About a month ago something changed. Maybe it's all the SEO changes Etsy has made, maybe it's the economy, maybe it's the fact there are so many more sellers on Etsy now. But my sales have all but stopped. I blog, I even went back to Twitter and Artfire, I promote on VoteHandmade.com. Maybe everyone woke up one day and decided my jewelry was ugly. Without sales I can't keep beading.

This isn't a pity party or a self-serving plea for business. This is about the sad reality we face when we come to that fork in the road. When we realize that something we enjoy will eventually have to end and that a phase of our life will end with it. I will stand at the fork in the road til the holidays are over, then I will have to take it. Who knows? Something new and different may be around the bend.

A Glamour don't

2009-11-04T16:31:00.001-08:00

Back when I was in college we girls used to pore over Glamour magazine for the trends, the cool clothes, and our favorite feature, the Glamour don't. You know, the one where they showed all these women photographed unknowingly on the streets of Manhattan who had committed such horrible fashion faux pas that they were shown with black bars over their eyes.

Short slip, long see-through skirt. Long slip, short see-through skirt. White blouse, black bra (which is now right in style). Mesh top, white push-up bra. High-water pants and heels (again, right in style). And my personal favorite, panty lines. White pants, panty lines. Tight pants, panty lines. Tight white pants, panty lines. White pants, patterned panties, panty lines.

These days I don't read Glamour but I'm one big walking Glamour don't. I dress for comfort, not fashion, and if I never wear a pair of heels again it will be too soon. I see stylishly dressed women in their stilettos, textured hose, and suitcoats with contrasting scarf. They are accessorized to the nines and look quite amazing.

Then I see myself with my comfy flats, loose smock tops and basic slacks (the same brand in four different colors.) All that's missing is the black bar over my eyes. And the tight white pants. I do have some pride.

Time for a change

2009-11-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

In years past I haven't cared much for "falling back" to Eastern Standard Time. I've always loved that extra daylight at the end of the day when there's time to get the dog some outdoor exercise or work in the yard.

Somehow this year is different. I'm up at first light and putting the morning hours to good use. Today I ran the dishwasher and emptied it before I left for work. While the dishwasher was doing its thing I made a new lanyard since I had been smart and laid out the beads the night before.

Could it be I'm turning over a new leaf? At lunch I ate fruit (I know, don't faint!) and we walked around campus, enjoying the fall air and colorful leaves. By the time I got home it was nearly dark but I didn't mind so much. Guess the time isn't the only thing that has changed!

Mac and cheese recipe

2009-11-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

Today seemed like a good day to write about something funny...until I went to work and it was a dreadful day where bad things happened.

So I'm not feeling humorous but thought I would provide the crock pot mac and cheese recipe several of you asked for. It has turned out to be a good night for comfort food.

CROCK POT MAC AND CHEESE
8 ounces macaroni, cooked
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
12 oz. can evaporated milk
8 oz. grated mild cheddar cheese
8 oz. grated sharp cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and pour into greased or lined crock pot. Cook on low for three hours. And be comforted!

Southern comfort

2009-11-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

It has been a wet, cold, dreary weekend, but it is about to get better. We are having comfort food for tonight's family dinner!

We will gather around the table in our nice warm house and get cozy with some ham steak, crock pot mac and cheese, pea and asparagus casserole, and hot yeast rolls. We will talk about the fact that we got no trick-or-treaters (Boo! Humbug) last night and probably about the World Series. We'll talk about books and topics in the news and everyone's plans for the coming week.

No doubt the menu will rekindle sweet memories of growing up in the South, where our grandmothers cooked not one comfort food meal a day but two or three. When eating was a social occasion, not just a meal. You loved food and food loved you back. A time when we took pleasure in each other's company. And when you were admonished not for what you ate, but for what you left on your plate.

The best part about comfort food is the comfort!

Manyards?

2009-10-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Got a question from someone who asked if I make lanyards for men. Wow, it was like I could have had a V-8! I smacked myself in the forehead and wondered why I had never thought of that.

Men work, and men wear badges, right? And they wear ties around their neck, right? So why wouldn't men wear a manyard?

My dilemma is that I don't know anything about men's jewelry. I assume they would prefer bigger, darker beads, and maybe fewer beads with more metal or stone or leathery-looking things.

Does anyone make jewelry for men and have some ideas to share? And enjoy trick-or-treating tonight!

