Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams!

A Gift For Dear Grace. . .

2010-07-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Fair Warning!!! This is my longest post to date! There are lots of pictures and I promise to keep my thoughts as light as I can. When I went through my photos and chose pictures for this post, I couldn't believe quite how many there were. I told Mark there are so many photos that I think I should forgo the little things and he said no way...you've been working on it for a long time and it wouldn't be fair to your friends, Grace or yourself. After thinking about it, he's right. So, here we go. . .

I have been working on a gift for a very sweet friend whose heart is as big as her talent. I started this gift many, many moons ago for Amazing Grace. Besides following her blog for a long time and being inspired by her beautiful beading, I was fortunate to meet Grace, and a few of her friends in October, 2008. I have very fond memories of that fun afternoon that, unfortunately, flew by way too fast. I can tell you...she is such a sweetheart and gentle soul. I remember her blue eyes, her gentle smile, her long braided hair and her laugh...she has the best laugh!!

Anyway, this gift has been a journey. Again, I have learned so many lessons. I had a few false starts, a number of do-overs, one total flop, dealing with my inner critic for awhile and the frustration of running out of seed beads over and over again (total underestimation on my part)! But, irregardless, the lessons learned were valuable ones. Though slow, I persevered and finally finished her gift.

A funny thing happened while I was packing Grace's gift. I went through some of my photos to make cards and was smiling over some of my squirrel pictures. I was feeling rather bad because I had intended to be done in April, then May, then I verbally told her that I had hoped to have it waiting for her when she returned home from a trip in June, and here it was almost nearing the end of July! Anyway, I thought that I would make her a fun apology card/book with some of my photos. These photos aren't great either because I just snapped pictures of the book quickly so that I could share it with Mark. You know I love squirrels and for some reason, we both still chuckle about it and I thought you might enjoy it too.

Grace had mentioned that she loved the sunflower brooch that I had previously made and I knew that I wanted to make one for her.
Then a funny thing happened in February, 2009, when I had mailed the doll I had made to Monica. After dropping it off at the PO and knowing it was on it's way, Monica made a post that she and Jeff were taking off on a rendezvous together. Panic set in of how long the PO would hold her package and I wrote Grace a note and asked if she had any idea how long lover boy and lover girl were going to be gone...lol! ~wink~! In the subject line of that email I wrote. . .A Penny For Your Thoughts. It all turned out well, and they were back to receive it days later before it would be returned to me.

Months later, I wrote Grace and asked her if she wouldn't mind telling me her DOB. I knew that I wanted to pay her back that penny that I owed her. So I found the penny, not just any penny, but a *special* one and began to bead around it. I was treating it like a brooch and then I thought that it would be boring to send her two brooches, so I wanted to come up with another idea. Oh, I DID!!! I decided that I could maybe make her a little simple beaded box (you know, like the beautiful ones that Lynn makes) and then glue the penny brooch to it. Oh, it was a lovely idea, BUT, it turned out to be a total flop...disaster is more like it! The beading, the box, the whole nine yards. I knew if I didn't like it, Grace wasn't going to like it and I couldn't bring myself to glue the penny brooch on it a second time. There is more to that story, but I will stop there. I will tell you that the box was beaded twice and so was the penny brooch. But in the end, it all turned out well! I have collected small boxes for years and pulled out a couple that I thought might work and found one to glue the penny brooch on. It's a little treasure box that's called...A Penny For Your Thoughts.

Well, I knew in my heart that I really wanted to make Grace a special doll. I had been mulling around some ideas last fall and wanted to place an order for a special one. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure what Monica's thoughts would be or if she had time to make it for me, etc. I finally contacted her and asked her what she thought. We discussed the idea and she agreed to create her. I was thrilled that she'd do it, especially because it was around the holidays.

As you know, there is one doll in particular that Monica makes that I adore...her sitting doll...like the one's sitting below in the chair. . .

I asked her if she would make one like it, only bigger, so that I could make a more realistic looking doll. NOTE: I feel SO bad because for some reason, I never took a picture when she arrived and I wish I had that to share right now...please forgive me!! But, trust me, what she made and put together was outstanding!!! I asked her if she could make her some clothes...specifically a pair of jeans and a bohemian looking peasant blouse. I also asked if she could put a *ROCK* or *SOMETHING* (weight) in her behind, so that when I was done beading she wouldn't topple backwards, etc. I sent her some Kona cotton, a pair of my old jeans, two packages of fishing lead shot (instead of a rock) and a package of Peanut M&M's to see her through! ;-)

As soon as she received the package, she started creating her. However, we changed course with the idea of jeans because our girl is a little curvy in the hip. So we both decided that a bohemian looking jean skirt would be perfect. I received our girl and she was FABULOUS! As always, Monica did her magic and then some!!! She not only made the doll, blouse and skirt...she went the extra mile and inserted the weight (counter balance) in the appropriate spot, put a dowel through her body/neck/head for stability, gave her bosoms and even made shoes, a purse and a scarf to go with!!!! She did a beautiful job!!!

Here are a few statistics...

* She sits 11" tall
* Her face is approximately 3-3/4" across
* Her shoes are 3-1/2"
* When complete...she weighed in at approximately 2.5 pounds

Although I received her at the end of November, I didn't start working on her until January. However, I certainly was putting my thoughts together and gathering beads that I wanted to use. I knew Grace loved green and blue, so I decided to use peridot, light sapphire and topaz. I knew she was going to be a 'Flower Child' from the beginning and that there would be flowers in her hair and flowers everywhere. . .

'Flower Child'
Noun
A hippie, especially one advocating universal peace and love as antidotes to social or political ills.
Origin: From the custom of carrying or wearing flowers to symbolize peace and love.

I began by stitching flowers and leaves on her skirt and once I got started, she just kept evolving. . .

Then I did some embellishing on her purse. . .

As I was beading her purse, I thought every girl needs a wallet so I stitched a wallet with a snap closure to go inside. . .

I knew it needed some money, so I included three quarters. One Alabama quarter that represents Monica, one Oregon quarter that represents myself, and one Indiana quarter that represents Grace. After all, it was a joint collaboration to create this doll for Grace. . .

Then I stitched her a bracelet and a ring. . .

Embellished her darling little shoes. . .

And, here she is wearing them. . .

I also, finally, made the decision about signing my pieces, when I can, with beads. I've thought about it for a long time and I finally decided to just make a simple cursive 'L' for Lisa that will have a Swarovski bead or beads above the tail. So, she also got an ankle tattoo. . .

I wanted her to be sitting on a small quilt. I found a quilt I liked from a lady that makes doll quilts in Washington, and started beading it also. . .

Finally, it was time to bring her to life and bead her face. I chose some light colored beads, added some flowers and leaves, added some green sequins (gifted from Dot), and stem stitched a blue headband for her hair. . .

Then I began the journey of beading her long hair. This is where I ran out of seed beads over and over again! I used 6-1/2 hanks of vintage beads, a few packages from my stash, a number of tubes, and I bought 6 more hanks and used five (less one strand) of those before I finished. So her hair ended up being a mixture of vintage and new. In the end, I used 12+ hanks to complete her hair! Her hair is 6-1/2" - 7-1/2" long and never in my wildest dreams did I think it would take me as long as it did to cover the back of her head with hair! Yesiree, still learning plenty of lessons. . .
Her hair is loaded with various flowers, leaves, bicones, drops, hearts, millefiori beads, dragonflies, butterflies, bees, birds (3 brown birds gifted from Dot) and ladybugs. I can tell you that I added some exact quantities to her hair. . .10 Swarovski copper butterflies, 4 glass ladybugs, 60 bluebell flowers and 50 Swarovski Light Sapphire Margarita beads...special date...special year! She has a full head of hair! I don't have small hands and you can see that her hair pulled into a ponytail fills my hand. . .

A close up. . .

Having photo shoot outside of face and hair. . .
I kept debating about her possibly holding something (or?) and was trying to decide what it would be. I was thinking about beading a tiny stuffed doll, a small bird or even a small dragonfly, but I still hadn't made a decision. I was visiting Grace's post and she was having a giveaway of butterfly garden seed packets to help restore their habitat, especially the Monarch butterflies. I immediately knew what I should make...a Monarch butterfly. . .

So I did some research on the real size, shape, etc., and began to bead. I had a false start beading some of the white spots in circles and I knew it was going to take up too much room and not turn out realistic looking. So, I started again and stitched the beads more linear so I could get the pattern on the wings to look real. It is within the real size range of a Monarch and she is a female. I knew I would make it into a brooch. I built the body parts up (head, thorax and abdomen) with felt and stitched over them for a more realistic look. When I was done and ready to finish it, I didn't want the butterfly to be flat...I wanted the wings to be upward a bit. So I talked to Mark and we headed for the garage. He pulled out a few possibilities that might work and the final choice was stainless steel screen. I carefully cut it out and bent it to the shape I needed. I glued and sandwiched the screen between two pieces of posterboard then then backed it with Ultrasuede and a pinback. I started brick stitching around the edge and didn't like how it looked with another round of black beads, so I made tiny whip stitches around the edge instead. . .

Then the moment came when after seven months, on and off, of creating Grace's 'Flower Child'...it all came together. . .

" Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

I chose three pictures to share. During her photo shoot, I had moved and tried the butterfly in different positions...on her skirt, between her hands, on her wrist, etc. It was just a matter of where it sat best and what you liked best. But it was part of the presentation/quote for when she arrived home, not that the butterfly needs to remain landed on her! ;-)

I really enjoyed making this gift for dear Grace, and wanted to try and make something extra special just for her. She may not be perfect, but she was created from my heart. She and I had many quiet conversations, but when she was finally done...she was ready to journey home. If this gift brought a smile and warmed Grace's heart, that's all that matters to me.

Thank you again, Grace, for the butterfly garden seeds. Some are just beginning to bloom and others have many buds. Will share another picture of them soon!
I hope that you are having a nice weekend! Peace and love to you. . .~Lisa ;-)

Happy Summer!

2010-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

To my friends,

I'm sorry to be away so long. I didn't mean to fall off the face of the earth, but I'm coming around again. I've needed time to deal with stressful changes that have been ongoing in our life this past year. Gratefully, this past week, we are making adjustments in our schedules with new employment. But I do want to thank my friends who have left comments and emails...each one meant more to me than you realize...XO! So, onward and upward. . .

As you know, I've been working on many projects (next post), but here are a few things I recently completed utilizing some pieces I received from Artbeads. This time the focus was to create a design with a "Summertime" theme. I was trying to go another route than Hill Tribe Silver this time, but my muse was telling me different.

I chose these gorgeous 5 x 4mm Deep Ocean Mix Picasso Roundelle Strands, and a Hill Tribe Silver Snail Shell Pendant, Bumble Bee Pendant and Sand Dollar Pendant.

I absolutely love Hill Tribe Silver, but I was totally amazed at the beauty of the Deep Ocean Mix Picasso Roundelle Beads. I've never used them before and they are so pretty! I took a close up so that you could see them better (pictures are clickable). I chose this shade because they are the colors of our ocean in the Pacific Northwest. If you haven't seen these beads either, do yourself a favor and order some!
The first piece I made reminds me of my flowers, the bees and the garden in summer. Despite their painful sting, bees are held in high regard for being wonderful pollinators and producers of honey. Did you know that it is estimated that one third of our food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees. They also remind me to *Just Be*!
I created this necklace using 5-7mm Brown Chinese Turquoise Rounds (also available from Artbeads), Hill Tribe Silver Stamped Roundelle Beads in two sizes, the Hill Tribe Silver Bumble Bee Pendant and two 18 x 18 mm Flower Pendants. The Bumble Bee/Flower Necklace is 18".

The following pieces I made because the beach is my most favorite place to go, especially in the summer. I love the sand, the surf, the fresh air, the smell, the wildlife and all of Mother Nature's gifts!

I can't help but mention how horrified, frustrated and heartbroken I feel for the devastation happening in the the Gulf of Mexico right now...what a tragedy!!! I'll be polite and stop there.
You can see that the Picasso beads have the same gorgeous colors as our ocean!

The first beach piece is a Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet with "Gifts from the Sea". I started with SS 140 Cable Chain (available at Artbeads), the Hill Tribe Snail Shell Pendant, the Sand Dollar Pendant, a Starfish Pendant, a Stamped Shell Pendant and a Puff Shell Pendant. I also added four, pale sea foam colored genuine sea glass that was found on the beach in the Olympic Peninsula Coast, in Washington. Mark drilled holes in them for me to use. I finished it with a SS Balloon Clasp.

The "Starfish" necklace was created with a gorgeous 48 x 48mm Hill Tribe Sterling Starfish, four strands of the beautiful Deep Ocean Mix Picasso Roundelle Beads, 3.5mm SS Hill Tribe Beads and finished with a 19 mm Hill Tribe Sterling Starfish Toggle and measures 18".

Thank you Artbeads! These summertime pieces have been fun to create! I hope you will consider creating something fun with the theme of summer too!

I have been busy with other beading projects, planting seeds and our garden. Although...all our plants are looking a little sad are in desperate need of some sunshine. We are all wishing the sun would get here and just stick around. Our rain stats and cool weather this Spring have gone down in the record books. We are all very tired of hearing "record" and "rainfall" on the news...it is June 22nd!

It is gloriously green in Oregon/Washington, but the gray days and rain have been unbelievable this spring. Since it is officially summer, I am hoping it begins to feel that way soon! We all could use some blue sky and sunshine.

Happy summertime to you...enjoy every minute of it! ~Lisa

Disclosure Statement: I have received the above items free of charge from Artbeads, and I am honestly reviewing the products and have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

The Beauty of Spring. . .

2010-03-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hi! It has been far too long since I've posted, but I'm still here and breathing. Life just has been front and center lately. I have been busy with different projects and on a creative note many of you know that I have been working on a gift for awhile. This project has kept growing and you will soon see why. I'm truly not beading Taj Mahal, (Diana would...;-), it's just all in the little details. I knew one area needed something and I kept debating where I was going to go with it. I made a final decision about it and was very excited. I got started and was well on my way and realized it was not going to work out properly the way I was going about it. So I ripped it out and began again with a different approach and I am so much happier with the results now and am to the point of filling in and finishing. I tend get an idea in my head and sometimes I'm not sure exactly how to go about it, but I am determined to figure it out and persevere! I've been hard on myself that it isn't done, but I finally accepted that it is what it is and, at the moment, it's the best I can do. It won't be long until I'm to the fine details of a photo shoot and packaging it up for a trip home. I am looking forward to sharing it!

Artbeads recently contacted me to create something that was my interpretation of spring..."The Beauty of Spring". I was thrilled and knew exactly where I was going with this piece. Artbeads shared a foot of beautiful 16 gauge Sterling Silver Cable Chain (which has a nice weight to it), a Hill Tribe Sterling Silver Round Flower Bell Charm, a Hill Tribe Sterling Silver Lady Bug Bell Charm and five 18 gauge, 6.1 mm Open Jump Rings. I have been collecting Hill Tribe Silver Charms for quite awhile and now was the time to use some. However, to me, nothing is prettier and more classic than turquoise and silver together. It reminds me of the turquoise rings and bracelets I wore when I was young. Turquoise is also Pantone's top spring color pick this year. To put this together, I ordered more jump rings and the most beautiful strand of irregular, pear-shaped, Chinese turquoise drop pendants and they are gorgeous!!! Green definitely sings spring to me.

To me, spring is renewal and new life. It's a breath of fresh air, joyous energy and seeing more smiles. It is . . .

*Sunshine and warmth*

*Blue skies and trees budding*

*Clouds, rain and rainbows*

*Unfurling ferns*

*Plants bursting through the dirt*

*Robins*

*Songbirds singing*

*Birds courting and building nests*

*Daffodils*

*Growth*

*Bees*

*Butterflies*

*Dragonflies*

*Flowers and sunflowers*

and soon...lots and lots of colorful flowers!

In creating my interpretation of spring, it had to include lots of flowers and buds, leaves, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, lady bugs, feathers and a heart that is stamped with flowers which represents my love of all these things! So I made myself a beautiful charm bracelet and I absolutely love it!!! It is fun, bold, full of texture, very organic and I adore the movement and soft sound it makes.

*Spring Beauty*

We have had some beautiful and sunny days in between the rain. We've been working in the yard and sprucing things up, pressure washing, pulling weeds, trimming, spreading heaps of garden gold (compost) and preparing for our garden. It has done a world of good for me to get outside, feel some sunshine, breathe fresh air and get some exercise.

We recently helped build four greenhouses and help plant over 300 flats of vegetables, fruits and herbs for the American Center for Sustainability. It is a garden plant distribution program that donates edible plant starts to help battle hunger across Oregon and are distributed to more than 50 Oregon nonprofit groups. It was really fun to help, meet new friends and be a part of this small group of thoughtful people.

I share this for a couple of reasons. Meeting some of these people and others have opened some new doors and thoughts for a possible new venture, i.e., growing plants. We have been looking into and researching some possibilities. Ken Burrow started ACS four years ago and it is growing bigger every year. He has a big meeting next week in hopes of getting permanent acreage to use in Portland. The other reason I am sharing this is because this year it is all happening at my boys house! Ken rents the downstairs from my boys and is utilizing the yard and neighbors yard also to get these plants started. There is a big greenhouse in the backyard and the biggest one is at the neighbors house. I (mom) about had heart failure when I found out they were putting two greenhouses in the front yard too!!! ;-) When I heard the news, I told Blake...could you not spare the neighbors seeing two 10 x 10' greenhouses in the *front* yard?!! I was informed that their neighbors don't mind, it's for a good cause and it's urban living, mom! And, they will only be up until May (when the plants are distributed) and then they are going to take them down and plant flowers and a garden in the front yard instead of having grass. They are grown men, 28 and 22, and it is their house, but I was happy to hear that they were only temporary. ;-) That is the new hip thing many people in Portland are doing...getting rid of their grass and planting a garden.

Anyway, it was very cool, the Oregonian showed up and took pictures and they made the front cover of Edible Portland too. That is Ken in the top picture and my youngest son, Spencer (flag headband), in the bottom picture and his sweet girlfriend (blond), Morgan.

Here is a picture where the planting was going on in front of the garage in the back. There were about thirty volunteers planting that Saturday. Voodoo Doughnut supplied 7 dozen donuts that day. All my boys are in this picture...Blake in the foreground (gray sweatshirt), DH...Mark behind him and Spencer (flag bandanna) and Morgan.

Here is a shot of the front of the house and Mark helping build two of the greenhouses in the front. The bookmobile bus is used for delivering plants. We will be heading back to help transplant the plants into pots in late April or early May. As a couple, and parents, it was really fun and we couldn't be more proud that the boys are being a part of this awesome project.

Speaking of which, are you getting as anxious as I am to taste fresh tomatoes and peppers soon?!! I can hardly wait! I have been dreaming about sliced tomatoes and salsa lately. It's still too early to plant here, but May will be here soon.

As I went through my pictures, I realized that I never posted about the turtle squares I sent to Jeanette in February, for Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer, so I thought I would include them. The title of this years project was "Remember the turtle; persistence, not speed, counts; (boy, if that doesn't have my name written all over it...lol...sorry, I couldn't resist ;-)) a cure for breast cancer will be found." These are tiny squares, 1-1/2" beaded, and are fun to stitch. As soon as I hear what the theme will be for next year, I will share it here. I felt bad that I didn't make a post about it or a reminder this year.

Okay, since it's been *forever* and I've only shown one minuscule sneak peek of what I have been working on...I'll share a few more minuscule peeks until it's debut!

I hope you are happy and well. I am off to do some *way...way* overdue catching up with you and I'll see you there! ~Lisa

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~Marcel Proust

Disclosure Statement: I have received the above items free of charge from Artbeads, and I am honestly reviewing the products and have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Stitching from the heart. . .

2010-02-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

Monica recently made a post that Cat, of Baumcat, was asking for help to give *Hope* to some children in Haiti. I thought it was a wonderful idea and I wanted to help, but I wrote Monica and told her there was no way I could do it in a couple days and have it shipped by the 31st of January. She shot me a note and let me know she thought a few extra days would be okay. So I swung by Cat's and let her know I would love to join in and asked if it would be alright if they were shipped out on Monday, February 1st. Cat said they would actually be shipping them when they had a shipping pod full. So don't worry about the date...have fun and ship them out as soon as you can. I also liked that these bags were going to a specific rescue center and orphanage in Haiti. It is called Real Hope For Haiti.

