Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hoo(t) Knew?

Did you know that owls are making a comeback once again? Pretty soon we are going to see owl everything according to the world’s fashion forecasters. Hoo(t) would have known?

I love owls. I consider myself lucky when I get to see one. They aren’t a popular bird here but we do have them. One always appears in the same vicinity along the river. It sits and watches the cars go by – safe on its perch atop a fencepost. It is massive and regal. I sigh when I see it and smile.

With that in mind – I made the following.  Give a hoot if you like it.

This bracelet has 3 different types of owls, a tree for them to perch on and not only some lovely maple leaves but also 2 deep green leaves. I added a moon and a star to light the way for happy hunting and a safety chain so they don’t get lost.

PB300020 $40PB300003-1 PB300007

PB300009-1

PB300013

And finally – today is the last day to put in your name for the draw of this fabulous book!

PB220009

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Let’s Throw Some Earrings Into the Mix

I find that there’s nothing like a pair of earrings to finish your outfit or just make you feel better for the day. Some days I go around wondering if anyone has noticed my earrings because I think they are so special. Anyone else do this or am I just weird?

Here are some earrings that might do just that (make you feel special).

$25P4180007

PC040033 PC040055

PC040048 PC040062PC040053PC040043

I’ve had a number of comments about the earring cards that I make.

My mother is the girl on the right of the 3 little girls in their matching dresses. The other two are friends of hers.

The figure in the long dark dress carrying ice skates and pushing for the Suffragette Movement is my Grandfather. What an – er – um – lovely – yes that’s it – woman he made! It’s nice to look back and see how forward thinking he was.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Another Giveaway Contest!

For some reason the universe seems to feel that every book or magazine I order must come in duplicates. Too bad I couldn’t order something like money or precious gems and have the same thing happen!

Anyway – here I am once more offering a book this time called

Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry

PB220009

If you would like to win this book – I have TWO of them on offer – so double your chances!

Just leave a comment saying you would like to have your name put in the draw for December 1st.  I will then notify the winner(s) for their snail mail address and it will then be winging its way to them.

I wonder – will it multiply in the mail like mine did?

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Power of Belief

The following is a request for your thoughts and prayers or whatever you have to offer - for a friend of mine in the UK. Please read this blog post written by her partner DK.

URGENT re LUISA aka LEATHEREAGLE

I am calling out for help, from anyone and everyone who knows and loves our Luisa, aka LeatherEagle.

I believe in the power of prayer, whatever your beliefs or lack of. So, light a candle, say your prayers. For the record Luisa's personal favourites were Green Tara, Kuan Yin and Ganesh. She also always loved the Saints, St Francis in particular. Thank you.

She is very, very sick. Having had surgery last Thursday (gastric bypass) she ran into complications over the next couple of days. By Saturday night it was obvious this was more than the expected pain/recovery so tests were run during the night leading to her being rushed back into surgery due to complications.

Bottom line, both her small bowel and stomach leaked into her stomach cavity/abdomen. That's meant to be a sterile environment. This means Luisa is now effectively on life support due to septicaemia involving massive medication (antibiotics, drips galore) and in particular medications to keep her blood pressure up and stop her heart (and other organs) from failing. This is as serious as it gets, the doctors have told us in no uncertain terms that she may or may not, make it through this.

Hence my imploring you all to take note, stop and spend a moment wishing her well.

Naturally this means she is unconscious so well wishes direct to her are pointless, however I WILL keep note of responses and messages so that - hopefully - she can read them when she's all better again.

Bottom line is she is VERY ill, in Critical Care for the foreseeable future until (hopefully) the sepsis recedes and she can fight back.

I am asking for ALL your prayers, wishes and candles (depending how you float your boat) to carry her through this and out the other side.'

*************************************************************************************
Perhaps - with the combined power of many thoughts and prayers - we can change the situation for Louisa. Thank you. Aims

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Almost Full Circle

In a little over a month from now our lives will have come full circle. Memories of that day will probably never leave us but now we are looking back and accepting it as an event that has changed our lives - and perhaps in a good way.

Last year - December 26th - The Man's new (to us) beautiful blue Touareg burnt to the ground - fatally damaging our little 13 foot trailer that took us from Alberta all the way to Key West and to the Mexican border and to the west coast of California. The little 13 foot trailer that is my home during the summer while I help my brother with his white water rafting business.

That little 13 foot trailer is rising from the ashes (literally) like a Phoenix and is being reborn as I type. I found a wonderful guy who has promised to rebuild it with plenty of love and fiberglass and who will have it done by the time next summer rolls around again. It won't be the same little trailer when we get it back, but a trailer that has new paint and 'The Love Boat' hand inscribed under that back window once again. I'll probably post multiple pictures of it once it is returned to us once more.

However! Because of all of this, we have gone through a type of hell here at the Big Blue Barn. As most of you know, because of The Man's need for a vehicle to drive the 40 minutes to work - my 1996 Red Cavalier sports car was put into action. Too much action. It was also involved in an accident and because of its age was written off by the insurance company.

