tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83167220962761440922024-03-13T13:48:39.766-04:00Amanda's ObsessionMy blog is usually about the jewelry I am making and promoting...but who knows what else you might find here.Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-28536215818896255582010-06-19T08:05:00.006-04:002010-06-19T08:13:40.403-04:00Piercing Update<div style="text-align: center;">A few posts ago, I told you all about a new tool I had recently purchased - my jeweler's saw. I showed the first attempt I made at sawing...pretty clumsy! Well, I'm glad to say that I really enjoy the challenge of piercing metal and while I'm far from perfect, practice does make "better"! Here are some of the pieces I have made with that technique:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoTsx0fZFpIEQDY5nXIMIHvfi91RmR4bGSs_w9-_YzUFVVgVLuBvXavzQytRVdaJqNUGCGDOxH22QxOMTpi2x6z1W3nFV72Iq2VmG9LSyTE6QTz7ms4GXsdGNhCeDNRaDZrYnYdfNb0IX/s1600/il_430xN.144557261.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoTsx0fZFpIEQDY5nXIMIHvfi91RmR4bGSs_w9-_YzUFVVgVLuBvXavzQytRVdaJqNUGCGDOxH22QxOMTpi2x6z1W3nFV72Iq2VmG9LSyTE6QTz7ms4GXsdGNhCeDNRaDZrYnYdfNb0IX/s200/il_430xN.144557261.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484455417079237010" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47096332/dreams-gone-to-seed-copper-necklace">Dreams Gone to Seed</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURm_jDKr1HY0u4gA6O3qILNCh6JQfJlevXnW7wDXE93vbSiwuQWp8D4iB5bE4Q3RONT6-ag0rndGFwK0ByF3d0QZDs6f1h_c2kNwSggYJ-H9El9YwHwVGbmjdo6GEIu-eZWgnaYUS1Kib/s1600/il_430xN.151877946.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURm_jDKr1HY0u4gA6O3qILNCh6JQfJlevXnW7wDXE93vbSiwuQWp8D4iB5bE4Q3RONT6-ag0rndGFwK0ByF3d0QZDs6f1h_c2kNwSggYJ-H9El9YwHwVGbmjdo6GEIu-eZWgnaYUS1Kib/s200/il_430xN.151877946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484455927716137410" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/49572358/new-growth-sterling-silver-necklace">New Growth</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At the risk of sounding like I'm bragging, I think these turned out really well. Sometimes I can't believe how far I've come since I first started making jewelry!<br /></div></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-68877454350578203462010-06-13T17:53:00.004-04:002010-06-13T18:05:08.592-04:00Dear John Letter<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Dear Gemstones, Knotting, Stamping, and Piercing,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I have someone new. Don't get me wrong; I have loved every minute I have spent with each and every one of you. I have learned so much from all of you! Gemstones, nothing can compare to the thrill I feel when I open a package that you're in. Knotting, you have given me many priceless moments of relaxation. Stamping, you're a wonderful effect, but you're a little moody - getting beautiful results from you is hard to do sometimes. And piercing, what can I say? We had such a short time together....but there's a new technique on the block. It's...wire-wrapping....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/49345861/coppery-sunset-necklace"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJfN3eFZFS2Btf7ta-VCUGC4OwoiflFVpcYOx9AKuwQZBSxyJ57ckIql5YGP4KdZPpci4SelSeGKhsrN4rmX6R4bE6s1zBKz4z-dP8oBA6KGtTBI4MXt559f2Uz3mjAJXfY8eXVh5LoP9/s200/Picture+096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482381374520593778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/49345861/coppery-sunset-necklace">Coppery Sunset</a><br /><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">So now do you see? Can you understand how I can leave you behind for this new beauty? Well, gemstones, I'll still need you from time to time. And knotting, yes, I might need you, too. Okay, okay - stamping and piercing, I can probably work you in, too. Oh, who am I kidding - I'll love you all ALWAYS and FOREVER and I can never leave you. Just try to get along and let's see if we can make this work....together. </span>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-56485892348034721392010-06-09T22:31:00.004-04:002010-06-09T22:38:24.424-04:00Sawin'Last month, I was so excited to get a new tool that I had been drooling over for quite a while...a jeweler's saw. I'm really glad I bought it. I've been enjoying it so much, it really opens up some new design ideas for me. Look and see:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibimt3IUC3dSpexCwSNGphicwo-dh30GXkEgKVIu99w-9UXV9Od45Zh-zJ2B7t6ioMgtKGnAChU4yrKWuUrZMULzWOUK7gI0dX-CGl3Z2u5AoYYT9a4MZmCWHnRbZsVWKGd_csUyXHEcVw/s1600/star.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibimt3IUC3dSpexCwSNGphicwo-dh30GXkEgKVIu99w-9UXV9Od45Zh-zJ2B7t6ioMgtKGnAChU4yrKWuUrZMULzWOUK7gI0dX-CGl3Z2u5AoYYT9a4MZmCWHnRbZsVWKGd_csUyXHEcVw/s200/star.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480967932845627442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9nhEqG-ZT_AZJY0og2P_PXB0HkKyvBzXEGxaFTuk0ATyybGKmqXL4xOJItZpx4bhqFBq-FwWGH-YsRTBTUFfPQ-d14XiBNFxLYmzDegNbcttH1vypjaczjVxvTqAYqmhvv0aNjqoSHRu/s1600/dreams.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9nhEqG-ZT_AZJY0og2P_PXB0HkKyvBzXEGxaFTuk0ATyybGKmqXL4xOJItZpx4bhqFBq-FwWGH-YsRTBTUFfPQ-d14XiBNFxLYmzDegNbcttH1vypjaczjVxvTqAYqmhvv0aNjqoSHRu/s200/dreams.