Three Beautiful Things This Week One Day Early

  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, this is a day early!
Tomorrow will be the reveal for the Challenge of Music, so stay tuned and check back to see what everyone has done with their music.  I am very pleased with my piece.  I think you will find it "interesting."

2) I had to laugh all day at Pixie yesterday.  She decided she wanted to be the dominant female.  With me still hobbling along, I have been forced to sit around a lot, and this does drive me crazy.  I only do what I have to do.  I bring my computer downstairs, and I work in a very bright room.  The couch and loveseat are in there.  I usually sit on the loveseat and Pixie sleeps on her couch.  Yesterday, Pixie decided that she would take up my love seat.  She spent most of the day trying to get me off by pushing me with her legs or stretching, anything she could do to claim the loveseat.  I had to laugh because she was squashed there, and I wasn't moving!  It was a challenge, but I think I won!!

3)  I've been seeing a lot of crows lately.  I really like crows, so it was pleasant to see them around.  I just hope that, soon, the robins begin to show up.  I think I'd rather see a robin.

On DragonFlies

I once read that dragonflies live only 24 hours.  I have since found that this is not true.  Many dragonflies live years, mostly as larvae, but they live longer than is anticipated.  Most live about six months.  Here's an interesting article about the life of a dragonfly.  Click HERE to read it. 

My dragonflies get caught in the beads.  You can see Hank HERE.  Since it's still cold here in the Midwest, I can only dream of the live ones I hope to see very soon. 

Estella is another dragonfly.   She full of sparkly dichro glass.  She's also captured in glass.  You can see Estella HERE.  I guarantee you, she will live much longer than six months.  She's a lovely little lady.  Unless you live in a warm climate, you won't see her for a while yet!

I hope to list more later, but for now.  I hope you enjoy these dragonflies!

I love dogs, and here's why

(I found these on Facebook.)

and there's more...

So true, oh the secrets my dog has known.

So true.

Cat love will follow later.

From Facebook, of course.

The Clay that Wanted to be what I didn't want it to be, but it became what it wanted to be

I needed to use up some clay.

I had accepted a challenge to create a textured object such as a bowl.

So I gathered up the clay.

I put them in a ball and mushed and twisted and turned and flattened.

I was determined to make a bowl.

Well, my first attempts just didn't work.

I decided I'd make a coiled bowl.

That's when the clay took over.

I had no choice.

This is what happened.

Sticks of clay that became earrings.

Braids became a bracelet.

Flattened clay became feathers for a pendant in my necklace.

I had no choice.

The clay rules!!!

I Heart Macro - Some Get Ready for Spring Earrings that I Bought!

Normally,

I don't buy jewelry.

The only exception is that it is something I don't want to make,

for example, something with a lot of wire wrapping.

I love these earrings,

but I didn't make them,

I bought them!!

I Heart Macro!

Focus on Life - Week 8 - Monochromatic

Her personality is not monochromatic!

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) I finished on training session with Hospice.  The director is anxious to put Pixie and I to work.  Hopefully, weather permitting today, I will finish training and Pixie and I will begin to visit patients next week.

2) I torched yesterday for the first time after a week.  Since my fall at church, with my feet hurting, I haven't been able to torch.  The pain was manageable today.  I was very grateful for that.

3) It's gotten a little bit warmer, well, sort of, well, not really, but it still is winter.  I'm longing for a daffodil though!!

WIPS

I know what you're thinking.

What are

WIPS?

Easy Peasy answer here!

Work (S)

In

Progress.

I haven't been torching much lately.

Last Sunday, I fell in the hallway at church.

I turned my ankle, and I was down on the floor.

So, what does that have to do with 

WIPS?

Because my ankle has been hurting me so much,

and my back,

and my shoulder,

and my elbow,

well, you get the picture.

It was a nasty fall.

Nothing broken, just really sore.

I haven't been going to down to torch because of the aches and pains.

