Wow, it's already February!!

Here we are almost in the middle of February, I can't believe how fast the days seem to be going.

I've been doing a lot of 3d beading these days as you can see from the picture below. There are various sizes of beaded stars designed by Lidia Cimins, a few 3d Tri-Flowers (purple/green, black/silver, light blue/darker blue) designed by Redbeast Designs, Double Trouble both ways designed by me, and will be available for purchase soon. (pink/black & red/black) I've been having a lot of fun doing these.


The weather had been really quite nice for a couple of days but, now it is dismal and rainy. I hope the sun comes back out again soon. I really don't like the dismal days, they make me lazy. I don't want to do anything but sleep on days like today.

This morning all I got accomplished was another star but this time I did it in size 8/0 Delica beads. It's is quite heavy and would probably be great as an ornament or pendant. What do you think?

So now it's time to play some more with 3d shapes. Hope everyone is having a good week!

Only 3 days left until Valentine's Day!!

Found this on another blog and thought I'd share it with you.

Your rainbow is shaded blue and white.

What is says about you: You are a contemplative person. You appreciate friends who get along with one another. People depend on you to make them feel secure. You share hobbies with friends and like trying to fit into their routines.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Happy New Year & our newest family member!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable & safe New Years. Hubby and I just stayed home, had a few drinks, played a couple of games and enjoyed some time with friends. It was nice.

On to the news...On December 29th we got Jazmin (Jazzy D). She is almost 8 months old and is a Pug/Schnauzer cross. Isn't she cute?! I picked up the stuffed bunny for her and she loves playing with it.DH says her face reminds him of an Ewok
So far things have been good but, lots of work. We have another dog, Tucker, he is a 2 1/2 year old Pug/Beagle/Boston Terrier cross. After the passing of Chi-Chi, he became very clingy and looked sad. I knew he was missing his playmate so...we got Jazzy. The two of them get along good but, Jazzy is still a puppy and does those puppy things. =)

This is one of the best pictures I've been able to get of the two of them so far.

Today Jazzy is at the vets getting spayed and having a few teeth removed. She has an extra canine(the pointy one...lol) and the vet said that it needs to be removed or it could cause problems in the future with the health of her teeth. Don't want that now do we! DH will pick her up from the vets on his way home from work. It's going to be fun...NOT...the next few days keeping the two dogs from playing and until Jazzy's tummy is healed. Wish me luck =)

I've been working on one of Julia Pretl's boxes. This is a request for a new customer. It will be used on a table in the home of a musician to hold guitar picks. All I have left to do is the lid and it will be ready for him. I like it done in the black and red, as he requested these colours. One of the other things I've been doing is these puffy stars. One of the many bead groups I belong to has a member who created the pattern and shared it with me. There are so many size and colour possiblities! I did one and then my daughter said, "Those would be neat as earrings...I'd wear them"...so, I made a second one and she now has a new pair of earrings. I will definetly be doing more of these!

Well, time to go eat some lunch and put away the beads. I will be watching my best friends little ones for a bit this afternoon. David is 3 and Hannah is 1.

Till next time...bead happy =)
Pam

A sad day....Goodbye to my best friend

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

On Monday, December 18, 2008 we had no choice but to put our pup Chi-Chi (pronounced she she) of 14 years to sleep. She had what is called degenerative myelopathy.

Degenerative myelopathy is a disorder of the spinal cord or bone marrow. It mostly affects older German Shepherds (between from 7 to 9 years), but also has been reported in other breeds. Signs may include awkward gait and weakness in one of the hind limbs. Prognosis for the degenerative myelopathy is poor since there is no known effective treatment for it.

