New Year, New Me?!

Well, I haven't had my hair cut in a very long time and I decided since it's this long, I may as well donate it. So, today my daughter Lindsay and I went and got our hair cut. I had a total of about 11 inches cut off mine! I haven't had hair this short since I got married in 1986! I will have to take a picture of my new hairdo, but here is one of my donated ponytail! I will be mailing off my ponytail on Saturday to Locks of Love. I hope it helps! I do have to say that my head feels very light and my neck is really cold! :)

New Bracelet

It's a new version of another cuff that I sold at the show. I sold it to a very sweet lady and I hope she is thoroughly enjoying it! I'm calling it "Dappled Sunlight II". Not overly imaginative, but it's just fitting! I've used metallic gold, light bronze iris and 22k gold plated Delicas for this one and it's two rows wider than the original with a slightly different beaded toggle closure. I'm also working on a cuff for my daughter's boyfriend, as well as a scarf. Not that I'm getting too far on any of it! Too many things going on and not overly motivated. Ah, well...

Latest News

Just the day after my last post, Grandma passed away. She was 92, but it was still tough as we had been taking care of her for almost three years since my mother-in-law died. She didn't live with us, but we moved her closer to us so we could spend more time with her and always have her with us on the holidays and birthdays and Sunday dinners as well. My dear husband spent the most time with her and he cherishes every moment.

In the last six years we have lost all our Moms. My Mom passed away in July of 2003 when she was just 60. It was ovarian cancer. We lost my Mother-in-law in January of 2007 and she was just shy of 70. It was also cancer. Now Grandma. These losses make for quiet and bittersweet holidays. And I don't care how old you are, you always need your mom.

And so, we wait anxiously for our daughter to come home from Italy so that we can be together for these holidays...as quiet as they will be.

News

I haven't posted as much as I should, but I have very good reasons! I was trying to get things together for my first show! It was a two-day event and I did fairly well! I made enough to cover my fee as well as all the stuff I bought to do this show! (boxes, bags, display pieces, tablecloth, etc). The best part is that I had a really good time! I met some great people who have shops on Etsy and/or Art Fire or who just sell locally. The row of tables I was in had some hilarious people and we laughed a lot! Thank you to Lizz, Melanie, Veronica, Aminta, Jessica and Deanna for making my first show a blast! And also a very large thank you to Tammy for setting this up and being such a love to work with! The photos aren't the best as I took them with my phone, but you get the idea and note the BAO, EBW and Carol Dean's cards I had on my table as well! Oh, yeah, and I did show off my pattern in Step-by-Step Beads! :)

Secondly, yet more personal, Grandma has been very sick and it's not looking good for her recovery. It has been tough the last several weeks and the last several days have been the hardest yet. There is more before us... We give each other strength and have grown closer to each other through this trying time. So, if I don't post for a while again, I hope you'll understand.

Update: Finished!

Update: All moved in, but as you can see the window still needs to be framed. I was just glad to have my dining room table back (not that I use it as a dining room table!)

My dear husband has been working on his office and has taken over the dining room table while in the midst of the remodel. This is normally my space, since I don't have a studio or room to call my own, so I have been very cramped for space! No new pictures either because my light box/photography space has been usurped. But, luckily, he's almost ready to move back into his office. The walls, floor, doors and desk are all set up now and he should be moving back in very, very soon! YAY! I'll be able to get some new photos of my jewelry taken! I have four new bracelets, a remake of an older one and a scarf to take photos of!

Veteran's Day 2009

I posted this poem on my Hero Blog for Veteran's Day 2006 and wanted to share it again. I truly appreciate the sacrifices our military men and women have made on behalf of our nation. My sincerest thanks to the veterans and those still in service.

HEROES UNAWARE
By Mark A. Wright, HMC(SS)
22 June, 2000

I first saw him on a park bench
I’ve seen him every day
Sitting in a shady grove
Where my children come to play
Sometimes he feeds the birds and squirrels
Or whittles little toys
Sometimes he just sits and smiles
At the laughing girls and boys

And I never paid him any mind
‘Till one day just this year
I noticed that he wore a frown
And on his cheek … a tear.

