Another New Design Coming...

Hi all! Well this weekend I had an epiphany and thunked up a new awesome (if I do say so myself) design. I am having a hard time getting photos though. Will try again tomorrow morning. But its just too cool to keep under wraps, so check back tomorrow for details...

HINT: Its called 'Tears From Heaven'

Get the tissues ready...

Hi guys! My Uncle Marks service was yesterday and his brother, Danny, wrote an amazing eulogy and I just wanted to share it with everyone.

Eulogy by brother Dan Roland

Today we mourn and honor the passing of beloved Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Grandfather, Nephew, Cousin, and very dear friend, Mark Gallina.

Mark was a fearless man. He was a true reflection of his upbringing. One of character, one of values, one of honesty and one of integrity. He was a man of great conviction, a man of dignity and a man of heart.

His hard work and preserverance propelled him to be on top of the world.

A place where he loved to be so much,

so long as he could be there and enjoy it with others.

Yet being there, never stopped him from reaching out and lending a hand or made him lose sight of the lessons in life that brought him there.

If caring, sharing and support needed a definition, it would be defined as Mark Gallina.

His life revovled around family life.

A life where he could work and play right along side loved ones. A right he earned along side his loving wife, through their hard work, dedication and sacrifice.

His greatest treasures of all are his children. He was as proud of his children as any of us are proud of ours. You only need to spend a few minutes with them to realize his impact on their young lives.

Mark was also a man with tremendous vision. He could be anything he wanted to, on any given day. He was blessed with a confidence that didn't allow him to fail or back away from, but rather, take on anything life would throw at him.

The good, and the not so good.

His ability to remain optimistic through his illness had shown a strength and courage that epitomized what the meaning of strength truly is. A strength and courage that could inspire all of us, for the day, when the Lord calls our name.

Equally, when I speak of his bravery, I am also speaking of his dear wife and children, who have also endeared pain and suffering, ...beyond words.

They too have shown stregth and courage that only comes from a true test of faith.

Their absolute faith and trust in God eased their suffering and gave them peace,

when peace was needed the most.

We can all find solace through their example of faith, to help ease our pain for his loss.

So today we gather to remember a man, a warm man, a kind man, a man with a distinct uniqueness. A man that has touched our daily lives with his personality, his charm, his willingness, his love and sincerity,

A man we'll cherish in our memories forever.

We are deeply saddened today, for life has shorted him.

Yet we are equally joyous, for our Lord has rewarded him.

With a place for his soul, One of Glory, One of Peace, One of Eternity

One Heaven

So farewell for now dear husband, my father, my son, my brother, my grandfather, my nephew, my cousin and our very dear friend ...Mark Gallina

Bookmarks...

Hi guys! Here is my latest design, Bookmarks! I had some extra Hand Dyed Silk Cord laying around and was intching to use it. The Silk Cord is nice and soft so it doesn't mar your pages up. I took a few of my favorite Lampwork beads, added a few Thai silver charms, and threw in some lime green shell. This one is all mine, but they can be Custom Ordered in any color (s). These would make an excellent gift for a booklover... I will have better pictures soon I just snapped these so I could show off my newest design idea.

New Design Idea...

Hi guys! Well I think I'm busy cooking up a really neat new design. If you love to read, or you know someone who loves to read, then check back tomorrow for a sneak peek... Hint:: Think Silk Cord.
Its freezing outside today, man 20 degrees! The dogs are having a ball in the inch of snow. It will be gone sunday though. It will be back! I have a terrible headache I am off to veg and try to get rid of it.

Happy Thanksgiving...

I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving. Take a moment to give thanks for what you do have and what is going good in your life. I am thankful for my strength as a person, my talents, my close friends who listen to me rant, and my dogs for always being the constant in my life.

Updates...

My Uncle Mark passed away last night. He had a long, hard battle with pancreatic cancer. He died way too young and left behind many brothers and sisters, along with a wonderful wife and five kids. He will be missed by so many.

Ranting...

