Entries from July 2007 ↓

Background: In the Beads4You Spring Challenge, a whole heap of etsyians got the same beads but worked to make new and different designs with them.

Our guest judge for the Beads4You Spring Challenge was jewelry designer, author and teacher, Tammy Powley. For more details, see www.TammyPowley.com

Here are her special mentions and (lower down) the winners!

DRUMROLL…
Special Mentions for…

Color Mixology
Another Country http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=74047
The subtle merging of color is impressive here, lots of detail too.

Thinking Outside the Box
Dew on a Petal http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21420
Combining yarn work and bead work – brilliant!

Fashionable and Functional
My Friends and Me http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5070685
There is a lot more going on here than it seems when you initially look at this, so it’s very wearable but still has plenty of style going on.

Unique Technique
Modcustom Jewelry http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5080595
The technique of wire work with the inclusion of beads is so intricate here.

Multiple Wardrobe Creation
UxCritters http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5095679
Very cool how basically a handful of beads is turned into a full jewelry wardrobe here.

Diva Style
CCDesign http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5101158
You would definitely turn heads when you walk into a room with this beautiful bracelet on your wrist.

Just Because It’s Pretty
AnnaAhrensNZ http://annaahrensnz.etsy.com/

I just love this necklace, great color combo and love the center piece.

The Two Final Winners:

Beads Only
Lava Jewelry
Though this entry stuck with only the beads provided, the result is a triple strand graduated necklace. Plus, while there’s a lot going on with this piece, it still looks wearable due to the delicate design of each strand.

Anything Goes
That’s Headley: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=25865
This stood out to me for a few reasons, but mainly, I was impressed with the wire and bead skill used to construct this bracelet. The idea the beads and wire were turned into a cuff bracelet, something we normally consider must be made with fabrication metal techniques, is inspiring.

Many, many thanks to our judge Tammy Powley!

Once again Feria Urbana will be happening at the Oakland Museum of
California. Come Friday August 3rd from 5-9 P.M. and enjoy great shopping,
live music, dancing, movies & yoga; plus all the museum galleries will be
open… how much fun is that?!?!

Feria Urbana is an urban fair made up of local artists and designers selling
a range of items at accessible prices. Find the latest chic and unique
clothing, jewelry, home accessories, artwork, fashion accessories, baby
items and much more. It’s a shopping experience like no other – so don’t
miss out!

FREE ADMISSION – For shopping only & museum members.
$8 non-members, $5 students w/ID.
Includes admission to the museum’s galleries &
FIRST FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE! in the Café.

FRIDAY August 3rd, 5-9 P.M.

Oakland Museum of California – 1000 Oak Street @ 10th
Oakland (510)238-2200 directions

www.museumca.org

Featuring:
Go Baby Slings, Mediums to Masses, Aiko Designs, Dreams and Jewelry, Amy
Faust, Hilary’s Dolls, Twelve Designs, Ruchi, Metallurge Casting,
Ann Worley, Designs by a Hummingbird, Toast, Gypsies & Lords,
Bly Osuna Designs, f.a.t, Stellarocco Designs, Sarah J. Hassler Design, Stay
Stylish, Kate Durkin, dba Amy Kolman, Creations by Palak,
Hilside Bags, Noli, Fire Sign Glass, Vanina Designs, Chic Moderne,
Cards & Jewlery by Michele, A Liaison, Derek Mckay Duncan, Lish,
Queen Puff Puff, Nous Savons, Lizard Press, Lava Jewelry, Thea Izzi,
Anne J.L. Dijamco Photography, Molly M Designs, Petit’amie, Suutra,
Estilo CLothing

Check out the website for details www.feriaurbanaSF.com

“Kaiser Permanente, Advice.”
“Hi, I’d like to schedule an appointment to see my doctor about my migraines.”
“Migraines? I don’t know why you people make such a big deal about that. I mean, I’ve gotten headaches before. You people are always complaining. Just take some Advil.”
—-Paraphrased conversation I had with a Kaiser Permanente advice nurse.

I’ve been wanting to write an informative post about migraines for some time now, since I suffer from them often, and I’d like the people who interact with me to understand a little bit about them. There are so many misconceptions about migraines out there, and I’d love to dispel some of them. I’ll mention a little about migraines in general, and I’ll give quite a bit of information about my migraines specifically.

There are many types of headaches including tension headaches (the most common kind), cluster headaches, and migraine headaches. Each type has different symptomatology and different treatments. Not every bad headache is a migraine.

Migraines are headaches that generally involve severe pain on one side of the head. Other common migraine symptoms are sensitivity to light and/or sound, nausea, and vomiting. Many people experience “aura” at the onset of a migraine. An aura is a visual disturbance that takes different forms for different people. Migraines with aura are referred to as classic migraines.

