Bead Table Wednesday

Here's what's on my bead table today:  completing earrings to go with "Inspired" - more pieces to add to the peacock theme. 

Mad about beads

My great niece Madison (aka Madi, Mads, and Mad) spent the day with me - BEADING.  I promised her at the beginning of the summer that we'd have a craft day.  Little did I know that she's been plotting and planning about it all summer long!  She has decided that she and 11 of her friends are going to have a sale (along with lemonade) down on the street corner, selling jewelry and raising money for hungry children in Africa.  So funny!  So she designed, and strung, and ended up with 2 necklaces (one she strung, one on chain that she designed and I put together) and 4 bracelets - mostly memory wire.  She also went back home to Holland with about 1/2 dozen pieces of already made items that I'd had around awhile.  She sure is a good little marketing person.  She managed to talk me into contributing to her 'cause'.  Keep in mind - she's NINE.
I hope she's able to actually raise the money (she is serious about this - her mom (my niece) has the details on a fund to send the $$ to).  But if not, she's got enough jewelry for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and teachers gifts for a couple of years!    We had fun together - just Mads and I - and topped it off with a trip to McDonalds - which was a big deal for her without all her siblings (there are 4 more-all younger). 
She really, really wants to learn the seed bead weaving, but I'm not sure she's quite ready for those little beads and a needle and thread yet.  She was so intent on stringing her necklace with size 11's in a particular 4 color pattern, that when she finished, she proclaimed she was never doing THAT again!  I have a feeling she'll forget she said that the next time she sees one of my seed bead woven pieces.
See you back here again tomorrow for Bead Table Wednesday - I managed to work on my own project a bit while she was stringing - so I've got a new project just waiting for it's BTW debut!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

COOL bead giveaway!

Click the link below for a fun bead giveaway.  Earthenwood beads are some of my favorites to work with - I'm hoping I win!

http://laurelmoon.blogspot.com/2011/08/earthenwood-giveaway.html


I'll be posting again tomorrow and hope to have photos of my date with my great niece Madison.  She and I are going to make bracelets and play with beads.  She's EIGHT.  Wish me luck!
Don't forget to head to the Laurel Moon site for your chance to win some Earthwood delights!
TTFN

Another Market, another dollar

Which is to say that's about ALL I made on the market today.  In fact, since I BOUGHT a nice little zippered bag for my tools from the booth next door - I'm probably $5.00 in the hole.  You just never know with these shows from one time to the next who, what and WHY they'll buy. LAST month's market brought in almost $250 in the first hour of the show.  Crazy.  Still got one more OFFICIAL show to do in September, but dang it, I am NOT ready to throw in the towel.  My husband is just adamant that doing any more shows is, in his words "a waste of time - you make no money".  But I won't make any money if I just STOP doing shows altogether either.  I had talked myself out of Haslett, as well as the outdoor day next month at Meridian, but if I can get someone to share their tent space with me - I just may do it to spite him.
I'm trying to have a better outlook about not making any money at shows, which doesn't really help me pay the bills - but I SO love what I do, and I enjoy talking to people about it, even if they don't ultimately end up buying.  I'm not sure I can keep the positive outlook going, but can a complete wash out of a show happen every single time?    I am almost curious enough to try and find out!  I got a lot of compliments on my table display today - and even the bees thought my flowers were real! 

 So here's to a successful show NEXT month!  I may even be able to do TWO!  Take THAT, hubby dear. 
Enjoy whatever life brings you....
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Peacocks to be proud of

