Lazy Sundays...

I look forward to Sundays because it's usually the day when errands are done and it's time to relax before the work week begins again. I try to create more jewelry and get it all photographed on Sundays so I can add to our Etsy shop during the week when time is limited. Baking is another good Sunday activity, although with the temperatures heating up outside, a hot oven inside isn't as appealing as the goodies that result. Other than lounging by the pool on these hot summer days, a perfect day would be spent napping or lounging in bed reading. Below is my mom's dog Samy, who is demonstrating how he enjoys lingering in bed on hot days, or any day for that matter.

My mom, who is also my partner in our Etsy shop, BeadedTail, lives in Las Vegas and Samy is a Miniature American Eskimo and, as can be seen in the photo, they have him groomed so his hair is short to help keep him cool since the desert is pretty toasty, plus it helps with shedding. They adopted him from a couple who lived in a small apartment and realized they didn't have the space nor the time to take care of him. Samy now lives the life of a King and I'm sure he knows it! He has diabetes so must receive insulin shots twice a day to keep his blood sugar level on track. He is doing very well and is very happy and living the high life on Sunday, and every day of the week!

Ladybug!

I just listed this Ladybug charm bracelet in our shop. I made this bracelet a week ago and really considered keeping it myself because I like it so much. There's just something about the black and silver bracelet and the dash of red of the ladybug charm that I am drawn too. I hope others like it just as well and buy it!! As always, a portion of the proceeds will go to animal awareness causes!

All's Well That Ends Well

The food chain had a battle in our backyard the other day. I walked into my home office and saw our cats, Angel and Isabella, staring intently out the window. No matter what I said or what I did I couldn't get their attention.

I looked to see what had them so fascinated outside and saw a battle going on between a big black crow and a really angry lizard.

The lizard, on the right hand side of this picture, kept it's mouth open and I would imagine he was making a "hissing" sound while the crow walked circles around it.

The lizard, in the bottom left hand corner of this picture, put up quite a fight. The crow did get most of the lizard's tail and it was getting to the point where I was going to intervene with nature because I did not want to see that lizard carried off.

After about 20 minutes, the crow flew up into a tree and the lizard took the opportunity and ran like crazy to a spot where the crow could never fit. The lizard lost his tail, the crow lost his breakfast but the cat's enjoyed the show and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

More photo updating...

Photos are extremely important when selling items online and mine are a continous work in progress. This afternoon I updated some of the photos in our Etsy shop in hopes of attracting more attention to the jewelry. I would much rather create jewelry than photograph it but it's a necessary evil. Whatcha' think of how they turned out? Any critique is appreciated. You can click on the photos below to be taken to the listing in our shop.

Pets on Board - Traveling via Car with your Pet

If you are like our family, we rarely travel without our dog but without proper preparedness, traveling can be stressful for us and for Sadie. Traveling with a pet involves more than just loading up the car and hitting the road - especially if you will be going a long distance or for a long period of time. The ASPCA offers the following tips to help prepare for a safe and smooth car trip:

1. Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. There are a variety of wire mesh, hard plastic and soft-sided carriers available. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. And P.S., it’s smart to get your pet used to the carrier in the comfort of your home before your trip.

2. Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won’t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.

3. Your pet’s travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure. Don’t feed your furry friend in a moving vehicle—even if it is a long drive.

4. Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time, and heatstroke can develop. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

5. What in your pet’s traveling kit? In addition to travel papers, food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and a pet first-aid kit, pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity.

6. Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please.

7. Don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. This can subject him to inner ear damage and lung infections, and he could be injured by flying objects. And please keep him in the back seat in his crate or with a harness attached to a seat buckle.

8. Traveling across state lines? Bring along your pet’s rabies vaccination record, as some states requires this proof at certain interstate crossings. While this generally isn’t a problem, it’s always smart to be on the safe side.

9. When it comes to H2O, we say BYO. Opt for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area he’s not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet.

10. If you travel frequently with your pet, you may want to invest in rubberized floor liners and waterproof seat covers, available at auto product retailers.

Stay safe and enjoy experiencing the country with your pet!

More Reasons Why I Love Etsy!

I finally did it - I finally tried out some of the handmade soaps and lotions offered on Etsy. I was warned in advance that I'd be hooked and, well, I'm hooked!! Here's what I bought on my little soap spree:

This Fresh Cut Grass soap by aBreathofFrenchAir was the first to arrive. I had read her blog where she discussed making this soap and when she listed it in her shop I had to try it and boy, am I glad I did! It smells so fresh and the shea butter is wonderful! I've recently purchased other soap from her and can't wait to try it out!







