A to Z blogging challenge: Z is for...

oh what else? why try to complicate things on the last day of this wonderful challenge?

"Z" is for Zebra!

and I had a great time doing this! It was eye opening to write every day using a different letter of the alphabet as my inspiration, and I met a LOT of cool people. I loved everyone I met!  Once again, the internet held our hands as we learned more about each other, coming together from all sorts of different places, all over the world.

Whether you see things as all black and white, or whether you are a more colorful type of person,  there is a place for you on the internet...and a place for you in a challenge such as this. Thank you, Arlee Bird, for this fantastic opportunity to write in this wonderful manner, throughout the month of April.

It flew by too fast!

love to you all!

jean

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge, whose blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

I am so happy to have seen most of the Royal Wedding and it reminded me a bit of the one I also watched early in the morning in --was it 1980?-- while feeding one of my sons. I decided to post for my A to Z blogging challenge today Y is for YES!
 I DO! as in Yes, I do take you for my lawful wedded spouse.
Which calls for, as we all know, champagne!
Which calls for the greatest song ever written about champagne, "The Night They Invented Champagne" from one of the greatest musical movies ever : Gigi.
Felicitations to the newly married Prince and Duchess. They looked very wonderful this morning and the whole thing was grand!

jean

The A to Z Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

X is for the Man from Planet X

Yes, I went to all the sites which I typed out which said "words starting with X". I learned a lot, but before I could apply this for your edification, I decided to check just one more thing on my computer, which was on the floor next to our bed. I leaned over and grabbed it, too lazy to get up and get out of bed. I fell, valiantly saving it, on my ear and on my head and got wedged upside down on the side of the bed. "OW! I said! Somebody help me!!!"  Fortunately, from under the bed, on the opposite side I saw two large sets of feet shuffling into the room. It was my husband and our 20 year old son--they climbed onto the bed and pulled me up gently. It was pretty traumatic but they calmed me down and gave me Tylenol and part of a bun with brown sugar my son had just made for himself.

And as I slept I dreamed...

not about the movie above, see review from amazon, below, but about my favorite horror movie when I was a kid.

Here is the review first for The Man from Planet X, as X is the A to Z blogging challenge letter today

"Amazon.com

Daring reporter John Lawrence (Robert Clarke) narrates this gripping tale of an alien's attempt to take over a tiny village in Scotland. As the story opens, Lawrence is visiting his old friend, Professor Elliot, who's made the startling discovery of a new planet that is approaching Earth at breakneck speed. Soon Elliot's lovely daughter, Enid, has spotted a mysterious craft in the middle of the moor. Lawrence and Elliot decide to investigate, inexplicably allowing the clearly evil Dr. Mears to assist. Lost the plot? Not to worry! The Man from Planet X cheerfully helps slower viewers by offering expository dialogue as frequently as humanly possible. "Look!" says Elliot, "It seems as if he's trying to turn that knob to the right, but doesn't have the strength or coordination," as the alien tries to turn the knob to the right, but doesn't have the strength or coordination. All seems lost as the alien begins using telepathy to control the local villagers. Luckily for the Earth, the alien's superior mind-control powers are not matched with superior common sense--he never bothers to give his slaves such crucial commands as "Don't tell the enemy my entire plan!" or "Let me know if any outsiders show up!" or "By the way, don't follow the commands of anybody but me!" A guaranteed hoot of an evening. --Ali Davis "

This sounds like something I must have seen. I spent my weekends when I was very young watching Million Dollar Movie (coincidentally, so did Jim, my husband, far away in another state and two years younger!). My favorite horror movie , which was remade into an inferior version starring Kurt Russell (who was GREAT as Snake Plisken in Escape from New York)  was the Thing 

here is The Thing:

and here is the review for The Thing:

---

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video  <--note from jean--I had good taste at age 6!

