I am safe, loved, warm in my home. Water runs from my faucets, heat comes forth from the vents in the walls, food is available in town only 7 miles away. Not so for the people of Haiti. I don't think any of this has ever been true for the people of Haiti and definitely not in the aftermath of the earthquake. I am sick, heartbroken at the devastation, the injured needing help, the desperate cries of mothers separated from children, the lack of daily needs. They are hurting and we can help. I have made a small donation to Doctors Without Borders. You can do the same. Google them in and go to their website. You can use a credit card. Even $10 will help. As you run through this life where every moment is a blessing, pray and give to those less fortunate. YOU can make a difference. Now. Do it. This moment. And thank you. xo, Lois

Rain & Wind & WInd & RAIN !!

It is that time of year again and the only thing that makes this year different from the last year is that we are having temperatures in the low to mid 50's and there is no snow! I love a rainy & gray day but I am looking forward to Tucson and a bit of sub. I will be the bear squinting into the sunlight as I emerge from my long winter's sleep!

I am going to call this a fly by blog post as the chicken noodle soup I made is calling me for dinner! On this stormy, drenching, windy night; soup just sounded great. Phil has made biscuits, too. Anyhow, I have charms in an earring design by Kim Ballor in this magazine. What a pleasant surprise! Thanks to Kim!

More Tucson

Believe. Something I have had to learn over my 53 years; to believe in myself. I thought this when I made this clasp and still wanted to believe when I decided to re -cast the piece in yellow bronze. Warm, gold and earthy, this is a toggle clasp that I just love. Believe. Believe. Say it again and again.

Tucson Samples

It is the time of the year when I bury myself in the studio to create the samples that will hopefully sell my charms and findings in Tucson. I want pieces that are a blend of texture, color, form and function. A piece also needs to be made so that it can be duplicated by a customer. I can hardly wait to get down south. To the show, to see friends, to feel the sun on my skin to see the different light that fills the skies of Tucson. What a change in scenery show in Tucson offers me!

A close up of my reversible " stars love toggle. " I hand finished this clasp in a nice brushed sterling matt type finish. It really compliments the matt or frosted glass beads in the necklace. I could not be happier with this finish on sterling!





A necklace of assorted chain, matt glass beads and one of my reversible toggle clasps in sterling.

My silver studio is coming along very nicely with the addition of a few new tools and a table arrangement that gives me lots of surface to work on. I like things neat and tidy in my workspace but I am finding out that it is nearly impossible to not spread out everywhere and have everything within reach. There must be a magic that exists somewhere that would allow me to do this. I have so many ideas in my head hovering about all my daily activities and I only need more hours in the day and fingers that do not ache from arthritis to accomplish my daily goals. What will I make in the days and months to follow? I have no idea where this journey will lead or what the end result will be. I only know for certain that since I was a child. I have only wanted to " make stuff. " Sometimes, growing up, the ache was so bad for wanting to make something that the day would be an exercise in frustration. I will have to add to my list of goals this year that I will become proficient in using all my tools and that I will use the stuff I have to create with. When I force myself to use what is at hand, I often get some of my best results!

I have a goal for this new year,this new decade. I am going to take care of me. Do what I need to do to make myself feel happy and content while still being open to the idea of adventure and new technique in my work, jewelry, bead, fiber and painting. I want to build and treasure my friendships and gather new friends close to me. I want to love my family even more if that is possible and gather them closer. I want to remember to exercise the spirit of gratitude. I want to practice peace and as one of my favorite songs says, " let it begin with me. " There is so much and I feel so blessed to have the chance to say that there is so much. Without getting all sappy and over emotional; I just want to say I am so thankful to just be alive to experience this new decade and all that it will have to offer. Peace I leave you with tonight and for the coming year. xo, Lois

p.s. Acceptance would be a good thing also for the 2010 year. Acceptance of myself and of others both good, bad and ugly. Oh and typing skills would come in handy, too this year!