Finding Inspiration

A few weeks ago I went on an architectural tour of a very neglected train station in Buffalo (NY) called the Central Terminal. And although the structure has been stripped of nearly every ornament that unscrupulous prior owners could get their hands on, it is still a building worthy of saving and protecting. Thankfully a group of dedicated people are doing just that. The art deco work is breathtaking and I would love to be transported in time to see it in all its former glory.

I took a ton of pictures with the goal of creating various beaded pieces using the art deco ornamentation as inspiration. Here is just one of many elements I found to be 'bead worthy':

I decided to use this piece as inspiration for my business card/credit card holder I'm making. Here's what I've got so far.

I've never worked from a picture before, and its a lot of fun. Although it will not be an exact replica of the original marble carving, I think it will reflect the basic elements of it. And doesn't this floor pattern just scream "cuff bracelet"?!!

Oh, and check this out http://beads-perles.blogspot.com/2009/10/beading-heart-art.html - I'm so flattered! Thanks Beads Perles!!

Big Hugs to all of you for listening to my recent tale of woe. It is funny now that I look back at it. Its such a nice feeling knowing my blogfriends care. It means so much to me!! XOXO

Luckily things seem to be looking up.

After a week of bad luck and bad weather, Saturday morning was beautiful--just in time for our twice annual canoe trek. (I have to admit the thought of me ending up in the water did cross my mind). It was heaven. Ironically huge storms blew through our area that very same afternoon. It was hard to believe that just a few hours before the sky was blue and wind the warm. How's that for timing?

. . . . . . .And my lidded box is finished! I love it. I can't wait to make another. I'm thinking of doing a winter themed one. Maybe with pinecones on it. Or a green velvet one with candy canes and peppermint swirls. Or a silver one with snowflakes......oh the possibilities!

I'm on a mission to make a credit card/business card holder. I've started it, but not real sure how the whole thing is going to come together. Wish me luck!

NOT the best week ever

Oh boy, what a week. Nothing horrible horrible, just little petty annoying things that wear me down.

First my oldest daughter is a completely innocent party in a car accident. She was just sitting at the traffic light (red on her side) and two vehicles both ran the light on the other street which caused one vehicle to hit the other, spin it through the intersection and collide with Claire.

Thankfully no one was injured--just 3 damaged cars. I didn't think our car was all that bad and since Claire (and everyone else) was fine, I thought oh, well. BUT - since both other drivers were issued citations, the insurance companies are haggling over who is at fault and the collision shop we were told to go to for an estimate has decided our car is a total loss. WHAT?! It has damage to the front only! Hardly a total loss. I won't even go there - no one wants to listen to me rant about society's throw-away mentality and how twisted the whole insurance business is. Look at my car - doesn't it look worth fixing to you?

So now we are stuck juggling schedules (luckily I can walk to work) while the insurance companies take their time. Lovely.

Ok, so yesterday I am baking cookies while working on my lidded box. I put the last batch in the oven and go back to beading. A few minutes later....sniff sniff... smells like something is burning. I glance up at the clock, see there is at least 10 minutes left to bake and think it must just be the baking parchment getting a little singed.

Ok another minute or two ... sniff sniff.... what the ? Get up, go into the kitchen, look at the oven--see, still 4 more minutes to bake. It can't be the cookies I'm smelling. I start to go back to my studio, but look again at the oven and realize the electric element is red - really red! Like, waaayyyy too red. Something is definitely wrong. I shut the oven off (or so I thought), open the door and *poof* the room instantly fills with smoke, setting off the smoke alarm. I run the smoking cookies outside, rush back in, look at the oven--it's still on! What the?? I can't turn it off and it is so unbelievably hot.

I call my husband to find out how to shut the main power off to the house (ok, so in the heat of the moment the fuse box didn't come to mind!). I go to the basement to knock all the fuses (or so I thought) to off and, duh, the whole basement goes pitch dark and the phone goes dead. So I rush back upstairs and the oven is still on! And even worse -- it now is beeping like crazy and the word FIRE is running across the digital display. YIKES!

Time to call 911. So I pick up the phone - uh, which isn't working because the power is off (Must be the smoke affecting my brain) - so now I'm on a mission to find that elusive cell phone of mine. Finally find it after dumping my entire purse onto the kitchen table, only to realize its on the desk. Good grief!

I put the cats in the car to keep them safe, put the dog into the yard just as the police come roaring down my street. The officer goes to the oven, pushes the 'off' button and says, "you're all set." Hmm, don't think so! Did he honestly think I was that stupid I didn't try that!?! Oh boy.

I asked to use his flashlight and I go back into the dark basement and see that I did indeed miss 2 fuses. Clicked them over - and voila - I hear the officer shout out - "all set". Thank God. I get back upstairs to literally 8 - 10 fully outfitted firemen streaming into my house. Wow they pack on a lot of gear! They graciously pulled out my oven and unplugged it for me. Disaster averted!

Cookie anyone?

So the only bright spot of the day was getting tickets to the Lady GaGa concert before they actually went on sale to the general public. Awesome seats-so excited...... Oh wait, not so fast - they cancelled the concert later that night!! UGH.