Been down, but I'm back

I have been dealing with a kidney infection. Yikes. I had no idea how bad that could be. Glad I am on the road to recovery. I will have new things up soon.

New Lampwork Necklace

I have been asked to make a couple rosaries lately and that got me thinking. I took some single color beads I had made and created this 3 strand necklace. The beads are all made from different glass and I did not lay the beads out ahead of time. I just started putting things together and I think it came out pretty nice. I think it will look great with a simple white T.

I am also playing around with different ways to display my jewelry. I used a plain vase for this.

My first published piece

Currently I am fortunate enough to have a project in Bead Unique Magazine, Spring 2009. It is my first project that I have had published and I hope it is not the last.

Life Guidelines for My Children

When my daughter Victoria was born, I decided to start a list of things I wanted to teach her and share with her and put them into a journal for her when she graduated from high school. She is now coming to the end of her sophomore year and we have a 12 year old son now also and I have not even started that book! So, I got the list out and decided to post it and then start a journal. I have been so inspired by everyone's artwork I have seen. I think I need to finish my list first so I know who big a journal to get. My goal was to have 100, but I think that any number will be fine. I usually am not an even number person anyway, so 87 or 93 might work out just fine! I think I have 80 so far. I will be adding more to the online list as time permits. Please feel free to share any advice on my guidelines or on making the journal. I can use the help.

Sweater

I am going to attempt to make a sweater for myself! I usually make small knit items that don't really call for a pattern. But I found a pattern and some yarn that is very nice, so I am going to try. I will post pics of my progress!

New Look

Well, I decided to do a little customizing! Who knows, maybe I will decide to add a music gadget and get crazy.

Refurbished Jewelry & Purses in Progress

Here is a few items I have been working on.

My friend wanted me to convert a pair of clip earrings

into a necklace and this is what I have come up with.

I am ready for spring and so are my purses! They will be ready soon and hopefully spring will be here soon!

Mom's Painting

My mom passed away over a year and a half ago and I have really been missing her recently, more than normal. I think about her every day, but for the past few days, it has been making me sad. My mom was very creative and when I was little, she did some oil painting. My father has her favorite one but I was fortunate to find to find one stuck away in a closet after she passed away. It fits perfectly in our kitchen. Every day, I get to see something that she made with her own hands and that has a bit of her in it. I hope that when my children are all grown up and I am gone, they have something that I put a bit of myself in.

Lampwork Beads

I am sharing another passion of mine, Lampwork bead making. I make glass beads with a torch and glass rods. It is so addicting and fun! It takes total concentration when I sit at my torch, I get totally absorbed in it. Currently I have a lampwork necklace in Bead Unique magazine Spring 2009. I was very fortunate to be included. I am posting some photos of some of my beads.

Cancer Cap

I have made decision to post more frequently. I have been very sporadic and that is going to end. I enjoy the interactions too much to let it go by the wayside.
So........for the latest........
I started making a very soft hat for a gentleman that is going through chemo right now and is having trouble staying warm. When I started my business several years ago, I named it after my mother-in-law who passed away from ovarian cancer. So this will let me get started helping others who are going through that terrible disease.
I have never knitted with double pointed needles and have had some trouble. If any one has any tips I would greatly appreciate it!.
Anyway, I will let you know how it goes. If anyone has any easy caps patterns, I would be interested in them also.
Off to knit again.