tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76948509631621818132024-03-13T03:51:41.821-07:00Goldkisses ArtRamblings from the Artistic MindUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-57373264365535508892013-07-15T12:36:00.000-07:002013-07-15T12:37:38.258-07:00the art of perspirationI have often read that even if one has no inspiration, that just showing up and being there can still lead to good results. So....<br />
I waited.<br />
and waited.<br />
and waited some more.<br />
I scrubbed and cleaned and then there was<br />
NOTHING.<br />
It came to me hard, that day, knowing that I had proclaimed myself an art jeweler for two years, invested boo coo bucks on beads and tools and string and storage...oh, and that anvil! Thirty five pounds of cold steel. I am sure that the UPS hunk would frown if he knew he had hauled that up the gravel driveway for nothing. And yes, aren't all the UPS guys hunks??? But, I digress.<br />
<br />
It struck me that it was much like dieting, how one gets all gung ho and loses 7 pounds and then is invariably faced with a challenge (my personal favorite challenge is cheese cake) devours said mountain and then just loses momentum. I had gone dry, creativity cast adrift. The blogs and articles that I once found necessary for my happiness suddenly seemed overwhelming or even irrelevant. I found I just did not care about everyday earrings, color schemes or metal etching. It was like I had entered my own version of the black hole. Vapid and very dark. Dark and alone.<br />
<br />
I decided not to wait on inspiration any longer. I went outside to work in the earth, to garden and mulch and heaven help me, try to get rid of the prehistoric trumpet vine whose base is as large around as my thigh! Days passed. I sweated, got backaches, sunburn and even stepped in doggy do. My hair began to transform into yellow straw, dried and bleached beyond recognition, full of scraggly bits, regardless of the hat I plomped on my head on my way out the back door. I just kept on digging and planting. I uncovered all manner of heirloom plants in the way-back as I call it, the part of the yard that was once a lovely bamboo and flower garden that was overgrown and neglected for years. I found a leek that was as tall as I am, and also found incredible help and blogs about gardening whist I tried to identify a Lunaria plant, an old version of hydrangea and wild orchids blooming spontaneously along the wooden fence.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOlx74s83Tc_eC642VqMy5lIYSHOUCB9TaBffSgPiD_UK5CmUQki6BNDucTcSPvmLLFGBl7BaSq8yLvJXZttjkS6uzcSP51vctE0AJkp86aEmfA-zXuRt7MYlqcu8hAItD40TBBZdfYk/s1600/DSC01505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOlx74s83Tc_eC642VqMy5lIYSHOUCB9TaBffSgPiD_UK5CmUQki6BNDucTcSPvmLLFGBl7BaSq8yLvJXZttjkS6uzcSP51vctE0AJkp86aEmfA-zXuRt7MYlqcu8hAItD40TBBZdfYk/s400/DSC01505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink orchids - wild climbing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
New bamboo sprouts came bursting up from the earth where I had cleared masses of tangled vines, only to be devoured by the squirrels. What? Yes! Gourmet squirrels! Not content wiht the bird feeder overflowing with black sunflower seeds, these babies were munching whole heartedly on the baby bamboo. More internet searching. Coconuts. Place coconuts broken open on the ground and the squirrels would eat that first. Yeah. To save the bamboo, I bought $15 worth of coconuts.My hubby pounded them open. My opinion on the effectiveness of this? Nada. Don't do it.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUMpelTKaS2EmgKE0kwDJJ6K0Z3Pzy4irjjXVHPMUiyPr8Imie4lWN8Bq74E4xO1-Y6KQsIWssnXuihXE8dy4y-MAK6MCWB96URZcaT5Y6teBJRC8MXt13E2jXkaZwPBSMAvng07Rx9E/s1600/DSC01475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUMpelTKaS2EmgKE0kwDJJ6K0Z3Pzy4irjjXVHPMUiyPr8Imie4lWN8Bq74E4xO1-Y6KQsIWssnXuihXE8dy4y-MAK6MCWB96URZcaT5Y6teBJRC8MXt13E2jXkaZwPBSMAvng07Rx9E/s400/DSC01475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">unearthed bricks, new bamboo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I began to bring in the harvest from the vegetables every morning, my shoes wet with dew and recent rain. I have only grown vegetables for a few years, and as I am in Georgia, that means that I have been a drought farmer. We have had at least 7 years of drought in the summers, with all the folks in Atlanta fighting over water rights as everything dried up. This year though, there is abundant rainfall and everything in the garden is HUGE. My vegetables are wild with color and texture. They are smooth and crisp and bumpy and some, like cucumbers and zucchini even have tiny spikes on them making them difficult to pick. Such blessed abundance!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ76RsLNckNZIwwrUKnoiXP83qCs4TlqodRJcjc7XthiqV_rA8YGRvKJ63xEwq1Jv7k3teIr43LMgWVLMRcmPNRyCW7oj3cJ7vJiXxZfwKIrUWqN0sQT0MzQalQOQcC3BJL1XPy3e6uk/s1600/DSC01515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ76RsLNckNZIwwrUKnoiXP83qCs4TlqodRJcjc7XthiqV_rA8YGRvKJ63xEwq1Jv7k3teIr43LMgWVLMRcmPNRyCW7oj3cJ7vJiXxZfwKIrUWqN0sQT0MzQalQOQcC3BJL1XPy3e6uk/s400/DSC01515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes that is a 12" zucchini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And so the days of summer have been easing by, the physical labor was necessary I believe to clear something inside. Not sure if it was head or heart, but things began to be clearer. Perhaps perspiration leads to inspiration?<br />
<br />
I have more to write, but this is enough. For now.<br />
<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Eurostile","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"> - Saint Augustine</span><span style="font-family: "Eurostile","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-84725742326610225112013-05-06T09:52:00.001-07:002013-05-06T09:52:09.007-07:00Getting More...Laura Bruno's post on Jon Rappoport's latest article....So FAB! <table bgcolor="#dddddd" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background: #dddddd; width: 100%;">
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<td><span style="display: none !important;">laurabruno posted: "Another brilliant
piece by Jon Rappoport -- this one covers painting, imagination, Reality
Creation, Synchronicity, and more. As an artist who paints portals with the
specific intention of creating new realities, and as someone who lives my life
as a crea" </span>
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New
post on <strong>Laura Bruno's Blog</strong> </h2>
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<h2 class="post-title" style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/jon-rappoport-more-on-exit-from-the-matrix/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: none !important;">Jon
Rappoport ~ More on Exit From the Matrix</a></h2>
<span style="color: #888888;">by <a href="http://laurabruno.wordpress.com/author/laurabruno/" style="color: #888 !important; text-decoration: underline;">laurabruno</a></span>
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<div class="post-content" style="margin-top: 1em; max-width: 560px;">
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Another
brilliant piece by Jon Rappoport -- this one covers painting, imagination,
Reality Creation, Synchronicity, and more. As an artist who <a href="http://laurabruno.wordpress.com/divine-doorways-and-porta-portals/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: underline;">paints
portals</a> with the specific intention of creating new realities, and as
someone who lives my life as a creative adventure, helping others see through
false limitations, I totally resonate with what he shares. I even wrote an
article back in April 2010 called, <a href="http://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/manifestation-law-of-attraction-and-creativity/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: underline;">"Manifestation,
Law of Attraction and Creativity." </a>Even if you don't consider yourself an
"artist," have a read ... you might surprise yourself! :)</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<a href="http://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/more-on-exit-from-the-matrix/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: underline;">More
on Exit From the Matrix</a></div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
By
Jon Rappoport</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Unhappy
is the man, woman, or child who doesn’t live with imagination at the prow of the
ship…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
As
my readers know, I recently launched another mega-collection, Exit From the
Matrix. You can read the details at my site,www.nomorefakenews.com.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
A
little personal background. I had a passion for painting, and I started to work
in a studio in the summer of 1962, when by “chance,” down to my last few bucks,
with no place to live, having just returned to New York from Cape Cod, I went to
the Metropolitan Museum straight from the bus stop, and…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I
wandered through rooms I’d visited many times. But this time, I decided I needed
something to eat and I walked into the Museum restaurant. I’d never done that
before, in my dozens of visits to the Met, and…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
There
I ran into a painter I knew from a gallery in the city. He sat down and we had
lunch. He told me he was leaving for the Cape the next day, and he had a
problem. He hadn’t found anyone to live in his studio for the summer, and…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
He
asked whether I knew anybody who needed a place to stay. We’ll, I said, with the
blood pounding in my ears, I would be happy to sublet it, but…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I
had one problem: no money. He said, don’t worry, pay me what you can, I just
need someone to live there while I’m away for the next two months.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
And
that’s how my new life began. Painting in that studio.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I
don’t cut things that close to the edge anymore, but the theme remains the same.
There is reality, and then there is imagination that creates reality.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Somehow,
for me, painting is a touchstone. Doing it, looking at it, thinking about it. In
unexpected ways, I take off from it, and life changes, becomes far better,
becomes something quite different.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I
was never trained as a painter. I can remember, in the second grade, my teacher
telling my parents I had no discernible talent for it, and perhaps I should be
excused from art class altogether.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
So
years later, when I was 24, I came to it out of the blue. I knew a painter in
Connecticut, and when I visited his studio, I was immediately staggered at the
notion that a human being could live in a place and paint in it every day. It
wasn’t a vocation or an avocation. It was a life.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
From
that moment on, I had to do it.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Painting
is imagination at work in space. Paul Klee would start one painting, go to town
on it until he couldn’t decide what to do next, and move on to a second blank
canvas. He’d paint on it until he couldn’t decide what to do next, and go to a
third blank canvas. He’d do this with six or seven canvases…and then return to
the first one, with fresh ideas.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Making
new realities.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Whereas:
the Matrix is frozen imagination.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
The
news is frozen disinformation (which is also a form of imagination).</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Consensus
reality is: everybody “paints one picture.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
In
a way, these are all cosmic jokes we play on ourselves. Of course, they can get
deadly serious, when we’re mired in them.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Abundance
is imagination realized.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Scarcity
is amnesia about imagination.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Michelangelo
famously said that the final figure of a sculpture was already in the raw block
of stone; all he had to do was remove everything that wasn’t the figure. If that
isn’t imagination, I don’t know what is.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Our
technological civilization seems intent on divorcing imagination from
perception, in the name of science. It’s a deteriorating strategy, because the
life drains out of perception—which is another good description of what the
Matrix is.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
In
1996, I formed a partnership with a publisher in San Diego, The Truth Seeker.
