Just Another Glad (and Manic) Monday

How have you been?  How was your January?  Can you believe we're coming to the end of it already? I can't!  Almost a month into the new year... just wow!  I am trying to get back into my working habits, I was in a bit of a slump after the holidays and then we've been hit by illness after illness it seems.  Still, I am determined to get back on track!  Here are some of my new pieces:

Not too shabby, eh?  I'm pretty excited.  It feels good to be working again :)  And now... for my list of the week!

What Makes Me Glad:

1)  Cheddar cheese and apple slices  (together)

2)  Coffee.  (preferably a great deal of coffee..)

3)  Shepuppy Blythe dresses (seriously awesome!!!!  Here's Greta's store link http://www.etsy.com/shop/shepuppy  and her Flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74531910@N04/ )

4)  Friendly office staff at doctor's offices...  I just had to call mine and everyone I talked to was just so nice and it's amazing what a difference that makes!

5)  Old friends...  you know the ones?  Where you can see them/write them/phone them for the first time in years and pick up like it was only yesterday?

6)  Tolkien.  I am rereading the books to my children at bedtime and am falling in love with his work all over again.  (ok, ok, the love never stopped, but still!  Treebeard is so cool!)

7)  Musical gladness of the week?  Eliza Dolittle!

Thank you YouTube :)

And that's it!  I hope you enjoyed my gladness for the week ;)  What makes YOU glad today?

~Jennifer

Glad Monday

Well..  I'm making this before midnight my time, so it counts, right?  I have a house full of illness, so forgive me for (almost) being late again :)

What I am glad for this week:

1)  Hot chocolate

2)  Princess Tutu... if you don't know who she is, you should ;)  she kept my sick little ones entertained enough I could sit down with a cup of tea.

3)  Crayons.  For keeping said children likewise entertained while I made dinner.

4)  Email.  How awesome is it really?  To be able to send instant letters???

5) Lavender.  The scent of (real) lavender is made of serenity, I swear it.

6)  Wire whisks.  Required for awesome hot chocolate from scratch.

7)  And the musical choice of the week that makes me glad?  Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw.

Until next time, my friends... I am also glad for each and every one of you being here :)

~Jennifer

Oops! Late Glad Post..

I am a day behind, I know!  My eldest is sick and I'm running late, so forgive me, please?  Here are my seven glad things for this week:

1)  Digital cameras... I love being able to upload my pictures and see them right away!

2)  80s music... a large part of my early childhood :)  My earliest memories include songs like "Thriller", "Jessie's Girl", "Wake Me Up (Before you Go-Go)", and "Material Girl".  (For cool points name those artists without Google-ing ;) )

3)  My son's dimples.  I have one almost dimple when I really smile, my younger girl has one when she smiles, but my son has full fledged dimples every time he so much as smirks.  Of course they make it hard to discipline him on occasion ;).

4)  Mab Graves.  Her artwork and herself, she is one of the people I admire most in this world.  Such an incredible lady, her gorgeous art is all over my work walls inspiring me daily!  (If you don't know who she is, you must check her out!!!!  (http://mabgraves.com/).

5)  Exclamation points!  :D

6)  Fushigi Yuugi.  My favorite manga/anime ever.  (I went to a Con dressed as Yui, granted I was a bit short and curvy, but it was fun anyway ;) ).

7)  Kawaii Kandy ice cream hats for Blythe, my amazing friend Maggi makes them.  They never fail to make me smile!   ( http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/kawaiikandy )

Join me again next week (hopefully on Monday LOL) when I find seven more things that make me GLAD!  Until then... may your week be filled with gladness :)

~Jenn

My Word For 2013

Hello, dear friends!  I know, it has been a while again.  The holiday season is very full of joy, but also with busy-ness and this year tinged with sadness for me.  I am, however, working on moving past all that.  We must keep on!  :)  I have spent a lot of time thinking about my life and what is important... my family, my friends, my work...  and I have realized something about myself.  I want to be happy.  Shocking, right?  We all want to be happy, silly girl!  True.  We do!  Here's something else I realized... the path to true happiness is in finding it in the every day.

