ROAD TRIP

A long one at that!
Bob, Sunny and I are leaving for Phoenix .
I had a severe case of cabin fever last week. I really wanted to go somewhere. I Called Barb and asked if she minded company. She was happy to have us visit, so our plans began.
We're driving and taking the dog. That way we have no time restraints.
Who knows when we're coming home. Hopefully all will go well and we will stay 3 to 4 weeks.
I guess this is one of the benefits of being retired. JUST DO IT!
As long as the money doesn't run out.
Can't wait for warm weather and lots of sun

IS IT SPRING YET?

I' m so sick of winter ! More snow tonight.

I can't remember what the color green looks like. I guess I'm dreaming of the good old days of lush lawns, full bloom trees, colorful flowers, etc, etc etc. I'm learning what it's like to be a hermit. It's too much trouble going out in this. Oh well, at least I have choices.

Speaking of choices, I chose to do more beading . This time a necklace.

Check it out! This one took about 5 days of sitting around the TV at night and going blind! Am I bored yet? NO. I'm starting a new project tomorrow...

SOUL COLLAGE WORKSHOP

I had a wonderful experience yesterday. It has really uplifted me.
Thanks to Peg Lentz for conducting the SOUL COLLAGE WORKSHOP.
The entire event was well planned and most of all, it connected me to a part of myself I have lost.. Met some wonderful woman and connected
with old friends too.
The cards in the picture are the result of everyone's experience. We had a circle of meditation and song to honor them at the end.
Since I've been involved with Soul Collage for many years, I focused more on social issues than myself. What effects others also effects me on a collective level.
I'm so happy I participated and hope to go again....

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I just finished the above mask. I made it in the ceramics group at the clubhouse. I am giving it to Bob's mom for Mothers Day . I'm in the process of making another one to match it. She loves those colors. This sure is a departure from beading.

Surprise Surprise, another bracelet! It seems as if I've been using the color turquoise alot.

I'm beading a free form necklace next, with neutral colors.
Can't wait for tomorrow!. It's the Soul Collage workshop. I hope I get alot out of it

MY FEELINGS EXACTLY!

Made this yesterday on a dreary. rainy day. Go figure, RAIN? Now it's snowing again...

I love this photo. Exactly how I feel. Someone was playful and made use of the snow! Brrrrrr! IT'S TIME FOR SPRING

NOW WHAT?

One more beaded bracelet finished. I cannot believe I keep going on and on with this beading obscession. I think it's time to do something else.

Although I really love doing it, I feel I'm ignoring my other passion(mixed media art). I decided today to participate in a local round robin. Hopefully that will get my juices flowing again in that direction.

Finally saw Shari and Sandy today. We met for breakfast...It's been awhile.

This winter has not been very condusive for going out.

I also stopped by to say hello to the Saturday art group on my way home.

I haven't seen them since November. It was great seeing them also.

Another storm is coming tomorrow. A good day to stay home.

SNOW SNOW SNOW

The deer like it. They always come into our yard about 4:00 P.M. to visit.

In this picture, they are heading back to the forest preserve. Hopefully they found food.

Enough snow already! I'm so sick of it. I spent the day organizing my beads and watching the boob tube. I'm getting clausterphobic...

Across The Universe is out. I bought the DVD yesterday. I have to agree with Sandy, It's awesome! I could watch it over and over again. I'm in love with the music and special effects. I hope it wins an award..

THINK SUN

This might seem a bit bazzar, but I am actually gettting my dose of sun from my full spectrum lamp. I've been sitting under it alot lately doing more beading. I guess it is really helping me beat the winter blues. My newest creations are another cuff bracelet, a spiral necklace and a bead I haven't decided what to do with it yet.

So between the Ott Light and beading I've managed to get thru this horrible

grey weather.

The picture of the beach is from our trip to Mexico in December. There were blue skies and sun every day. OH WELL!

Another snow storm is heading our way. I'm so greatful I don't have to go out or drive unless I have to. RETIREMENT IS GOOD!

