Where I spent the Last Couple of Days!

Nordic Gypsy

It was so cold the days I was there, I had to take a photo of the store from the inside!
However, inside, it was nice and warm!
I was truly in my happy place
with all the beads!
Here's Beth, Tracy, and Willow posing in front of their stars!
They are great to work with, and they know their stuff when it comes to beads
They have a lot of classes at this store, too.
That's the classroom behind the stars and beads.
So many wonderful creations come out of this room!
Look at all of those amazing beads!
Not only that, there are more!
Love those seed beads!
More and more for the eye to see!
So, if you are in Rochester, MN, be sure to stop and visit!
They'd love to meet you!
You won't be disappointed!

Shopping Etsy: Search word: Fabric Flowers

It's official!

I need spring!
I am getting tired of the cold and snow.
In December, my town had a record 36 inches of snow that month alone!
So, I went window shopping on Etsy using the search term:
Fabric flowers, and here's what I found.
Actually, it's only a few of what I found.
This is from Boho Chic Creations on Etsy.
Isn't it a gorgeous necklace with fabric flowers?
If you click here, you will find it.

This is an amazing statement necklace that I found in the store of
Fresh Metal on Etsy.
The flowers are absolutely stunning!
If you click here, you can find it and see it for yourself.


Eileen, of Dorset Hill Beads, has this fabulous flower brooch in her store!
I love it!
It's funky, fun, and fabulous.
If you click here, you can see it for yourself.
This beautiful necklace is from Treasures 570 on Etsy.
It's so lovely!
If you click here, you can see it for yourself.

Now, wasn't that fun?
What can you find?

Work Word: Details

I am looking forward to actually being able to begin my work developing details in my beads.

As we walk the halls of Mayo Clinic and the areas around the clinic,
I have found many "details" I hope to duplicate, or use for inspiration, when I return home.
I honestly don't think I could duplicate them, but I can use them for inspiration in my work.
Here are a few of the ones I found in the fabric of carpets and chairs.

Carpet in the halls of the motel.
Look at the detailed work that would make for good stringer practice.
For my non glassy friends,
stringers are, literally, thin pieces of glass (strings) pulled from a larger rod.
Stringer control is one of those dreams for me!
Same carpet, different section.
More and more lines and patterns to use as details in my beads.
If I can accomplish these details, I will have developed excellent stringer control.
A patterned section of chair at the Mayo Clinic.
I can see the leaf being imprinted on a bead. I need to make a stamp for that.
Cool!
Look at the subtle variations in color.
I can see these being dots that are melted then, using gravity, flowing into a subtle pattern of color.
More details.
Now, I'm starting to see them.
Look at these lines. Wouldn't lines and contrasting colors look great with dots in between.
I am seeing the details and being inspired now.
I only wish I had my torch and kiln.
A week to go, and I can make it.
I'm pulling out my sketch book and getting to work!
Let the evolution of detailed designs begin!

Now, my question to you is,
Can you use these details in your work?
How will you use them?

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.


(This photo is of an Andy Worhol painting the we saw as we wandered the halls of Mayo Clinic.)


1) DUH! Jenny's M Spike, the main cancer indicator, was .0--No cancer indicated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so grateful to God for this!!!!!!! She's not cured, but she's in remission for now.
Thank YOU, Lord!!!!

2) As we walk the halls of Mayo Clinic, the art becomes a focus. The art is spectacular and amazing! I feel so privileged to be able to see all of these magnificent works of art!

3) People are kind. A friend did something special for me yesterday. It was such a day brightener! It completed my day!

When The Ripples of Hope Begin to Flow

Hope! Does it spring eternal? Not always, at least, not with me. When it's your child, when it's cancer, hope is very difficult to feel.

Yesterday, hope finally lifted it's beautiful head and showed a smile and light. Jenny's M Spike, the major cancer marker for multiply myeloma, the cancer which invaded Jenny's body and was diagnosed in July, was .0--No cancer detected!!!!!! Six months into treatment, no cancer was detected!!!

Today, I feel hope!

Thank you, God!