Cheat Sheets

This is my homemade cheat sheet.
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One of the biggest challenges I face when I make beads is the challenge of combining colors. It's really a challenge at times, for me, to put together colors that blend and please the eye. I have been working on ways to do this. Yes, I do have a color wheel, and I use that a lot!!!!!

This cheat sheet came about one day as I was looking at earthen, organic colors in my glass. As it often happens, I opened a magazine advertising clothing in beautiful earth tones. Immediately I tore out the two pages and began to cut the sheets up. The colors blend well together. Graphic artists are much more experienced than I am in the area of combining colors. It was a no brainer. I made my first cheat sheet, and it has helped. Now, I do a little bit of planning, and soon, I am making beads with colors that coordinate and contrast as they should.






These beads were inspired by the the second tab on the left hand side of my cheat sheet. I think it's beginning to work. You can find Pathways here. They remind me of trails and paths in the sands of life.

Now, my goal is to develop a cheat sheet for the brighter colors that I love! I'll show that later!

Let me know if you use this idea! I'd be interested in the results. Until tomorrow, then....

One of my ABSOLUTE favorite Etsy Stores

I love Hound's Closet on Etsy! This is where I buy Pixie's martingale collars. These are the collars designed for use with greyhounds in particular. This is the collar that Pixie is wearing now. Hmmmmmm. I wonder why?



Now, how about this pumpkin collar?
Isn't it great? Your dog will be already for Halloween with this great collar! It's a 1.5 inch collar. Pixie just sighed when I told her about it!





Jan's store is full of more great collars.
I have to tell you that the quality if great, too. You will never have to worry about getting an inferior product here!

Look at this Navajo collar. It's beautiful!








Jan is now featuring an Ebook that looks great! This collar is great for any dog!



Well, that's all I'm going to show you for now. Make a visit to The Hounds' Closet on Etsy. It will be a fun one for you!

What a Great Week!

I was featured in two treasuries! Isn't that nice? It's not too late to click and comment if you have the time. Be sure to run your mouse over the text. The highlighted links don't show very well, but they are there!


This treasury is called, "A Dreamy Winter, A Dream of You." You can view the treasury here.





















This is the other treasury: Fall for Autumn. You can view it here.
It's never too late to click and comment.


You might also want to visit the curators' shops.

jenuine jewels: Visit her shop here.
Maulani: Visit her shop here.

Great treasuries! Thanks for the inclusions!

Torching for Beads of Courage

It was a productive morning this week when I torched for Beads of Courage. I actually made 10 beads for BOC, but if you count, there are only 9 beads in the photo. The truth is that one of the beads was soooooooooooooooo UGLY, that I threw it away, and I can promise you, it will never see the light of day again. However, I am happy with the beads in the photo. There are two butterflies, one turkey, one cupcake, one mushroom (shroom), one pumpkin monster, and three glow in the dark beads. They do add up. I can hardly wait to send my next box of beads in to the Beads of Courage headquarters!

Three Beautiful Things Friday

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Clare writes called Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) Today, Pixie is 6 years old! Happy Birthday, my sweet, little princess! I treasure the day you came into my life! You are a great friend, and you've come a long way in the year since we have been together.

2) Although none of the labs drew enough blood for them to check the numbers on Jenny's cancer, she's doing well. We are all so very thankful for that! She's so strong, and, as terrible as this experience has been, I have seen the strength of my children, and I am in awe when I see the amazing adults they are! We have grown closer as a family. In spite of the trials, there are many blessings!

A quick update: They finally drew enough blood, and the labs are good! The markers are going down! Another blessing today!

3) I finally made a bead that I have been working on for 2 years! It finally worked! I am so thrilled with that!