Beki's Beading Blog

Bead Soup Blog Party!

2012-01-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest blessings I've gotten from the Internet has been the chance to connect with so many beaders on a personal level.

Over 15 years ago now I was feeling a sense of burnout from my customers. It seemed everybody wanted to be my "friend" because I owned a bead store. I would get invites to weddings, birthdays, social gatherings, etc., from people who I had no clue who they were! Every now and then they would let slip that they wanted to befriend me because I owned a bead store (and at the time one of the few in California!) and maybe they could get some "deals"! Serious? How hurtful that was. You wanted to be my friend so you could get something? Not because you liked me or thought I was cool? Or maybe because I seemed like a nice person, or because I had something in common with you? Not for any reason that would make me feel good....just because I had something you wanted? Yuck!

I crept into a little shell and found myself being really guarded when people were nice to me. That is so not my nature! You can ask anybody who knows me personally to find out that I am really outgoing, open, trusting. For me to recede into a shell was so uncomfortable.

But luckily for me right around the corner was the advent of the Internet and chat rooms, forums, email lists, newsgroups where like-minded people gathered. Yeehaw! So, I had this bright idea that I would join in the conversations but I wouldn't let on who I was. (such a smart girl!) What didn't dawn on me was that the spelling of my name is not common, (duh!...not so smart afterall are you, missy!) and within just a couple of weeks I was outed. I felt kinda foolish. And I felt bad that I was being deceptive. But I was craving some personal interaction with people and afraid to put myself in the same position I was trying to run from.

Luckily the group I bonded with the closest was a group on an AOL beaders forum. When I confessed my deception they totally understood and did not judge me for trying to be someone other than who I really was. And what was even better they accepted me first as just another beader. Someone to visit with. Rarely would I get the feeling that I was being "used". Instead I was able to share what I knew about beads and beadwork with a group of peers who happily shared what they knew with me in exchange. How freakin' awesome!

As years went by I have continued to develop online friendships. Some of them priceless. And one way of doing that I enjoy immensely is to join in to swaps, trades, events, causes that bring beaders closer together. Sometimes in groups and sometimes one-on-one.

I am hoping I get the luck of the draw on the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Party as I see this as yet another way to connect with even more beaders in a positive, fun, sharing environment.

Wish me luck! The draw is just around the corner!

Copyright? Again?

2011-12-10T09:40:00.001-08:00

I hate the phrase, “Beating a Dead Horse”. It sounds horrid. But it really is apropos for copyrightissues. For those of us who have beenonline for several years, and/or those of us who have needed to discuss or dealwith issues pertaining to copyright and beadwork, it really feels like you are “Beatinga Dead Horse”. You speak your mind time and time again, offer links, give examples…but it seems to fallon deaf ears all too often.

But….there are so many reasons why the topic needs to bediscussed again and again.

The main reason? Becausepeople continue to steal others artwork, designs, images, instructions, ideasand claim them as their own. Or theywill use another’s artwork and just not bother to credit them for it. Why credit someone? Well, aside from the common sense theory thatmentioning someone when you’ve used something they have designed will then gettheir name out there…that maybe the viewer might think, “Hey! I really like this persons designs, I think I’llgo purchase a pattern from them, too”. There is also the notion that when you credit someone you are beingconsiderate. I know, I know….manners,what a bore! They seem to be taking aswift exit stage left along with compassion, understanding, consideration and ethics.

Another reason to continually discuss the issue of copyrightis that there are still people who question it. They truly do not understand the concept. Maybe they interpret the law in such a waythat it becomes confusing for them. Maybe they want it to lean in their favor and so they intentionallyinterpret it how it suits them best. Ormaybe they don’t give a rats a$$. Hereis where I would have included the link to the copyright office. But since there is the excuse that thelegalese makes no sense, why bother.

It really is rather simple. Did you design that pattern independent of seeing it elsewhere? If not, it is not yours. No matter how much of it you change,regardless of any percentage, color changes, bead size changes, focal pointchanges, etc., etc., etc. changes…it is NOT yours. And if it is not yours you do not have theright to claim it as yours. It isillegal under the copyright law for you to do so…but even more, it is ethicallywrong for you to do this to a fellow beader. (PS...this blog post is not about coincidence, nor should coincidence be used as an excuse for you to be unethical. That is a different topic.)

Did you buy the pattern from a designer? See it in a magazine? Find it online? Purchase a kit? If so, regardless of what you do to this itemit belongs to the original designer. Youhave both a legal and moral obligation to not claim it as your own.

You could make those changes you want to make, but then yousimply mention that this item was inspired by So-n-So’s, Fancy Beaded Widget. There now…that didn’t hurt so badly, didit? Actually, if you stop and letyourself feel inside you’ll see that it actually felt good. You were a good person. And you helped out a fellow artisan by givingthem the credit they earned. And you setan example for your kids, friends and associates by just making a really simplegesture. Wow…you should be proud ofyourself for being such an honest and caring human.

The last reason for continually discussing this issue? Newbies. They happen every day. Thankgoodness! They are a wonderful group ofpeople, fresh, excited, eager to learn. Everythingbeady is amazing for them. I getenergized just being around a newbie. Their excitement flows over in abundance and I get to feel some of it,too. However, the newbie can also beclueless. A simple mention that thereare copyright issues involved with the patterns/designs they are learning frommany times does not make a big enough impact on the newbie. Their heads are in the clouds due to thelevel of excitement they are feeling about all those sparkly beads and theirnewfound joy in what they can create with them that you pretty much sound likea Charlie Brown teacher when you start blathering on about copyrightissues. But don’t back off. Keep teaching them. As with all things in life, there is more than one side. The newbie mustaccept the fact that there are issues regarding copyright that they will alsoneed to take the time to learn about. And if you are the one dealing with that newbie, it is your obligationto help them learn it.

So why am I beating this horse again? Because I experience copyright infringement often,either in my store, or through email, or I see it online when I’mbrowsing. Today I felt the need to bringit up again because I got an email from a newbie beader. She was so excited about what she justfinished beading. She was also cluelessthat just because she was the one to put the beads on the thread she was notthe original designer. She was thebeader. The designer of the pattern wasnever mentioned. I did my best to helpher understand that she gets even more kudos from me (and others) when shetakes just a moment to acknowledge the originator of the design when possible.Her original reply was simply, “Why?” After a few more emails I am happy to say that she understands now.

Oh, by the way…the design she beaded was mine. She didn’t notice the name from the magazinearticle. I'm thinking next time she'll look for the name. =o)

Wild Horses of North Carolina

2011-10-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

After we left Washington, DC we made our way towards the “Outer Banks” of North Carolina. Our goal was to get to Corolla, NC and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge which is located on the north end of the Corolla Island. We were going to see the wild horses!

The history of these wild horses living here started about 500 years ago when the Spanish explorers arrived to this coast area. Because these coastal waters are very shallow the Spaniards would sometimes need to toss heavy items overboard to keep afloat. The ancestors of the horses that inhabit this area now are descendents of those who swam ashore.

The horses adapted to this coastal region and in the mid 1980's a paved road was built and some serious construction of homes began. Sadly, the horses would be hit by motorists, so a fence was put up that spans from the Atlantic across the stretch of land to the sound on the other side to contain them in an 1800 acre refuge. They are safe now.

The highway which runs up this area of the outer banks also extends on to the beach and similar traffic laws apply, with reduced speed, maintaining a minimum of 50 feet distance from the horses and obeying standard traffic laws. Of course, we saw every one of these laws broken during our tour. People can be really stooopid!

Here is a shot of the highway.

As our tour guide drove us down the beach we were lucky enough to see several horses enjoying the cooling breeze and ocean air. What an amazing sight this was!

A mama and her babe!

We were also driven inland to find more horses and we saw several, but the shots didn't come out so good. Except for this one. This is a horse they have named Cyclops...for an obvious reason. He only has one eye. He lost the other fighting to maintain his herd of females. You can tell by his attitude towards us, even enclosed in our vehicle that he means business. His females were just on the other side of a thicket. Our tour guide was very respectful of Cyclops and kept a good distance from him, well over the 50 feet mandated by law.

I was able to find my home out here! Isn't she beautiful?

There are 100's and 100's of these homes all built out in the sandy dunes of this refuge. I can only imagine the amount of money required to get the materials out here along with the labor. Most of the homes were built as vacation rental units. What a fun time that would be!

There are also many weddings held out in this area. We spotted these two. This one with the guests just arriving....in their fancy clothes...in the sand!

And this one where the happy couple have already taken their vows and are now having some stunning photos taken. What an amazingly beautiful location for such a special event.

Back onto the “highway” and headed down the beach to see more horses we also saw these amazing cypress tree stumps along the shoreline. Remnants of an old cypress forest that grew here peek up out of the ocean waves. I am so intrigued by the thought of just how old these stumps are and that they remain even with the constant motion of the water.

And these sweet little birds that get to forage around these ancient stumps and shells washed up along the shore. This is truly a magical place on the planet.

After our amazing adventure, we had some of the best BBQ I have ever had a little place called the Duck Deli, in the town of Duck. If you get to this area make sure to stop here for a meal. Crazy good!

See you at the next stop!

Washington, DC

2011-10-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

First let me say...the weather is crazy here! One minute the sunis out and literally 10 minutes later lightening, thunder, andtorrential downpours. Then it stops after a few minutes and the sunpeeks out again and the temps crank back up to the low 80's. Sodifferent from NorCal weather for sure.
It rained off and on most of the day we were in town, but itwasn't so bad that we didn't fully enjoy our time here. We took atrolley tour and learned a lot from the various drivers we had, plusthey were all funny, too. If you're interested in a tour like this(on/off options, 3 different routes all for one price) I highlyrecommend the Olde Town Trolley company. They operate in severaldifferent cities.

We got to see several areas of town, including all the main DCsights. I have to admit, while I was intrigued with the thought ofthe amount of politics swirling around this area of the planet, whatreally got my attention was the architecture. I would love to returnhere and be able to slowly make my way through the variousneighborhood viewing all these amazing buildings.

Sadly, we weren't able to do any of the museums, so I'll mark thatdown for what to do here next time as well.

Here are a few of the more than 170 images I took. Some throughraindrop splattered windows, but I still think they came out okay. Oh...and the first one is of a flower at our campground just after arain. So pretty!

This is the bottom of the flag pole out in front of the Union Station where we picked up the Trolley.

Every where I looked there was one ornate item after the next. I loved it!

The is a corner on the front of the Union Station building.

My first glimpse of the capitol building with this beautiful statue.

I am amazed at the architecture of this building. They began building it in 1793.

Love this sculpture. I wonder if something like this could be created with beads. I think a long, tightly woven strip of Peyote that is wound back around itself might work.

My house! I figured there had to be at least one of them in the area! =o)

The Jefferson memorial.

The Washington Monument. Until recently you could ride up to the top and check out the town. Sadly, the recent earthquake in the area damaged the top and it is closed until they can figure out how to repair it.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. They were preparing the area around it for its dedication on Sunday.

Not the best shot of the White House but it seemed like every time I got a decent view of the building it was either raining or I was on the wrong side of the trolley! Check out the secret service guy. He's really in focus! LOL

Some amazing buildings!

These next two images are of the ceiling the Union Station. When it was built they used over 70 pounds of gold leaf. At todays prices that hovers around 2 million dollars worth of gold on the ceiling! It is stunningly beautiful!

The outer banks of North Carolina are next....stay tuned!

Vermont, Maine, Boston

2011-10-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

Reminder...if you want to see an image enlarged for more detail just click on it.

I have to admit, I was really sad to beleaving the Adirondack's. I love being in the mountains and all thequaint towns and the amazing colors of the trees were such a joy forme to see. But we must move on. Our campground for the night wasjust outside the town of Westport, NY. A lovely little village townalong the shores of Lake Champlain. We arrived a little late to domuch more than get parked and plugged in, so we didn't see too muchof the town when we arrived, but what we did see was beautiful.

