tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91280962183949359662024-03-13T15:05:09.727-07:00LoraKellyDesignsyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-30689581772176058772008-08-04T20:07:00.000-07:002008-08-04T20:43:04.080-07:00Life goes on, despite me!Maybe you've been wondering where I am ... or maybe not. I know some of you are regular visitors, as I've been to your blogsites and we've created a sort of community here in blogsville, sometimes we do wonder where the other has gone when a particular voice has fallen silent. So if you did... here's why.<br /><br />I returned to the regular 5 day a week, 8 to 5 working world last December. Since then, much of my "creative" aspirations and honestly, juices, have drained, or have been put aside because ... really no reason other than the usual... creativity wanes in the face of the work a day world. It does! It's very hard to maintain that joie de vive when that which is not quite so alluring demands your energies. You plod along then, instead of leaping from bed each morning, tulip-prone into the rising sun. I realize why some societies offer sanctuary to their artists, less taxes, free housing, etc. So they might do their thing unimpeded by the usual worries of life... such as ... how do I pay the bills. That sort of thing. <br /><br />And so some things have fallen by the wayside, but not forever.<br /><br />Anyway... so what about the blog? I still am a blogger! I swear! (I actually typed "I sweat" and had to fix it) ... It is REALLY warm here, so Freudian I suppose, in a way ... the "slip" that is not meant to escape the lips but comes out in a like-turn-of-phrase anyway), you know of which I speak. So, I am still writing when I can find the time. <br /><br />On the back burner then are my beads, or my jewelry making business. Really this is because a rock and roll band took over my workshop and have been keeping the neighborhood on it's toes. I've never looked back. Because my shop is a mess mostly. Shortly, I will be cleaning it out and moving the whole affair to the loft of my little Sears kit house as soon as the just-turned-18 year old (the "was" young man of whom I've so often spoken} "and the band" are situated in what WAS my shop. And good luck to them. I shall carry on in my way, as I've been known to do.<br /><br />And for those of you who are awaiting items of jewelry... my sister, her bracelet, my friends; Julie, her necklace and matching earrings, Melody, her pendant, others ... their own desired bits of stone and silver strung as jewelry as only I can do (or have convinced them only I can do -- shhhh!).... please keep the faith. Soon. Soon. Soon.<br /><br />Cheers, all!yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-44576665914658955302008-03-16T18:48:00.000-07:002008-03-16T20:21:28.899-07:00the Easter bunny makes an early visit... or does he?it's not even Easter yet ... although it seems we've had a visitor who left his mark ... could it be? Looks like someone's been busy coloring eggs ... but wooden eggs? Perhaps he couldn't find a chicken!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93PuaVPrdI/AAAAAAAAAdg/YflRUduedXM/s1600-h/IMG_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93PuaVPrdI/AAAAAAAAAdg/YflRUduedXM/s400/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178523542795300306" /></a><br /><br />behind a bowl of tulips I spy a possible suspect! But, Easter's still a week away? What's he doing here?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93OtqVPrcI/AAAAAAAAAdY/QlR20ZFRY1o/s1600-h/IMG_0148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93OtqVPrcI/AAAAAAAAAdY/QlR20ZFRY1o/s400/IMG_0148.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178522430398770626" /></a><br /><br />still... the tulips seem to know something's up! Just look at them! They seem to think spring has sprung...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93TJ6VPrhI/AAAAAAAAAd0/XlBcW4f6ko8/s1600-h/IMG_0147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93TJ6VPrhI/AAAAAAAAAd0/XlBcW4f6ko8/s400/IMG_0147.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178527313776586258" /></a><br /><br />ahhhh... what's that! ... there's the culprit ... in a flash of green! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93Te6VPriI/AAAAAAAAAd8/IFZitnWfN3s/s1600-h/IMG_0158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93Te6VPriI/AAAAAAAAAd8/IFZitnWfN3s/s400/IMG_0158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178527674553839138" /></a><br /><br />a basket of eggs....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93UaaVPrjI/AAAAAAAAAeE/ULRY7YGNw9E/s1600-h/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93UaaVPrjI/AAAAAAAAAeE/ULRY7YGNw9E/s400/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178528696756055602" /></a><br /><br />cherubs?<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93WLKVPrmI/AAAAAAAAAeY/uhJUo1EnCjg/s1600-h/IMG_0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93WLKVPrmI/AAAAAAAAAeY/uhJUo1EnCjg/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178530633786306146" /></a><br /><br />spring grasses? Wait! That's no Easter rabbit!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93W_qVPrnI/AAAAAAAAAeg/-YAD4N-0uEs/s1600-h/IMG_0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93W_qVPrnI/AAAAAAAAAeg/-YAD4N-0uEs/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178531535729438322" /></a><br /><br />but my own Mr. R. ....the Easter Parrot, no less! Wishing us all a blessed week filled with a dazzle of spring flowers and basketfulls of colored eggs and treasure hunts in dewy green meadows...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93Yv6VPrpI/AAAAAAAAAew/WTCx5IHuDKE/s1600-h/IMG_0163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93Yv6VPrpI/AAAAAAAAAew/WTCx5IHuDKE/s400/IMG_0163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178533464169754258" /></a><br /><br />can anything come close to a basketful of pastel-painted eggs? A few things... like this sweet little spring necklace with periwinkle, freshwater pearls and glistening citrine, just might!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93X7qVProI/AAAAAAAAAeo/M-n8Uy3CCyA/s1600-h/IMG_0204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R93X7qVProI/AAAAAAAAAeo/M-n8Uy3CCyA/s400/IMG_0204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178532566521589378" /></a><br /><br />thanks for dropping by! <br /><br /><strong>HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!</strong><br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-32219276432513862582008-03-08T17:27:00.000-08:002008-03-08T18:30:49.800-08:00more than a load of abalone<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R9M9ZaVPraI/AAAAAAAAAdI/Wkaftlol8Sk/s1600-h/Abalone+Necklace.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R9M9ZaVPraI/AAAAAAAAAdI/Wkaftlol8Sk/s400/Abalone+Necklace.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175547903553285538" /></a><br /><br />recently a friend asked me to make a memory piece using her deceased husband's St. Christopher ... something fun and reminiscent of the sea and surf, since he'd been a surfer in his youth. My friend appeared truly pleased with my final creation, which is always a treat for me! But ... during my search for special beads for this sentimental project, I was reintroduced to that most beautiful of all shellfish <em>shells</em>, in my opinion, abalone. I always buy some whenever I find it at bead stores and fairs, and have since made other sea-themed pieces, including the one pictured above, which is a simple, small pendant combined with freshwater pearls.<br /><br />it seems to me abalone used to be easily obtained and I even remember my Aunt kept one beautiful specimen as an ashtray, no less! I've never eaten abalone, but I've been told it's heavenly. Over the years, it seems abalone has been over fished. You just don't see it anymore except on the menus of some very high class restaurants. How sad we humans can't seem to leave a good thing alone. <br /><br />i remember an aquaintance who came to visit me in San Francisco in the early 80's when I lived with a houseful of roommates out on the avenues. This aquaintance was not a close friend, or friend at all, really, but rather the friend of a friend. Still, I met her for dinner. She was on vacation with her boyfriend ... they'd been abalone diving up and down the California coast, which to me, at the time, seemed terribly exotic. I don't remember much of that particular dinner party except that the "aquaintance" fell asleep at the table, mid-sentence, cigarette in hand, while I looked on in disbelief. Apparently, diving is a good work out! <br /><br />tomorrow's my birthday, and I recall the days my mother always baked a cake for such occassions. Us kids were rarely satisfied with one piece of course and were always clamoring, dish in hand, for seconds. My mother used to say, "You're eating that stuff like it's going out of style! Tomorrow's another day!" Sage advice! The truth is, we can always make more cake. But abalone?