What I Do

Purple Socks

One of the great things about getting older is that you can do silly stuff and get away with it.  Like shopping in the teen department and buying purple socks!  Cool, huh?  I've got a purple shirt that they match just right.

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Nerd Pride Day!

It's Nerd Pride Day--woo hoo!  I'm a nerd, and proud of it!  And these are my boys...Lamar, Wormser, Poindexter, Lewis, and Booger--the nerdiest of the nerds!

Yes, you can tell my nerd-ness goes way back.  There have been some pretty nerdy nerds since then.  From Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, from Steve Urkel to The Big Bang boys--who's YOUR favorite nerd? 
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This is the BelAir Courtyard in Cocoa Village, where my shop is located.  We recently talked the landlord into cutting down the jasmine that has been growing wildly--and for the most part unattended--for years.  I really like the new look.  I think it really opens up the entrance to the courtyard, makes it more inviting.  Top picture = with.  Bottom picture = without. What do you think?

Waka Waka ~~Shakira

LOVE this song!

Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

Florida Retailer of the Year

I have been nominated by Cocoa Main Street for Florida Retailer of the Year.  How awesome is that?!  I've been in business for 28 years, in my present location for almost 20 years.  All the time that I've had my little retail store, I've also been involved in volunteering in the community.  Back in 1995, when Cocoa was first designated a Main Street city, I made the three-year commitment as its first President, as was required by the state.  At one time or another I also served on the city's Economic Development Committee, and as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.  I currently sit on the Board of Directors of the Historic Cocoa Village Association and serve as its Vice President.  There's more, but you get the idea.

So what happens if I win?  I'm thinking it's kind of like dreaming about winning the lottery.  You know, you kind of imagine the things that might happen and the stuff you could buy and the people you could help, and how it would be really, REALLY cool!--but in the back of your mind you're thinking "ah, it'll never happen to me."  Of course it DOES happen to SOMEBODY, right?  So I'm thinking if I were to become Florida Retailer of the Year, I'd be pretty pleased about it, that's for sure!  There would be plenty of publicity, which should be good for my business.  There's a luncheon on June 21st, hosted by the Florida Retailers Federation where they would present me with a really awesome trophy and clap for me and I'd probably have to make a speech. 

Hmm...I wonder what I'll wear...?

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"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." Is it? Or maybe you just need to get up off your lazy ass and mow the lawn, water it, pull some weeds, fertilize it, take care of your own grass and stop looking over the fence.  ~~Craig Sanford

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Woven Silver Chain

This is "spool-knit".  One continuous strand of very thin sterling silver wire woven over nails stuck in a spool and threaded through the hole and out the bottom.  You did that with a spool and yarn when you were a kid, right?  Haha!  This necklace was woven with 7 nails, so it's thick and substantial, it closes with an easy spring ring, and it measures about 22" long.  If you have pendants with really big bails you could wear them on this, but it's fantastic as a stand-alone accessory, too!   I make a similar chain woven with 4 nails--it's thinner and more delicate, but equally eye-catching!

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Fairness?

I got this in an email today.  I've seen it before, and it makes me shake my head because it's one of those things that you think should go without saying, but it's NOT what's actually happening.  I would be in favor of this:

     ***Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution***

     "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the
 United States that does not apply equally to all members of
 Congress, Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall
 make no law that applies to all members of Congress, Senators
 and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens
 of the United States."

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Hair Jewelry Is In?!

I'm hearing that 2012 seems like it may be the year of the hair accessory, as more runways and shows are including jeweled hair combs, bobby pins, hair clips, head bands, chopsticks, barrettes, tiaras, brooches and pony tail holders.  Apparently Cosmopolitan magazine even featured a piece online recently showing women how to use bobby pins to attach necklaces to their hair!  Hmm...I kind of wish I'd seen that one.  I guess it wouldn't be too hard to figure out, but I'm thinking it would be interesting to be able to show my customers another use for their pendants.

Hair accessories dress up any outfit, and the more jewelry-like they are, the more they catch the eye. They can be big, fun and funky or smaller and more sparkling...whatever your "comfort level" and the length of your hair would dictate.  Right now designers are using real and faux gemstones and pearls, rhinestones, encrusted glass, acrylic gems and bead work to make great hair accessories.  The picture above is of a gold wire hair comb featuring a triangle shaped amethyst that has been in Contemporary Concepts' inventory since 1988 or so.  (I'm sure of that because it was actually made by my friend Eve, who worked with me from 1987 to 1989.  She now lives in Phoenix and is my most excellent webmaster!)  Since "the year of the hair accessory" apparently only comes around every couple of decades, I'm hoping this little lovely will sell this time! 