LOST AND FORGOTTEN

Surprise surprise! I was going through my bead stash in the basement and I came across a container with all these beaded dolls I had made years ago.

They must have gotten lost when I moved. Always a welcome find!

It's amazing how much stuff was packed away and totally forgotten..

I need to go back into the basement and go through my unpacked boxes and see if I find more . Who knows what is hiding down there.

My neice Mia is visiting for a couple of days. We're going to venture out in this cold ugly weather and go to see a movie. I believe JUNO is the pick. I hear it's great.

TIME TO NEST

The weather is nasty cold and if I can help it, I won't go out.

I HATE WINTER! Hate is a strong word to use, but I emphatically mean it.

One bonus, the sun is shining today. YEAH. Homemade chicken soup weather....

Anyway, I did venture out last night and met Sandy, Cindy and Belinda for a birthday dinner. A belated gathering for Belinda. Went to Carrabbas. Love their food! Shari was missing. This winter weather keeps all of us apart.

I guess I need my fix of art friends more often. They really motivate me with their enthusiasm.

Since I haven't been doing any paper art lately, Sandy challenged me to make something that appealed to me from Somerset Magazine. I did deviate and ended up with a combined collage and beading project. I made it into a birthday card for Belinda. The photo is above.

I probably need to veer away from beading and start doing other art projects. Actually, I'm not feeling anything else right now. Working with

beads, yarn and fabric comforts me the most at the moment.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

I can honestly say, I stuck this beading project out. This is the first time I have followed a graph. I challenged myself and wouldn't quit until I was finished. I'm happy with the end results. Again, I doubt if I'll ever wear this.

My interest in colored pencil was sparked this week, I went to the

Womens Wisdom group at the PRC last Tuesday. We're doing an architectural drawing and I really enjoyed it. It feels good to draw again.

I finshed my Menorah that I painted at the club house this week too. It's being fired, Can't wait to see it...

I started a new afghan with the beautiful colors Vanna White

has in her line of yarns. They are so different than most 4 ply

I have seen. This will take me awhile. It's a good winter (nesting) project.

Shari had me over for lunch last week. A yummy meal and great company. It seems as if we hardly see each other, except for a quick lunch at a restaurant. It was fun hanging out.

I've been laying low and trying not to go out. I'm having dental work done.

I look funny without some of my teeth. It's embarrassing. So staying home will avoid this. Two more days and I'll be able to smile in public again.

Now I have to go and clean my beads up from the last project. I'm making space for somehing new.

SNOW CAN BE PRETTY

I can't believe I actually thought today's snow storm was pretty. I looked out on the deck and saw this plant covered with snow and wanted to capture it. I knew I didn't have to go out today or drive in the snow, so I
viewed winter differently. I usually hate it.
Life has been uneventful. Hanging out at home and finishing projects I've started. I have been staying away from the stores because of the Christmas
madness. I do plan to venture out tomorrow. Need to get some fresh air and do some errands. I got a GPS for christmas from Bob. I can't wait to try it out.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy holiday.

Above are two more photos of bracelet's I've finished. One was done In Mexico and the other one was done before the trip.
I have been home for over a week and the memories of the trip are quickly fading. I sure could use a dose of warm and sunny weather..... I should have appreciated it more while I was there.

Met Shari and Sandy for a Christmas Breakfast yesterday. It was so nice to see them. It's been very difficult to get together considering our varied schedules.

My kids will be over Christmas day along with Tracy's family. I think it's great that we can all share the day together and not split it up as in the years past. We should have thought of this sooner.
I supply the house and they are bringing most of the food.
Since I have absolutely no tradition for Christmas Dinner, and they do, they offered to bring the meal. I'm definitely OK with that.

I'm off to take a nap. Another lazy day. ! That's the only reason I like winter. It's easier to give myself permission to not get dressed and virtually do nothing.

