Beading Heart Art

Do Bee do Bee do

2012-01-25T05:57:00.001-05:00

Say What?

Now that my first BJP of 2012 was completed, I needed to get my Bee together so a random "Kind" flower had some meaning to it.

I must have been delirious when I started, because I reverted back to my 'old' way of doing things. Using posterboard and pellon rather than a piece of Nicole's beadbacking. After sketching out my bee and finishing the one wing, I realized I needed to color the black sections or the white pellon was going to show too much.

I alternated between a rope stitch for the yellow stripes and a baby stack of size 8 and size 11 on the black. Using a matte/opaque bead along with a 'bling' finish bead helped with the texture too.

His head is all stacks so he is a bit furry, just like a real bee. I used sequins for his eyes. The left eye outline was a bit off kilter, but I did take it out and redo it after this pic was taken.

After he was trimmed up, I was going to give his wings some drama by adding these vintage drop beads, but I didn't really like the way it looked. The simple two-bead edge in clear and silver lined was enough.

I figured my garden should have a dragonfly or two, so I used some dragonfly fabric I had in my stash for the backing.

I have a feeling there might be a butterfly and a bird joining the garden before the year's end......oh, maybe a ladybug too! (no flies though. I don't like flies)

See his eye is all fixed now :)

Much better

BE Kind ......everyday.

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

It's A Girl Thing

2012-01-19T05:31:00.001-05:00

Having no brothers or nephews, it was only fate that my niece Ashlee's first baby would be :

Addison :)

A Girl!

Whoop Whoop!

Girl's Rock.

I must have been channeling the girl vibe on a recent trip to some estate sales. Normally I pick up fun little bowls or a tiny dish or two and of course, old glass jewelry. Not this time. These little cuties are the only things that came home with me:

How sweet is this teensy tiny doll??

Her hands and feet are metal (lead?) and her arms and legs are all wrapped with a million threads. But it's that sweet face of hers that I just adore.

And she even stands on her own!

Love her.

Here is her big sis, just as fabulous....

Look at these woven shoes - amazing.

And check out the tag I found on her skirt.

I swear there are a few teensy tiny cross-stitch stiches on there.

Her plaid head scarf is expertly wrapped and tied in the back

And ,yes, I did peak under her scarf.
She has no hair - heck, she doesn't even have a full face, but she is still beautiful.

They sit on the shelf and watch over me as I bead at my (teensy tiny) beading corner.

Bead Happy and Often!

Sometimes Change is Good

2012-01-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

Way long ago, I was fortunate enough to have my friends over at ArtBeads.com provide me with complimentary Swarovski elements, from which I made:

Well, truth be told, I never wore the set.

It hung there unworn, looking pretty. What's the point of being pretty if its unworn, right?

So I took out my snippers and cut the necklace apart.
Gasp! Now what??! NO turning back now.....

How about a cuff bracelet?

Before mounting

Love that shine - nothing beats faceted Swarovski for light play

Just over 2 inches wide - this is one bold cuff

Yes, definitely more my style!

~Bead Happy and Often! ~

BJP 2012 - January BE Kind

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to slightly challenge myself during this year's BJP, I decided to play around with embroidery. I say slightly, because (honestly) I've got so many stupid personal challenges pressing me down these days, I'm looking for the BJP to once again transport me to my happy place while I stitch away the hours and escape the turmoil in my heart.

Pretty bad huh? I did go to the library and got two great embroidery books, so here's hoping February is a little more polished. And if not, well......there's always March.....or April......or, well here's hoping by December the embroidery doesn't look like a 5 year old did it!

Using (of course) Nicole's super-duper-how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it Bead Backing, I drew a flower.

Since January's birthstone is Garnet, I choose a color story of the same (thanks for that stellar idea Tracey!)

And then placed my 'character of the month' in the center of the flower and surrounded it with peyote.

And my first BJP 2012 was born:

I selected this tea pot fabric for the back, as a nod to my sister Laurel, who's birthday is this month. Not only is she mega-KIND, she's also a tea drinker.

The flower looks so cute on my vintage sled outside my door.

Too bad I can't trust the weather to continue being......KIND (ha ha ha ha), so I can leave it out there. It is January after all and this crazy winter of sun and 45 degree weather can't last much longer, can it??

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

BJP 2012

2012-01-06T21:48:00.000-05:00

I've just spent the past bit of time going through the 2012 Bead Journal Project Blog. One Word: WOW

My jaw hurts from hitting the keyboard everytime I land in a fellow beader's blog and see the most amazing art pieces.

I am so excited to bead my way through 2012. Beading has brought me so much peace over the years. There is just something so meditative (and addictive) to it.

I learned so much about myself this past year being involved in the Bead Journal Project as I beaded my way through memories of places I had been.   And now every time I look at my fridge and see those magnets hanging there, I smile. What a great ride my life has been so far. And yeah, things have pretty much sucked in the past few years, but when I look back at my whole life - I can't complain. The good times definitely have outweighed the bad.

So now, on to the 2012 BJP.     I've decided to concentrate on BE-ing.

?
Say what?

Let me explain. Years ago, I came across a little sticker that said Be What You Are.   I've had it hanging on my fridge ever since. And I started to think. What am I, exactly? or better yet, what do I WANT to be? I want to Be. . .

. . . grateful
. . . happy
. . . kind
. . . giving
. . . the best I can be
. . . compassionate
. . . responsible
. . . sweet
. . . strong
. . . aware
. . . forgiving
. . . love

So my BJP will be 12 funky flowers. Each one representing what I strive to "Be"   I want to play around with thread embroidery, so the center of each flower will have the focus word and some sort of stitching.

I'm going to make them magnets (again). I have a steel door in my place and they are going to look really great on it. Plus it will be a reminder to me as I head out the door, to just ~ Be ~

Of course, what flower garden would be complete with a Bee?

So, I am also going to make a bee magnet and her wings will have the letter "B" on one and "E" on the other. She will be my official BE Bee.

I have my January flower complete and have started on the Bee. I'll post pics tomorrow. I always bead in the early morning (before dawn) and am home after dark, so I haven't had the chance to take their pictures in natural light.   Photo shoot tomorrow! Oh.....that reminds me - I've got Project Runway Allstars waiting for me on my DVR.....

Bead Happy and Often !

December BJP 2011 - Ohio

2012-01-01T07:46:00.001-05:00

You know that saying,

Save the Best for Last

Well, DeFIniTEly NOT what will be running through your head when you see my December BJP.

Its downright dreadful. Though when I look at it I will see the year my mom dressed my sisters, herself and my dad (poor dad) in blue and white striped rugby shirts during our vacation to King's Island amusement park, which is in Cincinnati. I loved that park! My favorite ride was the Steeple Chase. A sort of fast moving merry go round. So fun!

And when I look at it I will be once again dumbstruck at how I choose (unwittingly) to use a basketweave stitch without even realizing the huge symbolism. You see, for years I had an addiction. To Longaberger Baskets, which are made in Dresden, Ohio. Yes, I admit to blowing my entire grocery budget for a basket. Don't get me wrong, no one ever went hungry on account of this basket buying frenzy. Besides, the girls were young and happy with pancakes or french toast or pasta and sauce . . .. well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it, anyway.

I will hopefully forget that I started over way too many times. What could possibly be so challenging about a simple blue and white basket weave??! Well, for starters, choosing the wrong beads and not paying attention to the way the shading was affecting the effect!

After 3 or 4 false starts and a whole mountain of snipped off thread and a pricked to death base (Thank Goodness I was using Nicole's super-duper-awesome-how-could-I-ever-bead-without-it BeadBacking. That stuff ROCKS!), and I was ready to toss Ohio out the window.

But I wasn't going to let Ohio get the better of me! So on I went - first encircling the quarter

Then making the stripes wider

and, well, although far from perfect, the BJP 2011 is a wrap.

I loved participating in this bead journal journey and am already well on my way into my January 2012 piece.

I am so grateful for the support and friendships (both old and new) that have gotten me through 2011. It certainly hasn't been my favorite year. Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who take the time to send me a note and encourage me to keep beading and offer me words of wisdom when I need them most. I really mean it when I say that I keep you all close at heart-forever.

~Bead Happy and Often~

BJP 2011 November - Connecticut

2011-11-29T18:34:00.000-05:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and again, I'm sure!). Thank Goodness for the Bead Journal Project. It has given me the kick in the pants to bead. I think back to a few years ago when that's all I did in every spare second of my day - Bead.

Morning, Noon and Night.

Any chance I got, I would bead. I was addicted.

I still am addicted, don't get me wrong. As soon as I sit down and pick up that needle, I'm sucked right back into the addiction. Its just that the 'sitting down' part doesn't happen as often as it used to. But the BJP nags at me and draws me in to just sit a bit and lose (find?) myself in the beading.

This month's State quarter turned out to be Connecticut. I've only been to Connecticut on business - the Hartford/Glastonbury area. And it is GORGEOUS! I mostly remember how green it was and it seemed like every house was surrounded by a low stone wall that seemed to have been there since forever. Being the rock-hound that I am, I would have loved to have studied those walls and taken pictures, but when you're travelling for business, you just don't do things like that.

My original thought was to create little walls and fill in around them with green fringe type of stitches. And as usual, the beads led me somewhere else.

OK, so my walls look more like paths, but to me they are stone walls. Lots of them, all jumbled together.

And my grassy patches turned into what looks like a tree - must have been that tree on the quarter influencing my stitches.

Even though my finished piece is far from what I envisioned, it still "works" - for me at least!

Have you registered for the 2012 BJP?

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

BJP 2011 October - Vancouver

2011-11-26T19:48:00.000-05:00

I love to break my own rules! Here's another 'State' that wasn't in the original lineup for my Bead Journal Project.

My cousin Patrick once again treated me to a spontaneous trip by asking me to join him on an awards trip that he won through his employer.

Patrick at the SandBar
Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Needless to say, he didn't have to ask me twice. So at the end of September, I hopped on a plane and flew across the country and in to Canada to explore a new city - Vancouver, British Columbia!

At some point on our trip, I was given a Vancouver quarter as part of my change. NICE!

Here are the inspirations (in no particular order) for my October piece:

Glorious Sunrises

Glass Galore - every building was just encased in glass!

Stanley Park Beach

Stanley Park Rock Formations

The forest in Stanley Park

Cloud banks that swallowed the mountains

And here's how I interpreted the essence of Vancouver:

Lush Forests and Sherbet Colored Skies

Glass Buildings

Beach meets Rocks
(I actually found that shell with the barnacles on it on the beach in Stanley Park)

Ringed with Clouds

It was truly amazing to see how the clouds would come in and the mountains would completely vanish from view. We were so lucky to have a few days of sparkling sun before the clouds came in.

We also headed up north to Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Took an amazing ride on a glass-bottom gondola between the two peaks. I do have another Vancouver quarter......just might have to break another rule so I can use up some of this inspiration:

Top of Whistler Mountain

On the Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Heading over to Blackcomb Mountain

The view from Blackcomb Mountain

Whistler Village

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Looking Ahead to the BJP 2012

2011-11-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

My silly brand new HP laptop is still not working, so I haven't been able to share my October BJP, but it is complete and I am working on November now.

