2020

by Patti Vanderbloemen 

2020...definitely a year for the Record Books.

While I have not kept up with my blog since moving to Virginia from Florida earlier this year, I have posted frequently on Instagram and Face Book.  But lately, I have felt a need to elaborate on random bits and pieces that have affected me...just to clear my mind... so I thought a blog post would be best.  I have never been one to write a short blog post, so my apologies in advance!

The Move

If living in Florida for 1+ year had a positive, it was this...

Those were my views - the backyard was literally Tampa Bay.  And it was beautiful - there is no denying that.  But the only other thing I miss from living in Florida...the Ospreys!  There was an Osprey Family that lived high on its perch just outside my front gate.  When we took our daily walks with Sarge to the Nature Park, just a few miles down the road, we were always greeted by the same Osprey family.

The physical move itself is one for my record books. Since we did not have an actual move in date, we had to store our furniture and belongings "some where".  So, I researched PODS and read tons of positive reviews. I made an excel spreadsheet - with photos and dimensions - of every single item to be placed in storage.  I then went online to the PODS website and proceeded to input every single item into their "program", which told me that I needed two of their largest PODS.  It just did not seem correct, so I called and spoke with a very nice lady who went through the painstaking application with me and concurred - two PODS is sufficient.

Pfft.  On moving day, the movers we hired told me - you need a third POD. 

After a quick and frantic phone call, a new POD was delivered the next morning.  Halfway through loading, he told me "you need a 4th POD! No way!  

The timing would not work to wait for delivery of that POD.  Our cars were being driven to Virginia by a service and we had to physically be in Virginia for delivery and we could not incur a departure delay of even one day. So....I gave away most of my jewelry studio furniture to the moving guys (yes...I cried). Some of those benches were going to friends of theirs who would benefit immensely from just one of my $100 harbor freight benches, which helped ease the pain. Sadly, not one single piece of outdoor furniture made it into that POD.  We are talking a dining table and chairs, outdoor sofas, Adirondack seating for down by the water. More tears were shed.  It was truly the worst move I have ever made - stress-wise. I felt so defeated.

Our drive North was supposed to be a leisurely two-day trip.  We rented a Suburban, which was packed to the gills, and had intended to stop in South Carolina or so at a hotel to rest. Bwahaa!  We drove 903 miles in just under 13 hours and arrived literally 10 minutes before our cars were delivered.

So glad that is over and done.

The New Home

It's hard to believe that just last August (2019), we purchased a nice sized multi-acre lot of land with the Occoquan River as the back yard.  It's less than a mile from our last home in Virginia.  But this lot...if only this lot was available in 2011, BEFORE we built our last home in Virginia!!  We would have never left Virginia for Florida in the first place. Our last home was on a 10-acre lot...with 7 acres of dangerous ravines. Truly, not our favorite piece of land.  It terminated at the Occoquan River, but we had zero views of the water and I only walked down there ONCE - it was too treacherous for this old broad!  This new lot is relatively flat....

The decimation of the trees in order to build the home literally made me ill.  But, 90% of these trees were scrappy pines that were on their last leg.  We have already replanted 60+ trees on the lot, and when the house is complete, birds, squirrels, and whatever else lives in those trees (!!), will return to the way-too-many-to-mention new plantings yet to come.

Foundation was completed in March

This photo was taken last week.  The exterior stone work, siding, and shakes are nearly complete as I write this!

We are looking to move-in sometime in November, God-willing.  COVID has caused some delays. Some of the subcontractors have experienced delays in obtaining physical supplies (electrical/plumbing) - but all is well on that end now. The Electric Company took quite the time to obtain the easement to bring power from the street to our home site (finally completed this past Friday)! However, the biggest delay seems to be in obtaining permits through the County. What used to take 2-3 days through their system is now taking weeks. So, we are still waiting on the last permit (for a second well to be drilled for the irrigation system).  I am hoping that occurs soon (fingers crossed).  Each delay causes a snow ball effect to the schedule.  BUT, our Construction Manager is truly one-of-kind - he built our last home in Virginia has well.  This man knows his stuff and we have the utmost confidence in all of his efforts! And in the end, it is what it is.

