BTW - I love copper

Updates from the Bead Table... I know it's only Tuesday, and Bead Table Wednesday (BTW) doesn't start for another 4.8 hours... but, if I don't seize this opportunity to post, I just might miss it tomorrow morning.

With all the puppy training and doggie acclimating, going on, it's been 9 days of finding balance... which is quite illusive.  Sitting down and focusing on a project just doesn't happen in lengthy spurts.  I've gotten an hour here or there, but I'm still working on a routine that works for Bella puppy and me.

In the mean time, I'm working on smaller designs that I can complete quicker and I'm working at listing those for sale in my Artfire store.  These amethyst earrings, were inspired by the teardrop shaped amethyst beads.  I love a chandelier style earring, but wanted something that was casual.  These antique copper earrings seemed to be the perfect fit!

Hope your week is GREAT!  Can't wait to get some photo time to share more!
{Hugs!}

Online Help - Changes to How You Can Follow Blogs

Designs by Dawn Marie on Facebook

Good Morning Everybody!  I know I wished you all a happy Memorial Day weekend yesterday and shared some tips for making Facebook an easier, more navigable online place... but there have been a few other online updates to our blogs that I wanted to help you with.  SO, here's what I found has recently taken place.

When I looked at my blogger blog yesterday, I noticed my Google Friends Connect widget that people used to click "Follow" wasn't working.  I thought initially that it was just "down for maintenance" and figured I would check it out again this morning.  Woke up, checked and nope... still not working.  It would appear to me that Google has discontinued servicing this widget in an effort to get people to use the Google Reader app more readily.

So, I went into the design layout of my blog, deleted the old app/widget and looked to see what was new.  They now have a "Follow by E-mail" widget that I've added to the top of the right sidebar of my blogger blog.  I haven't used it yet to see where it takes me once I enter my e-mail, but that's what they have made available.

I've also added a Follow Me app via Networked Blogs.  Networked Blogs is a facebook app that allows your blog posts to be syndicated to your Facebook page.  This way anybody that follows will see the new blog posts on their Facebook newsfeed.  They can comment on Facebook and Share just like they would a photo or other link.

The third way people can follow a blogger blog that has always been available is in the upper left corner of the window.  You'll see the blogger logo... the orange box with the white "B."  Just to the right of that it says "Follow."  If you click that link, it will also place that blog in your dashboard to see any updates.

Anybody else with experience using Google Reader, please feel free to share your comments.  I think the more we share with each other, the better browsing and blogging experience we'll all have.

Good luck... happy rearranging and until they make more changes, happy following!
Have a wonderful weekend! ~Hugs

UPDATE:  As of 5/29 the followers widget does again seem to be working.  Thanks to Sarah of Finding Charm for letting me know.  Have a terrific day!

Facebook Friday - To Tag or Not to Tag - That is the Question

Zoinks - It sure can be Confusing!

Facebook Friday is here, yeah!  It's been a bit of a crazy week, and with Memorial Day weekend upon us, the weather looks beautiful, so I can finally get in the garden and get my veggies planted.

But before I head out to play in the dirt, I wanted to share with you a few helpful tips and suggestions for using Facebook, especially now since both business and personal pages have completed the changeover to the new design.

To Tag or Not to Tag.... that is the question!

Here's the background:  Over the last week-ish I've been helping a friend get her business page and blog feed set up on Facebook.  See, when Facebook did a changey.something.or.other for those of us using blogger as a blog platform, it caused the app to go kittywompus (honestly, it's a word) and no longer feed to the desired Facebook page or wall.

I noticed it on mine, and it was a really quick fix, so when my dear friend asked for help, I said no problem!  It'll take 5 minutes... she said okay, I'll e-mail you my log in stuff with a temporary password and you'll be set.

