tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32805316561214584312024-03-13T15:00:01.949-05:00Triple WillowTriple Willow specializes in hand beaded glassware, stemware as well as other custom gifts. The Triple Willow blog will let you get a peek at our inspirations, tribulations and fun!Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-72547909337990685342010-05-03T09:21:00.000-05:002010-05-03T09:21:49.232-05:00The Boring Ceiling Story FinalI hope this is the last of the ceiling anyway! After biting through my tongue, I finally insisted that the contractor fix a corner that was just way too messed up as well as a couple of other things including the hole in the house they left after moving the dryer vent.<br />
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He fixed it and after listening to me tell him how I wanted it fix and why, he hasn't given me that "look" again. I know it's hard to believe that we three have been flipping houses for so many years. And ... we've been doing it without male assistance. I realize that's hard enough to believe but for a contractor to believe it too... well, that's just pushing it. Today, they finish the final sanding on the mud job they did. They actually did a decent job on that! Of course, how hard is that to do anyway? lol!<br />
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My beads are calling my name. I have a Navy hat that is begging for anchors on it that is will be a gift to my Uncle for his 90th birthday. I did get the design and the counts figured out and a practice one or two beaded but I haven't yet started it on his hat. I'll get that done in the next week or two. <br />
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With the good weather here, it's hard to find time in the house to sit and bead. I must, after all, get out there and check to see if the Peonies have bloomed, the choleus has grown and if the clematis is budding! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XiL1dZ9vgjNe7CceLd4HDyafzEFSpf7qrLfedzw2RgxM04Y9PikddQa9M4zBY1W0N4QVFfMy-6a5mIAnsJmjtYBuet7aHIgMTHorfszFSFulZcbI4AEKz8Aipe4hvvhP2ttOa4kAULQ8/s1600/inside+tulip+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XiL1dZ9vgjNe7CceLd4HDyafzEFSpf7qrLfedzw2RgxM04Y9PikddQa9M4zBY1W0N4QVFfMy-6a5mIAnsJmjtYBuet7aHIgMTHorfszFSFulZcbI4AEKz8Aipe4hvvhP2ttOa4kAULQ8/s200/inside+tulip+2010.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4BhxI5FjBoXlIw-YDo-iqO9po02hicuU7_3o_qkw852ArW99_Rid6vfPCxM5XCUT0L2wavVPJenQBZxO9YytVrmJ_9tRn5p2NZ9gQOI4wTqAeHW7_ZVUkF9VUmPH2OB_qPTC-M3HHoGV/s1600/fuschia2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4BhxI5FjBoXlIw-YDo-iqO9po02hicuU7_3o_qkw852ArW99_Rid6vfPCxM5XCUT0L2wavVPJenQBZxO9YytVrmJ_9tRn5p2NZ9gQOI4wTqAeHW7_ZVUkF9VUmPH2OB_qPTC-M3HHoGV/s200/fuschia2010.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a couple of my favorites! The striped tulip and the fuschia never fail to amaze me!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-73307475510435775722010-05-01T09:08:00.000-05:002010-05-01T09:08:49.306-05:00The Ceiling Saga Continues!Yes the celing saga continues and needless to say, we are not happy campers! For those of you that don't know us three "willow's", we've been making our way together for years. Every now and again one of us branches out on their own but we've always ended up back together. Mother has more experience with more things than she can remember! (Very small play on words considering she is 89 and a tad forgetful sometimes) My sister is a fine craftsman. She just has a talent for making things work, fit and look professionally done. I have a knack for color and for doing what I am told - which led to me becoming the "caulking queen" in our little threesome. Yes, I can lay out a bead of caulk like any man's dream! lol!<br />
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Our contracter, on the other hand, is not nearly as professional as we are. Boy is my sister mad! We thought we made it clear that we hired them NOT because we didn't know how, but because we are older and time challenged and didn't want to do it ourselves anymore! But like so many men, they get a look at three sets of boobs, nice hair cuts and fingernail polish and immediately exude that testosterone laden behaviour that screams, "You'll accept what I say and do as law and perfection because you are women and won't know the difference anyway!"<br />
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We have removed no less than three items of agreement from his contract, simply because we do not have faith in his ability to do them. In exchange for those items, the contracter said he'd haul some concrete off for us. Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen either. He let us know yesterday that he will be finishing up on Monday morning. He also let us know that the ragged edge of the old sheetrock on one wall could be covered with a strip of baseboard. Now considering that it's at the top, I'm am hoping he meant crown molding but somehow, I don't think so. And given that the lip on that wall is not equal to the non-existing lip at the end of it where he put up a sheetrock "patch".... I don't think molding will work anyway. But I wear a bra so what do I know? right?<br />
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We lost about four inches more of our beams than planned too. He chose to fur with 2 x 4's instead of 1 x 2's. He also left a small piece of a 2 x 4 holding up a drain pipe in the rather than band it properly as requested. Of course I discovered this just as they were putting up the sheetrock in that section on my way to let the dogs out. He said, "It's worked this long, it'll keep working and it ain't hurtin' nothin'." Then I got the look. You ladies know the look. It's the one that say's, "Go back to your fingernail polish honey, this is man's work."<br />
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So, the plan is to let him finish what he can, see if he meets the rest of his contract and gets the concrete out. Then we'll tear out the messed up stuff and fix it ourselves. At least it will be done correctly and the way we want it. I've got plenty of emery boards and fingernail polish to repair the rest of the damage. Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-42338373980600202992010-04-30T09:36:00.000-05:002010-04-30T09:36:15.456-05:00Stop it! Get outta there!That is what Mr. Boo yelled for most of the day yesterday. Apparently he does not like the sound of hammering. When he first started yelling, one of the workers came in and looked at me like "What?" I pointed to the bird and said, "It's him." He couldn't believe that bird could sound so human. lol!<br />