Corona

Not just a tasty beer.  We officially arrived back to Virginia on February 28, 2020. It goes without saying that the entire world came to a complete halt a week or so later.  I don't have to tell anyone how this isolation has felt.  My number one priority has been, and continues to be, keeping my mom safe.  She is 85 years old (sorry mom!), but frankly, probably the healthiest one in the house!  For several months, I was the one who would don a mask and hit the grocery store, sanitizing everything in my path (including myself) along the way. There were virtual doctor appointments, cancelled family gatherings - well, you know the drill. Family visits, with social distancing, have returned, and I have even taken her shopping just a handful of times. She hates wearing a mask (who enjoys it???) so the shopping visits are always quick. Since my jewelry studio is packed away until we settle into the new home, I started trying to find ways to keep me/us busy.

Several Crossword Puzzles were completed

Monopoly, Battleship, and Copious Rummy 500-Matches have been played

I felt the need to do something ... anything...creative.  So I purchased a Paint by Number

And then another....

And then yet another....

I stopped at four - I mean....I was obsessed! I do not like UFO's (unfinished objects), so I could not bear to put that paint brush down.  All four have been framed, and are packed away and ready to hang in my my new jewelry studio.

I have also always enjoyed both baking and cooking. I was quite serious about taking on this profession in the late 1980s/early 1990s - even participated in a series of French Cooking Classes from a local chef who was trained at the Cordon Bleu.  I had a little catering gig on the side for a couple of years. I seriously sought out cooking schools, thinking one needed the actual formal education to successfully pursue this field. Catering was probably one of the hardest (both physically and stress-wise) occupations I ever encountered. In the end, I gave that up.  One reason for me NOT becoming a serious chef is having to cook that live lobster...or mussels...clams...yuck! I know...sissy! But my love for the art of baking and cooking has never died.  I have done some serious baking since March...my first true Boston Cream pie, (it could have easily served 20 people!) numerous types of cookies, which I passed on to family members, quick breads and pies, several varieties of breads, including my all time favorite. 

Copious loaves of plain old white bread have been made.  I cannot tell you the last time I purchased a store-bought loaf of bread.

Health

I have had some doozy health issues of late.  I have had degenerative discs in my back for at least 20 years. One of the reasons we bolted out of Florida was the health care.  Five (5) months to get an appointment with a specialist is just not acceptable to me. My doctor in Virginia had heard that doctors in Florida were inundated (not just due to COVID) with Medicaid patients, which could have played a part in my experiencing such horrid delays. I had never thought of that, but it makes perfect sense.  The back issues seems to be affecting my hips now, so I am finally seeing an Orthopedic at the end of this week to hopefully recommend some non-invasive options. I did have the most awesome Physical Therapist in Florida...best ever.  Each day begins with at least 30 minutes of targeted stretches and exercises, which temporarily helps ease the pain. 

In the meantime, I tore my meniscus in my left knee in late May/early June. Due to COVID restrictions, there were delays in getting to see the doctor.  I finally had knee surgery on July 27. I am about 95% recovered, though the errant creak in my knee bone is pretty much there to stay.  Oh...getting old is not fun!

Unfortunately, the preparation for the knee surgery triggered a Diverticulitis attack.  My 3rd one in 15 months. I am still not quite over this one, even though this case was mild. The strong antibiotics prescribed to me have literally sent my body into a tailspin.  Good news is I have lost 14 pounds in just under 4 weeks.  Bad news is...well...let's just say things have not been rosy.  But, I am still here and coping, and things can only look up...right?  Right.

The Positives

As I reflect on 2020, there have been some amazing positives that have returned to my daily life - things that I missed immensely in my daily life Florida. First and foremost is family!  My sister and her two daughters (with kids, sometimes husbands, and dogs in tow) used to visit us every single Sunday in Virginia, before we left for Florida. Oh how I missed that!  We see them often again, thank goodness!  I have even trekked down to Richmond a couple of times to visit with one of my brothers and his family. I know Mom missed her family more than anything, so life is good for her again!  