My sister and I were spending time together that weekend and I knew that she would want to help also. Although I do sew, we were on a time crunch, so we took the easy route. Monica mentioned that if you don't sew, remember that the Dollar Store tote bags hold just as much. In each Hope Ditty Bag you were to put inside:

1 toothbrush
1 travel size toothpaste
3 granola bars
1 small toy

Then mail to: Debbie Woodward (She is a part of RHFH and is collecting donated items)
1500 Jackson Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

So that Saturday, Sissy and I were off to shop. We gathered our coupons and first headed to JoAnn's. We chose pre-made canvas totes in different colors, iron-on appliques and an assortment of buttons and embroidery floss. Then we were off for the essentials that needed to go into the bag. We chose stuffed animal puppets for the toy. I wished I had taken a picture of them. They were all different animals...a dog, a cat, a monkey, a elephant, etc. Leslie and I both wished we could include other things, but it wouldn't be fair to the children to do that. They also had a list of other things they were gathering, so Leslie and I included in the box:

6 boxes of gauze
6 tubes of triple anitibiotic ointment
6 bottles of antibacterial hand soap
6 bags of Tootsie Roll suckers
2 large boxes of Crayola Crayons
2 reams of paper
1 childrens book...*Goodnight Moon*

We had wanted to buy a few books, but then we both wondered how many people speak English in Haiti. When we got back home we checked and they speak Creole and French. We were glad we only bought one book. We hope that the story can be translated by someone though.

When we got back to Leslie's we started to work ironing the appliques and stitching buttons. I don't totally trust iron-ons so we tacked stitched them and sewed many buttons. Then when they were done we had fun filling each of them. When Sissy's husband heard what we were doing, he offered to ship our package through his company and it was so awesome of him to do that! We had so much fun doing this and it warmed our heart to help. Can you imagine the smile that one bag may bring to a child!

If anyone is still interested in making bags, there is still a little time left. I just read an update at Cat's blog and it looks like they will be shipped out on March 1st.

This is my sister, Leslie, ironing the creases from the bags and our two helpers, Maverick and Bailey! ;-) We had so much fun together that weekend!

Here are the bags done. We tried to make some for boys, girls and different ages.

Artbeads contacted me recently to share for Valentine's Day. I chose two beautiful pieces and I was so excited when they arrived and I saw them. I debated if I was going to make a necklace with one, but I ultimately decided to make them each into brooches.

The first piece I chose was this beautiful blue and red flowered heart shaped Stoneware Porcelain Pendant. Have you seen these? They are all so colorful and fun, it's hard to choose just one! They are made with stoneware clay and are glazed very well. They state they are durable and they look and feel very durable in the hand. This heart measures 24 x 24mm.

I stitched it on red EZ felt and it is backed with navy Ultrasuede. I thought I had enough Light Siam Swarvoski crystals in my stash and found out I didn't have enough. So I ordered some red and while looking I saw the dark indigo color and thought that may look even better, so I ordered both. I actually liked the dark indigo and added just a bit of the red. I peyote stitched the pendant with 11/0 transparent Czech navy blue seed beads with 13/0 transparent red charlottes. I then edged the peyote with 4mm Swarovski Dark Indigo bicones and a row of 3mm Swarovski Light Siam bicone beads with 15/0 round 24K lined crystal seed beads. It is picot edged with 8/0 transparent Dark Colbalt Japanese seed beads with the 11/0 Czech navy blue seed beads. I forgot to mention that I used a 2.5 mm Swarovski Light Siam bicone bead to fill the pendant hole. Finished it measures 1-3/4 x 1-3/4".

I love the heart symbol and, of course, it speaks Valentine's Day, but it speaks Mother's Day and any day to me too! ;-)

Here is the front and I took another picture so you could see the depth too.

The second piece I chose was this gorgeous 30 x 21mm, oval, orange/red, hand-painted Russian Mother of Pearl Pendant/Bead. It is so beautiful! These Russian pendants are amazing works of art. Each is hand-painted with the finest brushes for the most intricate detail. There are multiple layers of paint and lacquer applied to each one. I fell in love with it the minute I held it in my hand.

I stitched it on tan/golden Ultrasuede backed with Pellon, and it was backed in the same color of Ultrasuede. This bead/pendant has a bead whole running through the length of it, so I stitched it down well. I then peyote stitched the edge with 11/0 transparent orange Czech seed beads with 15/0 round 24K lined crystal seed beads. Since it was stitched down through the bead, I just barely edged it with peyote because I didn't want to cover the artist's signature or the design. I then edged the peyote with two rounds of 4mm Swarovski Hyacinth bicones with a row of 3mm Swarovski Sun bicone beads with 15/0 round 24K lined crystal seed beads. It is picot edged with 8/0 and 11/0 transparent orange Czech seed beads. Finished it measures 2" x 1-3/4".

Here is the front and I took another picture so you could see the depth too. I couldn't capture how sparkly this pin is, but it is shining! It makes me smile and reminds me of sunshine.

I have been working hard on a gift for a friend and I'm getting closer. It is going to be so fun to share this when it's complete and received. I also have been working on a couple of turtle squares for Jeanette's beaded quilt project. The squares are donated for Breast Cancer and auctioned at the Bead and Button Show. I'm sorry, I should have thought to post this as a reminder. They are due in Alaska, March 1st. They are 2" squares of Pellon and you bead a 1-1/2" square. If you have time and think you can get a square or two off to her, it would be great! You can find out the specifics and rules here.

Now, I'm off to catch up with you and back to stitching! I hope you have a nice day with your Valentine too! ~Lisa

January in Oregon...

2010-01-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

Thank each of you for your sweet comments on my last post. Today we put the names in a bowl for the Hill Tribe Picture Pendant Kit and Mark pulled...Monica, of Girl Gone Thread Wild! Congratulations! I will send you an email and get this wrapped up and on its way to you.

I've been wanting to share a few pictures with you. I was so excited to get the first two! We feed the hummingbirds all year. Often when I clean and refill the feeder, Mark will step out on the deck and stand still holding the feeder before hanging it on the hook. Sure enough the hummer will come and land when he is holding it. I've tried a few times to get a picture and finally did! Here he comes!!!

He's checking Mark out and saying, "aren't I cute?"

We've been having some hawks showing up and hanging around. This hawk had his feathers splayed and was so neat to see. Not the greatest photos, wish I could zoom in closer!

This one is neat! The hawk is sitting in the birch tree with feathers splayed, a blue jay sitting on a branch above and an old squirrel nest to the right.

These hawks are around often and slowly circle and circle looking for food. They are huge.

We've bundled up a few times, when it's not raining, and have headed to the river and a few nearby parks with the camera in tow.

White geese on the Willamette River.

Ducks and geese on the Willamette River, at George Rogers Park, Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Geese flying overhead against the clear blue sky.

We took this shot of Mount Hood, down the road from our home. We are just missing the view of it from our living room by a stand of large fir trees. It's the highest peak in Oregon.

This is a picture of Willamette Falls and the old Oregon City Bridge. Oregon City is the oldest American city west of the Rocky Mountains and is the end of the Oregon Trail.

Beautiful trails that run through the woods along the Willamette River in George Rogers Park, Lake Oswego, Oregon. It was so refreshing to go for a nice long walk.

Oregon's rain produces beautiful moss and ferns in the forest.

Just one sneak picture for today. . . ;-)

Have you seen or entered Artbeads 10th Anniversary Sweepstakes? If you haven't entered, you should! You can find the details and enter HERE! Can you imagine winning a $1,000 shopping spree for beads and jewelry supplies? Wouldn't that be FUN!!!

Happy creating!! See you soon...~Lisa

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

I hope you and yours enjoyed the holidays! Our family had a fun time together and enjoyed visiting with family. The highlight was definitely my boys. They continue to fill my life with light and laughter and my holidays with warmth and love. We indulged in plenty of delicious food and and sweet scrumptious treats! Mark and I savored our time together on New Years Eve. We relaxed and hung out at home, ordered Chinese food, watched a movie and rang in the new year. Wouldn't have missed it! I hope it's going to be a happy, healthy and creative one for us all!!!

We had a nice little surprise snowstorm on December 29th, that started in the afternoon. We don't get a lot of snow normally (except last December when we had 20"), but I get so excited when we do! We got about 4+", but the temperature rose above freezing by late morning. It was beautiful while it lasted, big fluffy flakes and so quiet. Ran and grabbed my camera for a few pictures. To friends that are enduring the frigid Arctic Blast...I hope you and yours are safe and that you are staying warm!!!

I received a tripod for Christmas and was so excited to get a picture of the Blue Moon. We set it up for the first time on December 30th, and got a couple pictures of the moon between the clouds. I was glad that we tried that evening because it was raining on the 31st, and the moon wasn't visible at all. I'm looking forward to playing with it more and hoping for better photos.

I'm hoping that the New Year Eve's blue moon added some extra magic to 2010!

I am still working on two gifts for friends and I also signed up for the Bead Journal Project again. As some of you know, I decided to make Christmas gifts this year. I knew with my other obligations and the holidays that I didn't have time to weave or embroider them all. So I decided to get out my tools and make a variety of earrings and necklace sets. I saw a necklace design awhile ago that I fell in love with and thought they would love it also. So I ordered some beads, sterling silver components, earring findings, etc.

These earrings are made with 15.5 x 14mm Swarovski Jet Flat Briolettes. They are held in place with Antique Silver Plated Pewter Vine Pinch Bails and are hung on Sterling Silver French Hook Earwires with Coils. They hang approximately 7/8" from Earwires.

These earrings are made with Hill Tribe Silver 13mm Hammered Ring connected with a Sterling Silver Open Jump Ring to a Hill Tribe Silver 20 mm Hammered Ring. They are suspended on Hill Tribe Silver Ball End Earwires and hang 1-1/4".

These earrings are made with an old pair of silver beads from my stash. They are not Sterling Silver, but they are very pretty and lightweight for their size. A 5mm Swarovski Round Jet Crystal Bead is wire wrapped on a SS Head Pin and is dangling from the Eye Pin. These are hung on Sterling Silver Earwires. They measure 1-3/4" from Earwires.

These earrings are made with an old pair of silver beads from my stash. They are not Sterling Silver, but they are really pretty and lightweight for their size. Two 4mm Swarovski Round Jet Crystal Beads are wire wrapped on a SS Head Pin. These are hung on Sterling Silver Lever-Back Earwires. They measure 1-1/2".

These earrings are made with a Hill Tribe Silver 13mm Hammered Rings and Hill Tribe Silver 12 x 12mm Hammered Heart Beads. They are wire wrapped to the Hammered Ring on a SS Head Pin with two 4mm Swarovski Indicolite AB Bicone Beads. They are hung on the Sterling Silver Earwires with two Sterling Silver Open Jump Rings. These hang 1-1/4".

Note: I love these hearts, but was a bit frustrated with the large and odd shaped opening at the bottom. Different sizes of round and bicone shaped beads didn't fit very well and neither did a Bali Head Pin. I would probably order a heart pendant next time versus the bead for a nicer looking finish at the bottom of the heart.*

These earrings are made with Sterling Silver Hammered 3-Loop Teardrop Chandelier Findings. They measure 29 x 17mm. Three 6mm Swarovski Indicolite AB Bicone Beads were strung on a SS Head Pin and wire wrapped to each of the loops. This pair was hung on Sterling Silver Interchangeable Lever-Back Earwires. They measure 1-1/2".

These earrings are made with two oval gemstones and I believe they are Rainforest Jasper. They have Hill Tribe Silver 4mm Flower Stamped Beads and 3mm Swarovski Olivine Bicone Beads that are wire wrapped on a SS Head Pin. These are hung on SS French Earwires. They measure 1".

This is the necklace that I saw and knew that I wanted to make. This 'Leaves and Flower' necklace is made with Hill Tribe Silver pieces. It measures 16" and has a 2" SS chain extender to increase the length to 18". The leaf and flower pendants are hanging from a strand of tiny silver faceted 1.5mm beads. It has a SS lobster clasp and I wire wrapped a white fresh water pearl to the end of the chain.

The earrings are Hill Tribe Silver leaves that are 13 x 31mm and are hanging from Hill Tribe Silver Earwires. It is a beautiful set and the leaves and flower pendants move and make a beautiful soft jingle sound.

Artbeads declared December as their month for Silver and Glass Components for their Blogging Program. These are the pieces I chose to create with and share:

1 - Large Thai Silver Picture Pendant - 39 x 21.5mm
1 - Line-Grooved Square Toggle Clasp - Loop 19 x 15mm, Bar 24mm
4 - Bali Head Pins with Granulation - **4 Head Pins you ask...yep, just in case I goof up! ;-)
2 - 12mm Bali Beads with Flattened Dots

These Thai beads and pendants are made by the Karen Hill Tribe in northern Thailand using traditional tribal methods passed down from generation to generation. Purchasing these Thai beads helps sustain a traditional craft and provides the Karen people with a reliable source of income. The silver content in our Hill Tribes silver beads and pendants is typically 95-99%, even higher than sterling (92.5%). This higher silver content is softer and therefore easier to shape into all the unique and wonderful styles. On close inspection you will notice that no two pieces are exactly alike, attesting to the handmade nature of these beautiful pieces. Because of the higher silver content, Hill Tribe Silver does not tarnish as quickly as Sterling Silver.

Here is a close up of the Thai Silver Picture Pendant

I made these earrings with the 12mm Sterling Silver Bali Bead with Flattened Dots and added a 10mm Swarovski Round Pearl Mystic Black Bead. They are wire wrapped using the Bali Sterling Silver Head Pin with Granulation. These are hung on SS French Hook Earwires with Coils and measure 1".

I used the Large Thai Silver Picture Pendant as the focal piece in this necklace. It measures 16" and has a 2" Sterling Silver Cable Chain extender to increase the length to 18". I wire wrapped and attached to the chain, three individual 5mm Swarovski Round Jet Beads and a Hill Tribe Silver Small Leaf Charm with two 3mm Swarovski Round Jet Beads. There is a Sterling Silver Lobster Claw Clasp. It is strung with Hill Tribe Silver Faceted 2 x 1mm silver beads with four Swarovski 3mm Round Jet beads with the picture pendant as the focal piece.

The dangle earrings are made with Sterling Silver Cable Chain. I wire wrapped five individual 8mm Swarovski Round Jet Beads to the chain. These are hung on Sterling Silver Earwires. They measure 1-1/4".

I decided to string one more necklace, 'Leaves and Pearls', using the Hill Tribe Line-Grooved Square Toggle Clasp. There is one 8mm white freshwater pearl wire wrapped and attached to the loop side of the clasp. It measures 18". There are three Hill Tribe Silver Leaf Pendants and three individual 8mm white freshwater pearls that are wire wrapped. These hang from a strand of Hill Tribe Silver tiny faceted 1.5mm beads.

The earrings are made with a 9mm white freshwater pearls and Hill Tribe Silver 4mm Flower Stamped Beads. They are wire wrapped and hang from Hill Tribe Silver Earwires.

In November, Artbeads kindly sent me a $20 gift certicate! I decided that it would be fun to put a package together for a giveaway. I purchased the same Large Hill Tribe Silver Picture Pendant that I used in the above necklace. For this giveaway, I have included the Hill Tribe Silver Picture Pendant 39 x 21.5mm, 24" of ZambaPro 49 .019 Nylon Coated Stainless Steel Beading Wire, 2" of Sterling Silver Cable Chain, 2 - 2x2mm Sterling Crimp Tubes, 2 - 3mm Sterling Crimp Covers and a Sterling Silver Lobster Claw. I would have included two cable stringing thimbles, but I ran out when I took the picture below. I will include in the package two Sterling Silver Cable Stringing Thimbles. All you have to add are the beads of your choice for stringing!

So leave a comment and tell me which one of the three necklace sets was your favorite. I'll accept comments through Saturday, January 16th, and post the winner on Sunday, January 17th. See you then! ~Lisa

Disclosure Statement: I have received the above items free of charge from Artbeads, and I am honestly reviewing the products and have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

'Tis the Season. . .

2009-11-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

I am so grateful to finally be making this post! I had wanted to get this post up sooner than this, but it just didn't happen for various reasons. Since I didn't get to wish you a happy holiday...I hope that you and yours had a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

To begin my post, I wanted you to know that Artbeads recently wrote me a letter that included a Share the Savings Card. They told me I was free to share the following 10% Off with blog readers, friends and family. It is good until the end of the year and does not require any minimum purchase. You should check it out!!!

I have been working on all sorts of projects! I was flip-flopping between working on a few gifts for friends, which I can't share until they are done and received, and the last of my Bead Journal Pages. Then a few weeks ago, it really sank in that the holidays are truly right around the corner and I started some small gifts for my family. I was doing great until I realized that I don't have anything that I can really share. So, I told myself to get on with it and finish my bead journal pages...once and for all. I was beginning to wonder if I ever would get it done.

I definitely had a few issues with two of my pages and then the surprise of my photos not turning out great. *SIGH* The realization is here again that it's back to taking photos inside due to our gray and rainy days here in Oregon. So it's back to playing with the camera and light and trying capture a decent picture.

The theme for my journal pages was fragments of my life and what lies within my heart each month and every year that passes...

May Journal Page...He Holds the Key to My Heart

May is such a special month to me. I was born in May, married my husband on my birthday and it sometimes falls on Mother's Day too. I love that the sun is beginning to shine, that the flowers are beginning to bloom, that the trees and grasses have turned green and that the birds are singing. We have been married for 32 years and the below picture was taken on our 25th anniversary. We thought we were going out for a special dinner downtown with my sister and husband and walked into a surprise party given by family and friends. It was a very special evening. Mark and I have shared a wonderful marriage, not that we haven't faced our share of ups and downs, we have, but they have made us stronger and wiser. I will be forever grateful for my best friend and the love of my life. He will always hold the key to my heart!

June's Journal Page...Papa's Love

This is my grandfather, Fred, whom my sister and I lovingly called Papa. We always called my mother's parents Nana and Papa. This is a favorite photo of him taken on the beach in Seaside, Oregon. He was born in 1908, and I bet this photo was taken in 1909. He was the father figure that my sister and I never had and was a huge part of our life growing up. Papa owned Lincoln & Allen Bookbinding Company, in Portland, that was started by his father. He was a smart businessman and loved the fine things in life: his wife and family, his home, his Cadillac, traveling, clothes, dancing and eating (food was always a celebration). He was a big man and rather gruff on the outside, but he was a big teddy bear on the inside! He sadly had a stroke not long after he retired and often complained that these were supposed to be "the golden years." He and Nana were married for 50 years. Nana passed three days after their golden anniversary and I think she held on for that very reason. Papa was a big love and I miss his joyous spirit.

July's Journal Page...Eternal Love

Every July, my thoughts are with my mom, Jean Louise. She was born on July 4th, 1936. I can only remember one year in our life that we weren't together celebrating her birthday and the 4th. As a single mother raising two daughters, she faced many obstacles. But she always had a unrelentless perserverance and ability to forge ahead regardless of what life dealt her. Her devotion to us (my sister and I) was her priority and she always put our needs ahead of her own. She was a strong lady and sacrificed a lot to raise her girls.

She was a wonderful mom and gave us gifts to last forever, the kind you can't put a price tag on. She gave us love and support, the courage to stand up for what we believe in, truth and honesty, a warm heart, a sense of humor, the ability to keep growing and learning as life brings changes, and the confidence and inspiration to follow our dreams wherever they may take us. She was a beautiful lady with an infectious smile.

Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was 49 yrs old. She did well for years, but knew when she had to take it easy or lay low. When her boss was going to retire, she decided to retire also and stopped working when she was 57. She started walking everyday, cooking, baking, gardening, having lunch with friends and doing many things she never had the time to do. When she turned 59, life changed when the MS came on strong. She lost her courageous and long battle on January 18, 2001. We all lost someone so special that day. Mom's strength and inner beauty radiated with such a glow that she left a mark on everyone she encountered. Her love and memories live on in my heart...they always will...but I miss her so.....

August...My Soul Mate

August is a special month, the month my husband was born. We've spent almost every year celebrating his day while on vacation. The picture I chose is a photo of Mark, Leslie (Sissy) and I, that was taken at Leslie's husbands' 40th birthday party, nine years ago in August. It's funny, in looking through photos for my BJP, we don't have very many (hardly any!) photos of us. We have tons of photos of everything else in life, but no photos of us!?! Something, I now realize, we have to try and work on occasionally.

I have so many things to be thankful for, but one of the biggest things is my husband. He is my best friend, a wonderful Dad and an incredible person. His love is unconditional, he's compassionate, understanding, loyal, gentle, considerate, kind hearted, caring, unselfish, patient, smart, strong and sensitive. He is a sweetheart and I am so grateful that he came into this world and that our paths crossed 37 years ago. He's my rock, my world and the love of my life that I share my journey with...my soul mate.

