A New Year

I’ve never been big on New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I’ve made a few I fully intend to keep.

My first, if you couldn’t tell already, is to make time for blogging. I really enjoy blogging, and I’m looking forward to setting some time aside to babble online about who knows what.

The second is to become more computer literate. I used to be pretty good with this machine, but I’ve failed to keep up. There are many programs I would like to learn for fun, as well as learning more about different internet sites.

To start off my computer learning, I’ve downloaded a free trial of Photoshop CS5 and signed up for a membership at www.vtc.com. VTC is a site with TONS of learning videos for different programs. The course for Photoshop alone is 7 ½ hours. I did finish this lesson, but I now have plans to go through it again and take some notes! The photo up top shwows what I have learned so far.

50% off Sale!!

Next week my etsy store will be closing for a few days and opening with a brand new inventory of stones. This weekend we are offering all of our current inventory at 50% off. This is your last chance to get any of the stones you've had your eye on!

I'm SO excited to be doing this, my shop is ready for a whole new look! Prices in my shop already reflect the 50% off discount (thank you etsyonsale!) To take a look, visit us at www.cabbingrough.etsy.com

Signup for our Newsletter!

I am so very excited excited to invite you all to sign up for the new Cabbing Rough newsletter! These newsletters will be sent out via email and will include articles about what we're working on now, what's coming up next, featured etsy artists, and flickr contest winners. The newsletters may also include special offers and coupons. To sign up, simply use the form below. Your email will NOT be passed along in any way without your permission.

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An Artist to Watch....

Looking at jewelry on etsy is very inspiring to me. It's a wonderful indulgence to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and browse all of the talent on etsy. One of my Favorite shops to browse on etsy is Jewelstreet. Aimee's work just takes my breath away. Her pieces are so unique and tastefully done. My personal favorites are her cuff bracelets.

You can also see Aimee's creations on Facebook

Storing Cabochons

I have a few blogs I really enjoy following. One of my favorites is Contrariwise Ramblings. About a month ago, Contrari posted this awesome article about storing your cabs.
http://akacontrariwise.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-can-never-be-too-thin-too-rich-or.html What a genius idea! However, I HATE taping stones, removing them can be such a pain, so I came up with this version of the cab binder. I used the clear pages my kids use for their Pokemon cards, bagged my cabs, and slipped them in the individual slots. I think this would be great for keeping track of where you get your stones from as well, because you could slip a business card right in with the stone!!

Thanks Contrariwise, you've made my life SO much easier!!!!!

WARNING: If you do this, you have to be careful not to tip it upside down, or all the cabs will fall out! Maybe someone has an idea from keeping this from happening???

Garage Sale season!!

I spent the best $5 of the season today when I bought this old fixture from a Target store at a Garage Sale. It's now set up in my eating area (where nobody EVER eats) and is PERFECT for sorting all my slabs! This is after about 30 minutes of sorting, I'll add new pictures when it's full!

I'm a Proud Wife and Mother

Today is Father's Day, and Father's Day is more of a Thanksgiving for me. It's a chance to sit back and take a look around. I am so very grateful for the amazing family I have, and I owe everything to my wonderful husband, Karl.

I hear people refer to others often as perfect, and many times they receive the response of "nobody's perfect." Well, Karl is perfect for me. He has always supported every last crazy idea that comes into my head. He has stood by me in every occasion I needed someone to lean on, and he has given new meaning to the vows "in sickness and in health".

My husband is such a modest man, I'm sure he would turn all sorts of colors if he knew I was posting this. I see that just as another amazing quality of his. And not only is he a wonderful husband, but an amazing father as well. Since the day our children were born, he has never once grumbled about helping change diapers in the middle of the night, and has a way of staying calm and patient even when I'm stressed to the max. He has always thought of us before himself.

So, looking around this Father's Day, I just wanted to say I Love You, Karl and thank you for your hard work each and every day.