...for this week's assignment...
...to follow my creative heart
and trust it with my soul.
Thank you, Jesus.
~~
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Turquoise Earth Essentials
Y'all know how much I hate this color combo~
so if you hate it the same
you'll find the amazing 90 piece
bead collection pictured above
For $110.
Because play days.
You'll also find these gorgeous sets of ribbed rounds for $25.
And these 48 piece petite spacer strands for $40.
~~
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Focusing on Life: The Curve
For those of you who don't subscribe to my rhetoric, I think I'll start this week's assignment by telling you that I moved last weekend. This serves two purposes and the first is to excuse the fact that I failed to complete last week's assignment as I was knee deep in thoughts of "If he drops that I'm going to prison because murder."
The second and more important is that where I am now is the driving force behind this post. My Nana, who is the quintessential southern grandmother and in whom my extended family's bonds are cemented, had to move into assisted living just about a year ago. After Granddaddy's passing her seemingly endless strength and health began to fail until she required help from professionals in the medical field around the clock. That's just a clinical way to say Nana went downhill fast because typing the latter makes me incredibly sad.
Their house, the home in which all of us grew up...my aunts and uncles and brothers and cousins and me...was left empty, save for their belongings and the wealth of memories and laughter that I've discovered in the last week can still be heard if one is inclined to listen.
I've moved into what was once my Uncle Fred's room, filled it with the stuff that is my stuff, that which I prefer to see every day in lieu of tucking it away in a locker on the boulevard. The bed is almost made, left loosely accessible for the cat who at least for now finds her comfort in tunneling among the pillows.
I'd never slept in this room prior, always favoring my Aunt Rah's old room when I came to spend the night. I might have chosen her room now, but the old furniture is still in place there and when I walk in I am again 5. 10. 11, 17, 35. Memories of so many things, of giggling late into the night with my cousins, of childhood and guidance and growing up flood my heart causing the corners of my mouth to reach for the sky.
I laid that sun on Rah's bed when I first brought it in, thinking to find its perfect spot on my wall later. Instead I've left it, deciding that it reflects the spirit of the room in a way that my words cannot.
I like this arrangement better. Taking care of the brick and mortar that housed so much life and love from a new perspective in a space with which I am not all too familiar somehow makes it novel, like a story that you can't put down until you have discovered how it ends.
My brother and I once had a pancake eating contest in this breakfast nook. Granddaddy chuckled over his coffee at the idea of my agreeing to the challenge, but I think in hindsight his amusement was more at Mark's deviously innocent way of getting Nana to make him as many pancakes as he wanted. She would have done so anyway, of course, but Mark was never one to ask for things from which only he would benefit.
He won the pancake challenge by the slight margin of 18 to 3.
That is but one of a hundred memories that come to mind when I walk through our Nana's kitchen, and each brings with it an almost overwhelming awareness of love.
I could summarize the curves in life to be a long and winding road, claim that where we've been makes us who we are, say that the path less traveled is the one I have chosen...but isn't that true for each of us? When all is said and done only you can fill your shoes.
Whether traveling the journey or learning from it, the curves are not, by design, easy. They are the things that shape us, sometimes the sharp right turns that break us. Living and breathing here in these rooms, I more clearly understand and appreciate the example of Faith I've been blessed to have for the last 41 years. It is the foundation of my own choice to believe in the knowing that one day, beyond all heartache and trial, the family I love will together fill the halls of another home in Heaven.
For now I am here in a here that I love.
~~
The second and more important is that where I am now is the driving force behind this post. My Nana, who is the quintessential southern grandmother and in whom my extended family's bonds are cemented, had to move into assisted living just about a year ago. After Granddaddy's passing her seemingly endless strength and health began to fail until she required help from professionals in the medical field around the clock. That's just a clinical way to say Nana went downhill fast because typing the latter makes me incredibly sad.
Their house, the home in which all of us grew up...my aunts and uncles and brothers and cousins and me...was left empty, save for their belongings and the wealth of memories and laughter that I've discovered in the last week can still be heard if one is inclined to listen.
I've moved into what was once my Uncle Fred's room, filled it with the stuff that is my stuff, that which I prefer to see every day in lieu of tucking it away in a locker on the boulevard. The bed is almost made, left loosely accessible for the cat who at least for now finds her comfort in tunneling among the pillows.
