What now?

Random bits is all I can provide today so here it goes...

I lost a very important extended family member today.

I'm heartbroken, and scared for the future of her family without her.

I feel like I'm wandering in a thick fog.

Craft table #2 is this Sat. at 8am. Ahh!

I did finally pay the monthly family bills (goal was Friday the 15th)

 I did submit this month's Scholastic book orders for the classrooms I handle on time!

I still haven't introduced you to my AWESOME BSBP7 partner, Ren.

She received her beads today, and seems happy with them.
 The soup dramatically changed before I shipped it, but I liked it.
More on that in another post.
 

I waste too much time on Pinterest.  

(link takes you to my boards)

Thea's having a giveaway to celebrate 1st anniversary of Thea Too.

Oh and here's the first thing I've completed this year that I actually like.

Yep, it's a brain fart.

My 9 year old son told me a fart looked like a green cloud
while I was cleaning up my polymer clay. 
Yep inspiration can come from anywhere!

My First Craft Table-2012 Resolution Complete

When you don't know what to do...finish all the blog posts in your drafts.
This one was started the second week of December 2012.

Last year I swore 2012 would be the year I finally offered my jewelry for sale.  I set an original goal of August, but this summer was a real kick in the teeth.  Despite everything I completed my goal on December 1, 2012 on KAB at the Tinsel Town Event.

I embellished plain white bags with a stamp and an address label.

I designed and printed business cards and tried the slinky tip I saw on both a fb group and pinterst.
Nobody wanted to mess it up.  I'm the only one who pulled from the coils.

I did a practice set up in my kitchen table.

I made 2 little signs.

I actually went.  Yes, I thought about backing out a lot.

I brought along two very handsome helpers.

I brought a mirror.
Yep, this makes 2 of my son's 
photos that have made it into this post.

I had beadwork, resin, stringing & polymer clay.
Yeah, always trying new things.

There was soldering and sea urchins too!

and even something for the kids.
These are the only things that actually sold out.

 We were right behind photos with Santa.  
See the little red house?

Here come his helpers.
Have you noticed it's been raining the whole time?

But nothing stops a visit to Santa.

At this point the rain really started to pour down so my clever husband made a rain shield with the other plastic table cover and a sheet.

but it was too short to cover the entire back of the tent so this was his solution.
It kept us warm and dry so it was perfect.  Though it was time to put up the camera for safe keeping.

Many (almost all) other vendors didn't make it through the first hour with displays falling over and blowing down the row.  You could hear glass breaking, gasping, and tape pulling.  With hubby's clever wind block and me opting not to put the long skirt on the table we did surprisingly well in the stuff not blowing over department.

Plus I made back the money I spent to be there 3 times over.
 I also realized I've made way way too much stuff I never planned on using myself.

After the booths were to close Tracy Adkins performed as a holiday treat.  We stayed till we couldn't take the cold and wet of our clothes anymore.

All and all a success in my book.
  I'm set for round two later this month at Market Day hosted by the local community center.
This time I'll be inside!

Chicken & Funk

I haven't been able to sit down and create a piece of jewelry since before my first craft show which was December 1st.  I've made gifts, class treats, tons of Box Tops prize packs, posters, bulletin boards, newsletters, book order reminder bookmarks, pinewood derby trophies, and on, and on, and on...but no jewelry.

I've tried exploring pinterest, flipping through old issues of Beadwork and Bead & Button and checking out my many facebook beadie groups.  I even started this post 2 weeks ago.  From the title I think I was going to share my cooking experience from this pin:  crescent chicken (This pin doesn't take you straight to it. For the direct route click HERE.) 

If you knew me in person you'd know looking for recipes is the ultimate sign of distress.  Even my child will tell a stranger, "Mom can't cook."  Oh my goodness, it's so true!  My poor husband can cook, but he'll still choke down my attempts and play sous chef when I try the next time.  (I really think he's in there to extinguish fires and prevents me from cutting off a finger.  Yep, it's happened.  Well, not the finger thing.

You know how far down in this creative funk I'm in?  ...I've cooked 2 new recipes.  The second one was actually idiot proof. Hubby handling the pepperoni crisping made it me proof anyway.  This one even kept my son from his ever so encouraging and consistent vow of, "I'm not eating that."  In his defense, he's had several deployments worth of my cooking so he's knows better than anyone else.  He learned to microwave his own bacon at 4 because I burned it 2 days in a row.  Yep, I'm like a tank in a petunia patch.  Ok enough about my inability to cook.  What to I do about my inability to even sit down with my beads? 

Oh and one more thing to scare the pants off anyone whose met me...I hired a cleaning lady. 






No worries potential bead soup partner.  I picked out a few things before my show, and bought a whole pile to go with them since.   

From Slovenia to Japan

I won the most amazing earring from Alenka of Pepita Handmade

way back on November 9th.

Apparently, it takes a long time to ship from Slovenia to Japan.
I entered into google maps and it said, "we could not calculate directions."
It seems the postal service had the same problem.

