i heart macro: Kansas in a Dry-Spell

**(Looking for "Thrift Shop Blog Hop?"  Click here!)**

WELCOME TO KANSAS...

Last Winter when it was unseasonably warm,

I laughed (though guiltily) about 

Global Warming.

"Bring it on," I joked,

"Kansas could end up to be a tropical oasis!

I made this joke because:

1) I love the water and coastal areas.

2) It was wonderful to enjoy 

the mild temperatures 

and to not have to shovel snow

as in winters past.

3) I often make jokes about things 

I'm concerned about 

but would rather not admit.

4) It was a joke about 

how great Kansas was going to be, 

not meant to focus on what would have 

to happen for Kansas 

to become a tropical island.

That said,

no one has any worries at all.

Depending on how you think about things, the drought in the Midwest this Summer 

may be a result of major climate change

or just a cyclical blip in the typical pattern,

but we're not an island yet. 

Well, it looks a bit like sand, 

but this isn't a beach.

It's the front yard that my husband 

proudly tends 2-3 times a week...or did.

There is no sand to squish between toes here.

Only hard, dry ground.

There is no use trying to water the yard.  

It just brings the roots 

to the top of the ground.

Either way, the grass is dead 

and the earth is bare.

Despite trying to water the plants,

my peonies look like this: 

My hydrangeas like this:

#12:   Dried-up

Daylilies and hosta like this.  

It looks like there is a black mat 

under the plants, but it's just the soil.

It's already clear we've lost some plants and bushes.  

Will the forsynthia bush come back next year?

Will the Japanese Maple survive?

If you find these photos a little disheartening,  I'm sorry.  I do as well.

I went out and took these photos,

and more of structural damage, one evening.   

It seemed it hadn't rained in weeks and everything was so dried up.

Then my husband came home

 and told how it had rained pretty well 

that morning, as he was leaving, on his drive to work, and for about an hour afterward.   

I could hardly believe it.

There was no longer any sign of it.

It must be worse for farmers.

It must be worse for people trying to live off the food they grow in their gardens.

It must be worse for those living 

with dust storms.

I just know that as much as I don't like 

gray, soggy weather,

as much as I do like sunshine,

this isn't a beach and we need some rain.

And next time I want to dip my toes 

in the ocean,

I'll go to the coast,

like in the "olden days."

Sharyl  ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Hey, lets go see what the others are doing

over on Lori Plyler's "Studio Waterstone" site

for 

i heart macro!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Thrift Store Blog Hop -- Reveal!

One day while wandering here and wandering there on the web, I came upon the most delightful blog hop that sounded like a real challenge to me.   Quite the opposite approach from what I usually take, where I start with one or more art beads, nice stones, or metal work, here I was instructed to begin with a thrift store find for less that $1.50 U.S. and make something from it.   This seemed like a test of my creativity and it fit my budget just fine!   So in I jumped!

The host of the challenge is Sarah from Pookledo in the U.K.!   Following are the guidelines:

Thrift Store Blog Hop

• Go to the thrift store/charity shop and buy an item for less that £1 ($1.50 approx at at the moment)
• Take a photo of the item when you get home 
• Take an "in progress" photo
• Take a photo when you have finished making your item
• And blog about it on Saturday August 4th.
• Don't forget to include links to everyone else taking part in the blog hop so that we can all blog hop together :)

You'll find that list of participants down aways. But next, it's time to see what I found, and what I did with it...

This was my starter piece, made from who knows what type of  metal.
It looks like silver, but it's really light weight.
It was rather yellowish-looking, but polished up nicely.   

What to do with it?
The 2 decorated round pieces were okay.
I really liked the dangles, and decided they should stay.
The wirework on the dangles was nicely done too.
I decided I couldn't improve on those.   

But the jumpring chain that connected the 2 round pieces looked "cheapy" (ha!)
and had to go!   
My first vision of the piece had formed!

I replaced the little jumprings with a heavy antiqued silver chain.
I wanted something in the middle.  My first thought was turquoise, but I weighed my choices, and what I could find in my stash,
and decided on this purple stone I'd had for a while....
then looped it in with turquoise colored copper wire.  (Of course!)

And then made a bail out of a connector and wa-la!  
The pendant was done--the hard part!   
I could sit and do nothing for several weeks now...
uh...

...Okay, several weeks later....
just a few more days until the reveal?!
I think this necklace needs MORE! 
Not sure what more, but MORE!

Should I make the rest from chain?  From ribbon?
Can't decide?  How about both?

My chain for the upper necklace
seemed like it had come
from a thrift store too!
I had 2 pieces, unequal in length, and the links were soldered. 
I could cut one side and make them even, but I couldn't make into one long chain.
So I decided to hook the uneven lengths one on each side.  
In doing so, I added turquoise-colored rondelles (Howlite, I believe)
to the top of the pendant,
and hooked the chain lengths there.  
I also added violet Gilders Paste to the dangles to balance out the colors.



