Thursday, January 21, 2016

More earrings and crochet.....


I was sick at home with extreme allergies and hives, blah, but I did have a chance to catch up on some earrings and jewelry.  Below is a pair with silver findings, garnet beads with jasper spacers. 

 

One of my resolutions was the knit and crochet more. This is a matching hat and scarf . 



Here are a pair with tiger eye and rose quartz beads ....



This pair is jasper with a small jade bead on top and howlite on the bottom. Sterling silver findings. 



These are lapis lazuli chipped beads. 



This pair are blue apatite beads with silver fish hooks.


 
This pair below were a garnet pair that needed repair. I added sterling silver findings instead of th original gold plated hooks. 


 
One of my best friends sent me these beads a couple of years back and I am still enjoying them. These lapis lazuli earrings have a onyx spacer in the middle.



These are black goldstone with a blue shell bead in the middle. The beads face a midnight blue to them.



I still have a bunch of other ideas, but a trip to Michael's is on the agenda as soon as I feel better. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Tamz's Food for thought # 4


1. We all get dumped and get our hearts broken at least once in life.  Sometimes, many times.   I have compassion for anyone who is heartbroken. Take as much time you need to heal. Be angry, let it out, but don't hurt or harm anyone else in the process.  Learn from it, heal and move on.  The person who really dogged me the most, did me the biggest favor of my life. And I thank him!   Sometimes, if you are honest with yourself, you see it coming.  Often times, we are blind sighted.  When you are blind sighted, it's a blessing in disguise. May not seem that way, but over time, you will see that it is.   No one gets through life without some form of heartache and disappointment. Remember, an Ex is an Ex for a reason.  There are too many people in the world who will be compatible with you.  Don't end up on "Snapped" or "Dateline".

2. We become who we associate with.  No matter how strong we think we are. Negativity, strife and envy are like cancer and viruses.  Spread quickly and easy.  Misery always looks for company. Hang out with funny people who don't make too many jokes at the expense of others.

3. Real health starts with the gut.  I don't know why so many people are uptight about bathroom habits and flatulence.

4. I have met and worked with many people who work with animals and who volunteer at animal shelters. They are either complete narcissistic, egotistical, moody sociopaths or athletic, happy, hipsters who make their own beauty products.  Some are a combo of both.  In most cases they are either one or the other.  One of my best friends, does all types of fundraisers for cats.  She is a good person and a nice person.  I can speak for her! However, working with animals doesn't automatically qualify you as a good person.  I have had some shitty experiences dealing with people working at rescues and shelters. There are good people and there are nice people.  Good deeds don't make up for an ugly spirit.  Some are both, some of us are one or the other. Anyway, aren't animals suppose to make people better people?

Tamz's Food for thought # 3

My thoughts. my blog.  My business.  Don't like it, don't read em!


1. Silence isn't always golden.  Many people are silent because they are plotting and manipulative. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and it can also save a life.  If you are keeping a secret that can endanger someone, go to the cops and/or call them out.  Yes, some people will end up on "Snapped" or "Dateline" because they have people in their lives that assume they are ok when it's clear that this person is completely unhinged.  I'm leery of cryptic people. The guilt will eventually be unbearable. Everyone deserves compassion, but some people really need help.  The LAPD is here to help.  Being a civil servant myself, I have met a lot of great cops.

2. Lemmy Kilmister is dead and it sucks.  I don't think many metalheads will ever be over it.  Many of us are not over Dimebag not being with us.  Natalie Cole was gone too soon too.  I think all of the metalheads need to catch Black Sabbath one last time.

3. Don't burn a bridge and ask me to send a boat.  I'm out of canoes and I haven't built any in awhile.  I don't have the space.  Keeping people in your life to use them creates bad karma on your end.

4. Why do people find it difficult to support their friends businesses and endeavors, but have no issues supporting and following celebrities they don't know?  I would rather help a friend pay a bill than a privileged celebrity I don't know.

For instance, Here are some friends I support ........

