Catching Up

Finally made my first Julie Ann Smith designed bracelet. Took a long time and was not easy to do but I think it was worth it. I just love her colourful fun designs. I have 3 more to try. Minor adjustments must be made as the patterns are in odd count Peyote and I prefer to do even count (want to know why...inquire within.)

Anthony and I went to see the tiger cubs again at The Secret Garden. They are out of the nursery and have a lovely area of the garden. We were lucky to catch all 5 of them out there. They were getting their bottles when we arrived. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think there is anything cuter than a tiger cub.

I guess the jury is still out on the success of the e-poker tables at the Excalibur. I have not gone over there yet, I get most of my info on the message board at twoplustwo. We did go to opening night of the Eastside Cannery. First new casino in that area in ten years I believe. They did a very nice job, I wish it much success. The poker room is in a premium location, right by the front door. Cannery North, take notes. We didn't play because the players cards from the old Cannery didn't work there and the line was too long for new cards.

There is hope that the temperatures will drop out of the hundreds soon. Not soon enough for me.

Electronic Poker Tables in Vegas?????

I started a long winded blog about this issue and then I deleted it. Let’s just summarize with, electronic tables may have their place in this world. Cruises, small casinos in small towns that might otherwise not have poker, maybe even Sit’n’Goes, Satellites or Heads Up tables, my rumpus room (if such a room existed.) Might even be a place for people to fool around while waiting for a seat in a real poker game.

People do not come to Vegas to play poker this way. Tourists love to talk to dealers (I spent a lot of time dealing to tourists.) Tourists don’t care about the speed of the game (I was a tourist myself and if I lost my buy-in too early I had to go to bed. Faster game = faster loss.) Tourists don’t care about the rake (ask a tourist about the rake and a likely answer will be “what’s a rake?”) Even locals are paying $4.00 rake plus $1.00 jackpot rake instead of flocking to the casinos with the $3.00 rake or El Cortez which is still at an amazing $2.50.

I was at the gym yesterday and one old man says to the other old man “Have you heard about the Excalibur? I hope it catches on, save me on dealer tokes.” Other old man does not respond. (I’m guessing he didn’t agree but didn’t want to argue. Otherwise he’d have agreed, right?) This is for you old man, over 40 people lost their jobs but you can save a couple of bucks. Hey, life is grand. Here’s a crazy idea, just don’t tip you cheap _________. I’m sure the dealer won’t miss the two bucks you probably put out in a session.

And while I’m ranting about poker games and tables and dealers, why aren’t more dealers wearing cute ChezChani hand beaded rings?

Send This To Ten Friends

Happy mid August from hot HOT (but dry) Las Vegas. Still plugging away at ye olde Peyote stitch. But I am looking around for other diversions. I'm now researching Chain Maille. For those that think it's sending out maille to ten friends and having them send it to ten friends...it's not. Basically you make chain by linking jump rings, small round rings, together. Let me tell you, I have seen some really beautiful work. I'm going to dabble in copper Chain Maille to start with and go from there. I do love the look of copper and I prefer the price over that of silver.

Here's an exceptional example from Esmarts own Joella at AlwaysWiredBeadLady.




Of course you'll find our current work in our Etsy shop, including the newest listing, the Red Windows Bracelet. Just for fun, we're trying a couple of items on Ecrater. Ecrater is another site where you can find some fun and fabulous creations. I learned of this from another Esmarty, Lois at A Beaded Affair. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I'd give credit and a link to that if I knew who to credit and if that person had a site or blog...but I'm guessing not.

Evens or Odds?

Up to this point I’ve only done even count Peyote with my own designs. Recently I fell in love with some patterns from pattern-maker extraordinaire Julie Ann Smith at Angelamps. Julie Ann is also a member of the mighty Esmarts Team.

Unfortunately all of the patterns I purchased are for odd count Peyote. Julie Ann was kind enough to send me several tutorials on odd count Peyote. I know I can learn it, I’ve glanced at it and believe I know what to do, but I’m torn. You see I was fortunate enough to buy an issue of Bead and Button last year that had a life changing article entitled Fast Peyote Stitch. The title is slightly deceiving because there is no such thing as fast peyote stitch, it should have been called Faster Peyote Stitch, or even more appropriately, Less Slow Peyote Stitch. A bracelet with a complicated pattern can take me up to 2 weeks to finish (I don’t work continuously of course, I have a job and I sleep.) Basically it taught me to do two rows at once. That makes it how much faster? You do the math. As far as I can tell, this method will not work on odd count Peyote. I have sent the instructions to Julie Ann, so who knows, maybe she’ll be able to put the two together.

Where does this leave me? Well, I can do the patterns as purchased and do one row at a time, or I can attempt to alter the patterns. I’m going with the second choice first. I’m trying to beef up my stock as we have in mind a nice craft show for the holidays and I don’t need to double my time on each piece. At least one of the patterns has an edging that will look odd if I knock off or add a line though. Sigh.

Atop this blog is a picture of Roz’s latest piece. I think it’s quite lovely. And it can be yours if The Price is...I mean if you purchase it at ChezChani’s cute little Etsy shop.

Tag! I'm It/6 Random Things Re: Me

So there is a game of Internet Tag of which I have not been aware. I became aware when I got tagged by talented Jewerly Designer Jamee at Jonara Blu Maui. Imagine that, being tagged here in Las Vegas by someone all the way in Hawaii, is this internet thing wild and crazy stuff or what??


Here are the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


Six Random Things about ME ME ME

1. I broke my leg skiing when I was 3 yrs old. That's why I was never a particularly good skier.

2. I have never voted (can't do it. For more info, inquire within.)

3.I have 2 high school diplomas.

4 I'm an extremely tight poker player. Some might say too tight. But only those that are actually paying attention.

5. I have a fear of phones. Well a fear of talking to people on the phone. Not everybody but definitely strangers, people I don’t know very well, and people I haven’t spoken to in a long time. Thank goodness for email.


6A On my first day of school in Ste. Agathe (that would be May of grade 5) my future best friend wrote in her diary, “A new girl came to school today, she had messy hair.”
6B I have messy hair.


Ok, now my turn to tag 6 people. You are, of course, free to not do this but I would be very VERY sad. :-(

Anna Lee at Gahoole’Tree & Sassy D’Lite
Lois at A Beaded Affair (yes I remember)
Auggie at The Queen’s Jewels
Diane at My Gemstone Box
Teresa at Inspired Designs by Teresa
Wezz at The World of Wezz (love your waffles!)