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Mr Boo DOES like the drill though. He's been working on getting the "rrrrr" sound just right. If you like a nice, quiet home life, don't get an African Grey Parrot.<br />
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One of the workers nearly got bit yesterday. I felt a little bad but not entirely. I told them, during a work lag, to please stand still so I could let Elvis out. This one guy decides to turn, with his arms up, towards me as we walked by him. Elvis took it as an act of aggression right away and teeth bared, lunged at him. I snagged his collar right away because I knew when the guy moved that Elvis wasn't going to like it. <br />
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The guy says, "wow, I didn't think he'd react like that!" <br />
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I said... "You don't have any business in this house if you were purposely trying to get a reaction out of this dog. I TOLD you upfront he was brain damaged and might bite if you appear to be aggressive! AND I told you stand still while I let him out. You would of deserved it if I hadn't grabbed him in time."<br />
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Deliver me from the idiots of the world that won't listen to plain spoken warnings.<br />
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He's also the same idiot that kept trying to tell me what I wanted done in the kitchen remodel. I finally had to tell that this wasn't my first rodeo and we had been doing remodels since he was a twinkle in his daddy's eye. Men that don't think women have experience outside of making coffee and wiping up the spills they make just really disgust me. Hopefully this one won't be part of the crew today. <br />
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Speaking of which.... here they are. Time to go get the dogs in, the bird caged and my tongue tied down.Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-40675129085226816992010-04-28T11:43:00.000-05:002010-04-28T11:43:48.754-05:00The kitchen ceiling!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The contracter's here to start the kitchen ceiling. This poor old house has had some lovely details covered up! We knew we wanted to do away with that ugly drop ceiling but had planned to do it next year. However, a leaking pipe put this project on the front burner instead of the back. We had never looked up under the drop tiles too much, just enough to see the upstair's laundry room and bathroom pipes were up there. When we investigated the leak, we found beautiful beams up there! </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UhH6u3cWaQhli3Oqy_QHXffYSns1ndNkE9Fw-XU4WEdOs90TpXCZO-sgR_7iux7TVU6mQvk2zqJfms1jYWrc6qOLlGy9JyhHZzdsSU_rrgXxxnDI7prcPWiklCvwQLIou0by1-dYzkap/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UhH6u3cWaQhli3Oqy_QHXffYSns1ndNkE9Fw-XU4WEdOs90TpXCZO-sgR_7iux7TVU6mQvk2zqJfms1jYWrc6qOLlGy9JyhHZzdsSU_rrgXxxnDI7prcPWiklCvwQLIou0by1-dYzkap/s200/002.JPG" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe these were hiding up there? We estimate them to have been covered up since the early 1980's or longer. We have pictures of the house's makeover that came with the purchase, that date back at least that far. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decided to go ahead and take out the rest of the drop tiles and found this!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy9mcjsLrQo3ygdfcCQ4EbVLkvykUyO9vvTZ3fJ8kBzykLKboi3wO5F6D7KhS2HDBtbCSwrEy82_IT5GM1LIeX2hbB0xA2PRfaPiTT_8QHCBO6fyXm9ckRqU-HkqpGzu2wJ1ayht-LP7M/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy9mcjsLrQo3ygdfcCQ4EbVLkvykUyO9vvTZ3fJ8kBzykLKboi3wO5F6D7KhS2HDBtbCSwrEy82_IT5GM1LIeX2hbB0xA2PRfaPiTT_8QHCBO6fyXm9ckRqU-HkqpGzu2wJ1ayht-LP7M/s320/003.JPG" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the original curve that went around the landing that leads to the servant's stairway and the outside backyard. Needless to say, we couldn't cover it back up! So all the tile grid rails are down and the contracter is here to put up new sheetrock and a few other tasks such as installing our antique kitchen chandaliers. We can hardly wait to strip that wood and stain it! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-67230167492006790682010-04-27T09:27:00.000-05:002010-04-27T09:27:09.748-05:00The Idoewanna CeremonyMy father was a Native American. He used to tell us wonderful stories when we were kids. They were usually pretty short and informative stories but they were always enough to keep my attention and make me hunger for more. He used to tell us about ceremonies sometimes that were so mysterious and always provoked my curiosity. He also used to lay on the couch on Sundays watching golf with his eyes closed. <br />
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Sometimes when he did this I would ask him if he'd help me saddle my horse. He'd reply "Idoewanna."<br />
Sometimes I'd ask him why he was laying down and would he like to go ride with us or do something to which he would reply again "Idoewanna."<br />
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In my young mind I always questioned this word. Is this some ceremony that he hasn't taught us about? If so, I wanted to learn more about it! So I would again question him but he'd never reply with more than that one word - Idoewanna - and continue to lie on the couch with his eyes closed a the t.v. announcer talked in hushed tones about birdies and slices. I figured that he always did this during golf because it allowed him a quiet background that he could perform this curious ceremony in a calm and quiet way.<br />
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Of course, I grew up and realization set in about this mysterious ceremony that he didn't talk about. When that happened, I thought that I must have been the most clueless kid in the country! How could I not realize what that was all about!?!?<br />
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But adulthood taught me another lesson.... there's something really special about the Idoewanna ceremony. I learned that it was a very nice thing to utter when my kids were interrupting me on a quiet Sunday afternoon on the couch (sans the golf). So instead of vacuuming today, I think I'll go indulge in a little ceremony!<br />
