An Update, New Feature and Echo Creative Club

Hey there my amazing and oh so patient blog friends.  I know I have been absent and quiet the past few months but in a nutshell here is why...

I was honored to make some gorgeous pieces for my friends that were vending at Beadfest this year.

My amazing and sweet daughter worked an internship, was hired and had to moved out. This all happening within a 4 day time frame and then a week of  shopping to make sure she has all she needs.

We went to Beadfest in August where frankly my world got a bit more complicated in a very good way!!!!

My computer got sick and I was without it for 3 weeks!  I just got all the things loaded last night so that I could upload pictures.  I am still working getting the camera to talk it but that should be resolved tonight.

So with that said I can not which of gorgeous pieces I am working with but hopefully it will be completed by the 25th as planned!

Now I want to tell you about my plans for my blog posts.  First I will tell you that I am going to be focusing more here because frankly I miss my blog.  Being without my computer and not being able to really interact on FB was VERY enlightening!  So I have decided to go back to pattern reviews as well as an artist spotlight.  My Spotlight will focus on what I know.  Whether it is a shop I have had dealings with, art components that I have had the pleasure of using or a designer I love and this will be all my opinions and thoughts and I will not be contacting the artist before hand.

So that is what is up with me!

What is up with you?

My Hero

I need to tell you all about someone who holds my utmost respect, admiration, awe and yes my heart.  There have been many challenges over the years.  Embarrassments that would have made anyone crawl into a hole but not her.  Violence that she has had to endure for being a good person and again she faced it head on.  This week has once again tested her metal and she has once again shown me a strength that is beyond compare.  I am not saying that the effects haven't left her feeling alone, scared, hurt and just plain tired.  No she has broken down and even let the fear overwhelm her at times but then this strength comes from deep within her fibers and a light shines through her.  She somehow picks herself up and faces the challenge head on.  No not without fear but with determination that she will not let those who wish to control or condemn her for her beliefs win.  For that I am....well honestly words can not express how lucky I am that she came into my life.  Those of you close to me know that this has been a horrible week and a half for her and have sent you her love and for that she and I are truly blessed.  For those of you who don't know yet who I am referring to I am telling you right now and for all the world to know.....

MY DAUGHTER IS MY HERO!

It has been very hard at this stage in her life that although we can be there to help her through it and support her decisions we ultimately can not fix the situation.  As a parent that is the worst feeling but we have made contact and insured that those who can fix the issue she is facing right now realize the seriousness and urgency it requires to fix and protect her.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Tounge Tied Tuesday

Fun at Watkins Glen International Raceway.

Tailgate Tickets are Awesome!

Near the track for all the action IF you are watching the right way!

My awesome kids (picture edited by Dawn awesomely except for that women in the back!)

This was a great friendship and they enjoyed every minute of it!

I am a Dale Jr. fan so this is the bracelet made for the race.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Self-taught? Nope

First before I get to the actual subject of this post I am having a brag moment and posting a picture of Shelby at prom.  Yes Lori, I am sorry I hadn't posted it yet. (Oh by the way you need to check out all the gorgeousness that Lori @ Out of the flames has been making lately...YUM) He is my sweet girl looking so grown up.

Ain't she just the BOMB!  She is also such a great friend to have.  I am so lucky to have her and my sweet Derek.

Oh one more thing I have to thank you all so much for the wonderful words on my "Dialed Up" Artbeads bracelet.  I had been in a funk mentally (not about the challenge) and the kindness you all showed gave me a much needed boost (actually it kicked my butt right out of it) for that I say you are all so treasured to me!  HUGS!

