Rainbow Beads for Beads of Courage Dream Bead Requests

We all received an email from Ashley at Beads of Courage

informing us that there were Dream Bead Requests.

I clicked on the link, and I searched the requests.

Two caught my eye because they were for rainbow beads for a 

4 year old child and an 8 year old child.

I thought, "What the heck," and I threw caution to the wind.

It was fun, but far more challenging than I ever imagined it could be.

How could a beautiful rainbow be difficult to make?

Well, let me tell you!

Here's the batch of beads I sent off to BOC today,

and,

yes, they were all attempts, except for two that I thought were okay.

All kinds, as you can see.

I'm not crazy about these rainbows, but maybe a child will call them tee-pees?

Now, I really liked these, but I felt they were too abstract for a 4 year old and 8 year old who wanted rainbow beads.

These were my favorite style, but as you can see, they weren't the best.

These are the backs of the same beads!

I thought these were my best ones. 

I hope the children like their beads.

It was my privilege to be a part of this program!

You go, kids!!!

We are rooting for all of you!

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) Cataract surgery was a success!  Next one is on Monday!  I am so happy with the results!  I can't express how happy I am!

2) Lenoard Nimoy made a guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory last night!  What a wonderful show!  If you didn't see it, please do!  I laughed out loud through the entire show!

3)  Pixie was in a mood to pose yesterday.  She is so cute.  She strikes a pose and looks at me.  That's how I know when she wants to pose!  She is such a joy!  She's a special friend to me!

When Inspiration Flies

Imagine my shock when I looked up and saw this sculpture.  It's called Sky Diver, and from where I was standing this amazing character looked like he was in free fall. 

This is my kind of art!  I love abstract!  I love sculpture.   I love joy and hope!  This sculpture has everything I like about art, except for glass.  So, I decided that one day, and I'm not sure when, this sculpture will be a bead.

It should be fun to make.  I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, but when I do, and it might be a while, I'll show the bead.  I have a feeling that with this one, the glass will do what it wants to do.
We'll see. 

Soon, my pretty, very soon!

Who Else but the Diva?

Pixie loves her treats!!!  She loves them so much that when she eats them, she spreads her cache all over the floor.  The word treat takes Pixie to the place in the kitchen where her favorite treat is located.  What is Pixie's favorite treat?  Usually, any kind of junk food treat.  With all the problems with the ingredients in treats from other countries, I have to keep an eye on what she eats.  I do have her "healthy" treats on hand, too.  Usually, they are her least favorite to the point where I pick them off the floor, not eaten.  Sheesh!  She's such a diva!!!

Fast forward. Pixie and I were out for a walk recently, when one of Pixie's friends came out for a visit.  No, I'm not talking about another dog, I'm talking about one of the neighbors.  Pixie saw her and ran to her!  Pixie knows that the neighbor always has treats for her!!!  As we chatted, the neighbor was feeding Pixie treats.  Neither of us paid attention until the neighbor said, "She's really hungry today."  We both looked down to see Pixie spit out the treats.  She didn't like them.  I was so embarrassed!  I just smiled, pulled Pixie along.  Our neighbor found 10 treats on her driveway.  I guess Pixie really didn't like them.  I think they were expensive, too.  I only wish we could avoid the house for a while.  No matter, I don't think Pixie will be getting any more treats for a bit from her favorite neighbor!!

An Artist Worth Seeing - Bernadette Fuentes

When I look at Bernadette's glass art,

I see organic, tribal, primitive, explosive, exciting.

As an artist, Bernadette has brought to glass what a true artist would bring to any medium:

innovation, tradition and creativity.

Take a look at some of Bernadette's work.

I think you'll agree with me!

 Romantic Sunset (Glass Nautilus)

Little Fish 

Heart of Fire (Ancient Nomad)

 Warm Sandy Beach

Turquoise Heart

See What I mean?  There's no need to say more.
You can find Bernadette's Etsy store HERE.

I am Really Stuck on Red!

I've always loved red!

As I looked through my Etsy store, the other day,

I realized 

I AM STUCK ON RED!

Look at these pillows.

Red.

I love this color combination:

red and purple!

Flowers!