Hi guys! Thanks for putting up with my ranting. My uncle Mark is still holding on. Did you ever get that feeling that you need to make a serious change in your life? Well I did, and I have. I'm going a little nuts over here, maybe even a little off my rocker. Between all of the sickness, death, and stress around me for the last five years, I have barreled through. I keep wondering if all at once I am going to fall very apart. Hopefully that will never happen, I am going to try my hardest to keep myself together. I am praying tomorrow we find out my moms surgery date. This week we should have all of the windows in my parents house replaced. The next two weeks are going to be insane, to say the least. So email and phone replies may be a bit delayed, but bear with me I will get back to you!
This week I also hope to get a bunch of those 'Fiesta' Necklaces up too. As far as a major change I need to run away from life for a little while and go where almost no one knows me. I need to sort of refind myself. Orders will still be shipped in 24 hours, I will post my new mailing address, and I will still be designing. I've never done anything close to running away for awhile. Everything I've always done was sort of safe and planned out. Me and my doggies are going on a roadtrip! I am going to go do some laundrey (my most favorite part of my day ;-) and trim some doggy feet. I will be back with new pieces this week!!!

Life and Death...

Everything happens for a reason, but why do people have to get cancer and die. I know it may seem blunt or pointless, but it really sucks. No one deserves to get sick. Especially someone who is young and worked all of his life to build a very sucessful farm and have a wife and five amazing kids. My Uncle is passing away. He was taken to Hospice this morning, they are not sure how much longer it will be. I was not very close with him but I have so many happy memories of him. I am not one for funerals or wakes. I just do not do them anymore. I prefer to morn as I go and remember the good times. I will always remember my Uncle Mark smiling riding one of his tractors, or a horse, or dressing up as Santa Claus on Christmas. But there is a reason for this happening now. His mother, my grandmother, also has cancer. I have no idea what she and my grandfather are going through right now, or what they will go through. What do you really say to someone whos son is dying?
I am sorry for being a bit down today. We have to pick ourselves up and keep going because we are doing no good sitting and crying. I think the thing I am taking away from my Uncle is, he worked so hard all of his life to build everything up so that he and his wife would have a carefree retirement. He worked so hard. Sometimes I think we have to live in the moment and today rather then tomorrow or ten years from now. Within our means though. Its so easy to say, just take a break or a vacation. For now I have my mental time outs where I design my Jewelry or read. I try to take myself to another place and time. But then you have to come back to reality and deal with todays situtation. I think families are not what they used to be years ago. Years ago everyone was close, now families tend to get together only for Christmas or Funerals.
In closing, don't forget the people who really matter to you. Tell them you love them or how much you care about them, or how much you appreciate them.

Everything Happens for a Reason...

Hi guys! I feel like being inspurational today. I have always lived by the sentiment, 'Everything happens for a reason.' There is a reason for everything. The really crappy part is that we don't know the reasons when things are happening. We find them out at a later time. Do I take this road or that one?, Do I take this job or go back to school for the job I really want?, or it can be as simple as What do I wear today? I used to wish that life came with a handbook, one that would tell you all of the paths you could follow and the results of each. A few years ago I threw out that handbook idea. Life is life, we are all going down destined paths. Some of us have harder paths than others, but I think we are all meant to travel the roads we travel. I have to keep reminding myself to look at all of the good that I have in my life right now and not all of the bad.
Yesterday we had an uprising with my moms Dr's. Her neorologist all of the sudden wanted to put off her surgery until next year! Needless to say her Pain Management Dr got right on the phone and all is well. We are waiting for her exact date of surgery but they are going to try to for next week. And my dad found out that as of next week Wednesday he is Retired! He works for an auto parts company and they are moving all of their US plants overseas and to Mexico. I almost think he is a little scared. He is not one to sit still and relax for very long. Well I am off to give poor Devon a bath. He had an upset tummy this morning. Hes feeling better now. Go out and inspire someone...

Mob Food...

