Self-Portrait Friday...

I wasn't sure if I was going to post a self-portrait this week. I've been in a pensive mood lately. I've been trying for the past hour to write just what I mean, to capture the feeling exactly. Some days the words flow easily. Today is not one of those days. I wrote about storm clouds. I wrote about being drunk on dreams and memory. I wrote about remembrance and feeling shipwrecked and landlocked. Each line I write seems to fall short of being just right.

One In A Million...

On July 11th, 2008, my friend Amelia Geocos was tragically killed in an accident. She was riding her bike and was struck by a minivan. Her life was cut short at 24 years old. Amelia was a bright star shining with potential. She had the energy and vitality of ten people and radiated warmth, humor, and compassion.

I think about Amelia often. I don't think there's a time that I've gotten behind the wheel that I haven't briefly touched on her memory. I try to remember her lust for life though, instead of her senseless death. Mostly I remember her laughter. It was infectious and ringing. I also think about her work as an artist and her daring. She was fearless in her creating. She was not afraid of learning new things and working hard to make her ideas come to life. She'd dance, sew, paint... whatever it took to say what she wanted to say.

When I lived in New York, I used to visit the site of the accident. They had erected a memorial, a Ghost Bike. I would go there usually in the early morning, when it was quiet and fewer people were about. When I went, I felt closer to her. Sometimes I'd leave notes. Sometimes I'd leave flowers. Sometimes I'd leave mardi gras beads. I would leave tribute to my friend.

I'm miles and miles away from there now, but I still want to leave tribute. I thought that I'd make a donation to the memorial scholarship set up in her honor at our old alum. I'm far from rich though. So, I decided to make a piece and auction it off here on the blog. Every penny that the necklace generates will go directly to the scholarship fund and hopefully make attending art school a little bit more affordable and easier for a student who was just like us, trying to make their dreams come true. I wish that I could do more to say how grateful and appreciative I am of having had the opportunity to call Amelia my friend.

I call the piece, "One in a Million". Amelia jokingly used to say that she was, "One in Amelia!"

I brought out some of my best beads for this piece. It is made up of labradorite, cyanite, aquamarine, sapphires, chalcedony, faceted pearls, and tourmaline. I also used a dichroic glass bead. With those, I incorporated silver chain (some that I made myself) and a toggle from my family. The focal is made out of fine silver. It's one of a kind. My fingerprints are on the back. I made it before the memorial ride and walk that happened back in January 2009. I've carried it in my pocket, off and on, since then. It's a long necklace; it measures 30" long. While I made it, I thought of all the fun times we shared and how we used to talk, laugh, and even dance for hours.

The auction starts today, July 8th, 2010. Bidding will last for one week, until midnight July 15th, 2010. To place a bid, leave a comment on this post. Be sure to post the dollar amount of your bid and to check the previous comments for the highest bid. Be sure to also leave either your email address or another form of contact information. Bidding starts at $50.

Please consider helping me honor my friend by placing a bid. (Even if you're not the winning bidder, you can still contribute whatever you like to the scholarship by CLICKING HERE and scrolling down to Amelia Geocos Memorial Scholarship.)

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will claim the prize of a sterling silver mermaid pendant by Florida-based author and designer, Tammy Powely. You might know Tammy, the Crafty Princess, from her many books like, Making Designer Gemstone and Pearl Jewelry and Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry, or her popular About.com: Jewelry Making blog. This stunning pendant (including a soldered jump ring for easy wearing) comes courtesy of Tammy and her online shops. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop and Efreeme shop for more lost wax castings, various jewelry components, kits, tutorials, and finished jewelry.

To enter to win this lovely pendant, all you have to do is comment on this blog post. One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this blog post on Monday,(July 12th) at midnight EST. Make sure to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comment for easy verification. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers.

Bonus Points: Earn an extra chance of winning this beautiful pendant by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway. Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a separate comment for your additional entry to count!

Archipelago....