Bonnie Lange was a bolt out of the blue. As head of Truth Seeker, she wanted new
ideas, and she wanted to support them and back them to the hilt.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I
had never met anyone like her in the publishing field, or anywhere else for that
matter. She gave me the go-ahead for my 1999 book, The Secret Behind Secret
Societies, after only hearing the title. And she paid me to write it.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
That
book enabled me to examine history in the light of two themes I had developed:
the formula of the secret society, and the tradition of imagination.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
For
as many centuries as you care to visit, there has always been a tradition of
imagination on this planet. Scattered here and there, it is carried forward by
men and women who’ve managed to cast off doctrine and orthodoxy in favor of
exploring and living through their own creative power.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
They
carry the torch. They discover, in the process of invention, that the reality
most people come to accept is a cover story laid over life-force, like rain over
fire.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
We
were not meant for that reality.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
There
is no highly organized society that can afford to hold up individual imagination
as a prime virtue. It is too damaging to the consensus. It is too alive. It
deconstructs oppression on all fronts.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Imagination
scoffs at minds that “already know it all.” Imagination is concerned with the
infinity of futures that have not been yet created.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
For
some people, this idea creates great music in the mind. For others, who are dead
in their knowing, it doesn’t register.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Here
are a few of my original notes for The Secret Behind Secret Societies, made
before I wrote the book: “Musicians, the greatest improvisors in the world,
gather and play in a cemetery. Some people emerge from their graves and live
again. Some continue to sleep. There are different kinds of dead.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
“People
want Pattern. They think they live for it. At some level, it’s very pleasing.
Pattern, balance, symmetry, harmony, geometry. It seems like an ultimate. But
that is only true at a certain level of mind. At other levels, there is a
greater hunger to imagine and create without guiding Pattern.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
“Fractals,
sacred geometry. Buried treasure in the investigation of this universe. But the
primary and prior fixation is on this universe as The One. It isn’t. It’s just
one space and time. It’s just one work of art, among many. Among an infinity.
And then there is another infinity: the universes that haven’t yet been created.
They’re all works of imagination.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
“The
secret society wants its members to get involved with secret Pattern. Ah, the
mystery. The Pattern will be revealed. It’s just over the next hill. No it
isn’t. There is no answer there. Pattern is something you can put in a work of
art or a work of science. That’s all.”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
At
some point in my career as a journalist—which began in 1982, as an afterthought,
because I was writing poetry and fiction—I realized I was taking apart consensus
reality on a number of fronts. I was breaking down “works of (perverse) art” and
revealing their foundations. I was exposing masquerades.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
After
that realization, I was far more comfortable with what I was doing.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
The
whole ticket to ride in this world is entry into what is created for you. It’s
exciting, it buzzes, it sparkles. Unless you’re born in a place where it shoots
and explodes and imprisons. But the gist of the message is: you’re here to take
the trip.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
That’s
what keeps things going in the same way, eon after eon. If we were all artists
and inventors, the whole premise and structure would break apart.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
We
could still take the trip. But we would be inventing far more exciting and
illuminating realities.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
In
some ways, this universe and our minds do a tap dance in which many premises are
generated, one after another. Then we follow down these premises and see what
they yield. Eventually, the whole mechanism slows down. There is something
missing. In the search mode, which certainly does bear fruit, we nevertheless
wonder what’s being omitted.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
People
have answers for us. Plenty of answers. Most of their solutions are about
content. The content of this, the content of that. But still…</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
What’s
being omitted is our own power to imagine and create, which isn’t content at
all.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Content
is the outcome of what we create.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
We
exist. And we create without end. So the outcome, the content, isn’t the final
factor. It’s the result, the offshoot.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Is
this universe made as the holographic projection of code engraved on a two
dimensional surface? Is it vibrating strings? Is it the flowering of the Big
Bang? On and on goes the search, as if the content of the answer is going to be
final.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
It
isn’t.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Whether
they know or not, people have aesthetic standards, which define what they’ll
accept or reject. It’s quite remarkable. People act and behave as if they’re
painters judging beauty, even though they wouldn’t go near brushes, paints, and
canvas in a million years, much less a museum.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
These
aesthetic standards form titanic convictions that act as pillars upholding a
picture of this world and this universe. And from that unfolds the premise that,
indeed, this universe is the only one.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
It’s
a self-reflexive proposition. It’s unconscious dedication to a single
picture.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
And
in the long run, it’s a barrier against the life-force that resides in
imagination, creation, invention, improvisation. It’s staking out a firm and
unshakable position in a very small space, in the middle of an infinity that
goes unnoticed.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
On
the other hand, when a person begins to live his life through and by
imagination, those hidebound aesthetic standards change. The chains loosen. The
links dissolve.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
And
perception opens up on new vistas that were never noticed, because they were
off-limits.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
The
strategy of the Matrix is to enchant people forever with the prospect of finding
out more and more about it. This is like a painting saying, “Here I am. I’m the
only painting. Study me forever. I contain many mysteries…”</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Or
you could paint.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
I’ve
known a number of people who’ve made the shift. One way or another, they
reported this: when they began living by and through imagination, whatever their
field of work, they realized they were journeying out beyond their ironclad
certainty…and it was a tremendous relief, because they had really become bored
with that absolute collection of knowledge. They were set free from its
limits.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
Jon
Rappoport</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
The
author of two explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED and EXIT FROM THE
MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29th District of
California. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative
reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for
CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and
magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on
global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the
world. You can sign up for his free emails at <a href="http://www.nomorefakenews.com/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: underline;">www.nomorefakenews.com</a></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #002060; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Some
signs and symptoms of inner peace:</span></b></div>
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<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #002060; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
* A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past
experiences.<br />
* An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.<br />
* A loss of interest in judging other people.<br />
* A loss of interest in judging self.<br />
* A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.<br />
* A loss of interest in conflict.<br />
* A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)<br />
* Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.<br />
* Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.<br />
* Frequent attacks of smiling.<br />
* An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.<br />
* An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the
uncontrollable urge to extend it.<br />
<b>WARNING:</b><br />
If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your
condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #002060; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">If you
are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed only at
your own risk.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #002060; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">~Saskia Davis</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-10936392454031561892013-04-13T08:46:00.004-07:002013-04-24T05:43:55.663-07:00My Very First Bead Soup Blog Party.....And I am late, late, late like the Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland! Oh no! It's already 10 am on Saturday morning!<br />
<br />
