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Wednesday ~ January 3rd
Edmonton Skyline
Isn't this picture spectacular?! I found it when I typed in the word "Edmonton" at Wickipedia & saved it, but I just went back to see who to credit the photo too & I can't find the picture anymore ~ weird. Regardless, there's some interesting tidbits about Edmonton. Have you looked up your own city on Wickipedia? Bet you'll learn something cool.
Just added a new contest Here. I also drew the name for the last one ~ Sue Kirby, congratulations! |
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Thursday ~ January 4th
Gail's bridesmaids bracelets
Today, my friend Gail is getting married on a beach in Mexico. I am so excited for her! She's such a special, sparkly person & she's found an amazing & beautiful connection with her soon to be husband, Brent. So congratulations Gail! As promised, I will crack open the champagne & have a sip with Chris, toasting your exceptional union & dreaming of romantic, sandy beaches.
And the bracelets above, Gail asked us to make them for her bridesmaids. Their dresses are magenta so it was a bit changeling to come up with a design as there's no magenta colored glass, but I'm really happy about the turn out. I hand mixed the orangey-pink color for the flower petal edges on the glass beads & the tiny silver dots symbolize champagne bubbles. Mom added some sleek, silver tubes & lots of swarovski crystals. |
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Friday ~ January 5th
Photo courtesy of Mark Tucker
Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ''I'm with you kid. Let's go.'' ~ Maya Angelou |
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Monday ~ January 8th
These are the Hip Harem beads Sue won from the last contest & I just posted a new clue for this month's contest here. |
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Tuesday ~ January 9th
Aquarium Rocks & Glass
I have some beads up for grabs, but I'm thinking of holding off until I have a big selection & also some more silk ties & perhaps a few bracelets. Several of you like to buy both at the same time so you can save on shipping ~ smart cookies. Maybe I'll wait until my birthday for a big sale - that sounds like fun! That's not until the 24th, which really is only a couple weeks away & that will give me plenty of time to make some more beads.
There's a blizzard heading our way. The temps are going to plummet & the snow is going to fly. I'm doing all my outdoor work this morning like stocking up the bird feeders, getting groceries & going to the post office. Hopefully, I won't have to leave the house tomorrow. I'm going to try to convince Chris to stay home too ~ he has a long, country road kind of drive to work every morning. Makes me nervous sometimes in the winter. Take care all you Albertans & stay home tomorrow if you can. |
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Thursday ~ January 11th
I've always thought one of the coolest jobs in the world would be to design stamps, especially for those obscure, tiny countries like Tuvalu or Tristan da Cunha. If I ever quit the bead business...
Fun Facts about Stamps:
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Friday ~ January 12th
Past Bracelets
The last couple of days have been absolutely dismal on the torching front. I burnt myself 3 times yesterday - 3 times! I usually go months without a single burn (knock on wood), so 3 times in one day is just ridiculous; you gotta know when to pack it in before you light the whole house on fire. So after several frustrating hours, I stopped & decided to work on the website instead. I've been wanting to update the galleries & I started to chip away at it last night. I completed one gallery in the Jewelry Grove - can you guess which one? So what do you think? I'm pretty happy with the overall look of it. I think I'll do a similar style for all the other galleries when I get a chance. Today, I'll try torching again.
** By the way, it's International De-lurking Week, well the end of International De-lurking week, anyway. If you come here often & have never said hi, please do, you would make my weekend, really! **
Send me an email & tell me some cool things like: 1) The best movie you saw last year 2) A great book you read recently 3) Your current favorite song 4) A secret talent you have 5) What do you like/dislike about my site... you know, give me some feedback, talk to me! |
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Monday ~ January 15th
I must have weddings on my brain. Probably because I've just spent the last hour looking at wedding photos online from Gail & Brent's wedding in Mexico. Oh my, do they ever make a beautiful couple! Anyway, I've had this wedding cake picture as my screen saver for the last week. I think a) because it's so eye-catching & unique & b) because I think this design is rather inspiring for a bead set. We'll see...
Thanks to everyone that emailed me over the weekend regarding their favorite movies, books, songs & their secret talents... I forgot to mention mine:
1. Favorite movie of last year is a tough one. I really liked Borat, & The Trailer Park Boys & Night at the Museum, which has a fun website so go check it out. 2. Recent book ~ I guess the one that left the longest impression on me was "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. I don't know if it was my favorite book though? I really liked re-reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden (which has to be the best name for an author?). That was a fabulous book to get lost in. 3. Song(s) ~ I love "Put Your Records On" by Corrine Bailey Rae (I think she's going to be on Oprah tomorrow?). I'm also really digging Regina Spektor - she's very quirky, but so good. And this is just such a great song by Sandi Thom ~ amen girl! 4. Secret talent...hmmm. Well something you might not know about me is that I'm a pretty good cook. I actually really love cooking & usually plan a weekly menu for Chris & I. I love to stop torching & take a cooking break (stand up, move around the kitchen, enjoy the smells coming from the oven or stove...
I had such a nice weekend. We spent some time in the hot tub, had a wonderful pot roast dinner on Saturday, cleaned the entire house & did some adjustments to my studio, visited with my mom & played crib with her (she's really good), watched movies, went for sushi, read... nice & relaxing for the most part. Hope you had a great weekend too!
