Sending Fairies with Letters to 2017

Hey everybody, this is my final post this year.  And I have got a bunch of stuff to show you.

First off, I want to show you something that my son made me for Christmas.  We all know that homemade gifts are the best kind, right?  My son knows that I love the Chicago Blackhawks and made me this with a personal message on the back of it.

 

  He used an old wood burner that we had in the closet and made this from a picture of the Iconic Blackhawks namesake.  I adore this and, yea I cried!  No shame, I am a Mom it is what we do, right?!?

Also this Christmas I did not have time to make the ornaments that I always make for the family.  There was just too much going on for me to concentrate on my beads.  I actually distanced myself from them a bit, but I decided to make some Christmas earrings and the comfort that my beads usually brings to me seemed to come back.  So this is the earrings I made.

They are called A Step In Time by Sue Sloan, which is a free download from Facet.  They have Super Duos, 11/0 seed beads and 4mm Fire polished beads.  They were really fun to make.  Whatcha think?  Makes me wish I could wear earrings.

This is the final themes this year over at Every Inchie Monday and 2x2x2.  For EIM the theme was letter.  So I designed a letter stamped and ready to send.  Super simple and easy, just 2 colors.

Over at 2x2x2 the theme is Fairies.  So I found a bunch of pictures online for fairies.  But I decided to go with a childlike fairy.  She has pink hair and a teal dress with wings that match her clothes.  She is a fairy, she can do that!  She also has her fairy star wand.  She uses it to grant star wishes.  When she knows your looking she makes a star fall so you can wish on it.  That sounds like a plausible story to me HAHA!  (you can tell I put a lot of thought into this!)

Anyways, that is it for me for this year.  This one was not all that great for many of us and I am hoping and believing that next year will be a better year.  Are you all going to make a New Year's resolution?  Why not make one to stretch your artistic endeavours?  That is an easy one to do, just visit EIM and 2x2x2 and join in the fun.  I mean it is truly so much fun.  I love the idea of making a small bit of art that is only for arts sake.  It is very calming and fortifying for my spirit.  To just enjoy the reason I started being artistic.  To just do it without worry about why I am doing it.  I am not trying to do this to pay bills or to impress anyone but myself.

So, if you feel like trying Inchies or Twinchies then follow the links and check out the themes for 2017, they are up on both sites.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends and blessings into the new year for all of you.

This Could Get Ugly!

Hey everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.  Are any of you getting excited for Christmas to be here?  I sent out Christmas cards, thought briefly on what to make for Christmas dinner and bought presents for my kids.  That is about as far as I have gotten HAHAHA.

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Ugly.  What could be ugly at this time of the year?  Nothing, I say!  But none the less I had to design something so I went with something that is for some reason coming around as a "cute" emoji, when it clearly isn't.  (I know ANOTHER emoji!)  But for me this worked out just coz no matter how "cute" it is made to look, it still smells ugly!!!

Yep, you guessed it!  This is a poop emoji.  Gross, right?!?  Well, I think poop is gross and not sure why social media wants it to look "cute".  I think if social media had to change a babies diaper then poop wouldn't be "cute".  What do you think?

I think this is it for this post.  Short, sweet and Ugly!  LOL.  Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the awesome ugliness (!?!)  over there.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

The King Grins This Time of Year

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  I am excited for the pieces I have to show you this week.  I am starting to want to get back into beading and that is awesome!  The last 6 months have been rough for my family and I, I have been unable to bead too much during this time.  Just doing my Inchies and Twinchies and that is it.  I started doing my Christmas ornaments but I only got 3 done before I lost interest in beading, due to having to take care of our dog, Dragon after I hit him with the car.  Then my brother and mother both went home to glory and I sunk deeper away from my beloved beading.

It has been hard especially since beading has been my calming joy.  Many years ago I was diagnosed with PTSD and beading has always been a way to calm down and relieve my anxiety.  So I am very excited to feel like getting back to my beading.