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Have a great Idoewanna day of your own soon! It's very refreshing.Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-56981549490881054182010-04-25T13:01:00.000-05:002010-04-25T13:01:03.543-05:00Vibrant Colors - are they important really?As I age I tend to wear less and less color. I don't like the "old lady" shirts with their yoke displays of flowers and birdhouses or declarations of how much my grand kids love me. ugh... If I could, I'd still wear brilliant purple peasant tops and jewel toned poetry shirts with flowers braided into my hair and the appropriately bright sandals to match! <br />
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I gave up the hair for Locks of Love. That's o.k., I like my short hair and I have cut it a number of times. But now I don't seem to want to wear daisies or roses in it anymore. These things all call too much attention to myself and my looks which have paled significantly as I have grown older. I still love jeans and jewel tones, I just don't wear them as brilliantly as before.<br />
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Except my underwear. My love of color hasn't stopped there! And now that I actually wear underwear all the time... (yeah, remember when we were young and didn't? - yeah right, admit it.) I like to wear them as bright and as varied as I can. So I buy popping purple, lime green, hot pink, vivid red, electric yellow and any other loud colors I can find, for my underwear selections. Somehow, it doesn't feel like I've lost the color in my life when I wear my vibrantly colored underwear. I don't care if they don't show, I know they are there!<br />
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And then along comes Mom. Oh yeah, you knew there had to be a catch right? uh huh. Mother taught us to sort our laundry and not to use bleach on our bright colors. When that all changed, I am not sure. I do know that when I see her headed to the laundry room with a bottle of bleach, that my underwear are about to undergo another change of color. Yup, all those wonderfully bright and vibrant colors are going to go down the drain right along with sweat marks, body odor and the drippings of my last meal. <br />
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Lime green has turned to pea green, hot pink is just a blush, vivid reds are smears and blotches of long gone color. Those lovely daisy yellow ones are almost white now. <br />
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I now just pretend that my underwear are those wonderfully brilliant colors that I so love. But I can't complain... after all, my mom IS doing my laundry! So maybe I'll just stick a flower in my super short hair after all!Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-1391807816929716902010-04-23T13:15:00.000-05:002010-04-23T13:15:48.296-05:00Mixed BlessingsDo you ever think about your blessings? And what they mean? I do sometimes, not nearly enough - but sometimes. I also think about that old adage "Mixed blessings" and what it means. I am pretty sure it doesn't mean the same thing to all of us.<br />
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Mom said that about today's rain. "It's raining." she said. "That's a mixed blessing. My flowers need it but I can't work outside in it."<br />
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"hmmmm," I thought to myself. "Does everyone interprate mixed blessings as a ying yang sort of thing? Or do other's also think of it as more than one blessing all at once?"<br />
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I grew up understanding it to be one opposed to the other. But I have often wondered if that is what it is supposed to mean.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_ob_jGhDZuDKF5QahzwOBXt232befVazAw7oVJ2T5j4KkDT7pDhc4iIVkiudBdrFmDANDcIf_r47UkSJ6t3n2H91EmwJpq7Y9qM9aG4QBKYig8iQWkruxe1gJsE8_z3gsAEQIaEuw-y4/s1600/Fabric+Flowers+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_ob_jGhDZuDKF5QahzwOBXt232befVazAw7oVJ2T5j4KkDT7pDhc4iIVkiudBdrFmDANDcIf_r47UkSJ6t3n2H91EmwJpq7Y9qM9aG4QBKYig8iQWkruxe1gJsE8_z3gsAEQIaEuw-y4/s200/Fabric+Flowers+1a.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Mom made a bunch of various types of floral flowers. I got them cropped and ready to list in supplies at Etsy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">She also finished some more decorator pillows. They are so sweet! I just love her pillows! She has a knack for putting the right flowers together with the right colors. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzu6jO4ee_6d4UtEnOAMBue8s-cSXfRlVhr9ttc1MbHDI-AjaiOJbOyhsoqBq_rNxHJrZ2qestP3p_fbFKs0__VKj3dmLU-oupZwvhJK0YI3VKAVGPIqxUkhfBfTLw1QBMdYFfzyse_gc/s1600/Beige+Floral+Pillow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzu6jO4ee_6d4UtEnOAMBue8s-cSXfRlVhr9ttc1MbHDI-AjaiOJbOyhsoqBq_rNxHJrZ2qestP3p_fbFKs0__VKj3dmLU-oupZwvhJK0YI3VKAVGPIqxUkhfBfTLw1QBMdYFfzyse_gc/s200/Beige+Floral+Pillow+1.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So, now I have to list them. Now is that a mixed blessing because they are wonderful but I have to do some work and pay a few coins to that? or.... is a mix of they are wonderful, lovely to look at, someone will buy them and my mom made them!.....? </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I've decided to let Mom have her Ying and Yang and not say anything about it. But for me, well... I decided I will just consider all the positives in the Mix! So that said, I am going to go take some more pictures in this perfect ambient light, (thanks to the rainy day) and edit them to list in Etsy, our website and maybe put a few on Facebook too!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-74762509938831959662010-04-22T10:29:00.000-05:002010-04-22T10:29:07.393-05:00It's been nearly a year!Nearly a year has passed since I have posted to this blog. That does not mean I haven't had anything to say though... <br />
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Mom turned 89 this year. She's still climbing on ladders, planting a garden, digging flower beds, sewing new and wonderful items for our house and yours, losing her hearing, making me repeat myself and generally working harder than I am. phew! The woman's a one woman whirlwind!<br />
