LAMPWORK IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND . . .

Lampwork glass has

become one of my

very favorite 'Gems'!

PRINCESS DIANA - More Than a Style Icon . . .

Remembering Princess Diana

Princess Diana was a true style icon. As Lady Diana Spencer, she owned one formal dress, but by 1991, her closet held 95 evening gowns, 176 suits, 200 purses and 250 pairs of shoes!
She dutifully wore long, conservative gowns as a member of the Royal Family, but following her separation from Prince Charles, Diana adopted a streamlined look that included sheath dresses from Versace and Christian Lacroix.
But her legacy has always been her generosity, not her style. Before her tragic death, she auctioned off 79 gowns at a Christie's auction that raised $6 million for AIDS and breast cancer charities.
Truly unforgettable.

PANTONE® Unveils Fashion Color Report Fall 2007

Complex and exotic describe the intriguingly unusual and inviting color palette for fall ‘07.

The traditional neutral shades expected for autumn have been replaced this season with rich, nuanced hues, offering more opportunity for creativity with interesting and unexpected color combinations.

Spicy Chili Pepper and exotic Lemon Curry stimulate the taste buds, entice the senses and enliven any wardrobe. Purple Wine, the ultimate expression of creativity, marries purple and wine, broadening the appeal of purple for fashion. The violet undertones of Dusk give gray a whole new dimension, making this fall’s neutral much more desirable.

Carafe, a deep, espresso brown, adds contrast to the palette, providing a rich alternative to the usual black or charcoal. Sumptuous Cashmere Rose is not only the perfect complement to any of fall’s colors, but also flatters any complexion. Many seasons have paid homage to nature, and fall ‘07 is no exception.

Shale Green takes the shade in a murky, blue/gray direction, while foliage-inspired Green Moss goes to the yellow side. Earthy Burnt Ochre is this autumn’s orange and sophisticated Stargazer continues the trend of turquoise, but with a deeper intensity. “Designers find inspiration in a variety of places, but one thing they all have in common this season is a rich, complex color palette to stimulate creativity,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

“Nuanced colors with subtle undertones enhance the ever-present neutrals and allow for clever and extraordinary color combinations. Pairing designer pieces with mainstream staples has become a way of life, and color adds an important dimension for expressing one’s unique sense of style.”

Fall Fashion Trends 2007: Purple Passion

According to the 'fashion indie' Fall '07 Trend Report, for the fall season, purple ruled the runway. A color once relegated only to royalty , it made appearances at a number of shows including that of indie guru, Zac Posen. Looking great with shades of burgundy, gray and blacks, you won't have to look far this Fall to add this color to your wardrobe. From a simple pair of earrings to a full length ball gown, this color rules! Just don’t over do it on the purple power, the last thing you want is for some snarky, smart aleck to start calling you Barney!

VOTE and WIN!!

Here's your chance to vote for your favorite wire project by the artisans of EJA and your chance to win a free gift bag that will include hand made jewelry and other goodies!!

Just visit http://eeja.org/wire_com/wired.html and fill out the form. On July 25th, we will draw a lucky e-mail address from those that have voted. One vote per person. Voting on an item will sign you up for our newsletter that will inform you of future sales and other prize drawings.

Thank you,
Team EJA

http://EEGA.org

DON'T BE A FUEL!

What are YOU doing to save gasoline?

Driving one of the hybrids? Conserving fuel by driving less?
Or just making an effort to quit making those 'jack-rabbit' starts?

It 's not important WHAT you're doing, but for god's sake -
do SOMETHING!

Rising gas prices are impacting Americans' lifestyles, leading many car owners to adjust travel plans, tighten their budgets, and lean toward purchasing small, fuel-efficient vehicles. These are the findings of a recent online survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

The responses also show that most drivers have accepted the new reality of $3-a-gallon gasoline. In fact, 72 percent of respondents expect fuel costs to be even higher in a year and 50 percent are prepared to pay $4 a gallon, according to the survey that included 2,459 adult drivers and was conducted from May 3-5, 2006.

PRICES IMPACT LIFESTYLE
In the past five years, gasoline prices have jumped 250 percent, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy. The financial impact on our survey group is significant, based on their average of 13,199 annual miles driven and 21.9 miles per gallon. At current prices, their driving behavior translates to an average annual gasoline bill of $1,780, or $1,000 more than what the bill would have been five years ago ($710).