With its modest special effects, lean plot, and small cast of lesser stars, this 1951 thriller remains a sturdy blueprint for fusing horror and science fiction. The formula has been employed countless times since, fleshed out with more extensive and elaborate production values, and manned by higher profiled marquee names, but the results have yet to improve on The Thing from Another World, Howard Hawks's lone foray into sci-fi. The story begins as military airmen are dispatched to a remote Arctic research station where scientists have detected the crash of a spacecraft. An effort to retrieve the saucer-shaped vehicle fails, but the team returns to the station with the frozen body of its sole occupant. When the extraterrestrial pilot is accidentally thawed, the crew, headed by a tough-talking pilot (Kenneth Tobey), grapples with a massive, chlorophyll-based humanoid (James Arness) thirsty for blood and in no mood for galactic diplomacy.
Hawks takes only a production credit for this low-budget exercise, but his filmmaking style transcends Christian Nyby's nominal direction: rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue, an ensemble of comrades whose professionalism is tempered by wisecracks, and unsentimental female characters (embodied by feisty romantic interest Margaret Sheridan) recall Hawks's signature works, while propelling the plot over any potential gaps in credibility. It's hardly surprising, then, that The Thing from Another World remains among the most influential science fiction movies ever shot, or that it remains exciting entertainment a half century later. --Sam Sutherland

I could watch this great film--note it was directed by Howard Hawks!-- over and over. In the Northeast, Million Dollar Movie ran the same movie about two times a day for a week and then brought it back around a month later. TV was in its infancy and  as Jim says (borrowing from Bob and Ray), "it was very nice of Million Dollar Movie to lend 'Gone with the Wind' their theme song". Ha, ha.

Anyway, the only other thing I would like to say is that if you choose to watch this fantastic movie, (spoiler alert! spoiler alert!...maybe...or maybe I just made this part up) they can't kill the Thing until they figure out it is a giant frozen vegetable  and needs to be torched in order to succumb. And this, my friends, is why I was reluctant to eat my lima beans and corn from the highly respected Birdseye frozen vegetable line when our mother made this as an accompaniment to our hamburgers for dinner. Or possibly I made this part in the movie up. I was only six. Giant vegetables were about as scarey a thing as I could imagine.

Who knows?  Only I know... well, and this site, here:

Chlorophyll - Nutrition - Articles - Natural Health Australia

natural-health.net.au

The way to tell if a vegetable has enough chlorophyll content is by looking at its leaves. Algae is the highest know source of chlorophyll. ...

bwahah

too bad I just fell on my head because apparently I knew what Chlorophyll was at 6 and I sure have lost a big pile of IQ points since then and since last night, a few more

--jean

going to rent the Man from Planet X now

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

"Bracelet Winner!!!

Dee, of the lovely site Runako, wrote:

"Bracelet Winner!!!

I went the old fashioned route tonight with the drawing for the duplicate Hope bracelet......and the winner is

Jean Yates   <--note from jean--this is ME!!! can you believe it? I never win stuff!!!

Jean is also a jewelry designer, author and writer..visit her blog  and website to find out more!

If you missed the original post about the Hope bracelet and the Global Genes Project, please visit this post to learn how you can help. 

Congratulations Jean!... please contact me with your mailing information and I'll put your bracelet in the mail!!

Unveiling in strips of paper,

Look at what W is for WONDERFUL THING HAPPENED TO ME!!!  SEE ABOVE!

I won this stunning HOPE bracelet--a duplicate of the one which Dee made for the

bracelet drive for the global genes project earlier in April. I made one too but I didn't think to be as lovely in spirit and as generous as Dee--I just made one! So now I am completely thrilled with the news which I have received today. I shall wear this bracelet which she has made with such pride I cannot express it adequately!

Anyway 

I wrote her back today with alacrity and with stars in my eyes and a few tears, too:

"Dear Dee: I cannot tell you what this means to me. I am doing the A to Z blogging challenge and for H I did the word HOPE.
I have two disabled children, and hope to me is one of the most precious concepts we humans can embrace.
When we have hope and love in our lives, we can accomplish so much I find it to be astounding.
Thank you so much. I will be so honored to wear your bracelet. I shall write about it on my blog today.
Thank you again, Dee--I know I shall cherish your wonderful gift and all that it means forever.
jean xoxox"

I honestly can't get over this month and the month before. Wonderful things have happened for us here and I am so appreciative.  I have put Dee's gorgeous website picture, Runako, as a button on my sidebar so you can go there any time you want and see what she is up to. She is quite remarkable and her jewelry is perfectly beautiful. I mean that sincerely: she is a jewelry designer's designer, you know? She is just great!


jean!


