Mani, Pedi, they both cure!

Today I was feeling a little tired and a lot worn down. Too much Toronto trekking yesterday and then up at the crack to sit for Ben, the latest love of his grandfather's and my life. Ben's mother came home early freeing us for the rest of our day. My husband had errands to run. I added one thing to his list. Drop me at the Model Nails spa.

I must admit the place is plain with no real ambiance. But the people are pleasant and eager to please and I have visited them 3 or 4 times this summer. Mary does a great job of my toes but the massage chair I sit in was just calling to me today. They took me immediately and I picked my polish colour and settled in for a treatment.

Forty-five minutes later I floated out with my toes beautifully painted and my whole being a lot less stressed.

This was the first time I went for the flower and I quite liked it!

Tried a couple of different shots but none were that great. Oh well, the toes were fun.

Last time I went I got a French manicure for the first time, also a lot of fun. In true Beader Girl fashion I was wearing one of my watches for this shot.

Time for dessert--homemade elderberry pie (real from-scratch pie crust)--and our guests arriving very soon.

Today, A Little Chuckle

Remember last year's Christmas tree? This year I was adamant that we would have a perfect REPLICA of a Christmas tree, rather than the real thing. You can see why. And you may even remember last year's sad post.

I have, therefore, decided to show you the sequel. First I'll show you a close up of the beautiful branches which look for all the world like fresh ones. Also, notice the brand spanking new tree skirt, first one I've ever bought. (Who says we get staid as we get older?)

And here's the tree itself all gorgeous and wonderful.

So wonderful I've shown a different angle. Ah, Christmas. Never mind that it is way too early.

And, finally, here is one of the tables from our Jewelry Show and Sale last Saturday. Of course you had to be here to see how these all looked up close.

And the connection here? I wanted to do some Christmas decorating for the Jewelry Show and Sale so put up my tree on November 2, a personal record for getting it up early. The strange thing is, we've really been enjoying it. Next week I'll probably put up the rest of the decorations so that we can smile happily until we go to Victoria for our first Christmas with our granddaughter. All sounds so good. Have to go make my list for Christmas cake and carrot pudding ingredients!

I figured it out!

After about 15 minutes of testing and trying, forgetting and remembering, searching and just plain screwing around, I figured out how to put my MS Publisher file into my blog. And here it is. Blow it up to read the fine print about the event my friend and I are having November 8th. Should be great fun.

Christmas Earrings

Trying to get good pictures of my jewelry is a constant frustration but these are not too bad. Here is a pair of Christmas tree earrings made with special Swarovski marguerite crystals in three sizes and separated with various spacers. They are so cute!

This pair is in Swarovski clear crystal with a red bicone accent. (The hands are mine.)

I took a picture of a group of earrings for the sale on November 8th. Note the pretty snowmen and the gold and green baubles.

The lime green earrings I made one day to match an outfit I was wearing that night. So cool to be able to do that. Of course, I have boxes of beads to choose from at a moment's notice; hence, the jewelry sale and the LOW prices. It's time to make room for my new imaginings.

Creations for Christmas

Last night I finished off three pieces of jewelry which have been waiting for clasps, etc. The pendant is a large rivoli studded with 4 mm. crystals and size 11 sead beads, which I repeated for the chain. I love it and went to my closet to see what matches. When I make beautiful things I don't mind if they don't sell at my sales.

The middle bracelet is a right angle weave pattern with browns and teal blues and matching sead beads. The clasp is copper which is so popular these days.

For the bottom bracelet I chose mauve crystals with brown Swarovski bicones. Wow! It turned out great. So unusual. Original, even.

Have to go and do some more beading!

Christmas Creeps In

Well, it's started. Families are planning just what shape the celebrations will take this year, some stores have put up dual displays of Hallowe'en/Thanksgiving orange along with Christmas reds and greens and my friend and I are having our Christmas Jewelry Open House and Sale. I love this time of year. So much promise, so much excitement, so much love. People take on a softer side, as they think more of others than themselves and smiles shine more readily.

I know, October is pretty early to be thinking of this but maybe my blog will be prophetic for some, adding to the global happiness. We could sure use it. Thinking of good things takes our minds away from the price of gas, the soldiers being killed in Afghanistan, the fact that my nephew is headed over there in March, the health issues many I know face...that list is endless. Best to have happy things to think on.

Beading is always a joy to me, the only down side being that I end up with way too much lovely jewelry. When my large drawer starts overflowing with beauteous baubles I know it's time to sell some. Well, a lot, actually. Last year I had a grand time inviting friends and family to my sale at rock bottom prices. This year my friend and I are pooling resources and having the sale here. (If any of you are close and want a flyer, I will email it to you upon request.) The date is November 8, from 1:00 till 4:30 at my home.