As a reminder, we don't have much longer to sign up for the 2010 Bead Journal Project. If you haven't signed up and are interested in joining this great and inspiring project, now is the time. Registration is open through December 14th! If you are interested, you can read the rules here or sign up for registration here.

I've been busy working on all sorts of things, but I really can only share some sneak peaks of things with you. I am going to have to make a few things here and there that I can share with you until the gifts I've made have been received and the holidays are behind us. This is the flat cuff that I started on and that got pushed aside for a few other projects that are more important. When I get back to it, I will be interested to see how I like the flat cuff versus the cuff I stitched over the brass blank.

This is another sneak peek of some stitching that I am working on...

And, another sneak peak....

And, another...

On another note, I have been sharing some discussion of knitting with friends. After seeing and hearing others that have been knitting and crocheting, I couldn't stand it. I haven't knitted in four years, but I thought it would be a great thing for me to do when it is late at night and my eyes are tired. So I got some yarn and pulled out my knitting needles. I have made both my boys beanies and they have always asked me to make them another. I thought it would be a great thing for me to knit them for Christmas. The last beanies I made had stripes, so I decided to knit the boys beanies that are solid charcoal gray. I am using Cascade 220, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. My boys do peek in on my blog, especially my youngest, and I'm praying they are busy living right now and are not tuned in.

It didn't take long to get going again. Beanies don't take very long to make and the boys will be surprised and thrilled to have a new one. Blake came over yesterday with his old striped one tucked into his back pocket and that made me smile! I have one more row to go and I am ready to start decreasing and shaping the crown...

Here is a scarf that I am working on using Trendsetter Dune Yarn. Wish you could see the coloring better. It is an emerald green, burgundy and gold...it's really pretty.

This is a nubby wash cloth that is good for an invigorating shower or bath, made with 100% cotton yarn, in the Trinity Stitch. I'm thinking this cloth will have to be for Sissy, with a nice bar of soap, since she is so good and incessantly works out at the gym...unlike her big sister!!! ;-)

Realizing I haven't shared any nature photos with you...thought I'd share a few...

This is one of three maple trees in our yard...October Glory. It has been an odd fall this year. The leaves turned color way later than usual and they are still falling. Not too many more to go, but usually we are totally done raking and blowing leaves before Thanksgiving. Mark usually has mowed for the last time before Thanksgiving too, but this year the last mow will definitely be in December.

A carpet of Ginko leaves... I love these trees and leaves.

Here's the apple tree across the yard...the leaves haven't even turned yellow yet (very odd)...I took this picture a few weeks ago. You can see part of the new fence Mark put in this summer...

Beautiful wet maple and ginko leaves taken on a *rainy* day in Oregon...

I found a little color and the last flowers blooming in the yard on my walk...two different Salvia's and a fuschia. I feed my hummingbirds every week, all year long, but they must love having some natural blossoms still too...

The Canadian geese are flying by the house every morning and flying back by every evening. A few weeks ago they were making it back before dark. But lately they fly by about half an hour past sunset. It's interesting because it's always at the same time...between 5:00-5:15 pm. They must know exactly when it's time to head home! It is dark by then but, man oh man, can you hear them and if you get outside quick enough you can make them out in the dark...

There have been more squirrels running around our yard lately eating everything in sight and burying nuts everywhere! But I just snapped the cutest photo...see the new baby?!! ~smiling~ We are pretty sure that there are three little ones!

I've been counting my blessings this week and you are all apart of them!! See you soon! ~Lisa

PURE JOY. . .

2009-10-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to finally share this post today! On September 23rd, I received a package of pure joy and love from my dear friend, Dot, of Dot's Life and Art. We decided to do a swap months ago, but I made her promise that she wouldn't send a thing to me until she received my package. Dot received her gift from me in July, and I knew that one day I would receive a package from her. That very special day came and I can hardly express the joy and gratitude I felt when I opened the package that she created for me. The love that she stitched and created from her heart, literally brought tears to my eyes!!! What an incredible labor of love, thoughtfulness and generosity that awaited me. Opening this gift was like being wrapped in the biggest and warmest hug ever. I want to share with you the precious gifts she created.

I think Dot is best known for the Dotee dolls she created and that have been stitched with love for friends all around the world. I first fell in love with Dot's colorful and warm blog when she began making Dotee dolls. That was a time ago, and she and her art have come a long way!!! I have stitched quite a few Dotee dolls myself, but never have made one for me or even received one from a friend. I began to open a gift that was wrapped in a gorgeous turquoise/teal silk and tied with a piece of Kaffe's fabric and inside was this BEAUTIFUL Dotee doll! She just melted my heart. I absolutely adore the colors, the sari silk, her serene/sweet face and flowered cheeks, the heart with *JOY*, the Swarovski crystals, the beads, the birds, the dragonfly and leaf...all stitched from the heart exquisitely! She is the first Dotee doll I've ever received and being made from *THE* Dot...couldn't be anymore special to me. I absolutely adore her!

Here she is outside having her photo shoot on a sunny autumn day! I took a lot of photos trying to catch the crystals sparkling in the sunshine and I wasn't happy with any of them. The best pictures were these in the shade because her coloring and the beads are more true. You can click and enlarge my photos to see the beautiful colors, attention to detail and all those stitches made with love!

Here is a close up...isn't she precious?!! And, of course, Dot included a bird and dragonfly knowing how much I adore them! I have the biggest smile on my face and feel so fortunate that she'd create one just for me.

My heart is already full and then I pulled out a cellophane wrapped gift that was one of her most special birds!!! It is gorgeous!!! It is encrusted with such heart and pure beauty. To hold one in your hand is such a treat. I always thought they were so beautiful when I'd see them on her blog, but to really see and hold one is something else. The colors are so pretty and I adore all the different beads, buttons, Swarvoski crystals, sequins, and bugle beads. I just love how Dot mixes up all that color and it turns out spectacular. Isn't the vintage Czech glass button on her wing perfect?! Almost looks like little wings on the button itself. I adore the pom pom yarn to hang her with and I love how she hangs with a slight curve. Dot stitches beautifully and I admire that so much. You can see and feel when something is stitched from the heart...and her work is just that. Full of heart and love. She is GORGEOUS and my most cherished bird...I just adore her!

I am absolutely floored...as if what she'd sent weren't love enough. But there is a beautiful floral fabric wrapped gift with buttons and beads strung on embroidery thread in my hand. I slowly unwrapped it and got the bigguest lump in my throat and my eyes filled with tears! Dot made me one of her BEAUTIFUL fabric books and I couldn't believe that she would stitch something so precious for me! What a treasure this book of love is. Again, it feels so special to hold in your hands. Every page and each square inch is something to behold! I love the jewel tone colors and how the sari silk, wool and cotton fabrics all go together perfectly. There are thousands of stitches, beads, buttons, Swarvoski crystals, charms, vintage nailheads, gorgeous lace, and even a bell stitched on this book. It is full of texture and a feast for the eyes. I've admired the books she has made and shared on her blog, but I couldn't imagine holding or having one of my own! I will always treasure it...I LOVE it!

This is the cover. I adore the owl in the tree, the leaves and flowers, the beads scattered about, the vintage nailheads, the tiny flowered buttons and, again, the bead *JOY*! Isn't he the cutest owl!

The second page is lovely using a portion of silk as the focal point and not one bit less embellished. The square green mosaic buttons are gorgeous!

This is a gorgeous page stitched in beautiful pinks and purples. I love the bird sitting on a jeweled egg with the branch of charms around it and the tree charm too. The stitching and embellishments are unbelievable. Don't you love the serious bling around the birds neck!

Wish my camera had picked up on these colors better! Just think DEEP jewel tones...each page is stunning. This page Dot added a Carla Sonheim printed transfer for the center of this page. Isn't the girl cute with the bird on her head! Notice this bird is wearing a stunning necklace too!

This page is gorgeous and embellished to the hilt. Notice this cute bird is sporting jewels too! These pages just sparkle more than I can convey with my pictures!

This is a stunning page and Dot used lovely goodies that she received from friends. I love that! She used a beautiful olive green felt bird from her friend Julie, and a piece of gorgeous lace from her dear friend, Jacky. She even stitched around the bird with some size 15/0 seed beads that I recently shared with her. What a special page!

My camera did not capture the color on this page at all. It is a stunning deep burgundy color with a deep bottle green silk lace rose, with gold beads and embellishments and even more Swarovski crystals! It is lovely!!!

This is the back and is embellished, once again, with buttons, flower beads, seed beads, sequins and Swarovski crystals. I don't think anyone embellishes or encrusts like Dot does...her work is stunning!

Here is a shot of the spine that is stitched with a beautiful mix of buttons and beads! What a book, what a treasure...it's more beautiful than I can convey!

I'm on overload now...there are still two more things in the package!!! I begin to untape a carefully wrapped gift in bubble wrap and cardboard. I opened it to find the most beautiful stitched and beaded fabric collage stitched to a piece of Nuno felt that Dot made. I am just in awe!!! It is a BEAUTIFUL piece of art. She added some gorgeous sari silk, felt, birds, sequins, seed beads and even more Swarovski crystals. It just sparkles!!! This piece is mounted on a 8 x 10" posterboard to give you an idea of the size. It is so pretty and I think it would be lovely framed!

Last, but certainly not least, I opened a stack of the most beautiful fabrics wrapped in a silk yarn. Dot shared some of her fabric pieces that included cotton fabrics with owls, birds, flowers, and birdhouses to beautiful pieces of sari silk. No wonder she loves these. The jewel tone colors, texture and embellishments on these pieces are gorgeous. Then wrapped were packets of buttons, beads, charms, clay bird beads, bells, flowers and more that she shared with me. I will treasure these and enjoy them so much!

I was speechless! Everything Dot created and shared with me is full of LOVE, truly BEAUTIFUL and simply GORGEOUS! She is so talented and creative. Thank you, Dot, for the thousands of stitches, love and *JOY* that you've shared with me. I feel so honored. I cherish everything you've made and will treasure them always. More importantly, I treasure you and our friendship. You are a very special person and have a heart of gold!!!

I also wanted to share who won the earrings from my last post! I wrote the names down and they were put into Mark's baseball hat. I held the hat high and Mark pulled these two names...

Number 1)...Jacky...She will receive the Swarovski Jet Crystal Rivoli Earrings, 3mm Jet Faceted Bicone Crystals, 15/0 sterling silver-plated charlottes with sterling earwires.

Number 2)...Carol...She will receive the Swarovski Vitrail Medium Rivoli Crystal Earrings, 3mm Vitrail Medium Faceted Bicone Crystals, 15/0 24K gold lined crystal seed beads with gold filled lever backs.

Thank you everyone for your sweet and thoughtful comments on my last post! You are all such good friends to me!

A friend is like a flower,
a rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart that goes
strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have friends. ~Emma Guest~

Great Things Come In Small Packages!

2009-09-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I received an email from Artbeads asking if I'd be interested in sampling and reviewing some of their products in exchange for blogging about them. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate! When I was asked, it was Swarovski month. I was able to choose some CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements that I wanted to include in my beading. Who among us can resist the sparkle and beauty of Swarovski crystals? Not me, I love using them!

I knew I would choose some beads that I normally use with bead embroidery, however, I chose some different sizes that I haven't used before. I chose some 2.5mm and 3mm Swarovski Bicones and some 3mm Swarovski Pearls. I was most excited to try some 14mm Swarovski Rivoli Crystals. I have always been inspired by beautiful beaded-bezel cabochon work and know how to peyote stitch using backing material. However, I have wanted to learn open-back bezeling for point-back and irregular-back rivoli crystals or stones. So when I received my package on Labor Day weekend, I pulled out some of my books and magazines for inspiration and taught myself how. You can see how I used these Swarovski Elements in my pieces below.

The first technique I wanted to learn was to make some earrings I admired in the August/September 2009, Beadwork Magazine, by May Brisebois. She used double-needle right-angle weave to encase the rivoli. So I began my journey learning this technique first. I made two pairs of earrings with the 14mm Jet Rivoli Crystals, 3mm Jet Faceted Bicone Crystals, 15/0 sterling silver-plated charlottes with sterling earwires. This technique was fun to learn and the earrings turned out really pretty. They sparkle!

The next pair of earrings I made using the same technique. This time I used 14mm Vitrail Medium Rivoli Crystals, 3mm Vitrail Medium Faceted Bicone Crystals, 15/0 24K gold lined crystal seed beads with gold-filled lever backs. The vitrail medium rivoli is stunning! Depending on how they catch the light, they flash in colors of green, blue, gold, fushia and purple. You really have to admire this crystal in person because it is really hard to capture all the flashes of color in a photo. Including the earwire, these earrings are 1-1/2".

Then I began learning how to encase another vitrail medium rivioli with seed beads. I have really wanted to learn this technique and am thrilled that it is easier than I imagined. Pardon my threads, but I haven't finished these yet. I just wanted to share that I'm on my way bezeling rivolis! I used 11/0 and 15/0 24K gold plated Delica seed beads with 15/0 purple iris charlottes. I will embellish the bezel further with bead picots or more crystals. This is so fun to do and I am so excited that I took the time to learn how. There are so many possibilities...earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and even stitched to fabric. Here is the front...

and this is the back...

I kept moving forward to use some of the Swarovski faceted bicone crystals that I received. The first piece was an unfinished brooch/pendant that was set aside because of other projects. It is a bone carved sun and moon face that we picked up on a memorable trip to the coast. I used one of my most favorite vintage nailheads and beads that are a golden bronze iris color. I completed it with Toho 8/0 black seed beads, 2mm Jet Faceted Round Crystals and 2.5mm Amethyst Faceted Bicone Crystals. I have used many round 2mm crystals, but I love these beautiful and delicate 2.5 mm bicones! They added a nice sparkle of amethyst around the edge. It measures 2-1/2". This is one brooch/pendant that will be staying with me, as it holds fond memories and Mark really likes this one. I'm glad that it is now complete and can go on my black wall of fame bulletin board where I keep and admire small works of art by friends.

I chose a topaz Czech glass dragonfly button for my next brooch/pendant. I used 12/0 and 15/0 3-cut seed beads in gold bronze, 11/0 and 6/0 olive gold luster seed beads and 3mm Copper Faceted Bicone Crystals. I love these and the size. It measures 2-1/2". This brooch is going to the Harvest of Hope's Silent Auction, which is a benefit for Candlelighters For Children With Cancer.

I then chose a beautiful red Czech glass heart button for this brooch/pendant. I used 11/0 seed beads, 13/0 24K gold-plated charlottes, 15/0 seed beads and 9/0 3-cut seed beads in ruby. I used 4mm Siam Round Crystals with 2.5mm Light Siam Faceted Bicone Crystals. It is very rich and really sparkles!

I have wanted to stitch a cuff for awhile now. It must be a natural progression in learning bead embroidery. Did I learn anything? Absolutely! One, again, we do not *whip things up*...*sigh*...I thought I had already learned this lesson! Two, there is a slight radius on the top of a brass cuff blank. After bezeling a large button, I layed it on top of the blank to see how it would look and realized it wasn't going to lay smooth on the cuff. That was okay, I just set it aside for making a flat embroidered cuff later. I didn't get the chance to use the Swarovski Pearls like I hoped, but I will use them in the flat cuff. It will actually be good to make a cuff both ways and see which I like best.

So I changed direction and picked a smaller focal point and cut another piece of Easy Felt. I chose a vintage glass black and bronze cabochon. I used four vintage Swarovski jet flatback rhinestones, vintage bronze faceted seed beads, vintage Czech diamond cut seed beads and bronze bugle beads. I then embellished the cabochon with 2mm Jet Round Crystals with 4mm Jet Faceted Bicone Crystals. Adding the crystals really added texture and brought the cabochon to life and it shines! I edged the cuff in brick stitch with 11/0 Toho black seed beads and it measures 1-1/4" wide.

I thought it would be fun to share both sets of earrings above. Say hi and leave a comment and I'll put your name in a hat. The first name will win the jet rivoli earrings and the second name will win the vitrail medium rivoli earrings. I'll share who won on my next post, Thursday, October 8th.

Thank you Artbeads for your gift and including me! If you haven't signed up for Artbeads newsletter, you really should! Sign up here at the top right of their website. You'll receive special offers, new product information and exclusive coupons. They have the *BEST* sales!!! I love shopping at Artbeads, and I honestly couldn't say enough great things about their company. And, if you didn't know, brand new styles and colors from Swarovski should be arriving any day!

Now to catch up with missed, but not forgotten friends!! See you on Thursday! ~Lisa

Saying Hi...

2009-09-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

I'm back to sharing a post and saying hi. August was a busy month and we've also been facing some changes in our life that didn't leave much time for sharing or creating. When faced with bumps in the road, it sure makes you slow down and remember all that is truly important and what you are grateful for.

August was a busy time spent with our boys, 26 and 21. They bought a house for an investment that closed on 8/5, and they received the keys on 8/7. It was fun and exciting for us to help them move and get settled into their home. They have two other friends living with them (4 bdrm) to help pay the mortgage for now. We don't know how long they will own this house (probably until one or the other finds his soul mate), but they are both good friends...good brothers...and are happy to own a home versus paying rent. It's definitely a bachelor pad with four guys living together...but a nice one! ;-)

During this time, I wasn't stitching like I normally do. I did squeeze in a few things, but not much. I began stitching again this past weekend...which is a good thing! Although I am finishing up my BJP's, I also have started a few new pieces that I am excited about and will share soon. I definitely will be contributing one or two of them to the Harvest of Hope. It is a charity fundraising dinner/auction benefiting Candlelighters For Children With Cancer, a non-profit organization that provides support, education, advocacy and hope to the families whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer. If you are interested in contributing a piece for the silent auction, which is October 24th, please visit their web site for the details.

We've been enjoying plenty from our garden this summer and are still eating lots of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. The change in season is definitely upon us...the evening and morning air is cool and the maples are beginning to turn color. The hottest days are behind us, thank goodness, but I'm sure not ready for the sunshine to go. My camera is always near and dear to me and I thought I'd share a few pictures of what's been blooming.

I planted lots of different sunflowers this year. The Mammoth sunflowers are huge and are about 12 feet tall. We have cut some flower heads down and are drying them to later share with the birds and squirrels.

These sunflowers are Velvet Queen and Lemon Queen. They are about 6 feet tall and have provided many big and cheerful bouquets through the summer. I just love them!

I made two more sunflower brooch/pendants for friends and here is a picture of one. These are a bit different from my last post because I made them both bigger and bolder. I was lucky to buy four of these buttons and thought that now is the perfect time to share them. I used the same amber/topaz AB vintage beads and 2 mm Swarvoski copper cystals, but I used Japanese 11/0's and 15/0 true cuts this time to peyote stitch around the Czech glass button.

I planted purple morning glory and it did really well this year. I love the glow of light that shines from the inside of these flowers and their heart shaped leaves!

Up close and personal is a bumble bee enjoying the Liatris (gayfeather).

Oriental Lilies...they are beautiful and very fragrant.

We've enjoyed many twilight skies from our deck...

and a few sunrises too. Always the reminder that it's a new day!

Hope you are doing well and I'll see you soon! Keep smiling...~Lisa

The Pink Artist Block Party Has Begun...

2009-08-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Pink Artist Block Party has officially begun! Monica has lovingly stitched and finished the 10" x 10" block art pieces into the most beautiful and amazing Pink Artist Quilt. Talk about heart art...this quilt exudes LOVE from the HEARTS of so many artists from around the world. Monica's vision from the beginning of this project brought so many artists together to help raise money for breast cancer research. This is the finale of two wonderful and fun years of the Pink Artist Project. It's time for all of us to donate what we can and raise even more money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It has been such an honor to be a part of this project and do something.

To learn the specifics and see the gorgeous art quilt and other beautiful pieces of art in the prize wheel...go HERE and visit Monica's blog post about the event. You could possibly win the art quilt or other art prizes donated by *Pink* friends by helping to raise funds for breast cancer research. Every $10 donation you send...your name will be entered into the art drawing twice!

I am offering a sunflower brooch/pendant for the drawing. It is a Czech glass button that is surrounded with vintage topaz AB beads, vintage black beads and 2 mm Swarovski crystal copper beads. It is approximately 1-1/2" diameter.

I have included a copy of the flyer for the Block Party 2009. The drawing will be held on October 15, 2009. Please give what you can to help save lives and end breast cancer forever.