The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

"V" is for Vaults:

how serendipitous that Arthur Lee's never before heard song "Beep Beep" was freed from the vaults today on NPR. I bet you guys thought I never listen to NPR, or if I did, I would call it NPRR.  Well, you're wrong--all wrong about me. Still waters run deep here at the Yates house.
But seriously folks, I adored Arthur Lee although I never understood what happened to him and where he went off to. I was too young. Earlier today I was going to write a post about Victorian houses (one is near us which was used in the film, Ragtime ) and then I was going to write a post about black people in Victorian times which is really interesting to research but not so easy to discuss. It is very intense and gets upsetting if you have any feelings at all.

Arthur Lee had a tough life, at the end, so that is upsetting as well: however as you can see from what the National Public Radio Radio (just a little joke here) has to say about this song, it is very philosophical and uplifting. I am THRILLED to present it as my V is for Vaults A to Z Blogging Challenge entry!

 

Arthur Lee: Freed From The Vaults

by Marc Silver

'Beep Beep' by Arthur Lee  thanks to NPR for letting me do this!

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=135735890&m=135735466

[2 min 15 sec]

 

  Herbert Worthington

From a 1973 album that was never released, psychedelic rocker Arthur Lee offers a bit of homespun philosophy in "Beep Beep."

Herbert Worthington

From a 1973 album that was never released, psychedelic rocker Arthur Lee offers a bit of homespun philosophy in "Beep Beep."

Tuesday's Pick

Song: "Beep Beep"
Artist: Arthur Lee
CD: Black Beauty
Genre: Rock

April 26, 2011

The club of African-American psychedelic rockers is pretty small, with Jimi Hendrix and Arthur Lee serving as two charter members. Hendrix, as everyone knows, rose to great fame. Lee had a brief spell of celebrity with his group Love and his 1967 album Forever Changes, kept on making music but never broke through again, served six years in jail on firearm-related charges and died of leukemia in 2006 at age 61.
In 1973, while still in his prime, Lee recorded an album called Black Beauty that was never released. Now, the music has been freed from the vaults, and it reveals an Arthur Lee who could not only rock hard, but also had other offbeat musical personalities. Consider "Beep, Beep" — psychedelic rock it is not. The rhythm veers between reggae and calypso, while a neighborhood guy contributes a lilting steel-drum line. Lee is on the harpsichord and at the mic, singing in a faux island accent and offering the kind of homespun advice you'd expect to hear from a back-porch philosopher: "Slow down, man, 'cause you're going too fast." Later in this cheery and charming song, Lee declares, "I'm going to be what I want," and it's clear that what he wanted to be was a musician who could break down barriers — and who was perfectly at ease stretching the boundaries of his music to encompass the sounds of the world at large.

Very cool!--jean

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

I made this "naughty little angel" a few years ago -- when I want to feel as if I am being spoilt

(spoiled?) I think of this  image!!!--jean   :)

 

U is for Us--let's spoil ourselves!!!


I heard from Ray of Lark Publishing yesterday and he has some great offers!

Please see the email from him down below! Wow!--jean

"Dear friend,

We'd like to invite all your social networking community to enter a
fantastic major giveaway of 14 jewelry and beading books, some signed by
their authors, celebrating the redesign of LarkCrafts.com:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/lark-jewelry-beading-giveaway/
Or, shortened: http://bit.ly/gxPwcM
Please share the link!

The 14 books are:
30-Minute Rings
500 Silver Jewelry Designs
The Art of Jewelry: Polymer Clay
Creating Glass Beads
Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork
Elegant Wire Jewelry
Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving
Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence
Masters: Polymer Clay
The Penland Book of Jewelry
Polymer Clay Beads
Sherry Serafini's Sensational Bead Embroidery
Steel Wire Jewelry
Vintage Jewelry Design

Also, a separate reminder:
We've posted our Call for Entries for the book 500 Beaded Jewelry at:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/submit/calls-for-submissions/#500beadedjewelry
Or, shortened: http://bit.ly/ecAKly
We're hoping for bountiful, international entries celebrating this wonderful
creative community! I'll be doing some major online outreach for the book in
the next week, and encourage you to let everyone you know learn about the
opportunity!

Many thanks for all your support,
Ray

---

Find us: http://www.facebook.com/LarkJewelryBeading "

Isn't this fantastic? --jean 

Happy Easter and Happy Holidays to all Spring lovers! It is a bit rainy here, but Liath is enjoying the weather from her spot indoors!

jewelry by jean--vermeil hex beads, Turquoise heishi beads, Swarovski Crystal Elements in Lt. Colorado Topaz, gorgeous bronze coin pearls, and hand made ear wires in sterling by jean--you can enlarge to see better if you wish


BEADBLOGGERS!




