Royal Wedding Earrings

I haven't posted in ages!  I've got a backlog of new earrings to share.

Shoes with Mojo

Ladies, do you go out to bars alone? And do your shoes have mojo?

My husband was out of town with his other wife the Army again, and naturally there was a band I wanted to see. I first saw Cigar Store Indians, a rockabilly band, probably in the late-90s during my swingdance phase. They are from Crabapple, GA, which it turns out is just north of Atlanta, where I moved about 16 months ago. They were playing at the Star Bar in Little Five Points, where we'd recently seen Southern Culture on the Skids, so I knew what environment to expect and that there was a parking lot and I wouldn't have to walk very far unescorted. So I psyched myself up for it and went out alone. This is not something I have done often, but I have done it. I'm an introvert, remember. I wasn't just going out to meet up with friends. I didn't have the excuse that I was traveling on business.

I've really been wanting to swingdance again lately; it's been a while. I was hoping maybe I could find somebody to dance with last night. If you are at an event that is not billed as a swing dance, you can often still identify other dancers by their shoes. It's true. So to help potential partners identify me, I wore saddle shoes.

Now, I've believed for years that shoes can have a certain mojo, but that was all due to my fuzzy leopard-print, extra-hi-top Chucks that I bought in London. I credit/blame them for some adventures involving a dude with a blue mohawk, but that story will have to wait for another time. But this night, my black and white saddle shoes worked their own little magic, even before I clicked them together three times.

I felt rather self-conscious when I entered the bar at around 9:20. It turned out the band wouldn't start for another 40 minutes, I think, but it was late enough that there were no open stools at the bars, and yet early enough that very few people were standing in the open like me. I tried to find an out-of-the-way place to stand where I drank my Newcastle and of course made a little origami crane out of the label.

Were people noticing that I was a chick out in the bar alone? Maybe they would think I was just waiting for my friend(s) to show up. As more people filtered in, I hoped I was at least not sticking out like the man in the khakis and navy blazer. (Did he just come from the country club?) I finished my beer and the band still hadn't shown signs of starting, so I went to the Ladies' Room and then got another beer.

Then this really tall, black-haired chick in all black comes up to me telling me how she loves my shoes.

"And they look good on you!" she adds, gushing.

I'm like, "Thanks!" Then she asks my name and shakes my hand and tells me her name is Chastity. Then she departs and heads towards the door, like she's friends with the doorman.

Ok, well, that was encouraging at least. I stand there another five or ten minutes, and the band looks as if they are finally beginning to start. Chastity comes back up to me and introduces me to her friend, though I don't think I caught her name. Well, the friend says hi and immediately PUSHES me all the way to the front of the stage - you know, past all the tall fuckers who have started to converge - and straight up to center stage. So I'm laughing and I say thanks, and the band starts. And that's where I spent the whole show, front center stage.

There were a few times when people with cameras asked to get in front of me, and I said of course, and they were always very polite and left after a few minutes. This one chick was like, "You're so little. Stay there!" and then this other chick was also gushing over my shoes. (People, it's called the Internet. They're not hard to find.) But I did keep turning around looking behind me to see if anyone was swingdancing. I think I saw a couple in the back maybe do one dance, but that's it. So I never did get to swingdance, but I had just about as much fun dancing by myself center stage.

Yet all those times I kept turning around, I never saw Chastity or her friend again.

Angels. They were angels!

Starts with an F and Ends in U-C-K

New to my collection this year:  firetruck earrings for September 11.  Can you see the tiny letters that say, "OUR HEROES"?

Firecrackers

Because nothing says 'Murica like a firecracker made in China.  I am told this character means "strength."  Personally, I would have gone with "fire" or "danger" or "freedom."  I shoulda just made my own.

Pecan Pi(e) Day

Though pi earrings and 3.1415 earrings do exist, I prefer the homophone, which I got from an Etsy shop called Inedible Jewelry.  Pie > math.

