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!

Piggy-Back Shuttle Landing

On Friday, December 12th, 2008 the shuttle came into Cape Canaveral Air Station on the back of a 727. These images were taken at 7th Street South in Cocoa Beach as the 727 flew down the beach for all to witness. A very very cool site to see! Here's a video with about 9 slides in a row of it passing while I stood on the beach ramp at 7th Street.

Christmas is approaching fast...I lit candle 11 this evening...that means only 11 days til Christmas...and I've been working hard to get the tree up and the presents wrapped and the cards sent...one of this year's Christmas Cards will include my "Flip Flop Tree"...which is our 2nd tree each year...I made it to make my husband laugh the year we were married...he loves it...

Here is my Beaded Art Doll for December...and ornament named "Glisten".

Doesn't she have a sweet face?
And this year's Christmas ornaments for the 4 grandchildren? A Christmas tree!

I still have a lot to do...have my Beaded Journal Project to finish...and have a lovely Round Robin Doll to work on...but I'm still getting out to play a little golf every few days...today shot a 43 on 9 holes...found some really "old-fashioned" clubs at the Thrift Shop for $1.00...old wooden woods...really old...and about 5 different putters!!!...and a leather bag...all for $1.00...I was amazed...the head on the 7 wood isn't much bigger than the ball! But I shot a really great tee shot on a long par three with it today...

The 2008 "Pink Ribbon Turtles" Drawings have been completed. "Ling" was won by Joan M. in Cocoa Beach, FL. I was very happy to find out that she was one of my mother's good friends. She was excited to win.

"Jewels of the Sea" was won by Anne H. of Edmond, OK. She was thrilled to hear the news.

"Kameko" was won by Beverly M. of White Pine, TN. Bev was also happy when she heard the news.

We don't have a final tally of donations to be sent to the American Cancer Society, but know it will be well over $800. With the economy the way it is...we are very pleased with this number. I will announce a final amount once I know it. I'm still waiting for a couple of "snail mail" checks to come from people that simply wanted to donate and not get tickets. Thank you to everyone who donated this year. Congratulations to our winners. Thank you to the 7 wonderful beadwork artists that made this year's turtles a reality.

We are working on plans for next year's project, and will announce our plans once they are confirmed. Anyone who is a beadwork artist is certainly invited to join us!

I reckon that's about all the news today...if I don't get to post again between now and Christmas I wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

Topaz Turtle...and other doings...

Here she is...my Topaz Turtle...the Beaded Journal Project entry for November.
Topaz is the November stone...and it can be found in clear, pale blue, yellow, green or red. The golden yellow topaz is often referred to as the Imperial Topaz and is the most valuable of all the Topaz stones.
It took me a while to find a piece of fabric in my stash of material that suited me...but I finally happened upon a square of this piece in a stack of 9"squares I have that I'm going to make a patchwork quilt with...with her black body (except a couple of topaz 15's in the border stitching all the way around)...I like the way her topaz shell shines. In person she is lovely.

I'm a bit behind still from my hospital stay a few weeks ago...still playing catch up...so haven't done my doll for the month...but will have her here as soon as I can...still have to make the grandbabies their Christmas ornaments that I make each year too...my goal is to catch completely up by the new year...

Tomorrow is one of the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" drawings for this year...I'm very pleased to say that we are doing well in our donations...I'll wait to give you a total after the December drawings when I know exactly how much we have to send as our total donation.

Had a wonderful visit with high school friends last night...lots of laughs and good memories.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. God Bless!

Is it November yet?

Wow...was October ever a doozy of a month...a 5 day ordeal in the hospital and two week recovery put me way behind on all things October...but now I'm feeling better...and am caught up with October Projects...

First...thankfully...I finished the October Challenge for the Beaddreamz group early...the peyote bracelet was fun and turned out to be quite eyecatching. I called it "Autumn Leaves"...my dad bought it from me and gave it to a friend for her birthday. I've since made a few others in Christmas greens, reds and whites, and a couple of them in pinks...the bracelet is not a pattern...which is what makes it fun...you just put a bunch of the same size beads in a dish and pick up whatever you pick up...the effect is really pretty neat...I have discovered the wider ones are actually prettier than the narrow ones...but they do take a little longer...

Next...the October Challenge for the Beaded Art Dolls group...I found a wonderful picture of my daughter when she was about 4 or so...it was Halloween and she wanted to be a clown...so I got out the trusty sewing machine and made her a clown outfit...she was adorble...of course...being my child...she always was...ha...here are the two pics...one of her...and one of the doll I made...I am sad to say she and I have been estranged for the past 4 years (prayers are always most welcome)...but this made me feel close to her...and remember all of the wonderful years of her childhood...as well as watching her become a woman...as a parent there were times I wanted to shove her in a closet and not let her out til she was 40...but I knew that wouldn't help her grow...so I...right or wrong...gradually allowed her to make her own choices...but was always there...and listened...and as gently as possible...guided her...and did a LOT of praying...here she is...the "Little Clown Doll"...

And finally...my Beaded Journal Project for October. As you saw in September...my design will always be aturtle for the BJP. In October...the month of my daughter's birthday...I decided to do a turtle that had opals...I had a cab that to me looked very much like a fire opal...so tried to find all the colors in it and go from there...as it progressed I LOVED the body...but the turtle's shell was not satisfying me as I thought it should...but now that I've got it finished...I think it turned out nicely. The body...the "opally" greens and white...the shell...all the colors I saw in the fire opal cab. Once I added the gold...it came together and I like the final product.

So...now October is over...and I'm about a week late finishing...BUT...I am finished with all the October challenges...and it's on to November...hmmmmmmmm...wonder what I'll do now???

DON'T FORGET THE "PINK RIBBON TURTLES" DRAWING FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH IS FAST APPROACHING! IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR DRAWING TICKETS...BE SURE TO GO TO www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm AND MAKE YOUR DONATION!

Just a Reminder!

If you haven't gone and seen all of the

2008 "Pink Ribbon Turtles"...there's still plenty of time!

Make sure you get your tickets! Drawing date for "Jewels of the Sea" is Sunday, November 30th. Drawing date for "Ling" and "Kameko" is Friday, December 12th.

Make your donation at www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm .

ALL profit from this project goes to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research.