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!

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!

A Tad Late

Here he is...his name is "Patriot"...he's my July (a little past due...he was celebrating the 4th of July and partied just a little too much...hahaha) Beaded Journal Project turtle...hard to believe there is only August to go!
Gotta jet out of here...things to do...places to go...people to see...and all that...
Have a lovely day!

It's June ALREADY!

I can't believe May has past...during which time my niece graduated from Medical School and we can legitamately call her Doctor Lacee...and my grandson, Logan, turned 7...amazing...still praying that hearts will be softened and we'll all get along again...the month also brought a little bit of a scare with a "shadow/spot" on my mammogram and subsequent biopsy...which "Praise the Lord" was benign...also played in a Scrambles Tournament that is put on every year for the Little League...since my Logan plays in the LL I always try to support...and since I love golf...it was easy and fun to help...played with my dear friend...her son...and a young man from the local high school team...we didn't win...or even come close...but we laughed a lot and had a great time...

Here is my little "golfer doll"...(I haven't named her yet)...her face is the 'skin' of a golf ball I found on the course...someone must have really hit that ball hard to peel off the covering...hahaha...hope they made an eagle! Her hair is...naturally...green...like the grass on the golf course...she is holding a golf ball in her left hand...and once I make one with the polyclay...she will be holding a golf club in her right...ready to play!
Lots going on this month...and can't believe it's already here! We've had a lot of rain...which was sorely needed...but it brings up some interesting 'characters' on the golf course...this gator was at least a 12 footer...don't worry...I zoomed...then cropped...so he looks closer than he really is...the video I took the other day...after all the rain there were several new "ponds"...and in this one there was one of our local Osprey having a grand time playing and bathing in the water...it was fun to watch...but I didn't want to get too close or I would scare him away...

Hooray for yard sales! I was driving home from the grocery store last week and there was a 'yard sale' in the parking lot of the laundrymat...I looked as I drove past...and saw just the very top of this chair...hmmmmmm...I wondered...is that a chair??? I thought about it til I was nearly home...then decided that I'd turn around and go back and look...what could it hurt...right??? Well...by golly it was a chair...and it was only $10...of course it has no cushions...so I'll have to get busy and make some...but there are no cracks or wobbliness...a very sturdy chair...so I'm happy I turned around! Yesterday I saw an end table out in front of an antique store that is made with the same type of curved bamboo...$155...OUCH...needless to say...it's still at the store!

A group of us went on a Kayak Tour last Thursday...(I think I mentioned it before)...we had a great time...saw manatee, bottlenose dolphin and all sorts of birds and fish...we stayed out on the water about 2 hours...and probably would have stayed longer but it started thundering and lightening...TIME TO GET OUT...I am pretty sure I'm going again...not sure when yet...but I really liked it...

Saturday evening was "Hot Night in the City"...which is a fundraiser that is put on each year for the Freedom 7 Sr. Community Center. This year there was something new to add...they sent out word to the community to find 8 folks over 80 years old to honor for the celebration of their life and their service to their communities. One of the 8 was my wonderful father...33 years of service in the school system as a principal...all in the same town...where we've lived since 1961...here is a picture of him receiving his award...

Beading...well...been busy with several things...going to do a Round Robin with some ladies...the theme is "Birthstone"...of which mine is a Ruby...so here is my little doll that will lilterally be sent around the world for other beaders to bead...when she returns home she will be completely beaded...

Also...a swap for "Independence Day"...made the first one and my husband really liked it...so I decided to make two...will swap one and keep one at home...standing on his head in his "Uncle Sam" style hat...he declares his independence...

My son in law just celebrated a birthday...my niece that lives here celebrates hers tomorrow...and my niece...the new doctor...will be getting married Saturday...and I'm sure we will have a wonderful time...who knows what's in store for the rest of the month of June...but whatever it is...I'm sure "It's all good"...

Have a blessed day!

IT'S MAY!

Meet "Belle"...named for my mom...mostly because of the yellow roses in the background...her favorite flower..."Belle" is the May Beaded Journal Project entry for me. Finding just the right color green for the body wasn't easy...since I started doing bead embroidery I've discovered that there are at least a zillion different shades, tints, hues, and finishes of nearly every color...a bit overwhelming at times...but always great once you find just the right one!

