WOW can't believe I haven't posted in over a month! Hope everyone had a great holiday!! My life is wonderfully crazy as always. The babes are almost a year-can you believe it?!?! Our daily routine includes many servings of Cheerios these days. The other day when I poured them out on the trays I saw a heart in the middle of one. I set it aside and of course lost it. So next pour out I was on a mission to find another. Found one. Turns out it really isn't that hard actually.

Here we are with our "monster faces".

Sometimes we can even get the claws going too! I don't want to wish these baby days away, but I am looking forward to when we can make stuff together. Does any one have any non toxic media suggestions for little ones? Everything goes IN THE MOUTH. I mean everything. We went out of town after New Years. We have a mini van with split seats that allows me to climb in the back while we are driving so I can interact/give a bottle etc. Well I climbed back for no particular reason actually only to find one sleeping blissfully and the other awake with a mouth full of foam that he had been working out of a small exposure in his car seat. (Totally makes me furious with the car seat manufacturers especially as this wasn't a cheap seat, but that's another post.) The other day a wad of string. This morning a tiny moldy leaf from God knows where. So anyway, I guess we could finger paint on the high chair trays with food. I have helped them hold a marker while they move around on paper. We made a few cards this way. I'd like to play with something where they have total freedom though. Have a great weekend!!!

Don't Forget To Thank Your Angels

How I do love nap time. I feel guilty at how much I love it. So yesterday when the phone rang waking one of the babies, I was annoyed. The girl from the dealership was getting back with Mr. Pearl and Pebble. So I called him, gave him the message and let him know I didn't like her because now one of the boys was howling. He laughed and was surprised she called the house because he had only left an e-mail contact. So I go upstairs to retrieve my babe in distress and as I glanced in the sleeping boy's crib, I saw this I had left gift bags from our Adoption Day ceremony next to the cribs, I thought out of harms way. Apparently not. I put one babe in the coral and woke up my other little man. He had a wad of paper pulp stored in his little cheek, and a wad stuck up on the roof of his mouth. I can't find anymore of the paper, so he must have ate the rest. But WOW! Talk about my daily dose of Divine Intervention!!!! I had just finished reading Heaven Is For Real the night before so I was even more convinced that the Angels assigned to our house were really doing their jobs well!!! So given my recent blogging activity record, I probably won't get another post out anytime soon. Just in case here is a little picture from the "Christmas card stash". I love how it shows the wonder and fasination that wee ones have with the most simple of objects.

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

Sweet Orange

My humble offering here for Erin's color challenge. Orange is my color although I think I may have veered a bit from the citrus pallet she chose for me. Actually these earrings are the first that I made, and the only piece I finished. There are felted components unembellished and more crocheted medallions unassembled. And a few ideas still swirling around in my head. Which I think was part of the point of the challenge anyway. I love orange it seems. For some reason it is never the first color I "go" for. I don't know why. There are a zillion shades, tones and mixes of this marvelous color and yet for some reason when I think of orange I think of Home Depot and pylon cones. Ridiculous. Be sure to check out the other designers blogs to see what wonderful pieces they have made. If you click on the title links they will take you to Jessica's pages featuring her spectacular color pallets. Happy Hopping!!