So, that said here is my inchie for this week.  Over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Grin.  My first thought was one of those ever-so-annoyingly-popular-emojis The sly grin kinda thing.

 Here is what I came up with.  I think mine looks more like an evil grin than the emoji one does.  lol

Also this week over at 2x2x2 the theme is King.  This was the one I have been waiting for.  Perfect time of the year for this theme.  So I had to make one for the season.  Jesus.

I really love how this one came out.  Reminds me about what I am thankful for.  Smiles, hugs, family and my faith.  So what do you think?

Everyone don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the art and join in.  I promise you will have so much fun!!   Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Blog Time Again!

Hey everyone thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  Not a lot going on here but I did get my inchie done.  This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is 42.  Such an interesting topic.  It comes from the book Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.  I have not read the book so I don't know what the number has to do with anything.  But I took the challenge on since I adore EIM.

For this inchie I used 2 colors of Delicas and I like how the numbers came out.  Hope you like it.

Lastly, I want to let everyone know that our Twinchie Queen is having computer issues so she is not able to update her blog but that doesn't mean we have to forget about it.  Please keep her in your thoughts as this computer virus gets fixed.  But for now don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the blogs and join in the fun!

Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Is it Time to Question the Ice (or lack of it)?

Hey everybody, I hope that you are all enjoying your after Thanksgiving tryptophan glow.  I know I am..err was.  All our Thanksgiving food is gone!  But besides the food of Thanksgiving I am kinda missing (not really) the colder weather.  I was surprised that it took this long to get cold.  Makes me hope that when winter does come around that she doesn't do it with a vengeance.

This all leads me to this week's themes over at Every Inchie Monday and 2x2x2.  Neat how they kinda went together.  For Every Inchie Monday the theme is Question, as you can read I started this post out with questions...and answers?  Maybe some Q&A??

For this inchie I used 4 colors of Delicas and I hope that you can read the Q&A.   It was all that I could think of for Question theme.

Also, this week over at 2x2x2 the theme is Ice.  I felt this was the perfect time for me to work on a pattern that I designed a few years ago but never beaded up.  The thing about "untested patterns", or patterns that you design but haven't beaded up yet is that the colors can clash if you are not careful.  That is why many bead pattern designers have "bead fairies", or people who bead the patterns up and test out the colors to make sure they are cohesive.  Well, I am my own bead fairy so I get to my patterns when time and my shoulder allows.  But how could I resist making one of my favorite patterns?  I love the look of the Kawaii designs so this is right up my alley.  Check it out.

For the theme Ice I did an Ice cream cone next to my favorite word when eating ice cream, lol.  remember me talking about testing the colors?  Well, I had to change the color of the pink outline to one that showed up better.  I have 3 colors on the cone but you can only see 2 of them.  I was hoping that the difference showed up better but it doesn't.  The 3rd color is a basket weave on the bottom part of the cone.  I also had to change the color of the hair bow because it was too similar to the pink and did not show up very well.

All that said I really love the finished product of the cone.  I will take time later on to do her again as a shaped peyote design.  I am looking forward to that.

That is it for me this week.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 and check out the lists for next year.  Join in and have fun with us.

Until next week, have a blessed and creative week.

Time To Turn the Lighting On Early?

Hey everybody, thanks for stopping by this cool and dark Thanksgiving week. It seems like winter decided to stop by and enjoy Thanksgiving with us.  This will be a quick one this week.

First off, I would like to give thanks for my family we have been through it but I am thankful for them.  I also am thankful for everyone who has visited my blog and left comments.  Thank you!

Another thing that I am thankful for is my beadwork.  There has been many times that it has helped me get through the tough times.

Up North during the funerals and emotional times of late I worked on a challenge from the Facebook group Seed Beads and More.  It was a September monthly challenge but I worked on it a bit late.  The challenge was to do a Beaded Scarf.  I used Silver 11/0 and Rainbow metallic peacock 11/0 seed beads.  I used a Rainbow blue Button as a clasp.  I really love it and it was fun to make.