Ha, ha, ha... little did we know then what we know now... when I tried to log in as her, Facebook locked her account saying "we don't recognize this location, you need to confirm your identity."  The fiasco that ensued was nothing short of... well nothing short of anything round.rabbit.ridiculous that I've ever embarked upon.

In order to indentify yourself in facebook, you have to identify you friends.  How Facebook does this is:  they show you a series of 3 pictures, all are supposed to be of the same person.  Below that there are 4 options as to whom this might be... you have to pick the right one.  You have to do this for 5 total people.

Now keep in mind, some of your "friends" are really acquaintences that you really don't know that well... would you recognize a photo of their new puppy?

Also, sometimes we make custom orders of our craft (jewelry or beads or bags) and we tag the person that ordered it... would you be able to identify a "friend" by the picture of a bag that someone now owns?

How about when there's a photo of a great summer gathering and there's 20 people in the photo... so people randomly tag the sky... the only thing that shows up in the "Identify.Yourself.Game.From.Hell" is what it actually tagged in the little square box. YIKES!

So even when my friend logged back in as herself and told Facebook that the activity from WI was totally fine and to allow it, would you believe that we tried again and Facebook again locked her account.  She again had to play the "I.Y.G.F.H." and it literally took a day and a half... YES, you read that right 36 HOURS to get 5 people identified correctly.  Because if you guess wrong, you have to start all over at the beginning and you don't know until you've tried all 5 to submit your answers.

In facebook, we're all about posting photos - pictures of family, of jewelry designs, of beads, of dogs, of new "toys" or kids toys or tattoos... you know who you are! ;)  And so many of us have "friends" that are actually acquaintances.  Would you actually recognize a photo of that person if you didn't see it on their wall with their name?

Which bring me to the lesson of the day.  Helpful Facebook Tips for Yourself and Others!

1.  When you are tagging photos of people, please remember that someone else just might have to identify themselves by that photo.  So tag a face of a person that actually is that person.  Also, for photos of finished objects or custom orders, if you want it to be seen on their wall, then post the photo on their wall.  Don't tag them in it on your album.  That will become an official picture of them that nobody will be able to identify.

2.  Choose to accept "friends" carefully.  The more friends/acquaintances you have, the more of a lottery you are playing if you ever get locked out of your account for any reason.  So are they really a friend... someone you would share your personal updates with, or are they a business associate that would be more suited to reciprocal fanning of each other's business pages?

3.  Use a Facebook page for your business - Period.  In this day and age, with how far Facebook has come for setting up business pages and keeping personal pages simple, if you want to market yourself, you need a business page.  Personal Pages no longer allow apps like Etsy or Artfire or Reviews or Contact or Twitter Feeds.  ONLY business pages do.  So take the weekend and get yourself set up with your business page.  It's a little time now, but in the long run you will look more professional and will have more fans because they don't have to send you a "Friend Request" they can just "Like" you!

Had I not been helping my dear friend, I would have had no idea that this was how people have to identify themselves.  It's not just a "please reset my password."  Oh no... this is a crazy game of juggling flaming bowling pins and I for one never want to have to play again!

Think about it... if I'm traveling on vacation with my laptop and I visit St. Thomas... when I try to log in, FB will automatically lock my account because it's not my "usual" activity.  Then when I try to log in even once I'm home, my account is already locked.  I'm stuck and I'd have to play the Identify.Yourself.Game.From.H... well you know the rest of the story!

Hope you find this helpful... save yourself some time and help others too by simply tagging photos correctly.

I want to take a moment to thank all of those men & women who are and have served our country.  What a sacrifice you and your family has made.  And to those that have lost someone as a result of serving... our hearts go out to you!  

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  Sending love, prayers and gratitude to the men & women who are innocently serving our country!

{Hugs!}

Tales from the Beading Room

Yesterday was the first time I've gotten to sit down and bead since we've gotten Bella.  I have to say, it was so theraputic for all of us.  When I'm beading, I'm in complete peace.  As such both of my big dogs end up laying on the couch and falling asleep.

