My how time flies...

It's been a while since I last posted, life just got in the way....well not in the way life just needed to be lived. And now it's 2014.Wow! I have made lots of resolutions and so far have been keeping them, but hey it's early. One thing for sure in 2014 I am going do a lot more stepping out of my comfort zone. I have recognized that I love bead embroidery (it's my passion) but that is not to say that every once in a while I feel the need to follow a pattern or do a standard stitch technique.  I am so excited for upcoming bead challenges, and can't wait to dig in. 

Mr. Seagull .... say what!

Christmas was wonderful, spent with my favorite people in the world...my husband, my daughters and my son in law. On Boxing Day we left for Vancouver to spend New Years eve with my brother and my husbands sister and brother in law. What a wonderful relief from the snow. I took lots of photos, ate way too much and did some serious, I mean serious shopping!

A stroll through Central Park (note there is no snow)

 Today happens to be my birthday but my brother and sister in law surprised me early with the most deletable birthday cake ever..a St. Honore cake...the most delicious cake ever. I was truly spoiled....did I mention my husband brought me a cashmere and fur cape!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Me, yum yum

 I have been doing lots of beading and can't wait to reveal on January 15 - A Time to Stitch, but until then I made this as a gift for my sister (pattern from Bead and Button) - I made it in her favorite colors and hope it makes her day.

For Lindy

Come back to see my A Time To Stitch Reveal on January 15

...dreaming...

Winter has taken a strong hold here and so far it been cold with an abundance of snow. I don't mind the winter but I just wish it was of shorter duration .  I have a really bad habit of falling down, usually for no reason other than tripping on air but winter does present challenges...I slipped on a icy spot and landed smack on my knee...ouch!!!

It doesn't feel like that long ago, as a matter of fact it was just two months ago that we were enjoying the summer sun and a wonderful time in Southern BC touring the wine country.

Grapes on the vine

 "Off the Vine" is my tribute to the wonderful vineyards we visited.  A random assortment of pearls, crystals, drops and seed beads put together and hung from a viking knit rope.

Oh what a wonderful vacation....

My husband and I spent a glorious 5 days in Victoria and just had an awesome time. It was such a nice break and just a little more time with beautiful weather. The weather was fantastic, visiting with my sister was just the best - it was a perfect break. Now back to reality - snow - lots of it. I will be looking at my pictures on a regular  basis -  a little vitamin D fix.

While in Victoria I taught my sister how to do Viking Knit...oh we had fun...and we made several pieces. We shopped all my favorite shops - three happen to be bead shops - and I came home with some real treasures. One pieces was the stone I made into a pendant for my viking knit rope and of course earrings to match.  The stone is Chrysocolla.  Chrysocolla is a very beautiful stone said to have many beneficial energies. It is known as a healing stone among Native American Indian cultures where it was used for strengthening the body's resistance and bringing about calm feelings where there is upset. The colors are out of this world and the turquoise viking knit rope is perfect. Now I know my sister used the same turquoise for a bracelet, it wasn't done when I left but I'm sure she will love it like I love mine. She also made a gorgeous mauve viking knit rope and attached an iridescent blue with hints of purple crystal pendant - quite spectacular. Oh I had fun!

It has happened

I suppose one shouldn't complain, we did make it to November before the white stuff fell. Fall is my favorite time of the year....but there is something unexplainably exciting about the first true snowfall...you know the one where the stuff stays on the ground. I can't say I am looking forward to 6 months of this but today is quite pretty; all pristine and white. Besides I'll have all those chilly nights with nothing to do but.......

I saw this lovely quilling design on Pinterest and just had to give it a try. I think it turned out well; it's my tribute to fall.

Quilled Maple Leaf

OK I confess, I am addicted to Pinterest.....so here is the latest find I just had to try. The pattern for the necklace can be found at pencio.chezblog.com. Fun and easy to make and looks awesome on.

Oh Glorious Fall

Fall, my favorite time of the year. Everything about it just makes me happy. I even like listening to the background noise of the football game my husband is watching....I don't actually watch the game, I just listen to the noise...I have no understanding why this would evoke such a happy feeling.  Thanksgiving is in the fall and I have much to be thankful for maybe that is one reason. Perhaps it is because I have always fancied that I look great in fall colors, I love the oranges, golds, yellows, reds and rusts of the fall season. The only thing that would make it so much better is if it were to last a little longer, say a couple of more months.

In honor of my favorite season a tribute. I ordered on a whim from Fusion Beads (love Fusion Beads) large crystals focals .... gorgeous. I also ordered the delightful Rizo beads and added them as fringe around the crystal focals. I had just finished a rich coppery brown viking knit rope and they paired so well.  Oh so so pretty.....I absolutely love this necklace, it has become my new go to piece...perfect for fall!
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Happy Fall.

oh what a wonderful surprise

"Two someones" near and dear to me just returned from a river cruise in Europe and by all reports they had an excellent time. This is something I would like to try someday, to just roll along historic site after historic site...how exciting. I hinted a few times about sending my shopping list but I really wasn't serious. What a wonderful surprise it was to receive this beautiful fused glass pendant. It came from Bratislava, Slovakia ...what a treasure. The pendant needed a rope.... something made just for it and so after several attempts....eureka; this came to me. I combined twin hole seed beads, miyuki drops and size 8 seed beads in the colors of the pendant. I am so happy with how it turned out.
Thank you dear friends for such a wonderful gift.

Beading Babes Project 9 Reveal

It has been what seems a long time coming but today is reveal day at last. These projects are exactly what I needed at a time when my life was turned up side down. Things have evened out and life is pretty much back to normal.....just in time to start hibernation. 

I would have to say my favorite project this time around was the Four Points earring. They were so much fun to make and I have now developed a very healthy appetite for two hole seed beads. Love them. I made a pendant and bracelet to go with the earrings and they have become my go to set.

 Next favorite although I made some adjustments is the Sari Pendant. It is so 3d and really stands out as a statement piece. Strung on pink sparkly ribbon takes it over the top!

The Succulent Garden Bracelet again featured two hole seed beads, my new favorite. I used two colors quite by accident but love how it turned out.

I love the petal earrings and have worn them a lot. Definitely statement earrings!

I struggled with the Radiant Pinwheel and just did not like how it was turning out. The pendant was too bulky and just looked odd to me. So with a little creative license I made it into what I liked, I find it much more wearable and a real eye catcher. Because of the detail I strung it on a simple Viking knit rope.

Last but not least is the Seed Bead Nova. I am not particularly crazy about this as a bracelet and I think I will turn it into a pendant. I love the design and think it would make a beautiful necklace. The earrings are gorgeous.

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks Karyn for organizing such a fun group!