Bello Modo Sale...

Looking to do a little bead shopping? Stock up on Swarovski crystals, artisan beads, and much, much more! Bello Modo has generously put up a sale on their website to help defray my medical expenses. Isn't Pam a sweetheart? The sale lasts from today (Wednesday) through Saturday (at midnight PST). You'll receive 10% off your entire purchase (excluding sale items) and 10% goes towards paying off my medical bills. Get a little and give a little at the same time! All you have to do is use the coupon code, "ANDREW" to receive your discount and help me out. To learn more about this special sale, CLICK HERE to view their newsletter. CLICK HERE to get shopping!

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

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

Handmade Holiday Art Extravaganza...

If you're near Lynbrook, NY at the beginning of December, you should definitely join Karen Michel at the Handmade Holiday Art Extravaganza! The festivities take place on Sunday, December 5th from 3:30 PM to 8:30PM and will include handcrafted art, jewelry and more perfect for that special holiday gift. CLICK HERE for more information.

Observations on a Grey Day...

I bundled up and took a walk today. The sky was grey and threatened to rain again... and again... and again. I normally would have stayed inside on a day like today, but I knew that I needed to get out of the house. I've felt too stagnant lately, stewing inside the walls of my home. Perhaps I had a touch of cabin fever? In any event, I bundled up and took a walk today. The cold air made my lungs sting. My breath escaped my lips in thin, wispy, ribbons of steam. I could tell without seeing myself in a mirror that my nose was red.

Most of the green has faded to brown or bleached out golden. Bottlebrush grasses wave in the wind, combing the breeze with prickly hairs.

In the woods, someone excavated a child's lost treasures now faded and rusty, and various bits of debris. When all the leaves fall and the landscape becomes barren of undergrowth, things emerge. Old bottles and crumbling spray cans that have weathered many long seasons, come out and can be seen.

I marveled at the pattern of a fallen tree. The wood was soaked with cold rain, making the striations darker. The texture was smooth and weathered. I wonder how much longer before its rings and many years of making merge with the forest floor, becoming rich earth and feed another generation?

The woods look naked to me. All the leaves lay strewn around the bases of the trees like discarded clothes of a lover. Nothing hides their branches. They are left to shake in the chill of the wind stripped.

An injured tree bleeds sap. Rain runs down the tree. Droplets of water form where the clusters of oozed out jelly have collected. I know, without needing to be told, that this tree will not survive the winter. I can see it, without seeing it, laying partially buried by a snowdrift. It is a black line peeking from beneath a blanket of whiteness. But today it is still grey out and has yet to fade to white, and the tree still stands.

Eclectica Auction...

The fine folks at Eclectica have kindly donated a necklace and matching earrings made by author, Irina Miech. They are auctioning them off to help defeat my recent medical bills. Aren't they wonderful? The dichroic glass is set in a hug of fine silver; the glass reminds me of swirling pools of water. To find out more about the jewelry and how you can get ahold of the pieces, CLICK HERE.

Key West House...

KeRobinson, a gifted artist from South Florida, has generously donated one of her original paintings to be auctioned off on Ebay to help defray my medical expenses. The painting that she has donated is called, "Key West House" and reminds me so much of living in Florida. I can almost smell the saltwater sea breeze! The tropical, pastel colors capture the feel of the place perfectly. Isn't it lovely? To find out more about KeRobinson and the painting she's auctioning off, CLICK HERE. Bidding ends in two days!

Golden Blueprints...

My friend and fellow artist, Iviva Olenick has collaborated with graffiti artist, Jon Baker, in a project called FiberGraf. Iviva painstakingly translates and reinterprets Jon's tags and street art into intricate embroideries. Three of their collaborative pieces will be exhibited in a group show at WG Gallery in Greenpoint called, "Golden Blueprints". The show is being organized by Woven Spaces and opens Saturday, November 20th from 6PM to 9PM. If you're around, drop by and check it out!

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day
Do you enjoy making more than one piece of jewelry in the same design? Lisa is exploring this topic over at A Bead A Day.

About.com Jewelry Making
Thanksgiving is not just about the turkey. It's a perfect time to make some fun themed jewelry as well.

