Update

So we have moved, replaced a partial bathroom, painted, and are still unpacking and decorating our new house. The other reason I haven’t been around much is this little guy…



We knew we were going to get a dog and were planning on getting a Miniature Pinscher. We thought we’d wait until we settled in and were finished with everything in the warmer months of Spring/Summer, but nothing ever goes as planned! On one of the rescue sites online, I came across this little guy and fell in love. I can’t believe anyone would abuse an animal, let alone a tiny, adorable dog. He is a 1 ½ yr. old Min Pin, only 4.4 pounds.

He has a bunch of health issues – alopecia, allergies, anemia, hookworm, Lymes disease, anxiety, and was debarked by the breeder. After going through the adoption process with the rescue site; filling out paperwork & having a home inspection, March 2nd we drove 3 hours each way to bring him to his furever home with us. We love him so much and have been trying hard to get him healthy ASAP and give him a happy life full of love, fun, toys, walks, and security.



He is so much fun; loves to play and cuddle. He started his first Obedience class at the Kennel Club last week and has learned a lot – he knows heel, sit, about turn, slow, down, mind your business (well this one we’re still working on), give, come, and other words like food/dinner/breakfast, potty/outside, & drinky. He has brought us so much joy that we have already tried to rescue another, but it unfortunately didn’t work out, we weren’t quick enough.



So if I’m not around much, know that it is because I am dedicated to getting this lil dude better -and enjoying his silly antics!

I’ll get back to bead weaving once my studio is unpacked; it just might take a while.

Moving

We've been busy painting, shopping, and getting ready to move into our new house. I have temporarily closed my shop until we finish moving and all that fun stuff. Thank you for stopping by, I hope you return to see my new creations.

~Happy New Year!~

I will be taking a short break and may temporarily close my store while we paint & remodel our house.

Wishing all a happy & healthy new year filled with love & happiness.

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

We had a lovely dinner, watched Christmas movies, and relaxed.

This year while searching out better ways to hard boil eggs for deviled eggs, I came across some awesome tips that actually worked. Only one, out of a dozen, very fresh eggs were slightly pitted, all the rest peeled perfectly and quickly. I never knew that if your yolks are green or grey they are overcooked! The yolks came out a super bright yellow.

So here is what I did: Place eggs in a large pot of cold water with a tbsp or two of vinegar, about 1-2 inches above the eggs and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, shut off stove top, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes rinse briefly in cold water to cool then roll all the eggs on the countertop to crack them and then immediately peel under running cold water. Most people put them in an ice bath, run cold water over them, or store in fridge until ready to use, but the longer they are in cold water, the harder they are to peel. I will always hard boil & peel eggs this way!

On a side note, we've been so busy with house hunting and will be in transition soon again (we're so excited to buy a house, expand our family, settle down, and start new) so I may not be very active until early next year with new jewelry and/or posts. I truly miss creating, but the time is right for us to move into a new direction in our lives.

I wish you all a very happy holiday season & new year!

Another heat wave!

Wow, we are under yet another heat advisory with triple digit temps and high heat indexes. Boo hiss!

I guess I've been taking an unofficial break from beading and have been spending alot of time with family and doing fun outdoor activities. We've been to the Boerner Botanical Gardens, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Old World Wisconsin, House on the Rock, a few art fairs, and to the lake front. My husband and I have been walking every morning for a few miles before the sun and heat of the day. I've also been reading, playing with nail art, visiting the outdoor market, cooking, and (still) decorating our new home.

I've always been into nail art, and have recently been trying out some tutorials and using some of the cool new designs & polishes. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to nails if anyone cares to take a peek...Manicures. While I am not as proficient as some of the artists there, I have been practicing and here are a few manicures I did recently-

My first attempt at a gradient featuring Sally Hansen Sorbet & Sweet Sunrise, Wet n Wild Black Creme, and FingerPaints Purple Palette with Cheeky-m70...

