Alive, Well, and just a little blurry.

Okey Dokey all you wonderful people in the blog world.  The knee surgery is 3 weeks completed and I start physical therapy outside the house next week.  Let it not be said that I'm not a glutton for medical punishment so while I'm working on this knee I scheduled cataracts removed from my eyes.  Yikes!  One eye down and one to go at the end of next month.  I'm looking at it this way - - - by the next Bead and Button I ought to be able to boot scoot up and down those aisles and with this newly acquired visual acuity I won't miss a single goody in any booth.

While nursing the knee I did a few Tila Beads in Elizabeth's pattern and tomorrow I'll get a photo of them.  Thank goodness for auto-focus right now.  The eye won't let me do any detail work easily but that too will resume in about a week.  YES! 

Anyhoo - I missed you all and it's great to be back - talk soon.

Sharon

Onward and Upward!

I thought I'd better check in before everyone wonders where I went.  July 30th was a total knee replacement fro the left knee.  Yikes, they grind bone - and give you lots of titanium with a plastic pad for cushioning.  At the moment I look like franken knee - I haven't counted the staples but there are a lot of them.  They are thorough and careful at Henry Ford Hospital.  I was hospitalized for two days after the surgery and had wonderful Nurses - Occupational Therapists - and Physical Therapists. And that doesn't even cover the doctor. 

This will have to be short - the pain keeps coming and I can't seem to concentrate to easily yet.  I'll get there and I'll start more regular posts as soon as I can.

This is what they put into my knee.

Bead Soup Reveal

When I received these beads from Raida they reminded me of one of my favorite books, “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  Gardens were a huge part of my life as a child.  My Grandfather grew vegetables and my mother cultivated roses, lilacs, and flowers of all kinds.  To add to this array my Bubba (Grandfather) also grew sunflowers which he’d harvest for the birds and for us.  Our yard was large but not rural.  But, there were hedges, gates, and arbors, it created a magical get-a-way. 

To Raida’s Bead Soup I added tiger eye semi-precious rounds, a stone frog, some pewter, and C-Lon. I decided to keep it in a fall palette and maintain the dark tones of the beautiful focal.  It brought back such fond memories of the fall gardens.  The roses were dark (my mother preferred the lush colors of burgundy to pink), the holly was coming on strong, and the sunflowers were turning a deep golden shade. 

For the bail I used the C-Lon to finger weave a bail.  I learned how to finger weave ages ago from one of Robin Adkin’s on line tutorials.  You can find it here.  It is where I saw the first and most beautiful treasure bracelets ever created and emulated by many an artist since. 

After finger weaving the bail I fed the thread through the bead cap and then the bead – I used a noose type knot to finish the bottom and leave the threads free for stringing as a tassel.  Once the focal of the necklace was complete I arranged an asymmetrical design of the remaining beads to make a full and lush necklace.   I’ve used my entire soup in this necklace except the beautiful brown silk tie that was included.   If I hadn’t wanted to use that great floral button I’d of considered making finger weaved loops on both ends of the necklace and using the silk as a closure by tying a bow.  It would have made it adjustable and given it a kicky kind of twist that would great with short hair.

I finished the back off with that perfect button closure that Raida had sent in the soup mix.  It makes a great closure with a loop.

My necklace is an elegantly planned out garden and I’m very proud of the collaboration between Raida and I. I hope she and you like how it turned out as much as I do.  Thank You Raida for the beautiful mix you sent.

Here is the list of Bead Soup Paticipants - Start Hopping!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things

Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made

Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul

Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle

Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another

Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream

Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs

Cris Peacock, Cris' Page

Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things

Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers

Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru

Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved

Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery

Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs

Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things

Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close

Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations

Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni

Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads

Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry

Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog

Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life

Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life

Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor

Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design

Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me

Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry

Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston

Judy Riggs, Rigglettes

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead

K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch

Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch

Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles

Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio

Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe

Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon

Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly

Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade

Kim Ballor, Vitamin C... A Daily Dose of Creativity

Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat

Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut

Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork

Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist

Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox

Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny

Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess

Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings

Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This

Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land

Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio

Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design

Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry

Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog

Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads

Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio

Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions

Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps

Mowse Doyle, HoCArt

Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles - Spirited Earth

Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs

Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart

Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs

Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft

Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink

Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art

Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions ... Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs

Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky

Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media

Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn ArtWerks

Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance

Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs

Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs

Sue Hamel, The Bottle Cork and Crystal

Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

Szarka, Magpie Gemstones

Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily

Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness

Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti

Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau

Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift

Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash

Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna

Don't worry....Bead Soup's a Coming...

I'm not letting my panties get in a wad...my bead soup is being photographed this morning and it will be posted by late this afternoon.  Gheeze, all of these artists have been so quick and this year I was running around to doctors to get surgery set up for my knee and cataracts....yikes.  Not to worry on either count.  It's a BBBBB----UUUUUU------TIFUL necklace and it will posted soon.  Hugs to my fellow soup members and I'll start hopping this evening.  I have to get ready to leave for the hospital tomorrow so I promise I'll be all set for both this afternoon. 