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We are slowly going to change our stores. I think we are going to concentrate on some supply items. Things like mom's wonderful hand made fabric flowers and some resin work suitable for focal beads, polymer clay items and more custom orders than stock orders. This will not only take some pressure off of us to keep our stock up but it will clarify the diversity amongst the Triple Willows and make it easier to make sure customers get what they want. <br />
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Sister spent nearly a year in California working. It was really difficult to continue working on this big house without her here but it was a great move for her career wise. Fortunately, she was home at least once a month. Time flies when you are an elderly person sometimes and that alone made it easier for mom to deal with her absence. <br />
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Our critters are well and healthy. Elvis is still chasing shadows and light reflections, Tucker is still chasing Elvis and the cat is aging gracefully. Mr Boo though.... well, that critter is a law unto himself! He has become enamoured of sounds. Not words... SOUNDS. He does the microwave, he does the key beeps on the phone, he does the tail end of the ambulance siren, he does the short burst RRRR of the cop car, he does the dumptruck's back up alarm, he does the creaking from the cabinet door.... AND he does several he's made up himself!! Never a dull moment in the Triple Willow house!<br />
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Does it sound like you want to visit? Come on over! Mom will feed you up, Tucker will lick you 'til you're happy, Elvis will chase your shadow, the cat will ask you to hold him and Mr Boo will sooner or later blast out a sound you recognize!<br />
Me? I'll be in the background with dog treats, cat treats and earplugs... you're on your own with Mom though...Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-2844483697397956712009-06-16T09:30:00.004-05:002009-06-16T09:51:17.955-05:00Living with your motherI don't care how old you get, living with your mother is a challenge! My mom is 88 years old. She's an amazing woman! She makes all the table linens for our website and is incredibly creative with them. They usually include a lot of hand work or little extra's that make them especially lovely!<br /><br /><br /><br />That said, she's also hard to guard! She still mows - if I don't beat her to it, climbs on ladders to hang curtains - here's the roman blinds she made for our living room -<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib847ofLR3LuY2AmasvYt49JU1gVIHGGzCmxrtEmuoQZQwgclhAcRkE_NIk6ku6O7p9CJ-oqgzu1hyphenhyphenOBTonjKp-XjUFB-VWhXaLidiITXjCFNKIaKI1DX19yJfdNv7K3Z_46Qvws5OMAHM/s1600-h/HPIM1580.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347934245426595106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib847ofLR3LuY2AmasvYt49JU1gVIHGGzCmxrtEmuoQZQwgclhAcRkE_NIk6ku6O7p9CJ-oqgzu1hyphenhyphenOBTonjKp-XjUFB-VWhXaLidiITXjCFNKIaKI1DX19yJfdNv7K3Z_46Qvws5OMAHM/s320/HPIM1580.jpg" /></a><br />The lighting isn't perfect in the pic, but they are lined keep the living room well shaded from the outside sun.<br /><br />I asked her if she wanted to list custom roman blinds on the website but she said "Heck no! These were hard enough!" lol!<br /><br />She did a beautiful job, as she always does. Mom's been sewing in some capacity or another, since she was 5 years old. That's a lot of experience with a needle!<br /><br />I came in the living room to see her on a ladder hanging these. Scared the crap out of me. Mom has a sinus condition that often has her balance a little off kilter so I was terrifed that she would topple off the rungs and break something! Like I said, she's hard to guard.<br /><br />I spend a lot of time following behind her turning things off. Usually the water. She's not at all bad about the stove, but the water seems to be something she likes to leave on. Fortunately, we have good drains so nothing floods.<br /><br />I also have to always look in the oven when she puts something in there. It isn't uncommon for her to leave the potholder or dishtowel in with the roast or rice pudding. mmmmmm .... terrycloth flavored cookies.... ack!<br /><br />Mom will spend hours in her garden. We have this horrible weed that has no end to it growing in our yard. Nothing kills it. The roots speak Mandrin. She will crawl around her very large garden on her knees for hours trying to get this weed before it violates her veggies! Usually, I can keep track of her from the windows when she's out there. But I have to go out and make her come in to eat or convince her to take a break.<br /><br />Mom has an incredible work ethic and always has had. Trouble is, she expects us all to get up at the butt crack of dawn and get to work before the first cup of coffee is done! She has a time clock of her own and she expects us all to punched in when she is. Savoring that cup of coffee is an unecessary luxury as is breakfast or Good Morning America.<br /><br />Her failing hearing is hard my throat. After repeating louder and louder and answer to her questions I usually get a sharp retort, "You don't have to yell at me! Sorry I asked." Of course that leaves me not only with a raw throat but a crappy attitude.<br /><br />I don't mind repeating some things for her nor do I mind her repeating some things over and over for me. I can always use the reminders. But it gets tiresome to remind her that she is 88!Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-34451140926082819942009-05-28T07:45:00.002-05:002009-05-28T08:03:39.116-05:00Shower with a CentipedeThis morning I took a shower with a centipede. Well, almost. I reached in behind the shower curtain, turned on the water to let the hot water come up, walked over to the towel cabinet and got out a washcloth. Then I stepped into the shower and prepared to start the process of shampooing my long hair. I happened to look down and saw I was sharing my shower with a centipede! <br /><br />This did not make me happy! I quickly jumped out of the tub. Now the floor is soaking wet - long hair can hold a LOT of water! I reached under the sink looking for anything to zap this thing with. I laid my hands on The Works toilet cleaner bottle. What the heck? I thoroughly doused him and shut the curtain. After a jittery moment I looked back in and he was not moving, just floating a little bit in the running water. He was a lot lighter in color too. A wad of toilet paper and a flush later and he was gone.