The summer days are flying by and I can't believe it's August already. I hope you are all doing well! See you soon! ~Lisa

Gift Arrived Down Under. . .

2009-07-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I have been working on a special gift for my friend, Dot, of Dot's Life and Art, in Australia. I finally received word that her gift survived it's journey and arrived! I did share some sneak peek pictures in a prior post, but am delighted to share what I've been working on for awhile. Dot wanted to do a Dotee swap with me ages ago...longer than I care to admit! She has patiently waited a long time and I wanted to do something extra special for her.

I started with the Dotee doll! As I began to pull fabric and beads to begin...all of a sudden I froze! I have made 17 Dotee dolls before, but I seriously realized that I was stitching a Dotee for *THE* Dot and I knew in my heart that it better be special and unique. I decided that it definitely needed to have a bird! So I cut a little bird out of Ultrasuede. I used vintage opaque black seed beads...16/0 for the eye and 18/0 for the body. I used vintage green matte iridescent seed beads on the leaves and lots of 2 mm amethyst Swarovski crystal beads for the flowers. Her hair is loaded with green leaf beads and amethyst flower beads with Swarovski crystal beads in the center and a Swarovski butterfly bead near the flowers. Her hanger and tail are amethyst 4mm and 6mm Swarovski bicones with a sterling silver bird charm hanging at the end. All pictures are clickable to enlarge.

She had her photo shoot outside on a beautiful day and she is hanging from one of my hanging flower baskets.

Here is a close up of the little bird and one side of the charm. I love the saying!
Here is the embroidered back and the other side of the charm!

I made a brooch/pendant from a Czech glass butterfly button. It is lacy glass and 1-1/16". It is iridescent blue/purple with a dash of pink, has a silvered mirror back with gold lustered butterflies. I used beautiful vintage facet cut blue beads with a purple luster that went perfectly with the button, vintage gold lined clear beads and new 15/0 seed beads.

I knew I wanted to bead a small doll for Dot too. In looking through my doll forms, I spotted the perfect one. It is my most favorite art doll form that Monica makes, although I love them all! But what was so perfect is that it was orange fabric with *dots*! ~wink~

When I started to teach myself to bead embroider in 2005/2006, I fell in love with a beaded face that I kept seeing. It was started by Gabe Cyr and she taught it to Anne Hesse (doll makers). So I bought the instructions for "No Rules Face Beading" by Anne Hesse. I have wanted to bead a face for years now and haven't taken the time. Well, I realized it was time and would be great for this doll. The doll sits about 5-1/2" tall and her face is about 1-1/2". Her face is pretty small and I knew to get good detail I needed to use small beads. So I decided to use my vintage 16/0 seed beads for her face. The only new beads were the gold bugle beads for her eyelashes. I started bead fringe for her hair but got worried that she may topple backwards from the weight of it when done...so I restarted again with beaded loops and short hair. I beaded her hair and body with 15/0 seed beads and matte black sequins. I used vintage beads for bosooms...thought she needed a bit of a feminine touch. I had so much fun beading this doll..she turned out a bit funky and wild...but I really like her! I don't know what it is about beaded art dolls...but they really turn my crank...I just love them!

Here is a close up of her face...

As I started finishing her, I knew she needed one more thing...a beading tray. I was intending to have her hold the beading tray in her lap and stitch it to her hands or leg. But when I finished it, I felt it just covered up too much of her body and took away from the charm of her crossed legs. So her beading tray sits before her instead.

I painted a wooden matchstick box black and then cut out a pattern to line it with. I cut some black Ultrasuede and stitched Dot's name and added some beads to the front. Then I cut out a piece for the inside of the box and beaded little piles of beads and a *tiny* little bird...representing one of Dot's famous little beaded birds. I used vintage 18/0 seed beads. I included a needle threaded with Fireline beading thread.

Here is a shot looking down into the beading tray...

And, here is a final side shot of her...

I've been learning to run my sewing machine again and have tried two different bird patterns to begin with. I thought they would be fun to bead or embellish. So I've stitched and stuffed a little flock of birds and have another batch cut and ready to sew too. It has been fun and refreshing to work on something a bit different and get the feel for sewing again.

It was such a pleasure to stitch up some love and smiles for Dot! She is a sweetheart and has been an inspiration to me for a long time!!! Did you hear the latest that the girls (Dot and Amelia) have been published in the new issue of Stuffed?!! It is such exciting news and she's so deserving!

Now it's back to working on the BJP, beading up something for the Pink Artists Drawing Part 2 and starting on another gift. My blueberries are calling me too...they are loaded this year and I want to get some picked to freeze before the birds get to them this year! :)

Here are a few snaps from our yard...

Campanula Gomerata Clustered Bellflower...

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly...
Beautiful brown dragonfly...

Hope you are all well and enjoying all that summer has to offer...~Lisa

aDRESSing the Situation!

2009-07-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Hi...it's been awhile, but I haven't been sitting around and eating chocolates (although that doesn't sound bad)! I've been winding up projects and shipping out boxes at the Post Office and I do have to say that I need to quit visiting there for awhile because the nice lady is greeting me by my name now...which is really nice but not necessarily a good sign! ;-)

When Monica asked for help with aDRESSING the Situation, I jumped in. I had heard about the situation before, but I did not realize it was still going on today! These dresses were made to call attention to the horrifying murders of the women in Juarez, Mexico. In researching the situation, reading lots of articles and revisiting the movie Bordertown and understanding the atrocities, I felt the need to contribute. It makes me sick and so sad to know this is going on in our world today. I hope you will visit Monica's blog and see the beautiful dresses that have been created in hopes that Stampington and Company will consider writing an article to bring more attention to the situation.

This was a stretch for me but, if nothing else, it did my heart good to create some dresses and express my feelings. The dresses could be made from anything as long as they resembled a dress. Unfortunately, my pictures did not turn out very well...especially the shattered mirror dress...that was a bit beyond my photography capabilities even trying to hold up a piece of poster board. I found out that it's not easy taking a photo of a mirror and not have it reflect anything. I had some great shots that included my petunias in the dress, but not one shot turned out perfect. I did my best to lighten all my photos in Photosmart (which I don't normally do) and they are just the best I could do this time. Why some pictures turn out great and others are just a flop...I don't know. I'm still living and learning!

My first dress is "Shattered Lives"...My first thoughts were about all the shattered lives! Not only the women that have been murdered, but their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents and friends lives also. The picture is horrible and much prettier in person. It is totally black and silver. I had fun taking an old mirror and shattering it and grouting between the pieces on a wooden dress shape.

My second dress is "It's All About Money"...There has been no justice for the families of the victims. No one will listen...not the Police, not the Corporations that take their profits and not the governments of the U.S. or Mexico who benefit from the free trade agreement (NAFTA). I'll stop there because I'm sure this piece may be a bit controversial. I made this dress from foam core board and red serviettes. I used a real torn piece of a dollar bill that I've had for years and always thought I would do something with and realized it was the time. I used two $100 pesos and five real one dollar bills. It was important to me to show both American and Mexican currency. It is easily taken apart as I stitched the bills for the skirt through the middle of the foam core and used a water soluble glue to keep the folds of the skirt together. I tied a satin ribbon around the waste.

This is a close up of the Mexican pesos as they were a bit worn.

My third dress is "Silent in the Sand"...Many of the atrocities happened in the desert sand. Their remains continue to be found scattered in the sand and others have never been found. We may never know the truth...if only the sand could talk! I again cut out a dress from foam core board and glued tan and black sand on the front and back of the dress.

Thank you again, Monica, for spearheading this project. I hope it will bring more awareness and help in some way!

I've been wanting to share a special gift I received from Grace, Gracebeading, for her 2nd Blogiversary. Again, not the best photo...good grief...what is my problem!?! She shared this beautiful clam shell covered in gorgeous purple beads with a lovely dragonfly on the top. She told me it reminded her of my garden! Grace bought a kit years ago that included everything to bead the shell. However, it is not stitched. It was beaded with glue! I'm telling you...she glues beads as *beautifully* as she stitches them!!! Thank you again, Grace, I just absolutely adore it!!!

Thought I would share a photo that I snapped recently...a good one...hmmmmmm! :) We've had a lot of butterflies and different dragonflies in our yard this year and they are so beautiful!!! I'll share more photos with you later...

I hope you have a nice weekend and a safe and happy 4th of July!!! I'll finally be swinging by to catch up with you! ~Lisa

Giveaway Winners. . .

2009-06-21T23:16:00.000-07:00

OK...don't laugh too hard! I decided to do a video of the winners for fun. I don't know what is getting into me in my old age...SERIOUSLY...but, I guess I'm just getting more brave and calm as time goes on. After sharing for 16 months...I told myself, Lisa...these are friends and you shouldn't feel funny or that everything has to be perfect...you can do this. I can talk and laugh with you all online...but if you only knew how shy I really was...you'd be amazed I would do this at all! I AM AMAZED that I would say let's just do it, my family was amazed, and for those of you who know a bit about me...I'm sure you are surprised too! It seems the older I get, the more I'm just accepting that what is...IS!!! ;-)

Anyhoo...I thought it would be nice to say hi face to face! It's pretty funny...I/we have never done a video on our camera before...so that was pretty fun in itself and don't you dare look too close...no mascara on today...but, again, what is...IS!*

It took three takes...one blooper right off the get go and a few laughs from us all! In hindsight, it certainly would have been better taking the video in the shade than in the bright sun. But, hey...at least my eyes are *open*, Grace!!! ~wink~ When Grace and I met, she found out how bad I am about closing my eyes every single time a picture is taken when I am included. It doesn't matter if there is a flash or not! I am *THE WORST* and you'd be lucky to find 1 in 30 pictures that my eyes are open! Truly, it's been a family joke forever...

So...here is the beginning and a blooper off the get go!!! ;-)

I feel terrible because I forgot to mention missing Monica too! You were missed and I wish you could have had the chance to swing by. But I totally understand that it's hard to get around and visit everybody and live too! Okay, so here we go. . .

Oops...the video stopped!!! Trying one more time to pick up where we left off!

So...the winners were:

1) Lynn of Beading Heart Art

2) Timaree of Freebirdsings

3) Kathy of Beady Zoo

4) Dot of Dot's Life and Art

5) Grace of Gracebeading

6) Diana DBA The Lone Beader

I'll email each of you in the order chosen to pick your gift. Once I've spoken to you all, I will mail off your gifts!

This was really fun! If you girls make something with your gifts, I'd love to see!!! I hope you've had a nice weekend. I'll catch up with you all and talk to you soon! ~Lisa

My Leap...;-)

2009-06-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for quite some time and missed my first Blogiversary (February 29th)...so let's have some fun! I wish I could share with you something I've made, however, right now my plate is full. So for now, I put together six gifts that I would like to share and I tried to include a few things that everyone might enjoy. It is my way of thanking YOU for taking the time to swing by and say hi and see what I've been up to! The friendship, support and encouragement that you share with me... means so much! I know I don't post as often as I should or would like to, but I am always grateful to my friends that accept that and still swing by to see what I have to share when I do post. I am very grateful to have met the friends that I have through blogging...you are all very special ladies and are so talented...you all inspire me!!! And, a special thanks to Monica, because if it wasn't for her push...I would not have made the *leap* and I'd still be stitching...but in my own world!

I will accept comments until midnight (PST), next Saturday, June 20th. I will have my husband draw six names (first through sixth) out of a hat next Sunday, June 21st, and I will post the winners on Monday, the 22nd. After I post the names on my blog, I will contact you by email. The first person that is drawn will be able to choose what gift they would like...whomever is the second name drawn can choose what gift they would like, etc. The sixth person will have to accept the last gift available. Sound like fun???

So this is what you have to do to play:

1) You have to have a Blog.
2) See that *FOLLOWERS BOX* on the right hand side of my blog that I just added? It would be a *HUGE* boost to my morale if you would click the follow button and let me know that you are following me! To those that are...THANK YOU...to those that may...THANK YOU! I would like to host other giveaways, now and then, to those that are following my blog in the future!
3) Leave a comment on this post by midnight, Saturday, June 20th, and tell me three things you love to do in life when you aren't creating your art.
4) If you know I have your email address...great...but if you aren't sure that I do...please leave your email when you make a comment so that I can easily get in touch with you if your name is drawn! That's it!!!

So here are the six gifts:

1) Package of Princess Mirah's Batik Fabric Fat Quarters from Bali. NOTE: KATHY CHOSE GIFT #1...PRINCESS MIRAH'S BATIK FABRIC FAT QUARTERS!

2) Another Package of Princess Mirah's Batik Fabric Fat Quarters from Bali. NOTE: DOT CHOSE GIFT #2...PRINCESS MIRAH'S BATIK FABRIC FAT QUARTERS!

3) One Czech Glass Light Blue/Aqua Dragonfly Button with Metal Shank...41 mm or 1-5/8". NOTE: DIANA WON GIFT #3...CZECH GLASS DRAGONFLY BUTTON!

4) One beautiful 5" art doll made by Monica...Girl Gone Thread Wild! All her art dolls are amazing and they are just the BEST!!! They are firmly stuffed and ready for beadwork, embroidery, paint, gesso, or found objects. Included is a polymer face cabochon (sorry picture is a bit dark) by Dottie...Face to Face. Dottie's faces are amazing and the detail is outstanding.
NOTE: TIMAREE CHOSE GIFT #4...ART DOLL WITH DOTTIE FACE!

5) Another lovely 4" art doll by Monica. Included is a polymer clay cabochon by Jen...Graphix Outpost. Jen's faces are amazing and the detail is outstanding. NOTE: LYNN CHOSE GIFT #5...ART DOLL WITH GRAPHIX OUTPOST FACE!

6) Another 4-1/2" art doll by Monica. Included is a polymer clay cabochon by Dottie...Face to Face. NOTE: GRACE CHOSE GIFT #6...ART DOLL WITH DOTTIE FACE!

The Pink Artist Block Party/Drawing is beginning to get underway. Monica, of Girl Gone Thread Wild, is hosting this event and is calling for all artists to help out and participate in raising funds for breast cancer research. If you would be interested in donating your art towards the Pink Artist Drawing, please read about it and sign up here. Monica does a beautiful job hosting a party, it's a lot of fun and so rewarding!!!

One of my most favorite flowers (Oriental Poppies) are blooming again and I thought I'd share a snap with you! I hope you are all well and life is treating you well! I'm looking forward to seeing whose home these gifts will go to! Have a great weekend and I'll talk to you soon!
Hugs from Oregon...~Lisa ;-)

April showers do bring May flowers!

2009-05-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hi! I know it's been awhile! I was beginning to wonder when I was going to take some time and make a post myself. I've been busy pursuing life outdoors these past few weeks. Many of you know I live in Oregon, where it rains a lot. It *finally* stopped raining and the days have been filled with blue sky and sunshine for a couple weeks and it feels so good to be outside again! The birds are singing, the squirrels are running around, the windows are open, the flowers are blooming and it feels heavenly! I especially love May and June, before the weather starts getting too hot.

Since it finally stopped raining, for the most part, Mark and I have been busy getting our yard in order and cleaned up from a long Fall and Winter. Mark took a week vacation during Mother's Day week and we spent ten days together enjoying each others company and working in our yard and Memorial weekend too. During that week we also celebrated another anniversary together and a birthday. We've worked hard...the garden is planted, flowers are in pots, flower seeds are sown, the umbrellas are up on the patio tables and the fountain is flowing once again. There is still plenty to do, always, but I'm grateful that the garden is in. The best part now is watching it grow and enjoying the fruits of our labor! It has felt so good to breathe some fresh air and work in our yard...not to mention that it's been good for my muscles too!

I still have been stitching, but it has taken a bit of a back seat for awhile. It was time to get some things squared away in our life. I am just getting back to reality this weekend. Some of you know that I am working on a gift for a friend. The frustrating part is not being able to share with you until it is sent. It is my main priority right now. I also have my bead journal project going and I'm preparing my pieces for aDRESSing the Situation. I also am going to do my first giveaway! I just need to chose some things and take some pictures of my offerings...stay tuned!

I can share a few sneak peeks of some stitching and thought I would share some snaps of what gloriously is blooming and growing in our yard...oh, how I LOVE May!!!

I have been putting the pedal to the metal on my sewing machine and have sewn up a flock of little songbirds and I'll share them in their entirety soon! ;-)

A little peek at some beading!

Another peek at some beading!

A total secret and surprise...I know...not very nice! These things take time!!! ;-)

This is the main part of our garden and new retaining wall DH built. This is where the tomatoes, peppers, beans, strawberries, blueberries, green onion, carrot, radish, lettuce, cosmos and zinnias are. You aren't seeing the other part of our garden in the corner where the corn, peas, cukes, artichokes and zuchinni are. The stepping stones need to be seated and once the beans, carrots, radish, lettuce and green onion are up, we will dress the whole thing with compost. I will share more shots with you soon as everything grows more.

Seeds sown: giant sunflowers, sunflowers for cutting (yellow and brownish/red), black eyed susans, purple coneflowers, red oriental poppies and zinnias. Will be planting these soon!

Huge basket of purple and pink wave petunias, geraniums and verbena. Will share with you soon...as it will get enormous!

Little fuschias on the deck railing...

Lily of the Valley...

Beautiful and very old Rhododendron...

Another very old Rhododendron...

Hardy Geranium and Candytuft...

Wild Rose...wish you could smell it...it smells like baby powder...

Ginkgo shot...we have two trees...I got them for my birthday years ago from my mom. I love this tree and their leaves...they turn a glorious gold in the Fall...

Hostas and ferns are filling out under the deck...

Orange Oriental Poppy...they are just starting to bloom and they are gorgeous...

Japanese Iris...

Cosmo flower in bloom...

Clematis just starting to bloom this week...

Close-up of Clematis...

Clustered Bell Flower...

And, most odd...my Christmas Cactus is blooming!!! I guess everything is blooming around here!

I included some more photos in the next post!!! I'm back to stitching and I'll be catching up with you soon! Hope the sun is shining on you...~Lisa

Where the wild things are. . .

2009-05-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

We have lots of crows that visit our yard everyday. I love watching them walk and waddle in their way...they are such smart birds!

Every now and then a ton of crows start squawking up a storm and flying in from all different directions toward the fir trees near us. It is always amazing! We always say they are having another 'Community Meeting'!!! Wish I had a better zoom lens. How many can you count in this one tree?

Little Anna hummingbird with a very long neck!

There she goes...

Just having a nibble of the suet that fell on the ground...

Are you taking pictures of me again?

Here you go Tammy...do you think his eyes look a little wild and intense...notice the white in his eyes! (CLICK TO ENLARGE!) I think he may be the one...lol! I was trying to take pictures of about six squirrels running and chasing each other around the other day. They were acting *wild*...literally! They were on the ground, the fence, the trees and even in the bamboo! I was beginning to get kind of nervous, especially when two went running right under my chair past my feet. At one point, there were about four squirrels in the ginkgo tree chasing each other all over and up and down and the gingko leaves were falling off the tree like snow. They were chittering away and making other weird sounds and this went on for a couple hours and I kept wondering *what* was going on!!! I grabbed my camera thinking maybe I could get a shot with more than one squirrel for a change, and when I started taking pictures...I *finally* realized *what* was going on and what I was taking pictures of!!! Love was in the air! ~wink~

Here's two of them needing a drink of water after running around like that!

And, here's one laying on the deck rail...needing a rest and pooped out for the day!!!

Happy Creating...will share more soon! ~Lisa ;-)

Here we go. . .

2009-04-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

I know...be gentle on this old sensitive soul! It took awhile for me to finish my Bead Journal pages, but I'm caught up and back on board. I jumped in and started this journey on a great note and then other commitments I had previously made, the holidays, working on other projects and life...slowed me down. I'm trying to change my ways and find a better balance...so I can keep growing creatively with a happy heart.

Since there are six journal pages in one post, I will keep my journaling simple for your sake and mine too. The theme for my journal pages is fragments of my life and what lies within my heart each month and every year that passes.

November Bead Journal Page...My Oldest Love

This is Blake, my oldest (now 27 years old) pride and joy. Every November, I am reminded of my first most precious gift of all and how truly blessed I am. I am so proud of the man he has become. Nothing I've ever done in my life has given me more joy than being his mom and I don't think he knows all the gifts of love and happiness he has given to me. I chose this sweet picture of him because he was dressed in sweat pants and a sweatshirt that had Oregon State University on it. Little did we know then that it would be the college he would graduate from. He loved college and being in a fraternity. He graduated with a B.S. in Business with a minor in fine arts. Blake is a big teddy-bear, very outgoing, loves life and his friends. I love him so much and I'm so proud of him!

