A New Beading Partner and Some Random Thoughts...

Come dance with me! I have a new beading partner! Meet Agnes--owner and writer of Beader Bubbe's Shop and blog! Agnes has been married for 36 years and has six grandsons! I'm really excited she's my partner. She lives on the East Coast where the weather has been slammin' them regularly. Agnes is very creative and inspiring! Check out her blog and her store and see what I mean!

We share some things in common: We both love cats. We both work in education. We both love to work just about anything when it comes to beads. We both do not work with yellows or oranges because we can't wear those colors! We both like silver!

So putting my bead soup ingredients together for her was a challenge.  It should have been easy because we both work with so many materials and colors...but I found myself with several different sets of ingredients that would have made several different sets of beautiful somethings! And I wanted to send them all to her! I was going to send them last week but because of decisions, decisions, and second guessing, I didn't. I was afraid that she would think I was weird or something. I heard that!

I've  finally decided on which soup mix to send. I'll get it in the mail tomorrow so she gets it in plenty of time to oohhh and awww over it. I hope she ooohhhhhhs and awwwwwws over it. And I hope she doesn't think I'm weird or anything like that! No comments from the Peanut Gallery Puleeze!

Now for Some Random Thoughts:
A while back, one of my bead swap partners, Jayne of Mama's Got to Doodle sent me these gorgeous bird's nest earrings in copper in one of our swaps.  I fell instantly in love with them! The single egg represented my only child, my son, my pride and joy--ok you get it. And the double egg represented my husband and myself in our home, our nest, our sanctuary, our--well, you get the picture. I was so fascinated in how these were created that I had to learn how to do them myself. So after two weeks of reading tutorials and practicing and practicing and reading tutorials, I finally made a bird's nest pendant for myself. 

My attempts at creating a wire-wrapped bird's nest charm. 

The earrings sent to me by Jayne and the pendant I made to match! Yes--those are coffee stains in the background!

 

Well that was so much fun, I made a couple more. That was exciting! And Fun!  I experimented with thicker wire and stones. And made a couple more. And that was exciting! And FUN! Next thing I knew, I had more than I could wear for any given occasion or more, so I put them up in my Etsy store.  

One of the necklaces in my store--made with African Turquoise stones.

Another necklace in my store--I LOVE the lavendar "eggs!'

Yeah--I'm dreaming of spring and my garden! Can you tell I miss my garden? I miss it terribly! But I'm planning on a bigger one and will do several plantings so I can have more produce to save for winter consumption. But I still miss my first garden.  

Since I've been daydreamin' about spring and my new garden, the bug to clean, declutter, organize, and deep clean has bitten me hard. So far I've organized, cleaned, and dejunked the laundry room and two closets. I've cleaned and dejunked the back room and am working on our bedroom and office. I know spring's not here officially but I am itching to get this house really, really clean! It's probably because we are unseasonably warm most days. So I'm tackling one room at a time and doing what it takes to get rid of dirt and grime and dust. And pet dander. And human dander. And junk! Egads, how much junk and stuff can two people collect?!?!?! Don't answer--I don't need people accusing us as being hoarders...yet!

I found out OxiClean powder is excellent for cleaning carpets, furniture, walls, and appliances. I gone through several boxes of baking soda and vinegar and gallons of hot, hot water. Most of my cleaning supplies are simple: Hot water, baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, Murphy's Oil Soap, elbow grease, cotton rags, and microfiber cloths. I LOVE those microfiber cloths for cleaning. Use one in the bucket of solution and one to dry and polish--it's that simple. And I'm all about simple. When it comes to cleaning that is. A solution of hot water, vinegar, a bit of rubbing alcohol, and lots of newspapers works wonders for cleaning windows, but I'm going to wait on doing those. 

Interesting giveaways are happening this week. Lori Anderson of Pretty Things  and Lisa Crone of A Bead A Day are both giving away PJTool & Supply Impress Art stamping kits! How cool is this? Visit both sites but remember I want one of these sets! 

Finally, I'm slowly coming out of vacation mode. I should have been out of it already but--*sighs* I enjoyed it just way too much...for the first time in four years. I'm still not fully into teaching mode--which will happen this week when I have actual papers to grade. I think that's why I'm in spring cleaning mode--because I'm not fully into teaching mode. And feel I need one more project to grab hold of for my anal-retentive/overachieving/OCD diva kicks me out of house and home! Anyone else having a hard time getting back into the swing of "normal" routines? What's your solution?

Celebrating!

Today is a special celebration day! Besides the fact that the New Orleans Saints are in the Super Bowl for the first time, Terri Stone reached her 1000th Etsy sale!!! Amazingly enough, she had a tie! So those winners will be getting one of the sets pictured below--made with Terri's fabulous beads!

 

Set #1

   

Set # 2 

 Congratulations to the winners! Congratulations Terri!

Updates

What a week! Please--I'm begging the forces that guide the universe---Let's not do this again any time soon! 

Arby is doing so much better on the change of medication. She's eating again and the acid burns (from acid reflux) in her mouth have shrunk. She's not fighting us as hard to give her the half pill twice a day. That, My Friends, is a good thing! A very good thing!

 

 We had snow. It's melting off and will most likely be gone by Monday. Because of the cold weather,, I used a recipe from Pioneer Woman. I made chicken and noodles--complete with homemade noodles. It's a good thing I learned how to make them--Mr. Big Box Store quit carrying my brand of noodles that were made from unenriched, unbleached flour. I guess they really don't want people to eat well at all. 

I also received a spring bulb catalog this week so I'm dreaming of spring flowers already.  I'm wondering how many of my tulips, daffodils, and miniature irises survived and will bloom. I'm so ready to dig in the dirt and plant some blooming, colorful plants again. 
  
Have I told you that I like simplicity? I'm not into complicated bits and pieces at all. A blogger friend is hosting her very first giveaway. LisbonSky has some fabulous jewelry in her Etsy store. And I'm telling you about it because it's SIMPLE. Visit her Etsy store, choose your favorite piece and tell her why it's your favorite piece on her blog. None of this do this--do that--do this--one more time--and don't forget to do that--type of giveaway. Simple works for me!

Speaking of giveaways, Terri Stone of TLSClayDesign is only 37 sales away from hitting 1000th sale!  THIRTY SEVEN! Wooooooooohoooooooooo Go Terri! *does the happy-happy-joy-joy dance for Terri!* Remember, the person who makes that 1000th sale gets this set made from Terri's beads! 

 Terri's also planning more for her special celebration! Stay tuned to this blog for more! 

I'm still participating in the Online Bead Soup/Bead Party. The touring date has been changed to February 10th, I believe.  I'm finishing up the piece I'm making from the delicious beads sent to me by my beading partner, Elizabeth! I've had a lot of fun playing with the beads she sent me. Stay tuned for the tour! It's going to be fabulous to see all the neat designs made!

Here's hoping you all stay warm, toasty, and dry!
Have a great weekend!