My husband said this one was his favorite, and reminds him of Mehndi/Henna designs. I used two colors from the Hunger Games collection; Dress Me Up & Foie Gras with bm-314...

Finally got my hands on a holographic nail polish, which the picture really does not do it justice. I used Hi-Res & Black Creme with xl-E...

I visited a few local bead shops and picked up some more lucite cabs and other cool finds. I sketched a new necklace idea this morning and hope to make time to bead soon. Now that I am all unpacked and put away, I have no idea where anything is (yikes)!

Treasuries

*Reopened my Etsy shop today!*
I'm about halfway done setting up my new studio. I have a new design idea/sketch for a beadwoven necklace that I am excited to get started on. Hoping to be back in the swing of things soon.

A few gorgeous treasuries that feel like Spring to me...

Update

My dear father-in-law has passed and we are deeply saddened. I haven't been posting since my husband has been on bereavement and I just haven't felt like doing much. This is the 4th death of a loved one in about a year and a half and has been a very painful time.
We have decided to move rather suddenly (within a few weeks), so I'm not sure in the next month or so how often I'll be able to post. I may not have internet for awhile, since we are going to overlap places for a month and I will be busy packing, cleaning, unpacking, etc. Once we're through, I will be back to beading, pinning, posting, and creating new jewelry. I'm disappointed that I won't have time to finish my entry for the next EBW challenge (I have about an inch/hour of a beadwoven bangle bracelet completed), but it will be completed and listed once finished after our move is complete. I will still be checking email when I can and won't close shop until I have to briefly.
I'm looking forward to this change and am excited to be in a new space. I can't help but wonder how/if it will affect me creatively - I will have more space, light/sun, and hopefully an overall better environment. Maybe I'll post pics of my studio when it is all set up.

Update

Just a brief update...I'm taking a slight break (from Etsy, blogging, etc). I will be back sometime next week (hopefully) with more treasuries, Saturday Shops, promotions, and listings.
We've received some very sad news and I've been kinda lost in contemplation and haven't been feeling up to much other than pinning (boy has Pinterest been a much needed distraction! Anyone else on Pinterest?).
I have started a new project; a necklace that is both bead embroidered and beadwoven. It should be finished within a day or so, I will post a preview when it is done. I'm trying a new type of embellishing and it is a very fun piece.

Update

I've been working on my entry for the Etsy Bead Weavers next challenge for February; Nest. I'm only about 1/3 done and am hoping to finish within the next week. I'm truly enjoying the challenge of having to design within someone else's theme and try to put my vision into beads.

My Tranquil Beauty treasury is in a contest. If you'd like to vote you can go to: Contest



Have a wonderful day!

Copyright

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I'm simply taking a break until after the holidays. Contest season is soon approaching and I am planning lots of new designs for those and for my store.
I've started another blog, in which I will be moving my Meatless Monday Recipes to. So if you've been following those, please also follow my other blog, The Joy in Movement for more recipes & other fitness related items.
However, tonight I wanted to share two awesome posts on copyright that I came across recently. Great reads if you create, no matter your medium...
Somer Sherwood's post and Beki Haley's post.

Sneak Peek

In store soon...

I'm currently finishing a pair of Christmas earrings, pictures up later in the week.

3 gorgeous stones acquired over the weekend, will be working with soon...

Treasuries & an update

I've been working hard on a beadwoven and bead embroidered necklace, in hopes of finishing by this Monday. I tried a new-to-me stitch for part of the necklace and it has been quite fiddly and taking much longer than I thought it would. I'm hoping to have more time to blog once I finish this beast.
Here are a few beautiful treasuries from the past week...

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek at two new bracelets, in store soon...

A bunch of cabochons, 5 beads, and a piece of beach glass I've been glueing the past week for upcoming bead embroidery projects...

I'm currently working on next month's Etsy Beadweavers challenge, Totally Twisted, as well as another Christmas bracelet, and a bead embroidered & woven necklace.

Here is my latest treasury and one my Blue necklace has been featured in...