3 More Cabochons

These are the three cabochons that were sent to be swapped, for the Beaddreamz group.

Lucky me will get three cabs done by other beaders in our group in return! Click on any pic

to make it larger!

Egyptian Cab 2

Both my DMIL and myself have been fascinated with all things Egyptian, but especially anything resembling the jewelry of old. I have tried to recreate this with an earring, bought at a recent bead retreat, and set up to be beaded as a cabochon. To me, the pattern was reminiscent of a scarab, ram's horns, and lightning- and of course, the gold was always used by Egyptian royalty.

The blue matte beads are much more lapis in real life, and don't photograph true, but the sapphire and ruby colored beads are better. The triangles around the edge have a malachite-azurite tinge, and of course, the gold beads are, well, gold! All elements beloved in jewelry by the ancient Ones....I hope you enjoy, and are inspired.

Remember to click on the pic to see the largest view.

Presenting Goddess of Indian Summer

She began as a simple carnelian cabochon,
for a swap at Beaddreamz...then morphed
into this lovely goddess, complete with
some tiny 1mm carnelian and dyed green
agate beads I have had for ages..so she is now
my entry for Beaded Art Dolls November
part of the year long challenge.
I hope you enjoy her- she is going to live with
a real life Goddess in TN!!

Indian Summer in Western Carolina

The pics say it all- enjoy our corner of Western Carolina. Click on any pic to make it larger.

That old Meme, or, Tag, You're IT!

I tag;
1) Phyl in NC http://phylliskingartworks.blogspot.com/
2) Dian in AZ http://creationsbyeless.blogspot.com/
3) Sunni of NM http://enchantedwolfbeading.blogspot.com/
4) Ralonda of TX http://beaded2bless.blogspot.com/
5) Heather of IN http://heathershaven2.blogspot.com/
6) Bobbi in OR http://beadingatthebeach.blogspot.com/
7) Victoria of AZ http://artntheheart.blogspot.com/

You know the rules- give up 7 facts about you that are not well known...and then tag 7 more friends on their blogs, using the comment section. Then post on your blog who you have tagged, with links to their sites..that way, we all get to know one another a little bit better!

I've been tagged!!

Arline http://sharedstuffbyarline.blogspot.com/ got me when I wasn't looking! Do go see what she had to say when she was tagged...did ya know she was a majorette????
Here are the rules....

Here are the rules:1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I always wanted to either play an instrument in the band, or to be in Girl Scouts, but wasn't allowed to do either as a child, so became a Girl Scout Leader and learned French Horn as an adult! I still play with Kurt's HS band at concerts, and march in the parades, but my horn doesn't visit the parade, nor the football stands.

2. I LOVE cats of all sizes, shapes, temperaments and colors. If I could, I would have about 12 of them, but to be fair to them, would need a huge farm, where they could be outside when they wished, via a cat flap in the door, and little to no vehicle traffic to threaten them. One of them would be a bobcat or a tiger.

3. I would be happy living 'so far down a dirt road that they have to pump in sunshine'! It would be at least partly underground, with solar, water and wind-generated power, so we would be off the grid.

I truly love my privacy, and while I enjoy the company of humans, I want it when I want it, not all the time! Excepting my DH, that is!

4. My DH is the Love of my Life, and I used to dream about his voice and the feel of his arms going around me from the time I was a teen! I didn't meet him in the physical until I was in my 40s.

5. I never thought I would have children, but after I did, couldn't imagine Life without them! They are my Best Friends!

6. My Dream Farm would not be complete without a couple of horses- a complacent older Percheron for Kurt, who is 6'3", with hands and feet that dwarf mine, and a wide-backed, smart-assed Appaloosa for me! Neither would mind pulling a sled in the winter.

7. My Life Dream is to be recognized as a Bead Artist, and be able to re-create with beads those experiences I find important enough to immortalize in the shapes of Beaded Art Dolls...



OK, now I have to tag 7 of you....this is an important task, and I choose, hmmm, well, maybe I need more coffee first!
I will chose later!

Time to come in out of the cold

I have been putting off bringing in the plants for as long as possible. Not only are they much happier on the deck, but they don't have to worry about the cats munching on them, less light and drier air. Plus, they have gotten HUGE over the years. Yesterday's frost warning pushed me into high gear, so now the dining area, living room, bedroom, beading area AND sound studio have their own inside Jungles.

The rubber tree over the beading area was a rescue my former DMIL talked me into getting from Lowes, when it was hanging out in the trash receptacle. It is now a respectable 7' by 6' plant, that has been cut back to bush out. It will probably be our living 'Christmas tree' this year!

We will enjoy living with them, even having to watch where we sit, or lean through them to feed Al Bird (who loves having his inside Jungle surround him.

Now, only the task of covering the inside windows with shrink film remains- it keeps the house above 40 degrees, even with no heat. With the heat on the lowest setting ( we use gas logs in the single fireplace) it becomes a comfy (and sometimes overly warm-feeling) 68 degrees! I would much rather put on a sweater and socks than feel hot!

Locks of Love day equals Lots of Love Day!

My oldest gave me the treat of a haircut, when I mentioned that I would like one just like hers! I had had it in mind to donate my shorn locks, all 12+ inches of them, to Locks of Love.

Check them out here

http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html

My ponytail will not directly be used for childrens' hair pieces, as it is silver and brunette, but can be sold to offset the cost of the hairpieces made for the children, which run about $6,000 each, and must be redone after the child's skull outgrows the current one. The hairpieces are not reused, so it is a constant need for new hair.

There are two guys in our town that have grown and donated hair, and they inspired me to 'get with the program'!

Thanks to Celeste, my oldest, and to Circe, my new hairdresser supreme, who made this an exciting adventure with a happy ending ( especially for not making me look like Katie Couric!!!)

Enjoy the pics.