Becca's Place

Personality Quirks

2012-01-19T01:02:00.002-09:00

My husband has this 'thing'... A personality quirk, a habit, an annoyance... I'm not sure how to describe this 'thing'.

He will not buy a new or almost new car. No way, no how.

He got sucked into spending a ridiculous amount of money on a car back before he knew me, back when he was making ridiculously good money as a machinist. He spent and spent and spent on that car, and then changed jobs and was stuck with it for a very long time.

Consequently, WE will probably never purchase a car from a dealership.

In the 11 years we've been married we've had 10 or 11 cars. When the old car dies, Jake finds a car in the newspaper and we go track it down. The one we've got right now was purchased in a restaurant parking lot...

And it's dying. Like all of them. Each car has lasted a year, maybe two. Then we have to figure out some way of unloading it and getting into another half-dead car. And we don't know a Miracle Max...

He's owned ridiculous cars up here. A Dodge Omni with half a seat in the back (We have 2 children). A cadillac so old my mom might have been born in it. Cars that guaranteed there was no way I could drive around Fairbanks in the winter without a cell phone, just in case I have to call for somebody to come rescue me.

Don't get me wrong. I become kind of fond of each them. In a derogatory sort of way. I found myself rubbing the dash board of our current junker this week and whispering, "Come on, old girl, you can do it!" as we tried to merge with the traffic on the Expressway...

I love my Jake, but I wish he'd figure out a different method of dealing with transportation...

Recovering

2012-01-15T16:18:00.002-09:00

Surgery recovery is going slowly.
I went back to work this week and every day I have come home and CRASHED. I've had a 2 to 4 hour nap every afternoon, and have been doing little else. Some reading after dinner, but that's about it.
I am looking forward to playing with some polymer clay when I feel better!

Ode to Sleeping Pills

2012-01-10T23:44:00.002-09:00

Though I have tried, I have had no rest.
Last night I slept 8 hours straight-
Thank you, glowing wings of Lunesta.

Painting tiny little butterflies

2012-01-09T03:45:00.005-09:00

Beth has started an Etsy shop to sell her Polymer clay beads. And if she has started making poly-beads, you can bet I've followed. Because it's fun!!

Right now, I'm working on a stash of pretty little painted butterflies to use in earrings or as pendants on a bracelet. I am delighted with their appearance, and am almost done. I've varnished the top to protect the paint and sparkles and now I need for it to dry so I can decide if I'll varnish the back as well.

At this moment, I am very pleased with them. I hope that continues all the way to the sticky-Varnish end. I will not be surprised if I realize I should have put the holes closer to the edge...

After surgery photo

2012-01-09T03:40:00.002-09:00

I'm laying on the couch all sad and tired, when my littlest decides she wants to cuddle.

So we get her over & behind me (away from the incisions),

when my oldest decides she wants in on the cuddle action...

Except she didn't fit. Not with my stomach all messed up.

Jake kindly offered to take a photo in lieu of a couch cuddle.

Looking at this photo you'd think Jake told us to make silly faces!

But he just said 'Smile!'

Surgery Recovery

2012-01-09T03:14:00.002-09:00

It's been a week and a half since my surgery and I am doing better.

The first week I was groggy, tired and in pain. I pretty much came down to eat, and stayed in bed the rest of the time. A couple days ago, I started to feel better and I'm doing pretty good now.

I've been to the grocery store and made it half-way through the trip! At that point my body said 'I'm done, take me home.' But I still had to walk out on my own power, AND I made it.

I'm still shaky and I have NO stamina. Taking a shower wears me out. Eating dinner wears me out. Painting little tiny butterflies wears me out.

The biggest complication I'm stuck with right now is that I'm not sleeping. I hope you understand, I don't mean I'm having a little insomnia. Or that I'm having to lay in bed for an hour or so to go to sleep... I'm NOT SLEEPING. Last night I went to sleep around 8 a.m., and slept till between noon and 2. I had been in bed for a very long time before I went to sleep...

I did some research and found out this is a fairly common side-effect of going off the vicodin. The withdrawal can cause fairly severe insomnia. Goody. Something new... Only it's not.

I've always had insomnia. Always. Mom has stories about me being a baby and a young child and not sleeping. This new insomnia is different, though. This isn't like my nice, friendly, rather tame insomnia. He's a nice puppy I cuddle, read books, and wrestle with, and then I lay down and get to sleep with him in about an hour.

No, this new insomnia is like some great mean polar bear. I am fighting this guy every night for HOURS. He sits on my chest and roars at me for HOURS. I can't even tell myself nice stories or create little day-dreams. Nope, this bear is too loud- roaring, "You can't sleep, 'cuz I'm not lettin' ya'! Give it up! Ha-Ha-HAAAA!"

So, not only am I tired from surgery recovery, I'm also tired from Vicodin withdrawal. Remind me to never accept Vicodin after surgery again. This is ridiculous.

Surgery Tomorrow

2011-12-26T23:03:00.003-09:00

Warning: I've got a couple of male readers- this post may make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry... You probably already noticed I'm female, but tonight I'm gonna focus on the consequences of me being female. The sum up for you is that I'm having a major surgery tomorrow, I'm not really happy about it, but I'm sure I'm making the right choice.

I have severe endometriosis, which is a nasty immune system disease. Endo basically means that the internal parts that make me a woman (uterus and ovaries), are messed up and flow backwards. Which means endometrial tissue ends up outside of the uterus and ovaries, where it forms cysts which bleed and hurt. I've had numerous cysts, three surgeries to remove them, plus ridiculous pain. I have ulcers from taking pain medication because of the endo. I am pretty much always anemic because I have severely heavy periods. My periods are normally heavy and close together, but for the last four or five months I've had a period every other week. I'm so very tired all the time...

After working with my gynecologist, I've made the decision to have a full hysterectomy- removing everything- uterus, ovaries. Obviously, we expect this to stop the overwhelming periods. But we are also hoping this alleviates the crazy pain I experience regularly.

I wasn't ready to stop having kids. I know I'm 40, but I wanted another baby and we have been trying for a while to get pregnant. Not happening...
It's very hard to lose the hope for another child. It is unlikely I could get pregnant again, since I was originally told I would probably never have children. Our girls are amazing miracles. However, a hysterectomy means no way, no how are we having another baby. And I'm very sad right now.... I'm really struggling with the consequences of this choice...

I am making the right decision, but it isn't the decision I wanted. I originally had wanted 6 kids. Crazy, huh? Growing up my favorite home to visit was my Aunt Cary's. She had 6 kids, and there was always somebody to do something with- we got into so much fun with them. That's what I wanted when I made my own family- 6 kids, sheer chaos. And then I was diagnosed with Endometriosis...

And told I wouldn't have kids at all. The fact that God gave me two should be enough, right? I had two miracles. And I want more. I want to be satisfied with what I have, and not be fighting so hard against this loss. I want to know this is right and be content with what needs to happen.

I know this will alleviate my symptoms- extreme pain, bleeding, cystic growth, anemia. I know my life will be a lot easier in many ways.

God, please help me accept and be content with this surgery. Help me recover quickly. Thank you that I am never alone, that you are always with me.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:52:00.003-09:00

May the light and love of Jesus shine down upon you,

and may the joy of this season follow you throughout the coming year.

HUGE Bazaar

2011-11-08T00:24:00.005-09:00

Truth time:
We are freaking out. Beth & I are signed up to do the really big Carlson Holiday bazaar this weekend. It lasts 3 days- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And we are in way over our heads.
This bazaar costs more than the other three combined for us to get in, and we are really hoping we not only "make table" (our language for recouping the amount we spent to have a table), but increase our fan base, and sell lots of pretty things.
I sold all but one of my pearl necklaces (go me!) at Monroe, so I've been working like crazy to make more. Which means no blogging, and very little sleeping.
Hoping it all works out, and thankful that God blesses the work of his children's hands.
OH, yes. And by the way, if you're in Fairbanks this weekend, November 11, 12, or 13 we'd love to see you over at the Holiday Marketplace at the Carlson Center!

Fun Day- Golden Flowers

2011-11-02T01:29:00.004-08:00

My big reveal! Here's what I've been working on lately... Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, Carnelians and Moss agate grace this necklace

of autumn golds.

In particular, I'm happy with the filigree flowers and burnt copper vintage look.

Saturday Smiles

2011-10-29T01:32:00.004-08:00

On Saturday I post two or three things that make me smile:
*****

1.) The Monroe Bazaar
Tomorrow (or later today, depending on how you view it), Beth & I will be selling our jewelry at the Monroe Holiday Bazaar. First off, I honestly enjoying selling our stuff, so that makes me smile. But secondly, our first bazaar was Monroe so we have really positive feelings about that one. We'd love to see you if you can make it.

2.) Costumes!
I love getting dressed up as someone else. It must be the actor in me, or else the part of me that loves costumes & dressing up is what drew me to acting... Hmmmm.... Never thought about it, but yes. Most of my favorite child-hood memories involve play-acting and pretending to be someone else. And we would create the best costumes!

3.) Chocolate
Yup. Nothing makes me smile like chocolate. :) I like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, minty chocolate, orange chocolate. You name it. The only kind I don't like is the stuff with coffee beans or espresso in it.

Just 2 Days Away!

2011-10-28T01:08:00.003-08:00

If you're in Fairbanks this Saturday, stop by and see us!

Snow Day

2011-10-21T01:24:00.006-08:00

Anchorage Trip

2011-10-18T01:03:00.008-08:00

We drove to Anchorage last week for medical purposes- a lung doctor for my mom and an eye doctor for my daughter. We had an excellent adventure.

Drove over some crazy metal thing on the way down, which popped both our passenger side tires, plus it dented the wheels... So thankful we went down in two vehicles!

We visited the Earthquake memorial in Anchorage, the Anchorage museum, a couple of bead stores, had dinner with friends, stayed in a nice hotel, and generally had fun.

Enjoyed the VASTNESS of Alaska- We hit a crazy snow storm on the way back up to Fairbanks, and a drive that should have taken us 7-8 hours ended up taking 10-11 hours.

Though the drives were beautiful & eventful both ways, they were not fun! Glad to be home!

All Things Work for Good

2011-10-14T14:11:00.002-08:00

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

We know…There are so many things we do not know. We do not know if the economy will dip or if our team will win. We do not know what our spouse is thinking or how our kids will turn out. We don’t even know “what we ought to pray” (Rom. 8:26). But according to Paul, we can be absolutely certain about four things. We know…

1. God works. He is busy behind the scenes, above the fray, within the fury. He hasn’t checked out or moved on. He is ceaseless and tireless. He never stops working.

2. God works for the good. Not for our comfort or pleasure or entertainment, but for our ultimate good. Since he is the ultimate good, would we expect anything less?

3. God works for the good of those who love him. Behold the benefit of loving God! Make his story your story, and your story takes on a happy ending. Guaranteed. Being the author of our salvation, he writes a salvation theme into our biography.

4. God works in all things. Panta, in Greek. Like “panoramic” or “panacea” or “pandemic.”All-inclusive. God works, not through a few things or through the good things, best things, or easy things. But in “all things” God works.

Puppet in the hands of fortune or fate? Not you. You are in the hands of a living, loving God. Random collection of disconnected short stories? Far from it. Your life is a crafted narrative written by a good God, who is working toward your supreme good.

From God’s Story, Your Story Copyright (Zondervan, 2011)
by Max Lucado

1,000 Posts!

2011-10-14T14:08:00.002-08:00

I reached 1,000 posts! WOW! Pretty cool.

I write! I photograph! I create jewelry!
I'm not the most consistent blogger, but I am pleased to have made it this far.

Saturday Smiles

2011-10-08T00:13:00.006-08:00

Each Saturday I share about several things that make me smile.
*****

1.) "I'm on the Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga

I admit- I like this song. It's catchy, it gets stuck in my head, it makes me smile... My girls love So You Think You Can Dance, and Lady Gaga performed "I'm on the Edge" for the show this last season. They flipped over the song. Kept singing it over & over...
I know it's about sex. Trust me, I know. They don't. And it doesn't really matter right now. They think it's about singing and performing and dancing. So the song makes me think of my girls dancing and singing and it makes me happy. (Unless they start singing it in the morning while we're all trying to get ready for school. 'Cuz then it's stuck in my head ALL day.)
I had almost no opinion about Lady Gaga until watching her on SYTYCD. She came across as intelligent, positive, and able to give a good critique. I'm not a huge fan, but I definitely like that song. I like her sense of style, and her commitment to the character. It's obvious she is as much an actor/performance artist as she is a singer. Also, I love the fact that she writes her own stuff.

