Happy New Year!

OK...so I'm a little tardy with my Happy New Year wishes...but they are sincere...I wish you every happiness in the coming year.

So why am I so late?

Well...for one thing...I've been trying to clean my house...what an ordeal...I made myself a 12 item list...you know...things like: my closet, under bathroom sink, my dresser drawers, my craft closet...etc...wow...I'm actually almost done...only 4 of the original 12 left...I did my closet yesterday...it's amazing what you can find in a closet...ha...still have a few things that though they ought to be tossed or sold in a yard sale I'm just not ready to part with...but that's alright...you should see the stuff I've either thrown out or is crammed in my garage to wait for the condo association's yearly garage sale...I had even more...but gave it to the local senior community center in their rummage sale...which I was going to participate in...but had grandma duty (what a shame...spend time with the grandkids instead of sitting around in a rummage sale...ha...it was a very easy swap to make)...

Which brings me to the second reason I've not posted...my dear son-in-law had emergency surgery a couple of weeks ago...gave us all a bit of a fright...but he's now home after 10 days in the hospital...and is resting and healing...praise God...

Other than that...well...I've been working on a couple of things...one being a bracelet that will be auctioned on ebay/MissionFish in the fall when we do the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project...it's nearly finished...and I really like the way it turned out...I'll post a picture when it's done...

I also finished a piece that I am going to hang in my bedroom above one of my dressers...might also enter it in the contest for the Space Coast Art Festival...which if it wins it will be used as the design for the coming year's festival on the shirts, bags, and promotional posters...that one I can show you...I haven't named it yet...so if you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!

Living on the beach, and a barrier island (ocean on one side and river on the other), we have all manner of aquatic flora and fauna...so I tried to incorporate as much of it all as I could...if you look closely you will see a crab, fish, mermaids, birds, manatee, coral, freshwater pearls, seashells, turtles, and sandollars.  It was fun to make...it's at the framer's now...and is about 14"x15"...I can't wait to hang it up in the bedroom...

I have also finished my January project for the Beaded Journal Project...this year I'm doing feet...inspired by a course I took in reflexology...you've seen the hands I've done...so I'm doing matching feet...

Today is a day of rest...then I will tackle one of the other items on my list...but wanted to stop and share the blessing of my son-in-law recovering nicely from his ordeal...and a few of my newest projects...

Have a happy day!

It's That Time of Year...

...when the world falls in love...every song you hear seems to say...Merry Christmas...may your New Year dreams come true...

Such a great Christmas song...I could sing Christmas songs all day...lalala...

First on my agenda for the day...Santa...yes...I believe...in the magic of Santa...and I hang my stocking every year...but here are a few Santa's (for those of you who are collectors) that I've gotten over the years...three are by Gene Keith...art teacher extroidinaire at Athens Elementary School in Athens, AL...the tall one in the back and the two on either side are ones he carved...I bought the two to the side...the tall one in the back was a gift from him...we'd had a bad ice storm and I brought him part of a persimmon tree that had toppled...he took part of it and made this lovely Santa...you can see a little more of his work at: http://www.athens.edu/college_arts/art/faculty/main.html if you will scroll to the bottom of the page...Thanks, Gene!  Your talent blesses my house each Christmas!

Each year I try to get one new decoration...this year it was this darling Santa Dish...I thought about putting a bright red or white candle in it...but rethought it when I realized I'd have to somehow get it out of the dish when it had all melted down...so am satisfied with the Peppermint Twists from Walgreen's...

I also make Christmas ornaments each year for my darling grandchildren (and a few other folks)...this year the ornament it a spider web and spider...why?  Go and read the story about the Christmas Spider at: http://kraftmstr.com/christmas/books/spider.html  This year I made 7...one for us...one for each of my 4 grandkids...one for my great niece (holy canoli...I'm old enough for a GREAT NIECE!) and one for my godson's beautiful baby girl...hmmmm...I've done palm trees, mermaids, trees, snowmen and a few other things over the years...time to start thinking about what to do for next year...

One of the beadgroups I belong to has been "repurposing" teeny beanie babies (and other small critters)...I've done three...one was the flamingo "Fionna" that was auctioned off on MissionFish for Breast Cancer Research...one was a little pony...who turned out really cute...even if I do say so myself...the success of those two prompted me to find other beanies...naturally I went to Ebay...and found a couple more...Stegosaurous...my favoritest of dinosaurs...was one I got...and he was a challenge...but I think he turned out right cute as well...on his belly I put my initials...something not on the other two because I hadn't thought of simple peyote as a way to make my initials in beads til I started little Steg...don't you just love him???