On the golf course the other day...hole #2 of the Dolphin Course in Cocoa Beach...we spotted this momma turtle heading back to the pond after laying her eggs...see the sand on her back? She had been digging her nest to lay. The turtles come out this time of year and lay eggs under the trees and shrubbery all around the golf course...then hope that the scrubjays and crows don't come dig them up and eat them before they can mature and hatch...I would venture a guess that the back of this turtle is at least as big as a turkey platter...she was lovely...

At the corner of Brevard and S. 2nd Street here in Cocoa Beach you can sometimes see Manatees...these pictures were taken one afternoon when I had gone down just to see if they were around...and there they were...four adults and a baby...they eat the algae I think...sometimes folks will feed them lettuce or cabbage...which they really aren't supposed to do...but the manatees love it...you can see some of the scars they've received from motor boats...manatees are an protected species...and you aren't allowed to touch or feed them...but they are also very curious...so if you are still and one comes up to you and touches you...it's very special...I'm hoping to go out on a kayak tour in June with some of my friends from Curves...and we're hoping to see manatees and porpoise (dolphins)...I'm sure we'll see plenty of birds and maybe even an alligator! We're using a tour group that leaves each morning Mon-Sat for a 2-2.5 hour kayak tour of the river islands around Cocoa Beach...if you are headed to Cocoa Beach for a vacation you can find out more about the kayak tour at http://www.cocoabeachkayaking.com/ .

At our library we have a "musical season" where every Sunday afternoon for several months there is a concert of some sort...not long ago there was a steel drum band called the "Pan Sharks" that were there...I love steel drums...so naturally had to go to that one...this video is of them playing "Yellow Bird"...which you may recognize as a Harry Belafonte' song from a while back...to see more of the "Pan Sharks" you can go to their website at www.pansharks.com . You may have to turn off the music player to the right before you can hear them play...otherwise you will be hearing two different things at once!

So...that's about it from Cocoa Beach today...the weather is lovely...headed for a swim here shortly...just got back from a 40 minute walk...and if the weather holds I might just head out for a round of 9 holes of golf...hmmmm...at some point I have to go to the grocery store...or maybe we'll just have sandwiches for supper...ha...

I was reading one of Marianne Williamson's recent books...I love her work...it embodies the greatest defining spirit of God...LOVE...two things I read in this particular book were about forgiveness and miracles...Forgivness involves faith in a love that is greater than hate...so true...and a prayer she has for forgiveness...

Dear God, Please forgive me the mistakes in my past. May neither I not anyone else be bound by them...Please God...may I begin again...Amen

...and she gave this as the definition of a miracle: Nothing that happened before this moment has any bearing on what's possible now, except that what you learned from it can be fuel for a magnificent future...

The book is "The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife" and is an excellent and easy read...a very uplifting book...I'm sure the bookstores have it...and I'll probably go buy one...I found it at the library and have to take it back...but some books are worth reading more than once!

Off for a swim...may you be forgiven as you forgive...and may your day be full of miracles!

Pearl

Well...I sat and thought about a name for this little turtle and no matter how many I made up she kept putting the name "Pearl" in my mind...so I reckon this is "Pearl"...probably because the center piece is mother of pearl (dyed blue)...and she has pearls on her feet, head and tail...whatever her reasons...she just wasn't going to let me name her anything else...she is the February entry for the Beaded Journal Project...she was finished in time...I'm just slow with her debut...
This little fella and his friend always seem to know when I'm playing the River Course when golfing...they seem to pop up everytime I am on #5...so I always try to have something for them...they come pretty close...but I don't get too close to them...they are sweet but they are still wild...he's eating a peanut butter cracker...and yes...I used a zoom...
I'm off to get my dad from the rehab place he's been in since his hospital adventure a couple of weeks ago...he will surely be glad to be home...and we'll be happy to have him back in Cocoa Beach! Have a lovely day!

"Pinot Noir"

Hi all...during the past week I have had the flu and my dad has been in the hospital.

Not being able to visit him, and really not being able to go much of anywhere, I've been working on a doll and finished her last night...her name is "PinotNoir"...her face is the foil cap from a bottle of wine from the "FritzWinery"...

http://www.fritzwinery.com/Fritz/index.jsp

...out of California..my dad found out about this wine from my aunt and has a couple of cases sent to the house each year to give as gifts and use on special occasions...the reason it's unique and fun for him to get this wine is because his last name(my maiden name) is FRITZ! Pretty cool...huh...