Okay now on to the subject at hand.  I have been hearing a lot about copyright infringement and  blatant copying of others work.  Yes we all know this is a touchy subject and has more than once made me want to stop beading.  I am not one to get into all the ins and outs of the legal yuck it involves and I have finally found a way to make my feelings known and not let it get me crazy anymore.  I am not a self taught beader.  Nope I am Proudly a pattern taught beader and I have recently been able to not only purchase patterns from some outstanding beady goddesses I have also been blessed with 2 offers to review (Oh I can't wait to tell you all about them!)  Yes when I first started beading and purchased our favorite magazines I thought I was smart enough to check out what was on the web that I could make for myself.  Yes I know that is a key to this I am not a seller so to try to recreate for myself is supposed to be okay.  Well I have to say I am one of those who would end up feeling guilty and I have stumbled upon something no one else has touched on this subject.  Each pattern and process IS unique.  You may think you know from a picture how it goes together but guess what?  You would be wrong.  Yes it may be herringbone but are there tips and tricks that the designer has to offer that you don't know?  Yes.  So to make this as short as possible I am telling any newbies out there as well as those who may think they know how a pattern works.  Stop right now.  Purchase the pattern.  Yes I know there is expense involved that you may or may not have but you won't regret purchasing a glimpse into a designers mind.  I PROMISE!

I was going to try and link as many glorious designers that I could but that will have to wait for another time.  I may even put a thingy on my page to link you to my favorites but again that will have to wait.  I hope you all don't mind my 2 cents on this subject.  

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Babbling, announcement and pairings...oh my

Okay first I need to tell you all that once again my computer woes have struck.  We gave Shelby a new laptop for Christmas so I had her old one.  Well........it died.  Yep dead with no recovery in site.  I didn't loose much for me because hey all my pics are here in blog land but I am back to using the persnickety desktop that has a tendency to limit my access or ability to comment on blogs (especially in the Hive if my Hive friends are still here after not hearing from me for so long) also this computer has a habit of not sending e-mails even though I think they have been sent ( I have been e-mailing you Nicole and Lori but I don't think you are getting them)  I am pretty sure that my hubby is thinking of getting me a net book sometime but I know we don't have the cash for that right now.

I have also been busy as Shelby's Senior year is ramping up and we have had 3 field trips with Derek's class this month.  I am on a Parent committee to give the senior class a pre graduation night bash (you know safe, fun and drug free) and now I have to bring back my telemarketing skills to cold call local companies to see if we can get donations.  This will keep me busy while Derek is at school for the next couple of weeks.

Ok so here is my little announcement.  I have signed up for a few PIF's and I do love and look forward to everything but I wanted to change my version up a bit.  I have been so lucky since I joined this blog world of beaders and friends that I want to pass that along to others but I need your help to do so.  I have been thinking of not only creating something handmade for people but also "stashing it forward" to a few others.  I have other craft supplies that I haven't touched since I was bit by the beady bug and I know some crafters that will put these to good use.  What I am asking you to do first is if I contact you for your address that means I want to send you something and I need nothing in return it is because you have welcomed me and befriended me when I needed it most.  Second I am asking you to pay it forward yet again in any way you can.  Send a card to someone, leave an inspiring comment, give a free coffee, send one of your creations to someone you know covets them, give advice on a new technique they are trying.  I have been on the receiving end of all of this and I cherish each one of you for that reason.  You are not obligated to do it but I know you will because you have done it for me.  No sign up necessary and no time limit is put on this, this is the way I wanted to follow through with my part of PIF.  

Ok so you have read this far and I know how busy we all are so here are my pairing pics I promised.

I will tell you more about them another time!

Hugs and Blessings My Friends!

KK

The First One!!

Derek lost his first tooth!  Oh they grow up way too quick.  He wanted to make sure you all could see it.  And thanks you for being mommys friends.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Everyday Celebrations and Surprises

Oh My I have soooo much to tell you about today I don't where to begin!  

Everyday Celebrations

My idea for this post was to tell you about my daily routine and how lucky I am to have it.  I wake up every morning feeling like I didn't get enough sleep to see my sweet Shelby off to school (ok sometimes if Derek has been up in the night I don't get this opportunity) sometimes she is in a great mood and it is a smooth start to the morning but sometimes......well she is 17!  I realize that I don't have a lot of morning with her left and know that this part of our relationship will no longer exist and I am happy and saddened by this.  I look forward to seeing her find her place in this world but I will so miss where we are now.  She even has her own blog and I so wish all of you to check it out!  Little Bizarre Things is hers and she is so trying to find her place in the blog world too!