Hugs,  Sharon

Hearts...I just love hearts!

One of my very favorite themes of all time to create.....all new and on Etsy.

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....

Creativity in Writing - Books by Kevin White

I was always an artist.  How many times have you heard one of us say this?  It was always there and never went away.  It may have been interrupted by a "day job" but those only tend to strengthen our resolve.  While I worked at that day job (that I loved) I met some wonderful people.  One of them is a talented writer of children's stories.  Since our job was working with children it seems an excellent fit for him.  He is working on his third book and I have to tell you the other two just tickle me pink. 

His name is Kevin White and you can purchase the previous two books HERE  Stubby Pencil Noodlehead is my favorite and would even be great for your child to give to that special teacher in his life. This is the excerpt from Good Reads about Stubby:

"When Stubby Pencil Noodlehead is forced to stand in front of his class to explain why he is late for school every day, the resulting tale is more than the teacher bargained for. Stubby’s story of pirates, pygmies, mastodons, and more, turns classroom order to chaos, and has the teacher begging for him to stop. The story’s accelerating pace and surprise ending delights readers of all ages(less)."

Counting Down with Farmer Brown was Kevin's book in progress the year I retired.  I was privileged to read the proofs and see the illustrations by Kevin's brother Rex as they were being created.  This book will appeal to both the adult reading it and any child lucky enough to receive a copy - - - it reminds me a Pixar movie where the subtle jokes within the illustrations are not lost on the adults who will have a smile from ear to ear.

There is also an on-line campaign to assist Chimeric Press with their third book.  I am donating to this because we need more great books for children.  And most certainly more great books by someone who knows children, loves the English language, is a great story teller, and an all around wonderful person.  To contribute to the cause check here at Kick Starter.  If you go there you get a reading by Kevin on-line.  I LOVE IT!

Making Beads - New Listings - Fun Summer Sewing

I'm posting the newest Skully here for everyone to see but I wanted to also wanted to show you this great beach purse you can sew up - it would work for a lot of things - maybe even kiddie toys in the car.  I think you could use several of the available commercial purse or shopping bag patterns for this too!  I'm thinking it might make a great quick tool bag for when you are taking your tools to a class.  A quick look at it will tell you whether you have everything packed.  Maybe for Christmas I'll make some for the "girls".  Shhhh - don't tell them!

The pattern shown is free and you can get it here.  I found it on Design Sponge but it's from Between the Lines blog spot by Parisian crafter and blogger Pascale Mestdagh. It's a beautiful blog with many tutorials.

A close-up of the new "Skully" listing

My Beads Arrived!

Actually - My beads have been in the post office while I was in Chicago with my daughter and son-in-law.  Today it was a wonderful surprise to receive them and see all the goodies.  Look at that flower - it's a button and it's going to make a great closure.  And the colors - Whoa, what a great combination....I'd of never thought of it, but I love it! 

When I wrote to Raida about how much I love this set I had to tell her that my Grandfather grew sunflowers in the yard.  I didn't explain that he loved the birds and sunflower seeds and every year we'd cook and salt them and then dry them in the oven.   He'd keep unsalted ones for the birds and we'd nosh on the cooked ones all winter ourselves.

This is the soup I sent to Raida.  She said she felt "spoiled".  Frankly, I think we both do!  I sure hope I can do her beads justice and don't forget - We'll be having that Blog Hop on July 28th so you'll be able to see what Raida and I did with our exchange.

Pewter Castings

I've been working feverishly on my ideas.  Well, honestly - considering the post on polychronic behavior I'd like to think feverishly but it's more like consistent linear progress...LOL.  I have like five projects going at the same time - maybe more.  I keep telling myself if this ever all comes together it will be like a volcano.  I keeping worrying that it will be like one big eruption and then I'll go dormant for another 10 years.  Scary - scary thought. Okay - let's perish that singular thought to the - been there - done that - pile and move forward.



Five of the new carved plaster casts for pewter

I've been working on the pewter casting from B&B.  I never did show you what I made in that class. As soon as I get home again I'll add a photo of the first castings we did while we were at class.  I have three of them and Susan, my friend, gave me one of her hedge hogs.  They are cute and remind me of me.  Maybe it's one of my totem animals - The other and most prevalent one being the Raven.



There are three new plasters in this photo and two hunks of pewter to melt down.

I bet you feel you just have to know why a hedge hog - right?.  Got myself giggling here...not just because it's nice and round but more because it tucks and balls up as a self-defense against it's perception of a predator.  My tendencies are to get quite hermit like at times.  Anyway, I digress. 

None of these casts in the photos have been poured yet.  I have all the materials and am ready to go but maybe just true to my nature I can't just do one thing at a time so I've finished quite a few to pour at the same time.  I'll let you know how it goes.

If you have any questions about how we did this plaster casting - please feel free to ask....