...still on the mend...

I am still suffering from something nasty, but feeling a whole lot better and starting to get back my energy and my mojo back. Our winter weather is very weird this year going from -25C to +1C in one day, how do you plan for that....the tempation of spring just around the corner and then back to chilly reality.

I have been busy both taking photos and beading. Right now I am in love with dichroic glass focals. I had seen a lovely piece of jewelery with a dichroic focal and after a little searching found Cindy Stalnaker. I am so entralled with her work and I can't quit ordering pieces...absolutely gorgeous.

"Blue Nile" is made with one of her pieces, fired polished cyrstals, japenese drops and seed beads. I just love how vibrant this necklace is.

Blue Nile close up of focal

Blue Nile

 A drive in the country on a snowy day and little post manipulation....

Break time

...rough week...

This past week I have had a bad cold/sinus infection. I shouldn't complain though, lots of people in our office have gotten sick. I hate being sick...it's like loosing a week of your life that you can never get back. I probably would have done some really cool things last week - lunch with my daughters, lunch and a bead field trip with my sister, fun with my co-workers, romance with the love of my life, the list could go on and on -but no I couldn't even get out of bed for three days. Oh well not to be one that is beaten I worked on and finished a really beautiful project ....one I wish was the real thing and then I could get my week back!!!

I had ordered a kit from Heather Kingsley-Heath called the Time Traveller's Compass and as luck would have it, it arrived the first day I stayed home. Although I couldn't work on it until about day 3 it was just what I needed. I absolutely love the finished results and I found Heather's pattern super easy to follow. A little bling went a long way to making me feel better!

Time Traveller's Compass

Close up of the Time Traveller's Compass

Another thing y'all should know that is making me feel better and super excited is the sign up for Lori's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.   The 6th Bead Soup was my first BSBP, it was so worth the experience. Lori is an incredible person for hosting this event and all that goes with it. It would be my great pleasure to be able to participate in this great adventure again. Thank you Lori.

http://www.beadsoupblogparty.com/

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

Oh so many memories, where do I begin. My mom passed away way to long ago and way too soon. Although it was a long time ago I feel like it was only yesterday and can't believe I have raised my children and lived my life without her. 

My mom gave me so much in life...my artistic ability, my imagination, the importance of family and the love they give to me, the list goes on and on. My mom was well known for her artistic cake decorating and not one of the too few birthdays she spent with my daughters missed having an incredible birthday cake, so incredible even the girls didn't want to cut into it and that is saying something for toddlers. My mom was a floral designer as well.  For my wedding Tiger Lily bouquets were made and Tiger Lily fondant flowers were on my wedding cake. It was incredible. I don't think there was anything my mom couldn't do. She was an incredibly talented woman and anything she tried she mastered. She instilled in all of us the desire to be perfect, to do our very best and not to settle for less.

My mom was a war bride and when she came to Canada she left all she knew and loved in England except for my father and the promise of a new life. Her joy was her children (I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers) and she devoted her life to us. I owe so much to my mom and I know that she is always with me.

Barbara Helen Gresham Humphries (nee Birch)

My mom's favorite color was blue, she would often dress herself and me and my sisters in blue. Even later in life she gravitated to blues. I guess it helped that it was also my father's  favorite color.

In loving memory of my mom!

Babs

I have also always wanted to make a version of a goddess and thanks to Lori I think this is the perfect opportunity. This pendant was made in memory of my mom but also for my three sisters....they are all goddesses in my life and mean so much to me. I am so thankful to each of them for bringing me so much joy.

My goddess Modron 

The name means mother and she represents the bond of love between a mother and a child

Thanks Lori for hosting this very special blog hop. It was a privilege to participate.

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods

Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz 
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

.....a special weekend for me....

This weekend was my birthday, more specifically Saturday was my birthday. It was a great weekend, I was thoroughly spoiled. Saturday started with a full english breakfast served in bed...ahhhh, then a trip to all my favorite beading stores.....more ahhhhs, then spa time......oooh ahhhhh, then a wonderful dinner out with my favorite people in the world; my daughters, my son in law and my most wonderful husband, then curling up on the couch with a new movie.....could anyone ask for anything better. It was a fabulous day. And then to top off a great Saturday, Sunday was spent doing my other most favorite thing...photography.  No questions asked just anywhere I wanted to go and stop whenever I said...did I mention I have a most wonderful husband. The day started off with sunshine and the promise of a nice day but as soon as we headed out of town a heavy snow storm blew in, still fun and I think I got some great shots.

Home home on the range....

where the buffalo roam...

Big daddy

Braving the elements

Dapple

I feel truly blessed and hope that everyone has an awesome birthday this year!