May your New Year be Bright

 Enjoying a quiet Boxing Day before heading back to the store tomorrow. 

Yesterday was  filled with family, love, and laughter. I am blessed to have such wonderful people to call family.

Today, my younger brother is headed to town from NC. He will stay with my nephew until tomorrow before heading back to NC. He and his wife have offered to replace the elements in my kiln. I have them on hand, I just have not had the time (when I have had the energy) to replace them myself. I am grateful to have the help. ** They tried to replace them, but when I ordered the replacements 2 years ago, I ordered the wrong ones. These are for one of my larger kilns, not for my little one that I use most of the time... I just ordered the correct ones. **

My "excitement" this holiday season was being the "victim" of squirrels snacking on the power cable running from the power pole to my house. Luckily, the worst of it happened while I was home after work on Friday. The Christmas lights began to fade in and out, and blink (they were to stay on steady), and so did the tree across the room. I unplugged both. Then, the ceiling lights in the sunroom burnt out. Next, as there were multiple times the power blinked off and on, my microwave made a loud popping sound and died. The house smelled like hot electronics. What I didn't notice right away is that the electronic control panel on my gas stove also died. 

I put in an outage report to Duke Energy, stating that there were power surges and partial outage in the house. They arrived within 20 minutes or so, I think. He spent a while up in his bucket truck working in the wind to repair the line. 

I thought all was good to go. But, there is one breaker that keeps switching off almost as soon as I reset it. My brother said he can take a look at that as well. It controls the ceiling lights in 4 rooms and the lights are all turned off. But, I have been managing with what I have. If my brother cannot fix it, I will contact an electrician. I was waiting until after Christmas to call one anyway. I didn't want to pay the extra fees for one to come out on a weekend or holiday. And, I did survive 6 days without power after the hurricane came through.

Regardless, I am still grateful for all I have, especially the emotional and moral support of my family and friends.

May you all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Still creating for the holidays!

 

I am working on filling a few special orders and also building stock.

It is the busy season at work (retail does that) and my energy in the evenings isn't always there. I tend to create more in the mornings.

Last weekend, and the next two, we are open until 8:00 PM both Fridays and Saturdays. There is a Christkindlmarkt out on the village green those evenings and it only makes sense to be open.

This particular piece is already sold, but I am making more! And more angels are in the works too...

If, by chance, I do not get back to the blog before then, I hope that all of you who celebrate have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy 2023! It is unknown territory for us, being the first without both Mom & Dad. The most important thing is that we do have eachother and each of us has a circle of friends who are like family as well.

Thank you all for your support, it is greatly appreciated.

Back in the saddle

 This year has been crazy, although I don't need to tell anyone else that. 

I have been keeping busy making #boredombuster kits for work, but my personal creative mojo has been lacking. The only show I participate in as an artist has been cancelled. That leaves me without my largest outlet for my angels and other pottery. I understand completely and respect their decision for the health and safety of everyone. As a result, my drive to create was lost for months.

That being said, I started creating angels yesterday!  It felt soooooooo good to get my hands back into the clay. (Both physically AND mentally!)

Today, some friends gifted me with some extra money for my birthday & Christmas to buy some new glazes. Some I am re-stocking what I have used lots of, but there are some new ones in the order that I am excited to try!

Here is a blurry photo of the first few angels from yesterday. More will be made today. I have challenged myself to make several dozen before Thanksgiving.

May you all remain healthy.

I will be selling these angels at our store as well as through personal contact.

Where is the time going?

What a crazy time we are living in right now!

So much has happened since I was last here to share. States all over the country shut down just about everything in hopes of keeping the COVID-19 virus from spreading too fast to too many people.
Our schools here in SC were closed the week of St. Patrick's Day. The restaurants, gyms, hair salons and other "close contact" businesses were not too far behind. They closed retail businesses on April 7th. We worked in the store, with appointments for curbside pick-up as well as shipping that week. We then took Good Friday and Saturday off before Easter. Starting that Monday, we spent a week working from home, filling orders and meeting customers as needed. The state allowed us to re-open on April 21, but we decided that we would limit our days and hours to 4 hours a day for 3 days a week. The numbers are still too high for comfort. Yes, they are probably not accurate, but still, neither of us wishes to be responsible for one of our high-risk family members contracting the virus because we did not follow our instincts.
Just this week, we decided to add one day (still 4 hours only). Restaurants, gyms... are all open again, and attractions were able to open this past Friday.