I don’t experience aura, so my migraines are classified as common migraines.

Migraines are triggered by various stimuli. Migraine triggers vary widely from person to person, and they can include things like odors, foods, alcohol, dehydration, sudden change in blood sugar, hormonal changes (especially in women), travel, and bright light. I have a list of triggers too long to type, but some of the worst for me are red wine/champagne, perfume (I use fragrance-free products), sudden loud sounds, and hot weather. (By the way, it’s not sulphides in wine that are a problem; it’s a group of chemicals related to histamines called amines.)

MIGRAINES ARE NOT CAUSED BY STRESS! Sorry for the caps, but I really wanted to stress that point. It’s a common misconception that people under stress get more frequent migraines. However, there has been no link found between stress and migraines. There is, however, a direct link between stress and tension headaches. And of course, it’s always good for your health to reduce stress levels.

As I write this, I have a “mild” migraine. I typically get migraines about six times a week. That’s a lot of time to be out of commission! My migraines are part of a condition I have called fibromyalgia. (Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain in various parts of the body, depression, extreme fatigue, and often migraines.)

I do what I can to avoid getting migraines, including avoiding foods that I know to be triggers, keeping as cool as possible during hot weather, not drinking alcohol, keeping hydrated, keeping a relatively sane sleep schedule, exercise, and taking preventative medications.

Despite those efforts, I still get the frequent migraines. Most of my migraines occur in the late afternoon. Over the counter analgesics such as aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve have absolutely no effect on my migraines. To treat my migraines, I take a prescription medication called Imitrex, which is part of the triptan family of drugs. The Imitrex usually works, but it takes about 2 hours to kick in, and it has some pretty nasty possible side effects, most notably heart problems. Unfortunately, I take much more Imitrex than is recommended. For my more severe migraines, I use an Imitrex injection rather than a pill. I inject myself in either my arm or my thigh, which makes me horribly sick for about half an hour. Other things I do to aid in recovery from a migraine include finding a quiet dark place to be, using ice packs on the back of my neck and my right temple (most of my migraines are my right side), and breathing and gentle stretching exercises. Most of the time, I can recover from a migraine in about 3 hours, but I always feel worn out afterwards, and I’m always really susceptible to migraines the following day.

I experience nausea with all of my migraines, and vomiting in about 1 out of 10 of them. Not as much fun as it sounds, huh? Some migraines are relatively mild, and I can continue to work a little, or watch tv. Some of my migraines are so severe that all I can do is crawl into the shower in the dark and cry. Migraines vary quite a bit in severity.

I occasionally get headaches lasting weeks or even months at a time. During those periods, I have a kind of “background” headache that does not go away. I go to sleep with a headache every night and wake up with a headache every morning. Migraines will occur once or twice a day. The longest such period was about 4 months long (in early 2004). The most recent lasted about 2 weeks (earlier this year, maybe in May?).

I suppose the last thing I want to mention is that in addition to being disabilitating, migraines can be life-threatening. People who suffer frequent migraines are much, much more likely to suffer fatal strokes and aneurysms than other people. Recent research links frequent migraines with brain damage as well.

I hold out hope that I will find an effective way to treat my migraines. A lot of research is being done on migraines now, and new therapies are constantly being developed. 25-30 years ago, many doctors didn’t even believe in the existence of migraines. Now they are recognized as a condition, and they are being researched. (Although many doctors still know little about migraines, and they frequently misdiagnose migraines/headaches.)

I hope you’ve found this post informative. Thanks for reading! Please feel free to ask any questions about migraines in the comments below.

The best online source of migraine info that I’m aware of: MAGNUM
Great article: Migraines: Myth vs. Reality
Wikipedia article on Migraine

Lava Jewelry is fully stocked on July’s gorgeous birthstones: ruby and carnelian. I have tons of styles available in both stones, and remember that I love to do custom work, so please contact me if you’d like something different in ruby or carnelian.

Ruby is one of the five precious gemstones (diamond, emerald, sapphire, and tanzanite are the other four). Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum. Sapphire is also a variety of corundum, and it includes a huge array of colors, including blue, white, green, and pink. Ruby owes its color to trace amounts of chromium in its crystal structure. Corundum has a hardness of 9 on Moh’s scale, second only to diamond. Corundum is found in a variety of geologic settings.

From mineralminers.com: “Ruby: is said to inspire love, and to enhance creativity, wisdom and spirituality. It is also said to give confidence, self-esteem and courage, and to stimulate leadership qualities. Ruby is also said to have been helpful in treating heart and circulatory disease.”

Carnelian is a beautiful more affordable July birthstone. Carnelian is a form of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz) which is orange in color. The color of carnelian is often enhanced by heating. Carnelian ranges in color from bright orange to a deep, almost red, orange.