Earrings I Don't Have

Updated list of earrings I don't have:

Christmas Earrings I Don't Have:
Santa 
Elves
Reindeer 
Gift boxes
Sleds/sleighs
Stockings
Holly
Wreaths
Abominable Snowmen (I have plenty of the unabominable kind)
Lumps of coal
Krampuses
Jesuses
Fruitcakes
Leg lamps

Other Holidays I Don't Have Covered:
Guy Fawkes Night 
Pie Day
St. Lucia Day  
St. Nicholas Day/Belsnickel/Krampus 

Miscellaneous Earrings I Want:
Bajoran earrings
Lips
Birthday cakes
Candles
Guinness
Fireworks
Seahorses
Umbrellas
FUNCTIONING watch/clock earrings
Chandeliers that light up (I can dream)
Stop lights that I can control based on my mood (I have a vivid imagination)
Leg lamps that light up (a really vivid imagination)

Mistletoe Earrings

Perfect for the Solstice.  Plus, you can always hold it over your head when you're feeling flirty.

Resurrecting Dead Jewelry

After the Christmas tree and Valentine I made from jewelry I inherited from various family members, I still had lots of less blingy, more colorful beads and plastic earrings left over.  I don't eat hard-boiled eggs, yet I still have a desire to celebrate spring by decorating eggs in my own way.  Using the colorful beads to make an Easter egg just seemed obvious since I had already hopped on to the holiday theme.

Most of the beads and earrings in this craft belonged to my mom, but there are a couple of strands of broken rosaries in there, too, that likely belonged to my uncle or brother. The 8x10 white shadowbox frame came from Michael's, as did the purple felt I used for the background.  For further instruction about how I did this, see the directions at the end of my Junk Jewelry Christmas Tree blogpost.  For other designs, click the "Crafty" label in the righthand column of this blog.

The bunnies and eggs so prevalent in springtime are symbols of fertility and rebirth. Though I can't resurrect the relatives who instilled in me a love of holiday traditions, at least I can help breathe new life into the trinkets they left behind.

Heart of Gold & Rhinestones

After the Junk Jewelry Christmas Tree craft, I still had lots of Mom's and other jewelry left over.  Given how much members of my family seemed to love holidays, it seemed appropriate to keep with the holiday theme, and next up was Valentine's Day.

For this one, I tried picking pieces that were related to the holiday. You can see several heart-shaped pieces and other lovey-dovey things like butterflies, flowers, the "key" to my heart, and red and pink items.

I remember my Uncle Bill giving me at least one of the heart-shaped stick pins when I was a little girl. There's a sailboat in there that kinda reminds me of my dad.  Not sure which of my deceased relatives earned the blood donor pin.  There's a promotional beer pin for Killian's; it doesn't necessarily remind me of anyone, but it is "red" ale.  :)

For an explanation of how I did this, see the directions near the end of my blog post for the Junk Jewelry Christmas Tree.  To see other variations on this craft, click on the "Crafty" label in the right-hand column of my blog.  I'll be posting more soon.  (There's plenty of other holidays!)

As I was making this, I kind of felt like I was making a Valentine to my mom and other relatives who've passed on.  I hope they received it.

Junk Jewelry Christmas Tree

What to do with junk jewelry?  I've really been wondering that for many years and only recently discovered a good answer.

I have more than 400 pairs of earrings, and some I have no intention of ever wearing again because they are tarnished, broken, missing a mate, or not my style.  But I never throw earrings away nor most other jewelry because I have this crazy notion I will make my own with leftovers someday when I have ample time.  But not all jewelry can be strung together with beads.

Of course if you have good jewelry, you can sell it to a pawn shop or mail it to the gold and silver scavengers who will melt it down.  You can also donate to a thrift store, and there are some charities that collect nicer accessories and give them to battered women starting life anew so they can look polished on job interviews.

But if, like me, you have a lot of old jewelry you're pretty sure no one else will want and it just seems WRONG to throw it in the trash can, then this is a great idea for how to repurpose it, and it's surprisingly easy.  (Click "Read More" and scroll to the bottom of this post for directions.) The other reason I like this craft is that it is the perfect compromise between my need to get rid of junk and my desire to cling to the past.

Random Jewish Holiday

Commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Sorry I didn't get this posted until after sundown.)