I've talked before about my Pollyanna mind set.  Well this year?  My goal is to re-find it.  Re-define it.  Bring it back to my every day.  So my word for this year?  GLAD.  I am going to try to sit down and write at least a short post every Monday that includes a list of seven things I am glad for.  One for each day.  Can I do it?  I hope so!!

So, for today... my list...  Seven Things I Am Glad of:

1)  Blue skies after the rain

2)  Glee (I only just started watching it on Netflix, feeds the part of me missing singing)

3)  Children's laughter (especially that of my own children)

4)  Celtic knots  (I love to trace them with my eyes and to doodle them in margins of paper)

5)  Pens  (there is something very satisfying about writing in ink)

6)  My husband's hugs  (they can make a lot of hurt go away, at least for a while)

7)  Ingrid Michaelson  (her music soothes my soul)

Until later... may your life be filled with glad things <3

Tis the Season...

What does this time of year mean for you?  Truly?  What are your favorite things?  Do you take time to savor little moments?  Or do you get caught up in the rush?  What do you celebrate?

This time of year has always been my absolute favorite.  I love the lights, the Christmas tree, the carols, the baking... but most of all I love those little moments where you can feel the spirit of... goodness.  The cheer.  It is there, if you look for it.  And it is even more there if you give it as well as receive it.  Example:  Trip to the store to pick up last minute Christmas presents for family members you forgot... you are feeling harried and perhaps a little cranky... you see a mom with a screaming child...  there are many ways to react, of course, but in the spirit of the season (or for goodwill anytime) a warm encouraging smile at the mom can both make her feel better... and you as well :).  It's funny how when you are having a rough day the smile of a stranger can brighten it drastically.  Or perhaps a kind word, holding a door open for someone, helping someone elderly (or not so elderly) carry things to their car.  Leave a generous tip for an exhausted server at a restaurant or a barista at a coffee shop.  Call someone you haven't spoken to in a long time, email them, write a card, postcard, note...  this time of year can be so full of joy if we let it, but even more so if we help it.

I have been sending out a lot of little gifts this season, to new friends and old.  Handmade, of course, ;). It feels wonderful.  I love to write notes and make people smile, don't you?  I have a lot more work to do, I had so many plans for my shop... but things have gotten behind with the entire family catching illnesses over and over lol.  Not major illnesses, but the type to induce a great deal of whining among the wee ones.  I was tempted to be disappointed in myself and then I realized... this means that I have spent more time with my little ones.  And that is a good thing.  I've decided to hold what is very likely my last sale of the year in the shop, you can use the coupon code:  MERRY for 20% off your order.

Merry Christmas, everyone.  I will likely put up another post before then... but just in case, I had to say it.  Sending you all warm thoughts and wishes for a wonderful holiday season and beautiful new year <3   Leaving you with a collage of some of my latest works.

Love,  Jennifer

3rd Annual Challenge of Color

Welcome, welcome to my wee little corner for this 3rd Annual Challenge of Color hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz and Brandi Hussey!  I have a very difficult time resisting Erin's challenges, they are always so wonderful and inspiring!  I was completely fascinated by the inspiration for this year's color challenge, here's what Erin said in her email to we participants with our palettes:

"Miss Brandi selected 40 of the more than 120 NASA Earth As Art photographs for our color palettes. Each palette has six colors selected from the unique topographical images."

If you haven't checked out these photographs before, which I know I hadn't, I highly recommend taking a peek, they are incredible!  Here is the palette I chose from the two Erin presented me with:

You can view it the photo also here:  http://www.skyimagelab.com/ghadamis-river.html

Isn't the palette Brandi created gorgeous??  I fell in love.  I stared at this palette for a very, very long time.  I started pulling beads in the right colors from my stash and set them in a tray to stare at too lol.  Finally I got to work and this is what I came up with:

I had big dreams of creating even MORE pretty pieces, but only got so far as making a pair of bangles:

I rather like them though!

