I'm Back (Sort Of)

Let's see, my last post was in January? Sheesh! I do apologize, but I've got my reasons. Both parents were in the hospital for different reasons, beginning December 26^th. Mom finally came home shortly after New Year's Day. Then there were weeks of doctor's appointments and chemotherapy and lots of tests and scans, all of which kept me away from my work. Then they both ended up BACK in the hospital at the same time again for different reasons. Unfortunately, Mom did not come home this time and she passed away on March 31^st. Dad is fine physically but it's going to take some time for him to adjust to living without her.

So, I am slowly coming out of my self-imposed hibernation and will soon regale you tales of the twins, the new baby that's on the way, Ariel becoming a teenager, T-man getting his degree and all the goodies I have up my sleeve. Please be patient. I still feel like I'm full of nothing but raw nerves, kind of like the butterfly emerging from the cocoon up there. Before you know it the posting will be back and so will I. Keep on beading on!

Where Have I Been?

kinda busy . . .



My grandsons are 3 1/2 months old now. It's almost time to come out of hibernation, so I'll be back soon.

It's Been A Month?

Wow! I had no idea that I had neglected the blog for so long! Okay, here's the scoop.

The wire is out and I feel great! Progress is good and I'm actually starting to move. I tried to drive. Driving went well, stopping did not. Fortunately I chose a safe place for the test.

Max came home the week before Thanksgiving!



Marshall is doing well and we're hoping he can come home by Christmas (positive thoughts, please!).



For Thanksgiving dinner we had our traditional mac and cheese with sausage, ending with a homemade lemon curd tart. The only thing missing was being in front of a campfire with a warm sleeping bag waiting. Next year we'll get back to that.

It's freaking cold here. We'll need to protect the garden from a freeze on Friday (we don't want to loose our winter tomatoes!) only to have it get all warm again next week. That's winter in Central Texas.

T-man finished the first classes of his degree plan with an 82 and a 97, and I am so proud of my husband!

Ariel has started rock climbing and made her very first summit.

I've had my first 2011 teaching proposal accepted and as soon as the contract is signed I'll have details. I'm finishing a new teaching piece. I'm in my winter doldrums and pretty much have to force myself to work.

And that's all I have for you. Stay warm and keep on beading on!

This Is Kind Of Cool

I found something a little different to share with you today. I know some of you use and keep smaller amounts of beads, and as such you want something inexpensive for your beads. Check this out. It uses not only inexpensive but recyclable supplies to make your storage tubes.

Hope the sun is shining on you today!

What More Could A Beader Want?

How about another chance to win Marcia's book? Hop on over to Lorelei's Blog and leave a comment. Maybe you'll win. Maybe I'll win. Someone is going to win!

AND if you pre-order Beverly's new book (also signed), you receive free beads and a chance to win beads and fibers worth over $400!

Don't forget about Art Bead Scene with their weekly giveaways and the monthly challenge. The newest challenge started this week. Take yourself on over and see the inspirational painting.

Everything I did bead-wise over the weekend must be redone. SIGH And I must go back to my orthopedic surgeon in two weeks to have a little something fixed. SIGH BUT the grandsons are growing like weeds and doing just fine, so something in my world is still okay!

Excuse My Being Remiss, Please!

It's been a hectic week here at Chez Bead-Mused. Fortunately, things have turned around. I got my most recent teaching proposal out the door just in the nick of time. Whew! Our little Marshall had a reaction to his dialysis fistulas, which caused a bit of alarm since the first thought was infection. Apparently this reaction is not unusual, just scary and for now he is fine. His dialysis starts next week so hopefully he'll be ready to come home in a few weeks. And Max is now four pounds big and nursing on his own. He'll be ready to come home soon. I'm waiting for just a few days when Natalie and Bryan can take deep calming breaths and just sit still for a while. And my physical therapy is progressing. This time has been a bit more difficult. I think it's just due to the other stress surrounding me right now, but I'll muddle through.

I have more giveaways and contests for you. I really didn't forget.

Heather Powers at Humbelbeads has a little project driven giveaway. You still have time to use your creativity to win a nifty prize. If nothing else, the visit is worth it just to look at Heather's designs.

I've missed seeing all the color on Beverly Gilbert's blog, but she more than made up for it this time. Hurry! You have until this weekend to enter and win and explosion of yumminess!

I'll try to keep up next week. In the meantime, have a fun, safe Halloween and remember to honor those who came before us on All Hallow's Eve.

Creative Thoughts

This is a "skewered dragon-fae" necklace that I made for my dear friend Michelle back in July. It was a special request, right down to the beautiful blues. Michelle and I met way back when I belonged to the fantasy/medieval role playing group (the same one wherein I met the love of my life). Once upon a time, Michelle and I did not speak to each other for years, which was a very sad time for me. We have since found our way back to each other, for which I'm exceedingly grateful. It's not easy to find good friends. It's even more difficult to hold on to them. I kept forgetting to post the picture of her birthday present! Her birthday is three days after mine, and her celebration was absolutely fantastic -- it was at a CHOCOLATE AND WINE BAR in Austin! Heavenly!!

And I've been trying to take my mind off my pain. It's a little worse this time, but this knee was in worse shape. Anyway . . .

I'm looking more at fibers. I left off fibers a while back, thinking that I just didn't have time to play with them. I might be wrong. I'm still hungering to work with wire more. I feel that if I make more of my own findings, the pieces will belong to me even more so. Of course, that might make parting with them even more difficult. Then there is metal. Geez, I love copper and bronze and etching seems not so difficult to do so I really, really want to.

But I also have to consider what I've chosen to do for a living and try to work all my little desires into the time I have left over when not coaxing little bits of glass into pleasing shapes and then writing down how to exactly that for others. And I couldn't leave those infuriating bits of melted sand if you held a gun to my head. As a result of all this musing, I've also been trying to think of ways to meld a few of the "I wants" with the tiny beads. Aha! (Believe me, it's probably much more difficult for me than it sounds.)

I'm also trying to come up with little items to stock in the Etsy store that folks might like to purchase for holiday gifts, and I've made the monumental decision to offer my patterns, tutorials and kits in the Etsy store. At this point I would like to open the floor to you, beadlings, to find out what you would like to see out of my repetoire of said patterns/tutorials/kits. Just remember that I'm still not up to full steam, so it will be a trickle of goodies, not a huge flood!

Have a beadiful weekend!