Guess who just accessed her old blog with the weird unknown email address?

ME!!!

Did you miss me? 

Did you read my other blog where I whine and cry about being unloved and poor?

Did you even notice I was gone?

Do you want me to post what I have been putting together or go away again?

Hehe.

Did you like that? 

Are you inspired again, 

all 1,349 page views that came and went that time I was gone with nothing new to see?

I am also working on a project that will help me explain what I do visually, in case any one is interested. I hope to be able to share more as I wrap things up and work on my organization, that which was once so gloriously efficient but now is as beaten down to useless as my belief in life-long love.

Down to a pulpy mess, sticky on the floor, where I step over it day after day after day, ignoring the even bigger mess it makes by over-looking it.  

Yep, that's how I like to deal with my problems, ignore them and play with beads and jewelry instead. 

 

A Ride of Awakening

Hesitating, terror gripped her in mental images of wrecked metal and scraped skin.

But she slung her leg up over the seat anyway and gripped his waist tight.

The rumble of the motor vibrated beneath her thighs and then there was no more time for fear, 

they were off, seemingly lifted into the air.

Wind stung her face and she tucked her chin into his leather covered back, squeezing harder to still the shaking.

The road to the side of his shoulder became a blur, trees sped past and colored lights turned to ribbon-ed streams against the indigo sky.

Something broke through fear.

Something lifted inside her.

Exhilaration. 

Freedom.

Fear conquered.

Awaken Pendant by Maire Dodd

 Now I'm not saying I'm going to turn into a biker chic, but Dang!
That was fun!

Hope on my Heart

I find Basha Beads very inspiring.

Wendy is a Winner!

The random generator gave us number 36; 

Wendy from The Crafter's Apprentice !

Wendy, I am excited to send these out to you! I also found a few of the pastel patinated copper discs that Lori used for her Vintage Bean Soup project so I am going to include some of those in your package.

Email me your mailing address and I will get these sent out to you pronto.

Thank you to everyone who visited my celebration post, I feel like I have made some new friends and I hope to get to know you all better through your own blogs.

And perhaps a future Bead Soup Blog Hop!?!

Blue Crab Soup with Chilies!

That's my soup name!

Isn't that fun!?!

Have you had such an exotic soup? I have not, but I want to try it.

As I do all these savory soup recipes included in this book!

There's Ginger Peach Soup by Lori, Stone Soup by Malin, Autumn Harvest Soup by Barb, Savory Tomato Soup by Kerry, Summer Strawberry and Mint Soup by Brandi and so much more. 

You'll be full for months!

Today is my celebration day for the week long blog hop. I am celebrating the release of this book for a few personal reasons;

1. Lori welcomed me into her blog circle with open, encouraging arms and she did not give up on me even though I became very uncommunicative while the preparations for publishing her book were underway.
2. I have met some of my best beading buddies through the bead soup blog parties.
3. There are some really good projects and know how in here...

Lori discusses bead soup beginnings and inspiration, using up left over beads, embellishing focals, referring to a color wheel and purchasing randomly (Gasp! But I plan everything out!!!). The projects are as varied as the designers are, but there is a lovely synchronicity to the flow of the book, which I enjoyed reading as much as I enjoy reading Lori's blog.

My own personal soup was sent in from Christine Damm, one of my most favorite polymer clay artist whose specialty of large donut focals and handmade beads seriously tempt my wallet every time I see them!

To have one of her silky, colorful sets in my hands that I could mix with beads is something I am very grateful for and I hope you enjoy the project I stepped out with it. 

Now I am sure you are not missing out on the prizes and give-aways and I would very much like to offer a set of the lavender flower beads that Lori uses in the books cover project;

So please leave a comment and I will send out a set of 4 to the winner drawn on Sunday.

Here is the remainder of the blog hop so you can continue celebrating and entering chances to win!

Sharon Palac -- http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com  

Heather Powers -- http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com 

Erin Prais-Hintz -- http://treasures-found.blogspot.com  

and for Monday, October 8th,

there will be a grand prize offer with a ton of goodies to enjoy!

Lori Anderson, www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Much Love & Respect,

Shannon 

Bead Soup Book Blog Hop Week

(dear publishers, please send high res, larger pixel pictures of covers to better show off your books)

Yay!!!!

It's here!

Super delicious and really cleverly pulled together using recipe cards and fresh "ingredient" lists!

To celebrate the book release, there's going to be a ParrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrTyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyY!