I love this

RED Heart!

I covered it with my silvered ivory shards.

They tone down the Red, but it's still Red!

This Strawberry is

RED!

I know, strawberries, unless they are dipped in chocolate, are red!

Then there's 

Splatt!

Splatt is based on red!

So, now that I realize this,

I need to make beads in different colors,

what would you suggest?

I'm just stuck on red!

(And if you look around my Etsy store, you'll find a lot more red.)

Help!

I Heart Macro! - The Great Chile Cook Off Jewelry

I HEART MACRO
I was number 11.  Number 9 won.  Oh, so close!

Chili Cook Off Jewelry! 


Memories are made by doing, then preserved with love!

Who said that?  ooops!  I did!

Normally,

I am not a person who enjoys making jewelry.

I'd rather make beads and enjoy what designers make with them.

However, when an event is at hand that sounds like fun,

I love to make jewelry that will make me smile when I remember that special event.

I've already talked about the 

Great Chile Cook Off.

Being from the Southwest, that was an event I wanted to preserve.

So, I did make jewelry.

 There was the necklace with the chile peppers.

(I made all the beads!)

I added matching earrings to the necklace.

Could any jewelry collection be complete without a bracelet for one arm and

bangles for the other arm?

Here's what the jewelry looked like on.

 I really like it,

and I smile when I remember the fun of the

Great Chile Cook Off!

I Heart Macro!

The Great Chile Cookoff Recipe

At last,

the Great Chile Cook Off has come to the church I attend.

It's tonight.

I entered.

Since we have to provide a recipe, 

I'm giving you a sneak peek!

It's quick and easy to make,

and

absolutely delicious!!!

Are You Ready?

Here Goes!

Mountain Man Gluten Free Chile

Here's what you need and what you do with it!

2 pounds of hamburger meat.

Brown this.

Garlic and a small onion.

Chop.

I used about 5-6 cloves.  Since I love garlic, I would have used the entire head, but this is a cook off and other people might not like garlic like I do.

Peel and chop the onion.

Two large cans of PINTO Beans.

DO NOT EVER USE 

kidney beans!

Kidney beans are God's mistake.

He forgot he had already invented the pinto bean.

Two packets of chile seasoning.

I like to use one HOT and one mild.

Two cans of chopped tomatoes.  I used the ones that have garlic in them.

Potatoes.

I used 6 small ones that I had precooked in the microwave.

Before you add the salt to taste, be sure to add the small package of frozen corn that I forgot to photograph.

Add salt to taste.

Take your browned hamburger and drain it well.

I put mine in a colander and let it drain until it was finished, then I pushed on it with a paper towel to get out as much fat as I could.

Put it all in your biggest crockpot.  This recipe makes a lot!

I programed my crock pot for 8 hours.  

I put the chile in the crock pot over night.

I took it out this morning and cooked it.

I have to have it and the recipe at the church by 5:15 PM.

Wish me luck!

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) Cataract surgery was a success!  My eyes are still blurry as I write this, but it's a clear blurry!!!

2) My doctor liked my eye patch.  He even took a picture of me wearing it!  The word spread through day surgery quickly.  I had several different nurses in the time I was there!!!  There were a lot of smiles.

3) Pixie was happy to be sleeping next to me again.  She loves to cuddle!

4) I've very grateful to the friends who have lent me a hand.  I am truly blessed.  (Ok, so this is 4 beautiful things, but I'm okay with that!)

Today is the Day!!!!

Cataract Surgery Day!!!

It's in there right now.

But it will be gone later to be replaced by a new lens that isn't cloudy any more.

I'm so excited!

I almost wet my pants!!!!

The waiting

The tests.

It was all worth it!

Now, as you are reading this, I'm probably still feeling "purty" good from the anesthetic!

I'm not sure I'll be on today because if I am, I'm not sure what I'll write.

In any case,

It was worth the wait!

So, what happened to you this week?

I have decided that I need to look at this event as a very interesting learning experience.  It's given me knowledge for the future.  I've never had it happen before. 

The story begins when I decided that it was time to wash the winter woolies out of the bedding.  After all, the windows have been open, and it was quite warm.  Pixie was willing to take off her thunder shirt.  The time had come!!!

