Sunday, 12 October 2014

Back from vacation and ready for fall

Favorite spot in Victoria's Beacon Hill Park

DBP Barn
 Back from vacation (which was awesome....except for the food poisoning) and ready for fall. Although the first week of vacation was a bit dodgy the second week was wonderful, we visited family and reconnected with old friends....it just went by way too fast.  Home base was in  Fort Langley with many trips to Vancouver and a trip to the island.  I reconnected with a long lost cousin, what a wonderful time...wish I had never let so much time pass without being in touch, I plan on not letting that happen again.  Saw my sister and my brother....I can never get enough. Saw my sister and brother in law and again can never get enough. I also surprised my girlfriend in Vancouver for a birthday celebration, lots of tears and fun. I have such awesome people in my life and am truly blessed!
A favorite old house in Fort Langley 






Fall isn't fall without....


                            PUMPKINS
Trying my hand at felting, pumpkins are a great first!

It will be that time again soon....crystal witch hat earrings!
Brass etched earrings from my beading table!

WIP - on the table
Have a great fall......

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Sunday here so quick!

Seems like yesterday that it was last Sunday, time is flying by.... This has been a bit of a hectic bitter sweet week, sure hope it's only up from here. We are leaving on holidays soon and I can't wait, looking forward to getting away from it all and just relaxing.

When we traveled to southern Utah we happened upon a wonderful little rock shop - bit of a tumble down building quite alone in the desert. It was full of the most amazing stones and crystals. There are three stones that I cannot pass by - turquoise of course (and I have an abundant supply), larimar (oh so beautiful-takes me to the sea) and blue lace agate (so calm and soothing)! My husband ever the generous man bought me some of each. I hoard them well but sometimes you just get a calling and have to create with one of them. Perhaps because this week has been so crazy the calming and uplifting influence of blue lace is what I need.


Blue Lace Agate is a variety of banded Chalcedony, a mineral of the Quartz family. It is usually banded in layers of predominantly light blue, striped with brighter blues, whites, and even brown threads of color. Agate is sometimes called the earth rainbow because, in its various forms, the concentric bands in nature form nearly every color the earth can produce, including a colorless form. Blue Lace Agate’s graceful, circular design has a stimulating, positive effect on emotions and attitude. It is not a stone of protection, but rather of encouragement and support. It’s circular flowing energy calms, uplifts and elevates. It provides clarity of thought and unwavering intent in regards to what matters most.
  
Blue Lace Pendant with peanut bead rope.
Peanut Bead wrap bracelet and earrings


Sunday, 17 August 2014

We are having a heat wave....

I don't want to complain especially because winter comes all to soon, but man oh man it's been hot. Even though I stay inside in the air conditioning, I have a real lack of motivation....I don't even feel like...yikes..... beading; how bad is that!

I have completed this necklace though....yes my favorite...turquoise. I love love love the silver spikes. And I do have to say that the clasp is hand made by me. I have always loved working with silver and although I haven't had my torch out in a while I must say inspiration has struck. I love how this wire wrapped clasp looks and takes the necklace the next step up. I didn't stop at the clasp with my wire wrapping...a delicate silver bracelet is perfect with this necklace.



 And of course earrings as well!


Sunday, 3 August 2014

Surprise Surprise!


I had thought I missed the deadline for signing up for the Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Design Challenge and was so disappointed; those little chicklet’s were so darn cute. I figured I would just get to drool over what the other participants made with their chicklet. I came home the other day to a wonderful surprise; there in my mailbox a little chicklet was waiting for me …..yeah I am in. I didn’t think I would have time to order and receive more chicklet’s in time for the reveal so I had to come up with something that showcased the one I received in the best possible way. I am really pleased with this necklace and have worn it to rave reviews. I used shibori silk ribbon that was the perfect match and a  turquoise nugget I had on hand with just the right amount of striation in the perfect color. The fire polished crystals just added to the opulence of the piece…. I think it is simple but stunning. Thank you Rita for hosting this wonderful hop and for increasing the number of participants to include me and thank you to Susan of SueBeads for creating those cute little chicklet’s…..yes I will be ordering more….love them!


Hope you enjoy and have fun hopping!

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog
                                                               Art Jewelry Elements
Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads
SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                                http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                     http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                                             http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers                                          https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps                                            https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                    https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter                                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding                                   http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                           http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain                                           http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont                               http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                                          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider                                         http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                        http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr                                            http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                         http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                                     http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges                                    http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                       http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                          http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                                               http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                        http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                                        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Oh glorious summer

We are having a glorious hot summer, lazy sun soaked days - weekends just don't last long enough.....sigh!  We have a multitude of hollyhocks in our garden, providing me with hours of fun just trying to capture that perfect picture of a bumble bee in flight. I have come close but not perfect so I will keep trying.

 Lately I have been absolutely hooked on peyote stitch, I am trying to perfect following a graph pattern, as well as creating my own patterns. I may have mentioned that turquoise is one of my favorite colors and lately gold has moved to the top of my list as well. I love this combination of color and it suits this design so well.
I have received lots of compliments on this set....hard to keep out of my daughters' reach!