The next part of my morning is hearing Derek wake up with the sweetest "Good Morning Mommy" voice and a hug.  After Shelby is off to school there is a brief cuddle time and then breakfast.  We see Daddy off to work and the rest of the morning routine begins...making beds, picking up all the stuff left behind the night before, shower, watching a "show" with what ever toys he gets out for it, lunch, off to school, finish housework, pick him and sometimes Shelby up from school, hear about their days, prepare dinner, Hubby home, etc.....  As we know this is the same for all of us in some manner but really how lucky are we!  We are warm, safe and loved.

Surprises

Then there are the surprises that come during those days.  You know the unexpected things that happen.  On Friday I participated in Erin's "Challenge of Color" Blog Hop and the response that I got was overwhelming!  I not only had a great time with my part I was also able to see so many other wonderful creations and meet some great artists in fact I even won a giveaway!  You should really check out Jeannie's Blog!  Here is the necklace and beads she made for the challenge that I will be getting (how cool is that?) 

And she has some great ornament ideas as well as more giveaways for the holiday season!  Thanks Jeannie I can't wait to get my gifts!

Speaking of gifts LOOK LOOK LOOK what came in the mail on Saturday!

Barbara Bechtel at Second Surf you all know her beautiful creations sent me these.  She calls the black one an "ugly owl" but I think he is the cutest owl and I am so looking forward to giving him and his "perfect" friend a home!  Thanks so much Barbara I love them!

OK I know this is a long post already but I have to share one more of the most unexpected surprises that literally made gasp and almost forget to start breathing again!  I WAS FEATURED!  I know isn't that amazing?  Mortira at Inspirational Beading featured MY little blog!  I have been following her and I will have to tell you that she offers great inspirations and tutorials for anyone looking to start beading.  She even just finished a challenge to make 30 necklaces in 30 days and to be honest I have no idea how she was able to do it!  If you click the link you can see what she said!  I am still blown away!  Thank you so much for this gift, Mortira I will cherish this memory!

More to come later this week!

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Happy Veterans Day! For Beth, Lori and Elisabeth!

UPDATE BELOW
To my sweet blog Veteran's and all those men and women who have offered their lives to protect our country I offered my deepest heartfelt gratitude and thanks! You are the ones I admire the most for your love of this country and desire to protect us all.  I am the granddaughter of a WWII veteran and lucky enough to have had the opportunity to know him and love him for many years.  My sweet Gramps passed away earlier this year and I was unable to attend his funeral but over the years on Veteran's Day and Memorial Days I called him to thank him and let him know how much I love him.  Now that he is no longer here I am passing that love and respect to you my sweet blogger friends.  I know of three of you that have served our country and that I have had the pleasure to connect with you so I ask that any of you who read this today please go and wish these wonderful ladies a glorious day and thank them for their service!

Beth @ EB Bead and Metalworks

Lori @ Pretty Things

Elisabeth @ Beads for Busy Gals

Thank you again ladies for your service and giving me the opportunity to get to know you!

Hugs and Blessings

KK 

UPDATE: Here are others who have let me know that they have also served our country proudly and if I have the pleasure of finding more I will link them!

Sharon@CraftRoomTransformation

Kallen@The Secret Life of the American Working Witch 

Has it really been that long? and PSST another great giveaway

I can't believe that I haven't posted in a week!  Actually I can cuz we have been so busy here I haven't been able to catch up on what my blogger friends have been up to (I'll be there soon I promise!).

First..... I promised I would post this great giveaway Amy is doing over at CopperDiem.  She won some really cool Halloween beads and is now paying it forward with some added extras!  How Sweet is She!  Please check her blog out!

Second... OMG How cool is this!  I won the comment contest over a Beadwright!  Nicole has been such a good friend and supporter and now she is sending me more gifts!  You all know I will post these treasures as soon as I get them!  Nicole you have no idea what you mean to me and I treasure your friendship beyond words!