The newest addition to the brood (Mom's 7th Great Grand Baby ) arrived on June 4th. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that means more to mom than holding and caring for a baby. 

Baby Hudson

My niece is a teacher and like most other teachers, started virtually teaching in mid-August (official first day of school is TODAY). So, I drive mom over to my niece's house every morning M-F, and she gets to spend glorious daytime hours with this little bundle of joy so my niece can take care of her business.  This will continue through the end of September, and possibly October. 

Although the rental home where we reside has a back yard the size of a postage stamp, Sarge is also quite happy to be home! He is treated to a minimum of two walks a day -- these walks include a car ride to one of the various parks in the area.  Never met a dog who enjoyed car rides as much as a treat, but he does! But....being home means Sarge also has play dates with his BFF Griffin (Baby Hudson's brother)!

I cannot tell you how much I love these two little furbabies!  I cannot wait until the new house is done and they can run and play together in a big yard again!

The Negatives

Number 1)

Perhaps my biggest pet peeve of 2020 has been watching the destruction of human kindness and decency. It's bad enough to read the news - I mean, most of it is subjective crap that comes with a catchy headline, only to have an article filled with fake news.  There is truly not one news program on TV (cable or otherwise) that I can stand to watch anymore. IT'S NOT NEWS!  It's subjective opinions!!!

Now, it is not my intent to bring politics into this blog post. There used to be a time where "who" one person voted for was private.  I am not stating my party-loyalty here --- quite honestly, I don't hold much value in ANY SINGLE CANDIDATE (from President down to the local-yocals). MY STATEMENTS HERE ARE TRULY NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. But my intent in this post is to question how and why people on social media can share such foul talk, followed up with stupid memes that are supposed to be funny but literally turn my stomach.  

There once was a time where Jane could vote Democrat and her best friend Susan could vote Republican.  They had opposing view points, but they remained best friends nonetheless. Those times are long gone.

I have read way-too-many Face Book posts (many of whom are fellow jewelry artists) that basically contain ultimatums, such as: "If you vote for this vial man, unfriend me now!  I cannot be friends with someone who would vote for this racist, lying pig".  That is an actual direct quote from one person.  I call that online bullying. Period.  You will unfriend me??!! Hours later, this same person quoted a scripture professing her love for God.  I find that to be the epitome of an oxymoron - accent on Moron. In my book, someone who professes their love of any God DOES NOT turn around and post judgmental, bullying threats. Just saying.

There is a way to voice one's opinion on social media without being offensive, or being a bully.  There is no sense of decorum anymore. "If I think it, I will post it".

I also find it just a tad comical that these people actually think for one moment that posting a meme with candidate-bashing rhetoric is going to convince me to vote for their candidate?  Again - this goes for both sides now - Democrat and Republican.

I do not need anyone to point out the current political environment and the State of Union in which we live. I am fully aware of the pent up frustrations of a system that is not working.  I am well aware of the atrocities that have occurred in the past, are occurring on a daily basis, and may occur if one or the other political party is voted into office. I am just so sick and tired the online preaching and bullying of other people's opinions, and the repercussions I/we may suffer if I/we do not conform to their way of thinking.

I am also quite familiar with the "Unfollow" and "Unfriend" options on Face Book. 

Number 2)

My final thought for today....I recently unfriended someone I have known for years, someone who I truly thought of as a friend.  Although we never personally met, we supported each other, we sent little gifts here and there, we shared life experiences.  She posted something on Face Book that did not speak the entire truth of the situation and I responded. She apparently did not care much for my response. So, instead of coming to me and voicing her concerns, she went to a mutual friend and poured her little heart out.  This mutual friend blasted me (and one other person by name) in a Group where we belong.  Her post was accusatory, hateful, and full of non -truths.  While this person who did the blasting should have stayed out of it in the first place (it was basically none of her business and she had no right to call me or anyone else out, especially since she was not privy to the entire situation), my issue is with my former friend.  

