ChezChani

Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

2011-11-08T16:31:00.000-08:00

Generally I prefer to leave my day job where it belongs, in the poker room. But eventually (aka, when I retire) I may have to write a book about it. I have one page done so far and since I haven't blogged in awhile, what the heck. Here it is. Along with pictures of some of the poker/gambling related jewelry I've worked on. These are pieces that can be found at ChezChani.

So, Why Does It Take So Long To Fill A Seat?

Short answer:
Table changes

Long answer:
“John , I have a seat for you on table 9, would you like it?.”

“Oh, I just played my blind, let me play to my button.”

Tick Tock.

“John are you going to take that seat?”

“Oh right, let me look at it.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

“John, you taking that seat?”

“Yes, I’m just racking up.”

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick Tock.

“John, what’s up, are you moving??”

“You know what, I think I’ll just stay here for now. But leave me up for the next one.”

Long Time & The Temple Of Flora

2011-07-28T19:45:00.001-07:00

It's appalling that I have not posted anything here since May! Of course the end of May through the beginning of July is one of the busiest times in the Las Vegas poker world. But now the WSOP (World Series Of Poker) has come and gone and things have slowed drastically.

At home my little Izzy has become a little high maintenance, due to her kidney disease. IV 3 times a week, a Pepcid once a day, high Iron vitamin twice a day...

But I shall always squeeze in some crafting and I'm currently going crazy with scrabble tiles and dominos. I can finally make my own pictures so I just wanted to show you the Temple Of Flora series I've just completed. Soon to be seen on Etsy.

eBay Fever!

2011-05-05T16:19:00.001-07:00

I'm getting the "sell sell SELL" fever again. My reasons are twofold. It helps me get rid of some really nice things that I just don't wear/use. And now, it is helping me with my Buy A Used or Refurbished DSLR fund.

I love cameras. Don't know why. Had a lovely Nikon SLR when I was in college (still have it) that I rarely used. I did take a photography class but discovered my favourite part was being in the darkroom. Once I moved to LA, I never got back into the darkroom.

Then the age of digital brought me my $1200 Sony digicam. I'm frugal but sometimes, I just want it and I get it. Never really learned how to use that one properly. Still have it, could fetch $100 on eBay on a good day. Might end up there soon. Mostly right now I'm using my little Kodak Point and Shoot.

But I got hit with a yen for a DSLR. I learned from the Sony though, don't spend so much! I figure a two or three year old DSLR would be fine for me. Real camera buffs probably upgrade and update fairly often.

Long story short, check out my ebay auctions. Currently I have a really great suit that I don't wear because skirts don't look good with Shape-ups, and some perfume that is very popular but smells like bug spray to me.

Oh, and if you have any recommendations on good cameras, or places to buy used or refurbished, let me know. Thanks!

Altered Nation For Awesome People

2011-01-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

"Altered Nation offers alternative clothing, accessories, art & gifts for awesome people. All of the designs are unique because they are handmade, upcycled & handpicked vintage.

Altered Nation is an emerging collectable design line based in fabulous Las Vegas that also offers semi-custom orders and wholesale.

This unique design line has recently been featured on Fox News, ABC's Morning Blend, numerous print & online publications including the Las Vegas' Review Journal & Offbeat Bride. Altered Nation hosts avant garde fashion shows and photo shoots to showcase the emerging talent in Las Vegas."

This is from Altered Nation's shop announcement,and I couldn't say it better myself.

Handmade. Upcycled. Vintage. Only a blend of all the things I love.

Check out Altered Nation on Etsy, website, facebook, blog and Twitter.

Cupcake Princess Jewelry

2010-12-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

kelbelskreationsKawaii Jewelry by Cupcake Princess Jewelry

Click on the above link and you will be treated to a deliciously colourful Etsy page.

Kelly is a fellow member of the Handmade in Vegas team, and she really does have a yummy cupcake of a shop. Check it out, you will DROOL!!

VIKSTER'S CRAFTS

2010-12-15T10:27:00.001-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to Vikki, a fellow member of the Handmade In Vegas Etsy Team.

Vikki is a native Las Vegan who has been crafting most of her life. A retired grandmother, she now has lots of free time to flex her creative muscles. And you can see (and reap) the rewards of this time at her Etsy storefront, Vikster's Crafts.

Like most crafters, Vikki does not limit herself to one thing. She's got a wonderful collection of Christmas items, glass tile pendants, bottle caps and more.

Her shop is ever changing and worth visiting on a regular basis.