This was a lot of fun to make as I mentioned before but I don't know if I will make another one any time soon.  Mainly since it just takes so many beads.  

Also this week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Lighting.  At first I read it wrong and designed a pattern for LightENing. But luckily I caught myself before I started beading it and redesigned the pattern for a light bulb.  Kinda simple but I like it.  

Well, that is it for me this week.  Since we had our Thanksgiving dinner on Monday I am going to go and get me some leftovers.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 nd check out the challenges over there.  Both blogs have also posted next years list so check it out and jump right in!

Have a blessed and creative week and enjoy the turkey!

A Wormhole Filled With Yarn!

Hey everybody, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and thoughts.  Means so much to me.  Just like with anything, time with help me get better.  Until then my beads are therapy.

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Wormhole.  I kinda went the obvious route but after seeing some of the other ideas I wish I had gone their way.  But all I could think about was a wormhole!  So here it is just 2 colors of Delicas.  But I tried to capture the colors of the night sky and what a wormhole would look like.

Over at 2x2x2 the theme this week is Yarn.  One thing that I am not good at is crochet.  I wish I could do bead crochet but I still really suck at it.  But those people who can crochet always blow my mind.  They do it many times without looking and it is always awesome.  I mean who doesn't love a homemade Christmas sweater.

Weeelllllll!!!  Even my love of the Blackhawks could not withstand this.  LOL  But for 2x2x2 I decided to zoom in on a close up of someone crocheting.

I am not really happy with the crochet needle and how it looks but beads are not always forgiving on angular designs.  But it was too late when I took time to really look at the design.  Oh well!

That is it for me this week.  I do have a piece that I finished but I have not had the energy to take a picture of it.  When I do I will post it.  But for now, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the great artwork over there and maybe jump in the pool with the rest of us!  Until then, have a blessed and creative week my friends.

O Freebird, O Freebird, Wherefore Art Thou?

*** WARNING: Emotional post ahead! ***

Hello my friends, I am sorry that I have not been around.  There have been far too many tough things happening in my space right now for me to have been here.  But I have caught up.

On 10.24.16 the theme over at Every Inchie Monday was Pirates.  Here is my take on the theme.  I used an Emoji pirate.

 Then on 10.31.16 the theme over at EIM was Coastline.  I used an overview of a beach and a star fish.

 Also this week on 11.01.16 over at 2x2x2 the theme was Tangled.  For me it was a pretty elaborate one.  One I was excited all year to do.  I did enjoy the pattern but never again.

On 11.07.16 the theme over at EIM is Cloud.  This one is a nice clear sky.

I debated this post for quite some time.  Was I going to explain whats going on or not?  But I know that CStocks mentioned me and I am forever grateful for her prayers and beautiful words.

On October 21, my brother passed away.  He had cancer but cancer never had him.  He was an awesome man and I am so glad that I got to be a part of his life.  Mine is better for it.  The memorial service was beautiful and amazing.  My brother touched so many people and changed so many lives by just being himself.  I miss him tremendously.  I also would like to say to everyone reading this that if you have siblings that you don't get to see enough then change that before it is to late.  You can't get back missed opportunities.  

On the way up north to go to the memorial service with my daughter I hit a deer.

After getting back home I found out that the damage was more than the car was worth and it got totaled.  So I got a new car on the 27th.

Then, that Saturday, the 29th.  My mother passed away.  She also fought the good fight with cancer and it never owned her.  She fought until the loss of a second child (her first son passed away in 2012) was more than she could bear.  She and many other family members are all sitting in glory enjoying each others company without pain and suffering.  Praise the Lord for that.

I am feeling sorrowful joy.  I am in so much pain because I love my mom and brother but I am joyous at the fact that I will see them again.