Despite all this, and just in time
 to help make gingerbread "structures" with my son's class
they arrive!

I was just on the wrong side of the camera
to show you what they look like on.

They are more beautiful than I imagined,
 and much, much lighter than you would think.

Thank you Alenka for sharing your jewelry with me.
They are a fine example of wearable art,
 and I adore them.

It's almost Christmas!

The tree is up.

(There are presents under it now too.)

The cards are mailed.

(And seem to be arriving on time.)

I made an advent package for Miranda's swap,

(Advent numbers found here)

and received one too from Miranda herself.

Here's where I am today.

(#25 is under the tree.)

I finished the treats for the cookie exchange.

Though all my favorite cookie recipes didn't meet the allergy requirements.

So I ended up making Merry Marshrooms.

(From desperation comes inspiration, right.)

Recipe:  Dip big marshmallows in candy melts.

Immediately dip in sprinkles 

(TIP:  if you don't dip to the bottom of the dish the candy wont sully the sprinkles.)

set aside till the candy hardens

Voila!


UPDATE:  So I forget everyone doesn't have the same background info I do.
There are several ways to melt Wilton candy melts, but I use a double boiler.  Actually I use one little sauce pot sitting on top of another because I refuse to pay $40 for a double boiler.  The bottom one holds water & the top one the candy melts.  I have set an electric stove eye about 1/4 the way to high and an gas stove between an 1/8 & 1/4.  Keep stirring, and it'll be perfect for dipping.

I put 3 in a treat bag.  I figure that's enough for a cavity or two.

(TIP: I cut the top off the treat bags so they are more appropriate in size 

and even cut the twist ties in half.)

I'm the baker not the chef.  SO I'm trying to figure out how to ask my dear husband

if he could make a turkey for Christmas.  He made 2 beautiful hams like this one for Thanksgiving, 

but I'd really like some turkey.

All the gifts that have arrived are wrapped.

Nope!  Hubby just called and said he has another box.

Good thing I didn't put the wrapping supplies up yet.

I found a bunch of great gift tags on pinterest if you need a few

here's my Christmas board.

Merry Christmas from me and my guys!

HBBH #2

Wow, what a busy holiday season! 

First a little info on HBBH:

Shelley Graham Turner & Marlene Cupo are amazing, outstanding, phenomenal women.  Who's combined genius have lead me and many others to create beautiful pieces for not one but TWO "Holiday Bling Blog Hops."

This is the reveal day for the second as I'm sure you've deduced by now.

On the first reveal day all I could show you was what I had sent since I didn't have a gift to reveal.


Well, I think Marlene and Shelly must have felt bad for those of us with partners who didn't follow through because this time I was paired with someone who could be my wiser, prettier more talented twin.  We're both Navy wives, crafters and moms.  She's much more active in sharing her work than I am, but I've made a great big leap forward recently.  I had my first craft table on the first of December.  I'll post more about that later.  

So take the time to meet...

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs.  She's an amazing partner.  

She sent me an ornament, a set of beads and a gorgeous necklace and earring set.

She considered my favorite colors when making these pieces.  

(orange like the sunset and teal like the sea)  

The mermaid is in fact something we both shared having lived in the Hampton Roads area before.  

 

 The city of Norfolk has many mermaids.  There is even a tourist map to find them all.  I believe surrounding cities have gotten involved now as well.  The last time I lived in the area I lived in Ocean View and this is the mermaid from the library there.

 You can see more Norfolk mermaids here.

click "the mermaids" then photo gallery

 

Here's a few more close ups of Tammie's amazing clay work:

Here's a quick peek at what I sent...

but please take time to visit Tammie's blog as well.

sea urchin "tree"

washi paper to cover the opening

This is the Bella Necklace design by Maria Teresa Morgan.  Beadwork done by me and pattern found in the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Beadwork magazine.  I loved how this one turned out so much I made 2 more with other color combinations.  But more on that another day. 

Now it's time to go check out everyone else's "bling."

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Shirley Moore	http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Catherine King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Elaine Ray	http://elaineray.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Ginger Bishop	http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley	http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts
Sandra McGriff	http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Melinda Abrahamson	http://www.firstreetcrafts.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels	http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Chandra Merod	http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars	http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Kelley Fogel	http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith	http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Heather Rats Otto	http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.leelucreations.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

My partner for HBBH #1 actually did ship me something about a week after the blog hop. 
Better late than never right. SO thanks Melinda.

Art Charm Auction benefiting Beads of Courage

Okay maybe you're like me, and wait till an auction is about to close before you bid.  Well, get ready because our charms from the Art Charm Swap will end in less than 24 hours.

Check them out HERE.

One of my fellow charm swappers, Monique of A Half-Baked Notion, made some great photo collages of the charms up for sale.  Like this one which features my bead.  See mine bottom left?  I'm still very honored to be a part of a group with all this talent.

Now take a minute, and head over to eBay to place a bid for a great cause.

You'll be glad you helped out, and be the proud owner of a wonderful, tiny piece of art.