Let me begin by thanking again my incredible and very talented partner <a href="http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jean Peter</a> of the Eclectic Avenue. Jean has been wonderful and the soup she sent....Well! Heaven knows it was arranged by the angel that she must be, for it was indeed A Challenge! The beads were so abundant and in colors that I've never really used before.....and then there was the sheer quantity! Thank you Jean! So here is a recap of the bead soup:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBdb4JQfw-lthIF27nkQxYt_AMypQWuZAXJnA1z-WRL_2RfTCL1safTOFPnKDKbb_dwkBz6vUQ2VNrSd-t7cdOlLJHTPVrsLUr_ashriTsxYPltgXmdJJHcE0AIw7d4PDg-t7G4g05uU/s1600/DSC01440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBdb4JQfw-lthIF27nkQxYt_AMypQWuZAXJnA1z-WRL_2RfTCL1safTOFPnKDKbb_dwkBz6vUQ2VNrSd-t7cdOlLJHTPVrsLUr_ashriTsxYPltgXmdJJHcE0AIw7d4PDg-t7G4g05uU/s400/DSC01440.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bead Soup for a dinner of 8!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I took inspiration for my bead necklace from Jean herself, who does lovely cord wrapped bead designs. I've never knoted anything except my shoes before this, and do confess right up front that my husband, the weekend sailor did help me a bit by teaching me the tie off knots. I actually worked this three times, as I quickly learned that to balance the cords and knots, the two sides must be done in a mirror fashion! The third time I got an acceptable finish and feel that there is enough symmetry to not entangle the eye away from the incredible focal. <br />
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So, I aquired some brown leather in a .5 mm size for the first design and went to town. My first pick was the copper focal and clasp Jean made herself which are just stunning. I chose some of the cream howlite and carnelian beads and added a couple of textured washers to tie off and then added a bit of copper chain and her lovely clasp. So, without further ado....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUvlSkNi6DvCjJ8jQWnGSw845vaBnn6by69tqNasglfovVRV6B79G68xa3r2bjA8an8DBGYEVSzMYa60Szth8Bv_mg_r86im1OwXmeNAUOjJ8-r0cnjNZw5SwgTkYNY3Glw6DHIOGKKg/s1600/DSC01444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUvlSkNi6DvCjJ8jQWnGSw845vaBnn6by69tqNasglfovVRV6B79G68xa3r2bjA8an8DBGYEVSzMYa60Szth8Bv_mg_r86im1OwXmeNAUOjJ8-r0cnjNZw5SwgTkYNY3Glw6DHIOGKKg/s640/DSC01444.JPG" width="362" /></a></div>
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Now, Jean had sent me no less than <b>4</b> focal pieces so I decided to keep going and see what else I might endeavor, this time with anything BUT knots! I decided to use her other very special hand decorated howlite teardrop. Adorned with wire wrapping that I can only dream of, again, it seemed to cry out for all the attention, so I kept the design pretty symmetrical and made another necklace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy58CLwnQHxcCDdk3TBnKhXiseSKp8uH7vzeKtfa9KL36soF6243paJObUO5eH9fXZ6kw3MlQP6sAkQleILVZxZDL2ThGo0DKPCXQsGf1N9Xbz0u0PWR6TDJ0L5JbYOjSX9unBCJceO_8/s1600/DSC01447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy58CLwnQHxcCDdk3TBnKhXiseSKp8uH7vzeKtfa9KL36soF6243paJObUO5eH9fXZ6kw3MlQP6sAkQleILVZxZDL2ThGo0DKPCXQsGf1N9Xbz0u0PWR6TDJ0L5JbYOjSX9unBCJceO_8/s640/DSC01447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used a textured copper washer and tried my own wire wrapping to use as a lead in....not sure if I like it at all. She sent the other blue howlite beads and crystals, so I wrapped and stacked and wrapped some more. I added a length of textured copper chain and an offset clasp of my own in order to repeat the focal shape, albeit, upside down. The hook design is totally inspired by metal artist <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ORRTEC" target="_blank">Melinda Orr</a> so that I could add another howlite bead to add a finished feeling. <br />
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I have so many other beads to work with, and in fact will continue creating designs that I had an opportunity to draw up, but not enough time to execute and in some cases, a.k.a. Rivets!<br />
<br />
A Very Special Thank You to Lori Anderson, the Bead Soup hostess for pairing me with such a generous and creative partner. To see all of the Second Reveal date team, <a href="http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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Namaste~ <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-19030960256752633482013-03-29T05:46:00.002-07:002013-03-29T05:46:22.297-07:00Words Carry Meaning<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">“Our deepest
fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We
ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you <i>not</i> to be? You are a child of God. Your playing
small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as
children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light
shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are
liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">Marianne
Williamson</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 140%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-41406333622714063682013-03-11T08:58:00.001-07:002013-03-11T08:58:45.990-07:007th Annual Bead Soup Blog PartyYes, it's that time again. The 7th Bead Soup Blog Party, the creative inspiration of Lori Anderson. For those of you not familiar with the concept who might pause here, let me give you a brief explanation.<br />
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Everyone interested in participating must have a blog, and signs up over a certain 3 day period. Then, the Queen Wizard of Beading matching, begins to assign pairs of people to create a 'bead soup' of mixed beads to include one focal bead, one clasp and then various and sundry other beads or as I like to think of them, more building blocks. Once paired, beads are traded between the partners whose main objective is to create a 'soup' that will challenge their partner to move out of their comfort zone and create something new, out of their comfort zone.<br />
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Now, my partner is Jean Peter, and I mean, WOW! Jean is an accomplished jewelry designer and bead fanatic who even teaches the craft to others. One would not be surprised then by the package that I received in the mail! An amazing assortment of colors and textures to delight every sense, and yes, a challenge!<br />
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Now, before I show you the beads, I have to let you see how things progressed in even getting to open the box! This is Oyster, our adopted rescue cat from an abandoned oyster house in Apalachicola, Florida about 3 years ago on our last beach vacation. Her nickname is 'StringThing' as she just Adores anything that is anywhere close to being a piece of string. (This cat even flosses!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUCpxZ55UJVXet5-l225DqZR1KSIf7CcUtaAf0JCy9UULD-Of6zuBIT1PSvFGy4rsUwpWWznVDVLBqPtDxfOfzuXo5fNyFb8AkWwUCyyAaUQMf-P66HpYE2hOX00z5DcolFduxHabcZQ/s1600/DSC01424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUCpxZ55UJVXet5-l225DqZR1KSIf7CcUtaAf0JCy9UULD-Of6zuBIT1PSvFGy4rsUwpWWznVDVLBqPtDxfOfzuXo5fNyFb8AkWwUCyyAaUQMf-P66HpYE2hOX00z5DcolFduxHabcZQ/s400/DSC01424.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, I opened the shipping carton to find this incredibly beautiful wrapped box. It is tied with cording, so immediately, the String Thing took up position of Guardian. I could not get a picture of the box, without the cat, so finally I just shot what I could during the process of discovery. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcj3vu4YMW23egO7sZDbdjLBrt0CqTz0yR68rsd6m4m6Md6QAXkpfFv419HyFgFPTeKJDV17jluuYYyEhIjGUDW9f59x0a3op5tp9hirISINh2_TF5clIk06VXk9LWBpzDOXZVjeFERo/s1600/DSC01428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcj3vu4YMW23egO7sZDbdjLBrt0CqTz0yR68rsd6m4m6Md6QAXkpfFv419HyFgFPTeKJDV17jluuYYyEhIjGUDW9f59x0a3op5tp9hirISINh2_TF5clIk06VXk9LWBpzDOXZVjeFERo/s400/DSC01428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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She untied the box and then went for that cording! I was involved in reading the Treasure Map that came with the box....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHj-gj3Q0jdgPmKHPGQ5qsy-FaI7LO9aF4cwk9v197h8bBl2Z9Ig_Fpc6VYbSZCczqOEydDxAurvJca_2kl0EKhGlEiOuxnNu7SOAdk46ag5wTBo2vZ7bVFOT3-CiU835onXxb7iCzfE/s1600/DSC01427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHj-gj3Q0jdgPmKHPGQ5qsy-FaI7LO9aF4cwk9v197h8bBl2Z9Ig_Fpc6VYbSZCczqOEydDxAurvJca_2kl0EKhGlEiOuxnNu7SOAdk46ag5wTBo2vZ7bVFOT3-CiU835onXxb7iCzfE/s400/DSC01427.JPG" width="400" /> </a> </div>
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Certainly something to catch one's imagination!</div>
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The Treasure...</div>
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What does one say about such a find? I found two focal beads, both handmade by Jean that are just well, Stunning. There are two amazing clasps, a bevy of beads in blues, reds and cream as well as pearls, crystals, textured copper sheet (dying to find out if that is from a rolling mill or What!), rivets, brads and more copper beads unlike any I have ever seen before! There are also more clasps and focal beads, since she did not count the key either!</div>
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Now, in order to make room to work with so many wonderful surprises, I began a 3 day cleaning of my studio, to clear the work table and begin drawings. What a challenge this is....!!! </div>
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Now as to my bead soup to Jean, I sent the following:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSvDQZIE40-G4nkYgTcwVMrNHqkYC2nbfMvl0BV8tDKUEt4HKo40fAchthMrVI2eWNGSc4N-UQevCO3GQttmVtfbo7gHc85HSALuqbSEbs3-flufXFBmSHa3U0eI1gmJRphtOj0Cam9E/s1600/DSC01412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSvDQZIE40-G4nkYgTcwVMrNHqkYC2nbfMvl0BV8tDKUEt4HKo40fAchthMrVI2eWNGSc4N-UQevCO3GQttmVtfbo7gHc85HSALuqbSEbs3-flufXFBmSHa3U0eI1gmJRphtOj0Cam9E/s400/DSC01412.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My grouping to her consisted of a lamp work focal by artist Jan Thompson, along with some of her exquisite striking glass round beads, olivine, enameled beads, midnight blue sandstone squares, and an assortment of green and blue crystals and pearls, some shell and bronze pearls. I also included some of my handmade copper bead caps and a clasp, left out of the picture as an extra surprise. The ribbon I had made to go with this arrived a little later, but Jean does have it in hand. I will be excited to see what she brings to her challenge with these beads. </div>
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Jean has been such a delight and with her busy, busy schedule has been lovely and generous and I feel very privileged to have such an accomplished partner!</div>
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Our reveal date is April 6th, so be sure to stop back by to see what creative magic transforms these assortments into wearable art. See you then!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-62424528578708003472013-02-24T06:20:00.000-08:002013-02-24T06:20:07.917-08:00musing....<h2 class="the-quote">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>We all strive to be different, unique, special but
the funniest thing is we gauge our uniqueness against everyone else.
