Sunday 27 January 2013

...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

Sunday 20 January 2013

...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/

Saturday 12 January 2013

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

Sunday 6 January 2013

.....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!