"The Galley" at Cedar Creek Wausau

When we were at Wausau, we had lunch at the Galley. This is a place where you should not miss in your life time. The cook is a former freighter ships cook at the Great lakes. It offers gourmet burger.

The cafe decorated with maps of the great lakes and pictures taken by the cook when he was still working at the ship. It's very simple, relaxing atmosphere.

We ordered lemon greek soup and burgers. As for the baby, we ordered hot dog. The waitress is very nice. We asked her if the baby could get her hot dog first and she's really helpful with that

Lemon greek is a chicken base soup with lemon, topped with fresh spinach. The soup is filled with chucks of chicken pieces and fresh spinach. Best, it's very tasty.

As you bite in the burger, you can taste the chef secret seasoned burger with its delicious fixing.
It comes with French fries. The food taste so fresh and yummy. I'm not too crazy with the bun.

The baby loves the hot dog. I think it's her first time finished the whole dog.

Yes, I would like to come back again looking for more when I'm in the area...

Is there a Santa Claus?

"Dear Editor: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says 'If you see it in The Sun it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth: is there a Santa Claus?
"Virginia O'Hanlon.
"115 West Ninety-fifth street."

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Source: from Wikisource

How to make sterling ball from a wire

Just to add a little detail on my previous blog on sterling wire and ball rings.
To make sterling ball from sterling wire, you need 3 tools:
1. Charcoal block
2. Cutting pliers
3. Torch.

How:
1. Scrape holes in a charcoal block. This to make sure that the ball won't run away and go to the places you want to avoid... say your lap...
2. Cut small sterling wire and put it in the holes.
3. Using torch, heat the sterling wire.
Voila....it will turn to a ball.
Once it's done, it will turn black. It's about 1400F when the wire melts and turn to a ball.
For faster cooling, you can quench it with water. It's ready for pickling and use.
To make the balls more uniform, coil the wire just like making a jump ring.

Disclaimer: This is for prospective customer information only. This is not to replace technical information you receive from your instructor. There is some risk inherent from this project and Bigib,LLC is not responsible for any risk may occur.

Shop sterling jewelry for a good cause.

Still looking for Christmas gift? How about buy a handmade, USA made, sterling jewelry for a good cause.

More and more family needs help. The recession is real and it could happen to you.
Here's a story about Elaine, who used to make 100K, now turn to food bank to help.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/28/mm_food_banks/
This week, our subdivision is collecting food for Waukesha Food Pantry. I could only imagine how it feels to be hungry.

Christmas is about sharing. For that reason, when you shop at my Etsy store this week from December 12-19, 2008, I will donate 15% of the sales to Waukesha Food Pantry

Thank you for thinking others in these times.

PS: Picture borrowed from Waukesha Food Pantry

Seoul Korean Restaurant Milwaukee Review

Inspired by Ratatouille, I started to pay close attention on the food I ordered in the restaurants. How does it taste, how do they present it, how is the atmosphere... Well, I'm not a food critic like Anton Ego,.. I'm just a mom with 2 children who likes to eat good food.

Last week, we went to Seoul Korean Restaurant in Milwaukee. It's located on prospect street in Milwaukee. The restaurant is a medium size, I'd say it could fit about 50 or more. The room color is red and yellow on top with contrasting blue/red lamp hanging on top. There are a lot of Korean dolls decorations on the window. It feels like a family friendly restaurant.

We arrived a bit after 5 pm. There were already a couple dining. I ordered Bul-go-ki, my husband ordered Bibimbop. My daughter order kids menu chicken bul-go-ki while the baby ordered potsticker. We also had Korean Citrus Honey tea which is so wondefully tasty. It's sweet and citrusy taste.

My Bul-go-ki comes in a hot plate with fixings on the side including lettuce, bean paste, sesame oil, rice and egg drop soup. I suppose to eat it with paste bean, sesame oil, wrapped in lettuce with rice. The lettuce is very refreshing. The beef is very tasty. I'm not too crazy with the soup.

Hubby likes his bibimbop. He thought it reminds me his everyday cold lunch. I like mine better. The kids...well the baby eats halfway before she starts screaming and wants to eat her crackers. The older eats the chicken bul-go-ki without the rice. In short, I can't speak for the kids.

The waitresses are very friendly. There are at least 2 waitresses who is always checking on us. They like to play with the kids. It's flattering, but I think at one point it gets to be a little bit annoying.

We ended our dinner with green tea ice cream. We got a mochi green tea ice cream - not quite what I expected. I want the real green tea ice cream.

Overall experience is good. The food is tasty, the price is affordable, the atmosphere is OK. I like the fact that they have kids menu. And yes, we'll come back for more...

