Happy Fall!

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. . .

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!

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...

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!

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...

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...

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