You may also follow Vikki on Twitter.

Las Vegas Crafters Guild Holiday Boutique & Craft Show

2010-11-08T22:03:00.000-08:00

Inaugural Las Vegas Crafters Guild
Holiday Boutique & Craft Show

Lakes Lutheran Church

8200 West Sahara Avenue(at Cimarron, between Durango & Buffalo)

Friday, November 12, 9 a.m. –5 p.m.
Saturday, November 13, 9 a.m. –4 p.m.

Handmade artisan jewelry, baby accessories, custom clothing, aprons,gift items, home & holiday decor, paper crafts, polymer clay, hair bows, upcycledcreations, hand painted gourds, and much more!Free admission & parking.
Lakes Lutheran will sponsor a bake sale.
Bring a friend!

Henderson ArtWalk Third Thursday

2010-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

Weather permitting, ChezChani will be at the Henderson ArtWalk craft show. This monthly show takes place the third Thursday of the month. What a great way to slip in a little fun during your week.

Info can be found here. Hope to see you (weather permitting weather permitting weather permitting please don't rain please don't rain please don't rain.)

2010-09-22T08:23:00.001-07:00

Please vote for Izzy so that her mom can have a vacation or new Ipad.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

Las Vegas Crafters Guild Fall Boutique

2010-09-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

You're invited!! And bring a friend or 2 or 3...

Friday Oct. 1 10AM - 5:45PM
Saturday Oct 2 10AM - 4:00PM

Sahara West Library
9600 W. Sahara Ave (between S. Ft. Apache & S Hualapai Way)
Las Vegas NV 89117
702-507-3631

As you know, the LV Crafters Guild features some of the finest artists and craftspeople in Nevada.

It's not too early to think about the holidays.

We'll see you there!!

(I will not be there, but ChezChani will be represented, with a table manned by Roz. You'll find we have some really fun and affordable stuff.)

Another Contest Another Craft

2010-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

First let me tell you about another contest at Pretty Things, some very cool lucite beads! I'm entering right now and so should you.

Ok, not really another craft but another element to an existing craft. People are sentimental about their pet's ashes...aka cremains. (I'm not one of them.) So I'm offering to make jewelry with them. My first project is done. I did 2 pendants and a ring. I've already shipped them out and only have pictures of the ring. It's one of my new design, The Sparkling Bubble Ring, with ashes mixed in. (BTW in this project, it was not a beloved pet, but a beloved relative.)

Some Things are Harder To Sell

2010-07-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

I made these cufflinks awhile back but kept putting off listing them.

Why? I don't know. Some things are just harder to part with.

These happened to be made with mismatched cufflinks I got in a jewelry bag of odds and ends. The oval one is engraved 4-18-59, leading me to believe it's probably gold. Yes, this one is older than I am (yikes!).

Do men even wear cufflinks anymore? If they don't, they should...

Pendant Giveaway on PRETTY THINGS

2010-06-30T09:23:00.001-07:00

Hey, you like pretty things, right? And free, well of course who doesn't love that? So hope on over here for your chance to win!

Why don't you show them what they can win Johnny?

Can Crazy

2010-04-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

If it's not one obsession, it's another.

I'm spending alot of my time cutting shapes out of drink cans.

Check some of them out in our Etsy store, you can see them over there ---->

Poker Mania at ChezChani

2010-02-24T16:58:00.001-08:00

Just for the heck of it, I've been making fun pokerwear. Check it out...and keep checking because I'm pretty sure I'm not done.

Oh To Hit The Open Road!

2010-02-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

Trying to get back into the Etsybloggers swing of things...late February blog carnival asks "Of all the places in the world, where would you like to go and why?"

It's been awhile since I've had a REAL vacation but I do have a short list.

1. Cross country trip across Canada. I just love road trips! We are from Canada but our only road trips were to New York to visit family. We had a house in the Laurentian mountains, and eventually lived there so who needs to ever leave such a beautiful vacation area? I've travelled far more in the US and it's time I visited my home country.

2. Poker cruise. This would be a working vacation. That way I get a vacation, try a cruise, and still make a few bucks. What could be better than that?

3. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. This is a weekend-type vacation. It's only about 200 miles from Las Vegas. I don't think I need to explain why I'd want to go there, do I?

TiLTCreations

2010-02-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

In Poker "tilt" is not a good thing. In the wonderful world of Etsy, it's the two fabulous shops of Theresa.