2.) Chicken Teriyaki with rice
But it has to have pineapple, or forget it...

3.) Sharpie Pens

The perfect rainbow of colors! The new colors every year! The permanence! The brilliance! The long-lasting ink! I love Sharpie pens!

Fun Day- Collage Necklaces

2011-10-05T16:42:00.005-08:00

I love building these collage necklaces. I love selecting each bead and piece and carefully balancing them just so with the other elements.
I enjoy wearing them, and imagining the person who might prefer the all copper one, or the all silver one.

I love choosing surprising elements- a bit of shell, a hand-made wire bead, 3 wood beads together...

In fact, they are as fun to make as they are to wear. A bit of elegance mixed with a big of whimsy and tied together with carefully twisted and worked wire.

Saturday Smiles

2011-09-30T23:36:00.005-08:00

On Saturdays I share 3 to 5 things that make me smile, and make my heart happy.

1.) My favorite pants
I've got two pair I just love: My green Carhartts (yes, that makes me Alaskan to the core, but I DON'T care) and my comfy beat-up pair of cropped hang out pants. The Carhartts take me out of the house looking good, and the cropped pants keep me happy at home.

2.) My husband's adventure photography
Jake & the girls finally got to go on an adventure over the weekend, and he took some great shots of the girls at an adventure spot in the Gilmore Valley out near Fox. They climbed and hiked, explored and snacked to their heart's content.

3.) The coming Christmas Bazaar Season
I know I'm wacky, but I look forward to the bazaars Beth & I attend during the three months leading up to Christmas. They are incredibly hard work with long hours, and the 'on-call' nature of selling my own work reminds me of an art performance or strange play that lasts 7 to 8 hours with the actors then having to tear down the set...
Also, you would be shocked at some of the strange/wonky/rude things people will say... (Best not to repeat the most rude, but here's a rather funny one. A customer walks up and carefully looks at all our jewelry. She chooses one particular piece of mine, and says to her friend, "Now this one.... This one looks professional." I guess the rest didn't come up to her high standards? or they looked like my 5 year old made it?)
We don't do many Christmas bazaars (we're only signed up for 4 this year so far); but they are fun. We see some friends we don't see any other time, customers we don't get to visit with except at Christmas, and I enjoy the routine... I enjoy helping someone find the perfect gift for that special someone.
I enjoy getting ready, and setting up, and making our jewelry look beautiful. During Farmer's Market we mostly focus on just getting it out there, but during the Christmas bazaars we focus on making each piece look beautiful. As we have gotten deeper and deeper into crafting each component of our jewelry from the findings to the pendants, I think we find a deeper satisfaction in displaying our pieces.
Even with all the work involved, I still thoroughly enjoy participating in the Christmas bazaars here in Fairbanks, and the thought that they are coming soon makes me smile!

Me!!! on Jewelry Making Daily

2011-09-28T15:02:00.003-08:00

My necklace was included in Tammy Jones' Jewelry Making Daily POST about the Bead Soup Blog Party! WOW.
I feel pretty special. =)
Thank you, Tammy! I'm amazed at some of the other lovely pieces in your post. I can't quite believe my name was on the same page with people like Sally Russick, and Lorelei Eurto!

My Sister and Me

2011-09-28T01:27:00.003-08:00

My sister is a big part of my life. We make jewelry together, and we sell jewelry together. Right now, we are living together. Which mostly works, and sometimes doesn't. =)

We also share a blog HERE.

We take VERY poor care of our blog during the summer. Farmer's Market and all our other responsibilities tend to get in the way of posting regularly. However, we have committed to keeping better care of our blog! Our intention is to take turns posting each week. I kicked it off with a bit about the summer, and Beth took her turn this week. She shared about creating a piece from Andrew Thornton's monthly reader's challenge kit.

Take a moment and check out what she has to say about creating her Magic necklace HERE.

Saturday Smiles

2011-09-23T23:49:00.005-08:00

For the Bead Soup Blog Party post, please go HERE .
*****

I finally get to start regularly posting Saturday Smiles! Farmer's Market is over and the cold weather is coming, so my life reverts to more indoor activities. Or at least more child directed activities.
Both of my girls are involved in dance this year, and Deborah gets to be a mouse in the local production of The Nutcracker! She is thrilled and I'm a little over-whelmed.

On Saturdays, I try to share 3 to 5 items, people or memories that have made me smile during the previous week. The order is unimportant and sometimes my items are a little silly.

1.) Shamrocks
I grew up with shamrocks in the house. My mom has this incredible green thumb and anywhere we lived we had plants all through our home. The first plant I remember caring for was a shamrock.
Beth found a lovely variegated shamrock at Farmer's Market on the last day, took it home and gave it to our mom. We have all been enjoying it's presence in the dining area.

2.) Abigail likes school this year!!

Abigail HATED kindergarten. With a passionate and unembarrassed hatred. She would cry for at least 20 minutes every school morning before we left the house, and I would end up dragging her through the halls to her class and pushing her into the room. I felt bad, but after talking it over with her & her teacher, and visiting the class (Remember, I work in the school) I felt compelled to leave her in that class.

Her biggest expressed reason for hating kindergarten was, "I hate being told what to do!" While I understand her problem (I don't really like being told what to do either), I'm afraid there really isn't anybody who doesn't get told what to do sometimes. And if we'd chosen to turn it into a teacher issue and moved her into a different class-room, I think Abigail would have gotten the idea that she could cry her way out of anything... Plus, though I don't think her kindergarten teacher was the absolute best fit, I just don't think that was the bigger issue. I think the bigger issue was that she really didn't like having someone else tell her what to do, and that I probably should have held her back another year.

I don't know if that's true, but I do know that Abigail struggles to be still, has a stubborn streak a mile-wide just like her mama and that her Kindergarten teacher would address it head on. Her first grade teacher this year has a daughter who is very similar to Abigail, and instead of butting heads with Abigail she generally chooses to go around her, and give her the opportunity to choose to cooperate.

All I know for sure is that this year is working. Whether she's just old enough now, or more mature, or has a teacher that fits her learning style better, Abigail LOVES first grade. She doesn't have an assigned space, she doesn't have to stay at one desk or one table, and she gets to move a lot.

Sometimes Abigail says "I don't want to go to school" in the morning just like last year, but it's more like she feels that she SHOULD say it. She delights in choosing her clothes, and getting herself dressed, and getting her hair done. She hugs me at the school doors in the morning, and runs off to her class.

And it makes me smile.

3) Deborah is soaring, as usual.

I don't know how this girl got so smart... Some of it from me, and some of it from her daddy. But some of it is just an amazing gift. She's a talented author and illustrator with a delightful imagination, she has an amazing ear for music, she loves to dance and move, she does well in reading, in math, and in science.

Her struggle (just like me and her daddy) is with the social stuff. She struggles to share her feelings, find friends, and express what happened during the day. For the most part, we are able to help her translate those feelings into words. Except for her anger.

Her temper comes straight from her daddy. I tend to internalize anger and stew over it. It blasts out of Deborah, and often ends up hurting her as much as the object of her anger. I want to help her! But I feel so helpless. I know she gets scared at how out of control she feels. Her daddy still struggles with his anger and has a very hard time dealing with his lighting-quick temper.

But oh! Her singing and artistry. Her delight in doing school work well. Those things make me smile. I love watching her grasp and understand the concepts she is working with in her homework. I love reading her stories!

She makes me smile.

Bead Table Wednesday

2011-09-20T23:09:00.003-08:00

For the Bead Soup Blog Party post, please go HERE .
******

I cleaned off my bead tray! I spent over an hour on Monday and put all my left-overs away from the bead soup blog party. I love a clean tray. Honestly, I think better when I have an empty space to start laying out beads and ideas.
I decided to create a collage-style necklace in golds, browns and greens. So I pulled out a bunch of my larger beads and started playing. I hope to have it done pretty soon. But life keeps interfering. I haven't been able to touch it today. We'll see...

Fall leaves

2011-09-19T13:33:00.006-08:00

For the Bead Soup Blog Party post, please go HERE.
*****

The leaves were so lovely on Saturday, that I took time from from speaking to customers at Farmer's Market to take some photos. Very fun.
I love our patchwork hills right now. We get patches of different colored leaves, with different trees and evergreens. The hills are far enough from the center of town to be kind of foggy, but they are still pretty.

I enjoy fall so much, but still feel the pressure of imminent winter... Winter here in central Alaska is so cold and dark. I can feel the autumnal Equinox coming- as the days get darker and chillier, I start feeling more and more trepidatious & pessimistic. The clinging darkness of January & February make me want to gather as much sun as I can during this time.

The piles of fallen leaves remind me of the soon and coming drifts of snow, the icy roads, and the shrinking hours of sun-light.

Ah, well. I need to enjoy the days I am experiencing right now rather than fret myself into worrying over what isn't even here yet.

This is the parking at the Tanana Valley Farmer's Market on Saturday. We were so busy! Our last weekend of the season, and many people grabbed this chance to pick up veggies, berries, and early Christmas presents. Beth & I didn't sell as much as we wanted, but we had many customers confirming our bazaar season dates. So far, we're only signed up for four Christmas bazaars, but we could pick up a few more on the way. We have one in late October, two in November, and one in early December. I'll post about them as we get closer to those dates.

Enjoy the fading leaves of fall where-ever you are!

Bead Soup Blog Party- My Big Reveal!

2011-09-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

The fabulous Lori Anderson has arranged yet another Bead Soup Blog Party.

I am delighted to be part of this exciting event!

A Bead Soup Blog Party goes like this:
First, Lori carefully pairs up everyone who signs up (There were 362 of us!). Then we select a focal bead, a toggle and some coordinating beads and send them to our partner. After we receive the goodies our partner has sent us, each participating beader must use the toggle and the focal to create a completely new piece of jewelry.

My partner was the lovely Pamela Petry of Seeing is Believing. Look at the pendants she sent me! I liked them all, but in particular fell in love with the little birdie.

I love my bead soup, too! Look at all the different turquoise beads and the wood shapes. I was all excited to get started and nervous that I might not make something 'good'. I didn't want to disappoint Pamela or Lori. And I didn't want 300 people coming to my blog and hating what I did! Too much negative pressure!!
I'm glad Lori sent us a letter to remind us that we won't please everybody. There's no way you can please that many people. So, I decided to please myself. Since I LOVED the pieces I had to work with, I thought I might like the end result, too...

I was right! I do like my finished 'Birdie Necklace'.

I like the shapes and textures. I like the sparkly turquoise crystals and the pink glass rounds. I like the unique wood shapes. My favorite metal is copper, so I was able to throw myself wholeheartedly in to finding copper bits to match the clasp. I tried to add a couple other beads, but nothing matched the simple woodsy elegance of the pendant, beads and clasp. The only pieces I added from my stash were the two copper chains- the heavy chain around the back of the necklace and the lighter chain I used to make a bail.

There were several new pieces/ideas I hadn't worked with before:

1) The color pink= I admit it. I avoid pink. I rarely like it, and it has very negative connotations for me. Girlieness and popularity and school stuff. Blech. But I really liked the shape of those pink glass rounds.

2) The glass rounds= I've never worked with glass rings. I've used some large metal rings, but never glass ones. And I was excited to see what I could do with them. I've seen that beading-wire braid before, and thought it was perfect to try with this necklace.

3) The ceramic focal= I love ceramic pieces, but I've never found anything quite like Pamela's pendants. They are light yet earthy. Rich in color and texture, but decorated with light & airy colors. I loved the whimsy of this birdie.

My birdie necklace doesn't look as beautiful in this next picture, but the whole thing is laid out and visible from top to bottom.

Thank you for visiting My Place! I hope you enjoyed the beads and the big reveal. =)

Return HERE, for Lori's partner list to continue on your blog hop journey.

Leaf Bracelet in Red

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love working on my leaf bracelets. I love creating the leaf component. I love choosing, stringing and braiding the beads & chain. I love watching customers try them on.

My red bracelet was the last one from the summer.

However, I have one more leaf component to put together into a bracelet, and then they'll be gone until the spring when I can get back into the metal-smithing shop.

9/11

2011-09-15T01:33:00.001-08:00

For about the last week I've been a little moody and I kept thinking about the 'Good Old Days'... My family down in Oregon, our church-family in Seattle, my college friends from UAF, my Company-family (the drama team I traveled with for 5 years). I was thinking how much I miss all those people, and how much I want to go back to those times and do things better ('cuz I hope I'm a little more grown up, and can make better choices!)

