Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Let's play catchup


Wow. Seriously, wow. I have said before that I was done writing here, and I have had this turbulent on-again, off-again relationship with talking to myself on this blog. Hell I even went and made a new tumblr blog to start fresh, but I abandoned that shit too. So until this blog dies of starvation from the lack of my golden presence, I will continue to resurface and grace it with my everyday crazy bullshit.

I haven't posted anything since right after grandmother died. I didn't take it so well, and honestly I still think about it all the time. I've had a lot of nightmares... of the few moments before she died, when I felt she was trying to tell me something with her eyes, but she could no longer speak... Dreams about her calling me on the phone and begging me to make her pain stop... Dreams of her and Memaw whispering to me, and when I wake up I feel like there was some big secret thing I have forgotten that they told me, and it is dire that I remember. Sometimes I wake up and I look for them both because I could swear they were just in the room with me. I brought alot of her things home with me that they wanted us to have after she passed and sometimes I wake up, and look at the bedside table that used to be in her living room, and in my morning confusion think I'm there. It's been a weird transition.

After her funeral, my mother and brother were in town, and they came out to my house for a bit to visit, and we ended up sitting in my living room and having some drinks and looking thought all of these old pictures I've had forever, or some that I got from my dad, and laughing and joking and having a great time with one another. I can't remember ever having so much fun with them. It was the best night.

A week ago my grandfather moved to Florida to live with my mother, since he is unable to live alone anymore. After grandmother passed he lived in the house alone for a few weeks until he got another bladder infection and had to go into the hospital for a little over a week, due to dehydration and not taking his meds and such. He just wouldn't eat, or drink anything other than diet coke. Hell, I would go out there on the weekends and he would hide coke cans so I wouldn't tattle on him to my aunt Lisa, who was doing most of the daily visiting to check up on him. But she and I both work, and Lori has those kids, and Kristy is fighting cancer, so there just wasn't someone around all the time to stay with him.

He really was depressed for a while after the funeral. They were married 65 years, so can you blame him? So he stopped taking care of himself. Lisa would come in and make him something to eat, and he would eat a little and drink some milk, but when she left he wasn't doing anything for himself. So he ended up in the hospital. They checked on his that morning and went to work, and when they came back all of the doors were locked and he wouldn't come to the door, and she peeked in the window and saw him laid out in the floor. They had to break in, and called an ambulance. While they were on the way there he kept telling me aunt that he had been in the Covington hospital and that the nurses wouldn't feed him or give him anything to drink, and that the room was filled with sand and he sunk down into it and couldn't escape. (He has never been to that hospital) He also told her that he kept seeing my grandmother sitting next to her, or grandmothers head floating around him, angry at him. Once they got to the hospital, he kept saying the walls and the windows and the TV were wrapped in paper, and that there were people floating outside him 4th story room window rapping on the glass trying to get in. So they were very concerned about what was going on with him.

He has shown signs of forgetfulness or general confusion before but nothing that was as serious as this. Of course it could have been the dehydration, or a stroke, or even the prescription meds they had him on. Or he could have been having minor seizures, or it might have been due to toxin buildup. He had kidney problems before, and they weren't discounting anything. So for the first week it was awful. He freaked out a few times, and even cold clocked an orderly in the eye because they wouldn't let him out of bed. (He didn't believe me when I told him about it later, but when he did he was so upset and so very sorry) After a few days he was sorta in and out. He'd be there and then later he wouldn't be. He argued with my Aunt a lot, and even said some shocking things about blowing his brains out (which the nurses heard and got very upset about, and even after he got out of the hospital they put him under 24 hour surveillance.) And that is exactly why he went to live with my mother. Because he simply can't live alone anymore. Now that he is back to good (great even) health, mentally and physically, he still needs someone around to remind him of the pills or to eat, etc etc.