Following are some pictures of things we have for sale:

Next post I will put in pictures of some Christmas earrings, so cute you just want six pairs. In fact, I don't know how I can bear to sell them!

Beadergirl is Back

Today I am inspired to write on my blog again. Why? Look at the bracelet I just completed this afternoon!

Here are a few things from the last few weeks, a beaded chain necklace, one with a Swarovski pendant, a dragonfly focal point, another Swarovski pendant necklace and a hemalyke choker. The possibilities are endless.

I got the idea to try some other medallions for neck jewelry using all Swarovski crystals. They are stunning. I think I'll use the chain stitch from the pic above to finish them off.

I also have fallen in love with the butterfly bracelets, a course I took last year. Here I've made them in black, blue, pink and beige, all fabulous.

Of course you noticed the other bracelets in the two pics. It is such fun to use memory wire and use up leftover beads, letting my imagination go wild. My friend taught me the bottom stitch in pink and black. It is somewhat heavy and I think I'll have to redo the clasp as I'm not happy with it yet.

All of these will be on sale along with hundreds more at our Christmas Open House sale on November 8. Should be fun!

Beading, and WOW!

First of all I have to say that these pics do not tell the story, but maybe my 'thousand words' will. I had trouble getting the colour to show properly here. The colours in the chain are the actual ones but my pics seem to make the pendant--with 27 four mm. Swarovski crystals--look somewhat brownish. It is not. The Capri Blue crystals are set with Delica pink beads and the effect is so much better than these pics. Sorry, but you get the idea.

Here I have tried for a closeup and you can see the way the beads sit up in the pendant part.

Finally you can see the Sterling Silver heart clasp I used on this. It is a lovely light silver colour and looks awesome. With 27 Swarovskis and sterling silver the price for this one has to be higher but it is well worth it.

I really have to find a better way to get pictures of my pieces as putting them on the web is frustrating when you can't see how beautiful they are. Any ideas out there?

My New Jewelry Makes Me Smile

Yesterday I had a wonderful day with my best beading buddy, Donna. Together we searched out bargains at Mary Maxim and 4 Sirius Beaders in Paris, and then headed to Brantford for lunch at a cafe we had visited before, part of the Flim Flam Gift Gallery. We arrived, breathless and hungry, only to learn that the restaurant had been turned into a craft area. Our initial disappointment soon turned to glee as we discovered a very good selection of beading things, including Swarovski crystal heart-shaped pendants. Lunch had to wait awhile.

My delight in the day was intensified every time I looked at my wrist and caught a glimpse of my latest bracelet creation. (Bracelets are for the wearer because you don't see your necklace and earrings unless you're looking in a mirror!) It is based on a deep pink/bronze Czech fire-polished bead which sparkles in the light, mixed with bronze spacers, pink and gold beads with ivory pearls. I absolutely loved making it and revel in wearing it. Not for sale, this one!

After lunch we hit the mall for a half hour and found--on sale!--the short-sleeved tops I was wanting, then headed for Woodstock. After a couple of stops--beads, of course--we headed for home. We couldn't believe it was 4:00 when we arrived, the day had gone so quickly.

Ordering Pretties

Like Gollum in The Hobbit and Tolkien's subsequent books, I am mesmerized by pretty things, and, yes, they do have some power over me. Not enough that I sacrifice my life to them but enough that I take great pleasure in creating them. I think of the embroidery I've done, the knitting, the painting, the pottery, the list goes on and my insides warm. Yesterday I spent almost three hours placing my bead order from the Fire Mountain catalogue.

My buddy, Donna, and I usually do it together but she is away so I tackled the job. As you can see from the image here, this is a huge book of goodies and her page numbers were from the slightly newer version, while mine were from this one. Oh, and we had some things to order from the online sale items. All of this made for some confusion and cries for help from the online realtime help offered by Fire Mountain.

I sat down just after 1 p.m. and tackled the Excel list we had worked on together last Friday, the addendum Donna had sent Saturday, and--can you believe it?--the second addendum from Sunday morning. I also had to finalize pearls that I wanted as well as other beads and findings. By the time I had finished the total was quite high but I don't intend to order for at least six months so I'm not too disturbed. Paying shipping is not much fun. There's nothing 'pretty' about it. I'd rather order a lot at a time and put the money into beads and findings.

Finally, just before 4 p.m., I was done. My back ached, my shoulders sagged and my eyes were bleary from too much screen viewing. I stood up to think what to do next. Finishing the washing and making up the bed with the clean sheets were actually welcome changes from sitting in front of the computer for three hours.

This morning I checked my email, logged on to the Fire Mountain site and checked the progress of my package. It has been shipped and will arrive Thursday. Computers can be wonderful, can't they? So now the work is over and I can just anticipate opening my package of pretties.

