Deer Mountain Wood Art

Like I said last night, I get stir-crazy when I don't get to just cut something - locked into prepping or finishing I just get nuts! lol

So here's an example of things I make and don't know what to do with during one of these episodes.... these are hearts and apples(I know, you can see that!) that I cut out the other day because I had some itty bitty scraps of Cabreuva from the local cabinet shop, and finished a couple of them last night so I could see the pretty red wood better... Now what??!!?

I'd love to hear some ideas - I know I started out thinking that they would make great pendants, earrings etc... you want to try? lol I put a chain on something and it looks like crap - I'm just not talented in that area!!

oh and of course, ornaments - there's one in the upper picture - do I just throw a pretty string on it and call it a day? idk, but I'm sure open to suggestions! :0)

Whoever comes up with a selling piece, gets one for themselves, so think hard!! They really are very pretty and very red - pics never do the trick...

So, post your idea in the comments section and I'll see which one sells - if it does within 4 days, you win one! Can't get easier than that can it?

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Before I do anything else, I want to address the "tag, you're it!" I received from dearest Tammy the other day - I've just been so crappy lately that I can't get anything done, no matter how badly I want to! :0( But, things are looking up, feeling a bit better and will finally be able to get some blogging done! whoopie!! =>

So without further adieu' -

On Tuesday, I was tagged by Tammy of Tammy's Treasure Chest and here is my reply;

Here are seven random facts about me:

1.I'm painfully shy around new people or crowds (works big time for me also, so I kept it)

2.I create a lot of things that I don't know what to do with! lol

3.I laugh a LOT!!! (Yep! keep...)

4.I cry over everything - mean people especially...

5.I hate being 'disabled' and work 24/7 trying to 'prove' I'm not.

6.I want to be successful, without trying {sigh}

7.I am very passionate about everything - work, friends, family, whatever is in my path at the moment.


Okay, the rules are I now tag seven other people, post a link to their blogs here on mine, then let them know they've been tagged. Soooo, TAG you're it!!!!

Jessica at Daily Fun Horoscope Bites
Bina at Angelic Adornments
High Desert Diva
Dulce at Dulce's Creations
Pam at Pam Hawk
Robin at Robin's Woods
Timothy at Timothy Adam Designs

Have fun! =D

Horoscope for Taurus April 20 - May 20

"You love living in the basement."

Okay, been sitting here for a bit and realized that I keep dozing off!?! :( I guess I'll try again in the morning as this just ain't working!! I hate it when this happens, I didn't even get my Entrcards done today :0(
Oh well, I promise I'll try my best to make a 'quality' post in the morning....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
F

Thank you soooo much Tammy!!!! I just love the earrings, and here's a kiss{{{mewuh}}} to you for being so darn sweet!!! Do you think they look good on me? =D I love the way you made the ear wires, perfect! And the weight is gorgeous!
LOVE 'em - my new faves!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
{{{hugs}}}
F


If ya'll want to be lucky like me and have an uber stylish pair of danglies, check out Tammy's shop - she's way too cool and very, very sweet! Not a shop for diabetics, that's for sure! lol









Check them out a little closer, and you'll see why I'm so in love with this delicious pair of sterling silver earrings :-P




Thanks for "stopping by the shop" for a quick afternoon treat!
Freida

So, I didn't think I would get to blog today as the pain in my leg and back is excruciating, but I saw this great post by my dear friend, Tammy, and just had to write a note about it! As usual, it turns out that I'm too much in a talkative mood to settle on just one topic! But here's the place to read about Tammy's interview on Soap Deli News - way to go girl!! =D Be sure to visit her blog too; all about her journey in life, jewelry designing, being a metal artist, and being an online entrepreneur!

Click here too to read Tammy's interview!