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480968604959766914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4NXiBNu-AIQS7k6zoVvFNhY3fuH3MkibSIF_gRmwXGDfbIf8vCteSbjTb7bbBoVkE8MSEFD7pzdsVRs8WXowV1rrmWRvf3qPkJ4ER_IOn1zmhwLCI8bPx2FIr4uaZY4mMXRjihPrnNhI/s1600/storm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4NXiBNu-AIQS7k6zoVvFNhY3fuH3MkibSIF_gRmwXGDfbIf8vCteSbjTb7bbBoVkE8MSEFD7pzdsVRs8WXowV1rrmWRvf3qPkJ4ER_IOn1zmhwLCI8bPx2FIr4uaZY4mMXRjihPrnNhI/s200/storm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480968238233275682" border="0" /></a>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-30705111460123787882010-06-07T22:10:00.004-04:002010-06-07T22:15:59.476-04:00Tradin' again!One of my favorite parts of having a shop on Etsy is the ability to trade items with other shop owners. I have traded many times, and it's gone well every time. Well, today I just finished up my most recent trade negotiation with <a href="http://http//www.etsy.com/shop/PuraBella">PuraBella</a>. She wrote a forum post asking for someone to make some labradorite earrings for her in exchange for something from her shop, and lucky me - she agreed to trade me these<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdQZz-wLa3ZRSFQ6aPLOqoObfUrGLoeI02mvvuw4i8CxJxJyOpCpEaxQ74FqUbqN6ptuIj5Gf8K3eduizbE8pJWD69D4kDDHNisK8WDZM9mLusCSPx8fA36pDc0DarUE3ZkIdfCpaTTgV/s1600/wood.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdQZz-wLa3ZRSFQ6aPLOqoObfUrGLoeI02mvvuw4i8CxJxJyOpCpEaxQ74FqUbqN6ptuIj5Gf8K3eduizbE8pJWD69D4kDDHNisK8WDZM9mLusCSPx8fA36pDc0DarUE3ZkIdfCpaTTgV/s200/wood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480220250527628098" border="0" /></a>in exchange for a couple pair of earrings. I am so excited about them! They are natural Cedar Tealight Candleholders - a set of 3. I love the rustic, natural quality of them. Her shop might be a bit empty, but give her some credit - she has a newborn baby. Please do go check her out!Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-55237784670958957522010-05-22T22:30:00.003-04:002010-05-22T22:39:55.620-04:00Random Facts for a Rainy Saturday Night<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I always eat my french fries with mayonnaise. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I have never been able to do cartwheels. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I like dogs, but I LOVE cats. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">When I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with anything involving Egypt or Michael Jackson. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I bite my nails. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">As a natural blonde, I REALLY don't like blonde jokes. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I still feel sad about Mitch Hedberg's death. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I've never seen "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (but I did read that book). </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I'm skinny, but somehow, I still have fat ankles. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">Right now, I have a headache. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">My goal for the summer is to learn how to solder (for jewelry). </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">In high school, I hated math and science and loved English. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I don't like insult comedy. And Sarah Silverman is not funny, either. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">If I could have any talent, it would be the ability to sing really well. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">I wish I could play tennis better. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">Someday I want to travel to New York City. Also Europe. </span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;">That's probably enough for now. Do you know me? </span></div></span>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-13257096454700110662010-05-20T19:35:00.004-04:002010-05-20T19:51:25.994-04:00The Great White Hunter Strikes Again<div>If you've been following my blog (as much as it's possible to follow something that doesn't move around very much), then you might remember that one of my earliest posts involved my senior-citizen cat, Cooties. About this time last year, he suddenly decided to start hunting and bringing in his catches. What's weird about that was that he is somewhere around 14 years old and had never, EVER done that before. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, it must be time for the bunnies to be born, because it's happened again. Last Friday night, around 3 AM or so, I woke up to the horrible, nightmarish sound of a rabbit screaming. I made it out to the living room in time to see my husband trying to catch the bunny. Thinking he had it under control, I went back to bed. The next morning, Brett told me that he actually had NOT been able to find the bunny after the cat spit him out. We looked around for a while, poking under furniture and behind things, but didn't see him. We weren't too worried about it, thinking that he must have gotten out, because certainly 3 cats and a dog would be going crazy if there were a bunny anywhere inside. Right??? :-)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Fast-forward to Monday evening. After supper, I decided that Hope (my 4-yr. old daughter) and I needed to go clean up her disaster of a room. Lo and behold, I pushed her door open, and what did I see sitting in the middle of her bedroom floor? That sweet little bunny! Hope and her brothers and I did a bit of chasing and digging through the closet where he tried to hide once we found him, but we finally caught him and set him free, hopefully far away from Master Hunter Cooties. Here's the one picture we managed to catch - isn't he the cutest thing???