As I stretch my vision across the rolling acres unfurling before me, counting my human interactions for the day on a single hand, and soaking in the undisturbed solitude of country-living, it's hard to see myself as anything but an island. When I did live on an actual island, it was hard to see myself as such. I was surrounded by millions of people at any given moment, all colliding into each other. Sure, we were insulated by our own personal bubbles, our agendas, priorities and errands, but we were all there together in the sea of faces and people. Living in the City felt like stew – although distinguishable chunks remained of each ingredient, the unifying broth made of a slurry of worn down edges and extracted flavors permeated all, leaving only internal kernels of absolutes.

As I examine my tucked away life, it would be easy to continue feeling like an island. It would be easy to see the surrounding hills and trees as impassible waves, a dividing separator. The illusion might be considered complete, except for spider silk threads extending out in every direction. This one is called family. This one is called friendship. This one is called career. It takes a certain light to reveal each connective fiber, building unseen bridges and web-like constructions. Looking closer – deeper – it's easy to see that I am surrounded by these shimmering, fragile ribbons. My island is an archipelago.

Hot Designs...

It's quickly becoming a scorcher out there. The past few days, the temperature has skyrocketed! It is so hot out that the tar in the road started melting and sticking to the tires.

If you're looking for something to do while you attempt to avoid the heat and humidity, why not check out the recent beading magazines from Interweave Press? The summer issue of Stringing magazine hit the stands a few weeks ago and the new issue of Creative Jewelry came out in advanced copies last week. Both of them are FULL of inspiration! (I'm particularly fond of Melissa J. Lee's unique use of peppercorns in one of her designs.) So escape the heat and cool down with some hot designs!

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winners for this past week's Thursday Giveaway are Erin Prais-Hintz, Lisa Petrillo and Peggy Li! Congratulations! Please email me with your contact information and we'll put your prizes in the post. Be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

Conversations with Frederick...

Nowadays, whenever I have a problem or am seeking some sound advice, I turn to Frederick. No, he's not my therapist – he's the plastic owl watching over the garden. Okay, so maybe I don't really sit down and talk with the inanimate object, but I've found a great deal of peace going out to the garden and doing a simple task like weeding or watering. It's quiet in the garden and I'm able to clear my head and work through whatever ails me. There's a magic in the rituals and routines, of doing what needs to be done. When paired with the magic of growing things, it seems like there is nothing too difficult that can't be dealt with. It's a potent force – a healing force.

And so I turned to Frederick a few days ago. I lost myself in the tasks of pulling up the weeds that grow in between the black plastic and around the bases of the plants. After awhile it felt as though I had come apart, the knots tied in my stomach unfurling. I felt a lightness, as though I were a dust devil, swirling in a loose and intangible form. I was wind. I was earth. I was summer sun.

Above is a shot of the entire garden. Most of the things we planted survived and are doing quite well. Some of them, sadly, died. But I don't dwell on the small shortcomings. I look at the big picture, the entire garden. When I look out onto the garden, I'm filled with a sense of potential and possibility. My mind starts dreaming of what I'm going to do and how I'm going to do it. My thoughts are flung far ahead, thinking of when the harvest is over and when I'll need to start preparing the soil for the next season, of layering leaves and manure and old newspapers and grass clippings and compost. I'm already dreaming of what to add or take away, of what new things will grow here.

Slowly the fruits of our labors are coming to bare – a pepper, a kohlrabi, a small tomato.

The broccoli is already starting to form a small head and the lettuce has already needed to be harvested. I'll plant more later. In between the rows of lettuce new spinach seeds were planted and have already started to poke up. The zucchini have great, big cantaloupe-colored blossoms. The cucumbers also are in bloom and the cabbages are getting bigger. There's a poetry in this and I find myself trying to memorize every syllable.

Beaded Links...

About.com Jewelry Making

Fiber is a fantastic medium to add to your jewelry designs. Tammy takes a look at some fiber jewelry books she has reviewed in the past.

Art Bead Scene

Stumped on this month's ABS Challenge? This post just might help you out!

Beading Arts

Do you like beaded beads? Cyndi shares a tubular peyote bead that takes center stage!

