Could it be? I am actually writing on my blog? *gasp!*

So, many of you probably wonder where I have been and what have I been doing all the time I have been MIA. One word can sum most everything up - work.

I’ve been super busy at work. ESS (extended school) has started back, so I do that on Mondays and Wednesdays until 4:00. By the time I get home from work, I am just exhausted. I don’t feel motivated to do a whole lot. Ever since I got my laptop, my desktop has been rather lonely and is probably collecting dust. Since most of my files and stuff are on my desktop, I haven’t been working very much on my website or anything. In other words, one of my favorite hobbies (aka the internet) has been on vacation. At least, my blogging has been on vacation. I have many emails I need to reply to as well. I’m trying to get caught up on everything. I still have to add a whole ton of cauldrons from The Quilting Bee Halloween Activity. Pathetic. I’ve been visiting the blogs I frequently visit, but since several of them are participating in NaBloPoMo I haven’t been able to keep up very well.

Okay, enough with the explanations and/or excuses. I haven’t actually been at work this whole time. I mean, I do get to come home every afternoon. I’ve been doing some pretty neat things. For example, I have made my very own lip balms, bath salts, sugar face scrub, and soaps. Making lip balm is really yummy. I love my peppermint kind. In fact, I’m planning on making a whole bunch of bath/body stuff to give as Christmas presents. I’ve also been working with Sculpey/Fimo more. I made a cute little octopus. He was a test of sorts. He turned out pretty good. I think I’m going to make some charms and other jewelry out of clay. An octopus is a good practice animal because it’s only made of little balls of clay.

I painted this one with pearlized acrylics. He reminds me of bubblegum. I also sewed a little tree softie. I got the template for it from a really cool book called Softies. There are some neat projects in there. I didn’t follow the pattern exactly. For example, my eyes are different, and I didn’t give him a mouth. This was a practice tree. I didn’t have the right colors of thread to use. The leaves would look better with colored thread instead of black. It was good experience though. I sewed the trunk and leaves on the tree using my sewing machine. The rest I hand sewed.

The artist who created the cute tree pattern has a website called Little Odd Forest. Check it out for some super cool stuff.

Here’s the other bit of excitement that’s happened. Last Friday night, Colin and I were going to go see The Bee Movie. Before we went, I decided I was going to try to make some beads from clay. I started cutting my clay with this flexible blade that I bought. After cutting a few pieces, my finger got in the way, and I sliced through my finger. It made an awful sound. A little flap of skin was hanging from my finger. I didn’t freak out too bad. I ran water over it and wrapped it up. I decided I probably needed a doctor to look at it.

I went to the doctor and ended up having to have four stitches. The two shots the doctor gave me numbed three of my fingers and bruised me really bad. I’m still bruised. I also had to have a tetanus shot. That made my arm hurt all week. I’m supposed to get my stitches removed sometime this weekend or possibly Monday. I am afraid it’s going to hurt. Wish me luck with that. It’s my ring finger on my right hand and since I am right handed, doing even the simplest things have been tricky. I have a new respect for people who are missing a finger or limb.

Oh! Duran Duran’s new album, Red Carpet Massacre, came out on the 13th. I had to buy it, of course. I love Duran Duran. I was a little worried about this album. They did some work with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. As a result, the songs are very R&B-ish (not my usual style). The more I listen to it, the more I will get used to it I know. It was just pretty disappointing. Their last two albums have been totally awesome. The only standout song from Red Carpet Massacre is Falling Down. The video for that was apparently banned in England for nudity and such. Typical Duran Duran. Anyway, if you’re looking for some new music to check out, check out Duran Duran’s Red Carpet Massacre.

Thank God it is Friday. I so need a break. Work today was especially busy for me. Next week I only have to work two days because of….Thanksgiving! Yay! A five day weekend!

P.S. I’ll try to blog more often. Also– I am working on my new layout again. Hopefully I’ll get that up before December. No promises though.

-- Filed in: Crafty, Health, Random, Work ()