naplesgardener, Glad you liked what I did....As for the posts, I used the kind you pour in the hole and add water, called Quickrete here....I propped up the posts by nailing a 2x4 about 8 ft long to the top edge of the post, just enough to catch it, then nailed the bottom of the 2x4 to a wooden stake I hammered in the ground just enough to be stable.....with quickrete you can get your posts pretty level and straight cause its got gravel in it to kinda hold it while you're getting it right.....next day you just hammer away the 2x4s and whah-lah you got yourself a post in the ground straight as an arrow....well straight enough anyways.....:) That's the first and only posts I've ever set in my life and I learned what its all about: 1 part finesse, 1 part manipulation and 1 part getting a buddy over that's done it before and makes sure you don't embarrass yourself before your wife sees it......:) Paul from Alabama

I'd love to know your site at Etsy. Your work is very pretty. I think I'd like to see some pretty lampwork beads where you have the crystals now- the lampwork could be kind of fancy because the noodles tone it down a bit imho.

I've been on vacation for a week and just got back to my computer. I was just starting a post to ask you what was new, Nikki, and then thought I should check first to see if you had posted. Love looking at your jewelry. We were on the Outer Banks of NC for vacation and went to a fun bead store. Made a couple of bracelets and bought some other specialty beads for bookmarks I want to make. It was really fun. Wish I had money to invest and could open something like that myself. What a fun job! Wish I could take lessons from you. Keep up the beautifull work!

My DIL has been crafting paracord dog collars and leashes using the same technique. She using 2 or 3 different colors and the finished product is really strong and unique. People at the dog park are always her to make one for them. I'll have to pass this along to her - maybe she'd like to make matching bracelets to go with the collars and leashes. Thanks