I am a book addict and always loved Jenny Crusie's work. But her latest collaberation with Bob Mayer takes the cake! I know it sounds a little infomercially, but its true. I LOVE this book. I have read it five times in the last two weeks (a little obsessive I know). Agnes and the Hitman gets two thumbs up from me ;-) And I found this very cool mug that goes along with the book.

In Jewelry newz... The Fiesta Necklaces won't be ready until next week. I had to put my chain order on hold and will put it through this week. Man Silver sure skyrocketed! Holy cow it was almost $16 an ounce last Friday!!! For those of you who aren't silver price savy, its normally around $12-13 and used to be less. I try to get the best prices for my Customers. Its going down, by the end of this week it should be better. And...

My boys from Buffalo released their first Greatest Hits CD today!!!!! Everyone has to go grab a couple of copies (I have 5 already one for every CD player, my car, and my computer). The Goo Goo Dolls are an amazing band that has been around for over 20 years!! Not only are the hott, amazing songwriters, musicians, and performers, but they use their fame and fortune to help out in ways bands just don't do anymore.

Well I'm off, its a beautiful day outside and I'm totally stressed out.

Retail Therapy at its Finest!

Well yesterday I took the whole afternoon to myself. A marathon five hour retail therapy session. Grant it I must have spent at least an hour just standing in checkout lines, but it was worth it! I spent too much, bought too much, but hey you only live once. My head was definatly not in the right place when I left the house in heels though. Who in their right mind goes shopping in heels? Especially when I am not used to wearing them, give me my beat up sneakers anyday. Well back to the grind today. Its cleaning day! Hey before I go check out those neat journals. I found a really cool place online for awesome note cards and journals. galison.com
Go check it out!

Sea Glass...

Check out my new Necklace!! I am in the process of making myself a 'Fiesta' Necklace in every color possible. I am so in love with this design. These little Lampwork beauties were created by Bead Artist Robyn Knapp (Shibumi). The rest of this set will go into a matching Bracelet. I have a few more sets of Lampwork Discs coming this week. By this weekend I hope to have a bunch more 'Fiesta' Necklaces to offer. So far everytime I leave the house wearing one it gets bought right off of my neck! These are just so versitle. Enough tooting my own horn... What do you think???

Well our snow will be leaving today. I am sure it will be back soon though. Well I have a ton of gorgeous Lampwork Discs in all colors coming in sometime in the next week. From three different Bead Artists too, so they will all have slightly different looks to them. By next weekend I hope to have a bunch of my new 'Fiesta' Necklaces available. I just love wearing mine. It seems to go with everything. And my new packaging is all in. I will have a picture of it up on the FAQ's page this weekend. I just LOVE them! Wait until you see them. I decided to go with something other then the traditional Jewelry box.
All orders from last week were shipped yesterday. Thank you =) Well I am off, enjoy your day!

Here come the white stuff!!

Well its snowing out! Yes I said snow. Unfortunatly its turning into yucky slushy, slippery, yuck on the ground. But its pretty coming down. The doggies are trying to catch all of the snow flakes. I'm off to finish up morning chores and then its off to the Dr with my mom for her second shot in her pain pump trial.
On an order note: If you are waiting for anything it will be mailed by the latest, tomorrow morning.

Fiesta Necklace...

Hi guys! Its finally finished!!!! I have had this design in my sketch book for six months. It think it was worth the wait. I will have more photos and info up on the site in the next few days. These will be available for Custom Order in any color in time for Christmas. I am in love with this new rollo chain too. It is so smooth and fluid. The best part of this design is no matter how you put it on, it will always look fabulous! If you are interested in this particular Fiesta Necklace or a Custom please Contact Me for more info!

Change is good...

Hey everybody! I decided to give my blog a fall look. The photo above was taken last Fall. Thats our driveway. Right now theres more then a foot of leaves covering the trials and driveway. The dogs have a ball playing in them. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for my Chain, Beads and Wire!!!! I cannot wait to get to work on my new design ideas. Just thought I would pop in and say Hi, I have to go get ready to take my mom back to another Dr appt. Enjoy your day =)