Santa came

Someday

Someday I'll spend Christmas in New York.

Colour Challenge #151

Bicone measures 33mm long and has two matching spacers beads. $17.00

Tube bead is 30 mm long and has six matching spacer beads. $22.00

I've started doing the Colour Challenges again, I forgot how much I really enjoy working with colour palette's. This is #151 and I've missed a lot! It's nice to be back at it again. For some reason when I'm working in these challenges my beads tend to be organics, not sure why that is. These are all etched and the some of the crackling effect between colours is pretty nice.

Sidewalk Paint

Believe it or not this is sidewalk paint.

Snow men

I'm hoping we get enough snow this year to build snow men!

Be strong

Focus on Life Week 47 - Centerpiece

This weeks Focus on Life topic is - Centerpiece, focus on the most important feature of your day, week, life. It makes you comfortable, it gives you joy or brings you piece of mind.

Currently the centre of our household right now is the "Beep" the new kitten my husband brought back from Alberta. He's about 12 weeks and a handful! He's settled in not too bad, our older house cat is a bit mystified as to why he's always a talking him but they are getting along not too bad.

He's very cute, makes me laugh pretty much every day with his antics.

My Dearest Hope

Trunk show happening on my FB page

I'm having a Christmas trunk show on my FB page. It's on now and ends thursday evening. There are four picture albums this time so make sure to check them all out. Lots of buy it now items and some auction items. GREAT items for Christmas gifts!

Holding On

Live your life

Focus on Life Week 44 - Saints, Souls, Sugar Skulls and Scares

Since it's close to Halloween this weeks Focus On Life blog prompt is Saints, Souls, Sugar Skulls and Scares, and of course I have a skull to share!

I'm finding it hard to believe Halloween has come and gone already, I swore I was going to decorate this year but no jack o lanterns and no scarecrows happened this year, sadly.

Chaos

Halloween / Day of the Dead Jewelry Blog Hop

Suburban Girl Studio is hosting a Halloween / Day Of The Dead Blog Hop! If it's one thing I love it's Day of the Dead, sugar skulls anything Halloween.

The spider ring was made by me, the bead is one of Flame Keepers beads, I really liked the spider. It's on a wide floral etched ring band.

The silver skull pendant was made by me using Lori & Kim's murrini cabochons as eyes.

Check out all the other bloggers!

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com 

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com 

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com 

Lisa Liddy  http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com 

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com 

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com 

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com 

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com 

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk 

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com 

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com 

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com 

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog 

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/ 

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com 

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com 

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com 

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com 

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com  

Stephanie LaRosa  http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com 

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com 

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog 

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com 

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com 

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com 

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com 

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/ 

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com 

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com 

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com 

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com 

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com 

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com 

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com 

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com 

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com 

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com 

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com 

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

Focus on Life Week 43 - In the shadows

This weeks Focus on Life topic is "In the shadows" and I guess I'd need sun to make some shadows. We've had fog for almost a week now, and thick soupy fog. So no chance of shadows here, we may all be mushrooms by the end of this fall though!

Sometimes

Passion on Hooves

"Passion On Hooves"

Hand sawed silver pendant with moonstone teardrop.

Take Pride

Focus on Life Week 39 - Your Best Shot

I'm not sure that this is my best shot but it's one of my favourites for sure. I love winter, snow and everything that goes with cold and white weather. Icicles and christmas lights make me smile!

That's my Focus On Life Photo for this week.

Spotlight

Focus On Life Week 38 - A Quiet Moment

Do it with passion

Focus on Life Week 37 - In Motion

This weeks Focus on Life blog prompt is "In Motion". 

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. - William Faulkner

I love this shot of my husband steer wrestling above. Taken about 5 or 6 years ago it's still one of my favourite action shots. The sorrel on the right is out steer wrestling horse Eazy, he's 33 now and pretty much retired (much to his dismay) but he can still bust out a move like this is he wants. 

For those of you not familiar with rodeo events I'll describe steer wrestling for you and maybe you can better appreciate this shot. The cowboy backs his horse into a "box" and the steer is held in a chute to the right of the cowboy and horse. Cowboy nods, gate opens to steers chute and out barrels steer. Cowboy on his horse leave the "box" as fast as they can. Another cowboy to the left of the steer (the hazer) rides close to the steer to keep it running straight. Cowboy scotches off the right hand side of his horse, lets go of his reins and hangs for sometimes several seconds until he's in a good spot to drop onto the steer, stop the steer and toss it on it's side. What still awe's me to this day is these horses do their job diligently with NO steering from the cowboy hanging off their back. 