I also wanted to try handmade lotions so I bought a sampler pack of five of shea butter lotions from BL Soaps. I thought it'd make it easier to pick a favorite by having choices but they all smell so wonderful and are light and non-greasy too. I guess if I had to pick it'd be Lilac or Jasmine, no maybe Pink Silk, can't forget about Vixen and Temptress! I guess I have five favorites!


I bought other soaps from Etsy sellers but haven't had a chance to try those out yet. I'll report on those in a future post about the reasons I love Etsy.

Oh, by the way, we are in another treasury! Sam McLean Designs put our Orange-Red Cat's Eye Animal Awareness Bracelet in a treasury of some of her Flickr friends! It's a great honor and was a thrill to find this morning in Treasury West!

Thank you Sam! Be sure to check it out and click, click, click! Feel free to shop a little too!

Tidepooling on the Oregon Coast

There are many things to enjoy on the Oregon coast and tidepooling certainly is a favorite since you never know what you'll find. I took these pictures last fall of some sea creatures in tide pools near Newport, OR which is on the central coast of Oregon.

In downtown Newport along the bay, there are always sea creatures to see, like these sea lions who are always on the docks no matter what time of year. You'll hear them barking the entire time you stroll through the quaint shops enjoying a wonderful day!

We're in Another Treasury!

I was so surprised to see the little yellow star today in the Treasury list indicating that one of our items was featured. Much thanks to jenscloset for putting our Royal Blue Cat's Eye Bracelet in her lovely treasury!
Be sure to check it out and click, click, click on the great choices! It expires at Sunday, 11:56am EST so visit soon! Thank you so much jenscloset!! We appreciate it very much!

Etsy's First Annual YART SALE!

Etsy is having a YART sale - a yard sale for art! - and we are participating! From now until June 20th we will have a sale section in our shop with jewelry at least 20% off regular prices - and a few surprises from time to time! Be sure to check it out!

As always, a portion of the proceeds will go to animal awareness causes. We're making tails wag!!

It's a Small World After All...

For some reason it just dawned on me last night just how the Internet has made our world so small and brought us all together. It's not like I've never thought of this before but since I've been on Etsy, been blogging and just signed up on Flickr Sunday, I've realized just how true this is. I've always realized the power of the Internet since I actually depend on it for work. I moved to Oregon five years ago but kept my job in Colorado so I telecommute daily. I also communicate via e-mail with many friends and family throughout the United States. I also use Instant Messenger to communicate with my boss and co-workers - although sometimes I wonder if this is a good thing!! Beyond this, I didn't grasp how truly far reaching the Internet is beyond my own home office since I never realized its full potential.

Yesterday for example, I decided it was high time to try out some handmade soaps that everyone raves about. So, I went shopping on Etsy and have soap coming from California, Missouri and North Carolina. I also have lotions coming from Utah. I would never have come across these products if they weren't on Etsy - nor would I have even tried the items if I didn't "know" the people behind the products after "meeting" them in the Etsy forums. One of the ladies I bought soap from is on vacation in New Jersey but, because of the Internet, she sent me a message thanking me for my purchase and letting me know she'd ship my order once she returned home. Okay, so maybe the Internet impedes on our vacations, but just the fact that she took the time to acknowledge me while on vacation from the opposite coast of the United States was a very nice gesture.

After shopping, I got on my Flickr account and found myself looking at pictures from all over the globe. I saw spring flowers in Spain, a cat from Poland and one from Italy, landscape in France, a dog from Germany and many other interesting photos all posted by the people who actually live in those countries that I'd love to visit. It's a whole different world than we see on TV or in books - it's real, it's life, it's today. Yeah sure the cats and dogs look like our cats and dogs but the point is, when would I ever have been able to see a cat walking down an alley in Italy with cobbled roads and laundry hanging between the buildings or see the beautiful pink spring flowers in Spain? Then to think that people from the other side of the world are looking at pictures of my jewelry and pets - it's just incredible!

As for my blog, I've had visitors from many countries around the world and to think that they are learning a little about me is very humbling. I find it fascinating that someone in Africa or Australia or Thailand is able to connect with me in a small way. We may live in different places, have different cultures, look differently on the outside but inside, we are all connected and much more alike than not. And thanks to the Internet, the world knows no boundaries!

We're in a treasury!

