Bead&Button Cancer Project

I finished my Bead Quilt square and made it to the Postoffice today, and mailed off the square and the swan. Its been really cold again today, and of course we ran out of heating oil in the early morning hours, but they managed to get to us before noon today, so with the oven, a firelog, and the portable propane heater in the garage, our pipes did not freeze and neither did we. We both had the thought a few days ago that we should stick the tank and see how our fuel supply was, and neither one of us did a thing about it, so our fault that we ran out. Where do the birds go when we are having blizzard conditions? They showed up here yesterday for food, and I was wishing I had more to give them, they looked so darn miserable. I am adding a picture of some of them sitting on our railing. I just wonder where they all go at night, especially since we have been having such awful winds at night. 35 to 50 mile an hour winds. Anchorage was getting 100 mile an hour winds on the hillside. Ahhh life in Alaska. Well, I need to make some new jewelry for the Gallery, so I best get some ideas going. Stay warm and happy beading to all.

Breast Cancer Ornament Project

So after three tries, the first was WAY to big the second MICRO-MINI, I have finally completed my ornament to be sent to the Bead&Button Show for the Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Auction this June. The Bead&Button Show will be held in Milwaukee this year. I have only been to one Bead&Button Show and that was held in Portland, Oregon, and I just happened on accident to be there while it was going on. I remember looking at the postings for the classes they were offering and wishing I had actually scheduled the whole accident so I could have attended one or more of the classes. By accident I mean, accidentally being in Portland at the right time. The ornament is part of Jeanette Shanigan's part of the fund raiser. In the past she has called for 2" beaded squares and then she would bead them all together and make mini wall quilts to auction off. Her life situation has changed and so she called for 50 ornaments to be made and donated directly to B&B. B&B will be receiving the squares and putting them together this year. I still have to finish my square before I mail off the Swan. The theme this year is Birds for both the squares and the ornaments.
The Swan is 2"x2". The body is a piece of a foam ball, the neck is cloth covered wire with a bead to shape the head, and then beaded. You have to sign the piece, so I made the "Pond" around the Swan so I would have a bottom to sign on. I think she came out cute.

First Sunrise of 2012

I forgot to post my January 1st sunrise photo. Not that its a big deal, but I have it so why not post it. Its been below zero for over a week now, and today its a balmy 7 degrees. I have been working up in my workroom, but finally had to come down and warm up. I am working on my bird ornament for the cancer fundraiser. Bead and Button took over this year, so when its done it goes to them after a photo is sent to Jeanette Shanigan. Or am I still confused? I thought there were two ornament projects going on for the Cancer project, but now I'm not sure. We have until May to get them in, I thought we had to have them done by March. Too much confusion for the first project of the year. I will have to go over to the beadstore next week and talk to Gig, she will get me on the right road. Happy Beading all.

Little Dresses

Hooray, amid much mental whining and trying to talk myself out of finishing, I persevered and completed the last of the little dresses. I set a goal of 50 little dresses for the year and the last of them were mailed off today!!! Now I really don't have any reason not to clean up my space and get ready to do my ornament for Jeanette Shanigan's project for the cancer fund raiser. I have until March 1st, but as you can see from my little dress project, I tend to procrastinate.
The weather here today is absolutely awful. Its 6 degrees and with the wind its minus 4. I thought if we got the snow it would warm up..didn't figure on all this wind. We have certainly had a windy windy year. The poor birds empty our feeder faster than we can fill it. Even the wild rabbits try to find the seeds the birds drop into the snow. Well enough stalling, I really need to clean up all the scraps and sweep the floor, so off I go. Happy New Year to all.

A Quiet Christmas

Well, all the hustle and bustle is over, Christmas was nice as always, we stayed home and spent the day talking with all our kids and family on the phone. Sounds like they all had a great day. We finally got some snow, but its still very cold. Its been staying around 11 degrees. At least this evening the wind has died down.

I received the package from that "Beadyeyed Woman" Jeanette Cook and it was full of great beady gifts. What a generous lady. How lucky I was to be on the receiving end.

I hope everyone had a peaceful and comfy day. Wonder what the New Year will bring? So much hate and discontent around the world, I hope it all get resolved and peace will come again for awhile.

Mr J gave me not one, of Marilee Dupree's wonderful Alaskan dolls, but two, well actually three. One is a girl laying on her tummy with her chin on her hands dressed in a beautiful Kuspuk with fur on the hood. The other is two little girls with knit hats and Sweaters with Jeans, having a chat over a cup of chocolate. They are just great. I bought one and sent it to my Mother when we first moved to Alaska and always intended to buy one for myself but never got around to it. But I have since gotten to know Marilee and fell in love with her dolls all over again. They have so much personality. I am including a picture of the two "having a cuppa". Marilee is such an amazing doll maker. They are just so perfect in every way.

Well, I have five more "Little Dresses" to cut out and sew to reach my goal for 2011. What a worthwhile cause. I'm sure the response to their program must have been overwhelming. I hope so. The Dresses go to Africa, South America, as well as the United States.

Well I sincerely hope everyone everywhere will enjoy a peaceful, healthy and happy New Year.

Sending Birthday wishes in my prayers to my beautiful Nephew Ryan. We wish you were still here with us, we love you so much.

I WON ! ! !

Wow, I can hardly believe it, I won the "Beady Prize" on Jeanette Cook's blog site. I really can't believe it. I always or almost always leave a comment on the blogs that I visit. They were having a "Blog Hop" which included Marcia DeCoster, Jeanette Cook "BeadyEyed Woman" and several others. It was fun "hopping" and seeing what the other Beaders out there are doing. What a generous thing to offer a prize (if your name or number was drawn). I am really excited to see what I won. I "Borrowed" the picture of the bead stash off of Jeanette's site to include with this Posting. Hopefully it will work, if not, I will take a photo when it arrives and post it then.
I spent the afternoon going through Bead books in my workroom, including Jeanette's book and Marcia DeCoster's book. I love my books. I talked Jack into ordering a book I had seen on another Bead blog that is due out this next year. Told him he could just give me an IOU for Christmas. Well, back to looking in my books. Can't wait to get my prize, which I can't believe I won. Another Alaskan won the prize on Marcia's blog, her name is Terry, I wonder if its the Terry that works at Black Elk Leather&Beads. I do love that store. I love the smell of the leather, and they always have such wonderful cabachons. The Bead Stores are the only reason to go to Anchorage. Ok, maybe the Quilt stores too.

Well, I mailed off the Christmas gifts to the whole family today. Its always a relief to get them in the mail, but its also a bit of a let down. With the cost of postage going up, I am re-thinking what will be given next year. With 30 people to do for, on a limited income......but, never fear, I will come up with an answer. I was invited to attend a friends Grandson's Christmas program this evening, that was fun. And, I didn't cry this time. Isn't that silly? I guess I cried (quietly) every other time, because I know I'm missing my own Grandchildren's programs. Well, enough of that! Now I must get my work room in some sort of order and get some projects going to get through this strange winter we are having. Cold, 40 mph winds one day, cold, pouring rain the next. This is Alaska for petes sake...just get on to the snow and let us warm up.
Did a little blog-hopping this evening,its so fun to see what other beaders are doing, but kind of frustrating too. The circle of beady friends that used to get together have all moved on to other things, so looking in on other bead blogs has become my source of inspiration. The beaders in the lower 48 have so many more resources and classes available, and that too is frustrating. Good grief...its time to shut up for tonight. Wishing everyone in the beady-blog world a Happy Holiday. I am including a photo of the Bible cover I made for my hubby for Christmas a few years ago. Thought it fit the season.