Which One?

Next month I am going to be entering one of my jewelry pieces in a contest. I have it narrowed down to three, so I am taking a pole. Which do you think will be the best to put into a state wide Cultural Arts and Heritage contest? I will be putting these under "jewelry."

This first piece is made with a whole lot of buttons. I just used plastic white buttons and wired them with some old colorful telephone wire my dad got while working at the Kennedy Space Center in the early 1970's. 

They were rewiring all the telephone equipment out there, and the wire was being tossed, so my dad asked if he could have some. They told him to take as much as he wanted, and so he did.

I chose this one because it was pretty time consuming and unusual.

The next necklace I am thinking about entering is this one. I won these beads from Elisabeth of Beads For Busy Gals. You can see all the beads by reading my blog about it. I chose this one because it is colorful and very fun to wear.



This last piece I made in the most recent Bead Soup Blog Part Hop.

I got a TON of wonderful beads. I did a bit of wire wrapping on this one, as I have on all the pieces I am considering to enter. This piece not only has beads from my Bead Soup partner, Shawn Marie of Bent Wire Boutique, but also some unusual items; parts of a curtain rod I was not using. I decided to upcycle instead of through it away.

So, what do you think? I've never entered any of my pieces before, and I plan to enter several of them this year. I already have the other pieces chosen for different categories. I am sure after the contest I will be blogging all about it. I chose these pieces because they of their uniqueness.

So, what do you think?

Buttons?

The Winning Beads?

or Bead Soup Upcycle?

BYU Idaho Welcome Students Devotional Winter 2013

Each week at BYU Idaho the students gather to listen to a devotional given by their teachers and leaders. Campus closes down, and up to 1500 students gather in the huge conference center to listen to some of the most uplifting and inspirational talks. This first week of classes, the president of the University gave a wonderful talk. I hope you take the time to listen to the 30 minute talk. I plan to listen each week at this website: http://stream.byui.edu/live/index.html

http://www2.byui.edu/magazine/fall2011/departments/letter_from_the_president.htm

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop Reveal

Lately, I've been so busy with Christmas, family, and getting my youngest son ready for his first semester of college (taking him across the country and getting him settled, too). I got so busy I plum forgot about something I had signed up for. 

Many of you have seen the Bead Soup Blog Hops hosted by Lori Anderson, well, she came up with another blog hop. Memories and Thanks Blog Hop. I thought it was a really cool idea and wanted to do it. When I first heard about it, I sat right down and started to create, but my idea was a HUGE flop. I put it away, and guess what!? I forgot all about it until today when I saw what the date was. OH NO!!!!

The idea behind this blog is to make something that has a deep meaning toward an individual in your life. I have so many wonderful people in my life, that it was really hard to choose. Lately, though, I've been doing a lot of thinking about one special woman that I know.

My youngest sister...

First off, I have to say, I am one lucky woman, as I have two wonderful sisters. I know that if I really needed something...any thing, they would be there for me. But my baby sister, well, she is a very special gal! Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. First off she has some very special little boys in her life. Her and her dear husband have been blessed with two beautiful little boys, both with autism. She runs into daily challenges with them and boy, is she ever a trooper. They say that mothers who are blessed with special needs children are angles...this is VERY true.

Not only does my sister have challenges with her boys, but she also has challenges with her own health. She has scleroderma. Even though she has this health issue, she is still blessed with pretty good health; and we are all very grateful for that!

So what to make with her in mind? First off, I would like to eventually give this to her. She can't really wear a lot of jewelry, so I needed to come up with something else, and this is what I came up with.

A key chain.

I did a little research on the ribbon colors for scleroderma and found that they use a blue butterfly. That is why I used these blue butterflies for this piece. You will also notice the rainbow colored flowers, the ribbon color for autism. I crocheted three strands of beads and braided them together to make this key chain. If she doesn't want to use it as a key chain, she can hang it off her rear view mirror, or hang it wherever she likes.  

Well, I'm sure you will want to visit the other ladies' blogs..there are about 135, so take your time...visit a few each day for the next week or so, and enjoy all the beautiful pieces...

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods

Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

  

Frozen Pillows?