Adding a pint size Bella who is FULL of puppy energy to the mix I didn't know just how it would work.  She tends to want to wake up either of the other dogs that are sleeping just for the sake of saying she could.  LOL

SO I decided this would be a good opportunity to practice our crate training.  She does sleep in the crate at night, and in the morning when I'm doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen I'll put her in there so she learns it's a "den" not punishment.

I put her little crate in the library with me, put her in it and started to put together the piece I was going to bead.  She fell asleep... sound asleep.  So as I worked on my piece, I had 3 perfectly peaceful sleeping dogs.  AMAZING!  To me the most wonderful feeling is knowing I as their owner am so at peace and giving off such a relaxed energy while I'm beading that all 3 dogs feel that energy and clunk out.  Priceless!

While my beading piece is far from finished, I got a solid 2 1/2 hours of quality bead time.  I think we're really gonna figure this out!  YEAH!

Hope your day is splendid!
{Hugs!}

How a trip for coffee led to a puppy?!?!

Bella Marie - Click to enlarge

Sleeping after a hard day of play

A relaxing Sunday afternoon... Chris and I decided to grab a coffee and spread out a blanket in the park to enjoy the first signs of summer watching the lake.

We headed down to Williams Bay figuring it would be more quiet and relaxing than Lake Geneva.  BUT... our favorite coffee shop in The Bay is closed on Sundays... until next weekend - but that really is a long time to wait for a cup of coffee.  Seeing as it's the ONLY coffee shop in Williams Bay, off to Lake Geneva we go!

Woot, Woot!  It's BOGO day at Caribou!  WINNNER WINNNNNNER!!!  Chris buys and Dawn drinks for free!  YEAH!  But Large Mocha Lattes can be a bit too much caffeine...

Wandering around Lake Geneva we pretend like we're tourists... stopping in the shops, seeing what boutiques are new this season and looking at anybody that may be a possible fit to approach about selling my Beaded Dreams collection.  After not finding anything in particular (and not looking too hard, rather just enjoying a day off in the sunshine) it was time to turn back and chill for a bit.

So we decided to go back to the park by the lake where we parked the van, get our our picnic blanket, books and enjoy a bit of sun.  No parking ticket... good, plug in a few more quarters for insurance and we're set.

No sooner had we settled down, then a little 4-legged critter comes bounding at us.  Little furry critter jumps up in my lap and immediately starts kissing me like crazy.  Behind her, her brother and 2 young girls came running up.

As it turns out these two adorable little creatures are 14 week old Silky Yorkshire Terrier puppies.  Yes, the one that jumped in my lap was a little female and they called her Foxy.  She went from kissing my face to nuzzling into my neck to laying on the blanket next to me... on her back sunning her tummy.

As her owners came chasing behind their two girls, we found out a bit more about the dogs.  They were born the day before Grandpa's birthday, February 1st.


Let's fast forward...

The owners were going to grab some lunch, Chris and I were going to discuss if having a puppy was even possible and we were parting ways.

That sounded simple...
What really happened was that this little puppy girl began to cry and wiggle trying to get out of her owners arms to come back to me.  The wife brought her back over and immediately she stopped crying and tried jumping to me.  I held her she nuzzled in and let me know that this is where she was meant to be.

Now I know I'm nuts... like caramel cashew ice cream nuts... but a tiny dog... a puppy, what the heck was I thinking?  We brought the little one home with us along with the plan that the owners would meet us at their house after they got a bite to eat.  Once we got home, Cody and Brandi both looked at us with that "Really?  A puppy, c'mon mom... you've to be kidding!"

And then sniffing chipmunks around the downspouts became SOOOO much more exciting.

Since Sunday we've learned Nyla Bones save flip flops, squeeky toys start out frightening and end up ringing in your ears and 3:30 am isn't such a bad time to wake up if it means we don't have to clean an accident up out of the crate.