I felt better about the colors now, but what to do about the chain?  
I was planning to go with rougher stones, when I got the crazy notion...
to use glass crystals instead!  :-)

Beadcaps?   Too frilly, even with the crystals.  I used organically shaped silver-plated beads instead.
Turquoise, purple, turquoise, nice and even, until...
one end of chain ran out and the other just kept going.

I added 2 sterling silver plated sunflowers (State Flower of Kansas, where I live) on the long side, (making the centers purple) and another turquoise rondelle on each side.

Then created fasteners for the 2 layers of hand-dyed silk ribbons (one lilac, one multi-colored purple and turquoise. )  

I made a hook clasp, and finally, called it done.

                                                  

 

I looked at it and decided it was like someone living on the prairie long ago had found or had handed down to them, a bit of silver jewelry, perhaps Native American, and tried to make a treasured necklace from it.  Bits and pieces of beads and chains and ribbons to make something they would feel special in.   
So I've named it,
"Prairie Jewels."

My sincere thanks to Sarah for hosting this event!  

I started with a bit of nothing 

and made a little treasure out of it.  :-)

Please take a look at the other treasures created!

Participants :

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com 
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com     <-- You are here!
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
? -   http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk/
Dyanne - http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/thrift-store-blog-hop.html

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Please visit Sharyl's Jewelry on Artfire!

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"Beads of Clay" Aug. Give-Away!

I can get a little behind the times (guffaw, snort, head shaking, knee clapping...)  Okay, okay...


Well, I've known about this group, "Beads of Clay" for nearly a year, but didn't know about monthly give-aways!   Is this new?   I'm clueless, and if it was around before, I don't know why I missed it.  I'm just glad I finally caught up to this cool event.  It is so me!  :-)   (It's probably so "you" too!)  


Just look at the items they plan to give away in August!   (Giveaways occur on the first Wed. of each month, and will come from the Professional Artisan Team.   Items will include handmade porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware beads and pendants.)

These Very Generous Donations are From:
(Left to right and top to bottom)
Lisa Nilsen -  Trollsmed
Diana Ptaszynski - Suburban Girl Beads
Vladislav Ivanov - Golem Studio
Mary Harding - Mary Harding Jewelry
Lisa Boucher - ClayworksNH
Joan Miller - Joan Miller Porcelain

I'm going to check out the shops of these talented bead makers!  

***Details for how to sign up for the drawing are on the "Beads of Clay" blog! *** 

As always, I'll wish you good luck, but I'm hoping to win too!  :-)

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

Please note:

Photo collage of artists' work from Beads of Clay blog page: http://www.blog.beadsofclay.org/2012/08/august-giveaway.html

i heart macro: Pretty in Pink

Photos of summer flowers taken this July in Colorado and at home in Kansas ~ all pretty in pink!

#6:  "In the Pink" Spirea

Thank you for stopping by to see 

pictures of pink petals 

as you tour the lovely photographs 

at Studio Waterstone for this week's

i heart macro!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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You can be pretty in pink too!

Spring Flower Earrings in Pink

SALE ON EARRINGS

 through end of July 2012!

25% OFF when you 

use this code at checkout:

EAR25

Amount will be deducted 

after you enter the code.

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Sale, Blog Hop, and More

Three quick things for Saturday:


1)  I'm having a sale through the end of July.  25% off all earrings when you use this code at checkout:   EAR25.   You must use the code to activate the discount.  Prices will be changed at that point.    No limit!   Earrings can be found on this page of the studio!  


2) The 1st Reveal of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party is now underway!   You can hop on at any of the participant's blogs and find the list.  But a good start place is with the event hostess, Lori Anderson's blog, Pretty Things!   Congrats to any and all who participated this round!   If you'd like to add a comment here with your blog URL, please do and we'll try to make a special effort to visit your blog!  There are many, but it's always so impressive to see what everyone has done!


3)   A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post expressing my fascination with numbers--specifically 111 # of Facebook participants and 88 Blog followers.   It was nice that no one joined while the story was up, but I thought I'd mention you are now free to tell your friends they are welcome to join us in either spot!  Ha!  Hopefully we'll move on to some more interesting numbers!   


You all have a good day!   


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry


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NKP Designs Presents: A Fundraiser for Philip Pappas

Mother and son, both struggling to beat cancer at the same time.   It sounds like a story you would read in a newspaper, in some other place, happening to people you don't know.   

Purple Lavender Textured Ceramic Beads

But the truth is, many of you do know Natalie Pappas, bead designer from NKP Designs.   And some of you will know that she and her son shared this experience last year.   Both are doing well, but son Philip was left with very high uncovered medical expenses.  He is still trying to pay his parents back for his medical bills, and has put together this fund raiser.   To read more, please visit Natalie's blog  for NKPDesigns.