Art Bead Scene
November is here and so is the monthly challenge. This month it's Klimt's Tree of Life.

Beading Arts
Registration has just opened for next year's Bead Journal Project! Don't get left behind!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi crafts a little joy brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy shares a handmade necklace that has special meaning for her.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
ArtBeads.com and Pantone inspire Melanie to work with some new fall colors to create an asymmetrical autumn cluster necklace.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Tis the season for Craft Fairs! Lorelei had a great weekend at the Raise the Roof Fundraiser last weekend.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Artbeads inspires Jean to write about their Fall Inspiration Contest (you can win!), and also their FaceBook site!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Kathy Van Kleeck helps Andrew out with his medical bills by placing a magical, fairytale style fine silver and beach glass box up for auction. Check it out!

Dinner...

For dinner last night, I made pork chops and a wild mushroom risotto. The pork chop was good, but the risotto was truly a thing of beauty. I think it has to be one of my all time favorite foods. There's something about a risotto done right. Perhaps it's that silky, creamy texture, or the warm blend of savory flavors. It's earthy, rich, and aromatic all at once – a perfect comfort food for a chilly evening.

I garnished the plate with the last of the bell peppers from our garden. I'm a little sad that garden is almost done. There's a few cabbages and cold weather vegetables hanging on, but for the most part it is all cleared. I am eager for spring again and the beautiful bounties that come with it.

Gratitude...

This will mark my 2,000th post on this blog. What an amazing ride so far! I don't think that I could have come all this way without the support of those that frequent this tiny corner of cyberspace that I call my own. I feel truly blessed to be surrounded by such a warm, caring and encouraging creative community. It is my honor and privilege to be able to share my world with these visitors who come from all across the globe.

I wanted to take this special milestone to acknowledge just how grateful I am to everyone who has dropped by, left a comment, sent an email, or has passed the word along about my blog. Thank you for linking, syncing and subscribing. Thank you for reading, dreaming, and supporting. I especially want to thank everyone who has helped me in my recent skirmish with cancer and my recovery. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! For everyone who has generously donated their time, talents, and money... I applaud you and commend you. You are my heroes. I can't begin to say how much this means to me. Thank you!

When I started this journey, I didn't realize how important my blog would become to me. It has become so much more than anything I could have ever imagined. I feel as though it has helped me grow and understand myself all the better, to create community, and to define who I am as an artist and a person.

It hasn't always been easy. As much as my blog has chronicled my successes, triumphs and highs... it has also noted my struggles, my losses, and my miserable lows. So, I appreciate everyone who still continues to come, to weather the rocky as well as bask in all the good.

On this 2,000th post, I say, "Thank you!"

Sponsorship Opportunities...

I am now curating the next wave of Thursday Giveaways. Each week I host a giveaway of art beads, jewelry-making paraphernalia or related items. If you'd like to be a sponsor and donate a prize to be given away, please email me (ardenttie@yahoo.com) and we'll schedule a booking for you. The Thursday Giveaways have been very popular and have generated significant traffic for past participants. This has proven to be very effective way to promote sales, product launches and reviews. If you're curious about more information, please email me.

A Little More Real...

Last night I booked my travel plans for Tucson. I'll be gone for about two and a half months, which is quite a long time to be away from home, but I'm looking forward to it. (It'll be the longest I've been away in a long while and I'm going to miss those cats something fierce!)

It'll also be nice to escape the brunt of winter and come back home to the beginnings of glorious Spring. I'm thinking of renting a bike or picking up an inexpensive one for the duration of my stay. It'll be nice to be in a place where I can walk or ride to the grocery store or explore more on foot. Ever since my cancer diagnosis, my exercise regimen went from barely there to non-existant. So it'll be good to get the blood flowing again.

Another thing that is rapidly becoming more real to me is leading the workshops. We've got some wonderful experience-based workshops planned. Capturing the Moment should be a spectacular time. If you're going to the Gem Shows, why not consider coming out early or staying a little longer? We've got two four day sessions planned. Mornings will center around shopping excursions and desert walks. Afternoons will include gourmet lunches and picnics provided by me, photography, image manipulation, writing and publishing. Evenings will include optional outings. (Slots and lodging arrangements are filling up fast for this intimate experience, so don't delay in signing up!)

