The Austria Effect.

Hey everyone, This is going to be kinda short.  I had a long weekend filled with long drives.  I would like to give a belated Veterans Day to all of the Vets out there.  God bless all of you for the sacrifices that you have made for me and my family so we can be free. 

This week over at Every Inchie Monday they world tour stops in Austria.  There is so much to say about Austria.  But one thing that I thought was interesting was that the Doppler Effect was invented by an Austrian physicist Christian Doppler!   How cool is that! 

I mean we always hear about Doppler radar with regards to the weather but it is more than that.  It is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to the observer who is moving relative to the wave source.  Or to put it in non-scientist terms; Doppler effect causes a car engine or siren to sound higher in pitch when it is approaching then when it is receding. 

So I decided that I would do an inchie that represented the sound waves. 

Also this week I had a bit of time to do some beadwork besides my inchie and I did a charm from my pattern stash.  The pattern is one that I have had for some time and forgot to write down the author of the pattern so if anyone knows who designed it please let me know so that I can give them the credit they deserve.  This little yellow geisha (that is what I am calling her) has been on my beading bucket list for a long time and last week with so many Dr appointments and stuff going on I got to work on her.  I think she is adorable!  What do you think?

That is it for me this week.  It is getting closer to Thanksgiving and I am super happy about that. This year I wont be cooking, (maybe a little bit...., maybe) and I am looking forward to it even though it is over a week away lol. 

There is a lot to be thankful for and I feel that we forget that sometimes.  So to all those who are going through tough times, just know that you are stronger than you know and this too shall pass.  God bless everyone and I hope that you all have a blessed and creative week.

It's All Malta to Me.

Hey everyone thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  This one is going to be a quick one.  Just got my inchie.  This week over at Every Inchie Monday the world tour stops at Malta. 

Malta is a tiny island, just 121 square miles.  I am sure the bulk of towns in the US are bigger than Malta.  But there is over 425,000 people there.  That sounds kinda crowded to me. 

I really did not know what to do for Malta so I went with the flag of Malta.  Its a red and white flag with a grey cross in the corner, so that is what I did, lol. 

Not to much to look at, but that is it for me this week.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great inchie artwork over there.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Portugal, oh Man!

Hey everybody, thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  I have had a very busy weekend.  My adopted daughter came in from Arizona and she and my daughter celebrated birthdays this weekend; 12th and 13th respectively.  We have had a great time laughing, eating, talking, and eating!  My sides have hurt from all the giggles!  If only that could make me lose weight!  haha!

I did take some time to work on my inchie this week, which ends up being very timely.  Since the girls are together they have had some bottles of wine with friends.  What does that have to do with the inchie theme this week?  I will get to that in a minute. 

First off, this week the world tour stops in Portugal.  My first thought was the rock band Portugal, The Man.  But I was not really sure I could figure something out for them.  So I looked into Portugal and found out that Portugal produces 50% of the cork in the world.  So without Portugal, the girls wine bottles would be very sad.  Even though I designed this pattern back in January before my adopted daughter even decided to come to Arkansas, I think it was really meant to be!  HAHA. 

So for my inchie I decided to design the top of a wine bottle with the cork still in it. 

I also have to say that even though I don't drink,  I love wine corks because I like to bead around them for Christmas ornaments. 

Well, that is it for me this week, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great places we visit and the artwork that we have done.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends. 

Didya Miss Me 2.0??

Hey everybody, have you missed me?  I missed you all!  Between being busy and hurt I have not had the time to do much of anything! 

Let me explain.  I have been going to a chiropractor for my shoulder only to find out that it is my neck that is the problem (again)!  I have bone spurs on 4 of my neck vertebrae, and my neck is curving so it all has to be straightened out!  Not sure if you all remember but back in 2016 I was going to physical therapy for my neck.  Well, it did not seem to take!  ARG! 

Because of going to the Chiro I have not been feeling like beading.  To add to that I no longer have a kitchen/craft table.  So I don't have a place to bead.  ARG!!! 

Despite all that I have managed to get caught up.  YAY!!!  So here we go, let's play a game of catch up, shall we!

Back on July 2 the theme over at Every Inchie Monday was Mongolia.  I was really excited for this one because if the story is true then I have to thank the Mongolian Horsemen for inventing ice cream!  God bless them!!!!  Ice cream is my go to indulgence.  (I actually ate some before writing this post lol) I love, love, love ice cream!  The story goes that the Mongolian Horsemen created ice cream when they carried cream in animal intestines as part of their food stocks and the cold weather mixed with the galloping of the horses created ice cream!!!  So this is my homage to Mongolia.  YUM!