Never anything new under the sun!? :( Every time, and I mean every time, I'm about to make public another great idea - as in offer it for publishing - someone else beats me to it! I am always thinking I have found out something new! :(

I just received one of my favorite mags, "Creative Woodworks and Crafts", today and guess what?! An article on how to make wood puzzles was in it! My husband just laughed... he's used to it, but I never will be!lol

I came out with a great idea on making Zen Gardens, so this last issue of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts previewed an article for next month entitled, yep, you guessed it, "How to make a Zen Garden"... UGH! I'm just so miserable with my lack of notoriety!!! LOL

Oh well, as long as my boys are proud of me and believe I'm creative, innovation, and amazingly talented(snickering), screw it! I don't need the other - just would be cool is all! :)


On the home front we received some great news today - Tyler is being considered as a candidate to go to Russia over the summer as part of the school sister-city exchange with Valdai, Russia!! I actually let out a squeal when he read it - I guess he could tell I'm in his corner on this! lol He's a little down though about it because he wants to go so badly but is thinking the trouble he got into a year and a half ago is going to put a stop to his going. He may be right, which would be a shame! Like I always say, "never do anything that you may regret!" If you would like to find out more about that you'll have to read my other blog...

Anyway, working on puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles! I just got another order for a wedding 'guest book' puzzle which is something that you place on the bride and groom table and pass out pieces for your guests to sign.

It's a great hit with everyone and is a lot of fun for the guests. At the end of the reception or wedding service, everyone puts their pieces in place and the bride and groom sign their special little double-heart piece and place it, finishing the puzzle! It's very symbolic, putting a puzzle together with your pictures on it and having everyone take part in piecing your new life together! :]

The other two puzzles are a huge 16" x 24" portrait puzzle of the client's daughters and family doggy, and the other one is a medium portrait puzzle of the client's entire family at a gathering. Very cool - it always makes me feel like a small part of their families when I get to cut something so intimate :D

By the way, if you would like to have a portrait puzzle or wedding guest book puzzle of your own, visit my website for contact/order info.... (small plug! =>)

I have been plagued lately with tons of ideas for things I want to make, including cutting out my Christmas Cards this year. It makes me panged to think of all the things I want to do and not being able to do anything about it. But, working on custom orders is what pays our bills, and it is creative, so I will be a good girl and not start another personal project until I get everyone happy! :)

Well, that's all I can take of this sitting, so I will have to bid you adieu' for now... stay cool, stay awesome, stay creative, and as always, thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

I just dropped on all of the cards in my inbox!!! 1st time and it wasn't so tough!lol The hard part for me is I always have to stop and look! You all have some very interesting sites =D Like these;
Something new I found while dropping Entrecards this morning -
if you love contests, these two websites offering an amazing abundance of clickable links and one of them is devoted to Etsy members, which is really cool!!
Click here for the Blog Contest Station and here for the Etsy Giveaways Blog - enjoy! =D

While you're at it don't forget to check out this previous post for a 20% coupon code to purchase items in my shop until midnite(CMT) October 31st!! JUST for Bloggers!

Well, the game warden is coming up to try and finalize the cost of the calves we've lost to the bear so I gotta go get dressed :( I was having such a good time!

I will post again this afternoon - I just have a feeling that there's something that I'm going to have to share!?! Oh, yeah, I remember now...

Until then,

Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Wow, do I wish I could work in this new IT world!! I could see myself in the place of my dreams; Australia!! Working for one of the top 500 websites in the world? Not too shabby! BUT, since I can't, here's the link for all of you lucky bloaks! :) These are awesome, top rated opportunities that I would've died to have when I was a young, geeky, IT professional! God, I envy you!!!!!

Back in the day - yes, I used that line!!lol - when I was in my late teens I proudly toted my KayPro 4'84 around, running the only 24/7 BBS in the Northern California area(at 300BPM!?!) and founding the Crescent City Computer Users Group. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips! I even went to Denny's Corporate office in LaMirada, CA to teach them how to use the Accounts Receivables software they were attempting to implement...

I was also running my own computerized bookkeeping company as well as working for JAJones Construction as payroll clerk and bookkeeper on the Pelican Bay Prison project. I taught them how to computerize all of their accounting and payroll and was set to travel the world! I'd just been offered a job that would put me in Egypt - I was unstoppable - until I met my first husband; Jake... I won't even go there! I'll just say 2 years of hell and inevitable bankruptcy and I was left with two babies and no job. Yike!