New clue for the riddle contest here. |
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Wednesday ~ January 17th
Here's a sneak peak of some of the beads I've been making for the sale that will happen one week from today. I just love all the designs you can create with just these two colors & of course, black & white never go out of style. Actually, I was really happy with these as I've been in a bit of a slump the last week with all that clumsy fire work & what not. I don't think I'll offer this up as one big strand, but instead, I'll group them into 3 smaller strands so that you can pick & choose (take 1, 2 or all 3).
My mom & I went back to the gym yesterday ~ after a rather long "Christmas indulging" hiatus. It was good to get back into the groove. I'm passionate about this job of making beads & maintaining a website, but it's extremely sedentary & I just don't get the exercise I used to when I was a gardener. I've found that in the last 5 years things have gotten out of control. I was on track last year, going to the gym 5 days a week, but then summer hit & I quit going because I couldn't bear to waste any more time inside than I had to. I now know that I can't afford to miss the exercise. It really screws with my mood, energy, body & general state of mind, so I've committed to it again. We've also signed up for another round of yoga, which actually starts right away so I better get going. |
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Friday ~ January 19th
Photo Courtesy of National Geographic
I just love this photo. It makes me want to go somewhere warm with a beach (& I want someone to carry me out of the water like that - ha just kidding! I'm all over getting wet). Did you know it is National Slow Down Week? It only took until Friday for me to figure it out. And it's a busy weekend ahead, lots of celebrations ~ friends & family, but I'm still going to try to sneak a few hours of torching in... somehow. No slowing down for me ~ have a great weekend! |
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Monday ~ January 22nd
Random Notes of Interest...
I Love These Plates
* Doesn't this look like a great book to give to a boy? I think I'm going to buy a couple for my nephews. It's a guidebook with information ranging from Astronomy to Piracy - cool!
* I never carry a purse around. I don't know why, I used to in high school, but somewhere along the way, I replaced it with a backpack. Now I feel a little too old to tote around a backpack everywhere so I don't bother with that either - instead, I find that I'm always fumbling with my things, cramming them into pockets or struggling to hold them in my hands as I open doors & what not... As a solution, I finally purchased this online the other day. Sort of like carrying around a pencil case, but it's rather understated & my cell phone, wallet, lipstick & keys will fit perfectly into it, isn't it pretty? Check this out as well - I love it & if I ever get that laptop I've been wishing for, I think I will buy the Gingko Trucker to carry it in.
* I also want this. Have any of you tried it? It's really expensive, but it's time I up my moisturizing regime.
* National Geographic's top ten stories for 2006
* I bought a card from this company ~ they have some really beautifully detailed cards. I wrote some words of wisdom in it & sent it in the mail to myself to open on my birthday. I still haven't received & it's been over a week!
* This is weird.
* Last clue for this month's riddle here.
* Web sale is this Wednesday. I have several sets of beads, some silk ties & a few bracelets that I'll post here for sale on Wednesday. I'll be notifying everyone on the lists - if you're not on the lists for jewelry and/or bead announcements, just email me & I'll put you on. |
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Wednesday ~ January 24th
Yeah ~ it's my birthday! Let's "sell-a-brate"!
Up for grabs now: Beads, Silk Ties, Bracelets.
I hope you have fun shopping! |
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Thursday ~ January 25th
Beads From Yesterday's Sale
Wow, that was a fun night! The Red Ox Inn is an amazing restaurant ~ dinner was fantastic. When we got home, Chris hooked up the Karaoke machine that he gave me for my birthday & we sang (err, butchered) a bunch of songs - it was hilarious! (Hey Flanders, now we don't even have to leave the house to celebrate your birthday.)
I've got to do a couple of quick errands this morning, but I'll be home to send invoices out to everyone. I'll be able to do a mail run before the weekend so as soon as payment is received, I can get your little goodies out. |
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Monday ~ January 29th
Ruby the Sparkle Baby
Cutest photo ever! This was in my email box on the weekend, just had to share.
I'm a bit under the weather - caught a cold a few days ago & now I have that scratchy throat thing going on. I'm feeling a little lethargic too - I took a pass on the gym this morning, instead I slept in for an extra hour. I'm going to spend the rest of the day torching though, that requires concentration, but no physical demand... I'll do the draw for the contest on Wednesday - so get your answers in quick if you haven't. |
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Tuesday ~ January 30th
Yesterday's Sunrise
The wonderful world of photographed liquid droplets How about a Jar of Whimsies? A nice video on Polar bear cubs For the environmentalist in all of us ~ Treehuggers I haven't seen this video for awhile ~ talking cats |
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Wednesday ~ January 31st
Show & Tell
This bracelet is my most favorite that I own (at the moment). I love it because it feels like I'm wearing a string of hand-picked treasures. There's the lone glass bead in the middle with the arching stripes, a mix of detailed Bali silver beads & a selection of unique stones. The large flat stone at the back acts like a worry stone that feels nice to rub & that turquoise gumball is so scrumptious. There's also a chunk of faceted carnelian that has a cloudy brown depth that I just love. Oh & there's a tiny silver heart dangle at the end that my mom put on for me.
I've announced the contest winner ~ Congratulations Mary Pat Dechant! New contest now up, check it out here. |