Definitely not a treat

2009-10-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

Two days til the most dreaded day of the year...Halloween. Strangers at the door...dog barking as she hears feet rustling through the leaves and the doorbell ringing...looking out to see cute munchkins and seeing their parents, instead, with bags outstretched.

For many people Halloween is the best day ever, with candy and parties and a chance to dress up. For me it's a humongous disruption and invasion of privacy that should be stricken from the Hallmark calendar.

I refuse to answer the door and leave that to my spouse, who thoroughly enjoys himself. There is a treat to this year's tricks, however, in that we get an extra hour's sleep. And then the countdown to the dreaded day begins anew. Is there a Halloween equivalent to "Bah! Humbug"?

A sensitive subject

2009-10-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

OK, let's talk frankly about a sensitive subject. Cast a glance over your shoulder to make sure the kids are safely tucked in and then ask yourself, "Do I ever suffer from (dum dum dum......) blogstipation?" Politely defined as the urge to write an intelligent post but the inability to do so?

Perhaps this condition is brought on by lack of fiber in your blog content. Maybe it's a result of not pushing back from the computer table soon enough. Or perhaps the stress of feeling like you have to blog every day has messed up your system and you just need to relax.

Is there a little pink pill to take before bedtime so when you wake up your blogstipation has been remedied in a natural way, with no embarrassing side effects? Or is the best treatment "hair of the blog," where you just keep posting until it's all better?

Time for a new name?

2009-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you're an artisan with a shop or business, do you ever think about renaming it? When you've invested a lot of time and money in something and created equity in your brand, renaming can be a scary prospect. But I still consider it from time to time.

When I first started beading my shop was named Beadiva. I thought this was appropriate since I made bracelets and necklaces and earrings, and they were always bold and colorful for the diva in my customers.

Gradually I focused on lanyards. I saw a niche for functional jewelry that was also creative and unique. Lanyardlady kind of rolled off the tongue and described clearly what I was all about, so it stuck. It's not the most creative of names, I'll admit, and I worry that it doesn't reflect the imagination that goes into my work.

If I renamed what would it be? Something that suggests creativity and imagination, and the inspiration of the muse. Something that says these designs come from my head, hands and heart. Something that says each one is different and special, like the women who wear them.

Or I could just use my daughter's suggestion, Beading Blunders! She's a big supporter of my work!

Down memory lane

2009-10-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today we took a trip down memory lane, meeting my aunt for lunch in the small town where she grew up and where I lived as a toddler.

It was like going back in the '50s to see what were once modern buildings now in disrepair and desolation. The building that housed my grandfather's motor company was still there, and I could see the outline of its name where the rusted letters had been removed.

My aunt showed us the upstairs apartment where my family lived when I was a toddler. We paused at the steps that I rode my tricycle down, prompting a trip to the emergency room where I had stitches and my father passed out.

We rode by the old theater where my aunt saw her first movie; it's now boarded up but the aged marquis stands proudly, a reminder of those days when all it took was a nickel to get inside and be entertained, not frightened.

We drove to the small cemetery where my grandfather rests and she told us the story of his untimely death by his own hand. I vaguely remember my parents telling us that he had been sick and died, but I never knew the real sad story until now.

We rode down country back roads and she told us who used to live where, and whose house was now gone, and a little bit of town scandal in-between.

I know much more about my family than I did 12 hours ago. What a wonderful day remembering the past.

How sweet it is

2009-10-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever known a celebrity? Rubbed elbows with the famous? Basked in the glow of someone else's limelight?

I've really only ever "known" one celebrity, and it was before he became famous. And when you get right down to it to say I "knew" him is a stretch. I went to school with him and his siblings, and they were all talented.

I grew up in a liberal university town in the '70s. Long-haired hippies, peace and love were where it was at, especially on the corner of Franklin Street at Harry's Delicatessen.

It was there that a young James Taylor would hang out, playing his guitar and singing in that sweet Southern voice. He had long brown hair and a shy smile, and his impromptu audiences had no idea they were being serenaded by a future superstar.

Nowadays when I listen to James Taylor's music I'm touched by the meaningful messages in his songs. Back then, his smile warmed my heart. These days, it is his words. In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina. How sweet it is.

A delicate balance

2009-10-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post on "managing up" brought reader comments that were too good not to share. Looks like everyone has their own way of striking that delicate balance between making the boss happy and staying true to one's self.

