Button Swap and a Giveaway!

Just in case ya'll thought I was all caught up in a Bead Soup frenzy, (which I sorta am) I just found a new challenge! Michelle Mach is hosting a Button Swap. Head on over to her blog and sign up for some great fun. I love using buttons as closures on bracelets. They make interesting statements on shirts, purses, shoes, just about anything. I decorated some sweat jackets for my kids one year with Christmas ones.



And the awesome Ms. Lori over at Waterstone Jewelry is having a giveaway. She makes the most phenomenal leather clutches, purses, and other goodies.

My other big news is that my LBS is hosting a trunk party today and tomorrow, and I'm heading out of town. If you are in the Myrtle Beach area, head on over to MoonStone Beads for the trunk show.  
Won't get to blog hop for Bead Soup til I get back on Sunday. Think I'll probably be up all night? Yep, me too. Good thing I got the cute dog to keep me company, huh?
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Shirley

Love your Blogging Buddies

So this post is really a response after reading Lori Anderson's post over at Pretty Things today. She asked, Why do you follow a blog?  It really made me think about the blogs I have chosen to follow. She gave some great info (as always) and now I'm going to make sure the people who have been wonderful enough to make comments on my posts, actually hear back from me! I think this is the coolest thing. To be able to meet people and get to know them (virtually) and develop friendships. This is one of the things I love about Facebook. (There are many things I don't like about it as well). In a world where people are so busy living life, I'm thrilled we have created a way to meet and stay in touch with each other.
That was all I really wanted to say. But since one of the things I enjoy most on blogs is the pics people post, here are a few for your enjoyment!!
Blessings,
Shirley

The cutest dog ever.

Traveling thru the gorge between NC & TN.

 NC fall colors.

 Really cool shape, color and texture. (Yes, I know it's an orange peel, but still...)

 Sting Rays at Ripley's.

 Food Junkies. Particularly love apples and bananas. Go figure.

Margie & Me Reveal

Well, I'm a tad bit late. Friday's are always crazy around here, and even though I only had about an hour's worth of work to finish my piece, it just didn't happen last night. So, enough of the excuses.
I chose to work with the Madrid piece for this challenge.  If you haven't heard of the Margie and Me challenges, go check it out at LaBellaJoya's site. I've had so much fun working on these.
Here is the pic of the inspiration:

So, I had just received my copy of Karen William's "Free form Peyote", so I knew I wanted to try it.  Wasn't sure how that would work with this very stylized and structured image, but I was hoping for the best. And....I am very pleased with the result. Free form peyote is nothing like I imagined. You really have to concentrate (or at least, I did) on the color flow and movement. Karen's book was priceless in helping me understand this concept.  There is also so much movement in it, I had to take several pics from several angles to show it all.

When I started out, I thought I had a lot of yellow in my palette, but it doesn't look that way in this view.

Loved learning how to flow from color to color.

This view reminds me of a river.

This one looks more like a patchwork. The difference between some of the yellows was very subtle. There are 3 different colors just in the toggle.

I love all the different textures from the bead types.

This was definitely an awesome experience, both with the challenge, and with learning a little about freeform peyote.

Blessings! Shirley

Bread Baking Day

Ok, I decided to show the steps for making our new favorite, Braided Cheese Bread.
It's funny, when I'm frustrated about how a beading project is going, it helps to make a batch of bread. My lovely new dough mixer will make either 3 or 5 loaves at a time, so we have two regular whole wheat loaves, and the cheese bread.

Roll out to a rectangular shape.

 Brush with melted butter. Generously sprinkle garlic powder, and oregano (or your favorite spices) across the surface.

 Add cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Start rolling from the long side. Try to keep it a tight roll.

This is what it should look like when you finish rolling.

Cut into 3 equal sections.

Start rolling a section into a tube shape.

 One tube done.

After you finish rolling them into tubes, squish  (technical term, you know) one end onto your granite counter (love my granite) or cutting board, so you can start braiding them.

When you finish braiding, tuck the ends under all nice and pretty.

So, the tricky part is lifting this heavy braid quickly and dropping it just so into your bread pan. And, my little confession (just so you don't think I'm an expert or anything); my braid was just a tad too long for the pan. Therefore, it rose a bit unevenly, as you can see below....

And yes, for some reason, when I braid, whether it's filled or not, it rises a lot higher than if I don't. I'm sure there's a scientific reason for it. If you want to google that....

But it doesn't bother me a bit that it's a monster of a  loaf!  This is really yummy, and of course, best on the first day!  If you'd like to make it and need a basic dough recipe, let me know. Otherwise, enjoy!!

When the Hurt Runs Deep

The title of a new book by Kay Arthur. The subject of my new church ladies group discussion. It's so funny how easy it is to see God's perfect timing. I am having to deal with a lot of family history that is extremely hurtful right now. I would much rather do anything rather than deal with these issues. But I have to, because of my mom.  Have you ever done something for someone else that you wouldn't have done for yourself? Usually it involves conquering a fear, like going on a boat, or in an airplane, or touching a snake. I'd much rather touch a snake than have to deal with these family members.
So, I'm very glad I'm starting this book, cause I feel as helpless as a baby right now. And that is definitely not a feeling I enjoy.
Unfortunately this situation has also affected the two things I'm really passionate about right now: making bread, and beading.  So, I forced myself to make a couple of extra loaves of bread to give away.  They weren't anything fancy, but for the ladies' that I gave them to, it was a blessing.  Which is what I consider my bread baking to be, so it was a good feeling.
Now, on the beadwork end of things, I am trying freeform peyote for the first time, with the help of Karen William's awesome book, Freeform Peyote Beading.  It is a lot harder to be random than you would think.  I really have to concentrate, and get into a specific zone.  Which has been really, really hard while all this other stuff is going on.
So, I'll give you a little sneak peek of the piece so far. Can't show it all. First, because it's part of a beading challenge I'm in right now. Second, because this stuff looks really gnarly til you get it finished!

