A Long Journey

Hey there! I'm so sorry I sailed off without a word, but I was swept away on a long journey to the Isle of Ill. Oh my, and how ILL! So very ill in fact that I spent a few days in the hospital!!! A triple combo of maladies besieged me, and I seriously felt as if I may not ever return from my journey. Viral Pneumonia, pleurisy, and costochondritis laid a whoopin' on me. I was engulfed in misery and so much pain :( I would have rather walked the plank than deal with all of that! One doctor at the hospital said to me: "you have more autoimmune diseases than I've ever heard of." hahahaha! That's what they all say when they meet me! But I am so much better now :D I'm still not quite up to full speed, but I will be soon! I've been on 2 antibiotics and lots of corticosteroids (Prednisone and Solu-medrol)

Of course, as soon as I did feel decent, Spring decided to finally stick around, and it was time for some yard work. I may have over done it just a tad (but hubby did all the heavy stuff!) My thumb has been killing me ever since....a little arthritis flare has it red, swollen, angry, and painful....but as soon as it feels better I will be making things again. My ribs hurt a little this morning, so not too much stretching for me right now.

I know I have missed so much, and I will get around to some blog hopping and answering some emails. I couldn't even bear to sit at my computer these last few weeks, and it wouldn't have done any good as my mind was consumed with the pain in my body. I've also missed the last 2 Harvest Village shows :( and you may have noticed I closed my Etsy shop for a while. I opened back up this morning! I can package orders again :)

I ummmm have been on Facebook, and playing games....thanks to my new iphone :) I did read some blogs posted there, but couldn't post for incoming calls and texts! This morning I downloaded the Blogger App and I can't wait to try it out, but I so did want to lay my fingers on this computer keyboard and say HI! and touch base with all my blogger friends!!!

Thank you so much for the emails and well wishes!!! They have been so appreciated!!! I'm sorry it takes me so long to get back to you (I have answered a few from my phone!) I am so loving the iphone technology :) So much in fact that it is on the charger almost as much as it is off hahahaha. I got hooked on Angry Birds, and played some Bejeweled Blitz. Then I found Tap! Paradise Cove and have been hooked on this game ever since. OMG! It's fun! I have ships, houses, and merchants out on islands, and battle and defeat pirates (okay, I have lost 2 times!) You can talk to a mermaid and gamble with her slot machine, but I have seen her cavorting with the pirates and she will rip you off more times than give you good winnings. You have to be careful when dealing with the mermaids! Ya, so this is what I have been doing lately. Just playing :)

Annnnnd I've always wanted to name my home, and after this past weekends yard work and new plants, (and all of the indoor decor) I've decided to name my tropical beachy abode...Paradise Cove!

I'll show ya'll what we did tomorrow! As soon as it's lighter outside I'll make the rounds with my camera. I also see a beach weekend in my near future ;)

Oh yeah! I feel MUCH better now :D

Come On Summer Time!

Okay, I know I can't complain about the weather. We have had a really nice winter, with very few actual freezes. It does get chilly at night, and we do have the occasional cold day....but all in all our winters are mild compared to elsewhere in the States.

I do prefer spring and summer, though :) aaaannnnnnnddddd I always go barefoot, or wear flip flops or sandals. I have always wanted to make a pair of Barefoot Sandals. Really! And when Courtney aka Bonesaw Betty (from the Ocala Cannibals Roller Derby!!!) pinned a pair on Pinterest and added a tag that said " Della Merritt could make these- she's crafty!" I knew the time had come, and I better get on the ball and make some.

Of course, for my 1st pair, I'm all thinking seashells and beach weddings, right....

so this past Tuesday I gave it go! I didn't have anything else to do.... I'm kinda laid up ;)

Very elegant, and so beach wedding-y!

These will fit an 8.5 to 9 US womens size. I wear an 8 and they are just a lil bit loose on me, but I could wear them without them falling off or anything.

See? Loose, but not falling off loose...an 8 could wear them.

See my boo boo by my big toe joint? A bottle of body wash fell on my foot in the shower :(
I was bleeding! I'm accident prone, to say the least LOL!

Enough side views, huh?

And on the other toe.... ant bite. I told you I run around barefoot.... and ants don't die in the winter where there is no snow!

I must say I DO Love them!!! I want to make a less 'dressy' pair, too. I think they are so fun! And mine are so totally different than any I've ever seen. Have you ever seen any like these? I think a Bohemian style with leather would be cool, too! I almost don't want to put this pair in my shop hmmmmm. And, can I say OUCH for standing on these shells?! It's the mass assortment by my pond out front, and they are not foot traffic friendly! Which is why my toes aren't in an elegant pose hehehehe!

The Elegant Murex

I made something cool and fun yesterday, but it requires a pedicure for me to do a post on it. Since that is not happening at the moment (maybe later today) I thought I would dig out a couple of necklaces that I made  a little while ago, and still haven't put them in my shop ....cuz I didn't have pics yet.

An elegant and so pretty Murex shell dangles from a copper bail, on a solid copper chain, with a peach pearl drop.

This chain is very fine looking, delicate, and dainty, but every little link is soldered closed.

The Murex has a dainty and delicate look about it, too... but make no mistake, this is a sturdy shell. I sure wouldn't want to step on one.

A simple lobster clasp completes this necklace.

Not everyone likes copper the way I do, and most people actually like silver the most.

This lovely Murex is on a silver plated chain, and has a pretty pinkish purplish freshwater pearl drop.

The Murex is like the Beauty Queen of the sea :)

Her details are stunning, and so very elegant!

Also finished with a simple lobster clasp, this necklace is ready to wear!

As soon as I get them listed in my shop, hehehehee!

I know I am still being a slow poke about listings right now, but I do have my reasons :P

Seashell Crowns for Mermaids

Do you remember a few months ago, I was working on a custom order? I wouldn't tell what it was, and didn't give anything away as to what I was working on...not even a hint.

Well, I can tell now!

I was asked to make a Mermaid Seashell Crown with pink shells, that looked like the crown Alana, Ariel's sister is wearing in the movie the Little Mermaid.  My customer is playing the part in an upcoming play!

The criteria for the shell crown, besides being pink, was that it has to stay on her head while she is wearing a wig.

This is an 'in progress photo', and you can see that I used a long toothed comb style headband.

I also left long streamers of ribbon at the ends to be tied underneath/behind her head. She can trim them if she needs to :)

This was a super cool project to take on, and I am completely happy with the results! I am thrilled to finally be sharing it with you all :) And my customer is just as thrilled with the finished piece!!!!

I do have more shell crown ideas that don't involve paint....just shells and pearls, and ribbon. Now that I've sold this one, I can start working on the others. I'll just add it to my looooooong To Do list!

Can you think of anything I should add to my To Do list?