 I stayed with him on one weekend before he left, and he asked me how fair it was that he got left behind and didn't die with her. What do you say? I mean, I didnt have much of a dad growing up, and my step father didnt come along until much late in my life, so my grandfather was my father figure despite being mean and merciless to me most of my life. And even though I have been angry with him many times and sometimes not wanting to be around him, to watch him wither the way he did was really hard to see. But now that he is with my mother, he seems so much happier. He can't see or hear so well, so alot of things he could do for a hobby are out the window. He's bored alot and lets face it, there's only so much TV you can watch before you lose your mind. I really feel for him. I feel like he and I have connected in a way that we never did before, and now he is 9 hours from me with the rest of my immediate family. I wish I could talk Aaron into moving to Florida. He is close to my brother, and I'm glad for that. John always was Paw's golden child.

The big plus for me is that grandmother's grave site is within 5 minutes of my house, so I can go see her whenever I want. Paw asked me to keep flowers out there for her, and to make sure it's all nice and taken care of. I like to sit in the grass, next to her and my Aunt Barbara and talk to them. It's nice.

So many things are changing. Holidays will be so different now. My brother is getting married. Morgan had a kid!!! Life is getting interesting these days. Who knows? maybe I'll get married and have a kid myself lol

I been hanging out with Michelle alot lately. Well, as much as I could with everything going on. Right before it got cold, we had a yard sale together with her mom. Here's the setup I used:


But alot nicer looking of course. This was just the dry run I did in my living room.

Ive been crafting alot more lately, since I have been in hermit mode for a bit. Here's a couple of pics for you:


I know its upside down... SUE ME
I didn't make the bracelet, my friend Sofia Velazco did
but I made the necklace and earrings to match


Chain and washer earrings


I kept this one for myself lol


Jasper and wire


I gave these to Haley just for the hell of it


SPARKLY


Tree of life


These will be for sale soon at the Ornamental Metal Museum


Pretty turquoise mix


And these are made from plastic containers I bought cake in at the grocery store.
I love youtube tutorials!!!

Most of these pictures are older and I can't take pics of the NEW new stuff cause my camera is busted. JOY. You can also see these and mant more at my River Rock Jewelry Facebook Fan Page. Man, thats a mouthful. Come Like us and tell me what you think!!!

It is time for me to sleep. I will talk so more (GOD FORBID) later on this weekend or something. OH and BTW, December 15th through the 25th I will be having a 25% off sale on my site, so if you need a last minute gift for that speical someone, head on over to the River Rock Jewelry store and see what goodies I have in stock!

< 3

Saturday, April 28, 2012



Man, it is hard to stay focused on everything I have going on right now. The blog, unfortunately has suffered for it. I did promise more pictures of what I have been up to so here they are:


Fabric bracelets! So cute!


resin and glass


blue glass


blue glass GLOWS


mini glass cubes


what a pretty rosary


blue glass mix seed beads



sold as a set


transistors and clay beads


resistors and transistors


resisitors


mixed electrical parts




dainty hanging resistors


crackled green glass and purple swirl triple wrap
(this belongs to Misty now)


buttons buttons buttons!!!


watch parts encased in resin


screw nuts and hemp wrap



Another reversible tree of life pendant
(with REAL Mississippi river rocks!)


pretty refurbished piece


resin and hematite cubes with silver toggle clasp


I am working on lots of other projects at the moment too. I have been working with the Ornamental Metal Museum downtown and selling items out of their gift shop. I will probably accept an internship with them later this year. (If they'll have me lol)

My mother and I are doing the Cooper Young festival later this year in September. I will also be at the Millington flea market off and in until then. (As soon as they will have me too lol)

I will keep updating as I go. There are more images on Haley's camera that I have to get off before I can show you. 

OH and btw. 
SOMEONE PLEASE COME CRAFT WITH ME I AM SO LONELY
Busy, but lonely.

I have to take a shower or I'd stay and talk some more.

<3

Friday, July 22, 2011

I have many things to share today


I started working at Gregory-Salisbury Power Products Inc. with Aaron and Richard. Its an office job, so I do paper work and answer the phones, and do work orders, and P/O and S/O, and shipping and receiving, and bank deposits, and payroll attendance or time cards, and whatever Gail hands me to do. lol I like it, its a good job until I get myself situated in a pharmacy job. And its more hours and more pay
than what I got at McAlister's.
YAY!