And, now I'm gonna leave you with a smile on your face, cause this is just the cutest mutt ever.

She has a very heavy work load.

Blessings, Shirley

Sweet Hearts

Yes, I am feeling the need to talk about Valentine's Day. It means a lot of things to each of us, at different times in our life. When you're a kid, it means candy and giving goofy cards. When you are a young adult, it can mean a romantic date, a hot night on the town, or giggling with your peeps at a sleepover.
When you are newly married, it is a mandatory vase of roses and chocolates, and dinner and movie out on the town.  We have been married for almost 22 years, and I'm sure my husband is grateful that Valentine's Day has never been a big deal for me. After the few requisite years of flowers, I opted to save the money spent, and do something fun. Now, I bask in the quiet moments we share, sometimes each day, sometimes each week, just talking and sharing our daily lives with each other. That is my true Valentine's gift at this stage in life.
Now, enough sappiness.  Have you seen some of the cutie pie stuff on Etsy for Valentine gifts? Well, as I was blog hopping for Bead Soup participants, I discovered Lisa Boucher's blog Clay Happenings. Hop on over there and check her out. She makes some great pendants. Totally fell in love with a little red heart pendant necklace on her site.
So, I have to leave you with a little HISTORY lesson before I go. Do you know the history of St. Valentine's Day? We use "Mystery of History" in our homeschool curriculum, and got to read the story a few months ago.  There were actually TWO men named Valentine who lived in Rome in the 3rd century that were martyred for their faith on February 14th. Now, the Romans had a holiday they celebrated on February 15th called Lupercalia. This was a festival time to honor Juno, the goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, god of nature. During the festival, young couples would draw a name out of a box, and pair up with that person for the festival, and exchange gifts. Some of these led to courtship and marriage.  Yes, it was hard for Christians living in Rome to deal with the pagan festivals. So, in 495, Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14th as St. Valentines Day to try to replace the pagan festival. Did it work? I'm sure Christians did spend time praying for the persecuted on Feb. 14th at first, but gradually things blurred together. Is it wrong to spend a special day once a year thinking about love? Of course not. Just sad that St. Valentine isn't better remembered for the sacrifices and hardship endured by many Christians.
As you smell the lovely roses, and enjoy the intimate dinner for two, remember the greatest LOVE gift of all: Christ's love for us.
Blessings,
Shirley

Super Sunday

I know, for most of the United States, today is SuperBOWL Sunday. But for me, it is also a Super SUNDAY. Our pastor's message today was awesome. He gave us this analogy to ponder: Our journey with God means HIM being in control, not us. HE is the driver. We are not the passenger in the front seat. Nor in the back seat. God asks us to ride in the trunk. So, imagine the trunk. First: dark. You can't see where you're going. You have to trust God. Second: you can feel every bump in the road, and it feels like you are speeding along, out of control. You have to trust God. Third: You are getting beat up by all the things rattling around you, smelling the awful stink of the spare tire. You have to trust God.
Wasn't that great?!!! I love visual pictures, and this one really hit me hard. The analogy was a good one, because my husband always tells people that I have my foot on the gas, and he takes care of the steering. :) We will celebrate 22 years of marriage this April, and I was just thinking how cool that we are at this wonderful stage in our marriage. It is the place where you know the other person's heart, and you know their love for you. So you can sit back and snort laugh when they make fun of your personality quirks, and relish the fact that they know you so well.  Our kids were laughing uncontrollably at us, and I just pray for them to have this moment in their life as well.
Now everyone is home, hanging out, lazing out. We may watch some of the SuperBowl, we may not. I am most certainly going to go get some beading time in, cause I have my bead soup, and Margie and Me challenge deadlines coming up quickly. I also have a piece I'm working on for my bead shop. Oh yeah, I can hear them calling my name.....
Have a blessed Super Sunday!
Shirley

It's Here, IT'S HERE!!!!!!

Oh, I'm so excited, my Bead Soup arrived today. My dear partner, Tara at The Newbie Beader's Blog, has had a tough time getting it to me. She is in the middle of moving, and it came back to her once.
So, without further ado, here are my lovelies to play with:

 A stunning porcelain focal, and beautiful filigree clasp. Gosh, no hardship there in using these gorgeous pieces!

 Yeah, seed beads in a wonderful mix of blues,  dyed quartz, and a cobalt faceted bead with copper accent coating.

 Sodalite, lovely pressed glass in various shapes, and a soft turquoise stone. (Not sure on the name for that one.)

 And, last but certainly not least, a charming mix of size 8's and some marvelous freshwater pearls.

My brain is racing with so many ideas. I've gotta go now and play....