It never fails to amaze me just how many - slightly damaged -vehicles are written off by the insurance companies. I often wonder what the reasoning is behind it all. Is it to create more jobs? Or perhaps its a plan to increase the volume of landfills? I know it's an attempt to increase their bottom line as they sell all salvageable parts. We even notice how the government is involved in it as they erect barriers along our major highway that will 'save you' but destroy your vehicle in the process. Let's not go there.

All of this being said, the salvage company called me the day after I signed away my little red sports car and asked me if I knew anyone who wanted it for free. This man had not even seen my vehicle - he just didn't want the job of hauling it away. He told me it wasn't worth the effort.
I didn't care - I got my vehicle back and I had it fixed for the paltry amount the insurance company gave me for it. Because of all of this nonsense we had to buy another vehicle to get The Man to work and so we ended up with a lovely used Saturn Vue SUV.

Whew! Complicated? You should have tried living the stress all of this generated.

Never mind - there was a silver lining in the end.

On Friday we picked up a new (to us) Touareg. I'll not go into the horror that was the 5 hour drive to Medicine Hat through the snow and ice covered highway. Five hours of it! My nerves were frazzled because it was another five hour trip home - in the dark! I HATE driving in the winter!

But - now The Man has the vehicle he has always wanted once more.

To add to this we are getting a brand new 30 foot trailer delivered to our driveway on Wednesday! Our little 13 foot trailer could probably fit in the entire bedroom! We have spent months looking at trailer after trailer, wondering if this was the way to go. What decided it was the fact that The Man was told by his employer that he MUST take the holidays he has accumulated over the years he has worked there - or lose them. His choice - holidays - or payout.

He chose holidays.

So what does this all mean? The Man has eight weeks holiday time coming to him! And what are we going to do with it?

On December 8th we are hitching up our new trailer to our new Touareg and heading to Las Vegas where we will go to an Andrea Bocelli concert. We saw him six years ago in Las Vegas very close to the time we are seeing him now (more on this in another post sometime). From there we are traveling to New Orleans where we will stay in the same RV Campground we stayed at in 2008. Not only are we going to enjoy Christmas in New Orleans once again but we will have the chance to see much much more than we have in our other three trips.

Not only that - but with the ability to sleep 6! in our new trailer - my beloved brother and his partner are planning to come and join us for a week in January. I can only imagine how happy this time will be for the four of us! New Orleans will always be a place that needs to be introduced to others! No fair grounds or people wearing Mickey costumes are needed to be the main attraction of this incredible place. New Orleans stands on her own two feet beautified by its residents. They are the loveliest people we have ever met in our travels around the United States. That says a lot!

As I sit here with almost 6 inches of snow piling up on the deck outside my window where the thermometer reads almost 25 below Celsius - I think of what awaits us in a very short time.

We love everything about New Orleans! That must be obvious by now - but I don't care. I will continue to extol its virtues forever!

We will be gone from December 8th until February 7th! It seems unbelievable to me! And - this is the first time I've ever been excited and NOT frightened to leave The Big Blue Barn! I find this incredibly amazing all on its own!

Well - there it is! I'm a lucky gal. I know it. Thanks to the very hard work The Man does every single day we are going to have a wonderful time!

For those who have wondered how we managed to get away to New Orleans and all those other places before this? It has all been accumulated overtime and earned days off for The Man. That boils down to me not seeing him very often or being in bed and asleep before he gets home from work. We've managed. And now we get to hang out with each other in the city we would love to call home for longer than ever! And not only that - we get to see 12 basketball games with our favourite New Orleans Hornets! Woohoooooooo!

Okay - all this being said - I need to get back to my studio! I still have orders to fill and jewelry to create for the next couple of weeks. Shipments will be made up to December 8th for anyone wondering if they could get their purchase before we leave. Of course you can!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Resting Dragonfly

 PA260005 Length – 29”

PA260026

PA260030 $60

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A Donut Wrapped With a Ribbon

I also contemplated ‘The Hole Marks The Spot’ or ‘The Blue and White Circle That Is….’  or ‘A Miniature Life Preserver’ or ‘The Biggest Lifesaver’. So I picked one. Whatever title I picked would work and it would still be one pretty necklace.

The donut pendant is one I made with my own hands out of polymer clay. It’s a one and only and I sometimes think it is what a galaxy would look like in the daytime.

Have a look and be careful you don’t fall in……

 

PB020055 Length – 28”

PB020007 $65

Sorry for the photography. I need a Daryl or a David or a Brett…

PB020056

A choice of two different earrings to wear with it.

PB020065

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I Better Bookmark This Page!

PB020068

Pewter Bookmarks - $15

PB020070

PB020073

PB020069

A Question of whether I can ship ‘abroad’ has arisen.

YES – I can ship anywhere in the world!

Please contact me through the link on my sidebar!

Send me a Message -

As usual - click to enlarge.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Turquoise From The Heart

PB020052  Length – 24”

 

PB020059 $30

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Stamped Copper Bangle

PA020055 $35

May Your Journey Flow Like A River

(stamped on bracelet)