Chi-Chi had fallen on Sunday evening but after taking a few minutes to get back up with some help she continued to walk although slowly. She continued to walk that evening and got up in the morning to go to the bathroom. That afternoon while I was letting out Tucker our other pup, Chi-Chi went to get up to go out too and fell flat. I sat with her all afternoon and she frequently tried to get up. I managed to discover that it was her one back leg she couldn't control and that her lower back him area was sore to the touch. I tried to make her feel as comfortable as possible waiting for my husband to be able to leave work so we could get her to the vet. I don't drive and therefor had to wait. When the vet came in and I told her what was going on Chi-Chi tried to get up and again fell. The vet told us what was up and that there wasn't anything that could be done for her. We had no choice but to tell Chi-Chi how much we loved her and would miss her but that it was time for her to be with the other pets we lost at Rainbow bridge but that we would see her again. We had 14 great years with a great friend. She was excellent around the girls when they were younger. Zoey was 2 when we got Chi-Chi and Kirsten was 4. We never had to use a leash with her, she stayed right by your side even when passing another dog. Chi-Chi was my very first dog ever! I had a fear of dogs from an incident with two other dogs when I was very young. We got Chi-Chi to help me over come that fear. It didn't take long...she was the best, friendliest, most lovable dog and I will miss her so much.

Goodbye Chi-Chi my friend, till we meet again on Rainbow bridge to cross over together...I love you...

Busy, busy, busy...

That's been me for a while now...but, I like it!

I have completed everything for the 12-month swap I am in and the package is already at it's destination. The recipient, Tina, is going to wait until Christmas to open it. I really hope she likes everything! I had a lot of fun doing this swap. Coming up with ideas to match the monthly inspiration given. Some of the ideas were from the swap mom and others came from the swappers themselves. I will post pictures of the goodies I sent sometime after Christmas.

Last month both my daughters had their birthdays. Kirsten turned 18. We had her over for dinner. Kirsten moved out just over a month and a half ago, and lives with her boyfriend and his family while they save money for their own apartment. Not the easiest time in my life, that's for sure!! Anyway, I cooked one of her favourites, curry. It was a good evening and I was sad to see her leave. It was really weird that I wasn't able to go into to her room and wake her up with birthday wishes.

Here is Kirsten blowing out the candles on her cake.

Zoey, turned 16, 4 days later. On the day of her birthday she started her first driver education course. I'm so proud of her! Zoey paid for the course with little help from her nanny but, the rest was all her hard earned money. She works at Licks Homeburgers. It's been almost a year now and she is an opening/closing night & weekend manager. This past year Zoey has purchased herself a new bike, guitar hero, a docking station for the Ipod she won at work, a Mac book, all her school supplies including clothing, and has taken her father & I out for dinner a number of times as well as going out with friends and having fun!! Did I mention she works at least 25-30 hours a week and is a straight A student!! I made my very first ever crocheted scarf for Zoey for her birthday. We also gave her a memory card for her camera.

Here is Zoey with a few friends, sporting the scarf I crocheted in the colours she wanted.

Now I'm making things for Christmas...I still have 2 1/2 pairs of socks to do and a crochet hat to start. Then there is the baking that has to happen. We give gifts of baked goods to some of our harder to shop for friends...mostly guys! LOL! The guys love the baked goods that's for sure!

Well, time to get back to knitting...

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of the year!

Till next time, which hopefully won't be a long wait...I'll try my best.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone!

I hope everyone has a safe and great night :)

This is what my daughter, Zoey & husband, Trevor looked like before leaving for school/work this morning.

Yep, you guessed it Beetlejuice is what Zoey is and....


Trevor is Zombie Dad...he is Zombie Dad every year and plays the part well.

I've started this cab and not sure what I'm going to do next. So far I'm really liking it. I have no idea what the stone is. I bought them from Ebay and the seller didn't know what they were. I bought a few and have no idea on any of them. If you know what the stone is, please let me know. Anyway...maybe a necklace or a brooch...they are supposed to be an in fashion this years...hmmm.






I also made this crystal snowflake for a friend. She has this great big window in the front of her house and I think the crystal snowflake will look great when the sun shines though her window. It worked up quick, the only thing I didn't like was how droopy it is.

