I've been drawing and drawing for the Bead Soup Blog Hop.

What Shannon (Miss Fickle Media) didn't realize was that she gave me a challenge of the first order without even knowing it, blue's aren't exactly my color.  I'm a warm red - orange - kind of girl.  then, there is the shape - Hmmmmmm.

I love the pieces - the color the material (clay - pearls - silver).  The artist who made the pieces is a divine person and artist.  How can you go wrong with that....I was given Melanie Book's ceramic pieces and an absolute pile of pearls to match and Shannon's hand wrought silver.  Not just a piece or two but and small handful full of it.  I did many a happy dance.

After I looked at the pendant I was in shock.  It's a house.   It's not just any house.  It's MY house.  Well, my house isn't luscious blue/ brown and raku-ish but the shape is unmistakable..  It's a hard shape to miss in a neighborhood.  It's a saltbox style house.  We aren't a big house but we are tall and have lots of open ceilings and sunlight.

I'm working fairly fast on the actual piece now but I drew out plenty of drawings - this is one of the pages and since the finished idea isn't totally represented on these pages I thought I'd let you go ahead and look at how I process these challenges.

My ceramic piece evoked those feelings so quickly I just had to go with the "Home Sweet Home" theme.

This is about as far as I can take you through the process for now so I do hope you will all stop  by on Saturday (we are postponed until May 10th - oh thank goodness!) and take a look at what I've completed for the hop.  There are over 500 members hopping around this year - what an incredible amount of willing and wonderful artists.  

 

So while you are hopping around and get to Lori's don't forget to tell her what a wonderful person she is...because that is oh so true.  Lori has also lent her assistance to Daisy's problem with her hips.  Now think about that!  With that is going on in the Anderson household (Lori fighting Lyme disease with all of her strength/ being in the hospital/ being in bed/ being in flux with her life) she took the time to read our family story - she responded to me personally - made a donation and then took the time (while ill) to pass the information on via Facebook.  There are many people in the world like Lori - and Mallory Hoffman, Jean Wells, Mary Ransom, and so many many more that I know I am forgetting so many names to put here. Forgive me if I've forgotten to add yours.

They've taken time - money - they've cheerlead me around so I could post in more places....and they've all reposted many times when I have been stalled. I feel confident that Daisy is going to get this hip and that she has gained an extended family of animal lovers from around the world.  She's a lucky pup and we feel blessed - truly blessed.

 

Sleepy girl resting on the recliner...she loves the recliner.  Home Sweet Home :-)

 

Back to work on my project - I'll get it - I promise.

 

Late Mail Call and GREAT news...

We had a short interruption in our regularly scheduled program to bring you Abel Joseph (aka - AJ) - born to my daughter and son-in-law on March 16th....two weeks early.  He's happy and healthy.  I can't think of a better reason for my bead soup to be held up for a few days - LOL.

Proud new Mom and Son - Day 1

 Just before this all came about I was planning to show you two wonderful things that arrived in the mail.  First, I had entered the giveaway by Earthshine Beads for one of her adorable chicken necklaces.  What was I saying about you can't win if you don't play?  Well, I won one of them.  And talk about a sweet person - she shipped it all the way from England.  The chickens have a special meaning to me.  My second oldest son and DIL have a 22 acre farm in North Carolina.  They've three horses and chickens - cats and a dog.  The chickens live in something we have dubbed "The Chicken Palace".  We should all have nice 'coops' like they do.  I love my new gift and I will wear it with pride.

 

The other mail call item was a heart I purchased from Mallory thru For the Love of Beads (Mallory's Blog).  Mallory was raising money to help pay for her daughters medical expenses.  She has a beautiful daughter called Jenny.  Jenny is being monitored for her multiple myelomia.  This is no fun and very expensive.  Recently it is what Tom Brokow, the newscaster, has been diagnosed with.  Hopefully that will help to get the word out in a bigger way and garner greater funding for research.  Look at the cool heart I bought.  Mallory is becoming quite the polymer clay goddess.  Thanks Mallory - I love this one!

More about my Bead Soup tomorrow as I reveal the contents of that box Shannon sent.




 



MMRF is so worthy of your donation.

Myeloma Cells

Looking at that photo above you'd think it would make a pretty pattern on a bead - and you wouldn't be wrong!  But, for the Hoffman's it's much more serious than that.

For those of you who don't know Mallory Hoffman let me introduce you to her via her blog - For The Love of Beads.  Mallory is one of those people you meet and just instantly fall into "friendship".  She is "what you see and hear is what you get" and you can't get any more honest than that.  I wish we lived closer so we could hang out because I so completely enjoy her company.  