Third.....YEAH!! After 5 tries on making a bracelet that was inspired by my Mystic vacation I finally found what I was looking for in a Cellini Spiral!  I so love this pairing!   The drops make it feel like butter on my wrist!  I also love the color but ya know it is not easy to match this aqua!  I bought the drops in Mystic and found the 11/0s at the bead show.  The 8/0s were left over from another project and I used 15/0s to keep is on the small side!  The shirt I had originally thought of using is too green so I found this one on the clearance rack (YIPPEE) to go with it!

Oh and as I snapped the picture Smallus Handus appeared in the photo.  (See Belinda it happens here too ok and he does like to play with beads but I usually get them back!)

Well Shelby starts her SENIOR YEAR tomorrow!  I cannot believe how the time does fly.  She also had her first job interview yesterday!  We did all the school shopping this past week as Michael took 6 days off.  Derek starts Pre-K next week so there is a little break between both of them being gone to school.  I may use that time for making bracelets (or more likely cleaning) we'll see.  I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Hugs

Kristen

Oh Yeah My silly feet got a pedicure!  No pic though sorry!

F is for.......

Fantastic Blogger Friends

Thank you all so much for your comments on my anniversary.  Finding all of you while stumbling through this bloggy world is a gift I hope to treasure for many years to come!

Fabulishous phone call

I was also lucky enough to talk to Juls voice to voice and it was like having a conversation with an old friend.  How cool it that?  She (well you all know this already) is a wonderful person and someone I am blessed to call friend.  And I will say that if I didn't know how busy she is I would talk to her everyday!  Thanks soooooo much Juls!

Flowering Family

(OK this one may be stretching the "F" theme but you try to think of fun and funky f words for this one!)
If the day wasn't great enough, My aunt Lisa and her daughters Jenelle and Jessica came with her from up north for the day and Guess What?  Jenelle is going to have a BABY!!!!  I can't believe my sweet Jenelle is going to be a MOM!  Lisa and I are more like sisters because we are only 6 years apart so her girls seem more like my nieces than cousins.  I am so happy for her!  She will make a great Mom!  Then Shelby and I went shopping with them before they left to go back up north! Ya know what?  Yep I got a new t shirt!  I know how surprising that news is to all of you! ;) 

F#*%@# Failure

(Please hold your laughter until the end so that you may be clear eyed to get the picture (and one of them is blurry enough without the tears)
OK so I thought I would try my hand at beading around a cab.  Well.....first I did not choose a symmetrical piece, then I chose cheap seed beads that were not uniform at all and last I kept going thinking that it might get better as I went along.  GUESS WHAT........WRONG all the way around.  

What in the world was I thinking?????  Lots of Lessons Learned on this one!!!!!

Fishing for finds

(Yeah Yeah I am still trying to stay with the theme so sue me)  
(Oh I have nothing so suing me won't get you anything but a headache from all my laughing)
;)
So I my have a possible first sale of a piece of jewelry and I needed to go bead shopping.  (Humf.. how did that happen as I am supposed to be on a bead buying freeze.)  Well Aunt Lisa to the rescue I got a little bead money (ain't she great!) so here are the pics of what I picked up.  The first is some 8/0's I needed and bead caps I may use and farfalle beads that I had to have!  The second is the Merlot bracelet (that's the piece I am selling with those colors the buyer chose)
She wanted gold inside instead of silver grey so let me know if you think this will work.

Finally 
(You know I had to use it)
:0
Hugs and Love to all of you!!!

Kristen

This time I have a little something

Well I am back. (actually we got back on Friday but unpacking and laundry have gotten in the way) We had a wonderful time in Mystic, CT and it is official Michael and I have been happily married for 20 YEARS! Here's a pic of the happy and hot couple(sweaty I mean, geez get your head out of the gutter would you) It was very muggy and hot waiting for the train but the ride was so nice!

I will have to say I really don't feel any different than that girl who said 'I Do" (ok other than the aches and pains of age) and I am so happy that he also feels the same. I am so lucky and I wish this for all my friends it makes the roller coaster of like a lot easier to ride with a partner! ANYWAY This was taken on a steamboat ride on the Connecticut River. We took a steam train ride to the riverboat then back to the train. My sweet hubby upgraded us to the parlor car so we had the comfiest ride on the train! Here are a few more pics of the journey.