I even ended up in a silly argument with my husband on Saturday. About money and financial decisions and blah-blah-blah... And yes, I started the argument, and it got a little heated. But we got it worked out, we apologized, made up and we're okay now...

It wasn't until I was watching one of the 9/11 reports Sunday night that I finally figured out what was going on. I was focusing on my relationships, all the loss (and my life has had enough leaving to create a lot of loss) I'm thankful for all the amazing experiences I've had, but sometimes it's shocking to look at how much my life has changed over the years.

And I've been feeling sad that I can't go back in time to those precious moments and enjoy them again. That I can't go back to travelling and performing. That I don't even have the time to perform in local productions. That I don't teach drama anymore. That I don't have the freedom I had in Seattle and Fort Worth. I've been wallowing in my 'might-have beens' and my 'wish-I-coulds'...

I believe there are very few things that are eternal- God and our souls (the part of us that holds our personality & inviduality, memories & experiences). That's it. Everything else will pass- our stuff, our accomplishments, our money. In the end all we will have will be the eternal things.

I want to focus on what matters- my relationships with those around me, and my relationship with Jesus. I want to spend my limited resource (ME- my time and energy) on what is precious and valuable. Not on what will go away...

song- Blessed Be Your Name

2011-09-15T00:53:00.005-08:00

I just learned that the song Blessed Be Your Name, written by Matt Redman and his wife Beth was born out of the times after 9/11.

"'Blessed Be Your Name' stems from the story of our lives," Matt explains. "Both Beth and I had tough upbringings—a lot of different issues to do with fathers—and over the years we've come to realize that worshiping God is a choice, and the best choice we'll ever make."

Matt and Beth were on sabbatical in the U.S. during the September 11 terrorist attacks. They wrote "Blessed Be Your Name" while in the shadow of those tragic events.

"It struck me how little a vocabulary we have in church worship music to respond appropriately in dark times of life," Matt says. "We all face seasons of pain and unease. And in those times we need to find our voice before God. The church, and indeed the world, needs songs of lamentation."
(I found this quote HERE.)

I loved the song before, but understand it in a new and fresh way now that I know it's history...

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Bead Soup Blog Party

2011-09-15T00:08:00.003-08:00

Look at this map!

I'm so excited to be part of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!

My Bead Soup!

2011-09-08T23:34:00.009-08:00

My bead soup is here!!! And I love it!

Just look at these fabulous pendants from my amazingly talented partner:

Pamela Petry of Seeing is Believing
Look at that birdie (top right)! I like the other two, but I'm in love with the bird.

And look at my bead soup!!!
I'm so looking forward to diving into these beads and creating something lovely.
I love all the turquoise- the flowers, the crystals, and the glass rectangles.

And the wood! Look at all those fun shapes.

Come back September 17 and see what I create!

Bead Soup Blog Party Partners

2011-09-06T00:30:00.009-08:00

For the list of Bead Soup Blog Party September 2011 participants and blogs, please go HERE.

Okay, I tried to do this really cool post with all the partners listed, but I could NOT get my computer or Blogger to cooperate. Instead of a neat & attractive list, I got this huge scrawly lengthy mess. And I tried to edit it, and for whatever reason could not achieve success.
I'm sorry. I wanted to have all the partners right here, easy to find, and then when somebody got to my site, they could just go down the list to the next partners... But I absolutely could not make my computer choose to participate.

Pioneer Park

2011-09-06T00:08:00.007-08:00

Today was our final day for working at Pioneer Park!

Much as I love the quiet time of going in to the little cabin on Monday to sell stuff and perhaps to bead or read, I am delighted to have the day back. Now I will be home for my husband's days off and we can spend some time together.

The only bad thing about our summer jobs is that we both do retail/tourist stuff. Which means we rarely get days off, and if we do they are never the same day.

So all summer he has had Monday off, and I have worked on that day. Not that moms really get a 'day off', but I wish I had a day with Jake. A whole day with little to nothing planned... or to go for a long drive just Jake and me.

Saturday Smiles Return

2011-08-20T00:11:00.004-08:00

I haven't been able to do my smiles in a while because of SUMMER.

During summer I:
go to Farmer's Market twice a week (Wednesday & Saturday),
go to Pioneer Park once a week (Monday),
madly string and twist jewelry to keep up with the demand,
take my girls to swimming lessons,
take care of my mom,
take my youngest to her twice a week therapy sessions (Occupational therapy, an entirely different story, and a getting better all the time situation)
and try to keep food in the house.

It's a busy life. I like it, but that doesn't mean I keep up with everything.
During the summer, I don't keep a particularly clean house, I don't make hot dinners every night, and I don't get to read much. And my blog suffers...

However, school started Thursday of this week! Which means summer is just about over here in the far north. And I can blog regularly again! =)

So-
Three things that make me smile:

1.) New school supplies
sharpened pencils, clean erasers, new crayons, fresh paper

2.) Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books
I love this urban fantasy series- gritty mysteries with werewolves, vampires and fairies. A new one just came out and I haven't been able to read it yet because of SUMMER! But I'll have it read very soon.

3.) Fairy tales
I prefer the old country fairy tales, Grimm's Fairy Tales, the Andrew Lang's colored fairy tale books - Donkeyskin, Puss in Boots, The Golden Ball, Rose Red... They fired my imagination and fueled my dreams. As much as I enjoy the Disney cartoon versions, his re-telling of the old stories were much sweeter, lighter and more pious than the originals. The originals were gritty, cunning and blood-thirsty enough to satisfy any vampire addict.

362!!

2011-08-20T00:04:00.001-08:00

That's how many people are participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party!
That's crazy!

Bead Soup Blog Party

2011-08-19T23:41:00.007-08:00

I'm so excited to be in another Bead Soup Blog Party!!!!

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things absolutely rocks, and she arranges for a lovely bead soup party regularly. I got to participate in the second one, and here I am again for the fourth one!

The way it works is pretty straight-forward. You sign up, and through Lori's magic you are paired up with another jewelry artist. Each person chooses the ingredients for a bead soup: a focal bead, some coordinating beads and a clasp. You put your ingredients in a package and mail it to your partner, and wait eagerly for their package to arrive! Then you take the ingredients they sent you and turn it into something fabulous.

The only requirements are that you must use the focal and the clasp. Of course, you are encouraged to use some of the beads, but that's not the point. The point is that you have the opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and work with new ingredients, and new styles. The creative exercise of working with new materials may be challenging, but it is always fun.

Thank you, Lori! I am in awe of your willingness to participate in something magical.

Fun Day- Pearl Leaf Bracelet

2011-08-12T17:25:00.006-08:00

I love making my leaf bracelets. I thoroughly enjoy making the leaf components. And even though it can be tedious, I am so pleased with the bead braiding when I am done that the whole creating/stringing process is fun, too.

The first step is selecting the metal for the leaf component- I prefer pulling discarded copper from the bin at school. I love the pieces with character, the ones that have been worked and heated, beat up and abandoned.

After choosing the perfect metal, I heat it and put it through the rolling mill with leaves. Then I cut out the sections I like best, shape them and file them down smooth. To use them in my bracelets, I need to drill holes on either end.

After completing the component, I take them home and string the perfect beads and chain into very short strands. Then I braid them and attach them to the central component.

Fun Day- Sun Pendant

2011-08-07T16:32:00.004-08:00

My sun pendant necklace- The pendant is cast from a wax carving.

First, I carved the sun pendant out of wax, and attached several wax sprues (the funnels that allow the molten metal to reach every part of the pendant). Then I suspended the wax in investment, which hardens kind of like cement. Next, I burned out the wax in a very hot kiln. When the mold was complete, I poured molten metal (I chose rosey bronze), into the mold and let it cool. Next I broke the hardened investment off and cleaned up the casting, which came out dirty and grungy looking. After cleaning it up and cutting off the metal sprues, I polished and tumbled it.

After I was satisfied with the appearance of the sun, I chose the red Jasper cabachon and glued it into the bezel cup. Although I am not completely satisfied with the beads and structure of the necklace, I do like my sun quite a bit. I have some thoughts and ideas circling in my brain as to how I will change the necklace itself, and I'm probably going to change it up a bit in a couple of weeks.

Fun Day- Phoenix Necklace

2011-07-28T00:22:00.005-08:00

I twisted wire, pearls, crystals, carnelians, and moss agate together to create my Phoenix Necklace. I love the glow and amazing diversity of the carnelians! Each one was completely different from the others. My favorite elements were the sparkly fire opal Swarovski crystals (of course) with the pearls running a close second; however, this piece was fun to create from beginning to end. Every element was a joy to choose and place within the over-all design.

When I found the leaf focal point, I immediately thought of the Phoenix myth- a beautiful bird burns fiercely and is reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises, reborn anew to live again.
I wish my skills as a photographer equaled the beauty of the carnelians and the amazing depth within the moss agate. I am growing in my photography skills, but I've got to grow faster!

SOLD!

2011-07-28T00:08:00.003-08:00

I just want everyone to know that I sold this piece today. =) And it was expensive, too!

Go, me!!!

Saturday Smiles

2011-07-16T00:12:00.002-08:00

Things that make me smile! =)

1.) Posting on my blog
Although it may be rare, I still smile every single time.

2.) Sleeping Kitty
My kitty-cat curled up in that little ball with her tail over her nose - adorable.

3.) Bed before Midnight
I RARELY make it, but oh, when I do! It's wonderful. And I don't just smile, I glow.

bio frustration

2011-07-05T23:40:00.002-08:00

I've been asked to prepare a bio for Pioneer Park, and I am EXTREMELY frustrated. Not happy with what I've done, and wishing I hadn't put this off so late...

Here's what I've got so far.
*****

Rebecca Sirevaag grew up along the Western coast of the U.S. Her dad was a forester and botanist, so many of her fondest memories involve the outdoors he loved: agate collecting on Oregon beaches, tramping through the forests of Oregon and Washington, and camping in Death Valley.

In the early eighties, her family moved to Kotzebue, Alaska, the largest Eskimo village. A couple of years later they arrived in Fairbanks, where Rebecca focused on music and English in high school. She attended UAF and graduated with a B.A. in Theatre and Music.
Upon graduation she moved to Fort Worth, TX to focus on the performing arts in the context of her Christian faith. She joined a Repertory Theatre Company, appropriately called The Company and spent the next 5 years acting, singing and dancing across the U.S.

She moved to Seattle, WA to teach Theatre & English, where she met her husband, Jake Sirevaag, who is currently visitor staff at UAF's Museum of the North. She continued to perform and direct multiple theatrical performances.

Enter BEADS- Rebecca had always performed in the more ephemeral arts- singing, dancing, acting; however, when she was put on bed-rest for three months during her first pregnancy, books could only help her deal with the boredom so much...

Her sister, Beth came to stay with her in Seattle, and shared her passion for beading.
Rebecca has been working with beads for about the same age as her oldest daughter, Deborah- eight years. Maybe she’ll get to do more performance art when her daughters are older, but for right now she is delighted to share her love of beads, metal-smithing and wirework.
Her favorite beads are crystals, glass, and chains. Her favorite metal is copper, and her favorite medium is wirework.

Saturday Smiles

2011-06-24T23:54:00.005-08:00

I'm going to do these when I can, but I'm not sure how consistent I will be during the summer. I want to go to bed!

1.) Petunias

I love any and all flowers, but for some reason petunias just make me happy. They have such happy faces, and they don't smell awful like marigolds.

2.) Listening to my girls giggling together

They have had a lot of time together this summer, and they are enjoying each other more. I love seeing them figure out how to compromise and play together. Yes, they have had some pretty big fights, but I would say they've done more giggling than arguing

3.) Camping

Jake & I both like to go camping and it's sad how little we've been able to do together. Since we've never had much excess money during our ten years of marriage, it took us a while to build up the equipment we would need. We're hoping to get to go at least once this summer.

With my neck and back in such a mess, I have to have a pretty elaborate sleeping set-up or I can't function the next day. But it's worth it!!

Bead Table Wednesday

2011-06-21T23:45:00.002-08:00

Okay, it's Bead Table Wednesday, and my bead table is in our Farmer's Market box... (The box we throw everything in that goes to FM with us- our gift boxes, bags, money drawer, earring racks, water bottles, lunch, etc.) My tray is at the bottom of the box, I might add. And the tray is a mess, anyway.
So, I'm going to TELL you what's on it, and let you imagine.