One of the wonderful things about her is her unabashed adoration of her children.  She glows when she talks of Nick and Jenny.  Honestly - it's been a rough batch of years in the Hoffman family.  Jenny was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  This ain't easy stuff for a Mom to deal with - especially a Mom who has lost a husband in the same fashion.  So, how is Jenny?  Recovering and working very very hard at staying well.  What can we do to help?  Support Mallory and Jenny as much as we can where we are needed.  Right now we are needed in a small way - a simple donation of moola.  It doesn't take much - we know we can all spend more than that on coffee and a donut.  But to research in this nasty battle with cancers who know whose ten bucks will be THEE money that helps to find the key to a cure. 

I gave - its easy peasy.  HERE is the link.  It will take you to an easy click and secure page where you can donate that coffee money!

This year again, Nick Hoffman will be participating in the MMRF Race for Research 5K Walk/Run. I hope that you will support his efforts and this wonderful organization. I thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

They are still looking for a team name, so, come on creative people!

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy's diagnosis with multiple myeloma. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As exceptional stewards of its donors' investments, the MMRF consistently surpasses its peers in fiscal responsibility and an outstanding 90% of total budget go directly towards research and related programming.

Also, sorry for the absence.  I've been running my buns off here.  I went down to Detroit to Henry Ford Hospital to meet with an Ortho guy for my knees and hips.  Anyone who saw me at B&B knows the arthritis is driving me insane lately.  Well, lo and behold I have bone on bone in left knee and they scheduled an immediate knee replacement....yikes.  That will wrap up July's posts as it's scheduled for July 30th.  I'm nearly done with my Bead Soup project so I'll finish up next week and get the photos done.  Hopefully I can post from my son's house the night before surgery.  I've loved this project and I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. 

Signing off until next week - LOL - ah, like that is far away - about 45 minutes....

Saturday Night Beader and Bead Dreams

Saturday nights at Bead and Button used to be reserved for the ISGB party.  The Glass Bead Guild would have a drink and dessert bar gathering in the Polaris room at the Hyatt.  Alas, they have abandoned that get together.

That get together was where I met Mallory Hoffman several years ago.  She was at the next table and I overheard someone refer to her as Rosebud – her nickname – and I just had to introduce myself.  We’ve been friends ever since. 

Mallory suggested a fun replacement for Saturday night – Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party Dinner at the Doubletree.  Lori had been planning it on Facebook (unfortunately I haven’t been available on Facebook lately and missed it.) She had made all of these great arrangements with a little help from her friends (do you hear a song there?)  For a salad bar dinner and round table for all of us “anonymous” Bead Soup participants.  By anonymous I mean we might know one another by our blog handles or via .  Facebook but most of us have never met in person.

There must have been 30 or so of us there at the dinner – who knew we were all at Bead and Button!

I was able to meet Heather Powers – someone I have long admired – not only for her beautiful work but for her extraordinary blogs.  Cassie Donlen was there, Lorelei Eurto, and Marianne of MAKU Studio too.  Whoopee that Raku heart with the nails in it is beautiful.  So much talent and so little time to get to everyone.

There were gifts from Lori (from her personal stash) a few fun games and conversation.  What a great time and all courtesy of Lori Anderson, Bead Soup maven and all around wonderful person.  Thanks Lori – for ALL that you do.

These are someof the photos I was able to take of the Bead Dreams competition at Bead and Button.  I didn't get many because they were in glass cases that reflect easily but I think you'll see the quality of the beautiful work there.  I tried to get the artists name in where I could.  Enjoy!

My friend Mallory and I traded some beads recently. Well, recently for me because I wanted to do a special bead for her. Mallory’s beads arrived a while ago but I resisted the temptation to open the package. I just plain decided to delay the gratification until I had reciprocated. Leaving the package where I could see it every day kind of drove me bonkers but unless I was going to be “on the ball” I refused to treat myself. Now isn’t that just the most self-flagellating thing you’ve heard lately, a bead person who can resist looking at her new beads? Well, the wait is over. My bud’s beads have affixed and I’m opening my package for everyone to see. Woot! Woot!

                                 Here we go and I'm so excited to finally open my package.

Here they are – Eggs and Bacon. You see, that is my favorite meal. I could eat it just about any time of day. It’s not that I’ve ever met a food I didn’t like but bacon – well, yummy stuff. Since Mallory was making these beads I thought a trade would be fun since she had a hankering for something I had. But, gheeze – look at the number of beads she sent! Holy Moley. I better get busy making some jewelry.

              I want to stamp some phrases to go with these. What “egg" sayings do you have?
                                                        So far I’m thinking:
                                                        Keep your sunny side up.
                                                        Eggs-cellent
                                                        Bacon - The other white meat.

                                                         Thanks Mallory

    And be sure to check out For The Love of Beads - It's Mallory's blog and she's a very good writer.