No one is more surprised than me that I have been 'keeping up' with the BJP. I think it is because it really has become a personal journey. Revisiting places I've been has been enlightening, to say the least. I never ever expected it to take me where it has and with that in mind, I gave some serious thought on where I wanted the BJP to take me in 2012.

I now know that the BJP is so much more than beading. I don't know why this is such news to me, since I was already aware of the Power of the Bead.  That magical journey that happens when you just bead and let the process overtake your mind soul and before you know it - Poof - a little bit of yourself is reflected in beads. ~sigh~  I get the same feeling when I do yoga.

Anyhow, I was just so excited that I came up with my BJP theme for next year, that I wanted to share my enthusiasm for the BJP and encourage anyone who has hesitated to join to throw yourself into the project and let the magic begin!   Registration opens soon......

Bead Happy and Often!

BJP - September Virginia

2011-10-10T16:38:00.000-04:00

Although I actually finished this piece in August, it has taken me until NOW to post it? Good golly miss molly what is UP with that??? Hmmm, I guess I've been busy re-inventing my life. But more about that later.

September's trip took me back to being 16 years old and going to Virginia Beach on vacation. When I was 16 my mother used to tease me that my 'job' was suntanning and growing my fingernails long. They were long, but I loved them. And yes I was beyond tan back in the day. None of that fake 'n bake -- just pure Western New York sunshine. I couldn't get enough of it back then. So a trip to the ocean in July - didn't have to ask me twice!

I was in my glory - sun, sand, ocean. Not Lake - but OCEAN. With its huge waves and pounding surf. My dad and I had a blast playing in the waves on this little blow up raft thing. Timing the waves just right to ride all the way into the shore. Over and over again. God that was fun!

It was at the end of one ride that I literally felt like my arm had broken. It was the weirdest pain. I remember the look on my mother's face as she watched me come out of the water. She knew something wasn't right. I had no idea what could have happened.

I looked down at the raft and there was a jellyfish. I had laid right on top of it and had gotten stung.

I had never even thought about jellyfish. We didn't have any of those in Lake Erie! Of course after that, I was so paranoid that the carefree surf rides were over. But the memory lives on.......

Bead Happy and Often !

August BJP - New Hampshire

2011-08-13T16:27:00.001-04:00

Another family vacation from my childhood! I don't remember a whole heck of a lot about New Hampshire, other than there being too much fog to take the cog railway up Mt. Washington and it being drizzly and rainy and buying a stuffed black bear with a red collar and a chain leash as a souvenir.

click to enlarge any of the pics

Oh joy of joys, I loved that bear! It was like the dog I never had.

When I mentioned to my mom that I was working on my New Hampshire piece, even she remembered the black bear and how I dragged him everywhere.

I was thinking to actually attempt to bead a bear shape and put a little ribbon for the collar, but then I thought "too obvious". So I went with a more abstract/textural piece instead. It just so happened I came across the chain from an old necklace and I love the way it looks as the leash.

I wonder what ever happened to my little bear? Maybe I'll find him while cleaning out my attic..........

August 2011
BJP
New Hampshire

.....as soon as I get around to doing that hateful project. But I have to get on it, our house is sold (in less than a week!) and its time to weed through 21 years of stuff. Ugh.

BJP July 2011 - Nevada

2011-07-24T13:13:00.000-04:00

We interrupt the regularly scheduled State Quarter to announce that a new state has joined the journal--NEVADA......

I didn't even think about the fact that I have been to a new state this year until I was fishing for loose change in the bottom of my purse and I pulled out the Nevada state quarter. With the inspiration still fresh in my mind, I knew exactly what I would bead. I know, I know, I promised myself I would pull a quarter from my little jar without prejudice and go with whatever came to mind, but really, I just had to break my own rule. This piece was just screaming to be made!

Although jetskiing on Lake Mohave in Nevada was one of (many) highlights of my trip, this magnet would not be about that. Oh no, it could only be about this:

The Chandelier Lounge in the Cosmopolitan resort in Vegas. I was (am) in love with this place.

Being inside was literally like sitting inside a 3-story chandelier. It was beyond amazing.

I don't know who came up with the design, but they should get an award. Patrick and I stopped in just for one drink, and wound up spending the whole evening there - only left when they told us they were closing for the night. I could have moved in and lived there.

I don't have any pictures from inside, the night we were there I (surprisingly!) did not have my camera with me. But trust me, the inside was even more spectacular than the outside.

I hunted my stash and pulled out all the crystal swarovski and clear beads I could find. I fringed

and looped

and draped my way around the circle.

Looking at this month's piece takes me right back to Vegas . . . . and wanting a margarita surrounded by crystals and the company of my favorite cousin. ~sigh~

June BJP 2011 - Kentucky

2011-07-19T05:56:00.001-04:00

June's Journey takes me back to Kentucky and the Mammoth Caves. I must have been around 12 years old and had no idea what a cave was and why in the world we would be going to see it.

It was crazy hot during our visit and even as a kid, I didn't like the heat. I couldn't imagine being in a hot cave! But then our tour guide explained how the caves were discovered.

A field of Kentucky blue grass

A farmer noticed his cows lingering in this one area out in the field on a hot day and went out to investigate. There he discovered the cows had congregated around an open hole in the earth from which cold air was pouring. The farmer went down into the hole and viola - the Mammoth Caves were discovered. Well, at least that's the story I remember from my youth. The promise of escaping the heat was all I needed to hear - let's get in that cave already!

Entering the coolness of the cave

Not only was the cave cool and dark, it was beyond amazing. Unlike anything I had ever seen and I was completely in awe of the formations of the ever changing rocks. (Now that I think of it, this is probably where the rock addiction started.)

Stalagtites or Stalagmites?

Depends on which way you hold it, I guess

A storm rolls in

While we were there, it was my birthday and a huge violent thunderstorm came through the afternoon of my birthday and knocked out the power in the entire area. We were supposed to go to dinner for my birthday at a particular restaurant (don't remember the name). I remember we drove for what seemed like hours to find another one of that particular restaurant. We passed all these places with power and I was so annoyed why we just couldn't go to one of those to eat. But my parents drove on and on and on looking for that specific place to eat. Finally we found one! And at the end of the meal when they brought out a cake and everyone in the place sang Happy Birthday to me, I knew then why we had to eat there. They celebrated birthdays.

June BJP 2011
Kentucky

So now I'm half way through this little journal/journey project. I can't believe the emotions and memories I've encountered along the way. And everytime I look at my journeys displayed along my refrigerator, I smile. Life is Good.

Long Time No See

2011-07-11T16:01:00.001-04:00

Good Golly Miss Molly - time sure does fly! Have done very little beading these days. Instead I've been:

Hiking through a bog in New York

Climbing rocks in Arizona

Hiking up a crystal clear creek in Arizona

Traipsing around Vegas

Watching my beautiful daughter and her adorable boyfriend go to prom

and then watch her graduate

Enjoying the beautiful weather

Selling my house (eek)

and yes, a little bit of beading on my June BJP. More on that soon, I hope.....

and I hope to get some time soon to visit all my blogfriends! I miss you all (and your fabulous beading) terribly!

May 2011 BJP - Michigan

2011-05-29T05:24:00.000-04:00

Thank goodness I joined the BJP this year. Its the only beading I've had the chance to do lately, and I'm thankful for the little 'push' it gives me to sit down and bead.

This month's coin came up as Michigan. I've only been there once (it must have been at least 12 years ago), visiting my sister in law and her family. And what a nice family they are!

They lived in a great neighborhood with access to a small lake, so they took us 'tubing'.

Beaded interpretation of an inner tube! Yah, its a stretch

We had never done that before and the girls were thrilled to be on a power boat. My SIL's husband Jeff made it his personal mission to try to dump Pete off the tube by going ridiculously fast and making sharp turns.

A little wave action here

I was petrified he was going to either (a) kill Pete or (b) seriously injure him. I was not amused. But of course, Pete took it all in stride and came away wet, but ok.

The tow rope (pretend its really long and attached to the boat, ok?)

MAY 2011 BJP - Michigan

When I showed Pete my finished piece, he did admit Jeff nearly killed him out there that day..... men.

The Life of Lynn

2011-05-16T09:13:00.001-04:00

Just thought I'd take a second here and fill you all in on the personal non-beady side of me. Thanks to my blog friends for making me feel loved and cared about! It is so nice to know that just because I don't have the chance to blog as much as I used too, you girls haven't forgotten about me! ~hugs~

Hannah and Laurel
Botanical Gardens, Buffalo, NY

Hannah is continuing to do well (although there is still a bit of teenage drama, of course) 86.43 grade point average and great comments from her teachers on her latest report card.

"Is a pleasure to have in class"

"Has an excellent attitude in class and shows outstanding interest"

"Is cooperative and attentive in class"

"Takes an active part in class"

Yippee!!!!!

My "new" (aka used, but new to me) Toyota Matrix is still a blast to drive and consistently gets 31-34 mpg.
Yippee!!!

Spring has finally arrived in Western New York and my garden is bursting with new life.
Yippee!!!! well, ok, so its been raining all spring--I still am loving how GREEN everything is! Just to see leaves again, sigh, its all good.

And the biggest Yippee!!!! of all to report:

I'M

GOING

ARIZONA

VISIT

COUSIN

PATRICK

Yeah, that's a huge YIPPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

After doing my BJP for April, I really could not get him (or those canyons) out of mind. All it took was one email in which he said "why don't you come out west girl?" I booked my flight before I even let myself think about it. I didn't dare, because if I would have thought about the million of reasons why NOT to go, I wouldn't be going.

So in just 4 short weeks I'll be looking at this:

Schnebly Hill Road

I had to promise to wash Patrick's truck afterward (its a really rough primitive road, to say the least), but that will be a small price to pay! Heck I'll even wax it !

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

My Kind of Challenge

2011-05-14T17:48:00.000-04:00

As a blogging partner of Artbeads, I was presented with the 'challenge' to create a piece that incorporates a little bit of yesteryear. Oh yeah, I'm all about the vintage! My mind immediately went to a button charm bracelet.

Here's all the Artbeads.com goodies I selected. Links to all the products shown are sprinkled throughout the post, so please pop over to Artbeads and check out all they have to offer.

I have oodles of vintage buttons and Artbeads offers up some darn good faux vintage buttons.

I love the open cutwork detail on this pewter button

This button is actually plastic, but you'd never know it !
It looks like metal

My first mission was to find a suitable chain. No brainer there! Loved Loved Loved this chain. It was almost a shame to use if for a bracelet because it drapes so beautifully, I could definitely see it making a fabulous necklace.

Vintage treasures from my stash
and some Swarovski bicones thrown in!

Most of my vintage buttons in my stash were either cream or dark, so I choose the gunmetal finish and of course, Artbeads had both headpins and jump rings in gunmetal as well as a really cute toggle clasp in what they call a black pewter finish, which matched the gunmetal really well. It was a bit small for the bracelet and I managed to find a really great vintage jet cameo clasp in my stash, so the toggle will be used for another project.

Vintage jet clasp from my stash that I didn't even know I had!

I love the look of using fiber with metal, and I was thrilled to have found this awesome hand dyed silk ribbon in a beautiful rich shade of blue/gray (all the shades Artbeads offers look gorgeous). The ribbon I got looks a lot darker than what the website shows, but that didn't matter to me and I guess since it is hand dyed, color variation is to be expected, right?

