I love my sisters!

I love you both! A most awesome weekend!

(ps - love that you can see the two dogs and our photographer too!)

What a glorious weekend!

No beading, not one bead, not one wire, not one crimp! And I loved it.

My sister flew in from Seattle to spend the weekend with my other sister and I here in the DC area. We ate great meals (Cheesecake Factory, Sushi, Dim Sum) shopped until we dropped, got pedicures, shopped some more, ate great food! :)  We scored some great deals at the mall.  

And the best part, she is here tomorrow too! 

More shopping and perhaps some Lebanese Taverna for lunch!

Sisters are the best! 

Love you both!

MY PIF's

Well, I know that 4 of my 6 should have made it to their destinations and I wanted to share with you.

I loved making all of these. From the simple to the more complex.

 Wear them in good health.

Now, I do have to say something.  

See that pink twisted link thingy?

 I made that. I am sure some of you are laughing, but I was rather proud of it. Seed beads on wire and twisted. :)

I had such a good time, I may have to do it again! :)  I will share the other two when I know that they have reached their destinations.

Wise words

I get an email each day from the Universe each day and today's was spot on for me!

Really, all one has to do to transform their life, Courtney, is remind themselves to think and behave a little bit differently, each day. 

Rainbows, 

    The Universe

I just need to remember these words as I move through my days and nights. :)

Happy Friday.

Picnik - that place where hours get lost!

I have been there, gotten lost, and then found. Initially it was overwhelming for me. So many options, so many choices, the possiblities.

The more I play there, the more I love it!

This is a picture of pumpkins and shoes outside.

The tidal basin during the Cherry Blossom festival.

A single tulip.

                                                        

The orignals.

Have you been there? What have you created?

BTW

I know I missed BTW last week. Life got in the way! You know how that is......

So, here is what is on my table this week.

I can't say much more as it is a PIF. Hopefully she will get it today.

You should hop on over to flickr and see what everyone else is up to.

Paying it Forward

I got them done!

And mailed yesterday!

I have to say, I really, really enjoyed this. For me, it was creating with a purpose. I love to sit and make pieces, but this was even better! I asked folks for their favorite color and took it from there. I hope folks like them (and hey, if not they can take them apart and use the beads!) :)

I will post some pictures in a while. I don't want to spoil any surprises!

Ok folks, your turn. Pay it Forward!

Help

I keep trying to post pictures and can't. Is anyone else experiencing this? I have had to resort to using the old editor. Any thoughts??????

thanks

Michaels

Has anyone else noticed how wonderful Michaels bead selection has gotten lately? And the sales? I seem to need to drop by on weekends. Check these out.

Such fun beads! I used some of these for my PIF. Hope to get those all out today!

my PIF projects

Happy Sunny Saturday to you!

This promises to be a good weekend. Getting a massage this afternoon, friends for dinner and then I will have time to bead!

I am mailing out StaciLouise's necklace to day. She won it during my Bead Soup give away. I hope she likes it. (that is always the hardest thing for me, will who ever gets my pieces like them, will they live up to their expectations and bring them joy.....)

I have finished one of my PIF pieces, working on the second and then to the rest.

My sister comes next weekend from Seattle. We get to have a sisters weekend, just the three of us. I am not sure that we have ever done that without spouses and kids being around. So looking forward to just the three of us! 

I am trying to come up with something special for the three of us, still working on those - oh muse, where are you????? :)

Sending you lots of spring sunshine and joy!

cb

Rings & Things ~ Brushed copper beads

How I would love these! This brushed copper is wonderful. Hop on over and check them out.

Take our design challenge!

Take our design challenge!

The theme is brushed copper beads, look at ‘em:

Design challenge! Satin-finish copper beads

We think you’ll love these:
They’re gorgeously shiny…
fun to touch…

and we like how people’s faces light up when they see ‘em at ourbead shows!

When you hit that button toooo fast

 I was thinking about getting one.

I mean, I have wanted one for a really long time.

The possibilities.....

They just came out with a new version.

I don't need the new one, the old one is just fine with me.