One immense blessing was watching my brothers favorite team, the Chicago Cubs win the World Series.  It was like he was there watching and cheering on the loudest.  If you watch videos from the game and listen real hard you can hear him cheering on.

My Mothers funeral was beautiful and painful.  But out of the mouth of babes comes comfort.  My great-niece saw my pain and just calmly told me, "Don't think of her like she was and remember that she is not in any more pain.  She is in heaven and happy."  These words helped me get through the day and days to come.  What a sweet blessings she is.  

Lastly, cancer is an evil disease that takes way too many people from our lives too soon.  So please get yourself checked out and endure the uncomfortable tests with the knowledge that you can complain about how you hate the tests and how it isn't fair that men have it easier than us in that respect.  Remembering that you are alive and cancer free to be able to complain.  If you want click here to find out more info, donate or volunteer.

Thanks for stopping by.  I know it might not have been the normal uplifting post but God bless you all for reading this.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends and hug your family.

A Quill on the Horizon

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  I have been beading all weekend.  Some of it I can not show since it is for Christmas.  But, I can tell you that I had to do the frog stitch.  For those of you who don't know what the frog stitch is it is when you have to rip apart work that you already did for whatever reason; ripit, ripit, ripit.  Get it?!? Anyways!  Yea I was not too happy about it but I did fix the issue and now I am happy about that.  I think that even if I started on Christmas ornaments in July I would still be behind!

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Horizon.  I love the look of the horizons here, which kinda inspired this weeks inchie.  I used 4 colors of Delicas and made a bright blue sky with a beautiful sun and one lone cloud.

Also this week over at 2x2x2 the theme is Quill.  What a nice word that is so hard to display in beads.  But I used a feather pattern that I designed last year then added an ink pot next to it.  Easy!  So here it is.

Also this last week me and my daughter went to see the Impractical Jokers.  It was so great, we had so much fun!  I had pics but they were all blurry and no I did not get to meet the guys, wouldn't that have been cool!  OH YEAH!

Well, that is it this week, a short and sweet one as I have to get up early for PT.  But before I go I would like to urge you all to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the other artists work.  Who knows you might just want to join in.

I Am Moving In All Directions

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  I seem to be flying in all directions lately.  With my little dog still on the mend.  He can walk just a few steps at a time.  But he is getting better.  I am still doing physical therapy.  It is taking alot out of me.  But I know that it will be for the better when it is all over.

Speaking of going in all directions, the theme this week over at Every Inchie Monday is Direction!  I actually made a design that when I looked at it I thought it was a snowflake and was about to write about how I was not ready to see thousands of them all over the place.  So glad that I took a second look, lol.

So without further ado here is my direction inchie that just happens to look like a snowflake.

If you would like to get all your directions mixed up like I did this week then fly on over to EIM and check out the list, make an inchie and try not to get confused like me!  LOL  I swear it is fun.  Also check out 2x2x2 and join it over there as well.  There is already next years list up.

Here is hoping that you all have a blessed and creative (and confusion free) week.

Copper Dinosaurs Making Tracks

Hey everyone, hope you all have had a great weekend.  Mine was nice.  Quiet.  Enjoyable.  Beady.  I did decide to try something new.  I made homemade spaghetti sauce.  Yea, sounds like it would be AMAZING.  Well, it would have been if I had picked a better recipe!  I really should have read the comments.  But I was overwhelmed with the idea that homemade sauce would be AMAZING that I jumped into the shallow end of the pool without looking first!  Blek!  Don't get me wrong, it was good.  But I had to do a ton of doctoring.  

Also this weekend I did a lot of beading.  I got my inchie done.  Over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Dinosaur.  So many ways to go with that theme but I decided to go with a long gone evidence of the existence of dinosaurs.  Their footprints!

I used 2 colors of Delicas and tried to make these look like 2 different types to dino tracks.

