More Vacation Bling

Phone pictures don't really do this set justice. I'm not very impressed with my wire-wrapping skills, but hope to remedy that with a class. However, I like simple coloring, and how the simple necklace allows the pendant to be the real focal piece.

The other thing that I like is that this necklace was also done completely out of inventory. I didn't have to make any runs to the bead store to "fill gaps".

Getting ready for vacation!

I finished this set last weekend. It has a wonderful jellyfish pendant of blown glass (that I bought at an artist fair last summer in Montana), fresh water pearls (from a necklace I made 21 years ago), mother of pearl, sodalite, and faceted green sea glass.

It is a "modular" piece that can be warn twisted all together or with just the "jellyfish" necklace or just the "cascade" necklace.  I can't wait to wear it when we go on vacation.

Work Avoidance!!

I don't really want to take the Christmas decorations down...so let's play instead! Chocolate pretzels and jammin' to some Blue Moo kid songs!

Pajama days gone by

I was searching through some photos in search of a picture of our old house and I stumbled upon this great picture of the kids in their animal print pajamas (made by Oma).

Katherine has long-since outgrown her pajamas, and Patrick has outgrown his (fortunately I haven't outgrown mine), but now Katherine is wearing Patrick's...although by next winter I'm not so sure.

Weren't they cute?

I finally finished my book!

Back in 2007 when we decided to burn down our old house to make room for a new one, I decided that I wanted to create a photo book of the project to remind us of everything that we accomplished, and to tell our unique story. I finally got the job done, and the book has been ordered. I can't wait to see the real thing, but here is a digital look at it.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Beading project - azurite and malachite

Trying to get in the spirit

Today I found myself without power.  The power company has been making "infrastructure improvements" for the past (forever) months and now they're working in front of our house.  Today, in order to switch from some old lines to new ones, they had to cut our power completely.  Without power I couldn't work in the basement (too dark) and I couldn't sew (no electricity).  The computers weren't running, and my laptop battery was flat so I did the one thing on my to-do list that did not require power...bring out the rest of the Christmas decorations.

I couldn't test the lights, but I could at least sort through things and start planning where to put which decoration.  While I was working, I was struck by a song.  It just hit me...right out of thin air.  Actually, what hit me was a toy that got bumped too close to the edge of the "catwalk" and finally teetered right over the edge - sort of like those action scenes where a car sits precariously perched on a rock tilting to and fro.  Will it go over the edge into the latrine - no, ravine, sorry - or will it stay on the rock until the driver is rescued?  To be continued...

Yes, well, while I was picking up the toy (fortunately a soft one) I started humming a tune.  Before long that tune had words; not exactly the words given when the song was written, but words that kept me going on my task.  I shared them with myFacebook friends and thought I'd share them with you.  Can *you* name the tune?

Timers and bright lights and Santas and kid art,
nutcrackers, snowmen and late trips to Walmart.
Decking the halls with great joy and delight,
this is how I enjoy spending my night.
Put the tree up, light the candles, turn the music on.
Christmas is coming, we'll celebrate soon, that Jesus is born...a babe.

I don't know...I think it has flow.  Maybe I'll add another verse.