Why You Should Like Us On Facebook

I know, I know. There's been no new blog in a terribly long time. Can you say "blogger's block?"

Well this one is a quickie. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK :-)

Why?

We are posting links to our latest Etsy listings, previews, and maybe even discounts. We will also be offering BUY DIRECT. These are items that are not listed on Etsy. And you'll find specatcular prices!

See something on Etsy you want? You can buy direct if you prefer by posting on our Facebook page. It's also the place to ask about items you may be looking for, or custom work.

So come by, check out us, give us a like, and maybe come buy.

ChezChani on Facebook. For all things ChezChani AND ChezChanisupply.

Mother's Day Gifts Not Up To Par? Discount Enclosed

If Mother's Day gifts were a drag, get out there and get yourself a treat!

ChezChani is offering 15 percent off with this code: sadmommy13

Cya there!

Introducing ChezChaniSupply on Etsy!

I'd like to introduce you to ChezChaniSupply, a wholly owned subsidiary of ChezChani.

On this site I hope to offer you the best possible deals on craft supplies, focusing mostly on jewelry supplies.

ChezChaniSupply is a result of my being an extremely frugal person. I found by buying in bulk and spending ALOT of time shopping around that I could save money on my supplies. I could only use a small percentage of what I bought. Thus, ChezChaniSupply was born.

Before making any purchases I comb Etsy and other supply sites, and if I don't believe I can offer the item at a competive rate,then I won't buy it. (Well I might buy it, but I won't sell it.)


For our grand openning, I'm pleased to offer you 10 percent off your purchase. This code is good for a limited time only so don't delay if you see something you like.

Discount code is GRANDOPENING . Feel free to share this code with your friends. I have many items still to be listed so check back often!

Thanks so much for giving ChezChaniSupply a look.

Jewels By Jules

I wanted to take a moment to share with you a wonderful shop on Etsy. Jewels By Jules is really worth a look. Or two...or three.

Jules is dealing with alot and has found the therapy of crafting. And we get to reap the rewards!

An unusual item is this wonderful engagement ring box. Now it may say "engagement ring" but I think it's just a really wonderful little box for any special item.

Check out this supernatural necklace!

Supercute!





Here are a few more of her beautiful items, look at the pictures then head on over to the Jewels By Jules.

Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

Generally I prefer to leave my day job where it belongs, in the poker room. But eventually (aka, when I retire) I may have to write a book about it. I have one page done so far and since I haven't blogged in awhile, what the heck. Here it is. Along with pictures of some of the poker/gambling related jewelry I've worked on. These are pieces that can be found at ChezChani.

So, Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

Short answer:
Table changes

Long answer:
“John , I have a seat for you on table 9, would you like it?.”

“Oh, I just played my blind, let me play to my button.”



Tick Tock.

“John are you going to take that seat?”

“Oh right, let me look at it.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock.



“John, you taking that seat?”

“Yes, I’m just racking up.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

“John, what’s up, are you moving??”

“You know what, I think I’ll just stay here for now. But leave me up for the next one.”

Cupcake Princess Jewelry

kelbelskreationsKawaii Jewelry by Cupcake Princess Jewelry

Click on the above link and you will be treated to a deliciously colourful Etsy page.

Kelly is a fellow member of the Handmade in Vegas team, and she really does have a yummy cupcake of a shop. Check it out, you will DROOL!!

Poker Mania at ChezChani

Just for the heck of it, I've been making fun pokerwear. Check it out...and keep checking because I'm pretty sure I'm not done.

Lucille Ball Postage Stamp Rummikub Pendant

Every once in awhile I'll be at the post office and see a sheet of stamps I can't resist. The one that started this a couple of years ago was the Chinese New Year stamps. I'd already been buying Chinese New Year casino chips so why not this? I display the sheet on the front of a cigar box (another one of my semi-collections.)

Now that I'm making resin jewelry, it seems a natural match with my stamps. So first up is my Lucille Ball 34 cent stamp on a Rummikub tile. Check it out in our Etsy store HERE.

Yet Another Summer-Related Blog

It's Etsyblogger carnival time (yes, I missed some, sue me.)

Share your favorite Summer Recipe!



Tall glass
ice
lemonade (pink or yellow)
vodka
straw (optional)

Put ice in tall glass. Pour in lemonade and vodka.

Makes one serving.



On another subject, I'm so very into my resin jewelry. No bottle cap is safe! I'll post some when I get some pictures done.

April

Do you know what April 22nd is? Why it’s the birthday of Prokofiev, Bettie Page, Aaron Spelling, Jack Nicholson, John Waters, Ryan Stiles and of course, Laurie Hendler - Julie from Gimme A Break.