"My boss and I get along really well. I know what to expect in most instances and that is pretty nice," wrote Kathy of Four Dog Day. "Would I ever want to be a clone of my boss....nope and she wouldn't want me to. I am very much myself at work."

"I use to go to lunch with my old bosses and it actually wasn't a good thing. I learned way more about their business and personal lives than I ever wanted to know. I don't lunch with this boss," she said. "I do always try to anticipate the needs of my boss though and I always try to solved problems myself before going to her."

Cathryn wrote that she agrees with Kathy. "Getting too personal with your boss is not necessarily a good thing," she said. "I don't lunch with my current boss. I do go to her with innovations and hopefully, resolved issues."

Oklahoma Granny said she has had many bosses over the years and enjoyed working with/for all of them save one. "I guess I "managed up" with all of them somewhat, anticipating what their expectations were and doing the best I could to meet those expectations. However I didn't think of it as brown-nosing. And I do know people that do truly brown-nose - and are proud to say they do."

Thanks for sharing, everyone. It broadens my perspective to read the wise words of others.

Managing up

2009-10-21T16:17:00.001-07:00

In my post yesterday I listed things I wish I knew more about, and one of them was the term "managing up." I got several comments from people who didn't know what it was either, so I did some research.

"Some people think managing up is brown-nosing, but in fact, a lot of it is about humanizing the workplace. Managing up is about you caring for your boss, and the result will be your boss caring for you," writes blogger Penelope Trunk from Brazen Careerist. She goes on to list several ways to manage up, such as knowing what matters to your boss, talk like your boss, and go to lunch with your boss.

This clears up a lot for me—how about you? Now I'm off to learn more about managing down.

And P.S. to Oklahoma Granny: The DWTS male pro that I would most like to learn ballroom from is Mark. Doesn't he make dancing look like so much fun?

If only I knew more

2009-10-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Do you have days when you just get so frustrated because you wish you knew more about something and don't? Here's a list of things I wish I knew more about:

1. The stock market. Bull and bear and all those numbers and symbols. When to buy? When to sell? Don't look at me.. I'm in a personal recession.

2. Ballroom dancing. I love dancing of any type, and "Dancing With the Stars" is so much fun to watch. What's the difference between the samba and the rhumba and the tango? Dunno, but can I choose the male pro who would teach me?

3. Managing up. Until a few months ago I didn't know there was a difference between managing up and managing down. I thought there was just managing. Probably why I'm not managing.

4. Spices. So many spices, so little time. What to use when? What brings fire to a dish and what brings "subtle layers of depth?" Um, Mrs. Dash?

5. Constellations. When the kids were young we had a cool book of constellations that glowed in the dark. After the hundreds of times we read it together I can identify exactly two on a starry night: the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper.

I have a lot to learn, don't I?

Thank goodness for friends

2009-10-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for the cheerful words and incantations to shoo away that Little Black Cloud. They worked! Today was a gorgeous sunny day with no mishaps; it brought me back to the bright side after I'd been feeling down in the dumps.

Mr. Yellow Jacket's sting still hurts a tad, and I've got this big lump on my neck. Other than that, life is good. Truth is that with a bee in my bonnet, so to speak, I'm fortunate I wasn't stung more than once.

I'm so grateful for my blogging friends; you make each day fun and entertaining, and I hope I make you laugh once in a while. If a Little Black Cloud ever comes your way, let me know. I've got some spells to cast!

That little black cloud

2009-10-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

That Little Black Cloud has been following me lately. I first noticed it when I dropped my phone into the Atlantic while on vacation. The sky was brilliant blue but somehow that LBC drifted by and said in a booming vice, "Lanyardlady, you must now spend two long hours listening to hip-hop Muzak and getting your phone replaced! Gotcha!"

It has settled for a lengthy visit over my Etsy shop. When I look back at my sales records over the last two years this was a busy time of year. But LBC is keeping out the sunshine and the visitors. "Lanyardlady, you will now spend hours doubting your creative ability! Gotcha!"

Today LBC dealt me a punch below the belt. Outside walking Sophie, wearing a hoodie to keep the cold wind out, a yellow jacket got up inside the hood. I heard buzzing and before I could get the coat off Mr. Black and Yellow Inflictor of Pain had stung me on the neck. "Lanyardlady," laughed LBC, "You must now suffer discomfort and swelling while doubting your creative ability!"

You know what, LBC? It's time for you to float on out of my neighborhood. The sun's coming out tomorrow. Gotcha!