A Bead A Day
Do you like glitter AND jewelry making?! You are going to love this project that Lisa found over at FusionBeads.com!

About.com Jewelry Making
What are your plans for your silver scraps now that silver is crazy expensive?

Art Bead Scene
Here's a fresh idea for spring - a garden gate clasp.  

Barbe Saint John
Barbe's giving away the latest Industrial Chic booklet and some charms!  

Carmi's Art/Life World
This weeks blog features the poppies of Paris and the jewelery it inspires.  

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy's made some new blush pink drops, come see what she's done with them!  

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
We all scream for Ice Cream! Melanie shows how she designed and made a new line of sweet pendants.  

Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi has a short tutorial on using resin as a glaze.  

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Rio Grande is encouraging a wonderful way of helping the people of Japan and it is SO EASY! Read about it on Jean's blog!  

Strands of Beads
Melissa is brooding about issues of originality this week.  

The Bead Dreamer
A lovely tree branch, soft pink flowers and wisps of silk inspired two necklace designs.
 
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton  
Andrew takes a peak at Anne Choi's new BRONZE beads!

This time of year is a very holy time of year for many people of different faiths. As a Roman Catholic , when I was a child, I didn't understand why Easter was more important religiously than Christmas. After all, there was a big Hoo-ha concerning Christmas and less of a Hoo-ha concerning Easter. This was all convoluted further by the fact that my mother was not a Roman Catholic; she was a non practicing Episcopalian, the religion which was predominant in our social group. We were, like, outcasts in a sense.
However we always had a lovely time on Easter and my father made sure we went to church (just as we did every Sunday) and then we would get all dressed up and have a giant lunch with my grandparents and cousins and my mother's brother and his wife, who all lived in our town.

You all know all this however. So I am going to swerve off this common pathway I like to wander about on NORMALLY and not bring up Cadbury eggs and jellybeans but rather address in my A to Z blogging challenge not religion, and not the temptation we all have for chocolate eggs etc., at this time of year... but I am going to make my T be for the TEMPTATIONS

Yes! That great group which has been around for years! I was a kid when I first heard the Temps. It was really interesting coming from the North and going to a boarding school in Maryland, which was far more Southern than you would imagine. Our record players were rocking with the early Beatles, but just as much we had, in our 6 girl rooms especially, which were comprised of half  Northern and half Southern girls, southern favs. That is correct, it was the Battle of the Bands and we all learned a LOT as we took turns listening to Leonard Cohen, The Temps, Dionne Warwick, Buffalo Springfield, and so on. It was really cool.
Jim and I have loved the Temptations since forever and I was sorry I missed them when they were playing locally here about a month ago. Yes they are still touring.

I choose T for the Temptations so you can hear some classic Motown sound on the day before Easter and fill your hearts with some soul candy instead of chocolate!

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

I made this bracelet a few years ago -- not sure why. Was it for a magazine, or just for fun? I think it was for a magazine article I wrote.  All I know is that after I made it, I sent it back to the fantastic designers of the Suns, Moons and the toggle, and they liked it enough to take this glamour shot of it. I have saved this photo which they took all this time because it is too sweet and neat that they liked it, in my opinion.

The name of the place where the beads and toggle came from is GREEN GIRL STUDIOS  and you probably recognize their inimitable, charming style. I have been an ardent fan of theirs for years and I would like to note, on this Earth Day, that they ALWAYS have had have a strong and almost magical connection to the earth in everything they make. Their products are irresistible. If you have never been to see their goods, you must check them out! 

So, today, S is for Suns, Moons and the Superb beauty which always comes from Green Girl Studios!

Happy Earth Day!