So...I saved the foil cap when we opened a bottle a while back and have been thinking of this doll for a while...she is shaped like...a bottle of wine ofcourse...her face has the Fritz Winery label...and her body is a grape orchard with some puffly clouds in the sky...she stands about 6.5"...I thinkI might bring her up to the hospital for my dad...who is doing better...they are taking him to a rehab hospital til he gets his strength back...he'strying not to get discouraged...maybe a little "Pinot Noir" will cheer him up!

Hope you have a lovely day!

"Oceana"

My newest baby...her name is Oceana...she stands about 3"...her hair is made of variegated embroidery thread...and she was fun fun fun to make...

Also...here is a little bead I found...and was THRILLED to find...in the "bead soup" at my local bead shop...the bead is made of wood with a hole from top to bottom and stands about 1/2 inch tall...I had three of them about 20 years ago...used one on a vest I made for a friend of mine...and one on a doll...but don't know what I did with the third one...I've been looking for some for a long time...so if anyone knows where I could get some more I'd like to hear from you!

It's COLD here in Florida today...and too windy to play any golf...oh shucks...guess I'll have to do some beadwork...haha!

Have a grand day!

"Love is a Rose"

The three LOVEly sisters have a fourth sister! Her name is "Love is a Rose" She stands not quite 3" and wears a jacket of roses with butterflies in her hair...she was so fun to work on...and I got to use my "pinks and reds" hank of beads I found a few weeks ago...

If you haven't bought your Valentine's Cards I have some postcards available on my etsy site... http://www.atawhisper.etsy.com/ ...with all four of the LOVEly Ladies...

Three LOVEly Ladies

I had so much fun with the two little dolls I made for the BAD "Spread the Love" Valentine's Swap/Bead-a-long that I had to make another...her name is "Wrapped in Love"...here she is alone (front and back) and with her sisters..."Red is for Love" and "Love is a Wild Thing"...

Happy New Year! 2009

Happy New Year...can't believe it's 2009!
I remember when I was little thinking...man I'm going to be old when it turns 2000...and now I'm even older! Ha...Have many blessings...a wonderful husband...4 beautiful grandchildren...a roof over my head...and a loving and forgiving Lord...
Above you see my January entry in the Calendar Challenge for BAD (Beaded Art Dolls)...her name is Snowflake...and below...two little Valentine Pixies...the first is named "Red is for Love"...and her pink sister is named "Love is a Wild Thing"...they are not quite 3 inches in height...and one of them will be sent to another beader in the "Spread the Love" Valentine Swap on BAD...just love making the dolls...they all have their own personality...

So...Happy 2009 to you...may your year be blessed!

Again, I'll "Brooch" the Subject of "Pins"

Pun intended.

Here is one of my latest brooches. I love the stone...which I originally thought was African Turquoise...but a friend sent a picture of something called Sesame` Jasper...which I think is what it really is. Whatever it's called...it's a beautiful stone.

I made the brooch for a 'cabachon challenge' that our group is having. We are supposed to have the cabachon no smaller than 18mm and no larger than 30mm. This one is an oval approx. 18mm x 27mm.

There is a second part to the 'challenge' in the form of a swap...and I loved the stone so much I thought...hmmmmm...I'm getting two of these...and here is what the second one turned out to look like.

I made myself use only beads I had in my stash...so it was kind of difficult to match things up...but I managed...and I really like both of these.

Not sure either of them will go to the swap...ha...but then again...I can't wear them both either...oh...decisions, decisions...
Of course...then there are the other cabs I found whilst looking at this one...I got two of each of those too...but I've only completed one.

I think it's Aventurine...generally a green stone...is a form of quartz with other mineral inclusions...sometimes bits of mica...that give it bit of a glisten. Some call it 'Indian Jade' because the green color of it can resemble real Jade. It comes in other colors as well...but green is the most common.

This stone is actually a bead instead of a cabachon...but it was a flat stone...so was easy to treat as a cabachon when beading.

Other than the cabachons...I've been working diligently on the 2008 "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project...which is due to be 'debuted' on October 1st. I can't wait to show them ALL off. This year...for the first time...I've had help from 7 wonderful artists and there will be three different "Pink Ribbon Turtle" designs in three separate drawings! STAY TUNED!!!