Speaking of Fionna and the Breast Cancer project...the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project for 2009 was able to send $650 to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research.  The drawing piece, "Friends" went to R. Ericson of Cocoa Beach...only the second time the turtles have stayed in Cocoa Beach...to find out more about the project...and what's in store for 2010 please go to www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm

And last...but most certainly NOT least...RUBY

...my little birthstone dolly came home the other day after traveling down under to Kathleen in Austrailia, up north to Marty in Michigan and out west to Debra in Colorado to be adorned in her brilliant red attire...isn't she just glorious???  Ruby was part of the Birthstone Round Robin that the group Beaded Art Dolls held this year...I was fortunate to be grouped with these three very talented artists...and RUBY just LOVES to show off her outfit...complete with purse...a girl needs a purse...ha...don't you just love her???  Even though she's my birthstone (JULY/RUBY) she is such a perfect color for Christmas she is standing near the Christmas Card basket for all to admire...THANK YOU ladies...can't wait to do another one!  Are you a beadwork artist?  Head to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beaded_art_dolls/ to find out more about the Beaded Art Dolls group...we have lots of fun...and some of the dolls that are created are amazing!

OK...so that's my epistle for the day...time to have a little lunch and relax a while...

May your holiday season be blessed...which reminds me...here is the beadwork I did for our Christmas card this year...a picture says a thousand words...remember the reason for the season!

Faith, Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

God Bless

Only 9 more days!

Only 9 days til the drawing!

Be sure to get your drawing tickets!

www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm

All proceeds will be sent to the American Cancer Society

for Breast Cancer Research.

"Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project Auctions!

The first of the auctions are finished...and the second round has begun!  In the second round there is "Basking in the Sun" by Gretchen Coats of Saginaw, MI...exquisitely crafted...the 4 little pink crystal turtles bask in the sun on their lily pads while a delicate white water lily floats nearby...

To see this auction please head to: http://cgi.ebay.com/Basking-in-the-Sun-Pink-Ribbon-Turtle-Project_W0QQitemZ170404625858QQihZ007QQcategoryZ158657QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

"In the Pink" is a lovely pink three strand bracelet made by Lesley Bishop of Bristol, PA...I just love the turtle centerpiece! 

You can find this auction at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170404628957

Pink Ribbon Turtle Auctions!

The auctions are underway! Find links to the auctions at www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm . Beautifully beaded works from all over the world! Links to each of the following items is on the website above.

First...from Gretchen Coats, Saginaw, MI..."Basking in the Sun"...the beading on this piece is extraordinary...framed in a shadowbox this piece is approx. 8.5 x 10.5.

Created by project founder, Jena Tuntas of Cocoa Beach, FL, "Fionna" was originally a Teeny Beanie Baby from this year's crop at McDonalds. She sits on a wooden prop and wears her turtles on her wings and her pink ribbon hanging from her heart.

Next in line..."Bubbles"...this little fella swam all the way from Portugal! The artist, Maria Teresa, may be familiar to a beadwork artist...she has been published in several of the beadwork magazines...and her work has even been on the cover of a few of them.

Is jewelry something that catches your eye? Then you will love "Montees in Pink" by Bev Moon of White Pine, TN. This beautiful bracelet is Bev's own design and is made up of Swarovski Montees, sterling silver beads and a sterling silver clasp...it's gorgeous!

"Swimming for Freedom of Fear" is an original design from Karen L. Cohen of Milford, PA. Bead, machine and ribbon embroidery make up this sweet wall hanging.

I'm expecting one more to arrive at my doorstep any day and will let you know when it's on the auction block.

The Pink Ribbon Turtles Project is in it's 5th year. Drawing tickets are still available at www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm as are the links to all of the auctions. The auctions are at ebay's charity site MissionFish.

Don't miss your chance to get your drawing tickets...and don't miss your opportunity to bid on these beautifully crafted items. Links at the above site.

2009 "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project

The 2009 "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project is Underway!

"Friends"

by Jena Tuntas

This is the 5th year for the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project. Founded in 2005 by the artist (above), the project is dedicated to the memory of her mother, Nina Isabelle Etheredge Fritz, longtime educator and community activist in Cocoa Beach, FL, who passed with breast cancer.

Each year a unique bead embroidery design is created, framed in a shadowbox frame and given in a drawing. The design always includes one or more turtles. Each of the turtles has a pink shell, the color of the Breast Cancer Fundraising symbol, the pink ribbon. The artwork is beautifully framed, and offered in a drawing. This year's piece (above) is entitled "Friends" in honor of the friends that help us through the tough times in our lives.