I never made it to the bathroom with the camera that day,
I couldn't leave the phones unattended.
It had absolutely NOTHING to do with being afraid
to go down that creepy hallway!!!
So I stayed and worked on purchase orders
till it was time to clock out.


OH and great news.... I got a new soldering pen!!! 


I started on this kick because I really want to start working with metals. And our little visit to the Memphis Metal Museum only made the desire worse. A museum employee told me that if I had some metal pieces that she would give me a consignment job to sell those items in her gift shop there. She really liked the wire wrapped rings that I have been making, and said if I brought them to her she'd put them up for sale!!! So I make the stuff they sell it for me at a 60/40 split. So I went Home Depot crazy tonight. I got new needle nose pliers, some packing tape to use in my crystal resin bevels, some grips for my soldering pieces, some solder and some flux, new metal files, a metal yard stick, an exact-o knife and some new razor blades, some bits and pieces of metal to solder to stuff, and a new adjustable lamp that totally didn't freaking work. So now I have to go BACK to Home Depot to return it and completely RESIST buying anything else that I wanted, put in the basket, and then put back on the shelf in financial frustration. lol Cause I TOTALLY could have bought more. I need several things from the craft store that I don't yet have. 


I'm sewing again too. I made this a few weeks ago.


I am also looking for ANYTHING that I can use to hang necklaces from. An old wire shelf, a DVD rack, an old coat rack, ANYTHING!!! I am running out of places to put necklaces, and I'm seriously considering moving to a packet system where after the item is created, tagged and uploaded to the site, it gets bagged and placed in a bin numerically. It has just become too much to keep them on display at all times. Even if I found some new racks I got nowhere to put them up in the storage area. I'm completely out of room.

Yesterday Aaron and I redid the fish tank.
The fish seem really happy.
I wish I could move them right next to my crafting station,
the sound of the water running is so relaxing.


I also have been toying with hair accessories lately. My buddy Misty came down to visit, and she told me that she might be able to get me a domain for free so that I can host an actual website for my sales. I'd have to spend a little money to have credit card purchasing for my site, but I think it would be worth it in the end. IF I do that, I'd probably change the name of the site to something that includes all accessories and any sewing items I make, so something similar to "Jenny's Gifts," or "River Rock Designs," etc. I'll have to think about an expanded name idea for my creations. Any suggestions?

(Aaron bought this for me at Spin Street.
Isn't he just the greatest?)
<3

Thursday, July 7, 2011

OH how do I love thee?

(please wait patiently for the ad to be over)

Let me count the ways in which I have been spending my time since I posted last. I'm "done" with school, meaning I'm not going back to that god forsaken place again, and I am waiting to take my state exam after I come back from a nice vacation to Florida with my mother, brother, aunt and uncle, and my grandparents. (We are renting a condo on the beach!!!) I feel like I've deserved it after two straight years of school.

I have uploaded over 225 items for sale on my jewelry page, and have made several nice sales in the last few weeks. There are WAY too many pictures at this point to upload any of them here, you will simply have to go to my page and see them for yourself. If you do not keep up with me on Facebook, then you have been missing out on lots of other pictures and such. You should find me there, I am listed as Jennifer M. Russell. It seems like no one uses blogs in my little circle, so I am there more often than not rather than posting here. However, I am trying to make a concerted effort to keep posting here, despite the convenience of Facebook. I mean, the advertising there is so much easier and since I have focused, in my downtime, on the website sales my blog here has suffered.

