Soar

 

Here is my Challenge of Music Piece. I listened at a bazillion tunes I think on You Tube until I had a duh huh moment and pulled out my YO-YO MA cd. I love his sound. I love the cello. I hope at least one of my babies will be musically inclined and wouldn't it be wonderful if he played the cello. The piece I picked is Ecstasy of Gold performed with the Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra and directed (directed? written?) by Ennio Morricone. Hopefully this link will take you to You Tube, but it still can't compare to blasting it through one's own speakers. Just don't get the same "feel". I must confess. This is not my "ideal" submission. Although the music does make me soar (butterfly) and I would definitely attribute some earthiness (wood, ceramic) to it, I envision not only a palette of light and dark, but components that have contrasting weights. I was almost there. But Pink Eye struck last night as a nice little garnish to my sinus infection. And being She Who Waits Till the Last Minute, hadn't started enough in advance. At least not enough in advance.  Click here to see all those who are playing!

 

 

Focusing on Life a Two-for

We have some kind of crud here. Started last weekend with one of the boys and a case of double pinkeye and strep. Then Mr. PearlandPebble got strep. I've got something that feels like flu, but dr. said no fever so he put me on antibiotics. Hubby's has morphed into a sinus infection and I think that is about where I am at right now. And of course my other little sweetie now  has the pink eye in both  eyes. And so needless to say, I did not post my focus of life photos last week or this past weekend. Flowers was the first theme. Monochromatic was the second. So I combined them. I love watching how these guys come up with stuff. They love flowers. When we go out walking they are constantly stopping to browse in the grass or landscapings. Usually a small flower comes home with us. Dandelions are just as appealing as daisies or lilies. They also love to "put things into things". It was a problem with plugs and outlets until we found the right protectors that kept them out. The picture shows them making Playdough flowers with straws for stems. They were also incorporating Lego flowers, but I liked this picture best.

Soup Beads

 

My Soup Beads are here!!!! Take a look at the lovely lovely beads Stephanie sent to me. The lavendar lampwork focal, flowers and accent beads were made by her husband Chris. I can't wait to play!!!

Teaser Teaser Teaser

 

Here is what is going to the lovely Stephanie Haussler from Pixiebug Designs. Stephanie is my Bead Soup Partner this round and I for one am pretty excited!!!! She is a beader after my own heart as she insists there is rarely a bead she doesn't like! Hopefully she won't be disappointed now. I think my little teaser here is a pretty good tease-it looks like a bowl of embroidered neon fish bones:)

Playing with Patina

 

Lima Beads had a crossword puzzle challenge thing a few weeks ago and I solved it (at the last minute) and what I was rewarded with was twenty percent off Vintaj. Well, that was just okey dokey fine by me let me tell you! So one of the things I had to get was one of the patina kits. I picked Retro Highway. Has yellow, black and white. Makes a coooool green.  The pendant is a Vintaj piece. The others are vintage brass caps, a textured brass ring and a Vintaj toggle bar. Whoo hoo! I want them all!!!!! (Insert crazy maniacal laughter here)

Secrets

 

I love the little scenarios I think I see in inanimate objects. So when Sally gave us the challenge to find these intimate relationships to document, I was like whoo hooo! A few years ago I had done a series of pastel paintings which depicted exactly that. The other day I caught my apples exchanging a private moment. I am not sure what the guy on the right is whispering to her, but she is blushing and listening very intently. I have even more people in my house this weekend. Please forgive me if I get to you my focus mates blog a bit later in the week!

Earring Challenge Reveal No. 2

Here are my next three pairs of earrings that I made for the AJE earring challenge. We make one pair of earrings a week and post every two weeks. Starting from the top, left to right, I used beautiful polymer beads from Stillpointworks and amber swirl lampwork headpins from Gardanne beads. Little pop of turquoise there too. Next pair features pretty ceramic poppy beads from Earthenwood Studio. and the last pair features cool polymer beads from Artybecca. I know - three pairs!!! Yay me:)

Focus on Hearts

 

This week Focus on Life theme was hearts. Take the camera and snap em where ever I might find them. I found an awesome pine cone "butt" that was wonderful. We were at the park and I didn't have my camera because it can not under any circumstance be left in the wagon with you know who. I had my cell, but that proved to be horrid. So you will just have to take my word for it that it was a lovely little find. I did however paint another lady. And she is holding a heart. She looks kind of bitchy if you ask me. I think she had a bad Botox experience. Mr. Pearl and Pebble and I have been rearranging our working spaces. So when I was organizing, I came across some sheets of painted paper that I had cut down to use as backgrounds. I painted her on one of those. I don't know if I'll get this post "linked up" or not. My inlaws are arriving in a few hours and it's always iffy if I can make it to the computer. I am hoping that this post will show up as I have had problems with blogger and posting ahead. And speaking of problems, I don't know what has been going on with people commenting and then getting an error message. I am getting the comments-thank you so much-so please don't stop! Have a great weekend and be sure to stop over at The Studio Sublime and see what everyone else found on their heart hunt.