<br /><br />Knowing that I have saved myself a possible ugly bite did not make me feel better about killing him that way. Nor did knowing he was dead and gone keep me from looking down at my feet almost constantly! I managed to get soap and shampoo in my eyes about four times from being on the lookout for another one. ouch!<br /><br />Here's what the thing looked like:<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/oqorzt">http://tinyurl.com/oqorzt</a><br /><br />I couldn't get the picture to load. Blogger gives me a lot of trouble with that. <br /><br />I hope the rest of you have a better start to your day!Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-46064289667075282972009-05-03T13:22:00.004-05:002009-05-03T13:37:48.084-05:00A Rake is a Lousy DateI had an early date with Roy the Rake today. We also hung out with Sherm the Shovel, Peter the Pitchfork and that hideous T. Tiller! After unearthing tons of rocks and huge slabs of 1940 concrete, these tools had the nerve to lean back on the fence and leave me to find my own way back to the house!<br /><br /><br />I am so tired of this wanna be garden! I may never eat another tomatoe just on principal.<br /><br /><br />My hands are so worn out I won't be handling a needle for beading for the next two days. This keyboard is enough trouble.<br /><br /><br />I am beginning to think we should have bought a condo or something..... arghhhh!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331667576267786530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChBcUo6xH3X83kBclYTM-uFkVMnMJIBrvT6L1DVGvUmkm1JKSPnS7_ELAz4QboYvDPYXKFoVPa_QoPGnAHy6fJRlUjO2PhbsnVsu3zR3vkFDz-wB_D0wfev0kNJncsBlUQ55qjyBeNve1/s200/4101030_1000house.jpg" /><br />We do love this grand old lady though. Now if only she'd 've come with a garden plot already plowed!<br /><br />Now get this.... my mother is 88 years old. She is out there digging and raking and planting flowers with us. She still mows the yard with her self propelled lawn mower my brother bought her last year. She can outlast us on our best day of working! We are thinking of signing her up for Survivor.Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-1102948593765061622009-04-30T07:33:00.003-05:002009-05-01T08:37:36.546-05:00New VenturesI am doing a craft show Friday. I have the beaded glassware all safely wrapped and packed and ready to go! The table linens are also carefully folded and in their protective, clear bags all set to transport. The tables are wiped down. My super cool toolbox that I use for money, and all kinds of extra stuff is stocked and ready too. So why am I not ready?????? oh that all important low priced draw item!<br /><br />I thought I could jump on that polymer clay wagon and make stuff! Ha! I had no idea how hard it was! Yes, you poly artisans have my total respect! I did manage to make a little pudgy pigeon that turned out pretty cute. I put a hole in some of them for beads and others - at my sister's suggestion, I left whole. But I struggle with each and every one of them! I am soooo not an artist. My sister is though. I tried to get her to mold me some things but she was too busy and wouldn't.<br /><br />Thankfully, it is raining today and I am getting a break from Roy the Rake and Sherm the Shovel. So today it will be the tedious struggle to create more pudgy pigeons. I think I will try to make one like our African Grey Parrot, Mr. Boo.<br /><br />Please visit our website to see our beaded glassware and table linens. Our beaded stemware often coordinates with our table linens for a really lovely table display. You can also custom order colors in any of our stemware for yourself!<br /><br /><a href="http://triplewillowgiftgallery.com/">http://triplewillowgiftgallery.com/</a><br /><br />Or, if you prefer to purchase on Etsy...<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=71726">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=71726</a>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-68613927987622269022009-04-29T08:06:00.005-05:002009-04-29T08:19:15.218-05:00Rainy Days!You just gotta love rainy days! For one thing, it gets me out of the yard work! Roy, the rake, and I have really been having trouble getting along. I tried having some one on one time with Sherman the Shovel but we didn't get along much better and Troy the Tiller and I didn't get along well at all. Maybe that garden will be ready to plant next year! <div></div><div> </div><div>I did manage to get some beaded glasses done. There's a craft show coming up on Friday that I am participating in so maybe they'll sell before I have to take pictures of them. I hope so. Pictures and I don't get along much better that Roy and I do.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330100818112455394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSVBcXHrMS8blU_HnpV5vr4gYhb4EcDWXmmlEh86O4iU0CmPN1q65WcG3jC3e0Ycaaln43AO8hQ_V0eNpnI-IHy0fMIX6kcQ0ctHbrGgzp0Er938wMRuIxRqsB3v1u1YjEsk30D4xOtkF/s200/HPIM1215.jpg" /></div><div><br />See what I mean? These glasses are soooooo pretty but I can't get the pics to look good enough. I have tried every tip I've been given too! Well, I guess I just need to practice more. </div><div>In the meantime, I'm going to use what I have but perhaps I can compliment the better by using other's pics! </div><div> </div><div></div><div>So if you have some green and white, email me at <a href="mailto:triplewillow@mchsi.com">triplewillow@mchsi.com</a> and I'll post your pic and do some cross promoting! </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNqMTSFtd5Koge-7lifxO9_cXOTBzhCff1OutJtBF9Y79HkleFlW9NgKn6O2NTnPfBeTl4PEYFU_2l0S5o6Q1Kh502bKOYhF1P9_mTbxuZSwkEY-si5eZXJFWra-OILm7ihyphenhyphenjq4lGQl8T/s1600-h/HPIM1218.jpg"></a></div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-66815166357020458772009-03-27T08:50:00.003-05:002009-03-27T09:00:51.890-05:00Finally they are done!<div>The electricians are finally done! We had so much trouble communicating with the guy assigned to this job! The boss came over and got it all straightened out and they finally finished the job. This house is wonderful but it has sure been a lot of work. </div><div></div><br /><div>Today, I get to clean up the mess (it wan't bad, they cleaned up after themselves for the most part) and put furniture back in place.