Butterflies and Doggies, oh my...

Hard as it may be to believe - hell has not frozen over. Although the simple fact that I have blogged twice in less than a week may make some of you wonder about that.

This design was inspired by a piece of tattoo clip art. I am really pleased with the end product although I discovered that I unknowingly have created an optical illusion. Last week, when I was visiting my cousin, Cheryl, her daughter Caylee was quite interested in my jewelery. She examined all of the pieces - and she really liked this one. She said to me "I really like the pink doggie." At first - I thought I mis-heard her - but then she said it again. And I said "The pink doggie??" And she said "Yes - that's a pink doggie." Now I thought I had designed a butterfly, but after looking at it a bit closer, I do indeed see the pink doggie. It's funny how a 6 year old can offer a fresh perspective on a piece of jewelery. Do you see the pink doggie???

I am currently working on another art deco cuff. I have created a pendant to go with it and I am very excited about that. As soon as the cuff is done, I will be beading it up - and then I will be creating another art deco cuff - but will be using different colors this time around. I want to see that one in something a bit different.

I have really been trying to bead a bit more lately, so have been making an effort to stay OFF the computer. I seem to always get sucked into the computer and the next thing I know an entire day has gone by - and I have gotten nothing accomplished. Now if only someone would put more hours in the day, I would be very happy.

And last but not least, for the first time in a really, really long time, I am feeling hopeful. I am not sure what has prompted this - but I actually feel like good things are around the corner for me. I hope that those feelings are right for once, as this is a nice change - and one that I would like to keep around.

Moving On

I did my last post 6 months ago today. The weather was fiercely cold, snowy, windy. And my Dad had just died....my number 1 fan. Many of you know that my parents were the world to me, so losing Dad was exceptionally hard for me to deal with.

To my family and friends - I want to say "thank you" for the overwhelming love, support, caring and concern that I have received over the past 6 months (and am continuing to receive). You have all made me feel so loved, so welcome in your lives, your homes, your families. Whether you are a long-lost childhood friend - or someone I know merely "on-line" please know that I take every kindness to heart where it will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Fast forward to today. Beautiful, sunny and warm - a truly perfect day. I have shed many tears over the last few months - and although the grieving process continues, I have decided that it has time to move on - and try to get back to some normalcy in my life.

That being said, I have still been doing some beading in the recent months as it takes my mind off what is missing in my life. I have some new pieces to show - and needed to get pictures taken of some of the older items in my collection that either had not so great pictures - or just never had pictures taken to begin with which leads me to today...

I spent a simply lovely day with my cousin Cheryl - and her 2 beautiful daughters. Caylee - who is 6 - talked my ear off. (I think she and I will be good friends.) Mia - who is 3 - spent the day trying to get over her shyness - however I did get her approval to come back for another visit so I will give that "2 big thumbs up."

I discovered that Cheryl inherited our grandpa's love of photography. Really - she comes by it naturally. One of my memories of him was that he always had that camera close at hand - just in case there was a flower, sunset, or fruit that needed it's picture taken. This discovery thrilled me to no end - because unlike Cheryl and Grandpa - I *hate* taking pictures of my jewelery. Really - I despise it - loathe it even. It is the bane of my jewelery-making existence. Cheryl, however, got rather geeked about it - and proceeded to spend the vast majority of the afternoon and evening shooting pictures. (YAY for both of us!!!) Soooo - without further ado here are some pictures of what I have been making.

Stay tuned - much more to come. I have quite a few projects in progress right now - including an entirely new adventure with a dear friend of mine that I hope will do well. (It is something that I am fairly sure most of you have not seen before.)