Charmed Bracelets

After the Ball ...

The ball is over, but I'm still in Nebraska. (And my feet hurt, although not from dancing. I stood for about nine hours straight yesterday, and I'm not used to that.)

I have a lot to write about Nebraska and about the ball, and photos to post, but it is going to take me a few days to get to all of it.

For now, here is the link to a version of the talk I gave on Saturday afternoon, during a break in the fashion show (I also modeled, with the "cancer survivor models."):

What to Say When a Friend Has Cancer 

I did sell some jewelry, although not as much as I had hoped I would. I think people are feeling the $-pinch everywhere, although the Cattlemen (and -women) are a pretty well-to-do group.

I have a couple of pieces to make alterations to (like switching the type of ear wires), and I'll be doing that over the next day or two. 

Monica, who came along to take photos and to help me at my jewelry booth at the ball, had to fly back to Seattle tonight, Sunday, but I get to stay till Tuesday. I'm planning to spend some more time at the library tomorrow with Teri, and we are going to go to her favorite bead store in Omaha and also to look for vintage charms in the downtown Omaha antique stores. 

Teri has been a great host. She's really thought of everything--even buying us a stack of magazines about Nebraska so we could learn more about the place we're visiting. I loved that!

See:

Nebraska Sights and Sounds

Nebraska Nice

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

 

'Give Cancer the BOOT!' Bracelets

The theme for this year's Cattlemen's Ball is "give cancer the boot!" and I decided to make some fun bracelets to reflect that theme. 

I found some sterling silver letter C charms online (remember the days when cancer was referred to as "the big C"? that's where the C comes from), and also some great cowboy boots. 

The two charms dangle together from a bracelet of glass beads. 

Price: $40. 

I have a half-dozen of these in various lengths. 

June 7 Update: I sold several of these at the Cattlemen's Ball, although not the one in the photo. I love these glass beads, so I will probably take this one apart and remake it into something else. A necklace, maybe. 

Photo: Monica Strasen. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009.

Get Bill Gates' Boots for $1.50!

I've been working on this new blog to get ready for the Cattlemen's Ball, and I thought I'd drop in on the online auction to see how much the cowboy boots autographed by Bill Gates--and another pair with Warren Buffett's signature--were going for. 

Boy, was I surprised. The high bid for the Buffett boots--they spelled his last name wrong, too--Warren Buffet Autographed Boots  is just $1. Ditto for the boots with Seattle hometown boy Bill Gates' signature: the high bid is $1. 

Now maybe folks are waiting till the day of the event to bid, but there are some pretty good bids in there for practical things: the high bid for a 24’ Aluminum Stock Trailer  is $1,300. 

I hope this doesn't mean that the Cattlemen and -women won't be spending money this year. I'm counting on selling a lot of jewelry. 

Here's the link to the online auction: Cattlemen's Ball auction

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Goin' to the Ball ...

Well, I've decided. I'm going to the ball. That's the Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska, a cancer fund-raiser with the theme, "Give Cancer the Boot!" Dates are June 5 and 6.

Does that mean I should wear cowboy boots with my ball gown? 

I'll worry about clothing later. First, I need to deal with the planning. I'm going to sell my jewelry as part of the General Store, which is apparently set up in a tent, and I'm also going to be speaking during one of the breaks in the fashion show. 

My topic? What to say when a friend is diagnosed with cancer--the do's and don't's. 

Those who know me know I have a lot to say on this topic. 

It's going to be an amazing event, and kind of a different world for me. That will be fascinating. My good friend Monica is going to come along to help me at the General Store, and also to take lots and lots of photos. I heard today that a couple of horses, geldings, were donated to the auction. Maybe I'll come home with a horse!

The most famous auction item so far is a pair of boots signed by Warren Buffett. He wrote something like, "Go beef!" or "Eat beef!" on the boots and signed his name. I was told that the boots will go into a online auction, so that people from all over the world can bid on the boots.  

Here's the link, if you want to learn more about the Cattlemen's Ball: Cattlemen's Ball

@ Jeanne Sather 2009.