I'd never slept in this room prior, always favoring my Aunt Rah's old room when I came to spend the night. I might have chosen her room now, but the old furniture is still in place there and when I walk in I am again 5. 10. 11, 17, 35. Memories of so many things, of giggling late into the night with my cousins, of childhood and guidance and growing up flood my heart causing the corners of my mouth to reach for the sky.
I laid that sun on Rah's bed when I first brought it in, thinking to find its perfect spot on my wall later. Instead I've left it, deciding that it reflects the spirit of the room in a way that my words cannot.
I like this arrangement better. Taking care of the brick and mortar that housed so much life and love from a new perspective in a space with which I am not all too familiar somehow makes it novel, like a story that you can't put down until you have discovered how it ends.
My brother and I once had a pancake eating contest in this breakfast nook. Granddaddy chuckled over his coffee at the idea of my agreeing to the challenge, but I think in hindsight his amusement was more at Mark's deviously innocent way of getting Nana to make him as many pancakes as he wanted. She would have done so anyway, of course, but Mark was never one to ask for things from which only he would benefit.
He won the pancake challenge by the slight margin of 18 to 3.
That is but one of a hundred memories that come to mind when I walk through our Nana's kitchen, and each brings with it an almost overwhelming awareness of love.
I could summarize the curves in life to be a long and winding road, claim that where we've been makes us who we are, say that the path less traveled is the one I have chosen...but isn't that true for each of us? When all is said and done only you can fill your shoes.
Whether traveling the journey or learning from it, the curves are not, by design, easy. They are the things that shape us, sometimes the sharp right turns that break us. Living and breathing here in these rooms, I more clearly understand and appreciate the example of Faith I've been blessed to have for the last 41 years. It is the foundation of my own choice to believe in the knowing that one day, beyond all heartache and trial, the family I love will together fill the halls of another home in Heaven.
For now I am here in a here that I love.
~~
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Other Side!
Slowly getting organized in my new studio space.
Loving all the brightness from the walls of windows~
Although that may change come June when the windows start melting.
Blurry.
Still awesome.
Best Part of all?
The company.
~~
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
When one thing leads to another.
That hand you see in the background?
She's next.
~~
There's a story to the cross~ one I'll tell when I have a little more time.
Right now I'm knee deep in the packing up of my stuff.
Because moving.
There's a story to the cross~ one I'll tell when I have a little more time.
Right now I'm knee deep in the packing up of my stuff.
Because moving.
Apparently I'm too good at it to stop.
~~
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Best Minute You'll Spend All Day
I saw this video on FB (Thanks, CJ!) and had to share it because Brilliant.
~~
These are a custom order for 5mm holes to fit Regaliz leather bracelets,
and after looking into exactly what Regaliz leather bracelets are
I want a Regaliz leather bracelet.
Santa Fe, Seaside, Wasabi,
Aztec Sun, Sunset Beach,
Painted Desert, Sands of Time 'Ocean'
~~
Monday, March 4, 2013
Bead Sooooups
I received this pile of gorgeous from my BSBP partner,
the super skilled Sherri Stokey of Knot Just Macrame.
The first best thing about having her as a partner?
I've been stalking her on FB for months
as I absolutely adore her work.
The next best thing?
Look at those earrings she sent me.
LOOK AT THEM!
Don't be jealous.
Well, ok, you can be a little jealous.
I would be.
The third best thing?
This color combination.
I've been in the seed beading game for 15 years,
and I can honestly say I have never before
worked in these combined hues.
My girl Sherri threw down the gauntlet,
and all I can say is
Challenge Accepted
because Gorgeous!
Here's the soup I sent:
I actually put the soup together and then made the focal
to match the lampwork rounds and dalmation jasper nuggets
because Unique!
After I found out Sherri was my partner
I made a funky aquatic set
just for her
because Fun!
Lastly I noticed the czech buttons she uses fairly often
and since I have duplicates of several
I tossed in a few of those also
because Present!
I'm going to set aside an entire Sunday to play with
my Sherri treasures, and this time I'm going to do it
before my reveal date
because Rules!
~~
Friday, March 1, 2013
Because window shopping for Seed Beads is not my idea of a fun Friday night.
Hey Rockstars, I'm in need of some fundage so I'm having a
Save 20% on your total purchase
when you spend a minimum of $20!
Coupon Code: MarchMadness
Ready!
Set!
~~
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