From our family to yours...

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe & enjoyable Halloween. We'll be sitting out side watching all the kids go through our neighbors haunted house that they set up and passing out candy to all the little goblins.

Before I go for the weekend, I leave you with some Halloween humor:

- How do you tell twin witches apart?

Actually, you can't tell which witch is which.

- What did 3 vampires order at the bar?

Two bloods and a blood light.

- What is a vampires favorite ice cream?

Veinella.

- Did you hear about the new Dracula doll?

Wind it up and it bites Barbie on the neck.

- What kind of pants do ghosts wear?

Boojeans.

- What do you get when you goose a ghost?

A handful of sheet!

- What did one ghost whisper to the other ghost?

I see people.

Haaaaaaappy Halloweeeeeeen!

Rocki

Did someone say... Brass?

Brass Hammered Baby Elfin Ear Wires above and Small Hoops below.

More to come soon, including Oxidized & Red Brass Ear Wires.

Nighty night all,

Rocki

Just a quickie...

Yes, I said a quickie - as in a post (yes, I hear those of you saying, "Rocki? A quickie without getting wordy? Riiiiiiiight"). I'm just too exited to wait and want to share my newest additions like the ones above: Oxidized Fine Silver Headpins! I've been working on getting these oxidized just right (as I like them to be anyway) and am quite pleased with how they turned out - even more so with the photos (not my favorite thing to do (folds arms and shakes head no-no-no-no...)

I'll be adding the above later tonight or tomorrow morning. These are my Long Ovals that I already offer in my shop in Sterling Silver, but now they are also available in 14K Gold Filled!

Alas, my Elongated Squovals are now also available in 14K Gold Filled - per Laura's request. Yes Laura, I finally did it (happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you... :)

Well, that's it. My quickie post. Now I'm off to make supper then watch the new Journey to the Center of the Earth - in 3-D!

Happiness to all,

♥ Rocki

Heart of a Cowgirl

"Cowgirl is an attitude, really. A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she's just as likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut."- Dale Evans Rogers, Los Angeles, 1992

I took that quote off of Bridget's blog, but she also has it in her Etsy Profile in which she she states it: "sums up the creative force behind my jewelry designs."

Bridget is a cowgirl and creates from that heart. I can relate to how she feels about being a cowgirl as I lived the cowgirl life many years ago. I breathed, ate and slept the cowgirl life. Went to rodeo's, dated cowboys & rodeo clowns (that was a trip) rode horses and was even on a Country & Western dance team called "Hooked on Country". It was hard putting away my boots, but it was harder trying to walk two different paths. I realized my true direction and followed it. That is what you need to do. Follow your heart, be who you truly are and create with that force. This is exactly what Bridget does.

Whenever I do blog features I like to give the title a fitting name for the shop and/or person that I'm spotlighting. However in this case, the name of Bridget's Etsy shop & blog (which feels just like home) is absolutely perfect: Heart of a Cowgirl.

I could go on and on about how very talented Bridget is, how she truly creates from the cowgirl heart - which you can see in all her pieces from jewelry to leather work - or tell you about all her animals that surround her loving home, but this blog post would turn into a novel.

So please head on over to Bridget's Etsy shop to see her heartfelt creatioins and also to her blog to find out more about this Heart of a Cowgirl's life - you won't leave hungry.

Cowgirl up,

Rocki

Hi Ho Silver, Away!

You're not seeing things. That's Roy Rogers & Dale Evans above, even though "Hi Ho Silver... Away" is from Clayton Moore of The Lone Ranger, who's horse was "Silver." But I just loved watching Roy & Dale and The Lone Ranger too. Actually, I think I loved his horse Trigger the most. However, I did adore Roy because he always, and still today, reminds me of my Papa (my dad's dad) with the smiling blue eyes. Not only was he your typical loving grandpa, he had the sweetest smile, loving personality and twinkling blue eyes that I've ever seen. I miss him more just thinking about him.

Anyway, I loved the part where the Lone Ranger said "Hi Ho Silver, Away!" Wow. Does this date me or what?! Oh and I used to sing the "Happy Trails" song all the time. Hmm, sometimes I still do.

Speaking of silver. I've now added my handcrafted Fine Silver (.999) Ball End Headpins to my shop. Yep. I just keep adding and adding - what can I say, I'm enjoying playing with metal so much that I don't know when to quit. Oh, and I'll be adding oxidized headpins as well, but they can be requested until I'm able to post them.