What we did to help with people who suddenly were needing to find things to do at home was to make up kits for creative things. Most have been greeting card kits, but we have done a simple beading kit as well as face painting on a cloth mask. Each are only $3.00! check them out on our Facebook page or our website.
As of yesterday, we had sold over 575 in 2 months! I spend my working at home time cutting the parts and assembling these kits. The living room has been taken over!

Other than purchasing a much needed new tablet on amazon, most of the stimulus money that I have spent (which is only about half) has been spent with independent businesses. I purchased masks from two friends who have Etsy shops. I purchased beads from an independent bead shop. I buy takeout meals from independent restaurants. I was a strong supporter of the Shop Local/Shop Independent movement for a long time before all of this hit the fan.

I hope whomever happens upon this post is doing well. I am grateful that at this point, I do not know anyone personally that has been diagnosed with the virus. I do know people who have had friends or family members that have.

Be safe. Be well. Be respectful of others who may deal with all of this differently than you do.

Up and running!

Thank you to my brother Rick for checking out the wiring diagram and the kiln and fixing the mistake I made. I am now able to fire the large kiln with no problem.

The small kiln I have not given a test firing yet.  It seems possibly the tube of the kiln sitter was out of alignment and the sensing rod was getting hung up thus keeping it from tripping the power off. I do not have anything of my own to test fire it with at the moment, so it will have to wait until I can get some things made. (* EDIT - still not working correctly.  Will just have to use the large one for the time being.)

In the meantime, my car went into the mechanic last week.  I have had a whining noise from under the hood for a few months, but the most disconcerting was the new grinding noise coming from the rear axel area.  It sounded like I was dragging a branch.  I did not see anything, but thought it could possibly be the wheel bearing go bad.  I needed the car for a house/pet sitting a half hour drive away.

I dropped it off on a Thursday morning.  Their schedule was packed with appointments and they had to work me in around them. To get an appointment otherwise was at least a two week wait. I waited patiently to hear back.  They called at about 4:45 on Friday afternoon for me to come by to pick it up (they close ot 5:00).

It was not the wheel bearing (YES!!!), it was indeed a branch caught up in the undercarriage that was causing that noise.

The whining noise under the hood was the alternator and pulley that needed replacing, the alternator was nearing it's end of life. Thankful for the branch making me think it was a bad bearing for getting me to the mechanic sooner than later.

After a brief case of it overheating (a connector to the cooling fan knocked loose) that was corrected on Monday, all is running smoothly.

I am needing to get my hands back into the clay to create! It is my calming and rejeuvenating activity. And, I also need to get product for the store as well as Mistletoe Market.

Celebrate Clayton

As much as I really wanted to participate again this year, my obligations to my family's business has taken much of my time and energy.  That has made it difficult to create enough pottery for the show.

I will miss all of my fabulous customers and the hospitality of the Clayton community.

May all of you have a successful show.

Sun & Sea Creative Bead Chat Challenge 2012

I have been part of a group on facebook called Creative Bead Chat.  Bead lovers from all over share their creations and tips and all sorts of things.  They are a wonderful support group, personally as well as creatively.
I was chosen by Random.com to be one of the recipients of the beads for the Sun & Sea challenge.

Here is what I started with.  I pulled together some things I thought would go well with the ceramic, polymer, shell, copper & glass I was provided with.

My own textured & patina'd copper sheet & wire with the challenge goodies.

 The first item I made is this double strand copper necklace & earring set.
I took 1/3 of the sheet of copper & made it into charms.  The bail of the donut is embellished peyote stitch.  The copper ear wires are hand made by me.  The beautiful copper clasp provided is on the back of this piece.