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi transfers some images to shell in order to make this simple necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva

The deconstructed watch makes an encore appearance.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

What's new pussycat? Melanie finds inspiration from more than one source to create a new line of Kittycat pendants

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Lorelei teams up with 4 other designers to take part in the first Art Bead Scene Design Team challenge.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean observes that all art has something in common (pssst! it doesn't all come down to jewelry design, every time!) when she reviews the new digital eMag from Interweave: check it out!

Self-Portrait Friday...

I think one of the things that I've tried to do with my self-portraits is impress upon the fact that I'm a real person. Each week, I put myself out there, revealing everything on my face. Needless to say, I put myself outside of my comfort zone. I've grown to be quite introverted in this regard over the years and don't generally like to be in front of the camera anymore.

The blog has been a great way for me to reach out and share my thoughts, as well as build community and forge friendships. I have found though, that it is also a place that proliferates mythology and false expectations. I'm no guru or enlightened spiritual guide. I've never claimed to be anything of the sort. I'm on this journey, just like everyone else. I'm trying to figure things out, just like everyone else. I'm a real person. That means that I can be silly, I can get angry, I can be sad, I can be a lot of things to a lot of different people.

I was taught from a very early age that "expectation breeds disappointment". Or as my mama says, "Don't count the chickens before the eggs hatch." If I've let you down from an uneventful meeting, or I didn't live up to what you thought I'd be like, or wrote a blog post that you didn't like, or reacted in a way you didn't think I would... I apologize that you were let down. I'm sorry your feelings were hurt. But at the same time, I made no guarantees or promises and I refuse to apologize for being myself.

Ode to Kelli...

I got the latest newsletter from The Hole Bead Shop in Oklahoma (who specialize in vintage lucite) and read about their current Web Sale. That's when I scrolled down to the end and saw the "Ode to Andrew". I laughed. I laughed hard. Kelli and Mike Burns are both hilarious. I met them in Tucson last year. We were set up next to the bathroom, so we saw a lot of vendor traffic throughout the long weekend. Every time Kelli passed by, she'd make me burst into a fit of giggles. Mostly it was about the weather in Oklahoma and how every year we nearly die there in an ice storm or tornado of snow. One of the other topics of conversation were grilled Twinkies. I've yet to try one, but I saw this at Thunder In The Valley last weekend and took a picture with the rationale that "deep fried" is kind of like "grilled".

So here is my Ode to Kelli:

Your Lucite's great – definitely first rate! There is no debate!

Meeting in front of the bathroom was totally fate.

I know that if you're down the row at the show, I'll laugh until we go.

Kelli's nice. Kelli's funny. Check out her Web Sale linky.

Kelli's tried exotic delicacies – like grilled Twinkies.

Burnt sugar, melted cream – I can almost smell the aroma.

I'd visit more, but you live in Oklahoma.

(I know it's no great work of literature. It's just a bit of silliness.)

Treasure...

The first of the blackberries have ripened and a handful of tart berries were plucked. You should have seen my hands (and mouth) afterwards, stained sweetly with splotches of blue and purple. We have several patches on the property, as well as spots along the roads thick with their brambles. Later in the season, I have plans for blackberry jams and jellies, sauces, cakes, cobblers and clafoutis.

Hard Day...

Paulo and Babette went to the vet today. It was a hard day for them, particularly for Paulo. He does not like the carrier, the car, or the vet. The whole way there he cried and cried. Babette for the most part was subdue and even found a chance to snag a nap on the way over. (How she could sleep next to her brother meowing his head off is beyond me.)

Everything is fine and they won't need to go back for awhile. They did comment on Paulo's size. They couldn't believe that they were from the same litter and that they we both as young as they are. Apparently he's big for his age. The next time they go back will be in September. That's when they get their big surgeries.

As soon as we came home, Paulo ran over to the couch and tucked himself in and settled in for a nap. I could tell by the expression on his dreaming little face that he was glad to be home and have the hard day over.

Undiscovered Corners...

When I think back on my old apartment in Brooklyn and how big it seemed at the time, I laugh quietly to myself. Since I've relocated to the country, my sense of scale has shifted. Those rooms, miles away, seem so tiny now. The property that I live on now is roughly 80 acres. I've only tread a fraction of the territory. Far too often, I stick to my grid around the homestead.