In the morning we drove in to Westportand past an amazing building that I wanted some pictures of. So...Patti turned up a street to turn around. Bad move! LOL Weended up on a teeny tiny winding residential road in a 33' motorhome. I imagine the residents were considering us all levels of foolish, We did, however, find these really cool old milk jugs with a “FREE”sign on them. So we picked up two of them. Every night since thenwe've needed to move them outside and bring them back in everymorning. What were we thinking? There isn't enough room in here forthe three of us to move about easily let alone adding two milk jugs. But, stubbornness and an odd affection for the dumb things has keptus from leaving them behind anywhere. I continue to move themoutside each night.

Patti found this really cool bushin the yard of one of the homes that we passed (read "passed" as pulled into their driveway while trying to back up on the street...repeatedly). They remind me ofKiffa beads. Mainly that deep orangish-reddish shade of glass, but also the drop shape.

After about 30 minutes or so we managedto get back out to the street. Here are images of the building we worked so hard to get back to. Check out the ornate scrolling along the top of the tower.

And here is a shot of the town library.

And the great sign out in front of the fire house.

Driving towards the ferry that wouldtake us across Lake Champlain into Vermont we drove through severallakeside towns. One of them was named Moriah. Kathy spotted the topof this building hidden down a road. Since we were still a bit shellshocked from our last innocent “turn down this road” adventure, Imade Patti pull into a parking lot and I walked down the road. Thisbuilding now houses the town offices of Moriah, but I imagine in itsday it must have been a hotel of some sort. All I know is that Iabsolutely love it! It is for SURE one of my houses!

On to Vermont. As we were taking the ferry across Lake Champlain you could just barely see this old lighthouse peeking out thru the trees.

We meandered along atwo lane road past dairies and farms and huge grassy fields. Thrulittle towns with general stores and folks hanging around chattingwith each other next to a piece of farm equipment. My imaginationhopes the folks who live in this area are as peaceful and calm astheir farms look.

I didn't realize I was taking a photo of some folks taking a photo of this beatiful setting until I opened the image here to resize it.

We were headed for the Ben & Jerryfactory tour! It was a lot of fun. And we left with way more icecream than a motorhome freezer knows what to do with! Ice cream fordessert as often as you like? Sure, sounds good to me! =o)

After we left this area we begindriving through more beautiful trees and mountain roads. It seemed like every corner we turned was another postcard worthy view. I just cannot seem to get enough of them!

As opposed to the 1st abnormal school? ;o)

We stayed that night in EasternVermont. The next morning would be a short drive through NewHampshire and then on to Maine headed for the coast.

The terrain slowly changed from thatriot of fall foliage colors to more green the closer we got to theshore.

Patti was totally focused on gettingher lobster dinner that she had been waiting for. Our campgrounddirected us to a restaurant called Bufflehead (this is a type ofduck, apparently) but sadly, they didn't have steamed lobster, justlobster pie. So we had a seafood pasta instead with the intent ofheading to a different location for lunch the next day for lobster. This is an image of the Atlantic from the backyard of a house across the street from the restaurant. I'm sure they didn't mind. ;o)

I did a little research online andlearned that a place called Nunan's had great deals on lobster andcame highly recommended by folks from all over the world. We headedthat way...only to discover they didn't open until 5pm. Poor Patti. She pouted for a bit and we decided to just go have a light lunch andthen head back to Nunan's for dinner. We soon discovered that manyof the restaurants in the area close “for the season”...or inother words, around the beginning of October. =o/ Finding lunch wasnot easy but we eventually found a hot dog stand....along with theother 50 travelers needing lunch. This would be the 1^sttime in my life I've waited close to an hour for a hot dog. Willprobably be the last time, too.

After lunch we drove around thru the small coastal towns in Southern Maine. There are certainly some beautiful homes on these roads. We also drove out to the York lighthouse.

Look! My house!!

Some cool yard art at a shop in one of the little towns.

I just keep thinking of Shawn saying "Does anybody know where the hell we are?" every time we drove by one of these signs.

Mine....just in case you were thinking of calling it!

Stunning white on white. The architecture is just amazing me every moment!

Finally time to head back to Nunan'sfor dinner. It certainly lived up to all the good reviews. This wasonly the second time in my life I had ordered a lobster. And sincetheir special was for 3 lobsters that's what I got! Patti ended uptaking my leftovers home for dinner the next night.

Lobster, lobster, lobster!

And homemade blueberry pie! Yum!

The next day we headed towards CapeCod. We drove around the small towns along the shore and I found my house!

Then we headedtowards Salem. There wasn't anywhere for us to park the motorhome sowe just drove through town and then headed towards Boston. Westopped to see the John F. Kennedy memorial library and museum. Thearchitecture of the building was amazing.

No photos allowed inside, but I wasable to get this great shot of Boston from the pavilion.

Next stops...Hoboken (I'm not kidding!) And Washington, DC! See you there!

Hershey, Amish, Niagara Falls, Adirondacks

2011-10-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Patti came down with a stomachflu so Kathy and I spent a few days just bumming around LancasterCounty in Pennsylvania. We didn't want Patti to miss anything so wejust scoped out the area. Drove by Hershey's Chocolate World just to see how to get there, had along lunch at a Panera Bread (great soup!), went to the grocery storeand hung out around our campground.

When Patti was feeling better we got right back into our great trip. We hadbreakfast at Miller's Smorgasbord, an Amish area restaurant that hasbeen around since 1929 and was pretty highly rated online. It wasjust OK for us. The ham was really good, and I had a mushroom omeletthat was tasty, but a lot of the pre-cooked foods were kinda sub par. I had read up about another restaurant in the area called Dienner's. We had planned to go there for dinner, but sadly, they close at 6pm. Ona Saturday night! LOL Oh well. We ended up down the road a bit ata place called Jennie's Diner. Really good, portions way too large,our waitress Sarah was great! If you're ever in this area I highlyrecommend you check out this diner.

Anywho...after breakfast we went toHershey's Chocolate World. Sadly, my battery had died on my cameraand I discovered this as I was walking in the door. =o(

But check out their website if you'recurious. It was fun. We did a chocolate tasting adventure andlearned a little about why various types of chocolates taste different. It was fun.

Then we headed back over towards Amishcountry. We went to Lititz and had the best soft pretzel I've everhad in my life at the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery! Beautiful town. If we had more time we could haveeasily spent the entire day here. Then on to Intercourse, anotherquaint town, Blue Ball and then back to Ronks where our campgroundwas. After dinner we hit the sack and slept like babies. Might have had something to do with all that chocolate!

The next morning we headed towardsBuffalo, NY. We went to the Anchor Bar & Grill for wings, andthey were just as good as we expected. Off to our campground whichwas in the town of Niagara Falls. And yes, every time I say NiagaraFalls I following in my head with the words, “Slowly I turn,step-by-step” from the Three Stooges skit.

It has been overcast and rainy forseveral days now, which hasn't bothered me too much, but I had hopedit would clear up a bit for my first view of the falls. Sadly, itdidn't but as you can see from all the pictures I took (and this isonly about ¼ of them) it didn't take away too much from this amazingsight.

We took the Maid of the Mist boat ridewhich brings you right into the center of where the two falls comecrashing down. The power generated by the amount of water crashingdown is just amazing. There really is no explaining it...you justneed to find a way to experience it for yourself. I was in totalamazement.

Here are some of the images. A fewfrom the boat, a few from the shore and the observation deck - whichI thought I would be too chicken to walk out on, but after I survivedthe boat ride I felt a little fearless....for a few minutes anyway! I have to say I am really proud of myself that I didn't let myanxiety get the best of me and either keep me from going on the boat,or needing to take a pill which would have altered my experience. Ienjoyed the exhilaration of it. But I won't lie, I also got reallyscared for a bit. =o)

Some beautiful flowers I spotted on the walk down to the boat.

The following are several shots I took of the falls from the boat.

You can see the air getting mistier the closer the boat gets to the falls. The intense power of the water actually pulls the boat about a little, and of course the wind generated by the falling water can be felt as you try to stand up straight on the boat.

This is a view of the observation deck as seen from the boat. Looks small from this angle.

Areas of the rock on the ramp back up to the observation deck have water seeping through. This beautiful moss and ivy could be seen in several places.

This is a view of the American Falls in the foreground and the Horseshoe Falls in the background (they're on the Canadian side of this area) from the observation deck.

These plants line the walkway towards the gift shop (aka the exit).

We saw several squirrels, including several black ones (my first time seeing one in person) all over the park. This little guy barely held still long enough for this quick shot.

We drove to Syracuse, NY after NiagaraFalls but had a really hard time finding a campground. We consideredstaying in a hotel but for some reason decided to camp out in theWalmart parking lot. BAD idea. BIG mistake in judgment on our part. First of all it wasn't in the best neighborhood, so we were a littleon edge about that. Then the noise. I guess some people find itamusing to stop their cars next to RV's in the parking lot that haveall their curtains drawn and just sit there...for 5 minutes ormore....directly next to the window. Or the folks who rev theengines of their diesel Hummers while they drive circles around theRV's. Add to this the numerous apparent drug deals that took placeuntil well after 2am in this same parking lot. Oh...and the trains! Let's not forget the trains. I think there were at least 3 of them. Yes, you are right...I didn't sleep that night! LOL

We needed to get the oil changed in theRV. Another difficult task in this area for several reasons, but wefinally found a place that would do it at 1. So we found alaundromat, grabbed a sandwich, got the oil changed and finallyheaded on our way towards the Adirondacks. We stayed just outsideWatertown at Bud's Campground. Great place! Super nice guy. Hereis the view from our campsite.

Today we drove across the Adirondacksmostly on Highway 3. An easy and stunningly beautiful drive whichtook us through several small mountain towns and villages, pastsparkling lakes, rivers and streams and happily also past someamazing Autumn colors. I have at least 3 seed bead mixes I'dlove to make using some of these colors now. Such stunning inspiration!

In between these amazingcolors were glorious and majestic pine trees with their deep forestgreen hues and well as twinkling Aspens, some that had changed togolds, oranges and reds and others that were a bright lime green. All those colors! I was on overload. It made me feel very comfortableand very happy. Since I spend the majority of my life surrounded bybeads in every color imaginable, I hadn't realized how much I wasmissing that. This drive filled that need very well.

BTW...I have not altered these images except to resize and in a few of them I cropped them a bit. These colors are exactly what my camera picked up. Amazing, huh? I know for folks who live in areas where the leaves change colors it might not seem so awe inspiring. To me it was like magic.

Tomorrow we start making our waytowards Kennebunkport, ME and a lobster roll with my name on it! I'mreally looking forward to the drive through Vermont as I heard the colors are crazy amazing there right now.

See you again in a few days!

Hwy 81 into Hershey, PA

2011-09-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

On the way out of Nashville I spottedmy home! Wouldn't it be fun to live in a place like this? Thetree-lined driveway is about ¼ mile long.

On to Knoxville to visit with a family friend.

After we left Knoxville we headedtowards our campground for the night. It ended up being just outsidethe Great Smoky Mountain National Park. YAY! What a bonus. Wehadn't planned to head in that direction, but the availablecampground took us that way. It was a bit of a drive after a longday, and we couldn't see much of anything when we arrived, but wewoke up in a beautiful setting nestled in the woods along the edge ofthe Great Smoky Mountains.

After showering and getting the RVready to go we hit the road and headed into the park towardsGatlinburg, TN. What a beautiful drive. Below are some of theimages that I managed to get. I was so in awe that I kept forgettingto take photos. Silly girl! But I did buy some beautiful postcardsat the park gift shop. Along with some Smoky Mountain BlackberryJam. So good!