Beader Girl Broils

I've been to London to visit the Queen. Well, not quite. I've been to Ottawa to see the parliament and many other things. Miss me? I missed writing but have lots of new tales to tell. First is our beading adventure.

In the heat of Friday afternoon hubby and I struck out from our hotel to walk to a bead store whose address I had got on the web. It was in the 700's so we thought it would be about 3/4 of a mile. As the pavement got hotter, the breeze evaporated. Three blocks of our route were beside massive construction machinery ripping up Bank Street. The noise of some of them pounded into my brain and I pushed myself to walk faster to get by. Finally we were past and now beside cars darting to and fro. The address numbers went up painfully slowly...123...169....199...finally the 200's and then a long time till the 300's. I began to wonder just how good an idea this was. Why didn't we take the bus? And we weren't even half way there yet.

We ducked into a variety store for some icy water. When I took the first sip it was cool but not icy. Never mind. It would keep us hydrated. Back into the heat. Walking under the 417 highway was a shady break and we reveled in it. Not too far, now. Wonder how far we've walked? Those buses we keep seeing sure look good, air-conditioned and all. Walk, walk, walk, more walking, we're definitely taking the bus back. Why didn't we ask how far this was?

Eventually we came into a little nicer area, kind of a mini village, and we spotted the Sassy Bead Company. Gratefully I breathed in the cooler air inside. Hubby spotted a stool to sit on while I browsed. So many beads, so little money! Oh, I could feel moisture running down my back as I stood and picked out bright and lovely beauties. Oooo, now I'm standing over an ancient grill register and the cool air finds my legs, my butt, my whole body. I stand here looking and reaching, thinking if I just stay here for a while I'll get cool.


To some extent it works but I have to move. So much to see and touch. Have to experience it all. Back to the register. Oh, that's better. After 25 minutes picking out pretties I'm still hot as I make my way to the cash with my basket of treasures. I pay and head outside to join my hubby. We wait in the sun for the bus, relieved when it arrives, and head back to the hotel. God bless air conditioning and cold showers!

Jewelry Pictures (4)

16. Creamy lilac glass beads with clear glass rondelles and round beads, set off by violet rainbow seed beads make this necklace, bracelet and earring set gorgeous. I love it!








17. Blue swirls in large clear beads are spectacular with silvery rondelles and shiny black seed beads in this necklace with matching earrings.

Jewelry Pictures (1)

1. Spiral Bracelet, pearlized button in blue and pink, matching earrings. 2.Three bead netted bracelet in mauves, pearlized button.
3. Costume beads in black, gray, gold necklace. 4. Spiral bracelet and earrings in golds and greenish blue colours. 5. Peyote bracelet in gold and multi-purples with black/purple button.

Jewelry Pictures (2)

6. Red Swarovski crystals with silver and clear beads, necklace and earrings.
7. Earrings and spiral Delica bead bracelet in lovely vibrant pink and silvery whites. 8. Multicolour pinks, yellows, lilacs in three bead netted, seed bead bracelet with pink/gold button. 9. Blue rectangular beads, enhanced by multi-colored seed beads and small square irridescent whites, earrings to match.

Jewelry Pictures (3)

10. Red, black and silver seed beads enhance white round glass beads in long necklace and earrings to match.
11. Pink Swarovski bicone crystals are set off by silver and clear crystal beads in necklace, bracelet and earrings. 12. (see description 6) 13. Indian red Swarovski crystal bicones in different sizes are matched to shiny black and silver seed beads, separated by large silvery pinwheel rondelles. Stunning.
14. Blue cat's eyes are matched to silver filigree balls and clear beads in this necklace, bracelet and earring set.
15. Lovely pink Swarovski crystals highlight this set of necklace, bracelet and earrings to match. They are enhanced by silver filigree and plain balls with small clear seed beads.

Beader Girl

“What do you do with your time?” I’m sometimes asked and now I have a new answer. I bead! This great new hobby has come to me via my best friend, who learned it in Arizona a couple of years ago when she was snowbirding and I was back here snow shoveling. You can’t tell from the picture above just how small Delica beads are but, believe me, they’re tiny! When I first saw them I loved the products but figured I’d never have the patience to make my own. Surprise! I tried, I conquered, and I’m hooked. So far I’ve made 6 bracelets, one necklace and two pair of earrings. The other bracelet in the picture is made with larger beads, elastic thread and tiny pink safety pins. Very cool and a lot of fun.
Beading has changed my life in several ways: I eat less as I’m preoccupied with my beading while watching (well, listening to) television. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when my chosen colours come out looking more beautiful than I had hoped. I have fun jewelry to match my outfits. I spend quality time with friends at our beading club. And I have a whole new chapter for my 30-year friendship with my best friend. We go to bead stores. We shop online. We have mastered E-Bay and PayPal. And we both love to create these wonderful beauties.
Now you know why I call myself Beader Girl!