It's Pixie Cuteness Day!!!!

She's such a diva!!

Pixie cuteness!!!

Christmas in July? Well, not exactly, but it is an ornament exchange on Lampworketc!

I know,

the stores are already gearing up for the holidaze!

I know,

it's the end of July,

but I did join an ornament exchange on 

Lampworketc

and, so far,

it's been fun!!!

My ornaments are finished, 

and I hope to have them in the mail this week.

Since it was not a requirement that we make the ornaments out of 

glass,

I chose polymer clay.

Legend in Minnesota has it that if you find a cardinal in your tree on 

Christmas morning,

the upcoming year will be a good one for you.

So, I made cardinals.

However, these birds just didn't look finished, so I added a bit more.

Now, they look like Christmas!

What do you think?

5 reasons to be creative on a Monday!

1) Unless you woke up with a frog sitting on your face,
Monday is always a day to which we must all adjust.  Creativity can give you the needed boost to get going on a Monday, whether it's your alarm screaming at you or going to a different coffee shop to be armed with the caffeine of the day.

2) Pixie is creative.  She always finds new ways to lay on the couch!

3) Your soggy weekend brain will wake up if you can figure a way out to walk with your eyes closed.

4) No one will know the difference if you can walk without opening your eyes, unless your shoes are on the wrong feet and your coat is on backwards.  Then you can say, "I'm just being creative."

5) If a day goes by without being creative, it's always a Monday. 

So what do you think?  To be creative or not?

I Heart Macro! Milkweed

I Heart Macro!

Milkweed!

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that 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.ome fun

1) I'm having a nice visit with Jenny.  It's good to see her and play some fun games with her! 

2) Today, the weather will be cool, almost reminiscent of a warm fall day!

3) I get to meet Jean Baruch, the Beads of Courage founder, and make beads with her and Hannah today!  This is going to be fun!!!!

It's That Time of Year Again - My Guest Blogger - Nick

Ok, people, it is that time of year again. I am again raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation charity 5k. I am running, again, this year in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 30th, 2013. I set my fundraising team's goal at $3,000. Please take a moment to click on the link, read my family's story, and, if you have a little extra couch change, donate to this cause that mean's so much to me. I thank you in advance.
http://support.themmrf.org/goto/goNickgo

Go team Nick!!!  

Thank you for considering this!

A New Place to Find My Work!

Thank you,

Ginger Davis Allman

of the

Blue Bottle Tree!

She featured my work in her Customer Gallery!

I used Ginger's tutorial

Rustic Beads.

The results from the other artists are all unique.

I am thrilled to be included!!

Thank you, Ginger!

You can find Ginger's work and her tutorials

HERE!

Happy Birthday, Nick!!!!!

Yes, this is my baby!

He's 34 years old today!

He's good looking!

He's tall!

But he's still 

My Baby!

Happy Birthday,

Nick!

I love you!!!!!!!!!!

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal

I carefully went through my stash!

One particular kind of bead that I have been

hoarding

is the charm bead.

I have participated in many charm exchanges over the years,

and they have accumulated!

(The one thing I did forget to do is to take a photo of the charms before I made this necklace.)

So, I put on my thinking cap. 

How do you design a piece of jewelry that will accommodate

all of those beautiful charms?

Well,  I've always wanted a

Junque Necklace!

And here's what I did!

I took my charms and added a few odds and ends that I have had sitting around.  

I really like it.

It's a piece of jewelry that has it's place in the scheme of things.

Now, here's the photo of me wearing it,

I love it!!!

How fun is that?

Now, off you go.

Here's the list of the other participants in the

Bead Hoarders Blog hop.

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that 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 been a busy and exciting week for me.  Things happened that I never thought would happen.   It's nothing that others would be interested in knowing, but the small things have come to really mean a lot!

2) Pixie and I enjoyed our DQ after our last visit to the nursing home hospice patients.  The DQ in the town where we visit has a free doggie dish.  Pixie loves her doggie dish!

3) The heat wave should be ending by Saturday!  Today was so hot, but I am so grateful to have air conditioning.  I don't know how people who don't have air are coping in this crushing heat! 

What is this?

Soon to be fun!!!

That's what this is!!

Next week, I'll show you!!

Playing with Ginger Davis Allman's Rustic Beads Tutorial for Polymer Clay

I'm so glad I purchased this tutorial!

Last night,

I had a lot of fun working with this tutorial and being inspired by it!

I also ended up liking my beads and headpins much more

AFTER

I used the techniques

Ginger described in her tutorial.  

Here's the link.  Just click

HERE

and you will find the tutorial!

Here are the final results of the beads and headpins I made using her techniques.

I wish I had taken 

BEFORE photos as well, but I didn't!

I didn't like these pods until I was finished.

Now, I really like them!

Oh My Goodness!!!

NOW

these headpins make me 

drool!!!!

I think I'll list them in my Etsy store very soon!!!

I highly recommend this tutorial to anyone who likes the more

"rustic" look!

Even if you don't, it's fun to play!!!

Now, I'll let you in on another secret.

I bought another tutorial.

I'll show you the results later!

Here it is!

I might work on this one tonight!

I can hardly wait!!!

If you want to check it out,

click

HERE

and you'll find the link!

Results will follow later!

