HAPPYH NEW YEAR!!!
May this year bring us all peace, love, prosperity and a better understanding of each other and compassion towards all our fellow women and men.

I am looking forward to the chnage in our leadership and viewing all of this change with optimisim and hope. Being alive and a citizen of this soon to be great country again is wonderful! We have a chance for actual leadership! I am praying for guidance for this country and its' politicians that we do not again get bogged down in politics as usual!

As for me, I ask for health and the opportunity to remain creative in all my endeavors, prosperity so that I may stay in business making and selling " stuff " and so that I can keep my wonderful staff employed and patience so that I do not get bogged down in the day to day litlle things that can make life irritate. I love my life!

On a happy note, at five o'clock lasr night at the fountain here in PT; I attended a friend's wedding - very impromptu - they are a long time couple. It was just 8 of us including the judge. A cold, clear night saying their vows in front of our community Christmas tree! Very special and romantic. Congratulations Marie and Mark!!!!

Again, Happy New Year! xo, Lois

The wind is blowing like crazy and is shaking the entire house and making the sliding glass door bow in. It makes me anxious and I can feel my heart fluttering in my chest. I suppose it comes from years of living on the beach when I had to worry about the tides and water crashing over the bulkhead. That was definitely scary then when you live at minus 1 foot elevation. Of course, no insurance company ever wanted to offer us flood insurance! HAHA - I figure if I put my ear plugsin; I just might be able to sleep, per chance to dream.

This is a beautiful sunset seen from my front porch the last evening before our big snow storms came. Isn't it just beautiful? It holds the promise of such a peaceful night, something I wish the whole world could experience!
I worked all day today in the studio, flitting from project to project and thouroughly enjoyed myself. I can dabble in so many things while I am out there; Today, I made jewelry for the shop, painted on canvas, worked on a scrapbook or rather the Lois version of a scrapbook and did some hand sewing on a silk bag I am making as a gift for a friend.

Anyone notice how the news is ever so depressing day after day? Retail sales are horribly down but sales of alcohol are up and auto body shops are extremely busy after all our snow. Go figure! I think one of my new year's resolutions will be not to watch the news and to think of and believe in the positive side of things. Tomorrow is a full day in the shop for me. Hope it is a nice busy day and that my customers and I enjoy each other. Good night!

A Gift

This cool piece is now hanging on my living room wall so I can see it from my knitting chair!
This is a wonderful gift that I received from Phil for Christmas. It is made in Hati from oil drums that were cut apart and made into animal shapes. This is a bird that reminds me of a partridge. I'm not sure if that is exactly what it is but I do love it! I have new charms back from the caster already for Tucson so I will try and add some pictures soon. Nighty - night, Lois

Finally, we are having some more normal weather! Gray skies, fog and temperatures in the 40's. I am looking forward to the return of a little bit of sun but I do not know when that might happen. In the meantime, I am going to begin in earnest to get ready for the big show in Tucson. I have sample jewelry to make and charms to organize and lots of lucite beads to dye. I also have new diamond hollow core drill bits so I hope to begin drilling beach rocks and coring them with silver. Hmmmm ... that might just mean some walks on the beach will be needed! I could really go for that!

I have posted a picture of an end table I painted. It is my first piece of furniture that I tried to do more rubberstamping on than free form painting. I am now using the table to hold my colored pencils. I will be doing a few more pieces as time goes by this winter but first I am going to paint new signs for my " gallery space " that I am carving out of the back hall. Stay tuned!

This Beauty

is my grand daughter, Maia Rose. She is now living in Tennessee. What a sweetheart! She also signed her name,

Christmas Snow Pictures!