We stopped in Gatlinburg for lunch anda quick walk down the touristy main street. Lunch was really good. Tennessee BBQ at a place called Calhoun's. The ribs are amazing. They've won several awards for them, but to be honest the side disheswere what really blew me away. Tennessee corn puddin' (like a cornsouffle but not too puffy) and Spinach Maria (creamed spinach withcheese on top that is browned under the broiler...yum, yum!) Theyhave the recipes on their website and I fully intend on making thesedishes for my family when I get home.

The town is very touristy but also hada sweet quaintness to it.

While walking a few blocks down the streetit started raining really hard. But it was so warm out I actuallywelcomed getting soaked. I am having a little trouble with the heatand humidity. Basically I whine several times a day while I feel asif I'm melting.

As we headed out of town towards ourcampground in Bristol, TN we spotted an 8 mile drive of area Arts &Crafts. What a wonderful experience. There are a little over 100artisans along this drive that sell either out of their homes or outof homes that have been turned into artisan studios. I wish I haddays to spend here stopping at every single place. Luckily for my pocketbook the RV couldn't fit into most of the driveways. I didmanage to stop and find a really cool gift for Shawn made by a guywho does a little leatherwork, a little woodwork and is just learningto chip arrowheads. Loved it!

The next morning we headed towards Hwy81, a beautiful scenic drive thru the Appalachians and the ShenandoahValley which runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A short detour on to Hwy 11 which zigzags back and forth under and around Hwy 81 gave us this great view of Pal's hotdog stand. Tons of ducks hanging out in the parking lot. I got a huge glare from the owner when I tossed a little snack out to them. Ooops! Sorry!

PS...note the men standing in the french fries? I didn't even notice this until tonight when I adjusted the image for the web. LOL

We stopped at agreat little diner out in the middle of nowhere called Casey's and Ihad one of the best hamburgers ever! Along with handcut fries. Kathy had a grilled chicken sandwich and Patti had catfish. Allreally tasty.

Sadly, we got lost for a good 40minutes trying to find our way back to the highway. Neither the RV'sGPS nor the one on my phone could manage to figure out where we were. Hopefully someday they will get a better signal in this area as Ithink Casey's Diner deserves more patrons!

We drove to Harrisonburg to have dinner before heading to our campground. Here are a few images from this town.

An old Piggly Wiggly building.

An ornate Catholic church.

A close-up of those amazing doors!

Hey look! Another one of my houses! They're everywhere!

Finally back on Hwy. 81 we drove untilnightfall and got to see a pretty amazing electrical storm. Again,an amazing site for a CA girl. We have lightning once in awhile, butit looks nothing like this type of lightening. Some of the flasheslit up the entire sky a rosy pink shade. Very pretty.

Up the next morning and back onto Hwy81 towards Hershey, PA. We drove in 4 states in about a 30 minutetime period. Something totally amazing for a girl from NorCal, whereit takes a good 4 ½ hours minimum to get out of CA. We went thruVirginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. How fun! Thenall of a sudden we were in Scotland! LOL

We ended up needing to stop at an RVrepair place in Harrisburg, PA for a few minor fixes and actuallyspent the night in their parking lot that night as the repairs ranuntil late in the evening. It is part of the service they offer. They are open 24/7!

It stormed pretty heavy with lots ofwind and rain and because we were parked on asphalt we could reallyfeel the RV moving in the storm. Flash flood warnings in the areabut we were safe where we were located.

Sadly, the campground we wanted to stayat tonight had some flooding issues and couldn't take ourreservation. We're hoping to stay there tomorrow night after ourvisit to Chocolate World (doesn't that name just sound awesome!?)tomorrow.

Here is a view of the sunset from thecampground we're at tonight.

And here is dinner! Yum, yum!

Off to indulge in copious amount ofchocolate tomorrow! I better get a good nights sleep!

See you all again as soon as I can maketime.

Nashville Tennessee

2011-09-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Friday, September,23^rd, 2011. I arrive at the Nashville, TennesseeInternational airport and my sisters are there to pick me up in mynew home. This is my first view of the RV. It's a nice one withhigh 7' ceilings, an important feature for a family that hoversaround 6' tall and more.

Off we went todinner and I was starving. I had just had a 12 hour travel day witha single veggie sandwich from an airport vendor I'll spare you thedetails, but just suffice it to say that I had trouble decipheringsome of those veggies! Traveling is always an adventure!

After dinner wepulled into our space at the Two Rivers RV park just around thecorner from the Grand Ole Opry.

Saturday,September 24^th, we started the first day of our journeytogether. Remember my sisters had started this trip from San Diego,so they had already been on the road for a little over a week. Firstwe had a very HUGE breakfast at a Cracker Barrel, then Patti decidedI should drive today! Nothing like tossing me right in there! LOL Actually, I have quite a bit of experience since I've been drivingour truck to shows for so many years. We drove around the Grand OleOpry. We had looked into getting tickets for the venue there thisweekend, but since it was Dolly Parton it has been completely soldout for a while. Impressive building as was the Opry hotel acrossthe way.

Nextstop was Centennial Park in Nashville, a beautiful park and right inthe center is a replica of the Greek Parthenon. Since there wasnowhere for us to park the RV I just pulled into the bus area and ranup the steps and down into the grass to take this photos. Prettyimpressive. I would have loved to have gone inside to seeeverything. Like its predecessor in Greece, the Parthenonin Nashville faces east.In antiquity this would allow light to come into the building as thesun came up and the doors were opened.

Here is a close-up of some of the ornate structures on the building.

Thebronze doors weight 7.5 tons each.They measure 24' high, 7' wide and 1' thick. There are two sets (4doors total) of these enormous doors in the Parthenon. This makesthem the largest set of matching bronze doors in the world. TheParthenon doors in antiquity were only slightly lighter and werewooden with a bronze overlay.

This is a close-upimage of one of the decorations on the door.

I lucked out asthere happened to be a craft faire happening at the park that day! How fun! There are few things I enjoy more than seeing the wares oflocal arts and crafts folks. But just where would I find a place topark this beast? As we drove around the circular drive of the park Ijust happened upon about 4 parallel parking spaces really close tothe faire. They were right next to a large mud puddle so I thinkmost folks avoided them. They were perfect for me! Patti napped andKathy and I walked around the faire.

After this wedrove over to see the Belle Meade Plantation. A 30 acre historic site 6 miles west of Nashville. The centerpiece of the property is the Belle Meade mansion built in 1853.

I spotted this sundial on the massive lawn in front of the estate.

And over the side are the old dairy building (that they now store cases of wine in) and one of the slave quarters in the background.

And this is a replica of an old cabin on the plantation.

From there we drove to the Belmont Mansion. Belmont Mansion is the largest house museum in Tennessee and one of the few nineteenth century homes whose history revolves around the life of a woman: Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham.

To end our evening we went to the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater and had a buffet of overcook veggies drenched in butter, fried chicken, meatballs in a mushroom gravy, something smothered in BBQ sauce and Nilla Wafer pudding! All while watching past their prime country singers.

This image of a stunning willow tree in Centennial Park is for Shawn. Look how beautiful it is!

Today we head to Knoxville for a quick visit with an old family friend. Then we're On The Road Again.....

My Journey Begins

2011-09-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out the door in a few minutes. My bags are packed after at least 1/2 a dozen tries. I had to leave behind things I never thought I could live without....I just bribed myself that if I couldn't survive I could always go buy another. Odd how we can trick ourselves like that. It's like setting the clock back 10 minutes so you're always on time!

Because we'll be driving with the morning commute traffic (how do people do that every day!) we're needing to leave extra early to get me to the airport on time. But I don't mind, it will be over 2 hours alone in the car with Shawn. It will be nice to have that time with him just before I leave. I cannot even express how much I am going to miss him. And my kids! And my dogs! OK....no more of that! I don't want to start crying again.

SFO here I come! A short (hopefully) layover in San Diego then I'll be in Nashville by dinner time!

Shawn bought me a point and shoot camera as a gift for my trip, so I'll be sure to take some lovely photos of all the sites I'll be seeing to share with you all!

Talk to you soon!

All I need....

2011-09-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

If packing for a month long trip isn’t enough to convince me that I must have multiple personalities, I don’t know what will! Or even worse, I am beginning to feel like Navin from The Jerk. All I need is this book of matches, and this chair, and this thermos….

As I am preparing for this several thousand long mile journey with my sisters in an RV I am trying to determine what the best projects (beads, knitting, tangling, etc) as well as clothes to bring would be. I decided I am far too scattered today to even think of which projects to bring…ala Scarlett O’Hara, I’ll think about that tomorrow! However, I need to get my clothes situation in order. At the moment my entire king size bed as well as every open surface in my bedroom is draped with almost every article of clothing I own. What a mess! The only things I haven’t pulled out of the closet are my velvet show clothes….altho, now that I think about it, what if we go to dinner somewhere fancy one night? Argh!

Here is the tentative guideline of the part of this road trip I will be on:

Starting September 23^rd, I will fly to Nashville, TN from there our itinerary is roughly:
Kingston, TN
Knoxville, TN
Appalachian Trail
Bedford, VA
Hagerstown, MD
Hershey, PA (CHOCOLATE!)
Buffalo, NY
Niagara Falls
Albany, NY
Keene, NY
Concord, NH
Somersworth, NH
Kennebunkport, ME
Salem, MA
Boston, MA
Nantucket, MA
Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Providence, RI
Hoboken, NJ (Don't ask!)
Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC
Chesapeake Bay, VA
Chantilly, VA
Virginia Beach, VA
Alligator River, NC
Wake Forest, NC
Seagrove, NC
Charleston, SC
Savannah, GA (Hello, Paula Deen!)
Daytona Beach, FL
Orlando, FL
Miami, FL
The Keys
Naples, FL
The Everglades
Tallahassee, FL
Sometime around the end of October I will return home to Cotati, CA

Now…just what does a girl (plus size at that!) pack for so many different weather variations when all she can bring needs to fit into one suitcase? I am laughing hysterically at the moment as I contemplate this thought over and over again.

I imagine I could just bring 2 skirts, 2 pants, 2 tanks, 2 shirts, 1 sweater, tons of undies and a few pairs of socks along with several rolls of quarters so I can hit up the Laundromats often.

Any packing advice? I have only 12 days left and I can’t find my bed!

My Best Friend...

2011-09-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I have been together almost 30 years. He jokingly said last night, “I think I’ve been with you longer than I’ve been with myself!”

As I’m preparing for this road trip with my sisters, that is planned to be about a month long, I started to feel anxiety about being away from my family. My husband. My kids (we do Sunday dinner almost every week). My dogs. The anxiety kept building until I had to look it in the face and figure out what my big problem was. In the almost 30 years that Shawn and I have been together, the longest we’ve been apart was 10 days. And we still talked to each other every single day. Out of approximately 10,579 days together the longest stretch apart was 10. Dang!

I imagine for some folks they might look forward to the break. And I’ll be honest, a little break is nice now and then…from anything! But for me a day or two is plenty. Shawn is my best friend. He’s my husband, my springboard, my biggest cheerleader, the person who I trust to go to for advice about life, my art, if these pants make my butt look big…pretty much everything. After 10,000+ days I’ve come to depend on him for so many things in my day to day life. Some might analyze that and question whether it’s healthy or not. All I know is that it works for both of us. We actually like each other as people, trust each other, we have a good time together. We see things the same way (well, for the most part), we enjoy doing a lot of the same things and if there is something one of us enjoys that the other doesn’t we either compromise or go our separate ways for a few hours.

So, can I handle being physically apart from him for that many days? I have an anxiety disorder. Will my anxiety rear its ugly head and cause problems? Will my sisters know how to handle me if my anxiety gets too intense? Will I be able to deal with it? Shawn is my grounding source if I have a major panic attack. Can I have one without being able to physically touch him to help make it stop? I have absolutely no clue at all.

I do know that Shawn, while also sad and stressed that I’ll be away for so long, is fully supporting that I take this trip. It really is a once in a lifetime adventure for a gal like me. He is concerned about how well he’ll be able to handle the business alone for that long. I’m only a phone call away, I say. We reassure each other whenever one of us gets slammed with the reality of what I’m about to do…in just over 2 weeks from now! What a beautiful trip it will be! I so wish I could do it with him.

