Happy New Year

First I want to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Lets all hope it is better then last year.....Peace.....

It's 2 in the afternoon, on the Eve of the New Year. Not sure if my guests are still coming for dinner, because we in NY, have just got a couple of inches of snow. Boo. I was really looking forward to it. I'm not calling anyone because hope springs eternal. I figure if I don't hear anything they are still coming...You know the saying "No News is Good News"...

Anyway, I decided to celebrate the New Year by finishing up my little oriental wall hanging that I started last month. At first, I tried doing a piping around the edge. I did not do a very good job. I should have photograph it, but I was anxious to fix it. I put a regular 1/4" binding. Looks much better.
Here is the photo. I haven't decided what to call it. And I have to write an artist statement. Two of the hardest things for me.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Baking the holiday goodies

Strufoli also known as honey balls

Almond Biscotti
Peppermint Bark
It will be back to Weight Watchers come the new year.....

Christmas Tree Shopping Dec. 6th

Every year we go shopping for the perfect tree. This year, when we got to the tree farm, we saw that they had a whole section of trees that were trim up from the bottom. Which at first seem odd. But my husband and I decided to walk around to see what was available. You know, you really get a very good view of all the trees this way. It's a pretty good size. Believe it or not, it's 7' tall
The best part is that he doesn't have to lay on the cold ground to cut it down.

Almost finished.

Here is a little quilt that I'm working on. Not very big. Just a 11 1/4 " square. Tried to make it 12" but It just didn't look right. Anyway, I'm a member of SAQA and some of us meet at the Country Quilter once a month. This is a project for that group. We will be having a gallery showing in March at the Mahopac Library. And for once I'm not waiting for the last minute to put something together. Yay, I'm early. All it needs is a backing. I haven't decided whether to put a binding or to do a pillow case backing. Suggestions welcomed. It is a free motion design on hand dyed fabric. The border is dupioni silk. I think it has a definite Oriental favor to it. Another thought. Should I trim it down a little more?

The day after

Hello, are all of you who have celebrated thanksgiving sufficiently stuffed. I have so much left over its ridiculous. From now on I'm not listening to anyone. I've decided to go by my own instincts. Less is more.....

Anyway, I finally finished a quilt that I started in 2005. It was started in a retreat with Gabrielle Swain. I think, over all it's nice. But Technically not my best. I don't plan on entering it in any shows. But here is a picture.

I received a lot a nice comments. It's so interesting to see which pieces of jewelry is a favorite for some of you. No two were the same. But the fact that you all looked and took the time to respond is so appreciated. I love what I do. And when I make piece of jewelry I want it to come from the heart. Some of the pieces are my originals and some are from patterns. But with my choice of colors. My goal is to make each piece unique. When I wear a necklace or a bracelet, I want someone to say "Oh, where did you get that" I definitely don't want it to look like I got it at Macy's. Or some other dept. store. Am I being snobbish? I don't think so. At least I hope not. It's that I don't see the challenge, if I can go to the store and buy it.

More pictures

Here are some more pictures. Wish I was a better photographer. Either that, or the money to paid a professional. My prices range from $15. - $250.

New Work

I know I haven't been posting all month. But that's because I have been working hard to get new work done for my guilds' boutique. Which will be Nov. 18th. So, my usual dilemma is, do I work or do I post. And since I like to have pictures to go along with my posts, It kind of slows me down. Anyways, I have lots of pictures of what I will be selling. Please feel free to contact me for prices. Absolutely no obligation. So here goes. Comments appreciated.....Oh, and if you click on a picture you will get a closeup.













More to come. Also if there is something you are interested in my slide show, by all means contact me.....

Swarovski Jet necklace

Just finished this necklace. Which I think came out really nice. Simple and elegant. And which I will be able to sell at a affordable price. I have 2 more necklaces in the works. One which I hope I can finish today and the other which I have the components done but I need end caps to give it a clean finish. Those I will get this weekend at the Whole bead show or the Big Apple show in Manhattan. Hopefully I can get to both of them. Just wish the locations were closer together.

Carolina's Quilt.

Well I finally finished Carolina's quilt. I started it in May at a quilt retreat with friends. But after getting the top done I had to put it aside to concentrate on my beading for competition. And then of course the necklace for the gala. When I got back to the quilt I had some trouble with my new Janome 1600. The thread kept breaking and you know how that can drive one crazy. So I wound up using my Pfaff. Now machine quilting is really not my thing. I'm really a hand quilter. So it's not the greatest quilting. I have several tucks in the back. I really didn't want to take it all out. So I was pretty torn between picking it all out or just leaving it alone. After all it's just a baby quilt. Leaving it alone won out. I showed it to the rest of my family, and nobody looked on the back. They all thought I was terrific. And who am I to disillusion them.....grin :-)

Passion for Beads Gala Washington DC

Where to begin. As I posted before, I had enter 2 Necklaces to be Juried into the Bead Museum of Washington. They were both excepted which was very exciting as it was my first time entering into a bead competition. Last Saturday night was the big gala in DC and I was able to go. Here are the pics of my 2 entries. This is Autumn Bliss A freeform necklace.