But still expensive.

I have looked all over the internet ~ ebay, amazon.com, even those penny auction places.

Could I justify it?

My brother-in-law suggested a refurbished one.

I looked, double the memory for $30 more dollars.

That price keeps going up.....

But, I  wanted to know how long it would take to be shipped to me.

I Live Chatted.

She told me to put it in my cart, enter my info. and proceed.

The shipping options would pop up.

Right.

Oh, I loaded everything, entered my info and guess what?

No shipping options appeared but this is now coming to my house.

You should've seen the look on my son's face! 

First words out of his mouth - 

"Can I play with it ?"

Then,

"What are you going to tell Dad?"

Damn good question!

Bead Soup giveaway - part two

Nicole never got back to me so I went ahead and drew another name ~

Will Stacilouise please come on down!!!

Send me an email with your addy and choice and I will get it in the mail!

Happy Sunday!

PIF - Pay it Forward

I am the lucky recipient of Niky's Pay it Forward. 

I love this idea, sending joy to someone! Gifts in the mail.

So here goes...

Here are the rules from her blog.

'The first 5 people who comment on this post will receive a handmade gift by me (it could be any thing)! In return you must write a blog post explaining Pay It Forward 2011 and send your first 5 commenters a gift handmade by you.  It's a great way to make new friends and spread some handmade love around in Blogland! No rush to send them out today or tomorrow.. but do make sure you send them out...'

So, here goes. 

The first 5 people who comment here will get some handmade goodness from me. In addition to commenting, please leave me your favorite color.

What great way to make someone's day. It sure made mine.

BTW dangers

Yes, I said dangers. 

I go over to Flickr and look at everyones BTW pictures and then need to go to their Etsy shops and browse through ~ dangerous for my wallet.  There are so many amazingly talented artisans out there.

Bead Table Wednesday

Heather Powers of Humblebeads has encouraged us to share what is on our table with folks. My table today looks much like last week as my mom was here last weekend and I spent the weekend being spoiled.  I did want to share the picture of who is watching me bead though.

Her name is Stella! (my kids love calling her  name..Steeeellllllaaaa) She is the wonderful creation of Julianna of Julsbeads. I do love her and she sits there, offers words of encouragement and support and loves everything I create. :)  

Speaking of Juls, did you see these?????

Serious.Bead.Lust!!! 

Juls, your work is wonderful!

Beautifulness

On this bleary Sunday here in DC I just wanted to share some beautifulness.

I am very lucky! I work on the grounds of the National Cathedral in DC.  This was one afternoon last week leaving work and the sunlight was magical. Both taken with my iPhone, the second with Hipstamatic.  

These were the other day driving. A storm was rolling in and the sky was full of movement.

Again, for me, it was magical. And then the heavens opened up and it poured, poured rain.

It is supposed to rain all day today, and that is ok with me. Some days I like the peace and quiet of gray clouds and the sound of rain hitting the roof and wall. Once I take my mom to the airport and finish the  chores I hope to be able to take advantage of the peace and quiet and create!

Happy Sunday!

And the winner is.....

Good Morning!

The 

Winner

is

N.Valentine Studio!

Nicole, please contact me with your mailing address and choice of necklaces.

Congrats!

Bead Table Wednesday - and a big thank you

Thank you  to Lori for arranging this.  Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment, I tried to respond to all of you whose emails let me. Thank you for your words of encouragement! 

What an amazing group of artists. Did you see all those amazing pieces? Folks saying that they were beginners creating fantastic pieces,  those of you who are experienced creating breath taking pieces. Congratulations to you all. I hope you have hopped around. I did finish all of them, took me 4 days, but I did it! I tried to leave comments where I could. 

On to BTW.  Here is what is on my table.

Ha, no glasses this time. 

I actually had 3/4 of the necklace put together, wire wrapped and all, and - it just wasn't speaking to me. Took it apart, killed me but I did it.  I had to walk away and leave it alone. The muse was really frustrating me. Had nothing to do with the daughter "mehing" it. :) Love you.

Happy Wednesday - we are half way through.