It’s also Earth Day. This from Wikipedia: Earth Day is one of two observances, both held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere. These are intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox, a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. A second Earth Day, which was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970, is celebrated in many countries each year on April 22.

Etsy Bloggers asks “What do you do (or what can you do!) to make your Etsy business or home, a little bit greener?”

Many of my past crafts have been a result of not wanting to throw things away (this is indicative of both my wish to be green and my cheapness…I mean frugality.) I still make candles using recycled wax as chunks. I used to spend hours folding little boxes from recycled papers and pictures.

It’s a great sadness to me that I have, thus far, not found a way to recycle, reuse and repurpose in my jewelry making. There are people that have managed beautifully and I admire them greatly. Creatively, I am just not there. But I hope to be visited by the recycling muse someday.

Though my pieces aren’t ‘green’ I do recycle much of the packaging that my supplies come in. Those little Ziploc bags the beads come in? The labels peel righ off, cleanly most of the time, and I never throw those away. The tubes that some of my seed beads come in? Never throw those out, they make great bead storage. Padded envelopes? Re-label for mailing.

At home, I recycle, conserve water wherever possible (it’s a desert out there!) watch my use of electricity, gas (car and home,) buy almost all my clothes at thrift stores, Freecycle…

It’s not much but I’m always aware and wherever possible, take the path of least consumption.

PEACHES AND CREAM BRACELET (or what the mother of the bride ordered for dessert)

I don't normally do what I'd consider wedding jewelry. But after I whipped up this piece, it just screamed Mother of the Bride (am I the only one that sees this?)

Anyway, I put it on Etsy. About time I got something new up there. Check it out!

Why Didn't I??

It’s not that I didn’t think of using the suits from a deck of cards in my jewelry designs. I actually thought about it a lot. After all, I live in Las Vegas, I work in a casino, in a POKER ROOM yet! Many a time I pondered and doodled possible patterns for peyote stitch, but with absolutely no success. Sure I came up with a diamond and a heart. I thought I was getting close on a spade but the club! Oh that rebel club was elusive.

Fortunately there are beaders/designers out there more talented, more artistic, more…better than me! They (Redbeast Designs, Barbara E. Elbe) came up with these. Why didn’t I? (This subject courtesy of EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival.)

Perfectly Twisted

I'm fascinated by wire wrapping. Just a little piece of wire, bent here, twisted there, and you've turned a simple stone into a framed masterpiece.

So far I have not delved into the art and craft of wire work. But I'm going to share with you someone who has, and with great success.

Susan of Perfectly Twisted Jewelry has been designing jewelry for three years and selling for two. It was her love of unusual stones that drove Susan to her art. And in Susan's skilled hands there is no doubt that this is art.



Susan is generous with her gift as well, selling tutorials as well as finished designs in her Etsy store. And next month she begins teaching at her local bead store.

Please check out fellow Esmarts member Susan's work at her Etsy store and her blog, you will be amazed and inspired.

Open A New Window

Open A New Door
Travel A New Highway...




My work has suddenly turned a corner.
What do you think?

Tagged for Life

Theresa, a fellow Las Vegan, has tagged me. As the rules state, I must reveal 7 random facts about myself. At the end I'm supposed to tag 7 people HOWEVER given that I've tagged almost every one of you once, I'm not going to name names. Anyone reading this, and you know who you are (right?) consider yourself tagged. C'mon, share a piece of yourself with us on your blog! I don't know about you but sometimes I just don't know what to blog about, so here's something...you you you. And check out Theresa's blog and her really wonderful Etsy shop.


Here are my random facts:

I Yesterday I was shopping at Goodwill and I purchased a pair of ADORABLE baby Ugg boots. Or maybe they're toddler boots, what do I, a childless spinster, know about baby boots? This random fact reveals a couple of things about me. I thrift shop (religiously). And I buy completely useless things. But they were so cute!!! And now they are sitting in front of my fireplace, and I could use them as bookends. And I just love Uggs and can't afford a pair to wear but now I OWN a pair of Uggs!!!

II I have two (2) high school diplomas.

III I would way rather send/receive an email than talk on the phone.

IV I love Melatonin-induced dreams.

V I miss Knot's Landing but have found that Desperate Housewives fills the void.

VI I once sat in the lobby of a hotel in Los Angeles, just because I knew David Bowie would be walking by. And he did.

VII I think roman numerals are cool.