Truly, what would be unique and different is if we didn’t compare
ourselves to the others.</i></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>
</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>- Kat Keegan </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>
Hey look, that’s me.</i></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-19270443882795923142013-02-09T09:26:00.001-08:002013-05-02T07:39:37.770-07:00Creative Ownership Disclaimer<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I feel this is important at this point in time, so bear with me, it is longer than my normal posts, but is resonant with some very important issues this week. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Let me start this post by stating quite firmly that I believe that I Am, that Each of us are a uniquely created Soul aspect of Source. Depending on your belief system, that may be God, Goddess, Jehovah, Creator or Great Spirit or a myriad of other names, but it is the Ultimate One, the Infinite. Yes, this makes me unique in that my vibration, or soul is me. Every choice I make is a way for me to express the light that I am, and is a culmination of love, of life experiences, preferences and continuous learning. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also believe that You are the Very Same with all the reverent Entitlements to Sovereignty. Yes, that means that for me, Everyone is Equal. Completely, without question. What's more, is that each of us being an aspect of the Creator means also that we are all a part of each other. We are One. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why make the point? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, my inbox this week has been full of clamor. Fellow artists, both very close and perhaps whose blog I might follow, struggling to define their style, admittedly depressed, expressing their belief that there are artists out there whose work is better, more creative, prettier, stylized, higher quality, yada, yada, yada (Thank you Seinfeld!) and insert your own personal judge-mental adjectives [here]. Did I just say Depressed??? YES. Depressed as in all the joy and fun that is part of the creative process or expression of Self has been drained away, accompanied by huge amounts of frustration at being what they perceive to be as 'Less Than' someone else. At first I thought to myself, ah, self criticism is always so harsh. Been there, done that. Still find time to practice, thank you. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then there are the posts hitting my inbox from people or groups of artists unified by blogging, that I have come to admire for their talents, their self expression and generosity which is why I follow the blog to begin with. Artists who Inspire me to try new things, to explore tried and true techniques that some generous artist once taught them, which then allows me to choose to try it, expanding and exploring my creativity further, to integrate new learning to allow a further expression of myself or the I Am, my Soul. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But. Then. It came. The Whack on My Head. Really. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a blog post all about Ownership. Well, actually it arrived pre-emptive to a tutorial in the written format that is the essence of a formal warning generally stating that she will share with you how-to-do-something, but it is forever Hers, thank you very much and you better Always give her credit for it. Wow. But what about the pair of earrings sitting in my to-be-photographed-later-rather-than-today-finished-work (because I would rather tear out weeds in my yard one by one by hand than take pictures) that were made in November of last year that are very similar and were made before I ever heard of this artist? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now I know why some of my friends are stalled in their work, depressed. I Mean. <i>Really</i>. talk about a way to stifle the creative spirit!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, herein is where we get a lesson in Group Consciousness. You may never have heard of it before, but it's been studied, experimented on society, documented and used in marketing since the 1930's. The precept, simply is that an idea, entered into a certain percentage of a group, will grow in the consciousness and understanding at a certain rate until enough of the people of the group have the Awareness and then, when that awareness hits what is called the 100th Monkey, suddenly, SUDDENLY, everyone in the group will have the Understanding. Scientifically proven. Been used for years in all manner of sales and marketing. It is no secret.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Example: This week Burger King made big press, after years of denying it, when a DNA sample taken from one of their hamburgers Proved without a doubt that they are using Horse meat in their burgers. Documented Evidence. Now you can hear that, and it will hit your consciousness on some lower level even if it doesn't hit you in the face that all the claims of 100% USDA BEEF are <b><i>LIES</i></b>. Okay, so you've been lied to by Burger King (who I assume just did it for the money since it has been my sovereign experience that whenever someone chooses to lie it is to cover something up that they would be ashamed of or has to do with that almighty dollar).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, on with the sample story. You love your Burger King on Tuesday night on the way between the office and your wire wrapping art class, so you cannot imagine not getting your regular burger. It's a habit. So you might continue to go to Burger King every Tuesday. I however, who never eat at B.K. am still <i>appalled</i>, not at just the Lie, but that you can still eat there. It's your choice though, so you have the Right to Choose for Yourself and I respect that. If you are a parent, you even have the right to choose for your children. Then, 3 months from now, when enough people begin to look at those lies, not just from Burger King, but from the other fast food chains and the awareness grows that there are lots of lies and that they are feeding us chemicals and fabricated food-looking plastics that are detrimental to our health, and that it is all about making money....eventually, we hit the 100th monkey. Then, the Very Next Tuesday, you decide to make a sandwich at home to bring with you rather than stop at B.K. for that horse burger. Your behavior has been modified, without your realizing that you have made a choice based on the expression of the group who is outraged now that this has been allowed to happen and is boycotting all Burger Kings nationwide. That's it. Simplified.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another, bead example? How many of you have made Owls, used owls, purchased owls, read blogs about owl beads recently? When did Owls become so Hot, Hot, Hot? When the symbol for owls began to be used and input into our lower consciousness as something to love, until it hit the 100th monkey. Then it is all about the Owl. (I did not get on this bandwagon as I know where the <i>recent</i> symbolic representation came from, and as it is Occult in nature, just will not go There). Of course, to those who make those owls and use them and have no idea why it is they are so popular, other than being a winged friend, I make no judgements and have celebrated the unique interpretations and creative wonders that have been made, almost as though subversively integrating the Light into something generally pretty darn dark. (Look up Bohemian Grove)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now that we understand Group Consciousness, about how a simple idea snowballs into everyone's awareness, let me say this. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't believe that there is Anything that I will ever add to the world of art that hasn't been dreamed of, inspired, created, practiced, executed, drawn, painted, illuminated, discussed, witnessed, critiqued, taught, learned or forgotten in the history of man. What's more, is my acute awareness that this is a sort of Truth for all of us, whether we want to admit it or not. Even if I become so bellicose as to even imagine for one moment that something is 'mine', it is with full awareness that for me, it means that it is new, or for me, a special moment of discovery for myself, and that I in no way can claim ownership for the creative process which led to this new discovery. I'm not redefining the world of art, but I am in the process of celebrating the newness to me and using what I find to express who I Am. I believe the same is true for you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, if you are big on Ownership and believe that you have invented or created something so Unique to that list above, then I respect your right to believe it so, and I will respect your requests to honor your sovereignty and choice of beliefs rather than do you conscious harm. But I also acknowledge this Without Prejudice, meaning that I cannot be responsible for what you might interpret as a violation of your rights if/when your beliefs are not the same as mine, and my complete lack of awareness of you means that to me, you exist as part of the one group consciousness, even as my Soul has total respect for you and would choose to show you only agape and respect.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And so....here is my statement to the world of art and artists in general:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am me. I am a culmination of what I have loved, learned, practiced, believed, preferred and expressed in my life. I am responsible for my choices and I, without perfection, practice integrity and honesty in my day to day living. I will never knowingly violate your rights, believing in the old adage, Harm None. I will always give you the benefit of a doubt, be a witness for your struggle and support you in your dreams and celebrate your triumphs. I will endeavor to practice love with agape, respect for all and malice for none.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But if I inadvertently twist a piece of wire the same way you do, or did, or might, please forgive me what you perceive a transgression, for to hold that grudge only hurts you. And if someone might give me $12 for that piece of twisted wire, please forgive them their ignorance too, because I think it might be that they just like it, or maybe like me, or on another level, their Soul recognizes it as a celebration of the creative wonder that drives all existence.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Namaste~</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-22786207340713907202013-02-07T05:22:00.000-08:002013-02-07T05:22:21.565-08:00Bead SoupIt's that time. The Bead Soup Blog Party. I've gotten the name of my partner who lives in New Mexico, all the way across America. She is Jean Peter! For those in the beading world, this woman has been making jewelry for years. She is a mega talent whose work is inspired and well, for me, a little intimidating.<br />
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For those who are interested, you can see some of her incredible work at her Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/eclecticavenuedesigns" target="_blank">Eclectic Avenue</a>. Just look for the 'photo' box and click on it, and then click on one of the pictures to see a larger slideshow. Amazing!<br />
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Her blog address is also <a href="http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eclectic Avenue</a>, where she shares wonderful stories about her family and beading and life. One thing we found out right away is that we are both big supporters of the Beads of Courage. She is blessed with a Grandson who, sadly, has had multiple heart surgeries and is a fighting giant and has a very, very long strand of beads. His struggle, from the length of his chain, is epic, and yet this very brave little boy keeps on keeping on. You can read about their story on her recent blog article.<br />
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It will be fun to see how we decide to challenge each other, and we have been given the second reveal date of April 6th, so mark your calendar and if you don't visit to see the soups, at least come back and see what is the creative endeavor between two relative strangers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-89229054753185603122013-01-25T10:20:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:20:56.589-08:00Officially 'Stumped'On the path of discovery in this, my bead mania and jewelry obsession, I found that being able to work in metals delighted me on many levels. The hammers, the files, the feel of cold metal as yet unformed, unmarked beckoned to me to leave my mark, to make it personal.<br />
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Enter the tree stump. A tree stump is perfect for pounding away, creating textures, work hardening, forming and bending metals to fit the imagination. Reading about one somewhere once, I had determined that it was just what I needed, given that anytime I tried to pound on the work table, everything would jump and rearrange itself. I have been patiently waiting for just the right one to present itself. (Literally, as in a *present*)<br />