When I finally woke up and came to my senses, I divorced Jake and met my second husband, Lynn. We had our ups and downs but were happy, and I was happy, devoted to being a good mom, leaving the high-tech/business world behind.

I was working in a BP gas station, in Brookings, OR, when I met David White. He and I got to talking and after he talked with everyone I knew or ever did know I found myself programming CAD/CAM for David's highly respected software company, SimSoft, Inc. - PCModel and CADMotion were my toddlers - as well as Shipping Director to dozens of countries and answering questions for CADmotion users such as IBM and hundreds of top Universities... damn! I miss those days!!

I look back at some of my papers and notebooks and can't believe I was the one writing that stuff!?! I was even one of the first Certified Testers for dBaseIV and wrote several programs with that beautiful piece of engineering =D

In in the height of my 'career', in June 1992, my hubby, Lynn, took his life and I lost my mind. David begged me to reconsider my irrational move to Colorado and even offered to set me up here, where I could start and headup the MidUS office he would open, just for me!?! I flat turned him down - I had to leave, escape, run! I was out of my mind and ended up dragging my, just-turned 2 and 4 year old, babies across country to a place I had never been... In some ways, Colorado saved my life, in some ways destroyed it. I can pretty much say that anything I had to do with computers ended that year. But I can't blame a place for my insanity and grief! I just wish sometimes I'd had listened to those that told me to wait until my mind quit reeling...

Anyway, this was supposed to be an article about finding a great job opportunity! I don't know what happened, but if you've read this far down, then I don't know what to say!?lol You've got to be bored senseless!!!!! Now, get back to work! =D

I'm outta here! Just got another puzzle order last night and I have to get going - it was sure interesting reminiscing about all of this old stuff - memories... hummmm

Thanks, always!, for "stopping by the shop!" and listening to my ramblings... I've been inhaling way too much lacquer, sawdust, whatever, though this morning I think...

Peace,
Freida



to find out more about the above referenced companies/products, please click on their respective links - all references are property of their respective companies, ie., tm Ashton-Tate tm Borland etc...

My best friend died the night before last and it sure left me in a slump :( I have been trying to distract myself with work and last night just couldn't keep going. I went to bed at a record time of 11pm!?! I wished I could say the extra sleep was worth it, but I'm definitely in bad shape this morning - even my SI joint has a large 'bump' on it and sitting here is grief... My son got in trouble, well more like his friend got him in trouble, the same night Cora passed and I'm tired of being so strong and capable! But that's for my other blog...


Anyway, here's what's up at DeerMtn -

• 16 x 20 Portrait Puzzle for client
• 2 Custom Portraits for client
• 2 NFL Helmets for client
• 1 large "Bronco's" sign for client
• Publishing "INTARSIA, Creating Art from Wood" book, hopefully, this next week
• Adding more product to new websites; ShopHandmade.com and Boundless.com
• Finishing Angel, hopefully tomorrow
• Finish CubScout site I volunteered to create! ugh! lol
  
• Cora's funeral is Friday - quite a bit of travel time involved in that one...

I just found this awesome employment opportunity and wanted to share - there are quite a number of well-qualified individuals out there that would fit this opening to a "T"!
Click here to learn more and good luck! =D



1-800-Flowers.com also has other fantastic employment offers including work-at-home opportunities! Be sure to go check it out if you're looking for a new job, or even a better job :)

In appreciation for all of the great feedback and blog love I've gotten lately, I've decided to hold a "Bloggers Only" Store-Wide sale! From today, Sunday, Oct.19th until Friday, Oct.31, 2008 if you mention "ShopNotes" in 'note to seller' when you check out, I will send you a revised invoice reflecting a WHOPPING! 20% off any item in the shop, or custom ordered during this time!! Hope you enjoy =D
Go Shopping!