Today I ventured further than I've gone before.

For part of my exploration, I stuck to the maintained paths. I mentally noted the blackberry and raspberry patches along the trails for plundering later. I marveled at how the path was hacked from the wildness, a vein of man snaking through the wood.

Not long after I started my walk, I left the paths in search of wilder vistas. My legs show the evidence of my curiosity. They are marked with hairline scratches and little pinpricks, but it was worth it. I saw fungi bigger than my head and snails the size of ping-pong balls.

Even when I left the path, to climb amongst the ferns and Virginia Creepy Crawler, there were still signs that there were those who came before me. I was not the first. Piles of rocks, that were once walls remain, even if slowly being swallowed up by leafy decay. They are the silent reminders of the past.

I discovered that several caves exist on the property. In retrospect, exploring near them was probably not the best idea. A bear came near the house not long afterwards and snatched up a bird-feeder. These caves and concave rock-faces could easily have been the homes of the wild animals, including the black bears. Luckily I did not stumble upon them or their homes.

There are still acres and acres of land still left to explore. I feel as though I've only scratched the surface. I look forward to revealing more of the mystery of the place that I live.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway is Sue of SueBeads. Congratulations! Please email me with your contact information and I'll put your prize in the post. Be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

Thunder in the Valley...

Yesterday we decided to "soak up some local color" and head over to Johnstown for their annual event, Thunder in the Valley. Thousands of motorcycles descend upon a ride route centered around Johnstown. Streets close down, motorcycle paraphernalia vendors set up and a throng of thousands of people make their way through the downtown ogling bikes and listening to free concerts.

Admittedly, I was more interested in the fried foods than the motorcycles. I can appreciate the well crafted machines, but can't claim any overt fondness. (At least not the kind of fondness I have for a freshly fried funnel cakes doused with powdered sugar.)

My brother used to have a motorcycle. He left it in our barn when he disappeared. In the early days, I used to perch myself on it and wish for it to carry me away to him, as if its gears and mechanical heart would know exactly where to find him.

Later, when I was older, but not by much, one of my dad's employees (who rode a cherry red motorcycle with a sexy lady painted on it) befriended me. We were an odd pair. That summer, we spent many long hours together while working and in the idle moments between lawns we talked about comic books and places we'd always dreamed of going to. Sometimes I talked about my brother. Sometimes he talked about his. He missed his kid brother who lived on the other side of the country with his newly remarried mother and I missed my absent older brother who was about his age. I think he felt sorry for me and my family, not knowing where my brother was. Tommy used to sneak me on his motorcycle, going around in circles in the yard, pretending to let me drive. He promised that when I was older, he'd get my brother's old bike running again and then the two of us would go looking for him.

One day, Tommy didn't show up for work. I was never completely clear about what happened – if he had found easier work or a better paying job or if he decided to live closer to his brother across the country or if my mom had caught him taking me around the yard on his bike with the "dirty girl" painted on it. I never found out and they never told.

In the coming years, my motorcycle meditations became less and less frequent. But when I did sit on the bike, slowly becoming more and more dilapidated in the old red barn, imagining all the places I would go and finding my long lost brother, I also imagined finding my friend too.

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day
Let's have a Tiki party! Lisa found Tiki beads at Big Lots for $1.00 and is looking for ideas!

About.com Jewelry Making
Thinking of selling on-line but worried about the cost? Tammy has discovered three freebie sites for selling your jewelry, crafts, and vintage items.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene finds findings worth finding!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe has thoughts about creating multiple streams of income as a jewelry artist

Beading Arts
Cyndi has a copy of "Metalworking 101 for Beaders" to give away!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's button maker is the reason for this new vintage image necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy rewinds on wire.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows her Steampunk Sampler class made of mixed metals, industrial porcelain, and cold connections.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei's studio is in total disarray. Check out some pics and if you have suggestions, she would totally be appreciative!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean is delighted to review Totally Twisted by Kerry Bogert! You will LOVE this book which focuses on wire and art beads!

