The time has gotten away from me.
I have been out of the country to Peurto Rico where I beach combed for beach glass, have a small dixie cup ready to play with. Also found a really cute bead shop in Old San Juan and bought some colorful beads. Somehow in the tropics they did not look so bright, now home wow are they vivid.
Unfortunately while on the trip I developed a problem with my eyesight. I had a vitreous tear and for the next one month had double vision in my left eye and huge floaters. Needless to say no beading got done. I was having terrible headaches even working on the computer at my job.
Eye sight is better the double vision improved but I have a permanent ring a stationary floater that is making it a bit difficult to work for long.
So in the meantime I am squirreling away beads and stones, to work on this next winter.

Some of the photographs my husband took in Puerto Rico, he is a fabulous artist with a camera.

New Orleans

What a fun and vibrant town. History and new all mixed in together. Lots and lots of artists with individual styles.
I picked up some new beads natural stones,4 pendants- fluorite, amber, green amethyst and topaz cabachon, pink coral. Best of all strands of old mardi gra glass beads. One of my two looks just like this, the other has some vibrant orange beads.

beading Sunday

I got together with a girlfriend today for hours of beading.
We made polymer clay pendants, beads.
1. We made  3 color canes, and used themto make both a flower and a paisley shaped pendants.
2. Free form colors. I used mainly purple clay with a bit of blue and pink to form a Japanese themed flower, dragon and leave pendant.
3. Orange and blue striped koi pendant set on a branch, and two coral twigs.
4.A multi-layererd pink and orange main pendant with kidney and round shaped beads.
Before baking we added embossing powders to bring out the shine. They came out beautiful!!

While they were baking I strung an Allison Strine Jewish themed soldered pendant. I used the minor colors two shades of green and rose colored beads.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/allisonstrine?ref=seller_info

Annapolis weekend

I do so love this town. We are having a great visit.......actually an awesome visit the youngest had a great time and has decided to complete her acceptance to USNA Class of 2016. I am so proud of her and can not wait for her to start her amazing career. If it is anything like her  big brothers time on the yard she will make memories and friendships that will last her a lifetime.

I had a fun time packing jewelry for the trip. For the month of February, the love month, I tend to wear jewelry with hearts or anything in pink or reds. I have some wonderful glass heart beads made by Bella Bead, Linda is an art teacher in New York and her work is detailed, fun and quirky.  http://lindasbellabeads.com/ I wore one with the evil eye and the other focal bead was a heart with wings and a peace sign.


My other necklace featured a magenta carved bead with a stick pearl and a dangly crystal on the bottom.

Annapolis

We are in Annapolis for our youngest daughter to do a candidate visit. I love this town. Everytime we visited while our oldest attended the USNA I found something new to love about it.
Mikes for crabs
Nano's for all their Asain food
New to You to find the best consignment store anywhere, we shopped so often we became friends with one of the owners and rented her house several times.
The greek restaurant on west for gyros
Carlsons Donut by morning and thai food by day: weird pairing yes but each is delicious
Famous Dave's for the garbage lid
city dock for coffee
The new mexican restaurant  Sin Fronteros on Forest: best margarietas, great cooks and the owner is present and caring, and soccer is usually playing on the tv

yes we did do others things in annapolis besides eat----shopping, shopping, people watching.
Chico's downtown, annapolis pottery, anything USNA, Peppers!!!

I never get tired of visiting!!

super bead sunday

It may be super bowl Sunday but I am not that into football.  So instead I had a "super bead sunday" I finished three necklaces.
These are polymer clay pendants made by me that I had finished last Thursday I wire wrapped them at a beading party. Nothing like friends, beads and some new skills to learn to make a good time.

The first pendant is green gold dove with very tiny accent beads, wire wrapped and strung with green jade, yellow and gold pearls and seed beads.
Second pendant was a copper clock with purple and blue accenting. I strung it with purple pearls, amethyst chips and seed beads.
The third is a turquoise and purple owl wrapped with a darker metal frame. It is on wrapped onto a copper chain. The chain has light blue pearls wire wrapped into the chain circle links.

Now the only question is which one I will donate to the silent art auction?
This is being done to raise money for Project Graduation for Horseheads High School I am honored to be asked to participate. Becca graduates this year the last of our three children to graduate from there.

Life is getting a bit busy

I love that I have a variety of necklaces to pick from every day.
I love that many of my pieces are from an amazing artist Allison Strine she does these fun paintings adds quirky sayings but best of all makes miniature soldered pendants. I love getting the one that best fits my mood at the time. http://allisonstrine.com/gallery/index.php?x=browse

This one I word with a khaki shirt and a purple sweater. The back saying is "Her favorite color is Sparkle"