In other news, I've removed some of my more personal, not related at all to DMWA, posts to my other blog, "Three Boys and a Dog" to clear up some of the 'clutter' here - you are still welcome to read about my 'personal life' by visiting this link - and I will be trying to keep more on-topic. I will still have some family/personal stuff in DMWA ShopNotes, but it will be minimal! =D Hope this helps :) Off to work this morning - hope you all have a GREAT day!! and as always, "Thanks for stopping by the shop!" Freida

So, you ask, "What can I do?" Poverty is a simple word that takes on many connotations - this is the entry in Wikipedia for the description of "poverty";

Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, and may also include the deprivation of opportunities to learn, to obtain better employment to escape poverty, and/or to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens. According to Mollie Orshansky who developed the poverty measurements used by the U.S. government, "to be poor is to be deprived of those goods and services and pleasures which others around us take for granted."^[1] Ongoing debates over causes, effects and best ways to measure poverty, directly influence the design and implementation of poverty-reduction programs and are therefore relevant to the fields of public administration and international development.

Although poverty is generally considered to be undesirable due to the pain and suffering it may cause, in certain spiritual contexts "voluntary poverty," involving the renunciation of material goods, is seen by some as virtuous.

Poverty may affect individuals or groups, and is not confined to the developing nations. Poverty in developed countries is manifest in a set of social problems including homelessness and the persistence of "ghetto" housing clusters.^[2]

Pam Hawk is a blogger who helps people with their 'brand' and I found that her latest entry was a terrific idea that I just have to pass along to you! =D
Here's the post and the link that follows is to her site where you'll find a lot more info on promoting your online and offline presence...

Host an online Spouse's Shopping Event

Hey Etsyians, boost your sales during the upcoming holiday shopping season by hosting an online Spouse's Shopping Event.

Send a card to all of your customers using snail mail. In this card, invite them to browse through your shop for their favorite items. Have them note their favorite items and spouse's name on a pre-paid post card that they send back to you.

When the card comes back, send a card to each spouse, introducing your shop and mentioning the favorite items chosen by your customers. Offer a discount, free gift wrapping, and any other specials you would like to extend for this shopping event. Make sure you note a time limit so you have time to get orders wrapped and packaged and shipped out in time for the holidays.

Your customers will love their gifts and their spouses will appreciate the personalized shopping assistance.

Note: By sending cards to your customers via snail mail, you are not violating Etsy's strict no-spam policy (which is a good policy) and your card is more likely to be opened and read by your customers.

Stay tuned for the next blog post which expands on this idea

I am having such a good day! Everything is going well - I finally figured out how to finish a piece I've been working on for so long, took another order, and have two more in the wings! It just feels like nothing can dent my happy today =D
I decided to brush off the sawdust and take a coffee break and I found this little email that stated my blog had been accepted by "Blogged"! I wasn't sure that I'd get that email, being such a puny contributor to the blogosphere and not only did I get accepted but they rated me a 6.6! I'm just in heaven :-) and it's all because you have shown me the love! Thank you!! I feel like I won an Emmy and should give an acceptance speech! lol I know, I know... it's not that big a deal, but wow, I sure feel happy! =>
Anyway, coffee break's over - just thought I'd share and in doing so, bring a little sunshine to your webworld =D
Thanks for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida
oh, and if you have time it sure would be great if you'd give a rating for my blog! I'll bake you cookies!!?!

I ran into this on Bina's blog just now - it struck me like a swift, heavy wind and is seemingly fitting for this time I'm going through. I felt the deepest urge to post it for you...

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18

I'm not sure what my heart is thinking of this passage, but somehow it's trying to tell me something more than just what the words are saying....
Have you ever had that happen?
Maybe I'm just feeling a little melancholy today and want to feel that God is watching over me, waiting to fix everything?
Maybe I'm being influenced by reading Bina's blog this morning and feeling things that aren't traditionally me?
I don't know, but it is what it is I guess and I wanted to share with you - maybe it was meant to help you? I know we're all hurting right now and things are uncertain - might we all be better for remembering He who holds us close...
Freida

I know this is probably the oldest saying in the world, but it's true!! Even my almost grown sons are finding it out - there's just not enough time in a day, week, month, year.... It has me frustrated to no end!