SOOOOO happy with how these turned out.  I was glad to have the 'power' beading session tonight - hubby's gone fishin', and it's blissfully beadily quiet - or as quiet as it can be with my country station CRANKED!  It seemed to give me the energy boost I needed to get these finished for tomorrow's art market.   I DO plan to create another piece or two - but will need more of the PERFECT shade of 'peacock' feather- navy lined amber size 15's from Artbeads.  And they just happen to be O-U-T.  Hopefully they'll have more soon!  I'm also thinking a pair of earrings are needed to match the white peacock piece from a few weeks ago.  PLUS I have two other peacock related projects drawn, with thoughts noted. Lately when something comes into my head,  I've been at least jotting notes.  My memory just ain't what it used to be, but somehow my creative ideas are still JUICY!  Loving that I have a counter on my site now - I have more people reading than I thought - YAY!  Stop and say hey once in awhile!  And leave me YOUR blog address - if I'm not already reading it (trust me, I've got a list of favorites that is 51 blogs long, and I try to hit them all at least once every couple days) I'll check it out!
 
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

The price of (not so) fine dining

Is there a Boston Market in your area?  If you haven't been in awhile - you're in for sticker shock.  Wow.  We could have eaten at Applebee's and spent about the same, and had better ambiance.  Sure, they bring you your meal on actual dinner ware now, and let you leave the plates for them to clean up - but did they have to raise the prices so dang high just to do it?  I honestly didn't mind the throw away containers, or cleaning up after myself.  I suppose that real dinner ware is GREENER, and for that I give them kudos, but almost 8 bucks for cold chicken that I have to cut apart, and sides that are getting blander and blander with every visit.  Not to mention the puny little corn bread - it's like 1/2 the size it used to be!  This was definitely a 5 visit on a scale of 1 to 10.  Not sure we'll go back very soon - so many other places are more fun for the same price!
Think I'm going to copy and paste that little rant review and hit their website.  I'm in a mood - and someone's gonna hear about it!

Read or bead?

That's been the question lately.  I find myself soaking in the written word much this week - nothing significant, nothing deep, just good, well written mysteries.  I'm on the third book since Sunday - so I'm averaging one book about every day and a half.  I do that sometimes.  The best of the lot was actually a TRUE story of intrigue, and very interesting - called "Winged Obsession" - about the FBI and Fish and Wildlife departments' pursuit AND capture of the worlds most famous BUTTERFLY smuggler.  Who knew that there was such a huge market for this?  And who knew how horrifying the destruction of the butterfly species really is.  And how they go about getting those beautiful winged bugs into those boxes that so many collectors covet.  It was a very good read.  I also threw in one of James Patterson's newest, am almost finished with a Nook novel, and then Ill move on to the actual book version of the newest Lisa Jackson.  And somehow - amidst all the mystery and suspense, I have found a little time to bead.  I've got a couple of new earring designs to perfect, and am working on some peacock designs - since they're sooooo hot right now!  Looking forward to having my DAY to myself tomorrow, as hubby's hours have been switched for a few days again.
Back to my suspense and a spoonful of chocolate fudge sauce from the jar in the fridge.  It's the day before groceries - and we're getting a little lean on the essentials - like CHOCOLATE!
Peaceful beading - and reading,
TTFN 

Gallery Inventory

Here are the pieces that I just took today.  And I brought home printed brochures with MY name in them!  So it's official!  How exciting to be teaching a class at The Lansing Art Gallery this winter.  There are also several pieces still there that have been displayed for awhile - like the Vinery line, with it's grape clusters and vintage lucite leaves, my favorite 'face' piece - Island Dreamer, as well as the statement making Petoskey Pride.  Lots of big events coming up too - a new exhibit will be arriving with the kick off open house being Friday, September 9th.  I'll be working the gallery that evening - it would be great to have a few familiar faces in the crowd.  There are always refreshments, and this time there's even a jazz band!  FUN!

Looking forward to a fun time - but boy, did THAT turn into another busy week - my only free day from Labor Day to Sunday will be Thursday, the 8th.  I may have to turn off, tune out and veg for a day.  WHEW!
Off to bead....
TTFN

Ready, Set - Babble!

