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Wednesday ~ January 4th
Happy New Year!
I've been a little slack, sorry I haven't been updating more frequently. Mainly, this is because I don't have any beads to sell or show you - not even the prize for the Ceiling News contest. I actually took the last week off of December, not intentionally, but things just kept coming up that kept me away from the torch. So with 3 weeks before our show in Tucson, I'm now working like a fiend!
Regardless of all the "catch up" work ahead, it was worth it to take some time off & I had a great Christmas. Got an iPod nano & I love it! Especially being able to play play lists instead of being stuck listening to one c.d. at a time & boy has it ever kicked up my gym regime. Chris & I also received dance lessons! We've got a certificate for a 6 week course for Two Step, Night Club & West Coast Swing that starts in the middle of February. I'm very excited because we've been talking about taking dance lessons for awhile!
Speaking of music & dancing ~ just another reminder that Chris' band, The Swill Kings are playing at the Sidetrack this Friday night. They're opening band so they start early - 8 p.m. If you want to have a rocking time, come on out - it's going to be fun!
I have to get back to work, thanks so much for stopping by & I hope you're enjoying the start to a brand new year! |
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Monday ~ January 9th
Making lots of beads. These are inspired from the Spellbound & Marrakech sets I made back in the fall. I love working with these colors. They're rather subtle, but still very striking.
I had a great weekend ~ The Swill Kings were phenomenal! The best they've ever played - so much energy & the sound was fantastic. On Saturday I went to a belly casting. My friend Amanda is having a baby this month so she gathered her friends & family to come over & help cast her belly in Plaster of Paris.
Dave & Amanda
Surprisingly, it was very easy for them to slide their hands out once the cast hardened (they used Vaseline on their hands before we covered them). Amanda's friend is going to paint the cast now & Amanda is going to convert it into a basket for baby toys. It was a nice way to capture the pregnancy & now they'll be able to share that with their child.
Saturday night, we stayed in & watched movies. The one worth mentioning is The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, which is a documentary film on these wild cherry head parrots that live in San Francisco & how one man named Mark Bittner, fed them & kept a journal of their behavior. It's very interesting, but I'm a big bird buff so any movie on birds rocks (including Winged Migration & Fly Away Home). I still think anyone would find the whole subject of "wild" birds in an urban setting interesting though. There's lots of things to think about - how we connect with the natural world & how we interpret animal actions as if they are akin to human emotions.
Yesterday, Chris & I went to "Rain ~ The Beatles Experience", which is a band that sounds & looks just like The Beatles. If you're a fan of the Beatles, this is an excellent show. I thought it was pretty good, but it's kind of weird watching people imitate other people, there's a dynamic that just isn't there... Chris loved it though & said he would see them again if they were to come back. How was your weekend? Hope you enjoyed it. |
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Thursday ~ January 12th
Do you have Paraskevidekatriaphobia? |
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Friday ~ January 13th
Watermelon Beads
I've been busy making beads (above are some of the newest ones). It was a great week & I got a lot accomplished including getting my brand new tooth! I have a crown on one of my front teeth (bad accident as a kid) & it broke right before Christmas so the dentist gave me a temporary & it took until yesterday to get my new tooth, which seemed like a very long time because the temporary tooth was horrible! It was really big & rough & it felt like I had something foreign in my mouth for the last 3 weeks so to get a tooth that fits perfect is so awesome! (It's amazing what I get excited about these days.)
Regarding my post yesterday, I suppose if you don't know what Paraskevidekatriaphobia is, you probably don't have it, but it is said that approximately 21 million Americans do (I couldn't find any data on Canadians). What is it: a morbid & irrational fear of Friday the 13th. Me, I've never worried about the day, in fact I think it's kind of fun & I love all the history behind such superstitions like that in Ancient Rome, Friday was execution day or that 13 is called the Devil's dozen. However, if Friday the 13th freaks you out, I hope you have a very nice, safe day & don't think too much about it. |
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Tuesday ~ January 17th
Horses at Fort Edmonton
On Sunday, Chris & I went to Fort Edmonton. Our friend, Jay Murphy & his band The Murder City Sparrows rented the place for the last week to shoot a music video. Our nephews, Jamie & Jonny were asked to be in the video so we went down to see what it was all about. Very interesting & there's so much involved. It took 3 months of preparation for a 3 minute video.