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Orange Hair

I wanted to try a new formula of hair color.  Maybe you've seen it, the "mousse" formula by L'Oreal?  Supposed to be quicker, easier, less messy.  Okay, cool.  I've been coloring my hair for about 30 years, and quicker and easier sounds good!  I purchased the color that appeared to be the closest to my "normal" shade (which is Nice 'N Easy #108, Reddish Blond).  This L'Oreal color was designated Dark Copper Blond.  Judging by the name, and the color on the box, I expected it to be darker than my usual shade.  What I got was orange-er.  I'm not kidding--it looks like carrot juice.  I've put up pictures, you can judge for yourself.  What I got was NOT the color on the box!  And the mousse formula was only marginally faster and not really easier.  So when this fades out I'll be going back to my #108!

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Valentine's Day sentiment

Trivia

Pearls dissolve in vinegar.

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eBay Anniversary

Woo hoo!  I got this message in my email inbox today:

Congratulations!

It's your 13-year eBay anniversary


starjewelr8,


We want to say thanks and let you know how much we value having you as an eBay community member. All of us at eBay wish you the very best in the year to come.


Thank you!
John Donahoe
President and CEO, eBay Inc.
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King of Hearts Trivia

The king of hearts is the only one who doesn't have a moustache.

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An Irony of Aging

It's my son's birthday today.  The night he was born I didn't sleep at all.  I had just gotten into bed when my water broke at around midnight.  I was in labor just over 5 hours, he was born at 5:19 a.m. 

Flash forward to now.  It's hell getting old(er).  These days I find myself waking up at least once each night to go to the bathroom and get a drink.  Like clockwork.  Every night.  Except last night.  I find it ironic that on the anniversary of the night I didn't sleep at all, I didn't wake up to go to the bathroom! 

Tonight I'll probably be up twice.

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Thumbtack.com

I just discovered an interesting service site called Thumbtack.com.  Seems like a great addition to my arsenal of ways to get myself noticed!  Their tagline is "find and book trustworthy local services".  I'm all for finding and using small businesses whenever I can, aren't you?  Check out their listings!  You can find ME here: Handcrafted Gold or Silver Wirewrap Jewelry

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Going Dark on January 18th

I've censored the following, in protest of a bill that gives any corporation and the US government the power to censor the internet--a bill that could pass THIS WEEK. Join me and many other sites like Wikipedia and Reddit and "go dark" on January 18th for 24 hours.  To see the uncensored text, and to stop internet censorship, visit: http://americancensorship.org/posts/39442/uncensor




██████████ █████--█████ it! The ████████ isn't ███████ but it's ██████ ████ ████ the way it is. For ██████'t ████ let's ████ ████████ the ████ OUT of it!




 
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YouTube is My Friend

I saw some interesting statistics about YouTube today.  Did you know:

1. 35+ hours of video are uploaded to YouTube per minute?
2. In 2010, there were 13 million hours of footage uploaded to YouTube?
3. There are 3+ billion video views per day?
4. The average visitor spends 15+ minutes a day on YouTube?
5. YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine and 3rd most visited site on the Web?

I've been thinking about how YouTube can help me spread the word about my jewelry.  I could at least put up a slideshow of Contemporary Concepts' coolest stuff, right?  And maybe one of these days get around to making a tutorial on some of my items.  I've got a cute little Flip video camera.  I've got a tripod.  Now I just need another couple hours in the day!

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Holiday Shipping Report

This is the "shipping area" in my store.  A counter with bubble mailers on the right, then moving leftward you'll see my postage meter, Sharpies to write on the bubble mailers, cute stickers to put on the packages, stamps, and the Outgoing Mail Basket.  And the official count is in...between November 25th (Black Friday) and December 24th (Christmas Eve), I mailed 148 packages.  All over the world.  Woo hoo!  Many thanks to all my friends and fans--keep those orders coming!  And tell all YOUR friends!  Contemporary Concepts is THE place for handcrafted jewelry!

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