Strands of Beads
Melissa discusses the process of reworking a weak necklace design - the revised version of which now appears on the cover of The Best of Step by Step Beads.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Always on the hunt for unique components, Andrew spotlights "pinch bail components" from Shoutrinse on Etsy!

Self-Portrait Friday...

Since the start of summer, I've been finding more and more excuses to spend time outdoors. With the aid of the summer sun, I've been dissolving away too many grey skies and cold days etched by icy winter on my memory. When I'm basking in the sun, I play games of mentally weaving the clouds together and unbraiding the wind. I try to find patterns in the expanse of green leaves and brown branches. I listen to the songs of the birds and beat of their wings and find music there. I enjoy the summer.

Comfort Food...

Even though it's getting hot out, I started to get the hankering for some comfort food. So, I prepared a cabbage stew with crispy-fried pork balls for dinner. It was warm, filling, and hit the spot just right. The broth was so richly laced with flavor, it was hard to keep from slurping it out of the bowl!

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will take home some elegant and easy-to-use "pinch bail" components. These sterling silver lovelies come courtesy of Alisa Masiejczyk of Shoutrinse on Etsy. The winner will claim the prize of two pairs of earwires and one "pinch bail" for a pendant. (I'm a smitten kitten with these "pinch bail" components, CLICK HERE to see what I've done with mine.)

To enter to win these stunning findings, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this blog post on Monday (June 28th) at midnight EST. Make sure to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comment for easy verification. This giveaway is open to all participants, including, but not limited to international readers.

Bonus Points: You can earn an extra entry by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway! Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a separate comment for your extra entry!

Findings Worth Finding: Pinch Bail Components...

I'm always on the look out for new products that look good, are innovative and are made out of topnotch materials. That's why I was particularly excited to discover Alisa Masiejczyk of Shoutrinse on Etsy.

Alisa, a Poland-based jewelry designer, offers a healthy selection of "pinch bail components" and hard to find European-made goods. (She also has an Art Nouveaux-inspired shop that's to die for!) I wasn't familiar with "pinch bails" before, but was happy to discover the easy elegance of these earwires and pendant bails. They are a quick way to make a pair of dazzling earrings in seconds. All you have to do is pop on your desired item and press it shut. You can also stack flatter items for a more layered look. Check out her blog for step-by-step tutorials on how to use these unique components and get a glimpse of what inspires her.

Here are some things I threw together:

The above earrings were made out of Alisa's sterling silver "pinch bail" earwires, NEW pewter pendants from my family, and black filigree from Ezel Findings. You can stack items in the pinch bail for a more layered look. I think the filigree does a nice job of framing the little fine pewter pendant that says, "heal" on the back.

Here is an example of the "pinch bail" as a pendant bail. This simple necklace took seconds to make. I used a Swarovski Cosmic Crystal Pendant and slipped it on a gunmetal chain, both from Fusion Beads. The "pinch bails" go perfectly with crystals because the exposure to tooling is limited and therefore reduces the risk of chipping.

In case you're into mixed metals jewelry, like working with the warmth of natural brass filigree, or are just really in love with gold, Alisa also offers the pinch bail components in 24K vermeil. I appreciate that Alisa only features components in her shop crafted out of the finest materials. The commitment to quality really shines through and gives pieces made with her components that "fine jewelry" look and feel. Don't the above earrings look posh? I just added Swarovski Olivine Navette Pendants from Artbeads.com to a pair of Alisa's vermeil earwires!

I definitely recommend going to Shoutrinse on Etsy and checking out the amazing selection of pinch bail components!

Simple Pleasures...

Each day I open myself up to finding at least one magical moment. Sometimes the moments are big and sometimes they're so slight that they might easily be passed over. I think the latter are my favorite. I delight in basking in the small treasures and simple pleasures.

Today I wandered outside. A storm was brewing in the distance and the temperature had dropped from earlier in the day. There was a stillness and an almost oppressive calm. I meandered to the strawberry patch and plucked a few ruby jewels. They were still sun-warmed. It was if I was holding a little bit of summertime in the palms of my hand.