I've been noticing other bloggers post changes a lot lately.  As in - not so much about the bead, but just about STUFF.  And I'd been trying hard not to do that - only babbling a little about non bead stuff, instead of a lot.  But then I found myself keeping a second place to write - a virtual journal, for stuff that I needed to vent about, shout about, babble about and just plain talk about that I didn't think anyone would necessarily be interested in.  But jeez.  I'm seeing a huge amount of my usual beady bloggers doing just that.  So I'll probably start babbling more - instead of less. Lucky you!  I could probably write more today - about things that have been happening, and what I'm hoping for in the next week or so, but I'm waiting for the imminent arrival of my mom, so that we can have lunch, and visit The Lansing Art Gallery today.  She's late.  Not like her.  I'm sure something came up - an important phone call, or the 'porch guy' finally showed up.  Don't you hate that?  You hire someone that has been recommended as a good worker, and they seem to just work on their own schedule - any one elses' plans be damned.  Sometimes I think it's worth paying more just for better FASTER service. 
So there.  I DID manage to babble about nothing today!  And mom's still not here!
Hope to do some beading later - kind of at one of those points where I've got lots of project ideas, with dribs and drabs of things pulled together that will PART of a project, but haven't got a plan in mind for any of them.  I did play around with a possible new RAW earring embellishment yesterday, but will want to play with it a little more (and write it down!) before I decide to share it.  YAY!  SHE"S HERE!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Stump the Expert

After 20 years, and countless hours of hands on beading, I consider myself an expert in the field.  I know every stitch, pretty much every technique and can master just about any 4 bead level project (difficult). And I can teach pretty much all of them too.   EXCEPT for BEAD CROCHET.  I just CANNOT get those little suckers to do what they're supposed to do to form a nice, uniform rope.  I thought maybe some of the girls at group last night could give me some tips, and I thought for sure that one of those tips would inevitably help me.  NOT.  I just cannot seem to grasp it.  Literally.  Hanging on to the thread properly, pushing those beads into position, and actually forming a stitch seem beyond my comprehension.  We all agree that being a lefty has something to do with it.  So I guess that's just one of those things that I won't master.  I will continue with my first love - embellishment - and leave it at that.  Why let it stress me out?  I don't want to start to hate what gives me passion.  So I'm not going to push it.  Is there a stitch or technique that you haven't been able to master?  I'd love to hear about it - just so I know I'm not alone!
Today I will be preparing new inventory (many of the pieces you see in the slideshow above!) for The Lansing Art Gallery.  Some of the pieces that are still being displayed have been there since February - so it's time to switch them out.  The things I take tomorrow will be included in the Holiday Art Market as well, so I want them to be fresh, and up to date.  Unless they sell before then of course!  And since switching out pieces means bringing home some things, that will give me some 'new' inventory for the Meridian Art Market on Sunday.  I think this is the last one for me, since the September one is an outdoor affair.  I think I'm going to rethink and downsize the clearance, and add a fall/Halloween piece or two.  If you are a crafter in any form, you know that THIS is the time of year that people start looking for those holiday items.  I'm ready!
Better get started - I'm burnin' daylight!  It's starting to get dark earlier and earlier every day, which means the seasons they are a changin'.  And while autumn IS my favorite time of year (and when birthday falls), it's just one season away from the dreaded WINTER. 
Peaceful, comfy beading everyone,
TTFN