Ocean Breezes

Ocean Breezes Earrings

 This bangle was next.

Shell We Dance

 Adding some pearls, aquamarine & sponge coral helped set-off the beautiful components provided.

On The Boardwalk

 The glass beads were beautiful enough that I wanted to spotlight them on these hoops.

Sunrise

I had so much fun creating with the items supplied by some very talented bead artisans.

My pottery is still my first love, but beads and creating things with them come in a fairly close second.

Thank you to all who organized this challenge!  And thank you to all of the others who have participated.

Feel free to comment below, I won't know what you think (good, ambivalent or bad) unless you do.  And, I don't bite!

Please visit the other blogs that have participated in the challenge.

Most of all, have fun!

http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com/

http://cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/

http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com/

http://blog.aimeesjewelrytreasures.com/

Home again!

Terri came home (well... to our house) on Thursday.
She is getting plenty of rest & plenty of spoiling from all of the wonderful people that know & love her.
The pathology report is due tomorrow, and her follow-up with the surgeon is late Tuesday morning.  We will know more then, hopefully.
Yesterday she conserved her energy so she could go with us to our usual Saturday night restaurant, New York Pizza, in Anderson, SC.  The owner & staff are like family to us & she wanted to be able to show them she is doing well... (and, enjoy their awesome pizza!).
We sure have good luck, Karma, angels, God, good spirits or what-have-you on our side.  This has been such a whirlwind couple of weeks & our true friends have emerged once again to give us support, love & assistance.  We could not ask for more (well, that she never had the tumor might be one request, but we learn from adversity...and we cannot change what was).
(I guess it makes me feel a bit like a wimp with migraines... LOL)
Friends have offered to help at the store & refuse payment, one thought I should not have given her a discount when she bought her items at the end of the day, another said she would be insulted if we even offered to pay.  But their help is worth a lot to us all. To Terri so she can feel less stress about the coverage at the store, & Dad and I so we can at least take a few hours off each.
Dad is a real trooper, he has worked just about every day (except Sunday) for 2 weeks.  I am grateful to Phyllis for helping me watch the shop yesterday so he could have a break.  I was able to get a couple of hours off Friday morning thanks to Mary for being an extra set of eyes at the store & a real help for anyone looking at the stamping supplies.
I have tried to keep up with updating everyone about Terri's progress, but it is not always easy to find the time when I have the energy.  Please forgive me if I missed anyone, it was not intentional.
Yes, this post will be cross-posted to the store's blog...

If anyone wants to help out at the store, please email the store ( mercantinc@aol.com ) with days & times so we can have a written list.  A few of you have told me days, but I for some reason cannot remember when they are...

Life's surprises

Just as life seemed to begin to find some element of normalcy, something happens to cause turmoil.

A wonderful Christmas with Mom & Terri

As I posted before, my Mom passed away last July.  I have been having troubles getting my creative muse motivated & I am missing her so much.

My sister Terri did a lot in the last 5 years of Mom's life in taking her to appointments as I had previously.  Terri had a better mind for comprehending and retaining the medical information.  I would understand as they told me, but then it wouldn't make sense later.

Now, Terri is facing her own diagnosis of a Cystic Tumor on the surface of her brain.  And, like Mom, she is facing it head on with a great attitude and complete trust in her Neurosurgeon (one of the best in his field).

Terri is the closet to me in age of all my siblings.  We shared a room growing up, and now we share the responsibilities at the store.  Although our teen years we rough (whose aren't? that surge of hormones & trying to determine boundaries with the world is not easy for anyone)  we are very close now (as we are with the rest of the family - we are blessed that way!).  I know this is difficult for the rest of the family, especially those who are not nearby.  I remember from the years I lived so far away from most of the family. 

I am trying my best to be strong & to keep an even keel at the store & home.  Terri's surgery is tomorrow morning at 11.  We are keeping the store open.  Terri's husband will be at the hospital with her.  The procedure should take nearly 3 hours.  Dad & I will keep ourselves busy & act as the information hub for all of our family & friends.

