Friday, February 28, 2014

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1)  I'm very pleased.  I now have over 100 "Hearts for Jenny" read to list.    It's been a lot or work, but if it will help Jenny with her medical bills, then it's been worth the work.  More on this Monday.  Hopefully some will be in my Esty store by then!  :)


2) Pixie and I had a great time doing our hospice work yesterday.  The patients we saw were alert and we had some great conversations!  I like these people!

3) I am clinging to the hope that we will see warmer temperatures soon.  Today at 1 PM our high was -8.  Brrrrrrrrrrrr! it was cold!

3) 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

30 Words - Brat!

Brat!
Didn't you want your picture taken?
You stamped your foot and refused to smile.
You showed them, didn't you?
I'll bet they laughed when they saw this picture!
Brat!


The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...
Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).
Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.
Post it each Thursday.
Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

BOC and my Try to Imitate Heather Behrendt

Yesterday, I showed you the amazing work of Heather Beherndt!  If you missed the post, click
HERE

Well, here's my attempt to imitate Heather's work!
Not quite the same, right?
Right.  That's okay, because I know that even thought this bead is not perfect, there will be some kid, some special kid, who will love it!
This is the mission of Beads of Courage.  To help children tell their stories with beads.  This bead will be an Act of Courage Bead.  They are so needed by Beads of Courage right now!

If you have any beads to send in, DO IT NOW!  They need beads.  Click
HERE, and the link will take you to the Beads of Courage website.  They need your help!  Even if it's just a few beads, send them in!  They are most grateful for you help! 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

'Member Hearther Behrendt? Here's a little more of her amazing work!

I think I can truthfully say that Heather Behrednt has the best stringer control I have ever seen!  Look at this "Music bead!"  Her lines are crisp and clean!  Amazing, and wait until you see more!!!

Oh, here's the link to this bead! Click
HERE!








Personally, I think Heather is selling this bead way too cheaply!
This is an amazing bead!
I can't get over how straight her lines are!  How beautifully accurate each stringer is laid down!  Wow!  Grab. It. While. You. Can.  It's a steal!!!!!
Click HERE to see this bead!
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!!!





A little simpler, but no less beautiful, is this set of earring pair beads from Heather.  (See what I mean about her stringer work?  AMAZING!)

Click
HERE
to see this set.








I'm a big fan of Heather's and her art!  If you click HERE, you can see her Etsy shop.  Feel free to spend there.  Her work is on the track to be collectible very soon!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Dump Journaling and Creativity - The Art of Making Art

I have mixed feelings about releasing oneself through dump journaling when it comes to encouraging creativity.  Many artists swear by this technique and write their morning pages and empty themselves of negativity.  The reason I have such a difficult time with this concept is that by "dump journaling" you begin your day with negativity which, to me, can cause a flow of negativity to begin and not end.  You begin your day by filling pages with all that is wrong instead of all that is right.  Journaling can be a double edged sword.  Yes, we do need to face our demons.  Yes, we need to rid ourselves of what is negative, but to begin our day with our fears, our sorrows, and our dashed dreams seems counter productive to me. 

I often journal about my problems.  I begin with the phrase:  What I know.  At this point I state what I know about my worries and concerns.  As I write, I begin to realize that what I had feared most, simply can't or won't happen.  What I know or what I fear are two different things.  At this point, I add another column to my writing:  What I fear.  Many of the things I listed in my what I know column are moved over there.  Usually there is not much left under what I know. 

Fear is our greatest impediment.  We fear the unknown.  We fear what might happen in twenty or thirty years, if things keep going the same way.  Fear causes anxiety and stress.  The problems we face are often extraordinary and difficult, and I do use journaling to help me through each day, however, to me, timing and structure are everything.

Let's recap:
What I know

What I fear

Now, let's add another category.  What can I do?

Many times there is absolutely nothing we can do except to wait and hope.  Hope is a powerful emotion that helps us through times of stress and anxiety.  Sometimes hope feels so tiny that we wonder if there is any at all, but always, there is hope.  Problems will resolve themselves, eventually, maybe not in the way we had hoped they would resolve, but they will resolve.  We can use the resolution to learn and grow, or we can allow ourselves to become bitter and resentful.  That's a choice we need to make.  We can dump journal all day long, and if we are full of anger, that's all that we will find.  Emotions are the last part of the problem to resolve.  Those emotions can stick with us for a long time, but the hope is that each day brings new  beginning and more healing to us.  Sometimes, the healing is small, but it is there. 