1 Norma Turvey ~ Teal ~ Color Crave

2 Jeannie Dukic ~ Green ~ Mineral Tones

3 Mary McGraw ~ Teal ~ Embellished Hues

4 Jo Tinley ~ Red ~ Decadent Tones

5 Rebecca Anderson ~ Pink ~ Tulip Tones

6 Kristi Jaro ~ Red ~ Temple Entrance

7 Stephani Gorman ~ Green ~ Dew Tones

8 Melissa Meman ~ Green ~ Fruit Star

9 Kathleen Lange Klik ~ Teal ~ Silk Hues

10 Cynthia Riggs ~ Red ~ Autumn Comfort

11 Heidi Post ~ Teal ~ Flora Bright

12 Cece Cormier ~ Teal ~ Merino Teal

13 Amy Freeland ~ Gray ~ Cultured Tones

14 Alice Peterson ~ Blue ~ Island Play

15 Rose Noble ~ Gray ~ Autumn Stacked

16 Kristina Johansson ~ Yellow ~ Sunny Flower

17 Kirsi Luostarinen ~ Teal ~ Dragon Hues

18 Tari Kahrs ~ Orange ~ Citrus Tones

19 Mallory Hoffman ~ Purple ~ Petaled Dark

20 Molly Alexander ~ Brown ~ Peppered Tones

21 Regina Santerre ~ Red ~ Frosted Berry

22 Emanda Johnson ~ Teal ~ Color Purl

23 Amy Severino ~ Orange ~ Winged Tones

24 Bobbie Rafferty ~ Teal ~ Lime Hues

25 Tanya Goodwin ~ Gray ~ Pecked Tones

26 Lisa Lodge ~ Blue ~ Nocturnal Tones

27 Hope Smitherman ~ Blue ~ Bloom Tones

28 Linda Landig ~ Green ~ Cacti Dark

29 Ambra Gostoli ~ Teal ~ Perched Autumn

30 Lori Bowring-Michaud ~ Blue ~ Sharpened Blue

31 Pippa Chandler ~ Teal ~ Hungarian Hues

32 Keirsten Giles ~ Purple ~ Mineral Brights

33 Jennifer Justman ~ Blue ~ Autumn Rays

34 Sandy Richardson ~ Purple ~ Moroccan Brights

35 CJ Bauschka ~ Teal ~ Teal Air

36 Shaiha Williams ~ Teal ~ Sushi Hues

37 Kay Thomerson ~ Purple ~ Autumn Spectrum

38 Sally Russick ~ Purple ~ Golden Gate Tones

39 Cilla Watkins ~ Purple ~ Autumn Infused

40 Shirley Moore ~ Purple ~ Frozen Heather

41 Jenni Connolly ~ Gray ~ Paw Tones

42 Tamara Soper ~ Green ~ Field Tones

43 Sharyl McMillian-Nelson ~ Blue ~ Nested Blues

44 Jen Velasquez ~ Pink ~ Sweetened Tints

45 Maria Grimes ~ Red ~ Bright Bloom

46 Elisabeth Auld ~ Gray ~ Petaled Tints

47 Susan Kennedy ~ Pink ~ Zinnia Tones

48 Shannon Chomanczuk ~ Gray ~ Autumn Leaf

49 Holly Westfall ~ Yellow ~ Sprinkled Tones

50 Patty Gasparino ~ Red ~ Color Carton

51 Angela Little ~ Pink ~ Singapore Brights

52 Lizzie Zawinski ~ Green ~ Budding Hues

53 Kristen Stevens ~ Pink ~ Scooped Tones

54 Dawn Doucette ~ Brown ~ Jarred Tones

Best Thanksgiving EVER!!!

Well it's OFFICIAL!! All the legalities are finalized and we are officially parents. The picture is a few weeks old-from Halloween. I made the hair from wool roving which apparently was quite distracting. It's been wwaaayy too long since my last post. Had a little hospital trip. Chest pains, a ride in the ambulance (so embarrassing) a bunch of tests and a Prilosec prescription. Oh well better safe than sorry and if you have to choose a diagnosis........ Wednesday is the 30th and that means Erin's Color Challenge Hop!!!! Click on the link on the right for more info! My color is orange by the way and of course I am NOT done!!!! We had a lovely trip to New Jersey for the Holiday. Went way to fast. The weather was gorgeous. I love sunny cool fall days. I did not pig out and felt marvelous! Babes did good in the van. But both are getting all top front teeth in and are a little uncomfortable. I do not know a good way to close this post and I need to go. Have a great day!!!

I Heart Macro

I love the line and the abstract quality. It's the same attraction I have to the water splashes on the shower door. Somehow there is a unique and individual story to each mark.

It is actually the shadow of a grass that Mr. Pearl and Pebble found on the grounds of the market while I was getting our coffee beans.

Love this shot. For some reason the golden glow isn't as intense here as in my album. Hmmm. Same computer. Dunno. That is a computer issue. I'm thankful I can do what I can do. (Add that to the list Erin!)

And as I walked around the yard, I saw this lonely dude. He's not quite as spectacular, however I do like the maroon bottom he's got. For some reason he is just a "weed". Still a little beauty though. The air is crisp, but the sun is shining and that makes it a perfect day. Enjoy yours! Oh and don't forget to click on the macro button over to the left. It will take you to Lori's blog over at Waterstone where you will be able to see everyone who is playing along today. Everybody is welcome, so go get your camera!

I Heart Hedgehogs

Here is the painting that is this month's inspiration for Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge. I love this painting. And I found it to be very very inspiring. Haven't assembled a piece of jewelry yet, but I did pull out my paper, polymer, pens and pencils. That is a good thing. One of the first things I started doing was just doodling on bristol with water soluble pencils and art markers.

Then I started doodling on wooden disks.

