New Dawn.....New Day.....New World

Well here we are another year is almost in the bag. Although it hasn't been a great year, it hasn't been all that bad either. Our Family is healthy, happy, relatively well adjusted to the world and life in general.

I am still working, beading, quilting, reading and feeling good. I haven't lost 20#, but I have gained 20# either.

Our computer crashed two weeks ago, but I had purchased a new laptop in July and we will be using it until we decide if we really need a new desk top computer.

Our life is stable, quiet and safe, just the way we like it.

I am ashamed of the conditions in our country and ashamed of the politicians we have elected to govern. Neither party is better or worse than the other, they just don't get the fact that they were elected to do the best possible job for The United States of America, not the political party, special interests or religious convictions that they personally subscribe to.

At midnight tonight, I will be wishing in the New Year with a prayer that God will guide, direct and bless my family, my country and my world. Love to All!!!!

What we've Been Doing....

Well here it is again months later, can't seem to get back into the grove of posting. But we have been working on a new room addition, so I do have an excuse. The following pictures are of the new sun room. We have been enjoying the room for the past few weeks.

The pictures are dark, because of the light from all the windows....dah! Oh well you will get the idea.....

We have two matching rocker recliners......don't you just love how OLD people think of resting and napping when they decorate.

The ceiling was fun to put up, barn siding, and all the trim match the rest of the house.

You can see what I plan to do in the sun room along with watching the birds.......

The following pictures are a few of the bead projects that I have finished in the last couple months.

Wow Time Really Does Fly

Can't believe it has been almost a year since I posted here last. There really isn't any excuse for the absence, now that I look back on the past 10 months there were things I could have written about and pictures I could have posted, but it just didn't happen.

The following pictures are of the items I have beaded in the past three weeks. All are from published patterns, either magazine or internet. I know I should give names and publications, but I'd have to find the patterns, and that would take time that I could use to write and add more pictures. Like the one of Tobis in his sled..... or in his Santa Hat......

First sled....it has a seat belt. Or should I say passenger restraint system.

Tobis is now 14 months old, he walks, talks and has more teeth than some people my age. He still has the big blue eyes and the huge smile. He is a world traveler, he went to visit his maternal grandparents in Denmark in September. And he knows the words for several things in both languages, water, shoe, snow and some others we won't talk about here. Hint....what are some of the first words you learned in a foreign language, the ones not in the books.

Can't promise I'll be back soon, but I will try to post more often in 2011 than in 2010.....

February Snow.....

....No Explanation Necessary

Tobias's New Playstation!!!

My prayers were answwered they got me a Playstation!!!



This is so much fun.....I don't mind wearing this funny hat.......


Thanks Mom & Dad....you got me this for my 4 month birthday....can't wait to see what you come up with when I turn 16!!!!

New Photos

This is my swimmer......with a SILVER medal.

Tis The Season

This is my latest cuff bracelet, it is an original design created with Bead Tool 3.

I haven't actually worn it out in public yet, have been waiting for Thanksgiving to be over and start the Christmas Season.

Yes it actually has a bell for the closure, it is really fun, it jingles when you move your hand.

Don't know if I will sell it at the LBS or keep it for my self, it is an advanced pattern and I'm not sure I would ever make another one. I am not fond of mass production and that is one of the reason I have never gotten into craft fairs or even art shows. I love the challenge of creating a design, but once I have accomplished that task I lose interest in repeating the project.

I have decided to have a drawing for a free PDF copy of this original design (color chart and wordchart too) on December 23rd. If you would like to be entered leave a comment and your name will go in the hat.

Swimmingly

This is my Granddaughter Sabrina, she has been swimming a little while now and is doing fantastically. This was a big event that took place on Halloween Weekend. she was in six events and did a great job taking a few seconds off each of her times.

She is really concentrating on her technique.

Here is the result of the concentration............ready to touch the wall.


Grandma and Grandpa are really proud......especially Grandma who only learned to float and dog paddle.

Giving Thanks

No this is not my apple pie, this pie was made by my son Mike! When I was in CO visiting after the birth of Tobias I spent some of the time each day baking. One of the things we made was apple pie, I made one for the friend of Mike's that picked me up at the airport and drove me to the hospital. I did a simple fall leaf pattern on that pie and Mike took notes. This was his rendition of apple pie for Thanksgiving Dinner.

This is Tobias at 8 weeks old, he is growing like a weed and is cute as a button, and that is the unbiased opinion of his Grandmother.

This is a new hat that grandma made, the knit ribbing can roll down and cover ears and neck when the wind starts to blow.

New Projects

As promised here are the pictures of my Rivoli project.

The earrings are 12mm rivoli, with delicas, 15/0 & 11/0 seed beads and 4mm bicones. The earwires are solid copper.