This is the time I really wish Mom were here to talk to & hug & cry with.  I know the tears don't help Terri, but they are cleansing for me.

If anyone reads this, thank you for reading it all as it rambled on.

Happy New Year 2012

This past year has been particularly rough. 
I have not posted in a while because I have just not felt like I had anything enough to say.
I still don't have a whole lot on my mind to share.  But I want to let you all know that I am still here and still plugging away.  I am not as creatively productive as I would like to be, but I am creating some.  I have lots of ideas, but not the complete motivation to make the ideas come to fruition.
My procrastination habit has become a real problem for me.  I hope in this new year that I can work to reverse that habit.  I have been trying for a while, and hope it continues to improve.
I finally got rid of the car I never liked or wanted.  I am now the proud owner of a, new to me, 2007 Chevy Equinox.  I LOVE IT!  The down side is having car payments again, but I have the comfort of knowing my car is newer and in better shape than the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant.  (And - it is a really pretty blue!)
Thank you to all of my family and friends for all you have done for & with me in 2011, I appreciate & love you all.
I look forward to making 2012 and on the best I can.  A lesson learned from my Mom - no matter what life hands you - do what you can to deal with it and keep your head up.  Focus on the positives in life, the negatives are still there, but they won't consume your time and rob you of enjoying what time you have.  Others have said basically the same things, but watching Mom practice those thoughts was an inspiration.  I only hope that if I am ever faced with half of what she went through that I can handle it with as much grace &  I dignity as she did.  I miss her every day.

My award

I participated in one of the two or three shows I do each year.  I was in Clayton, GA for Celebrate Clayton.

The weather was fabulous, the entertainment was great, and the organization these volunteers have come up with as the show has grown is amazing!

 They have streamlined their set-up times so as not to have any one vendor waiting forever to get to their space.  You are given one hour to put up your awning and unload your 'stuff', then you move your vehicle and make room for the next vendor to come in and do the same.  In the past, some vendors have wanted to do their entire set-up before moving their vehicle (which sometimes was a BIG truck with an even bigger trailer!)

 On the two days of the show, they had a shuttle van that brought vendors to and from their vehicles (parked a couple of blocks away).  The amazing thing is that the van on loan for the shuttles is a church van from Mountain City, GA,  If you saw some of the news photos of the tornadoes that hit that area a couple of weeks ago, that church is shown with it's steeple upside-down.

 You may see a flash of blue in some of my photos.  I was honored again with the Judges Choice of Best Pottery at the show.  This is something I still have problems believing.  I know I like my work, it comes from a place deep inside my creative self.  But to have a pair of judges pick mine is an honor and humbles me.  As one friend on facebook said, I was channeling Sally Field when I said 'They like me, they really like me!'  Hey, if I have to channel someone, I'm so glad it is a talented person like Sally Field!

 My new Large Mugs were a hit!  And I had return customers buying the Small Mugs as well.  That is another heart-warming thing, to know I have return customers; both at this show, the Mistletoe Market at the Anderson County Museum in November, and mostly, at The Mercantile.  Thank you from the bottom of my creative heart!

 The one down-side to the weekend was somehow wrenching my back!  Friday night set-up went great.  My friend and fellow vendor Mike and I put up both awnings and set up the tables, zipped down the sides and all was well.  The next morning we went to load in our product and set-up the displays.

 As I squatted down to un-zip the sides of the awning, my back wet out.  I could not get up.  I just sat myself down on the street in agony.  Luckily, the extremely helpful Boy Scouts from Troop 40 were on hand to help, as well as some event volunteers.  A very BIG thank you goes out to all of them for their help!

I slowly and VERY carefully worked my way through set-up and asked for help when I couldn't do something.  I even fashioned chair cushions out of the foam pads I pack around my pottery.