In the short-term, consumers reported little flexibility to reduce their driving related to commuting or personal/family transportation. So to compensate for higher fuel bills, drivers are adjusting their lifestyles and household budgets in a variety of ways:

42 percent of respondents strongly agreed that they will drive less
39 percent will change vacation plans
38 percent will spend less money in restaurants and on entertainment
38 percent will drive more smoothly to increase fuel mileage
36 percent reported that they will have more difficulty paying for essentials like food and health care. Despite the hit to the wallet, few claimed they would seek alternative transportation, such as bicycle, carpool, or public transit.

Overall, 84 percent of consumers indicated that they took action in the last month to compensate for the elevated gasoline prices. Two-thirds shopped around for better prices at the pump, with 31 percent choosing a lesser-known petroleum brand. Almost as many, 28 percent, used the Internet to compare gas prices.

Last Chance to Win Free Atrisan Crafted Jewelry . . .

* Drawing will be on June 21st, the Summer Solstice

* Three people will win.

All you need to do is sign up for our mailing list to enter at http://EEJA.org

MEMORIAL FUND - PLEASE READ!

Etsy’s Eclectic Jewelry Artisans are helping out and so can you!

We are donating jewelry items to help raise money for the Brynn Proctor Suddes Memorial Fund, which helps young artists go to art school.

When you purchase an item from http://brynnalex.etsy.com, 100% of the profit goes to the memorial fund.

So, check out some artisan crafted jewelry, note cards by Brynn and other fine gifts.

To learn more, please visit http://beheartstrings.com

You can always make a cash donation via PayPal to: jsuddes@telus.net Please note that EEJA sent you.

And to learn more about EEJA, please visit EEJA.org

WHAT'S YOUR LUCKY NUMBER?

This guy just found out what HIS is . . . 249!

PAW PAW, Mich. A 21 year old man in a wheelchair pulled in front of the truck at a gas station, and it somehow became lodged by its handles to the front grille.

He was taken on a wild ride in the grille of a semitrailer and was accidentally pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt, so the story had a happy ending. Apparantley, the only complaint out of this fella is that he spilled his soda pop!

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police dispatchers, “You are not going to believe this: There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway,” state police said in a release. Authorities initially wondered whether the report was a prank call until others called with similar reports.

Officers stopped the truck — wheelchair still attached — at a trucking company. The driver didn’t believe officers until he stepped from his cab and saw for himself.

Who said nothing much ever happens "way down yonder in the Paw Paw Patch"?

THE CURIOS LORE OF BIRTHSTONES

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT JUNE?

PEARLS!

Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June and is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer. Fresh water pearls are given on the 1st, 3rd, 12th and 30th anniversaries.

An organic gem, pearls are formed inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusk's shell. A shiny substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces an irridescent luster. This process of building a solid pearl can take up to seven or eight years.

The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical, relatively large, are naturally produced and have a high degree of iridescence. The main oyster beds are in the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and Sri Lanka, and in the Red Sea. Chinese pearls come mainly from freshwater rivers and ponds and Japanese pearls are found near the coast in salt water. Freshwater pearls occur in the rivers of Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany, and the USA (Mississippi). The coasts of Polynesia and Australia produce mainly cultured pearls.

There are many types of pearls:

* Natural pearls - made without human interference

* Cultured pearls - This method was first used in 1893. A foreign substance, often a small piece of shell, is intentionally inserted into a living oyster.

* Keishi pearls - formed when the oyster rejects the inserted substance. The resulting keshi pearl is 100% nacre. This gives it an especially lustrous and shimmering surface quality.

* Baroque pearls - pearls that have irregular shapes

* Biwa pearls - an irregular shaped pearl which forms in the freshwater of Lake Biwa, Japan

* Freshwater pearls - pearls which form in fresh water mollusks and resemble puffed rice

* Blister pearls - pearls which grow attached to the inside of the shell * Mabe pearls - cultivated blister pearls

* Seed pearls - small, tiny pearls used in Victorian jewelry and sewn on clothing, often wedding gowns

Pearls are usually white, but may also be black, gray, silver, cream, lavender, peach or pink depending on the type of mollusk and the water it lives in. They are now being dyed a rainbow of other colors and are used in fashion jewelry.