Geewunner

Retro Con 2016

Bad Culture  & BC-Mixology


Tamz's Food for thought # 2

Over time, you will notice that there will be a trend of me ranting about relationships and friendships. We live in a world with other people and have to breathe each other's air.  In my opinion, most people suck and I say this without any anger or venom.  Cats are always cool!  This is a harsh reality someone like me has to accept every day!!!

1. Nice doesn't mean stupid.  There, I said it. I am over some of the people I have been subjected to in recent years who think it's really cute to be nasty, rude and dismissive towards people who are nothing but nice to them.  I think some people assume that if one is nice, polite and appears to be happy, that they are dumb.  Also, that it's okay to treat that person shitty and like they are not a person.  Who is anyone to think that they have the right to be rude to someone who is always nice to them? What type of sick pleasure are they getting? As a person who grew up sarcastic, somber, serious and grumpy, I was one of these people. Suddenly I woke up one day and decided that I didn't want to be a miserable person.  I hit the gym, went record shopping and decided that I was taking responsibility for all of my actions and apologized to as many people that still allowed me to be in their life. Translation, I told everyone I was sorry for being a CU next Tuesday and a female dog. According to some, I am still a female dog and that's their opinion.  :)

2.  I am very sorry to all of the gals in high school that I may have been closed off to and/or even rude to.  Some gals were bitches and extremely judgmental, but many of you were/are not.  The truth was, my family life was hell and I didn't have the cash to hang out.  I won't go into the gory details. It's not that I didn't want to.  One of my best friends even said, "Don't you have any money?" No, I really didn't.  I was so broke growing up, kids even teased me about my mom's car.  (At least she was picking me up while their asses were stuck in day care. hahaha! ) I was a vegetarian before it was cool and it was not by choice. And I was freakin weird and not hip at all.  In fact,  I am still not very cool, but now I embrace my freak flag.  I was the most broke in the class of 1993 and life was rough from birth till about 19. This is not a cry for help or to get people to feel sorry for me.   It's all good, because it's pruned me to be the best I can be and remain resilient.  I am still in touch with my closest friends from high school and even if we go through periods where we don't chat, we always pick up where we left off.

3. GMOs suck.  I am tired of scrubbing my fruits and vegetables. Dayum, is everything treated with pesticides and poison? At some point, I am going to have to buy some land and have a tiny farm.  Veggies used to be safe. Now, they are potential missiles of mass destruction!

4.Ahh...social networking.  Friends keep asking me to join Instagram and it's not happening.  There are too many unflattering pictures of me on Facebook feeds and in albums of former flames and friends. Plus, I take horrible selfies that are comic worthy.   Nope, nope nope!  I just deleted a bunch of people and posts on Facebook when I realized that I have met some obnoxious folks at conventions and even industry events.  These are people that will friend me because I am friends with someone who runs a convention, is a model or actor, musician or someone they want to get to through me.  That person is a personal friend or acquaintance I do normal things with.  Like work out, shop, go to dinner and stuff that doesn't involve any self-promotion.  Self-promotion is fine and necessary for some, but there is no need to be a hanger-on.  We all have our own mojo if we tap into it and everyone has a tribe! There is no need to use someone else to try to join a "coveted tribe". In life, the best connections are the organic connections. Some people will just gel! I have met some people that I knew I would get along with! Others, pursued me because maybe they thought I had something to offer and could be used.  I recognized this because there were various passive-aggressive red flags or they were close with folks that were open with their strong dislike for me. Early on, I knew life was not a popularity contest and that some people were not going to like you. So, I have practiced the fight or flight response.  Most of the time it's easier to catch that flight! :)

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Rules on being a great party guest or regular guest at my home

In the past and just recently, I started having more people over my home.  I live simply and as my mother would say, my home is like a hobbit house.  I don't expect anything but respect.  I do my best to be gracious, kind and accepting.  From my experience, most people are respectful, kind and gracious.  However, there have been other times people have issues with respect and judgment. This shows lack of home training on their end and often, lack of self-respect.  Their issues, not mine.

I am not saying that my rules and ways are the right and only way, but they tend to keep the drama out.  If boundaries are not made clear, then drama ensues.