To pick up the cream of the vintage lace I was planning on using and some of my buttons, I thought this cotton yarn with the Swarovski pearls would work, but I found it really awkward to work with. It sort of unwound and the pearls slid off the ends.

And speaking of Swarovski, I wanted to add a bit of bling, so nothing beats Swarovski products for that! I made these little dangly charm kind of thing using channel drops in black diamond and a bicone in a midnight blue shade that I had in my stash. My wire working skills leave a lot to be desired and I managed to break off a few of the head pins as I wound them around.

When I saw this cameo with the three ladies on it, I knew I had to have it. For a mere 54 cents! Seriously? It is sooooo nice!

I mounted it on a TierraCast picture frame charm and it fit almost perfectly. I love the detail on the back of the charm - I dare say it's downright charming (groan!).

After getting all my goodies linked onto the bracelet, I wove the ribbon and cotton yarn through some of the loops and tied a piece of vintage lace to the clasp end.

Its really fun to wear!

FTC Disclosure: The products shown as links in this post were provided to me at no cost from Artbeads.com in exchange for my honest opinion of the products on my blog.

April BJP 2011

2011-04-23T09:24:00.000-04:00

AS IF I haven't already spent way too much of my days soul searching, contemplating the twists and turns my life has taken to lead me to where I am now. And then I pull Arizona from my BJP coin jar. The first thought that came to me was Missed Opportunity.

When I was 19 I flew out to Phoenix to spend some time with my Aunt Patsy and Uncle Dave and my cousins. What a blast we had. Two of my cousins (Patrick just a few years younger than me and Joanne a few years older than me) and I took a trek up to the Grand Canyon and stopped at various places along the way. Patrick is the brother that I never had and Joanne is just an awesome soul. I won't bore you with the details, but that trip (including riding the mules down the Grand Canyon) was beyond spectacular. If I should ever come in to money, the first thing I would do -- do that trip again with my cousins.

Missed Opportunity? Yeah. Why in world did I not pack up my bags and start my life out there while I was young??! Not only was a part of my family that I just adore out there, I loved those rocks, canyons, wide open skies. Patrick lives in Flagstaff now and Joanne is out in California, my Aunt and Uncle have since passed on. I made my choice to return to New York. And here I am. But my heart is still with them out West.

I had no plan in mind when I started. And it felt so good to just bead. No rhyme or reason to placement. Just bead. Sigh.

April 2011 BJP
Arizona

Luckily Patrick and Joanne have both made it back 'home' in the past few years. They are just the most comfortable people to be around. True Treasures.

Patrick and Me

Kathy, Joanne and Me

March BJP 2011
Pennsylvania

February BJP 2011
California

January BJP 2011
Florida

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Beading for a Cure Auctions

2011-04-19T09:05:00.000-04:00

I keep forgetting to remind everyone to keep checking the Beading For a Cure Auction pieces that are available here

It's my favorite piece in the entire auction up for bids this week!
Its that beyond fabulous purse by Tracy Vincent!!

I know I will NEVER be able to afford this - my only hope is that whoever wins this one treasures it forever. I think it is simply spectacular! (and I know I'm not the only one who thinks this purse rocks - Tracy won first place in the BFAC competition)

Go check out the other choices too - I've got my heart set on at least 4 pieces. Maybe this will be my lucky week!

Bid Happy and Often! teehee

Hey Friends!

2011-04-14T11:07:00.000-04:00

I have just been running around like a crazy woman (hmm, if the shoe fits.......) lately. I haven't beaded, blogged or read blogs in what seems like forever! And dusting? Nope, haven't had time for that either as you can see by the note my daughter left me on the top of my bead cabinet.

A house becomes a home when you can write I Love You in the dust

But I have a bit of time this morning, so here's an update on what's been happening in my little world:

First off, my Spring piece has been officially set aside. I know, I know, I HATE to do that! I have way too many UFOs and I really really try to finish what I've started. But everytime I tried to work on it, I just wasn't feeling the love and it just wasn't turning out the way I wanted. I was all excited to make up this seed bead mix from 3 different greens I had in my stash:

And thought it would make great grass to surround the middle of the piece and it was all going along just fine and then my thread got all tangled up and I just got annoyed so made the decision to move on to something new.

Since it's April (already!!), I chose my next State quarter for the Bead Journal Project. Arizona. I won't say too much about it now, because I'll wait til my 'official' post when its done, but here's the beads I've chosen to use:

And then I got my sweet little vintage lady cab from Beth and she is just begging to be put on a box lid. Of course, I don't have a box yet, so she just looks at me and waits patiently for some attention.

I love her calm expression. I look at her and just feel my tension release.

My Mom and Dad live on a golf course, and my Mom was out filling the bird feeders and saw some balls laying around on the course, so she collected them for me......

64 balls in about 20 minutes of collecting! Too funny! I've gotten to the indoor driving range a few times and am just waiting for the weather to break a bit more so I can get back out on the course. Just thinking about it makes me relax. I love to golf. I'm not good at it, but love it all the same.

Lastly, I made the decision to get rid of my GMC Envoy. With all the driving I've been doing, I just couldn't afford to keep filling the tank every 3 - 4 days at over $60 every fill up. It was disgusting the amount of $$$ I poured into that tank.

I learned to drive on a car with a standard transmission and always drove a stick shift until I had the girls and I really missed driving a standard. So I knew my 'new' car would have to be a stick shift. Well, apparently I'm part of a dying breed of drivers because there wasn't a whole lot of standard transmission cars to choose from (at least in my price range!).

Although I'm not picky about what I drive, I never thought I'd be behind the wheel of a red - and I mean RED - car.

But I am and I love it!!

Be a lifesaver - become an organ donor

Well that's a wrap - gotta get in my sweet little ride and get myself to the eye doctor and then a special treat from my friend Joan: I'm going for a mani-pedi. Aaahhh, let the pampering begin......I sure could use it (just hope I don't fall asleep in the chair)!

Hope to get some time tonight to visit all of your blogs. Am dying to see what everyone has been doing these past few weeks......I think of you all so much throughout my days.

~Bead Happy and Often~

I'm bringing pretty back

2011-03-29T19:58:00.000-04:00

One of the perks of having daughters ...... Prom Dress Shopping!

First Stop: Shoes

Next Stop: Dress Shop

This is the beading on Meg's dress. I love it!!!

click to enlarge

Its such a fun dress - looks good from every angle!

I really do like Meg's beading the best, but look at some of the other dresses....

I've never worn a dress like these - ever. I didn't really care what I wore to my prom. I wore an old bridesmaid dress that I had worn at my sister's wedding early that same year. My wedding dress was a vintage wedding dress on loan from the Amherst Museum. It was spectacular, but no beads. My wedding dress was actually featured in Victoria Magazine back in the late 1980s- I know I have the issue around here somewhere. They ran a whole article on the loan program that the museum offered at that time. All the vintage gowns were donated to the museum by one woman with the condition they be loaned out to brides. No alterations were allowed so you had to be able to fit into them. Luckily I was about the size of Meg when I got married, so I had my pick of dresses. I understand they had to discontinue the loan program as the dresses became too delicate as the years went by. I'm glad I had my chance to wear one.

If you missed the first week of the Beading for a Cure Auctions - don't miss out on this week's selections! Click on over to the auction site and see if there's a piece or two you just can't live without and support the fight against colon cancer. Thanks much!

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

2011-03-29T10:04:00.001-04:00

I've been crazy busy at work (gee, maybe because I just can't seem to focus or comprehend without great effort - those xanax are amazing little things), so I haven't had a chance to respond personally to each of you, but I just want to let everyone know who sent me a comment that you have all made me smile and laugh out loud and help me breathe again. And I am so thankful for that! You guys rock :)

And I haven't been home for a long enough time to put up a post of our Prom Dress experience, but Wait til you see the pics of Meg's prom dress - the beading will blow your mind! Plus I took pics of quite a few other dresses - they are so amazing! I can't wait to share them with you all.

Ugly meets Ugly

2011-03-27T08:29:00.001-04:00

Although I have responded to each of you who took the time to send me your strength and encouragement, I just wanted to give a 'public' shout out too to thank you from the bottom of my blackened heart for reaching out to me. It has helped me breathe again and although this situation is beyond miserable, I will try not to drag my beading blog into the pit with me!

Since my mood is still a bit ugly, I thought I'd share what I consider to be the ugliest thing I've ever made. It was a class and the kit was provided with the class. Granted, I picked the kit, so really I can only blame myself! I don't know what I was thinking:

Its supposed to be: a photo album or scrapbook cover.

What it really is: a 12" square of pure ugly.

These calla lillies took forever! They were made in two pieces and the bottom piece is completely beaded, which you don't even see. Sewing the tops to the bottoms took a lot of hand strength to get the edges to line up so they would curve.

So, yesterday I went to the Gem Fossil and Mineral Show which is this huge awesome event every spring hosted by the Buffalo Geological Society. As a bit of a 'rock hound', I look forward to this show so much! Just to see the amazing crystals and fossils that lie under our earth's crust is mind-blowing. Yes there are some bead vendors, but honestly as hard as it is to believe, I don't even look at those vendors' tables. It is the natural treasures that make me drool! What a great way to spend the afternoon.

Today promises to be another fun day. Meghan and I are going to get her prom dress fitted. I'm going to take my camera so hopefully I can get some good pics of the beading on the dress. Its awesome! Time to bring back the pretty!!

Thanks again for putting up with my rant in the last post. I think I heard Debbie Downer packing her packs this morning. Now I just have to kick her to the curb......can somebody call a taxi? lol

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Debbie Downer Comes to Town

2011-03-24T10:38:00.000-04:00

Having a rough time this week.

No beading. Just sadness.

This whole year has been a pretty trautmatic time in my life and I feel like it has all come crashing down on me all of a sudden.

You guys always cheer me up, and I could really use a hug or two, so

You, dear reader,

are cordially invited

TO: A Pity Party

For: Lynn

Date/Time: Right here, Right now

~ : ~

If you've known me for a while, you know that my youngest daughter Hannah is a survivor of bullying. What I never addressed publically about the whole mess is that her cousin was a key player in the hell that Hannah was put through at Lockport High School during her sophomore year. Yea, you read that right, her cousin. I'll call her "V" for the purposes of this post, to 'protect' her privacy. After all, she is family (please read that with extreme sarcasm).

I have the video survellaince from the first (but not only) violent physical encounter that Hannah endured just about a year ago every day she walked into that school. I wish I could show it to you all somehow. But I have no idea how to upload it. What it shows is a small glimpse into my daughter's daily world.

How many of you wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall in your child's high school?

Well, I got that chance and what I saw has changed my life forever. Hannah's too, of course, but what no one seems to ever talk about is the ripple effect bullying has in a family. Me, my husband, my daughters - we are all victims of bullying - each in our own way - as unsuspecting players in this bizzare social 'game' that plays out day in and day out in our schools. Bullying.

But can you imagine seeing with your own eyes your child be attacked? I hope none of you ever have to see that.

It is important for you to know what I saw on that video. What I'm going to explain is just one of the two physical attacks on Hannah on that particular day because what happens is creating a shock wave through my marriage and is the reason for the Pity Party.