Not many of us can say that we have been in temperatures so cold that it froze our pillows. I can say that. Yes, you read it right; so cold it froze our pillows. 

When we finally made it to Idaho where our youngest son was about to start college, we hurried into the warm motel. We had had two very long days of travel, and were anxious to get out of the cold and into the warmth.

We did not need our pillow, so they were left in the car along with a few other things. I made sure all our electronics made it inside, as I was not sure what would happen to them.

The next morning, my husband went out to turn the car on so that it could get warmed up before we headed to the college 30 minutes down the road. It had got down to 16 below the night before. He came in with our son's pillow...it was solid...it FROZE. We had a big laugh out of that one!

The only other things that froze were our water bottles. They stayed that way for quite a while.

Even setting them on the dashboard in the sun and on top of a winter hat did not do the trick. Eventually, our water melted, and we had some very cold water.

By the way, the pillows we have are those memory foam pillows. My pillow did not freeze, as I have a normal one; but the pillows my husband and son use did freeze, these are the memory foam type.

Granny Square Throw

For the past several months, this has been glued to my lap and hands. During the many trips we've taken this past fall to visit with friends and family in Florida and Louisiana, I was finally able to finish it; and just in time to give to my son for Christmas. I made him this granny square throw in the BYU-I school colors. I sure hope it keeps him warm.

Big Piles of Snow

Rexburg, Idaho. BYU-I is there. So are VERY cold temperatures and most of the time, LOTS and LOTS of snow.

This big pile of snow is from a parking lot. In Rexburg, during the winter, you see a lot of these type piles. I remember my first year out there I saw these piles everywhere. In April when the snow melted, there were cars under many of these. That's why I never wanted a car when I was at school there. Too much trouble! My husband told me he had to take his battery in every night or else his car wouldn't start the next morning. Guess that's why there were so many vehicles buried under this mounds of snow...they didn't take their batteries inside at night.

anyway....

Our son decided he was going to try to climb this gargantuan mound of snow. At first I was a little worried, like maybe it would start a small avalanche, after all, if it was sand, you could risk getting buried if you tried climbing an unstable pile of sand like this. Wouldn't it be the same with snow? My husband and son laughed at me.

After a few tries, I learned he was not going to be able to get to the top...it was too slick.  He had fun trying anyway. I'm sure there will be a lot more fun in more snow that is to come. What wonderful memories I have of this place. Yes, it is a VERY cold place, but Rexburg is a very special place, and I cherish my memories of so long ago.

Beautiful Animals

Just got back from a long trip...about 4000 miles in all. You might think that was a long hard trip, but it actually was not that bad. The worse thing...leaving my baby boy (I know he really isn't a baby anymore; 18 years old). He is now a college student in Idaho...brrrr! Yes it was cold...16 BELOW...but that is another blog.

Our first day on the road was 16 1/2 hours to Denver. We stayed with some friends and had a great time renewing our friendship. It had been awhile since we have seen them. Sure is nice when you can pick right up where you left off...almost 20 years ago.

The boys took a skiing trip on New Years Day. The girls, well we had a great time playing with animals.

Aren't these just the cutest things? I am a succor for animals, especially puppy dogs!!!

I was in heaven!

This little guy crawled up on my leg and fell asleep. Who can resist!?

After we played around with the dogs, we had lunch, then went out to visit with some horses. I LOVE horses. I always wanted one growing up, but never got to have one. I just enjoyed all my friends horses.

When we first got out to where the horses were, they just looked at us like we were crazy. I think we probably were, because it was REALLY cold outside.

Finally, they came, but the mule on the left of this picture was not happy. Something was really bothering her and she ran around and bucked and bucked. I was a bit overwhelmed.

This mule came right up to me and was so sweet. He just loved to be loved. His name was Steve. Isn't that a fun name for a mule?

Everyone finally calmed down and we were able to enjoy our visit with these gorgeous creatures.

Well, soon, we all decided to get back in the car and head back, and also to warm up a bit.

I'd like to thank my old friend for taking me out to visit with some fun animals and introduce me to a new friend who is lucky enough to enjoy these animals daily.