Being Thankful On So Many Different Levels!

Well, you could say it has been a while since I've posted. I wish that I could share a new picture or two of my jewelry creations but I just haven't made the time to create. Life has been very busy with remodels and work, work, work! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I was thinking about all the great things in my life that I am thankful for. One of my first thoughts was of my sister Beverly. She is truly a very special person in my life! We are nine years apart in age and live hundreds of miles away from each other and she is my best friend! We don't see each other enough or talk enough but there isn't a time that we can't just pick up where we left off. I like to tell the story of when I was very little, I found a suitcase full of Beverly's paper dolls - a very beautiful collection indeed! Needless to say, I found the suitcase and Beverly found me pinching the heads off of her entire collection. Mom, tells me that Bev loved me so much, she never lost her temper with me. I couldn't have asked my Heavenly Father to pick a better or more loving family for me. Beverly has 5 wonderful kids. Well, not kids anymore!!! All of which are grown and have wonderful families of their own. I am very lucky indeed to have the family I do. There are so many reasons to be thankful! I wish you a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!!!

Things that inspire me!

Hind sight - I started this blog a couple of months ago never giving credit to the two people that deserve it the most - my parents. My folks and I don't live too far from each other and as I was visiting last Wednesday evening, having wonderful conversation, it dawned on me - I am the luckiest girl in the world. Never have I known, two people to give so much of themselves and their lives for their daughters. I owe my craftiness (among other things) to my lovely mother. She has always encouraged me to be creative - to have no limitations. She always seems to cherish the things that I have made but is never surprised. I am sure there is something to be said for that. My father has always been the gentle giant. The one who taught me to stand on my own two feet. The one who taught me how to ride a bike and then doctored up the cuts and bruises when I fell. To them - I owe so much! You inspire me! I love you!

AMAZING Lampwork Artist

Everyday I say to myself, when my 8-5 job is done I am going to hide in my studio and create, create, create. Well - Unfortunately life has become very busy and extra time is hard to come bye. I always keep my eyes and ears open when looking for new trinkets to add to my jewelry designs. I have found the most fabulous lampwork bead artist. Her name is Shari and you too can find her work at http://www.sislonski.etsy.com/ I purchased two wonderful beads from her for a custom piece that I am working on. Once I saw them I knew I had to have more. So I logged onto my computer and went to her website and the others that were posted were gone. Shari's email to me was that she had more but they were on their way to India!!! Shari was awesome - she made two more especially for me!!! I am so excited!!

There are many reasons!!

As I get older I realize that life is getting shorter. Whether it is people directly in my life or friends that lose family or loved ones. I had a really rough day yesterday...and I think sometimes that it's not bad to have those kind of days. It truly makes you realize what is important in life. There are many reason's why I get up every morning and the pictures in this post are just a few. Cherish your friends and family! They may not always be there, whether it's your choice or not.

You can never be too creative or have too many friends!!

Creativity is.. seeing something that doesn't exist already!

My last blog entry was about the absolutely wonderful evening we had at the Mondavi Winery watching the B52's with friends. My girlfriend Angie has starting using scrapbooking ideas for her photo albums. She was kind enough to bring a few pages to work today. I thought they were totally ~kool. Check'em out!!!

Wonderful evening with friends at Mondavi Winery

If you ever get the chance - check out the concert series at the Mondavi Winery. Rodney Strong does a jazz thing but Robert Mondavi feature different artist. Mark and I had the pleasure of seeing the B52's with a few of our friends. General addmission for the most part - so we got there early and had the perfect spot on the lawn, smackdab in the middle. Julia and Angie brought great treats to eat~ cheese and crackers and of course we all took turns purchasing bottles of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay!!! Yum, Yum!!!

It's a new day!

Ya know, I will be 44 at the end of this month and I'm pretty frickn' okay with it! I figured this will be the year of change for me and so far it has been. I am in a relationship with the best guy in the whole world - Mark! He gives me the encouragement to do the things that seem a little scary to me. He has truly helped me take off my training wheels. Creating this "BLOG" is very new and I feel like I'm on a ride to the moon. I have been half heartedly trying to start a little jewelry biz and "now" I feel it's time to jump with both feet. I love, love, love to make jewelry - chain maille. I figured creating a blog would be an extra way of putting my jewelry and trinkets out there.