Ironically, these events occurred just about exactly a year ago. This is an overview of the second attack of that day:

V (Hannah's cousin) sees Hannah coming down the hallway. V then goes over to Mary (one of the bully-pack) and alerts Mary that Hannah is coming. Mary stops dead in her tracks, turns and sees Hannah and immediately runs at top speed (you can see her long hair flying out behind her) toward Hannah in what is clearly an attempt to attack her again (remember this is the second incident - the first attack was thwarted by teacher intervention). I say "attempt", because at the last second, Hannah looks up, sees Mary coming at her and instinctively reaches out her right arm and grabs hold of Mary's hair and pulls Mary almost to the ground. Luckily, the two School Police Officers jump in and pull the girls apart and it ends.

There is no doubt in mind, V's parents need to see this footage. V's parents are Pete's older brother and his wife.

At my insistence, Pete called his brother (I'll call him "C") and asked him and his wife (I'll call her "J") to please come to our home (they live 5 minutes away) so we could show them the footage and talk about V's role in the attack.

C told Pete he would talk with J and let us know. Huh? Are you f*cking kidding me? What's to discuss? My God, if my sister ever called me with news like that, I'd have hauled my daughter and my ass over to their house faster than you could blink. My God - What kind of people are C and J? I am dumbfounded by their response. We have always been 'friends' with them and have never had any problems between us. I was shocked.

Hours later, C finally calls back. They won't be coming to see the footage.

You see, C and J discussed the incident with V and believe her when she says that she did tell Mary that Hannah was coming, but it was done to 'warn Mary' and tell her to 'keep cool'. BullSH*T. The footage clearly, without a speck of doubt, shows V go over to Mary and alerts her Hannah is coming. V then steps aside and watches Mary go after Hannah. She makes no effort to hold Mary back at all and she had ample opportunity to do so. And then when the fight is broken up, V lingers against the wall and as Hannah gets escorted past V, V turns her head, so Hannah can't see her. And as a matter fact, Hannah had no idea V was even there until she saw the replay of the footage. Hannah's response? "I'm not surprised, she's one of Them." Oh my God. I'm sick to my stomach. I see my daughter as a brave warrior facing these bullies every day. And to have her own cousin "One of Them." Good God, I can't even wrap my head around that.

When Pete tells me C and J won't be coming, I freak out. Really. Freak.Out. Like I've never freaked out before. I truly thought I was going to pop a blood vessel in my brain and die right there in my kitchen. I've never felt that enraged in my life. ever. I demanded Pete call C back and tell them this wasn't an option - they HAD to see this. V is lying and this footage shows that. They need to see our side of the story - not just hear V's side. Pete doesn't agree with me, but he calls C back and after some pretty intense conversation, C agrees to come alone - J will not come.

I tell my husband that based on their refusal to come, if he continued to have any 'social' contact with C or J, I wasn't sure if our marriage would survive.

As far as I am concerned C and J are no longer family. Families help each other - bond together, work things out, etc. I want NOTHING to do with them EVER again. I have no desire to associate with anyone, even if they are family, that would stick their heads in the sand and ignore this. They are scum - white trash - I hate them. They are the reason bullying is so prevalent -- absentee parenting, I call it. And if he doesn't agree with me, I can only see that as a reflection of his lack of true love and caring for Hannah and I. Actions speak louder than words, as my mother always says.

I expected my husband, as Hannah's father, would share, if not my all out-hatred of C, J. and V., at least great animonisty toward them and have no contact with them. And after a year now, that has turned out not to be the case. Time and time again it was come to hit me smack in the gut that Pete continues on his relationship with C as if nothing has happened. And that devastates me more than I can explain.

I am now, once again, back in the pit. That's what I call this black hole of sadness that I tumbled backward into on Saturday when I found out that Pete had invited C to a hunting raffle that day.

The pit is a cold place - its a disorienting, lonely, muse robbing, energy sucking hell kind of place.

My husband, the man that I expected to have my back and care enough about me and my happiness and put, not only his wife, but his child, 'above' all others, has chosen to continue to associate with C, knowing full well how it affects me. Says a lot about our marriage doesn't it. I never thought bullying could reach into a marriage and pull the rug out from under it.

Thanks for listening guys - the tears have started, so I better end this now.......xoxo

Ahh, That's Better.........

2011-03-21T07:59:00.000-04:00

After ripping out a few times, I'm getting happier with this piece. I've decided to call it Time for Spring, even though the placement of those little cabs really isn't in a clock formation. Its what I think of when I work on it, so I'm going with Time for Spring.

I had bought a smoky lavender mat for the shadow box frame, so when I found these bugles in my stash, I was so happy - they match really well.

Click any (or all!) pics to get upclose and personal!

I added these little buds in the corners.

Don't know if you noticed or not, but each of the center of the buds matches the color of the center ring of the larger flowers.

And each of the crystal flowers match the stamen color of the cat's eye flowers.

I'm going to add the same mint/blue stacks around the middle two crystal flowers. Not sure what I'm going to do after that.

I'm counting on the beads to lead the way......

Don't forget the Beading for a Cure auctions start today!

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Spring is Springing

2011-03-19T10:01:00.001-04:00

YYYYYEEEESSSSSS! The crocuses have burst from the earth! The robins are back singing to me in the morning and evening! The snowbanks have all but disappeared! I love the transitional time between the seasons. Every day I notice something different.

Sweet Liss gifted me this adorable (really adorable) paper clay cabachon that she made.

Click on Pics to Enlarge

I'm using it in a 5" x 7" bead embroidered picture which is not coming together as easily as I wish it would. I've spent more time ripping out and starting again than I care to admit. I know, I know, I can hear Nicole telling me that she never rips out -- I just haven't reached that level of expertise yet. Some things are just plain hideous!

Using a piece of Nicole's super-duper-how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it BeadBacking, I placed these little cabs all around the focal (I don't know why). It reminds me of those candy dots I used to get as a little girl. Do you know the ones I mean? They came on a long strip of white paper.

The next morning I was heading out the door to work and it was a hateful windy cold day and I thought "ugh, definitely time for spring." That's it! Time! Time for Spring -- that's why I put those cabs around. I must have been thinking of a clock. When I got home from work and took a look at the placement again, I thought, NOPE. Didn't put them in a clock formation. Great. Now what do I do?

I started encasing the focal and realized when I was done it look like I had made a little nest around it.

I came across this spring-looking mix of seeds in my stash and wanted to use them somehow.

I encased all the inner cabs and the outer most cabs became flowers.

Then, because it was raining outside, I thought I would do little umbrellas in each of the corners.

I started out making a line of cylinder beads

another row and some seeds

and.....bleh.

So bad I didn't even take any pictures of the finished umbrellas (I actually made two of them just to make sure they were as awful as I thought -- they were!)

Now I'm making some of the inner cabs into flowers too.

The jury is still out.......

~ * ~ Bead Happy and Often ~ * ~

Beading For A Cure Auction Schedule

2011-03-15T17:49:00.001-04:00

To see when your favorite Beading for a Cure piece will be up for auction, check here:

Personally, my favorite (if I had to choose) would be this bag made by Tracy Vincent:

Or maybe this lovely vessel created by Chris Pratt

Oh, wait, maybe this one from Kathy Koppinger:

You know I'm smitten with little vessels, bowls, dishes, anything that can hold itty bitty treasures!

Which one is your favorite??

Had to Share this

2011-03-14T16:54:00.001-04:00

You may remember that my sweet Cloudy cat passed away shortly after Christmas. My painter-artist friend Cindy offered to paint Cloudy's portrait for me. Well, she brought it to me today and I just HAD to share it with you! Its excellent! No, its BEYOND excellent!!

This is the picture she worked from:

And this is her masterpiece:

"Cloudy"
11" x 14" Acrylic on Canvas
~Cindy Meal, Artist

And yes, of course, I burst into tears when she gave it to me.....such a crybaby, I am. I absolutely love it! She said it 'painted up' really quickly and she mentioned to me how sometimes the paintings just come together and other times she struggles with them. Just like beading! That happens to me all the time, too.

I will treasure this always...................Thanks Cindy!

Layne's Legacy Beading for a Cure

2011-03-14T14:24:00.000-04:00

The auction pieces are in the gallery!!!! They are Amazing!!!!

2011 Auction Gallery

The weekly on-line auctions will start on the 21st of March (next Monday). There is no indication yet what pieces will be up first. I'll keep checking and let you know when I see the postings. This is a great opportunity to bid on gorgeous bead art for a good cause.

~Bead Happy and Often~

March BJP - Pennsylvania

2011-03-09T16:44:00.001-05:00

When the Pennsylvania state quarter tumbled out of my little jar I keep them in, I immediately thought to do my March Bead Journal Project piece based on the Black Snake Mountain hiking trail in Allegany State Park that runs right along the Pennsylvania border.

Hannah and Meghan at the trailhead

Meghan and I are now standing in Pennsylvania:

And here's the view back over to the New York side (yeah, we get all dressed up when we go hiking!).

Pretty cool that this stone marker is there, isn't it? Otherwise, how would you know, right?

The problem with this idea is that I would have to incorporate the hateful scene that lies on the Pennsylvania side of the trail - a hydraulic fracturing well site. If you aren't familiar with hydro fracking, it is an idiotic method of harvesting natural gas pockets that are trapped beneath the marcellus shale. Idiotic because it is destroying the forests of the Allegheny (yep different spelling on the Pennsylvania side) Forest, not to mention the hazardous waste water it generates (well, supposedly the jury is still out on that)......ENOUGH! I will not step onto my soap box, I promise. If you are interested in learning more about this, just "google" hydro fracking and you'll be drowning in a sea of information.

Back to the BJP. I wanted to keep 'happy' thoughts and memories in my journal pieces. Maybe someday I'll cross over into the dark side of my beading brain, but not now. So, I thought and I thought and I thought ~ but I just couldn't come up with anything else.

Bink! I woke up in the middle of the night with a thought - a Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Sign! I remember as a little girl traveling to Pennsylvania with my parents and grandparents on a 'mission' to find them. For the life of me, I could not imagine why. We aren't Dutch, so why would my mom travel all that way to get one? Well, come to find out, they are actually a German-based tradition! That explains it - we are of German heritage and at that time, my grandparents had just come back from Germany after visiting my aunt and uncle who were living there. (click here if you want the full Hex Sign details)

Sweet! I've got my inspiration!

I chose this pattern simply because it looked easy. Come to find out, the symbolism behind the pattern was very appropriate to what I had just experienced. You see, the tulips represent faith and trust in man - remember the incident of the scary looking old man that appeared on my doorstep? Pretty ironic. (if you missed that story, you can click here and go to the end of the post to see what I'm talking about)

According to what I read, the eight pointed star is a fairly common hex design. The star is usually blue and symbolizes goodwill and the sheaves of wheat symbolize abundance. Ok, I think I can bead this up.

I took a little liberty on the 'star' - I made mine more like a star of leaves.

Hmm, I know I had tulip shaped beads somewhere........

oh, darn, I didn't want blue tulips! What else can I use to make a tulip?

Perfect - a bicone and some seeds.

Even with the golden 'wheat', it was still looking a bit drab, so I perked it up a bit and chose some sunny colors to make a rope border out of size 15 seeds.

Looks more like candy corn than sun! Oh well.