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A couple of months ago, while walking the dogs, we meandered by a house built about 1920. In the front yard, a Magnolia tree, forked at the base. It stood about 40 feet tall. One side of it had spread it's branches far too close to the electric lines, so the City was cutting it down. Not back; Down. I was saddened by the loss, but speculative about the chance to get a hunk of wood. Nay, not a hunk, a stump. I promised myself to go back later in the day to check on the progress. Alas, when I went back, it was all over and the local team of caretakers had done their work well. There was nary a stick left. Bummer.<br />
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A few days later, similar treck, same dogs finds two men taking down the other half of the tree. It seems once the first aspect was removed, the other had started leaning precariously toward the house. The balance had been broken. Like many things in life, balance is a necessity. Two function as one made whole.<br />
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I find I must digress here as the story takes an interesting twist. To whit: when we moved about 6 months ago, we down sized rather dramatically. It was not hard to figure out what we could do without as we made a simply decision to only keep those things that are necessary or that we love. What did become a challenge was to make all those decisions so quickly. After we arrived here, we found that there were things that followed us in the move that just never were noticed for that process. After arriving and going through all the basics and the boxes, we began to find those items, once loved, not necessary and yes, still here. Not really sure in a new town just what to do with them, my husband said that he thought we should just put them out at the end of the driveway. I thought this a remarkable thought in and of itself. What?? Leave my now un-wanted and un-loved things on the edge of the street? I agreed, but only if he promised to do something with these things on Saturday as I was resolute in thinking they would still be sitting there, becoming eyesores. <br />
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That Saturday never came. Those things were gone. Snagged in the night by others with a new vision of purpose, a new sort of life to be born. I was amazed! No trips to search for thrift stores or hauling it to a donation center. It was nothing short of miraculous to me. Undaunted, the next week we left out some garden decorations. Gone in the morning. Old bookcase and shelf left in the house by the last occupants....gone. <br />
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Back to the story. As it turned out, the two young men cutting down the second fork of the Magnolia tree were the son and nephew of the woman who resides in the house. We spoke and I gently inquired into the fate of the tree. The smaller branches were going to be used for firewood, but the main tree was 15-18 inches in diameter and far too large for a fireplace. They weren't quite sure just what to do with that part. I plucked up my courage and asked if I could have a piece, and explained what use I intended for so lovely a tree stump. <br />
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They offered me the tree stump, free of charge when they found out where we live. They are the same two guys who acquired two garden griffon statues that had made their way to our curb. Those who say that life doesn't move in circles, surely need to leave something out on their curb. I dare you to try it.<br />
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So now I am the owner of a lovely Magnolia tree stump. <br />
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It is something! It weighs about 60 pounds. Being fresh cut, it is going to have to do some curing and drying out. It became apparent that I would need to find a way to keep it lifted off of the floor to get good air circulation, and to be able to place something under it in case sap or water might drip as it dried. Finding something that would hold that kind of weight was going to be a challenge. To my mind, I guessed some sort of grating would be required. An internet search connected me to the <a href="http://www.mcnichols.com/viewer.htm?pageCode=home" target="_blank">McNichols Company</a>, specialists in grating. The have pictures of unusual applications all over their website, so I filled out the internet contact form and waited for a call.<br />
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It didn't take long. I spoke with one of their representatives who was so professional and kind and while I'm guessing, a bit bemused at the intended application, never let on that this was not a do-able proposition. When he told me they could even cut the recommended grating in a circle, I was without exaggeration, duly impressed.<br />
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Transaction completed, the package arrived a day later! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJakJKwmkt1MmH0NmueZ_DAJdjGqZfJ-_UkJTvP_qzFDStxC8RYiHTPlwlb7d8m1OXD6csT4LyAriv_dcRk6izDn3QAJ6HlGZt2d8FwfimSnjc-vv_4f-mDQNLFM5AIjnngJol7hlFYQE/s1600/DSC01389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJakJKwmkt1MmH0NmueZ_DAJdjGqZfJ-_UkJTvP_qzFDStxC8RYiHTPlwlb7d8m1OXD6csT4LyAriv_dcRk6izDn3QAJ6HlGZt2d8FwfimSnjc-vv_4f-mDQNLFM5AIjnngJol7hlFYQE/s400/DSC01389.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here was my new support system...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-W6QEOljHd0fG4DU6y5Ea4r1_yXmZ-c1VIklRjV5hHYZK_P7g4qElu5yOCcq5cep1eU9d9418BU0dCuBveZ3sR4RAFoORBpFNdm2O9b6iXpHKJ2RvibCOHdfmWjuhllQYeif95nPBEc/s1600/DSC01392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-W6QEOljHd0fG4DU6y5Ea4r1_yXmZ-c1VIklRjV5hHYZK_P7g4qElu5yOCcq5cep1eU9d9418BU0dCuBveZ3sR4RAFoORBpFNdm2O9b6iXpHKJ2RvibCOHdfmWjuhllQYeif95nPBEc/s400/DSC01392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Is that precision or WHAT???? I was amazed also with how perfectly flat and even the whole unit is, too. The following day I cleaned, organized the studio and found a little yellow rug to place under the whole she-bang. Blessings are happening here!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTBOc_xaPfKmamrffA76KLylDF0LkOufsoZCBdTeq8BpAYeXFATLVTmXzAZKq5s2zRmugmdM3y_TGSK5Pfp7xUv9W2DCrt2NoMVPfGy7-25eH1sWbOA1juJ6bWofjsxg_mM3ww4h_aMg/s1600/DSC01406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTBOc_xaPfKmamrffA76KLylDF0LkOufsoZCBdTeq8BpAYeXFATLVTmXzAZKq5s2zRmugmdM3y_TGSK5Pfp7xUv9W2DCrt2NoMVPfGy7-25eH1sWbOA1juJ6bWofjsxg_mM3ww4h_aMg/s640/DSC01406.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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Now, isn't that impressive?? <br />
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No time for further chat....I feel a need to give it a pounding!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-34416680424481926602013-01-12T08:48:00.001-08:002013-01-12T11:54:25.774-08:00Memories and Thanks Blog HopToday is the reveal for the Memories and Thanks Blog Hop, another loving inspiration from <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/p/about.html" target="_blank">Lori Anderson</a> creative wonder and the writer of the <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/" target="_blank">Pretty Things</a> blog. As a tribute to someone we chose to honor and remember, we are today showing in the reveal what we made for those special persons in our lives.<br />
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There have been blog hops throughout 2012, all which sounded amazing and all I missed with the adventure that last year Was. When I read about this one, I decided that it couldn't be missed. I knew who I would pay honor to, what stories I could share, and finally the time to dedicate to such a proposition. What I did not count on was the <i>Missing</i>, the backlog of emotion, the quiet tears and the resultant migraine headache.<br />
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I chose to make a bracelet for my friend Carol, who left this earth for larger spaces in 2005. We met in Birmingham Alabama in 1995. As the Manager of a store that sold museum replica art, we met when she came for an interview as a sales person. She was tiny, about 5'1", wearing sensible shoes and a lovely white blouse. (I was later to learn that she was the Imelda Marcos of white blouses that she swore could be worn for any occasion!) When she began to speak, I was enthralled with her deep, gravely voice and an accent that I later found was from New Orleans. She was 60, newly divorced and looking for the chance to complete part of her bucket list. I found her presence enthralling, and hired her on the spot.<br />
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We began a friendship that was the most remarkable that I have ever had the joy to experience. The 25 years difference in our ages melted away in spirited discussions on every subject imaginable. We shared every aspect of our lives and we both shared the same quirky sense of humor and could elicit nearly hysterical laughter from the other. There was just so much happiness and genuine love between us. She knew that I had studied art and always encouraged me to find my way back to my first love. Not in just selling art created by long dead other artists, but to seek out my own muse, my own creative spirit, my own voice. She nicknamed me the White Witch because, as she used to quip, "There is just always a feeling of magic around you, like you belong in Stonehenge." <br />
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Carol blessed my life in many ways, not the least in introducing me to my wonderful husband, who it turned out had been a friend of hers for years too! It was as though heaven and earth moved all things in her life, in mine and even my husband's life, to allow us such an amazing time together. When I was growing up, my Mom would tell me that if I lived my whole life and could count on one hand life's true friendships, I would be lucky. As the years passed in knowing Carol, I understood what she meant.<br />
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Whenever we were just hanging out, or would go grab a hamburger at our favorite place, there we would be in our blue jeans and white blouses, with the cuffs turned back to show off our mutual adoration for bracelets...the bolder, the better!<br />
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In memory of Carol, I chose to make a bracelet lovingly hand made in copper, the color of Dewar's Scotch, her favorite. Then I added blues with lots of variation and enameled beads. And to bring things full circle, I chose to use lamp work glass beads from a new friend, Jan Thompson at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanZartGlass" target="_blank">JanZartGlass</a>.<br />
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A toast to Carol. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7KNOe0YGG3yltpqvUT5GeXgVVtZz8Qb4rtUjGcZ9uXQtkaf9EicIPPVLB0ioMgY1g2zyaF4dE2gd2qCS8P4YZeZU5Dh6CMlSzu3mccvi5LfGE5TrpsHptsYCohASwbDs1PRLe-2Yddk/s1600/Carols+Charm+1.2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7KNOe0YGG3yltpqvUT5GeXgVVtZz8Qb4rtUjGcZ9uXQtkaf9EicIPPVLB0ioMgY1g2zyaF4dE2gd2qCS8P4YZeZU5Dh6CMlSzu3mccvi5LfGE5TrpsHptsYCohASwbDs1PRLe-2Yddk/s640/Carols+Charm+1.2013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol's Charm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Here are other blogs to explore: <br />
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Hostess, Lori Anderson <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/">Pretty Things</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> Adlinah Kamsir <a href="http://www.dreamstruckdesigns.blogspot.com/">Dream Struck Designs</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> Aimee Biondolillo <a href="http://www.aimeesjewelrytreasures.com/">Aimee's Jewelry Treasures</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> Alicia Marinache <a href="http://www.allprettythings.ca/">All the Pretty Things</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> Andra Marasteanu <a href="http://www.bijouxdemonange.blogspot.com/">Handmade by Indra Marasteanu</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> Andrea Trank <a href="http://heavenlanecreations.com/">Heaven Lane Creations</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;"> April Grinaway <a href="http://www.brooklynbeadgoddess.blogspot.com/">Brooklyn Bead Goddess</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Barb Solem <a href="http://www.vivimagoopresents.com/">Vivi Magoo Presents</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Becky Pancake <a href="http://www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/">Becky Pancake Bead Designs</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Beth Emery <a href="http://www.storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com/">Stories by Indigo Heart</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Bonnie Coursolle <a href="http://www.jaspersgems.blogspot.ca/">Jasper's Gems</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Cassi Paslick <a href="http://www.cassisbeads.blogspot.com/">Beads: Rolling Downhill</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Catherine King <a href="http://www.catherines-musings.blogspot.com/">Catherine's Musings</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Cece Cormier <a href="http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/">The Beading Yogini</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Chandra Leitz <a href="http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com/">Juniper