So,

knowing I needed something to do,

I pulled out the polymer clay,

and I have some

WIPS.

 There is still a lot of layering left to do on this.

I used some polymer clay flowers I made that I ended up not liking.

They are glued down and partially covered with paint.

More work to go, but I think I'll like these when they are finished.

There's still work to be done here, but I'm not sure what to add.

It's all polymer clay, and I think this work has

promise.

This is only the beginning.

It's fabric modge podged on to a canvas.  

Next will come the painting and adding more polymer clay!!

I can hardly wait!!

I promise to show you this one.

It's in my head, and I really like it!

SCORE!!!!!

I don't often buy beads,

but I have to show you what came in the mail yesterday.

SCORE!!!

I wonder what's in here!!!

Look how pretty the packaging is!!!!

Isn't my hedgehog adorable???

Joy Munshower 

made this!!!

Click

HERE

to see more of Joy's work!!!

Thank you, Joy!!!

 I love it!!!

Well, I don't know what I was fussing about....or Challenges, Challenges, Challenges

Erin said, 

"Above all, have fun! This is not meant to stress you out. If you are not having fun, you aren't doing it right. ;-)"

So, I guess I wasn't doing it right.

Tonight

IT

all fell into place. 

Screeeeeeeeeeeeech!!!!

Let's back up a bit.

 I started to fuss about what I was going to do

and

what music I would use.

Click

HERE

to check out the information about this blog hop.

The first challenge for me was 

finding the right music.

Tonight,

I Found it!!

That will be revealed on March 1, 2013.

The second challenge for me was to figure out how to add my music to my blog.

Thanks to Erin's research,

she gave us some great ways to 

Share our Music 

Thank you, Erin!

Now, it's just a decision away.

The third challenge was

What I was going to make for this blog hop.

(Doesn't this sound like an adventure novel?)

I'm not going to tell you 

What

I made,

but I will

Show you

What

I used.

 Yes, I pulled out the polymer clay, 

and

I am now curing the clay in the oven.

We shall see.

We shall see.

Stay tuned.

March 1 is the date!!!

Today is Pixie Cuteness Day!!

I Heart Macro - Art Closeup

My daughter has a wonderful work of art on her wall. 

Here is it 

closeup

in fragments.

I Heart Macro!!!

Focus on Life - Week 7- The Beauty of Flowers

Memories of a love

that lives in eternity.

He was late coming home for Valentine's Day.

These were in his hands, 

that and a smile on his face.

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 week is over.  Need I say more?  It's not been the best, but it's not been the worst.

2)  My socks arrived today from the socklady!!  I participated in a bulk buy and now, I have some awesome socks!!!!

3) Pixie enjoyed her Valentine outing to Pet Expo today.  All of her friends are there and they love her!!!!!  How fun is that? 

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

And so we shall!!!!

Remember,

tomorrow the chocolate goes on sale!!!!

Have you Ever Known What You Want to Do, but

You need music, 

and you can't find the music?

What?

I know.  This is confusing.

I thought I was ready to take the Challenge.

What Challenge,

Well, it's the 

Challenge of Music Blog Hop

hosted by

Erin Prais-Hinz.

 Click here to learn more.

Sign ups are closed now, but I am starting to worry a bit about finding the right music.  

The music must be an instrumental.

This is the challenge for me.

I thought I had found a song, but I don't know how I'd share it on the blog. 

I have to work on that. 

I've been looking, though.

I hope to find something soon, very soon.

I need to get to work on my piece for this challenge.

Like I said, 

I know what I want to do, but now,

I have to find the music.

Hmmmmmmmmm!

This will work.

Soon, my pretties, very soon!

My Winter whine

This is the time of year I am ready to scream. Cabin Fever, although I can move about freely, is starting to take it's toll. I. NEED. Spring! Help. Do you see the white in the street? That's ice. Do you see the white on the ground? That's snow. I. AM. So. Ready for spring!!!! Now, who's with me on this. Hey, where's that ground hog? Okay. I feel better now. Whine is over. Next time, we talk about beads!