Changes

I'm sure you noticed right away!  I've made a few updates to the page, including the slideshow of some of my latest creations at the top.  I still want to change the background, add some fun new gadgets, but for now, and since Mercury is still all wonky, I will settle for figuring out and changing what I did!
Not sure what's on our 'plate' for today.   I know a trip to the library is in order, and possibly out to my parents summer place.  They've got company coming later in the form of an aunt and uncle that we don't see much - so we just may need to stop and say hey.  I would love to sit and bead, but since this is the last official day of my hubby's vacation, he may have other plans.  And that's ok, too.    Yesterday was sort of a wing it day, starting out with our beloved Farmers Market - which is dangerous when we don't actually NEED things- because then we're tempted by yummy things we don't need.  We got our usual sweet corn, string beans (that were yummy steamed with garlic and salt), a huge canteloupe, potatoes fresh dug that day, as well as the goodies that I can't resist from Samia's Deli - the lemon bars that are to die for, the cherry chocolate bars (equally delish), snickerdoodle cookies from the Amish farm booth, and of course - cuz the smell gets ya in the parking lot - kettle corn!  We were very, very bad - and it's all very very good!  Next stop was to a second farmers market - but for a different reason.  They were having their annual ART market yesterday, and it was one that I considered doing.  I wanted to see the turn out, the vendors, and what they were offering.  Boy.  Am I glad I didn't participate.  Just 5 tents - nothing in the form of REAL art, but rather handing out literature, a tie dye booth for kids, a singer (how this is art for sale - unless he had CD's - I don't know), and metal lawn art that was very crude.  SOOOOOO glad I skipped that one.  But I grabbed a frozen latte, walked around a bit, sampled some lotions, smelled the smells, and enjoyed it.  Then for a bit of something different, a bit macabre for some, (but something we used to do regularly when we were dating), we went to walk one of the local cemeteries.  My husband is on a geneology kick, and wanted to find the headstone for his grandfather, a war veteran, as well as other family members that may have been buried nearby.  Well, we walked, and searched, and explored, and never did find it, but we DID find the beautiful headstone and site of MY aunt and uncle, who both passed away last year, but their children chose to have a PRIVATE graveside service.  So no one in the family knew where their gravesite was.  This is a very important find for my Mom, for whom geneology is also a huge thing.  Combine that surprise find with the deer we stopped to watch meandering through, it wasn't a complete loss.  We came home, relaxed, and enjoyed the sounds of a thunderstorm, not severe, but calming and cleansing, despite the fact that it just helped bring the mosquito population to a new high.  Oh well. 
If I haven't said so lately - Thank You so much for reading my blog - now that I've added a counter, I'll at least know you've all been here, and that means a lot!  I know I can 'babble', hence the reason for name of the blog, and don't always have anything exciting to say, but I do occasionally bring something important to the blog world, and for that reason I shall continue....
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Got my toes in the sand

life is good today.

"...only worry's when the tide's gonna reach my chair..." (thanks, Zac Brown band)

The view from the boardwalk to the beach

Hubby and the kids (the one on the far right isn't ours - he just wanted to make friends!)

Bella was askin' if she could go back again tomorrow!
We all had such a great time at Kruse Park Dog Beach in Muskegon.  Beautiful PERFECT day for the beach.   It's a long haul from the parking lot to the beach, and there's no bathroom handy, but otherwise - the path, the boardwalk and beach are beautifully maintained and clean.  We discovered that the drive was about 1/2 the time we thought - just over 1 1/2 hours, so we plan to visit again - at LEAST one more time this summer.  I got the much needed sand and sun time that I needed, and my hubby got a relaxing time with all of us (something his work hours don't allow often).  After a few hours at the beach, we headed north to Ludington, where the salmon should be just about ready to run.  Terry wanted to check and see, so that he and his cousin could plan their yearly mecca.  Stopped for ice cream, and then took the scenic route to Clare - where' Jays Sporting Goods awaited.  Not so fun for me, although their gift and women's section is getting larger.  Unfortunately for both of us, Jay's is mostly a dream store.  We browsed for about 1/2 hour, and then continued on our journey home.  We stopped at Little Caesars for a quick hot and ready pizza (they even still had supremes!) and came home, ate and crashed. The dogs went immediately to bed on their own, lol,  I was sleeping before 11 - and I KNOW Terry probably was too.
So if you are in Michigan, or visit Michigan and you have fur kids - check out Kruse Park Dog Beach.  You won't be disappointed.  And the views are spectacular! 
I posted about 40 more photos on FB if you're pals....
Peaceful sunny beading,
TTFN