EnchantedFoundlings included our Pink Cat's Eye Animal Awareness Bracelet in a treasury of animal lovers! We are so honored to be in a treasury - especially one for animal lovers! Be sure to check it out and click, click, click! It expires at 10am EST, Wednesday.

Thank you EnchantedFoundlings!

It's weekend getaway time again!

It has been rainy and dreary here in Oregon this week with temperatures in the 50's so I'm anxiously waiting for summer to officially arrive. Some of the attractions in Oregon, and neighboring Washington, include higher altitude getaways that we usually escape to when it's hot down here in the Willamette Valley. I took these pictures in previous summers when the sky was clear and the temperature warm - oh how I hope those days return soon!

This is Mt Hood here in Oregon taken from Timberline Lodge last July. When we were there, people were still going up on the remaining snow patches to ski even though the official ski season was over. I'm not sure what type of conditions the snow was in but I would imagine it was more like slush skiing!

We went to Mount St Helens in Washington the summer before it erupted again. Steam is noticeable in this picture rising from the crater. The trees in the foreground are what are returning after the huge eruption on May 18, 1980.

Reasons why I love Etsy!

Of course I love being able to sell on Etsy but when I'm not working on our shop, I love to shop on Etsy! I have made a few purchases but mostly I do a lot of "window shopping" and marking favorites for when I'm able to buy. Every day I'm always amazed at the selection and creativity of the artists on Etsy.

One thing that I love about Etsy is being able to purchase custom items made just for me as many shops will do custom orders. One such purchase I made was to have SunnysWoodNGifts make me a bookmarker with my own quote - a saying that I use all the time but isn't on any other product in the world! During this process, I had several Etsy Conversation's (their messaging service) with her and she made me the cutest bookmarker! Sunny is such a pleasure to work with and it made this purchase that much more special to me. I read every single night and it is so great to have a bookmarker made especially for me!


There are so many diverse products on Etsy, many of which I had never seen or heard of before. One such item is the Heart-shaped Bird Nest Builder/Helper that I bought from TheNatureNut . I had read about this item on her blog and at the time I thought it was pretty clever. A few weeks passed and one day I walked out onto our deck and saw pieces of coconut all over after the birds tried to pull it out of our hanging plant basket liners and I realized exactly why this product was created. I looked at the mess, turned right around and went to the computer and bought a set of two of the bird nest builder/helpers. Kathleen lives in Canada so I would never have come across her products if it hadn't been for Etsy. I received it within a week of purchase and they are now filled with lots of goodies for the birds to build a fabulous nest!

Some other choices from Etsy, which I haven't yet tried but will someday, include handmade soap such as this Raspberry Walnut Panna Cotta from savor. How's this for eye-candy? **See update below!





And this real candy, Peanut Butter Flutter Chocolate Bark made by Carnival. Doesn't this look scrumptous?





There are many, many more shops that I ♥ on Etsy. Eventually I hope to buy something from all of them!

All photos were taken by the shop owners and are in their Etsy shops.

***UPDATE***

Although I didn't purchase the soap listed above from SavorSoap, I did purchase her Amaretto Honey Oatmeal soap and let me tell you, that is my all time favorite scent from any soap I've ever tried! It's fabulous and not only smells great, it makes you skin feel great! I highly recommend it!

Adding More New Items to our Etsy shop!

I will be listing new items in our BeadedTail Etsy shop in the coming days. Last night I listed a new bracelet that I think is adorable:
Be sure to keep an eye on our shop in the next few weeks! And as always, a portion of the proceeds will benefit animal awareness causes. We're making tails wag one bead at a time!

Weekend Getaway Time!

The weekend is here and it's time for rest and relaxation! We are going to do that by going to the beautiful Oregon coast. We live an hour away from the ocean but try to get there as often as possible. If you ever find yourself visiting our beautful state, be sure to drive down Highway 101 for as long and as far as possible. There are gorgeous sights the entire way including these photos I took along the coast.


I took this picture from the Sea Lion Caves north of Florence, Oregon which we've visited several times but only once the sea lions were actually in the cave. At least the views were nice!
There are many lighthouses along Hwy 101 along the coast of Oregon. I took this photo of Heceta Head Lighthouse through the ocean mist. Heceta Head Lighthouse is 13 miles north of Florence.

Everyone needs some lovin'!

I once heard that everyone needs someone in their life to love whether it's family, friends or pets. Having some other living creature to care for makes all the difference. Many people have big families, lots of friends and several pets while others have small families, few friends and one or two pets. Even if someone has just one important person, or pet, in their life, happiness abounds. The quantity does not matter, it's the quality of those relationships that is meaningful.