I don't know why I could picture a black and white edging, but I like the effect. Reminds me of an old fashioned tile floor.

March BJP - Pennsylvania

February BJP - California

January BJP - Florida

Thanks for coming along on my journal journey - I hope you enjoyed the scenery ! !

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

It's Almost that time of Year again!

2011-03-07T15:45:00.001-05:00

I just checked the Beading for a Cure website and read the auctions will begin March 21st ! The wait is almost over.......

The beads for the 2011 kit were gorgeous and I am so anxious to see all the pieces that will be available.

Start saving those $$$ so you can get in on the bidding!!

As soon as I get any more details, I'll pass the info along.

~Bead Happy and Often~

Giving and Receiving

2011-03-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

Meghan surprised me this morning with this adorable bracelet she found on Etsy:

Love it!

Love Her!

I finished Donna's bracelet this morning. After ripping out the beige seeds, I decided to fill in the background with the boucle (carpet) stitch in clear seeds with just a sprinkling of silver lined and clear gray here and there.

It was impossible to get a good shot, so you'll have to trust me on the sprinklings! Maybe if you click on the pic to zoom in you'll be able to see them.

The center cabachon is a vintage piece I found at an estate sale.

I hope she loves it.....or at least likes it enough to wear it occasionally!

Here's what the overall design looks like before it was mounted and edged in the 4 mm Swarovski rounds:

Well, its after noon already am I'm still in my pajamas. Pete and the dogs are bugging me to get myself in the shower so we can get to the woods for a walk about. After constant rain yesterday we woke up to about 4 inches of snow. I am sooooo ready for spring!

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Getting No Where Fast

2011-03-03T10:51:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I just can't get my act together.

I'm making a cuff bracelet as a thank you for one of my husband's co-workers. Lately, the only time I have to bead is in the evening. I prefer to bead in the morning or during the daylight hours, but I'll take what I can get these days!

I thought I had a good design laid out and had chosen my color story while the natural light was still available. Considering its just blacks/grays/clears, it wasn't that complicated. I looked for different finishes on the beads: some matte, some shiny, some metallic and some clear. Easy Peasy.

And then it just wasn't working, so I ripped it out and started again.

Everything was going along great. I was happier with my second attempt and decided I was going to keep it simple and fill in the background with silver lined clear seeds. But I didn't have those seeds on my table. It was about 8:30 p.m. or so when I pulled the beads from my stash and started 'finishing' the bracelet base.

I looked at it today in the daylight and UGH.

What the??!

Why do these silver lined beads look so beige?

Oh, that's because they are!

Oh boy.

I'm hoping the third try is the charm. Isn't that what they always say? I hope it is. I'm really get tired of snip snip snipping all those threads........

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

(Done with) Winter Enchantment

2011-02-21T12:05:00.001-05:00

I never thought I would get this finished! I forced myself to stick with flat work so my focal tree wouldn't be overwhelmed. It was very boring, to say the least.

One evening, the sky was so softly shaded that I wanted to incorporate that into my piece and luckily
I had these very softly hued peachy-pink seeds in my stash. I colored the beadbacking (that's Nicole's super-duper-how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it beadbacking, by the way) with colored pencils to shade in the area I wanted colored.

It is a very subtle effect and looks better in person than it does in pics.

Once I put it into the shadowbox frame, I was so happy. It made such a big difference!

I found the frame at a tag sale for just 50 cents and the glass is very reflective, but for that price, I won't complain! It was pretty impossible to get a good shot. Maybe you could all just pop over to my house for a visit so you can see it in person -- that would be fun!

A special thanks to Mother Nature for providing the inspiration and Artbeads.com for providing me with some of the products used to capture a small bit of Winter Enchantment.

~Bead Happy and Often~

FTC Disclosure:

The chain, wood links, and Toho seed beads used in the tree were provided free of charge from Artbeads in exchange for my unbiased review of the products.

White(d) Out!

2011-02-16T20:21:00.000-05:00

Between the snow and ice outside and the blizzard of white beads scattered across my beading table, I HAD to take a break and immerse myself in color.

Since my winter enchantment piece is consuming my entire beading table, I didn't have the space to start a color beading project, so I satisfied my color cravings by organizing some of my seed bead containers.

Some day I'm going to have ALL my seed beads organized. Oh all right, that's NEVER going to happen, but it was fun to think about it for a second.

I added some snowdrifts to my piece.

And this winter sun -

which I hated and promply ripped out!

I'm now filing in the background with clear seeds and will hopefully be done with this by the weekend. Just in time for our weather to warm up. We've been promised temps in the low 50s on Friday!!!

And if all that white wasn't enough, the Lace Guild that I am a member of has started a really fun project. Its a mystery lace sampler. Each meeting we will be instructed on a different lace technique. This month is Tambour lace, or as I like to call it -- Tedious Tambour.

Using a very tiny crochet hook, you 'chain stitch' the thread through the netting holes. It makes me crazy!

We are just making an edging and a cute little bug (look really closely - click the pic to enlarge- and you might be able to see the outline of the bug) and I am so glad that's all. This is a real bugger of a stitch..........

Bead Happy and Often!

(sick of) Winter Enchantment

2011-02-10T12:31:00.002-05:00

Please read this with 2 things in mind:

1. It is 4 degrees outside, although the sun is shining.
2. I am typing this with gloves on because my 1880 house is impossible to keep warm on my heating budget.

Anyway, I was working on my Winter Enchantment piece for for the Artbeads.com blogging partners program. Not really feeling the love because I am SICK OF WINTER.

I also have a funny story to share (see the bottom of this post), so I thought I would share my progress on my beading too, even though its not finished yet.

I love the way the tree turned out by using the Artbeads components. (See bottom of this post for links to the products used).

I've now been paying particular attention to the various snowscapes and weather patterns around here to get inspiration for my background.

I beaded this to represent the frozen circles we found while hiking along the shore of Lake Ontario a few weekends ago.

This rather lumpy, discolored area is to acknowledge (as much as I try to ignore) the old, yucky piles that are left after the parking lots and streets get plowed out. I remember as a girl we used to go down to the plaza parking lot and climb the huge ice/snow mounds that bordered the parking lot. It was a blast. Now, I just try not to see them.

And I've been paying attention to the types of snowfall.

One day/night we had this awful granular type of snow. Not pretty. This is my least favorite kind of snow. Its dull and useless.

The next day came my favorite kind of snow.

Huge, fluffy, snowflakes that stick to your nose and eyelashes (come on everybody sing......brown paper packages tied up with string....oh sorry, I got carried away. Sound of Music is my most favorite movie). Anyhow, its the kind of snow that piles up in a hurry and sticks to every possible place it can and turns your ordinary street into a winter wonderland. Best of all, its easy to shovel!

Then came the winds that swirl the snow from rooftops and create little snow tornados as gravity-defying snowdrifts form in their wake.

And today with the near zero temps and the brilliant bright sunshine, the snow is glittering like, well, glitter!

This is where I was when all of a sudden my dogs start barking their heads off!

I jumped a mile-scared me half to death!
Then the doorbell rang.
Hmm, that's weird.
Who could that be?

I get to the door and an older 'gentlemen' is standing there.
?What?  ?Who?
I'll be honest here: He looked drunk and unkempt. I see no car around.
To say I'm cautious is an understatement.
Keep in mind that my dogs are still barking like crazy, and I let them keep right on barking. I want this stranger to understand my dogs are not happy that he is there.
I only open my inside door - I keep the outer door closed.

"Can I help you with something?" I say
"mumble mumble, locked myself out, mumble mumble" He replies. "Can I use your phone?"

DING DING DING alarm bells going off in my head.   I have never seen this person before and he doesn't look like he's 'all there.'

"No" I shout over the din of barking hounds. "But I'll be happy to call someone for you"
He rattles off a phone number.

I close the door, take my phone and head to the back door (I don't even realize I do this, until after the incident is over - I must have been thinking of an escape in the event he should come into the house).
I call the number and get an answering machine. I leave a message with my name and phone number and explain the situation and ask them to call me back.

I go back to the front door. The dogs are still barking, so I know he didn't leave.

"I left a message" I tell him. "Is there any one else I can try? The police perhaps?"
He gives me another number.
This time I think to ask him the name of the person who should be answering at that number. "Alicia" he says. Oh my! That is my (new) neighbor's name....hmm, maybe he's not lying.

I quick call the number and, sure enough, Alicia answers and confirms that it probably is her dad, Rich. He just got out of the hospital and is staying with them while he recovers.
Well, I couldn't get that poor man in my house fast enough!

Come to find out, he had gone outside to have a cigarette and closed the door behind him, not realizing it would lock. Of course his cell phone was in the house, so he couldn't call anyone.   I kept apologizing for making him wait on my porch and he kept apologizing for 'troubling' me and for looking so bad. I gave him a cup of coffee to warm him up and a family member arrived with a key and off Rich went. He was embarassed and I was ashamed for have such an untrusting soul.

Timing is everything, though. I'm only at home during the day on Thursdays.

Back to glittering up my snow piece.....and wishing Rich a speedy recovery.

~Bead Happy and Often ~

FTC Disclosure:
The following products were provided to me free of charge in exchange for the review of the products.

Antique Copper-Plated Chain
Antique Copper-Plated Curved Tube Beads
Wood Laser Cut Disks
TOHO Hybrid Seeds

Bundle Up Baby

2011-02-07T19:09:00.000-05:00

I came across this beaded doll kit I bought years ago at a Lace Guild Seminar.

At the time I bought it, I had no idea how to bead. I just thought maybe 'someday' I would learn. The directions were pretty sketchy and vague. I had no clue how to start, so I promptly added it to the 'yeah right' pile and forgot about it.

Fast forward a few years and a few (ok more than a few) bead classes later, and it was time to shake the dust off the kit and just do it! I wasn't real keen on the colors and added some of my beads and didn't use all the bead choices in the kit.

Here's her backside.

I didn't know what I was going to do for the face, until I came across this dichroic (I'm sure I butchered the spelling of that) cab with the same colors as the beads in just the right size. Perfect.

Her hair cracks me up. Reminds me of a clown.

She's a tiny little thing and needs a name. Suggestions anyone?

California Dreaming on Such a Winter's Day - February BJP

2011-02-02T07:53:00.001-05:00

Funny that the second quarter I randomly picked for the Bead Journal Project (BJP) happened to be another state I travelled to for business.
California.
It was late Fall in 1993. I was in my first trimester of pregnancy with Meghan and I was so sick. I hadn't told my office yet that I was expecting.   Little did I know the nauseous-ness would subside in the second trimester only to be replaced by daily migranes that lasted the duration of my pregnancy and beyond. Ever have to ride an elevator with a migrane - every day- multiple times a day?   Not fun. Anyhow, let's get back to California.

I remember hating this trip.
Hating California.
Hating the person I travelled with.
Hating the office staff.

I'm sure it was just because of how I felt physically, but I was tired of travelling and just wanted to go home.

So how to turn all these negative memories into something positive? Time for an attitude adjustment.

Thinking back I do remember some 'fun' out of the trip. The airport shuttle van ride was an experience I'll never forget. It was really neat to see the neighborhoods around Los Angeles as we dropped off travellers to their homes. One guy lived way up high in the hills and I was so nervous the brakes were going to give out when he parked the van and helped the guy unload his bags. We were right in the front seat facing down the hill and I felt like I was on a roller coaster at the crest of the first drop. Exhilarating but truly frightening.

