Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Schedule Your Colonoscopy

I had a visit to the gastroenterologist today and while there all of the staff took the time to ask me how Fred was doing. You see Fred is one of their success stories. Fred had his routine screening colonoscopy right before his 50Th birthday and was diagnosed with stage 2b colon cancer. He had no rectal bleeding, no pain, nothing that would indicate a problem. As a matter of fact we had plans to go out to lunch immediately afterward because he was starving from the prep. Instead he had a rush of diagnostic tests and surgery that same day to remove the tumor.
Today 7 + years later he is cancer free.....Because of a routine screening colonoscopy. His cancer was aggressive and by the time he had symptoms, metastasis would have occurred.
On my routine screening colonoscopy at age 50 3 polyps were found and removed.

I don't know why colonoscopy freaks so many people out. OK maybe its embarrassing, inconvenient, or a little uncomfortable. But it is not worth your life!
A few facts:
Colon Cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the US.

Colon Cancer is curable if it is detected early.
The cause of colon cancer is unknown but risk factors include:
age 50 or over, history of rectal polyps, family history of colon cancer, history of colitis, smoking, and eating a high fat low fiber diet.
The American Cancer Society has more information here.

I scheduled a colonoscopy today. The office visit took 30 minutes of my time. My test is in 3 weeks. It will take a day of my time. It is time well spent, ensuring my health, my peace of mind and my presence in the lives of my grandchildren.
Won't you join me?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Glass Addictions- an amazing artist.


Lamp work artists amaze me. Their work is so unique and inspiring. The things they create from glass and fire and imagination ore stunning.

Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions is such an artist.

Jennifer was kind enough to include TheFamiLeeJewels in her etsy treasury "Aren't we all Divas?". When I visited her shop I was delighted to see her work. My particular favorite beads that she makes are the ones with metal "studs" in them. So delicate yet they have an industrial feel to them. Take a look at this one. It's fabulous.

You can view Jennifer's work in her Etsy shop or her website.

Read Jennifer's blog here.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Scary Skulls

Did I mention how much I love Halloween? Made some more earrings this week, skulls this time. There are 4 different designs. I hung them all on a spooktackular Halloween tree for our show today.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Collaboration


The Starving Artists team on Etsy is collaborating on a fabulous Christmas charm bracelet. Each member is making a charm and shipping it to a central location (Top Secret) to be assembled. The charm bracelet will be used as a prize for a holiday shopping promotion. I will post the details as soon as they become available.

This is the charm that the FamiLeeJewels contributed to the bracelet. Bonnie used a salvaged rhinestone ball from a loose vintage earring and added a sterling silver ribbon stamped with the word Joy.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Creepy Crawlers

Halloween is just around the corner and what could be creepier than spider earrings?

Bonnie has put together scrabble tiles and some fabulous papers to create this really creepy collection.

Each pair of earrings even comes in its own spooky coffin!

There are 30 different spiders and 15 different coffin designs so no 2 presentations will be exactly the same.


Trick or Treat!




Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Adirondack Nationals

The FamiLee Jewels are packing up the store and taking the show on the road. This weekend you can find us in Lake George New York at the Adirondack Nationals car show.
Adirondack Nationals is an annual event held by Albany Rods and Kustoms. Classic cars literally take over the town. There are parades and contests all weekend long.
The FamiLee Jewels will be located in the Women's Oasis in the Fort William Henry Conference Center adjacent to J T Kelly's restaurant.
We will be there Friday and Saturday 7-5 and Sunday 9-12.
Come spend a perfect Fall day in beautiful Lake George NY, be amazed by classic cars and stop in to the Women's Oasis to say hi!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Trash to Treasure









A few days ago I told you about my treasure hunting and scavenging tendencies and confessed to being a magpie. Today I wanted to show you how I have used some of those found objects in jewelry design.
You can see more Salvaged Style Jewelry at http://www.thefamileejewels.etsy.com/ or by visiting our store:
The FamiLee Jewels At The Warehouse
20 Learned St
Albany, NY
12207
weekends 10-3

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

For You Designs

For You Designs is an Etsy store from New South Wales, Australia that features beautiful and distinctive handcrafted jewelry. Tasha Chawner the artisan/owner of For You Designs is a self representing artist.

Tasha says that she is influenced by the world around her. The ever changing palette of Mother Nature inspires her to create original wearable art that will withstand the tests of time and fashion.

Tasha has always had a passion for jewelry, color and design. She challenges herself to create jewelry as beautiful and unique as you are.

My favorites in her etsy shop are the Geometry earrings that she makes using mixed metals, and her Copper Chaos bracelets.

Tasha was kind enough to feature us in her recent etsy treasury Cause and Effect. Thank you Tasha. The Jewels love your work and are proud that you included us in such a lovely grouping.
You can read more about Tasha and For You Designs on her blog http://www.foryoudesigns.wordpress.com/