Nothing....

Nothing bead-wise to post about! Ive been too busy caring for a sick dog. Maddux has started fevering again, poor sweet boy! Its been a rough time with losing my Mom, Maddux being sick, and my camera getting broken! I have been working on my BJP pieces, slowly but surely. Hopefully I will be posting the finished piece this week sometime. The crochet bug has bitten me and I have been making the cutest mug cozies! They take about an hour each and are so darn cute. I think they would make nice Christmas gifts, just add a couple mugs and some coffee or tea and put them in a basket! The color combos are endless, you can customize them to your color scheme in your kitchen. I am a very beginner crocheter (is that even a word)? but I found the pattern easy to do. If you want to check it out, the pattern is free HERE. I leave you with a picture of one of my mug cozies, and my most handsome Maddux!

Whats Old is New Again Artbeads Challenge

When Duchess of Artbeads contacted me about the latest blogging challenge, I was perplexed! I looked through my stash and just didn't find anything that inspired me. Then I remembered a tin of goodies I inherited from my Grandmother. I searched through it and found a little pin. The pin back was broken, and the bezel was dented, but in my eyes, it was perfect! I remember this pin from when I was a little girl. I have no history for it. I don't really know anything about it, except its really sweet and I like it! So here it is, I have entitled my piece "Something Blue".

In this piece, I used Swarovski White Pearls in both 3mm and 4mm sizes, 2mm and 4mm Swarovski Round crystals in the color Indigo, Antique Brass chain, bronze size 15 seed beads, an Antique brass trigger clasp, Antique brass Headppin, and an Antique Brass Pearl Swarovski Pear shaped bead. I love Swarovski pearls and find myself using them quite frequently in my designs. I loved the Antique brass chain, but I thought it needed something extra, so I stitched the pearls and swarovski rounds to it. I love the combination of crystal and pearls. The Indigo color is a deep rich blue. It is almost black it is so dark. I love it. I used a large antique brass trigger clasp to finish the necklace off. I am so happy with the end result. As always, Artbeads is my favorite place to shop!

*I received the above mentioned items free of charge from Artbeads for my honest opinion of them. I have not been compensated in any other way for my review.

The Call...

On Friday, May 20th, we got the call that everyone dreads. My Mothers health had deteriorated and we needed to get there. When my daughter Jess and I arrived, she was at home in her bed. She was unresponsive, but looked comfortable. Hospice had been called in just the night before. The Hospice nurses thought she would come around with some medications. It was not to be. Jess and I had arrived at my parents house at 3:30pm. At 7:30 pm, Mom drew her last breath, surrounded by much of her family. She had been in frail health for several years. There were no serious problems, just a lot of non life threatening problems. We are all still in shock. She would have been 72 on May 24th. Rest in Peace Mom. We all love you and will miss you terribly until the day we all are together again.

2011 BJP Revealed......finally!

As the saying goes, better late than never! In keeping with that theme, I reveal my first piece in my 2011 Bead Journal Project. I have decided to name this series "Pieces of Me" Each month I will do a 4 inch heart shaped piece in bead embroidery to journal special people or things that have a piece of my heart. For my first page, I decided to honor my Grandchildren. I used recent pictures of Kileigh and Ethan. The picture of Kileigh was taken by family friend Catherine

Massoglia of Catherine Massoglia Photography. Kileigh was a little over 3 in this picture. The picture of Ethan was taken by my Daughter Jess after his little dude haircut! He was around 16 months in that picture. I may be biased, but aren't they just too cute?

I love the colors in this piece. I used a soft matte brown seed bead, turquoise blue seed beads, a lovely mix of seed beads, some glass rectangles in turquoise blue and some brown rectangle beads along with some soft turquoise 6mm firepolish beads. I laminated the 2 pictures and hand sewed them onto my pellon. I then edged them in beads right through the plastic of the laminate. The mix of beads I used has several shades of gold, cream, brown, purple, maroon, steel blue, soft brown, and some size 15s mixed in as well. I threw together whatever I thought would work. I think it all works well together. I added the bead mix one bead at a time. This is a very tedious and time consuming technique, but it has to be one of my favorites. I love the random look of it! Oh so worth the time it takes to me. In the very top of the piece, you will see 2 very inconspicuous flower shaped grommets. My plan is to sew the completed heart onto ultra suede and thread ribbon through the grommets to hang them.

In search of inspiration.

As some of my dedicated followers know, I have been having some trouble finding inspiration lately. I think the drought is over! I made a trip to a local bead store, and found some really nice beads that got my creative juices flowing. I have finally even gotten a start on my 2011 BJP piece for January (glup, yes January) I will post about that at a later date. For now, here are some of the beads I purchased at Meant to Bead. They have me itching to create, now to find the time. My youngest daughter and grand daughter were involved in a car accident yesterday, and Courtneys car was totaled in the accident. Kileigh has some seat belt burn on her neck, and Courtney's back neck and knee are hurting today, but all in all, they are fine. Looks Mom's taxi service is back open for business for awhile until this insurance mess is taken care of. Look for some updates soon, I have been a busy girl stitching on my January Piece and I think its about half done now, so it wont be much longer. I am anxious to show it to you all and explain my ideas for this year!

Lovely Giveaway!

Lisa at Indigo Beads is giving away one of her beautiful cuff bracelets HERE! While there, check out her other beautiful works of art.

Yes, I am still alive!

I got an e-mail from a concerned friend about my lack of postings lately. I am still here, I am still a part of the 2011 Bead Journal Project. I just havent picked p needle and thread as of yet! I will get to it, I promise. I seem to be lacking a sense of direction, time and creativity right now. No, I am not depressed. I am just uninspired. I am hoping when the creativity bug hits, It will slam me right upside the head with such force it will knock me off my feet and onto the couch to bead....lol. Until then friends, know all is well and I will be back soon!