Panic!!!!

On May 4, 2020, my husband and I will celebrate 37 years of marriage. Thirty-seven wonderful years!

During these 37 years, we have raised four children and moved all over the country. From Utah to Tennessee, then to Florida for a very short time. Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky and back to Louisiana...spending an average of three to five years in each place. 

As empty nesters, it looks as though we are now pretty much settled here in Louisiana...at least until we retire. Never thought we would be here this long, but we are going on six years, more than any place else. 

Anyway...

With all this moving, we have accumulated a bunch of stuff...crap...basically. There has been a stack of boxes I have needed to go through shoved in a corner, for a while. Actually, this weekend, that was on our to do list. 

Why do I mention these boxes? Well...this morning, I was getting ready to go pick our dog up from the groomer. I had just washed and dried my hands. There was still a bit of water under my rings, and, as I walked by these boxes I was rubbing the water out from under them.

Then...my clumsiness shown through; my wedding ring, along with another ring I wear with it, popped off my hand, into the air and into one of those boxes. 

Panic set it! I stopped and looked around. Nothing! OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Did I just do that!?!?!?! So, now what!? I have to leave now to get Sox! *sigh*

Well, as I began to leave the room, I noticed the emerald ring on the floor. I quickly picked it up and put it on my finger, and looked around for the other ring. Nothing... *sigh*

I left to get Sox, but when I came back, I started to rummage around the boxes, hoping the ring was on the floor. I really didn't think it was, because I remember hearing it drop, and that sounded like it was in a box. There are probably about half dozen opened boxes. 

Overwhelmed, I stopped and thought for a few minutes. There were some plastic grocery bags laying on top, maybe it is in one of them. I went through them all, and no luck. 

Then I did what I should have done immediately when this happened. I prayed. I told Heavenly Father what happened. I know He knows, but I also know He wanted me to tell Him, and talk to Him. I told Him how important this ring was. I also thanked Him for the Holy Ghost, and the guidance we can receive from spirit...whether it be big or little things like this. I also told Heavenly Father that I know He knows here it is, and then asked for Him to help me find it. 

I heisted before I got up off my knees. When I got up I looked at my mess, and was wondering where to start. I started with the biggest box, which is the one I thought I heard the ring drop near or into. 

Nothing! *sigh*

Then I went through another box that had been near the first one. 

Nothing! hmmm...now what?

I then spotted another grocery bag laying on the floor off by itself. When I picked it up it felt strange. I opened it up and saw nothing, but it was still weird feeling. I started to smooth it out and I could feel something, but really couldn't quite figure it out. 

I got the feeling it was my ring! I kept smoothing and smoothing the bag, but still nothing. Then, all of the sudden I could feel it. My ring was all tangled in a corner of the bag. So easy for it to go unnoticed and trashed.

RELIEF!!!!

I have always known that prayers can be answered, big things and small things. Sometimes it might take a while and some effort on our part to get the answer. In my experience, I had to go through several boxes before I found my ring to be in a very small corner of a bag. A place that could have easily been over looked.

When we need answers, sometimes we need to take a little more time, and look for the answers in unexpected places, and in unexpected ways. Sometimes it might take awhile. Heavenly Father knows when the best time for us to receive those answers. It is our job to be patient with Him and to trust Him and to listen.

The Big Reveal!

Hello!

This is the last part of a three part series.

I participated in a special bead swap, and this write up is all about the creations I made with the beautiful beads I was sent from Heather Canepa

If you want to get caught up, first, go here to see what I sent Heather. Then go here to see what she sent me. 

Anyway....on with the show...

Ok, so the first thing I did was just handle all the pretty, colorful agate.

 I love to make earrings, and so, I decided to make a bunch of them.

Then, I decided to do a little bit of wire wrapping to make a necklace, mixing all the beads I got.

Next, I decided made some pendants, using some more wire wrapping techniques.

The last thing I came up with was this wire crochet necklace, again, using some of all the beads.

So, there you go....

My colorful creations made with the beautiful agate sent to me by my partner, Heather Canepa

Thank you, Heather!

Recycling a Broken Fake Pumpkin

Recently, I went into my attic to bring down the fall decorations, and when I opened one of the boxes, I found a giant broken (fake) pumpkin. 

I also noticed a bag of terribly wilted looking silk fall leaves, and some ribbon.

I started to toss them into the trash, and I thought...."Wait a minute! Aren't you the one who likes to recycle?" So, instead I decided to make something with this "trash."

First, I tied a bow with the ribbon.

Then I pulled the leaves and flowers off the stems.

Gathered up my glue gun and sticks.

And sat down and started to play around.

I first glued the ribbon onto the half pumpkin.

Then added the leaves 

and flowers.

I think I need to add some more....

Now I have a pumpkin on my front door...

More Bead Swapping...

This is part two of my bead technique swap challenge. Click here for part one, which is what I sent my partner, Heather Canepa. Today, I want to show you the pretties Heather sent to me!

AGATE!!!!

In a variety of gorgeous colors!

Here is a closer look...

These are dyed and look like faceted carnelian

and then we have these dyed turquoise green colored agate

and then we have pink! Tappingflamingo loves PINK!

Aren't these Heishi beads pretty?

and here we have some goldish colored agate.

As soon as I opened these up, my mind started to go to work. I have had a lot of fun creating with these beautiful beads, and can't wait to show you what I've created....

Stay tuned....

Time for Another Bead Swap

Yes, another one!

This time it was to be a bit different. Arlene Dean, at Bead Soup Cafe, paired everyone up, as all other swaps, but this time we were to document our progress...and one other thing...

We were to learn something new. We were to challenge our partner, in other words, help them learn something new.

I was paired up with Heather Canepa, who is a very talented seed beader. Yes, that's right a SEED beader. You know, those itty bitty, teeny tiny little beads?

When I first found out I was in panic mode. I've tried seed beading before, but my eyes and my hands, with all their issues, will NOT allow me to work with seed beading.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do use SOME seed beads, but not like Heather does. I'll be honest, I really don't know how she does it. It is just amazing.

So, any who....Heather and I contacted each other, and I learned that she too, was in a bit of panic mode. You see, she is LOVES seed beading, and just does not like working with anything but seed beads. 

hmmmm....so, what to do.

One other thing I forgot to mention, we were given color palettes to choose from to use to pick out what we send our partner. After talking to Heather, I decided to send this color combo.

Aren't these gorgeous colors!? So, here is what I sent...

Since she likes seed beads, I decided to send her some in the color palette

Remember I said I don't work with seed beads much? Well, I have used them in making things like this, so I decided to send her this link. 

I then went through my stash of charms and sent her a sampling. 

So, here is where the challenge came in. I love to work with seashell fragments, and I also love to work with recycling old guitar strings into pretty things...including jewelry, ornaments and keychains. I sent Heather some old guitar strings, wire and a seashell fragment that I wired up for her. I'm hoping she does something with them and her seed beads.

I threw this ribbon cording in. Figured she might like to use it for a necklace or something. 

Then one last thing...I wanted to sent her a little gift. I make adjustable bracelets, and decided to try to make one with little beads. I didn't use the itty bitty beads Heather uses, I used E-beads...the are just a little bit bigger. This is the first time I tried it, and I really like how it came out. I hope Heather likes it. 

I had fun putting everything together for Heather. I'll tell you about the beauties she sent me in my next blog. 

Stay tuned.....