"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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