</div><div></div><br /><div>Mr.Boo managed to enterain everyone yesterday. He yelled "In the dark!" when the lights went out, told Elvis to "shut up and lay down", told Tucker he was a "tupid dawg", meowed at the cat, cleared his throat excessively (very gross), belched (also very gross) and generally kept the electricians laughing at him. He was a mild destraction but his anitcs defrayed the tension in the house a great deal! You go Boo!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbMKWHb9g1SxNV2uLuqhGdACMPiJoo_usM5u0b85S5QVJxPWWu0N9BH5tZyqGfXU2a-6OcSXqx_gUoSevpLYVj7QdVXgVaB8IvE3z8EsXXW0xSQlFHlCTjZRtza8GDzx7sTQigheW_7gU/s1600-h/Mr.+Boo+4.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317866163374743682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbMKWHb9g1SxNV2uLuqhGdACMPiJoo_usM5u0b85S5QVJxPWWu0N9BH5tZyqGfXU2a-6OcSXqx_gUoSevpLYVj7QdVXgVaB8IvE3z8EsXXW0xSQlFHlCTjZRtza8GDzx7sTQigheW_7gU/s200/Mr.+Boo+4.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div> </div><div>Here's a pic of Mr Boo being a brat. Notice the ruffling of the feathers and the upright position of the head. Usually this is followed by a swinging of the head, stretch of the wings, a leg flys up in a high five (well, high three really) and then that is all accompanied by a rude sound or statement.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Glassware is on hold this morning. Mom finished the roman blinds. I have to hang them today in addition to putting the furniture back and running the vacuum. Ack! I have to get off of here and get to it!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-89922747413345852802009-03-12T10:56:00.004-05:002009-03-12T11:51:05.087-05:00The Eagles are LeavingIt's that time of the year! I love watching spring struggling to come in but it also means that we lose the eagles. I live in an area that has two rivers, the Mississppi and the Rock. Every winter the eagles come here to live and fish in the open waters. You can't get near the Mississippi without seeing an eagle soaring in the air. fishing in the water, sitting on an ice floe or at the very least, roosting in a tree.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312339016029053426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj945abE0rEJ1Esmwgzxk2clEB2XQzdWZYhBPq2EJqiie9tRscwiGSdRfmO18jIL1kaR9av6mhJS5y0p9pmP0mrYyshKX7t_lrguCs1B9li6oT_8Umn3hQnWsAGM7gnTuX5zzxxl6n5TtcL/s200/eagle+in+trees.jpg" />This is a common site while crossing the bridge between Iowa and Illinois in the Quad Cities. I always feel so fortunate to have them in my backyard all winter. They are so impressive to watch, especially when they fish! And I love to listen to them call. They have a heart breaking call.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Speaking of birds, Mr. Boo fell of his perch again today. It happens sometimes. Don't worry, he's not sick. He just gets his attention fixed on something and loses his grip. This morning he was playing with a hanging toy. He calmly told himself,</div><div></div><br /><div>"It's o.k. Boo." </div><div></div><br /><div>So I turned and said to him, </div><div></div><br /><div>"Did you fall again Boo?" </div><div></div><br /><div>and he said,</div><div></div><br /><div>"Shut up"</div><div></div><br /><div>Sometimes I just hate that bird's intelligence.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am still trying to get pictures right. It's the lighting again. I did redo them and edited them on the Etsy store. At least the colors are true even though they do not have that lovely white background I want. Clear glass is extremely hard to photograph! I think this is better though don't you?</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312344066309903810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_3YmZITwG7YlVLNjzBb5U6lVwLNW-weiBOp_znL0RBqHBERuxXcaDh3QsKuvbl8Or1M5QCnbbfFSFvaJ-5_WBlqr0lCgUhw3n_6sJYdaQoIrpkqFJ7GnvfvLhmBl9-u8oFsRK3ZRgMxV/s200/HPIM1491_edited-1.jpg" />Not a very good example. I loaded it in the wrong size. This Blogger isn't exactly easy to figure out either! They always load at the top and then I have to drag them down. Kinda messes with the spontaniety of blogging doesn't it?<br /><br />I also can't figure out how to get pics on the side bars. I love the green spaces but I want to feature other crafters and artists. Until I figure that out.... well they have to wait. I hate that.<br /><br />Any clues out there?Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-44035964035601781412009-03-11T07:30:00.004-05:002009-03-11T07:59:24.500-05:00Still Waiting<div><br /><br /><div>Here it is, around 7 in the morning, I am yet again, waiting for the electricians to show up. This is the fourth time I have waited for them to show up at the scheduled time of 7 AM. We are participating in a city program for the rehabilitation and revamping of old homes such as ours. There are restrictions placed upon the vendors you can use. If it weren't for that.... oh, I'd so be in the yellow pages looking for a new contractor! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I may give this guy a piece of my mind, but I am not sure he has a place to put it!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We got the new furniture (the damaged pieces) in and here's a pic of the style. You totally have to disregard the mess.... we were moving in the antique dining set too and<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z5cGGPAdWiH_xlu0zkK1uzltNL9bMWvUwMl9kqEctk3Vk51Q2ark5hbeSdM06aHW1ygdvdgRonWu6z7QMUJmbsgtRkif_vboQQcUA7UN9IX7oiVdaNxc1ZIDKPG0G7Byg4OhAghB5i85/s1600-h/HPIM1371_edited-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 277px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311910314860410498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z5cGGPAdWiH_xlu0zkK1uzltNL9bMWvUwMl9kqEctk3Vk51Q2ark5hbeSdM06aHW1ygdvdgRonWu6z7QMUJmbsgtRkif_vboQQcUA7UN9IX7oiVdaNxc1ZIDKPG0G7Byg4OhAghB5i85/s320/HPIM1371_edited-1.jpg" /></a> I just had to get the pic a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJazW_fFfW81suEEZh085BvMHW8LnvdQERriTDT5e4Ti6M8wzYpfwzz_28ib-5L4co8JWxlsbcCBq55-rbJLGcc6N3iI7HcOa-ci2BW0uxqS-ksm3l5uKubY4qnO3SZ81HKQGm0AZJMiSi/s1600-h/HPIM1369_edited-1.jpg"></a>nyway. That little coffee table in front of it is also leather topped. We love our antiques!