My poor neglected bog! You can always tell when I am busy, running off in a thousand directions like light emanating from a shattered mirror: no word is written, no picture posted. I am returning to this location, to this on line journal of thought and word tomorrow night after work. I am feeling too tired at this day's end to keep writing but I did want to post this picture. I love it so much! My brother Bob, my husband Phil, in the hotel room in Tucson. I am tickled they stood together for a picture and happier still that they seem to be enjoying the moment.

Valentine's Day

This was supposed to be an image randomly chosen from the internet for Valentine's Day but; we all know how that little cupid of the day can mess with things! These are a fellow blogger's chickens. I love pictures of chickens. I am particularly fond of drawing and painting chickens as any of the collectors of my work will tell you. With my last name it is a given that chickens would be in my life. If we did not have so many coyotes; I think I would even own a few. I have heard they can be downright loving!

This is the first day I have made my sorry self get out of bed. I actually even made it to the studio and made a few dragonfly earrings while watching an old Barbara Stanwyck movie. Pathetic! So much to do and so much I want to do and all I CAN do is sleep.a

Looking back upon many Valentine's Days; I feel lucky and blessed to have had so many people to love and be loved by. This journey we call life has blessed me with loving children, stepchildren, in laws, family and even an ex husband. It has been and will continue to be a privilege to be loved by them. I will love with all my being in return. Happy Valentine's Day all!

I am home! It was raining when I left for Tucson, raining when I left Tucson and raining when I landed in Seattle. It hardly seems as if anything has changed! I promise pictures later, show news and much more but for now I need to let my Tucson cold put me back to sleep. ZZZzzzzzzzz

Here I am in beautiful sunny Tucson selling myself ( LOL ) and my wares at The Whole Bead Show. I am happy to be here and even happier to see old friends and customers. People say the nicest things about my work and it makes me feel like a zillion dollars! Well, duty calls or rather Phil does so I must run for now! Thinking of all of you, xo, Lois

New Pieces for Tucson

When I decided to create new designs for Tucson this year, I took comfort in familiar images and designed around things that made me feel happy and at peace. In these troubling times, a comfortable image is like a good friend, always there beckoning me to its' center. This once again is a house image with a shallow frame so that resin or glass could be added over an image. The back is decorated with spirals, hearts, radiating lines and dots. I haven't photographed them on the prettiest surface but I like them none the less. I sure hope Tucson is fun, sunny, welcoming and prosperous. I can hardly wait to see old friends, family ( Barb & Bob ) and meet new people!





A heart shaped resin frame in white bronze that I have strung with an assortment of my chain, beaded links and this fabulous silk that I will be selling in Tucson, from Vietnam. I have been admiring all the jewelry work done with fiber lately so I decided to try my hand at it when this ribbon turned up. How fun! It made me think outside my usual comfort zone.





This is one of my new center pieces from my house series. I do not know what it is with me and house images but they show up a lot in all my work. This piece I am calling the house dangler. It is two sided and cast in white bronze.

So Many Days

The days are filled with activity as I create the last samples of jewelry for Tucson and begin to pack the final two boxes for shipping. In between all the show activity, work needs to be done for the shop, too. I am making things, thinking things, packing things, breathing things and in the process reminding myself to breathe and not get stressed out. Stress does very weird things to my body and makes my mind ache and gives me strange dreams. I also have this sadness every time I get ready to leave home. What is the source of this sadness? I like to travel and see new places. I like meeting old friends and making new friends, I enjoy new experiences. I take plenty of knitting, reading and drawing with me to create a home wherever I am. It is a mystery, one I am afraid to dig into too deeply.

So Many Days