This is Gillette Castle and it has a cool story. While traveling through Europe Mr. Gillette liked the look of old ruined castles so when he came back he had one built to resemble them. Shelby and I love castles!

This is an opera house built to try and bring culture to the area but it also houses a general store, post office and I'm sorry I forget what else. I thought it looked so pretty right on the water!

And this is Derek on the steam train! He loved it! I would recommend this trip to anyone who goes there it was so well worth the money and it is the only one in the whole country!

And.....Wait for it.......

I GOT MY SILLY FEET IN THE OCEAN!!!!!!!!

This was at Ocean Beach Park. I was a nice beach and had a great view of the New London Ledge lighthouse. ( this is not a pic I took because it was overcast and I couldn't get a good pic)

And here is everyone else at the beach! Shelby did get a sunburn and a seagull stole part of her sandwich but overall I was so happy to feel, hear and smell the ocean waters!

This was such a great vacation and we all think we should definitely go again! In fact we may go in the fall if we can manage it!

On the beady front I was hoping to have a picture of a finished pairing that was Mystic inspired but it is just not turning out right so it is back to the beginning.  Don't you just hate when your mind and the beads won't cooperate!

Hugs to all

Kristen

Weekend Turnaround!

As you already know I won the gorgeous Lori Anderson pendent this weekend and it is not only awesome because I rarely win anything I was also sick most of the weekend. A holiday weekend at that!  I am feeling much better but summer colds are the worst!  We did not get to enjoy our annual family get together at "Nana's house by the Water" (my mother and father in-laws) in Port Bay where we enjoy water balloon fights, good food, the 'Ring of Fire' (everyone along the bay puts out flares around the same time so it looks like a ring of fire)and fireworks.  We didn't want to get anyone else sick especially since they are leaving for Alaska tomorrow.  No way was I going to ruin Mom's trip of a lifetime! Anyway after winning the pendent and beginning to feel better we go Derek's new slip and slide out and as you can see he had a blast!

We also went to Honeoye Lake (one of the Finger Lakes here in NY) so we could see their fireworks and ring of fire. Here is my favorite views on this lake.

This is a view of the Bristol Hills

Our Babes enjoying the ride!

A beautiful sunset!

And My Little Ham!

I have been beading but I didn't want to show unfinished work because it is my first mixed media (don't get too excited remember I am still sort of a newbie) but I do think I really like the new stitch I learned because I have 3 other (actually 4 no wait 5) designs to pull out of my....ummmm oh right head that's it. I hope that won't bore anyone.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Always Believe

Kristen

PS On a very sad note With a heavy heart I am sending Nicole @ Beadwright all my love and sympathy as her brother passed on Sunday.  Please send her all your good thoughts during this hard time.

A cause very close to my heart!

All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.
Even if it's only to one more person...
In memory of anyone you know who has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it.
A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle....

I don't mean to get too sentimental or mushy but having been touched by cancer too many times when I received this in an e-mail I had to post it!  In September I will celebrate 2 years free from this.  I light these candles for Aunt Peggy, Gram, Mom, Uncle Donny, and Bizzy.  I also light it for My Father in Law and Me that we stay free from this!

Always Believe,
Kristen

He's 5 and I can't believe it!

Here's another picture from Father's Day that I just had to post. 

He had so much fun helping Daddy with his car he had to check out his 4 wheeler!

Well yesterday was day 2 of Birthday fun for Derek!  On Saturday we had the family picnic at Seneca State Park where they have a spray park (the pictures are on my sweet hubby's phone) he loves the spray park, ok so what kid doesn't.  Our picnic was rushed (and I do mean rushed) because we were watching a thunderstorm come across the lake as we were eating.  So before cupcakes we were in a torrential downpour! (I did save the cupcakes and managed to stay drier than most because I threw the table cloth over me to "protect the food"..smart huh?)  The storm did pass and we were able to tail gate the rest of the party.