<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-54808314571992211192008-02-26T06:34:00.001-08:002008-02-28T19:14:19.492-08:00tuesday afternooni've been so busy these days I haven't had a moment it seems to keep up with all of you, dear readers. Nor to read all the blogs of my fellow bloggers of whose prose I am so very fond! No fun at all! This is bound to change as I get my groove going. But now that we're nearly skidding into month three of 2008, I'm worrying just a little that a hitch has embedded itself into my "giddyup" ... despite the numerous resolutions (as you will recall ... I went just the teeniest bit overboard!)<br /><br />I'm finally posting a photo or two today, though not of jewelry, but of number one son's band... still unnamed ... or in the throws of naming. Mostly I loved the photographs and thought I would also add a plug for the lovely young woman who did the photography for free as a promo ... <a href="http://www.erikamounts.com">Erika Mounts</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R8Qjr3D_YYI/AAAAAAAAAc4/5y6ak_Vapak/s1600-h/band+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R8Qjr3D_YYI/AAAAAAAAAc4/5y6ak_Vapak/s400/band+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171297508550205826" /></a><br /><br />So far the boys will be cutting a demo in late March and <em>as they say </em>... the rest may be history! I get the awesome delight of listening to them on "nearly" a daily basis as they wail away just a door and a breezeway away (yes, that does refer to the garage, actually). And I am happy to say I have not had the desire once for a set of ear plugs!<br /><br />It's such a treat to see a dream come alive! For all those who have dreams they let die for lack of courage, or energy, or means or otherwise, I hope these young men will enjoy the wonder of seeing theirs flourish. <br /><br />Being a mother, of course, I cringe somewhat to realize how easily dreams perish or are crushed, but also know that nothing ventured is absolutely nothing gained. And if no one made mistakes, nothing of any worth would have ever been accomplished in this world. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R8TmQ3D_YZI/AAAAAAAAAdA/gfn85jYBSmc/s1600-h/band.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R8TmQ3D_YZI/AAAAAAAAAdA/gfn85jYBSmc/s400/band.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171511449461154194" /></a><br /><br />number one son is upfront center ...Go for it, boys! Break a leg! Well ... no ... forget that last one! No leg breaking allowed! <br /><br />as it is early morning here in the north country, I will have to rush off quickly to dry my hair ... which is now red by the way! By now you've realized it is not, in fact, Tuesday afternoon, but rather Tuesday morning! And Oh, did I not mention I took a major, crazy turn in life and colored my hair something drastic! RED? Well, I'd become so very bored of my bland blonde (oh, yes, it was bland!) and decided since I am only a year away from being a half-century old ... imagine ... that I should get to make a rash decision. I've made so few of them in my life and really, if one must make a rash decision, let it be hair color which at least can be returned to its original state should the decision not work out so well as hoped. Unlike having breast implants or a nose job or an eye lift that leaves one looking much like a strange dolly. I'm sure you'll think of a few celebrities who fit this description! I'll save the tatooing for when I turn 70. That gives me a good 20 years!<br /><br />Work! gahhhhh! I nearly forgot... as if anyone can EVER forget work. Believe me, working in Human Resources and especially for a staffing company? I do know that many people forget work ...forget to call ... never show ... never are heard from again? Please let it NOT be one of those days!<br /><br />okay ... <em>work this morning </em>... <br /><br />But on another note... and more importantly, as pertains to shiny things ...I do have new pieces and will be photographing and uploading to my websites on Sunday. About time! <br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-33782888363629891922008-02-10T09:01:00.000-08:002008-02-10T09:43:54.544-08:00sunday morning babbleas luck would have it, or lack thereof, number one son lost the cord that allows me to upload photos to my laptop ... which puts me out of business, practically. And reading blogs is so much more fun when there are pictures to go along with whatever prose is smattered across the page. In fact, photos keep us scrolling down for more. <br /><br />sadly, I must bore you here with no photos, and only me pounding away at the keys until my order comes in. Do you know you cannot just go into any camera store and purchase a cord for uploading photos? NO ... you MUST order such things from the factory or some online store. Brick and morters don't believe in carrying such things, it seems. Also, do you know that such cords cost a minimum of $25??? That's the lowest price, plus shipping ... another $7 for the tiny, weightless cord that probably costs $7 to make. Here, I will end my rant and move on to more happy thoughts.<br /><br />perhaps you'll recall that I have been learning the guitar since the turning of the new year, and so far I can play two songs. Neither of which you would want to hear me play but to my own ear, they sound rather nice. I don't believe the two bands who wrote the songs would feel the same, they being CCR (Bad Moon) or "every Tom, Dick and Harry" literally (House of the Rising Sun) ... need I say more? It doesn't take a flash of brilliance to realize I was not born for this instrument. Despite the fact that my fingertips are numb and it feels very weird to wash dishes or pick things up with the fingers of my left hand, nor that I have two brothers who are rather accomplished guitarists, nor that number one son seems to have mastered said instrument in barely 5 years. True. I have only played it for a month and a half. Okay ... perhaps "played it" is too strong a term ... fiddled with it might better describe my relationship to the guitar. Still... I will continue with my resolution to "play" an this instrument!<br /><br />yesterday I spent an entire day cleaning the main floor of my house. Considering there are three floors to this house, that seems extremely sad, doesn't it? The irishman said, why not get someone to come in and clean the house weekly. It would be nice, but ... how long would it take me to clean the house in order to let that person come in to clean the house again? I don't think I could muster the energy. But it does sound dreamy.<br /><br />last weekend I drove around looking at new houses, something I am prone to do when I am particularly tired of my own house and feeling the urge to move on and experience a new kind of life. New houses smell so wonderful! And because they lack furniture and wall hangings, they are open and airy, simplistic and Zen-ish... and pregnant with possibility. I found a wonderful house that I've been thinking about off and on. One that had a dishwasher even! Can you believe that in 2008 I do not have a dishwasher? We actually had a dishwasher in 1971, when I was in Junior High School! It made a horrible crunching sound as it splashed through its daily rounds. The story goes, (the one my father told, anyway) that I washed my goldfish bowl in that same dishwasher, the kind you had to roll over to the sink to hook up (the dishwasher not the goldfish bowl... stay with me now) and apparently it still had some of that little blue gravel in it, which trickled down into the workings of our "Avacado" colored Kenmore dishwasher, forever cursing it to the noisiest wash cycle in the history of the machine. Personally, I highly doubt I had anything to do with it! <br /><br />Nevertheless, in this modern era, I've been told (by the Irishman who is a <em>Plumber</em>, no less) the septic system won't hold up to such new fangled gadgets. Who would've guessed? I've always heard that the carpenter's wife is the one without a deck! Well, I suppose I did get a deck built last summer. Perhaps there's a nice carpenter's wife out there I can swap with, then my plumber can build her a deck and her carpenter can install a dishwasher at my house! <br /><br />as always, I babble on too much....<br /><br />outside this grey looking Sunday morning, the sky is blustery and the trees are tossing about madly. In the garden, squirrels are hanging upside down from the bird feeders while the little chickadees scold them to get a turn. We've had snow on and off... usually coming at night and washing away by day. It's only mid February but how I am looking foward to spring and flowers and sunny days and warm winds. <br /><br />ahhhh... guess what just came out? THE SUN!<br /><br />wishing you a beautiful day...<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-83846550746987686952008-01-18T12:42:00.000-08:002008-01-18T16:59:48.782-08:00good reasons for loving fridaysi'm home today! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R5FLcOSavuI/AAAAAAAAAco/iQLK_Pe2ReY/s1600-h/best+of+house.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R5FLcOSavuI/AAAAAAAAAco/iQLK_Pe2ReY/s400/best+of+house.