We've both always been big dog lovers, but this little tiny Bella has stolen our heart... and my pink flip flops.  Apparently the bling is irresistible!  Can you blame her?  So be cautious when going out for a coffee... you could get much more than you intended!

Looking forward to sharing Bella Marie with you.
Much Highly Caffeinated Love,
Dawn, Chris
  along with Small, Medium & Large!
Bella, Brandi & Cody

Our Kids - Cody, Brandi and Bella

Sneaking a lick from Cody's bowl

Wait Monday Don't Lose me...

I can't believe we're headed into the evening already.  My Monday has been NUTS... wait, back up... the last 3 days have been nuts.  But heck, I should be used to nuts and since I have a hankerin' for caramel cashew ice cream... I'll roll with the nuts.

Suffice it to say, Open House transition to going for coffee, coming home with a puppy and today has been adjustment day... wait, did I just say went for coffee came home with puppy?

No wonder I'm nuts!  Yes... and I'll tell you how serendipical that story is another day, but first, I have to share a piece I made that I myself am still drooling over.

Curly Girl by Designs by Dawn Marie

I call her Curly Girl.  I love purple... like almost as much as ice cream... somedays maybe more, just depends on if the bathroom scale is broken or not.  Broken = ICE CREAM bliss.  But purple speaks to me and has my entire life.  Pair it with a rich, coppery bronze... mmmmmm, now that leads to drool.

The idea for this necklace came from a set of beads I got from my favorite lampwork artist - JulsBeads.  I saw them the day she posted and said GIMMEEEEEEE, I couldn't log into paypal fast enough.  They were just shouting my name.  So they alone are each incredible works of art.  They are cylindrical in shape and surrounded with a coil of raised glass creating to me what looks like a curl... like my curls.

So once I had them in my hands, all the rest of the beads had a big 'ole party and made one heck of a piece.  I have to say, it turned out just how I hoped it would.  It will be in my Etsy store tomorrow (or later) it just depends when the puppy is napping.

I hope you enjoy Curly Girl as much as I do.  She's a looker that girl. :)  Thanks Juls for always making really, really special glass beads.  Honestly, your pieces make me smile just looking at them!

FYI, I'm also working on another Facebook Friday post for this week.  It's really, really an important tip that you will definitely want to read if you are on facebook at all (not just for your business, but personal too).  So stay tuned... okay, I must dash!

Thanks for checking in and hope your week is wonderful!
{Hugs!}

Tomorrow, Tomorrow - I love ya tomorrow

You're always a day away! :)  Yes tomorrow, I'm participating in a girls night out at a dear friends house to celebrate the opening of her own salon.  I visited the salon on Monday to check it out and I'm absolutely over the moon that's she's realizing her dream.

I'm all about spreading the love and celebrating those people that have become dear friends from around the globe.  So here's some great blog reads that are hot this week... and I really hope you take a moment to check them out.  You'll thank me... swear. :~)

Stacy Petersen - In this post she blogged about the importance of forming a team or a tribe of online supporters that continue to motivate, inspire and help each other out.

Juli Cannon - JulsBeads is having an incredible sale... well she's really got 2 great deals going on.  A sale in her Etsy Store that ends TONIGHT, but also you can own her skills for a day... and let me tell you, what that woman accomplishes in 8 hours will AMAZE you.  I've done this with her and am STILL using up what she sent me.  Seriously!

Meg Carter - as a sea glass artist, Meg always aims for natural in her photos.  Well this week she blogged about tips for taking great beach photos.

Kristen Stevens - as a seed beader, Kristen does a pattern review this week of an incredible necklace.  The message behind the design from the artist is so inspiring.  You'll love it!

Nicole Campanella - the Beadwright is creating like crazy!  She's finished several new beading patterns that are just stunning!

I've enjoyed these reads this week and I hope you do too!
Hope y'all have a great weekend!
{Hugs!}