</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473502527935773602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAjVSrjgdolDkvdlX2dUmciBsZKGOkNn1qUjSKgiltrD7JOK6SSE04apgWtc-3zJtF5eHFhHgQef_KDMLGXqWdXQDAri5dRU8M4uBDkwt5Y161C3SQXmmH7gGoNw7VuTQwQ0cCMbMSeTO/s200/Picture.jpg" /></div>He did seem to be all right - no blood or wounds that I know of, although I'm sure he was really hungry and thirsty. Hopefully, we won't have to see him this close again!<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-59119005848530383592010-05-15T10:16:00.005-04:002010-05-15T10:37:40.507-04:00A New Technique<div><br /><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><br /><div>You know, ten years ago, if you had told me that I would one day be excited about buying tools (a saw in particular), I would have thought you were crazy. But at the ripe old age of almost-37, life has taken a lot of interesting twists and turns and my obsession with creating jewelry has made it necessary for me to learn to use different sorts of tools. Along the way, I've gotten pretty adept at using hammers (well, except for last week, but hopefully that was a lesson learned) and drills. And now my latest tool/toy is a jeweler's saw. Here it is: </div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471502590031400706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0bAZtzC_qeH0TtctH5pjOCC9DFewLaSzh3o5G_EgLQQWf5W0j5_5Z6kjSO0Yd8orjwAntqXXgZT51_TGHbMMgWaTFznR5PJ3i9NzX9-waidHczoGUGj3cOQ7zSnPNKQsL31R3DSJGon9/s200/Picture+092_picnik.jpg" />You can adjust the frame to accomodate different blade lengths, and there are different sizes of blades. The ones I have are size 2/0, which is pretty tiny. They are about the size of a piece of floss:</p><br /><br /><p align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471504177378151218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvr4UMWUMNSlW97vrERYVCb_Egk6gEnm1yYRifj2FoogEF0-SJ4jehd1QWrLpNg23Lnfxq7eYEHBcuZ3J0Acpwu3PM5tIUXrSLRj3TLOtKbz8_dwYKtAuTbf4IU_11FiiK8o_TVd9vDKf/s200/Picture+093_picnik.jpg" />I have a lot of practicing and experimenting to do! There are different blade sizes to try, as well as testing it out on different gauges of metal. Here's my first attempt: </p><br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471505062982220626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqCUSgiIFKxvmjFDtP4ZTx0b5hHC_p4wgDduBwIw_chdx1Fi1Tt18Z9xx5uJZ7w9hnV0ZtXQDceJU47VATr9U4A_jHDPgPtFxLCAm5xRGPt9XvyBggBdPSRrimZlaPLrGEcyGUDwZuggp/s200/Picture+095_picnik.jpg" />It's not the worst thing I ever saw, but I can tell that I need a lot of work and fine-tuning. This copper is pretty thick, so next, I'm going to try using a thinner gauge. I'll let you know how it goes!<br /></p><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-65919514218927497492010-05-10T22:21:00.003-04:002010-05-10T22:24:23.878-04:00Today's Chuckle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">I teach first </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">grade</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">, and now that the end of the year is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">so </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCFFFF;">close, we are doing a lot of review, especially in math. I was working with a group on subtraction, and one of the kids really likes to be right all the time and get finished first. So, he was really proud of himself when he had the problem "20-10" and came up with 9 for an answer. I told him it wasn't the right answer and he scowled at me and said, "Well, it SHOULD be!!"</span><br /></span>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-34879915933904107932010-05-09T17:29:00.004-04:002010-05-09T17:45:32.585-04:00Suffering For My Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XhK1ob6_wgYLYoKexA9Sm1KBpZ8-2nq6AZGZqnGQs4WE8jCfGRgd-muygwbD3fpNZURBYGvfwhxk1_g4c-TGVv8TMLeUbdil5m-1INwq5nSjJO0Me7kBJX_KcUJQa8-HfW3KwrZkzQdh/s1600/heart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XhK1ob6_wgYLYoKexA9Sm1KBpZ8-2nq6AZGZqnGQs4WE8jCfGRgd-muygwbD3fpNZURBYGvfwhxk1_g4c-TGVv8TMLeUbdil5m-1INwq5nSjJO0Me7kBJX_KcUJQa8-HfW3KwrZkzQdh/s320/heart.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469386411265019618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">We've all heard the old cliche about someone "suffering for their art". I think I experienced that this weekend when I was working on these earrings, my </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46514680/i-heart-silver-earrings"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">"I Heart Silver"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"> sterling silver earrings. It's been pretty recently that I started using a disc cutter, and I love it, because instead of paying for silver or copper blanks, I can buy sheet (and get more material for less money). It's so much more convenient, as well as being more economical. I've noticed, though, that I tend to get a little "lip" or a burred edge