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156985996559695586" /></a><br />hooray for Fridays ... I say. And who doesn't! I suppose someone who's Monday began on Friday wouldn't like Friday's too much, unless of course they had a job which entailed testing chocolate or ice cream or mattresses, or how long it takes to fall asleep under a down comforter, or playing with puppies all day. I suppose then one would love their Monday which was really Friday for everyone else, and then the people who loved Friday wouldn't like Friday so much anymore because they couldn't wait wait to get back to their ice cream and chocolate, mattresses and puppies. That said ... what the heck is this post all about anyway?<br /><br />oh yes, today is Friday. And I have many things to do, but being a free bird on Fridays I flutter around and do the things that give me great pleasure, one of which is shopping for silver findings, such fun, and the others entail eating comfort food like macaroni and cheese and playing with my two unmannerly parrots, my sweet doggies and extremely chubby cat. Such things don't really take getting used to. They are sort of the frosting on the cake of life. Such things are Fridays made of!<br /><br />i happen to have a rather stealthy parrot climbing up my back right now. He's tired of seeing me type, because he wants me to take him to the kitchen where he can really have some fun. Mr. R is a Dusky Headed Conure and he is very silly and full of play. Problem is, parrots, unlike dogs and cats, rarely nap. They can play non stop all day like a child with ADD ... and with the same attention span, or lack thereof! Needless to say, parenting a parrot is not for the faint of heart, nor the sleepy. The one really good thing is that you can, of course, lock them in a cage and toss away the key ... then go take your nap. I suppose if you are thinking seriously about getting yourself a parrot, that is, something a bit more troublesome than a parakeet or cockateil, I would recommend you borrow one for a month from a friend. At the end of which time, you may have a change of heart! Lovely though they are ... breathtakingly beautiful, in fact, they are also very bright, constantly searching for fun, food, something to chew, and companionship. They don't like being alone but prefer to be in the midst of the flock with all the accompanying noise. And if there is not enough noise, they will gladly create some for you!<br /><br />right now, ms. L is chewing on my mouse, and mr. R is climbing up an electrical cord. Ahhhh yes. The wonder of parronting. <br /><br />as you know, i've been working hard to keep up with my New Year's resolutions ... well, thank heaven's I have a whole year. But I have been doing my 4 days a week of exercising ... which by now has merely caused me excruciating pain in my upper arms and thighs! Practicing my guitar, per my son's instructions ... which has left me with burning fingertips that waver between shooting pain and absolute numbness (just wait until the calluses form, he says! I've been reading my books ... now I have two going and finding it hard to get in that 1/2 hour a day! I can, alas, make macaroni and cheese, a good Greek salad and a pretty tasty shrimp curry. <br /><br />Today, I'm thinking that chocolate brownies would make a quite tasty vegetarian dish ...<br /><br />I wonder if I have any baker's chocolate? ....yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-79548960869313921802008-01-08T20:39:00.000-08:002008-01-08T20:57:15.504-08:00the white stuff makes a brief appearanceit came in the night ... when the house was silent<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RRAeSavrI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/CW20WMst8tY/s1600-h/000_4823.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RRAeSavrI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/CW20WMst8tY/s400/000_4823.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153332942190853810" /></a><br />and we were all sleeping ... okay, most of us were sleeping ... someone was creeping about and leaving their telltale footprints ... Frosty? Is that you?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RQtOSavqI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4hzdc3cmoxI/s1600-h/000_4818.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RQtOSavqI/AAAAAAAAAcI/4hzdc3cmoxI/s400/000_4818.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153332611478372002" /></a><br /><br />giant flakes fell from the sky<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RQfuSavpI/AAAAAAAAAcA/4gA7cKwFyZI/s1600-h/000_4814.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RQfuSavpI/AAAAAAAAAcA/4gA7cKwFyZI/s400/000_4814.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153332379550138002" /></a><br /><br />then sadly ... <em>the grownups </em>had to go to work and by the time they got home...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RRh-SavsI/AAAAAAAAAcY/PvtG2DK6DtQ/s1600-h/000_4830.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R4RRh-SavsI/AAAAAAAAAcY/PvtG2DK6DtQ/s400/000_4830.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153333517716471490" /></a><br /><br />it had mostly melted away. All that remained was Frosty's skeleton! Not quite a children's story, is it? <br /><br />I love the snow!<br /><br />(sigh)yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-46875203434369047432008-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:002008-01-04T12:57:40.308-08:00a very misty Fridayhome today and i hardly know where to begin. It is the day to bring down the tree and remove the last vestiges of Christmas....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35ySeSavnI/AAAAAAAAAbw/PYCZ66z4fJ4/s1600-h/candle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35ySeSavnI/AAAAAAAAAbw/PYCZ66z4fJ4/s400/candle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151680685451951730" /></a><br /><br />time for the penguins to stop their chorus for another year...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35yLOSavmI/AAAAAAAAAbo/7QJ4m-nBnAM/s1600-h/penguins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35yLOSavmI/AAAAAAAAAbo/7QJ4m-nBnAM/s400/penguins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151680560897900130" /></a><br /><br />the wreaths on the chandalier must go ... and copious dusting must ensue...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35x6uSavlI/AAAAAAAAAbg/ns-EljgxBFA/s1600-h/lamp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35x6uSavlI/AAAAAAAAAbg/ns-EljgxBFA/s400/lamp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151680277430058578" /></a><br /><br />the ornaments must be wrapped and stored... <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xw-SavkI/AAAAAAAAAbY/Rs-SuANUHGQ/s1600-h/father+christmas+and+star.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xw-SavkI/AAAAAAAAAbY/Rs-SuANUHGQ/s400/father+christmas+and+star.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151680109926334018" /></a><br /><br />the little tree, once lush and fragrant is now dry and eerily combustible seeming! it appears cramped in its little corner, sans brightly wrapped gifts beneath it's boughs, now dropping needles and begging to be returned to the earth in the annual "Kelly family" ceremony ... the burning of the tree (before it burns us, of course!)... we, a secret band of pyromaniacs, watch enthralled as the first match is tossed and it goes up in flames with a gasp ... that could've been our living room, we each consider wide-eyed! Still ... always a sad day this! (You're not convinced)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xeeSaviI/AAAAAAAAAbI/GuCAZbtML0A/s1600-h/little+tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xeeSaviI/AAAAAAAAAbI/GuCAZbtML0A/s400/little+tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151679792098754082" /></a><br /><br />out my window, the cedar is still green and the hazelnut bare... the sky is a dusky grey, the landscape blurred by the rising mist from the earth...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xS-SavhI/AAAAAAAAAbA/_S3e_4oTIbM/s1600-h/out+the+window.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xS-SavhI/AAAAAAAAAbA/_S3e_4oTIbM/s400/out+the+window.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151679594530258450" /></a><br /><br />another year begins for us all. <br /><br />And then there's Mr. R... the imperious green conure, for whom this....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xmOSavjI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/zrSIBvyY3LA/s1600-h/best+of+rowan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R35xmOSavjI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/zrSIBvyY3LA/s400/best+of+rowan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151679925242740274" /></a><br /><br />is just another day to make trouble!<br /><br />With that... i begin the list:<br /><br /><em>learn to play an instrument -- number one son has offered to teach me guitar! i begin by learning a strange rock riff he feels will 'limber me up' ... sore fingers and tennis elbow later ... ouch?<br /><br />make three new pieces of jewelry each week ... oh, that one's easy! Right?