December Bead Journal Page...Forever Sissy

This is my beautiful sister, Leslie, affectionately known as Sissy. She is my only sibling and is three and a half years younger than I. Every December, I think of her because she was born two days after Christmas. I chose this picture of her because it was the last weekend trip we took together to the coast (October) and had a fun time sharing, eating, shopping and laughing. We are very close and have shared all the happiest and saddest times of our lives together...everything...growing up, marriages, births and deaths. Although we are both different, we are very much alike. We both have the same heart and the same smile. I love her dearly and am so grateful she is my sister. Forever sisters...forever friends...forever in my heart.

January Bead Journal Page...My Youngest Love

This is Spencer, my youngest (now 21 years old) pride and joy. Every January, I am reminded of my second most precious gift of all and how truly blessed I am. I am so proud of the man he has become. Nothing I have ever done in my life has given me more joy than being his mom and I don't think he knows all the gifts of love and happiness he has given to me. I chose this sweet picture of him because it reminds me what a happy little boy he was...always smiling and loving life. He is sliding down a tube at Pietro's (a local pizza joint) where we all shared many family get-togethers and many of our kids birthday parties. Spence is our free spirit. He reminds me so much of his dad...longer hair...loves his motorcycle, scuba dives, etc. He is very brilliant minded. Unfortunately, he got burnt out (bored) with school. However, this fall he surprised us and took the one last class he needed to receive his Associate's Degree. My fingers are crossed that maybe one day he will want to go back and finish. He works full-time and lives with a good friend of his. Spence is tall and thin like his mom, a big sweetheart, loves life and his friends. I love him so much and I'm so proud of him!

February Bead Journal Page...My Girls

Oh, my dear sweet girls...mom's silly goose's...my love bugs! Last year in January/February we had to say good-bye to my sweetest and best little friends...six weeks apart and it was so difficult. I miss them so much and still get a lump in my throat when I think about them. In working on this page, I remembered so many happy and fun times. They were mom's girls and followed me everywhere, loved being outside in the sunshine, having baths, their little kiddie swimming pool, treats, chasing squirrels in the yard, patrolling the blueberry bushes and barking at the birds to get out of the berries, and all you had to do was open the window and yell *dinner* and they would run from the backyard...fly through their doggie door...up the stairs and race into the kitchen! ~wink~ I've missed them every day and never will forget the joy and endless love they gave to us all. Rauchski and Ruby Jean remain forever in my heart.

March Bead Journal Page...Back In The Saddle Again

March always reminds me of my Uncle Fred and having to fly to San Francisco to say good-bye in 1987. He died when he was 54 years old. This is one of my most favorite pictures of him and my mom. Uncle Fred lost his life to AIDS and pneumonia. He was so intelligent, talented, artistic, funny and fun to be around. I just adored and loved him. He also went back to school in Maryland, when he was 41 years old, and graduated with a Master of Science in Addiction Studies at John Hopkins University. He lived in San Francisco and worked as a counselor for a large corporation. He didn't come home too often. He adored and loved Nana (because she loved him unconditionally) and my mom, but he always had issues with Papa. His dad could never accept that he was gay and always insisted there had to be a cure for his problem and that he would be happy to pay for it to be fixed! Right there tells you how 'old school' my grandpa was. While in the hospital and a few weeks before he died...he took his IV out...put his clothes and raincoat on and used his raincoat belt to keep his jeans up because he had lost so much weight...checked out of the hospital for awhile...called a cab...and went shopping at Tiffany & Company. He bought himself a new watch with larger numbers and a white face because he was having trouble seeing his other watch and bought my mom, sissy, and I a crystal heart paperweight and had them wrapped for us. He attached a card and wrote...keep this away from Blake's little hands...I Love You...Uncle Fred XO. That heart is still with me and sits on a tray in my bathroom and mom gave me the watch he bought that day and I still wear it. These two pieces are very treasured and cherished. He was a wonderful uncle to me and I have many fond memories of him.

April Bead Journal Page...Remember My Heart

April is the only month that I didn't have a specific person or memory to relate to. When my pages are complete, I will have included all my immediate family members. Mark and I decided that I should include a photo of me since these will be framed together when complete. Since my birthday is in May and we were married on my birthday, my May page will be about us. Because of some recent issues and another birthday around the corner...I've been thinking about my life. The things that are important to me now...how many precious days I really have left...how blessed I've been in my life...and how I want to be remembered one day. I want to be remembered as being a loving, giving and caring soul that loved my family more than anything in the world, loved life and smiled a lot. I hope they'll always remember my heart and forget-me-not.

*Question* - I noticed in my photos that my pages look kind of irregular but they really aren't. They truly are 5" x 7" and the sides are nice and straight. They lay almost perfectly flat, however, the Pellon backing was slightly curved due to being rolled when I bought it. I am wondering before I stitch some Ultrasuede onto the back, if I shouldn't slip a piece of acid-free poster board or 'something' in-between to help it lay perfectly flat and make it more solid or stable? Just like I do with a beaded brooch. Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome.

I've had the hardest time writing this post...almost like a mental block. I think it may have to do with the gorgeous 75 and 83 degree weather we had Sunday and Monday. It has been wonderful to see blue skies and feel the sunshine again! Now that I am caught up and can breathe again...I'll be by to catch up with you!

I wanted to share a few pictures I took of a male Rufous hummingbird (first of the season) that migrate from Mexico where they winter. They are gorgeous and it's so fun to see them return! To say they are feisty is an understatement. The chasing and arguing over the feeders is on. Click on the picture and see him up close.

This is one of our Anna's who is trying to figure out...who *that* dude is and what he thinks he's doing at *my* feeder!!!

I hope you are well and I'll visit with you soon! ~Lisa

Beaded Hearts. . .

2009-03-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank you all for your support and lovely comments on my last post. I really appreciate your encouragement and the support you share with me!

I wanted to share the squares that I sent to Jeanette, this past week, for the 2009 Bead-It-Forward Quilt. These squares are small and stitched to 1-1/2". Jeanette stitches the squares into quilts and then donates them to Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer for their annual auction. This years theme was "bead artists have the heart to take on breast cancer."

It was getting so close to the deadline, I really thought that I might not be able to contribute. However, when I found out that a dear friend's breast cancer had returned...a mutual friend to us all, Bobbi,...I knew in my heart that I wanted and needed to make the time and stitch some squares. I have participated for three years and always for the sake of all, however, this year I wanted to stitch some in her honor. I did not have time to encrust my squares this year. But, all my squares were stitched on wool felt except for one that I did on Ultrasuede. The beads and sequins are vintage and the seed beads I used were 11/0, 16/0, and 18/0's. I used a vintage Guilloche 'Heart and Roses' Enamel Cabochon, vintage tan heart shaped nailheads, and a vintage red sew-on heart on the nude. The only new pieces were the hope and bird charm and the tiny red heart beads.

The beach image didn't turn out quite like I had hoped. As you can see, I about mutilated the Pellon. I really wanted to do this square by needle felting and then adding beads, but I didn't have the right colors of roving...so I improvised. I really need to buy a variety pack of colors to have on hand. I also tried stitching the seagulls with 18/0 beads and it just wasn't right. The beads needed to be smaller. I do have 20/0 and 22/0's, but I *absolutely* refused to suffer like that!!! I don't know where my brain was when I purchased those beads or the size 16 needles either!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!

I also wanted to share a beautiful stitched 'Peace' sign that I received from a new blogging friend, Elizabeth, that lives in Denmark. Grace kindly shared her wonderful blog named Landanna. Thank you, Grace! She embroidered the french knots on felt with raffia! Raffia is such an great idea to embroider with...it stitches up beautifully! It is a lovely piece of embroidery and I will always treasure it always! Thank you so much Elizabeth, for your wishes of *peace*! I hope you will take the time to visit her. She is a very talented and stitches from her heart with a lot of symbolism!

I stitched another sketchbook bag recently for a gift. The first bag I made, I made for me because I sketch a lot. I made this pouch with black Ultrasuede. It has a picot edge done in black 8/0 seed beads and vintage bronze seed beads. It is stitched with vintage black nailhead, bronze nailheads, and black heart nailheads. It comfortably holds a Moleskin sketchbook and pencil. It is a great size to put in your purse and, hopefully, it will be loved.

I have a couple small pieces in the works, but my biggest priority right now is getting up-to-date with the bead journal project. The two pictures of fabric and thread are favorites of mine that I picked out that are waiting for some attention! As soon as I post my bead journal pages...I am going to begin cutting some fabric and I'll share that with you soon.

Awhile back, Bobbi, had suggested a wonderful movie on her blog. Mark and I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to mention it because I thought maybe you'd enjoy it also. It is a documentary about an artist and is called...The Cats of Mirikitani. It is a fascinating and heart-warming story of injustice, pride, tragedy, beautiful art, compassion and acceptance. You'll be enriched by his art, but even more so by his spirit! I hope that maybe you would enjoy it too. I told Bobbi, I know who to contact when I want to see a good movie!

Since it has been awhile since I have posted...I included some photos that I have taken recently in the post below. And, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I am off to finish up an Irish feast for my family...Corned beef, new potatoes, carrots, and cabbage and hoping there will be enough leftover for corned beef sandwiches! Take care and I'll talk to you soon...~Lisa ;-)

A little of this and a little of that. . .

2009-03-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

The weather has brought us a little of everything lately. I thought I'd share some pictures with you. One of these days, I'm going to break my leg running through this house trying to get my camera quick enough to get outside for a shot! ~wink

*Double Rainbow...has happened twice this week*

We love it when this happens...we call it the *Golden Glow*

*Snow and Blue Sky*

*Almost a Full Worm Moon*

*Red Maple Buds against Blue Sky*

More signs of Spring...

*Stella de Oro Daylilies popping up with some Candytuft*

*Miniature Daffodil's...about 5" tall*

*American Robin's in birdbath*

It's almost Spring! I'm definitely wishing for sunshine and blue skies again!!! ~Lisa

She Finally Flew!!!

2009-02-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

This day has been a long time coming and *today* is finally here!!! I am so excited that I can finally share with you something I have worked on, on and off, for a long time. I started beading my first doll, almost one year ago, for a sweet friend whose heart is as big as her talent. Her energy and zest for life spills forth in all she is, everything she does, and all she creates. When you swing by and visit, you can't help but smile and leave with a warmed heart. This doll was made for Monica, from one heart to another. When she arrives in *Sweet Home Alabama* and Monica finally gets to see her, my biggest hope is that it will have made the wait worthwhile. If this gift brings a smile to her face, I will be happy!

Her doll is about 7" x 7" and 11" long including the chain and fringe. I made the face from a commercial mold with copper polymer clay, sealed it three times, and stitched the heart form with black wool felt. It is beaded with 15/0, 11/0, 8/0, and 6/0 seed beads. I used black vintage diamond-cut seed beads, two antique french faceted glass sew-on's, vintage nailheads, vintage disc? (I believe) beads, copper beads and leaves, teardrop beads, bugle beads, pillow beads, a hand-crafted copper art deco heart pendant, sequins, and copper chain. I used many Swarovski crystals that were 2 mm round, 6 mm bicone, and 9x6 mm drop beads in copper, olivine, and amethyst.

I have learned so many lessons on this journey! Notes to myself. . .

1) Do not tell your friend you are making her a gift. . .let it be a surprise!
2) Do not pick the biggest doll you've made in your tote box and think you can "whip one up in no time" like Grace can!!! ;-) A doll form that is a bit smaller in size would be just as thoughtful!
3) Remember that beading an entire doll with a curved needle is a 'scosh' slower than stitching with a straight needle!
4) Do not begin your doll with thread catchers again, i.e., leaves around the face, etc.!
5) Remember that crystals really can cut your thread!
6) Remember to quit crowding the beads. It really is okay that a 'smidgen' of fabric is showing!
7) Remember that you are not so sure how you feel about 6/0 beads because they seem to have a mind of their own and flop around. Next time you'd like to use these beads, remember the slight conniption fit you began to have when they weren't all lined up nice and straight like they had been and that overwhelming feeling that maybe you should just rip-it-out!
8) Remember that you can not say *yes* to every fun thing you see in blogland when you have prior obligations!
9) Remember to start another (smaller) doll immediately and keep on practicing! ~wink~

Even with some lessons learned...I hope this doll will always bring a smile, be happy in her new home, and 'sparkle' in that southern sunshine!!!

I shared a few different views for you to see. The best shots, again, seemed to be those taken outside. I did share one from the light box.

I also want to share a beautiful gift that I was so fortunate to receive from the talented and thoughtful Recca girls...Cathie and Sabrina! Cathie made *the coolest* peace sign tote bag and Sabrina told her mom that she felt they needed to make a journal to go with the bag too. Cathie made the bag using a giraffe print batik and the peace sign and lining is a beautiful red Kaffe Fassett fabric. Sabrina made and stitched the heart journal! I absolutely LOVE and adore them both! I know they will get rave reviews! Thank you both for sharing your beautiful heart art with me!

Back to stitching and catching up on the BJP. Whatever your plans, I hope you have a great weekend! ~Lisa

OWOH Winners...

2009-02-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone that stopped by to visit and left a comment! Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected so many greetings. I appreciate each and every one of you that took the time to say hello! It has been a fun and exciting ride on the gypsy caravan. This was my first year to participate and I would love to join again next year.

So many thanks to Lisa Swifka, of A Whimsical Bohemian, for all the time and energy she has given to host One World~ One Heart for us all! What a wonderful idea to bring people together from all over the world.

I decided to use the random sequence generator to find out who won the two pins. The first number generated would win the face pin and the second number would win the dragonfly pin.

The winners are:

The Face Pin - #22 - Carolyn H. of Mindless Wonders
The Dragonfly Pin - #79 - Chris P. of Evidence of An Artistic Life

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy the pin/brooches! ~Lisa ;-)

One World One Heart. . .

2009-01-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

*COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR OWOH GIVEAWAY*

I will be using the random sequence generator to see who will win the pins. I will post the winners on February 12th, 2009!

If there was ever one week in the year to host this One World One Heart event...this is the week!!!

I decided to jump on board and participate in this event. One World One Heart was started by Lisa Swifka from A Whimsical Bohemian in 2007. The idea behind the event is to make connections and meet new bloggers from all around the world. The event is open to everyone, even if you don't have a blog. Click the logo button to find out more and you will find a list of all those that are participating.

My name is Lisa and I'm a native Oregonian. I started my blog almost one year ago as a way share and meet kindred spirits and to support others that inspire me. Creating has been in my heart and soul forever. I think I was born with a needle in my hand because I love to stitch. I enjoy most needle arts but my latest passion has been learning bead embroidery. I am a wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. My other interests include nature, gardening and photography.

If you would like the chance to win one of two prizes below, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. This giveaway is open to everyone who leaves a comment. However, if you don't have a blog yourself, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are a winner. This event will end at midnight, February 11th, and I will post the winners on February 12th.

My first giveaway is a bead embroidered pin/brooch. The focal piece is a copper color Czech glass button. The pin measures approximately 1-3/4". It is embroidered with 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads and is stitched and backed with Ultrasuede.

The second giveaway is another bead embroidered pin/brooch. The focal piece is a resin face cabochon. The pin measures approximately 1-1/2". It is embroidered with 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads, Czech flower beads and a Swarovski crystal butterfly. It is stitched and backed with Ultrasuede.

Good luck and thank you for stopping by...I hope you'll come back and visit! I'm off to visit other participants and hope you enjoy doing the same! ~Lisa ;-)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hi friends...Happy New Year! I hope 2009 will be filled with inspiration, creativity, good health, peace, and the love of family and friends for us all!

I've missed making a few posts that I would have liked to have made because I have been sick since Christmas day. What I thought was a sinus, sore throat, coughing-thing for days...is a sinus infection and bronchitis. I am finally beginning to feel better, think clearly and have some energy again! It has been a whole month of sickness in this house. My oldest got it first, then my husband and finally me.

I wanted to share some photos of our snow and freezing rain event that we had for two weeks and through Christmas day. We had more snow than anyone's seen here (Portland) in forty years. When it does snow, it usually only lasts for a day or two and we may get 2-6". Mother nature certainly put on a show that was truly amazing and beautiful too. However, with that beauty came the other events. We lost electricity twice, have lots of broken branches and plenty of trimming to do in our yard, and many trees fell in our neighborhood. I really felt bad for all those trying to get somewhere for Christmas though. So many plans were changed for so many people. A lot of the highways were closed, trains and buses were not running, and hundreds were stranded at the airport and other terminals for days. It was just as bad in Washington and I know we in the Northwest were not alone in being snowed in. It was quite the event for us in Portland. It has since thawed and we've had a lot of rain. Now the rivers are cresting and flooding and landslides have begun.

Black bamboo is not happy with ice and snow!

Digging out and getting some weight off the deck. See the aqua line in the snow...it is the ice layer from the freezing rain.

Friends out and about. . .

On our way to the store we pulled over and took a picture of Johnson Creek flooding. It was roaring! I feel so sorry for all the people who are being flooded by our rivers and creeks.

This last picture is tracks of a visitor we had in our yard when we woke up this weekend. And, yes, it's still been snowing on and off per the temperature. There were actually two sets of prints. The two sets of prints meet up and then disappear at the fence. Mark thinks they are raccoon prints.

Well, I'm off to make tracks of my own! I'm catching up with you and finishing up a few pieces that I have been working on. Thank you all for your thoughtful comments over the past year, they are so appreciated. The wonderful friendships I have made in ten months...mean so much! ~Lisa

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

2008-12-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

Talk about getting into the spirit! Last Sunday, we awoke to snow and got about 4" and it has definitely stuck around. I LOVE SNOW...it's so exciting and beautiful. Every time it snows, I'm still like a little kid in a candy shop! We don't get snow very often and when we do, it's a big deal here! Usually our snow is very wet and doesn't stick around for too many days and we often get freezing rain. But we've had an "arctic blast" hit us since Sunday, and other than the temperature warming up to a balmy 37 yesterday afternoon and this morning, we are back to cold weather tonight through Tuesday next week with more snow in the forecast. Our highs will be back in the 20's again starting this evening. I was beginning to wonder if we might have a white Christmas this year or a very cold one, but they are saying we will warm up on Christmas Eve. Well, you never know!

Thought I'd share some snowy pictures with you. The first two are shots off the deck. They were taken Sunday, and some snow still remains in the yard and on roofs.

This is a shot into the far corner of our backyard. You can see the squirrel feeder in the corner and the wind chime on the ginkgo tree.

This is a shot of our black bamboo holding its own in the frigid weather and our three graces fountain filling with snow. No water from the fountain for the birds or squirrels now. Only what they can get from the two bird baths. As a matter of fact, yesterday I witnessed one of our squirrels sitting on the fountain bowl where she normally comes to get a drink of water and sat there at ate the snow...I never have seen that before! Mark pulled the pump out of the fountain this year because we lost our last pump due to the freezing weather.

The Christmas lights are shining outside, the tree is decorated, the house is decorated, and the stockings are hung. I'm all done shopping and have begun to wrap some gifts. It's been a great few days with snow falling, music playing, and feeling more in the holiday spirit.

I haven't completed anything to share with you, but I have been beading and doing a few other things. I have been paying most all my beading attention to an art doll that has been sitting far too long and being neglected. Since this is a gift, I shouldn't show this but I sure didn't want you to think I'm just sitting around and sipping hot chocolate!!! So...I thought I'd share another sneak peek with you. It will be the last peek before she flies to her home. I will share pictures in full (front and back) when I'm done and I know she's arrived to her destination.

She is getting lots of texture right now with moss stitch and is finally really filling in and coming alive. She is getting that nice weight to her and I just love that!

I have started beading on my November BJP and December is laid out and ready, but they've both taken a backseat of late. I'm not too worried, as my bead journal pages are fairly simple. The holidays, of course, have been the other focus lately.

Thought I'd share another project that I have been working on occasionally. It has been sitting around in a zip-lock bag for at least a year now and I thought it was time to get it done. I have two antique beaded purses that are in sad shape that I've wanted to harvest the beads from. The bags each have holes and the threads are disintegrating. Every now and then I go sit for awhile and cull through the pile of beads, selecting and sorting the beads by color and remove any that are not healthy. This bead pile is one side of one of the purses. The beads that are in bags are what I already sorted from the other side. I don't know why I enjoy doing it, but I do. In a way it's like shell or treasure hunting to me. They are valuable little beauties and it's wanting to save them. Soon it will be another thing checked off my to-do list!