Here goes:
1) I have three completed items- two leaf bracelets, and my sun necklace. I hope to get good pics of them in the sun tomorrow.
2) I have a leaf bracelet I need to complete.
3) Two projects that customers brought for me to repair. (Yes, we do some minor repair work, and we don't charge very much either!)
4) Pearls to create a pearl wire necklace.
5) Flowers and beads to create a Y wire necklace.
6) a random assortment of beads that need to be put away from projects I've finished...

So, that's my mess, and yup, I hate working in a mess. So I'm hoping to complete several of these projects tomorrow while I'm at FM. However, tomorrow is a day that the girls have to come with me, so I'm not expecting to actually get much done.

Still loving all the pretty beads!

Break

2011-06-21T23:38:00.002-08:00

I am not keeping up with everything!
I've got Farmer's Market, Pioneer Park, swimming lessons, PT for me, OT for Abigail, church... Whew. I'm a little stretched out. I can tell I'm feeling overwhelmed because I've finished 4 books in the last 5 days. Definitely a strong indicator of a need to escape.
Things are selling faster than I can make them, and I've got to get my stock back up. I've had quite a few of my wire pieces sell, and I haven't had time to replace them.
So, I'm taking a break from FB and most of my computer stuff. I'll try to keep up with Bead Table Wednesdays, but I don't think I'll get to my Saturday Smiles til school starts again. I have high hopes, though!

Bead Table Wednesday

2011-06-14T23:54:00.004-08:00

What's on my Bead Table?
A RAINBOW! (only a single one, sad to say)
I'm working on a chime/mobile project... And hoping that these rainbow dangles will be the perfect finishing touch.

Do you remember the old light mnemonic? ROYGBIV? I'm delighted to say that yes, I do remember it. And although the way I use it is probably not what my science teacher had in mind, I bet she'd be happy I remember it. =)

Still loving all the pretty glass beads! (and the wood ones, and the stone ones, and even some of the plastic/"resin" ones...)

Fun Day- Two Finished Pieces

2011-06-14T12:33:00.005-08:00

One of my leaf bracelets

To create the leaf component:

I softened the copper with the torch, and textured it with a hammer. Then I ran it through the rolling mill with the leaves. Next I sawed around the leaves, and filed smooth the edges. Finally, I drilled the holes on the sides, and formed it to the proper shape.

When I got it home from the metal-smithing workshop I chose some lovely blue glass beads and braided the little strands all together.

Balance Pendant

The pendant is created with bluestone, silver, copper and nickel silver.

First, I textured the copper by hammering and folding it. Then I cut out each oval and filed them smooth. Next, I soldered all the pieces together. After soldering, I added the letters and used liver of sulphur to patina the metals. Finally, I slipped the bluestone cabachon into place, and burnished the setting.

When I got the pendant home I was delighted to discover I already had some lovely bluestone rounds to match the cab.

I created some bluestone links, found some fabulous chain and beaded it up. I'm very pleased with the end result.

Song- The Redeemer

2011-06-14T12:26:00.002-08:00

The Redeemer
by Sanctus Real
from the album Pieces of a Real Heart

Sometimes I just want to start over
'Cause everything looks like a wreck
And I need the courage to carry on'
Cause I can't see what's ahead

And there are places I've wished I could be
Battles I've wanted to win
Dreams that have slipped through my hands
I may never get back again

But I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I've lost my faith in so many things
But I still believe in You
'Cause You can make anything new

Sometimes I just wish we could say
All the things that are easy to hear
Ignore the injustice we see
And explain every unanswered prayer

But I'd rather speak honestly
And wear a tattered heart on my sleeve
'Cause in the middle of my broken dreams
Redemption is here

And I'm still a dreamer, a believer
Oh, I lost my faith in so many things
But I still believe in You
'Cause You are the answer, the Redeemer
Oh, I've given up on too many things
But I'm not giving up on You
'Cause You can make anything new

I don't have every answer in life
But I'm trusting You one day at a time
'Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive
Forever

This is where heaven and earth collide
I lift my hands and I give my life
This is how my weary heart stays alive

Oh, I'm still a dreamer, still a believer
And You are the answer, the Redeemer
'Cause You can make anything new
Yeah, You can make anything new

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

2011-06-07T23:56:00.002-08:00

We've got vacation Bible school this week. The girls are attending and I'm teaching part of the pre-school (4's & 5's) class. So I am exhausted. I will not be posting a BTW (bead table wednesday) photo. I'm sorry.
I need to go to bed and get ready to get up early tomorrow.
Till Saturday!
Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Bead Table Wednesday

2011-06-01T00:16:00.003-08:00

These pearl necklaces are selling as fast as I put them out! So, I'm trying to keep up. And it's hard. =) Which makes me happy.

Simplicity & Harmony

2011-05-27T15:16:00.002-08:00

Source: anabundanceof.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Bead Give-Away

2011-05-27T13:54:00.002-08:00

There is a fabulous bead give-away over on Barbara Lewis' blog http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/ I want the beads she is giving away, and so will you if you go visit! So don't, okay? 'Cuz then there will be even more people for me to compete with and I will never win!

A Tent Up-Grade!

2011-05-26T00:57:00.003-08:00

Last summer we had the best spot at Farmer's Market we've ever had. We were on a corner, and people would come out of the building and walk right over to us. When it rained, people would use our tent as cover because we had our tables set up in such a way that there was plenty of space. We loved our corner space.

This summer we lost our super, awesome, fabulous tent spot. Someone who has been at Farmer's Market longer than us claimed precedence and got the corner spot.

There are SO MANY people selling jewelry at the market this year that Beth and I despaired of ever making up the cachet we lost with our corner spot. We prayed and talked about what we could do to make our tent stand out from the other jewelery tents- to have people notice our jewelry and remember a feeling, style or look.

We came up with a couple of ideas-

First, we always use rice and black gravel in our containers at the Christmas bazaars because it looks lovely. We get a nice display surface, and the kids get something to play with- bonus. We decided to pull it out and use it at Farmer's Market. Yes, it's a pain to set up, but we're betting it's worth it in the long run.

Second, we decided to find an attractive rug. We looked all over for something with-in our price range and available in Alaska. (You wouldn't believe the companies that won't ship an attractive rug to Alaska! Or charge an exorbidant fee to do so. It's not like we're in Russia or Ethiopia...)

Third, we decided to go ahead and add the curtains/swag we've talked about for the last two summers. We've talked about it, but the kind of material that we were attracted to- organdy or voile- is IMPOSSIBLE to hem. Neither of us had any interest in spending hours hemming slippery fine fabric. But we found these fabulous curtains for a lovely price in just the fabric we wanted! Hemmed already! and at a good length!

So, for our internet debut:
The Two Sisters Farmer's Market tent Up-Grade!

We will continue to find ways to differentiate ourselves from the crowd, but it's not always easy... Please pray for us if you think about it.

Bead Table Wednesday

2011-05-25T00:36:00.003-08:00

It's time to share my work-space again... So, I invite you to enter my mess.

My mess has decreased by a small amount since last Wednesday, but not as much as I had hoped.

I've gotten some pictures taken of my metal-smithing projects, and a couple of projects completed. However, my bead table is still in chaos, and I don't know how much longer I can handle it.

Here's the mess...

And here's my current project. I'm working on a brass cuff bracelet, and I have struggled to find the right beads to match this component.

I admit it- When I originally grabbed this metal I had no idea it was brass. I love digging through the discard box in the shop- picking through everybody else's trash metal, and choosing their junk to turn into my treasures. I've created some of my favorite pieces from crazy worked over metal.

Anyway, I had no idea this metal was brass, or I probably would have let it stay in the discards 'cuz brass is so hard to work with and cut. Brass is difficult. Hard to cut, hard to solder, hard to shape. When I found the metal it was this lovely bronzey-coppery color, and I thought it was copper (my favorite metal). I was wrong. While I love the end results, I would never choose to willingly work with brass to create a cuff bracelet again.

I think I'm probably going to end up loving this piece. I've taken longer to match the right beads to the cuff and I suspect the rewards will be pretty sweet.

Saturday Smiles

2011-05-21T00:33:00.007-08:00

Five Things That Make Me Smile:

1.) The last day of school!

The girls were simply WILD on Thursday because school is over for the summer. I couldn't blame them. I was just about wild, too.

2) My girls love going to church again!

This has been a huge change for us, but we finally made the choice to move to a different church... Jake & I were happy, but my girls hated going. They fought us every Sunday, and whined the whole way there. They hated the inconsistency of teachers, and the baby-sitting focus in the children's ministry at our last church. And one of the last things we want is for them to hate church when they are just 5 & 7.

Jake & I weren't very happy with the children's program either, but would have probably stayed if our girls hadn't made it clear they were miserable.

It's still not official & I'll report more later, but we think we've found where God wants us to be right now.

3) The Pagoda restaurant in North Pole-

They make excellent Chinese food, and Jake's from Seattle, so he's pretty particular. We finally got to go out alone on a date last Friday, and drove out to North Pole. We enjoyed the drive and the yummy food. http://www.pagodanorthpole.com/ The Pagoda is always worth the 15-20 minute drive out to North Pole. (Yes, my friends in the lower 48- that is a LONG drive up here in Fairbanks.)

4) The Library

Any library! I love visiting the library. I love the complete organization, and being able to find what you want, and the children's room... I love visiting different sections and finding all the books I haven't read yet. I could easily spend hours there... I enjoyed working at the music library in Fort Worth, even though I didn't make a ton of money. I like the quiet, and lighting, and the books.

5) Pearls

I love pearls. I love beading with them. I love wearing them. I love looking at them. I love their glow and shine. I love that it's just like God to take something painful & irritating and make it into something beautiful.

Metalsmithing- Spring 2011

2011-05-18T19:36:00.006-08:00

I'm in the process of photographing my Metal-smithing projects.

Here are two of my cuffs.

The first cuff is silver and attached to leather. I used copper to create the little flowers, and soldered them onto the silver cuff.

The second cuff is twisted copper wire and soldered together.

Work Table Wednesday

2011-05-18T00:18:00.003-08:00

Well, my metal-smithing class is over... All my projects are home. Whether they are complete or not.

And they are all sitting on my bead table. Some of them in zippies, some of them in piles. Waiting for me to photograph them.

So, it's Wednesday, and here's my work table... Covered in finished and unfinished metal-smithing projects. Waiting for their chance in the spotlight.

And no, I can't really believe I'm taking a pic of my horrible mess. But that's what work bench Wednesday is all about, right? The good, the bad and the downright ugly? (Ugly, that's my work table today!)

Also, I'm in mourning that I don't get to be in the metal-smithing shop for another 3 or 4 months... I'm very, very sad.

Work Table Wednesday

2011-05-11T02:04:00.004-08:00

Here's what is on my work table up in the Metal Smithing Studio-

First, my moon locket:
I'm still working on this piece. Honestly, it's the most complicated piece I've ever made. From the hinge, to the box shape, and on to placing a bail.
Today, I was working on the back ground. I applied liver of sulphur to darken the sky.

I'm not sure if I'm completely done, I can still see what I would like to work on...

Here are four pendants I'm currently working on... I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with each of them, but I hope I can come up with something soon! My final's this Thursday. I've completed all my required projects, but I'd like to get these pendants completed before I no longer have access to the studio.

Saturday Smiles Re-Boot

2011-05-08T01:22:00.005-08:00

I am super sick this weekend, so I didn't have energy or time to do my Saturday Smiles. In fact, I'm trying to figure out HOW I can do them since we're starting Farmer's Market next Saturday. However it works out, I'm going to continue doing them. I enjoy writing them.

I was unable to do my smiles, so I offer up a couple of 'Work in Progress' photos...

The first is my copper stash with the two bracelets on the left. I've had these two bracelets for about a year, and I have not known how to finish them. They just didn't look right to my eye. But I finally know what I'm going to do! I hope to show the pictures this next Wednesday.

Next, I have some head-pins I cut and melted the ball ends. They are just waiting to be pickled and shined.

Fun Friday! - 3 Finished Pendants

2011-05-06T12:17:00.004-08:00

I'll revisit these pendants when they are all strung and made into lovely necklaces, but I wanted to share some COMPLETED pieces.

Work Table Wednesday

2011-05-03T23:05:00.005-08:00

I'm excited to show off a couple of finished pieces and one still in the process.

First, I have a couple finished pendants to share:

My Butterfly Pendant is pretty much complete- I'm not sure how I'll string it up, but I'm looking forward to finding the right beads.

I'm calling this next pendant "The Memory of Trees". I wish the photo of the green Prehnite revealed the amazing depth and glow of the stone. Beth had the stone, and let me buy it from her when she saw it against the pendant. Just stunning. While the photo looks nice, in person the stone glows like a high quality labradorite or cat's eye bead.