I haven’t booked my return flight home yet. It somehow eases my stress to know that I can come back home sooner if I need to. My best friend, Shawn, suggested that to me. He really knows me very well. He always has my back.

Caught up in a Tangle!

2011-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

I've been dealing with some painful back issues lately. As a way to escape from the pain without over medicating myself I thought to do a little drawing. Something I used to do in what seems like now a past life! Actually from about the age of 8 to 20. After I got pregnant and started my family it seems the drawing just got set on a back shelf and forgotten about.

So, when I first picked up a pen and paper I just sat and stared at the blank whiteness of it for a good 10 minutes. Nothing came. I guess I thought it would be like riding a bike and I would just sit down and art would spew forth from my fingers. LOL Not the case!

After 10 minutes I finally managed to draw a little made up cartoon character I used to draw. I've drawn him a 1000 times, so it took all of 60 seconds out of my day. Not what I was after. I was searching for something that would let me immerse myself in the pen and paper, let the creativity flow and help me escape the pain for awhile. Something other than my beads that I always turn to in times of need. Why no beads? Because at the moment I am stuck in a zone of needing to create for either classes or kits and my mental state of mind is not conducive to that. Trust me! I tried.

After dealing with the frustration of not having a single thought in my brain that I could draw, I remembered having seen a few beady friends talk about Zentangles. Basically, from what I knew, a way to doodle starting with a set of steps that would then allow you to experience the "zen" of drawing. Seemed silly to me...drawing was always zen-like for me. Why would I need to give it a name, or start in a certain sequence in order to get there? Why do I always have to question everything?

So, I googled and got 474,000 links! LOL Let's start at the first one! This took me to the Zentangle.com website. These are the folks who coined this term and the sequence of events. They have a plethora of information, lots of additional links, instructions, patterns, etc. Looks like fun! So, I took a trip to the craft store for a sketch pad and some nice pens. They didn't have the pens suggested (Sakura Pigma Micron) and their sketch pads were all generic. But as I was walking thru the store I spotted some stiff paper cutouts in fun shapes like leaves and butterflies. Maybe I could just draw on one of those? I headed to my local art supply store, Riley Street, for the pens.

When I got home I was really anxious to get started. But in normal fashion for me, I tend to not follow the "rules" (actually they are just guidelines, but if they act like a rule I seem to run in the opposite direction). This is something that many times in life has gotten me in big trouble, and other times has allowed me the freedom to discover things I love. So...I don't fight it! LOL

Here is my first (finished) "zentangle" which isn't really a zentangle but more of doodling the zentangle fashion on paper.

I actually started doodling on this leaf shape first, but the butterfly shape was sitting out on my table and it kept screaming my name. So I set the leaf down, completed the butterfly and then returned to this leaf...my second "zentangle"

I promised myself that I would try to draw on un-shaped paper for the next one, trying to follow the guidelines. I got close! I didn't do the dots in the four corners thing, but I did draw in my sketch book for my third zentangle.

I am totally experiencing the zen-like state of mind I was searching for. It is a wonderful escape!

I am planning a long road trip with my sisters Kathy & Patti to start later this month. I can't wait to see what shapes I see while driving around the country that I can add to my drawings!

I also plan to blog about this journey, so if you'd like to follow along while I travel from Nashville, TN up to the northern most corners of the US and down to Florida, check back here often!

~ Beki

Who will love my things?

2011-07-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

“Her name was Sooz”. “She died from brain cancer”. “She loved her husband, her dogs, beads, rubber stamps, paper arts, glitter, costume jewelry, knick-knacks, repurposing old unwanted treasures, and she had great taste in clothes”. “I am most certain she would be very pleased to know how happy you are to now be the proud owner of this”. “No, her husband will be moving soon”. “Yes, the artwork is very eclectic”. “She most certainly had a blast creating in that room”.

These and many similar sentences are ones that I repeated 100 times over yesterday. At first, almost painfully, then as the day moved on, they became almost liberating for me, like a growth of spirit and mind.

But in the back of my mind my brain was processing my emotions about it all. What will happen to my stuff when I go? Will my family know how much this is worth? Or how special that thing is? Will they make sure those two things are sold together? Those two pictures really should stay together…

Susan Yasinitsky Hara was an online friend. I met her many years ago (15 maybe) online on rec.craft.beads, one of the original newsgroup locations where beader’s congregated to visit and build online friendships. She was also a very good customer. Sooz, as she was known famously for, was an outspoken, opinionated, caring and very social member of that newsgroup. Abrasive at times (many times actually), very vocal in her opinions, especially if it were in regard to something she felt strongly about, but also very loving and caring of her friends. She gave freely of herself on many levels. Sometimes so much that it was a detriment. But, some people are just that way; they burn bright and hot, passionate and intense. Many times those are the stars that burn out way too soon.

That was the case with Sooz, I believe. She had a lot of life in her, many things she wanted to create, so much invested in the tools and supplies to create them, such a love of life and things she surrounded herself with. But sadly, cancer overcame her and that intensity that defined her, the blazing light that she was, burned out way too early.

The Bead Society of Northern California was contacted and members were asked if they could help to oversee the sale of her estate. It took several members weeks to pour over all of the beads, jewelry, altered art supplies and the myriad of other craft and art supplies that Sooz had collected. Plus her personal items like clothes, jewelry, and household items. The sale was to be held on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31^st in Berkeley, CA.

Knowing one of these Bead Society boards members as I do, when she emailed me about some of the items in the estate, I could “hear” the tone in her voice…she was overwhelmed. While I have some deadlines knocking on my head, I felt I could spare a day to go help get the remaining items prepped and ready for sale. So on Friday I drove down to Berkeley and met her at the house. Walking through the door it was easy for me to fully understand why she sounded so overwhelmed in her email. Oh my goodness! The amount of jewelry bits and pieces that had been collected was astonishing. They had been sorting for weeks, and many, many weeks would still be needed for a dozen or more sorters to come close to getting it completely sorted out. But the estate sale was beginning the next day! What to do? What to do?

My ability to “take charge” rose to the surface and I became a general. Spouting orders of move these here, put those outside, bring those inside, tables along this wall, and let’s begin to make some grab bags! We worked almost 12 hours straight, stopping quickly for two very welcome meals provided by Sooz’ husband Kevin. Still, when our muscles ached beyond being able to ignore them any longer and our brains got so muddled that words no longer came out properly and our eyes were so fuzzy from exhaustion that we had no clue what we were looking at any longer, we had to call it a night and hope we had prepared enough for what was to come the following day.

Kevin was feeling the stress, the frustration of losing his wife way too early in life, the anxiety of strangers coming in to his home, the anger at people touching her things, taking her things away. I did what I could to assure him that the people who would come would also be in love with all of these things and they would cherish them as she did. Or was I assuring myself? He left before they sale began. Off to spend the day somewhere else….anywhere else.

Even more emotions to process for me. Is this what my husband would do if I go first? I would hope so. No need to martyr yourself in this scenario. Let it go. Leave while it happens. Don’t torture yourself by watching people touch her things, his things, their things. He needs the money that will be raised from this sale and that is the focus he needed to keep in the forefront of his mind. Don’t let the emotional attachment to “things” blind you to the reality of life. This is for the best. It really, truly is.

8am on Saturday I find myself hustling about as quickly as I can to make sure things are displayed in a way that will make it easy for people to shop, pricing larger items one by one, putting signs above huge baskets and drawers full of the 1000’s of grab bags we created, stacking tray upon tray of rubber stamps, 1000’s of rubber stamps! And setting up household items so they would be easily seen and hopefully admired enough by the estate shoppers that they would want them all.

9:45am. The line of 100 or more is down the street (and will remain this way until well past 1pm). They are excited to shop. There are sure to be treasures. The emotions well up inside of me again. Are they sharks? Are they here to feed? To paw over someone else’s belongings without any concern or care for them? Is their main objective to buy a dead woman’s treasures for fractions of what it is really worth? Oh how horrible those thoughts are.

When I die, I don’t want bottom feeders coming with their claws to grab at my things. I cherish my belongings, they are mine. I give thought to everything I own. My beads are precious to me only after my family. Will anybody know how special that little box that sits on my dresser is to me? How cherished the contents are to me? Will anybody care?

10am. I needed to push those emotions down. This is no time for these kinds of thoughts. My friends need me to help them with this task they have taken on. Kevin needs this sale to happen. He needs this money. He needs to be free from these items. He has no use for beads, or rubber stamps, or women’s clothes.

The line at the door needed to be monitored as only groups of people could be let in at a time. The house could only accommodate so many at once. In they came, excitement exuding from them. And I was wary of them. Be respectful of her treasures please. Be respectful.

And much to my astonishment they were! There was very little “dickering” over prices. I could see people pick up a little trinket and hold it gently in their palm. Look at it carefully and appreciate it for what it was. Pick a book off the shelf and finger through the pages, admiring the quality of the book, of the pages, how they had been kept in such good condition. Hold clothing up to them and appreciate the quality of the fabric, of the stitching; the colors and style. Laugh as they looked through the 1000’s of rubber stamps, how some were comical, others a bit risqué, other still obviously custom created. Be overwhelmed at the abundance of the collection.

My emotions settled. Everything was going to be okay.

I spent the remaining several hours answering questions about beads, jewelry supplies and craft supplies as well as giving the bits of information I knew about Sooz as most every person I came into contact with throughout the day asked questions about her. Why? I am not certain. Curiosity? Does it matter to know who owned this item before you? But I am certain that they listened intently. A few would have tears immediately well in their eyes when I would tell them what she died from. Or that her husband was still here, but without her. And all of them, seriously every single person who I dealt with immediately cherished the things they just bought. They were here because they too love beads, jewelry, art supplies, paper, good quality clothing, and artwork.

And so it passes from one person to the next. These little items that someone carefully chose, loved, admired and displayed with care and attention pass on to the next person who will do the very same thing.

Sooz, you would be happy to know that your treasures have gone on to new homes where they will still be loved, used to create, displayed to be admired, worn to flatter, and owned to comfort.

Oh, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to reflect upon my own possessions. My thoughts about what will become of my treasures. These beads that I am surrounded by, that I love so very much whether they are expensive collector’s items or a tube of seed beads. They will always be treasured by someone. Only those who really want them will have them. Only those who truly appreciate their beauty will bother to come and get them. And when I am gone and no longer have a need for earthly items like that, someone else will get the same joy they bring to me.

Bead & Button Show 2011

2011-06-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hope you enjoy all the amazing creations from the folks who entered their work into the 2011 Bead Dreams competition. Shawn did a great job taking photos through the glass! He also tried hard to get the name placards for the piece in the photo, but as you'll see, some of them are a bit out of focus. The camera was also much more interested in the beads, beadwork, and artistic creations. =o)

At the end are the wonderful creations by our beading friends from Japan!

Enjoy!

Until next year....

Japanese Beadwork Exhibit

2010-06-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

What a joy it was to see this exhibit!

Beadwork from the Bead & Button Show 2010

2010-06-20T15:21:00.001-07:00

The show was beautiful this year!

This year I tried hard to capture the name tags that accompany the beadwork. If any tags aren't showing or only show partially, my apologies. I took the shot of the hall with the displays before the show began. I took the photos of the beadwork after the show had opened and lemme tell ya....it is NOT easy getting women to move out of your way when they are gazing lovingly upon beautiful beadwork! As such, some photos may be at odd angles! =o)

I hope you enjoy browsing some of the amazing beadwork that was on display. I know I certainly did! Congrats to all the entrants!

The Bead & Button Show celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. Prior to that the show was called Embellishments and was organized by a different company.

The end!

I feel loved!