Jamie & Jonny getting a closer look at the sheep
It was great to go back to the Fort. I haven't been there for awhile, and if you're new to this site you probably don't know but I used to be the Heritage Gardener there during the summer months while I was going to University. It was such a wonderful job filled with a lot of magical moments. I spent the day reminiscing.
Chris & I also went to a Karaoke party on Saturday. I sang my usual "Forever in Blue Jeans" by Neil Diamond & Chris sang Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". On Friday, we watched the movie House of Flying Daggers, which I didn't care for because it seemed that there was so much focus on the cinematography that the movie outside of that had very little substance ~ not enough character development nor much intricacy to the plot. I suppose it would have stood up better on the big screen... |
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Lollipops! |
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Thursday ~ January 19th
I must have took 100 photos yesterday of various jewelry & bead images. Above is a photo that didn't quite make the cut for our postcard choice for the show. This was the second best one (in my opinion) & I really like it but the one we finally decided on (below) is a little more mysterious & represents both Jude's jewelry style as well as my bead style. My mom (Judes) has become extremely talented as a jewelry designer. I've never doubted her color & pattern sensibility because of her art background, but now she's added a level of technical difficultly, which is rather impressive. I think that it shows off more in the bottom photo. What do you think?
We leave for Arizona in 6 days now! My mom, Chris & I are flying out a few days early to meet up with some of my family that live out there before the To Bead True Blue Show, which starts on the 31st. In the meantime, I still have lots more beads to make & I have to get a catalogue together & then we have to price & record everything... It's also my birthday on the 24th. My friend Steve (who's birthday is also on the 24th) sent me a quote from another blog:
"While days technically are getting longer after Dec. 21, cyclonic weather systems take hold in January and bring low, dark clouds. Meanwhile, the majority of people have broken their healthy resolutions six or seven days into the new year (even the hangers-on have fallen off the wagon, torn off their nicotine patches, and eaten their fridge empty by the third week of January). Plus, eventually all residual dregs of holiday cheer and family fun kick the bucket.
And when is the magical day when all this culminates, you ask? Why, January 24th of course. The Most Depressing Day Of The Year.
Dr. Cliff Arnall, who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, created a formula that takes into account numerous feelings to devise peoples’ lowest point. The model is: [W + (D-d)] x TQ / M x NA
The equation is broken down into seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.
“I’m sure the formula is right,” says Dr. Alan Cohen, spokesperson for the Royal College of General Practitioners. “It is postulated that there are a number of different causes of depression,” he said. “For those who suffer from external events, Jan. 24 would be the most depressing day of the year.” Frozen Puck
Well isn't that funny. |
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Friday ~ January 20th
Honey Drop Jewels
I kind of wish I could hang on to these. I don't know why, usually I don't have a problem selling my beads, but these little guys, well I think I hear them whispering, "keep me, keep me". Oh well, they are now in the hands of Judes & she'll be making jewelry & bead sets with them for Tucson. I'm taking lots of photos today although the conditions outside aren't ideal - an overcast, blah kind of a day. It's been snowing off & on all morning ~ can't wait for the desert weather!
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Saturday ~ January 21st
Just speeding by to wish you all a wonderful weekend.
By the way, it's been unusually quiet on the email front - where is everybody? Do you think I'm too busy to read emails? I love emails & it's a nice distraction from the work load so feel free to drop me a line at carrie@beadtree.net. |
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Sugar Plum with Thai silver flower & matching earrings
Some of the bead strands up for sale in Tucson |
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Monday ~ January 23rd
Yesterday was a looooong day! We priced, recorded, scanned & packed all of our items for the show. I think in total we worked over 12 hours, but it's done - yippee! Here's a picture of some of the goodies.
If you're going to Tucson, here's where you can find us:
To Bead True Blue show (at the Manning House Estate) in the Morning Star Ballroom ~ January 31st to February 6th
Just found out that Dave & Amanda had a baby girl! Her name is Ailee Rose ~ I am so happy for your both. Congratulations! |
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Tuesday ~ January 24th
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! |
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Wednesday ~ January 25th
We're off to Tucson - I have a ton of emails I didn't get to & I'm really sorry! I will respond when I get back & thanks to all for your wonderful birthday wishes, it made my day that much more special. |