Yes - former friend.  I was flabbergasted that what I said was so upsetting that she had to "confide" in not just this one mutual friend, but I am finding out, many others as well.  Friends do not do that - if they were truly friends to begin with. They don't talk behind your back...they talk to YOU.

Here is my point.  Social Media is damaging.  Nowadays, people post whatever the hell the want, without a single forethought of the potential damages that will entail. STOP DOING THAT PEOPLE!  THINK FIRST! If you don't like you are reading...just keep scrolling!

Well, I am spent!  If you made to the end, thank you and congratulations!  Stay safe...and please...wear a mask!

Countdown.....

by Patti Vanderbloemen

January 23, 2020

So, this is the current state of many areas within my home right now:

The location above is actually what was my studio. The rest of the house is still waiting to be boxed...

Ugh.  Anyway, I have had a few messages from people asking me how it's going...so this is just an update as of today!

Along with the mundane and physically exhausting pain of moving (boxes, boxes, and more boxes), there are so many details that have to be completed.  Final doctor appointments (mom's, too), purging (I cannot believe how much was purged...we were only here less than 12 months! haha), cancellation of memberships (church), cancellation of all the Florida business accounts (another big UGH)...just so much administrative stuff - smack dab in the middle of preparation for tax time.  Yippee!

What many people have commented, or messaged, is...how can you leave that view?

The photo above was last night's sunset ... and yes...it is beautiful...no argument there!  It was 35 degrees here last night, and that does not include the massive winds one receives when they live on Tampa Bay!  I WAS IN HEAVEN!!!  Yes...it does get chilly in Florida (I refuse to say cold, because come on...35 degrees is NOT cold!)  But, I am not totally abandoning my water view when I move back to Virginia.  This is a picture of my new back yard:

New Home Site on the Occoquan River

The picture above will be the view from the back of the house - kitchen, patio, etc.  So.....I actually look forward to NOT seeing white caps on the water!  We break ground on the new home next month and will hopefully be in by Christmas.  And yes...I do feel very blessed that I am able to do this, especially at this stage of my life.  I do not take anything for granted.

So ...how is it going?  I am doing fantastic - seriously!  I am counting down the days until I leave the State of Florida.  There is a light at the end of my tunnel, and it keeps getting brighter and brighter. 

I do have a word of advice for anyone who may be thinking of moving to Florida - or ANYWHERE out of there current state for that matter - please do your research on Health care!! We thought we did a thorough vetting of the available health care down here.  We are self insured -- have been for years --- so we found the insurance, checked the location of hospitals and doctors in our area. We found an excellent Primary Care Provider.  What we DID NOT do was actually research specific Doctor Specialists.  And by that, I mean check reviews - Health Grades, Yelp, etc.  We just looked on our insurance, found the doctors, and blindly chose specialists.  What a joke!

The rest of this blog post is just a therapeutic venting for me - I don't like to post personal, negative stuff on social media - including my personal blog, which I try to keep to jewelry making.  But, I have to here, 'cause I just cannot take it anymore!

Florida, Hillsborough County at least, has become so overcrowded in the past 10 years that there are just not enough qualified doctors for the number of people who reside here (this is just my humble opinion, and my neighbors opinions, and the nurses opinions, too). I just think 10 weeks to get in to see an orthopedic surgeon is ridiculous.  And, I could only see a Nurse Practitioner--- sorry ----I mean no offense to Nurse Practitioner's, but if I have to wait that long, I want to see a doctor! Today---nearly 5 months since trying to receive treatment for my chronic back pain - and after 2 visits with a Nurse Practitioner, X-Rays, an MRI, a Nuclear Bone Scan, 2 rounds of blood work, and 10 Physical Therapy Sessions-- I finally saw the orthopedic surgeon.

