What Was I Going To Say?

I HATE dial up!!! I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to blog at all tonight. I was kicked off three times before I could get here. I did sign up for DSL this afternoon and a week from now, I will hopefully be crusin' the net at high speed. It's only been promised to all of us out here for the last five years.

Because of all this, I can't remember what I was going to say tonight. Ummmm.....still working on Volume #2 for my Z'oodle Book. I have about three more pages to get done and then the computer work starts. There WAS something interesting I was going to say, but my brain is not working now. I'll wake up about 4 a.m. and remember. If I do, I'll write it down and let you know tomorrow.

Being a woman of a certain age has its advantages, but there is also a down side to it, too. Memory has a way of working only when She wants to. I think we need to sit down and have a little heart to heart about this problem. Memory, much like my Muse, wants to go on vacation when She is needed most. Very rude, if I may say so! I think they are working against me at times. I'll have to get more organized and be less distracted so I can keep everyone in line!

All right, Grace!! Where do you think YOU'RE going??? I'm tired of tripping over your things! Please go clean up your mess. Slumber just walked in the room and I think I'll take him up on his offer. Good Night...see you tomorrow!

Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest

I attended this fun and fluffy event on Saturday. I didn't have a shopping list of what I might need or want this year, so just decided to roam the aisles and tents for something that caught my fancy. Well...I found a few things that I liked.

My first stop is always at the basket lady. She has quite a number of designs and shapes. This gives me a new basket every year and something to put all my purchases in. This year I chose this smaller one. It's the first one I picked up, then put down, walked around and looked at the other baskets, then came back and picked it up again. Always go with your first instincts. ;)


Next I made the rounds, did some "window" shopping and remembered that I needed some grey roving for felting. I found a lovely alpaca/wool blend that will work beautifully. And It feels SOOO soft. After walking around the booths, I saw this very interesting, rather large, ropey yarn. It's from Berroco and called Link. It makes a rope-like scarf with just one skein. I love the varigated look and can't wait to work it up. Had to stop by the local yarn shop and order some size 50 needles. Yep...I'll be knitting with small trees. LOL While at this booth, I also got myself some Flounce Ribbon for making a little Flounce scarf. This looks very pretty and fun, just have to figure out how to knit with it.

These buttons are just a few that I picked out for my stash. There were many more designs, shapes and colors that I would have taken home if I didn't have enough already. The nice thing is that the button artist lives close to me. I always like supporting another local artist.

It was a fun day and I enjoyed looking at some of the animals and people and the wonderful wooly things that were out there. If I had the time this year I would have taken a couple of classes. They are always a blast! Can't wait until next year!!

Check out Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest for more information.

Spooky Time Jingles

I was crusin' the web tonight and found this great site for Halloween and Christmas Folk Art. Spooky Time Jingles has many, many artists that are creating some spooky, crazy or cool art for these two holidays. Something to check out.

(I am not in anyway affilitated with this site...yet.)

Sunday Quotes

Today

Today was a strange day. The weather was nice with some high thin clouds coming in and out. I just could not settle on getting any one job done. I was kind of scatter brained and would go from room to room not finishing anything I started. I did get a few things done, but the dishes are still sitting on the counter, the laundry is still in the basket, the current necklace is still waiting for more beads and I didn't want to do anything today.

Ack...I don't like it when that happens. I have a TON of chores, jobs and things I have to do. I guess I don't know where to start and that's what is getting to me. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Oh...I just remembered!! Tomorrow will be better! It's our 20th wedding anniversary! Happy Us!!

Commenting - Part Deux

Thank you all, very much, for leaving comments and/or clicking on the Reaction boxes. I do appreciate it. And if I do have a boring post, those will happen I'm certain of it, go ahead and let me know. :)

Sunday Quotes

This week is slightly off, but then aren't most weeks? I had a great trip to visit friends and had this great quote that fit just perfectly.

There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound.
~Diana Cortes

Have a creative Autumn week!

Off Until Monday

I'm traveling this weekend and will not be near a computer. It's a good thing and a bad thing. I can take the weekend off from sitting in front of a screen for hours, but my internet addiction (and isn't it for everyone?) will be hard to control.

I'll be back to regular posting on Monday night. I wish everyone a wonderful weekend!

Morse Code

I had an idea last week and then researched it and found it was not an original idea. But the way I'm doing it is. I am making Morse Code jewelry. Each letter is separated by three beads and each word is separated by five beads. The necklace is made with shells and red agate beads.



This necklace says, "I Love You". I'm having fun with the various beads I have and making some cool pieces. I'm even learning Morse Code by working with the beads. Educational AND pretty!

Commenting

Hello.

I know you're out there. My stats show that there are people that drop by and look at my blog. Would you do me a favor? You don't have to comment, but would you please go to the bottom of your favorite post and either +1 me or just click on one of the reactions. It gives me a little info on what you might like to read or see and I can be a better blogger for you.

Thank You!! I appreciate you coming by and reading about me and my little projects.

Z'anne

Sunday Quotes

More Halloween Earrings

I've been busy the past few days. Making new earrings for Halloween from the charms I received in the mail earlier this week. Then photographing them for my store and getting them all packaged up for future purchases. (I hope)

Here are three pair that I listed in the store today.