Hope you have a great day & Halloween night =]
Pam

Tag, I'm it!

I've been tagged by a new beady friend...Ralonda, you can see her blog here http://beaded2bless.blogspot.com/
According to the rules I must tell seven little known things about myself.

1) I was adopted when I was 4 months old and met my birth mother. It was then that I found out that she years later married my birth father and they went on to have 2 more kids, so I have a natural sister and brother. It was to bad that we didn't get along.

2) My husband was the one to get me into beading. He was selling web sites at the time and went into this cute little bead store downtown St. Catharines where I live. Brought me in a few days later...I bought a magazine and some beads and that was it...I was HOOKED!

3) About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and with medication brought my insulin levels to that of a normal adult. My levels were so high they couldn't believe I wasn't sicker.

4) Just like Ralonda I clean when I get mad, and I don't mean just the regular cleaning, I do the nitty gritty stuff that no one wants to do. You know...polish the silver in the cabinet, get down on my hands and knees to clean floors...that sort of stuff. I think I need to get mad as my house looks like a whirlwind went whipping through it! LOL!

5) I would love to live out in the country and be self sufficient...grown my own food...that kind of stuff.

6) I wish I had more friends that enjoyed beading as much as I do and be able to get together for bead sessions. I stay at home and pretty much keep to myself. Although I am glad to have to the online beady friends I have, it would be nice to actually sit with any of them and talk beads and bead and talk beads and bead....=)

7) I prefer to listen to music and don't watch a lot of TV. When one of my few favourite shows is on I still don't really watch but listen and bead.

Wow, that was harder than I thought it was going to be. Now, what 7 people am I going to tag?? Jewels, Tina, Linda Jo, Jamee, Marjorie, Billie, well looks like I'll only be tagging 6. Ladies, the rules are write 7 little known facts about yourself and then tag 7 others to do the same...have fun! =)
Pam

I'm back!!!!

Well, it certainly has been a while since I last wrote. Things around here have been pretty hectic! At one point I was working a full time job as well as a part time one! Was getting to the point of being run down. Just recently, my husband got a fantastic job with the Ministry of Government Services doing basically computer help desk. He actually does computer help for the Justice Department...pretty cool if you ask me and the pay is GREAT to boot! I can now concentrate solely on my bead work. I've had a little trouble getting my muse back up and running. So I started finishing off some UFO's. (unfinished objects)

This necklace was originally done for the wedding necklace contest at Bead-patterns I didn't get it finished in time for the contest :( I think it turned out pretty good for my first bead embroidered necklace. I've always wanted to do one and now I have. Maybe there will be another in my future...we'll see.
I also finished the necklace for a cabochon I had beaded around a few months ago. The cab was cut by Jeff You can find his cabochon's for sale at his Etsy store. I still have another one of his cabs to do something with.

I also did a bit of playing around with right angle weave and made this necklace and the earrings below it. The necklace is a semi-precious stone of which the name currently eludes me and accented with size 11 Delica beads.

The earrings are right angle weave and I used some left over mother-of-pearl beads and some peridot semi-precious beads.
This next pair of earrings I did just to do something quick. I've had the square jump rings for a while now. The beads are blue faceted cat's eyes.
I am currently trying to design some beaded squares for the Breast Cancer beaded quilts. I plan on completing a few for the 2009 quilts. If you are interested in doing some of your own please go to Jeanette Shanigan's web site for details on how you could help. There is a link on the home page to previous quilts that have been made and auctioned off at the Bead & Button show for the last few years. It is a great cause! I've actually been thinking about doing something like this here in Canada and auctioning it off at one of the bead shows held in Toronto. (as that is the closest place to me that has shows) I wonder...if anyone reading this is interested in doing a Canadian version of the Breast Cancer beaded quilts drop me an email to pamelove@cogeco.ca or comment on this post. I'm up for the challenge...are you??

Back to beading...

...Pam :o)