enough already

   My sweet lovable Cloudy has passed.  I will miss him forever.  I've had cats my whole life and none like him.  Any time the good times want to start rolling my way again, I'm more than ready for them!

Out of the Snow and Into the Desert

When I started blogging, I had zero expectations of anyone even finding my blog.  Most of all, I never expected to make friends.  And now I don't know what I would do without you all! 

As a little thank you to my cyberfriend Lisa (who is always willing to listen to my overly long emails and even respond back to me!), I made her a post-it-note holder in her favorite colors - indigo blues and purples.  Well, she received it and really liked it, so I thought I would show everyone else what is now living happily in Arizona:

Meanwhile back in the northeast, we are just kicking off our winter weather.  We broke out the iceskates and headed into the City of Buffalo for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and some ice skating at Rotary Rink.

Heading down to the subway

Hannah, Justin, Claire, Matt & Meghan on the subway train

Well, it was more like ice shuffling than skating!  Very crowded :) 

It was mega-cold, but all good!

Please don't let the holiday rush rush take away the real meaning of this season.

Bead Happy and Often!

Eye Candy Galore!

Artbeads asked beaders to let them know what inspires them and offered up some great prizes to those who submitted entries. They are choosing the winner through a "people's choice" voting, and I loved looking at  the gorgeous pieces that were submitted.  I didn't get through them all yet, because I wanted to jump over here to let you all know about this too, so if you've got some time ......

Voting is Open Until December 8

And if you're like me -- like to win, but don't like to compete -- Artbeads is gifting away a stocking stuffer prize!  Whoot Whoot!  Thanks Artbeads!!!!

Enter by December 22

And now for something really well, um, UGLY

Thanks for all the feedback on my last post.  Its so nice to hear back from you!  I was surprised everyone felt the same way I did about competitions vs. challenges.  I know the sponsors are so generous with their prizes and the competitions sure are popular, and I'm glad they are available, but they just put this little nagging cloud over my creative spirit!

Anyhow, I came across this UFO the other day. 
I know why it's a UFO. 
I just don't like it.
I think it's the white velvet with the green outline that is just not doing it for me.  It was a class I took a long time ago and all I have to do to get it finished is to attach the back of the frame and edge it. 

 The birds themselves aren't sooo hateful.  It was a project designed to show how clear beads look when used with colored thread.

 
 Ok, so this poor thing looks like a sunburned dolphin, I know.....

And I hate this monogram I added - I think if I take it off now, the velvet is going to be forever indented from the beads.

I'm thinking if I re-do the edging in a crystal or a pearly white, I  might like it better.   Yep, add that to the to-do-someday list!

Bead Happy and Often!

Ok Ok I'm going to do it!

After contemplating (yet again) on joining the Bead Journal Project, and keeping in mind I just gave up on the Haute Couture Challenge, I've decided to throw caution to the wind and COMMIT to it!

I'm thinking since the BJP is more of a personal challenge rather than a 'competition' where your work is judged, that I'll enjoy it.  It's definitely more my style. 



2010 BFAC

 I've participated in the Beading for a Cure benefit for the past 2 years and the first year I really loved it and then the second year the rules changed and it became a competition too.  

2011 BFAC

I really tried not to worry about that aspect of it when making my piece for this year, but I have to admit it sort of tainted the whole idea of making a beaded item 'for a good cause'. 

It's hard to explain.  But I just like beading for the sake of beading - not to prove that my work is better than someone elses.   Do you know what I mean?  Or do you like the validation you get from competitions?

Bead Happy and Often! 

Sometimes you just gotta know when to say No

Way back when, I was all pumped up to enter the Haute Couture beading challenge sponsored by Good Quill Hunting.  I jumped right in and beaded my heart out making these fun circles and netted necklace piece that I was going to attach the circles to.  And I loved this little toggle set I made up.

And then........ppfffffffffffffffffff.  I ran out of steam.  Had no interest in finishing it. 

I took the whole netted piece apart and tried something else and stitched the circles together and yet, blah.  Not Feeling IT. 

Although I do like these little circle things - I'm sure they'll reappear somewhere someday (in definitely a different color story).

So the Haute Couture turned into the Naught Couture.  I'm good with that.  Time to move on.

A little backward this time around

I love to draw inspiration from fabric.  Whenever I can't seem to come up with a color story on my own, my first inclination is to go through my own (somewhat limited) fabric stash or head out to the store. 

In making Cindy's post it note holder, I looked through my fabric and ~sigh~ nothing 'matched' the velvet I was using.  Not that I don't like an excuse to go to the fabric store, but I just didn't have the time!  So I pulled some beads that I thought would go nicely with the velvet.  Since the entire piece is pretty small, I limited my colors to just a few.   A few different shades of teal, a gold with some hints of green/blue, and a creamy pearl color. 

I just happened to be at a Super Wal-Mart over the weekend and stumbled across the crafts section and found that they had a great selection of quilting fabric!  I immediately knew this particular fabric would be perfect for the liner:

I just love this fabric!!

Hard to see the edging - but it's there!

This is the back - before I edged it

I hope Cindy likes it.  The velvet is from a dress she wore as a bridesmaid years ago.  I made her mom a coin purse from the same velvet a few years ago:

Bead Happy and Often !

Torn between two lovers...well, not really!

Living in two separate places is not something I would wish upon anyone.  It's tough.   I'm not in any one place long enough to get much beading done, but here's a few picks of a note pad cover I've been pecking away at while at the "country house"

I found this tube of bugles - wow.  Must be really old.  The cork broke when I went to take it off!

My handy scissors solved that dilemma.

And in the "city house", a post it note holder for my friend Cindy:

Oh well, trust me, its there - Rainy decided he should take a closer look and, well, apparently a catnap crept up on him! 

Back in the county, my bluejay friends love my peanut offerings!

Here is the Erie Canal that is literally across the street from our apartment. 

 An overflow tunnel creates a perfect little waterfall into the woods. 

There is a great walking path along the canal and I really enjoy it.   

And the bluejays always make me smile :)

Bead Happy and Often !