When we bought Eazy it gave me a whole new appreciation for a horse that loves his job and does it well. His face lights up in the arena and he's always jostling to do his job well. He's been a joy to own over these many years and his retirement all though I'm sure boring for him seems to be keeping him happy.

Boro Feather Video

I decided to do a simple video of how I make my boro feathers. They are really easy! Give them a go and feel free to shoot me any questions.

Focus on Life Week 36 - In Two

This weeks Focus on Life blog prompt is "In Pairs" and when I saw it I immediately knew which photo I would be using. This photo is old I'll admit, probably 4 years old. But it was a common sight every morning for about a year while these two horses shared a fence line. 

Indy (the horse on the left) is the "boss man" of the herd and loves to snooze, Redman (on the right) is the youngest and the trouble maker. Redman tends to mimic Indy and once Indy found a prime snoozing sot Redman was right there beside him.

Delete

Focus on Life Week 35 - Growth and Change

Focus on Life week 35 blog topic is "Growth and Change".  This is an interesting topic, we've had a rough year in our house. My husband had a major accident and it's taken up the bulk of our lives for the last couple months. Many days we've moved through in a fog, trying to just stay afloat. But some days we've stopped, turned off the phones and enjoyed the time. What we've noticed is no matter what happens in life you are the only one who can make time for fun. So in the midst of complete chaos we've started to learn it's ok to turn the chaos off and make time for life.

Dance to the Music

Jewelry Artist Community August Blog Post -- Book Review

This months Jewelry Artist Community blog post theme is a book review. Well if it's one thing I do a lot of it's read books! But this was supposed to be a jewelry theme'd book review, well what do you know I have tons of those style books too.

I choose the book Metal Jewelry Made Easy. It's a Lark Jewelry book and as always it's simple to follow, with great photos and some good ideas. My favourite project in the book is the Forged Earrings with Pearls on page 76. It's a simple project but gives you some new skills (well for me anyway) to try with good step by step directions.

So there you have it my review of a book I use often and with results.

Focus On Life Week 34 - Add Something

Focus on Life Week 34 encouraged us to "Add something" via photo editing. Not something I do a lot of, so I found one of my favourite snow pictures and did some photo effects.

Your Mind Is A Garden

Colour Challenge Beads

With the hectic summer coming to a close I've had a chance to get back to the Colour Challenges, I really do enjoy these weekly challenges. Here are the last two, both feathers.

Focus on Life Week 33 - Whats In Season

This year we've already had a bumper crop of blackberries. So this weeks Focus on Life blog prompt of "what's in season" is an easy one for me to do. I've been picking daily and getting upwards of 10+ cups depending on the sunshine. I see blackberry smoothies this winter!

They seem to have crept into my working colour palette as well, a lot of my beads have purples and blues in them lately.

Have I Gone Mad?

20 Steps Outside My Door

20 Steps Outside My Door, deer often sleep in our hay shed.

Focus on Life Week 32 - From Where I Stand

This weeks Focus on Life topic is "From Where I Stand" and the minute this topic came in via email I knew exactly what photo I'd use.

This photo is taken from my happy spot. It's the back corner of our property in Alberta, every time we go out there I walk back there and sit on a large rock and think. My heart is firmly rooted in the fact that one day this is where we will live. I can picture a small cabin by the rock overlooking a watering hole in my mind as clear as if it already exists.

Earring Challenge on the Jewelry Artisans Community Forum

The Jewelry Artisan Community Forum is having a challenge! 8 lucky participants will receive a pair of my earring beads! They are encouraged to blog about the process and what they create with them. The JAC forum is a wonderful, supportive and friendly forum full of jewlery makers. Stop by and check it out, it's definitely worth a visit!

Life Is Too Short

Focus On Life Week 31 - Hues of Blues

I have so many pictures of beads etc with blues I figure I might as well use one! My garden is full of pinks and purples so it's no help!

This weeks Focus On Life challenge topic is Hues of Blues.

Earring Challenge

The Jewelry Artisans Community is having a challenge! It's an earring challenge, each participant will get a pair of earrings beads from me (see picture for sample) to use in a pair of earrings. The idea is to promote the jewelry forum, posting links of blogs, FB, websites etc. Each participant is expected to promote the forum. Click HERE to sign up.

One Of My Favourite Sayings

Focus On Life Week 30 Catch The Sun

I've missed a few of the Focus On Life blog posts. But I'm back at it now!

My Lilies are starting to bloom with the warmer days. One of them has over 20 flowers waiting to open!

A Good Life

20 Steps From My Door

This was 20 Steps from my door about 1 1/2 years ago, the boys playing in the ring. Looks like they got some good traction!

My Kind Of Crazy