 On the ninth the theme was Finland.  One thing that I found out about Finland that I thought was interesting was that Finland drinks the most coffee in the world!  WHAT, you mean America loses again!  Sheesh.  I really expected that we would have won that one.  I mean where else would people love coffee so much that they are willing to pay $6 for a cup of coffee?  Apparently the answer is Finland!

On the 16th the theme was Mexico.  In Mexico many people wear something called a serape.  It is a colorful blanket that can be worn like a shawl.  Many Men wear them and I have owned a couple of them in my life.  So I decided to design my inchie with the colorful lines of a contemporary serape. 

Last week was a great place to visit.  Norway!  With all the Norse Gods, Vikings and lore I just had to make a Viking ship.  There was a lot of detail on this one.  Glad it came out like it did.

This week's world tour stop is Brazil.  I was going to do the statue of Jesus but it just did not translate like I wanted to so I went with the flag of Brazil. 

Whew! that is it for me this week!  I do hope that I will be back next week.  I am glad that I was finally able to post these all.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends and take care of yourselves.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great works of art over there.

Memorial Day and Happiness!

Hey everyone!  Thanks for visiting me this beautifully HOT day!  First off, I would like to say Happy Memorial day and God bless all our military and all they do to keep us safe all over the world! 

Because of the holiday this will (hopefully) be a short post.  This week I started working on a new project.  I am not sure how it will end or what all will be part of it, but I am enjoying having the creative juices flowing and working out all the little details. 

I did take some time out of that to continue on the Every Inchie Monday world tour.  This week we land in South Asia in the Eastern Himalayas, to a small country named Bhutan.  For being a small isolated country they are one of the happiest in the world.  That is what they are best known for.  As a matter of fact the King measured the country not in "Gross National Product", but by "Gross National Happiness"!  How cool is that!  Wouldn't it be great to think about life in levels of happiness instead of finances? 

That made such an impression on me that I just had to smile.  Literally! 

That is it for me this week, (like I said a short post!)  I hope that you all have a blessed and creative week and that you all find your Gross National Happiness as well!  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great artwork over there.

The Equator at Ecuador

Hey everyone, I hope this finds you all well.  This weekend has been nice and warm.  I am enjoying it.  But rain is looming in the distance.  I am really tired of the rain.  But then I catch myself complaining and realize that I am lucky that I am not in the East dealing with the multiple Nor'Easters in a row. 

This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is Ecuador.  I knew that Ecuador was near the equator but I did not know that it actually cuts through the country!  So very interesting that you can go for a walk and go from one hemisphere to the next!  Or stand on both at the same time!!!

Not me but I sure wish I was there!

 What fun!  But for me this week, I decided to have the equator cutting through the flag of  Ecuador.  I also used more sparkly colors of the flag than the original.  I just kinda wanted to step outside of the box.  Hope you like it.

That is it for me this week.  I am hoping to get more time to bead this coming week.  One can hope!  Anyways, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the other road trips that everyone else is taking.  Have a blessed and creative week!

Let's Drive to Cuba!

Hey everyone, I hope that all of you are doing well.  I am well. I was able to do a bit of catch up and got some of the inchies that I missed done.  But let's dive into our Inchie World Tour.  This week over at Every Inchie Monday we are landing or driving to Cuba.

I never really knew much about Cuba since the US had an embargo on Cuba since the late 50's.  All I could tell you about Cuba is that they have cigars that everyone seems to want but could not have.  After the embargo was lifted a few years ago I found out that Cuba loves its 1950's cars! 

I just adore the colors of the cars.  Are those colors original? I dunno but they just make me happy, not to mention the shapes of those cars from that time are so beautiful.  So I decided to go with that as the theme of my inchie. 

  I was only able to fit in the front of the car but I am happy with it.  Purple isn't my favorite color but the color of those purple oldies is so pretty!  I hope I did it justice!  Check out all the other inchies at EIM.

Speaking of doing justice, I got a few of the missed inchies done.  I like the finished piece better than the screen grab of the pattern.

This is The Netherlands, pink tulips in front and a windmill in the back.

The USA, land of the Free and home of the Brave!

France, the French flag with a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower in the front. 

That is it for me this week, but before I go I would like to say that I am saddened by yet another school shooting.  This time in Florida.  I am sending all of them my prayers.  It is past time that we start thinking of our children and their safe future instead of political parties, stuffed pockets and alignments.   This isn't a political issue, it's a safe future issue. 

Have a blessed, safe and creative week my friends.

Rudolph With Your Nose So Bright.....

Hello everyone, hope this finds you all well.  Hard to believe that there is only 2 more weeks until 2018!  1 more week until Christmas.  Didn't this year just start a few months ago??  What's up with that!?! 