I filled in some with my art markers and really loved the color. HOWEVER when it came to varnishing, the reds tended to bleed. So now I am trying to figure out what sealer/varnish is best.

I like this one. It bled, so I took some Prismacolor pencils to it and coated it with gloss varnish/medium. Maybe now I can just use wax?

Or just leave things "naked"? I have a bunch of Aanraku bails coming. Hopefully I can get some put together to my liking and stick them in my shop. Someday.

I also played with my polymer. I want to play with my earth clay, but needed instant gratification. I like him. I have a few more that haven't been carved out, painted, inked up, stained and sealed yet, but I think I will go for it. So thank you Art Bead Scene, this was just the challenge I needed!

Macro Sunday

This time of year seems to revive my cooking desires. And there are things that I am pretty picky about. One of those things I insist on is grating my nutmeg. I love the little nut. I love scraping the "outerness" off, creating these wonderful facets and revealing all sorts of fabulous patterning. I love grating it, releasing the aroma and feeling the soft shavings left behind. I swear it enhances a recipe far more than pre-ground in a jar nutmeg. But I'm sure that could be debated and is a matter of opinion. So don't worry I don't think less of anyone who doesn't whip out their Microplaner when a quiche is on the dinner menu. (I know you find this to be a great relief!)

Another thing that I find fascinating is the "pictures" I see in such things. Do you see a smiling bird with really long legs too? (Yes, of course I'm tired, but he IS there.)

I Feel Trendy

There are so many things I want to do and feel like I don't have the time to do it. So when I got the word that my little earrings were selected to be in this month's issue of Bead Trends I was thrilled! Like the Universe was telling me to hang in there. And it's true, little by little I can do more.

Here they are on page 61. The charms are made by Pam at Indian Creek Studios. They feature amazonite rondelles from Rings and Things and cool rockey nuts from Beads and Pieces. Bead Trends is a beautiful magazine and I am so honored! If you haven't picked up a copy before, check it out.

I Heart Macro

I love texture. And I have always been drawn to objects that indicate they have a history. My photography professor would refer to it as "decay", which technically may be true, but I find that term to be too yucky. I prefer distressed, weathered, having a story, having a history etc. The story here is simply that our water is hard. It wrecks everything-eventually. This is the base of our coffee maker, the part the pot sits on. (Please disregard the coffee overspill along the edge that I have not yet cleaned up) This is probably our 5th maker since 2002. I don't know. Maybe that's normal. But the build up/break down on the heater seat here, "distressed" as it is, is so very beautiful to me. I want to recreate this somehow. I think it would be beautiful on clay, polymer and/or earth, paper, beaded beads...............

It looks very topographical to me. And a little like the solar system. Sigh. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a whole day to play. Does this happen before kindergarten? Seriously?

Mother's Jewels

When I worked at our local bead shop the current trend was mother's bracelets with their children's names spelled out with those alphabet beads and Swarovski crystals. After about the 500th bracelet I decided that particular look was never going to be for me. Sometimes the perfect piece if mother's jewelry expresses the simple prayer that is always present in her heart as seen in Lorelei's bracelet here. When Melanie over at Earthenwood Studio posted about her rabbit set here, I was instantly excited! This is a perfect set of beads for me for a mommy creation. This being the year of the rabbit and having twins....you see?

Another great example of something for mommy would be a glass and clay pendant from Kristie over at Artisan Clay. We wanted to give our mom something special for mother's day and I asked Kristie if she could make a pendant with glass colors signifying not only the twins, but also her other children. Never ever hesitate to ask an artist if they can do a custom piece for you, because they usually can and are quite happy to do so. I know Kristie bent over backwards for me, looking for the right colors and whipping up a few pieces to make sure she had something for me.

Do you have a favorite piece of mother's jewelry that you wear all the time or that you have made for someone special?

Important Reminder......

Has everyone had or scheduled all your necessary yearly appointments? Also, every now and then you should have a great facial, pedicure or massage. It feels like unnecessary indulgence, but I think it's more important than that. And it goes without saying that the bag of Dove dark should be right next to your vitamins-which you are taking RIGHT?!?!?

Very Vintage Blog Hop

The lovely Michelle Mach has hosted a Very Vintage Challenge and Blog Hop. She sent a yummy assortment of vintage beads and we all came up with designs using the components. For some reason I only have a macro shot with what she sent-sorry, but below you can see not only her treasures, but some of my own vintage hoardings in some of the same luscious Autumn tones. Be sure to click on her name up there to take you to the blogs of the other participants!

I wanted to use as much vintage as possible. Although the marvelous chain is quite now from Miss Fickle Media.