on most of the discs I'm cutting. Not a huge problem, since I can file it smooth, but I want to learn how to do it perfectly the first time! I had been making LOTS of medium-force taps, so I though maybe I would get a smoother edge if I hit the hammer LESS times, but HARDER. On my 3rd hard swing, I missed the steel die completely and hammered my thumb instead. Oh, did it hurt; it was the kind of pain that makes you feel nauseous for a while. I just sort of sat there and let the pain wash over me in waves. When I felt like I could breathe again, I looked at my poor little digit and discovered it was bleeding quite a bit. I got a Band-aid on it, and it was ok, although I still wonder if I should have gone for stitches. There's a cut on the side of my thumb in the perfect shape of an "L". It's swollen and tender, but I think I will survive. So much for LESS, HARDER hits. :-)</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">So if anyone out there reads this post and knows how to cut discs from silver or copper, and knows how to NOT get that little edge along the side, please comment. I'd love to hear your advice!!<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-57848003933609387602010-05-04T22:46:00.002-04:002010-05-04T22:54:18.337-04:00If You Are Looking For a Great Read...<span style="color:#333399;">I haven't been by the library lately because, like most things in my life, some of my books were overdue and now I owe a fine. I can afford to pay it, but I'm a little bit embarassed about it, so I just haven't been going in. (I try to think of it as my own personal donation to the library system, but that's another story...) So anyway, the last time I went by Goodwill, I picked up a couple of books that looked like they might be ok, and BOY! am I glad I did. One of them is called "Those Who Save Us" (I KNOW book titles should be underlined, but I don't have the option here), by Jenna Blum. This is the story of how a young single German mother survived during WW II. The point of view alternates between Anna (the German) and Trudy, her grown daughter, who is trying to piece the her mother's story together. If you like realistic fiction, I highly recommend this book. It is wonderful!! </span>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-84902212713626804122010-05-04T22:12:00.008-04:002010-05-04T22:44:52.398-04:00Reasons to buy an "f" monogrammed necklace:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUaLcCFfE7MxItfvE9smcXAtZaqWXg8AiZcKC0A2dU5y1IHOiFVI9ozuoVIPZsrIkzq_nkiHx6CR-V39ju5czorz36U03wOzBMcI8QliGu9TJaTA3f8Aqb9e7JHW8g8apdTDAEiNDVxw2/s1600/Picture2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467610221439961842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUaLcCFfE7MxItfvE9smcXAtZaqWXg8AiZcKC0A2dU5y1IHOiFVI9ozuoVIPZsrIkzq_nkiHx6CR-V39ju5czorz36U03wOzBMcI8QliGu9TJaTA3f8Aqb9e7JHW8g8apdTDAEiNDVxw2/s400/Picture2.jpg" /></a><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46223702/etched-copper-necklacef"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467609228095008514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2HYDS6o2IuL7DPO-zOTW7RMeAxk-4b83QaxM8Ilkuuq-noqx-2ub3kTCui3P3tQdxnV4j4hPMzXWe6n7Es9pcgFZkPDnjzMIFg6cOgFFZkCSbrQhNSDlaiFMFlV6_Mg2pxfpijw2nvJq/s200/Picture+112.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#996633;">What else can you think of? </span><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2HYDS6o2IuL7DPO-zOTW7RMeAxk-4b83QaxM8Ilkuuq-noqx-2ub3kTCui3P3tQdxnV4j4hPMzXWe6n7Es9pcgFZkPDnjzMIFg6cOgFFZkCSbrQhNSDlaiFMFlV6_Mg2pxfpijw2nvJq/s1600/Picture+112.jpg"></a></p><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-9pNaeULIimHJO9j1C_YkMbHqefBbN4bdnlds0cCLhAUZVcByCbaZ1sjmaoV_fBA79xXstbzcWDOmlusXQuRCk6Dm-RX8mvxechXvhAyLaLboi-EdL2d0eGAXlSrmR1kr0cWKYe8Fric/s1600/Picture2.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-9pNaeULIimHJO9j1C_YkMbHqefBbN4bdnlds0cCLhAUZVcByCbaZ1sjmaoV_fBA79xXstbzcWDOmlusXQuRCk6Dm-RX8mvxechXvhAyLaLboi-EdL2d0eGAXlSrmR1kr0cWKYe8Fric/s1600/Picture2.jpg"></a></div><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><p align="justify"></p><div> </div></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-69519803002738604022010-02-11T18:47:00.003-05:002010-02-11T18:56:33.058-05:00Crispy Dogs!<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Hi everyone!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Every once in a while I stumble on a new recipe that is really good and worthy of sharing. The latest noteworthy recipe I've found is "Crispy Dogs". Before I give you the recipe, here's the disclaimer: yes, they are probably not very good for you, and they might not sound very good, but my kids <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">LOVE</span> them. THAT is why I am sharing them with you - they are inexpensive, quick, easy, and very kid-friendly. I'd love to hear your reviews...</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">CRISPY DOGS</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">hot dogs</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">corn tortillas (1 per hot dog)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">toothpicks</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">frying oil</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for about 30 seconds to soften them. Place a hot dog inside each tortilla, roll up, and secure with toothpicks. Place in deep fryer and cook until they are golden brown. </span><br /><br />**My sisters gave me a hard time about these when I told them I was making them, but it's worth it! My kids ask for these all the time now and they are guaranteed to get eaten up!Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-12122625609557962472010-02-09T13:25:00.004-05:002010-02-09T13:35:34.289-05:00Suggestions, Please!Hi everyone!<br /><br />As I mentioned in my last post, I've really gotten into the stamped jewelry! It's easy to see why it's so popular now - to me, it's what handmade jewelry is all about: the ability to have highly personal, unique wearable art. Now I'm looking for suggestions for words or phrases that would make great jewelry. I'm trying to stay away from the typical things you see on jewelry, such as "love", "hope", "dream", etc. Those are fine, but they're not very unique. I am looking for unusual, quirky ideas. I posted the same request on my Facebook fan page, and here are some that I like:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">passion, sparks, fire, forever, authentic, coffee, chocolate, together, growth, eternity, solace, soulmate, sassy, blaze, overcome, challenge</span>......<br /><br />But give me some more! I am especially interested in humorous words or phrases, even ones that might seem a little odd...<br /><br />I can't wait to see what you can think of!Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-33241476419073907142010-01-31T09:30:00.005-05:002010-01-31T09:43:02.297-05:00Good Morning!!!<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After a long "hiatus", I'm back to blogging again! Things just got so hectic with school starting up again, I didn't have time for it all. Now with all this</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> snow we're getting, looks like I'll have at least one or two days with some free time in them. It hasn't snowed l</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ike this since I was kid! The week before Christmas, we had 15 inches of snow, and then yesterday's storm brought us another 13 inches. Usually, we get about 8 inches of snow ALL winter, so this is unusual for sure. My poor kids don't know what to think about all of it. I hope to post some pictures soon.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have tried something new with my jewelry in the past months: stamping! I really wanted a way to be able to personalize my pieces a little more, and this seemed like the next logical step for me to take. I am really enjoying it! This was my</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> f</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-family:georgia;">irst piece:<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2NGBLT54TxXqi3uLN9tC0em2U7yKuYWUt7ZoAO4icWatSbJaI8oeznCPgDmLtX-UEjaTWn6MnKHB1dXcVWhmkCXZl9kkrN7e7V5q5LV6QT3TqeQoJgpQa3I6oFmh81Yc1pxQzp2FKamR/s1600-h/Picture+552.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2NGBLT54TxXqi3uLN9tC0em2U7yKuYWUt7ZoAO4icWatSbJaI8oeznCPgDmLtX-UEjaTWn6MnKHB1dXcVWhmkCXZl9kkrN7e7V5q5LV6QT3TqeQoJgpQa3I6oFmh81Yc1pxQzp2FKamR/s200/Picture+552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432912664760855090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I used sheet copper, copper washers from the hardware store, and copper wire. The stamping was fun, but so was oxidizing it. (That's my other new thing - I bought some liver of sulfur gel and have bee going crazy with it!) This piece really came to life once it was finished. From that, I got a custom order for this:</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSU2B7IWGdgndVu3bOS8xgOSjNj1SQX1p0jeViNyAGA1G_MkG5og7zhI_528ClRVz1vO0h91OYAIvQHDHoxxhfi3HWNvPoFLOsRNiWkcXe2DOHoy9RbGDFuImijkPrPeDojAAfF1cDw7V/s1600-h/Picture+641.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSU2B7IWGdgndVu3bOS8xgOSjNj1SQX1p0jeViNyAGA1G_MkG5og7zhI_528ClRVz1vO0h91OYAIvQHDHoxxhfi3HWNvPoFLOsRNiWkcXe2DOHoy9RbGDFuImijkPrPeDojAAfF1cDw7V/s200/Picture+641.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432913752437264002" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And THAT's why I make jewelry and sell it online. I LOVE being able to make one-of-a-kind </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">pieces that are special and meaningful!!!<br /></span>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-844788017388521712009-08-07T19:01:00.001-04:002009-08-07T19:01:46.328-04:00Another sale!<p>Hi everyone!</p>
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<br /><p>This time I actually made it into the Weekend Deals Guide on Etsy! Hooray!! So here is my weekend deal: 20% off your total, including shipping. I'll refund you through Paypal after your payment has been received. This is a great time to get started on holiday shopping. I have lots of new items and more will be listed this weekend. Come and check it out!</p>
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<br /><p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28882709"><img height="102" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.83578830.jpg" width="177" /></a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28666894"><img height="98" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.82852321.jpg" width="212" /></a></p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-12645195365343985242009-07-20T12:14:00.001-04:002009-07-20T12:14:24.128-04:00Peaceful Sky<p>I spent most of yesterday making jewelry, and I guess I'll spend most of today listing and sharing. :-) This is one of my favorites. I love everything about it!</p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28081778"><img height="163" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.80892558.jpg" width="430" /></a></p>