BACK TO REALITY

Just returned from a 10 day trip to the Yucatan. The highlight of the trip was visiting the Mayan ruins at Chitzen Itza and Coba. The entire experience was so unbelievable. Almost surreal and spiritual at the same time. I felt like I was transported back to ancient times. We also hiked in the jungle and visited a Mayan village. The Mayan people live such simple
lives. They seem happy and proud of what they have. They live in huts, have no bathrooms, no beds, hardly any electronic devices nor electricity.
The children have the bare essentials to play with. No fancy toys or gadgets. Their pets were animals of the jungle.
The hotel we stayed at was the best accomodations and service I've ever
experienced. The food and drinks were abundant and good. I highly recommend the Hotel Iberostar Parasio Maya in Riviera Maya. I'd go back in a split second.
The weather was perfect every day. I can go on and on.
I love Mexico

Back to crappy, cold and ugly weather.
I need to get into the Christmas spirit. I just don't feel it yet.
Being away made me totally forget the holidays.

ONE MORE

Finished this bracelet the other day and am planning to make more.

This has a right angle beaded base and than embelished with swaroski crystals and more seed beads. My favorite so far.

Got together with some neighbors yesterday. We're starting a Geneology

Group. The lady leading it works at the National Archives in Chicago.

One more thing to add to my list of works in progress. I want to start researching my ancestors. I need to find out my grandparents name before they left Russia. It was changed to Chapman when they came to the USA.

INDIVIDUATION VOW

Individuation Vow
Each day of my life I vow to continue to grow more deeply
Into the precious being that I AM,
A unique expression of the Source,
A guardian of life,
Dedicated to relieving suffering and the cause of suffering,
which is in our minds,
And to bringing love, harmony and beauty into the world.
.R. Birney, MD

I love this vow and wanted to share it with everyone.

DUSTY THE PUPPY

Add one more to the menagarie. Dusty came to stay Thanksgiving Day

He is definitely an active puppy and a peeing machine. I forgot how much work puppies are. I think he is sooo cute.

Gus and Dusty went home last night. Sunny has his peace and quiet back and so do I.

The above bracelets are the newest I've created. I'm trying to teach myself

new beading techniques. Right now I'm working on a right angle weave

bracelet. It's almost done.

GUS AND SUNNY

SUNNY AND GUS

Are they cute or what? They have bonded.

I'm watching Gus for the week while my kids are on a cruise (Lucky them). I get to watch their puppy Dusty tomorrow for the remainder of the week. Three dogs at once . Oh my!

They picked a good week to go since the weather has been so crappy. Snow predicted tonight. Oh well, it is winter.

I'm still beading. Finished two more bracelets. Will post pictures later.

I've been home alot lately. No desire to go out in this gloomy weather.

Bob and I are leaving for Mexico (Riviera Maya} on Dec. 3rd. I am so looking forward to it.

CATERPILLAR BRACELET

My version of a bracelet I saw and thought I bought a kit for.

A few weeks ago, I was at my local bead store and saw a bracelet I wanted to make.

I bought the kit and when I got home, OOPS, I opened it up and realized it was the wrong one. Since the kit was already opened and I couldn't return it, I decided to figure it out myself.

I really enjoyed the challenge.

My friend Sandy bought the same kit by mistake, so she's making one also!

Can't wait to see her bracelet finished.

Again, I made an impulsive purchase without giving it much thought, but this time it was to my advantage. It gave me the chance to be more innovative.

BEAD CRAZY

I'm still beading away. Above are my newest pieces. I'm not bored with
beading yet. Actually, I just started another piece. I'm learning a new
technique and it sure has been a challenge. I won't give up until I learn it.
Not much going on in my creative, domestic or social life.
I've been staying home more. Haven't felt like getting out as much.
It's getting close to winter and I guess I feel like nesting.
I'm planning to tackle the basement soon. I want to make it more conducive to work in. Between better lighting and drywall, I hope I will go down there more often. Slowly but surely, all my art supplies are finding a home upstairs. I had such high hopes for making the basement a studio.
Let's see what happens.