Beads Coming Home and Marla's Twisted Wire

See those beads?

I made them.

See the bangle?

Here's where you can find it.

Marla's Twisted Wire

Etsy Shop.

I love this bracelet, 

but wait,

there's more!!!!

Look at these earrings!!!

If you click

HERE

You will find them.

Don't you just 

LOVE

them?

This Peridot and Wire Wrapped Bracelet

is

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!

Click 

HERE

to see more of Marla's work

Click

HERE

Enjoy your shopping trip!!!!

I Heart Macro!!!! What's This? It's Winter So How'd You Get In Here?

I Heart Macro!

Focus On Life - Week 6- Feel the Love

Remember holding hands with that little kid who grew up?

Feel the Love

 

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) Pixie and I got to go to Pet Expo where she could see all of "her" friends.  They love her there, and she loves them.

2) I was honored by Beads of Courage this week!  I am one of 30 inductees into the Beads of Courage Hall of Fame.  I wish I could attend the event, but I am not able.  Thank you Beads of Courage for this great honor!!!

3) The roofers were her and fixed the roof!  Now, I'm waiting on the final bill!!  Yikes!!!  At least there will be no more leaks!!!

When Beads Come Home, and How I love to see them, and Patti supports the handmade lampwork bead artisan!!!!!!!

See these beads?

I made them, but Patti Vanderbloemen made them beautiful in these earrings.

I love to see my beads made into jewelry or included in sculptures or whatever!!!

After seeing these earrings, I knew I had to check out Patti's 

Etsy Store:  My Addictions Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti.

Let's look at some of the beautiful jewelry Patti has in her store.

Isn't this beautiful?

Check it out

HERE.

One thing that I love about Patti is that she supports handmade lampwork bead artists by purchasing her beads from them.

Thank you, Patti!

We appreciate your support.

Isn't this necklace amazing!!!!

You can find it

HERE!

Again, the beads that Patti uses in her designs are 

artisan made glass lampwork beads.

Thank you, Patti!!

I "wubs" these earrings!!

These are earrings you could wear any time of the year and anywhere.

Wow!!

Check them out

HERE.

Patti used artisan made lampwork glass beads.

Thank you, Patti!!!

Isn't this beautiful?

More of Patti's beautiful creations with 

artisan made glass lampwork beads.

Thank you, Patti.

Check out this beautiful necklace

HERE.

There's so much more to see in 

Patti's Etsy store.

Have a look and see.

Not only that,
Patti is having a sale right now.

Remember,

Valentine's Day is near, and Patti makes beautiful

jewelry!!!

Patti also helps to support 

Handmade Artisan Lampwork Glass Bead Makers.

Thank you, Patti!!!

All right, Lisa!!! Are you Ready? Here's your Bead Soup for the party!

Oh, shoot!!!  This is the wrong picture!!!  This was an experiment that went wrong.  

I'm sorry.

Hold on, Lisa!!!  I'll find the right picture of your soup.

I'm sorry, Lisa.

This is the right photo.

I guess that I don't know how to edit a photo properly.

I hope you like it!!!

I hope to mail it by Friday!!!

My Bead Soup Partner is.........Drum Roll, please.........

Lisa Liddy

and I am so excited!!!!!

 

Lisa has and Etsy Store named

Metal Me This.

In her store Lisa has amazing

Jewelry

Click

HERE

to see this.

Patinas for Metals

Click

HERE

to see all of her patinas for Metals.

Etched Sheet Metal

Click

HERE

to see more sheet metal.

Click 

HERE 

to see more bead caps.

Click

HERE

to see these bails.

And some of my favorite jewelry!!!

Did I already say that?

Well, click

HERE

to see more!!!

So, isn't she great!!!!!

I'll show you the bead soup I am going to send her in the next couple of days, so,

stay tuned!!!!