Thursday, February 13, 2014

It Feels Like Spring!

Since it's been unseasonably cold for many of you I thought I'd share
some flower photos from my trip last weekend to the Ocean Expo Park.
Hibiscus are the official flower of Okinawa.
See my fat finger there? This bloom was massive. 
It probably could have been used as a child's hat.
  
I read about these in the paper. 
They are genetically engineered "blue" orchids. 
They still look purple to me.
 There were massive orchid displays 
as part of the international orchid show 
that was being held there at the time.
 This is a full view of the display 
with the "blue" orchids mentioned above.
My favorite display of the orchid show each year.
In the background is the symbol of the tropical dream center.
The midground shows the Wonderland maze display for the orchid show.
 It rained all day, but it started to rain too hard to have my camera out.
So we headed for lunch.
 This window shows the banyan tree, a Kijimuna or Okinawan fairy 
& Okinawa's endangered bird the Yanbaru Kuina or Okinawan Rail.
It was created by this artist. She came to one of the base libraries a few years back. My son had the opportunity to meet her, and participate in a class where she taught them to make animal art with recycled materials.
Have a Great Day!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Pop Rocks Valentines

In years past I have gone above and beyond with holiday gifts for my son's class.

I am by no means consistent, but I've been that Pinterest mom that pisses off the other moms.
I'm a bit proud of that actually. If I am willing to put forth the time and effort to create these things no one gets to take my pride in that away.

As a fifth grader my son really doesn't care as much any more so 
I'm keeping it simple, but still doing my thing.

For lacrosse half time snacks last weekend I just took a sharpie and wrote "Go Middies!", "Keep up the Great Work", "You're Awesome", etc. on the Ziplocs which I filled with both green and purple seedless grapes. Thank goodness I sampled the grapes. I had bought 3 colors, but the red ones had seeds. Ooops!

So Valentines I asked my son which one he'd like. He says, "Pop Rocks," and walks away. That's not always something you can find here on island so I ordered some, and they've been sitting in my craft table for about 2 weeks. 

Since Valentine's Day is Friday I thought today, Tuesday, would be a good day to begin.
Yeah cutting it a little too close for my liking, but life's been getting in the way around here.

Anyway, here's a copy of the little Valentine I've spent most of the morning making. Maybe it will be of use to someone else who's running a bit behind this year.

  
Click HERE

Thanks!

Have a Beautiful Day!


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Okinawa Sea Postcards

Just thought I'd share a bit of my postcard collection. 
For those of you who don't know I am currently active on postcrossing.com. 
I love postcards! 
I was fortunate enough to inherit my grandmother's collection 
as well as continue it with my own travels and those of my friends.
Here are a few of my sea views collected while on the Okinawan islands.
sea1
sea2
sea3
sea4


sea5
sea6
sea7
sea8


sea9
sea10
sea11

sea12


sea 13


Sunday, January 5, 2014

Hexis, quotes and motivation

I can't tell you why, but my beads are ignoring me. I sit there and piddle and tidy and put items together, but nothing gets made. So I'm being creative in other ways right now. 

Yesterday I finished my Christmas card book for 2013. 
I didn't take pictures, but HERE is the tutorial I did for them before.

I thought I was going to make this PIN. I think my hexagons are too big though. 
 Not bad for a first attempt at hexagons. I love it so much. So I'll turn it into some sort of pouch.

Then I finally did something with those glitter push pins I made so, so long ago.
I typed and printed some of my favorite quotes off pintrest, and 
used a few pins to hold them on cork coasters.
I've added them to my inventory at a local gift shop where I sell some of my things.
Sorry I always take pictures when I finish a project and with the boys home that is always at night.
BUT...school starts back in the morning! Yep, I'm one of those moms who's super excited about that.

Other than that I'm searching local shops for the rest of my set of Disney toys. 
They come in Kinder eggs (which are banned in the US).
I only need Ariel, the colored Minnie and the mystery figure to complete my set.
The last time they did a Disney set I found the mystery figure 
in the 4th egg and forgot to complete the set.
I know it sounds silly to spend money on these things,  but my little sister LOVES Disney. 
My son will eventually relinquish these to her so I try to find as many as I can 
since she can't buy them in the US.

Alrighty off to bed because real life kicks back in in just 11 short hours.

Oh hey is anyone out there interested in a blog hop involving quotes, words or anything to do with letters? I'm rolling an idea around and might just host my first blog hop for my birthday (in April). What do you think?




Friday, December 27, 2013

Happy Holidays Everyone!