Also this week over at 2x2x2 the theme is Copper.  I used to dislike the copper color.  I am a total silver girl.  But maybe now that I am getting older I am liking it a bit more.  But I had trouble figuring out what to do for this one.  So I went with the periodic table.  Did you know that copper is number 29 on the table and has 29 protons.  I know this because wikipedia told me!  LOL  So here is my twinchie.  The Cu stands for Cuprum (which stands for copper in Latin)

Still taking care of my little dog, he is getting his ability to walk back and that is awesome.  I can't wait for him to be back to normal.  Will also have many more weeks of PT 3x a week!  I already need a nap.  LOL

Also, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the great works, and join in, I would love to see what you come up with!

Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

This Post is Gonna be Brief...Case

Hiya everyone, this week is going to be a long and tough one for me.  I have 3 Dr. appointments and 3 Physical Therapy appointments!  So if you see me sleeping in my car that is why LOL.  I did take time today between appointments and work to do some beadwork.  Because over at Every Inchie Monday the theme this week is Briefcase.  For some reason the only thing I could think of was those green pleather briefcases from the '70's.  Do you remember them?  I did and so that was what I made.  Check it out.

Does it make you think of those commercials where the gorilla tries to tear up the luggage?  It does me.  LOL

Also this week I am super excited that I won this!

Well, not this one but I entered a quick competition on Twitter and I was one of  5 people who won a Brent Seebrook bobble head from the Chicago Blackhawks!  I am not one who goes SQUEEEEEE!  But I am saying SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  LOL

Well, that is about it for me this week I am working on a couple more things but they will have to wait until this manic week is over!  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the challenges and don't be afraid, come join us!!

Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Astronomy Infinity

Hey everyone thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  September has been a rough month for me!  The trip, being so tired afterward, physical therapy, and now my dog is not well.  2 Sundays ago I ran into him with my car.  He has been limping around, dragging his back legs.  After 2 vet visits, to 2 different vets, I found one who seems the right fit.  Let's see how this next week shapes up!

But between all of that I have started working on Christmas ornaments!  Cuz Christmas is coming!!!! ARGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!  LOL.  I cant show them off just yet, I only have 1 done and some of my family looks at my blog!  So instead I will get to Every Inchie Monday and the theme this week which is Infinity.  I think a good definition of Infinity is the amount of time a Monday at work takes to come to a close!  But since that is IMPOSSIBLE to portray in beads I just did the infinity symbol.

Now that I see this it looks more like an orange muppet wearing a blue robber mask!!!  ROTF!  Oh well; infinity or a muppet it is what it is!  Moving on.....  Over at 2x2x2 the theme is Astronomy.  While I love looking at the sky, sun, moon and stars.  That is my vast knowledge of Astronomy.  But as I was surfing the web I came across a coloring page that showed Saturn and a rocket.  So I condensed them and come up with this.

I really love the color of Saturn.  The colors just make me happy!

Hey guys, thanks for stopping by and leaving comments they make me so happy, just like the colors of Saturn!  Also, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the art there and why not think about jumping in the pool with all of us.  A great time is had by all that is for sure!  Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Jeweled Mice in the Sky

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by.  I missed last week because of the holiday.  Me and my kids went up to Illinois for a family reunion. Left on Friday went 640 miles, 13 hours and came back on Monday!  I think I did not get over the long trip until Saturday!  So tired!  

I did finally get last weeks twinchie and inchie done...this week lol.  But I have to tell you it was all worth missing the week to see my family.  I got to see family that I had not seen in a year and family that I had not seen in 20 years!  Coolest thing was reconnecting and finding out that my 24 year old and my nieces 11 year old had alot in common!  They both love to draw and both love Anime.  I just loved that!  

Where was I?  Oh yea, last weeks work. Last week over at 2x2x2 the theme was Jewel.