All week long, there will be discounts, give-aways and prizes at the following blogs;

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Rebecca Anderson -- http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

Barbara Bechtel -- http://secondsurf.com/wordpress/

Tuesday, October 2nd

Lori Anderson -- www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Kerry Bogert --   http://kabsconcepts.com/wp/ 

Melanie Brooks -- http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com

Jennifer Cameron -- http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com  

Wednesday, October 3rd

Lori Anderson -- www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Diane Cook -- www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

Malin de Koning -- www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com 

Thursday, October 4th

Lori Anderson -- www.PrettyThingsBlog.com 

Cassie Donlen -- http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com

Jeannie Dukic -- http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog  

Nan Emmett  -- http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/  

Lyn Foley --  http://lynfoleyblog.com  

Friday, October 5th

Lori Anderson -- www.PrettyThingsBlog.com 

Brandi Hussey -- http://www.brandigirlblog.com 

Cindy Wimmer -- www.SweetBeadStudio 

Saturday, October 6th

Shannon LeVart - http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/

Joanna Matuszczyk -- http://filcowe.blogspot.com

Melissa Meman -- http://www.melissameman.blogspot.com/ 

Stefanie Teufel -- http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/ 

Sunday, October 7th

Sharon Palac -- http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com  

Heather Powers -- http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com 

Erin Prais-Hintz -- http://treasures-found.blogspot.com  

Monday, October 8th

There will be a grand prize offer with a ton of goodies to enjoy!

Lori Anderson, www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

So enjoy the book blog hop and may the odds of winning be ever in your favor.  

:)

Super Easy Spectacular Flapper Necklace

Purchase as much footage as you can afford from metalliferous.

(The lariat shown uses 6.3mm raw brass ball chain.)

Fold a piece of sandpaper and run it over the ball chain to lightly scour the surface and clean it up.

Lay out the length you would like on an absorbent towel, I used 5 feet so I could double it up, and brush BLUE traditional patina randomly over the surface of the brass balls 

(why do I keep giggling whenever I write "brass balls"?).

Allow to develop and seal with a metal lacquer.

You can knot the length in front of you or slide the loose ends through the loop before sliding it over your head. Clasps can be wire-wrapped on for shorter styles if you would like to spend a little more time customizing this project.

Now get a fringy skirt and sexy stockings and a sweet moustachioed fella and do the Charleston!

Kitchen Finishing

Just in case you wonder why I am not on the computer much. :)

There's an autumn sunset coming up....

and it's calling my name.

This summer was so welcome, I relished the hundred degree weather and adjusted my schedule accordingly so I could be working in the garage early morning and late evening.

But I will admit it was starting to get to me. Concentrating so hard on tiny little objects, while heat waves rose from the concrete, sweat running down my backside and a dizzy feeling whenever I looked up.

Now I am ready for fall.

Kayaking in Meremac. 

We are diggin a fire pit so we can burn things (past transgressions) on crisp evenings.

Planning a neighborhood BBQ so Pinky can meet our neighbors.

The wineries.

Rides through the back country roads under multi-colored trees.

The apple orchard.

Hiking Elephant Rocks State Park. 

We're gonna paint recycled glass jars and hang em from the porch, fill them with solar lights we got from home depot.

Last night I opened the garage door and smelled burning leaves, it was so sweet....

Maire's whisper petal arrived and I was enthralled by the silken sheen of the torched and waxed metal.

I kept it close by for days as I pondered her enclosed poem by Aldous Huxley; 

Lightly, child, lightly.

You've got to learn to do

everything lightly.

Think lightly, act lightly, feel lightly.

Yes, feel lightly, even though you're feeling deeply.

I punched a hole at the bottom, snipped vintage crocheted lace apart, created a loop through one of them and the petal, then wire-wrapped an 8mm verdigris bead onto antiqued copper chain.

It sits here;

Tell me your plans.

Do you have fall family traditions you hold dear?

How are you expressing yourself this fall season?

Blessings Post No.1

I am taking the advise of one of my new wise women friends and creating a blessings journal.

Too much bad stuff has happened in a short period of time and I am fighting to remain positive, peaceful and helpful to my fellow mankind.

While I still enjoy the printed word, I am also seeing new life through the camera so I would like to share a blessing I have with you.

She turns darkness to light.

She bubbles up with excitement over things like walking the neighbors dog, getting her hands dirty, going for rides, straight legs in a cartwheel.

She adds color to my real life.

 

One of the most amazing things about her is how she thinks about other people. You saw her birthday video? How she turns the conversation to me? She does that with everyone and with everything. 

She did that here with the Fu Fu sign she painted on my work bench. She knows it's my favorite tree (a mimosa tree with the fuzzy pink fraggle rock lookin flowers?). 

She wants to get to know her neighbors "so we can check on them and see they're alright".

She seems born with that sense of community most people need to be reminded of.

I feel she was sent to me to balance my reclusiveness. 

Some people draw their energy from others, just like her daddy, and they can't be kept from what they receive as extroverts. 

As her mama, I have the keys and (sometimes) the cash to get her there and a chauffeuring sponsor is a role I will gladly embrace to help her fulfill all her dreams. 

I love you, Little Blessing.