I started early, and I ended late.  Bedding is bedding, and it just takes a while to dry.  The last load were the pillows.  I put them in the washer.  The washer stayed balanced.  There were no annoying buzzers going off.

I went downstairs to transfer my pillows to the dryer.  Imagine my shock when I found a bin full of fluff.  I had inside out pillows!  The covers were torn, and the contents were all over the washer.  There is no fluff alarm!  I wish I had taken a photo to show you, but, I didn't think of it.  This is all that was left.  My inside out pillows are in the trash.  Sigh!  I really loved those pillows!

Cataract Surgery, Eye Patches and Such

If you follow this blog,

you might remember that I said I was going to have cataract surgery.

Well, the time has come!

Thursday, my right eye will have the old, gunky lens removed and a new one inserted.

For 24 hours, I will have to wear an eye patch to protect my eye.

Since I won't be wearing makeup the day of surgery,

I decided that the least I could do was to wear an eye patch I liked over the ugly one from the hospital.

(The ugly patch will be taped to my face to be removed only to add eye drops.)

So, I made a quick trip to Walgreens down the street where I purchased this.

 

This eye patch cost me $3.49.

I brought it home.

I found one of my favorite IPod Beads and glued that on to the patch.

I added a couple more beads, some silk cord, and sequins!

Here it is!

This is the patch I will wear over the ugly one from the hospital.

I can't sleep in this one, but it will cover up the tape!

I really like it!

Now, here's how I look in it!

Won't this be fun!!!

I can hardly wait!

Perfect 5th Position

When I was young, and I took ballet, I always wanted to be able to develop a perfect 5th position, that is, feet next to each other with toes pointed in opposite directions.  Perfect 5th position.

I remember, it took a very long time, but, eventually, I was able to achieve perfect 5th position.  That was a day I literally danced with my heart and soul.

The other day, my feet were aching.  I took off my shoes and tossed them up the stairs from the bottom.  I climbed up the stairs, and guess what, perfect fifth position!  I never thought it would be so easy!

I danced, again, with my heart and soul!

I Heart Macro! Spring is coming!

I Heart Macro!

The potatoes are telling the story!

And so are the onions!

Spring is on the way!

I Heart Macro!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The Necklace is Finished and We Have our Winners!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!
Wear some green to feel good!

 Part 2!

The necklace is finished!!

Now, realizing that this is a heavy necklace and that I want to make a coordinating

bracelet and earrings,

I need suggestions!

Here's the necklace, and it looks great on!

I wore it all afternoon today!

So, what do you think?

It looks better on than in the photo.

Now, I need to make some earrings and a bracelet.

I'm drawing a blank on these.

Any suggestions?

NOW,

drum roll, please,

we have our Winners!

Cabs #1: Trina!  I'll be in Touch!

Cabs # 2:  Shirley  I'll be in touch!

Necklace:  Tammy!  I'll be in touch.

Congratulations!
I'll get these out in the mail to you next week!
Thank you for participating!
PS:  I tried to post the random number generator, but I couldn't figure out how to do it,
Again.
Sorry!

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) The process is well underway.  I had my pre op physical and visit with my opthomologist.  (Turns out he's younger than my kids!)  Oh, my!  I do like him, though!  He's got a great sense of humor, and he has the endorsement of my family practice doc and the teachers where I used to teach.  He attended the same school I taught!  A week from yesterday, I will have had my first cataract surgery.  That's great news!!!

2)  Getting together with friends this week was fun.  There were a couple of breakfasts and lunches.  That is fun!  I love seeing my friends and catching up!

3) I bought new shoes.  Yahooo!  They make my feet feel great!  The pain is gone.  I'll be forever grateful because a friend told me about these great shoes.  I sound like a commercial for Dansko shoes, but they are great!

I Almost Forgot!!!

Make sure you head over to Sharon Driscoll's blog

Right Turn Art Werks

to participate in her book drawing.

Sharon was the lucky winner of a ginnormous number of Lark books, 

and she's giving some of them away!

Be sure to take a look!

Here's the link to the give away!

Just Click HERE!

Leave a comment.

You might be a winner!