I haven't made any jewelry recently, but I made some snowflakes before Christmas.
clothespin snowflakes/stars





I started with this pin
using wood glue instead of hot glue though. That's why they are laying on wax paper to dry.

Then I brushed Elmer's school glue on to the snowflake and shook glitter where I had applied glue. I used Elmer's because it stayed wet longer than the wood glue. I still had to glue only 1/4 of the snowflake at a time, shake glitter and repeat.

HINT: If you do the sides first you still have something to hang on to. Then do the top and let it all dry. This way when you go to do the bottom you can add a bit more glue to any spots that didn't take.

Hint #2: Don't brush glue over the pile excess of glitter you plan on reusing.  I had 2 sheets of paper down: one to glue over and one to glitter over.

Then I made plastic bead snowflakes. 
I adore any project that is made 100% with things I already had in my craft room.
For these I used this youtube video.
Mine aren't exactly like hers, but again 
I only used things I already had here. So I made do and made it my own.

Finally the reason for my post today.
I'm sharing this here to avoid ruining the surprise for our snowman loving friend.

I have some truly creative friends,
 and unlike me some of them are teaching their kids their skills. 
(My son couldn't possibly care less even though he always tells me, "It's great Mom.")

This was made by my friend Vanessa and her daughter Evie. 
I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but when she posted 
her snowman family of four on facebook I was a bit envious of what she had created.
Now I've got one too! Yep, I'm that excited.
Thanks so much Vanessa.
It's the cutest sock creation I've ever seen. 
Plus it's weighted so it doesn't tip over like the ones I tried making years ago.
The candies are a bit too yummy, but I'm trying to control myself.

Before today it was still socks that were my favorite Christmas gift.
something Santa left in my stocking
 My son wanted his Domo socks in the picture too, but was too busy 
unwrapping to put them on. Silly Boy!

What did Santa bring you?















































































































Friday, November 15, 2013

Art Charm Swap & Beads of Courage Auction

This is my second year participating in Jennifer Cameron's 
Art Charm Swap and Auction benefiting Beads of Courage.
 100% of the money is donated to a program I'm really proud to support. 
BOC helps children with serious illnesses or long hospitalizations 
honor their story.
Each bead represents a procedure, hospital stay, surgery, etc.
This year's theme for creating-love.
 
I tired to think of something other than my garden as inspiration, 
but my work table looks out on it so it won again.

The pattern is by my first ever blog hop partner, Martina Nagele. She's the most amazing seed beader I've worked with. Here's the pattern she gave to the beading world. It's what she used as bead caps for the beads I sent her in that hop. So who ever has one of these know it came from an idea in Germany that was created in Japan and now lives with you. What a grand journey.
 As a military spouse, I've been fortunate enough to plant gardens in several places on this planet. Part of my gift to this world is a path of flowers. This charm was designed to show love for the world I'm grateful to be a part of. It's made with headpins, seed beads, Swarovski crystals and Fireline.
  I must say one of my favorite parts of this hop is the facebook group. Early on one member posted that during her search of inspiration she asked her husband, "How do I make love?" While it don't remember his reponse I do know it wasn't bead related. That still makes me giggle when I think about it. 

Jennifer thanks for creating a great place for us to converse while we create. It really makes the process even more enjoyable. So since I've had such a great experience both this year and last I did my best to create a second set for swapping and auction this year.

When I made this decision I was watching Letters to Juliet. Have you seen it?
Well, there is a line in that movie that inspired this next batch.
 
 I vowed to be absolutely un-me. 
No pressure. 
No stress. 
No judgement, self-doubt. 
Just creating my version of love for the sake of creating 
for charity and others to enjoy.
So I turned up my favorite music and started dancing. Then sat down to create these hearts inspired by the quote. Every time it was not fun or negative thoughts crept in I took a fun break till I was ready to enjoy every minute of the experience.
 
So these hearts are made with an overflowing happy heart. 
Yeah, life has it's dark bits as well as it's light, but you can add a silver lining to anything.
Only pic that showed silver lining.
  I must say my water bottom aluminum wire drying rack was a perfect solution when I had glazed myself into a corner.

Today's the day to start bidding on the work of these talented artists.
Tiny little masterpieces waiting for you to wear are waiting.
Click HERE to get started.

Here's what I received to give you an idea of what's in store for you to bid on.
One more great big THANKS to Jen Cameron our fabulous hostess.
I can't imagine what it took to photograph and get all these beauties ready for auction.
Don't forget to bid on some treasures to help us raise money for BOC.
Feel free to visit the other artist too.
Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.co.uk
Charlene Bausinger Jacka: http://clay-space.com/blog/