<br /><br />take a photography class to shoot my jewelry better<br /><br />take a class on birds nest rings (the ones with the big, fat gemstones wrapped in silver wire) <br /><br />learn one excellent vegetarian recipe a month. (Oh, I must've forgotten to mention i went veggie this summer ... for the LAST time!) Not so easy when one must cook meat for the natives. But my thinking is, a good palatable vege dish will perhaps replace meat for the natives, too!<br /><br />lose weight ... i shall say no more! <br /><br />exercise 4 x weekly! (good heavens! who's writing this list, anyway?)<br /><br />write one paragraph per day, whether it be poetry or prose <br /><br />complete daily studies of A Course in Miracles<br /><br />take 1/2 hour to read my favorite books each day!!! <br /><br />take time to have fun with my friends WEEKLY! Go to breakfast, dinner, drinks, dogwalking or laughing over the phone<br /><br />go to the stables once weekly to be around my favorite animals in the world <br /><br />invite a friend to dinner at least once a month!<br /><br />volunteer ... the humane society?<br /><br />toss out all non-essential things in my home ... give them to the Good Will ... simplify!<br /><br />purchase a good, sturdy bike and stop driving to the grocery store ... use pedal power!<br /><br />do the 21 day Master Cleanse! Gaaahhhhh ... this will most certainly be the subject of many blogs entries!<br /><br />Sign up for the Masters in HR Certification at UW in September<br /><br />Sit for the SPHR certification exam by summer<br /><br />get a pedicure before summer<br /><br />relax more....<br /><br />have more fun....<br /><br /><br />(sigh....)</em>yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-72330115945823625462008-01-02T19:07:00.000-08:002008-01-02T20:16:14.654-08:00resolve to evolveprevious New Years when i made an attempt at "resolutions" it seemed "life" infringed upon my better judgement, bulldozing my rosier dreams aside, or else, and more than likely, I just forgot them. Because I was struggling through school, or barely surviving in the city on my own, or too busy with a new job, or falling in love or falling out of it, or going back to school, or raising a child, or assuming multiple new chapters in my life ... all of which could have been preceded by resolutions had I only known what was to come, but that instead just sort of happened, with little effort on my part in the way of conscious decisions for change, despite my best intentions each first of January. <br /><br />Anyway ... all that aside. What I'm trying to say here is that, this year is different. I've decided to resolve <em>to resolve </em>to change for the sake of my own evolution. Or that's how I explained it to my 17 year old son who asked me as I sat propped up on my pillow staring thoughtfully off into space, journal opened in my lap, pen poised. "What's the purpose?" ... and for once I had an answer that didn't sound like something my mom would've said... as in, "because, that's just the way it's always been done... it's what you're supposed to do, see?"<br /><br />"To evolve!" I said almost too quickly. And it sounded so eloquent falling from my hopelessly boring lips I realized I was on a roll and determined to let these strange words flow as they seemingly desired... I went on... "to become somehow "better" than you were last year. A better person ... more knowledgeable, more fit, more thoughtful, more loving, more compassionate, more capable, less judgmental, less uptight, more carefree, more competent, more Godlike" okay, okay, I get it! he says loudly, hand up in the air. Need I say I may have gone a little too far with that last one? Still...<br /><br />in wishing all and myself included an uncommonly blessed season, and these things don't just "happen," we must in effect make some form of effort to create our lives, I believe. Therefore, I take the first plunge and think about what I wish to accomplish this year, but also try to send my mind to the end of the year to feel what it will actually feel like to have accomplished these things ... will it feel good, as if I've truly grown and changed for the best? I'm thinking it will. Perhaps only incrementally, but growth incrementally or staggeringly is growth, which is not stagnation, which means to me doing nothing, basically, but to sit and rot like bad pond water. Not good. Even frogs don't lay their eggs in rotten water. What the heck does that mean? God knows!<br /><br />i'm still working on my list and when it's complete I will post it here. I'm really hoping to find lists of resolutions throughout the blogosphere ... maybe some that will inspire me in ways I haven't even considered! <br /><br />Join me, will you, in resolving to become a better person in 2008? Here's to conscious evolution!<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-86623400957708975862007-12-27T20:14:00.000-08:002007-12-28T06:41:04.504-08:00Happy New Year!how quickly Christmas passed ... although technically, the 12 days only began on the 25th. Still, it seems the years are racing by us now. And the shops are decorating for Christmas in September! Hey! What about Halloween! Thanksgiving! ... I must've missed those displays in the summer... I'm sure you know of what I speak!<br /><br />i'm still wrestling with that nasty cough I cought earlier in the month, but feeling a bit of relief so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just barely. But, seeing the end is half the battle. Feeling tired... exhausted actually. Still, the thought of a new year gives me hope. And isn't that the golden fruit? Afterall?<br /><br />i am hopefull... and I pray that all of you have just a little hope for a most stellar year. I've made some resolutions, despite the fact that most of my previous resolutions have been broken before the years have ended. I was amazed by the fact that I actually stuck to some of last year's, and so this year I am committed to commit! (So, who doesn't PLAN to commit to their resolutions) I hear you thinking.... <br /><br />well, you're right of course. I'll give it a good go, let's put it that way! Since I have a few days to pinpoint my plans for the new year, I can turn them over a few times in my mind's eye and make sure they will provide some sort of return worthy of a commitment, or at least, give my life some umph! I hope (plan) to post my resolutions here for curious eyes ... but mostly so I can say, I said I'd do it, and you witnessed my saying it, so I can't pretend I didn't intend to do it ... you get my point. perhaps...just perhaps... that will help me to stick to my resolutions with even more resolve and focus.<br /><br />i wish you all an uncommonly blessed season and hope you too have a floating hope in your hearts for a fabulous future beginning in 2008! <br /><br />peace....yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-91927528106120135822007-12-21T11:33:00.000-08:002007-12-23T13:25:25.354-08:00Solstice! only 5 more days to goi'm sitting at my desk today, the house all decorated and a sparkling coat of frost on the trees and lawn, and instead of feeling grateful, I am feeling, well, short changed... why me and woe is me?... coughing like a dog ... sick as a dog, in fact ... and I have to wonder ... where does that come from? I mean ..."Like a dog?" when referring to sickness and laziness and smelliness ... (dogs always seem to get a bad rap when it comes to all the ills of humanity... dogs and pigs that is, I think) anyway, ingrate that I am, I am highly bothered that somewhere along the way during these 12 merry days of Christmas I was unmerrily invaded by a microscopic bug that settled into my bronchial tubes and caused much havoc among the <em>natives</em>. I've been trying to cough it all up for days and the result is extreme exhaustion and even some downright depression. So many things to do and no energy to do them! <br /><br />today I will admit is the first day among many that I've felt the least bit of energy to sit at my desk and pound away at the keyboards. So I should be grateful. I even took the family mutts for a long walk, and as I trekked along behind them, huffing and puffing, I coughed my head off. Well, I do actually have my head now, but at the time, it seemed to be lagging behind somewhere and I wasn't too pushed either to go find it!<br /><br />this afternoon, despite my desire to go to bed and dull my central nervous system with cough medicine laced with codene, I've been invited by my son to accompany him and his girlfriend to the mall for lunch and loafing. Considering 17 year old boys rarely want their mothers along for much of anything when they have girlfriends, I realized I should be grateful, and decided I must take him up on his offer and so, precious delirium will have to wait. Sigh.....