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will claim the prize of a set of six lampwork glass beads that come courtesy of Raida Disbrow of Havana Beads. Aren't they fun? These lentil-shaped beads have a wild animal print paired with an earthy green. I love the organic pattern and rich colors. I could see these used in a hundred different ways. They'd be killer in a jungle-inspired bracelet or incorporated into a woven hemp necklace! For more examples of Raida's work, check out her blog by CLICKING HERE or swing by her Etsy shop by CLICKING HERE.

To win these lovely glass beads, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. It couldn't be easier! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Tuesday (November 16th) at midnight EST. Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: Do you really want this set of lentil-shaped beads? If so, you can earn additional entries 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 to this blog post for your extra shot at this set of glass lovelies.

Extra Bonus Points: Swing by Raida's blog, Havana Beads, and find the Follow widget in the right sidebar. Become a Follower of the blog and report back here with a comment saying you have after the deed is done. CLICK HERE to go to her blog.

Titanium...

Fantastic news! Big Cartel has listened to its customers and has added a new package for shop owners. They now offer, TITANIUM! The new plan allows up to 300 products for a monthly fee of $29.99. For people like me, who want to grow their shops and keep bumping up against the 100 item limit, this is wonderful news! To find out more, CLICK HERE.

Crystal Bead Bazaar Class...

I'm planning on teaching a two evening workshop at the Crystal Bead Bazaar in Pittsburgh. The class is in the middle of December. The details are still percolating, but it should be a most excellent time. I'll release more information as it becomes available.

On the Other Side...

My dream self walked this creek a hundred times. At times it was hard to make progress, to proceed down the slippery stream and navigate the muddy footfalls. The banks were too steep and guarded by a sentinel of trees to deviate from the snaking, wet path before me. Going back was not an option, the way was blocked by swirling pools and rushing tides of water. Under bridge and branch I went...

Yesterday the oncologist told me that my scans and tests were clear and negative! The cancer is gone and did not spread! I have to be mindful of my health more, but I am making major strides in my recovery!

Shaken from the chill of the water and the fear of falling, I have arrived on the other side...

I only have one more visit to doctor's and then I'm finished. No more waiting rooms. No more hospital gowns. No more vials of blood or clipboards stacked with paperwork. No more poking and prodding and cold stethoscopes. I am healed.

Andrew Thornton Challenge Kit 2...

Kelli and Michael and the Whole Gang at the Hole Bead Shoppee have generously donated 40 more Andrew Thornton Challenge Kits. Kit 2 has new colors and an assortment of other lovely beads. The proceeds are to be donated to help with my medical bills. Aren't they sweet? Each kit includes goodies worth over $40. You can get your own kit for just $25 (plus shipping). CLICK HERE to find out more.

(Better hurry! The last kit sold out in less than two hours!)

Kathy Van Kleeck's Fine Silver Box...

Many of you know how much I adore Kathy Van Kleeck and her beautiful work. The things she creates sing with poetry, heart and soul. I love the rough hewn edges, finger-prints, and the organic elegance that exudes from all of her pieces. She is truly a magician with metal clay and creates some truly magical work.

She has generously donated this gorgeous fine silver box, crested with a piece of beach glass. Isn't it amazing? It would be perfect to hold something precious, something loved and cherished... as well as be something loved and cherished itself. I think the box is simply stunning!

The proceeds from the auction go towards helping to defray my sky high medical bills. CLICK HERE to visit her blog and find out more. I am really moved by her generosity!

Let me just say that if I didn't have these crazy medical bills, I would definitely be bidding on this box. It is truly a work of art! Don't forget to check out her website HERE for more examples of her work. She also has an Etsy page that you can check out by CLICKING HERE that has more of her breathtaking work.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

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

Deep Roots...

I broke my tooth the day Regan died. I broke it on a jelly bean. I lived with it for years. Most of the time it didn't give me any problems. But occasionally it would act up. A searing pain would spread throughout my jaw, trickling down my neck.