Now, I wasn't sure exactly where the Ghadmis River was, so I decided to investigate a little.  According to the pic itself it is in the Tinrhert Hamada Mountains near Ghadamis, Libya.  The Tinrhert Hamada Mountains are between Libya and Algeria.  Here are a couple of links that I found interesting about that general area :)

http://atlasobscura.com/place/ghadames-oasis

http://travelingluck.com/Africa/Algeria/Algeria+(general)/_2476132_Hamada+de+Tinrhert.html

Thank you SO much to Erin and Brandi both for hosting, I had a wonderful time!  I hope you have enjoyed my little corner, now on to the other amazing color palettes (and pictures!):

Erin Prais-Hintz    http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer    http://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks    http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso    http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk    http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone    http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington    http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette    http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak    http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Beth Emery    http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren    http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington    http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer    http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank    http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin    http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli    http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green    http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson    http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman    http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/  <<<---You are here!
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman    http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord    http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed    http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa    http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan    http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville    http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake    http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson    http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega    http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price    http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid    http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs    http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross    http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein    http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman    http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com (had to bow out due to a wrist injury)
Sherri Stokey    http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo    http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson    http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley    http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd    http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins    http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub    http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker    http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart    http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen    http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt    http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White    http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/Lynn_White_Jewelry/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog.html
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com


Thank you so much for stopping by!
~Jennifer

My friend, Christine...

Makes the most amazing beads!  I love beads...  I love lampwork beads... I especially love Christine's little treasures.  They are incredible!  Each bead is a work of art, so when she asked me if I would like to play with some of her beads... well, what could I say but YES!!!  (with many exclamation points, of course, because I am that kind of girl ;) )  She sent me three absolutely beautiful beads, seriously, beautiful.

How pretty is the ribbon on the box?  I love pretty packaging :D.  And those beads!  Oh my goodness, if I tried a million years I would never quite capture how stunning they are in person.  Seriously.  Amazing.  I sort of sat there and stared at these beauties for a few minutes, then started pulling out my favorite findings to play... (Fallen Angel Brass Co. brass, of course... I am a addict, I admit it freely).  Sometimes things leap into my mind fully formed, but most often I like to sift through my stash and lay out many different possibilities and... play :).  The first piece that came together was one with the amazing center bead above, it has shades of blue, a hint of green, and then the gorgeous white calla lilies on top, here it is:

I chose two lovely leaf connectors, some chain, lapis rounds (I love lapis!), some lovely sari silk, and created a handmade hook clasp to finish it off.  I am calling it "Lilies of the Night" (I have a bit of a night obsession, it's the deep blues though... I love the sky at night).

The next piece I created was with the pretty pink tulips on the gorgeous green, seriously, these beads make me swoon-y.

I wanted to do something different, so I took this awesome FAB chandelier floral finding and clipped off two of the rings, filed them, and used it to make a lariat.  I cannot decide which necklace I like better... both make me very happy.  Christine's beads are covetable... ;)  So, you ask, where is the adorable heart bead?  I couldn't give you everything at once, now could I?  I have a plan for that one, I just haven't been able to sit and create it yet lol.  Soon though, hopefully this weekend :D  I promise to post the pics as soon as I finish it (and the weather gives me light enough to take pictures lol).

Now... I know you must be asking, where can I get some amazing beads like this for myself??  Lucky for you Christine sells her gorgeous beads on Etsy, so you can pop right on over and get yourself some of your own!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristineHansenGlass

And her totally wicked blog, which you really want to check out, because we are cross posting :)

http://www.intuitivesparks.blogspot.com/

Christine is funny, clever, and just flat out awesome.  Her blog is always full of interesting insights, pretty beads (of course...), and even recipes!  I am so glad Christine and I have become friends, we have a lot in common (including our favorite colors, eclectic tastes in music, and overuse of exclamation points!!).  Love you, Chris, you rock!

Hope you are having a fantastic week, sweet friends!

~Jenn