2010-05-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, May 15th, was the NorCal Bead Society Bazaar. A wonderful show held each Spring at the Oakland Marriott convention center.

And one of two times during the year when I'm assured of getting to spend a few minutes with some online friends who train up from the Fresno area. One of those friends is Arline Lewis.

Arline is a talented and prolific beader and a wonderful friend. Be sure to check out all her amazing beadwork on her blog.

This year, when Arline came into our booth to give me my long awaited hug, she had something else with her as well. A beautiful gift bag with huge flowers on it and bright orange tissue paper peeking out the top. I certainly wasn't expecting a gift! How sweet is that! I also wasn't expecting how quickly this gift would bring me to tears. I am such a wuss!

I have volunteered on the board of Layne's Legacy - Beading For A Cure since it began in 2002. And every year up until this year, I also supported the cause and the wonderful beaders who donate so much of their time and talent by bidding on several of the projects when they are put up for auction. Sadly, last year, eBay told us that if we sat on the board for this charity we would not be allowed to bid on any of the items. Something about shill bidding, I guess. Which, I suppose if you were a dishonest person would be an option in your life, but it is certainly not an option in my life. I truly want to win those items and my studio is proof positive of that as I am surrounded by more than 20 items I was able to win from previous years.

Those wins mean so many things to me. That I get to support the artists who create such wonderful pieces of beadwork. That my money goes into the pool to be donated in Layne's name to the NCRRA each year. But also that I get to reward myself for all the time I donate to this cause. Unfortunately, all those things were taken away when eBay said we could no longer bid. How sad!

When the beadwork began to arrive, I was just heartbroken seeing all those wonderful projects people had created knowing not one of them would be mine.

But, my champion arrived in the form of a redheaded sweetheart, when Arline handed me that gift bag. Here is what was inside.....

Ellen Chasse's framed Dragonfly! One of the items I was lusting after soooooo badly!

I felt the tears welling up instantly. I tried real hard to hold them back....but it was futile! They welled up so quickly and just spilled onto my cheeks before I could take a second breath. I was so beautifully touched by such a thoughtful and generous gift.

Thank you, Arline! You are a kind, generous, talented, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, beautiful, strong woman and I am honored to call you my friend.

I wonder how many typos there are in this post. Do you know how hard it is to see the monitor through tears!

Free Shipping!

2010-04-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I recently spent a few weeks photographing, editing, re-editing, and creating a database for over 200 new colors of Japanese seed beads to add to the website!

So to honor all that hard work, and everyones patience while we went through the process, we have offered Free Shipping on domestic orders from 4-18-10 thru 4-25-10!

Hope you take advantage of this deal! With the increase in shipping costs it turns out to be quite a good savings for our customers!

The light was NOT left on....

2010-02-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I travel a lot for
business. I've stayed in 100's of different hotels. Of course,
you wind up picking some favorites; comfy mattress, good continental
breakfast, roomy, great shower, easy parking, nice staff, etc.

I have also stayed in a few Motel 6's, generally out of necessity
in that they are the only horse in town. A couple of them weren't
bad. One was an old Comfort Inn that had changed hands, so the
beds weren't too bad. Most have the feel that you've walked into
an upgraded cardboard box, and the walls generally aren't much
thicker. I stayed at one where I had to get the moving pads out
of the truck and dump the contents of two suitcases onto the mattress
to make it soft enough to consider laying on. I swear it was
a slab of concrete that they had thrown the barf colored, smoke
smelling, and paper thin comforter over.

Speaking of smoke smelling....if the room is a smoking room, the
ashtray is right side up. If the room is non-smoking, the ashtray
is turned upside down with a no smoking symbol on it. WTH? LOL

Aside from the one I'm about to tell you
about, the worst one we checked into was just a wee bit too close
to a truck stop area. We checked in anyway as we were exhausted.
First things first, I pulled down the sheets. Then I turned
around and left! I'll spare you the details.

Onto my most recent Motel 6 experience.
As usual we're on the way to a show. Tucson Best Bead Show in
this case. We got a late start (common) and so we needed to make
up time by driving later than we like to. This basically just
means we drove until we were ready to pull over on the side of
the road and kill each other. And, as luck would have it, all
the rooms in the town on our route were booked. But guess what
was available in North Los Angeles? Yes, you're right! A Motel
6. The one with the sign blinking in and out, even! Oh joy!

We checked in, asked for a room not facing
the freeway (because this wouldn't be common sense to offer),
pulled our truck around to the back and parked. As I stepped
out of the truck a security guard was no more than 1 ½
feet behind me. In a weird Norman Bates kind of voice he says,
"You can't park here". I about jumped out of my skin
at the sound of a voice behind me. I turned to see a vacant eyed
man. I said, "Excuse me?" "You can't park your
truck here" in the same monotone voice.

Shawn came around the truck and conversed
with the security guard and discovered that even though there
were over 100 open parking spaces, at 1am, this guy wanted us
to park our truck out on the street, "Where the truck parking
is". Yeah, that is NOT gonna happen buddy! About ½
my business is inside that truck. I am in North LA along side
a major interstate. The truck will either be parked right outside
my door, or directly in front of the lobby.

After speaking with the hotel clerk, who
didn't like to hear me say, "I'd like my money back",
the truck wound up parked directly in front of the lobby.

We get our overnight bags and paraded around to the other side
of the motel to our room. I notice now an older model Cadillac
with an intense bright gold paint job, low-profile tires and spinner
rims parked a couple of spaces down from my door. Lovely!

We unlock the door to the cardboard box,
walk into the stale smoke smelling non-smoking room and prepare
to get what little sleep I think will come my way.

As I am opening my luggage to get the
air-freshener, I hear a small dog begin to bark, a yapping kind
of Chihuahua bark. Then another joins in, then a third. Yap,
yap, yap, yap, yap. But I don't hear a sound from the owner trying
to hush them. Maybe they'll stop soon? 10 minutes later the
dogs stop yapping. I have now washed my face, brushed my teeth,
laid down a blanket over the bedding, fluffed my own pillow and
proceeded to fall about a foot down into the "mattress".
It seems the box spring was broken. This will make for a nice
backache…I just can't wait!

The second I turn off the light bulb….not
the light, the light bulb, I hear a deep male voice outside, then
a second, then a third. The drug deal begins. It takes about
5 minutes. One of them returned to his cardboard box, the other
two got into a car, slammed both doors and drove away. The second
the car door closed the three yapping dogs started in again.

Shawn let out a small chuckle and I turned
to him with a look that basically said, "We are not amused",
channeling Marie Antoinette I am sure.

It is relatively quiet now for about 10
minutes, until the next "customer" arrives. This time
the voices were much louder. Either the dealer was upset or the
buyer was, I couldn't distinguish, but I wasn't about to investigate
either.

The dogs began their serenade. This time
their owner was disturbed enough to get up and use the restroom.
Remember the thickness of the walls? Yeah, no details here either.

This chain of events proceeds in the same
manner for the next couple of hours, then a new set of fun enters
the mix. I call them ceiling walkers. Normally someone will
check in, be assigned to an upstairs room, walk around getting
ready for bed and then be done with it until morning. Not the
case with my special ceiling walkers. There were two of them,
and they walked, and walked, and walked their cardboard box for
over an hour. Maybe they had just visited Cadillac Man two doors
down just prior to checking in?

They finally calmed down enough to stop
walking, and then apparently switched their moods to one of a
little romance. The visual of their bed falling through the floor
of their cardboard box and landing on mine was a bit unnerving,
to say the least. Not to mention that no amount of pillows over
my head would drown out the constant squeaking of the mattress
and floor boards. Thankfully, for me at least, this didn't
last too long. However, it did rile up the dogs pretty good.

It is now 3:50 am.

It seems that Cadillac Man's hours of
operation end around 4am, as his last visitor left the dogs barking
at about 4:15. Finally…a little quiet. Well, except for
my wonderful husband snoring loud enough to wake the dead next
to me. But I have learned, after 27 years, to tune that out.

Blissful sleep has now filled my brain.
Ahhhhhh

4:45 am, the ceiling walkers seem to be
in a big hurry to leave, but before they can leave they must walk
for 20 minutes. And of course, the dogs must bark at their walking.
This in turn caused their owner to need to use the bathroom again.

SLAM!! I've heard the sound every single
time I've been stupid enough to stay at a Motel 6. It is the
sound of a door with no cushion hinges closing as someone exits
their room. The walls and windows shake, the plastic bottle of
non-descript shampoo/conditioner falls into the tub, and in this
case, the dogs bark.

Maybe I should start crying? No, that
won't change the situation. It might release a little of my frustration,
but it's not worth the effort at this point.

So, the ceiling walkers and the dogs and
their gassy owner have left the building now. Phew…maybe
a little rest will come my way!

5:30 brings light beaming in through the
crack in the plastic drapes and like a laser beam it lands directly
on my face and…..a rooster crowing! A rooster crowing?
In North LA? No way. I'm delusional. The lack of sleep has
made me nutty. The pillow smashed over my head all night long
has deprived my brain of enough oxygen to actually think coherently.

No, it is true. There is a rooster crowing.
And crowing, and crowing and crowing.

Oh My God! I give up! I toss my covers
off, and proceed to haul myself out of the hole I've been wedged
into in my mattress. Stomp over to the bathroom, flip on the
light switch….flip on the light switch…..flip ON….I
can't believe it. The FREAKIN' light is burned out!

Yo, Tom Bordett, I would like YOU to personally
come change this light bulb!

I turn on the light in the "vanity"
area so I can see without breaking my neck in the bathroom, then
I turn on the water in the shower where it proceeds to drip out
of the faucet. Did I not turn it all the way? No, I turned it
all the way. All the way water pressure is equal to someone pouring
a glass of water over your head.

I turn it back off, take a standing bath
in front of the vanity sink, brush my teeth, get dressed and am
out the door in 2 ½ minutes. I need to get out of here!

As we walk around to the front of the
building where I pray our truck is located so I don't wind up
in prison for murdering a security guard, I notice on the other
side of the wall the roof a barn and other outbuildings. It appears
we were lucky enough to stay right next door to the last remaining
farm in North Los Angeles. How special! BTW, the rooster is
STILL crowing. Every living thing, with the exception of Cadillac
Man is wide awake, you can shut the #%*& up now!

A 500+ mile drive through the desert and
we arrived in Tucson. I was a little grumpy…just a little.

What's that you say? It must be fun getting
to travel all over and do shows? <blink, blink>

Seriously, I can't imagine myself doing
anything other than this! =o)

Whimbeads New Year Sale

2010-01-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

Ringing in the New Year with a Special Sale!

Special offers good from
Jan. 1st, 2010 to Jan. 8th, 2010

Click here for full details!

Some Like It Hot!!

2009-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

My son, Justin, daughter, Shawna and my brother, Bob, are all chili heads. They like EVERYTHING hot, hot, HOT! I am not kidding. I've seen Shawna put hot sauce on popcorn. And she wouldn't think of eating mashed potatoes without cayenne in them and more hot sauce poured over the top. So, with that thought in mind, and the fact that I just happened to have some tequila....LOL....here are some South of the Border spiced pecans!

4 C Pecan halves

Tequila Glaze
6 T Tequila (I don't need to tell you to not use crappy tequila, right?)
3 T Unsalted butter
1 T Brown Sugar

Spice Mix
3 T Sugar
1 T Kosher Salt
1 t Cinnamon
3/4 t Ground Cumin
3/4 t Ground Coriander
3/4 t Cayenne (less of you're a bit timid...more if you're a freak like some of my family members!)
3/4 t Garlic Powder

Follow instructions below for Rum Spiced Pecans.

Rum Spiced Pecans

2009-12-18T06:43:00.001-08:00

They are amazingly addictive. I usually need to make 3 batches so no one feels deprived!

