As I Crawl Around...

...on my knees, trying to pick up the 4mm Crystal Firepolish glass beads out of my rug that I dropped while trying to put them in their cute little container, I am struck with an idea.

I should make a bracelet called The Carpet Bracelet. It will be a freeform piece featuring all beads I manage to pick out of my rug.

Craft Show Dec. 7 & New Listing

Pictured is one my latest works, now available in our Etsy Shop. It's a bracelet inspired by the Leather Pride Flag. I'd never heard of this flag, but someone looking at my gay rainbow bracelet suggested it. We found pictures of it online and I had to give it a go. I think it came out very true to the actual flag. I'm not going to go into details about what the flag represents (partly because I'm not sure I'm clear on it.) I will say that while it's not for everybody, it sure is for somebody.

We are only doing one show this holiday season. It's this Sunday, Dec. 7 9AM-3PM at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin...Las Vegas NV (Town Center, 1 block north of Desert Inn. 10700 Havenwood Lane.) Given that our only show is at a Synagogue it's just as well I never got to my Christmas specific designs. Next year I'll have to plan earlier for that. I have no excuses for my lack of preparation, I'm pretty sure this season comes around the same time every year.

Hope all you Americans had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was fortunate in that it fell on my day off and nobody cooks a turkey like my mommy!!

Safe Haven For Donkeys In The Holy Land (SHADH)

I had to make this bracelet, a Barbara Ellis design, in honour of a very worthy charity. This is information from the SHADH website:

Donkeys have been used as beasts of burden in Israel for the past 5000 years. They can be bought there for as little as 100 shekels - that's about £15 - and because they are so inexpensive, very little value is attached to their well being. Absolutely no veterinary care is given to sick or injured donkeys, since in most cases it would be cheaper to buy a new animal. For this reason when they are sick, injured, too old or surplus to requirements they are turned out and left to fend for themselves - quite often tied to a post without food or water and left to die. Many stray donkeys suffer from direct abuse and torture.

A group of children found a stray donkey and for fun, they doused him with petrol and set fire to him. Another group of teenagers decided they could make use of a stray donkey for their summer holidays. Later the same day, they either got bored or decided they had nowhere to keep the donkey so they killed him by hammering nails into his head. Other donkeys are luckier, they are taken to landfill sites and left out like rubbish.

Founded by Miss Lucy Fensom, Safe Haven For Donkeys In The Holy Land (SHADH) is a UK-registered charity of dedicated people who are devoted to achieving a common goal; to provide help for the donkeys of Israel, to improve their status and promote their welfare through education.

Based at Moshav Gan Yoshiyya, near the towns of Netanya and Hadera in Israel ( Click Here to see map of area ), SHADH offers a new concept in the protection and welfare of donkeys and mules in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, with a structure managed on the strength of charity registration in the UK, and registered in Israel as a foreign charity. This Safe Haven for donkeys relies entirely on donations to continue this work.

IF

First day of my weekend, stranded on the island of seed beads. I look out, I see nothing. How long can I go on?

My only form of sustenance, my beads and the Julie Ann Smith design, Scrappy Hearts. I can do this odd Odd Count. I can I can. No, I can’t. I won’t! Too much stress..must...rest...
I give up. Not worth the stress, an even count with a row of brick stitch looks just the same so why put myself through this?

Out damn seed beads. Have to start again. Okay, going fine now going fine going...not so fine. How did those amythest beads get mixed into the green beads? Out again. Well as long as I’m undoing I must be honest with myself. These colour combinations are yucky. I have to question my colour combining abilities. Perhaps Scrappy Hearts and I should take opposite spots on this island, live our days out alone. I’ve already given up on Odd Count, can I give up on Scrappy Hearts too and still be able to R E S P E C T myself? I will try one more time. You will not beat me Scrappy! (Sure is a lot of punctuation on this island.)

Fewer colours. Perhaps that is the secret to salvation. If Scrappy makes it out of this alive I will post a picture. IF.

(Pictured above, Spooky Kitties Bracelet. Design by Julie Ann Smith.)

Catching Up

Finally made my first Julie Ann Smith designed bracelet. Took a long time and was not easy to do but I think it was worth it. I just love her colourful fun designs. I have 3 more to try. Minor adjustments must be made as the patterns are in odd count Peyote and I prefer to do even count (want to know why...inquire within.)

Anthony and I went to see the tiger cubs again at The Secret Garden. They are out of the nursery and have a lovely area of the garden. We were lucky to catch all 5 of them out there. They were getting their bottles when we arrived. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think there is anything cuter than a tiger cub.

I guess the jury is still out on the success of the e-poker tables at the Excalibur. I have not gone over there yet, I get most of my info on the message board at twoplustwo. We did go to opening night of the Eastside Cannery. First new casino in that area in ten years I believe. They did a very nice job, I wish it much success. The poker room is in a premium location, right by the front door. Cannery North, take notes. We didn't play because the players cards from the old Cannery didn't work there and the line was too long for new cards.

There is hope that the temperatures will drop out of the hundreds soon. Not soon enough for me.

Music or No Music, That is the Question

I'm curious what everyone thinks on the issue of music on blogs and sites. Today I was listening to some nice music on my computer (right now, Trailors For Sale or Rent) when I went to visit a blog. Suddenly my music was mixed in with some classic music. Needless to say, it did not mix well. Sometimes when I'm online, I also have the TV on. I can't hear the Golden Girls gems when I'm blasted with someone's music that is often not to my taste.

I guess you know where I stand on this issue. Now I like music as much as the next guy, without my music there is no way I could do 30 minutes on the elliptical or treadmill. But I just want to listen to one thing at a time, and when I'm in my home I should be able to choose it. I could turn off my speakers and in fact I rarely have them on but sometimes I'm listening to music or watching something on You Tube or my favourite, Desperate Housewives.

I do agree, for those fun montages and slide shows, music helps the whole affect. But if I'm trying to read your blog, music only serves to clutter my already cluttered mind. And if I'm shopping, well, same thing.

I believe we are too constantly bombarded by forced music/noise...elevators, casinos, inconsiderate people... Please, let me have some peace in my own home.

Back to our regularly scheduled jewelry stuff. I'm thinking chokers and anklets. Of course in peyote. Chokers will not be too difficult, in fact I sold one recently that was just a plain peyote band in silver lined crystal with a GORGEOUS Swarovski button closure that could be worn in the front or back. Oops forgot to take a picture. I've never worn chokers(aptly named) or anklets so I gotta get my thinkin' cap on. Where did I put it?

Las Vegas Bead Society (LVBS)

"The Las Vegas Bead Society was established to promote, support and encourage interest, education and involvement in beads and beadwork. We encourage members to share their knowledge and welcome new members to join."

This is from the Las Vegas Bead Society's webpage. I have been a member since February and have found it to be a wonderful group of people.

Maybe it's a beading thing, but in general beaders are a wonderful group of people. I have found this to be true on my beading email lists, my Etsy team (Esmarts) and with the LVBS. Even if I ever got over my beading obsession, I don't think I could leave the craft because I'd miss the supportive, generous, friendly people it attracts.

Now we've started the LVBS Yahoo Group, for members and non-members of the Las Vegas Bead Society. If you are a beader in the Las Vegas area, please join us at Yahoo.