But eventually it got too bad to handle. The dentist tells me that a small sac of puss had formed and was causing a build up of pressure on the nerve.

I made a lot of excuses of why I never saw anyone. It was too expensive. I didn't have insurance. I didn't have time. All of them were true, but eventually the excuses didn't matter anymore when I laid awake at night.

The biggest reason has deep roots, like my tooth. When I was a boy, I was playing in the kitchen. Earlier that day I had seen one of my sisters swinging in between the counter and the sink like a gymnast. They said I was too little to play, that my arms would not hold me up. So I waited. I waited until no one was there and I swung my body as hard as I could. Gravity took hold and I fell on my face. All of my perfectly straight, pearly white teeth were broken in the front in a jagged peaks. I had never felt so much physical pain.

We didn't have a lot of money then. So my dad pulled them all. All six, front, top teeth. We didn't go to the dentist. We couldn't afford it. My sister held my hand, as each tooth was pulled. At first he tried dental floss, but it snapped. Then fishing line, but it too snapped. I don't really remember what happened next. Memory has been kind and blotted out the details. I just remember hearing the tick-tact-scuttling of my teeth as they hit the linoleum floor.

So, I made my excuses. But the real reason is that I still have nightmares of my teeth being pulled. I made the top picture black and white. It was a tough extraction and there are still little bits of my gums and specks of my blood on it. There was a lot of pulling and prying until the tooth broke, yet again. The roots had to be surgically removed.

But it is done and the roots have been dug out.

Beaded Links...

A Bead A Day

Are you getting ready to make holiday jewelry? It's time to start searching the bead stash for holiday bling to use in gift making!

About.com Jewelry Making

Tammy is catching up on her book reviews. Take a look as some of her latest .

Art Bead Scene

Make a lovely autumn wreath with this Art Bead Scene free project!

Beading Arts

Cyndi has a SIGNED copy of the wonderful new book "30-Minute Necklaces" to give away!

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi makes some Peter Rabbit clay pendants using new rubber stamps.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva

This week's Mad for Monday is all about the lotus.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Inspired by bones, Melanie experiments with some resin clays and silver noodle beads to create some boney, buggy pendants.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Indian Creek Studios has generously donated some rustic ceramic pieces to be featured in this week's Thursday Giveaway! Find out how you can win these beauties!

Things Are Going to Work Out...

The delightful Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio sent me a print in the mail to cheer me up by the talented Laura Berger. Laura is a Chicago-based artist and illustrator. The characters she creates are full of magic and whimsy. There's a sweetness to the colorfully patterned, graphic shapes and lines that make up her fantastical cosmology. To see more of Laura's work CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE to drop by her Etsy Shop. The print Melanie selected reads, "Things are going to work out."

And I agree... things are going to work out. It's just going to take time and patience.

Kitty Comfort...

I've been a bit under the weather these past few days. It's not cancer related, just a bug. It's nothing too serious. Just a touch of fever, soreness, and being tired. Tired. Tired. Tired. I'm beginning to forget what it was like not to be tired. The worst part of this bug is that it has inflamed my tooth again. It's painful. It feels as though there's a spiderweb of hurt plastered to my jaw. But I've been keeping a hot compress on it and that seems to help.

The cats have been worried about me and have been extra affectionate lately. When I go to bed, I'm often piled with little warm bodies. Their purring lulls me to sleep. For the most part, I enjoy that they are being so loving. Occasionally though their warmth becomes uncomfortable or Paulo's heft on my throat restricts air and I'm forced to kick them off the bed. Of course, they jump right back up, but usually sense that something is amiss and wrap themselves around my feet to keep them warm.

I don't know what I'd do without my cats. I feel as though I've had them forever. They are a constant source of companionship. They make me laugh when I am sad. They keep me warm when I am cold. They talk to me in their kitty language when I'm lonely. They are my comfort.

Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag...