Well...the temperature has dropped while I have been writing this post and it is 10:15 a.m., and it is snowing!!! Big, lush, beautiful flakes!!! The cold air wasn't suppose to be here until this afternoon or evening! It's going to be an interesting five days! I hope you are well, staying warm and feeling the spirit!!! ~Lisa ;-)

Stitched with Love and Hope...

2008-12-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Thoughts and actions have turned toward Christmas and the lights and decorations have begun here. It's hard to believe Christmas is in 23 days...it has come so fast this year!

A few months ago, I received a package from Monica containing some squares that were leftover from the Pink Artist Project. We were asked to make a 10" x 10" art quilt out of the squares we received. When done and sent back to Monica, she is going to do her 'MAGIC' and stitch the art quilts together and make one large wall quilt. The quilt will be sold with the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I was honored to be able to help with this project and enjoyed stitching love and hope into this quilt. It was such a thrill to see and hold the art squares I received. You certainly could feel the love in each and every one! I can only imagine how Monica felt when she received hundreds of heartfelt art squares!!!

I had sketched and decided exactly how I wanted to do the quilt. My intentions were to do needle felting on each side. Intentions don't always work out! ~wink~ The needle felting worked out fine on the pink side but when it came to the red side, the shade of red roving did not go with the square nor the red and blue wool felt I had bought. What to do? I finally realized to just do what I had intended to do but with the felt only. So it evolved. I used a variety of 8/0 and 11/0 seed beads, triangle beads, and bugle beads. I added Antique French red flower/clover sequins, Vintage French sky blue white-heart seed beads, Antique French sky blue white-heart tile cylinder beads, 2 mm Swarovski crystals, and mother of pearl fuchsia heart buttons. I did 3-bead picot stitch around the red side and attached the white side to the back with 3-bead picot stitch also.

I hope I honored each artist and their squares that were sent to me. I'm looking forward to seeing all the art quilts stitched together! I know it will be just beautiful and will raise more money for such a worthy cause! Thank you Monica for including me in this project! I really enjoyed working on this piece!!!

"Keep Hope Alive" ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I received a wonderful package in the mail from my friend Tammy! Awhile back we decided to do a swap. Tammy created this beautiful book thong made with a bamboo tile. It is so light weight. She decorated the tile with birds on one side and bees on the other. Does that not have my name written all over it?! It is embellished with gold leaf around the edges, braided silk ribbon, and beautiful beads. I just love it! It immediately went into one of four books that have been sitting and waiting for me.

Inside the box were two more beautifully wrapped packages! She totally stunned and surprised me with this beautiful beaded doll!!! Isn't she wonderful? I just adore her!!! She is tiny, standing 3 inches tall, and Tammy made her face too. Check out the cute ruffle around her body! She certainly has Tammy's heart art written all over her. She also shared some lovely beads with me and not one that she shared do I have. They are beautiful and I'm looking forward to using them soon.

Tammy is a sweetheart and I always enjoy visiting her blog. She is a talented and fun gal who is always experimenting and trying something new. She is making soldered pendant/charms right now and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with those. She shares wonderful pictures of 'Mom Nature" in Connecticut...her part of the world. If you have a chance, swing by and visit her!

Thank you Tammy!!! You are so generous and I am honored to own your heart art. I will treasure them always.

Isn't she a doll!!!

Well...back to beading and all that comes with the season! I hope you are finding the time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays! ~Lisa

Bead Journal Project...October

2008-11-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

I have really enjoyed working on this page other than her insisting she needed more leaves than I had started with. I've been a little hard on myself for not being done by the end of October (which has been my biggest BJP fear all along), but I decided I'm not going to rush just for the sake of getting it done by the end of the month. This project is just for me and I want to cherish all my pages at the end of the year.

I named my October page "October Glory." Every October, I always think of Nana, my maternal grandmother. I have so many wonderful memories of her. Her name was Marion, and she was born on October 31st, 1906, in Mandan, North Dakota. She married Papa on March 16th, 1931. She died March 19th, 1981, three days after their 50th Wedding Anniversary. She was a lovely person and always a "lady" in the truest sense of the word. The tree in the first picture is one of three maple trees we planted in our yard years ago. It is one of two in our front yard and it is a beautiful tree called October Glory.

The picture I chose is one of my favorite pictures of Nana when she was young. I don't have very many pictures of her, but this one was most appropriate for fall. Forgive some of my photos, as I took pictures of the original snaps I have. We had a fire in our home years ago and the heat and smoke damaged most of our older pictures. The tree is stitched with vintage brown Charlottes and 15/0 bronze and moss green seed beads. The glass pressed leaves are small, 6 x 10mm, and the pebbles in the road are stitched with smoky quartz chips.
She was a mother to a son and daughter, and a Nana to two grandchildren...my sister and I. We were always close and spent a lot of time together. We became even closer after my parents divorced when I was 12.

I REMEMBER...

* how beautiful she was inside and out
* how she lived her life with compassion, kindness, and love
* she always had a dress and apron on when Papa got home from work
* she was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain family and friends
* she loved to garden, loved roses and flowers, and was President of the Alameda Garden Club
* she was a Daughter of the Nile and volunteered time to many charities
* she loved to sew, knit, and needlepoint
* she was a wonderful wife to Papa

I REMEMBER...

* hugs and kisses
* being spoiled by her
* games (Tiddlywinks & Candy Land), story books, and color crayons
* loving her home and how it always smelled so good
* getting to spend the night
* watching Lassie, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, & The Jolson Story
* walks to the park and dime store
* baking cookies
* her candy dish and a little bird in a cage that when wound up would move and chirp
* hamburgers at Yaw's and Green River's, ice cream at Farrell's, and shopping at Lloyd Center
* loving to snoop at all the old stuff in the attic and basement
* dressing up in her clothes and jewelry
* trips to the beach

I REMEMBER...

* her unconditional love
* her being always gracious and fun
* cereal or a warm baked chicken sandwich in the evening for a snack
* two trips to Palm Desert, swimming, and long walks picking huge grapefruits & lemons
* many dinners at Ringside
* being so grateful to have both Nana & Papa at my wedding (Papa lost 40+ lbs so he could fit into his old tux and walk me down the aisle)
* Mom, Sissy, and I throwing Nana a big 70th Birthday party
* helping them move from their one and only house to an apartment in Portland
* surgery and hospital visits when Nana found out she had uterine cancer that had metastisized to her bones
* helping Nana shop and run errands when she was sick in my VW bug
* being at her home, by her side with my Mom when she left us

In reflecting, I realize these memories and her love are the legacy she left and it is something precious to me. Her strength and values ran deep. While she was beautiful on the outside, she was full of love and passion on the inside. I am grateful for the memories I treasure and the love and patience she always showed me. I loved and adored her and miss her dearly.

She is a fragment of my life that lies within my heart...

More Memes...and behind!!! ;-)

2008-10-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Bobbi for this meme a week ago. I know...it's been a crazy week! Thank goodness she's a good friend and won't hang it over my head! It seems everyone has been tagged so I'll spare you!

7 unknown facts about me...

1) I love tea. Hot tea and iced tea. My favorite is "Constant Comment" by Bigelow and it is a black tea that is flavored with rind of oranges and sweet spice. This is a picture of me having tea with my tea set at Nana and Papa's house...tea and tea parties started early!
2) My Nana and Mom used to call me Gerry Giraffe when I was little. I was always tall and skinnier than a rail. At the time, I didn't think it was too funny. In the early 90's, Mom bought me this whimsical folk art giraffe to always remind me. It is a treasure to me now!
3) In 1970, when I was 12, I spent the month of July in Mexico with 9 other friends from school as an exchange student. We all stayed with host families. While there, we visited the anthropology museum, floating gardens, caves, and the pyramids. This is me (white pants and red shirt) coming down the pyramid. I'm not sure if it is the pyramid of the sun or moon. But I remember that the steps are huge and it is steep!
4) In the summer of 1974, when I was 16, a friend and I picked up two hitchhikers while we were on a family vacation in Bend, Oregon (hitchhiking back then was common), and were kidnapped. They drew a knife and pistol and told us to drive the car toward Paulina Lake which is located in the Deschutes National Forest. They had us drive off the road into the forest. We were gagged and tied to trees while they stole our wallets, money, and my mom's car. Long story short...a few hours later they came back (furious) for the key to the gas cap. When they took the car, the first time, they only took the ignition key. They kindly untied us for a bit because our hands were swollen from being tied so tightly. During this time, I asked if I could take a pill that was in my purse because I remembered my nail clippers were in there. They let me and while I took the Tylenol, I slipped my nail clippers down the back of my pants (un's) without them seeing. They tied and gagged us again and left. About an hour later, I got myself cut free and freed my friend and we ran to the road and sat in the bushes until someone drove down the road (that wasn't my Mom's car) and we flagged them for help. That person drove us to the State Police in Bend. They put out an APB (all points bulletin) in the seven western states and at 3 a.m. they were busted in a motel room in Portland, Oregon. They were arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (unauthorized...STEALING is more like it! ~wink~). They were also busted for doing the same thing to an older couple that were tied up in their apartment and were hit over the head and knocked out, in California, while they ripped them off and stole their car. Do you think I've EVER picked up another hitchhiker?

5) I was introduced in the summer to my husband, by a mutual friend, when I was (14) and he had just graduated (17). I fell head over heels and it was love at first sight for both of us! We were married on my 19th birthday, May 13, 1977, on Friday the 13th at 7:00 p.m. Nope, not superstitious. I carried thirteen red roses in my bouquet. The 13th of May also falls on Mother's Day some years. We have been married for 31 years. Other than my two boys...Mark was the best gift I've ever received!!!

*Notice his jacket...5 minutes before we were to walk down the aisle...he put on his jacket and they forgot to alter the sleeve length...the sleeves were about 3" too short! Still makes me smile when I look at our pictures.

6) When we were first married and renting an old farm house, we were finally able to have some pets. So we bought two female Korat cats and named them Ebony and Amber. I didn't know about Korat's until my boss told me about their two cats and they were 22 and 20 years old. Mark and I bought them from the same lady in Woodburn, OR, 20+ years later. They are native to Thailand and are considered a symbol of good fortune. They are beautiful cats with a blue-gray coat with silver tips. They only have one coat and do not shed much hair. They have heart shaped faces and when they are little their eyes are amber and once they are a few years old they turn a beautiful and vivid peridot green. At night with a spotlight their eyes reflect green rather than the usual red that most cats do. They are very sweet-natured cats.

This is Ebony when she was a baby.

7) Twenty years ago, I got my business license and started my own medical transcription business. It was called Southwest Transcription Service. I started it so that I could still work for the doctors I worked for, but I could stay at home with my youngest while he was young. I stuck with it for about eight years.

Extra tidbit #8...my husband made me do it! I was a car thief!!! When I was 13, and my Mom was asleep, I took her keys and my little sister (10) and went for a joy ride in her Buick Skylark! The passing gear was very exciting! Thankfully, I did no harm and we are both still ALIVE!!!

Did you know Grace came to Oregon this past week? I was so fortunate to meet her and three of her very fun and dear friends this past Thursday. I drove about an hour to Hillsboro to meet her. Historic Hillsboro is a quaint little town that was founded in 1842. Being a native Oregonian, I have truly only been to Hillsboro once or twice in my life but never to old town. We met at Planet Bead and shopped, then the five of us had a delicious lunch and lots of laughter together at the Stratford House, a very L O N G photo shoot...thanks to me always closing my eyes~wink~, and then we all went to Craft Warehouse. We even went into a an old drugstore that had an old fashioned soda fountain and bar stools that was very cool. Believe me...Grace is just as sweet and down to earth as you can imagine she is! I was so excited and kind of nervous when I left home about meeting everyone, but as soon as we said hi...the nervousness was gone. It was like picking up where you left off with an old friend. It was such a pleasure and honor to meet 'AMAZING GRACE' and her sweet friends. I have always loved the name Grace and thought it was so special...there is a reason why her Mom named her that! I had the best time and will always cherish the afternoon we shared. The hardest part of our visit was how fast the time flew by! I've been fortunate to meet Bobbi and Grace and I have found that there is something very special about artists...we are all the same...honest...kind...kindred spirits! You'll have to watch her blog...I'll bet she'll post some great snaps of Oregon! She visited the Columbia River Gorge...Mt. Hood...and even went to the beach...and the weather has been BEAUTIFUL...all week! Anyway, it was such a pleasure and my honor to meet her and you would adore her too!!! Thank you Grace, Anne, Bobbie, and Sammie for sharing your time with me!

Wouldn't it be fun if we could all meet one day! ~Lisa ;-)

Faces Received From Beaded Face Pin Swap

2008-10-18T16:29:00.001-07:00

I participated in the 2008 Beaded Face Pin Swap this year. I couldn't help myself and wanted to jump in at the last minute and play. I sent three pins and received three pins in return. Check out the pins that were submitted this year. They are all wonderful and unique and maybe you would consider signing up to play next year! I just love and adore the pins I received...they are AWESOME!

The beautiful pin above is named 'Dreams of Spring' and was made by the host of the pin swap...Carol Strand-Siebers!

This beautiful pin was made by Chris Ann Philips!

This beautiful pin was made by Connie Welch!

Thank you all for making such delightful and beautiful art pins. I will treasure and cherish each one!!!

Thank you Carol for hosting this fun event! I certainly look forward to playing again next year!

~Faces are so unique~ Lisa ;-)

Bead Journal Project...September

2008-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Sad story...big lessons learned! Have you ever opened your mouth and from the gland under your tongue...out squirts some saliva? This has happened a couple times in my life, not very often, gratefully, but it has happened. I know, disgusting but true! I was literally finishing the last of my beading around the boys picture when out of my mouth saliva spurted right on Spencer's shirt! I about had heart failure and my poor husband was tip-toeing around for awhile! I attempted to stay calm and let it dry. Once dry, it was still there. So I got some Q-tips wet and moistened the area and when it was dry, I thought I had saved it! Little did I know or see until I was proof reading my post Sunday...that the spot was still there!!! Oh, my heart just sank. I sat down, cut it out, and redid it again. I included both photos so that you could see...and I know in my heart it was for the best! I wasn't very sold on the ink jet fabric sheets I was using in the first place. The picture seemed so washed out and their faces were lacking color, the fabric was very thin and hard to keep smooth, and it certainly didn't hold up to a drop of saliva hitting it! But after reprinting the pictures on a different brand of printable fabric the second time around...what a huge difference! Believe me, I am totally ready to start my October page and I stitch with my lips sealed now!!! ~wink~

The theme I chose for the 2008 Bead Journal Project is 'Fragments of My Life' and what lies within my heart each month and every year that passes. I named my September page, "I Pledge Allegiance." Every September I can't help but think of fall and school starting and remembering my boys school days. There are many memories that live in my heart that relate to their school days and learning. They had so many happy days, so much growth, and many life lessons were learned during those years. There were the crazy and hectic schedules that we all kept between work, school, family, sports, and other activities. The new school clothes, shoes, and supplies that were needed each year. I often wonder how many backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils were bought through those years! ~wink~ I knew with a photo of my boys that I didn't want the page to be too busy, so I thought I'd bead a flag. I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning when I was a young girl and the big flag that flew in front of the school. My boys remember those same flag memories of their school days. I also thought it appropriate because I pledged my allegiance 'loyalty' to them as their mom.

My pages are 5"x7" and I stitched ultrasuede to Pellon. The flag is stitched with vintage 9/0 venetian beads and was stitched on a separate piece of ultrasuede and then stitched down to my page. I tried to get the flag to have movement and be waving in the wind. I'm not sure that I captured what I was trying to convey, but I did the best I could. I inserted a small amount of batting under the flag as I stitched it down and when I was done I made a few tiny tack stitches in between some rows of beads to give it some movement. The flag pole is stitched over a bamboo skewer that I painted silver with french faceted steel cuts that I have been hoarding for some future day. These were either my grandmother's or great-grandmother's beads from a crochet/beaded bag that was in sad shape. The photo was edged with vintage stressed silver nailheads and steel cuts.

*This is the sad photo that was torn out...can you see the spot on Spencer's shirt? And see how washed out and faded the picture is compared to the other!*

I learned some things stitching this page. First and foremost, to keep my lips zipped while stitching! I did not enjoy trying to stitch through the corners (four layers of ultrasuede)! My fingers have some holes in them even though I used a thimble at times and my pliers too. I folded an inch over on the back and my future pages will be a half inch or so. Since the ultrasuede doesn't ravel, I feel confident that a smaller amount will work out better and I will attempt to stay away from the corners while beading if I can. *ADDENDUM... after thoughtful consideration...it 'finally' occurred to me that I could use pellon or paper and do my beading (no layers) and then whip stitch the fabric to the back when I'm done!!! H e l l o...Lisa!!! ~wink~* I wasn't sure if the flag would turn out and be the size that I wanted it to be, so I stitched it on a piece of ultrasuede first and used Japanese Sumi painting paper for stabilizer. I was amazed how stable and supportive the paper felt to use and how soft it became as I beaded along. I will certainly be open to using paper again as a stabilizer and I'm glad I tried it. The other thing I am not totally sold on yet is the fabric sheets! The first (sad) photo was printed on Printed Treasures by Milliken, from a local fabric shop (Pendleton Woolen Mills), because I thought the pima cotton seemed a little finer (smoother) than the Avery printable fabric that I had. The final photo was printed on Avery Ink Jet printable fabric and it certainly turned out better. I would like to try the Jacquard cotton fabric too. I do know that I won't be using the Printed Treasures. Since all my pages will have photographs, this is an important decision to me. The other thing I remembered, at the last minute, was to clean my vintage nailheads. As I was handling them and taking them off their strings, my fingers were dirty/dusty and I realized that I hadn't cleaned these yet. The lady I purchase some of my vintage nailheads from forewarned me about cleaning them as she learned the hard way. I am grateful I didn't have to learn that lesson too!!!

I am going to finish the back by stitching another piece of ultrasuede to the page. I think I will insert a piece of mat board for a little more support, as the flag is heavy. Now, onto October, thankfully! I need to catch up with friends and visit the other BJP members that I haven't taken the time to do yet!

My sister and I just got home from the beach last Tuesday evening after spending three fun days together! The weather was so beautiful for the last couple days of September! It was a sunny and fun filled trip with lots of laughter and catching up!!! I thought you might enjoy a couple pictures.
This is a shot looking south from Ecola State Park in Oregon.

And this gorgeous fall sunset and Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. The next trip to the coast will either be in the stormy weather or next spring!

Keep Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams! ~Lisa ;-)

Happy Fall!

2008-09-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

I think I need to have one of those 'Blogging without Obligation' buttons on my blog! ~wink~

I am overdue on making this post but have been busy with different beading/art projects, fluffing up around here and preparing outside for the fall season that's upon us.

First and foremost...some lovely mail arrived that I wanted to share with you that just made my day! These beautiful watercolor paintings were sent to me by Cathie's talented daughter Sabrina! Aren't they SWEET!!! They are so bright and cheerful...I just adore them! I am going to get these framed and hang them in my art room. You are just a sweetheart and so thoughtful! You didn't have to do a thing, but I am thrilled that you did! Thank you again Sabrina...you know how much they just melted my heart!!! Like I said to you before...keep pursuing art...life and dreams girl!!!

This picture is for Cathie!!! See, we can grow sunflowers in Oregon! I didn't grow any giants this year but I think I will next year for the birds! ;-) These sunflowers I cut and bring in the house for great long-lasting bouquets!!!

Speaking of bright and cheerful...this darling Amelia arrived from Australia from my new and very talented friend Dot! Isn't she DARLING! Dot mentioned on her blog, "that with her bright and cheerful fabric she is hardly likely to be a shy retiring wallflower!" Well, she just had my name written all over her!!! I am thrilled to have a piece of Dot's heart art and my very own Zali (special) Amelia!!! She is made with such love and Dot's handwork is beautiful!!! I decided to share two shots of her because I loved the one with her sitting in the pansies but I realized that I had cropped her head and you couldn't see the bell or bird! The shot of her in the chair is a little dark but at least you can see all of her. I forgot to change some of the settings on my camera from the last time I used it and obviously wasn't thinking...I think it's been a little too long since I've been taking any pictures!!! I apologize that my pictures just aren't the best this time! Thank you Dot for sharing all your wonderful and delightful art! She will always remind me of you, our friendship, and her whispering words will remind me not to be the wallflower that I can sometimes be!!! ;-)

I finished and mailed three pins to Carol for the 2008 Beaded Face Pin Swap. This is the fourth year she has hosted this fun swap and I have watched for two. I told myself that I knew I shouldn't be doing one more thing than was already on my plate, but I couldn't help it...I wanted to join in on the fun! I made these three faces out of polymer clay with gold and copper leaf. I barely had any faces left that I really like and realize that I am going to have to make plans to have a clay play day again and also seek out more other art faces that I like. I used 8/0 and 11/0 seed beads, gold charlottes, Swarovski crystal beads and pendants, and gold metal leaves. I've never made a pin before but they are fun to make. I actually made four but my husband wanted to keep the bone face pin with two moons!?!, so I decided to hold the fourth one back. I/we...lol!...don't actually wear pins but I do love faces! So I am going to find a frame and put some ultrasuede or velvet over batting/pellon and pin them to that so I can enjoy them that way! I really enjoyed making these and I was thrilled to be included. I will definitely jump on the bandwagon a little sooner next year if Carol hosts the swap again!