It was cool that we could see the Hollywood sign from the office windows. That was surreal.

The fact that the entrance ways to the freeways had traffic lights to regulate the cars entering  was new to me. Holy cow - the freeways were huge and the traffic unlike anything I had ever seen. Give me sleepy ol' Buffalo any day.

One night the office manager took us to dinner in a really beautiful restaurant somewhere in the hills outside of Los Angeles. As night fell and the lights starting twinkling in the hills, it was magical. I remember I couldn't even eat and the conversation was really really dull, so I just lost myself in the view.   Thinking back to how beautiful that scene was, I found inspiration for my piece.

Starting with a black piece of Nicole's super-duper how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it beadbacking, I collected an assortment of night time colors.

After outlining the quarter to make it like a full moon, I made 3 hillsides (gee, what a surprise - 3 hills). I wanted one to have a very steep incline, to remind me of that shuttle van ride.

When I was filling in the smallest of the hills using the boucle (carpet) stitch, I didn't realize I had used a white center bead on every stitch. I didn't mean to, and almost ripped it out because I thought it was too much. But then I thought that it was OK, and it was meant to represent the City of Los Angeles far in the distance from the sparsely populated hillside. Cool. I love it when the beads tell the story without me even trying.

As I was filling in the night sky around the 5 stars (gee, what a surprise - 5 stars!), I realized that I didn't like the way it was going to come out. So rather than continuing working my way to the edge, I started from the top down and filled in the area with shorter rows.

Even though I used a 2-bead edging around the entire piece, I changed the beads and the placement of the seed beads to give it some variation from the sky to the hillsides.

Seeing this dark piece next to the bright Florida piece on my refrigerator is really neat. I'm anxious to see what State comes up in March.

February BJP 2011
California

January BJP 2011
Florida

I know it's only the second month and maybe I'm still in the 'honeymoon' phase, but I love being a part of the Bead Journal Project. Just the opportunity to reflect on my past has really opened my heart and soul to what it is that has made me into who I am today. I like to think of this as my personal Bead Journey Project.

~Bead Happy and Often~

Winter Enchantment

2011-01-27T14:59:00.001-05:00

I would think that in a poll of "What is your favorite season?" Winter would probably be the least favorite. Living in Northern Western New York, one needs to come to terms with Winter. I'm still working on that.

One of the things that has opened my eyes to the beauty of winter is the never-ending various shapes of trees. Without leaves to cover the branches, the sheer number of branches on a single tree and the odd angles at which they sometimes grow is fascinating to me. I decided to try to capture that beauty in beads using just a tiny bit of the multitude of choices offered through Artbeads.com

I was looking to pick out some materials I've never worked with before, and Artbeads offers a ton of options.

Some copper tubes in 20 mm and 12 mm lengths make up some of the branches. I was a little concerned the edges would be sharp and break my thread, but they are finished very well and not a single broken thread. Nice!

I've always wanted to incorporate chain into my beading and this project lent itself to that thought pretty well. This particular chain is very fine and has such a nice draping quality, I felt bad tacking it down! It would make a great fringe.

I thought these laser cut wood links would make for an interesting element on the tree trunk. Kind of like a knot in the side of the tree. They are adorable and so detailed. I can't decide which wood I like the best; maple, cherry or walnut, so I used them all. . . .

Filling in with my favorite Toho hybrid seed beads (size 11 and 8) in that wonderful Matte Apollo shade, finished up my naked tree. These beads have such a cool color to them and are very uniform in size and shape.

In addition to beading the entire background in various shades of white and crystal beads, my original thought was to use the beaded buttons I made and stack them like a snowman, but they were too large and over powered my tree. I made up the smaller sized buttons and the outcome was just downright scary (Nightmare before Christmas, anyone???)

So, I'm not sure what the background is going to look like. . . . .

looks like a snow drift has developed so far.. . . .

~Bead Happy and Often~

FTC Disclosure:

The chain, wood links, and Toho seed bead were provided free of charge from Artbeads in exchange for my unbiased review of the products.

A story worth telling

2011-01-23T10:31:00.000-05:00

I had received an email from MzuriBeads awhile ago telling me about their efforts to make a film documentary about the Ugandan bead industry. They were asking for support by purchasing a bracelet made from a bark cloth bead, recycled paper bead, and a cow horn bead.

I made the purchase and I just got the bracelet in yesterday's mail and am so happy with it.

It's simple yet effective. The beads are huge (1") and compliment each other nicely. The cow horn bead has a beautiful finish to it and has taupe and cream accents, which are just barely visible in the pic (I should have turned the bead before I took the shot).

Check out the cool recycled magazine page gift bag it came in. How clever is that??!

If you want to help support Kirstie Maclean in her efforts to help the beadmakers of Uganda, you can read more about the project here.

~ Bead happy and often ~

beads interrupted

2011-01-19T18:35:00.002-05:00

I was having so much fun using Nicole's super-duper, awesome, how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it Beadbacking, making this (probably) pendant:

but then my Artbeads blogging for beaders program beads came in the mail, so I jumped over to that project (which, ironically, I'm also using Nicole's super-duper, awesome, how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it Beadbacking). I'm still in the beginning phase, so I'll dedicate my next post to my progress, but here's a sneak peek at the first stitches:

Hmm, whatever could that line have anything to do with the Winter Enchantment theme??! Stay tuned to find out ;)

This morning I had about 7 minutes before I needed to get to work, so I thought I'd get a bit of beading in. Remember my messy beading table from a few days ago?

Well, I still haven't cleared it off and I paid the price this morning. I set my coffee mug right down in the center of my beading mat (because my coffee coaster which sits off to the side was covered with, umm, stuff) and when I went to lift up my Ottlight to turn it on, I hit the edge of the mug and coffee spilled all over my project, beads, scissors, thread, etc etc. UGH! So, needless to say, I didn't get any beading done this morning and actually wound up being late to work because I had to clean up the mess. Hmm, and it wasn't even a Monday! Go figure.

~Bead Happy and Often ~

And baby makes 3

2011-01-14T17:28:00.001-05:00

Here's the last of my snow buttons. Its my favorite 'cupcake top' stitch!

Its fun to see that although they are all the same size base, they made up so differently.

While I was poking around, I came across this ring that I have no idea where I got it from:

So I made up a similar little flower that I stitched onto a small piece of that super-duper, awesome, how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it, Nicole's Beadbacking:

The beads I used were larger than the ring, but I still think it makes up into a sweet little buttercup kind of flower.

I'm in one of those frenzied beading modes where I don't take the time to clean off my table completely between projects.

If you look under the small pair of scissors, you'll see the components of what I'm working on now. I have no idea what it's going to be, but I mounted that blue/gray cab onto a piece of that super-duper, awesome, how-did-I-ever-bead-without-it Nicole's Beadbacking and am embellishing away, just having fun.

Even Rainy has given up trying to find a place on my table - now he steals my chair!

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

Gearing Up

2011-01-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

I'm planning on making a 5" x 7" piece with the theme "Winter Enchantment" as part of the Artbeads.com blogging for beaders program. Although I haven't received my order from them yet, I'm starting to collect a flurry of white beads from my stash. Poking around to see what I can find is always fun - there's always a surprise or two of things I come across that I had completely forgotten about! For example, I came across a couple packages of button forms that I bought ages ago.

With the white beads I had already put on my work table, I stitched these up in less than an hour.

Looks like in insect to me!

So Fun to do! But also a real lesson in editing -- not too many beads can fit on a 7/8" button top. I have one more form (they came in a package of 3 ~ Imagine that, my favorite number), so I'll do one more all white for my Winter Enchantment piece. I've got another package of 3/4" ones, but I'm going to set those aside for something else - maybe on a BJP piece, not sure. Gee, or maybe I'll end up forgetting about them again and stumble across them months from now! Wouldn't surprise me......

~ Bead Happy and Often ~

The Whole "KIT" 'n kaboodle

2011-01-06T12:10:00.001-05:00

I'm holding off on any bead embroidery projects until I get my order of Nicole's BeadBacking. From what I hear, its some pretty fantastic stuff. So in the meantime, I was scrounging around the studio and came across 2 kits gathering dust.

The first one is a simple bracelet kit from Mzuribeads featuring those awesome handmade paper beads. I'm not a 'stringer' kind of girl, so I tried to embelish the beads.

Neither attempt was any good, and I was getting annoyed. Simple stringing it is then.

Next I came across another one of those fan-tab-u-lous Toho Ring Kits that I got at Artbeads.com. I have said it before and I will say it again: I LOVE these kits! So organized, clear illustrations, gorgeous beads and takes just a bit over an hour to put together.

Just look at the focal bead! Just beauty-full.

Sunlight brings out some gorgeous turquoise green hues

You can see how domed the ring is - just loaded with beads!

A Family Portrait....

Psst, my ring family will soon be expanding. I just ordered another kit!

Links to the goodies:

Beadbacking -- Beadwright

Paper beads -- Mzuribeads

Ring Kit -- Artbeads.com

Bead Happy and Often

January BJP

2011-01-04T19:53:00.001-05:00

I decided to make my Bead Journal Project pieces 2 3/4" circles. Ok. Great.

Now time to choose a "theme." Not that choosing a theme is a requirement of the Project, I just thought it might help keep me on track. I happened to be digging for change one day and pulled out the Montana state quarter. Hmm, I wonder how many states I've been to. Well, looky there--I've been to 12 states. Sweet. There's my theme! Ok. Great.

Now what would I do with 12 circles at the end of the year? Hang them like a banner? Sew them together like a quilt ? No I didn't like either of those ideas. And then it hit me -- I'll make them into magnets and stick them on my fridge. Functional beadwork. You know I'm all about that. Ok. Great. Let's get started.

I put all the quarters into a little jar and chose one at random. Florida. Ah, nice to think about being in Florida when it's winter in Western New York.

Although I've been to Disney World twice and to Sarasota with my parents, that's not what I think about when I think of Florida. Instead I think about when I 'worked' in Miami for a summer as the adminstrative trainer for the company I worked for at the time. I find that to be really weird; but for whatever reason, Miami is what came to mind when I looked at that quarter. Not the family vacations, but work. Really? Gosh, that's weird.

It was in the early 1990s right at the time when South Beach was just beginning its rebirth. So many boarded up huge hotels, with a few reclaimed places scattered about. It was a neat place to be. I have great memories of the people I traveled with and those that I got to know who worked in the office. I remember the week after I finished up down there, Hurricane Andrew came to town and destroyed our office. It was hard to believe.

Oh for heaven's sake, girl, show the beads already! Sorry about all that blabbering on......

I thought I was going to peyote stitch the coin on, but I realized the beads would cover up too much of the coin, so I just glued it down.

As usual, you will see elements of 3 and 5 throughout the piece (symbolic of my 3 daughters and myself being 1 of 3 sisters and coming from a family of 5 and now being a family of 5).

Most obvious are the 3 leaves and the 3 waves, but let's take a closer look:

a stack of 3 flower sequins

3 little turqouise rounds

a little net of 3 triangles

3 Swarovski Bicones along the base of the coin

Just a small bit with 5 elements:

5 sequin bugle stacks surrounded by 5 pink and orange bugle paths
and if you look really close, 5 baby stacks in front of the bugle stacks

Here's a side view to get an idea of the texture.

