THE BIG 60

Got up this morning feeling reflective, what do I want to do this year, something to mark the mile stone of turning sixty. Went for a walk out to the bluff. It was windy but there was warmth coming off the sun and only little tiny piles of snow left in the shady spots. I decided to try and meditate,(one of the new things I would like to learn this year) so I found a dry clump of old straw grass and sat down. Closing my eyes I was aware of the sound of the ocean waves, the cool breeze on my face and my cold hands. Trying to quite my mind I chanted to myself " calm and happy, calm and happy." I will have to come up with something better than that. I kept pushing aside thoughts as they came in. I think I lasted about 3 or 4 minutes, not very good but it's a start. Headed home and Robert had made me ham and eggs for breakfast with a steaming cup of hot coffee. Sitting at the bead table  I snapped a picture of the order I'm working on. Robert said "Let's get one of you and Crazy before I take the snow tires off."  So the day I turned sixty has been documented for posterity. I think maybe my chant this morning was right on the mark. Calm and happy...

MEET THE BEETLES!

I've really been obsessed with all the wonderful beetles there are out there. I love the look of them with their hard, shiny wings. The amazing colors they sport certainly lend themselves to my beadwork projects. Here are a couple of cuffs I've completed. There are two more that have been designed and will be coming soon, but they will have to go on hold while I work on filling my next order. I plan on exploring the insect world much, much more.

NEW LEATHER

Wow, I'm so in love with this new leather. I hemmed and hawed when buying it because it's stiff, and I usually use a more pliable hide but the gorgeous turquoise color was irresistible.  It turns out it's not any harder to lazy stitch through and it is giving this piece that I dissected new life. Do you ever have one of those pieces you are just not happy with? This was that way, I didn't like it on the black leather and the strap was weird so I knew it would be a redo. Like I said, I love, love, love it now. I think I'll have to order the hot pink hide too, feeling very inspired!