My first thought was what woman doesn't love a beautiful jewel on her finger?  Even though I don't really like emeralds or gold I decided to make an emerald ring in gold.  LOL  In truth, the only reason I did it in the emerald color was because the green delicas looked so pretty!

Also last week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme was Mice.  I like this one because CHEESE!  I mean I am not a fan of mice, I have a cat and a dog who both love mice.  But I love cheese!  LOL  So this is what I came up with.

Now that I am up to date, this week over at EIM the theme is sky.

Here is a early Morning picture from somewhere on our trip up to Illinois.  I have this as the wallpaper on my phone.

Lovely afternoon sky in Illinois at my brother's house.

This is a late night picture of the Arkansas sky by my house.  So interesting how the same sky can look so different in so many places and at so many times.  I do love the different colors that mother nature gives us.  True beauty.  Now, my inchie this week is nothing as beautiful as these but it is a dark and kinda moody night sky.

This is supposed to represent how the night sky and the earth meet in the distance.  See the full moon and the stars? Yea that is what those are supposed to be LOL.

Hey, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to see some great artwork and why not jump in and give them a try.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you all have a blessed and creative week!

A Quick One Will Petunia

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by!  This one is gonna be a quick one.  I started physical therapy and I have it in the morning.  Lets hope that it works so I don't need surgery!

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Petunia.  I am glad to have any reason to bead up flowers.  I used to not like beading flowers because everyone loves to make beaded flowers (I don't like to go with the crowd!).  But they really are fun and you get to play with colors that you might not get to usually.  Mother nature has awesome taste in colors!

That said I was happy to jump out of my color zone and use purple.  Everyone seems to love purple, but not me.  So when I use it it is out of my color comfort zone.  But I do love the colors I used.  It just looks really pretty.  I hope that you like it.

Thanks again for stopping by and don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great flowery art over there this week.

Dolphins, Poetry and A Finished Piece!

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by.  I am glad I was able to post today.  We have been without internet (AGAIN) for the last few days.  But, I think it is finally fixed.  Fingers crossed.  I have some exciting news.  I finally finished my amulet bag.  The one that was supposed to be done back in July for the Facebook group Beadwork Mentoring.

I have been working on this when I had time and even when I did not have time.  By that I mean I was beading it in my sleep and in my mind while I was at work LOL.  I am really excited, can you tell!  So here it is.

Well, here is the necklace first lol.  It is done in herringbone stitch using 5 colors of 11/0 Czech seed beads.  After attaching the necklace to the bag I realized it was too long and had to be cut down.  So I cut it in the middle and had to sew it together.  Which was something that I was a bit worried to do.  You see, this is a 3 sided herringbone rope and if you ended up attaching the third side to let's say, the second side then there will always be a kink in the rope, and it will not lay proper from the bag.  Luckily, I got it right!

Now, when this amulet bag challenge came up I originally wanted to make something Native American since we are part Native American. But I could not find out what tribe we descended from so I decided to go with  Chief Blackhawk.  There is a statue of him near where I grew up.  My Mom had a painting of him in her living room.  Me and my brother both have a small statue of him in our front yards. We really like him, lol.  Even though I really love Blackhawk nothing was coming to me so I went to my favorite sports team. The Chicago Blackhawks.  So here it is (finally! LOL)

 
 This is the front of the bag with the Blackhawks Logo on it.

 

 
This is the back with the tomahawk logo on it.  This is the shoulder patch on the jerseys.  The fringe is made with black twisted bugles, black and white 8/0 seed beads, red bicones and small dragon scale beads.  The bag measures 4x7 including the fringe. I really love it!

This week also over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is dolphin.  For this one I did a dolphin playing with a beach ball.

Also this week over at 2x2x2 the theme is poetry.  I had a hard time with this one.  I thought about doing a raven but did not like the look of it so I went with a hand writing with a quill pen.  I don't think that it really looks like what I wanted it to, but still.