Michelle's connectors suspending some repurposed vintage Sarah Coventry beads.

I have had a stash of these "turtle" beads hanging around forever it seems! This is why we keep EVERYTHING! I drilled holes in the branch and hung all the linked up Lucite leaves she sent. I took my texture hammer to the brass leaf stamping. That actually started with my attempts at stamping a little owl, but he got turned around for some reason and didn't fully stamp out, so I had to go to plan B and camouflage

Using much of my own stash as well as my prized chain!! Michelle sent a really pretty teardrop ring that originally I tried to make a toggle. I made the toggle bar by putting the smaller bits she sent on copper wire, spiraled the ends and pounded them out. After some fiddling, I decided I liked the teardrop as a drop much better. I beaded the necklace quite randomly. And after photographing, found the little green seed to be a little problematic. Oh well, I can switch it out later.

Diggin the acorn cap on the lava stone, but didn't give him a permanent home yet.

And this sweet little dude is my favorite. I have plans for him I sure do, but I didn't get to him. I tossed around a few ideas and was afraid to "mess" him up. But I think I will paint a little something on him and coat him with resin. What do you think? And there you have it. Don't forget to hop around a check everyone else out. Sorry this post was a little late, this morning. We had a little power issue. Scared me it did-thought all this was lost, but thankfully Blogger saw fit to save it! Have a great day.

Mommy Might Be a Little Cranky

Sigh. These would be fabulous beads came with areas of issue for me. I'm sick of chasing after vendors. She did have a disclaimer for her Indonesian beads. These are resin. I guess I expected better OR more distressing. When there is just a single spot in an otherwise smooth area, it looks poorly made-NOT as having handmade character or however it was worded. AAANNNYHOOWW, I don't have any more energy to devote to bitching out a seller, so any thoughts on how to distress these more? Can I take a hammer to resin? Maybe stain them? Update on the beads that never came- I "opened a case" for non-delivery. (Etsy's term) and long story short, she had been sick, I now have my beads, and I have closed the case. Thanks for all your input. Babies are banging on something, I think I'll go join them!

Opinions Please

So I want to work with my white wire here. "Problem" is that all I have to do is look at it much less touch it with my pliers for the white to chip off. On some level it works for me, on another it doesn't. Do you think it lends a vintage look or just plain old shoddy?

Macro Sunday Backyard Treasures

Blue Soup

SOUP SOUP SOUP SOUP SOUP!!!! It's here and just to refresh, here is the lovely stash that Rhea sent me. I was definitely challenged by the mix, and after rearranging and rearranging, I ended up using some of my own stash with this fabulous pendant and clasp, saving the sodalite and glass for a bracelet and earrings and another post. The pendant instantly reminded me of summers we used to spend on lake Michigan. We would spend a week, sometimes two, at Silver Lake, renting a cottage right on Silver Lake at the foot of the dunes. We would climb the dunes getting "lost" between the sandy mountains until we climbed over the peak that revealed Lake Michigan. Which looks like the ocean. A little tamer maybe, but still the same beautiful blue that stretches out until it meets the sky. Sunsets are beyond amazing. So this is what I see when I look at this pendant and I couldn't get past that. I played and played and played and I finally came up with a design that worked for me. I apologize for the light. As with everything these days I am right up to the last minute and this was all the daylight that I could muster.

The pendant is blue agate. I mixed my metals and used a bit of Swarovski crystal, labadorite, recycled glass and fabulous clay beads from Indian Creek Studios. Thanks so much for stopping by. Click on the link above to take you to Lori's blog with the whole list of this party's participants. And make sure to stop over at the lovely Rhea's blog to see what she cooked up! Enjoy!!!

I am participating in Michelle's Very Vintage Fall Challenge and these are the cool little bits she sent for me to work with. My wheels are spinning, rusty as they feel these days. Love the vintage lucite and especially the little have ball charm front and center! I have bunches of vintage beads I think would be fun to use. We'll see. On a completely different note, I need some advice. I purchased some beads back on August 22. They have yet to arrive. I have convo'd the seller. Never heard back. Thought maybe the holiday, sickness, made to order??? So I convo'd again the other day. Nothing. I know she's not in the hospital, because there have been updated listings in her shop. What do I do? For the record I am a very nice person to deal with. I just want to know the status or if they have shipped, if my ding bat mail lady dropped them somewhere on the grassy spot between the sidewalk and the street again. I am more upset that I am not being acknowledged. She has hundreds of 100% positive feedback. No neutral. No negative. I do not understand.