Fairy Path

 You got a sneak peek of the beads for "Fairy Path" the other day during Bead Table Wednesday.  At the time - it had no name, and no 'path'.  This photo is the result. 
As I may have mentioned, I received the focal and many of the larger accent beads, as well as some vintage silver rectangles, from Lori Anderson.  She felt really bad for omitting me from this round of the Bead Soup Blog Hop, and sent them to me as a gift.  At the time, I had no idea that a plan would form for them so soon.  I was planning to add it to my growing tray of tobe's. (TO BE done).  But - the fairies around this house wanted a path, dang it - so here it is....and although I did wear it to my book group last night, I think this one's destined as my next POWER piece at The Lansing Art Gallery.

Not sure what my next project will be - I have a pretty butterfly wing focal that I got from Bead Bohemia in Farmington on the last road trip - I've had that out a couple of times.  I also need to concentrate on pulling together all the bits and pieces, pieces and parts for my Spirit Mandala workshop at the end of October.  I think I already have several people signed up for that - and once they see the actual mandala that I'm getting ready to display, I may end up having to split it into TWO classes.  Not a bad problem to have!

I also need to sit down and work on the Frilly Ring class instructions and kits for my gig at the gallery.  It's not until December, but I need to start figuring out how many color combos, and making sure I have all the right sizes of beads, enough thread, etc.  So I guess I'll have enough to keep me busy over the next few months, not to mention the next Art Market or two (the second one is up in the air until the director decides indoor or outdoor), a two week Feng Shui workshop coming up NEXT MONTH (luckily, I already have that workshop DONE), and a possible trip to Florida before December.  I think I'm glad I've had this last week off!  I may not get one of those again.   Today we are off to do something new, something exciting and something we've been wanting to do for a few years - we are taking the dogs to a dog BEACH on Lake Michigan.  It's probably about a 2 1/2 hour trip (with dry dogs there and WET dogs back. ick).  Haven't even SEEN the beach or Lake Michigan in a couple years, and boy, do I miss it.  I am hoping that it's not busy, and an easy walk, and easy to control the pooches so that I can sit, read, soak up some rays, and dip my toes at my leisure.  We have no idea what to expect - but it IS a beautiful day out there.  And away we go....
Peaceful sunny beading everyone,
TTFN 

A blog full of awesome - whether they like it or not

Well, I guess there won't be an announcement about a fun new adventure.  For the second time in a month, I have been passed over (and this time not forgotten - just plain passed over) for a position in the bead world that could have finally FINALLY (can I write that word any bigger? yes I can - FINALLY!) made people sit up and take notice, not to mention bringing in some $ for my work.  But no.  NO.  NO.   I am so disappointed - so ANGRY right now, that I can't stop the tears.  Is it the fact that I have admitted that I'm still a nobody after trying for 20 years?   Is that I am too confident that I AM GOOD at what I do?  What does it take to get in on some of these opportunities being offered by some of the prime designers in the bead world?  I have a feeling I know.    It will be interesting to see the names that will be associated with this particular opportunity.  My guess is they'll be a lot of the same names we already see out there in the world.  The ones that already have a leg up, and a foot in the door.  And it is so disappointing.  So  I won't be putting my name in any more 'hats', applying for any more recognition, sending in any more inquiries or submitting any more projects.  I have heard the message loud and clear from the powers that BEAD. To you, I am no one.  Hear me squeak.
I guess the one bright spot in my world right now, and the one that I will have to concentrate on, because it's the only spark of recognition that I am liable to get - is that The Lansing Art Gallery here locally (where I've been selling my work semi-successfully for nearly a year) have asked me to teach a beading class this winter.   I guess I'll just have to keep shining my light from under the bushel - and keeping the home fires burning instead. 
I wish the gallery where I applied for the opportunity, and all those that are involved with them the best of luck.  To those of you that ARE a part of that organization: I don't know what it was that made you pass on me, but you don't know what you're missing.  My work is awesome.  Too bad you decided you didn't want awesome.  There won't be a next time. 
TTFN