And here's the back.

I split the edge colors to represent the sunset over the ocean. I stuffed it with just a bit of polyfill to try and fill out the edges (you can see the impressions of the 2 round magnets). My biggest concern would be if the magnets would be strong enough to keep it from sliding down the fridge - they are :)

I'm really looking foward to this year long journey of reflecting on where my life has taken me and I want to thank you for coming along for the ride!

Bead Happy and Often.

2011-01-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

Here's hoping 2011 will be filled with creativity and inspiration!

I personally am hoping for that and lots more, but I most hope to keep my attitude sunny and positive. Lately I've been letting myself get dragged down into this pit of ~b l a h~. That thick, sticky, hard-to-shake, motivation-creativity-sucking feeling of not wanting to do anything but sit on the couch and watch reality tv shows (my personal guilty pleasure). And even with all the support and caring and encouragement you guys send my way, I realize no one but me is going to be able to turn that attitude around. That's the only resolution I'm making this year - positive attitude.

I made two small beaded gifts this year:

A picture frame ornament for my niece Ashlee and her husband Adam.

I choose the red/black/white theme specifically because those were the colors of their wedding (this past August).

And an embellished drink coaster for my mom. Every year I give my mom something 'bird related'.

I had the perfect fabric in my stash (not that you can see very much of it in the finished project!).

And I choose my colors based on the chickadee.

I thought encasing the coaster with these stacks rather than a peyote stitch would be quicker. Not sure if it was.

I was so committed to using these beautiful potato pearls I had gotten at Artbeads ages ago, that even though their holes were so dinky tiny I had to use a long size 12 needle, I stuck with it. Believe me, I wanted to swap out different beads. Trying to bead through poster board, pellon, and the fabric with that long flimsy needle was a pain! So tedious.

Speaking of being committed.....no, silly, not in that way! I haven't been shoved into the rubber room (yet). I finished my first Bead Journal Project piece for January. I don't have any pics yet It was too dark tonight to take any, but as long as my computer continues to behave, I will post those up real soon! In the meantime here's the colors I used (except the loose beads - those didn't make the cut).

Big Hugs to everyone - thank you for saying all the right things when I need it most!

Bead Happy and Often!

enough already

2010-12-28T12:36:00.000-05:00

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

2010-12-09T10:56:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-11-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-11-20T15:40:00.001-05:00

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

2010-11-16T20:23:00.000-05:00

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

2010-11-15T17:19:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-28T19:48:00.000-04:00

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 !

Please Help and Lend a "Hand"

2010-10-23T11:26:00.001-04:00

Hello there!

Last year I participated in a project to raise money for breast cancer which is organized by Jeanette Shanigan. A lovely heart-working dedicated woman, to say the least.

Jeanette collects donated squares which have been beaded using a certain theme/motif and then creates fantastic 'quilts' which are then auctioned off at the Bead & Button Show each year.

The 2010 Breast Cancer Quilt(s) featured the turtle with the idea of "Remember the turtle; persistence, not speed, counts; a cure for breast cancer will be found."

The 2010 project auction raised $2,865 ! !

If you'd like to see the finished quilts, here's the link: http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.homestead.com/BCQuilts10.html

It was such a fun project, I want to do it again this year; won't you join me? The theme this year is the Hand....hmmm, can't wait to get started on that!

For details on the project, please go to: http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.homestead.com/GroundRulesBreastCancerDonationProject11.pdf

Joan's Cuff

2010-10-20T14:01:00.000-04:00

Lucky for me that the stars aligned in such a way as to bestow upon me the perfect timing of my friend Joan's request for a bracelet to match her dress and an email from Artbeads.com with their latest challenge as part of their Blogging for Beaders program.

Artbeads asked me to create something using the Pantone 2010 Fall Colors I'll be honest. My immediate thought was ....?Uh.....What? I didn't know what or who Pantone was. I always knew there were "in" colors and "out" (as in outdated) colors, but I can't say I ever really knew who determined that.

So I jumped over to the Pantone Report and found there were (are) 10 colors for this year. I couldn't believe my luck! 5 of those colors would be perfect for Joan's dress bracelet! YiPpEE!

Look at their dreamy names:

Golden Glow

Purple Orchid

Chocolate Truffle

Oyster Gray

Rose Dust

Don't they just describe Joan's dress perfectly????

Now, for the hard part. Choosing from the HUGE selection carried by Artbeads.com! Yikes. I knew this was going to take a while.....

But the winners are:

Swarovski Pearls in Mocca, Maroon and Mauve ~ scrumptious colors!

Druk beads in Champagne Luster and Light Amethyst Luster ~ amazing luster on these!

Fire-polished faceted rounds in crystal twilight and dark bronze ~ very nice!

Toho 3mm Bugle in Raku Cabernet Iris ~ such a great color and super uniform in size!

Toho 11 seed beads in Marbled Rose Crystal and Marbled Periwinkle ~ I never knew that there were marbeled colored seeds!! They are my new fav :)

Toho size 6 seed bead in Gilt-Lined Mauve ~ absolutely beautiful shade!

I found a perfect cabachon in my stash along with some other elements and here it is:

I edged the cuff in the 4mm Crystal Twilight Fire-Polished faceted rounds and I like the elegant touch.

I was having such a good time with this color palette, that I couldn't resist making a ring!

I think it makes a great set and matches the dress quite well!

OOPS! After I took the pictures, I realized I wanted to put a row of size 15 seeds along the cabachon bezel! Oh for heaven's sake! But I was able to get them on even with the bracelet already finished:

And the best part......Joan loves it!

FTC Disclosure: The elements listed above were provided to me free of charge from Artbeads.com in exchange for my review of the products.

Hi Friends!

2010-10-18T07:52:00.000-04:00

My computer is STILL M.I.A. My repair guy took it away on the 7th, told me I'd have it back on the 12th at the latest. Still don't have it back! Annoying to say the least. So I have gotten Claire to set me up on her laptop so I can re-connect to you all. I am zipping out the the door to work, so I don't have much time at the moment, but I am so excited to get back on-line and spend some time visiting everyone.

Thank you all so much for the nice comments and emails ! I'm sorry I haven't had the opportunity to get back to you yet. Between not having my computer and running back and forth between the 'city home' and 'county home', well, you know. . . not enough hours in the day :)

Hugs!

Back to the Beads!

2010-09-25T20:59:00.001-04:00

Here's my baby Twigs looking all bling-ed out and almost finished

click to enlarge any of the pictures

But then, sigh, so much more to do......

And here is Jenna's braceled edged.

I love it - it's pretty big; over 2 inches wide.

Joan (Jenna's mom) asked me to make a cuff for her to go with this dress:

I've started it, but no pics yet.....

And finally, my lucky win from Mzuribeads arrived today. It's a bracelet kit and I absolutely love the colors! It was a giveaway posted on Craft Gossip, which is a pretty nifty site - it's got every kind of creative medium covered.

Ok now that we filled our bead need, I wanted you to laugh along with me as you watch the train chug past my new place:

It went by again this morning, which is only the second time I've seen it. This time it was a passenger train, so I got to stand out there and wave to everyone. They probably were thinking "oh my God, who would ever want to live so close to the tracks??" Oh if they only knew the circumstances that brought me to living here! Even I can't believe it ! Oh well, it is what it is.

Bead Happy and Often!

Just Checking In

2010-09-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

I still haven't had any time to figure out what is going on with my home computer - that dreaded blue death screen keeps appearing - so I have no beading pictures, sorry about that. And I have had no time here at work to see what all you talented beings have been up to!! Drat.

But I just wanted to let you know Hannah and I are settling in to our new 'country home' as we like to call it. Our first night there was Sunday. So far so good. I have convinced myself that ITS ALL GOOD. Hannah is happy and its been soooooo long since I've been able to say that, I am just focusing on that. Everything else will fall into place.

Last Thursday I spent the day cleaning the country place (and doing a fair amount of boo-hooing, I admit). Just the night before, Hannah and I went to listen to a motivational speaker by the name of Ron Bachman. (Please, if you have the time -- no please make the time -- go see his story.) So I was in the middle of cleaning the kitchen window which overlooks the railroad tracks and I was in the midst of a raging pity party, when I thought of Ron. I immediately got mad at myself and said to myself:

SO WHAT??!

So What that the light at the end of the tunnel you saw when Hannah was happily attending her new school turned out to be the oncoming train?! Get over it - get on with it!

And then, I swear I'm not making this up, I heard the train whistle. I grabbed my camera and ran out the front door and got a video of the train roaring past the apartment - what a sight! I was cracking up laughing the whole time it went by. How freakin' ironic was that timing??! I'll post the video as soon as I can either: (a) figure out what is going on with my computer or (b) wrestle Claire's laptop from her and use that.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

Things are looking up

2010-09-15T12:24:00.000-04:00

Yippee for me! I won some free beads from the MzuriBeads folks!

My home computer is still down, so I am posting from the office (shhhh). So no pics for now on Twigs or the finished cuff :( I'm going to wrangle my daughter's laptop from her so I can spend some time catching up on everyone's blogs and get some pics up.

Hugs!

Moving On

2010-09-14T13:19:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for the encouragement!

I woke up at 2:13 a.m. and immediately felt the pity party starting. I got up so as not to wake Pete and after having myself a good cry, was going to get on line to distract myself and see what everyone has been up to here in blog land. As (bad) luck would have it, my computer has taken ill -- the dreaded blue screen!! OH NO!

So, I put on my Ipod and pecked away at Twigs while trying not to allow the tears or the shaking hands from slowing me down. He's looking good - almost done with his whole side :)

After spending the majority of the day yesterday on the phone trying to get to the bottom of this mess I did learn that the new school rejected Hannah because she was suspended last year. Remember she was suspended as a result of 3 girls attacking her and therefore was involved in a fight - but the school doesn't care about the circumstances; just the fact that she was suspended is enough for them to deny admission. Once I got over the anger at the unfairness of it, I actually felt good about it. It made me realize this is a school that actually CARES about who is coming to their school!

I signed my lease today and got my electrical service established. Its a 6-month lease and my plan is to approach the School Board in 4 months and ask them to re-instate Hannah as a non-resident tuition paying student so that we can move back home and get our family back together.  I know Hannah will do me proud and give them no reason to see her as a 'delinquent'.  The poor kid just wants a fresh start and have the opportunity to make friends and actually learn, rather than being scared to death over who is waiting around the corner to harrass her.

My Monday - Friday daily routine is going to go something like this:
Hannah will get the bus at 6:45 a.m., I'll leave the apartment and get home in time to see Meghan off to school, kiss my husband goodbye and wish Claire a good day at work, head to the office, go back to the apartment to get Hannah around 3 p.m., come back home to make dinner and have 'family time', return to the apartment around 9:30 ish for the night.

I CAN DO THIS!!!