When we wake up each day, we don't need to dump journal we need to sit and list, for ten minutes or so, all of the good we have in our lives.  Ask yourself, did you get a good night's sleep?  If you did, begin with that on your list.  Do I have shoes to wear?  If the answer is yes, add that to your list.  Do I make a good cup of coffee?  If the answer is yes, add that to your list.  Soon you will come to recognize, that in spite of your problems, your fears, and your worries, you have so much that is good in your life.  Begin your day with what is good.  This gives you strength to walk through a troubled day.  Cling to goodness.  Later, when you need to, and I can almost assure you that you will need to do this, take 5-10 minutes and dump journal.  When your time is finished,  rip those pages up or delete that from your computer.  You've said it.  You've written it.  You might or might not have found a solution, then let that solution come later.  Let it go.  Do not dwell on your problem.  Store it in the trash or delete it.  Let it go.  You can battle the demons later, when you have to do battle them.  By limiting your time spent in negativity, you can those demons with a calm mind and heart. 

The final step to clearing the air is to quickly write down 2-3 things that are good in your life and might make you smile.  Give yourself that gift.  Remember, it is a gift.

Life is not for sissies. There are so many days that I  want to go back to bed, but I know that if I
do, fear has won.  By surrounding myself with the positive, I make myself ready for my day.  So, World, look out, I'm here! I might be afraid, but I'm not going to give up.  I have hope, and  no matter what life throws at me, I have hope.  From hope springs peace of mind and body.  When I am at peace, creativity has a path to flow. 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

I Heart Macro! Hope

Life will find a way!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1) As I write this, there is a fierce snow storm raging outside.  It's so nasty out there that the snow plows have been pulled off the roads.  No travel is encouraged.  I am so grateful to be home, safe,  and warm.

2)  Sister Alene and I had so much fun at lunch.  She's always a joy to be with!

3) I'm grateful that I don't have to go out tomorrow unless I want to.  It will be a slow travel day out there.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

30 Words - Cat Toys

Springs, mice, jacks, 
crinkly balls,
furry balls,
sparkly shredded balls.
What do you think of when you attack these toys and run?
Are they your prey.
Like my sparkly nails?

Taken from Erin's Blog
The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...
Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).
Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.
Post it each Thursday.
Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Update on those Chair Socks, and I Hope My Floor doesn't Look Dirty because I Swept and Washed it!

Here they are.
On the Chairs.
12 made
and
12 more to go!

Whew!
Floor looks okay!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

52 Weekly Cane Projects on Facebook

Every Thursday, a link to the new cane or canes of the week is posted in the group "52 Weekly Cane Projects" on Facebook.
This week our projects were
a Tiger Cane
a Giraffe Cane
and
an IKAT cane.
These were fun canes made from polymer clay.
At least, I thought they were fun!
I enjoyed them.
So, without further ado:

The Giraffe Cane


Tiger Cane

 
IKAT Cane

Each one was fun!
What do you think?
Are you good at making canes with polymer clay?
I'm challenged, and this group has helped me a lot!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Snippets of Pixie - What Pixie Wants RIGHT NOW

Her ears rubbed

A treat

To sleep undisturbed on her couch unless
     Her ears are rubbed
     Or
      She gets a treat

To go to pet expo

To go anywhere in the car

To be covered up when she's cold

To have her ears rubbed

To be told she's beautiful

To get a treat
(Are you seeing a pattern here?)

To be loved.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

I Heart Macro!

Pixie likes these!
Treat!
I Heart Macro!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Friday, February 14, 2014

Three Beautiful Things This Week and Happy Valentine's Day!

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1) Valentine's Day again, and I am so blessed, so very, very blessed!

2) Breakfast with the retired teachers was fun, as usual.  Everyone seems to enjoy this monthly get together.

3) Pixie is glad to be home.  The kitties boss her around so much!  She's happy to have her own couch again!  Kitties can't tell her what to do here, except when they are here, but they aren't here now!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

30 Words - Such a Beautiful Nose!

I have to admit,
I've never seen such a beautiful nose,
and I've owned many dogs.
Pixie, my sweet,
your nose is the most beautiful dog nose
I've  ever seen!

Taken from Erin's Blog

The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...
Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).
Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.
Post it each Thursday.
Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Ever Grown A SCOBY?