Here is the piece I still have in progress- my Night Sky locket.

I'm in the middle of completing the hinge and I fought with it for quite some time tonight. The hinge is almost complete, and then I'll get to place the stone and work on the night sky...

Saturday Smiles

2011-04-29T23:50:00.007-08:00

Here are five things that make me smile:

1) Puddles
More specifically, splashing in puddles....
Yup. I spent the first nine years of my life in Oregon, and I have a little bit of duck in me yet. However, I admit my favorite thing about puddles is driving through them, and creating that huge wake/splash. It's particularly fun in our little car 'cuz there are about three spots in our neighborhood that have puddles large enough during spring break-up to cause a splash bigger than the car.
Yes, I know it's bad for the car. And I don't do it when people are walking, but it's so fun!

2) Rolling Mills
I love using the electric rolling mill in the metals shop. I want one so bad!!! And they are so expensive. For a little hand crank one it's between $300 and $500, and that's not counting shipping up to Alaska...
I use the rolling mill to imprint leaves and patterns on the metal. I love the effect of a leaf imprint...

3) Museums
Even before my husband worked in a museum I loved them. Now that he works there, it's even better. And no, that doesn't mean we get in for free. It just means we go more often. =)
One of our earliest dates was a trip to an art museum in Seattle. I forget which one, but it was so fun. Particularly because Jake had never been. He never would have gone without me, and now he works in a museum! I love that.

4) Monet's paintings
No. His paintings are not strident statements. They are not shocking or earthshaking, politically embued or modern.
They are just beautiful.
And they move me.
And they make me smile.

5) Jim Butcher's Dresden Files
http://www.Jim-Butcher.com
I love the main character, Harry Dresden. I understand him, and love his passion and drive. Butcher's urban fantasies are taut mysteries with a touch of old P.I. novels.
I enjoy the mixing of genres. The characters are rich and interesting, and the dark under-belly Butcher reveals is fascinating.

His newest release in the series, Ghost Story, won't come out for another two months and I am eagerly anticipating it's arrival date.

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge- Home

2011-04-28T23:50:00.004-08:00

I finally did it!

I finally completed a project to share with the Art Bead Scene Blog!
I'm so excited. =) Here's the painting that inspired my piece.

I'm calling the piece, "Home".

I created the branch and the toggle using a cuttlefish mold that I carved. I poured brass into the mold and then cleaned it up. I looked at that branch and wanted a nest, so I wire wrapped it and attached it to the branch.
Then I couldn't find a good wire to match the brass- So I pulled brass wire to create the rosary chain. And then I strung the stone beads and added my toggle.
The nest caused the branch to hang awkwardly on the necklace, so I cut out the leaves and shaped them. I actually really like the way they look now even though they weren't part of my original design.

Workbench Wednesday

2011-04-26T23:50:00.002-08:00

Here's what I'm working on at the Metal-smithing shop:

1) My locket-
The tree will be the lid and the square piece with the bezel will go behind it. I still have a ton of work to finish my locket:
I have to solder on the hinge, put on stars, patina the back and put it all together...

2) My leaves-
These brass leaves will go on my bird necklace... I'm really hoping to have this done on Thursday, so that I can post my completed necklace. I want to be completely done with this project so bad! It feels like I've been working on it forever. When it's probably only a month... I need to sand these, and continue work on shaping them. I love the wonderful brass/gold tones of the leaves reflected in the necklace. However, the brass has been a pain to work with- so difficult to form, and difficult to match.

Saturday Smiles

2011-04-23T00:11:00.015-08:00

Here are Five Things that make me smile:

1) Yoplait yogurt

It's okay if you think I'm weird. However, I might as well tell you I start and end my day with yogurt....
Although I'm still not technically diabetic (Thank you, God!) I am borderline, what used to be called hypoglycemic, and is now called pre-diabetic. If I don't start my day with protein, you can forget it.
I've gotten MUCH better at eating but still have to treat myself rather carefully in this area. My head is often in the clouds, and I do better with a rather strict eating schedule.
Man, you should have seen me when I was pregnant!! That was some serious eating... I had to eat something small every 2 or 3 hours, or I got weird. Sometime you should ask my husband about me eating while I was pregnant... Just for the silliness of it. All I'm saying is- forget the pickles and ice cream, I had a serious craving for protein.

2) New babies
Again, in case you have forgotten, I need to remind you that I'm a girl. New babies make me smile. A lot. I would very much like to have another baby, but have decided to be grateful the unexpected blessing of the two I have.

3) Chris Tomlin's music

I love his music, and am amazed at how the Christian community has received him over the last ten years. I had the great honor of working at Super Summer Camps with him in Texas, and am delighted to see what God has brought about in Chris.
One of my favorite memory of those camps was the evening worship times. The campers would file out after the worship time, and then Chris would lead those of us remaining in worship for a time. It wasn't a performance. We were worshipping. This time was a gift to the working crew at the camps.

4) Watching the TV show Bones with my husband
I like the show- It's always a fascinating mystery, without all the technical gore of the CSI genre (which I love by the way, I'm not dissing on them). But Jake does not like the gore or the horror of those shows. And he likes the touch of silliness in the Bones show. It's fun to watch it with him. And I'm delighted to find a TV show we both enjoy.

5) Books by Lois McMaster Bujold

Bujold writes science fiction/fantasy novels rich with characters and history. http://www.dendarii.com Sadly, her website kinda stinks, but at least it gives you a biography and a list of her books with some descriptions.

I like everything I've read by her, but my favorites are the Miles Vorkosigan novels.

The latest novel in the series is called Cryoburn and takes place
after Miles is happily (& miraculously) married and the father of several small children.

He is working as an imperial auditor, which basically means he gets to go be a spy for the emperor of the planet Barrayar.
While not as hilarious as Diplomatic Immunity, or as daring as some of Miles' earlier adventures, Cryoburn is a good adventure.

Saturday Smiles

2011-04-16T16:20:00.012-08:00

Here are 5 things that make me smile:

1) Flowers
Yup, I'm a girl. I like flowers. My favorites are wild flowers. I have so many wonderful memories of tramping with my dad in the woods. He was a botanist and always looking for a specific flower or plant so that he could photograph it or press it. I'm still pressing flowers... And wishing that I knew all the Latin names like me dad did.

2) Bead stores!

I love going into bead stores and poking around to see all the lovely goodies. I have some local favorites- Pristine's out on Peger and Marnie's place down-town. Of course, there's the ubiquitous Jo-Ann's and Michael's.

My favorite on-line bead store is Fire Mountain Gems. http://www.firemountaingems.com/ Their site is very user-friendly and intuitive. I can find what I need easily, and still enjoy looking for surprise treasures.

3) Third Day

I love their southern rock style and firm convictions. Talented musicians and and folks who have stuck out the music scene for a good long time.

4) My bead tools!

I honestly don't have any favorites I can name off the top of my head. Of course, there are other tools I could use, but I couldn't get by without my wire snippers, and my chain nose & round nose pliers.

5) Wire work

There is so much amazing wire jewelry out there! These are just some of the amazing pieces I've seen out there. The four pieces I've shown here are not my own, but wow, I think they are lovely. I have used them as inspiration, but hope never to exactly copy something I've seen.

Work Table Wednesday

2011-04-12T23:37:00.005-08:00

It's Wednesday! I get to show what I'm working on. =)
*****

First, Here's my home beading table:

I've been working on completing some of the components I've made at the shop. Another bracelet made with one of my large leaf imprint links. I like the one in blue, and am happy with the beads I found to go with the link. I'm looking forward to seeing it all put together.

Now, for what's on my desk in the work-shop on campus:

I'm currently working on these three pendants. The one in the center is almost complete- it just needs something to hang it be. I'll probably drill a hole and then insert a jump-ring.
The one on the right... Needs some liver of sulphor to show off the leaf imprint, but it needs something more than that. Maybe some words?? I'm not sure.
The butterfly on the left... I'm also not sure what I'll be doing with it next. I'm thrilled witht he way the butterfly turned out, but trying to decide whether to mark the pattern of a butterfly on the butterfly... You can't tell from this picture, but there's a fabulous leaf imprint on the silver underneath the butterfly. It looks like a chrysalis, which is what made me want to add the butterfly.

Anyway, here's my process. Mostly trial and error. I'm still figuring out what I'm doing as I do it. I like texture and layers, which is the best way to describe what I'm working on right now...

Adventure Day at Creamer's Field

2011-04-10T22:35:00.009-08:00

We didn't make it to church this morning because Jake had a horrible headache. He worked very late at the museum last night for a special event- the chocolate bash. He didn't get to bed until after one, and my man doesn't function at all on low sleep.

So he ended up napping, and then he took the girls out for an adventure day! Here are some of the photos he took of them at Creamer's Field.

Realizations

2011-04-10T16:13:00.003-08:00

I saw my pain doctor this week and she reminded me that in the last 2 years I've had 3 major surgeries. Not just minor ones. We're talking MAJOR- Two spinal surgeries, and one gynocological. So maybe I need to not be so hard on my poor body.

I've just realized how angry I've been with my body for all the pain I've dealt with this last year. Hmmm.... Might explain why I've gained a little weight. Interesting how I've chosen to take out my anger on my poor beleagured body. I stopped exercising, because... well, for a while there I couldn't even walk! Then after my first spinal surger when I could walk, I hurt so much that I didn't want to walk. Then this whole neck thing had gotten so bad that I could not feel my left hand, and was starting to lose mobility.

I did have some reasons for being angry with my ridiculous body and it's over-the-top pain. However, I really need to be kind to it! It's recovering and doing amazing things.

So, here's a letter to my body:

Dear body- I am so sorry I've been so hard on you. I've been over-feeding you, not letting you get enough sleep, and not taking you out for walks or any kind of exercise. I'm sorry. I will do better.

I will feed you more appropriately- healthy foods and less of them. I will give you the sleep you need- not just 4 or 5 hours a nights. And I will take you for walks or maybe even dances!

Saturday Smiles

2011-04-09T13:49:00.013-08:00

Here are five things that make me smile:

1) Books by Gail Carson Levine
Levine writes young adult fantasy. I love the way she makes old stories new, yet keeps them fun. Her books deal with real issues, and offer real solutions; yet she creates characters I love and fabulous worlds at the same time.

Her book "Ella Enchanted" is about a young woman who had a terrible curse cast upon her by a fairy who thinks she is being helpful- the requirement to obey whatever she is told to do. Her mother and fairy godmother try to protect her from the consequences of such an evil spell. However, her mother dies and her father remarries a horrid woman with two horrid daughters. (Recognize the tale of Cinderella?) The story of her escape from the spell and the step-sisters is both delightful and full of harrowing adventure. (Sidenote: The book has been turned into a movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However the movie is not as good as the book.)

2) Saturday mornings
My dear, sweet, awesome and oh, so sexy husband lets me sleep in! Isn't that fabulous? Yes, if I need to be somewhere (like wickedly early to Farmer's Market) I get up. However, if we have no plans he lets me sleep in basically till I wake up. He hangs out with the girls, or takes them on fabulous adventures. He's a good guy.

3) The computer game Enchanted Island
I have LOVED this game. I started it rather tentatively because I'm so NOT into computer games. I have too much real life to get heavily invested into fake life. And I already have an addiction to books.
However, I have loved the sweet simplicity of this game. The game play is so sweetly simple: I am a magician gaining powers to grow magical seeds. My goal is to gain more abilities, and work through quests.
I offer this smile with a little bit of trepidition because the game is changing. For the last 12 to 18 months it has been in trial form, and will now be undergoing a huge change. The game is currently shut down to new players, but in about three months will open up to new players. I don't know what the new version is going to be like. I am looking forward to trying it, but also sad to see the game as I have known it disappear. http://theenchantedisland.com/

4) My job as a reading tutor
I have struggled with the job this year as a result of my surgery and being tired all the time. However, I honestly smile when I see my students. I thoroughly enjoy seeing them grow and get better at reading. I work at my daughters' school, so I get to go home with my kindergartener. I get to see my girls at school, and know many of their friends.

One part of my job I've been unsure about is the recess monitor. Some days I enjoy it, and some days (particularly at -18) I hate it. I've ended up sending kids to the principal, and I've put kids in time outs. I've talked to kids about a variety of subjects- their home life, friends saying they hate each other, friends destroying stuff somebody else made, Pokemon, loners wanting to play with other kids... I'm thankful for my job, and most of the time, it makes me smile.