If you're a fan of the new Handcrafted Jewelry special issue magazine from Interweave Press, then you also might like the new Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag. It's a revolutionary idea that lets you jump into the pages of the magazine and really explore! Go inside Susan Lenart Kazmer's studio, discover the how-to video tutorials, and get zoomable close-ups of some of the projects featured in the magazine. It's a great, deep-tissue content. To find out more and to pre-order your copy, CLICK HERE. It's due out in December. (Don't forget to check out the current issue of Handcrafted Jewelry if you haven't already. It's on newsstands NOW!)

Dark Clouds Necklace...

The fabulous Jan Atherton, a Chicago-based artist and instructor, has generously donated her stunning necklace, "Dark Clouds". Isn't it beautiful? I love how chic and Red Carpet-worthy it is! She has posted the necklace in her Etsy shop. All the proceeds go towards defraying my growing medical expenses. To find out more about the necklace CLICK HERE and to see more examples of her lovely work, CLICK HERE.

Wikio November Jewelry-Making Rankings...

Here are the November Jewelry-Making Rankings on Wikio. I definitely recommend checking out these blogs. There's a lot of really interesting content here and tons of inspiration.

1	Art Bead Scene Blog
2	Lorelei's Blog
3	Andrew Thornton
4	Carmi's Art/Life World
5	Beading Arts
6	Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
7	Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone
8	Earthenwood Studio Bead Blog
9	About.com Jewelry Making
10	Melissa J. Lee
11	A Bead A Day
12	Pretty Things
13	Gaea's Ceramic and Art Studio Blog
14	Humblebeads Blog
15	Erin Siegel Jewelry
16	Beads And Books
17	Rings & Things
18	Beads of Clay Blog
19	Kelley's Bead Studio
20	LLYYNN

Jewelry Making

Ranking made by Wikio

The Hole Bead Shoppee...

Kelli and the Whole Gang at the Hole Bead Shoppee have generously donated 20 Andrew Thornton Challenge Kits to be donated to help with my medical bills. Aren't they sweet? Each kit includes an assortment of lovely goodies worth over $40. You can get your own kit for just $25 (plus shipping). CLICK HERE to find out more.

Thursday Giveaway...

This week, one lucky winner will take home this set of ceramic pieces that come courtesy of Pam Cresswell of Indian Creek Studios. Aren't they great? I love the rustic, earthy appeal. Not only that, but I'm a huge fan of owls and bees. This set has both! I think the larger ones would be perfect simply strung on leather cord or braided rough sari silk. For more examples of Pam's work, check out her Etsy shop and her blog!

To win these lovely ceramic components, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. It's that easy! One lucky winner will be randomly selected from the comment section of this post on Monday (November 8th) at midnight EST. Please leave your name and contact information if it doesn't already appear next to your comment. This giveaway is open to all participants, including international readers!

Bonus Points: Do you really want this set of earthy ceramic pieces? If so, you can earn additional entries 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 to this blog post for your extra shot at this set of ceramic lovelies.

Extra Bonus Points: Swing by Pam's Indian Creek Studios blog, and find the Follow widget in the right sidebar. Become a Follower of the blog and report back here with a comment saying you have after the deed is done. CLICK HERE to go to her blog.

Colder Days...

You might have noticed that I haven't been online much these days. Between running to the hospital (an hour away) for tests and then recovering from said tests, I haven't had much time or motivation to write. I just feel so tired lately. A blog reader wrote in to say that the anesthesia that they use to put one under for surgery doesn't completely go away. It becomes absorbed by the fatty tissue and then slowly releases over time as the compounds break down. Might be the reason that I feel so sluggish recently?

It might also be that I haven't made anything recently. Whenever I pick up my tools, I get distracted and start thinking about what paper I have to fill out, what appointment I have next, if I can eat or drink 24 hours before my next appointment, if I can drink coffee or have a glass of wine... I get caught up and by the time I've hacked away at these questions, the tools feel cold and my hands feel lifeless.

I stopped by Patti Cahill's blog and read her most recent post, "Working Sabbatical" and it struck me. She talks of balance and being a working creative type. She also talks about the importance of taking "working sabbaticals". I'm intrigued by this concept of working just enough to cover everything and allow you to explore your creative forays to recharge your artistic batteries.

Thursday Giveaway Winner...

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