I didn't intend to grow a SCOBY in my home.
It was another happy accident!
I used to brew a drink called 
Kombucha
which is a fermented, sweet tea with many health benefits.
It's considered a probiotic drink.
I like it, and I usually buy it prepared, but that has been getting more and more expensive.
I decided to begin to brew my own kombucha again.
All you need to do this is sweetened tea, a glass jar, a bit of raw kombucha and a SCOBY.
A SCOBY is an acronym for 
something, something, something, something, something.
It's also referred to as the mushroom.
The SCOBY is added to the tea to cause the tea to ferment.
You can ferment the tea for as little as a week or as long as a month!
Whew!
The one thing I didn't have to begin the brewing process was the SCOBY and the tea.
I ran up to the food coop in a town not far from here.
I picked up my kombucha kit.
I made my tea and cooled it.  I added the SCOBY in the kit.
I had a few strands of stuff left over from the SCOBY so I added them to another jar of tea to see what would happen. 
Well. the first thing that happened is that my SCOBY sunk to the bottom of my jar.
This is not good, but it's not the end of the kombucha.
It just means that you wait for a new SCOBY to form on the top of the jar.
In the meantime, I ordered a fresh SCOBY from a shop on Etsy. 
Then I waited.
It's been 2.5 weeks now.  Here's what's going on with my SCOBY.


End of week 1, little bits of SCOBY began to form at the top of both jars.

End of week 1, new SCOBY arrived.  New jar of kombucha started.
Doesn't it look like a mushroom?
 End of Week 2 and into week 3
New SCOBY has made it's self at home in the tea.
It's growing well.
This SCOBY actually reminds me of a jelly fish, but it's not.
I look forward to enjoying my kombucha in another week or so.


End of week 2, a new SCOBY is thickening up in the other two jars.

 Today, the SCOBY looks like this.
Interesting!

It will still take a while to enjoy kombucha from this SCOBY,
but it will a homegrown SCOBY.

I'll let you know how the kombucha tastes.

 






Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Ever Heard of These! Well, now I have 8 of them! Only 16 more to go!

No, they're not booties. 
Now, I have eight of them, with only 16 more to go!
What do you think they are?
I'll tell you.
They are chair socks.  
Two chairs are finished.
Four chairs to go.
Yes!
More pictures to follow when the sock are all finished.

Monday, February 10, 2014

52 Weekly Cane Project on Facebook


This week our projects were 
Animal Canes!
Of course,
these are subject to interpretation.
Someone commented that this bottom cane would make a great turtle shell!
I had to agree!
I hadn't seen it before, so, now,
I think I'll have to make a turtle with this cane!
More fun,
and,
I'm learning to cane!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

I Heart Macro! Rosemary!

I Heart Macro!

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Selfie #6, I think! God Gave Us Hair...

God gave us hair to remind us we can't control everything, or so I've heard it said.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) Pixie and I are back at our hospice work.  It's good to see the people again.  We did miss them!


2) Had a root canal done this week.  :(  Found I had excruciating pain that evening and the next morning.  Called the Dentist.  He put me on an antibiotic immediately.  All is well now.  I had an infection.  I have a good dentist.


3) Took my car in to a shop to have my battery checked.  I love this place.  They know me.  The would not cheat me.  I needed a new battery.  It was worth the time and money.  Thank you to the guys who helped me.



Thursday, February 6, 2014

30 Words: I love this Sammich!

No wonder "The King" loved this Sandwich!
If you don't know "The King,"
You're very young.
Elvis Presley had good taste!
I love this "sammich," too.
Bacon, bananas, peanut butter!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

I Learned a New Word today, and it sounds Nasty, but, it's Not! :)


I learned a new word today.  It sounds dirty, and it’s a real word! 

Listicle refers to the article/post that uses a list as it’s basis, but there is enough content in the list to make a full article.

Ten Ways to Catch your Reader’s Eye by using the word Listicle.
(Made you look!)

Other examples:

15 ways to make candy.

10 ways to make beads.

How to let everyone know what you think in 10 easy steps.


L-i-s-t-i-c-l-e                 Listicle


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Free Polymer Clay Tutorials

This is a great tutorial on how to make lentil beads and make them swirl using polymer clay.

Desiree shows us how to make these beads.

Click
HERE
to see the tutorial.





Isn't this cute?  Wouldn't this make a nice little something for a special friend? 

I found this on the
Tiny Bee Blog.

Click
HERE
to see the tutorial.









We all need great cane tutorials.  I love this one!
Argyle Cane!

I found this on Kael Mijoy's blog.

Click
HERE
to see the tutorial.








Aren't these fun?  See what you can find and let us know!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Free Lampwork Bead Tutorials

Believe it or not, there are still some free tutorials on the web.  Here are a few I found, and I think you'll enjoy them.  I know, I did.

This tutorial comes from
Art of Hand.

It's a Whirly Gravity Bead Tutorial. 

She offers it free on her blog.  It's very well written, too.


If you go to Lori Greenburg's Blog,
she'll teach you how to make this beautiful glass heart.  With Valentine's Day coming up, this might be the thing to make.

Here's the link.
Click
HERE




Here are some great encased discs made by
Chestnut Ridge Designs.
To see this tutorial, click


HERE.













More later, but I thought you'd enjoy these now.

Saturday, February 1, 2014