  

A to Z Blogging Challenge: "R" is for Restaurant

Yes, yes I know this famous ode written in 1967 by Arlo Guthrie is centered around Thanksgivinnnnng, as he would say in his nasal voice, and not Easssssssterrrrr, as he would say (once again in his nasal voice), but I was just thinking about it yesterday when someone bet me I didn't know the lyrics. I not only know all the lyrics, I took my guitar with me while I shot the Rapids of the Yampa River in Colorado back when I was a teenager. I would sing this song for our wild and crazy group every night of our ten day trip until we ended up, faces black with dirt and completely insane looking, at Dinosaur National Park, where some friends had driven our trucks so we could head back to Denver. It was a really fun trip--all ages gathered together. My best friend's parents, me and my best friend, her little sister, a couple of tag alongs, and the family who were certified to take us down the Yampa (they were pals and were actually certified to go down the Rapids in the Grand Canyon, too).  The Yampa River is pretty leisurely and the worst rapids were probably about a "4" on a range of one to ten. And there were probably only about two of those.  So we took our time paddling 3 and 4 man boats and watching the tourists going past us in giant inflated rafts with power motors; what losers.
Anyway, at night the grownups would drink Blue Flame alcohol and make merry around the campfire and I would bring out my guitar and play Alice's Restaurant which had the benefit of being very long. I was the next best thing to the Ed Sullivan show that we had on that trip.
I do recall our most dramatic moments to this day: one was seeing an incredibly beautiful mountain lion lazing in the sun on the side of one the river's rocky shores. The other had to do with my lack of coordination, embarrassingly. We had just had lunch and were getting ready to launch our rafts back onto the Yampa, which has a slight eddy roiling up due to some small rocks right in front of us. I was supposed to push off our raft. I have no idea what idiot in our group thought I was up to this job. Of course I made a complete mess of things  with the end result that I didn't even get in. The raft shot straight up in the air and landed upside down. I was watching it from the shore and my friends who had been in it were frantically paddling toward it to get ahold of it and get it upright once more. They managed to do that and fortunately all of our belongings were lashed in on the sides of the raft in waterproof bags. We didn't lose anything. However, the sight of Roger Murray, one of the people who came on the trip with us, bobbing up and down in his life preserver holding his beer can in one hand , his cigarette in the other, and with his green baseball cap on, will stay with me for the rest of my life. Everyone was really nice to me about my blunder but they never did ask me to push off the raft again. I was glad. I guess I am more of a minstrel type than a jock.

Anyway, Alice's Restaurant by the great Arlo Guthrie always puts me in the holiday spirit whether it is Thanksgiving, or Easter, or whatever.  And as they used to say in New York magazine, "hoping you the same'....

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

Friends: I got an email yesterday from the great store Rio Grande, and in tandem with The American Red Cross they have had a wonderful idea to help Japan. You donate your precious scap metal ( you can send it to Rio Grande if you wish, or see more options below) and all of the proceeds will go to the people of Japan. This means so much to so many, and we can do this with so little effort--it is a Quiet way of helping and that is why I chose this as my "Q" for my blogging challenge today.
Q is for Quiet Action. Thank you, Rio Grande for this wonderful idea. More information is here below:  Jewelers for Japan

Members of the jewelry industry, like everyone else, have been horrified at what’s happened to Japan and its people.
It seems there is no limit to the calamities the planet can unleash.
There is also no limit to the generosity of people, when called upon to help. Now is such a time. With gold and silver prices the highest they have been, the jewelry industry has a unique and unprecedented opportunity to help touch lives of those so terribly in need that have been affected by this disaster.

Jewelers for Japan is dedicated to providing jewelers a simple and easy way to make a difference. Our concept is simple: take your scrap gold and silver, gold-filled, platinum, and palladium jewelry, and donate them to victims of the disaster. If you wish, invite members of your local community to donate unwanted gold and jewelry as well. Your store can serve as a collection point.


-> Click here to view the official press release

-> Click here to view the Rio Grande packing info

-> Click here to view the Red Cross Agreement

Thank you,

jean

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

I cannot believe I took this photo. I think it is pretty arty.The peeps are the three yellow chicks made of marshmallow on the bottom left. I wish my Mom and Dad could see this. They would be proud, I bet.
This photo has some serious depth and profundity a la Salvador Dali, don't you think?--jean


A to Z Blogging Challenge: P is for Peeps 

"P" is for Peeps
they are marvelous things
sticky and gooey with beaks, eyes and wings

You admire them and eat them, they are excellent!--very
Unless you are a Vegan. Then avoid and be WARY.

I think they have marshmallow in them, you see
and Vegans can't eat that. I feel terribly.

I have a Vegan kid. He can't eat a Peep.
Sometimes it makes me feel like crying in my sleep.