Bead Table Wednesday

No name for this one yet - but it's seriously 'fern'y.  Inspired by the beautifully packaged beads that Lori Anderson sent me as a gift for having forgotten to include me in the Blog Hop!, they consist of this beautiful green lampwork bead, some vintage leaves (my favorite!), and yes, PURPLE accents!  And she says she didn't know how much I love working with these colors.  Not quite sure where my head is going with it all yet, but my heart says Lori's the best!
Back to the table, my beady friends...
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Should have known

When I sat down at this laptop about an hour ago, I had big plans!  I was going to totally overhaul this blog!  I was going to start fresh, renew, give it new life, and get crazy with a new template.
Well.  As the title states - I should have known that it wouldn't be that simple.  I have been attempting to download a really cool new template, without success.  And why should I have known?  Mercury Retrograde, of course.
So here I blog, with the same template, and the same photos - but I won't give up.  I will probably just wait until Mercury is done with it's wonky orbit, and then try again.  Besides, by then I may have some exciting news about a new adventure in beading.  No more details yet.  Don't wanna jinx it!
So peaceful beading once again,
TTFN

Creative Cookery

I miss cooking.  I was sort of getting in a rut with it, doing it night after night  - but now that I only get to actually cook a full course meal (sometimes with dessert) one or two days every couple weeks because of Terry's schedule - I got jiggy with it!  lol
We weren't able to cook out today - Mother Nature had other plans, so I had to come up with something else that I had on hand.   I had alfredo sauce, some imitation crab meat, a can of tomatoes, and some other veggies AND CHEESE.  And VOILA!  Crab Alfredo Goulash was born: 
1 small onion, chopped
1 can sliced mushrooms
1 pkg.  flake or chunk imitation crab meat
1 large can diced tomatoes, drained
1 small jar alfredo sauce
sprinkle of oregano
dash of paprika
1 C. mozzarella cheese (optional)
Macaroni
In a large saucepan, saute chopped onion and mushrooms in olive oil until onions transparent.  Add drained tomatoes and alfredo sauce.  Stir well.  Add spices, and the crab meat, bring to a boil, cover and simmer.
Bring water for macaroni to a boil. Add macaroni, cook and stir til done; drain.   Not sure how much I used - just enough to stir in to crab mixture when drained.  Mix well.  You can either simmer a few minutes, and then serve - or add the 1 C. mozzarella and cover until melted in.  It. Was. YUMMO.  A little lighter than regular goulash, not quite as spicy.  You wouldn't need to add the paprika either, if you wanted it more alfredo-ish.  Sorry I don't have more exact measurements for this - I don't usually use actual measurements.  I just throw it in until it looks and tastes good!
I served this with baked carrots (baked in onion soup mix and water, worchestershire sauce and honey), and garlic toast.   We've got peach cobbler too (not my recipe) but we're too full to eat it now!
I wish I had a photo of my concoction.  Didn't realize I was going to want to share until it had been chowed!
Peaceful rainy Sunday,
TTFN

My world is filled with....

Beads, dogs and      .  They are EVERYWHERE.  Every trip outdoors for the dogs consists of a new swarm of the little varmints coming in.  I swear they've colonized and are attempting to assimilate us.  Resistance is futile.  Almost.  They don't seem to be immune from the red menace (aka the fly swatter).  It's our only line of defense. 
On a happy note:  The Lansing Art Gallery has ok'd my proposal to TEACH a beading class this winter!  They had never offered adult classes in the past (they gear the learning experiences more toward children), but are offering some new and different options this term.  THIS is what I'll be offering:

I hope to have it available in 3 or 4 color themes, so I need to get busy and put together PROFESSIONAL kits.  The class is going to be held at the gallery on Wednesday evening, December 7th.  You can be sure I'll be posting updates and reminders right up to last minute - or til it's sold OUT!  Wouldn't that be a kick?

What else has been happening? 