Well I asked him why he seemed so down
He looked up, began to say
I lost half my friends 60 years ago today
He told me of the terror
As he fought to reach dry land
By the time the beachhead was secure
Half his friends lay in the sand

That was just in one long day
He fought on for 4 years more
And the 60 years from then to now
Have not dimmed His sights of war

He said they have reunions
Just to keep in touch and share
And for each comrade who has gone on
They leave an empty chair

Well, His park bench has been empty now
About 6 months or so
And if I’d never took the time
Then I never would’ve known
That sitting on that simple bench
With bread crumbs and little toys
Was a man who gave his all
To guarantee my daily joys

So give thanks to all the men and women
Who’re still here or have gone before
And made the highest sacrifice
In both Peace time and in War
Because they bought our freedom
Paid their own blood, sweat, and tears
Then endured the heartache of those empty chairs
For all these years

So please do not ignore them
Or speed by without a care
‘Cause you never know
When you might pass by
A hero, unaware.

New Pieces, New Designs

Something new I've been working on. I've done some pieces in RAW, but these are more uniform. I really like them! (OK, I don't like the photo, but I'll work on that. Have to get my dear husband back in his office so I can have my dining room table back for my light box!)

Top Droppers for the Month of October

Thank you so much to my top droppers! I truly appreciate your stopping and dropping!
1. Business & Life Success
2. Beaded Tail
3. Juliana's Lair
4. Learning Corner
5. The Beadings and Buttons of Random Creative
6. My Gypsy Goods
7. Are You Hungry
8. After Cancer, Now What?
9. Mom's Place
10. Mature, Not Senile

A Cuff and Two Sets of Earrings

Here's my latest cuff. I called this one "A Round in a Square" and I created it with two shades of turquoise, copper plated and galvanized pale copper Delicas. For the earrings, I've created another pair of "Heavy Metal" beaded bead earrings. This pair has a different earwire which makes them a little bit shorter. The second pair of earrings is in a gorgeous capri blue triangle bead and blue zircon Delicas. Both pair of earrings have sterling silver beads, earwires and pins.

Newest Stuff

The first one is "Golden Honey Bronze" and the second is "Pink is for the Tatas" and $20 from the purchase price will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the purchaser's name!

Top Droppers

Thank you to my top droppers! I truly appreciate the drops!

Business & Life Success
Center for Business Success, Life Success, Management Success and Career Success
Learning Corner
Center for Personal Development, Professional Learning and Education, Finance, Smart Investment, Business Management, Business Strategy, Leadership, Business Success, Computer, Technology Update, Lifestyle Improvement.
BeadedTail
Antics of two cats and a dog! Plus, we make jewelry for animal lovers with proceeds benefiting animal charities! We're making tails wag one bead at a time!
Shopperista
The shopping and fashion place.
My gypsygoods
Life, creative moments, saving money, nature, eco-friendly tips.
Supporting & promoting the handmade community.
Mom's Place
Home & Family. Includes articles, shopping, product reviews, current news and events locally and shopping.
Patsy's Words of Wisdom
A place where Thoughts and laughs are shared. And hopefully some words of wisdom passed along. Short writes on Daily living.
The Beadings and Buttons of Randomcreative
I chose my username because I have always enjoyed making random creative projects using all different colors and materials. I opened my Etsy shop on Halloween of 2008.
Alterity Art
Specializing in No Harm antique and vintage button jewelry to preserve button's value and hierloom/museum quality of the jewery. Each piece is one of a kind :]
Juliana's Lair
A blog about loving and living in the Big Apple. It details the dynamics in the household of a happily married interracial couple; she as a stay-at-home wife, and he as a Wall Street professional.

New! New! New!

The top piece I've called "Lattice". I created it with dark plum, palladium plated and black Delicas. It's 1.25" wide and 7.75" long and I used an antique looking button for the toggle.


The second piece I've called "Fall". I was looking through the colors for Fall/Winter and fell in love with them! I've used light orange, matte lavender and deep sea teal. It's just under 1.25" wide and 7.5" long and used a beaded toggle.



Wait till you see the one I'm working on now!!

Check These Out!

Did you see the Bead Art Originals Items of the Week?? Gorgeous!

I also have two more new cuffs and working on another! I just have to get pictures taken!

Two Latest Cuffs

Here are the latest cuffs (Enchanted Forest and Black to Blush) I've created and listed in my Etsy shop!

Made and Sold

This is a cuff I just recently created. I was lazy and didn't get it listed but happily, I have sold it without it being listed! My husband's step-mother fell in love with it and bought it straight off! YAY!

Bead Art Originals

Here is another beautiful collection of Bead Art Originals Items of the Week. There are specials on each one, so please check out our blog and see what everyone is offering!

Many Apologies

I just wanted to apologize to my Entrecard friends! I switched over to the newest version of Firefox and now my EC toolbar no longer works. I checked to see if they have an updated version of the toolbar on Entrecard, but nothing yet. So, if you're feeling like I'm neglecting you, it's not intentional! I really want to visit all my favorites, but I can't seem to find everyone as easily as I did with my toolbar! Hopefully, Entrecard will get a newer version of the toolbar up and running very soon!