I took the berries inside and poured a saucer of aged balsamic vinegar. The pairing of the bright sweetness of the strawberries and the fruity tang of the vinegar might seem strange, but the result is bold, brilliant and bordering on effervescent.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

The winner for this past week's Thursday Giveaway is Ann (aka Sabine) of My Critical Eye. Congratulations! Please email me with your contact information and I'll put your prize in the post. Be on the look out on Thursday for another chance to win!

Artist Trading Cards by Jeannette Faber...

Above: Artist Trading Cards by Jeannette Faber. (Left) The Spirit. (Right) The Seer.

I met Jeannette Faber at BeadFest Wire in King of Prussia this past spring. She had stopped by my family's booth and we chatted throughout the weekend. I discovered that Jeannette is a talented polymer clay and collage artist. I was delighted to have found a kindred spirit and wanted to share my work with her. I just happened to have an Artist Trading Card with me and she told me that she organized swaps. So I presented her with mine. Jeannette responded by gifting me the two lovely pieces shown above. She used the CitraSolve technique to create the wonderfully antique and organic backgrounds. CLICK HERE to see more examples of her work.

Midsummer Dinner...

The plan was to have dinner on the deck. I wanted to make something nice, but not overly complicated to celebrate the solstice and enjoy the early evening sun. I decided on a quick rice pilaf with browned vermicelli pasta cooked with a smoked-chicken stock for maximum flavor. I find that substituting chicken stock for water is an easy way to jazz up recipes. Making your own chicken stock after roasting or smoking a chicken is also a good way to make use of every part of the chicken – even the bones, skin, and other parts not normally consumed.

I rubbed down the chicken breasts in a mixture of curry powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. I then browned the chicken breasts in a little bit of rendered bacon grease. That's another staple that I like to keep on hand. It adds a nice smoky flavor and reduces sticking. After the chicken was a nice golden brown, I took them off the heat and began to caramelize some onions. Once the onions were nice and translucent, I added some more curry powder and some late harvest chardonnay. Late harvest chardonnays are sweeter and more like moscato dessert wines with a bright, citrusy flavor. I made a reduction sauce and then added the chicken back to the pan, letting the meat simmer in the amber-colored sauce. The chicken turned out moist, flavorful, and a nice accompaniment to the pilaf. With its bright, bold flavors, this was the perfect dinner to celebrate the season!

Ransom's Family Receipt Book...

A few months ago at a flea market, we discovered the Ranom's Family Receipt Book from 1912. It was hidden in a stack of love letters in a spidery hand from the late 1800's. The paper of the receipt book was yellow and crumbling and it showed signs of a botched attempt at preserving the binding, but I was charmed by the recipes and old-timey advertisements. Invoking my Filipino mother, I haggled down the price to a couple of dollars and swooped it up.

I just now got around to scanning it in. Sadly some of the delicate corners did not make it and flaked apart in the process. Luckily though it is now preserved digitally and all may enjoy the article on the medicinal and health benefits of tobacco and the article on treating hemorrhoids and the delightful section on sauces and cakes. CLICK HERE to check out the scans on Flickr.

Summer Solstice...

The days are full and rich here. I feel as though I'm an instrument, being moved by an unseen hand towards a beautiful new direction. I've finished up several of my deadlines and decided to take today to reflect on the turning of the wheel, the onward momentum of the seasons.

It was nice to sit out on the deck and enjoy the sun and a good book. Tomorrow I'll get back to work, but today (the longest day of the year) I wanted to bask in the beauty of my new home.

This past weekend, we put in the hellebore plot. The above photo makes it look small. But the photo was taken up high on the deck and the circle actually measures about seven feet across and is now home to sixteen plants. Hellebores are also known as Lenten Roses and are unique for their unusual colorings (crimson, jade, apricot and even black) and the fact that they bloom during late fall and early winter. I'd like to add the "cherry blossom" and "golden" varieties if I can track them down at a good price. I eventually want to put in a circle of poppies, another of jack-in-the-pulpit, and another of dahlias (and perhaps one of columbines). Next year I'd also like to put in a rose garden.