I'm also preparing some classes at Coyote - A two week Feng Shui workshop, and THIS:

"Spirit Mandala".  This one is at the end of October, so I've got some time.  The completed one for this workshop will probably be a bit smaller than the original (which will be displayed at Coyote starting next week) just because of the time restraints of the workshop.  I've always wanted to do this in workshop form.  Should be fun.  I also put in a shift at The Grand-dale Shoppe today.  Still haven't sold anything from my booth

but we're hopeful!  As soon as the Labor Day holiday is over (can you believe it's just a few weeks away?) and the kids are back in school (can you believe THAT is only a few weeks away as well?) - we expect the shoppers to be out ready to start checking things off those holiday lists.  I spent a couple of hours today rearranging not my booth - but some of the consignment and gift shoppe booths and items.  Dawn knows that I enjoy 'decorating', so she let me go wild.  I hope they were ok with it.  I guess I'll find out next time I'm there - they could just change it all over again!  lol  I don't think they will, though.  It's not something they enjoy.   I am paying the price this evening though - don't usually get that kind of strenuous activity for so many hours at a time.  My back and my knees my never forgive me.   As long as my swattin' elbow is still in working order...
Peaceful BUZZ FREE beading for all this week,
TTFN 

Left out

Of the soup, that is.  Somehow I've been overlooked for the next Bead Soup Blog Party, so I guess I won't be participating after all.  So bummed.  I thought it sounded like fun.
Oh well.  Since I have TWO classes to plan for, a mini vacation, a holiday, and a wedding all in that time, it's probably just as well.

Anyway - here's what Bella and I have been working on this week, for BTW and more!(she lies nearby everytime I'm at my bead table-she likes to come and inspect my work once in awhile):



Bead Table Wednesday 8/10



Peaceful beading on this gorgeous summer day,

TTFN

BTW - maybe later!

I know, I know.  I haven't been participating in BTW lately. (For all you non-beady readers - that's Bead Table Wednesday).  My Wednesdays are busy in the summer - either spending the day exploring and doing lunch with my Mom (who's a snowbird here from Florida), or working at the bookstore.  Either way - there's no time - or beads - on the table on most Wednesdays.  But......since I'll have an early day today (done at 2pm), I MAY just have time to bead AND post about it later.  I'll have to hop over to the Flickr site and see what everyone else has been up to on Wednesdays in the meantime.  
Off I go for coffee with a wonderful friend before my shift at the bookstore. 
TTFN!

Pure Peacock

Yep.  Decided that's the name:

Eyelash yarn is so fun to work with!  I wanted to use real feathers, but couldn't quite find what I wanted, plus the yarn actually had stitches for me to baste from.  It is the exact vision I had the minute I purchased the pendant.  Just took awhile to bring it all together.  I think this is going to be an Art Gallery Holiday Market piece.  It is a bit festive and fun all at the same time.
TTFN

PARTY TIME!

Bead Soup Blog Party that is!  I've decided to join in the fun for the next round - registration only lasts until Wednesday the 3rd if you want to hop in the soup too!  I've added a link to the right to make it easy - I'll be posting a photo of the items I receive when the time comes, and then my blog will become a part of the HOP on the BIG DAY of the party!  It's kinda scary - will I be able to get everything together to mail to my partner, and then put something that they send ME together in time?- but kind of exciting (all those people viewing my blog! and having my name OUT THERE!) at the same time.  But it's too late now.  Mercury is Retrograde, and it's not to be undone. 
I should have a photo of the peacock piece (I thought the name would be Pure Peacock, but now not so sure) by tonight or tomorrow.  I had planned to take an entire week OFF to rest, read, BEAD, and do a little Virgo Mercury Retrograde cleaning.  HAH.  Spirit says NOT.  Tomorrow and Wednesday are now filled with commitments, as well as a portion of Thursday as well.  Try try again next week.....but since I'm trying to make the most of the time that I DO have this week, I should probably stop blogging and get busy!
Peaceful, cool beading everyone...
TTFN