Ok so let's see. Dad moved out of MS and moved up to Nashville to be close to my uncle Jim and aunt Wanda. My brother started Radiology school this year and started working at a new prison in FL as a guard. (I worry about him alot) Aaron and I are doing fine as usual, and is Yaya. Aaron's and Richard's boss has offered me a job working in the office doing bookkeeping and answering the phones, which I probably will take, at least until I can get certified and get a job in a pharmacy somewhere. I have also been watching BLEACH. Oh man, that's a great anime. (Hence the video at the beginning. It is the title somg for the second season. LOVE IT!!!) Besides all of that, not much changes around here. Well not right now anyways. As usual I'm up way too late on a day when I have to work. And YES I'm still at McAlister's. God I hate that place. I hope this other job comes through for me. I need a change.

Well, screw it I'm off to bed for now. Just wanted to come in and update a little. G'nite everyone! (noone reads this mess lol)

OH and PS:
YES I know the words to the song!!!
(well most of them anyways)
Ienai itami kanashimi de kizu tsuita kimi yo
Kesenai kako mo seoi atte ikou
ikiro koto wo nage dasanai de
WOOOOOOOOOO

lol  <3

Saturday, May 28, 2011

paper beads and more


I didnt realize how long it had been since I posted last. I AM SLACKIN. lol Well, it has been a pretty insane month, but I'm excited about the new term starting up in a week. It will be my LAST TERM hopefully. If I don't screw it up. lol I only have one class scheduled; it is a refresher for the state board exam, and it will be pretty tough.

On a much lighter note, I have been making TONS of stuff! Mostly paper beads made from colorful glossy ads in magazines, or from newpaper articles. The cool part is, you can still see alot of the letters and words from the articles they were written from. Some of the beads I made the other night say "debt-ceiling" on them. I totally didn't plan it that way. It made me laugh! 

Here's all my supplies all ready to make some pretty beads!

Here's some of the finished beads on their little drying pedestal.

This is a variety of beads I've made over the last two nights.

I will be making more of them soon. I need some more general colors like green, and black and brown. I will also post pics soon of some of the bracelets I've made from these. I want to make a cool necklace out of the newspaper ones for myself! :p

Ok I have to open in the morning, so I am off to bed!
Have a great night!

<3

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

gaining speed... soon to be at starburst


I met with the pharmacist in charge of my internship today. She seems like a very sweet lady. When I got there this morning though, they acted surprised to see me. Apparently they have had some problems with past interns, and were told they wouldn't be getting any more. Then I show up at their doorstep, all giddy and smiles. When they finally got the ok for me to be there, I had to take the Federal HIPPA test, and that took a while to complete. OF COURSE I passed with flying colors. lol A 5 yr old could pass that. They drill it into your head over and over, and then ask you the same questions a million times. We talked about a schedule for the whole thing, and I left soon afterwards so I could rush to work. It was a short shift, but I am  exhausted tonight. I got up really early today.

I also spent a good amount of time working on some jewelry storage issues that I am having. If anyone knows anyone that might be able to build me a large jewelry tree, or rack for necklaces and bracelets, PLEASE let me know. I have no carpentry skills whatsoever, and I am running out of room!!! I do not want to invest in even more cork boards, or peg hook boards, I am spread out enough across the small amount of storage space I do have as it is. I need to build UP not out. lol

I want this, but this is nice too, but I would need it to hold many more than 20.
I NEED POWER TOOLS!!!!!

I have to sleep now, I have a dentist appt in the morning, then off to school.

Gnite peoples.

<3

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

sushi and jewelry and new music OH MY


Well,a few nights ago I got Haley to slide by the house, and me her and Aaron made home made sushi. I thought we did pretty well! Salmon, and crab, and cream cheese, and cucumbers, and panko bread crumbs make for awesome cooked sushi. It's not something I want to do all of the time, considering how much it cost to get all of the ingredients we didn't already have.

I am just dropping in to say hello and show you what I made tonight.


Isn't it preeetty?
Leslie seems to think so.
Hopefully I can upload to my site again real soon, 
I already have PLENTY made.

 Gnite bloggers!
<3

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

new designs



I have been a busy little bee. Wanna see?


Some of these are already up on the
River Rock website, but not all.
One of them has already been sold!
Hope you like them!

<3