BAO Item of the Week and Stretchy Bracelets

Have you checked out the Bead Art Originals Items of the Week yet? What are you waiting for? Check them out on our blog:

Here are the stretchy bracelets I've completed for my step-mother. She loves these and I thought I'd throw in some special ones. I've included 5 made with Swarovski pearls and several bundles in Japanese triangle beads which have a nice sparkle to them.

What I've Finally Accomplished!

It took quite a while, but I finished my purple cuff and completed over 100 little bracelets. I'm still making more of the little bracelets, but at least I've gotten some things completed! It's all a step in the right direction!

Top Droppers for July

I can't believe July is already over! Thank you to my top 10 droppers!

Some Updates

Have you checked out the Bead Art Originals Items of the Week? Please do because there are amazing pieces to be seen and some specials to be found! Check all of them out at the blog: Bead Art Originals.

I am still working on the purple cuff. Ok, I'll admit it, it's taken a back seat to the simple stretchy bracelets I'm making for my step-mother. But the little bracelets have been very therapeutic. I've finished 82 of them! I know I need to just put the simple bracelets aside and finish the cuff, it's almost halfway there!

As weird as it sounds, school events have gotten busy! Tonight was a parents' meeting for the parents of all fall athletes. It's still July, but the football team and the cheerleaders started practices in June and the soccer teams and the golf teams started early in July. So, they really aren't fall sports! Anyway, the paper work for school has started...the triplicate forms, the emergency cards, the code of conduct and photo releases all have to be filled out!

Life keeps moving forward whether I am ready or not, so I am hanging on!

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week

The Bead Art Originals (BAO) street team has been created to promote the art of its invited members. BAO members are independent artisans who promote their work through Etsy.com, an online market for things handmade. BAO includes both creators of art beads and creators of beadwoven art. The team's focus is on the business and artistic growth of its members through on and off-Etsy promotion of the team, its activities, and individual members' achievements.

Check out our blog to see what specials are being offered on these gorgeous items! Bead Art Originals Blog

Projects

I am still working on the purple cuff, but it's getting there. I have also created another pair of earrings. I am going to start working on some simple "stretchy" bracelets for my step-mother. I think all of this is helping me over this creativity block. I've been thinking about new ideas that I want to try. It would be so so much easier if I could just shake my head and clear the cobwebs!

Trying To Push Through

I have been pushing to work on another bracelet. I was able to get a few pairs of earrings made, but they were replacements for the ones I sold to a cousin, so there really wasn't any creativity involved. This bracelet isn't a new pattern, but it is new colors, so hopefully I can push through the creativity/beading issues I've been having and finish it. It's amazing how much stress can mess with your mind and body!

6th Photo in the 6th Folder Tag

Tag you're it!

I was tagged by dear Susan of Hot Rocks Glass Jewels, to play a game in which I am to post the 6th picture in the 6th folder of my photos. This was actually harder than I thought as I have a ton of folders and photos! This one is an adorable photo of my oldest daughter, Lindsay, with our puppy Sadie. This was in late summer of 2001. A couple of months earlier, she had gone to England, Ireland and Wales with People to People and then sadly, just a couple weeks later was September 11th.

I am tagging the following friends to play this game:
Lady Lynn's Boutique
The Lone Beader
Sandfibers
Three Fates Design
Time2cre8
Unique You

Please feel free to play along or not...it's just a bit of fun.

Premio Meme Award

This Premio Meme Award was given to me by sweet Sue of the Signature Sterling blog and the creator of Signature Sterling on Etsy! Thank you my dear! The rules of this award is that I am to give 7 facts about myself and pass it on to 7 people. So, seven interesting facts about me (not sure how interesting these will be, but here goes...):

1. I am able to "chit-chat" with just about anyone, but I'm pretty darn shy.
2. I am the most non-Leo Leo you are likely to meet.
3. I have been creative in one way or another all my life.
4. I used to read an average of about 150 books a year. This was when I was answering phones at a law firm and was allowed to read on the job! What a job, eh?!
5. I have sensitive hearing (probably due to migraines), but I call it "mom hearing".
6. I am a night owl and according to my mom, have been one since I was a baby.
7. I adore my husband and daughters and I don't know how they put up with me.

And now, the "Premio Meme Award" is passed on to....any seven of my readers since I'm not sure how many of my favorites have already been named for this award!

Thank You Top Droppers!

Thank you so much to all my top droppers for the month of June! I truly appreciate you all stopping by and I hope that I can provide interesting posts for you to enjoy! Thanks again!