And of course...I've been playing golf...in fact...I got up early this morning and played 9 holes...didn't do too badly either...especially since I was excruciatingly tired from playing 18 in the middle of the day yesterday when it felt like 110 in the shade...ok...I might be exagerating a little...but it was HOT and very very little breeze...but my friend, Missy and I had fun (we always do)...and met a very nice couple who we played with...it's always lovely to meet new people.

One last picture...we saw this Great Blue Heron resting under the Oleanders on the 8th hole and stopped and took his pictures. I think he was a little put out with us for disturbing his rest...because shortly after the picture he stood up and sauntered off in disgust...ha...don't you just love his long long legs?

Have a blessed day!

Brooches and Pins

It seems as though I'm "stuck" (pun intended) on Brooches and Pins lately. I guess it started back around Easter when I had a ball making about a dozen or more "Easter Egg" Pins. The first one turned out so cute I just couldn't stop. I still have about 2 dozen E-egg pins cut out of the felt I use to make them that are ready to be beaded.

Then...I found two online groups of beadwork artists...and I really mean artists...wow...you wouldn't believe some of the gorgeous dolls and jewelry I've seen from these artists...amazing.

Since that time I have learned so much just by "listening" to them on the emails they send...and viewing the pictures of their work. Every so often in each group there is a challenge. One of the groups is a doll group and the other just a beading group...they don't necessarily NOT do dolls...but they seem to lean more toward beaded art in general...much of it being jewelry.

In the Doll group the ladies often use some sort of bead or cabachon or polyclay face cabachon for the face of the doll. And coming up on the other group is a cabachon challenge and swap. So whenever I head to the bead store...or look online for anything...it seems my eyes just naturally gravitate to the larger beads and cabachons.

The brooches in the pictures above are some of the ones I've worked on.

The one on the left was a gift to my niece for her birthday. I made it to go with a gray top I sent as part of the gift. Of course...she can wear it with whatever she wants...but it looked stunning against the gray.

"Little Pink Sunshine"...in the middle...was one of my first attempts at polyclay. I made the little cab and then made her into a pink pin. I just think she's cute.

The one on the right is a large flat Cherry Jade bead. I think it turned out to be very stunning...and though I thought it more dark pink than red...quite Christmassy too!

Last night I finished one I call "Dreamer"...to your right...love the purples and her little necklace that simply states "Dream".

I don't know what I'm going to do for the challenge & swap...but I've found 4 different stones (of course I bought two of each...after all...if I make it and it's luscious I might want to make one for me...ha...) I'll keep you posted about that.

Watching carefully Hurricane Gustav and TS Hannah...praying for everyone that might be in their paths.

Have a blessed day.

Grandchildren, Storms and Beadwork

"Ma, we make a cake?"

What grandma can say no to a 3 year old with a request like that? Of course...what he wanted most was to make the decorations on the cake...he wanted blue and green and red and orange and yellow...and stars...

My youngest grandson loves the book I wrote for him and my other three grandchildren, "The Adventures of Shorty". His mom says he reads it all the time. So when discussing what we were going to put on the cake, Shorty naturally came up. At first, Shorty was going to be an astronaut (a recently drawn pic for the new Shorty book)...then he decided on tennis...then the astronaut on a skateboard...finally we decided that just Shorty on a skateboard would be best.

Whenever I bake cake, I bake it in two square pans. One goes home with the grandson's...the other (or what is left of the other after we've all had a piece) stays here. This works out well since my husband and I, though we love cake, don't eat much of it.

So the first cake (above) was decorated with Shorty on a skateboard...artistic direction by my two grandsons...the eldest helped with the icing...then they both helped with putting the candy stars on it.

The second cake? I let the oldest decide. A tennis player...he decided on a tennis racquet and tennis balls...that's the one we ate after the kitchen was clean.

Then it was time for a rousing game of "Simon Says", and a little bit of "Hokey Pokey", both of which the youngest is learning in pre-school. He is doing pretty well with the "Hokey Pokey", but he hasn't quite gotten the gist of "Simon Says"...it's fun none-the-less. We even got grandpa up to do the hokey pokey!

School will begin (again) on Monday, and all of them will be busy with that. The oldest is in middle school and trying out for the basketball team; the youngest going to pre-school a couple of days a week; and mom, who is a teaching assistant, going back to work. Dad...keeps us all safe working as an officer at the police department.