<br /><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<br /><p style="text-align: left;">I used smooth, natural aquamarine oval beads (harvested from another project that I wasn't happy with) and funky little keishi pearls. I knotted them together with light blue silk thread, which really brings out the blue of the stones. I used a copper toggle to finish the bracelet.</p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28081778"><img height="277" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.80892356.jpg" width="430" /></a></p>
<br /><p style="text-align: left;">It's hard to decide which element of this bracelet is my favorite. The colors? Light blue is my favorite colors...the stones? Pearls and aquamarine are 2 of the stones I love the most...I would probably have to say that the technique is the part I love the most. There is something very soothing and therapeutic about knotting. I enjoy the challenge of getting the knot in exactly the right spot...although I'm not so crazy about the challenge of getting it OUT when I make a mistake...:-)</p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-58927316095154032882009-07-19T11:39:00.001-04:002009-07-19T11:39:12.540-04:00Princess Necklace<p>After spending most of last week in Cincinnati at a readding conference, I'm back!! On Friday I listed a new item and I just have to blog about it:</p>
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<br /><p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27950533"><img height="274" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.80447195.jpg" width="430" /></a></p>
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<br /><p>Several months ago, I had a dream that I was walking on the beach and decided to start digging in the sand. I found a treasure chest filled with several different jeweled necklaces. When I woke up, this was the only necklace that I could remember. I knew I had to create it! I used my favorite technique, knotting. Pairs of tiny button pearls alternate with beautifully faceted tourmalines. I added a gold vermeil leaf charm and a gold vermeil toggle clasp and <em>voila</em>! I decided to name it the "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27950533">Princess Necklace</a>" because for me, this would not be an everyday piece of jewelry. The gemstones and gold make it Princess Necklavery elegant and glamorous. I'd love to hear what you think of it!</p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-38456365478796501512009-07-11T09:23:00.001-04:002009-07-11T09:23:43.520-04:00Give Peas a Chance<p>Happy Saturday! :-)</p>
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<br /><p>I am so excited about a new item I listed this week that I decided to blog about it. It's a necklace, and it's called "Give Peas a Chance".</p>
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<br /><p><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27504375"><img height="388" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.78950009.jpg" width="196" /></a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27504375"><img height="179" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.78950451.jpg" width="265" /></a></p>
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<br /><p>The idea was born one afternoon when I was browsing through Etsy supplies, looking for some type of silver pendant - I can't remember what it was. That's when I found this awesome pendant. It's not a real spoon (not quite big enough and too thick), but it looks like one. I immediately thought how cute it would be to attach some green pearls to it to make it look like a spoonful of peas. I bought the pendant from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5056511">redvelvet</a>, then found the perfect "peas" at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5342675">QualyBeads</a>. I went to <a href="http://www.fusionbeads.com/shop/product/23241/">Fusionbeads</a> for the chain and findings. When all my supplies arrived, I was a little disappointed to find out that the gunmetal-finish headpins that I had planned to string the pearls on were too thick. Instead I used eggs to oxidize some thin sterling silver headpins, and that turned out just perfect! And as a matter of fact, I used the gunmetal headpins to make matching earrings. Hmmm, I wonder what other "vegetables" I can put on a spoon........</p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-16911105091782968322009-07-03T22:34:00.001-04:002009-07-03T22:34:11.427-04:00Sorry, vegetarians...<p>Now that summer is here, one of the many things on my to-do list is to try a new recipe at least once a week. It's not easy to find something that everyone will eat, when trying to feed this crowd: a husband who is allergic to chicken; a 12-yr-old who won't eat most things that originated in a garden; and a 4-yr-old who won't eat most things, period. That leaves me (of course, I'll eat it - I made up the menu :-), and 6-yr-old Aidan, who is a pretty good eater, at least compared to the rest. One of my good old standbys is meatloaf. I have a standard recipe that I've been using for years, and everyone is ok with it. But this week I decided that I wanted to try a new recipe, and this is what I chose:"Barbecue Meatloaf". I found it on the Taste of Home website, and it is wonderful!!! Very tangy, with just the right amount of sweetness to it. It was so good that I had seconds of it, even when I was eating it as leftovers! I will definitely fix it again, and I wanted to share the recipe with everyone, so here it is:</p>