I want to thank everyone for stopping by and leaving me comments, they always make me happy.  If you want to participate in EIM or 2x2x2 jut follow the links and enjoy the fun, you're welcome!  LOL  Have a blessed and creative week.

Built Fjord Tough!

Hey everyone thanks for stopping by and I want to thank those who leave comments, it really brightens my day.

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Fjord.  What a strange and interesting word.  For those who don't know what a fjord truly is this is the definition that I found here.  A fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion.

All this said, putting that into an inch was not easy.  So I decided to go the route of a play on words.

Ok, well, so they are not EXACTLY the same, but close enough for my tastes LOL!!   Hey guys, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out some pretty awesome fjords and if you think this looks like fun, then please join in!  I would love to see what you come up with, in any medium you choose.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

A Whale of a Navajo Weekend

Hey Everyone, thanks for visiting this week.  Over here at the nest we, my kids and I have unilaterally decided that the cat must have gotten rid of the needle without us catching it!  Because it has been almost 3 weeks and no sign of it, but she is back to her chasing and attacking, bitchy self.  Now don't get mad at me for calling her that!  She is a bitch!  She is mean and attacks at will (poor Will!).  We all call her that almost as a term of endearment.  LOL.  

So now, over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Whale.  I got the idea for my inchie from an insurance commercial that shows a huge whale jumping out of the water.  This is what I came up with after translating that into an inch.

I used 4 colors of Delicas and decided against adding an eye on the whale.  I am not sure that was a good idea or not but I went with it.  

This week is also the week for 2x2x2 and I have been waiting for this one.  The theme is Navajo.  My family is part Native American, I don't know the tribe but I think it has watered down by time it got to me, cuz I don't look like it but my Mom and sister both look Native American.  Or maybe the only part I got was the love of beading.  After all the stitch I always use for my pieces is peyote stitch.  Which is widely used in the NA community for beadwork and jewelry.  

I decided to take my cue from a Navajo rug.  I really loved the look of the design that had 5 Yei Females holding Sacred Eagle feathers.  I just really like the geometrics in the rug and that it translated so well to the beads.  I may save this as an idea for a bigger piece later on.  But for now, check this out.  This is just 2 of the Yei's 

This one has 6 colors of Delicas, 2 of which are matte.  I love the depth that the matte beads give the piece.  I am not sure why I don't use matte beads more.  I may have to look into that with some matte beading projects LOL.  (not like I need an excuse to bead!)

Lastly, if you have been following me you know that I was working on an amulet bag that was supposed to be done by July 1st.  Well that did not happen!  But I am still slowly but surely working on it.  I have both panels done and attached, which I am not ready to show.  Not yet anyways.  But I did want to show you what I am doing for the necklace.  I decided to do it in a herringbone stitch and after a few trial pieces, that did not do what I wanted, I decided on this.  

These are the colors and the pattern I will be using.  I can not wait to get the necklace done so I can work on the fringe, then I can reveal the whole thing!  

Hey guys, just want to say thanks for stopping by and leaving me a message.  I really enjoy the comments and don't forget to fly on over to EIM and 2x2x2 to check out the great work there.  

Feeling Sheep-ish

Hey everyone, I hope this finds all of you well.  I also want to thank all of you for stopping by and leaving me a note.  It really makes my day.

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Sheep.  There is so many ways to go with that theme.  But the one that I liked the most was counting sheep.  I mean who has not tried to count sheep before?  I know I have.  They are such a popular thing to count that they even have their own commercials.  But how to translate that to beads?  This is what I came up with.

 
For this one I used 5 colors of Delicas.  I love the look of this one.  You get the illusion of there being many of them without there being "many".

This is going to be short and sweet this week.  Mostly because I have a bad headache, stemming from my neck pain.  On the Kitty front; she STILL has not passed the needle.  I am beginning to think that she got it out and maybe the dog ate it!  UGH!!!!

Also don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out what the others have designed.