Great gift idea for Architects

This jewelry inspired by architect, designed by architect.

Mies van der Rohe, well know with the idea of "less is more" inspired this earrings. Each individual square is cut, pierced, filed, tumbled.

This earrings is made from two squares connected with balled wire. Very simple yet elegant.

To learn more about this piece, you can visit my dawanda store. If you prefer to shop at Etsy store, I would be happy to move the listing to Esty.
Just contact me conny(at)bigib(dot)com.

Hand stamped disc necklace for mothers and in-laws

It is exciting to have a returning customer.

First, it's because I feel he or she has become your friend.
Second, she knows what information I needed, thus a stream lined the process.
Last but not least, I know that I did a good job.

Mrs. L recently ordered a name necklace for her sister in law. She emailed me all the specification she wants for the necklace. She wants shiny finish, domed, with Swarovski crystal color aquamarine, no cross, with the names she wants hand stamped.

Making jewelry is a soothing/relaxing feelings for me. Amazingly, it's one of the activity I look forward to by the end of the day. I took the time to make every piece and I enjoy every process it takes. Best of all, I really like how it turned out. The aquamarine color looks dazzling with the shiny background.

And ooh..... it must be very lucky to be Mrs. L sister in law...

What do you think...?

My studio

At night, when the baby is sleeping, I would walk quietly to the basement...

Right there, in the corner of our basement, I sat down, put my optivisor on and 'POOF'... I became a creative owl.

This is a picture of work area. Most of the work happens on this table, including soldering. Under the table, I'll find my tool box filled with heavier tools including hammers. On my left, I will find drawer filled with supplies topped with glass for cutting and picture taking work. On my back, I will find cutting, piercing, filing area. All within my reach. So, I just turn 180 degree for cutting, turn 90 degree for picture taking. I could sit on my chair without moving, doing 3 different activities. Pickling, cleaning happens in the bathroom, to my right.
Of course, a computer in the opposite corner of my basement.

That's where all the magic happen... in the corner of my basement...

Check out my complete picture on Flikcr

Big dipper, Ursa Major, North Star sterling silver earrings

NEW design...
Inspired by big dipper pendant, I designed sterling silver big dipper earrings...
It's made of sterling disc, dimpled and oxidized.
To learn more about this piece, please visit my listing.
Big dipper necklace also available at my Etsy store.

PS: Just listed: New big dipper earrings at my Etsy Store...

Lessons learn from little people

Few weeks ago my daughter showed me a certificate in her hand with her picture on it.
It says that she received this NED award because she is doing her best. Great...!
I remember reading about NED at the school flier few months ago. It's an activity that encourage children to do their best... and learns to play yo-yo.

The next few days, instead of picking her up in the parking lot, I went inside.
I didn't really grasp the scale until I saw the board, where they published all the awards the students got. As I was reading the award individually, I then realized that she was the first three students from her class who got the award.

My heart was filled with pride. So I told her that she could do anything she wants to celebrate her achievement.

I was ready to spend a certain amount of money as I was thinking that she was going to choose going to ChuckE.Cheese's or Stonefire Pizza, Ice cream or any other entertainment places.
Instead, she asked for a family game night. A night that we used to have in Summer when the days were not too hectic. She wants to play monopoly.

If felt that I just got a kick on my behind. Parents, well I, tend to spend money to make a child happy. It proof, that it's not always the case. They need your time.
Especially with Christmas coming up, may be you should start thinking spending time with them instead of getting new toys.

What do you think?


PS:
I strive to do my best to be the best mom for my children. Childhood never comes back.
Which means... less time for blogging...
In case you don't see me blog that often ( I try to blog at least twice a week ), I hope you understand why...

Contemporary Piece

New design...

A contemporary architecture inspired necklace. This piece inspired by basic geometry shape. Squares, circles, lines are connected with cold connection and adorned with blue lamp work to make this unique piece.

To learn more about this, you can visit my Etsy listing.

My piece at World Bead Jewelry

I got an email from Tim of World Bead Jewelry. He asked my permission to use my jewelry picture for his website.
With my curiosity, I checked out his website and learned about the mission.

Just like the name, World Bead Jewelry is an online place where talented bead jeweler around the world can be found and shine. Sounds like an ambitious project to me.
Within 4 weeks, there are 70 jeweler around the world are in the cyberspace... wow.

I feel very honored to be able to be a part of World Bead Jewelry.
To learn more about World Bead Jewelry, you can reach tim@worldbeadjewelry.com

Big dipper, North Star pendant take two

Following up my blog about "save the dust", I turned the piece of reticulated disc to a big dipper pendant. I drilled holes arranged to portray big dipper...

What do you think?

PS: New listing available at my Etsy store