Now...the reason I say school will begin AGAIN on Monday...is the fact that they started last Monday...and then Tropical Storm Fay came through...and stayed...and stayed...and stayed. We had three and a half days of nothing but wind and rain...and they didn't go back to school all week.

Fay...never making it to hurricane force...dumped over 30" of rain in some places. There was a lot of flooding and a few tornados. It was nothing like Jeanne from a few years ago in strength, thankfully, but was still devastating for some. In the state of Florida TS Fay was responsible for about a dozen deaths and thousands without power and flooded out of their homes. We are thankful that our only damage was the porch getting about half way flooded and the loss of our air conditioner from Wednesday evening til this morning when it got fixed...thank goodness. It was hot those three days...but nothing like the heat we're going to get now that there will be sunshine...at least til the next one!

On the first day of the storm we looked out our back door and saw a Great Blue Heron just standing in the wind and rain. (Video above) We weren't sure at first if he was hurt or just disoriented. We finally decided he just "landed" and was afraid to spread his wings to take off for fear he wouldn't be able to control his flight and land in OZ somewhere. After over three hours of standing in the wind and rain out the backdoor...he was gone. Hopefully it was on purpose...if not...I'm sure the Wizard will have a lovely pond for him to fish in!

During the nearly 4 days of being sequestered in the house due to the storm, beadwork was most certainly a way I entertained myself. (That and the Olympics...great combination!) One of the first things I did was finish a "challenge" from one of the online beading groups I'm in. The challenge was to make a bracelet using the 'peyote' stitch. I had just recently learned it, so I thought it would be a good challenge for me. The tough part...at least for me...was that it was to be "freeform". As much as I try, being anything but symmetrical is difficult. I've managed to do it on a few of my turtles, but usually they are very symmetrical. Now symmetry and "freeform" are not necessarily opposite...but they are not synonomous either. Some of the bracelets the ladies in the challenge produced were exquisite...and not a bit symmetrical. None-the-less...I perservered. Though quite symmetrical...I am assured by the ladies that it is indeed considered "freeform". Which is good...because it's about as freeform as I can get...at least until I learn a bit more about the 'peyote' stitch.

I don't know if you can make them out...but the two circles are actually little polyclay faces. The beadwork around the bracelet is not "exactly" the same...but very similar from side to side.

The second part of the challenge...to make a ring to match. I didn't use the little cab faces...but used some of the other little beads I used around the bracelet to jazz up the ring.

I'm pleased with how they came out. I'll probably put them up for sale on my etsy site ( http://www.atawhisper.etsy.com/ ) . Being a Licensed Massage Therapist, I don't wear much jewelry, (certainly not rings) and in this case, I don't have anything to match these wonderfully bright colors. But I sure had fun making them!

Then it was on to the "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project. Dubbed "Turtles of Hope" by Beadwork Magazine last April, the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" project took on a new level. Originally the turtles were made only by me in memory of my mother, who passed away with Breast Cancer in 2000. After the "blurb" in Beadwork Magazine, another style of PRT was created. With the help of my new friend, Gretchen, we decided that in addition to the turtle(s) I make each year, that we would have a 4 Quadrant Turtle. The turtle was divided into four quadrants and four different artists completed a quadrant. We were thrilled when a second group decided to help with a second 4 Quadrant Turtle. For more information, stay tuned...on October 1st all three turtles will be professionally framed and available in a drawing, ALL proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research.

So anyway...when I finished my freeform bracelet and ring challenge, I spent some time putting the quadrants together. (Ralonda, in Texas is in charge of the second turtle). I will give you a little peek here -> of the right side of group 1's turtle...these turtles will be fabulous I know!

For more information about "Turtles of Hope" - the "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project, you can go to (http://www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm). You will find pictures of turtles from previous years, and a bit of the history behind the project.

Later on, when the ticket "sales" begin, I will make sure the information for you to get some is right here, along with pictures of all three of the 2008 "Pink Ribbon Turtles".

During the hottest part of the Tropical Storm that kept us all indoors for a week...when we didn't have air conditioning...I did as little as possible. Everytime I moved I would break into a sweat. So I sat myself in the coolest room in the house and sorted my beads. My husband was amazed...he thinks I have more beads than the bead store. And he only saw the ones in the drawers! I have more in the closet! But anyone who beads...knows that you can't have too many beads!

The air conditioner has been fixed, the grandson's have visited, I've just eaten my supper, and I think...I'll go do a little beadwork.

God Bless!