Sales in the Wind

ChezChani will be joining other Etsians in Black Weds, and Black Friday Weekend Sales. Stay Tuned!!!

ESMARTS Strikes Again!

As I may have mentioned, I am a member of an Etsy Street Team, “Esmarts.” We are an eclectic group of artists and craftspeople who have come together from all over the world to offer each other support and guidance in this crazy mixed up world of internet marketing.

In addition to each individual Etsy store, we proudly bring you the Esmarts shop. Featuring items from many of our members, you will find wonderful variety here.

I recommend you bookmark the Esmarts shop. You will be amazed at the handmade glories awaiting you. New items are added regularly. And for even more Esmarts check out the team blog.

Jannadu - Jannadu - U - U

Jannadu, your neon lights will shine
For you, Jannadu




Jann Alexander, the Jann behind the Jannadu, is a fellow Esmarts team member. I’m quite fond of Jann’s Etsy shop for the obvious reason. It has a cool name. No, that’s not the only reason. When you go to Jann’s storefront, what’s the first thing you notice? Go ahead, I’ll wait here.

The colours! Jann features an incredible array of bold, bright, vibrant colours. It’s like pulling up the blinds to a dazzling sunny morning.

Jann says her designs are for the Rubenesque woman (large and lovely.) I semi-agree. I think it’s for the larger woman OR the larger personality. Her pieces shout out confidence. Don’t really feel it inside? Doesn’t matter anymore when you wear a Jannadu work of art.

Find Jann on Etsy, Artfire, and at her blog entitled, Art & Artists/Me & My Friends. Very well titled indeed, as Jann truly is an artist.

It's Like A Necklace...Only Warmer

Roz is a crafter from way back. She's always had some project going, be it knitting or crochet. So why not put some of those cozy, delicious scarves on our Etsy site and let others enjoy the fruits of her labour. This Chenille scarf is soft and scrumptious and washable too! And what an eyecatching colour, scarlet, ruby red, blood red, call it what you will, it's gorgeous!

Check it out at ChezChani, and you can be snuggling up to this baby in a week. At only $19 with $1. shipping, treat yourself!

IF

First day of my weekend, stranded on the island of seed beads. I look out, I see nothing. How long can I go on?

My only form of sustenance, my beads and the Julie Ann Smith design, Scrappy Hearts. I can do this odd Odd Count. I can I can. No, I can’t. I won’t! Too much stress..must...rest...
I give up. Not worth the stress, an even count with a row of brick stitch looks just the same so why put myself through this?

Out damn seed beads. Have to start again. Okay, going fine now going fine going...not so fine. How did those amythest beads get mixed into the green beads? Out again. Well as long as I’m undoing I must be honest with myself. These colour combinations are yucky. I have to question my colour combining abilities. Perhaps Scrappy Hearts and I should take opposite spots on this island, live our days out alone. I’ve already given up on Odd Count, can I give up on Scrappy Hearts too and still be able to R E S P E C T myself? I will try one more time. You will not beat me Scrappy! (Sure is a lot of punctuation on this island.)

Fewer colours. Perhaps that is the secret to salvation. If Scrappy makes it out of this alive I will post a picture. IF.

(Pictured above, Spooky Kitties Bracelet. Design by Julie Ann Smith.)

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.

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!)