Well, I need to 'skedaddle' on out of here and mosey on over to my studio as I have a ton of work to do today. Hi Ho Silver, Away!

"Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?

Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,

Others are blue.It's the way you ride the trail that counts,

Here's a happy one for you.Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?

Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again."

Rocki

(p.s. Just a note that I updated the post to include The Lone Ranger, just so you don't think I've lost it. But then again... ;)

It's New & Mini!

I just adore Mini Me! He's just the cutest little guy and reminds me of my brother Chris. Well, Chris is a little taller actually.

Some of the creations in my Etsy shop have been by the suggestions of my super fabulous customers. They have great minds and ideas and I truly love it! So, the other day one of my customers asked if I could make my Baby Elfin's a little smaller. You know me, it's hard to say no - well, most of the time anyway - so of course I said let me see what I can do.

Without going into all the details, let me just say that I have a new member of my Signature Elfin family. I now present to you, Mini Elfin!

Mini Elfin weighs in, er, I mean measures in at a petite 3/4" length. Don't let this little guy fool you though, he may be little but he can handle dangles & drops just like the rest. I just added Mini Elfin in my shop last night and I'll be adding other packages in different quantities as well.

I'm off to start my day. Hope you all have a terrific Thursday!

Luv,

Rocki

To Brass or Not to Brass...

Okay everyone, put your thinking caps on. I'm taking a break for a few minutes to ask my wonderful friends, fellow bloggers, buddies, customers, etc. a question that was presented to me, not only once, but a few times, and it has me thinking.

Some of my greatest additions to my shop have come from the requests of my FABulous customers. So the great question is... what do you think of Brass earwires? I know I know, this isn't the million dollar question, you do not win a prize, you do not get to pass Go & collect any money or get your name in lights. What do you get out of this? My humble friendship (insert cheezy shiny metal grin) and sincere appreciation.

Most of you know I only use Sterling Silver & 14K Gold Filled wire, with the addition of oxidizing. However, I do notice that Brass is very hot right now and since I've been approached a few times (and I'm one for signs) I wonder if I should go ahead and make this happen.

There is a variety of Brass: Red Brass, Yellow Brass, Antiqued Brass... what are your thoughts, suggestions and opinions? I sincerely appreciate your replies!

Now, just pretend you haven't seen me as I must get back into the studio :)

Oh and Josh buddy ol' pal, I just KNOW you'll have some sort of opinion for me, right? :)

Thank you all SO very much!
Luv, Rocki

In the Spotlight!

A very sweet fellow etsian featured me on her blog this morning at: Elektra Jewelry so if you get a chance, feel free to pop on over and visit her lovely blog!

Above is one of her beautiful creations titled Tibetan shell Bead and Turquoise Necklace. Below is her Purple Passion Amethyst and Opalite Bracelet.

You can find these beautiful creations and much more in her Etsy shop: Elektra Jewelry Designs.

Have a beautiful day!

Rocki

Just a few new creations

Just thought I would share with you some of my new creations and what I've been up to.

Above is a pair of my new Long Ovals French Style earwires that I just posted last night. I really love this pair: sleek, slender, secure, sexy...hmm, maybe I should have named them SSSSexy Earwires?

Above are my Oxidized Elongated Squovals that are selling pretty well. I also offer them in Sterling Silver and, by request of my dear sis Laura, 14K Gold Filled - coming soon!

These are my soon to be added Sterling Silver Rings/Links. They are a tad over 10mm in size and will be available in Hammered or Bright Finish. These came about from a request from one of my dear friends... Ang :) and since shipping them off to her, I decided to start offering them in my shop as well.

There are a few other new goodies in my shop, so feel free to take a peek at your leisure.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Rocki

Shhhhh! I've been TAGGED!

I was going to have a cute little picture, but for some reason my PSP decided to freeze up on me. No, this is not a sign of how today is going to go (repeats to self).

The end of last week I was tagged by my very sweet & dear friend, Sharon (Mana Moon) who shared her heart with us so openly and lovingly that it only strengthened our friendship - makes me proud to call her my friend.

Anyway, I'm supposed to share six secrets about myself and then "tag" five others. Although I do have some deep rooted secrets, I cannot bear to see them in print, so I will share some others with you. No, I'm not an ax murderer, drunk, druggie, ex-con, or anything of that nature. They are just some old secrets that basically shaped my life and made me the strong person I am today. Hence my name: Rocki (insert theme music here)

So without further ado, here are my 'secrets' although some are not so secret, but rather things you may not know about me:

1. I do not like 'chick flics' or mother/daughter flics - they are just too sappy for me . I will, however, watch some 'chic flics' as long as they are not TOO sappy. Without explaining in detail, I didn't have the 'normal' mother/daughter relationship and watching these kinds of movies are painful.