5) My button bracelets

I admit it. I love these bracelets! They are fun to wear, and fun to make. They are a bit tedious and repetitive (it takes between 25 and 40 buttons to make a really good bracelet), but the results are just fun. Some days I do not have the energy to make them because of the sheer repetition. Wrapping wire, wrapping wire, wrapping wire... Opening jump rings and closing jump rings... But when I get it finally done, they please me every time.

Frida Kahlo

2011-04-08T00:42:00.015-08:00

I love Frida Kahlo's paintings... I don't know why- I just do. I love how clearly she portrayed her inner turmoil and pain.

She was in a horrible accident at a young age and lived most of her life in terrible pain. Also, she was unable to have children, which was one of her greatest desires. Although my pain is not as bad as hers was, I still relate to her pain and her fight to have children.

I love the latino quality to her paintings- that they portrayed her world and how she felt about it.

They don't make me smile, at least not most of them. So I couldn't include them on my Saturday Smiles posts; however, I love her work and wanted to share some.

For more of her story, look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
For more of her life and paintings, look here:
http://www.fridakahlo.com/

Work Table Wednesday

2011-04-06T00:31:00.007-08:00

I get to share what's on my work table again!

First, here's my home work space:

I've been working on some bracelets made out of components I made in the metal-smithing shop.
The red & copper one is still in the process of being created... I ran out of copper jump rings, so I need to either purchase some, or make some. Then I will hook it all together, do some light braiding, and add a large copper lobster clasp.

But the green one is done! And I'm so in love with it that I may end up keeping it...

As for my Metal-smithing Work Table:

I actually have several projects in the works- some earrings, a couple pendants, two cuff bracelets... But the piece I'm very excited about right now is my sun pendant!

To created this pendant, I used a technique called Lost Wax Carving:

I originally carved this pendant out of wax. Then I created a mold by pouring investment over it while it was snugly held in a large can. After the investment became hard like concrete, I burned the wax out in a kiln, which left a space exactly shaped like the original wax pendant. Next we poured liquid metal into the hollow space and allowed it to cool. After cooling, the investment is broken off the pendant. Finally, I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned the pendant. I pickled, sanded, and tumbled it. After it was clean I epoxied the stone into the center.

And my sun pendant is complete!
And I'm delighted.

I intend to bead it up and then I have to make a very big decision.... Do I keep my first Lost Wax carving? Or do I sell it?

What do you think?

How can God bring good out of this?

2011-04-02T14:19:00.004-08:00

I receive these daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Sometimes they are okay, and sometimes they are amazingly applicable to whatever is going on in my life. I read this one last week and it resounded within my life.
*****
How Can God Bring Good Out of THIS?
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Have you ever faced a personal struggle and wondered how God could possibly bring good out of it? How could Romans 8:28 apply to my hidden issues — the ones I don’t like to think about, deal with, or even admit I have?

If you would have told me 10 years ago that God could bring good out of my weight issues and food struggles, I would have seriously doubted you.I would have rolled my eyes and excused myself to the bathroom. Bathroom stalls are great places to cry in secret. When a soul is rubbed raw from years of trying and failing, you don’t want to hear, “eventually good will come from this.”

I wanted something to instantly fix my issues.
I wanted to stop calling myself awful names I’d never let another person call me.
I wanted to be naturally thin like my sister.
I wanted to stop crying when I walked into my closet to get dressed in the morning.

I would have cared less about some elusive, eventual good. My jeans didn’t fit. Even my sweatpants didn’t fit. I felt horrible. I couldn’t stay committed to a healthy eating plan to save my life.

And I saw no hope in sight.

It’s a terrible thing to scan the horizon and see no evidence of hope. Maybe you’ve been there with some hidden issue. Maybe you’ve been there like me with food and weight struggles. Maybe you’re there today.

Whether your issues are the same as mine or not, all of us Jesus girls have struggles. We all fall short in some way. And we all need to know more about this “good” mentioned in Romans 8:28.

But instead of a three point sermonette, I want to share with you a letter I recently received. As I read it, the mercy gates of heaven split wide open and reigned down “this working of good.”It was heaven’s salve soothing deep places in me. It is a picture of the reality of God’s Word being true. Always true. God does work for the good… in all things… every single thing... even our most raw and seemingly impossible things… but we must know it even when we don’t feel it.

“Just want to say thank you for sharing your struggles, Lysa. I’ve had an eating disorder since August,1978. Full blown anorexia, which led years down the road to bulimia. I became a Christian in 2002, but never could fully surrender my eating disorder to our Lord. Through your story and the advice you shared the Holy Spirit is empowering me as I never knew possible.
I’ve had 7 days of no binging or purging!!! This may not seem like a high number to you, but after 33 full years with this binge/purge addiction, this is AMAZING. Hallelujah!!
You shed such new light on scriptures that I have read, but never knew how to interpret in my life especially with regards to eating. I’ll be honest I figured my eating disorder wasn’t that big a deal to our Lord. In fact I had told myself that He made me this way so it must just be the sin I was born to deal with; so glad to know that it isn’t, and that I matter to HIM."– Melissa P.

As I read this, my tears leaked free.We don’t have to figure out how God will bring good, we just have to stay on the journey with Him and watch Him work. May this be a glimpse of hope in the midst of your struggles as well.

“And we know (we know it even if we don’t feel it) that in all things (even the ones we can’t even fathom being used for good) God works for the good. (He works for the good. Our job is to walk with Him day by day. His job is to work the good.)

Dear Lord, thank You for this hope. Thank You that You don’t waste our tears, our struggles, or those places rubbed raw from years of trying and failing. Once we do what You’ve instructed us to do, You always do what only You can do. I know You will bring good even when I can’t see it or feel it. And what a comfort that is to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps: Write out your struggle on the front of a 3×5 card this week and pray for the next 5 days for God to reveal some good that could come from this. Write some of the power verses on the back of your card and meditate on these truths.

Reflections: God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable. God comforts us to make us comfort-able. Able to comfort others with the same comfort we’ve received from Him. Is there someone in my sphere of influence who could benefit from hearing my story? Could this be some of the good God can bring from this?

Power Verses: Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

*******
My thoughts: If you've made it all the way through what Lysa had to say, then you might be interested in my thoughts...

I've struggled repeatedly with these two issues: our finances, and my self-image as a woman. They may sound silly to you, but they have been HUGE in my life.

Our financial situation is so overwhelmingly huge, I don't know if I can explain it. When Jake had the MRSA infection in his foot, he had to make daily trips to the ER. For a week. Which means a thousand dollars a day. And then our insurance refused to pay for it. So we owe the hospital around 10 thousand dollars. Plus our students loans. Plus some other smaller bills. And we just keep adding bills... It feels like we are at the bottom of a pit that we will never be able to climb out of no matter how hard we try.

The woman thing has to do with my calling into ministry, which really probably doesn't matter any more. I haven't served in ministry full time in about 5 years. I was called by God into ministry when I was 18. I am very sure of the call, 'cuz I DID NOT want it. I pretty much told God no way, and HE dragged me down the aisle. I had the joy of working actively in my Baptist Campus Ministries, then at seminary, and then as a worship minister. I never really questioned what God had planned for me as a woman. I was just doing what He had put in front of me.
Until we got a pastor who told me that God would never have called me to do what I was doing because I was a woman. That I was stealing from my husband. That I was forcing/pushing/asserting myself into a role God did not give me. Which has turned my world upside down. And has damaged my relationship with God...

Can God bring good out of these issues? I don't see how. They are so big that they almost seem out of God's control. Which is impossible. God is bigger and more powerful than anything. Than my problems. Than my debt. Than our living situation. Than our health issues.

He can bring good out of all things. I know this. I have seen this in day to day issues, in insurmountable health issues. In fact, I would go so far as to say that's God's speciality- bring good out of evil.

Saturday Smiles

2011-04-01T23:39:00.015-08:00

Here are five things that make me smile:

1) Pizza!

Currently we are in love with Papa Murphy's take-it-and-bake-it pizza. I can pick it up any time during the day, and then cook it and have it hot and tasty very quickly.

2) The Cat "Ostrich" move
You know that thing cats do where they do a face plant right in front of themselves? Where it looks like they must be dead, or at least suffocating? That always makes me smile, if not laugh out loud.

3) Patricia Briggs books
I have not read a book by her that I haven't liked... She's written: Urban fantasy- werewolves & vampires; Medieval fantasy- gypsies with magical talents; Fantasy- dragons, sword-fights, spies and heroes. I like them all, but my favorites are the Urban Fantasies. http://www.patriciabriggs.com/

4) Singing on the worship team at church
I love to sing anywhere- give me a choir and I'm thrilled. Let me sing with a good band and I'll be in heaven for hours afterwards. I like singing folk, a cappella, Russian madrigals, grungy rock (although my voice is too bell-like & clear to be really great at the grunge rock thing). I love singing with other people and having all of our voices and instruments come together to make something amazing. However, singing for Jesus is even better. 'Cuz it's not about me. It's about making something beautiful for God. Lifting up His name, telling the world how awesome He is, and how much He has changed my life.

5) John Denver music
Again, I grew up primarily listening to my mom's music- western and folk music. So, I grew up listening to John Denver. A lot. And he's one of the comfort cross-overs- I mean he's one of the ones I grew up listening to that I like... Listening to his songs makes me think of Oregon and California, camping and hiking with my dad.

Work table Wednesday

2011-03-29T22:59:00.005-08:00

Sadly, I do not have any pretty pictures to show of my work... What I can show is the wax pen I used to create my original pendant.

And I can show the kiln containing my wax original pendant. The kiln is currently burning out the wax original so that I can pour molten metal into the concrete mold. I hope to get my metal poured tomorrow! Maybe then I'll be able to show my pretty...

Saturday Smiles

2011-03-26T13:32:00.013-08:00

I forgot to do my Saturday Smiles last night! Yikes! I'm sorry.

Here are 5 things that make me smile:

1) I love books by Tamora Pierce. She writes Young Adult fantasy.

Fabulous stories- about characters who change and grow, who deal with real life, and have to work within impossible situations. I love her characters- strong girls, interesting guys, yucky villains.

Her newest series is about a character named Beka. (I love the name!) Beka Cooper is a rookie with the law-enforcing Provost's Guard, and she's been assigned to the Lower City. It's a tough beat that's about to get tougher, as Beka's limited ability to communicate with the dead clues her in to an underworld conspiracy. Someone close to Beka is using dark magic to profit from the Lower City's criminal enterprises—and the result is a crime wave the likes of which the Provost's Guard has never seen before. http://www.tamora-pierce.com/

2) Queen- Don't tell me if you don't enjoy Queen's music. I don't want to know.

3) Jim Henson's Muppets

They make me smile and laugh. Fun silliness. I loved them when I was growing up, and am delighted to discover they are still fun as an adult. The Muppet Show was one of the few shows that my mom would let us watch. Our television watching was pretty curtailed, which I agree with now, but hated back then. I love Beaker, Animal, Electric Mayhem, Kermit... Oh, yeah. Good stuff.

4) The funny website with kitty cats- http://icanhascheezburger.com/ Makes me laugh everytime I visit.

5) Butterflies

God uses butterflies to remind me of his love and power.

I'm constantly questioning Him about His purposes and plans. I have a tendency to doubt His goodness and love.

And He uses butterflies to remind me that He is all that is good, right, pure, lovely, loving, true, noble, and admirable. Without Him there would be no love or kindness in this world. This time and place would be an evil and lawless place. He is all that is holding the world together and keeping it from spinning into space.

Ice Park 2011- #2

2011-03-25T21:35:00.003-08:00

We are all laughing so hard because I had just slipped off the turtle!
Jake wanted us all on the turtle for a picture. The girls got on, and then I tried. But it was so slippery!!
I was quite surprised to end up almost on the ground.

There were 3 or 4 turtles, and we chose one for all of us to sit on. Because the light is at an odd angle the picture just can't show the turtle to it's best advantage. The were beautiful, very detailed with lovely faces, shells and legs.

Ice Park 2011

2011-03-25T20:07:00.016-08:00

The four of us got to go to the Ice park before everything melted.
Jake took some fabulous photos, again.

We had so much fun. =)

Spring Break-Up

2011-03-25T15:35:00.010-08:00

I created a pictorial version of my trip to get Jake home from the Museum every night.

The first picture shows the pile of snow twice the size of the car as I drive down our street.