My Ear's Like A Red, Red Rose

Happy Burns Night! January 25 is the birthday of Scottish bard Robert Burns, when folks around the world hold dinners in his honor. Though I have never attended one, I understand they follow a standard order and involve eating haggis, drinking Scotch, and reciting his poems. They traditionally end with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, which he wrote.

Although I have a few other potentially appropriate, Scotland-related earrings, for Burns Night, I have chosen the red, red roses pictured. Why these? In honor of the following Rabbie Burns poem:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That’s sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

In a Pickle

I consider performing holiday rituals to be a key element of my witchiness. However, I think New Year's is possibly my least favorite holiday.

Don't get me wrong - I have had some very nice New Year's celebrations. I went to a lovely formal party at the turn of the millennium. A few years ago, I rented a great big beach house with a coven of friends. And I may have had or attended an okay party or two. But in general, there is just something off about the holiday of New Year's. ...

Pearl Harbor Day

Earrings appropriate for Pearl Harbor Day are a little too easy. These are only some of my choices.

Gee, Wiz!

I could not a-void buying these earrings, and I've been waiting for an excuse to wear them. And here it is: November 19, World Toilet Day! Who knew?!

Of course, this day doesn't eliminate other viable occasions. I could wear them whenever I'm feeling crappy. On payday, when I'm feeling flush. When the NHL announces another hockey season has gone down the tubes. Or if they end the lockout and Buffalo makes it to the Cup finals -- because we all know who will come it at number two.

The possibilities for when to wear these earrings have me gushing.

I could wear them in honor of John's birthday. Or Lou. When Chuck finally takes the throne. Any time I ride the bus. To indicate I'm privy to a secret. After I catch the bitty who dented my car, take her to court, and sewer.

Next time I inquire about trail riding and have to go see a man about a horse. If only I were a man, I could wear these when I meet the Pope! If only I had kids, I could put these on when I drop them off at the pool!

I could don them while playing Scrabble to encourage a good vowel movement.

Maybe I can even wear them again this week - the day after Thanksgiving!

I suppose the neat thing about these earrings is, I don't really need to wait for a holiday or special occasion. They're good on regular days, too.

Guided by SpEARits

I have discovered new earrings in my collection just in time for Columbus Day! These are working compass earrings, and they kinda match a compass necklace I already had. I dig kinetic jewelry!

In the past, I used to wear these Star Trek Enterprise earrings on Columbus Day (because, hey - ships, explorers), but this year I explored cyberspace for other options. Along the way, I found this awesome Ouija board compass necklace, but I don't own it. Yet.

Aloha Earrings

Hula girl earrings for Hawaii Statehood Day, celebrated on the third Friday of August.

Flags of our Fathers

These European flag earrings could be appropriate for the Olympics or a variety of national holidays. I didn't bother adding hooks for the photo, but they are easily made into earrings despite the fact that they were originally charms on a bracelet I bought at Busch Gardens around the age of 13.

I case you don't recognize them, these are the flags of (clockwise from top left) Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Naturally, I have Old Glory earrings as well.

Going for the Gold

These are my Olympics earrings. They are official Olympic merchandise. Can you guess where I got them? I'll give you a hint: I had a BLAST when I attended. They were sold in silver and gold, and of course I had to go for the gold.

Though I was not present for the bombing, I attended two events during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. I barely remember what the events were. Something like Women's Basketball: China vs. Venezuela or something. Oh yeah, and a track and field event where we were supposed to be able to see the Marathon runners as they entered the stadium, but I was with some old farts who had to stop for coffee and pee twice on the way, and we missed the first couple dozen marathoners. Still, it was kinda cool to cheer just as strong for the latecomers as they would straggle in to the stadium.

It really was a great experience - the Olympics in general. Hard to describe the atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and helpful, despite the heat and the bombing, and if you ever got stuck waiting in a line, you could always kill time by trading pins with someone nearby. Over the next couple weeks, I will be uploading photos of my Olympic pins. I don't have that many, but if you want to trade, let me know.

Graduation is a BIG deal!

Graduation cap earrings in honor of my niece's high school graduation. These were a little larger in person than they appeared online. Who says hats are just for heads?