<br /><br />at the back of my mind a nagging thought triggers some guilt, i have many commissioned pieces this season and most are due by CHRISTMAS MORNING! I should be working. BUT... instead, this weekend will be a busy one frought with me bundled to the nines, fingerless gloves, mufflers and ear muffs while i hunker over my work table "creating" glittery things. It's so cold down there this time of year. I turn on the space heater and put it right up against me, practically, just inches from being a fire hazard (okay, so maybe it IS a fire hazard)... and then I try my best to achieve a state of comfort. This is necessary in order for creative juices to flow, otherwise, one's mind wanders to visions of hot cocoa and roaring fires and feather beds piled high with comforters and cozy socks ... you name it. Anything BUT creating. So... I suppose the point here is ... wish me luck?<br /><br />Finally...i hope you are enjoying your 12 days to the fullest and that today, you are beside a warm fire place or in that feather bed with comforters piled high, or enjoying a cup of steaming cocoa while you listen to Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" ... my most favorite Christmas music in the world! <br /><br />in keeping with the theme of gratitude which is what this season is all about... I am very grateful to Charles Schultz AND Vince Guaraldi for creating wonderful memories for me. I can't quite get enough of that wonderful little animated film, A Charlie Brown Christmas ... and listening to the music reminds me of all those wonderful Peanuts characters I so love. Thank you, gentleman! <br /><br />Blessings on this Solstice night and best wishes, friends,yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-34968338137606201322007-12-15T09:07:00.001-08:002007-12-15T09:37:10.871-08:00Christmas is nearly here!Well, I didn't get too far in my countdown because number one son absconded with the camera and then I couldn't find <strong>5 Really Cool Things </strong>(at least all at the same time) ... I do love horses, kittens, country roads, farm houses and rainy days, but just try getting those really cool things into one photo shot! <br /><br />so now it's the 15th and I'm not sure what day of Christmas that makes this... and I'm really not sure when the 12th day of Christmas starts anyway. All I do know is there's one more week to go! <br /><br />I do have my tree decorated FINALLY! And although the living room has some seasonal decor decking the walls and halls ... the three presents under the tree is/are the sweetest "thing" of all. Only THREE! That's because our tradition has been to wait until Christmas for the magic to arrive. The few little bits before the big day are just harbingers of things to come. Of course, none of these <em>three things </em>are for me because Yours Truly is the decorator and wrapper in this little house. And despite the best intentions... we're all last minute shoppers, too! <br /><br />we've never been an over the top sort of family this time of year, although having one child, that child tends to be somnewhat spoiled, just a bit! Now that the child is 17, hopefully he will see that it is his turn now to do a little spoiling of others. For those of you who have "only" children, you too understand just how difficult it is to teach these young ones the concept of "sharing" ... especially when they've never had to wrestle their favorite toy out of the hands of a sibling.<br /><br />still, the days of toys are pretty much over. Now, it's a different sort of plaything... guitars and amps, skateboards and video cameras ... these are the items on the lists of only children who are 17. AND...Girlfriends.... did I mention that? ONLY Sons often disappear to assist the girlfriend's family with decorating and preparations. As mine did last night. Something about setting up the nativity scene at the church and Mexican food afterwards. Who knew it would come to this?<br /><br />i asked number one son if he would like to go with me to Seattle to watch the Nutcracker or see the symphony to help capture that special Christmassy feeling. His reply? <strong><em>Mom, I'm just happy when the house is all decorated like you do every year, and everything smells so nice and Christmas music is playing. That's all I need to feel the spirit.</em></strong><br /><br />sigh.... perhaps he'll be okay after all.yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-25516013697931998882007-12-06T20:25:00.000-08:002007-12-07T09:00:08.821-08:00counting the days to Christmas!on the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...<br /><br />... four flakes a falling<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLkHuRxMI/AAAAAAAAAao/i1WxGyUVJwg/s1600-h/snowing+like+mad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLkHuRxMI/AAAAAAAAAao/i1WxGyUVJwg/s400/snowing+like+mad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141082796052300994" /></a><br /><br />...three pearls with pendants<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1l7Z52EgaI/AAAAAAAAAa4/024NV341g4Y/s1600-h/pearls+and+pendants+best.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1l7Z52EgaI/AAAAAAAAAa4/024NV341g4Y/s400/pearls+and+pendants+best.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141276134574686626" /></a><br /><br />... two parrots playing....<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLwXuRxNI/AAAAAAAAAaw/O8qz-OFCfXQ/s1600-h/double+trouble.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLwXuRxNI/AAAAAAAAAaw/O8qz-OFCfXQ/s400/double+trouble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141083006505698514" /></a><br /><br />and an angel in a fir tree...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLX3uRxLI/AAAAAAAAAag/vNXuFEKgup0/s1600-h/christmas+angel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R1jLX3uRxLI/AAAAAAAAAag/vNXuFEKgup0/s400/christmas+angel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141082585598903474" /></a>yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-64800826235114439882007-11-28T09:20:00.000-08:002007-11-28T09:38:41.538-08:00Christmas Saleif you are considering buying jewelry for someone this Christmas, I'm having a sale at <a href="http://www.lorakellydesigns.com">LoraKellyDesigns.com </a>through the 25th. You might want to drop by and see if there's something you like. Be sure to click on the "specials" link so you go straight to the sale items. <br /><br />i will be adding items through the season, so be sure to check back. If there's a particular item you are interested in, send me an email at lorakellydesigns@aol.com and I'll let you know what date it's slotted to go on sale! <br /><br />keep in mind ... all items are "handmade in America" and if they are to be gifts, I provide free gift wrapping. If you want your gift shipped directly to the recipient, I'll be happy to do that for you, I will also wrap it and include a persnalized card! Just email me at lorakellydesigns@aol.com and tell me if it's a gift and if you need direct shipping. <br /><br />all items are shipped USPS Priority Mail ... and I've been told by the post office to allow 6 days during the Holiday season.<br /><br />on another note ... I have yet to get my house decorated! Although I do have a beautiful evergreen wreath in the living room smelling things up nicely and plans for the Christmas tree hunt are culminating on this Friday! THEN it will feel like Christmas. I do plan to decorate the studio as well ... so I'll be sure to take photographs. Although I can't imagine much making that place seem cozy while temperatures are in the 30's! <br /><br />I took both parrots to the studio yesterday. Word of caution ... never take parrots to a bead studio. We'll leave it at that.<br /><br />goodwill and peace to all!<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-24517357282758595952007-11-22T08:42:00.000-08:002007-11-25T21:26:38.495-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0pY8--8DtI/AAAAAAAAAaY/qqI-Jvzms-A/s1600-h/fall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0pY8--8DtI/AAAAAAAAAaY/qqI-Jvzms-A/s400/fall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137016129691848402" /></a><br />i began this post on Thanksgiving morning, then couldn't seem to finish it, not really having a clear idea of what it actually was I was going for. It is now Sunday evening, the end to a perfectly beautiful four day weekend, filled with sunny skies, lazy mornings, fun with friends (Saturday night at a comedy club) and luxurious walks in nature with my dogs. <br /><br />my intent was more than just wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, I realize now. Mostly, I think in giving thanks, or being prompted to because of an annual holiday, gave me to understand that I am grateful everyday, not just the day they give us permission to voice it! In fact, I am grateful for so much I thought I might make a point of noting my gratitude in every blog entry, which may or may not be every day, although every day is my intent!<br /><br />if there are things you too are grateful for, let me know, or post them in your blog for all to see, and we can start a gratitude revolution! Change the world by changing the way we think about it. Instead of all that's wrong with it, what's right, right now, in our personal experience, that brings joy to our lives...