The second picture shows the round-about on campus that takes me up the hill to the Museum.
The University commissions a couple polar bear ice statues from the Ice Park artists every year- I particularly liked them this year. However, my picture isn't of the bear, it's of the melting snow, and the hill headed up towards the museum.

The final three pictures shows the driveway right in front of the Museum.

Jake was late, so I got the opportunity to take a couple pictures of the melting snow.

While the Bobcat is not my favorite part of the picture, it does a very good job of showing just how deep the snow is...

You can see the museum in the left corner of this photo, and the parking lot on past the museum.

I LOVE Break-up. It's so ugly and dirty as the snow melts and reveals all the gravel, dirt and trash.
Yet at the same time it's absolutely beautiful because I see winter trickling away... I know summer is coming! Flowers, and warmth and 24 hour daylight!

Words from Above

2011-03-25T00:43:00.002-08:00

I heard this song on the radio today, and was reminded of the strength of God's love for His children. I admit, I have come to understand God's love in a new way since becoming a parent... Not that I didn't get it before, but, well, I'm not sure I did... It's easy for me to believe that God's love has an end- a place past which my actions will prevent Him from loving me. I need to be reminded that God's love has no end.

Times

by Tenth Avenue North

I hear you say "my love is over,

It's underneath, it's inside, it's in between

The times you doubt me, when you can't feel

The times that you've questioned 'Is this for real?'

The times you've broken, the times that you mend

The times you hate me and the times that you bend

Well my love is over, its underneath

It's inside, it's in between,

These times you're healing

And when your heart breaks

The times that you feel like you've fallen from grace

The times you're hurting

The times that you heal

The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal

In times of confusion and chaos and pain

I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame

I'm there through your heartache

I'm there in the storm

My love, I will keep you by my power alone

I don't care where you've fallen, where you have been

I'll never forsake you

my love never ends, it never ends"

Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh

Work Table Wednesday

2011-03-22T22:15:00.008-08:00

It's Wednesday again! I get to share what's on my workbench.

First, the metalsmithing shop worktable:

I have quite a few projects going on in the shop, right now. The most important ones are the three across the middle front.

1) Starting on the left, my toggle clasp! I got to cast it, and it has turned out exactly as I hoped.

2) Next to the clasp, is a butterfly pendant I've been working with for a while. And I'm still not done. I want to patina the pendant so that the leaf stands out.

3) On the right, is the lid to my box. I've got a lot of work left on the box, but I'm glad to make a start.

Here's my home work table:

I finished the dangle for the pearl and crystal necklace. Yay! One project down. And now that I have the clasp end, I should be able to complete the nesting branch necklace.

Saturday Smiles

2011-03-18T22:53:00.008-08:00

10 Things that make me smile:

1) Spring is here! My spring is probably different than yours, though. LOL. Spring in Fairbanks, Alaska means neg 15 to plus 30 degrees, dirty snow and icy roads. All the photos I could find of break-up were copy-righted so I'm going to have to go outside tomorrow and take some break-up photos.

2) Don Williams music

I grew up listening to my mom's country music- and Don Williams was one of her favorites. Hearing his songs makes me think of Oregon & California.

http://www.don-williams.com/

3) Sitting on the couch with my husband and watching tv. We have a little two person love-seat, and when he & I sit there, we're close. Real close. Practically on top of each other close.

4) My bead tray! I love my bead buddy tray, and it certainly shows the wear of my love.

My tray holds at least two projects well, and I generally have more than that going at a time. It travels with me to our bazaars and the Farmer's Market.

Beth and I frequently have people who need re-sizing on our jewelry, and if it's possible we do it right there. Also, we spend so much time away- 2 full days a week- and I can't read at bazaars- it takes too much attention, so I have to have something to do. I can do beadwork and talk to customers or Beth.

5) Mercedes Lackey books

She has written many series, and over 100 books. These are my particular favorites:

Valdemar Universe,

Five Hundred Kingdom,

Elemental Masters, &

Diana Tregarde.

http://www.mercedeslackey.com/

6) Dinner at Chili's

Fell in love with Chili's while in Ft. Worth, and now that there's one in Fairbanks I'm a happy girl. We only go out once or twice a month, but Chili's is pretty high on our 'favorite restaurants' list.

7) Brownies- Rich, chewy, fudgy brownies

8) Learning something new in Metal-smithing.

I'm a slow-poke while I'm learning. I want to do a new process at least 3 times and really understand it so that I can do it completely on my own. But I LOVE getting it, and being able to explain it to someone else.

9) Listening to my husband explain something he's excited about.

When he is learning something new or involved with something new, he completely dives into it. He reads several books, and studies about it on-line. Since he damaged his beautiful camera and we can't repair it yet, a friend loaned him a Canon EFS. Jake has submerged himself in the subject of the new camera.

10) Sharing books with friends

I love sharing titles and talking about books. I love talking about a favorite author with someone else, and going into story-lines, and discussing characters. I honestly miss Litereature classes in high school and college. Even the papers. That's just wrong, isn't it?

Me, Beading!

2011-03-18T22:31:00.004-08:00

Jake took some pictures of me beading tonight while I was working. I'm wrapping the dangles for the pearl and crystal necklaces.

Aargh. I wish i had combed my hair. =) And I realize once again how tired I am all the time.

Pretty cool to see photos of me doing my work, though. I am pleased with how professional and capable my hands look.

Tired...

2011-03-18T12:06:00.001-08:00

Oye. I did not sleep last night. I think the last time I looked at the clock it was around 5. I hate that. And now I feel TERRIBLE.
Mama tired and grouchy does not make a happy household for two little girls who are home for spring break.

Work Bench Wednesday

2011-03-16T14:21:00.002-08:00

Okay. I TOTALLY do not want to share my work table today! I am embarrassed that I've still got the same projects on it...

I've still got that necklace waiting for the fancy dangle. I discovered I don't have the right kind of large jump ring to hang it all on, so I either need to make one or find one...

And I've still got the bird/branch necklace waiting for me to cast the clasp.
At least I've got a good reason for not casting- it's spring break here, so no classes. So no casting.

I think Beth and I will make it into the shop tomorrow night so I can get some shop work done- but probably still not the casting since I want to do that with Jack.

Here's Luna watching me take pictures:

Blessings

2011-03-15T14:50:00.002-08:00

I heard this song a couple days ago...
*****

Blessings
by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Laura is the lyricist who wrote "Indescribable" & "Mighty to Save". For her story, go here: http://www.laurastorymusic.com/bio

Depression

2011-03-15T01:15:00.002-08:00

I have been incredibly dark the last few days.
Life seems overwhelmingly bleak.

I think I'm shocked at how horrific the Japanese tragedy has become... My sister asked me what was wrong today. I snapped at her, and have been incredibly short with my children.

And isn't that exactly the wrong response I should have??
Shouldn't I want to hold them and be kind and compassionate?
Shouldn't I be thankful that I have my loved ones with me?
That I know where they are?
That I know there is food and water for them?
That we are all okay?
Shouldn't I be thankful for the safety of my family?

Why am I so overwhelmed with the tragedy this time?
I was appalled by the tsunami in Indonesia.- Did you know one in every five Indonesians died or was severely injured?
I was shocked by the earthquake damage in Chile. Over 500,000 homes were destroyed.
I cried as I saw the destruction in Haiti. All the major hospitals were destroyed. More than 1300 schools and all the health care facilities were damaged.

I think there is so much devastation and loss of life that I have become overwhelmed. I do not see how everyone can possibly be saved. Haiti is still in a horrible situation. Now Japan, too...
*****

God, please provide water & food for the Japanese people. Please provide care for those who need it, and rescue for those still trapped. Thank you for the amazing rescue stories I read today. But there are still so many who need help. I am only one person, and I can't do much. God, please be the God who provides- provide what is needed.

Light

2011-03-15T01:12:00.003-08:00

I found this at Lori's blog- http://www.lorianderson.blogspot.com

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge

2011-03-14T02:00:00.004-08:00

A monthly challenge occurs over at the Art Bead Scene blog- http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

Artists are encouraged to springboard off a chosen picture and it's color palette to create a complete piece of jewelry (so not just a single art bead or pendant), and then submit a picture of it as an entry.

I would love to start participating in this challenge! Especially since I have started to create my own components and focals. (which thrills and delights me!) And the use of an original 'art bead' or pendant is a requirement. I can't just string up a bunch of dyed pearls. I must use a unique piece made by myself or purchased from the creator. For more on the rules: http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-monthly-challenge.html

We'll see. At this particular moment I'm not feeling inspired by this Paul Gaugin painting.... But it could happen. And I have until March 31st to develop an idea from this warm, rich palette of colors.

My Current Project - Branch In a Tree

2011-03-13T16:33:00.002-08:00

Here's the project currently possessing my brain.

I've got some major issues to deal with yet, but I'm hoping it all works out well:

The clasp hasn't been poured yet. I've carved the piece, but I can't pour it til next week, and yes, I'm nervous.

Until I have the clasp, I can't string up the right side (which is the left side in the pic).

I'm still trying to figure out how to attach the bird and have it hang right where I want it to. It looks perfect laying out on the board. However, I know that if I just string it up the branch and nest will hang willy-nilly... And I can't just solder a jump-ring on the back of the branch. It's too ripply, and the solder will just run and run and run... And I can't really solder anything close to that pearl anyway. So that's completely out as an option.

I made the wire underneath the glass beads! =) Okay, so that's probably not such a big deal, but it is to me. I couldn't find a wire that matched the bronze tree branch, so I cut bronze sheet metal, ran it through the rolling mill (over and over and over...), then I pulled it through a plate to get it down to the gauge I wanted.

I'll keep posting updates. I hope to finish this project next week.

Real Life

2011-03-13T15:31:00.000-08:00

"We must stop regarding unpleasant or unexpected things as interruptions of real life. The truth is that interruptions are real life."
C.S. Lewis

Saturday Smiles

2011-03-12T00:48:00.016-09:00

Here are 10 things that make me smile:

1) Family Reunion pictures

I loved those reunions when I was a kid. I have an enormous family on my mom's side (12 in my grammy's generation, over 50 in my mom's and a LOT in mine), and we used to go to the annual Durrette reunions when we lived down south (South to me is Oregon!). I miss living closing enough to go to these events and am sad my girls still haven't experienced a huge family reunion like I did.

2) Finding out that there are more Liaden stories out there!

I've read all the major stories in the Liaden universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. However, in a recent Google search I discovered many Liaden short stories I haven't read yet. And I am thrilled! I love the depth of their universe- all the wonderful characters, and the fascinating histories. I've ordered three of the books, and hope to receive them soon! https://www.srmpublisher.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=2

3) Finishing a beading project-

I just finished two bracelets and a pair of earrings for a repeat customer. I love the satisfaction of holding an item in my hands and knowing that I made it. Funny. I never considered myself someone who made things. I always created ephemeral art- songs, dance, theatre... And now I have the contentment of making beautiful items that people wear.

4) My cat, Luna-

She's like holding a little fire 'cuz she exudes heat, but I love holding her & listening to her purr. She is the most stupid cat I've ever met, and her sheer persistence & stubborness would wear out the most patient person on the earth. But she's a sweet girl who lives to be close to her people.

5) Road Trips

I love driving in the car with friends or family. Going for fun, or for a job. I love driving at night in my own little world.

6) A new season of Supernatural!

I honestly thought season 5 was gonna be it. They wrapped the series up pretty good with the finale, and I thought that was the end. But I'm delighted to discover there will be more monsters and mayhem.

7) an afternoon nap

oh, yeah. Who doesn't like taking a little nap during the day?

8) Rocking my girls at night

I hold & rock each of them for two songs before they go to bed. It gives me a chance to cuddle with them even when we've had a bad day, and it gives them the opportunity to calm down and let the day go. (Deborah asked me how I'm going to do it when she's taller than me. I don't know. We'll cross that bridge later. Right now, she's 7 and still wants me to hold her. Thank you, God!)

9) The silence in our house when I'm still up and everybody else is in bed... 6 people do not a quiet house make...

10) ABBA- Yes, I smile when I listen to ABBA. In particular, I like "Fernando". I don't know why. I just do.

Workbench Wednesday

2011-03-08T22:54:00.005-09:00

Time to look at my two workbenches!

Here's my school workbench- I have three projects on there currently:

1) In the center is a little bird's nest I wire-wrapped to go with the cast branch. I placed a white pearl egg in the center.
Oh! The trauma of trying to attach the thing on the branch!!!

First I cut out & shaped a small copper cup with holes around the sides to be the base. And then I drilled a hole in the branch for a wire to thread through the nest and into the branch. After that, I epoxied the nest on by placing a head pin through the nest and into the hole in the branch. It worked great.

Until I was half-way through wire wrapping the nest and had just attached the egg... Then the nest fell off because of the pressure I was putting it under as I pulled and tugged on the wire.
Arrgh. And then I couldn't hold onto the head-pin UNDERNEATH the pearl as I tried to reattach the nest... I got very frustrated. But I finally achieved success! It's on there. And I'm happy with it.

2) Below and to the right of the nest is a clasp I'm in the middle of creating to go with the branch necklace.

3) Above and to the left are four ovals I'm working with.... I really don't know what they are going to be, but it is always wise to have at least 2 projects, if not more, going in the shop. Then if Jack can't help you immediately when you run into a problem on one project you can jump over to the other while you're waiting. Or you can pop something into the pickle while you work on something else.

This is my home table.

I've got three projects on there right now. (Hmmmm... I must like threes.)

1) In the upper left corner is the completed purple and crystal wire necklace I was half-way through last week. I thought I was done, but the middle flower is missing a crystal petal. I don't know when it happened, but I'm gonna have to fix it before I sell it this summer. I might as well get it done now rather than later. (Farmer's Market opens in 60 days!!!)

2) In the center wells I have spread out the crystals I'm going to use to create the fabulous dangle for the necklace on the right. I'm looking forward to this project! It has taken me a long time to pull together the different elements I wanted to use.

3) And on the far left I have finished the bracelets a customer asked me to make for her. They are to match two necklaces she bought over Christmas- one for herself and one for a friend. She also asked for some earring to match and I need to complete those before I can deliver her necklace and bracelets.

Saturday Smiles

2011-03-04T23:48:00.012-09:00

Here are 10 things that make me smile:

1) Good jewelry blogs- ones with pictures, and personality. Lori Anderson's blog Pretty Things is an example of one of the really good jewelry blogs. http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/

2) Watching someone who loves to dance do what they are good at-

Gene Kelly Singin in the Rain

(This isn't the only musical or dancer I love, but wow, wasn't this man amazing? I also really enjoy watching So You Think You Can Dance because I love seeing the dancers get to dance, and grow and get better...)

3) Freshly washed sheets on a clean bed

4) Looking at pics of my girls when they were little

5) That feeling when I am reading a really good book, and I don't want it to end...

6) Confidently, & competently using a torch in the metalsmithing shop (yes, I still mess stuff up, but I'm not scared of the flame anymore.)

7) Figuring out who dunnit in a mystery before the big reveal

8) Sitting outside of Deborah's piano lessons & listening to her practice

9) A really good massage- (My PT at Advanced Physical Therapy is AWESOME! I don't know how I would get along without her.)

10) Tillamook ice cream

(Our favorite flavor is Sweet Centennial- in their own words:
Vanilla ice cream surrounded by brownie batter swirl and… (wait for it) peanut butter filled chocolate cows. It’s a tribute to deliciousness and cows! Our forefathers would be so proud.)

Workbench Wednesday

2011-03-01T23:18:00.006-09:00

I have found a large community of beading/jewelry/metal-smithing blogs who participate in this really cool project called "Workbench Wednesday". They post pics of their workbench, even if it's a mess, and explain what projects they are working on at the time.

I was delighted with the idea, and wanted to participate too!

Of course, a problem immediately presented itself. I have two workbenches. My traveling table at home, and the one in my metal-smithing class. But I have solved the problem by presenting both workbenches!

Here is my work station at home. I am lucky enough to live with 6 people, so I don't have a stationary work-bench all to myself. Instead I have two shelves in the living room and half a closet.

I bead on my little work station at night while watching TV. We rent through whatever series we're currently watching and have a couple of series on TV we (me, mom, Beth, and my husband) all like: CSI works really well, 'cuz I can look down at my beads during any of the really gory scenes that are too much for me.

Currently I have 4 projects on my work-bench:
1) At the center-top of the pic is a pearl and crystal bronze necklace with large crystal beads in a plastic bag- I need to complete an extravagant crystal dangle for this necklace.
2) Continuing clockwise, in the center three longest wells I have purple and crystal seed beads and round beads transforming themselves into a wire-work necklace with flowers.
3) At the top left corner, I have 4 large metal focal pieces I made in metal-smithing waiting to become bracelets.
4) And in the center of all those busy beads, there is a large orange flower I am turning into a wire ring.

And in the metal-smithing shop up at UAF, I am in the process of creating components out of molds. We are making molds by carving cuttlefish bones. (For a really cool article about cuttlefish, go here: http://www.doublepluscool.com/blog/travelling )

On the far left is an example of one side of a carved cuttlefish bone, with my pattern. In the center is a wrapped cuttlefish bone waiting for me to pour liquid metal into the carved shape. Next to that are three carving tools I used on the bones (And I MADE the two tools on the right- one is a scribe and the other is a very sharp little knife). And at the top right is my first completed cast! A cute little tree branch next to the pattern I used. I don't know what I'll do with it, but I'm looking forward to using it.

Here is a jeweler's saw, my little branch again, and the carved and wrapped cuttle fish. I'll show a picture of my next completed casting soon...

Saturday Smiles

2011-02-26T20:17:00.006-09:00

Here are 5 things that make me smile:

1. Listening to Jake play guitar

2. Listening to my girls laughing and playing

3. Digging into my stash of beads for inspiration

4. Watching old Star Trek episodes

5. Making up new lyrics to old tunes with my husband

(Example? so glad you asked! Sung to the tune of "Oh, Ricky you're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind, Hey Ricky!" - "Oh, Jake-y you're so fine, you're so fine, I'm glad you're mine, Hey Jake-y!" And yes, depending on the company & mood sometimes our lyrics get rather risque...)

6. Grocery shopping (yup, I'm weird.)

7. Windchimes

8. The silence after my girls are in bed

9. Hammering on copper (or silver or bronze or... hmmm, I think you get the idea.) in the metalsmithing shop.

10. My husband's photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/v-system/

Old

2011-02-22T00:15:00.000-09:00

You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get OLD.
George Burns

ER Trip

2011-02-21T23:37:00.002-09:00

Abigail & Deborah were playing upstairs around noon, when I heard screaming & hysteria....

So, yes. We took a trip to the ER.
Abigail has 3 stitches close to her left eye, & Deborah spent a good portion of the day feeling guilty & crying because "it was my fault!" Apparently on her way down from the top bunk, she accidently kicked Abigail, which propelled Abigail into the corner of the bunk bed.

An accident. Not on purpose, and I have to say, I think they both kind of learned their lesson. They've been playing rather rough lately (too cold to play outside, plus Abigail's SICK, so she doesn't get to go anywhere...) I think they might not play so rough for a while....

Poor Abigail got HYSTERICAL when I said we were going to the ER- Screaming, crying. She kept saying "I'm not going to the hospital!" in this very firm and confident tone. I bundled her up in Mom's SUV (After Beth & I spent 15 minutes digging it out of the snow, 'cuz we got about 2 feet last night! And we didn't think my car would drive through all the snow, which was the right decision.) Then I drove by the museum to pick up Jake, so that he could hold her if we needed more physical strength.

They looked at the cut, which was about half an inch long and about half an inch from her left eye, and decided it needed stitches. Partly because it was fairly deep and partly because it was so close to her eye.

Abigail was not cooperative at all, (screaming, fighting, kicking, etc.) so the doctor made the decision to give her a medicine called Ketamine, which calmed her down and let her sleep during the sewing up. Everyone, including Jake and me, was glad they gave her the Ketamine. It's a disassociative, which basically means it doesn't hurt as bad & she wasn't really all there. However, it's fast acting so she recovered very quickly. And since the doctor was working so close to her eye, he didn't want to have to fight her.

Abigail's okay, now. And she doesn't really remember the whole thing. I'll get a pic up of her fancy stitches tomorrow.

However, mommy and daddy are both a wee bit traumatized... I think we'll recover, but part of our recovery was to come home and have to dig the rest of the driveway out of 2 feet of blowing snow. Then we came inside and cuddled while watching some old Star Trek.

recovery

2011-02-21T00:28:00.002-09:00

I am tired all the time. I sleep. And I wake up tired.
I go to work, get Abigail to her OT, get Deborah, make dinner, and fall asleep on the couch.
I'm not making much stuff right now- just what I make at class.

I go to bed, and have trouble sleeping, but I can fall asleep anywhere else.
I actually started to fall asleep with one of my first grade students... Pretty pathetic.
Poor little guy. We were playing a game, and I closed my eyes. Then I opened them. And he was looking at me. He said, "You fell asleep!" And I was all like, "You know, I think I did." It wasn't long, but it was kind of embarrassing...

When I talked to my physical therapist she told me the kind of major surgery I had takes a long time to recover from... I want it to be fast. Like it's been about 3 months now. I should be better! Not falling asleep the instant I sit down! I should be back to making jewelry, and dancing in the streets!

But the paper-work my PT gave me indicates that I only have so much energy to give during a single day. And my surgeon told me my body is in the process of re-building muscles, nerves, bones, and tendons in my neck & spine. Therefore, when my energy runs out during the day, it's just gone. And half my energy is in the process of re-building myself.

I feel like a 'half-man, half'machine' sort of thing... Wish I could figure out how to share the crazy pics I've got of the screws and THINGS in my neck.

I miss blogging. I miss writing about stuff. I miss having the energy to write about stuff... I'll think about something to write, sit down at the computer, and have no clue what I was gonna write about...

That's the thing about energy. It's where my creativity seems to be located. I've only got so much energy right now, and I can't seem to save any of it to write about cool stuff.

I will get back to you, little blog. I love you, and I haven't forgotten about you. In fact, I think about you every day. Recovery is only for a season. And this season will not last forever. Please wait for me, little blog. I'll be back soon.

Small Things

2011-01-28T00:03:00.000-09:00

"What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."– Mother Theresa

Book Reviews- A Diana Wynne Jones Duo

2011-01-24T23:24:00.009-09:00

Dark Lord of Derkholm- by Diana Wynne Jones

From the book jacket: For forty years, Wizard Derk's world has been devastated by Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Parties- packaged excursions for tourists from the next universe in search of adventure. When mild-mannered Derk is chosen to play the role of this year's Dark Lord, he is forced by the sinister Mr. Chesney to turn his bucolic country estate into a labyrinthine castle lit by baleful fires, manifest himself as a nine-foot-tall shadow with flaming red eyes, and lead his minions in a climactic battle against the Forces of Good. Can Derk find a way to put an end to the evil Mr. Chesney and his Pilgrim Parties- once and for all?

I LOVED this book. It does so many things so well- It's very funny, with touches of Jones' British humour, yet Dark Lord is also quite serious as Jones touches on the subjects of growing up, harmony between different cultures and races, dealing with bullying, and taking responsibility for your own actions. An expansive setting with several twisty surprises, the sparkling intelligence behind the book, plus the defeat of the bad guys make this book a delight. I've heard it said, 'if you like J. K. Rowling, try Diana". While the books have some similarities (British silliness, magic, mayhem, learning wizards, etc.), what I enjoy most about both of these series is the depth of reality to their worlds. Both Rowling and Jones inject their fantastical worlds with believable, sympathetic characters who must deal with believable, and awful situations. Love the magic! Love the fun! Well worth the time.

Year of The Griffin by Diana Wynn Jones

From the book jacket: It is eight years after the tours from off-world have stopped. High Chancellor Querida has retired, leaving Wizard Corkoran in charge of the Wizards' University. Although Wizard Corkoran's obsession is to be the first man on the moon, and most of his times is devoted to this project, he decides he will teach the new first years himself in hopes of currying the favor of the new students' families- for surely they must all come from wealthy, important families- and obtaining money for the University (which it so desperately needs). But Wizard Corkoran is dismayed to discover that one of those students- indeed, one he had such high hopes for, Wizard Derk's own daughter Elda- is a huge golden griffin, and that none of the others has any money at all.
Wizard Corkoran's money-making scheme backfires, and when Elda and her new friends start working magic on their own, the schemes go wronger still. And when, at length, Elda ropes in her brothers Kit and Blade to send Corkoran to the moon... well... life at the Wizards University spins magically and magnificently out of control.

I LOVED this one, too. Year of the Griffin has a different feel than Dark Lord- a little less desperate and smaller in scope, a little more silly- however, the problems of the students are very real, believable and life-threatening. I loved seeing characters from Dark Lord again, and getting to watch them grow up more. Loved the idea of educating wizards, even though the subject is treated quite differently than Rowling. Well worth the time.