To help in the project, Natalie has donated one-of-a-kind pottery mugs she has recently handmade to be auctioned.  They are gorgeous!   (Each is different, but one sample is shown below.)

Blue Yumoni  Mug

There was a local event on July 21, but still time for the rest of us to participate  in online bidding for mugs!   All details are included here.


There is more info about:

• Philip
• photos of the mugs
• how to place a bid for a mug

We wish Natalie and Philip good health and very best wishes on the fundraiser!


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Photo Credits:


All by Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs. Used by permission.


Purple Lavender Textured Ceramic Beads from NKP Designs: http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5200163/il_170x135.277761968.jpg


Blue Yumoni Mug for Auction:
http://nkpdesigns.com/philipsfundraiser/images/DSCN2387.JPG

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July 25th--Why is today important in my world?

Today is July 25th.   


I've been dreading it.

But as with most things I dread, now that the time has arrived, I realize it's not so bad.  For now, for a while, the worst is over.   


The significance of the date?   If you guessed  that it's the deadline for quarterly sales tax submission in the State of Kansas, then behold, you'd be correct!    


For small businesses here, the 25th of the month following a quarter is when retail sales taxes are due to the Kansas Department of Revenue.   And glory be, mine are done and on their way!   For the first time, it took me about 1 1/2 hours rather than weeks to do.  I had good notes from the last filings.  And hopefully all is in good order.  The routine gets easier and faster...once you know what to do.   Until then,  hassle and heartache can't begin to describe the experience!  

I'm not one to fuss about the actual paying of taxes.   Far from it. I think taxes serve a valuable purpose.   I've only fussed that the processes seem needlessly cumbersome at times, ...but again, it gets easier once you've done it right once.   


So I bring this up not to complain, but as a note to new folks starting their businesses that State and Local sales taxes are something to keep your eye on.   I had my own set of misperceptions about how and when these would be handled.   The thing I did right was to collect the sales tax in the first place.   I won't even list the things I did wrong!  :-)


If you are starting your business,  make sure you know if you need to collect sales tax in your state, under what circumstances, and if so, how much.  Then find out when and where and how to submit them.  In my state, whether you pay taxes varies according to whether sales are made wholesale or retail.   It varies when selling online if the buyer is from my state or another.  There is a State tax and added to the State tax is a local tax.   The amount of sales tax varies according to the city from which the item is purchased.   


The good news?   ArtFire does much of the hard work for me.   (If you have a storefront, it may do the same for you.  Check it out though, don't assume or you may owe taxes you have not collected.)   I only need to make sure I'm keeping on top of sales made outside of ArtFire and that I'm using the most current sales tax charts.    


I'm not sure it's so easy though once you start making mega-sales and doing a lot of selling locally.   It may become a time-consuming task again at that point.   (I'll gladly worry about that when it happens!)  


In the meantime, if you would like some info on this topic, here are a few starting places:


The U.S. Small Business Administration   (a great site for all topics regarding starting and maintaining a small business)    http://www.sba.gov/content/learn-about-your-state-and-local-tax-obligations


The Tax Foundation   (This site is full of fun facts, comparison charts between states, etc.   Dated 2011 though so may be a little behind)   http://taxfoundation.org/article/ranking-state-and-local-sales-taxes-1


Also, look for your State website, then the Department of Revenue, Taxation, or whatever name they've chosen to call themselves, and get the real scoop on what you need to do.  

I'm no tax expert.   (Ask the folks at my Department of Revenue, they'll tell you!   :-)   My first couple of attempts required numerous e-mails and several phone calls.   I had about $3 to pay, but an overdue notice waiting for me for $500.  Not a good way to start.) 


But it gets easier, I'm happy to say!     ...And now that mine are done, I can wish you all a happy day and I can get back to the fun part--making jewelry again!  


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Graphics Credits:


Yellow Nervous Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/best_smiley_set/smiley_3/.cache/smiley_nervous_happy.png


Blue Confused Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/glossy_smiley/blue_smiley/smiley_confused.jpg


Green Embarrassed Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/glossy_smiley/glossy_green_smileys/.cache/glossy_smiley_green_embarrassed.png


Yellow Studious Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/assorted_smiley/assorted_2/.cache/Smiley_with_glasses.png


Purple Side Grin smiley:   http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/glossy_smiley/purple_smiley/.cache/nervous_smile.png


Green Upset Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/glossy_smiley/glossy_green_smileys/.cache/glossy_smiley_green_crying.png


Yellow Winking Smiley:  http://www.wpclipart.com/smiley/glossy_smiley/glossy_yellow_smileys/.cache/glossy_smiley_yellow_wink.png

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