I also mailed off two sets of scissors and two crystal/sterling scissor fobs for the 2008 Harvest of Hope's silent auction/dinner which will be held in October. It is a charity event that is raising funds for Candlelighters for Children with Cancer. Grace let me know about this charity and I was thrilled to be able to help. Since it is in Portland, Oregon, my stomping grounds, I'm sure I will contribute again to this worthy cause.

I am almost done with my September bead journal page and I will share it with you next week. I still am beading one special art doll and am working on one special art quilt too! Just a few WIP's that I have going on but I am having a great time!!! By the way, did you see that Monica posted that the Pink Artist Project has hit $2,000.00 and there is still a few more weeks to go!!! Talk about EXCITING!!! ;-)

Packages Flew To Their Destinations. . .

2008-08-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Saying hello and catching up!!! I finished some gifts and got them mailed last week and they have arrived safely to their destinations! First, I'll share the Dotee doll I made for my friend Cathie. Her doll is done with 15/0 black seed beads, with Swarovski sew-ons and beads, and decorated with flower beads and leaves. For the tail I added a sewing machine, scissors, and spool of thread with needle...totally appropriate for the talented fiber artist that she is!

After having a conversation with Cathie about the Ten Qualities of Slow Cloth, written by Elaine Lipson of Red Thread Studio, Cathie made a post about it on her blog. She stated that she was going to take a deep breath and work on slowing down. Facing summer she wanted to enjoy the "quality" not quantity of her time.

I commented on her blog:

Way to go Cathie! It sounds like a little more peace is going to fill your life! The art of life is to live in the moment. Keep taking deep breaths and smell those roses! A dear friend, Bobbi, who I so admire, sent me part of a poem by Cedric Wright...

The days of our lives must become precious.

In all heaven and earth, there is one thing to do:

Take your time.

Enjoy the perfection of what you are doing.

Enjoy accomplishing it exquisitely!

James Taylor wrote, "The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time." Wishing you joy, peace, and love! Your Slow Cloth Artist Friend...~Lisa ;-)

As I was working on her doll, I decided to include these words on her back side as a reminder! These words are from his BEAUTIFUL song called...The Secret O' Life!

This is Sabrina's Dotee doll (Cathie's daughter)! She is a darling girl who is quite the artist herself!!! This past year she took a 1st Place Blue Ribbon (out of 12 schools) for her watercolor sunflower. She also received the Creative Excellence Award for the Middle School Art Program! Mind you...she just turned thirteen!!! Believe me, she needs to keep pursuing art! So I thought it best to make her a sunflower Dotee. Sabrina's is done in with 15/0 charlotte seed beads, 16/0 vintage seed beads, Swarovski crystals, and decorated with flower beads and leaves. For the tail I added a sunflower charm.

That's it for Dotee's for awhile (I've made 16 to date), as I am getting my thoughts and things together for the 2008 Bead Journal Project that starts September 1st. I am so excited and thrilled to be a part of this project with the most talented and nicest people! My theme is going to be 'Fragments of my Life' but I still haven't quite decided the size I'm going to use! I will be making that decision in the next few days as I'm anxious to cut some fabric and stitch it on to Pellon!!!

I also sent a package to Monica with bucks for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Pink Artist Drawing for Love Squared. I decided to make Monica a scissor fob in the appropriate colors with the appropriate charms as a reminder and keepsake of this wonderful journey!

Now for fun...a friend of mine, Pat of Gatherings, honored me with a blogging friend award! Thank you Pat! She makes beautiful things, has a fun and inspiring blog, has a great sense of humor, has a HUGE heart, is a giver from her heart (Comfort Doll Project), and a real sweetheart!!! Blogging Friends Forever we will be!!!

Here are the rules:

1. Use the Twinks Bank icon (above).
2. Nominate 5 other people only.
3. Four (4) nominees have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
4. One (1) has to be someone new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
5. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

I hope the Award Police don't come after me because I broke two of the rules!!! LOL! ;-)

I nominate five gals. . .Bobbi Kirk, Grace Danel, Monica Magness, Cathie Recca, and Tammy Lang!!! (I know this is five instead of four. . . first rule broken)!!!

And, because no one has visited me from another part of the world and it needs to be someone new to your blog. . . I nominate. . . Kathy Vorenberg!!! However, since I've never been to New Mexico, it's another part of the world to me!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the last of what summer has to offer! Have a great and safe Labor Day weekend!

Keep Pursuing Art. . .Life and Dreams!!! ~Lisa ;-)

Catching Up...Two Posts Again!

2008-08-06T03:25:00.001-07:00

Mark and I were so fortunate this past weekend to sneak away to the Central Oregon Coast. It was a chance to get to the coast this summer while our weather is so nice! Of course, any time we go to the beach, I am in hog heaven...doesn't matter the weather...I am a beach girl at heart. It's just that it is a real treat to go in the summer while we have sunshine and blue skies. It is even more of a treat when your trip centers around a friend, Bobbi Kirk, of Beading at the Beach, who is a featured artist and showing her beadwork at the Newport Visual Arts Center. This past Saturday evening was the Artist Reception from 5:30-7:00 p.m. To say I have been anxious for this evening and was excited... is an understatement!

Bobbi has worked so many hours on completing all her pieces to be shown, let alone all the 'behind the scene' hours that are involved to have your work shown in a gallery. And, the minute we walked in...all her hard work just surrounded you in their beauty...literally! The turnout was absolutely wonderful! Bobbi looked beautiful, was smiling from ear to ear and, as always, as gracious as they come! Believe me when I say...she is so sweet and the salt of the earth!!! Her beadwork is so amazing and stunning...she is, no doubt, one of the best of the best!!! Her work is so moving, such a deep reflection of herself and her heart and very organic. She uses a lot of natural elements and plenty of vintage beads and nailheads! I was in heaven being there and in awe looking and admiring each piece. And while I was enjoying each detail of every piece, my husband kindly whispered that I was holding up the line of people!!! I certainly didn't realize that I was, but I was so enchanted by it all. You know, it is something to see others work on the internet and in books, etc., but to really see it in person is such a thrill! We decided to go downstairs and enjoy the watercolor paintings in the gallery and then come back upstairs to walk through one more time! It was such a treat to go but the time flew by...way too fast! I couldn't say any one piece was my favorite because I loved them all! It was a fabulous show and she should feel so PROUD!!!

We also enjoyed seeing Jackie Niemi's work too! She is showing her work with Bobbi. She is a collage and book artist and her work was wonderful! She uses tiny intricate pieces and interesting natural things in her collages like opossum bones, tiny vials of soil/rock, etc. And, her books were very cool! We had the pleasure to see Chuck again, Bobbi's husband, and also had the opportunity to meet Bobbi and Chuck's son, Jaime, who is such a handsome man and does he ever look like mom! His eyes just twinkle and he has a great smile!

I am honored to say that Bobbi has become a dear friend to me. We have stayed in touch through e-mail since we met and are getting to know one another more and more through our conversations. I feel very fortunate to have met her! Her beautiful art and her heart and soul are such an inspiration to me and I know to many others!!! She is a treasured friend and her talents are HUGE!!!

If there is any chance that you can see the show before the end of August, do yourself a favor and go! You won't be disappointed!!! And if you can't make it, visit Bobbi's blog for the latest pictures of the gallery and showing.

A work of art which does not begin in emotion is not art. ~Paul Cezanne~

We also stopped in Taft on the Siletz Bay and took a walk on the beach. While we were walking this harbor seal kept bobbing his head up and down and watching us...while we were watching him/her! Then we noticed that there were more of them swimming around in the water. Then as we looked across the bay on the opposite shore we saw some seals get out of the water and a few get back in. I asked Mark if those were all seals over there and he said no...it's driftwood. I said no...those are seals! He said...no way! I said...I think they are!!! He said...no...it's driftwood and there wouldn't be a hundred of them! I said...I think they are seals and there are about 300 of them! I told him to run back to the van and get our binoculars and camera!!! When he got back he wouldn't share the binoculars for awhile because he couldn't believe it!!! I said...let me see!!! Finally he gave them to me and I said...see I told you it wasn't driftwood!!! There are at least 300 seals over there! He told me there wasn't 300 over there! I told him to start counting...even by 20's!!! And, guess what the answer was? He wouldn't bring himself to say 300...so the final answer was 280 or so!!! Oh, we had good laughs over this for awhile! ;-)

I just wish I would have set my camera to take a panorama picture! But instead I zoomed in and here is one shot of what may look like driftwood from back across the bay but is actually lots of seals taking a snooze! Now envision about four or five of these pictures lined up together!!! It was quite the sight and they were amazing to watch!

What is blooming in the garden~

1) Tickseed and Salvia Cerro Potosi Sage...
Hummers and butterflies love the salvia!
2) Salvia Cerro Potosi Sage
3) Red Crocrosmia
4) Red Lilies
5) Purple Coneflowers

Post Continued Below

Think Pink...Time to Donate...

2008-08-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

The party over at Monica's, Girl Gone Thread Wild, is certainly underway and is so exciting! What a great journey it has been and the excitement of seeing our beautiful 'Love Squared' in print was thrilling! The photographs were stunning and the article was beautifully written! I feel so honored to be a part of this group of talented artists and so proud of Monica to see this huge project through. Her latest posts have been so touching and it will be such a treat for everyone to watch the dollars add up for Susan G. Komen for the Cure on her blog. And, so soon, October 17th, we will all know who the LUCKY winner will be of 'Love Squared' and the other winners of runner-up prizes too!!! I just know that the funds raised by October 15th will be amazing!

I finished getting my gifts ready for the Pink Artist Drawing. I made three scissor fobs, one for each pair of new embroidery scissors. They were each made with a sterling silver balloon clasp, pink/crystal/magenta Swarovski crystals, and a sterling silver heart charm. I chose a heart charm because I thought whoever may win...obviously has a big heart and supported this cause. Now, I just need to get a donation sent to Monica myself! ;-)

I had the worst time taking pictures of this for Monica. They kept turning out so dark and if I got the color and lighting of the beads correct, I couldn't seem to get the silver charm to be clear or vice versa! Tons of photos later and frustration, Mark made me a light box for trying to get a better photo. Still haven't found the perfect setting to capture it best, but it certainly brightened up the picture and was better than what I had captured before. So I'm still on the learning curve here when it comes to taking photos of beads and shiny things. But I am really grateful that Mark took the time to make me a box and see if it wouldn't help. I know in time, with more practice, I will get better at this!

I am hoping to get three small gifts mailed later this week and once they are off, I'll share a photo with you. I've been thinking of the BJP that is going to be starting in September and trying to really finalize my thoughts on that. I definitely need to do a little shopping for some fabric soon. As always, I have been beading and stitching ever chance that I can and always seem to have more than one project in the works! I am trying to rein that issue in a bit but haven't totally mastered it yet, but I know I need to! I hope you are all well and have been enjoying summer too!!!

On a sad note...you all know I have been working on Dotee dolls for awhile now. I am just finishing my 16th! I just saw the news on Dot's blog and am so sorry to have read what I did! I know she has had some hard times (lurker that I still have been) but I hope, as I know all of you feel, that things will brighten up and she will start her blog and her Etsy shop once again! She is so well thought of, by so many people, and her Dotee dolls are so famous! I just feel BAD that I haven't totally gotten over my intimidation problem and got off my BEHIND and introduced myself and left a comment on her blog. It was a reminder to me to 'GET OVER IT'!!! Just DO IT!!! I would have liked to have told her what an inspiration she has been to me and so many others and how her Dotee dolls have made so many people smile and so many people enjoy making them...including me! I would have liked to have thanked her for sharing! It was a wake up call to me that I needed! Life is short...don't hesitate to tell someone what they mean to you, what an inspiration they are, or how much you enjoy their art even if you don't know them. Even if she never responded to me...I would have felt better knowing I had told her how I felt. I hope she'll find the strength she needs right now and will share with us all again one day!!!

Keep Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams! ~Lisa ;-)

Catching up with you...Two Posts Worth!

2008-07-15T12:42:00.001-07:00

I split this up into TWO posts again (one right after another) because it's been 21 days since I last posted...YIKES...time is flying too fast! I'm still breathing, still beading, and trying to enjoy all summer has to offer. I'm finishing up two dotee dolls for friends and still working on one doll that needs to find her owner SOON!!! I am going to set a deadline for myself because I really need a little time to play with fabric and prepare for the BJP that starts in September and feel prepared!

I got this lovely shot last week, one early morning when I couldn't sleep and the sun was just coming up! I have never really thought to go grab my camera this early in the morning before...usually because I haven't had my coffee yet...but it was just beautiful! Due to the fact that I really am a night owl, I usually am asleep! However, with the wonderful... menopausal thing and age...I'm finding myself waking up more often in the middle of the night and sleeping less. Maybe because of that, I'll be getting more sunrise pictures! ;-)

At the end of June, we had one evening of some WILD thunder and lightening! I have never tried to take pictures of lightening before and it isn't easy to catch the strike! Spencer and a friend were over for dinner that night and wanted to try too, so altogether we must have snapped 100 + pictures and kept maybe 10! But it was fun trying to catch the lightening from our deck. The lightening was across the valley at the time but switched and started coming our way and that was it...time to go in! But thought I'd share a couple with you.

My oldest son came home for 11 days from June 26th-July 6th! He took vacation time and was in a good friend's wedding on the 4th of July! His friend Bryan, has been a dear friend of his since grade school and is like another son in our home...among a few...and he is a sweetheart! We have never been to a 4th of July wedding before, but it was lovely! It was at a new golf course in Happy Valley up on a hill, near where we live, that overlooks the valley toward downtown Portland. Actually from our deck, across the valley in the last three pictures, Happy Valley is the hill you see! You could see the fireworks in the evening and there were tons of sparklers going off when the limo swept them away! It was a fun evening, even though it seemed a little odd getting dressed up and not doing the normal BBQ thing. Bittersweet, too, because the 4th of July was my mom's birthday. But we had a nice time and still made it home and watched the rest of the fireworks from our deck and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
This handsome man is my oldest son, Blake! He is the son who lives and works near San Francisco. He has been away for two years now and when he comes home, mom is one happy camper! He is a lot of fun, a big teddy bear, and we all have a great time together. Both our boys are such great men! When we are together, we all have the best time with lots of laughs, memories, and fun! Blake and Spence are our pride and joy!!!
May I introduce to you... Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Sager! They are a beautiful couple and they were both just beaming with JOY! They are both teachers (Bryan just received his Master's last year) and they are off to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico for their honeymoon!

I'm sharing a picture I've had for a LONG time and came across it in my desk recently. He is "Bacchus"...The Roman God of Wine..Dec. 1884. The photograph says..."a deep secret do I hide but I shall guard and keep it." Do you SEE the deep secret that he hides?? Let me know if you see it! ;-)

Continued below. . .

Good friends...

2008-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Cathie, of Clevelandgirlie, held a contest on her blog not long ago for a beautiful padfolio and needle case that she made. The names of the players that chose the CORRECT amount of items and what they were, were put in a bowl and drawn to win the padfolio and all those that played...their names would be put in a bowl for a drawing for the needle case. My name was drawn by her beautiful daughter, Sabrina, that shares her mom's artistic talents, as the second place winner of the needle case! I was floored, to say the least, as 'luck' and 'win' are not something that normally happen to me. Her gift arrived last week and it is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Cathie hand painted the fabric with deep purple and copper metallic Lumiere textile paint, appliqued a gold painted and stamped sun on the front, the lining is an iridescent Dupioni silk, the needle pages are a beautiful gold wool, and just stunning thread work to match! It just shines, radiates warmth, and I love it! My needles will be traveling in STYLE...even when I'm at home! If you haven't seen Cathie's blog or her work, go check it out! I always enjoy visiting her and seeing what she is sharing and creating! She always ventures out there and tries something different and I love that! And, Cathie...Thank You Again!!! I will cherish this needle case and I am honored to have a piece of your beautiful heart art!!! ;-) My needles will be traveling in style!!! And, I don't want to embarrass myself on how terrible I did on the contest, however, I was one who picked the glasses...NOT a 'sewing' TOOL...but a 'tool' I need to sew with!!! LOL at myself! And, I don't know why I didn't recognize the shiny thimble!...H E L L O Lisa! ;-)

It is really not my style to share, per se, what I purchase...but I have decided to share a few things with you! I ordered these wonderful little gals from my friend Monica, at Girl Gone Thread Wild, quite awhile ago! She knew I was in no hurry for them, as my plate is full. I just adore the sitting dolls with their legs crossed and was looking for something special because I wanted to make a beaded face from a pattern I bought awhile ago, from Anne Hesse. Aren't these dollies just DARLING!!! They enjoyed coming outside on a sunny day for a little sunshine and their photo shoot! They are stitched so nicely and stuffed so well! If you ever desire any dolls, or other wonderful art, you need to visit Monica's Etsy shop! I'm so grateful that I did!!!

And, YEP...I stumbled upon this pillow that I had fallen in love with from Monica's blog on her Etsy shop!!! GULP!!! Right in front of me was my favorite pillow! I told myself to hit PAY... right now... as it will be gone in another minute! I know...it was a little impulsive, but it is BEAUTIFUL!!! I believe there is a reason that I happened to click on her shop and find this pillow that she had just posted! It is so Monica, but it just had my name written all over it and I adore it! ;-)

Then my friend, Bobbi, at Beading at the Beach, had this BEAUTIFUL beaded dread girl pin in her Etsy shop that I had been wanting to purchase for awhile! But my guilt of just indulging in MYSELF took over. Mark kept telling me to just do it and I kept watching her! Then one day, I was determined to adopt her and I went to her blog and her Etsy shop wasn't there! GULP!!! I wrote her and politely, ~wink~, asked her where her shop went and if she still happened to have the dread girl pin...because I wanted to purchase her! She arrived this past week and she is AWESOME!!! I love the color of the beads, her beautiful face, and her wild dreads! She just shimmers with light and I absolutely adore it! If you are interested in some beautiful bead jewelry or pins...go visit Bobbi's shop!!! You will be grateful that you did!!! ;-)

I don't normally shop so impulsively, however, I told myself...you know what...life is short...and I couldn't have spent money on anything else that could make me happier and that I absolutely will cherish! Each item on this post is from a friend that I treasure!!! Your art work is stunning and I am grateful to have a piece of each of you around me!

I've indulged in myself, am in need of nothing, and I'm very blessed! But now...I need to rein it in and get back to work!!! I hope you all...good friends...are well and enjoying the sunshine!

Keep pursuing art...life and dreams! ~Lisa ;-)

Finally fluffing up around here...

2008-06-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally sat down and fluffed up this blog! I've been meaning to work on it and finally took the time today! It feels much better having a little color and a picture in my header! Something must have changed in Blogger, because when I tried to put a picture in my header when I started this blog (February 29th), we kept messing around with the size and it still was too big. Gave up! Tried again today and there is a new button that will shrink your picture to size! I stumbled around and got the buttons I needed for the Pink Artist Drawing up and the Comfort Doll Project that I just contributed to. A little satisfaction! ;-)

I have been working these past few weeks...not sitting around eating chocolates!!! ;-) I did finish a Dotee doll for a friend and got a package sent that was overdue! In my excitement of putting it together, I forgot to take a picture of the Dotee that I included for her! I told her that I forgot and she kindly sent me a picture with her hanging on this beautiful hand mannequin! I beaded the batik fish in silver lined 15's (blue, green, and silver), used 2 mm Swarovski Crystal AB for the eye's, topped her hair with abalone shell flower beads with the 2 mm AB crystals, and strung the top and bottom with 4 mm AB crystal and light blue crystal with a sterling silver seahorse hanging on the bottom. It was so fun to put together another box of goodies and have another thing on my wish list accomplished!