Because the nacre is organic, pearls are very sensitive to heat, cosmetics, hair products and humidity. Care should be taken when wearing and storing them.

LORE:

Pearls were once thought to be the tears of God. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls ensured a happy marriage. Pearl is often referred to as the "Queen Gem"; Diamond is referred to as the King Gem. Cleopatra was said to have dissolved a pearl in wine and swallowed it to seduce Mark Anthony because it was thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and to attract love. They were prized by royalty, both male and female, and were even worn by knights who went into battle in the Middle Ages, believing that pearls would protect them from harm. As an emblem of modesty, chastity and purity, the Pearl symbolizes love, success, and happiness. In many countries they are used as a wedding gift and still symbolize a happy marriage.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Pearl of Allah, the largest pearl on record, was recovered from a giant clam on May 7, 1934, off the coast of Palawan Island, Philippines. The pearl is 9.4 inches long and weighs about 14 lbs. According to the "Guinness Book of Records," the San Francisco Gem Laboratory has valued the pearl at $40 million. The Muslim diver who found the pearl said its surface bore the image of a turbaned face, and he named it the Pearl of Allah.

Victor Barbish, who owns 66 percent of the pearl on behalf of his daughter, told WorldNetDaily he received an offer in 1999 from individuals who said they represented Osama bin Laden. They tried to purchase the pearl for $60 millionas gift to Saddam Hussein "to unite the Arab cultures," and Hussein was prepared to accept, according to the pearl's owner.

JILL GETS A LOLLIPOP!

Well, the surgery went well - no damaged ligaments or tendons! Just some grogginess and nausea from the general anesthetic.

Suppose to get the stitches out on June 11th. That's thirteen days of sponge baths . . .

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE OPERATING ROOM . . . STAYS IN THE OPERATING ROOM!

Just an update on my knee situation. After one month of limping everywhere I go, the swelling just won't go down enough to let me bend it very much.

My orthopedist tried to remove fluid with the world's biggest syringe, but the procedure didn't work. So I've limped around for yet another week.

Tomorrow 5/29, I'm scheduled for knee surgery and have to be there by 7:15. I'm a little nervous. I've never had general anesthetic or surgery before.

Wish me luck! And I promise - No More Pictures. What happens in the operating room . . . stays in the operating room!!

Free Handcrafted Jewelry Giveaway!!

Free Handmade Jewelry Give-Away!!

Eclectic Jewelry Artisans will be holding a drawing on the Summer Solstice - June 21st.

Your eyes do not deceive!

Free handmade jewelry and surprise gifts, will be given away to three lucky winners on June 21st – the Summer Solstice. No purchase is necessary. All you need to do is sign up for our mailing list to be entered into the drawing.

Visit EEJA.org and click on “Mailing List”.

YOU'RE INVITED To A PITY PARTY!

Check out the damage I did when I fell last week . . . Yeooow!!

The swelling on top of the knee is down about 50%, but now most of the leg is all puffy . . .

I'VE FALLEN and I CAN'T GET UP!

I need a big ol chunk of cheese with this "WHINE"!!

Yesterday afternoon I stopped by my mom's Assisted Living Facility to see how she was doing after they called to tell me she'd taken a fall . . .

Walking across the parking lot, I stepped over an unusually large speed bump - almost! I crashed down on both knees. By the time I got to her apartment my right knee was killing me.

Long story short, I ended up in Northside Hospital ER. Nothing broken, but my right knee looks like a black/blue/purple grapefruit is growing on it! And I have to wear a really ugly & uncomfortable foam knee splint that goes from my ankle halfway up my thigh.

When I finally got back to our apartment, I was faced with the fact that I live on the THIRD floor - no elevator, of course.


*whining loudly* Now where's my cheese?

BOGO SALE MAY 1 - 2 - 3

Ready, Set . . . BOGO!

On May 1st, 2nd and 3rd you may buy one item and receive the second item (of equal or lesser value) at 50% off!

Just mention "EJA BOGO Sale" when you order your two items, and you will receive a revised invoice.

http://eeja.org

OR

http://jQjewelrydesigns.etsy.com

Remember . . . Mother's Day is May 13th!!

EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY!

http://www.earthday.net/

Project Switch

Save Energy by switching your Inefficient Incandescent Light Bulbs!

ANNUAL IMPACT

Incandescent vs. Fluorescent

Energy Use @ five hours per day: 182kW vs. 47 kW
Related CO2 Emissions: 260lbs vs. 67lbs
Your Energy Cost: $14.56 vs. $3.76

** EARTH DAY ** April 22, 2007

Dalian, China:

Fast-growing China, shown here during a prolonged heat wave last year, is opening about one coal plant every day this year. Along with the U.S., China is one of the world's leading contributors to the greenhouse gases believed to be largely responsible for the increase in the Earth's temperature.

www.earthday.net/

About Earth Day Network:

Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide. Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN's international network reaches over 15,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program keeps over 5,000 groups and over 100,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year. As a result, Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a half billion people participate in our campaigns every year.

Earth Day Network’s Mission Statement:

EDN seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. We pursue these goals through education, politics, cultural events, and consumer activism.

A Pun is the Lowest Form of Humor

The Gift

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift . . .
That's why it's called the Present!

LEGOS HIT THE LAS VEGAS STRIP!

An exhibit made up of more than 2 million Lego bricks that recreates the Las Vegas Strip, including casinos and other attractions, opened to the public Thursday at Legoland California. Miniland Las Vegas took nearly three years to plan and design and more than 16,000 man-hours to create, park officials said.

Too Cool!

I love Las Vegas AND Legos!

To view video of the exhibition:

http://blip.tv/file/183447/

Or

http://one.revver.com/watch/218984

SHOULD HE BE ALIVE?

Should Knut be alive? There are those who think not!

When Knut was born last December, his mother ignored him and his brother, who later died. Zoo officials intervened, choosing to raise the cub themselves.

But an animal rights activist insists it was wrong to intervene and save the cub. "Feeding by hand is not species-appropriate but a gross violation of animal protection laws," animal rights activist Frank Albrecht was quoted as saying by the mass-circulation Bild daily. "The zoo must kill the bear."

Huh?

"If a polar bear mother rejected the baby, then I believe the zoo must follow the instincts of nature," Albrecht said. "In the wild, it would have been left to die." Albrecht cited a similar case of a baby sloth bear that was abandoned by its mother last December in the Leipzig city zoo and killed by lethal injection, rather than being kept alive by humans.

Is Your Roommate a Neanderthal?

Love the Geico Cavemen? Check out this Web site - http://CavemensCrib.com

This site it lets you poke around their virtual apartment! We learn that the cavemen are into (among other things): blogging, Tolstoy, yoga, smoked Hungarian paprikash, and Paddy Chayefsky movies. They even have poetry magnets on their fridge … in Esperanto.

Gotta love those guys!

What Are You Feeding Your Pet? **RECALL **

ASPCA Responds to Concerns Regarding Nationwide Pet Food Recalls Affecting Several Pet Food Brands

NEW YORK, March 21, 2007—The ASPCA was recently informed of a voluntary nationwide recall of certain dog and cat foods manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc. This recall affects more than 40 brands of pet food distributed in the U. S. and Canada, including specific wet pet food varieties. Brands affected include Iams, Eukanuba, Purina and Science Diet, as well as store brands distributed by major retailers including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway, such as Ol’Roy, Special Kitty, and so on. For a complete list of affected brands, please visit http://www.menufoods.com/recall.There have been a small number of reports of adverse effects on kidney function associated with the consumption of these pet food products. Extensive testing is underway to determine the exact cause. Iams has discussed this situation with ASPCA veterinary toxicologists and will inform the ASPCA as soon as a cause is identified. For information on specific Iams products affected, please visit the Iams website.It is important for pet parents to remember this recall affects several brands that are widely distributed at pet specialty stores, supermarkets, mass retailers, as well as other retail and wholesale outlets. The ASPCA recommends that pet parents discontinue the use of all affected products immediately until further information has been received. Pet parents should immediately consult with a veterinarian if any signs or symptoms are noticed in their pets. In an emergency situation, they may also call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Contact Person:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Website:
http://www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.aspca.org/site/PageServer%3Fpagename%3Dpress_031807&itemid=200703201801420.815342

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The First Parade

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.
On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

Do You Have a Talking Pet?