</div><div> </div><div>I haven't been able to work on glassware for things to be done in the house. We decided that the house had to have Roman blinds (shades) to maintain as much as possible of the historically correct furnishings. After shopping for them, our ridiculously high windows required an equally ridiculously high price for custom made blinds. They just don't factory produce window shades that are over 70" tall. </div><div> </div><div>After looking at them carefully and searching for free patterns on the internet, we decided we could make our own. We decided that we liked the colors in our old curtains so we chose to make those into the blinds. We then chose the tabbed ones we didn't like as much to be the backs. We have worked an worked on these things to get them right. We still don't have them quite done but we did work out the pattern and today we hang them! </div><div> </div><div>Mr Boo is in a rut for opera-like singing. Wo wo wo-o -o -o -o! Yes, it sounds like woe.... except the end is sung in an opera style. Cute as heck until you hear it about 15 times in a row.</div><div> </div><div>Speaking of Mr. Boo, he's ready for his food. I had better get at it. I am pretty sure he's no better at waiting than I am.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-40974870091052818642009-03-09T08:28:00.004-05:002009-03-09T08:41:25.772-05:00The Weekend Flew!Wow! The weekend flew by this time! I guess it always does but this one really went out the window. Anyone that knows anything about me, knows that I do not like to go shopping. Except on the internet and I have been doing that for years. But my feet simply do not like to walk around on concrete floors looking at stuff. The only thing worse than shopping for me, is shopping without money. There really ARE worse things than dying.<br /><br /><br />This weekend we found an antique dining room table, chairs and ottoman for our lovely old house. I had planned to work on photos again but that plan got changed for me. I had also planned to work on them again today. Again that plan got changed for me. I have to pick up the set today. We could have had it delivered but the $75.oo delivery fee was a bit steep to go six miles. Besides, the dogs bite and they are a pain to get outside out of the way, then lay down rugs for the guys to walk on so they don't damage our antique, hard wood floors... and then there's Boo. Strangers scare him and when they are carrying large objects, they really scare him.<br /><br /><br />I worked on photos. Sadly, they really aren't much better than the ones I had. Some, but not much. They are more in focus and the colors are true, but the lighting still sucks. I have taken every tip and instructions to be found and I still can't get these things quite right. Except on cloudy days, outside. Then they seem to be perfect. Here's what I ended up with.<br /><p align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311181231997029874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-7cAH5OdhyphenhyphenbktOnijVcIMVN3dtWVv7jhRp9oTO2NQtZ9gyt_N3fq4GXiYQ6N3-1grfr0m-htVQG-5yjLjY-lwQuaq4Bhka1VdCz-2BwRFswwSlk9nOTf3pL4yz1g4Xe8zXbOHpSYYMGA/s320/HPIM1366.jpg" /></p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311181557867735122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZdgNjVY98C-Ek0z3fEsQv6KvMu3EebmZgpb0OPBMC9BT6mFp6NrZvcxzqCssb8L55v9CKcYU5f_K-gwc8FMgfB8zEQgCFvNjV0ZERYfm9sLE2OvHRi2Lb9JVMhdXbd3YZlM3ujoyYS_Q/s320/HPIM1313.jpg" />So it's back to the photo shoot operation again for me. sheeeeeesh! It's too bad too. These glasses are simply lovely and deserve a better respresentation than I am giving them!</p><p>Fortunately, sales in the wine stores are doing pretty well. I can't seem to give them enough of them to stock or to place orders in. It takes too long to do them, then I try to photgraph them, and then I deliver them. By the time I have that done, the others are already sold out! I guess I could have worse problems! </p><p>Time to go pick up the new table set.<br /><br /></p>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-38727537490466681202009-03-06T07:41:00.004-06:002009-03-06T08:06:26.307-06:00New PicturesToday I have to start on taking my new pictures. After I realized that most of my pictures for the website and everywhere else where too light, I tried to re-edit them. That simply didn't work. So today, the weather is fine and I am going outside to get them started. I really prefer the outdoor ones. The light is better, I don't get the glare and reflections of myself in the glasses when I am taking them in the shade or on a cloudy day. Maybe the new pictures will finally give me the jumpstart I need for new orders.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310072745743104978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ062aCG312KllnCqqtTU070w3DnXnpivYscvbG-uL-YLDSg3wzt1Tx6u_caH8y2tqeyUz4De9zzIYZDGzKzJx4iun6-TT4jkCRZCdFX1qQiLpsQrtJ2yV5FghoxL88eAti33G8jxHUger/s320/HPIM1005.jpg" />This is our much loved historical home. It is a 1904 Italianate. We love the Italianate design with the flat topped widow's walk and hip roof designs. We are planning on looking under the siding this spring to see if we have eyebrows above the original windows.<br /><br />We only got part of our furniture. The loveseats came in damaged so they only delivered the chair. Nice for mom since she sits in the chair. Nice enough for sister, she has a recliner she loves. Not so nice for me, I sit on the loveseat in the bay windows. We gave away our living room set the night before delivery was supposed to happen. So now, I am sitting in a very uncomfortable, antique, wing back chair until Saturday. This is not conducive to working. ugh!<br /><br /><br /><p>I haven't yet finished the Hummingbird crystal wine glasses. Since one of them was broken, I have rethought the whole color scheme. I think the next pair will be red on green. That way they can be presented as a four set or sold as separate pairs. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310075249597784898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNKYX4ojcPcvhZ3oetZemGf8jwLjh5pDTLbRAfGaZnWcRhUVgpc9727P1ZB6nwJ-iOdEfpmnM2qfEY_9cknJZY9gH81PKipLc9Sn0QZXXo0Ei4-QSVo4O2m9JXZQ_s2HWQrmbfnzepzqc/s320/HPIM1205.jpg" />I'll get some really nice pics of these later when I am ready to list them. I think I'll list them on Etsy for a little while and see what happens. I don't have duplicates of these so I can't list them on Etsy and on our website <a href="http://www.triplewillowgiftgallery.com/">http://www.triplewillowgiftgallery.com</a> </p><p>Off to go take pictures!</p><p><br /> </p><p><br /></p>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-72654046197423137512009-03-05T07:30:00.003-06:002009-03-05T08:26:19.189-06:00New Furniture<div>Today we get our new furniture as well as the start of new electricity. We have a historical house with a lovely, big, brand spanking new, breaker panel. Funny thing though, only the kitchen, two baths and laundry room were hooked up to it! The majority of the house is still running off of an old knob and tube system! yikes! So, we are having the house re-wired to bring it into the current century and appropriate standards of the day.