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<br /><h2 class="clrbt"><span id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_RecipeRightColumn1_lblRecipe">Barbecue Meat Loaf</span></h2>
<br /><p>SERVINGS: <span id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_RecipeRightColumn1_lblServings">8-10</span></p>
<br /><p>TIME: <span id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_RecipeRightColumn1_lblPrintableTimeCallout">Prep: 15 min. Bake: 1hour 20 min.</span></p>
<br /><h4>Ingredients:</h4>
<br /><!--concordance-begin-->
<br /><ul class="recipe-ingredients" style="z-index: 3000;">
<br /><li class="ingredient">SAUCE:</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1/2 cup packed brown sugar</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1/4 cup vinegar</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 teaspoon ground mustard</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">MEAT LOAF:</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">2 pounds lean ground beef</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">2 eggs, beaten</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 cup quick-cooking <em>or</em> rolled oats</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 medium onion, chopped</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 medium green pepper, chopped</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1-1/2 teaspoons salt</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 teaspoon pepper</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 teaspoon poultry seasoning</li>
<br /><li class="ingredient">1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes</li>
<br /></ul>
<br /><!--concordance-end-->
<br /><h4>Directions:</h4>
<br /><p><span id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_RecipeRightColumn1_lblMethod">In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; set aside. In a large bowl, mix together meat loaf ingredients. Add half of the sauce to the meat loaf mixture; mix well. Press into a 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Remove from oven; drain. Pour remaining sauce over loaf. Return to oven and bake 20 minutes longer or until no pink remains.<strong> Yield: </strong>8-10 servings.</span></p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-36039282557848476322009-06-26T14:44:00.001-04:002009-06-26T14:44:25.174-04:00Commercial!!<p>Just a quick promo for my shop:</p>
<br /><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">I'm having a BOGO 1/2 sale this weekend. From now until Sunday, buy any item at regular price and get another of equal or lesser value for 1/2 price. See my shop announcement for details!</span></p>
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<br /><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">http://www.amanda23.etsy.com<br /></span></p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-71533721110373841762009-06-22T09:35:00.001-04:002009-06-22T09:35:52.942-04:00Budding Artists?<p>Summer is here, which is a GREAT thing in many ways. Summer has always been my favorite season, but I am a teacher, so that makes summer even better! (By the way, I still work over the summer. The idea that teachers have summer and holidays "off" is a common misconception.) Anyway, one of the not-so-great things about being home for a couple of months is trying to find something for the kids to do. I remember being bored to death as a kid - there was nothing to do!!! I have 3 kids, and even with all the toys, technology, and TV available to them, of course, they still get bored. My 2 youngest ones love to color and paint, and I heard about making kids' paint with Kool-Aid, so I decided to try it. All you need is a pack of Kool-Aid, 1 1/2 tsp of water, and 1 tsp. of flour. You mix it up, and <em>voi la</em>! You have paint!</p>
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<br /><p><img height="180" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3650685210_322f5d13cb_m.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3650682728_df5f35d8dd_m.jpg" width="240" /></p>
<br /><p> </p>
<br /><p><img height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3649879291_8a08a382b8_m.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3650677464_3db741cf74_m.jpg" width="240" /></p>
<br /><p> </p>
<br /><p><img height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3650675614_9976fe1cdf_m.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3649869767_e32c66cd8f_m.jpg" width="240" /></p>
