Three Beautiful Things This Week

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) Yes, the temperatures have cooled off a lot here in Southern Minnesota, but the sunshine has returned, and we have warmed up to more pleasant temperatures in the afternoon. This was one cold, rainy morning. At least, there has been no measurable snow yet. I'm very happy with that.

2) I won a blog give away sponsored by Andrew Thornton! I won 3 amazing lampwork beads made by Faith Davis Ferris! Thank you Andrew and Faith!

3) I found out that sooner, not later, I am going to need a new knee. My doctor told me that when I can't take the discomfort any more to call him, and I'll be visiting an orthopedic surgeon. The good news is that it could be worse, and I think I have time to adjust to this idea. The other good news is that the "knees" that are available now work very well. Thank heavens, it will only be one knee at a time.

Woooo Hooooo! Look what Came in the Mail!!!

About a week ago, I discovered Andrew Thornton's blog. That Thurdsday,
Andrew had his regular Thursday blog give away.
I entered, and, I won!!!!!
Yahoo!
Today, the beads, made by Faith Davis Ferris, arrived.
Aren't they great?
Now, I have to decide how to use them.

Stay tuned.
More will follow later!

Thank you, Andrew.
Thank you, Faith!
I love my new beads!

So, You've Got the Headpins, Now, what do you do?

I made these headpins using brass wire.
Here's an easy peasy tutorial on how to make some earrings.

Step 1:
Slip a crystal or other bead on the wire.
(I told you this was easy.)

Step 2:
About a 1/2 and inch away from the bead,
bend the wires using your fingers or a mandrel of your choice.
Here, I used a knitting needle.

Step 3:
Using a ruler,
measure about 1 inch down from the bent part of the wire.

Step 4:
Cut the wires using your wire cutters at about the 1 inch mark.

Step 5:
Using a file (I used an emery board,) file the ends of the wire so that there are no sharp edges.

Step 6:
Gently work harden the wire. I used my chasing hammer and bench block.
I hammered the top edge of the earring flat.

It only took about 10 minutes per set.
It's quick and easy to do.
Headpins work great!

Celebrate! Celebration!

On Thanksgiving, our "extended" family gathers at one home or another to celebrate
the day.
With an adult table for those of us who are over, well, let's say, those of us who are the parents
of the adult children,
and
a table for the children,
and now,
children of the children,
we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving.
We eat the meal that took hours to cook.
We talk.
The children run and play.
The men gather to watch the game on TV.
The women do the dishes and wonder why.
We sort out the left overs.
Then, everyone goes home to
nap and watch more TV.

Now, Pixie, she puts up with whatever goes on her head,
no matter the season. Then, she sleeps.

Now, when I celebrate my birthday,
I buy a new pair of shoes.
Then,

Jenny drives,
and
I have my margarita for the year.

When Nick comes home, Pixie takes care of her man.
Nick relaxes and Pixie grooms him, then

they cuddle on the couch.

Jenny celebrates with her love for animals.
Then when it's just us,
we talk,
we eat,
we rest,
and
Pixie
sleeps.
That's our celebration.

Bernadette Fuentes, Master Artist and Teacher

I'd like to introduce you to Bernadette Fuentes, master artist, teacher, one of the most creative glass artists I have ever met.
I recently took an online class at CrafteEdu.com.
That class was titled: Flameworked Off Mandrel Hand,
and
it was taught by Bernadette.
Now, I don't have my hand to show you,
I need to watch the class again.
I have 11 times more to watch it in the next year.
I think I am going to need all of those viewings.
Bernadette makes something that is very difficult look very easy.
This tutorial is absolutely wonderful!
Bernadette explains each step completely.
However, there is a significant difference in her abilities and mine.
I need to watch the class more times so that I can make an off mandrel hand.

Now, Bernadette did send me some photos of her hands.
However,
because I have a quick delete hand,
I accidentally deleted it.
My next option was to photograph the hand I own
and show that to you.
So, I did.
In structure,
it is the same hand.
The colors are different.
I love my BF hand!
If you check out Bernadette's web site,
you'll be able to see
the hand that she teaches.
It is awesome
and
very reasonably priced.
Bernadette also offers another class on CraftEdu.com.
The class is called
Clear Encased Flower Bead.
That class is next on my list of online classes.
Now,
enjoy the photos I was able to steal from
Bernadette's Facebook Page.

Master artist!

Amazing Beads

Master Teacher!