<br /><br />Today, I am grateful for my handsome, creative and inspiring son, in whom I am well pleased. I can only hope I have loved him enough to shield his heart as he prepares to go out into the world on his own. I am grateful for my little house, it isn't an amazing house, but it's warm and friendly, surrounded by a wild garden and a shock of trees and shrubs, it makes me smile and has sheltered my family this many years. I am grateful for work I love, friends who make me laugh, and having been blessed with a creative spirit that motivates me and guides me towards happiness. <br /><br />i wish you the warmest of holidays... and many reasons to be grateful,<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-69540204942116919802007-11-21T10:59:00.000-08:002007-11-21T11:07:19.382-08:00a day's work<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAye-8DsI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/eOh9oPOzm9c/s1600-h/close+up+carnelian+pendant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAye-8DsI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/eOh9oPOzm9c/s400/close+up+carnelian+pendant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135371079908069058" /></a><br />Carnelian pendant with Bali Silver and Peridot dangles from Freshwater Pearls.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SApe-8DrI/AAAAAAAAAaI/UaiA9hmnQ_g/s1600-h/carnelian+pendant+on+freshwater+pearl+%26+peridot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SApe-8DrI/AAAAAAAAAaI/UaiA9hmnQ_g/s400/carnelian+pendant+on+freshwater+pearl+%26+peridot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135370925289246386" /></a><br />these three colors contrast with each other perfectly!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAde-8DqI/AAAAAAAAAaA/6mJhzjf5wv0/s1600-h/universe+in+turquoise+necklace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAde-8DqI/AAAAAAAAAaA/6mJhzjf5wv0/s400/universe+in+turquoise+necklace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135370719130816162" /></a><br />Turquoise and Bali silver balls wrapped on Sterling Silver chain<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAWO-8DpI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/qfq-x5VHvwQ/s1600-h/freshwater+pearls+%26+earrings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAWO-8DpI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/qfq-x5VHvwQ/s400/freshwater+pearls+%26+earrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135370594576764562" /></a><br />Two strands of freshwater pearls<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAOe-8DoI/AAAAAAAAAZw/oQBDwci4v1E/s1600-h/earring+close+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/R0SAOe-8DoI/AAAAAAAAAZw/oQBDwci4v1E/s400/earring+close+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135370461432778370" /></a><br />Another view...<br /><br />HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVE!<br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-56503464559898082342007-11-12T06:11:00.000-08:002007-11-12T06:21:46.763-08:00My First Home Party!it's early morning, 6 am actually, and I'm sitting in bed with my computer doing my entry for the day... outside a storm rages against my house, 40 mile an hour winds and rain lashing against my windows. I pray the power stays on just long enough for me to do what I need to do this morning before all goes black!<br /><br />yesterday afternoon I did my first home jewelry party and it was a fabulous success! And, despite my initial nerves, it was so much fun! I thank all of the lovely ladies who attended the show and purchased my jewelry, and thanks to Michele who was so lovely to host the party! Michele has two gorgeous dogs, Mocha and Ivan, who are two beefy labby dogs. What sweethearts! Thanks guys for snuffling everything you possibly could and making me feel totally welcome!<br /><br />so, with the help and encouragement of friends, I've launched a new aspect of my business which is home parties. Unfortunately, at this time, I am only available to do parties in the Puget Sound area in Washington State. But who knows what's to come down the road?<br /><br />thanks for stopping by, dear readers! I so enjoy your visits to my site. I wish for you that your day <em>weatherwise </em>is better than mine!<br /><br />luv<br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-17145158810218050852007-11-07T20:31:00.001-08:002007-11-07T20:40:29.272-08:00pretty thingstoyed with simplicity today...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKR2sRRrtI/AAAAAAAAAZo/O921YuaCHaM/s1600-h/green+amethyst+%26+crystal+necklace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKR2sRRrtI/AAAAAAAAAZo/O921YuaCHaM/s400/green+amethyst+%26+crystal+necklace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130323294311001810" /></a><br /><br />I played with a variety of stones and my favorite, chunky silver chain...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRr8RRrsI/AAAAAAAAAZg/yplq-LHDAW4/s1600-h/chalcedony+%26+crystal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRr8RRrsI/AAAAAAAAAZg/yplq-LHDAW4/s400/chalcedony+%26+crystal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130323109627408066" /></a><br /><br />finally found a place for two chunks for Aquamarine that have been calling to me...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRf8RRrrI/AAAAAAAAAZY/-C3POqNH4Dk/s1600-h/ice+blue+aquamarine+earrings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRf8RRrrI/AAAAAAAAAZY/-C3POqNH4Dk/s400/ice+blue+aquamarine+earrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130322903468977842" /></a><br /><br />and what to do with Blue Agate rounds? They remind me of berries...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRVcRRrqI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/ugaGWw5bnKU/s1600-h/blue+agate+and+earrings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RzKRVcRRrqI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/ugaGWw5bnKU/s400/blue+agate+and+earrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130322723080351394" /></a><br /><br />I mixed them with tiny Onyx beads that look like little seeds on a vine...<br /><br />I managed to come up with a few pretty things.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!<br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-7273037656717867692007-11-05T16:32:00.000-08:002007-11-05T19:23:32.166-08:00falling backi set my clocks back on Sunday. Today I compared notes with a tree. Trees don't think much about time. But they love moonlight. I never knew.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3vo6apdI/AAAAAAAAAYw/BpFBc3DQlOs/s1600-h/my+eye+and+the+tree%27s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3vo6apdI/AAAAAAAAAYw/BpFBc3DQlOs/s400/my+eye+and+the+tree%27s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129520529662453202" /></a><br /><br />I worked in my studio and made this... I was thinking about water being formless, yet taking the form of any vessel it fills, perhaps our souls do the same ... Trees also like water very much.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3hY6apcI/AAAAAAAAAYo/u3nNkv4FZOk/s1600-h/blue+nile+necklace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3hY6apcI/AAAAAAAAAYo/u3nNkv4FZOk/s400/blue+nile+necklace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129520284849317314" /></a><br /><br />Trees wear their own sort of jewelry and are always in step with the seasons. Of course, they are the trend setters. These simple pendants and pearls speak of fall... berries, bark, leaves, water and stone...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3TY6apbI/AAAAAAAAAYg/gR7z6C8gdO0/s1600-h/pearls+and+pendants+best.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-3TY6apbI/AAAAAAAAAYg/gR7z6C8gdO0/s400/pearls+and+pendants+best.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129520044331148722" /></a><br /><br />squirrels love trees. Baby squirrels also love decks and sunny afternoons and naps...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-21o6apaI/AAAAAAAAAYY/wb8tCT5lrGc/s1600-h/sleeping+baby+squirrell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-21o6apaI/AAAAAAAAAYY/wb8tCT5lrGc/s400/sleeping+baby+squirrell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129519533230040482" /></a><br /><br />trees remind me of change... they are always in a state of change and yet they are always the same... we are like that, too... the golds of fall will become the grays of winter and gardens will glow golden like this citrine wrap necklace...until the first frost<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-2ro6apZI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/i5A1int8w5I/s1600-h/simple+wrap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-2ro6apZI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/i5A1int8w5I/s400/simple+wrap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129519361431348626" /></a><br /><br />birds love trees most of all...