I still am working diligently on other beading projects which I wish I could share...but I will when they are on their way to their owners. I also am going to start working on a few gifts for the Pink Artist Drawing next week! I will share these as soon as they are done.

I feel like I've been neglecting my blog and I have...somewhat! The sun is beginning to shine here, finally, and my yard, my garden, the blue sky, the warmth of the sun, the birds and critters...are all calling me!!! I can tell that summer will be my slowest time to post because I eat up the warmth we get in the summer in Oregon!!! ;-) It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest, so when the weather turns here...it is a big thing!!! We all get out and enjoy everything Oregon is about! So I want you to know...I'm not ignoring you!!! I'm just probably soaking up some warmth...tending to my garden and weeds...listening to the birds...watering my yard, visiting the river...having great BBQ dinners on the deck with husband, family, and friends...listening to music...and beading outside, as often as I can, where I can enjoy the fresh air...blue sky...and all the sights and sounds! ;-)

Come take a walk with me and I'll share some of my yard with you and you can see what is blooming now...

A good friend stopped by for a cool drink in the 'three graces' fountain!

Rock rose and a bee!

Black and blue salvia...the Hummingbirds love these!

Tiger lilies in bloom...

And my old sign that I painted years ago that I still love...even though I can think of all different ways I'd do it now...;-)

I had a special mail week too! I will share that with you soon! Right now I need to get myself prepared because I have Jury Duty tomorrow!!! Hopefully, I will get LUCKY and they won't be interested in me! I'll talk to you soon...if I survive!

Hope you are enjoying some sunshine and the nature that is around you!!! We are in for high 90's this weekend!

~Keep Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams!

~Lisa

Tagged...

2008-06-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I was tagged by Bobbi for this meme...and I apologize Bobbi for not doing it immediately! However, I do thank you for thinking of me! I put it off for awhile because I wanted to get the last post up first. I didn't want you girls thinking I've just been sitting around eating chocolates all day! ;-)

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, I was forty years old, a wife, and mom to my two boys who were 16+ and 10+ years old. I worked full-time as a bookkeeper for a union concrete construction company doing payroll, payables, general ledger, and union reports. This was the first job I've had that I was not working in the medical field (other than when I was very young). My youngest was playing baseball and basketball and my oldest played football and had his brand new license to drive. We bought another puppy to join our family and be friends with our dog that was a year old. My husband and I took a vacation alone that year on our anniversary (21 yrs) to Mazatlan, Mexico. We had not been on a vacation alone (on a plane) for ten years and that was to Hawaii! As a matter of fact, we have not been on a plane together since then! We lived in the home we do now. That year, I would garden and needlepoint whenever I could.

The most difficult thing about this year...was that it was the beginning of the most heartbreaking and downhill journey of my mom's last few years with Multiple Sclerosis. She went from walking, to a cane, to using a walker, to being in a wheelchair this year...that fast. She was paralyzed from the waist down at this point. She had a full-time day nurse at home that took care of her. She had six hospital stays, and three surgeries (one being a colostomy that she asked to have done because of her pride). To say the least, this was a difficult time. My days were long. I was a mother, a wife, a daughter, an employee, and helped take care of my mom and just be there with her after work or on the weekend when I could. I spent a lot of time at the hospital too. This was just the beginning of three years of heartache and pain until my mom passed away January 18, 2001. During this time, wearing all these hats, I did my best to wear a smile on my face and be strong for everyone...even though my heart was breaking.

2. Five things on today's to-do list?

Get this post accomplished! ;-)
Catch up on e-mail and see what you are up to
Fluff up around here...pay a few bills
Go outside and breathe some fresh air, it is sunny today!
Bead (maybe outside) ;-)
...Keep thinking about how to fluff up this blog of mine and about the 2008 BJP!

3. Snacks I enjoy?

Crackers and Cheese (Cheddar - medium and sharp, Swiss, Pepper Jack, Asiago
Fruit
Blueberries, cherry & grape tomatoes, snap peas...right out of the garden when strolling
Chips and Salsa
Nuts - Lightly Salted (all kinds with peanuts being my least favorite)
Dill pickles
Frozen Fruit Bars - especially late in the evening
and I still scoop a spoon right out of the Peanut Butter jar when the craving hits

4. Things I'd do if I were a billionaire?

Buy a huge piece of property and build the perfect one-level home for us. A big garage for Mark and a big, light filled, art studio for me with lots of storage! Build two more homes for our kids and build one more home for friends. Of course, all green, wind turbines, water tower, etc. It would be self sufficient. We would even farm there. We would give many charitable contributions to worthy causes and help family and friends. Do something special with and for my sister. Basically we could do anything we wanted to do with no money worries. Beads...lots of shopping for beads, fabric, and books! ;-) We would take our boys and go on a great family trip! We would travel some and have a second home...location to be determined. Wow, what else could you do with a BILLION dollars? It is fun to dream!!!

5. Places I have lived?

Portland, Oregon - born and raised
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Wilsonville, Oregon
Tualatin, Oregon
West Linn, Oregon
Milwaukie, Oregon

I am a native Oregonian!

6. People I want to know more about?

Well, I told Bobbi this is going around like wildfire and I don't know who else to pick that hasn't already been tagged. But in checking around...I came up with a couple girls that I don't think have been tagged. If you don't want to do this...don't feel pressured to do it! It is only for fun and for all of us to get to know one another better! If you are willing to participate, that means you answer the same questions as I have and then tag 4 to 6 more people! I know you three girls will certainly be able to do better than I could and keep the fire burning! ;-)

Pat Winter of Gatherings
Cathie of Clevelandgirlie
Tammy of Crooked Heart Art

I hope everyone has a nice weekend!!!

A Chorus Line!

2008-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

I finally finished and mailed a bakers dozen to Pat for the Comfort Doll Project this past Thursday! As you know, Pat collects and sends these dolls to women's shelters across the U.S. I felt it was a great cause and something I certainly could help with and contribute to! I hope this small gift brings a smile and warms the heart of those that receive them. I hope it will remind them that they are special people, someone is thinking of them, and that there is hope and love out in this world! The Comfort Doll Project is not quite a year old and Pat has sent 22 dozen and soon to be 23 dozen dolls out into the world! I told Pat that I thought she was an 'angel' to organize such a worthy and thoughtful project! I have to admit that I learned two lessons! What I thought would be...just whipping them up and the time it takes me to 'whip up' are two different things! And, never tell someone that you think they'll be on their way in a couple weeks!!! I apparently have "overzealous" written across my forehead!

I was disappointed in my pictures...too dark and I didn't really capture any bead work on the bodies. Our weather has been cloudy and raining for a couple weeks and I took these outside because usually that's where I get the best lighting. Not this time! I do think that we need to make a light box and play around with the camera! Capturing beads and their colors, I'm finding, is not always very easy. And, these little gals kept turning and moving in the breeze. I kept telling myself to hurry up before it starts raining, which it began to sprinkle as I was putting them back in their box! Not the best photo session!

This is the sky that was looming over us at the time! Our weather has not been pleasant these past few weeks! Cooler than normal and wet! We managed to till and get our garden in a week ago, but barely...the soil has been so wet. The plants are spreading their roots but they are all just sitting idle waiting for the sunshine! Usually we plant our garden Mother's day weekend but not this year. It has been unseasonably cool. It even snowed six inches this past week on Mt. Hood! Our rivers are brimming and the cottonwood is flying. It is 56 degrees, cloudy and raining right now. Oh man, will it be nice when the sunshine sticks around!!!

Some flowers in my yard that are blooming here now! At least my flowers bring cheeriness and brightness when it is so gray! ;-)

This handsome man is my youngest son, Spencer, who just bought a new motorcycle on Saturday! He drove home to come show it off! Oh, the nervousness and worry in your heart watching your son on a bike! GULP!!! I reminded him, I'm sure too many times for his liking, with a big hug and kiss to be safe...this isn't like falling down and skinning his knee and that mom and dad want him around!!! Along with all the other reminders...I'm sure he was ready to get out of here! But he knows how much we LOVE him!!! The one good thing will be gas savings!

Well, I've rambled on long enough and am off to complete a few more projects! I've been tagged by Bobbi at Beading at the Beach and will post that in a little bit! Have a good week!

What was Lost...now is Found!

2008-05-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

I've been home a week and I'm finally sitting down to share! Is it the change in the season or just me, but I feel so behind in everything lately! Mark got home yesterday from Georgia and we sat and went through our pictures and deleted a ton and ended up with 640. It was so hard for me to limit these to share, so I got a little creative here and split my post into two!

Our trip down the southern Oregon coast (Hwy 101) and into California was wonderful! The weather held with sunshine and the only tough part was it was soooooo windy near the beach the entire trip. I literally almost got blown off my feet a few times trying to take pictures. The southern Oregon coast is unbelievably beautiful! I have lived in Oregon all my life and am a beach and water kind of girl, but we have never really seen and enjoyed the southern coast before. The entire drive was delightful...but once we hit Cape Sebastian to Brookings, Oregon it was gorgeous! We pulled over so many times to take pictures, ...but one place called Natural Bridge Cove was breathtaking! The whole trip was a photographer's paradise...everywhere you look is an amazing photo!

The best day journey of our trip was to see the Lost Coast. If I hadn't stumbled upon it on the internet, we would never have seen it. And, I cannot, repeat...cannot, tell you how beautiful this place is. It was THE highlight of our trip. You'd probably think that California's Pacific Coast Hwy. 101 follows the coast from end to end. It's true that US 101 and CA Rte. 1 do a good job of hugging the Pacific, but there is one area of the coast that is so rugged, so remote, that road builders simply didn't try. This area is known as the Lost Coast. Pure wilderness and beauty!

You have country, narrow winding and steep roads, solitude, the mountain range (up to 4,000 ft) with the ocean below, Douglas-Fir tree forest, Oak trees, deep valleys, cattle ranges, hundreds of cows and sheep, wildflowers, beautiful crystal clear creeks and rivers, and then all of a sudden you crest a hill and this breathtaking view of Cape Mendocino comes into sight and you drop down to the Lost Coast with a black sand beach! We got out on the beach for about twenty minutes (again, sooooo windy) and found some shell treasures. We were the only ones on the beach...nobody is around except for the occasional car you pass and everyone waves to everyone! Then you keep going from the coast back up and down winding roads until you come out in the Redwood Forest. These trees are gargantuan!!! This loop was ??? 70-100 miles?...but as the crow flies...it took a good day...6-8 hours. It really is because you can't help but stop constantly to take another picture and just be in awe of what you are seeing. We saw five deer, elk, hawks (lots), birds everywhere and singing away, "California Happy Cows" everywhere, sheep, and the only thing we didn't see was a bear...thank goodness...this is bear country. These are some of the lucky creatures who get to live there. It was so STUNNING...an awesome drive...an awesome day! This place shook me to my core and branded me for life. It was fun to see and be places we've never seen together!

The pictures in the following post are as follows:

1) Southern Oregon Coast - Hwy. 101
2) Cape Sebastian, Hunter's Cove - Oregon
3) Natural Bridges Cove - Oregon
4) Mattole Road - California - road to the Lost Coast...California "Happy" Cows and Ocean
5) Mattole Road - Descending down valley - ocean coming into view
6) Cape Mendocino - the Lost Coast
7) Road by the the Lost Coast...See anyone?
8) Steamboat Rock
9) Lost Coast View
10) Mattole River
11) Valley View
12) Redwood Forest
13) Sunset with Seagull - Brookings (Harbor), Oregon
14) Mark feeding a seagull a Wheat Thin cracker
15) Billboard in Gold Beach, Oregon...I couldn't help myself...made Mark turn around so we could get a picture of it! Does this remind you of one of our friends...Miss Monica...making a funny comment on Grace's
blog!!! ;-))

The kicker of this beautiful place, the Lost Coast, is that Cape Mendocino is one of the most seismically active areas on the west coast. Three tectonic plates come together, just offshore. In 1992, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale was centered near here!

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend!!!

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. ~ Martin Buber

SEE POST BELOW FOR PHOTO's...You can click on them to enlarge!

Photos of Southern Oregon and California

2008-05-22T14:40:00.001-07:00

A quick note! ;-)

2008-05-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome Friends!

Here is my WIP on some of my Dotee dolls going to Pat Winters for the Comfort Doll Project! I just thought I would whip them up...HA!!! These little gals and everything I do, seem to take longer than my thought of just whipping something up! I do well that way cooking but not, necessarily so, with any art heart! I am very happy with them except I think a few of their faces might be a little big, but I think I can shrink them with sequins/beads! Just need to stitch the top closed and I am finally ready for the best part...to embellish them! ;-)

I'll share with you some shots of the flowers that are just beginning to bloom in our yard! I wish you could smell them! Ah...it's beginning to smell like Spring here! It is certainly a slow start to Spring weather than what we normally have. Colder and more rain than usual. Just wish the weather would truly stay warm for awhile with no rain or sprinkles!

Lavender and Lilac's!

Bluebells and Lily of the Valley just beginning to blossom!

And, here's one of the six little friends that visit each day! We LOVE our hummers, birds, squirrels, and all the wild life in our yard!!! We take good care of them and they return even greater joys to us!!! ;-)

We are off, in the morning, to celebrate our 31st Anniversary, a 50th Birthday, and Mother's Day, by taking a road trip down Highway 101 (West Coast Highway) from Oregon to California! A fun and leisurely trip for us both, full of lots of stops, places we haven't seen...even after living here all our lives, pictures, good food, holding hands, reminiscing, and a little kissing! ;-))

Our youngest son is staying here and taking care of home. We were hoping to see our oldest son, in San Francisco, but it looks like we aren't going to be able to go that far and catch up with him in the 7-8 days we have. We had wanted to get there, but his schedule and our time frame aren't looking very well this time. I feel okay about it though because he is going to fly home over Memorial weekend and be back again for a wedding he is in over the 4th of July! Things happen for a reason! I think scheduling another trip just to see him and enjoy San Francisco together will be something to look forward to!

I'll leave you with the one shot I could get of our Lily of the Valley beginning to bloom! We have a huge patch of them and the buds are on, but no blooms opening yet. Only this one section that we dug up and transplanted last year has begun to bloom so far! Maybe a little more sunshine than the others. I will share the big patch with you when we get home...I'll bet they will be blooming by then!!!

Happy Mother's Day to YOU!!!

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.
~Oprah Winfrey~

Keep Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams!!!

Starry Starry Night...

2008-05-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this with everyone and have it permanently in my blog. I have always loved Vincent Van Gogh's work and I love this song! I have never added a video, so there's a first time for everything!

This came about because Maggie from Magpies Collectables shared her latest BJP (bead journal page) which was Starry Starry Night...a tribute to Vincent! She did a beautiful job depicting his painting! She said that she was only 60% happy with her piece. She should be 100%!!! If you haven't seen it, do go visit and check it out! You will enjoy her blog and her art work!!! She is a very talented lady and does beautiful work!!! As usual, feeling intimidated, I didn't leave a comment. I have a terrible habit about this, that I'm working hard on getting over. Anyway, I could not get that song out of my mind all day!!! I know all the words and it used to be a favorite of mine when I was young but, for the life of me, I couldn't remember who sang it. So I finally 'Googled' it and found out it was Don McLean. But even greater...was the first thing to come up was this YouTube video of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings set to Don McLean singing Starry Starry Night. Wow!!! It is beautiful and very moving!!! His work is beautiful!!! Anyway, I left Maggie a post and told her she should 'Google' it and that she would probably enjoy it.

Then I remembered that Cathie from Clevelandgirlie was working on a beautiful piece depicting Vincent Van Gogh's painted irises. So, I posted a comment and told her that I thought she would enjoy it and her daughter, Sabrina, might like it too! Her daughter is very talented herself and definitely takes after her mother!!! If you haven't seen her painted and stitched iris piece, do yourself a favor, and go visit! It is stunning and she does beautiful textile work!!! You will enjoy her blog as much as her art work!!! Then when I was making rounds visiting she has a wonderful post about Vincent Van Gogh and his life and some great thoughts and she also put the YouTube video up. Well, I couldn't stand it and had to figure out how to do this too! I can't tell friends to just 'Google' it all the time! I could be a little more polite and figure out how to do it myself! ;-) Hey, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be either! Ah,...I think I just realized how to get that 'Click It' everyday button on my blog!?! LOL!!! I tried once and gave up.

I hope you'll enjoy this video and hope you'll visit Maggie and Cathie's blog...you'll be glad you did! We are getting ready to take a trip next week and I am hoping to post this weekend before we go! Hope you have a great weekend!!! ;-))

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. ~Vincent Van Gogh~

Did you put two and two together??? ~wink~ ?

2008-04-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

YEP...Pursue on eBay, pursue-email, and Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams are all one of the same!!! ;-)

I've been holding on to share until the beautiful 'DIVA' arrived, so I could meet her in person, admire her, hold her and take pictures to share! It's been hard to wait.

I know that my friends who visit all know about this, but if you'll indulge me...I need to give credit where credit is due.

This stunning art doll was beaded with love and attention to detail by a very talented friend of mine, Grace Danel of Gracebeading. The beautiful and colorful face that fits her perfectly was made by the talented Jen Martin of Graphixoutpost. The wonderful and charming art doll form (in a very cool pose) was made and donated by another talented friend of mine, Monica Magness of Girl Gone Thread Wild. Grace generously beaded her for Beading For A Cure to raise money for colorectal cancer research. Grace's title for her was 'Kicking Back' and so appropriately named for her!

I feel so thankful to have her and lucky to have won this auction!!! I wish you all could see her in person and hold her...she is more beautiful and charming in person than any photos could convey. Oh, Grace...I am so thrilled and was so excited last Sunday when, at the end of the auction, my name was sitting there! I've had a smile on my face since...believe me, Mark can vouch for that! I made him bring his laptop to the coast with us because I wasn't about to miss Sunday morning! I'm sorry I didn't answer your e-mail that you sent Saturday! I wanted to get this posted first! Thank you for the e-mail and loved the extra pix of mamma and babe! Grace, you did have an idea it was me! ;-) And Monica, when I e-mailed you last week...you must have thought I was 'losing it' or you got it, but didn't respond or let on when you wrote me back. When I ended my note to Monica, I said... P.S. Did you put two and two together???? I figured if Monica had an idea and mentioned it, Grace did too. I was wondering if anyone figured it out! Mark asked if I was going to post about it, but I told him not until I receive her and am able to take pictures to share! So when I said I had a great weekend at the coast, for more reasons that just getting out of dodge on a sunny weekend, I wasn't kidding! ;-)

She is happily sitting in my art room with me and with my other 'Diva Friend' very close by and always will be there to encourage me! I just absolutely LOVE her!!! Your beadwork is BEAUTIFUL and the Swarovski's just sparkle when the light hits her just right! She is full of life in color and yet her face is so peaceful and serene! I am so glad you ignored your inner critic and put on those inner ear plugs and just kept right on beading! She is stunning! I adore the little chair that she sits in too! It reminds me of two old ice cream chairs and a table that Mark and I have, and had since I was a little girl.

I feel so fortunate to have won her and that the money is going to a great cause! You stated you thought she went for a generous bid and that is because you are so sweet and humble Grace! However, I thought I got her for a steal! I won't even tell you what my bid was, but I put in the amount that I was truly willing to pay for her and knowing the money would go to a worthy cause! I know better, doing beadwork too, that she truly was worth WAY more than I got her for!!! At least in my opinion. Okay, I know we could add up costs for doll, face, beads, thread, and even a chair in this case, but how do you put a price tag on love and time?!! I didn't pay enough for what she truly is worth, but I am very grateful to have her Grace! She is priceless and more valuable to me than any dollar I paid for her! You know I've admired your work and dolls for a long time and I am honored to have her with me! Know that she will be loved and cherished, smiled upon and shared very proudly! ;-)

Here are two more of those pictures that show the real trees from the coast! ;-)) I think it was ocean mist in the previous picture I showed or maybe a kind of haze that day!?! The pictures we took looking the other way on the beach showed only the clear beautiful sunny day and bright blue sky. You can see in these two pictures, better, that where the ancient forest was, is an inlet area that is protected by the large rock formation that is behind it and jets out into the ocean. There are houses and real trees growing there! ~SMILE~!!! Can you imagine getting to see the view from one of those houses? Wow!

I hope this post brings you a smile and as much joy as I had sharing it! I'll visit with you soon! Keep Pursuing Art...Life and Dreams!

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~