There are lots of other candies which he can enjoy
but at this time of year I want Peeps for my BOY!

jean

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

Below is actually the cover of the paperback I bought when I was ten. I really didn't look inside it, I just liked the cover,which I wish I could get a better image of , but there have been many covers and even movies made of "O" since and this is the best I can get for you. As a child who was ten in 10 in around 1961, I was fascinated by words and even letters and the covers of books and records were enough to prompt me to purchase them at  our local newspaper and magazine store or our local record store while my mother was shopping at the grocery store. She would give me some money, tell me not to spend it (This was so weird, and a part of our routine to keep me from wasting money, which was impossible, but she always tried to get me to  understand the value of saving a dollar--I never did "get" this--why did she give me money if she didn't want me to spend it???)  I still don't quite get it...Anyway, when I saw the cover of Story of O

at Mr. Shilowitz's store, I was entranced. I loved letters and O was so round and perfect. It looked so beautiful just sitting there on the glossy white cover . I had to buy it!  Here is the plot of the Story of O

which I have located for you today. Frankly I have never read this book. And I don't care. I have read plenty of books and I have little desire to add this one to my cluttered up brain. But here is the plot, anyway, so you can see and sort of understand what happened next:

"The classic erotic novel, THE STORY OF O relates the love of a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer for Rene. As part of that intense love, she demands debasement and severe sexual and psychological tests. It is a unique work not to be missed."

It would be French, wouldn't it. Sounds a little like "9 Weeks", the movie, only in book form. Incredibly inappropriate for a ten year old, even if I had been reading everything under the sun since I learned my alphabet. 

When I got in the car after my mother had finished grocery shopping, I pulled the paperback out of the bag to show my mother, who (I guess) was so taken aback she said nothing. We drove home in silence, and she put away the groceries with my help. After that, I went to my room. You must realize I was a very good and well behaved child.  I wish I had a kid like me. As many of you know, among my heroes are Abraham Lincoln because he was so honest. Honesty was my "thing".

A few minutes after I went to my room, mother knocked on my door. She had my book in the paper bag. She was incredibly flustered. My mother, true to her ladylike generation, was not very good with ANYTHING involving sex. Now she had a major hurdle to overcome--how to explain why she was going to return this book without letting me know what it was about.

As a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, she managed to accomplish this. I was completely confused by what she was saying, but all I knew was that she was really regretful but she had to return my book. My beautiful book with the wonderful cover "O" on the front.

An odd thing happened years later involving the same book, only this time (and I still hadn't read it) I found a song which I love to this day called Amie, by Damien Rice, one of my favorite songwriters (a quote from another of his songs is in my book , Links). My son gave me Damien Rice's album "O" and the most heartbreakingly beautiful song, "Amie", is on it. I told my son how much I loved the album and he said, "I know, everyone keeps stealing all my copies of it"!  And if you listen to this song you will see why. So around and around we go--full circle--just like an O --from grandmother to mother(me) to son, and that is MY story of O.

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

Thanks to everyone who stopped by yesterday and commented on the 7000 Bracelets of Hope hop. instigated by Lori Anderson. It was so wonderful to be a part of that!

It has been raining here in the NorthEast. My Liath says, "Nice weather for Ducks!"




Beadblogger Sunday



The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew debuts his new filigree bezels filled with vintage stamps coated in resin. Check them out!

About.com Jewelry Making
Pets and children are wonderful, but they can make jewelry making very challenging! 


Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene shows off this month's challenge. Come take a look!

Beading Arts
The final chapter of Cyndi's e-book is now available! "Fibers, Fabrics, and Beads" challenges you to integrate all the fiber arts that you already love with your bead embroidery!  

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy shares one of her free projects.  

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie introduces a new egg themed design and wonders what the Earthenwood Design Team will hatch up in jewelry designs.  

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is still taking part in the April A to Z blogging challenge: "L" is for "L"isa Niven Kelly, and her "L"ovley book Jean loved and previously reviewed.

Strands of Beads
Melissa is back and is wondering if anyone else has trouble using materials that are "too special" in their projects?  

The Bead Dreamer
A vintage belt buckle takes center stage in a bold necklace designed by Charlene

you can see this closer by clicking on the photo

The letter N is for No Man is an Island

when I was a kid in elementary school, we used to sing a song in assembly in the mornings called "No Man is an Island". It was so beautiful and memorable I remember every word to this day.