1. Greet the host and/or hostess.  You would think this is common courtesy, but it isn't.  The few people who had has issues with this, are not invited over to my home anymore. I don't care if you are related to me, speak.  It comes off as extremely rude and disrespectful if you ignore the people who pay the rent or mortgage on the home.  My great-grandmother threw salt behind folks she didn't want to return.

2. Do not show up unannounced.  I have a life and if you know where I live, you are either family, a close friend or a stalker.  Stalking is illegal and it's not cute, funny or slick. I will call the police if I don't know you or I know you and want nothing to do with you.  Exceptions are made for the Mail carriers, UPS and FED/Ex workers.

3. Don't show up empty handed.  At least offer to bring something.  Even if the host says its not necessary.  If it's a kick back night and we talked about it, nothing will be expected.

4. If the host asks you to take your shoes off, remove them.  In many Asian and Polynesian homes, it's customary to take off your shoes.

5. Don't bring in drugs or firearms unless the host requests it.  This should be common courtesy, but often, it isn't!   For instance, if a host is drug-free and you are not, leave the drugs at home!  My husband and I are not into drugs or firearms.

6. If you smoke, please step outside.  No judgment on tobacco.

7. Try not to take a dump unless you absolutely need to.   People tend to get very comfortable in my bathroom.

8. If you break something on accident, offer to replace it.  More than likely, if it's a glass, it won't be a huge deal and we will let it slide.  Try not to stain anything either.

9. Respect our property and belongings.  For instance, Our music and book collection is not part of a public library.

10.  If my husband or I organizes a party, check with us to see if you can bring someone we do not know.  There are some awesome people that know some real assholes and we don't want these assholes at our home. Ragging parties are the thing of our past because we have had a few.  Over it.

11. If you have an issue or don't like the people or one person who lives at that residence, don't attend the party.  It's rude to sit on a sofa with your jaws tight, while you are throwing shade. Common courtesy, right?  You would be surprised.......Life it too short to have petty issues with folks.  You can get glad in the same shoes you got mad in. Again, this is your problem and I ask you keep it away from me and out of my home please. (smile)

12. Your children are your responsibility.  Not mine.  Love kids and can be kid friendly, but the beauty in that, is that I give them right back to you.  Same with animals.

13. Be nice and respectful to the wife, or you definitely won't be invited back.  (See number 11.) Same goes for the hubby.  I work too hard and try to live carefully. My husband and I pay the bills, not the bitch with the attitude.  In other words, when same sex friends or exes try to pull rank on the spouse? Guess what? This isn't high school.  You will not win. There are too many of us who are grown and choose marriage or a committed relationship. (it's usually the single folk or those in unhappy relationships who try to pull rank).  No one should be disrespected in their own home. Some call it controlling, I call it not taking any shit! If any shade is thrown, you will be bounced.  Ya dig!

14. Questions about this are not only acceptable, they are welcomed.  Never assume.  I am more open than I appear to be and will answer all and any questions about this subject candidly.

I think these rules are reasonable.  My husband and I have had to compromise over these rules over the years.  People are different and nerds, ( sometimes, some are special cases that need disclaimers.) I think I have the right to pick and choose who I have in my backyard and kitchen so to speak.  There are people in our lives that have always been welcome and some who are not.  There are people who would be invited, but maybe associate with people I cannot trust and/or are potentially dangerous.  Friendship is based on trust and sincerity.  This takes effort and I will not open my home to people who do not or will not make effort, but assume that friendship with one person of the home is enough. Not everyone is going to get along and that's fine.   Gatherings are better at public places for some groups and others can be trusted enough to come to our home.  No hard feelings, just facts.

Starting out the new year with some earrings...

My main resolution for 2016 is to craft more.  Jewelry, Crochet, costuming, sewing.........I guess you can say, I would be indoors more. 

Here are some earrings I made for my stepmom.  She requested grays and cream colored tones.  I added some rose quartz to the mix.......

Hematite magnetic 



Soapstone, autumn jasper and hematite 


Citrine, autumn jasper and howlite 



Hematite and crazy jasper 

Shell and Angelite 

All earrings have sterling silver fish hooks......