The pendant is a 14mm rivoli, with delicas, 15/0 & 11/0 seed beads and 4mm bicones. The cord is light brown silk rattail. The bail is brick stitch,11/0 seed beads with a 15/0 picot edge. There are 18 bicones around the edge that gives it a dimensional effect since the bicones can shift to the back or the front.

Just in time to add bling to the holidays. Now if there was only some event to wear them to.

Latest Bead Project

I was inspired to design a peyote cuff bracelet with African mud-cloth motifs. The Smithsonian website has an interactive design section where you can go through the steps used to make a real piece of mud-cloth.

So here is my interpretation of the motifs in delica beads.......

I like the way it turned out and it was a fun project to make from design to execution.

I'm working on a project using Rivoli, they really sparkle and look so sophisticated. Should have pictures to post in a day or so.......

Food and Babies - What could be more fun!!

It is fall and nothing is more Ohio, than apples and leaves. This is a deep dish apple pie I made a couple weeks ago. Took time to take a picture of the finished pie, but haven't taken the time to post the picture. It was as good as it looks too, vanilla ice cream and all.....



And this is the latest picture of Tobias. Cute as a button, and Dad says he is growing like a weed, approximately 12 lbs now at 5 weeks old.


I have been doing some sewing, baby accessories to be exact. We are having a baby boom at church so need to get a head start on gifts.


Bib that pops over the head, keeps cloths clean and can't be pulled off by baby.


Receiving blanket 36 in sq with crocheted edging, with matching burp cloths that are peanut shaped to fit over your shoulder.


Made a pink zebra jasper necklace for a friend for her b-day. She now has a set, flat spiral bracelet and earrings and the necklace. I don't usually like plain stringing projects , but this one turned out pretty well.

I have a peyote cuff bracelet to post pictures of but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Need to get to bed......working again tomorrow and probably most of the week.....

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet.....

The month of October has flown by.... We were awaiting the arrival of our 4th grandchild and had made plans to make the trip to Colorado when he arrived. I had a short window of opportunity since October is a busy month at work with Quarterly Payroll Reports due by the 31st.


Tobias Evert Uncapher arrived on Oct 1st, his arrival was a little less than conventional, so I booked a flight and was in Colorado on 10/3 and helped bring the not so little guy home from the hospital. He weighed in at 8# 13 oz and was 22in long. For the next nine days I helped out by doing laundry, cooking, cleaning and baking treats for Mom and Dad. It was really a great experience to hold a newborn baby again.

This is a picture taken this week..... 14 days old!!!!

He is such a sweetheart......he has his Dads hands and feet (Dad is 6'4") and I don't know were the dark hair came from..... although his Aunt Amanda had dark hair when she was born, but it fell out and came back in blond, maybe Tobias will do that too.

I have been home since Monday afternoon, back to work and have even started on another beading project, so will have more to post soon.......maybe even new pictures of Tobias.

New Beads

To date I had never made a "set" of bead work, I usually go for individual pieces. These pieces started with the cab, when I finished it I decided to make a rope to go with it and then the bracelet and by the time that was done I just kept going and did the earrings too. The closures on the necklace and the bracelet are more of my vintage mother of pearl buttons, ear wires are 14K gold.


The pearls around the cab are fresh water and all the others are glass.

The earrings are not me, I don't do dangles. I don't want to break up the set, so they will probably go on consignment to the Bead Shop where I teach. Price $90. Right now I have all the flat spiral bracelets there priced from $35 to $45 depending on the bead cost, labor is the same. Anything that doesn't sell will probably be turned into Christmas gifts.

You wouldn't believe that it is the first day of fall.......the high today was 83 and it is still 71 at midnight. I still have green tomatoes so I guess it is OK that it hasn't turned cold yet, I can always use more tomatoes in the freezer.

Projects turn into Gifts

You may remember we are due to have another grandchild (probably a boy) very soon, and we have had two new babies in our Church family with more due in the next few months. I have started to work on some baby things. I'm knitting another blanket, but it is slow going, I just can't get into the pattern. So I decided to try out some other ideas for a few useful, but quick projects to use as gifts. This bib is one I am working on........
Terry cloth with a little embroidery. I didn't want to use bias tape as the edge finish so tried to do a satin stitch. It was OK , but the terry and t-shirt fabric both were a little too stretchy and it gave me a ruffled effect on the edge. I think I'll try a blanket stitch next time....

The next two photos are of a sweater I made for Sabrina for her B-day next week. It is in the mail so she should have it in plenty of time. I don't use a light box to take pictures so the colors are not really as intense as they should be, the wool yarn is a hand dyed sport weight I fell in love with .......I hope she likes it.....it is a very bright. It looks small in this picture, but it is supposed to be the short crop style that is in right now.

Close up of the neck and yoke detail. Top button is for looks and does not button.