DREAMING...

Last night was the MegaMillions drawing. Apparently the largest Jackpot EVER in the U.S.-and the World(?).  $640,000,000.  Yes 640 Million Dollars!!!

Yes, I did buy a couple of tickets.

Citrine and Sapphires ready for Rings

No, I did not win. I did not really expect to, but I can dream of spending ALL of my time in the Studio. 

Building a Studio in the Mountains or on the Beach-maybe both. 

Taking a class or two to learn some new technique. 

Maybe even doing a bit of traveling to find even more Exotic Gems.

But First thing I would have done-and Y’all know what it would have been?  Quit the restaurant.  

I Long for the day that I can stop waiting tables, get a good night’s sleep, and be able to focus all day without having to have notes all over the place to remind me what I need to be doing-that makes me sound so OLD...LOL

I think everyone bought at least one ticket. So we were all talking about what we would do if we won when we found out that there was at least one person somewhere that won.  

One of the customers asked me if I had checked my numbers. “Not yet, do you think I would still be standing here if I had won?”  I have  mentioned that I really do not want to wait tables anymore. Right?  LOL

He looked at me as if he did not understand.

Oh well.  As my friends and I have a habit of saying...”Suck it up, Buttercup” I am going to enjoy my next couple of days here in the Store before I have to go back to the restaurant. 

LOVING the New DeAndreaDesigns

This week is the first full week of being open normal business hours, as well as working a normal week at the restaurant. Let me tell you that I am exhausted.  I am grateful for that extra 30 minutes that I get to spend blissfully asleep-hopefully.

I am LOVING the New DeAndreaDesigns, and looking forward to a major reduction in the need to be at the restaurant  so much.  Having moved to a Live/Work space should really help to cut some expenses.  Which in turn should reduce that need for shifts outside.

One step at a time.

Right now I am anticipating a quiet evening in the living room with a bottle of wine and a good book.  Even though, it has been 2 weeks since the move I have yet to have a night to do NOTHING except relax. I know for sure that it will happen sooner or later.

For now it is SLEEP.  STORE. DINNER. SLEEP.  RESTAURANT.  And Repeat until Saturday.

White Zircon and FineSilver Wedding Rings 

I was able to find time to do Wedding Rings for a Very Happy, Very Sweet Couple.  I don’t think that I would have been able to do that in the old space-at least no tin such a timely manner.

So it is ALL GOOD.

Style v Fashion...Part 2

Once again I am looking at Jewelry Trends.

Pearls

Not to find out what I want to Design, or even if I am Fashionable.  I am just curious to see what the Fashion Gurus are saying we should be wearing-like they know what is right for You.

I am going to say again....If You like it, and it fits Your Personality, then it is PERFECT for You.



That being said. I was fascinated to find that I am still “HIP”...LOL.

"Chandelier Earrings: Are they back? Well, small versions"

DeAndreaDesigns is not about following Trends, but finding YOUR Personal Style.

I guess Romantically Edgy and Delicately Bold One-of-a-Kind Designs never really go out of Style.

WAITING-Yet Again

Why is it that when you want something so badly that it seems to take FOREVER???

It is rough only being a renter in a space.

This space will always have a special spot in my Heart.

I walk past my New Space Everyday-literally.
Every time I walk to the Bakery, to get Coffee, to go to the Post Office, I walk past it. I know that work is being done, because there are actually walls up now.  I just never see anyone in there.

We have been talking about this move since August.  I thought for sure I would be in for the Entire Holiday Season-starting with Halloween. It is almost St Patrick’s Day-the end of the Holiday Season.

Why can I not be in charge of the renovations? I would have made sure it were done in a timely manner. At least that is what I tell myself.

The last thing that needs to be finished is for the carpeting to be laid. I can see the carpet padding stacked on a counter-yes, I am not above peering into a window to see if anything is being done.
We have been given an actual move in date of Wednesday.
It has to be done by next weekend.  I have scheduled all the utilities to be turned off in this location and the apartment.

So next weekend the New Space will be inhabited. Let the packing and purging commence-At least I can control that.

MOVING

Before

Another work week is drawing to a close. I won’t go on about how tired I am from working the overnight shift in the restaurant and then the Store all day.  Y’all have heard it countless times from me. It is actually starting to sound like a broken record, and I hate whining like that.

OK. On to Exciting news.

I have a move in date for the New Location.

Kitchen-or will be.

The First of March. After waiting since August, it is finally happening.  AND happening QUICKLY. 2 weeks to pack the Store and the Store, contact all the Utilities, change the address and internet providers.  It is overwhelming, but this is a GOOD overwhelming.

They still have to finish the flooring and install the kitchen appliances, but otherwise it is complete.  I am really hoping that they finish up a little earlier so that I can get the keys and set up the Store before actually moving all the furniture and everything else upstairs.

I am already planning a Grand ReOpening/House Warming Celebration.

St. Valentine’s Day-Lupercalia

Tomorrow is the Feast of Lupercalia-a Celebration to dispelling Evil Spirits and Purification to bring about Healing and Fertility.

Amethyst Heart

 So why do we Celebrate Valentine’s Day instead?
A Day of Lover’s?
Filled with Greeting Cards decorated with Hearts and Cupids?

Pope Gelasius, in 469AD, declared 14 February as St Valentine’s Day to diminish the Pagan Holiday of Lupercalia.

Now I know that many of you believe that Valentine’s Day is the creation of the Greeting Card Industry.  While it is true that 25% of all cards sent throughout the year are Valentines, and that Valentine’s Day commercialization has resulted in Billions being spent by Lovers every year for this day alone, St Valentine’s Day has its roots firmly grounded in the 3rd Century AD.

A Roman Priest named Valentine, decided to go against the wishes of his Emperor, Claudius II, an act that resulted in his Martyrdom on 14 February, 270 AD.  Valentine was arrested for performing illegal Marriage Ceremonies for Soldiers of the Roman Empire.  Emperor Claudius II, believing that marriage would make soldiers more concerned about their wives and Family, outlawed the Institution for all soldiers. He believed that marriage would make them weak. Just when the Empire NEEDED all the strength it could muster.

Valentine disagreed with this edict and would perform the Rites of Marriage for Lovers in Secret.  Becoming known as the “Friend of Lovers”, his actions soon attracted the attention of Claudius.  He was arrested and brought before the Emperor.  Much impressed by the Priest’s Conviction and Dignity, Claudius tried to convert Valentine away from Christianity as Valentine was trying to convert Claudius away from the Roman Gods.  For his refusal to Convert, Valentine was sentenced to Death.

While in prison, Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer of blindness.  He and she became “friendly”.  Just before his execution-on the 14th of February-he wrote her a letter and signed it “From your Valentine”.

For these reasons and from that time on 14 Feb became a day for Men to send hand-written tokens of affection to their Lovers-often decorated with Hearts, Cupids and bits of Lace.

NO Bids on Teodora

Teodora remains unsold!

There were NO bids on the Massive Million Dollar “Emerald”.  I put Emerald in italics because there is question as to it’s authenticity.
Is it an Emerald that has been dyed?
Is it a common White Beryl dyed green?

The only way to know is to conduct what the Gemological Institute of America calls “destructive testing” where a piece of the stone is chipped off to test the innards of the stone.  If there were any indication of dye the GIA would issue a grading comment...
“The presence of dye prevents determining whether or not the stone would have sufficient depth of color to be considered an emerald.” 

To make matters worse, the co-owner of Teodora was arrested on outstanding warrants.

BUT if you are still mesmerized by HUGE Gems, and believe that this one is worth having in your collection it is rumored to have been listed on Ebay.