Harvest Pumpkins
Antiqued Skulls
Black Skulls

The Black Skulls are very cool and I only have two pair of earrings made with these charms. If I get requests for them, I'll order more charms. Both pair have glow in the dark beads and look really eerie in the dark!

Friday Night Spotlight

I'm happy tonight. Last night my dial up connection wouldn't work. It kept spitting me out and I just got so frustrated I felt like throwing my stapler at the moniter. I didn't, but I could have.

So, tonight is better and I can get the links up for my Spotlight...and here they are!

Country Naturals has THE cutest Hand Knit Bed Of Roses Bath Shower Mat Step out of the shower onto a thick pad of soft rosebuds. 14x18 1/2 inches. Over an inch thick but light-weight. Feels wonderful under your feet. Custom Orders Welcome! The perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything.

Country Naturals also has a great OLA online craft fair going on at her site. Check out the variety of items available for gift giving for the upcoming seasons.

Yogibear66 has gotten in the mood for All Hallows Eve. Haunting screams and spooky noises will attract the attention of all the ghoulies and goblins in the neighborhood. The Large Standing Skeleton with Motion and Sound Effects will make your house the best place to Trick or Treat!

KornKountryTreasures is offering an absolutely exquisite piece of handcrafted crochet art. The Poinsettia Christmas Crochet Doily would look fabulous on any holiday table. This is a beautiful and colorful doily, crocheted with white, red and green thread. Center of the piece is a poinsettia design, with bright gold beads for the center. Measures approximately 22 1/2" in diameter.

Last, but not least, is one of my friends from Portland Art Collective. Suzanne's creative life started early on with a sewing machine and a burning desire to make things. Current artistic pursuits include fiber arts, especially modern quilting, embroidery, sewing, and crochet; painting, collage, jewelry design, and book binding. She is always up for learning something new!

Thank you for stopping by and checking out the links!

Feeling Better Today

Woke up with a crusty eye this morning, but no pain and less swelling. I was still a bit out of focus, but as the day went on, things were getting sharper. I think I'll stick to beading and leave the outdoor stuff to HB. He's handier that way.

With the heat ramping up early, I decided to hide in the nice cool house and work on some more Halloween earrings. Received some new cool resin charms and couldn't resist.





These are only three of the seven different kinds of resin charms I got. The skulls are my favorite. I used crystals for this pair, but I will be making more earrings and adding glow in the dark beads instead. Yes...I AM having fun!!! :D

Wear Your Safety Glasses

Why? Because even though you're doing something you've done a ton of times and nothing has happened, just this once something WILL happen. Case in point. I went out this morning to feed the birds, as usual, and had to dodge the dried out and drooping branches on one of the hemlock trees. I had trimmed some of them earlier in the season and since it's been hot and dry lately, more have come down to get in my way. So...I got out the big trimmers and went about cutting branches. After a few, I was reaching up high above my head and went to cut the branch and some bark chipped off and fell into my eye. OW!

I got out all the little bits except one that was stuck under my upper lid. Lots of eye watering and blinking and pain. It finally came out later in the afternoon, but it must have scratched my eyeball 'cause it still hurts.

SO....just don't go out there and do the usual stuff. Save yourself a lot of pain and aggravation. Wear Your Safety Glasses!

The Crows Have Gathered

After about 4 days, 5 different themes and time spent going over my notes from the website class I took, I finally got my store decorated for the season. I went with a black, white and red crow theme. A little dark, but I like it.

There is a contest for the best decorated store, at OLA, and I'm glad I took the challenge. I haven't even looked at the class notes for a couple of years and it's handy to know enough HTML to be able to play.

Geez...I didn't realize how late it is. These computer things can keep you up late. *yawn* Have a good Tuesday.

Sunday Quotes

Friday Night Spotlight

Today was the Portland Art Collective Play Day at Collage, in Portland. Morning started off mostly cloudy, and with errands, before I could get myself into town. A drop off at the post office and getting my "It's a Jungle Out There" jewelry to the show (opening is next Tuesday). Then, driving the side streets to avoid all the Labor Day weekend traffic, but hitting almost all the red lights. When I got to our room at Collage, there were only three other members. A good number, considering it is Labor Day weekend.

Jan started us on this path to Play Day. It's so nice to get away from the house and go do some art with like minded women. Paula and Suzie were there to fill out our quartet. A fun day to experiment with new techniques, color a little picture, paint or play with reposse. I really enjoy their art, please go click on their links and see what these fabulous artists can do.

In The Mail Today

The new issue of Bead & Button magazine came today and I am pumped. The cover looks fabulous with a beautiful cubic right-angle weave necklace. I know how to do single needle right-angle weave, but this cubic thing is going to be a challenge. I had to sit down and really go over the instructions to see how hard this might be. But, they seem pretty clear and I will play with this, maybe this weekend.

There were also other great beaded jewelry pieces in this issue. Like, a few of the winners of the 2011 Bead Dreams competition. There is some fabulous bead art by bead artists from around the world. Chain, crystals and beads bracelets look like fun to make and wear. More projects using the cubic right-angle weave and a great artist profile of Heidi Kummli.

Have fun looking around the websites, you never know what you might find!

Glow In The Dark Earrings

I tried getting pics of the glow in the dark beads in the dark and it won't work. So, take my word for it, they do glow and look so very cool!!! During the light times of the day the earrings show off their fall colors. Here are three pair: