For the love of : July 2012

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) It's a day of relief from our heat wave and drought. Last night, I turned off the air and let the fresh air into the house. That was such a great way to sleep! There are only 58 days left until the official start of fall!!!

2) I learned how to make beaded kumihimo this week. Thanks to the help of a friend, I learned!!! Wooo Hooo! More on that next week!!!

3) Had dinner with a friend that I hadn't seen in ages last night! It was great to see her and catch up. I love it when this happens. You forget how much you missed them very quickly!!!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

So When I was At the Bead And Button Show I treated myself to some Jennifer Jangles Beads

I have a few leftover, and somehow, they will become a pendant!

So this is yet to come, but look and see what I did with Jennifer's beads!

I love it!!!

Isn't it great!

I played with her owl button pattern that was on her blog.

Click HERE for the tutorial.

Isn't this fun!

It's comfortable to wear, too!

Now, go find Jennifer's store.

Click HERE for her Etsy Store.

Buy yourselves some beads

and

make yourself a bracelet.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

So, Do Your Friends Read Your Blog?

I know we have made and maintain some wonderful friendships over the internet.

I cherish these friendships!

However, we all have family friends whom we see frequently in person.

My question does not apply to our online friends and family.

I'm talking about our friends that we see and touch and are near physically and not separated by a monitor.

Do your Friends read your blog?

Mine don't.

One friend, when I suggested she read my blog, told me,

and she's retired,

"That would be one more thing to do."

Now, when it comes to my Christmas newsletter, if someone wants to read about our year, they have to read my blog.

That's the only time.

Trust me.

I'm not complaining about this, but I am curious.

Do your family and friends read your blog?

Please let me know.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Easy Peasy Fabric Bangle Tutorial

Like these bangles?

They are fun, quick, and easy peasy.

Here's how you make them.

If you want a leather base, these are the tools you'll need.

Even if you want a wire base, you'll still need these tools.

The type of wire you use doesn't matter.

You will need both 18 gauge and 24 gauge wire for a wire base.

For a more flexible base use leather.

The amount of leather that you will need depends on how big your palm is. I have wide palms. I didn't measure the amount of leather, but you want the leather to be able to slide over your palm without stretching it out of shape. You also want to take into account the dangle of your bangle on your wrist. If you want a tighter dangle, pull the leather closer, but if you want larger bangle, let it hang looser.

When you have found the right size, hold your bangle together with your clip or clothespin.

You will need to cut, approximately, 3 feet of 24 gauge wire. Work slowly and carefully, since this wire can knot.

Begin by wrapping your ribbon or fabric at one end of the leather overlap. Wrap anywhere from 5-8 times.

Again, the amount of ribbon that you use will depend on your wrist size.

Fold your fabric as you begin to wrap it with wire.

I leave my clip on until I get right next to it. This helps to hold the leather in place.

Wrap your wire, while tucking your fabric, about every 1/4 inch or so. When you get close to the clip, remove it. By then, your wire will be holding your leather in place.

Wrap your wire around your bracelet until you are about within an inch of your starting point.

Trim your ribbon or fabric. Leave about a half an inch extra of your ribbon or fabric.

Fold the end of your fabric or ribbon underneath to that you do not have a raw edge to finish.

Wrap your ribbon until you meet your first join. Then begin to wrap your wire about 5-8 times to secure the fabric at the end.

You should still have wire left over. Tuck that wire through a wrap.

Pull the remaining wire through and tuck it into another wrap and return again, tucking as you go. This secures the wire so that your bangle will not come loose.

This is an important step to follow.

Trim the wire and discard any extra wire.

Ta-da! You're done!!

Easy Peasy!

Now, if you would like to use a wire base, you just need to follow the next three steps first, then proceed as you did with the leather base.

Again, the amount of 18 gauge wire you will need depends on the size of your palm.

Cut the wire so that there is some overlap.

Cut an extra 12" piece of 24 gauge wire.

Secure the ends of your base with the wire, wrapping it about 5-8 times,

then secure any loose wire by wrapping the remainder of your wire around it.

This step is optional, but I do like it. I work harden my wire using a rubber hammer and my bench block.

Now, you can begin to add your ribbon or fabric following the above directions.

Now, I used both ribbon and fabric.

The ribbon I used is silk cut from saris. I love this ribbon!

So,

now, you are finished!!

Enjoy your bangles!

I made 5 of these bangles!

They were fun and quick and easy!

Enjoy!

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Multiple Myeloma Run in the Twin Cities, September 30, 2012

This year Team Nick has two more members:

Sara

and

Katie!

Thank you so much, ladies!!!

They will be running with Nick in the MMRF Race for Research to battle

Multiple Myeloma.

mm is a cancer of the plasma cell of the blood.

If you've read my blog for a while, you might remember that my husband died from this disease 8 years ago.

Two years ago, Jenny was diagnosed with the same disease.

Nick has supported this run for 7 years now.

If you would like to help support Team Nick,

here's a link to his page.

CLICK HERE.

I don't walk or run this race, but I do support it financially.

This year, I am making bracelets for sale.

The funds raised from the sale of these bracelets will go to Team Nick to help in the fight against multiple myeloma.

I hope to list them in my Etsy store soon, but if you are interested in purchasing one before I do, please

email me at

mary rose _ 21 at yahoo dot com

Take out the dots and spaces to get there properly.

The bracelets are made with my handmade lampwork beads and leather.

I have two available right now.

One is a size 7 and the other is a size 7.5.

Shipping will be free.

The cost is $30.

I can also make other sizes if you need a different size.

The female members of Team Nick will all be wearing these bracelets whether they run or cheer from the stands!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Happy Birthday, Nick!!!!!

He another year older!

That's my sweet little boy!

My little boy who went around to all the neighbors telling them that I couldn't have any more babies.

When asked why, he said, "Because I'm her baby!"

Silly neighbors didn't understand!

My sweet little boy who loved his Superman Underwear more than anything else in the world!

We knew he'd grow up to be a Superman!!

My little boy who grew to tower over all of us!

My little boy who loved his dogs so much and they loved him, too!!

My little boy who grew into an amazing man who loves his family!

My little boy who is a man with a beautiful smile and so much love in his heart!!!

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

So, I made Myself Some Flip Flops

I've never been able to wear flip flops because they hurt that space between my toes.

This year, I decided that time was over, and I am now wearing flip flops!!

Well, they still hurt, but I'm wearing them!!

I found this great tutorial on Pinterest, then I tracked it down to the original blog.

Click HERE to see the tutorial.

It's fun!

It's easy!

You can customize your new flip flops!

And,

they don't hurt like some of them do!

Here are my new flip flops!

I love them!

And they don't hurt!!!

Next time, I'm adding beads!!!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Forgiveness is Pushed to the Limits Today

I'm so sad. One man, although considered innocent until proven guilty,
was identified as the shooter who killed at least 11 people and sent 50 to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Then he told police that he had booby trapped his apartment with bombs. He was telling the truth. Sick! Sick! Sick!

My heart goes out to all the victims and their families. His evil will have ramifications for years to come. However, we must forgive.

What is forgiveness? Is it saying "That's okay. We'll get together and have dinner?" Absolutely NOT!!!
Forgiveness is letting go of the anger. We have to realize that God will be the shooter's judge and will deal with him justly. What he did was evil and wrong. There is nothing that will justify his actions. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! He did so much harm to innocent people. His victims will suffer.

So, now, as a country, we must surround his victims with love and prayers for healing. Sadly, we also have to pray for the shooter. May he find peace. He will be a hated man for the rest of his life. That is never good. So, once that's done, let's lift the victims up to God for healing. May they find peace. May those who died rest in God's Loving Peace.

I'm still sad. I wish there were more that I could do.

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) This has been a good week. Most things went well. I can't complain about that!! Pixie only had gassssss two nights this week! Even though TV has been reruns, they are reruns I haven't see. Life is good for now.

2) This week I am wearing flip flops! I've never been able to wear them before! I even made a pair of my own fabric flip flops!! This is fun for summer!

3) I received my beads from an exchange on Lampworketc. I love them all! This was a good week!!!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

This EBook is not for everyone

I stalled on the ebook I had been working on at the time I wrote this one.

However, this one is very dear to my heart.

It's not for everyone, and I realize that.

I am giving it away to anyone who would like it, though.

The ebook is called

Meditations on the Most Holy Rosary.

I have included the prayers of the Rosary,

The Mysteries of the Rosary,

and

the Meditations that I wrote for each mystery.

It's free!

If you would like a copy of this ebook,

please email me at

maryrose _ 21 at yahoo dot com

Just be sure to take out the spaces and add the correct symbols.

I'll be happy to send you this free ebook.

Thanks.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

And Now They're Grown Up

Their birthdays remind me that they are grown up now.

I remember the days, the hot summer days when the sprinklers were seldom turned off.

I remember the days when the snow would fall, and they'd still only come in to warm up their hands and feet, then head back outside.

I remember when he was crabby and didn't want to play out in the snow.

Turns out he had chicken pox and didn't feel good.

He ended up in bed, watching his favorite TV shows and eating popsicles.

And now, he's all grown up!

I remember when she and her best friend would play, I'd go to check on them

because they were way too quiet,

I'd find them both reading different books.

I'd ask if they were having fun,

and they'd look at me like I had lobsters growing in my ears.

Of course, they were having fun,

they were reading!

And now, she's grown up.

I'm blessed.

Pages

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Friday, July 27, 2012