4 C Pecan halves

Rum Glaze

2T Dark Rum

1T + 1t. Vanilla (try to use the real thing as imitation gets bitter when boiled)

2t Brown sugar

2T Unsalted Butter

Spice Mix

1/4 C Sugar

2t Kosher salt (the large crystals work nicer, if you only have table salt reduce the amount)

1t Cinnamon (I always heap my teaspoon cuz I love cinnamon!)

1/2 t Cloves

1/2 t Allspice

Mix together Spice Mix in a medium bowl and set aside.

Toast pecans in a preheated 400° oven on a lined cookie sheet for 7 to 10 minutes or until they smell nutty. Rotate and shake the pan half way through.

Bring Rum Glaze to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stirring well.

Using liner (parchment paper works best) as a funnel dump toasted nuts into rum glaze stirring well to coat. Continue to stir over the heat until all the liquid is absorbed and the nuts are shiny.
(lean over pot and take a deep breath! It is amazing!)

Dump into bowl with Spice Mix and stir well to coat. Transfer back onto cookie sheet to cool and air dry.

Now make another batch to share with someone as you've just eaten most of this one!

Thanks Santa!

2009-12-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

Thank you for the time off! I made some beaded leaves. The process
was more about enjoying the colors than what the final outcome
would be, but I had beautiful dreams last night on what I can
do with these leaves, so they may end up becoming a piece of jewelry.

The therapeutic process of beading never ceases to amaze me!
I've shared with many of my friends in the beading community,
the story of my Grandmother beading. It fits here so well.

When I was young I would spend my summers with her. My parents
both worked full time and it was easier to just send me to stay
with her. I didn't mind. She taught me so many crafty things
as well as how to cook with bacon grease! ;o)

She knit, crocheted, did paper quilling, made knick-knacks out
of seashells, made apple faced women, made toilet seats out of
resin with seashells and other inclusions, whittled, you get the
picture, right? But most of all she beaded with seed beads!

It was when she would pick up her seed beads that I would notice
a calm come over her. As is evident from all the crafts she dabbled
in, her mind was restless and she was always striving to occupy
it with busy work. It was only with the beading that I would
notice this change in her.

So, being a curious eight year old, I asked her once, "Nana,
how come when you play with your beads you get so quiet?"
She called me over to her side and said, "Look down here
at these beads. See those little tiny holes?" I remember
leaning over her arm and looking down as clearly as if she said
this to me yesterday. She had on a blue shawl and I can still
smell her if I close my eyes and breathe deeply. I nodded and
said, "Yes, I see the little holes". She said, "When
I am beading, I climb inside that little tiny hole and there is
no room in there for anyone else, or anything else. It is just
me and the beads, nothing to bother me or worry me, no noises,
no cares."

It was at that very moment that I fell in love with beads and
my love has only grown as I've gotten older. There was no greater
gift she could have passed on to me.

And now, when my life becomes too stressful, I reach for my seed
beads. I sprinkle them into a dish, gaze into the little tiny
holes and climb in. There is not another place more peaceful
and comforting to me.

To me it explains a LOT about why beading can be so addictive. Who wouldn't want to find that place of peace!

Thank you Nana!

2009-12-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

Can I please have a day off? How about 1/2 a day?

I am feeling over worked, under paid and frustrated. That is no way to enjoy the holidays!
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the colors of my tree (Burgundy & Gold), the food, the smells, the smiles on my families face when they open a special present. But right now I am just feeling stressed out. I need that feeling to go away!

Maybe I need to bead! Yes, that is what I need to do! I think I'll go to work this morning and get the ball rolling and then just sneak out and head back home. Maybe build a fire, put on some comfy slippers, make a cuppa tea and BEAD! If I accomplish this wish, I'll post my results!

In the meantime, I hope your holiday season is much less stressful than mine!

Autumn Inspirations

2009-10-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE Fall!

I love the colors, the smells, the sounds, the angle of the sun and the way it lights my yard in the morning and at dusk. I love the foods of autumn, rich stews, warm soups, baking bread and pies. I love building a toasty fire and settling into my chair to bead while I listen to the fire crackling and warming my home. I love sweaters and scarves and boots!

And most of all I love how all of these things inspire my beadwork. It seems every Autumn I am overwhelmed with beady ideas. It is like my Muse just awakens completely when the weather changes to a slight chill in the air. And I always head for these shades of beads:

Here is a bracelet and accompanying tutorial I created inspired by this image:

And a few years ago, I created this necklace, also inspired by that same image and also beaded in the Fall:
I ended up making this project into a kit and it has sold very well for several years now. But just recently I looked at it again and thought it would be fun to make similar leaves (and maybe even in those same colors because they are so freakin' beautiful!) and make a new necklace...maybe a lariat style with the leaves falling down one side that twines around the other side?

I think I need to get a pot of soup on...maybe a nice crusty loaf of bread in the oven? Light a crackling fire and GET THOSE BEADS OUT!

Bay Area Bead Extravaganza!

2009-09-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

The BABE! show is just around the corner now! I love this show! I know I am partial because it is in my own backyard, but even still, it is an amazing show. The show organizer, Trarie Kottkamp does a fabulous job of selecting her vendors. She strives harder than anyone I know to ensure you get a fabulous selection of product to shop from, plus the Studio Artisan's are heavily protected in that mass produced Chinese lampwork beads are not flooding the show floor competing with these highly skilled artisans in this venue.

All that work on her part pays off in the long run not only for those of us who have the honor of vending there, but also for the attendees who get the cream of the crop in beady related vendors to shop from.

I try to thank Trarie often for the energy she puts into this, as few shows go to these extremes. You can thank her, too, by attending this year! You'll always find her out and about on the show floor, she's the redhead!

There is also an amazing lineup of classes offered at the BABE! show! I'll be teaching my Intro to Fine Silver Metal Clay again, it seems popular enough each year to repeat once again, and I certainly LOVE teaching this class. I'll never tire of the amazement I see on peoples faces when they see the magic of Metal Clay.

And this year I have a brand new 2-day class, An Intro to BRONZclay & COPPRclay! You'll get to learn how to create with both of these new great mediums in one class!

I hope to see you at the show!

Beadwork from Bead & Button 2009

2009-06-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

Well, another year has come and gone for the Bead & Button Show. Even with the economic issues, it was a good show for us this year. Attendance certainly seemed down, both on the show floor and in the classrooms, but those who did attend were buying beads and learning new techniques and sharing their beautiful beaded creations just like always.

I had a great time! And I really enjoyed seeing all of the entries of beadwork this year, too. The Bead Dreams competition, the ISGB Convergence, and entries from the ToHo competition were all on display.

I sent Shawn off with the camera, and while he managed to get an image of every single item in each of the glass cases, I am not able to retrieve everything off the disk. =o(
However, I did get a lot of them! Some with the artists name included in the photo, some without. Sorry about that! I guess I didn't send him off with explicit enough instructions. LOL

Please enjoy these lovely creations! And if you know who created something that does not include the name, let me know and I'll add a credit to them by the photo. (Click images for an enlarged view)

High Caliber Collar by Rebecca Starry

Created by Tatiana Van Iten

A collaboration between Heidi Kummli & Sherry Serafini!

Created by Maria Thresa Ferreira of Portugal

Trippy transposed image with Shawn's hands and camera. There are a couple of these from the cases where he needed to face the incoming light from the windows.

The images below are part of the ISGB Convergance. If they do it again, I think I'd like to play!

The above is titled Pahoehoe Pools

created by
Pamela Wolfersberger & Tracy Van Niel

And last....but most certainly not least, this beaded box from Japan. Just the mere thought of the stress of having this piece of artwork shipped over here for display! I thank, Satoko Toyoda, of Japan for doing that so that we could all see it in person!

Too much plastic!

2009-05-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

I had such a horrendous nightmare last night. First my head was stuck in a plastic bag and with each breath I would suck it further and further down my throat. Then my hands were covered with plastic and wrapped up tightly so I couldn't use them to pull the bag off my head. I struggled so hard to break free.....I finally woke up!

For me it was only a nightmare. For the animals on our planet and in our oceans and waterways? It is a living nightmare.

I have always been a firm believer that my dreams are a source of inspiration for me. And many times the message is one that I need to really pay attention to. You know, suffocating has a way of making you pay attention, right?

So, I am blogging about this issue, I've posted about it on my Facebook, I'll post about it on All About Beads....wherever I think I can get anyone to pay attention.

When I couldn't fall back to sleep easily, I spent the time thinking of ways that I can reduce the amount of plastic I use in my everyday life. Now mind you, I run a beadstore.....plastic is in abundance...sadly. All the seedbeads and packaged in plastic tubes, the little doodads and sparklies people pick out one by one get stuffed into plastic ziploc baggies for the trip home where they are most likely moved from there to a plastic storage box of some sort. Ugh!
Is everyone taking the time to recycle all those ziplocs?

If you're going to go home and sort your beads out anyway, why does every single style you just bought at the store need to be sorted into individual bags for you? Enjoy the sorting process...you're a beader because that type of activity feels good. The tiny little bits of glass being put into their own special place, whether with needle and thread or with your fingers when you place them into their own compartment in a case.

From now on we will encourage our customers to let us put as much as we can into as few ziplocs as we can.

You know that jumbo soda you got from the drive-thru? Why not take the cup home, wash it out and put it right back in the car. When you order your next soda, tell them you brought your own cup! These cups can be used many, many times over.

If you shop at a grocery that still uses plastic bags, encourage them to switch to the soy based bags. NEVER opt for plastic when asked. Or, if you will be using it, return to the store with them! They can be used again, too!

I have several of the reusable bags I've purchased from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway, wherever I've shopped...and up until today I also spaced out and left them home. I vow from today forward to put my groceries away and immediately take the bags back out to the car....along with my plastic drink cup!

What other ways can we reuse this stuff? Cut back on how much of it we use?

I know there are a million and one causes out there. But this one doesn't have to cost you a single penny (altho there are many places you could donate financially to help clean up the mess we've made)! All you have to do to help is to be a little more conscientious. Just a little bit....please?

For more detailed information on this issue, here are some links:
The Planet Archives

How Stuff Works

The Great Garbage Patch

Discover Magazine

YouTube Videos

Bead Unique Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat

2009-05-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

This wondeful event is underway! The website is live so go sign-up for your seat!

The Bead Unique Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat will be taking place at the picturesque Squaw Valley Resort & Village just 5 miles from beautiful Lake Tahoe!

The beading fun begins on Thursday, Oct. 1st with several Free Unique Workshops being taught by Pamela Hawkins, editor of Bead Unique Magazine and Laura Timmons, a Swarovski CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassador.

All of the products for these Free workshops are sponsored by some fabulous suppliers in the beading industry. TierraCast™, Parawire, Out On A Whim (hey! that's me!) , Alacarte Clasps™ WireLace®, Vintaj Natural Brass Co, and CRYSTALLIZED™—Swarovski Elements.

Pamela Hawkins will be teaching how to make a pair of earrings, a bracelet

and this precious little commemorative charm for the event.

Then Laura Timmons will teach this Crocheted Wire & Swarovski Crystal necklace.

After you've beaded the afternoon away, there will be a scrumptious dessert social and Meet the Teachers event that evening where you'll receive your gift bag loaded with goodies from some very generous sponsors and donors. plus the raffles begin with some awesome products also donated by many wonderful companies and individuals!

Then classes will be taught on Friday, Saturday and Sunday by Sherry Serafini

Marcia DeCoster

and me! (Yay!)

If you're interested in joining us, go get your reservation in now! The seats are selling really quickly! Check out the Bead Unique Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat website for complete details!

See you there!

Beading For A Cure Auctions

2009-03-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

The auctions are underway! Wow...what fabulous beadwork is available!
Go look http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/beadingforacure and bid, bid, bid!

New auctions are listed every Sunday at Noon Pacific Time. You can see which items will be up for auctions next from this link:
http://beadingforacure.org/auctions.html

The kits for the 2010 BFAC auctions have all been spoken for. I'll be posting an image of the kit here soon. Check back!