My 11:15 appointment began with my arrival at 10:50 am (why I have to arrive 30 minutes early is beyond me) with the receptionist advising me the doctor was running 1 hour behind. Pfft!  News Flash to Doctors - my time is as valuable as yours, especially when I have to drive an hour to get there to see you!  Anyway, he spent a total of 4, maybe 5 minutes with me. He fumbled through his file of my medical records. The bone scan images were on the screen - he was unable to zoom in on any area, though he did attempt many times.  Not sure he even read the written report, as he asked the nurse "Where is the report?"  After a few minutes of him cutting me off mid sentence when he would ask me a question, he declared that my 59 year old back looked like the back of a 40 year-old.  When I questioned him on the numerous bulging and herniated discs that were pressing on my nerves (another news flash doc - I can read a radiology report), he said "That happens to everyone your age".

He actually asked me, rather incredulously, "what do you want me to do for you"? At this point, I knew he was useless to me (and the rest of the world looking for answers) and I told him I was moving to Virginia in less than 5 weeks...I did not want him to do a thing - just give me the results of the tests and I will find a Pain Management Doctor in Virginia who can offer me some pain relief.  He said, "well good luck with your new doctor in Virginia", and left.  Just left.

I shocked myself when he left - I told the nurse, who looked just as shocked at his lack of empathy and compassion, that "he is an asshole with zero bedside manner".  I may have added another choice curse word or two (I did add THAT word)  which I have NEVER DONE IN MY LIFE. That's how angry I was, and frankly, it was liberating. And she just nodded, as if I was not the first person to voice those words to her.

I apologize for using this method of venting my frustrations. It's really more of a warning to anyone who may be considering an out-of-state move in the future. Please, I beg you, DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!

I did not write this blog post for sympathy - truly. The Physical Therapist down here was AWESOME and I perform the stretches and exercises daily, and they have helped immensely in managing my pain.

Looking at this face everyday also helps!

Sarge 

Thank you for letting me vent, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Big News...for me!

by Patti Vanderbloemen 

I have not kept up with this blog space of mine - I have written in the past that I am not too sure people like to read blogs anymore. Social media sights seem to have taken precedence - it's more "on the spot, get to the point" than a blog post.  But, I know for a fact that with what I have to say today, NO ONE would read that long of a Facebook post (my go-to-source for social media lately). So, if you have landed on this page, Thank You for visiting and taking the time to read my thoughts!

I lived in Virginia for not all, but the majority of my adult life. Most of my immediate family is there.  We built what we thought was our "Dream and Forever Home" about 6 years ago.  Last year, for various reasons, we decided to make a change and move to Florida. My folks lived in the Tampa area for over 25 years, and I was quite familiar with this part of the State. So, after several trips to Florida and narrowing down our number one priority (water front), we purchased a just-built home in October 2018. Mostly for this reason:

My backyard - Tampa Bay, Florida

Although the house was brand-spanking new, it was not purchased from a builder, but from an individual who had intended on making this home his "Forever Home". After much back and forth, we decided to purchase the home but needed several renovations and fixes to be completed prior to moving (including renovating a laundry room that would actually be large enough to turn around!). We flew down to Florida several times, met and contracted with a builder, and came up with a time line, and an eventual move-in date of February 2019.

I believe the term "Island Time" applies to most subcontractors in Florida (at least Hillsborough County).  The builder we have was/is awesome - but the subcontractors...not so much. Truly - never had someone make an appointment with me and simply ... Not. Show. Up. Not everything was completed by the time we moved in, but we moved in anyway. We still had projects to complete, so we attempted to contract with various plumbers (they are the worst) and electricians to get the jobs done.  It was probably the hardest and most frustrating 6 months I have ever encountered in my life...and I have moved many times over the years. To this day, subcontractors and vendors make appointments...and simply do not show up.

