Whatta Distraction!

I haven't been getting much beading done and here's my reason why! My 5 pound chihuahua mix, Willie and I have added another member to our family.

This is Sophie, who weighs about a pound and is almost 8 weeks old. She's a shih tzu/poodle cross and was the runt of her litter. We expect her to be about the same size as Willie. She's keeping me pretty busy while I make my best effort to get her house broken. Because we've got a smattering of snow covering the grass, I've been working with her on a puppy training pad strategically placed beside the door. Amazing to me that in four short days, she has learned her name, responds to "come" and does her business on the training pad. I'm grateful that Willie has gone from completely ignoring her to playing with her and even sharing chewie treats.





If you are interested, I've put a few videos taken of Sophie on YouTube.

My son is arriving for Christmas today so...who knows when I'll get back to my beading!

Gift for Granddaughter

This first photo is my beautiful granddaughter Hazel. We'd just spent a day together shopping and she is about to get on a ferry to go home.



This is a bracelet that I recently made for Hazel.



Pink is her favourite colour so of course I had to make her a pair of earrings to wear with the bracelet!

Still on the Planet

No post for over a week now. That's not like me. I was away from home for five days, taking a trip to see my son perform in a play. I took no beading, no knitting, nothing with me and it's a good thing. The schedule was pretty full and by the time I headed to my hotel room each evening, the only thing I was ready for was sleep (in a strange bed that put my back out). Today I cut up a bracelet that I was working on. Decided it wasn't what I'd hoped for. Found a rock and bead store while I was away and made a few purchases. Just not "feelin' it" the last while. Soon....I hope.

Variation on Scalloped Triangle Pendant on Spiral Rope

I really loved the silver and black version of this but I was thinking that not everyone prefers silver jewelry to gold as I do so I decided to make the necklace again using gold in place of silver. The rope is slightly different as is the triangle. Might just be me, but I still prefer the silver one!

Two Quick Bracelets

I enjoy doing both the Russian Spiral and the Spiral Rope and often when I need something simple to work on, I make a bracelet using those stitches. Here are the latest couple of results.

There are three different shades of blue in this one, combining with the silver center spine.


Too bad I wasn't able to photograph well, the shine of the silver lined grey toho beads in this one.

Scalloped Triangle Pendant on Spiral Rope

Because I really enjoy beading the spiral rope stitch, I've made another necklace, this one with a triangle pendant.  The rope has been done for a week or more and I was uninspired about making a pendant for it.  Last night I began to visualize a triangle pendant that I'd intended to embellish.  I had the triangle mostly done before I went to bed last night and got up this morning, ready to complete it and get started on the embellishment.  The first three or four things I tried I pulled out before I finally stumbled upon using the rondelles and creating a scallop to encase them.  I'm very happy with the result.  As always, the pendant can be removed to wear the rope alone.  This piece is listed for sale in my Etsy shop with more views of the piece.

Etsy BeadWeavers' November Challenge

It's that time again! The voting has opened and we need your votes. Please visit the EBW Blog, check out all of the amazing entries and cast your vote for your favourite!

Black and Silver Necklace

This necklace and pendant were created while I was away. The last detail for completion had to wait until I got home so this morning I added the Swarovski crystals to the ends of the toggle closure. The necklace is Russian spiral and the pendant has a netting stitch base that was then embellished with rondelles, bugle beads and seed beads all in black and silver. The technique was shown to me by my friend who has completed several bracelets this way.



The pendant can be removed so that the necklace can be worn alone for added versatility.

Just A Quick Update!

I'm still away from home and have been since Friday, October 10th. At the moment I'm in a cafe with free wireless internet. After spending a week with a girlfriend in Manitoba, I flew back to British Columbia and bought a car. I haven't been driving for three years (while recovering from a bad car accident) and my #1 priority was to get something I'd feel safe in. What did I buy? It's a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE. And I'm loving it! It's got all of the bells and whistles, including heated leather seats (feels so good on my pain racked body) and a sun roof. There are airbags all around and I'm feeling very comfortable in my new toy.

I'm in a small town on the ocean in BC, called Powell River, where I'm hoping to buy a house. Even though there is just me and my little five pound dog, I'm making an offer on a five bedroom, three bathroom home with a wonderful view of the ocean and outlying islands. I'll be able to watch the ferry coming and going and the sunsets will be spectacular. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I spent the last two nights in a most charming hotel - The Old Courthouse Inn. Lovely place! Tonight, I'm going over to the island my son lives on - Texada. We're having dinner at The Tree Frog Bistro and it's also a lodge so I'm going to stay there overnight.

I expect to head for home, later this week. Haven't been doing much beading and I'm looking forward to getting back to it and sleeping in my own bed!

Etsy BeadWeavers' October Challenge - Animal Instinct

And...yes I'm participating again this month. I'm number 16 in the mosaic below and I'd appreciate it if you'd drop in there and VOTE VOTE VOTE for me! I've entered my necklace "Where's The Orca" and the competition is amazing! Voting is open until midnight on the 15th of October.