Short Lived Peace

2010-09-12T18:24:00.000-04:00

I received some devasting news on Friday upon picking Hannah up from her new school. Somehow or another, there was a serious lack of communication between the school and the school board. The school board has denied Hannah's admission. This came as a complete and utter shock, as I had received and paid her tuition bill which came from the school board. So how they 'didn't know' she was attending without 'permission' from them is beyond me. It is a mess and confusing and at the time, I was so distraught I could barely speak, so I walked away in a state of despair with my head spinning and my heart broken. The principal assured me there was no problem at all with Hannah and in fact, he had seen her making friends and fitting in very nicely.  He feels terrible and I do believe him, he is a very nice man. I know he only follows the rules, he doesn't make them. I do know that the contract I signed did state that the Board has every right to revoke admission without reason at any time. That's exactly what they did.

So after many tears and discussions, we have come up with Plan B. Hannah loves that school and she deserves to be there after all she has gone through.  Our only option is to move into the district.   Moving the entire family at a moment's notice is out of the question, so tomorrow I will be apartment hunting in the district and as long as the place isn't completely disgusting, Hannah and I will be moving. Unbelievable. I don't see any other way around this. It will be a huge adjustment and a sacrifice to say the least, but that is the only way I can insure her attendance without being at the mercy of the School Board.

If I think too much about it, I feel completely overwhelmed and feel myself breaking down. So I am going to KEEP CALM and CARRY ON.   At least that's the plan. Wish me luck - I'll keep you posted.

Oh I'm so touched.....

2010-09-09T10:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I was just getting ready to post about my cuff bracelet progress, and I saw that I had 6 comments to review. (After a nasty "anonymous" commented on one post, I want to see any comments before they were published)

So I check these new comments......and.....well......I have to admit I got a little teary (I'm a crier, I admit it freely).

You ladies ROCK!!!! Thank you so much for all the love. It's so so nice to know that you are interested in what I am doing and I really consider you all friends. Really. Truly. I still struggle with the weirdness of saying I'm a friend with someone whom I've never met face to face, but the fact is, I do consider you friends. I just wish I could meet each of you and give you a heart-felt hug. (ok, so I'm a hugger too!) Just to actually hear your voices and laugh together....now that would be a blast!

I'm always a little hesitant to expose "me" through my blog, I feel like I should just stick to my beadlife. I guess I don't expect anyone to really care about my "life"life - but are just looking for some eye candy, inspiration, etc. You girls make me realize that my blog is more than just about the beading. Its about making friends, finding kindred spirits. ~sigh, what could be better than that?

So, anyway, here's the cuff mounted:

click to enlarge

Just waiting for the glue to dry real well before I put on the edging.

Ok, and now a little slice of my "life" life:

As many of you know, my daughter Hannah had a very rough sophomore year due to a gang of girls whose only purpose in life was to torment her in any way they could [and the school administration (and the entire court system, actually) were complete failures in stopping it].

So returning to her school was completely out of the question. I am beyond happy to say that Hannah started at her new school yesterday and I have to say, she is a changed person. The happy, bubbly, chatter box is back! She was literally bursting with relief and happiness that the kids AND the teachers AND the entire staff are the nicest people ever. Do you have any idea how it feels to hear this ????!!!! Talk about RELIEF! I think I'm happier than she is :) I wish I could turn back the clock 2 years and have her start in that district as a freshman!

Back to the laundry.......

Bead Happy and Often!

Back in the Groove

2010-09-08T06:15:00.002-04:00

My good friend, Joan, asked me to make a cuff bracelet for her 19-year-old daughter Jenna in black, silver and gray. Absolutely. Would love to.

So I started off with one of those gigantic 34 mm labradorite coin beads I had in my stash and off I went. Beading aimlessly, not really sure what the design was going to be. My favorite kind of beading. Unplanned. Spontaneous. I think I like this type of beading because my life doesn't have a lot of room for spontaneity. Anyway, this is what emerged:

Click any picture to enlarge

I needed an edge bead, and couldn't find enough size 8 in a black or silver and knew an 11 would look to whimpy, so I hunted through my beads and found this bag of cuties:

Spent some time digging through to pick out just the black beads and I'm ready to go.

"Just" need to put the edging on.

That won't take any time at all.....famous last words......

Bead Happy and Often!

2 "Wishes" Granted

2010-09-04T09:32:00.001-04:00

Awoke this morning to 57 degrees and crisp gorgeous blue sky with scary gray globs of clouds scattered around. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Feeling invigorated and ashamed at the accumulation of dust, fur, and miscellaneous paperwork, etc., scattered about my studio, I set to work.

I first looked at the small bulletin board that hangs above my filing cabinet. Hmm, a letter from the high school telling me that if I didn't return Hannah's Earth Science book I would have to fork over $40. Since I delivered that book over a month ago, I thought it was time I tossed the notice, right? Down it came and underneath it was a mix of scraps of paper and post-it-notes that I had written the titles of various books that I had wanted to read.

Here's one:

Now, how funny is this? The girls and I had gone to the library last week and under this HUGE print of Niagara Falls was a display of the latest "One Book One Community" event. Guess what book it is......

Yep.

But what's really hysterical, is that I didn't even remember that was one of the books on my wish list until I saw it this morning on my bulletin board. Of course, notice the date of the paper that I wrote it on - a full year ago! I decided not to toss my little note - I tucked it into the pages of the book to remind me what a dope I am sometimes :)

Back to the cleaning..............enjoy your day!

Promises Promises

2010-09-03T06:18:00.000-04:00

I am so SICK of summer.

There.

I said it.

I can't believe I said it.

I know that when the wind is whipping the snow around and it is dark at 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. I will be kicking myself for thinking this way. But the heat and humidity this summer has dragged me down into a pit of the blahs.

My body isn't made for the heat. My head pounds at the slightest bit of exertion.   My ankles and feet swell and it actually hurts to walk. I'm tired of having a sweat mustache.    Ever try blowdrying your hair while you're sweating? (my hair must be blown dry, trust me - I have the worst hair on earth!)

I miss walking my dog. I miss digging in the garden (technically now a jungle). I miss feeling energized and motivated.    I miss beading and knitting and zentangling. I don't even feel like doing what I love. I try.   Really, I do. Mind over matter and all that.   But after 10 minutes I'm drained. I wind up sitting on the couch with the fan blasting reading through a magazine or staring at the TV. Soooooo not me!

I want to wear my knitted socks and my ultra-comfy stretch jeans with a long sleeve T shirt and walk the dog.    I want to go hiking into the Niagara Gorge and watch the rapids.   I want to bake and cook!   I want to clean my house. What?! Clean the house? Oh my, the heat has definitely melted my brain.

The weather forecaster says I'll get my wish. Tomorrow the forecast is for a high of 68 degrees!! WHOO HOO!

(thanks for listening to me whine - anybody got any cheese to go with that???)

True Love

2010-08-28T20:05:00.000-04:00

My niece had the most unbelievable photographers for her wedding.

Not only are Rich and Alyssa the nicest couple, they are amazingly talented. If you have a minute or two and can appreciate amazing photography, take a look see at some of Ashlee and Adam's wedding pics:

Best Wedding Pictures Ever!!!! Thanks Nickel City Studios!

Wait til you see how creative the picture of their wedding rings are. LOVE IT!

(And sorry to disappoint some of you - there will be no pics of my dress and purse. Didn't take any. Didn't even think about it to tell you the truth.)

It's Official

2010-08-23T20:51:00.000-04:00

My niece is now a married woman!

My brother-in-law Dino, my sister Laurel, my niece Alexandria, my 'new' nephew Adam, my niece Ashlee, Mom, Dad

And yes, if you look really closely (clicking the pic might help), you can even see the bracelet and earrings I made for my sister and the bracelet I made on that beautiful bride! See, you knew there had to be a beading connection didn't you???

And since I haven't done any beading since finishing my purse, that will just have to do for now. :)

Bead Happy and often (at least more often than me at the moment!!)

Wedding Purse Finished!

2010-08-16T21:58:00.001-04:00

Here's the dress

Here's the purse

(click on the pictures to get ultra close)

Two super strong magnets hold the flap down.

Hard to get a good picture of the full design, since it's so round.

I used the same crystal circles for the strap rings that I used to make Laurel's bracelet for the wedding (the pattern is from the June/July issue of BeadWork)

I was so happy to find this ultrasuede in my stash. It made the perfect lining.

I'm thinking next on the table will be a cuff bracelet in blacks/grays for my friend Joan's daughter.

I have those awesome labradorite disks that will work perfectly.

Bead Happy and Often !

It was NEVER My Intention

2010-08-12T18:26:00.009-04:00

to cause harm. Really. Truly. I am heartbroken over this. But I have been contacted by a member of the Tuscarora Nation that my posts on the subject are being seen as, umm, I guess you could say an infringement on their culture and I've been asked to stop sharing the stitch techniques. I can only assume they feel they should be the only ones to share this knowledge and they want to choose with whom they share it. I think that is a shame. I've never been competitive and it's just my nature to want to share. I am truly sorry for offending anyone.

All posts in which I have shared the techniques have been deleted (a mere 2 posts, I might add), as well as my YouTube videos (a whopping 3). I will also discontinue the Tuscarora Tuesday posts. I will continue to admire and appreciate the history of the pieces, but will no longer actively promote the preservation of this art form.

I came across this a while ago and thought it very appropriate to share with you now:

AMEN TO THAT.

Tuscarora Tuesday

2010-08-10T21:08:00.000-04:00

So much to see in this case!

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Clicking on the pictures should bring you even closer.

I could study them for hours!

Almost didn't see the little strawberry tucked in here!

So sweet they are!

Speaking of Sweet -- today is Hannah's Sweet 16!

We celebrated by going to The Chocolate Bar, of course!

Hannah, Pete, Meghan

Thanks for the Feedback!

2010-08-08T21:34:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone for sharing their feelings on the wedding invitation. Even my 19 year-old took one look at it and said "ouch". And I swear I didn't say anything to her before she saw it!

If anyone (other than Marty) is interested in learning my "zipper stitch", here's the link to a post I did and here's the YouTube video I made on it.

Enjoy :)

"Wedding" Purse

2010-08-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

After shipping off my purse to Beading for A Cure, I kicked myself in the rear and started one for me.

This is the dress I'll be wearing to my niece's wedding in August and then another wedding (friend of my husband) in September:

(It's got some shimmer to it, though you can't tell)

And here's the start of my purse to match it. The velvet isn't really that shiny in person - its a nice rich brown.

I used my favorite "zipper stitch" border, but this time I left some space in between the two rows and added 4 mm bicones in the space. I really am happy with it. It feels so good to just 'play' again - not following a pattern and just experimenting. I'm going to put more leaves and vines along the edge and around the flower too.

If I don't get it finished by my niece's wedding, the next one isn't until September 18, so hopefully I'll get it done by then.

Ok, so now I'd like your opinion on something. We received the invitation to the September wedding yesterday and this is how it was addressed on the inside envelope:

My immediate reaction was "How RUDE". If you don't know my name by now, perhaps you should have asked Pete or at the very least address it as "Mr. and Mrs. Pete Batt." I sooooo want to write out their gift check as Jason Miller and Wife. Am I being overly sensitive???? Please be honest - Pete laughed when he saw it. I guess I just don't see the humor.

Tuscarora Tuesday

2010-08-03T21:18:00.000-04:00

~Sigh~

What a beautiful collection in this display box.

I love the braiding around this frame.

I see the frame and the wall pockets have the same fringe I learned in my last class.

Sweet little lacey border on this one.

Interesting geometric design.

Bead Happy and Often !