As our cats, Angel and Isabella, are demonstrating, we may not get along all the time but we can still show compassion for each other (hopefully it's not while being squished in a cat bed by your little sister!) Don't forget to seek out and nurture relationships with the people, or pets, that you love and make you happy. Keep in contact with family and friends, volunteer in your community or adopt a pet from an animal shelter. Spread the love and reap the rewards!!

Oregon Getaway time!!

Here's another waterfall in this beautiful state of Oregon. I took this photo of Latourell Falls which is located in the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, OR. The falls plunge 249 feet over columnar basalt and is most recognized for the bright patch of lichen on the cliff face to the right of the falls. It's one of several waterfalls in the Multnomah Falls area and is well worth a trip to see them all!

I'd also like to tell my cousin Loretta - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

What is your Passion?

Such a simple question, but not always such a simple answer. A few years ago my hair stylist asked me "what is your passion?" I was stumped. I'd never been asked that before nor had I even thought about that before so I didn't have an answer for her. I've thought about that question quite frequently since that day and I have changed many things in my life as I learn to live more in the moment rather than just going through the motions. I wanted to find what truly made me happy and follow that path wherever it took me. I did this for many reasons, one of which is that I didn't want to change stylists so I didn't want to go back for a haircut and still be passionless!


One passion I've always had, but didn't recognize it as such, is my love of animals and my desire to help end cruelty, neglect and homelessness for them. This realization was the inspiration behind our Etsy shop. My mom feels the same way about animals as I do and we were looking for ways to help animal causes after hearing horrible stories in the news last summer about animal cruelty. We love making jewelry so the combination of being able to indulge our creative side while helping animals was a perfect match. We can honestly say we are passionate about what we do and feel fortunate to be able to do our part to make this world a better place for animals.

In case you haven't been asked in awhile, ask yourself periodically "what is my passion?" You may already know your passions and incorporate them in your daily life and if so, that's fantastic! For others, it will lead to soul searching and a desire to find out what truly makes you happy. It may be quite a journey, as I am finding out firsthand, but it's worth it to live your life with passion!

Eye Popping, Sales Making Photos - Oxymoron? Not necessarily.

So many times it's discussed in the Etsy forums that in order to sell jewelry our shops must have great photos. Boy, that is sure harder to do than it sounds. I just spent several hours re-taking photos of several items in our shop and I can assure you, it's a constant work in progress. (Click on photos to see entire listing in our shop).

Give me a waterfall any day and I can photograph it but a bracelet or earrings is a whole different story. For one thing, lighting is the absolute key but it's only perfect about 1% of the time. I've tried lightboxes and ended up with photos with an orange tint. I've tried direct sun, no sun, in the rain (I live in Oregon by the way) and each attempt left something to be desired. I spend hours photographing jewelry and then downloading them and attempting to make them better on the computer. I usually end up with about 25 pictures per item just to get 5 decent ones for a listing. I spend a lot of time photographing our jewelry to try to make the listings in our shop pop!

My point to all this is, when you are looking at an Etsy shop and admiring the talent on display, notice the photos of the objects because I can assure you much work went into them and it's part of the entire package. We all love to create our jewelry or soap or scarves or whatever it may be but a necessary evil in presenting them in our shop is those photos. So many times with an online store they are the deal maker or breaker but the money shots are so elusive. Take notice of great photos and realize the heart and soul that went into creating the item and then presenting it to you. We do it because we love what we do and want to provide the best for our customers. Now, I'm off to take more photos!

Hot weather tips for pets

With many parts of this country reaching 100 degrees already this summer, it's a good time for reminders about hot weather care for pets. This list is from the ASPCA's website and is a good thing for everyone to read each summer to keep our fur babies happy and healthy.

- A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must; add to that a test for heartworm, if your dog isn't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.

- Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

- Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.

- The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

- Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog standing on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

- A day at the beach is a no-no, unless you can guarantee a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for your companion. Salty dogs should be rinsed off after a dip in the ocean.

- Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

- Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

- When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. And please be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.

- Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Shaving the hair to a one-inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs Rover of protection from the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.

- Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

- Having a backyard barbecue? Always keep matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles and insect coils out of pets' reach.

- Please make sure that there are no open, unscreened windows or doors in your home through which animals can fall or jump.

- Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting and drooling and mild weakness, along with an elevated body temperature.