I just joined Entrecard and need desperately to find out how to use it, and what it's for exactly - I join these sites and then I'm lost! It's not like I have a mountain of time to spare learning either!! I think I've been dumbed down by senility(yes, I'm still on that kick!!) and it's starting to affect everything around me - aghhh!

Friday I shaved Tyler's head for his charity fund raising and was so surprised that he didn't look like a terrible monster!lol He just might be one of those guys that can pull off a bald head!! =D He managed to go over his $200 goal and I'm very, very proud of him!

To all that donated and sent kind notes, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to make this a memorable event in Tyler's life - I'll never forget it! =) and I know he won't either!

Friday afternoon we farmed Austin out to his friend's house, dropped Tyler at his buddy's house, loaded up Ryan's girlfriend and headed to Adams State College in Alamosa for Ryan's first college concert (well, there were some other kids in it too!). It's really kind of silly as the college is only 2.5 hours from here, but for me and my back it was an epic journey! I'm terribly sore but we made it there and back and I'm glad we got to go :)

Last night, around 11 or 12 I sold a custom puzzle so I need to get to work on that and finish up on several other orders and misc projects I have going.

Greg received his Dragon Box and enclosed
this picture and kind words,

"Freida,
Received the box today!
All I can say is "WOW"!
It will be cherished for many years..
Thank you soooo much!
Greg




humm, what else... oh, we had no power for most of the day which helped me get a few things done and get off of this silly machine! Always glad when it comes back on though!!! =]

Our bottle baby calf died today after being mauled by a bear about 5 days ago - we took him to the vet but couldn't afford any real tests so he gave us antibiotics and we just had to take him home and hope for the best. He gave up today and after examining him I'm sorry that we didn't know how bad he was suffering, I would've rather had put him down so he could rest. This is the second calf we've lost to this bear and the first one was a baby of mine, bottle fed too. You just can't imagine what a bear can do to an animal without it ever showing! Makes me worry when I go out to the shop and such. He killed my other one while I was sanding in the shop not 100 feet away and I never heard or saw anything!
We lost a baby earlier this summer to a bear, but the bear was inevitably destroyed for being an 'abuser' and tagged for previous bad behavior. On that day he killed our brand new baby pygmy goats and a 4 day old calf. When he came back later that day he was not interested in the food left for him but instead tried to get into the calf pen and kill another!? It was so horrible watching him stalk the babies!
ANYWAY, enough sadness - too much in the world already!
I guess I better 'get back at it'... my day never really ends and as I lay on my arm at 3:30 this morning, apparently typing "k"s and "l"s across the screen while trying to write a note to a customer, I realized, there's just not enough time in the day!!!
Thanks as always for "stopping by the shop!"
Freida

Such a busy weekend! Work, work, work and my 'little guys' were busy too!


Tyler's going to be shaving his head to help support kids who are loosing their hair to chemo treatments! I thought he was crazy at first but as he says, "it's just hair, it will grow back. Some of these kids will die!!"
I'm very proud of his efforts in helping others these days - he even donated $40 to autism last week!

It would be so great if you would click on the link and either donate or just offer some encouragement!! Click on Tyler's picture or the link below to help :-)

Please stop by and help in any way you can - going through your senior year in high school with a bald head (not a good look for Tyler! lol) is a daunting mission, but he's so sure of how he wants to help, I can do nothing but support him 110% and shave his head for him!!

Thank you in advance for your support! =D

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=2008-55407



In other news, Leanne received her Keepsake Portrait Box this morning and wrote, "Hi Freida, It's just arrived this morning! Thanks so much, it looks really great, you've done an amazing job on it! Thanks again :o] Leanne x".
Thank you Leanne! It was a great pleasure to get to work on Sandy's box with you!!

Well, I guess that's all for now - I could always write for hours, but who's going to read my ramblings!!? lol

As always, "Thanks for stopping by the shop!"
Freida

On October 15th with the help of the "Blog Action Day" team, we're all going to be discussing Poverty - I will be posting about Poverty and how we all can help through our art!

Join me and thousands of others on Oct 15th -

ARE YOU IN!?!