Yesterday was pretty tame as his party with friends is on this coming Sunday.  Shelby gave him her gift (more Monster Jam Stuff) and a few family friends came to visit.  Then it was time to play in the garden and water and that's where the rest of the fun happened.  Shelby, Derek and I had a watering hose fight.  (I think Shelby won because I wasn't able to take a picture of my newest pairing as my shirt was SOAKED!)

All and all it was a great day and another one I will keep in the memory closet!

Here is a picture of my first (ok second I love radishes) radish harvest of the season.

Always Believe

Kristen

Fathers Day!

My husband couldn't be any happier!

Getting our silly feet on!

Derek thinks bare feet is cool so he says that "we are wearing our silly feet!"

I was so chillin on our first boat ride of the season and it was a gorgeous night for it!  The lake was not rough at all and we checked out the replicas of the Nina and Pinta that were docked at the Port of Rochester.  We even went to dinner by boat!  I was a fabulous family night!  

Another funny thing that happened is that I saw a Lighthouse that I have never seen before. I have lived in the area all my life and never saw it! I love lighthouses and this one was hidden from me for some reason. The picture isn't the best (cuz it was taken with my cell phone on a moving boat) but I had to post it anyway.

I did get into the veggie garden and thinned out some stuff on Saturday and my Michael's Father's Day gift showed up early (a pretty nice rope hammock from NC) so he put in posts for it. It was very humid and nasty so I came in and attempted to finish my Nancy Cain bracelet. I must have restarted this 4 times before I finally got it to work (I guess I blew both the 3 hour and $12 description for this one) anyway it was also my first time twisting wire so don't look too close. I did finish it yesterday and even though I used a drop mix (called Chardonnay) I think it looks pretty good. So here is my newest pairing.

Always Believe,
Kristen

Do you like the new look?

I didn't have anything to post so I played with the new templates.  Hope you like the new look.  My sweet hubby came home early today and we are all going out in the boat.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend.  The weather here promises to be good so its family time and tending to the gardens (and of course some beading ;) ) that is on our to do list.  And once again I thank all of you for reading and encouraging me in My Bead Journey.

Always Believe
Kristen

Last day of school and the pizza is ordered....online

Yes I ordered pizza online.  This still amazes me.   Our advances in technology Humm .... they freak me out sometimes!  Oh well today is the official end of the school year for both Derek and Shelby however if you have read before it is vastly different for each of them.  Shelby has to go back for tests only next week and then she will be a senior, A SENIOR! Where the time went I have no idea.  She has grown soooooooo fast!  Then there is Derek who celebrated his "pretend" birthday at pre school today and he was sad because he will miss his teacher.  Sometimes its so strange but that is my world today!

Always Believe

Kristen

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mom's day to all of my 4 followers (and anyone else who joins) Thats right I said 4 followers I can't believe it!
First I would like to thank Aryd'ell (what an awesome name and person) at Gypsy Ramblings for following and for all the comments (lol) she offered great inspiration to me! Second I would like to thank Morwin at Another Country Beadworks for joining in she has great eye candy on her site too!

Ok so wait for it.....

This is my Shelby at Prom. I have no words.

And.....

I may have learned to take a better picture of my pairings! Let me know if you like it. This is a pattern I downloaded from www.beadinfinitum.com and I really do like this bangle. Now I going to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy fireline because 2 more bracelets broke this weekend.

Oh, Oh, Oh I forgot the best gifts I got this year. First Shelby is making me a copper wire bracelet in Art and Derek planted flowers in an old shoe in pre-school, then they all (my sweet hubby included) gave me a certificate for a bead class and kit! My first offical lesson!

Always Believe
Kristen

Simple Pairings and the Cutest Little Man

This is a pattern I found on line at http://www.jdjewellery.co.uk I thought it worked perfectly with this shirt. I am starting to wonder though if I can really say that I am good at this or if I am just a good pattern reader.


This one is from a kit I saw on line but economic times being what they are I tried to figure it out my self with beads I had on hand.
While I attempted to take pictures of jewelry I heard "take my picture" so of course I had to!

Isn't he adorable!