Sneak Preview - Bead Hoarder's Blog Hop

This blog hop has been so much fun so far,

and,

I have been able to use a lot of my beads.  

Of course, I'm talking about 

Lori Anderson's

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.

We are scheduled to

HOP

all over the internet on July 20.

I better get finished,

and fast!!!

I just wanted to show you a preview of what I've made for this 

Blog Hop.

Wait a second!

That's not it.

I've mixed up my files.

Well, darn it!

I guess you'll just have to wait and see.

My friends have told me that, 

as usual,

this design is something that I would 

like and wear.

Yeppers!

They are right!!

New Tutorial!

Bohemian Bangles

and you can find the tutorial

HERE!

That's all for today!!

Focus on Life - Week 28 - Pretty Patterns

I think these are pretty patterns.

Three Beautiful Things This Week

  Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that 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) Good news!  My feet are not as green any more!  They're almost flesh colored again!  I can wear sandals now!

2)  I'm looking forward to the parade in town this Saturday.  Assuming no rain, I will be able to see some dear friends who are the Grand Marshalls of the parade this year.

3)  I have two new bangles!  I made them out of polymer clay!  How fun is that!

Pinterest, Foot Soak, FAIL!!!

The idea was good.

Soak your feet for 10-20 minutes in a mixture of Listerine and vinegar.

I saw this  recipe on Pinterest.

So, I mixed up the vinegar and Listerine,

and

I soaked for almost 15 minutes.

I took my feet out to see that they had turned - green!

If you saw this post on Facebook, you will also notice all the comments and suggestions.

It was funny.

So, I went to bed hoping that the color would sink in and just disappear.

When I got up, I still had the smurf feet.

After a shower and much scrubbing,

my feet are less green,

but they are still green.

I did find out that I was supposed to add water to the mix. 

I forgot that.

Ooooops!

So, this was my Pinterest failure!

The Cleaning Continues!!!! Look What I Found!

The Purge continues!
I found this book that I made in an online class taught by Stephanie Lee of Semi Precious Salvage!   I really like it, and I gave serious consideration to keeping it, however, when I looked at the beads I am keeping and the jewelry I own, I knew I had to give it up!  So, if you want to take a look, here's the link.  I'm really proud of this little book!  I wish I could have kept it.  Sigh!  Oh, well.  Someone will enjoy it.

Click HERE to see the book in my Etsy Store.  See you tomorrow!  I might be coming closer to the end.

Bead Hoarding and Blog Hops

If you've never met Lori Anderson, you're in for a treat.  I have met her, and she is a delightful young woman, married and the mother of an even more delightful child named Zack.  She has a blog called Pretty Things.
Lori has helped to bring the beauty making jewelry and art beads to the attention of many designers in our country.  The problem is that once you are hooked on art beads, you tend to hoard, like me, and I blame Lori for this!!!  Not really, I was a bead hoarder long before I met Lori, truly I was!  So, when Lori decided to host a blog hop for those of us who have this hoarding problem, I signed up!  This is a good challenge, but, do I really have to use my beads? 

Well, Lori says to participate, you do.  So, I guess I'll show you what I have.

Whoops!!  I couldn't get a good picture of them, so I decided to show you a picture of Pixie.  She's closed her eyes because she sees beads, beads and more beads!

Anyway, this should be fun!  Do I really, really have to use my beads?
Sigh, I guess so.

See you on July 20th when we show off our creations.  Sigh!

Angels Everywhere

I was walking in the room, and I saw this on the floor.

I picked it up.

This is a closer view of what it looks like.

I've never seen it before.

I have no idea where it came from.

I don't know how it got on to the floor.

It was a sad day for me.

The coin brought a smile.

I guess there are 

angels everywhere!

I Heart Macro - Monarch's Nectar - Milkweed

I heart macro!

Focus on Life - Week 28 - Texture

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 have to admit.  I am proud to be an American!  God Bless America!!!

2) I spent the 4th quietly doing odds and ends and relaxing.  It was a nice day!

3) I took my first vocal lesson this week.  It was fun.  I might yet be a cantor at Mass in the future.  We shall see!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Thank you to all of our fallen heroes and those who have returned

bruised

beaten

but 

never Defeated!!!

God Bless America!

I made a needle felted scarf, and here's what I learned...

You need a scarf that's 100% silk.

I found mine at a thrift store for less than $2 each.

You need 100% wool roving and a needle felting tool.

You can use one needle, but it takes a lot longer.

The silk puckers when you use the tool.

I could not get other types of fibers to pucker even though I used the needle tool.

Even though this photo isn't the best, 

the scarf looks great!

I love it!

There are also some great videos on YouTube!

Art in the City

For a medium sized town,

we do have some things going.

This art tour is one of them.

These 3 sculptures were on one side of one block.

We get to enjoy them for a year, then new sculptures are installed.

Next sculpture

  

More to come later.

I hope you enjoyed this part of the tour.

I spent the day in my Woman Cave

Isn't it great?  I love my cave!  You can't see my car, but it's next to the pink chair.  Pixie gets in the back seat and goes to sleep.  We are both very happy in our cave, and I get a lot done whether it be felting or polymer clay.  I'm outside while still being inside. 

Do you have a cave?
What do you do in your cave?