No man is an island,
No man stands alone,
Each man's joy is joy to me,
Each man's grief is my own.


We need one another,
So I will defend,
Each man as my brother,
Each man as my friend.


I saw the people gather,
I heard the music start,
The song that they were singing,
Is ringing in my heart.


No man is an island,
Way out in the blue,
We all look to the one above,
For our strength to renew.


When I help my brother,
Then I know that I,
Plant the seed of friendship,
That will never die. 
 

So. today, for 7000 Bracelets of Hope, I made this bracelet using a denim focal sun made by the fabulous Melanie of Earthenwood Studio

I hope you all like it, but more than that, I hope the person who receives it likes it. The quote on the bubble by Sally jean says, " Everything you can imagine is real" and is by Aristotle.

here are the names of the other people who participated in 7000 Bracelets of Hope, initiated by the great Lori Anderson--see her blog here

she has a stunner of a bracelet to see, and you can hop from blog to blog to see other designer's offerings as well.  I hope you do!

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

If you are just learning about this and would like to make a bracelet to send in, send your bracelet, including a business card and a note to the family receiving your bracelet to:

7000 Bracelets of Hope/Global Genes Project
24701 La Plaza 

Suite 201 

Dana Point, CA 92629

This is for a wonderful cause--you can read about it on my entry here yesterday.

thank you, jean

"M" is for MORE

I am so proud to be participating tomorrow in a blog hop introduced to me by the wonderful Lori Anderson. Here is her blog:

http://www.prettythingsblog.com

She encouraged many of us jewelry designers to do a bit more for the sake of so many people, especially children, who are suffering from rare genetic diseases. We will each be making a denim colored blue bracelet to be sent to a family who has a person suffering from a rare genetic disease. Lori herself has a disease which falls within these parameters, and I have a member of my extended family who does as well. Even if I didn't have a connection so close--a friend or family member, however, I would still want to do more to help lift up the spirits of these brave families who fight the good fight on a daily basis. Here is some more information about the cause:

http://www.globalgenesproject.org/

you can see the banner on my sidebar as well. and it leads to the same page. I hope you will read the page and be encouraged to do more yourself. That would be so wonderful!

Please come back tomorrow and look at the bracelet I made, which I will send off as a beacon of hope, to one family.  Please also  see the list of people who have participated in this very worthy blog hop and check out their lovely bracelets as well!

jean

the A to Z blogging challenge is the creation of the wonderful 
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

L IS FOR LISA (Niven KeLLy)

and her stunning, wonderful book!

here is my review of it:

THE "go-to" book and DVD for learning how to make customized stamped jewelry!

Stamped Metal Jewelry
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES & DESIGNS FOR MAKING CUSTOM JEWELRY

by Lisa Niven Kelly

creator of Beaducation

Way back, when I was first teaching myself how to make jewelry with a few books and a lot of assistance from online sources, I came across Lisa Niven Kelly on the internet. She hadn't even established her fantastically popular online store yet.

I remember when Lisa had two famous projects: her super pretty wide cuff, and her stamped bangle with a clasp. I fell in love with both of them. I went to my husband Jim and BEGGED him to get me these projects (which were sold as kits with printed out instructions, at the time) plus all the tools, and everything I would need, so I could learn from my heroine, Lisa Niven Kelly. Those kits and tools were what I received for Christmas that year! It was a whole new world for me!

I am delighted to be able to review this wonderful book and DVD, as Lisa Niven Kelly remains the resident All Star at teaching stamping combined with certain kinds or wire work in jewelry design. I continue to be one of her loyal followers. She never quits devising new fantastic creations for us to want to make! Many of them are offered in this fine new book!


Therefore to have a hard copy book available of her careful yet assertive manner of teaching is a pleasure. To have these new projects to try is a total joy!

All the little things I might have forgotten, or wanted to know and never got the chance to learn from the author, are in here. On the 35 minute DVD, which has two projects, there are some great examples of some of her tips. One is how to center a word properly when you stamp. Another good one is how to stamp with a decorative stamp, which is more difficult than a letter of the alphabet, and make it come out completely perfect. I watched the DVD very closely and learned a lot. It is definitely a worthwhile addition to the book.

The author stresses that you practice, first, on copper blanks or with copper wire so that you don't waste good money on sterling silver. She also explains safety precautions very clearly in the book and on the DVD, particularly when you are oxidizing.