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-2eY6apYI/AAAAAAAAAYI/QylOcHgmND4/s1600-h/me+and+my+birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Ry-2eY6apYI/AAAAAAAAAYI/QylOcHgmND4/s400/me+and+my+birds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129519133798081922" /></a><br /><br />and they also love shoulders, especially their mom's. Mr. R and Ms. L think of me as some moving tree with a kooky personality that is always changing and always the same... I feed them much like the trees feed the wild creatures, and give them shelter from the storm. <br /><br />this weekend, I fell back an hour into fall. fall reminds me to slow down, be quiet like the trees, remain constant, grow, and change my colors once in awhile... to have a sheltering heart and arms, to bend, to be both flamboyant and austere, to drink deeply of fresh water, to be grounded... and to breath...<br /><br />sometimes, we must fall back in order to move forward...<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-84244791571547232432007-10-30T07:35:00.000-07:002007-11-02T23:04:51.277-07:00the "green" city of Portland, new friends, and all things consideredi'm back..... <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RydGW7DZdwI/AAAAAAAAAXw/B877aj9Kl2w/s1600-h/booth+detail+pfw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RydGW7DZdwI/AAAAAAAAAXw/B877aj9Kl2w/s400/booth+detail+pfw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127144060407609090" /></a><br />(labradorite & onyx bracelet ... if you click on the picture for a better look, just click the "back" arrow when you're done, not the X, or you'll exit out of the site!)<br /><br />Portland was so much fun! I truly enjoyed myself despite my hotel room. Perhaps I didn't mention I slept on a cardboard box filled with concrete? It was disguised as a mattress, but I know different. Let's just say, my BACK knows different. So, ahem, despite that ... Portland was fun. <br /><br />As you can see here, my booth looked absolutely wonderful ... so happy I invested in those black velvet necklace displays afterall! And despite having no electricity the first two nights of the show ... you can sort of tell if you look at the picture below, there was at least some overhead flourescents that enabled customers to see the displays and, all things considered, the show was a success.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RydGMbDZdvI/AAAAAAAAAXo/SP8fhe6IM9g/s1600-h/mtbooth%40pfw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RydGMbDZdvI/AAAAAAAAAXo/SP8fhe6IM9g/s400/mtbooth%40pfw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127143880018982642" /></a><br />(my booth at Portland Fashion Week)<br /><br />finally...I had lights on Saturday night! That's also the night I lost my keys, my cell phone died, and I had to catch a cab to the hotel at midnight... not an altogether pleasant experience!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyqHJ7DZdyI/AAAAAAAAAYA/B6y5nUWr8eI/s1600-h/loras+booth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyqHJ7DZdyI/AAAAAAAAAYA/B6y5nUWr8eI/s400/loras+booth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128059730255247138" /></a><br /><<br />would I do that particular show again? I'm not sure at this point since it was my first fashion show. Hopefully, by the same time next year, I'll have had a great deal more experience with these things and my decision to do it or not will be based in knowledge. Certainly six nights was a marathon! At the same time, I met some wonderful people and have decided to mention them here so you may check them out as well!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.izzylane.com">Izzy Lane</a> is a wonderful company out of England that creates sustainable fashions from the wool of rescued sheep. What a fabulous concept! What darling sheep! I also met their wonderful designer, Helen, who's booth was next to mine at the show. Her cashmere sweaters, and plaid skirts and vests were adorable, simple and classic. All from sheep that are loved by their keeper and who will live out their lives on a beautiful estate in England where they are cared for as all animals deserve to be. <br /><br />On the opposite side of me was <a href="http://www.gionetco.com">Nicole Gionet</a>, a handbag designer from Portland whose line of hand-sewn, elegant leather purses are original and unique. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyqGR7DZdxI/AAAAAAAAAX4/zuCp_mVuFzE/s1600-h/nicole%27s+booth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyqGR7DZdxI/AAAAAAAAAX4/zuCp_mVuFzE/s400/nicole%27s+booth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128058768182572818" /></a><br /><br />Nicole uses a variety of textures, colors and metallics and each piece shows her spot-on fashion sense and unwavering attention to detail! Soon, Nicole's gorgeous bags will be in fine shops everywhere, but in the meantime, you can visit her website and contact her directly. She takes orders! Click on her name above!<br /><br />Across from me was Madeline who is a young fashion designer in the Portland area who sells her totally hip dresses (resewn or made from salvaged or handmade materials) at the <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=124867241">Le Rouge </a>on SE Hawthorne. If you are in the Portland area, you must look her up! For amazing youthful, fun designs you'll find nowhere else ... this is the shop! Please tell her I sent you! She bought one of my wrap necklaces for her mother! I hope your mother enjoys her birthday gift, Madeline!<br /><br />Meeting these wonderful, brave women was the very best part of the event! Our little corner of the vendor area was awesome. Thanks for the comraderie and laughs, ladies! It was a pleasure I will forever hold dear!<br /><br />And now, it is Tuesday morning and I am off to attend to things that have nothing to do with jewelry, such as cleaning a basement, for one. It calls. Sadly, I must go.<br /><br />Thank you once again for stopping by my blog, I've enjoyed our chat!<br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-47574976553031291412007-10-28T22:11:00.000-07:002007-10-28T22:23:51.514-07:00images of falla beautiful day here in the pacific northwest ... <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVsTLDZduI/AAAAAAAAAXg/yQ6qYmTiDzg/s1600-h/bloodgood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVsTLDZduI/AAAAAAAAAXg/yQ6qYmTiDzg/s400/bloodgood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126622827471533794" /></a><br />the bloodgood was crimson against the azure sky<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVsIrDZdtI/AAAAAAAAAXY/Mqn1J4HVdFM/s1600-h/fall+maple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVsIrDZdtI/AAAAAAAAAXY/Mqn1J4HVdFM/s400/fall+maple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126622647082907346" /></a><br />the japanese maple like spun gold<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVr6rDZdsI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vUm3oOsDn4k/s1600-h/fall+hydrangea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RyVr6rDZdsI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vUm3oOsDn4k/s400/fall+hydrangea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126622406564738754" /></a><br />the hydrangeas ... blushing violet<br /><br />I am grateful to have witnessed such a spectacle in my own garden. I hope wherever you are, your day was as beautiful...<br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-18483769467016012352007-10-17T09:21:00.000-07:002007-10-17T10:04:50.122-07:00catching my breath before the plungehello to you, dear readers who've dropped in to visit me on your daily blog rounds. Thank you! Please indulge me for a moment if you will and listen to my wailings. It is mid-week and I find myself not yet ready for my show come Friday evening. Because this particular show is 6 days long I have concerns about having enough jewelry or ... it being the wrong venue for any sales, in which case I have <em>too much </em>jewelry. And so I wake at night with my mind spinning with varying scenarios. It's sort of like having a baby, I think. I remember for years my husband and I said, when we can afford it, we'll get pregnant. But upon hearing my plan, a friend's wise advise to me was, if you wait until <em>then</em>, you'll never have a baby, because you can never afford it and you're never ready. <em>So just plunge in</em>. <br /><br />today, I am remembering that sage advise (thanks, Alma) and realizing, I can never be as ready as I think I should be, so I will <em>take the plunge </em> must take it ...and hope for the best. Crossing my fingers and my toes, and holding my nose. (I was never good at jumping in and I'm a terrible diver, but I can swim like nobody's business! Hold that thought.) <br /><br />in the column on the right, you'll see a badge entitled "One Thing be brave" ... and I found that on Jesse's site, <a href="http://ravenn.blogspot.com">Diary of a Self Portrait</a>. <em>You don't know me, Jesse, but you did inspire me to be brave. Thank you. </em> What's so amazing is, I'd just watched a program on Eleanor Roosevelt, from whom this quote originated (Every day you must do the one thing you are afraid of doing), and had been telling myself "look at all <em>she</em> accomplished" and I was thinking about her when I stumbled upon Jesse's blog. Jesse is also a talented artist and has a shop on Etsy with lovely things. For those who would also like to find themselves a little braver in this life, click on the <strong>Be Brave </strong>badge and play along.