Finally Photogenic.

I've been a moody miss as of late.  Partially due to the fluctuating weather.  Partially due to inexplicable exhaustion.  Partially due to having to deal with near constant pain from my ridiculously temperamental nervous system. 
I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but autoimmune conditions often come in threes and often the symptoms are linked to complex and inexplicable body phenomena.  Mine are Reynaud's (my body thinks it's freezing to death in 70 degree weather and shows symptoms of hypothermia, including shutting down certain organ groups if I get too cold), intense vertigo, and horrible migraines.  Just those things make me a moody miss, but add widespread pain and I turn into an irritable harpy.  I'll admit it.  My death glares rival a cockatrice's. 

In spite of this, I try to do some things to help me stay positive.  Unfortunately, Chicago's recent tempremental weather has kept me from photographing my projects. 

I managed to get something on film for you guys, though.  Take a look.

It's actually an old design from when I was first acquainting myself with the joys of E6000 glue.  Thankfully, I've gotten better at composing pendants and the like, but this one is still pretty.  It includes brass filigree, onyx beads, silver plated brass beads, hematite, swarovski crystals and a plastic button.  This is the first time I've taken photos of it that actually came out well.  Surprisingly.   Ha!  Well, I'm going to curl up under my blanket again.  See you guys.

Cadena: Classic and Simple

In Spanish, Cadena usually means simply, a chain.  It's also the name of a popular high fashion and sewing magazine.  Love that magazine, btw.  For me, cadena represents timeless and versatile style, form and function married together.  So chic!  That's the motif I was trying to portray with this necklace.

As you can see, it's a super simple, really straightforward and no frills sort of design.  It was made with quality components though. Onyx, hematite, and swarovski crystals.  It came together just as planned.  Lovely, simple and very elegant.

I even took the extra time to make a bracelet and earrings.

Owls

WELL, I've jumped on the bandwagon.  I know you've seen them.  The owls.  They're everywhere.  They're always watching.  From the aisles of tupperware to the decorative boxes of kleenex.  The owls are everywhere.  In the high-end stores and even in Walmart.  Although I like owls and have for the longest time, I've avoided them because of their recent popularity.  I want unique things.  Slapping birds and owls on it is a good way to get lost in the fad.

But... I made an owl necklace.  Does that... does that mean I'm "Mainstream" now?

His tummy is made of a feather.  Isn't it cute?

Knee Deep

I happened into one of the more gentrified areas of Pilsen a couple weeks ago.  Don't ask what I was doing there because it's not any of your business.  Let's just say I was meeting a Dark Haired Stranger for lunch after a morning of boutiquing the jewelry I made.  As is our usual, we had lunch at a moderately priced restaurant and went for a turn about the park.

What can I say?  We both like walks, it gives us an excuse not to run home immediately, and it's a good way to lengthen any outing and prevent 2 pounds of Mexican food from sticking to your thighs.  I'm not trying to make the Twerk Team any time soon, so, yeah.  Walks.

As we walked, we passed by some interesting new shops that had opened in the area.  Being a social person, I try not to be horribly rude, but I was so entranced by the vintage high waisted shorts in the window, that the Dark Haired Stranger noticed and immediately suggested we go inside.  The name of this shop was called Knee Deep.

It smelled like a well-kept attic and was chock full of clothes, trinkets, and accessories from the 50's onward.  Everything from authentic Chinese jackets, embellished jackets from the 80s, and jewelry so old the companies are no longer in operation.  The items I wanted were too small to fit my rear hindquarters, so despite my intense desire to waltz out wearing an 80's prom dress, it wasn't going to happen.  I settled on two brooches that I absolutely adored...and the Dark Haired Stranger made sure I didn't leave the shop without them.

Talking mess

Sometimes you have to pump yourself up when you're feeling a bit miffed, upset or discouraged.  It's moments like these that make me say that my mom is the best roommate to have.  She might fuss and deliver things with brutal honesty but she can get the silly started too and turn a fit of pique or sadness into a parade of ridiculously overblown egotistical madness.  She'll teach you how to laugh to keep from crying.

We get to 'talkin' shit". 
No whining about what's out of place.
About the emotional rancidness wafting up in your face.
Talkin' mess. 
In your best dress,
Jewelry, makeup and hair
Made all the way up
Every brushstroke in line with the design of a mood you do not have. 
Parade around in skyscraper heels, jingling jewelry, and a strut to crush any obstacle.

Toss your hair, roll your eyes
And to that man who called you an uppity bitch, "Ya damn right, I am"
Sitting around with rollers,
Mud on our faces, naps spilling out from under our shower caps
But we sit like exotic birds preening and proud.
We say, "Girl, look at you!  You think you somebody!"  and the other responds, "Ya damn right, I am!"  

All day, everyday
Darting through the hall, gathering our crafts, chirruping at each other,
"Phenomenal woman!" and "She walks in beauty!"
Talkin' shit we don't see or hear, but
We speak it as truth,
We draw it in like sunlight
Gather splendor from word and deed
Prop each other up and flourish the plumes of our efforts 
Like birds gossiping in the trees as they build their nests of glitter, thread and dust.
Just talkin' shit.
Cause nobody else will.

Blogger and Google +

Yeah.  I don't care how much google tries to get you to link your blog to google +, it's bullshit and will invariably mess up your posts.  Especially if you try to organize a 'gallery' for photos you've posted on your blog.  Google + links EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE to one hub.  Any changes on one part changes ALL parts.  This is a stupid, redundant feature and you know what, I'm going to see if I can opt out of it because it's a massive crock of garbage.

Nayru's Love Necklace

HAHA!  I fixed this necklace and came up with something decidedly delicate and feminine.  It looks much better than the original in my personal opinion.

I was so pleased with how it turned out with just a few little additions that I set about to making some earrings to go with it.  Take a gander.

Funny how I got better photos of the earrings than the necklace... So it goes..