These are so fun, I'm still cracking up!

** talking dogs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aXevF76DKM

** talking cats - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV6DQuEh4UQ

Anybody have a talking pet?

The "Eye of God"

This image of the Helix Nebula was captured on Feb 12th from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

It is the exploded remains of a star that once looked much like our sun.

See Newly Posted Photos of Vintage Barbie . . .

My husband used to call the girls, "my other children"!

But after collecting for about 10 years, I've been neglecting them badly. Lots else to do - a jewelry business. I have a very nice collection - vintage only. It was the wardrobe & teeny, tiny accessories that sucked me in . . . Here's several to enjoy with me.

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/jqjewelrydesigns/Vintage%20Barbie/

You Know You've Been Designing Jewelry Too Long If . . .

by guest author Lisa McClinsey

* In January, a gardening friend mentions that she needs to order seeds... so you give her the address for Fire Mountain Gems.

* You discover you don't even have to look at your beads anymore. You can string them by feel. This means you can now bead in the dark.

* You can thread the needle in the dark, too. When you're down, you go to jewelry stores to laugh at their prices.

* You have to remember not to be surprised when someone says that doing the peyote stitch is difficult.

* You can't remember the last time you knotted your thread before beginning to weave.

* You can accurately calculate the expected lifespan of mass-produced jewelry by looking at the width of the gaps in the jump rings and counting the loose threads.

* If someone tells you something is 4 mm, 6 mm or 8 mm wide, you know exactly how big that is without looking at a ruler.

* You have more tools - including power tools, torches, sanders, drills, tumblers and other assorted gadgets - than your last boyfriend had. And you use them all on a regular basis.

* When computer and electronics geeks talk about wire gauges, you know exactly what they mean.

* Not only do you shop for supplies at the craft store... you also get them at the hardware store, the sporting goods store, the aquarium shop and the medical supply store.

* You can name every bead store, craft store, fabric shop, sewing outlet and embroidery emporium within a twenty mile radius...and you know which items they carry.

* You know where all the craft stores are in each town or city where your friends and relatives live.

* If there are beads somewhere in a store, even if it's not a bead or craft store, and even if they are not prominently displayed, you will somehow find them.

* When you're in the bead aisle at Michael's, newbies who don't even know you flock to you with questions, like iron filings to a magnet.

* On more than one occasion, you've held informal classes in the bead aisle at A. C. Moore.

* You know there's more than one place in each craft store where beads are displayed... and you've shown store employees where the other places are!

* You stop buying beading magazines because the projects are too easy.

* Brick buildings remind you of peyote stitch.

* You have the amazing ability to find the tiniest objects in any shade or depth of carpet.

* You feel it's unethical to let your friends buy or wear bad jewelry.

* You see a complicated beadwoven necklace pattern on Tuesday, and think, "No problem. I can wear that this weekend..." And you do. This really annoys your best friend, because you don't start working on it until Thursday night.

* You know a Toho from an Ornela without looking at the package.

* You don't buy jewelry to match your clothes. You buy clothes to match your jewelry.

* The bowls in your kitchen cupboard are used more often for beads than for cereal.

* You find at least one bead in an unexpected place at least once a week.

* When your best friend asks if you want to see the Stones, you're excited, because you think she means the rock and gem shows in Tucson.

* When someone asks you to get them a cab, you dive into your stash and hand them a flat, rounded rock.

* You give your children, pets and plants jewelry names. Charlotte. Margaret. Jules. Crystal. Iris.

* Instead of saying something is purple, you say it's amethyst, plum, lilac, lavender, or aubergine.

* You think your Mrs. Santa 3X magnifying glasses make you look cool. Especially when you wear both pairs at once.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author Lisa McClinsey is a writer with over 30 years of experience in beadweaving and jewelry design.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note from Rena Klingenberg: www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com

Lisa's article also made me realize that you've been making jewelry too long if ...

* You realize that paper towel and toilet paper tubes are really just oversized beads.

* You notice that your children's toothpaste is exactly the same color as Chinese amazonite.

* You take your morning vitamins, and see that one of those pills has potential for wire-wrapping.

* Your favorite carbohydrates are in the pearl family - rice and potatoes.

Jill Q.
http://jqjewelrydesigns.etsy.com/