In 2009, for the first time, there will not only be a drawing, but there will be auctions of items handcrafted and donated by artists from around the world. The auctions will begin on October 26th on MissionFish. Below are two of the items that will be auctioned. More will be announced at the time of the auctions.

"Fionna"

Beaded Teeny Beanie Baby

by Jena Tuntas

www.atawhisper.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Swimming for Freedom of Fear"

6" x 9"

Bead, machine and ribbon embroidery on cotton

by Karen L. Cohen

www.kcEnamels.com

The drawing date is Monday, November 30th. All profit from the donations for drawing tickets and auctions will be sent to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research. For more information and to donate for drawing tickets go to www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm and pay through PayPal, or contact me at prt4bcr@mindspring.com if you prefer to pay by check or money order. All checks and money orders should be made payable to the American Cancer Society.

Have a wonderful day!

A Lot is Happening!

Back in June my niece, Lacee (bride in 1st pic) got married...her best friend, Tania (bride in second pic) came from Alabama to be at her wedding...and this past weekend...Lacee got to return the visit! What a great weekend in the DC area. I flew up with my sister and we went to the wedding of her daughter's BFF, Tania. It was a great wedding...and we had a blast. The bride was beautiful...the groom handsome in his dress uniform...they are both chopper pilots for the Army. The reception after was fun...and the cakes amazing...the groom's cake was a helicopter! I'll tell you...the folks on the food network ain't got nothin on the folks that made that cake.

It was great to see my nieces, great niece, nephew-in-law, and friends...so glad we got to go...but it was great to get back home.

Announcing a new design for those who love pirates...the character from my children's book, Shorty, is exploring Florida in his next adventure...and one of the places he goes is Ft. Walton Beach, FL where he attends the "Billy Bowlegs" Celebration..."Billy Bowlegs" was a pirate...in my new design Shorty is decked out as a pirate...complete with sword, parrot and eyepatch...his advice: "Be Who Ye Aaarrrggghhh!". You can find gifts and apparel with this design at www.cafepress.com/atawhisper/6882092 .

I'm working on the 2009 Pink Ribbon Turtles Project, and will be announcing it soon...this year we will have one item for the drawing and a couple more that will be auctioned at ebay...stay tuned for the announcement about when you can get your drawing tickets and where the auction site is.

Hope you are having a lovely September day!

Here is hand #2...what fun this has turned out to be...at first I thought I might do the hands for next year's Beaded Journal Project...but I found out quickly that I enjoyed doing them too much and knew I'd finish before the 2010 BJP ever started...SOOOOOOOO...I decided to modify my hand idea for next year's 2010 BJP...which will start in January...and what will I do??? The feet (foot) of course! I finished sewing on 12 hands and 12 feet to certain fabrics...as you can see (second row the last two feet) are the same material and colors as my first and second hand...and there is a hand to match each of the feet below...(though I've only finished two of the hands)...when I get started on the feet in January 2010...I'll have them all ready to bead...the applique of the foot and five toes has already been accomplished...this is going to be FUN!

There really is a foot/toes on the white one...you just can't see it because it's also white...not sure which had I'll do next...but you can find gifts and apparel with the two hands that have been completed at www.cafepress.com/atawhisper/6858407 ...

Beautiful here in Florida...hope you are having a wonderful day!

Beaded Massage Hands

This is my newest pattern...the hand. Being a Licensed Massage Therpist...my hands are very important...I'm also working on some feet to match...to go along with Reflexology...a specific form of bodywork. You can see the designs at www.cafepress.com/atawhisper . Find something for a therapist you love...

Teea and Sunny

Why did I name this little dolly "Teea"? Well...if you look very carefully at her 'face'...it's the outside of a golf ball that I found on the golf course one day...a yellow one...I was going to try to somehow put a yellow golf tee that I had on her somehow...but the tee is nearly as tall as she is...and I couldn't figure out how to put it on her without making it look like something I just "tacked on at the end"...so in trying to keep with her golfball skin face...I named her "Teea".
It's been a whole year...and it's hard to believe...but here is my final turtle for the Beaded Journal Project...When I thought of the month of August...which is what month this turtle is for...I thought of three things...sunset...sunrise...and sun...thus her name is Sunny...and I think her name fits her just perfectly...I sure had fun with the Beaded Journal Project and will most likely join next year as well...though I believe the next one instead of being from September through August...it will begin at the first of the year and we'll do our work all in the same year.
Want to see the entire year of turtles? On Sunday, August 16th I'll have them all on my website at www.atawhisper.com/BJPTurtles.htm .
Have a fabulous weekend!