Goods</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Charissa Nesler <a href="http://www.blog.obsidiansoda.com/">FireStorm Designs</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Charlie Jacka <a href="http://clay-space.com/blog/">Clay Space</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Christina Hickman <a href="http://www.vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/">Vintage Treasures Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Christine Murrow <a href="http://www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/">Charis Designs Jewelry</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Christine Stonefield <a href="http://www.sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com/">Sweet Girl Design</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Chrizette Bayman <a href="http://www.beadsoupmix.blogspot.com/">Bead Soup Mix</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Cindy Wilson <a href="http://www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com/">It's My Sea of Dreams</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">CJ Bauschka <a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_750067913"> </a><a href="http://www.cjbauschka.blogspot.com/">4 His Glory Creations by CJ</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Crystal Thain <a href="http://www.beaddragons.blogspot.com/">Here Bead Dragons</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Cyndi Lavin <a href="http://www.beading-arts.com/">Beading Arts</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Debbie Rasmussen <a href="http://www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/">A little of this, a little of that</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Denielle Hagerman <a href="http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.com/">Some Beads... and other things I like</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Diana Gonzalez <a href="http://www.arteypoemas.com/">Arte y Poemas</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Diane Hawkey <a href="http://www.dianehawkey.blogspot.com/">diane hawkey</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Dita Basu <a href="http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/">ankarshilpa</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 4.65pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Donetta Farrington <a href="http://www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com/">Simply Gorgeous</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Dyanne Everett-Cantrell <a href="http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/">Deeliteful Jewelry Creations</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: normal;">Emma Todd <a href="http://www.apolymerpenchant.com/">A Polymer Penchant</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Erin Kenny <a href="http://www.beadifultherapy.blogspot.ca/">beadiful therapy</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Erin Prais-Hintz <a href="http://www.treasures-found.blogspot.com/">Treasures Found</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Gina Hockett <a href="http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com/">Freestyle Elements</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Gloria Allen <a href="http://www.innovativedreamsjewelry.blogspot.com/">Innovative Dreams Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Heather Marston <a href="http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/">CSW Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Inge von Roos <a href="http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com/">Inge's Blog</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Iveth Caruso <a href="http://www.creativeatelier.net/blog">Creative Atelier</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jacqueline Marchant <a href="http://www.jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/">Fiddledeedee Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jami Shipp <a href="http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com/">Celebrating Life!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jean Yates <a href="http://www.prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/">Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jennifer Reno <a href="http://www.jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/">Musings of a Crafty Jenny</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jenny Robledo <a href="http://peppasdream.blogspot.com/">Peppa's Dream</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jennifer VanBenschoten <a href="http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com/">Jewelry, Art and Life</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jessica Klaaren <a href="http://cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/">Cellar Door Jewelry</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jessica Murray <a href="http://www.whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/">Whimsical Monkey</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Joan Williams <a href="http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com/">lilruby jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jo-Ann Woolverton <a href="http://www.itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca/">It's a Beadiful Creation</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Joanne Browne <a href="http://www.josjewels1.blogspot.com.au/">josjewels1</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Jodie Marshall <a href="http://www.marshalljodie.blogspot.com/">Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Johanna Rhodes <a href="http://www.firephoenixcreations.blogspot.com/">Fire Phoenix Creations</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">John Rasmussen <a href="http://rasmussengemsandjewelryllc.blogspot.com/">Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">JuLee Wolfe <a href="http://www.thepolymerpenguin.blogspot.com/">The Polymer Penguin</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Julie Bean <a href="http://www.bluepigblog.com/">Blue Pig Blog</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Karen Mitchell <a href="http://www.overthemoon-design.com/">Over the Moon Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Karin King <a href="http://www.maverickbeads.blogspot.com/">The Sparklie Things Blog</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Karin Slaton <a href="http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com/">Backstory Beads</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kat Douglas <a href="http://www.washoekat.blogspot.com/">Washoe Kat's</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kay Bolton <a href="http://www.toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com/">Toodles and Binks</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kelly Hosford Patterson <a href="http://www.travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/">The Traveling SideShow</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kim Ballor <a href="http://www.takeyourvitaminc.blogspot.com/">Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kim Dworak <a href="http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/">CianciBlue</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kim Houston <a href="http://www.thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com/">The Pink Martini</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Kym Hunter <a href="http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/">Kym Hunter Designs</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Laren Dee Barton <a href="http://www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com/">Laren Dee Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Lea Avroch <a href="http://www.lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com/">LA Jewelry Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Leanne Loftus <a href="http://www.firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com/">First Impression Design</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Liddy McLaughlin <a href="http://www.liddymclaughlin.com/">Liddy McLaughlin Art</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Linda Florian <a href="http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/">Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Linda Inhelder <a href="http://www.musthavesjewelry.blogspot.com/">Must-Haves Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Lisa Hamilton <a href="http://www.simplyirresistiblejewelry.blogspot.com/">Simply Irresistable Jewelry</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Lisa Suver <a href="http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/">Fancee That</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Lori Bowring Michaud <a href="http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com/">Artfully Ornamental</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Lori Poppe <a href="http://www.lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/">Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">LouAnn Elwell <a href="http://www.southpassbeads.com/">Southpass Beads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mandi Effron <a href="http://www.craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/">Craft-o-licious</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marcia DeCoster <a href="http://www.maddesignsbeads.blogspot.com/">MadDesigns</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marcia Dunne <a href="http://www.thealternativefoundry.blogspot.com/">The Alternative Foundry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marie Covert <a href="http://www.thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/">Creating Interest</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marjorie Savill Linthwaite <a href="http://www.bennubirdrising.blogspot.com.au/">bennubirdrising</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marlene Cupo <a href="http://www.amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/">Amazing Designs by Marlene</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Martha Aleo <a href="http://www.ornamento.wordpress.com/">Ornamento</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Marti Conrad <a href="http://www.marticsclay.blogspot.com/">Marti's Buttons -n- Beads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mary Ellen Parker <a href="http://www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com/">BeeTree by m.e.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mary Govaars <a href="http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com/">MLH Jewelry Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mary Lindell <a href="http://www.marylindell.com/blog">Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Maureen Connolly <a href="http://www.mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/">Mrs Beadsley's Workshop</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Maybeline Tay <a href="http://www.thejewelrylarder.blogspot.sg/">The Jewelry Larder</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Melissa Elgin <a href="http://www.addictedbeader.blogspot.com/">The Addicted Beader</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Melissa Mesara <a href="http://www.one-earedpig.blogspot.com/">one-eared pig beads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Menka Gupta <a href="http://www.menkag.blogspot.com/">Menka's Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Michaela Pabeschitz <a href="http://www.der-lamardebonita.blogspot.co.at/">la mar de bonita</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mischelle Fanucchi <a href="http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/">Micheladas Musings</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Mona Rae Baroody <a href="http://www.monarae-beads.blogspot.com/">Who Does She Bead She Is?