S & T CREATIONS - PARTNERS IN SUBLIME

Bold. Vibrant. Eye-catching. Dynamic. All words that describe, but do not do justice to, the creations of S&T. S=Saundra Brown-Gordon, the flamboyant, outgoing and organized member of the team. T=Teri Baskett, an artist at the jeweler's bench and the keyboard. Their tastes are very much in sync, both preferring larger pieces (though Saundra tends to favour a little more bling.)



A visit to S&T Creations will dazzle the eye with gemstones, glass and crystal. But don't be fooled, they have something delicious for every budget, including custom orders in a wide price range.




For those of you in the area, their jewelry can be found at Gift Expressions, LaFollette Station, Floyds Knobs, Indiana. Don't despair out-of-towners - you're in luck too. S&T Creations can be found online at www.sandtcreations.com, S&T Creations Etsy Store,and the S&T blog. Teri can also be followed on Twitter as Teri_B.



So follow me now to the up-to-date, always style focused S&T Creations. See you there!! (I think I might have to have that darling hat pin, what do you think?)

Craft Show Dec. 7 & New Listing

Pictured is one my latest works, now available in our Etsy Shop. It's a bracelet inspired by the Leather Pride Flag. I'd never heard of this flag, but someone looking at my gay rainbow bracelet suggested it. We found pictures of it online and I had to give it a go. I think it came out very true to the actual flag. I'm not going to go into details about what the flag represents (partly because I'm not sure I'm clear on it.) I will say that while it's not for everybody, it sure is for somebody.

We are only doing one show this holiday season. It's this Sunday, Dec. 7 9AM-3PM at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin...Las Vegas NV (Town Center, 1 block north of Desert Inn. 10700 Havenwood Lane.) Given that our only show is at a Synagogue it's just as well I never got to my Christmas specific designs. Next year I'll have to plan earlier for that. I have no excuses for my lack of preparation, I'm pretty sure this season comes around the same time every year.

Hope all you Americans had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was fortunate in that it fell on my day off and nobody cooks a turkey like my mommy!!

ChezChani @ Athena Magazine Weblog

Chezchani has been interviewed by Marjorie of Marjories Cracked Plate Jewelry. Check us out here!

Customer Disservice

I work in the Casino Industry in Las Vegas. Just got an email from a friend who works at a major strip property telling me about all the layoffs.

Businesses panic in times of recession but one has to ask oneself, is laying people off really for the greater, and long run, good? What will make one casino stand out from another in a time when there are less players to fight over? A. The company that has better deals and B, (and maybe B. should be A.) Customer service.

Granted smaller companies may not be able to make their payroll these days, and laying people off may be their only chance of survival.

I am an Embarq customer. Have been for some time. I also have dish network. Wondering if a switch to something else will save me money. Perhaps Cox Cable though I've never cared for their advertising practices. If I should switch my TV service, perhaps I could get the best deal by switching my high speed internet as well. But last week I had a problem with my DSL. It took just a phone call to get it resolved, Embarq made some changes, got me back online and promptly sent me a new modem. A small mention of this in my blog led to a comment by an Embarq customer service rep, letting me know to contact them if there is any problem. Then, an Embarq guy started following me on Twitter, also telling me to let them know if there is any problem. And you know what? As a result, I will not even consider leaving Embarq. Why? CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I was working in a large poker room of one of the largest casino companies. A customer was trying to get through on the phone, to the front desk to see if his room was ready. Not having any luck I offered to call the Diamond Lounge to see if they could find out (that is the lounge for higher limit players.) I could not get through either. The man said “this is ridiculous, I’m never staying here again, I’ll stay at the Wynn.” So this major company saved, say $8 an hour on an extra employee at the desk or lounge, but lost a big player. Now this company shoves the customer service concept down it’s employees throats like I’ve never seen anywhere else, but doesn’t provide the manpower to achieve it.

Eventually, things will get better, but the customer who did not receive the service they deserve, will already be gone and comfy in the place that treated them properly. And they will not come back.


And Now For Something Completely Different. The holidays are approaching faster than a speeding bullet. I'd like to make a suggestion for your gift giving this year. Buy from ChezChani. Well that's one idea. Here's another. Why not buy a gift that will surely make your friends/family happy as well as supporting a fine charity? Best Friends is an amazing animal sanctuary. Check out their store for some affordable fun gifts. You can really make a difference and at no extra cost to you. You're buying the gifts anyway, right?

!!!!SALE!!!!SALE!!!!SALE!!!!

The temperatures in Las Vegas are dropping and so are our prices. All glass work and necklaces are currently an amazing 30 percent off. So please come buy..I mean by our Etsy shop ChezChani