One of my customers is a massage therapist and gave me some simple exercises to do to try to relieve the pressure.  Thank you Joyce!  While I was down by the Rock House to get my award, Joyce stopped by my booth to check on me.  Mike told her I was still hurting, and she brought some pain-relieving rub for me.  My friend Pat, who is a nurse, told me how much Ibuprofen I could safely take.  Thank you Pat!  By Sunday, although still sore, I was able to move MUCH better and still asked for help when needed.  And lastly, but definitely not least, my friend Mike made sure that I got to the drug store to get more Ibuprofen and some ice packs before returning me to my car to get to where I was staying for the night.  He also was usually the only one around to help me when I needed someone to lift anything.  Thank you Mike!  I would not have made it through the show without the help of all these wonderful people.

The most humbling moment of the show was when I saw a convoy of Search & Rescue vehicles from Athens & Augusta headed out Route 76 toward Lake Burton & Mountain City (and on toward Ringold, GA and possibly beyond) to help with those so severely affected by the tornadoes.  I admire the people who can take on jobs like that, they are a special breed!

Suggestions anyone?

As I have been working on getting large mugs made for the people that have ordered them, as well as mugs for other orders, I have been thinking.  (I know, I better be careful, thinking can be dangerous!)

I would like to offer a little more diversity in my product.  I will keep the current items, and I will pull out some of my Victorian Hands that are just waiting to be fired, but I am looking for an idea of where to go next?

Another look at my booth at Mistletoe Market 2010

I have thought of several different things... a nice vase or two, a teapot (shorter and rounder than the coffee pot), I'd love to do plates (but haven't had too much luck with them in the past), beads, pendants, buttons, spoon rests, the list goes on (and on).  But I would like input from all of you out there as to what you think would be a good thing for me to add.

All suggestions are welcome, I value your opinions.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and thank you in advance for your suggestions!

A technical question for my clay friends & followers

I was preparing to place an order for my favorite clear cone 6 glaze last night and discovered that after 21 years of using it, the company has discontinued it!

Ebonyware Roly & Straight Sake Cups

If you notice, the inside of my pieces have a clear glaze, and on the Ebonyware, it enhances the blackness of the clay...

Well, to my dismay, I have tried many other clear cone 6 glazes over the years, and they either make the black clay look very brownish or they are milky/cloudy no matter the thinness or thickness I apply them.

My question to all of you out there in the blogosphere is can you recommend a crystal clear cone 6 glaze that I can try???  I would rather not change that aspect of my work (the look, that is).  Last year it was the company I got my porcelain from going out of business!  Luckily for me, I found a better source closer for an equally wonderful clay!  Let's hope that with your help and my determination, I can find the right clear glaze as well!

Thanking ALL of you so very much in advance for whatever direction you can direct me in!

Sand Fibers Giveaway!

One of the wonderful creative beading artists I have come to know through Facebook is having a giveaway to celebrate her sales on her Etsy shop.

To enter, go visit Sand Fibers blog to see what you need to do.

(News about my giveaway will follow later today... still finalizing the details...)

An eventful time...

Mom & Dad spent 10 days on a much deserved and much anticipated cruise to the Panama Canal with her sister Celeste and their friends Joan & Brad from back 'home' in Alfred, NY. While on the cruise, Mom had a UTI and then they called from Customs to have us schedule a Dr's appt. because her cough had gotten worse. Mind you, they still had a FABULOUS time!
Upon their return Tuesday evening, they were greeted by my brother Bill, his wife Miwa & their 2 boys David & Chris who were visiting on Spring Break. Mom's appointment led to having another chest x-ray, which determined that there was no infection in her lungs, hence supporting the diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure.

Wednesday, sister Sue arrived to visit with Bill & family, and to assist with the fabrication of the Connie-Tron and the Earl Arm Support Equipment. Meanwhile, Miwa & the boys came to the store to learn some beading techniques.

All the while, I am in final show prep mode, trying to get all the last minute glazing & firing completed to pack up on Friday afternoon. This, in addition to working in the store all day and helping to teach the final sections of the OLLI classes Terri and I teach at the store.
Thursday, Mom had a wonderful day visiting with family, and then Jeanne, her Lymphedema Therapist and friend came over for dinner and to consult with Bill on the new apparatus he and brother Rick have been working on since Christmas.