Tucson & More Bead Away Project Colorways!

2009-01-12T08:26:00.000-08:00

Tucson

We're heading back to Tucson! We haven't sold there in several years, but now that the kids are old enough to stay out of trouble, we're ready to return!

We'll be vending at The Best Bead Show in the North Patio (Atrium) which is just before you enter the main lobby.

This show is held at the Kino Veteran's Memorial Center on East Ajo way. It's on the shuttle schedule so easy to get to if you're in Tucson without a car.

The dates are Feb. 4th thru the 8th.

100's of exciting vendors!

Hopefully we'll see some of you there! Make sure to stop in and say Hi!

Bead Away-Las Vegas

I have been having so much fun creating samples of different colorways for my Bead Away classes! What a great excuse to get out of housework. "Sorry, kids, Mom just HAS to finish these projects. I have no time to mop so it looks like you'll be doing it!"

I've beaded just the centerpiece (no time to bead the entire necklace but this gives a good example of the colors) in two more colorways for my Dazzling Rivoli Necklace. This first one has all special coated stones and crystals.

And this one, that did not photograph well at all...(what is with camera's not liking these shades?) is Volcano and Chili Pepper.....hot, hot, hot! It still needs one more layer of fringe.....I ran out of beads! Can you imagine!

Two more colorways in the Sparkle Links bracelet. This are so comfy to wear, btw!
Purple and Silver...

And Green & Gold..
Here is one of three new colorways in the Beaded Beads. Turquoise & Black with Bronze seed beads. I may just need to make myself an entire necklace out of these. They're like potato chips, you cannot make just one!!

In addition to more images of the Beaded Beads coming, I also have 6 new colorways in the Sunflower Pendant. Sadly, photography of beadwork doesn't look so good with just one light and one of our bulbs broke last night. =o(

I ordered a replacement and as soon as it arrives I'll chain Shawn to the camera again. So be sure to check back over the next couple of weeks for more images!

And most importantly, DO NOT delay in signing up for this Retreat! Seats are filling up quickly. Don't miss out!

Bead Away - Las Vegas!

2008-12-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have been honored by Scott & Wendy from Brea Beadworks to be asked to teach at their Bead Retreat in Las Vegas this coming March 2009.

They have a unique setup for their Retreats. Rather than the traditional setting where you attend and take the classes pre-arranged, Scott & Wendy allow you to choose, from a vast selection, of classes. So you can tailor your Retreat experience to suit your budget or time schedule. What a great idea!

Here is a little peek at the classes I'm offering:

Beaded Beads

Sunflower Pendant

Sparkle Links Bracelet

Dazzling Rivoli Necklace

I've been working on beading up samples of additional colorways to offer the students a selection of other colors to choose from. So far I have 2 more Dazzling Rivoli Necklace samples made up, 1 Sparkle Links bracelet with another almost completed, and 2 additional sets of Beaded Beads. I'm waiting for some Swarovski Briolette's to arrive so I can create samples of the Sunflower Pendant.

If you'd like more information about this Bead Retreat, be sure to check out Scott & Wendy's website.

I'm hoping to meet some of you in Las Vegas!

My Beading For A Cure project

2008-06-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

I had to change direction this year on my Beading For A Cure project. I was originally going to embellish a felted vessel that I had commissioned from Etsy artist, jetsamdesigns. It was very similar to this vessel , but she created a special one just for me in two shades of Olivine to match this years BFAC kit.

I was really excited about this idea and anxious for the vessel to arrive. It came very quickly and that very night I sat down with my beads and began to embellish it. But....I wasn't happy with my work at all. So I torn it all out. Then I started again with more of a direction in mind. I put over 40 hours of work into it....and....hated it! So I ripped it all out again. =o/

I can take a hint, (well, sometimes...usually it requires being smacked over the head with a heavy object) and so I abandoned my vessel idea and made a necklace instead! Ha!

I have a little bit of beadwork on the vessel and I might just include it along with the necklace...although because of the shape of this necklace, it won't fit in the vessel. Maybe I'll keep the vessel as a reminder of how quickly 40+ hours of beadwork can be ripped out. Yikes!

Anywho here is my necklace for this years Beading For A Cure auctions.

It started with this kit of beads provided by my girlfriend, Betcey, from Beyond Beadery:

And ended up this:

You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.

I had a great time! These colors are out of my norm, and some of the shapes of beads are ones that I don't normally work with, so I struggled with incorporating them into my necklace design. But I did manage to get one of each bead in there, as per the rules . My added bead was a size 15 in a Shimmering Lime color...it matched the crystals really well. I was allowed to add Rivoli's as they fall into the focal category. The Rivoli's are Verde, Brandy, Chili Pepper & Volcano, all after-market coatings.

I need a name!

2008-06-02T22:22:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop this past weekend from Gordon Uyehara (You-We-Hara). I really admire his talent and how he is able to create such lovely works of art in Metal Clay.
This workshop was to create the Cosmic Honu or Sea Turtle as well as a decorative spoon which is an extension of the shape of the Honu shell.
Here are three images (you can tell Shawn isn't home as my photography skills are lacking) of my interpretation of the Cosmic Honu.

I got some great color with LOS, but it won't last long. I'll wear it this way for the few weeks it lasts, and then I'll most likely darken to black and polish to make it look like antiqued silver. I'll take another image then.

Here's the little face. I think it might be a he as I keep trying to type the word him. The camera was focused on his flipper so his face is a bit blurred, but I think this is good enough for an informal cyber introduction, don't you? ;o)

So, now that you've met him (there I go again) can you help me name him?

I'm hoping to have a bit of time after this coming weekend to finish the spoon and give it to Shawn for Father's Day.

The 2008 BATCies!

2008-04-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it took me so long to get the BATC website updated and published.
Time keeps slippin' away!

But, it's finally re-uploaded to it's new home and everything should be linked with the exception of the 2007 Trade Gallery. I'll try to get those images dealt with as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you're interested in participating this year, sign-ups close on May, 15th. Hurry, hurry...don't miss out!
Sign up here!

I'm Charmed...

2008-03-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last year I taught two Intro to PMC classes and one Metal Clay Beads class at the BABE! show in Oakland, CA. I had some of the best students ever! Many of them requested that I teach a class on how to set stones in Metal Clay.

So, here is my class sample that will accompany my application.

I'll show several different ways to set stones that can be fired in place as well as go over information about stones that cannot be fired in place all while we create as many charms as we can so my students can have a sampler charm bracelet similar to the one above.

It should be a really fun class! I'm looking forward to it!

I wore this yesterday and plan to wear it again today. The tinkle from the charms is such a pretty melody.

I'm not as mixed up anymore!

2008-03-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

OK....I tried my hand at using a mix. (you can click the image for a larger view)

Granted, the beads are sorted a bit into each fringe, but still, I didn't waver from the mix itself. (I'm proud of me!)

I used our Rose Garden size 11 seed bead mix and Rose Garden 4mm Swarovski mix. Altho, in the image the crystals don't dance and sparkle like they do in real life.

While beading, and getting all up close and personal with the beads, I thought it would be nice to use a mix to create a simple Spiral rope changing colors maybe every three or four sets. But, I don't have time to try that out right now. Then I thought it would be nice to do a big branch fringe necklace, too. But...no time to try that right now either. I've got to spend the rest of my time getting ready for BeadExpo in Portland which is right around the corner! Yikes!

I'm all mixed up!

2008-03-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a customer ask me a really thought provoking question. Okay...at first I wasn't quite so provoked to think it over, but last night after I got in bed it was all I could think about. The ideas kept spilling out of my head on what I would use mixes for. But then I started to wonder what everyone else might us them for.

We recently added our line of seed bead mixes to our website. (you can click the image to go see all the mixes, if you'd like)

And they have been selling very well. But what is everyone doing with them? Do the premixed colors inspire you? Do you sort them back out? Do you create something based on all the colors in the mix? And most importantly, what are you making with these mixes?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Maybe they'll help quiet mine down a little. I seem to be on a rampage of what all can beaded with a seed bead mix!

Pay It Forward

2008-03-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend, Charlene, has a Pay It Forward on her blog. She has pledged that if three people comment on her blog and agree to then post this message on their blog, pledging to also Pay It Forward, she will send them a handmade beaded item. I jumped on it!

Recently I experienced a theft that has left me very angry and bitter. Two feelings I cannot stand to have. As I have always been a strong believer in Random Acts of Kindness (and Senseless Acts of Beading) I firmly believe that not only will the gesture make me remember the goodness in people, it will also show another how just a simple act of giving can brighten your entire world.

So, will you commit to PIF with me? I have my comments filtered, (I've got some weirdo trying to post yucky stuff here) but my email messages are time stamped. So the first three email notifications I get of a comment being left will be the folks I PIF to.

Pay It Forward rules: I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs.I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward meaning you will do the same for three people who comment on your blog.

I'm bad!

2008-03-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

Wow....I really need to figure out how to get more disciplined about my blog. Anyone got any suggestions?

I do have a few things to share. First, I started a Facebook group called I Love Beads.
I've been reading some online reports about linking and online presence and Facebook was listed as one of the sites that helps increase search engine rankings.

So, if you're about connecting online, won't you come join us on this new Facebook group?
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8848683585

The Auctions for this years Beading For A Cure projects started last Sunday, March 2nd and they will run through May 4th. Please be sure to check them out! It's a wonderful cause and great way for you to own a piece of amazing beadwork!

This years kits have already been spoken for. I'll ask Shawn to take a picture for me this weekend so you can see!

The colors are very inspirational to me, very Autumn in tone. I'm thinking I might encrust a handmade basket with some freeform beading. At least that what keeps yelling the loudest to me. I thought of an Afgani carpet when I first saw the colors, but all the shapes don't lend themselves well to a bead carpet. ;o)

Gotta run, I'm in several swaps at the moment and one of them was suppose to be mailed out days ago! I've got to get it packaged and shipped today!! Yikes!

Finally...some June Bead Journal progress!

2007-07-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

I am probably the furtherest behind out of the entire group. =o(
My Summer schedule is just so nutty! And it will carry over into the Fall as well.
But...I haven't given up hope yet! LOL

Here is an image of the progress I've made so far on my June BJP.

The colors are off a bit as I scanned it, rather than photographed it as I'm in a hurry this morning.

I chose shades of Pearls & Creams accented with Golds because Pearls are one of the stones for the month of June.

This quote, by Georgia O'Keeffe, has always been one of great meaning to me as it was first quoted to me by my high school art teacher. It was during a time when I was really struggling with my own identity, as do most kids around that age...and I was hesitant to express myself with my artwork in his class. He bribed, he threatened, he taunted and he begged me, but I just kept sinking deeper into myself.Then one day he came up behind me in class while I was continuing to be "safe" with my art project and loudly, so that the entire class turned to look, he said...."To bad you don't have the courage to be as talented as you truly are!" At fifteen, I thought I was going to die from not only the comment, but the attention of the entire class directed at me!

The next day he handed me a little slip of paper with the above quote scribbled on it. I understood his message to me fully at that point.

I hope all who are reading this will take those words to heart as well. You do have the courage, you just need to recognize that you do!

Happy Beading All!
Beki

Beading For A Cure ~ Fini!

2007-07-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

YAY! I did it! I am just waiting for some finials I ordered to arrive, then Shawn will create the holder to attach the finials to and then it's ready to be sent off to AJ!

I will admit that I struggled with a few things...like the fact that it doesn't have even edges. I had to remind myself that it is all completely hand-sewn, and that the beading also added to adjusting and moving the fabric. I also had to remind myself that I've been super up-close and personal with it, seeing every fiber of the fabric as I stitched on all the beads. Standing back and looking at it as a whole, some of those things calm down a bit....but just a bit. I need to learn how to curb my desire to have everything "just so".

Each person I have shown it to hasn't once commented on the uneven-ness, but rather that the movement of the fabric almost makes it look as if you are looking thru water. Ok then...that works! LOL Shall I reply that that was my intent all along? Hehehe!