</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Nan Emmett <a href="http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/">Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Nancy Pedersen <a href="http://www.npedersen.blogspot.com/">Something Heartfelt by Nancy</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Natalie Davidson <a href="http://www.northshoredays.blogspot.co.nz/">NorthShore Days</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Nikki Douglas <a href="http://jewellerymakingblog.blogspot.co.uk/">Bead It and Weep</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Pam Farren <a href="http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com/">re-maker</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Pam, the Crazier Sister <a href="http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/">The Crazy Creative Corner</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Pam Traub <a href="http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com/">Klassy Joolz</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Priya Krish <a href="http://hellopalz.wordpress.com/">Hellopalz</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Rebecca Anderson <a href="http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com/">Song Beads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Rebecca Sirevaag <a href="http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/">Becca's Place</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Robin Kae Reed <a href="http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/">Artistry HCBD</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Rochelle Brisson <a href="http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com/">a creative chelle</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Rosa Maria Cuevas <a href="http://www.helenadetroyajoyas.blogspot.com/">Helena de Troya</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sabine Dittrich <a href="http://www.perlendschungel.blogspot.de/">perlendschungel</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sandi Volpe <a href="http://www.sandivolpe.com/">Sandi Volpe</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sandra McGriff <a href="http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca/">Creative Chaos</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sarah Goode <a href="http://www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk/">Pookledo</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sarah Singer <a href="http://singingsongsofsixpence.blogspot.co.uk/">String a Song of Sixpence</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Serena Trent <a href="http://www.pijworld.com/">All Things Made Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Shai Williams <a href="http://www.shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/">Shaiha's Ramblings</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sharon Palac <a href="http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com/">Sharon's Jewelry Garden</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sharyl McMillian-Nelson <a href="http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/">Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sheila Davis <a href="http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/">Stone Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Shelley Graham Turner <a href="http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/">Fabric of My Life</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sherri Stokey <a href="http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/">Knot Just Macrame</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Sherry Baun <a href="http://www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com/">Unicorns Jewels</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Skylar Bre'z <a href="http://www.brisingbeads.blogspot.com/">Brising Beads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Stephanie Haussler <a href="http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/">Pixybug Designs </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Tania Spivey <a href="http://www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com/">Moobie Grace Designs</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Terri G. <a href="http://www.terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/">Blooming Ideas</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Terry Carter <a href="http://www.tappingflamingo.blogspot.com/">Tapping Flamingo</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Terry Matuszyk <a href="http://www.pinkchapeau.wordpress.com/">Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Toltec Jewels <a href="http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/">Jewel School Friends</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Tracy Kruse <a href="http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com/">Goldkisses Art</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Tracy Martin <a href="http://www.nutkittensjewelry.blogspot.com/">Nutkitten's Jewelry</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Zia Parks <a href="http://www.anzipanzisworkshoppe.blogspot.com/">Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: normal;">Zoe Marcin <a href="http://www.beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com/">Beads, Tea and Sweets</a></span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-45528056802128522232012-12-06T08:53:00.000-08:002012-12-06T08:53:01.255-08:00This weeks work in picturesOne would think that with winter upon us, I would get something done in the studio, and you would be delighted with color and texture, but alas....I had to go out and do some more cleaning in the way back before the cold weather hits hard and the leaves drop off those dastardly vines. We are up to 11 types of invasive vines! We have taken to calling the back area, The Pit of Despair. <br />
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Here is a picture of the latest pile of goodies hauled out for removal by our favorite City worker.....The Stick Man! He's become sort of a Hero for us. Really. What would we do with all of this if he didn't come and get it????<br />
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I made sure to get something Normal sized in the picture for reference, and if you look beyond the mailbox, you will see that this pile is actually down in a drainage ditch! But, to get the true width of the pile, I had to use the house across the street for comparison!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqPMXsVyd6QFTvWOKlRxTTfFuEdXuZDMtIxM0bjAsev4eW7C9lRIGE6hyphenhyphenjIjBEMUCQxJhkYtv5jqGWPerFs9v3OCclQkQiNJzFkDtP2-KExV4sbmLKc1quoV57ZLUCjDihkYHhNxPBSw/s1600/DSC01307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqPMXsVyd6QFTvWOKlRxTTfFuEdXuZDMtIxM0bjAsev4eW7C9lRIGE6hyphenhyphenjIjBEMUCQxJhkYtv5jqGWPerFs9v3OCclQkQiNJzFkDtP2-KExV4sbmLKc1quoV57ZLUCjDihkYHhNxPBSw/s640/DSC01307.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, it is impressive, is it not? Side effect? The hole in the back fence was discovered by my dogs, who promptly went exploring! With a tight holiday schedule, fixing the fence has been left to me. My first choice would be the Ladies' Favorite....duct tape. Alas, it is damp and rainy today, so I have elected to use plastic tie wraps to hold it together. Just temporarily. Really. <br />
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Fencing repair makes me think of John Wayne, cattle ranchers and things that Men Do with their hats and boots on while I tie on an apron and bake a pie. I would do that too. I'd bake a pie for John. Wouldn't you?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-37490461997383267012012-12-01T11:37:00.002-08:002012-12-01T11:37:48.638-08:00Mark Your Calendars!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.beadsoupblogparty.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNIe1yupCAfmRmUExpi0eCTyKDb6tx87sWj6CpI-PknH4JrJ1847TjorA8nZkfeQR6C-wKOWcjwUs4jlrP-RX1GZOmLMaI1BhUHlekhlDvmkwZzHKwHj8Bvs2vxVsGABfGtj4puvO6RM/s640/Bead+Soup+Blog+Jan+25.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-79427073219762877292012-12-01T08:22:00.001-08:002012-12-01T08:22:04.588-08:00Lori Anderson has done it again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/11/memories-and-thanks-blog-hop.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslTshDz01KEP7I9-VCDx_g-It2MWEFIETkyxLBWZ9HxxFEJInFKCupNBt3ylyCK4npr1zAboY1gAL7i97yN_PKxuMDQ6zVjmIT6jHK0z5BKFIU_A9yOirUmConIHtirmKE-6lP6jRg70/s640/memories-and-thanks.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-63602963251217464092012-12-01T06:54:00.001-08:002012-12-01T06:54:35.518-08:00And the Winner of the Party on Mars Necklace Is Iveth Caruso!It's that time! Time for the winner to be announced in the drawing for the Party on Mars necklace as part of the <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/" target="_blank">Artisan Whimsy</a> Market for the 2012 Holiday Collection. If you are anything like me, you have visited everyone's shops, perused, perhaps purchased and with a little luck from the USPS, PLAYED with your new goodies. <br />
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Now that you've waited all week to see it, here is the drawing results for the contest on my blog.<br />
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So I'm having a blonde moment and I cannot get that random number generator in my page, but I got it on the side bar....The numbers are from 1 to 14 and the lucky number is: # 1!<br />
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Congratulations to Iveth Caruso, the Creative Atelier. Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for shipping information and thank you to everyone who follows my crazee blog! Blessings to all this holiday season! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-90674085925166102052012-11-30T15:23:00.000-08:002012-11-30T15:23:54.434-08:00Reflections of the Day A thing is complete<br />
when you can<br />
let it<br />
be.<br />
~Gita Bellin<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-73108352547354170032012-11-26T08:40:00.002-08:002012-11-26T08:44:46.983-08:00Bead Caps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteoKbvHwsw7Ogp5Wih3xmwPTelXH1mhXCIBevmcUn4TofWnfDQoC8KhMSM6ADoo9plDD3jl42IvZuL0rhMY9p6KO4XtPkLIAmkdHk5HFmPZGgxLSTahROuMPTqrz0mO9foyOElydSpDU/s1600/DSC01009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteoKbvHwsw7Ogp5Wih3xmwPTelXH1mhXCIBevmcUn4TofWnfDQoC8KhMSM6ADoo9plDD3jl42IvZuL0rhMY9p6KO4XtPkLIAmkdHk5HFmPZGgxLSTahROuMPTqrz0mO9foyOElydSpDU/s320/DSC01009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It was gently pointed out that some of my readers will not know what a bead cap IS...so here are a couple of pictures taken earlier this month. Fine silver and copper. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-79986521761919751712012-11-26T08:19:00.001-08:002012-11-26T08:44:32.460-08:00Cyber Monday...where?Okay, so I am not big on B.F. after Thanksgiving. I don't even like to acknowledge it in any commercial sense with regard to big retailers. I know that the deals are frequently better on the very same items in the beginning of November, if there really is a Must Have of anything. I've been prudent, feeling that what I must have this year is really LESS of any thing and MORE of space.<br />
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To whit, I am sitting here, frustrated after an hour online trying to Cyber a deal on a microwave. No Deal. Really. We bought this cute Magic Chef at Home Depot in July. It stopped on Thanksgiving morning. Really.
Now, it's not that we are big microwaver-s and have used it to death. Personally, I use it once every morning to heat water for my coffee press...7:11 minutes to be exact. Just water. Occasionally, my husband will have some coffee and by the time he adds the sugar and the creamer, one more minute to re-heat his coffee back to an acceptable level. We do heat the occasional left overs, but as I do not like leftovers of Anything, that is usually just a few minutes here and there. Having explained all this leaves me feeling CHEATED by the microwave company. I don't blame Home Depot, really, since there was this warranty. But since it would cost me more to ship the thing back than I paid for it, I am left with a useless piece of electronics...a.k.a, the <b>Boat Anchor</b>. Not recyclable. Not useable. Another piece of blight on the soil of this country.
So, I cyber searched this morning. No deals. What I did find are HUGE amounts of online reviews of people reporting the same issues with ANY brand of microwave.<br />
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So is this life for all of us now? To spend roughly $100 on a small microwave to have it die in 4 months? Math, anyone. Yes, it is less than a dollar a day, if you use it every day, but that is compared to microwaves that lasted 15 years. Even then, at a price of $400, for just 10 years, that is a cost, of um, <calculator required="required">, a whopping 11 CENTS a day. And I rounded UP. </calculator><br />
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<calculator required="required">I am left thinking that this is just another sign of <i>greed run amok </i>in the good ole' US. [I don't subscribe anymore to the 'of America' part, but that has to do with freedom and rights and the Constitution and I won't go into that here. I might though, one day.] What bothers me is that I cannot determine if my product was even made in America. Is anything these days? </calculator><br />
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<calculator required="required">In the meantime, I am boiling water on the stove. It worked for my grandmother, so I am betting it will still work for me. But as I get ready to drag my German vacuum cleaner out to try and suck up the remnants of the Thanksgiving weekend, I am most struck by the fact that Made in America used to be common place, and it used to mean Quality. </calculator><br />
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<calculator required="required">Today I am sad. Not about the microwave. But because there are so many wonderful people in this country, who care about their work and who would be happy to go and earn the money needed to support their families and with loving attention, make a quality product for others. Because when we talk about Handmade, the line for me gets a little blurry on this one. Yes, my bead caps are made with lots of love and attention and a bit of my very own Soul. The beads I bought this weekend from other Artists are made the same way. I can <i>feel</i> it. And I'm willing to bet that many of my readers know it in the same way. It evokes joy, bliss and pleasure to hold in your hand such a treasure. </calculator><br />
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<calculator required="required">PLEASE, tell me again how that differs from ANY thing made the same way? Or any work performed with attention to detail and the sense that what we do MATTERS. It does Matter. If you work somewhere and you throw your heart in to what you do, it matters. And there are those of us who Know it and Appreciate it and are Thankful more than just one day a year.