Source: makeameme.org

Health care is another issue that just does sit well with me. Trying to get in to see a doctor - specialists in particular - is ridiculous. Just one example...I have had back issues for the past 20 years, and every year or so, I just need to visit an orthopedic, get an MRI, and receive the all important Physical Therapy that truly helps me. I don't want drugs - just PT! My journey to find a Spine Specialist began in September 2019. Finally had my appointment 7 weeks later on November 20 (along with a 2 hour wait time in the lobby), first available MRI was December 8, and the first available follow up is January 8, 2020.  That's 4 months!  Two days ago, I received news that was truly the straw that broke this camel's back. I received an email from this Orthopedic that my January 8 2020 follow up appointment was cancelled due to "scheduling constraints", along with a note to please contact us to make a new appointment. I called...and February 15 2020 is a bit too long for me to wait for a follow up appointment for an MRI that was completed on December 8.  Stick a fork in me as I am done.

Source Unknown (Pinterest)

This is just one example of the lack of adequate health care in the south Hillsborough County area of Florida.  I won't bore you with the rest. I feel for the elderly, however, who chose Florida for their final retirement. Especially the "single" senior citizens, who have no one to serve as the advocate and go-between. Several nurses with the various doctors we have seen simply state that the area has too many people and not enough doctors.

Well...three people will be leaving - that should free up some space!

In August, we drove back to Virginia for a few days to spend time with immediate family, and found a lot of land. New house is designed, and we break ground around February 2020.  Estimated completion is December 2020. Let's face it - the view in Florida is beautiful, but there is so much more to life than looking out a window!

The original completion date for the new home was going to be September 2020, but as with all new construction, that date has been pushed. So, as of yesterday, we are tentatively scheduled to bug out of Florida by 1 March 2020, as trying to go through the selection process REMOTELY for all the nitty gritty details on a home is just too daunting. We found a rental home close by the new lot and we could not be happier, Sarge included!

The Boss... Sarge

Frankly, the thought of packing for an out-of-state move SO SOON kinda makes me sick to my stomach...but I will prevail!  However, my smithing days are numbered.  I will not be setting up a studio in the rental home. So, the real purpose of this blog post is that I am closing my shop effective 1 January 2020 - and it will likely remain closed the entire year. It's scary thinking I will not have this creative outlet available to me. But, the end result of moving back to Virginia is the bright spot in my story!

Turquoise and Bali Silver Bracelet

With an original move date of August/September, I have been diligently stocking my shop - and it is chock full of goodies that I truly do not want to sit in storage for a year!

Faceted Labradorite Cuff with 14K Gold Accent

So....I am have a true - Store Closing Sale in my shop!

Hammered Copper and Turquoise Earrings

Azurite and Artisan Glass Sterling Silver Necklace

Garnet and Pierced Sterling Silver Earrings

Emeralds and Sterling Silver Earrings

Etched Copper and Blue Chalcedony Earrings

I am starting off this Store Closing Sale with 35% off - no minimum.  Everything must go!

Just use the coupon code: CLOSE35

And EVERY SINGLE PENNY from the proceeds of my sales will be donated to Miracle Horse Rescue and Sanctuary - as always! 

If you have made it to the end of this blog post - Thank You for taking the time to commiserate with me! :) It's only Happy Thoughts from here on out!

Much Love,
Patti

Semantics....

by Patti Vanderbloemen

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday.  As I sit here and type this blog post on my PC, I am reminded how easy it is to edit nowadays. Yes, I learned how to type on a MANUAL TYPEWRITER. In fact, I took a class in 9th grade. So while I type, delete, type delete, I realize that there are so many colloquialism's that just were not around in the 1970's. Cyber Monday in 1976? I don't think so as cyber had a whole different meaning back then....

Okay...maybe not this "Manual" hehe
Photo Credit: Grandinroad

Actually, Black Friday could have been around in those days. But we - as a rule - never even stepped foot in a store the day after Thanksgiving.  That was reserved for decorating the house for Christmas. Now, hitting the stores for massive deals The Day After Christmas, well...that's a whole different story!

Personally, I hate shopping - in stores, that is. My mother and sister will attest to this fact. Except for the grocery store, and a few local shops around town, I just don't do it. Now, shopping online is a Whole Different Story! It's magical - it's available 24 hours a day for goodness sake! No driving on I-95 (or any other over-congested-and-filled-with-road-rage-warriors-streets in Northern Virginia), no need to grab the umbrella during inclement weather, no waiting for stores to open, etc. But the best reason...I can shop in my jammies if I want to.  And I want to.