<br /><br />The furniture we chose is a wonderful old style set in chocolate brown leather with brass finish nail heads. We just loved the look of it for our old house. We chose two loveseats and a chair instead of the traditional couch plus set. I can hardly wait to get it situated and take pictures of it! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309709687614781474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbLAQchEfbsY2Yf_ofnz6ZHqjZG1BCIzW0Cx-mN4enneS0N2WTHPenVbUPzClLUzbX8t6twlrH0yX5XQCO8F7l_Xje9snRRE2rChDC6XKg_bfeYT4abn22K-LkhNv3WgXyOh3EQl2IXVu/s320/HPIM1205.jpg" /><br />While moving the old set out yesterday, (we gave it to a woman with three kids that needed a set) we managed to break one of my new hummingbird crystal wine glasses. I wanted to cry! So instead of three pairs, I will now how two pairs and a spare. They are turning out just lovely.<br /><br />Mr. Boo is still making us laugh. He's still trying to say swear words he learned from his sitter while we were away. He can't quite get them right. We are hoping it goes away when he doesn't hear them anymore.<br /><br />We had to laugh at Tucker too. He's afraid of the dark. Poor dog. That has to be the ultimate dog humiliation. Last night, he had to go out sooooo bad! Elvis did not have to go out. We tried to get Tucker to go out but he wouldn't leave the porch without Elvis. He kept dashing back inside to get Elvis but all he got for his trouble was a nasty growl and bark. Finally, sister had to step out with him where he could see her so the poor thing could go hike a leg! Who ever heard of a dog being afraid of the dark?! *sigh*<br /><br />I have got to get busy on this glassware. I am getting low on completed inventory! It seems like the things I have been making are just duplicates of what I have already completed! That's nice for sales but it totally stagnates my creativeness!<br /><br />I am hoping to feature some other crafters and artists here soon. If you read this and want to be one, just let me know! <a href="mailto:triplewillow@mchsi.com">triplewillow@mchsi.com</a></div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280531656121458431.post-79199335333001573232009-03-04T06:47:00.005-06:002009-03-04T07:44:40.249-06:00The First DayTrying to get this set up. I am not sure what I am doing, it's a little confusing to get it all started! But here we go!<br /><div>If you don't want to read this, then just go to our website and look around instead! </div><br /><div>As always, I am up early to open the gates to let Sister out so she can go to work in the big, bad world. And as always, Elvis is upstairs barking his fool head off at every squirrel that might be in a tree - a block away! Mr. Boo, the parrot, is being quiet - he's not awake yet, thank goodness. Morning is his prolific talk time.<br /></div><br /><div>I have been working on new glasses. I purchased these lovely Avon lead crystal glasses that have been frosted with hummingbirds. I had the idea that I would bead them in "hummingbird colors". Did you KNOW how many colors hummingbirds come in?! As is turns out, that's a good thing. I have six of these lovely, lead crystal, wine goblets and I will do two of each in a different jeweled color. </div><br /><div>I also decided to bead them a bit differently than my normal curve to curve fashion. This set will only have three quarters of the stem beaded. As it turns out, they are really lovely. I'll have a couple of pictures of them in a few days.<br /></div><br /><div>I did finish the black and white champagne flutes. They turned out quite nice! I will do more of those in a different design. Black and white has become so popular again! The black and white balls, "baachinalia's" I think they are called and black and white weddings. Although I can't imagine not having an accent color to highlight with, I know that the black and white weddings are really pretty. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309318420804469026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDc8bSc-GMpoScbbqva1dCwLELCe1JPXLBJ_CtfoYyg2UbMpWSaxP_o52kyTFqeX5ylQ-e_DBxhUqhNMp5U5ZhT-Wv4IOsBBRnb8pbZ9uqVMtiaZSidkt4IQHUFtJWfhbP_p2S7flX6pD/s320/HPIM1191_edited-1.jpg" /> <p></p><p>I am going to make a few more variations of these black and white champagne flutes soon. I already have the black and white wine glasses on the website. Here's the link in case someone doesn't know it. <a href="http://www.triplewillowgiftgallery.com/">http://www.triplewillowgiftgallery.com/</a> Look in Browse and choose Beaded Glassware. </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309323731033662402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM1HS_ee4DJOZTHLIpbKUGdCnZzoCPW-BegTYPSMwfjjpu-orBv1_SIg4Nj2VnSbU4Yi216rg9VGuyev0IirNca-6oSfE9VddLrCU3f-SKQ8SVoGZl9l1PMeMs1LLvkyiSreshQjyXM-9/s320/glass+tuxedo+1.jpg" /> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Here's the link to the glasses: <a href="http://triplewillowgiftgallery.com/Wine_Glasses_Tuxedo.html">http://triplewillowgiftgallery.com/Wine_Glasses_Tuxedo.html</a></p><p>There's a sweet table runner that matches these, I'll be getting it listed soon too. </p><p>One of the things I'd like to do with this blog site is to help promote other's work too. So if you have a website or store site hosted elswhere, (Etsy, Designs to Love or whatever) let me know and I'll get on it! I hope to start that next week. </p><p>Please don't ask me to feature you in my blog if you have items like mine (glassware that is). I could hardly be considered intelligent if I hosted a direct competitor! There are a few others out there that bead on glassware (stemware) but I have been doing this for years (over 15 years) and I have worked on a method and technique that works well, and lasts a long, long time even with careless handling, because of the combined bead weaving techniques that I use.</p><p>But all other websites and content will be considered and welcome! Drop me an email with your site's addy! <a href="mailto:triplewillow@mchsi.com">triplewillow@mchsi.com</a><br /></p><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>Triple Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02371420851467358877noreply@blogger.com0