2. I had an invisible friend when I was a child. His name was "Way-Way" - yeah I know, don't ask me why I named him this, don't have a clue! My parents told me that I blamed Way-Way for coloring all over my bedroom walls, tearing down my curtains (which BTW he DID!), I wouldn't eat unless a place setting was set for Way-Way... you get the idea. He is my, er I mean WAS, my best friend. (don't worry Way-Way, I won't let them find you!)

3. I'm afraid of the dark, but love to watch thrillers. Not the blood & gut killing type, just real good suspense movies that make you sit on the edge of your seat.

4. I'm still afraid of the boogieman (hmm, maybe that has to do with the above). If I have to get up during the night, I practically take a running leap back into bed for fear of someone grabbing me from under the bed - even though I know NObody is under there. Hmm. My boys used to jump out of closets to scare me, grab my legs from under the bed (my sister too!) and things of this nature. I wonder...

5. When I was younger I wished I were black. Yep, black. I was SO embarrassed to be a white person back then because of how racist so many people were that it angered me even as a child and I didn't want to be white. It's unfortunate that this type of ignorance still exists in many ways today: skin color, religion, being gay, lesbian, etc. I just don't get it and I wish with all my heart that one day people will just get past all this racist crap.

6. I am and always will be a forever young flower child. Okay, so this one is not so much a secret. I do not mind my age, I'll be 48 (on paper) in December, but 20 something in my heart. My body just doesn't know it sometimes. I'll be wearing little sun dresses, blue jeans & tank tops well into my 80's, if I live that long.

It's hard to pick 5 people, but since I have to - OH! Don't worry, you don't have to do this if you don't want to:

Scribbles of an Ancient Soul - my new blog buddy :)

Heart of a Cowgirl - very talented gal!

Rainbows & Sunshine - LOVE this blog & gal!

What I Made Today - inspiration blog - a must read!

In The Shadows - very cool gal & awesome blog!

So there we have it. Some of my little secrets out in the open. Oh and Laura, bet you NEVER thought I would let Way-Way out of the bag... ooooh, wait! One more... Laura's nick-name is P... P... okay, I won't say it, but I sure WANT to!

Happy Monday everyone!
Rocki

Where's THE Rock?

Wow. I never knew I was so popular (blushes). I've had several requests via email and my (uh hem) previous blog post, to come out and play and stop hiding. Trust me, I'm not hiding actually, I've just been extremely busy with multiple orders from my supply shop. Oh and I'm not complaining one little bit mind you, so please do not think I'm being ungrateful, as this is not the case. It is just that I'm rather buried in orders so I cannot come out to play this week.

So, with that said, where IS the Rock? Obviously that is not me above, but it is a very cool pic I found on the web and since I LOVE rocks, I had to use it for this post. Besides, the rocks are balanced on one another and that is exactly what I'm trying to do - find my balance.

Ooooh. No, this is not me either. It is The Rock; Dwayne Douglas Johnson. Former wrestler, talented actor and one hot dude (sorry honey, you're hot too though :) There is also Rock Hudson (one of my favorite long time actors with Doris Day!), Chris Rock, Kid Rock and others.

Nope. Not me either, but is a very cool movie! This would be the School of Rock starring Jack Black, obviously. The kids in the movie actually do play their own instruments and they are amazingly talented. If you love music, this is a must see movie. There is also The Rock with Sean Connery (mmmm), Rundown (has The Rock in it) and others that I just can't think of at the moment.

So where IS Rocki anyway, as I've been asked. After having my morning coffee, breakfast and doing other little tasks to get ready for the day, you can find me in my studio until evening. In fact, if you look reeeeeeeal close, you'll find me below:

Did you find me? It's kind of hard, but I bet you can do it! Good job - you did it! So now that you know where I am, please do not think I have not forgotten about you, it's just that I'm terribly busy and need to focus on my orders this week. I do plan on checking out all your blogs in the next few days. In the meantime, please know that you're in my thoughts.

Be well, be happy and enjoy your day!

Rocki

Oh and one more thing...

I couldn't let this picture go to waste, so for your viewing pleasure I leave you: The Rock.