My postal carrier, UPS, and FedEx drivers personally know my face, especially during this time of year. In fact, our UPS driver is so nice that I can be driving down the road and he will be waving at me - no lie!

Photo Credit

In this little business of mine, I buy a lot of handmade goods from small businesses. Why? First off - quality control. Their good name is on the line - one bad review can be a death sentence, albeit temporary, until the problem is fixed. And if there is a problem, it will get fixed (Try that with a purchase made from stores that shall remain nameless). But, more importantly, when I can find what I need from a Small Business Owner, I know that I am receiving, oftentimes, one of a kind art. But an even more significant little factoid, is that I am helping them pay their mortgage, groceries, car payments, insurance, etc...maybe I am supporting a stay-at-home-mom who cannot afford day care, so she works from home while caring for her family. That is why I support Small Business.

Photo Credit

For every single jewelry purchase made from my small business, I like to include a little gift. I don't advertise that I do this - I just do it. For the past couple of years, I have included a sample size of soap, lotion, lip balm, or solid lotion melt, made by Catherine Pruitt of The Bathing Goddess. I have been using her products for some time now - and they are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I want everyone to experience the myriad of softness and scents that come from her handmade products! Cat is a mom of 5 (five!!!), and has recently returned to school to earn her nursing degree. Though she is nearly 20 years younger than me, I know for a fact that I could not accomplish in a week what she accomplishes in one day. I know she does that little "jig" every time someone purchases goods from her shop. (I'd like to see her dance that little jig in person one day) :)

The Bathing Goddess

Many of the jewelry supplies I purchase (yes...in the middle of the night sometimes), are from small business, as well. The necklace below features gorgeous handmade artisan glass beads by Jody Brimhall (her shop can be found here). Many of her beads remind me of gemstones - so beautiful.

Artisan Glass, Wood, and Jade Necklace and Earrings

I have highlighted the uniqueness of Vincent and Nooma Cav's pewter work before on this little blog of mine.  I think it bears repeating. Vincent's shop, Inviciti, can be found here.

Amethyst Nuggets and Artisan Pewter Cross Necklace and Earrings

Each mold is carved by hand - I am particularly smitten with any of their components containing a cross.

In my book, Julie Burgard, of Outwest, is the Queen of disc shaped beads. She has a keen eye for colors and texture - but the shapes - truly perfection!

Artisan Glass Pale Blue and Sterling Silver Earrings

I would be remiss if I left out one of my favorite lampwork artists for glass cabochons, Mikelene Reusse of Growing Edge Glass. Her colors are vibrant - and there is usually a focal color or swirl that brings the eye right into the glass. Not only is she an impressive lampwork artist, but she is an incomparable silver smith - I adore her clean, modern style.

Artisan Glass Cabochon and Sterling Tension Bangle

See how she formed a rose with glass (!)  in this cabochon? Swoon-worthy!

Artisan Glass with Garnet Sterling Silver Necklace

My sometimes middle-of-the-night purchases also include gemstones. I first "met" (online of course!) Janie Mills of Jewel Suppliers through an online class. Many times, her offerings are quite unique, as she travels often!

Turquoise Spiny Oyster and Sterling Post Style Earrings

I bought those 10 mm Turquoise Spiny Oyster gemstones not too long ago, as I had a coordinating, focal size gemstone in my stash and I knew it would go perfectly! 

Turquoise Spiny Oyster Mixed Metal Pendant Necklace

If you have stuck with me this long, I thank you.  Please...during this Holiday Season (and also, whenever possible), please support the Handmade and/or Small Business community.  

I do not take the time to blog nearly as much as I want - I am gearing up for our move from Northern Virginia to Florida in February 2019.  To that end, I will be closing up my shop at the end of 2018 so that I can properly attack the massive amount of packing and associated inventory that needs to be done prior to my exit.  Sigh.

Thank you ever so much for stopping by! 

XO

Patti