</calculator>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-84676101045058682192012-11-20T04:01:00.002-08:002012-11-22T05:59:56.593-08:00Art Giveaway! In conjunction with the Artisan Whimsy 2012 Holiday Collection, I will be sponsoring a give-away of the<i> Party on Mars </i>necklace from my <i>First Galaxy Series from 2012!</i> This handmade necklace features beautiful red candy jade and artisan lamp work beads by Beth Blosser of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PomegranateGlass" target="_blank">Pomegranate Glass</a> woven with crystals and warm copper trimmings. This one of a kind necklace was previously listed in my Etsy shop with a retail value of $40.00, and can be yours FREE!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEb3jzUQmANG3xaEp6FKrVbZ0XibSMLAUbVEwVZyI6p59pUPQ3ho0186wuGAKL7qp_ezm7ZxwSjWVLH_2Wi5HEYlyK2UBgz8Frl07m43CtPHTG_29ZWH6x7Fo2YFPQ8tUz_2-TcHhRGM/s1600/DSC01287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEb3jzUQmANG3xaEp6FKrVbZ0XibSMLAUbVEwVZyI6p59pUPQ3ho0186wuGAKL7qp_ezm7ZxwSjWVLH_2Wi5HEYlyK2UBgz8Frl07m43CtPHTG_29ZWH6x7Fo2YFPQ8tUz_2-TcHhRGM/s640/DSC01287.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Entering is easy, just sign up to follow my blog and leave a comment on this post by November 30th! A random number generator will be used to identify the winner on December 1st. Please make sure to leave your name and email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. Shipping and insurance fees will be included and your package will arrive ready for wearing or giving this holiday season. Good luck to all!<br />
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For more choices in handmade gifts this holiday season, check out my items at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GoldkissesArt" target="_blank">Goldkisses Art.</a><br />
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For other artist blog giveaways, check out the listing on <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/artisan-whimsy-2012-holiday-collection?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank">Artisan Whimsy</a>!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-67073543349012411372012-11-20T03:30:00.001-08:002012-11-20T03:30:29.995-08:00Artisan Whimsy Market 2012 Holiday Collection
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<span id="goog_1467792758"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"><br /><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/g3LzobQTVuiBEuVqIaY9dyMQ0GB45YjHk--dHBPsz4OSzF6LCGZQuQU1XRdfACtEP4tQPYtO2dABxLwvBSPGW6hfdS7Xd2RT/76256_461111867263471_1564855450_n.jpg?width=750" width="750" /></a><span id="goog_1467792759"></span><a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/artisan-whimsy-2012-holiday-collection?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank">http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/artisan-whimsy-2012-holiday-collection?xg_source=msg_mes_network</a></div>
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Shop the finest Jewelry Designers For the 2012 Holiday
Season</div>
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Many of our artists have published work & sell their
beautiful pieces nationally and internationally.</div>
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See something you like?<br />Please click on the picture to
browse their giveaway and view all their <br /><strong><span class="font-size-7">Fabulous Handmade Jewelry Pieces.</span></strong></div>
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All participating jewelry designers will be offering a unique
discount in their stores <br />& each will be promoting a GIVEAWAY!</div>
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(who doesn't love a giveaway??) </div>
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Our group will be offering over $700 combined in
prizes!! <br />Winners will be chosen individually by the blog owners.</div>
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For event wide discount code use: <em>AWHOLIDAY</em></div>
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<br />We will be hiding<br /><span class="font-size-6"><strong>Three
Exciting Giveaways </strong></span><br />throughout our participants blogs.
<br />When you find them, follow the directions to be entered! <br />Thanks for
shopping HANDMADE! </div>
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Visit Artisan Whimsy at: <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network">http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-84875654383253984292012-11-11T03:49:00.004-08:002012-11-11T03:49:46.970-08:00Where the Truth Lies<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere
along the line, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">that which is
true is being made to appear false, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">because that which is false is accepted as
truth.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">—Dewey
Larson</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-65205739252723099292012-11-02T06:37:00.002-07:002012-11-02T06:37:25.727-07:00Friday's Words of WisdomFrom <i>The Sacred Yes</i> by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh:<br />
<br />
We are not here just to survive<br />
and live long...<br />
We are here to live and know life<br />
in its multi-dimensions<br />
to know life in its richness,<br />
in all its variety.<br />
<br />
And when a man lives<br />
multi-dimensionally,<br />
explores all possibilities available,<br />
never shrinks back from any challenge,<br />
goes, rushes to it, welcomes it,<br />
rises to the occasion<br />
then life becomes a flame,<br />
life blooms.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-82115990365838572112012-11-01T15:25:00.001-07:002012-11-01T15:25:10.441-07:00• Painting with Fire Studio • torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads •<a href="http://www.paintingwithfirestudio.com/">• Painting with Fire Studio • torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads •</a>: Painting with Fire Studio - torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads - St. Petersburg, FloridaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-75498200036076518822012-11-01T07:16:00.004-07:002012-11-01T07:16:45.756-07:00Shannon Hearts Giveaway<a href="http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-blue-druzy-necklace-from-hfinn.html" target="_blank">Shannon Hearts Blog</a> is hosting a give away of a beautiful blue druzy necklace made by H.Finn Jewelry. You can enter on the blog and in a variety of ways to increase your chances!<br />
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You can also see more of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HFinnJewelry#" target="_blank">H.Finn Jewelry</a> at her shop. What a wonderful opportunity to win something breathtaking!<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7694850963162181813.post-62081619513376155872012-10-26T07:11:00.000-07:002012-10-26T07:11:33.048-07:00Send it out into the WorldToday I was going to post words of wisdom from one of the many volumes suffusing our living spaces. A randomly chosen book; a randomly chosen page. I trust that Spirit will do the rest. As so it has. <br />
<br />
Life is full<br />
and overflowing with the new.<br />
<br />
But it is necessary to empty out the old to make room<br />
for the new to enter. <br />
Eileen Caddy<br />
Footprints on the Path<br />
<br />
<br />
I have no idea when Eileen actually wrote these words. Perhaps it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that this is a concept which has been repeating itself over and over again this year, and not just for me, but for others I know. This is not the first time I've heard the concept either. In fact, I thought my Father invented it!<br />
<br />
Several years ago, my parents began practicing what I can only now assume to be this same wisdom. Shopping with my Mom, we perused and wandered through the mall, ending at our favorite store. We had fun picking things out, trying things on. What surprised me is when my Mom, potential new blouse in hand, stood very still and thoughtful. This deep musing confused me, and I just had to ask what was going on. That is when she informed me that my Dad had suggested that they begin an effort to never bring in anything new that there wasn't something that they could release, or Send Out into the World. My Mom was totally committed to the idea, but standing there, struggling to decide what she could part with, she suddenly turned and put the blouse back down, saying "I really like every thing I have".<br />
<br />
And so it began. It's catchy...and challenging. At first introduction, it seems clever and easily done. It's a little different when you are standing in your favorite store with some coveted little item you've found! So you bring the item home, and find that you enjoy it, but the requirement to send something else out into the world enters into the picture. Believe me, the first few times this occurs, you will not just find one item to let go of, but will begin to see things Everywhere! Not just that sweater in the closet that you haven't worn in 4 years, but what about those crazy mittens you bought when on a trip and forgot your gloves? Those were only worn one weekend, 7 years ago! So you give away two, gain one.<br />
<br />
Then, the concept gains momentum. You bring home one more thing, and give away 7 things. Then you find yourself with a box in the closet for those other things you come across that you know are out of style and better suited to Halloween costumes that taking space in your closet...and energy in your life. Then the seasons change. Summer turns to fall and we drag out our winter sweaters, our turtlenecks and fuzzy slippers. Go find another box for the sweaters you didn't wear, for that flannel nightgown your mother gave you last Christmas. Better to send them on to someone who will wear them all. Someone who would enjoy them, maybe who needs them desperately to stay warm this winter. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, this moves from clothes, to shoes, to knick knacks and kitchen appliances. It becomes the Great Release. Why? In my experience, it requires a LOT of Enegry to care for and manage our over abundant possessions. I'm not just talking about vacuumming and dusting all of these things, but also the sheer effort of always having so much to choose from in all facets of our daily lives. How many of us have more than two or three pair of jeans? Lipsticks? T-shirts in the same color? It is in the giving away, the letting go that we find more of our time, our energy and ourselves. We begin to see that what we want to surround ourselves with is a true picture of Who We Are and what makes us happy. <br />
<br />
And there's something else that we re-discover. This amazing transition occurs from a consciousness of
poverty and lack, to realizing how incredibly abundant all of life
really is! When we release all that is not a reflection of who we are now, and embrace what truly brings us joy we begin to find our way out of the stories that others have created for us about what we need, what we crave, what we Must Have. It's there every day in magazine ads, television and your in box promotions from your favorite stores. Must Have! One Day Only! So the letting go of small things leads to bigger things and space in our life opens up to allow new things to enter. I've always described this as the Universe abhors a Vacuum and will Move to Fill It. So the abundance that Spirit provides moves in when there is Space for It. And that means that it can come in many different forms. We just have to have the intention to open ourselves to let it Begin.<br />
<br />
The other wonderful thing that occurs is that this is catchy. Watch. Mom starts to do it, and the children will do it too. Even the hubby who will decide that he really doesn't need two leaf blowers, regardless of the number of trees. It moves through families, through friendships. It passes along in skips and hops. Some people just aren't ready to let go quite yet. There are those who hang on to everything forever with the thinking that one day they will need it again, or find a use for some odd thing. And that's okay too. What kept me going is knowing that there is the helping quality, a sense of satisfaction when you can give something you no longer really use or need to someone who could Really Use It Now. Whether it is food, shelter, clothing. <br />
<br />
There are all kinds of places to contact, places that coordinate Giving. There are charitable organizations that will take your donations and sell them to raise money for other purposes. One of my favorite now is the ReStore in Commerce. They sell donated items to raise money to build Habitat for Humanity houses. There are the Goodwill centers, the Salvation Army and perhaps even your church. Sometimes I find someone from Freecycle, a Yahoo! group that is free to join and where items are listed as Wanted and Taken, free to anyone in the group. I love the sense of Community in that. <br />
<br />
There also has been a re-education for us. I used to collect books. Many books. A voracious reader in years past, 50 a year was average. After some long soul searching, and slow weaning, my husband and I seperated out about 200 books which we then took to the local library. They sold them to raise money for new books. After estimating the money spent, we decided for the years to come, that we will not buy books that we can borrow at the library. We also calculated the money spent on books, which does not seem much at $12 or so a purchase, but was a substantial amount over the course of a year. That amount we earmarked for a direct donation to be used in the way the charity of our choice decides. Less energy involved for all concerned, and the effect is the same.<br />
<br />
This process has been ongoing for a year for us now, in earnest. I can honestly say that we have made great headway. I confess to owning far too many black sweaters, and too many pair of blue jeans, and well, there is still that 50 pairs of shoes! One day I will tackle that too. I promise. For now, I am just enjoying more free time to walk the dogs, snuggle the cats and write. <br />
<br />
And here's the challenge with the Words of Wisdom for today: What can you Send Out into the World to fill a need for someone else, and make room for the New to come into your Life?<br />
<br />
(and as an aside for Iveth, my sweet friend, who is now Master of the Process, you are a continual font of inspiration!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1