I hung the hummingbird feeder. I also weeded the garden (which was made much easier by the black plastic) and planted some spinach seeds. I even got some garden soil around some of the tomato plants. The garden has been calling to me more and more recently. I dream of the things I will plant and how I will better the soil and increase the yield. I feel a certain happiness when I'm digging around in the dirt and see the plants grow and thrive.

I'm not the only one who has been celebrating the summer solstice by basking in the sun. Babette always finds where the sun is shining brightest and stretches out with her little powder puff paws.

It's a happy time here.

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day
What do you think about solar system jewelry? Lisa found a ceramic bead strand that looks like it could turn that solar system science project into jewelry!

About.com Jewelry Making
If you are selling your jewelry on-line or thinking about it, then you'll find some of these resources very helpful.

Art Bead Scene
The June Monthly Challenge is a painting by Toulouse-Lautrec.

Beading Arts
Do you like Chinese food? Do you like jewelry...?

Carmi's Art/Life World
A button get's glammed up with tear drop rhinestones.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy touts one of her favorite colors in this week's rewind.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie explores building materials as texture and symbolism in a new set of pendants inspired by a fortress theme

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei got together for a fun beady date with Kerry Bogert, and together they created a necklace!

missficklemedia.com
Come by and visit for a chance to win free Patina-ted Metal Components!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is fascinated by the beautiful necklace which Jennifer Dangerfield created and reposts her analysis of what makes it so appealing! All jewelry afficionados really must see this lovely piece!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her necklace design that won second place in the Metal Clay category of Bead Dreams 2010.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
On the heels of his trip to Milwaukee for the "Bead & Button" Super Show, Andrew documents and shares his favorite highlights from the experience.

Self-Portrait Friday...

Before I engaged in the Self-Portrait Fridays started by Nina Bagley, I hardly ever took pictures of myself. I had grown to be content on capturing the world around me. This exercise has proven mighty insightful though. It has forced me to examine myself closer – deeper.

I sometimes struggle with what to say in conjunction with these images. Since I've started my blog, I've always had an invisible line of what can be said and what should be kept private. With as much as I do share, it might not seem that way at all. But I do censor myself. Sometimes I think these pictures reveal too much. My thoughts are smeared across my face like a camera glare, disclosing the contours of my mind and secret scars. These photos – grainy, blurry and as imperfect as I am – say what I cannot.

The Stash...

This year, I tried to reign in my spending a little and stick within my budget. I'm going to try and be responsible and use some of the goodies I already have in my dragon's hoard. But I couldn't resist these mighty fine finds:

Polymer from Heather Wynn-Millican and Heather Powers of HumbleBeads, resin from Natural Touch Beads, lucite from The Hole Bead Shop, lampwork glass from Patti Cahill, Kerri Fuhr, and Katherine Wadsworth of Natalia Designs, ceramicss from Lisa Peters Art, Diane Hawkey, and Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio, metal components from Anne Choi, Cathy Collison of Glass Garden Beads, and my family at Green Girl Studios, and garnets from Kia.

I wish I could have had more time (and more cash) to pick up more. The Bead & Button show is a wonderland of treasures. It's a particularly nice place to get artisan-made goods that are hard to track down otherwise. I know now that I'll be kicking myself for weeks for not picking up certain goodies. Oh well... next time.

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will take home five terrifyingly terrific skull-themed jewelry components. The skulls come courtesy of the Skull Shop section of My Shop. The winner will win one boxwood Ojime bead, one crackle-glaze ceramic skull by Lisa Peters Art, one shibuichi super mini skull bead by Bob Burkett, one hand-carved bone bead and one carved blackened bone link pendant. The skull is perhaps one of the oldest symbols with a multitude of meanings, including mortality, eternity, vanity, rebellion, caution, mystery and defiance.

To enter to win these lovely beads, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this blog post on Tuesday (June 22nd) at midnight EST. Make sure to leave your name if it doesn't already appear next to your comment for easy identification. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers.

Bonus Points: You can earn an extra entry by blogging, updating your Facebook page, and/or Twittering about this Thursday Giveaway! Don't forget to add your act of social media kindness as a separate comment.