HAPPY BIG 3Oth MICHAEL!!!! Wow, my baby is 30 years old! I can't believe it... Have a really great birthday Bub!

We have had some CRAZY weather here in Washington in the last few weeks. Wow, now after record snowfall and rain we're now having record breaking floods!!! I borrowed The photo above from our local news website. This is an area very near where I live. We are very close to being completely isolated from the mainland because of floodwaters. Hopefully the water will recede during the night and things will look better in the morning. If the water continues to rise we won't be going to work tomorrow, or anywhere for that matter. Strange......

I spent all day putting new beads and jewelry in my Etsy store so go have a look!

Hello 2009!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

It's been awhile since my last post. There's been lots going on at my house the last few weeks and I haven't made many beads. Hopefully now that the holidays are over and things slowly get back to normal I can allow myself to be in a creative groove again.

I got a new camera for Christmas! I have the most amazing husband. Somehow he managed to pick out the very camera that I wanted to buy for myself. I was so excited when I opened the box! A Canon Rebel XS! It's an SLR which means I am able to change the lenses if I want. A definite upgrade from my Sony Cybershot point and shoot camera. I love it! I've been practicing for the last few days to get to know the features. It's very easy to use and takes great pictures.

Hubby and I are going to see "Marley & Me" tonight. I can't wait! Family members have already seen it and say it's a wonderful movie. I read the book and really enjoyed it so I have to see the movie.

I've made another cone pendant. The cone bead design was inspired by Carla, (Carlee), Di francesco and the pendant was inspired by Linda Lawrence, (Bella Bead Jewelry), both are beadmakers whose colorful work I admire. The center drop portion of the pendant consists of 4 separate lampwork beads that are wired together, the bottom being a heart dangle. This center section is wired to the inside of the cone so it moves seperately, (hope that makes sense), like the clapper of a bell.

Snowy Island....

It just keeps piling up! One storm after another and no end in site.

I love snow........but only before Christmas. And only if I don't have to drive in it. I don't have to drive in it this year but my husband does. He has a very long commute on snowy, frozen freeways. People in our neck of the woods don't know how to drive in the snow because we don't have it often enough to get much practice. So that means the roads are a very dangerous place to be and things pretty much come to a standstill. It's a good thing my shopping is done. I haven't made any beads the last few days either. It's just too cold in my studio/garage. A couple days ago the temperature dropped to 1 degree. It's up to about 30 right now. The only thing to do is hunker down and enjoy it....

Enjoy the Holidays everyone!

The Sweetest Gift

I added a new bead shape to my growing list yesterday. It's a cone shape bead that's perfect for dangly pendants, which I love to make. I got the special mandrel, (metal rod upon which the molten glass is wrapped), at Arrow Springs. The have a few different sizes and I think I may try a smaller version also. I have some other design ideas for this bead shape and I can't wait to try them. Meanwhile "Sweetest Gift" pendant on an 18", 1.5mm, snake chain is available in my Etsy store. Sold! Thanks J.!

Loosie on the loose....

"Loosie Goose" just listed in my Etsy store.

The holiday season is upon us and it's a mad rush to get everything done and still have time to make beads. Our tree is decorated and the house is all lit up. Now to get the shopping and baking done and still have time to make beads. I think I'll turn on some Christmas music and head out to the studio right now. The cookies will have to wait till later....

The 29 Gifts Challenge is going well but I don't have a story to share...yet. I will say that there have been a couple days where I suddenly think oh-oh, I haven't given a gift today. It says on the 29 Gifts website that if this happens you should sit back and think about events that happened during your day and chances are you've given something you didn't think of as a gift, but it was still GIVING. And I did stop and think about other things I have given that I didn't necessarily count. Like caring for my grandchildren while their parents work or feeding the neighbors pet rabbit when they're gone for the weekend. Doing special things for my husband or children. The challenge really makes you stop and think about things like that.

I decided to open an Etsy store. Seems many of my beadmaking and other artist friends are doing the same and also vowing to "Buy Handmade". Anyway, I look forward to the added exposure. The purse pendant pictured above was my very first sale, (thanks J.).

I Took The Challenge.....

I found a really great website during my usual internet cruise with morning coffee routine. I usually poke around, looking for new inspiration and visit my regular bloggers. Well, this morning I ended up at a site called "29 Gifts Challenge". Give one thing away each day for 29 days. This is an online community to share your stories about how it impacts your life to focus on giving. Be sure to look down in the bottom right hand corner of the home page for the video link that the creator, Cami Walker, put together. The video explains how this whole concept began. What a great idea! I started my challenge today. I'll let you know how it goes. I intend to get my husband involved also. This is going to be fun!