This necklace is called Carnevale. Named for the Venetian Carnevale which I was able to be at last January.
The colors just reminded be of all the beautiful costumes. This one was in the Swarovski category. And I am thrilled to announce it took a 1st place ribbon. I wish the pictures were better . I was told that Jewelry is one of the hardest things to photograph. I also received a very nice gift from Swarovski . They had sent a rep. and she presented the winners in that category with a small shopping bag filled with crystal beads and pearls.
The weekend started out on Saturday morning. We left for DC around 9am. Stopping once in Delaware for gas and extra. It was a nice drive and we had no trouble finding the Hotel. The Marriott Courtyard. Just across the street from the National Portrait Gallery, 2 blocks from the Bead Museum and another couple of blocks to the Naval Memorial Heritage center. Where are the festivities where to take place. It took about 5 hrs. Anyways at 4:00 we left for the Bead Museum deck out in our finery. I wore a black beaded blouse and a chiffon pants. And of course heels. And I will tell you right now, I never learn my lesson. I can't wear 3" heels any more. It's just I like feeling tall. I also feel thinner when I look taller. Dum hah! Well we get to the Museum and as a walk in, don't I twist my ankle. But everyone was very nice and got me a ice pack and a chair. Thanks goodness it wasn't really bad.and I was able to walk on it after awhile.

After some refreshments we all went over to the Heritage Center. I met some wonderful and talented people.
Here I am standing with 2 of (Ihope new friends). Next to me is Sharon Wright Fiber artist. She won 1st place ribbon in the Fiber & Textile category. Sitting is Laura Cater-Woods Fiber artist and one of the Judges for this event. I also had the pleasure of meeting up with Met Innmon
again. I had taken a class with her in Poughkeepsie at I Dream of Beading. Her work is fantastic. I just couldn't stop myself from staring at her necklace. She won 1st place in the seed bead category and a ribbon for Best use of Color.
Here is a closeup of the necklace that I'm wearing.














I was going to make earring to go with the necklace. But decided to do the barrettes instead.















Then last but not least a bracelet. I really loved the bracelet. So I was pretty well decked out.

Tuesday was my Grandson Joseph's 1st day at preschool. I just couldn't resist posting this adorable picture of him and his cousin Michaela.

I'm still working on the necklace for the Gala. It's become 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Very slow going. So I'm off to the bead shop to be inspired with beads that I don't have right now in my stash.

Well, after spending the weekend bouncing off the walls with excitement over the bead show in Washington DC. I'm finally coming down to earth and working on a new piece. A necklace to wear to the Gala. Spent all day yesterday working on it. Approx. 15 hrs so far. And so far I'm more then pleased. I think it has a definite Victoria look to it. I also think it needs a name. But will think of that later.The center stone is a vintage Swarovski crystal that shows darker in the picture then it is in person. I still have a lot of work ahead . I need to do the chain part and the toggle and loop. I also thought I would put some fringe on the bottom. I'm trying to be over the top.....LOL

Today is turning into a really good day. On Aug 10th I entered 2 of my necklaces to be considered for a exhibit at the Bead Museum Washington DC. The competition is being sponsored by the Bead Society of DC. Sept 3rd was to be the day they were to notified everyone and so I have been on pins and needles for the last couple of days. Thinking, that since I didn't hear anything, that I didn't get in. I just needn't to put myself out of my misery.....lol....So I e-mailed the contact person. I asked if only the people who were except got a notice. Because if I didn't get in I would like to post the pictures of my work on my blog. She was so good. Not even five minutes after I sent the e-mail I got an answer. YES I got in. She apologize for the delay and said I would be getting a official notice later today. Yes, I received my official notice. I'm so excited that I'm having a hard time sitting still even to write this. So folks, you will have to wait until after the Gala Reception(Sept. 20th)to see my necklaces. I will be going to the Gala, love that word, Gala . Sounds so posh. It's even black tie. I was surprised that my husband said yes without my having to beg......lol ...He thought it was a great idea.

New work

Here is my first embroidered cuff bracelet. It took me about 20 hrs. A lot longer then I thought it would be. And to be honest I don't know how fast I would want to do another. Right now my hand hurts and I must give it a rest. Last week I also made a cabochon turquoise necklace.