Well, before Every Inchie Monday ends for good, I am enjoying the last 2 inchies this year.  This weeks theme is Reindeer.  So of course who else would I bead up.  RUDOLPH!!!! 

I love the way he looks. With his nose so bright!  Also this week I finished a piece I have been working on for a few weeks. I am so happy that I got it done before I have to go have surgery!  I gave a sneak peak last week and I finished it early today.

This is a Burberry-style Christmas puffy star ornament. This is from a monthly challenge over at the Facebook group Seed Beads and More.  I enjoyed making this, it was my first time to finish a star.  I started one last year but it got put to the wayside when I found something else to work on!  I stuffed this star with kleenex.  I just did not know what to fill it with but I do like this.  Even if I made so many mistakes on it.  But I really like it.

That is it for me this week. Next Monday will be Christmas so I will prolly be late in posting so free me and mine I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out all the great artists over there.  Just 2 more to go! 

Have a blessed and creative week my friends. 

This Wolf Pack(ed) of a Year is Almost Over

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by the nest this week.  Not a lot going on here this week.  I have been working on a special piece that I am hoping will be done before the end of the year.  I will give you a peak at the end of this post. 

I am racing against the clock though since I will be going to the Dr. in just over a week to find out when I will be having surgery for carpal tunnel.  I will then be away from my beads for a few weeks!!!!!!  To say I am already going through withdrawls is an understatement!

But for now, as Every Inchie Monday is winding down, the theme this week is Wolf.  I knew immediately that I wanted to do the typical wolf silhouette.  It is a bit of a stretch to see it but you will get it when you see the inspiration picture; the picture I took the pattern from.

And here is the inspiration picture.

Makes me think of the call of the wild!  How about you?  Now for my special piece that I have been working on.  It is for one of the Facebook groups.  I am hoping to get it done in time, we will see!  Here is a bit of the piece.  Just a teaser though! 

Well, there it is!  Some of you might know what this is, others can try to guess. 

That is it for me this week, don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the wolf artwork over there. 

Owls and Art Invitationals

Hey everyone!  I am so super excited this weekend.  I have some exciting news to tell you but first I wanna show you my inchie.  This week over at Every Inchie Monday the theme is one of my favorite animals, Owl.  I have done owl designs in the past, I named them Owliver and Owlivia. 

But for this weeks inchie design I designed a new one. I really love the colors I chose, brown and teal.  Which is one of my favorite color combos of late.

I designed this one to look like a owlet, a baby owl.  I do like how it came out.

Ok, deeeeep breath.  Today I was at River Valley Art Center for their Artist Invitational.  Where I had 2 pieces featured in the show, and well, take a look!

OH MY GOSH!!!  Can you believe it?!?  The first time I have ever entered an actual art show and I get 3rd place!!!!  I had my flapper amulet bag, entitled "You Gatsby Kidding Me." and the Egyptian themed amulet bag that I had made for my daughter when she graduated college.  The Flapper won 3rd place!  All the art that was featured was so beautiful.  It all looked like it was painted by famous artists!  I just can't believe that I won.

That is all from me this week.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM to see some more art by famous artists!  Have a blessed and creative week my friends.

Spiders Away (Please!)

Hey everyone, I hope that this post finds you all well.  It is starting to get colder here and I am so not happy about that!  I don't like when the temps get below 45 degrees!  But it is what happens this time of year, so I have to accept it!  haha

This week's theme over at Every Inchie Monday is Spider.  Which is perfect since it's Halloween time and spiders are a Halloween staple.  We also have spiders here, A LOT of them; as I showed here.

I am glad that my inchie Spider is way less of a hassle!  Actually, he isn't even here!  LOL

Also this week I finished the bracelet that I spoke of last week.  It was so fun to do.

I am hoping to do more with this stitch.  If you are interested in this stitch just check out this Facebook group. Peyote with a twist-not crochet.

That's it for me this week.  Thanks so much for stopping by, I always enjoy hearing your comments.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great artwork over there.  Have a blessed and creative week.

Two Weeks In the Forest.

Hey guys welcome back to the nest.  I missed last week, sorry about that.  I got my inchie done but just didn't have the time to post. 

So let's get to it.  I have a few pieces to show off and one thing I am super excited about.   Over at Every Inchie Monday the theme last week was bear.  So my original design looked like a honey pot dripping with honey, but when I went to bead it it just looked like a couple of brown and yellow blobs.  So I decided to run to something comforting for me; and my family.  Chicago sports teams. 

Last year around this time the Cubs were going for the "W" in the World Series.  Which they did!  Go Cubbies!  This year, not so much!  My brother, whom we lost just before the "W" loved the Cubs.  So I decided to mix the Cubs logo and the Chicago Bears colors together and made my inchie.

