More tales of Beads

I went to the bead show last weekend off (Jan 5th) in Hillsboro. It was Payday and my weekend off so I was pretty stoked! I had two things I was looking for at the show. Larger pieces to plan a necklace around and crystal beads for a Snowflake project I want to make. I really scored on both and felt pretty good about my time there! It is the most money I have spent to date at the Bead show-$40. Usually it is 1/2 that or less! Like my other creative/DIY projects I feel you don't have to spend a lot to make something cool. I prefer items on sale, free, or trade. It makes it more satisfying to me and I get a "pretty" out of it. The Bead Show does sell Wholesale but for the general public it is less than a retail store. I enjoy going.
Even if I don't buy anything. I get a creative flow at an event like the Bead Show. Looking at the booths full of beads, listening to people talk about projects, and seeing something that sparks an idea on a project I have stalled on. I really came away from this show excited to make jewelry! 



This last year was a tough year for me. Sometimes I had to pay attention to just putting one foot in front of the other. I lost my energy in general but creative motivation especially! Now that I have the apartment looking more the way I want it I am ready to get CreatiBuzy! I need to put away Christmas (Christmas is still up because my Auntie She She was coming to town and wanting to have Christmas with us) then I will have my office where I can leave projects in between working time. I am feeling positive!

Photos of Beads and Space

This is an orange flower to build a necklace around.

 This is the large piece (a crane I think)  I got from the show. I got this strand of coral to go with it. 

 This is a combo I got a couple of shows ago. I was not sure I post it so here it is again. I got the turquoise, pearls and center rock on sale. 

 All the pearls shown together for size. The little white ones I just got and the lavender ones. They are tiny and cute!

 all the sparkly crystals for the snow flake project. By the next bead show in April I need to have the pattern figured out so I can go to town! The smaller size bead strings were $2 each and the larger $3.Retail would be tons more!

 My "old" coffee table turned printer table is now my rolling creative work space. I am soooo excited to have this ready! I spent the evening going through my beads and organized into my awesome storage cubes I got and super sale at Storables. Yes, I am a chronic Bargin Hunter!

This is the heart I got and some of the different pearls mixed. 

Reminds my of home

 The last couple of days we in the Willamette Valley have been stuck in an inversion. The Mountains are sunny and 50 degrees in the day while we in the Valley are in fog some or most of the time and freezing or below! The fog reminds me of childhood growing up along the Coastal Highway that runs the seawall in San Francisco near the Sutro Baths. To be in fog and hear the fog horns, smell salt in the air and eucalyptus is coming home to me. Anyway, the fog is freezing and causing frost on the roads and cars. I cant even see "My Bridge"! I don't like being cold but am really fascinated by the frost and not being able to see very far out. It is a comforting familiar blanket to be wrapped in.

Abby does not like to be cold either. Her problem is she does not like to "get dressed" to be warm. The frozen ground really throws her. She acts like someone is playing a trick on her. She makes me laugh a lot.

This is my weekend off. I did not sign up for working the holiday so I have a three day weekend! I am enjoying the rare long weekend. I have done more to make my "Gal Pad" my own. I am also making it easier for project time! I will try to take photos tomorrow. I am cooking a slightly complicated crock pot recipe for the Geezers including my Auntie She She. I am pretty excited since it is like Chicken Pot Pie with biscuits on top.  I don't remember if I told you about the awesome crock pot my parents gave me for Christmas? The inner crock works on the stove top, oven and the crock. The glass lid is good on crock, stove top, oven and dishwasher. Seriously it rocks my cooking world! 

Umkay, betime 

A New Year and goals

I dislike the use of New Years Resolutions. I will keep it to a short rant as I will be repeating myself from past years. I find it silly to make resolutions out of guilt just because a New Year is coming. Instead of making promises (resolutions) you know you wont keep and probably make them every New Year why not set achievable, positive goals? I will set some goals here for myself.

~ Continue saving money "for a rainy day"
~ Continue adding to my Retirement fund
~ Get a new-to-me car
~ find and move to a new place that works better for Abby (outdoor space)
~ Get back on my bike and ride regularly!
~ follow through on projects started but not finished - all of them!
~ get Abby off leash trained
~ Now that I have room to entertain GET SOCIAL!

There are some goals to start. I will cross of ones as I reach my goal and add new ones. How about you? Care to share?

Photos of my bookcase

These are the photos of my new to me bookcase. I took these during my painting frenzy but had no time to upload and post. For now it will live in the hall while I get things straightened out.