Friday afternoon, Mom needed to take a rest. Having half of her diaphragm paralyzed due to radiation damage from 10 years ago, tires her easily. I left about 2 PM, but did not want to wake her. When she awoke from her nap, she was not feeling well and had a fever. After discussing it, they decided it was best the sister Terri take her to the Dr. (Terri is our designated medical escort for Mom... she has a good head for the medical stuff...) Long story shorter, she needed to go to the hospital for IV antibiotics for Cellulitis in her bad arm.
Meanwhile, I got to Clayton, GA, set up the canopy and tables, put the sides down and called home to find out about Mom being sent to the hospital. I stayed in Clayton because there was nothing I could do for her anyway, she was in the best of hands and getting the care she needed. I kept my cell phone with me in case they needed to contact me.
Saturday I awoke to rain... what a way to start a weekend outdoor show! The rain subsided enough for most of the artisans to get their vehicles unloaded and booths set up. Then it was off and on sprinkles for a bit. About 1:30 or so, the RAIN came... and it came some more, and then it was torrential! The event chair came around and said that I had been chosen to win the Best in Show for Pottery & Ceramics but that the awards ceremony for 3:30 was postponed until Sunday because of the rain. They told us we could close up for the day whenever we wanted to.
We went to Dillard House in Dillard, GA for dinner... it was delicious!
The rains continued throughout the night, one customer from Clayton said there was 4" of rainfall at her house.

Sunday morning early (5:30 or so), it POURED!!! But by 7 it was sun-shiny and I went back to the venue to see that my canopy had survived the rains, although some people lost theirs over night. I re-set all my product and then the winds came. I didn't lose any pottery though! I tried to make sure I had things relatively low-profile.
At times I had to hang on to the canopy to make sure it didn't blow away... even with weights on it! The wind gusts were pretty powerful. More vendors lost their canopies or displays to the gusts, we could hear crashing and shattering glass sounds.

I received my blue ribbon and cash prize, and sold a decent amount of product.
And... I got a copy of the Clayton paper which had excerpts from a phone interview I had on Tuesday evening with one of the reporters about the show.
When I got home, I was checking my email and discovered I had won a custom made worry stone from Kelley's Bead Studio.
Mom may be released today, if they feel that her arm looks enough improved. Her fever has been gone, which is good. She is in good spirits and feeling much better.
Thank you to my family for being the wonderful people they are and taking care of Mom. Also, thank you to Phyllis & Renee (friends-who-are-like-family) for helping Terri at the store while Dad recuperated from being at the hospital with Mom til early morning hours. And thank you to Cissy, Marsha & Peggy (more friends-who-are-like-family) who spent the day at the store Saturday having a wonderful time. I love each and every one of you!
And now... as soon as I get my laundry finished... it is off to start the work week.

Introducing Fred

You may remember me talking about Shadow, the cat we inherited that then adopted our neighbor. Well, Shadow is gone after a long and happy life. Now our neighbor has adopted a new kitten. The kit's name is Fred.
Fred was to be an indoor cat that went out sometimes... he has turned out to be an indoor cat that LOVES being outdoors, but comes in to take care of business...
One day, I was looking out the window in the sun room and thought I saw a rare White Squirrel in the tree. Some of the panes of the window are fogged, so I moved to see better and realized, it wasn't the White Squirrel at all (known to exist in Brevard, NC), but it was Fred.

Fred has taken a liking to perching in the TiTi tree to observe the bird feeder hanging there. I have seen him there almost daily since the first sighting.
I'm not sure he deters the birds too much though, I see them flitting around in the upper branches teasing him... and if they were on the feeder, I don't think he could reach them. Sometimes he looks as though he may be curled up in the branches to take a nap.

OUCH!