The introduction conveys her excitement at being able to share all her years of experience with the reader. She explains how "compatible" stamping is with other forms of wire work. She explains that within the book you will learn how to rivet, hammer,and dapp, as well as stamp, and that the stamping "adds that little extra something that makes your design special and truly personal".

I agree! The very first "say it on your wrist" bangle I made said "The Ruse" on it. It had a few spiral designs, and a clasp. The Ruse is the name of my son's band. I gave it to his girlfriend, who is now his wife. Wherever she wore it, all her friends would comment on it and ask her how to get one. These bangles thoroughly convey your thoughts, when you make one. When you yourself learn to stamp, your love of what you are doing will be expressed in such a great manner!

The projects in the book are very flexible and so pretty! It is wonderful to learn to control a hammer properly and gives the reader a sense of empowerment when creating jewelry, as well. I find it to be like meditation, and enjoy feeling strong as I make stamped jewelry. I think it is cool, yet feminine to be able to do this well.
In Stamped Metal Jewelry, I particularly like the textured metal pendant. As an introduction to this lovely piece, the author comes right out and says, "This project appeals to sculptural wire fans who like very few rules". I am certainly drawn to that observation!Additionally, well made, sturdy jewelry is a must in my opinion, and the author always delivers the goods on sturdiness! This piece is terrific and unique. You will love it.
Another piece the reader will love is Lisa's friend's, Tracy Stanly's, "Simply Charming" charm bracelet. It includes instructions on how to make the graceful links which hold together the actual bracelet, and all the stamped pieces which make up the charms, plus an assortment of beads to mix up textures and lengths. It is a good example of another stamper's fabulous style.
At the end of the project, which is very well photographed, there is a section called, "Charmed, I'm sure!" which gives further inspiration on popular charm bracelet themes. The ideas are all excellent. They will bolster your enthusiasm in your ongoing work on a particular charm bracelet you are making.

I like the very clear techniques posted next to each each project as well.
I also love the "make it your own" posts the author offers after the very clear step out photos which show how to make each project.

If you have never heard of Lisa Niven Kelly, and you think you would like to try stamping, you have come to the right place. She is the expert's expert. This is a fine way to learn from her. This book, Stamped Metal Jewelry, creative techniques and designs for making custom jewelry, with its accompanying DVD, is totally wonderful. Short of taking a class at a bead show with the author, which is impossible for many of us, we have it all right here. Lisa Niven Kelly has real talent and she shares it willingly and abundantly with the reader. She also has included a beautiful gallery at the end of the book of inspirational work from her friends. I am thrilled with this book!

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out

 A to Z Blogging Challenge: K is for KISS


My Blythe doll Fiona, who is one of my chic-er dolls, is rocking it out in a KISS mini dress and matching shoes by Penelope Hutton, who sells on Etsy at TSANFW (These Shoes are Not for Walking)

I have a lot of people who tease me about my dolls, and the fashions they adore (well, the fashions I adore FOR them). I am told I was "doll deprived" as a kid. To that I say, "Pshaw! Let them eat cake!"

I know plenty of people with hobbies weirder than taking photos of their dolls dressed up and wearing earrings or bracelets or necklaces made by themselves. Yes, I made the earrings Fi is wearing. If you enlarge the photo, you will see that I spent a lot of time thinking the earrings through as an accessory to the dress. There are sterling lightning bolts which are similar to the "Ss" on the KISS logo. The red and the yellow on the logo appears on the earrings via the Swarovski Elements crystals which I used. Finally, KISS is a rock and roll band--or heavy metal, if you prefer. Those heavy looking rocks made from the metal sterling (heavy? metal???) are not on those earrings for nothing!
Yep. If you want to be in my band, you have to be preeeeeeeeetty cool--and that goes for all of you people who have teased me about my hobby, Emma Ralph! (http://www.ejrbeads.co.uk/)  !!! Bwa hahahaha, gotcha!

PS: Emma is a great pal of mine. I would never rip into her like this otherwise! However she is probably asleep by now so I won't have to risk any snappy retorts from her--she is kind of smart! Um, well she's awfully brilliant actually. Glad she is probably asleep. I hope. I really hope that.

:)

jean

The A to Z  Blogging Challenge is a creation of the wonderful
Arlee Bird's Ambitious April challenge. Her blog can be found here: Tossing It Out