I Couldn't Say it Better

In Between

A chorus of cool cast concrete crows.

In between a wonderful meal and a lazy afternoon of watching old movies; I dashed back
and forth to the studio to paint the latest bunch of concrete crows.
They will be the inkiest of blacks and finished off with a glossy
varnish. They can be indoors or outdoors and I find them very talented at being bookends
on my cases in the den. I cover the bases with a wool felt that stops their little
concrete feet and bottoms from scratching the furniture.
Very easy painting yet meditative and relaxing at the same time. It's as if it clears my head
to draw and paint new pictures. Like a sorbet in a delicious dinner clears the palette between courses.
See - food remains on my mind this Thanksgiving evening! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Strutting His Stuff

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am feeling most blessed with the love of my family
and friends and the joy that comes from making my living at
something I love to do. If I could have just one wish, I would want for the world
the peace, love, faith and hope that I have in my heart right now. May your day be filled
with light, warmth and love. 

Home Before the Snow Flew!

The first snowfall Sunday morning in Bellevue.

Lisa of ZizzyZaZa Beads and Jake laughing it up at the show.

Beads, wonderful beads, can't get enough of those wonderful beads!

Snow just beginning to pile up. Dog prints on the porch, of course!

A dog that is soaked from playing fiercely in the snow. 

We beat the snowstorm home by about 10 hours and this morning it is a winter wonderland outside. Everything is blanketed at this moment with about five inches of snow. Beauty in the treachery that is snow. Phil is stuck out on the highway about 4 miles from here. I told him to sit tight and hopefully, traffic will move, a plow will come, a sand truck will leave its load and he will arrive home safely. The storm came fast, furious, leaving us unprepared in its wake.
The one enjoying this weather the most is Daisy. It is her first snow and she has played and jumped and tunneled and rolled and finally slept, all in the snow. I have just coaxed her inside with a chew bone. She is in love with snow and through her eyes, I love it even more. Even more still, when Phil is able to get home!

Whirlwind Time and a Birthday

This is my birthday dinner, my special request for SOS or dry beef gravy.

My birthday cake with double frosting made by Phil


The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity with the shop's annual sale, a visiting dog, report cards
and my birthday! The rains have arrived with a vengeance with snow forecast for perhaps Monday.
I love winter but I am especially glad to be in my warm studio looking out at the weather. I laugh and tell customer's
that this is perfect beading weather and to get their project " on ".
The person not doing projects is me. I am planning for this weekend's show and the upcoming festivities for
Christmas.
I aso was able to mail off the little angels that I promised to Facebook friends. I actually cleared my office
of all the things I had promised to mail. Feels very god to have that all done.
Now, I am finding that I am sleepy earlier in the evening so I have been curling up in bed with the Goddess
of drowsiness and reading until she gently closes my eyes. Sleep is such a pleasant
experience. Good night.

Some Days

 An exceptional crow visitor.

Some days are just about perfect and this one was no exception. I had a wonderful day in my shop on our first day of the annual sale. I greeted many customers that I have not seen in awhile and the warmth and happiness extended from those customers warmed me to the souls of my feet. I also had lunch with a friend to celebrate her birthday and two other friends dropped by to say hello. When a day is fun and people are receptive to what you are doing; who could ask for more? I felt loved, appreciated, happy and with gratitude I look forward to more days just like this one!

A Cold Evening

The day was beautiful. Sunny, clear, warmish for November and full of possibilities. Did I accomplish much? Maybe. It all depends on what you think accomplished means.

I made  jewelry, strung beads, priced some copper findings for the shop, prepared six charms for casting, painted a new shop display, did three loads of laundry, picked up one old subaru from the repair shop, shopped for dinner, made dinner, cleaned up from dinner, worked on line ( still working ) and will most likely finish the day out by drawing in the living room while watching Law & Order: Los Angeles, using the new magnifier attached to my ott lamp by my living room chair. Sigh, my eyes can not decide if they need it or not. Where ever would I be without my trusty ott lamps? Accept no imitations, they are the best by the way!

Made from odds and ends of brass chain.

A painting I hung in the shop. I love little houses!

All the while working in the studio today, I longed for a little cabin in the woods. A place to create in silence and solitude, a place free of distractions, a place to work through the stuff rattling around in my head from the awful, betraying nasty hurt of a former good friend, to the ache of missing my mother, to the why of my ways. I could explore medium and technique, metals and paints, resins and enamels. Two months would help. Hell, two days would even be good!

This is enough meandering thought in this blog tonight. I am anxious to get to the colored pencils calling to me. Good night and may you sleep with creative thoughts in your head all night long!