I just hope someone, somewhere loves it enough that they will bid well on it when it's turn comes up on auction.

Now...I get to start my Bead Journal Page!! While June has come and gone, I did manage to get my page layout arranged, picked out my beads and decided upon a quote from Georgia O'Keeffe, which will be a signal for my Bead Journal...."To create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage!"

I have one day off this month....this coming Wednesday, July 4th and I'll spend the majority of that day getting my June Bead Journal page as close to done as I possibly can. I have vowed that I will catch up with this process so it's important to me to at least start my July page in the month of July! There are just a few work days and a bead show in my way, but I know how to shove! LOL

BFAC Progress!

2007-06-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Wow...it's been one crazy week, lemme tell ya!

Whenever we leave for a show, returning home is always a bit nuts. Heck, not showing up to work for a few hours creates an abundance of work that needs to be caught up on....so leaving for several days in a row creates mayhem!

Plus I think I got a touch of food poisoning on the last day of the show....it didn't knock me down, but it certainly kept rearing it's ugly head during this past week.

Shawn and Sara drove tandem on the way home from Milwaukee and managed to make it home Wednesday evening. That would be 2300 miles in 3 days! Freaks! You know that big white blur on the freeway? That was them! ;o)

I took some images this year of the Bead Dreams exhibits and some of the vendors. Here's a link: B&B Photos

I also managed to work on my BFAC project a bit on the plane to and from Milwaukee and then for a few minutes here and there in the evenings this past week. I guess the way this works is if you click on the image a new window will open with the enlarged version of it so you can actually see the beads I added. I cut some of the waves out of a piece of the fabric and using WonderUnder (thanks, Dot!) I ironed them onto the surface. My added bead for BFAC is a size 15 Matte Silverlined Straw Gold. So far I've used it to accent the waves, which also helps to quilt the fabric into place. The only bead from the kit I've used so far is the White Pearl 11....but today we are going down to Sunnyvale (about a 2 hour drive from here) for my nephews 40th b'day (OMG!) and Father's day, so I'll have some car time to work on it more.

I'm really struggling hard to get it done before the end of the month so that I can at least start my Bead Journal page for June in the month of June!!

I am experiencing the beaders worst nightmare times ten right now....no where near enough time to bead!

Last little bit of news....my classes for the Big Apple Art Glass & Bead Festival have been posted! I'll be teaching an Intro to PMC, and two sets of classes each in Clasps & Tags and PMC Beads! If you're in the area or are planning to attend, I'd sure love to see you there!

Now I should go shower before the party, eh? Which basically just means even more time away from my beading!

Finally On Our Way to Bead & Button!

2007-06-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Phew! This show is crazy to prepare for. I think it's a combination of lots of things...time of the year for our stock to be getting low enough that we need to place major orders, just enough shows already under our belt for the year that we are already tired, it's a big show, so we need to bring lots of stock, and backstock. Plus I am sure there are other forces in play as well...but whatever they all are they are certainly exhausting!

Almost 2 full months of preparation. A full week of 16+ hour days. A few fights, several dirty looks, late meals prepared by whatever local restaurant we can manage to handle eating at yet again. Burning shoulders, aching backs, swollen wrists and cramping hands....

All that to go sell beads! LOL Who woulda thunk it!

In any event, Shawn and Sara are finally on the road! YAY!

I've mowed the front lawn, watered the roses, cleaned part of the house, with a few rooms left to go, and I am determined all these chores will be done and over by dinner time. Then I will sit down to a nice meal, maybe a glass of wine, some good music, or a Giants game if I'm lucky and then......

I GET TO START BEADING!!

Here is a scan of the fabric I'll be using for my Beaded Art Quilt for my BFAC project.

I had another fabric all picked out, but Thom stopped by on his way up to a Retreat with this same fabric, but with a Cobalt Blue background and I fell in love. I had to go find some! He inspires me in more ways than either of us will ever know, I am sure!

I'll get this all stitched together and start the beading and will take it with me when I fly out Tuesday for the Bead & Button show to have something to work on while flying.

Then when I get home, I'll get to start on my Bead Journal for June!

Bead Journal Dreams

2007-05-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

I got my screen name Dreambeadr because I use my dreams a lot in life. Both for my art and for how I make life/business decisions. I don't always wake up with a vivid memory of my dream, but I'll often wake up just *knowing* in my heart and mind how I'll do something, or what I need to say to someone, or how my day will unfold or progress.

I also dream up ideas all the time. Color schemes, how to assemble something that's been giving me fits in my awake state, a new recipe idea, a project to turn into a kit...whatever.

So, I have been waiting for my subconscious to help me figure out what to do with my BJP pages. Last night I finally got a little inkling. I still don't know what size to do...my time is limited so I need to be realistic about that, but I don't want to just do something dinky either...I need these pages to make a statement to me....for me.

Anywho, my dream saw a cloudy colorful central area with some great well meaning quote, and around the quote is beadwork. Kinda vague...but that's all I got! LOL

I'll hopefully dream about it more and bring it more into focus.

Meanwhile, I need to finish getting Shawn ready to leave for B&B! He's got to hit the road by Saturday morning at the latest! I've still got product showing up today! And he's outside right now tearing the gas tank out of the truck because some stupid car designer at Ford thought it would be a good idea to put the fuel filter in the gas tank! AND....it requires two sizes of some special tool to remove it! Argh!

Late Nights, Early Mornings!

2007-05-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

I think I am getting too old! Well, my body is anyway. My mind still thinks I can stay up until the wee hours of the morning pricing beads, spooling chain, making new signs, ordering bags at the last minute....just trying to get ready for the Bead & Button Show!

Then I had to be up by 6am for an International phone call. Trying to check on an overseas shipment that was suppose to arrive last Friday. All ended up being fine, it was just held up in customs because the shipper forgot to put our contact phone number on the documents. =o/
It will be delivered today! Yay! More goodies I purchased just for this upcoming show. (people better buy them! LOL)

I spent a little time making a links list for this blog. I'll add more to it as time allows.

After cutting out the fabric, basting it down, and almost finishing stitching the edges, I've changed my mind about which fabric I'll be using for my BFAC project!! D'oh! Why do I do this all the time? I do it with my beads too. I spend hours on end selecting colors, buying more new colors, switching them around, looking at them under indoor light, outdoor light, Ott light, asking other people, who could give a flying pig, what they think of the colors, sitting down to begin the project and then changing my mind again! I really need to figure out why I have such a hard time settling on something.

I don't do this with other aspects of my life. If I've chosen a meal for dinner...that is what we are having...period! If I need to make a decision at work...done! Let's move onto the next issue. I even picked out my new car this way. I researched for what I wanted/needed. Drove down to the dealership, made my deal and drove out with my new car in a matter of hours! A new car for crying out loud!! But a beadwork project...it could take me weeks, months before I've settled on the right color scheme.

I think I have an issue! LOL

Now I need to go take a shower, run up to Kinko's to pick up business cards, stop by the office supply store for card stock to print kit instruction pamplets on, swing by Avenue and pick up a skirt I want but was waiting for my email coupon from them first, and get my behind into work! Such a slouch! LOL

2007-05-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot about the other two projects I am working on and have deadlines for....well, technically it's more than two...it's two ideas, making several projects! LOL

I am participating again this year in the Bead Artist Trading Card Swap that I started back in 2004! I've really got to get that site updated and get the cards from 2006 added! OK...three projects....
My good friend, Wendy, agreed to be the swap mistress for this year. Thank heavens! It's a great swap, but I just didn't have the time or energy to deal with the actual swapping this year.

And I am also in two swaps with Bead Unique Magazine. I've received all the swap beads already, but I've only started one project using beads from several different particpants from Swap 1. So, dependant upon time, I will make at least this project, and hopefully a few more.
We're to have everything completed by the Sonoma Art Glass & Bead Festival where we will join Pam Hawkins for a champagne brunch and show off our creations from the swap! What fun!

Here is the Summer/Fall schedule I am trying to work around...
~ June ~
Bead & Button Show - Milwaukee, WI
Fly out of SF June 5th
Fly home June 11th

The following week I am flying Shawn out to Santa Fe, to spend a few days with his uncle and relax! Part of his b'day present.

~ July ~
Puget Sound Bead Festival, Tacoma, WA
Not sure who's driving or who's flying yet....cuz you know it's always more cost effective and less stressful to wait until the last minute! ::::major eye roll::::

~ August ~

1st - 6th Mini vacation for me!
I'll be attending this Bead Retreat with my bestest friend Betcey who'll be flying out from Colorado for it. I cannot freakin' wait!

Sonoma Wine Country Art Glass & Bead Festival

9th - 12th
Out On A Whim is sponsoring a bunch of the food for the Taste of Sonoma event on Friday night. Out On A Whim is donating Precious Metal Clay for a free Make-it~Take it demo on Saturday.
We'll have a private exhibitor room to ourselves for the show.
And I am teaching two classes:
Friday An Introduction to PMC
Sunday Razzleberry Necklace

19th -26th

I'll be attending the Metal Clay World Conference in Las Vegas. 4 full days of classes, several additional hands on workshops and lectures. It'll be a blast, but it's also to further my education in this medium.

(apparently the month of August I will playing Wonder Woman!)

~ September ~

Tentative Gem Faire in Ontario, CA (personally? I'd rather not!)

~ October ~

New York! I'll be teaching 3 classes at The Big Apple Art Glass & Bead Festival
Flight dates are not set. But I should fly in the 16th, so that I can teach well by the 18th. The show is the weekend of the 19th - 21st. I believe I am teaching the 18th, 19th and 20th.
I'll teach An Intro to PMC, Metal Clay Beads and Metal Clay Clasps and Tags.

We'll not be exhibiting at this show, but Shawn is suppose to come out with me.

(My siblings are planning to meet me in NY around the 21st and we will then do a road trip down to FL and then through the southern states and back home again to CA! Wow!...more on this later as news develops!)

~ November ~
Bay Area Bead Extravaganza! (BABE!)
Our second best show of the year.
Show dates are the 10th & 11th
I am teaching two classes...I believe on the 9th & 10th.
And Intro to PMC and the Metal Clay Beads class again.

I will then return home, fall into my bed and not get up again until next year!

2007-05-26T09:50:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess I should get started some time posting to this blog.

I've really started it to help me keep track of all of my ideas, projects, creations and the bits of regular life that get in the way of those things!

The list of "to-do" projects on my plate right now is pretty out of hand.I am in the midst of creating a Beaded Art Quilt (ala Thom Atkins http://www.thomatkins.com/) for my Beading For A Cure project. (http://www.beadingforacure.org/) I'll take some images soon....

I just finished 3 projects, with at least two of them on their way to being submitted for magazine articles.
This little PMC Leaf Goddess was designed around the Swarovski Rivoli. Since you cannot fire Swarovski products in place (they can't withstand the heat required to sinter the Fine Silver) and I can't seem to create much without using Swarovski...I needed to improvise. Her hands were designed to "set" the Swarovski Rivoli into, and then I glued flatbacks onto her for some added embellishment.
I think it took me about 4 or 5 tries before I had the size and shape of the design just right to hold the stone in place.

So now I have some instructions to write up...and a bunch more images to take. As soon as I can get the hubby to help me, I'll share the other two projects I just recently completed.

I have also joined Robin Atkin's Bead Journal Project! http://robinatkins.com/new.html I'm super excited about this! While my schedule is stupid busy....I need to remember to make time in my life for ME.

As a business owner, a Mom of 4, and a wife, I tend to let myself get spread pretty thin. But I've witnessed how much more I can accomplish in my day to day life if I just set aside a short amount of time for me....for my soul...for my creative muse....whatever it is, just so long as it makes me happy.

OK...speaking of that...I need to get to work! The Bead & Button show is just around the corner and we are still tubing, pricing, bagging, tagging like maniacs!