First up, TiLT creations: Handmade handbags and backpacks. You will find colourful, fun, handmade treats. As a frustrated sewer, one who always wanted to be able to make my own but always failing, I love and admire Theresa's work. Oh, and as a frugal shopper, I especially love that Theresa also has a clearance section. This great bag is actually on clearance!

Theresa's second shop, Tilt Too! is currently filled with destash patterns, fabric and supplies from her handbag shop. Take a look at this gorgeous pattern (ooooh if only I could sew)

And this wonderful fabric

Once you've drooled over Theresa's shops, check out her blogs. http://tiltcreations.blogspot.com/ and http://tiltcreationstoo.blogspot.com/

Kumihimo with Pink Lined Beads

2010-02-04T20:06:00.001-08:00

I've been working on Kumihimo, the ancient Japanese art of braiding. Mostly I'm using fibers but I'm dabbling in beads as well. This is my first to be listed on Etsy.

BETTY BOOP Scrabble Tile Pendant

2010-02-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Ms. Boop is now appearing in our Etsy shop!

Lucille Ball Postage Stamp Rummikub Pendant

2010-01-27T12:28:00.001-08:00

Every once in awhile I'll be at the post office and see a sheet of stamps I can't resist. The one that started this a couple of years ago was the Chinese New Year stamps. I'd already been buying Chinese New Year casino chips so why not this? I display the sheet on the front of a cigar box (another one of my semi-collections.)

Now that I'm making resin jewelry, it seems a natural match with my stamps. So first up is my Lucille Ball 34 cent stamp on a Rummikub tile. Check it out in our Etsy store HERE.

Nico Designs

2010-01-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

Nico Designs, and beautifully I might add! Check out Nico Designs, the January featured Etsyblogger on Etsy and on her blog.

I defy you to find baby shoes cuter than these.

Out With The Old In With The New (Year)

2010-01-01T21:05:00.000-08:00

First off, I don't do New Year's resolutions. If there is something in your life that needs to be resolved, do it right away. Do NOT wait for a New Year.

I have set my mind to getting back into the whole Etsybloggers swing of things. That means monthly blogs, the subject to be determined by the Etsybloggers. First one of the year:

1) Now that 2009 has come to a close, what will you remember most about last year?

2) Now that 2010 is here, what do you have planned/look forward to/hope to accomplish this year?

I don't know what I'll remember most about last year, memory has become fleeting. I know in the future I'll remember things but not be sure which year it happened.

The good stuff, I adopted AC. I saw Snowball, my sweet little kitty I had to leave behind when I left LA. It was fortunate too because '09 was also the year she died. I got into contact with Tom again, one of the people in my life I was closest too but lost touch with when I came to Las Vegas.

I came back to the strip after 2 years working in locals casinos. For the most part, tourists come to the casino to have fun, locals come to complain.

As far as what I want to accomplish this year? Again, I don't make these decisions by the year. I will continue to work on eating healthy, exercising, enjoying my crafts and my kitties. And one big one, it's on a note in my bathroom where I can see it everyday "Keep Your Mouth Shut."

Again?

2009-11-30T11:26:00.000-08:00

I have just given notice at my job. I will be working in a brand new poker room in a brand new casino in a brand new multi-building, multi-purpose complex.

The new City Center features 5 different buildings, hotels, condos, restaurants, entertainment, and one casino called Aria.

And I am leaving my current place of work, a small locals casino in North Las Vegas, to go there.

For those counting, that's poker room number 8 in 6 years.

Am I doing the right thing? Of course nobody can see what the future holds. And even if it doesn't work out, does that automatically make it wrong to have tried? Is it ever wrong to try?

Everything is scary in today's Las Vegas. A new property means uncertain success, 90 days of probation, fear of overhiring...
Staying where I am means the fear of the room closing (business is very slow) and new people in upper management (they are already closing Keno in December.)

So...I don't know.

Black Weds. Black Friday. Cyber Monday

2009-11-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

Boy has holiday shopping changed.

Starting at 12:01AM Weds, hereforth known as Black Wednesday, through Black Friday weekend and ending midnight of Cyber Monday, ChezChani is having a sale!

Buy one item, get one item (of equal or lesser value) half price. OR...buy one item get 15% off.

Shipping remains at $1.50 within the US no matter how many items you buy!

ChezChani wishes everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and reminds you to OVEREAT.

buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...buy handmade...

Sales in the Wind

2009-11-19T12:31:00.001-08:00

ChezChani will be joining other Etsians in Black Weds, and Black Friday Weekend Sales. Stay Tuned!!!