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<br /><p>The kids had a lot of fun and they really enjoyed the novelty of painting with Koo-Aid, but I really wouldn't recommend it. Here's why: for one thing, it doesn't make much paint (although it's very vibrant, so a little does go a long way). Also, Kool-Aid does stain skin, if only temporarily. Finally, the colors are a bit limited - I can't find blue or green Kool-Aid in my area. Nex time, I'll just use regular paint! :-)</p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-15843421895591819232009-06-20T19:15:00.001-04:002009-06-20T19:15:46.346-04:00This was fun!!!<p>I'd like to tell you about my newest listing, ans it's one I had a lot of fun creating! It's called "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26759061">Cherry Quartz and Pearl Bracelet</a>" (I know, not a very exciting name, but I used up all of my creativity for the morning on the bracelet itself :-). I began by using silver-plated wire to make random-sized links that I used to connect faceted cherry quartz nuggets. I purposely made the links different sizes and shapes to give it a whimsical look. After all of the links were attached, I hammered them to give them that cool texture. Finally, I took think sterling wire and used it to string pearls inside each of the links. Here is the finished product:</p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26759061"><img height="319" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_430xN.76453557.jpg" width="430" /></a></p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26759061"><img height="431" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.76453754.jpg" width="430" /></a></p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;">I love the way the colors go together - very feminine and girly. :-)</p>
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<br /><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-60466023280912215662009-06-19T16:07:00.002-04:002009-06-19T16:09:16.903-04:00My Newest Favorite...<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Or should I call it my "favorite newest" piece...? Either way, I might just decide to keep it for myself. i absolutely LOVE pearls, in just about and shape or color, and I love monochromatic color schemes..."<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26711204">Snowstorm Bracelet</a>" has both: </span></p><br /><p> </p><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><img src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.76293722.jpg" width="430" height="433" /></span></p><br /><p> </p><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Pearls of all shapes and sizes...coin, keishi, seed, potato, stick...combine with beads and stones in other shades of white: rainbow moonstone, crystal quartz, and crystal glass beads. I plan to make other pieces like this using pearls and stone in other colors; I hope to make a brown one next.<br /></span></p>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-13684217310531943872009-06-18T08:26:00.003-04:002009-06-18T09:02:38.533-04:00Again with the animals....So, a few days ago I blogged about all the wildlife experiences we've had lately...toads, bunnies, spiders...<br /><br />Well, last night, just before midnight, I was awakened to the sound of another another animal screeching in my living room. I was thinking, "Great, another bunny" as I pulled on my pants, but nope...this time Cooties brought in a half-grown blue jay. I was able to check it out a little and it seemed ok - no feathers missing, not bleeding, but it seemed like one wing might have been hurt. It certainly was able to hop around a lot. It didn't try to fly, but I don't know if it was hurt, or just too young to fly. Poor thing. I took it outside and put it near the trees at the end of our yard. It hopped/fluttered off. I sure hope it found its nest.<br /><br />I guess I'm going to have to do some research on how to take care of wild animals that have been rescued!<br /><br />I just really don't understand why my cat is suddenly bringing in all these creatures. As I said in the previous post, he is 13 and has NEVER brought animals in the house. This bird is the 5th animal he has brought in the house in the last week. What's up with that????<br /><br />Here is a picture of Cooties, snoozing in his favorite spot after a long night of bird catching:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ20kx1hQjvIo4JhP2oI6WqnG-iVr1ZMZ33mdqa1U3riBysOkb5biW78Ouxv2Q-eS-USNJFh-NmyOgL9lRDByLD4kUquvwk5BJCqdBpYAwhscKfntuJNu8Iw82koIrsuxyACMet9JDjrIO/s1600-h/Etsy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ20kx1hQjvIo4JhP2oI6WqnG-iVr1ZMZ33mdqa1U3riBysOkb5biW78Ouxv2Q-eS-USNJFh-NmyOgL9lRDByLD4kUquvwk5BJCqdBpYAwhscKfntuJNu8Iw82koIrsuxyACMet9JDjrIO/s200/Etsy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348651976499873138" border="0" /></a>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316722096276144092.post-86367164329741634782009-06-17T21:31:00.002-04:002009-06-17T21:47:05.281-04:00Wow - An Award!!<div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to <a href="http://martacoimbra.blogspot.com/">Marta Coimbra</a> for sending me the "One Lovely Blog Award". And if you think mine is lovely at all, you should see hers!!!<br /><br />And as a way of spreading the joy, I'm sending this award on to these blogs as well:<br /><a href="http://simoneshomebaked.blogspot.com/">A Young Baker's Ramblings and Whims</a><br /><a href="http://lolosinclair.blogspot.com/">Experimentalk</a><br /><a href="http://happyflyingbuttons.blogspot.com">Happy Flying Buttons</a><br /><br />If you are not following them, you really should check them out!<br /></div>Amanda Ergenbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08689770781268037862noreply@blogger.com0