Another Contest Another Craft

First let me tell you about another contest at Pretty Things, some very cool lucite beads! I'm entering right now and so should you.



Ok, not really another craft but another element to an existing craft. People are sentimental about their pet's ashes...aka cremains. (I'm not one of them.) So I'm offering to make jewelry with them. My first project is done. I did 2 pendants and a ring. I've already shipped them out and only have pictures of the ring. It's one of my new design, The Sparkling Bubble Ring, with ashes mixed in. (BTW in this project, it was not a beloved pet, but a beloved relative.)

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.

Where's The Fifth Tiger?

Anthony and I went to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage yesterday to see the tiger cubs. I'd heard there were four and I really wanted to see them. We spent most of our time with our faces glued to the glass around the cubs area. It's a square room with glass walls on two sides. The other two sides are in the gift shop and there are several windows. A man sits in there with them, playing with them and breaking up fights. I guess he's training them but I don't know what they are being trained for as S & R no longer perform. As far as I'm concerned, there is little in this world as cute as a tiger cub. Three girls and a boy, the boy is a golden tiger, two white tigers without much stripes and a white striped one. Everyone was envious of the man in there with them and wanted his job. They may look like little babies but they sound like real tigers when they growl.

Today I searched the web for mor info on the tigers and everything I found, including the Secret Gardens site, says there are five cubs. But I was unable to find out where the fifth one is. I sent an email to the Secret Garden but who knows if they'll respond...(EDIT The day after I posted this I did receive a response from the Secret Garden. They assured me that there are still five tigers but that they sometimes rotate them in to the nursery.)

By the way I'm not posting pics because Ant didn't remind me to take a camera. We might have to go back next week, fortunately he gets a discount on the entry.



This is my latest fun ring design, I call it The Polka Dot Ring. I love making these rings. While it incorporates my one and only stitch, Peyote, it doesn't take hours and hours to make like my other items. Expect to see this one in lots of colour combinations. Because it doesn't take long to make, I'll be offering them at a very reasonable (read: cheap) price on Etsy.

Alien Song

In my early days of computer exposure I was introduced to a little video called Alien Song (Victor Navone 1999.) No matter how many times I saw it, no matter how depressed I may have been, it always made me smile. So for those of you not familiar with it, I found it on You Tube and I'd like to share it with you, my loyal readers (yes, both of you)...Alien Song.

Lately I'm in a ring phase. The ring with the Swarovski frame is now available in 7 colours, with more to be ready soon. I sold the Swarovski cube ring which was in our Etsy store. That was the most viewed item in the store so it really was just a matter of time. That one will soon be available in an array of colours as well. The ring shown above is my latest, the 'Rita Ring.

Rings are my favourite type of jewelry so it's no wonder I'm making alot of them. And I don't care for expensive rings. Since the last loss of a special ring (I still cannot think or talk about it without crying) I have decided disposable rings are the only way to go. When I say disposable I mean, reasonably priced and without sentimental attachment, so when/if it gets lost, it won't be too upsetting. So rich man, if you want to buy me that 5 carat diamond, just forget it...I don't want it. Cash will be fine.

Swarovski Crystal Frame Ring

I saw a picture of a ring like this in the Fire Mountain Gem Catalogue and I just had to make it. I am going to be making it in lots of colours because I just like it so much. Very comfy too. It will be on my Etsy site soon, at just $15. I'm also at work on a bracelet with little windows, in each window will be a Swarovski crystal. I love Swarovskis, there are those that would prefer them over diamonds. They have amazing sparkle, the best crystal you can buy. Should be ready in a few days and I'll post a pic.

It's my Sunday so I'm trying to get stuff done as well as just relaxing and doing what I want. It's another balmy day in Las Vegas, in the low 100's. BUT IT'S A DRY HEAT.

Check out our Etsy Site

Chezchani is the mother/daughter team of Roz and Elayne. Roz is currently into glass and wire wrapping. Elayne is mad about Peyote Stitch. But just how much of this stuff can one person wear? So it's time to offer our work to you. Please check out our site at http://www.chezchani.etsy.com/. And if the stuff gives you ideas, let us know. Custom work is welcome. Custom colours, designs, sizes. Elayne can design rings, bracelets, small pet necklaces with names or initials. And keep checking, we'll add our newest work as fast as we make it. Which isn't that fast because handmade pieces like ours take time as well as love. Wanna talk to us? chezchani02@aol.com.