I KNOW WHERE ALL THE LOST SOCKS GO...

...Because I have been there.  It's a very lonely place but I found my way back.  I'm amazed I could fit in the dryer!  That's the only excuse I can offer at this time.  I wish I had a better one but the truth is always more boring and not worth hashing out.  I have begun to get my muse back.  Little by little.  I've been doing more stringing than bead embroidery the past year and I have even become more interested in metals and gemstones.  Of course they all require $$$$.  So on a budget I have been dabbling.  I want to re-reach out to my friends who I have lost touch with this year.  There are some truly wonderful people who have touched my life in the last few years and I let my illnesses, my tendency to isolate along with my frustration and physical pain cut me off from them.  I saw life passing me by and I couldn't keep up based on my personal physical restrictions and I guess I just turned away from it when it became too much.  I mean here is this laptop on my bead table and did I open it and talk to the people I love?  No I chose to wallow in self-pity when things got too tough.  It's easy to do when battling multiple illnesses but definitely NO EXCUSE! I miss going to bead meetings, the very thing that breathed life back into me.  I miss hugs from my most loving friend, Arline,  and talking to other members.  Never mind all the inspiration they provide.  I know that because I am a type A with control issues I have to learn to accept my limitations and more important let people in and let people help when I need it.  That said I pray that I can be welcomed back into the fold with the understanding that I am only human and trying very hard to adjust to my current set of circumstances.  You'd think after almost 5 years I would have it sorted out but I don't.  I found beading and I found CCBS and Arline and BJ and Becki and all the women I love and appreciate for a reason.  I need to remember how precious those gifts are every %$#$#@$%$^ day!!!!!  I'm not alone unless I make it that way.  Please forgive me and let's get back to beading and living, O.K.?
My son, Kody was home from college this past weekend for a little visit. He works at Ambercrombie and Fitch which I don't know how to spell but he likes it.  He is about 6 ft. 3 in. or maybe taller and all muscle.  He and his girlfriend Lacey made peanut butter choc. chip cookies.  He should come home more often!  Unfortunately he had a bout of the stomach bug for the first two days and I lived in fear for the rest of the time that I was next but it missed me!!!!! Yeah!!!!!  They left a few hours ago.  He's driving his g.f. back to Santa Barbara State U. and then he will drive back to college in San Luis Obispo.  Ahhhh to be young again!  He's doing fantastic in school and his g.f. is very smart, funny, cool and we love her.  Kody was lucky to find such an amazing and beautiful young lady.  They are best friends and that is a great foundation for love.
I made 3 new original necklaces last month and I wish I could always remember to get a photo before they go.  I love the necklace I made and traded in order to turn my hair back to blonde again.  It was a lariat using a polymer clay focal and little PMC feathers from Klewexpressions and used lots of stones and chips and wire and even braided the  leather rope it hung on.  I am proud of that one.  If I get a picture of the lady wearing it I will post it.  I will stalk her if I have to.  Just kidding.  The other 2 are still here waiting to find homes. One is a lariat with  gunmetal colored chain and 3 metal rings that were made off center and really cool looking.   I then embellished the end of the chain that I threaded through them with the beautiful agate teardrops I purchased a long time ago on one of my trips to the coast with Arline.  Then I made a big chunky necklace using large agate nuggets -black - dyed aqua blue, some of my old, dwindling, Bali silver stash beads and some man-made turquoise large chips, some wood beads and a glass focal.  I strung some brown iris CFP rounds on a piece of ring size memory wire and encircled the focal with it.
I'm working on my second Bohemian Lace Necklace in my fav. colors -(earthy tones with some gold and silver to make it pop) for a good friend.  I made the first one in lavendar and silver/gray and got burnt out so this one is taking some time!!  You can see the original design at themagpie.com along with many other gorgeous jewelry she makes.  It's time consuming but worth the effort.  

earrings I made for  secret pal

Schmuel making off with a tube of beads

Caught Chewie trying to use ebay. Hmmm...

I'm tired and my dogs are telling me it's dinner time.  Already???? Did you remember to set your clocks back an hour last night?  I didn't but my pugs did.  I'll try to get a couple pictures up to commemorate this occasion... my return from the place where lost socks go.