This one was hard for me to do.  I thought about my Brother the whole time.  Also another reason that I had issues posting.

This week's theme over at EIM the theme is squirrel.  I knew I could not make a squirrel so I went to their favorite things. Acorns.

Now, I am so excited about this.  I was reading on one of the beading Facebook groups and saw this awesome bead crochet necklace, the poster was talking about it being peyote stitch and NOT bead crochet.  I immediately looked for the group, Peyote With A Twist - Not Crochet, joined and got to beading. 

After a false start (or two) I got into a groove and got about 2.5 inches done.  Check this out.

I know it may not look like much to many of you, but I have struggled with bead crochet in the past.  I just could not get the tension right.  But this here is a stitch that I understand.  I love peyote stitch and this makes me soo happy to work on.  Once I get this down pat then I am going to try a patterned piece!  Wish me luck.

That is it for me this week.  I am going to rest my arm, do some chores and then get back to the necklace!  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great artwork over there.  Have a blessed and creative week my friends. 

Two Week's AGAIN!!!

Hey everybody!  Thanks for stopping by this week.  I tell ya, working 6 days a week reeks havoc on my bead addiction!  But I did work on the inchies of last week and this week.  So let's get down to it!
Last weeks inchie theme was Camel.  I am not a fan of animals that can spit at you or step on you.  But camels are kinda funny ones.  They seem to be hams for the camera, at least on TV they seem that way.

When I was about 9 I rode a camel.  It was pretty interesting.  Not something I would want to do on a daily basis.  LOL  Also this theme was the hardest one for me this year.  I really could not get the pattern right.  I like to go with my first thought on a theme, because usually it is the best one I can come up with.  BUT, this time was not the case.  I wanted to do a camel up close (like he was looking into a camera) and behind him was the pyramids.  But no matter what tweaking I did it just looked like a deformed pile of poop in front of 2 triangles!  Not the best one, for sure!

So I went with something that I thought about but decided against; that is until I hated what I came up with LOL.  I decided to make a take on the Camel Cigarette Logo using just 2 colors. Here it is.

This week's theme over at EIM is Rhino.  This week I took a page from my camel (or the camel took a page from my Rhino!) and made him in silhouette.  This time though I only did the rhino's head.  Check him out.

That is it for me this week(s).  I hope to be able to make it on time next week.  Don't forget to fly on over to EIM and check out the great art work over there and join in the fun with us!  Have a blessed and creative week my friends!

Brown Inchie, a bit of Grossness and a look into the future.

The great artists that participate over at Every Inchie Monday know that many times I think very abstractly.  I cant help it, I'm special like that, lol.  This year the list at EIM has a few colors on it.  This weeks theme is the first one of those, the theme is Brown. 

Usually when I read the theme I go with the first thing that comes to mind and work from there.  That explains a lot, right!  HAHA!  This week my first thought was a bit of used chewing tobacco.  I know GROSS right!  Yea, well.   After I got the inchie done I realized that it also looked like something else brown.....poop!  More GROSS, right!  Right!  Well here it is.

If you see something different in my inchie, post and let me know what you see.  I'd love to hear from you, even if i don't answer each comment; I am grateful for each one.

Well, I am glad that you came by to check out my inchie and hopefully this week will be less hectic than last.  I am wanting to start posting more about the Sister Necklaces.  This year I am gonna get to work on the Sister Necklaces. 

What's a Sister Necklace, you ask?  Here is a picture of the first Sister Necklace.  I will talk more about it later on.  Have a blessed week.

Amulet Inchie

This last week has been a doozie!  Missed 2.5 days of work due to the weather.  Slid in the ice and got stuck in a ditch!  Add to that we lost power due to a tree falling on an icy power line!!!  Now we start this week with weather in the 60's!  Oh yea and a flooded yard, lol. 

What better way to start the weekend then by playing with my beads.  I was also drooling looking at beads online that I really, really want to buy and play with.  Then looked at my beading magazines.  (Along with more drooling!).  Ending the night by making my inchie. 

Here it is, the theme is Amulet.   My first thought was to make a small amulet bag, but I went with a crystal amulet hanging off of a gold necklace against a black background.  I used 3 colors of 11/0 Delicas.  My most favorite seed beads. 

I also took the picture with a ruler, so that you can see that it is a true inchie.  I also covered last weeks inchie with a napkin.  I decided to start the year off by attaching my inchies all together in one line, like I did last year.  Funny, it only took me 2 years to figure that out. 

Don't forget to fly by Every Inchie Monday to check out all the awesome artwork by all of the great artists.  Make sure you check it out on Monday when everyone posts :)  and thanks so much for stopping by and checking out the nest. 

Have a blessed and warm weekend.