Patt with Two T's

One obligatory Thanksgiving picture:   Garret was sound asleep...the beer bottle was added by someone who shall remain nameless, but he was so zonked--and this was before we ate dinner--that even several camera flashes didn't disturb him.  Okay, I lied--one more picture.  Everyone knows I don't cook anymore...well, like for the last 25 years, but I do make the twice-baked potatoes on Thanksgiving.    Oh, maybe I should find the picture of the turkey to give Matthew equal billing for all his hard work...  So now I'm up to 3 pictures from Thanksgiving.  He glazed the turkey with reduced apple cider which was pretty, but too much work and unnecessary.    I took the weekend off from creating more for the art shows, which also means quieting my head from designing the next project.  I shopped instead!  I went to the gem and jewelry show on Friday when everyone else seemed to be heading to the malls, though bought less than u...

 We love fresh crab right off the boats--it's one of the many perks of living on the coast.  We've waited all week to get them since the fishermen postponed the actual opening day to let the critters get larger.  Times have really changed when you think about it--we prefer farmer's markets for buying fresh produce right from the grower, some of us even have food growing in our own backyards, and we also prefer going to the harbor and picking out our own fish or seafood.   And then there are those who still eat canned and frozen and worst of all, fast food.  Admittedly, many people don't like to look their dinner in the eyes before the meal.... So better not look to see what's coming next.... Cooked and ready!  I'll never be a vegetarian, right?

 I've been writing this blog in my head since last week.  Why is it that many people can be involved in something, but only a small few do all the work?  And what is it about those few that keeps them going when others just show up for the fun part?   I guess this has always been my nature, until I get tired of being the idea person and workhorse, then walk away.  I did that at work when any new program was introduced--I was always the one to offer to try it (mentoring 2 times, advisor to new teachers, grade level advisor, creator and sole planner of Enrichment Day at the elementary school), when I moved to the coast I started a chemo cap knitting group in my home, which lasted a few years until I got tired of never knowing how many were going to show up, and now I've started this artists' group, which is up to 55 members, 23 of whom participated in the Open Studios and 3 1/2 of whom did the work.  Actually, we had two halves, so t...

Since I took the time to get pictures of new work that will preview this Saturday, I wanted to see how they look posted.  The first one is a Kumihimo beaded necklace.  I did this one with a blend of beads, rather than one or two colors only...and I like the look.  I'll make more, but not right this moment... Then made a few bracelets and some earrings.  I didn't crochet the wire for these, so they're so of "ordinary."   Well, not a problem since many people like this look rather than the artsy one. This picture doesn't show the shapes of the lampwork glass...some are square, some triangles, and some round.  The red here is a bracelet, and the white/pink is a necklace.. I realize it's hard to tell in pictures. And this last one is made with the Italian wire mesh, but it's hard to see....the large beads,which are some gemstone I don't remember--story of my life--are enclosed in the mesh.   I did do a couple of simple necklaces with the mesh ...

 I'm still making things like a crazy woman, but I just added another show to the mix--actually TWO more in Dec, so I have to keep working.  I enjoy what I do, so it's not like a job; it's just that it's crunch time.  Last night I made some earrings, finished a Kumihimo necklace, wove another cocoon jacket to be finished later today, and then laid out beads for 5 bracelets and about 7 pairs of earrings.  Those await me later today or tonight.  Today I'm meeting my friend Judith at Happy Feet for a massage.   We're on our second card with them--for $100, we get 5 "foot" massages, though they really do the whole body.  If you're slow on math, that's a mere $20 per massage, not including tip.  This one is more for my mind than my body--calm down, slow down, breathe, enjoy the trip.  Last night we had Marianna over for pizza to celebrate her birthday.  My stepson Julian was also here--he eats here 3-4 nights a week since he returned t...

And now it's on to earrings...made  5 pairs last night and will continue to make more this week.  I have beautiful beads to use, so now's the time to get moving.  I've also been working on the Italian wire mesh and made one relatively simple necklace in red wih a glass heart pendant that's dynamic.  I need to get photos done so I can send them to Lily in Florence.   I kept trying to make something complicated with that mesh, but it speaks for itself, so to say, and don't really need fancy.  It's already interesting looking without my help.  Oh, as I was writing this, I thought, the whole point of writing a blog is to show what I'm doing or working on, so had to get up and take a picture of the necklace.  Then, of course, I had to take pictures of the other necklaces I've done recently..  I used to use our wood picnic table on the deck for photos since it really showed off the beadwork, but we had it stained and now it's too dark to work...