<br /><br />oh, by the way, we did take the plunge and get pregnant 17 years ago and today I am ever so glad to have the most wonderful son to prove it! <br /><br />and so, another ending to a very discombobulated blog entry as I ride off to Portland to sell my wares at the fashion show. A little frazzled. But feeling braver.<br /><br />anyway ... it's too late to back out now .... <br /><br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-32552745043415580602007-10-11T20:22:00.000-07:002007-10-11T21:30:19.030-07:00The Necklace Collection<div><embed src="http://widget-cb.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=504403158284337099&site=widget-cb.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=504403158284337099&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-cb.slide.com/p1/504403158284337099/bb_t043_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=504403158284337099&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-cb.slide.com/p2/504403158284337099/bb_t043_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br /><br />Hey! Where'd she go? She ... (<em>me, actually</em>) will be furiously working on show preparations this week, so while I'm otherwise indisposed, I hope you, my visitors, will still stop in and take a moment to enjoy this really neat video of my necklace collection.yours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-46170313042728310512007-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:002007-10-07T12:50:43.702-07:00a matter of stone<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwktmYjn7EI/AAAAAAAAAXA/nuGIw9u-TA4/s1600-h/flourite+and+citrine+on+slate.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwktmYjn7EI/AAAAAAAAAXA/nuGIw9u-TA4/s400/flourite+and+citrine+on+slate.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118672588933426242" /></a><br /><br />this week I've "co-inspired" with my muses creating like a mad woman ... and despite the cold outside, and the cold in my head, ideas have bubbled up like molten lava, manifesting in stone ... wrap necklaces dance before my eyes in boundless variations and combinations; this one of golden Citrine and purple Flourite ... reminiscent of the drops of rain on my fading hydrangeas as fall gently nudges summer aside and takes her place in my garden...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Rwktu4jn7FI/AAAAAAAAAXI/lSB4fKwH8K4/s1600-h/flourite+and+citrine+wrap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Rwktu4jn7FI/AAAAAAAAAXI/lSB4fKwH8K4/s400/flourite+and+citrine+wrap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118672734962314322" /></a><br /><br />click on the photos here for a closer view! This wrap, like the others, can be wound up tight as a choker, or worn long and tumbling like a reflective water fall.<br /><br />below, more Turquoise and Coral are bound with silver findings... the chunk of Coral speaks of abundance, and seems almost magnetic here ...nearly edible, packed with the codified knowledge of the garden, dangling from a silvery stem, like the apple that caught the eye of an ancient Goddess...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Rwks_ojn7CI/AAAAAAAAAWw/mDCV2D02q9w/s1600-h/turquoise+coral+strawberry.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/Rwks_ojn7CI/AAAAAAAAAWw/mDCV2D02q9w/s400/turquoise+coral+strawberry.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118671923213495330" /></a><br /><br />and finally; visions of gold have danced in my head (and led me astray from my silver roots) ... asking to be combined with plum colored Pearls and Amethyst as dark as a king's robe and deep purple dreams ...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwktNYjn7DI/AAAAAAAAAW4/Ucg953HVU-c/s1600-h/gold+necklace+with+pearl.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwktNYjn7DI/AAAAAAAAAW4/Ucg953HVU-c/s400/gold+necklace+with+pearl.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118672159436696626" /></a><br /><br />and tumbling into matter as the elegant wrap necklace pictured here. <br /><br />my week ended with a raging head cold and this weekend I will tend to my wounds with chicken soup and a soft blanket, so that by Monday I can begin again. There's so much to do!<br /><br />all of these creations will be displayed, and sold to good homes at <a href="http://portlandfashionweek.net">Portland Fashion Week</a> starting on the 19th. I hope you can come! <br /><br />fondly,<br />~Lyours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128096218394935966.post-26210224882697067592007-10-04T17:37:00.000-07:002007-10-05T08:08:56.565-07:00focusing on stonei've been making things ... perhaps you guessed, which is why I've neglected my blog, other than to post the fruits of my labor so you may see what's been keeping me in hiding ... a beautiful pendant of Crazy Horse Jasper called to me (click on the photo for a close-up of this Jasper's kooky spottiness) ... but it took me awhile to find just the perfect mix of elements ... I've fallen in love with coin pearls ... and of course, the fall...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWLN4jn7BI/AAAAAAAAAWo/l7OirVG2N_4/s1600-h/jasper+necklace.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWLN4jn7BI/AAAAAAAAAWo/l7OirVG2N_4/s400/jasper+necklace.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117649622212799506" /></a><br /><br />Turquoise and Coral are bound together, our ancient deserts were once the sea, and here they are bound once more. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWLCIjn7AI/AAAAAAAAAWg/lhyY5I6K7RA/s1600-h/turquoise+and+coral.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWLCIjn7AI/AAAAAAAAAWg/lhyY5I6K7RA/s400/turquoise+and+coral.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117649420349336578" /></a><br /><br />a splendid pendant of Galaxy Quartz looks as though it might be filled with a tiny amber sea or rust colored sands from Sedona... it is a "farmed" crystal and not created by Mother Earth. Still, it caught my eye. I combined it with amber Czech glass crytals for a touch of sparkle... like rain on my window...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWJCIjn6_I/AAAAAAAAAWY/l7qZPRH3Omg/s1600-h/galaxy+stone.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWJCIjn6_I/AAAAAAAAAWY/l7qZPRH3Omg/s400/galaxy+stone.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117647221326081010" /></a><br /><br />and then ... another a delicate wrap necklace was born...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWI2ojn6-I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/64J6lDOgT9I/s1600-h/river+necklace+worn+long.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWI2ojn6-I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/64J6lDOgT9I/s400/river+necklace+worn+long.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117647023757585378" /></a><br /><br />filled with blue-green light ... I call it "River" <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIsojn69I/AAAAAAAAAWI/8PtBIkkhK_Q/s1600-h/river+necklace.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIsojn69I/AAAAAAAAAWI/8PtBIkkhK_Q/s400/river+necklace.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117646851958893522" /></a><br /><br />it calls to mind the cold green waters that rush over mountain boulders in the Cascades... <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIkYjn68I/AAAAAAAAAWA/RNf2zabdhNU/s1600-h/winter+wrap+necklace+on+slate.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIkYjn68I/AAAAAAAAAWA/RNf2zabdhNU/s400/winter+wrap+necklace+on+slate.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117646710224972738" /></a><br /><br />pouring forth from pristine, frozen lakes, reflecting snow-capped peaks and the delicate colors of the sky... <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIfIjn67I/AAAAAAAAAV4/6Cm7H3bT2Wg/s1600-h/winter+wrap+necklace.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIfIjn67I/AAAAAAAAAV4/6Cm7H3bT2Wg/s400/winter+wrap+necklace.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117646620030659506" /></a><br /><br />this one is "Winter" a fine wrap necklace that seems to have risen from just such a lake ...<br /><br />but now it is fall, and I am in love with the colors of the season ... when the sun shines through the rain and for a brief while ...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIY4jn66I/AAAAAAAAAVw/WBxjwRG04Kw/s1600-h/citrine+and+crystal+wrap+on+slate.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIY4jn66I/AAAAAAAAAVw/WBxjwRG04Kw/s400/citrine+and+crystal+wrap+on+slate.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117646512656477090" /></a><br /><br />the world is golden ... today was such a day<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIOYjn65I/AAAAAAAAAVo/VuIpMawgczg/s1600-h/citrine+with+crystal.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vfsIcxhE4bw/RwWIOYjn65I/AAAAAAAAAVo/VuIpMawgczg/s400/citrine+with+crystal.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117646332267850642" /></a><br /><br />i hope your world is as beautiful...<br /><br />~lorayours trulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02285041522475495745noreply@blogger.com2