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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

What a great year 2014 has been!  I can only hope for bigger and BETTER things in 2015.
I DO know that I'll be starting it out with the brand new Feb/March 2015 BEADWORK in my hot little hands - I'm one of the Challenge participants for this issue - and I can't WAIT to see what "Metallique Chique" looks like in PRINT!  I'll be sure to share a photo and details after the issue has been released!

I hope that you and your families and friends experience all the wonders of the holiday season.
If you are a New Years resolution maker - I wish you luck and good results.  I don't usually make them - too much pressure! - but I think I am this year.  My resolution is to have more

TOLERANCE

for the attitudes of customer service reps and sales clerks.  I have to remember that they are (for the most part) doing their best, and that I've been in their shoes.   I will try to be calmer, nicer, and happier.  EVEN with that ONE impossibly horrible one....

I may have time to 'see you' in the next week or so, but if not - see you next year!  As always....


Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Friday, December 19, 2014

WHOA!

Flickr slideshow fail!   I've removed the big giant in your face thing until I can figure out how to fix it.  Would love to have the new Enlightened Denim slideshow running.  Hopefully next post....

I don't have a whole lot to blog about - hustling and bustling and getting ready for yet more holiday-ing with family and friends, finishing up the shopping, and preparing for the cooking, the cooking and more cooking.  My deviled eggs are a MUST at family gatherings (I think they want the eggs more than ME sometimes.  LOL.).  The obligatory green bean casserole will be made two days in a row as well, along with munchies and yummies still yet to be determined....

I WILL have a bit of major news in the new year.  WATCH this blog, along with Facebook (while you still can) for information about upcoming CLASSES - one here at my home, and one at the Art Gallery in OWOSSO!  FUN!  Actually - the art gallery gig isn't a class exactly - but it's a chance to get a 'free' look at how my bead embroidery process works.  STAY TUNED!  And I'm all in for entering a BIG BIG bead contest (or two) next year as well.... mums the word until all is said and done!

And for those of you who subscribe to or buy Beadwork magazine - you'll find me in the Feb/March 2015 issue's CHALLENGE section!   :)

Hope you holidays are joyful, merry and bright....

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop REVEAL!

So here it is, girls - the day you've all been waiting for 
 the REVEAL of our pieces made with our bead HOARD!   

My story may be a bit different than the rest of the hoarders.  I DO admit I have my own hoard.  I've been beading for over 20 years, AND owned a bead shop for about 4 years as well.  
I have a ton of beads, but as EVERY serious bead hoarder knows - there is always room for more.
And that's where this story takes a bittersweet turn.
You see, this blog reveal isn't just about MY hoard - but it's a tribute, story and reveal that includes the hoard of a very special friend and (sort of) family member.
Colleen Beach was one of my bead shop customers.  She was a crafter of ALL things, and as far as beads - she LOVED seed beads, especially Delicas.  Colleen also happened to be the maternal grandmother of two of my husbands nieces, so it was sort of a 'catch up on the kids' friendly get together whenever she came to visit.

Sadly - Colleen passed away early last year.  
Upon taking care of Colleen's things, and cleaning up her home, the girls finally had entry into the room in the house that had once been forbidden - the craft room.
It seems that Colleen was a CRAFT HOARDER.  Of all kinds.  Fabric for quilts. Yarn. Yarn.  More Yarn.  And BEADS.  Glorious, beautiful, unopened tubes and bags of beads.  I know she had a plan in mind for at least some of them, but just as with the rest of us - if not - there could be a use for them someday.
My nieces were given the task of emptying this room.  Finding homes for the fabric. The yarn.  THE BEADS.  And luckily, LOVINGLY - they thought of me.  When they invited me over to give me 'some of Colleen's beads'  - I NEVER expected this



 These boxes, PLUS a shoe box were FULL of bag upon bag upon bag of DELICA beads in every color of the rainbow, as well as bugles, size 15's, vintage CHARLOTTES and some other gloriously delightful items that I didn't think to photograph at the time.


This was just ONE bag of seed beads, czech glass and pearls purchased from our local bead store - T&T Trading - all of them brand new, never opened.

I also found some absolutely spectacular semi precious stone - jasper, a gi-NORMOUS piece of Lapis, and some other lovely bead related items as well.

Colleen.


I could not believe that those girls (and probably Colleen herself) had chosen to gift me with these wonderful beads.
There was so much beauty in this gesture, that I felt I needed to share my good fortune - I put together a box full of items from Colleen's hoard, as well as my own - and had a 'Pay it Forward' give away a few months back, giving some of them to another passionate beader,whom I hope in turn, chose to pass some on to yet another.
THEN - to TOP this - a wonderful fellow beader Renetha of Lamplight Crafts, asked if I would like more for the hoard, as she was destashing as well.  WELL, What kind of a hoarder would I be to say NO to a bead? NEVER did I think I would receive such beautiful things from Renetha as well - much much more than I ever expected.  So beautiful.  
So I've included a few things - mostly seed beads - from Renetha's 'hoard' as well.

SO - without further ado -
Here are the pieces that I have created for the 
"Bead Hoarders Blog Hop"
BOTH are my "Enlightened Denim" bracelets - each with a very different style:

The centerpiece of this one - "Olive Branch"  is from MY hoard, as well as the teardrop piece at the bottom (the 'newest' member of the hoard-those were purchased this past October).  The gorgeous pearls, and all of the seed beads came from Colleen's hoard.  The denim I seem to have a hoard of as well; once my friends and family started seeing what I was doing with them - they contributed piles and piles!


This next one is by far one of my favorites that I've done in my "Enlightened Denim" line.  Walking on Sunshine.  Bright.  Colorful.  SUNNY.  Again, the focal - the Cubic Zirconium dragonfly, is from MY bead store hoard, as well as the yellow quartz flowers, and the button closure.  The seed beads are a mixture of both Colleen's and Renetha's, all peachy and perfect.  The Shibori ribbon was given by Renetha, and the zipper was also among the items from Colleen.
 But I think the ULTIMATE hoarded item I used in this piece is the little VINTAGE sterling silver
and flower pendant from our local favorite antique shop The Little Red Schoolhouse.  Circa probably the 50's or 60's.  :)  



The pieces that I make that include the little zippers are my most popular pieces.  I have just ONE zipper of about a dozen left.  I've found fun and creativity in creating with each and every one.

I am going to refer you to Lori Anderson's blog for the list of other bloggers.  I hope you can visit them all over the next few days.  I KNOW there will be some magnificent art work in there....

Here's Lori's blog address:

Pretty Things

Peaceful beading,
TTFN