So, I was doing a bit of quality control on some mugs for my friend Matt from high school... I've been having so much trouble with these stoneware mugs lately. First, the glaze crazed so much the mugs leaked. Then, once I got the new, better glaze, I had troubles with them breaking somewhere in production. I have orders for 8, 6 for Matt and one each for Janie & Luke. I started out with 18. In trimming, I lost 6. In the bisque firing, I lost 6 more. I was down to 6, got them all glazed, they looked great when they came out of the kiln. I didn't get to take a good look at them for a day or two, too many other things going on. So, this morning, I went to pick one up, and it broke in my hands! The result is this lovely cut on my left ring finger. Or as the kind doctor at Urgent Care called it - a de-lamination of the skin... The worst part (aside from the 2 1/2 hours at Urgent Care) was the Lidocaine shot, IN the cut, to numb it! OUCH! I almost passed out! The Tetanus shot was a piece of cake! Yeah, I'm a woos that way!
Anyway, I now have to make MORE mugs to be able to get Matt his 6! But I have to wait until my finger heals over a bit first.

**No, this is not one of the 'fun' pictures I said I hoped to share this week...

Brrrrrr! (And a link to a give-away)

We had some icy/snowy weather here this weekend. I was doing a small show for the Electric City Shag Club in Clemson.
Though it is only 4 miles down the road, I ended up staying there, not knowing what the road conditions would be like. Thanks to friends for making sure I was safe.
The show went OK, about the same as I did last year, and, considering the economy, that is a good thing. I really enjoy this show, there are so many wonderful members of the Electric City Shag Club and other Shag Clubs in the Southeast. It is so nice to see the familiar faces each year and I have made some good friends.
Now it is time to get some much needed rest... just waiting for my laundry to finish drying...

About that give-away...
February is my younger sister's family's 'Birth Month' celebration. She, her hubby and their Munchkin all have their birthdays in February. They celebrate every day with a small gift in the pockets of a wonderful quilt. She is doing a Birth Month Give-away on her blog, just stop by there to see how to enter. She has a photo of the quilt on there, it is so bright and colorful!

I hope to have some photos of some fun things coming up later this week.

Hole in The Bead Gang

Last week the Hole in The Bead Gang had their Holiday gathering. It was a nice relaxing afternoon of food, fun and friendship.
One of the activities each year is the surprise gift box. In order to have a turn at opening the box, someone has to roll a 6 on the die. The stipulation is that you must be wearing the work gloves in order to open the box. That person works on it until the next person rolls a 6... The first photo shows Dee working on the outer box, then Phyllis has one of the inner boxes. The last photo shows me with the next to last box (nobody said you cannot use your teeth :~) ). In the end, I was the one to read the note inside the smallest box, so I won some beads. I will post them tomorrow after I take a photo of them.
As always, it was a great gathering of wonderful and talented people.
I hope to post sooner next time... (darn Facebook takes up too much of my computer time...)
Please show thanks for the things in your life and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving day.
I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health and my ability to pursue my creative side.

I'm here!

I have not posted lately because of a lot of things happening. No, nothing serious in nature, just a lot going on... I have not forgotten about posting, I just have not always had the time or energy.
Good news is, we now have DSL here at the house. This should make blogging MUCH easier! (Just uploading the photo of my late kitty Max took WAY less time!)

Now, I just need to get some more photos scanned or taken to be able to post them.
And, I guess I have gotten bitten by the FaceBook bug... it has been nice to re-connect with some old friends from my youth. One even apologized for how he treated me back in Junior High... something I had moved beyond a long time ago. Yet it was still nice that he thought to apologize after all this time. Thanks Scott! Hey, we were teenagers, no apologies necessary, but thanks anyway...
I can keep up with my family and people I don't get to see often enough. Not to mention the oodles of photos I can look at in my friends' profiles! Awesome waves in RI from Hurricane Bill, adorable children, beautiful artwork (painting, quilting, jewelry design...), lots of people, pets and flowers...
But I do need to get back to my blogging. Now that my desktop is able to go online again, I have access (more easily) to a number of photo files I already had. I had problems when my dial-up modem was zapped by lightning... with DSL, I don't have to worry about that anymore! (AND, I have put ALL cords, including the phone line, through the new surge protector!)
I will get more posted soon. (I hope to be able to post some photos of my nephew DragonBen's latest artwork... and he's only 9 1/2!!!)
Thanks for being patient with me.