Sunday, 6 July 2014

Long weekends are awesome

Especially, when you add in another day! Last week was July 1st and Canada's birthday, but because July 1st fell on a Tuesday it wasn't actually going to be a long weekend....that is unless you and your beloved take off the Monday in between. Four blissful days of rest and relaxation. We packed a lot into our 4 day weekend, a most enjoyable drive in the country allowing me to hone my photographic skills, we took in a movie and thoroughly enjoyed it, we spent time with family, and time with friends, we shopped along old Whyte Avenue and enjoyed a coffee at our favourite bistro, I sewed a couple of new outfits, and I beaded....and that is just a sample of what we did. I love long long weekends! Moving forward to this weekend it was time to catch up on all we had put off...yard work, house work, etc. etc.
Country Roads Barn
Country Roads Horses
Country Roads Old Barn
 A wonderful friend of mine recently returned from Thailand and blessed me with not only one but many Shiva Eye Shells. He knows I love making jewellery and thought I could create something beautifully wonderful. This is the first piece I made, with more to come. I am working on putting one in a silver bezel and will have to pull out my smithing tools....hmm can't wait! I do love this one and the lamp work beads go so well, it was like they were made for each other. It hangs on a delicate sterling silver chain and the bezel is sterling silver seed beads. Thank you to my friend!

      "On one side of the Shiva eye shell is a beautiful spiral. The exact shape of the spiral is unique from one shell to the next. The color varies from beige to deep green, depending on the sea snail's diet, while the background always remains a milky white.      


The swirl symbolizes an energy force of power and strength. On the reverse side of the spiral is a mesh of colors that resembles an eye, which is where the shell's alternate name derives from.       
The Eye of Shiva  is thought to have the ability to look beyond the obvious. It symbolizes the creation, preservation and destruction of everything, the flow of life, the constant change of the universe, spiritual knowledge and creative visualization"     

Shiva Eye

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

My Country - Oh Canada!

My Country Blog Hop Reveal

As soon as I saw that Nan Smith was hosting the My Country blog hop I really wanted to join in the fun and talk a bit about where I live.

Today is Canada's birthday.....Happy Birthday Canada,  I had never really thought what it was to be Canadian until I traveled to other countries and realized just how great this country is and how truly lucky I am.   We still have vast amounts of wide open wilderness for exploring,  an abundance of Federal and Provincial Parks for us to enjoy, we are a nation of a diverse melting pot of nationalities, and we have freedom. Alberta is my home province and although I was born in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's Tiger Lily
 I am Albertan through and through.
Alberta's Wild Rose
 
 
Everyone has heard of the Canadian Loonie ($1) and of course the Canadian Twoonie ($2) but we also have a quarter, a dime a nickel and ...... a copper penny.  One was always carrying around a weighty purse or pocket full  of the copper pennies and really there isn't much you could get for a penny anymore. Penny banks were exploding and old mason jars were full of them. People were hoarding them...what else did you do with them. As a child I remember rolling rolls and rolls of them for my father; he was a coin collector.....but why all the rolls - what was the purpose? Well recently Canada decided it was time for the penny to retire- think of the copper we are saving! So now what to do with that large collection I have of my own? So we never forget an important part of Canadian history, I have taken them out of my pocket and put them on my ears and around my neck. Enjoy!





My Country Blog Hop Participants

Nan Smith (Canada)                                                                      wirednan.blogspot.ca

1. Ana (Portugal)                                                                             acbeads.blogspot.ca

2.Rita  (Orlando)                                                                     JewelSchoolFriends.com   
                                                                  
3. Dini (The Netherlands)                                                 angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

4. Robin Reed  (Indiana)                                                      willowdragon.blogspot.com

5. Lilik Kristiana   (Indonesia )                                                       pcbylik.blogspot.com

6. Karla Morgan  (Texas)                                                 texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

7. Karen Mitchell (South Australia)                               www.overthemoon-design.com

8. Jayne Capps  (Oklahoma)                                         mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

9. Melissa Trudinger  (Australia)                                           beadrecipes.wordpress.com

10. Johana Nunez  (Puerto Rico)                                                        http:artincendi.com

11. Kepi  (Alberta, Canada)                                                     kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca  

12. Deb Fortin  (Ontario)                                                             studiok24.blogspot.ca

13. Divya  (India)                                                                              jewelsofsayuri.com

14. Tammy Adams  (Arizona)                                             paisleylizard.com/blog.html

15. Kay Thomerson  (Texas)                                              kayzkreationz.blogspot.com

16. Bairozan  (Bulgaria)                                                               bairozan.blogspot.ca

17. Carolyn's Creations                                           carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com 

18. Lecia Woessner   (New Orleans)                                    copperroses.blogspot.com

19. Linda A.  (Wash. D.C.                                       FromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

20.Inge Van Roos (California)                                               ingetraud.wordpress.com

21. Natalie   (New Zealand)                                        http://www.northshoredays.com

22. Lori Schneider                                                              beadaddicted.blogspot.com

23.Mary Harding (New York)                    maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

24. Bouchra Rebai (Algeria)                                           bouchrarebai.wordpress.com     

25.Michelle McCarthy  (Florida )                            Fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com