Time to Catch Up and Say Goodbye

Since last I wrote about the Traveling Bracelet, we've been busy. "Abi" has been to work with me, and today we went for coffee with two of my friends referred to here as the "Gallery Girls". Sometimes there's four or five of us sometimes not. Today it was just the three of us, catching up on what's been happening.  Sunday was a quiet day, we went to Church, and out to breakfast, which turned out to be the wrong move. I got up with a headache and the day went downhill from there. So Sunday was a very slow and quiet day. i don't mean it was the wrong move to go to Church, just going out to eat was the wrong move. But all is well today.

"Abi" went to work with me on Monday and visited with some of the beautiful artwork that we have in the Gallery. I thought this photo of "Abi" with one of the native art pieces was very appropriate, since the true name of the Bracelet is the Aboriginal Design. Its always such a wonder to me that when I study native art, how connected it is all around the world. So many similarities in artwork and myths and beliefs. It really is such a small world.

Here  "Abi" is visiting with the very talented Rowan who works at the Gallery. Besides being an artist in watercolors she is also extremely talented in the music field as well as dance. She has a group here called the "Shivering Gypsy's". Rowan is originally from upstate New York.

Today started out very frosty as you can see in the photo. I guess winter is going to come no matter how much I don't want it to. Well, off to coffee we go.

Here are my two friends "The Gallery Girls" at our favorite coffee spot, Two Sisters Bakery just steps away from the shores of Kachemak Bay. Some days we will come for coffee and have to wait in a line three deep. They make wonderful soups, veggi sandwiches and of course bakery goods. Even if you're not hungry when you go there, just step inside and oh my, the wonderful aromas just draw you in and you have to try one of their savory offerings.

Its been fun having "Abi" here this week, however its time to say good bye. Tomorrow I will be bundling  "Abi" up and mailing the package off to my Sister down in the lower 48. She lives in beautiful Newport, Oregon. Another coastal community for "Abi". She is really looking forward to receiving the bracelet and has more adventures to share with the Bracelet. I can't thank Sig enough for choosing me to host her Aborigianl Bracelet. I feel honored, and look forward to reading about Abi and the other Bracelets. Thanks for the Visit "Abi".

Lunch With Baby Arwyn and Mom

So lunch went well with the new baby, she is absolutely beautiful and slept the entire time we were there. She looked beautiful in the Bonnet and shoes, but then she's beautiful without them anyway. (The Tiny shoes I made were just a little big, but they looked cute on her.) Mommy Miriam looks just beautiful also. She waited just a little too long to call the Midwife, and Mom and Dad delivered the Baby Girl themselves. She said it was a little scarey, but what are you going to do, there's no stopping it once its underway. They both came through it just fine, and Dad stayed pretty cool through the whole event.
Miriam thought the story of the Bracelet was pretty cool. She is an amazing young woman, Hunter, Fisherwoman, Carver, and Jewelry maker. I have known Miriam since she was in High School. Very self assured and quite the businesswoman. She has her own small Gallery out on the Spit. It is only open full time in the summer, but she keeps it open on the weekends until Christmas, then re-opens mid-April. She sells her carvings, watercolors, and jewelry as well as her Husbands Ulu's and Knives. She also carries some Native made art .

Hubby was not feeling well today, so Abi's adventure today was pretty quiet once we came home, but everyone was pretty impressed with the Bracelet and the story behind it. Tomorrow..off to work, and Abi will go along. One more picture of beautiful little Arwyn and then its good night.

Change of Plans

So I had planned on going to the Bead store Wednesday, but received a call from Rowan at the Gallery to tell me that since we had missed out on the Baby Shower for a friend of ours, everyone decided to have a "Baby Lunch" on Friday, so up to the sewing room I scrambled to make a gift to take along. Abi went with me, poor thing, had to listen to me mumble and grumble until I decided to make a bonnet and a pair of tiny shoes. The Bonnet was no problem, I've made a lot of them, and love doing it. The tiny shoes on the other hand were a bit of a challenge, but I finally finished them after much agony. Can't wait to meet the little miss. I just love her "older" brother Griffin. He is just all boy and rules the roost at age 2.

So today I finally made it over to the Bead store for a visit with Gig and to show her the Bracelet, and of course pick up a few beads.

We had a few laughs, bought a few beads and then off we went to see if the Swans were at the head of the little lake that is behind our house. Can't waste the sunshine, its a rule, or maybe its a law.

The trees have grown up so that you can barely see the lake from this viewpoint. But .. no Swans. So off we went out to the Spit to enjoy the sunshine some more. Not much going on out there this time of year, you can actually find plenty of parking places...of course none of the shops are open, but who cares, we have sunshine to enjoy. Drove over to look at the Jack-up Rig that's causing so much controversy with some folks around town. It was brought in for repair work and was supposed to be gone by now, but rumor has it that it might be wintering here.

Back home, have to get out my paper supply and make a card to go along with the Baby gift.

Left Abi to rest on the lap of my "non-traditional" self-portrait. Off to lunch tomorrow!

"Abi" Has Arrived!!

Today I received "Abi" in the mail. I was so excited to get this package from Sig Wynne-Evans. It was sort of by default when the person who was supposed to receive this bracelet was unable to fulfill the agreement of being host to one of Sig's Traveling Bracelets. I hope she will be able to host one of the other bracelets before their journey's are over. While recovering from a major surgery Sig decided to bead a bracelet and send it on to someone else with good positive thoughts and healing wishes, and maybe they too could re-inforce these positive energies with some of their own and pass it on again. She intended to make only one, but now has 12 Bracelets traveling the Globe spreading positive energy to all who receive  or have contact with them. She will be starting the journey of her 12th Bracelet, named Machu Picchu, in November in where else but Machu Picchu. How fun is that. I didn't mention that "Abi" is short for Aboriginal. "Abi" has a cute little "Joey" as the main figure in the design. Its just beautiful. And as fitting as Machu Picchu, ":Abi" has been to Australia as well as Colorado and California. I believe this is the first of the Traveling Bracelets to come to Alaska.
We started "Abi's" Alaska visit with a long walk on the beach of Kachemak Bay, a visit to the Seafarer's Memorial, and of course did a bit of "Shell Seeking". Tomorrow we plan to visit the Bead store and share some time with Gig. Each day will decide for itself what we do, but we will stay busy. You can visit the other bracelets and read of their travels on Sig's blog: http//travelingbracelets.blogspot.com.

I took this photo of "Abi" on the old piling down from Mariner Park. I love walking the beach in this area, I always find great "Tiny Treasures" when I walk there.

The next stop was at the Seafarer's Memorial and then on to more beach walking. By then our little "Joey", (our step-dog) was starting to limp a little so we headed for home. Joey is getting along in years (aren't we all) and has arthritis in his hip. He loves to walk the beach with me, but I think it was a little to cool for him. The sun finally came out, but he was ready to head home by then. (Did you spot "Abi" in this photo?)

The "Tiny Treasures" from our walk. I even found a piece of sea glass. Must have been the good Karma coming from the Bracelet.

Home for a rest in the Bead Cabinet. I thought a fitting place to rest would be on my beaded shoe "Alaska Shores". What fun!!! Hope everyone everywhere had as fine a day as we had. (I am hoping for sunshine tomorrow).