On Retreat

This is post #88 (in my run up to 100) and I am going to be away from my computer for the next four days. I will return Sunday night.

Where am I going? Just down the road a piece to a little retreat center with 60 of my closest quilting buddies for four days of laughing, sewing, eating and laughing some more.

Do not forget the Pass It On challenge. Rules are HERE

See you Sunday evening!

You know you want it!

This item is the most popular item in my Etsy shop {LINK} by far and it all came about in a challenge hosted by Kelly at Silver Parrot Designs {LINK}. I was the big winner of the challenge and I want to pay it forward and at the same time celebrate my 100th post (this is post #87).

This great bracelet could be your if you win my

Pass It On Challenge
(rules and post links are here; {LINK})

There may be more prizes depending on how many participate.

There are three ways to get your hat in the ring:

1. Find a budding artist in need of encouragement (whatever medium you work or enjoy)

2. De-stash some object/items/tool/books from your studio and pass them on to the budding artist

3. Blog about it with a link to yesterday's post {LINK} and tell me about your blog post with the URL address (counts as one entry)

4. Comment on yesterday's post {LINK} (counts as another entry)

5. Become a follower of my blog, remind me in a comment if you already are a follower {LINK} (counts as yet another entry)

Easy peasy, you can do this! And just think, some budding artist you know will truly benefit!

PASS IT ON Challenge

In mid-December I received an incredibly bountiful package from Kelly at Silver Parrot {LINK}for winning her Bracelet Challenge giveaway and blogged about it here {LINK }. In the envelope were three books and a box of beads. It was so exciting! What I did not write in the post is that I had already purchased the Enchanted Adornments book, so it was a duplicate for me.

What could I do but to pass it on.

There is a young girl at church who is blossoming before our very eyes, from a sullen early teen to a lovely young lady with much, much more confidence. She creates the cutest felt food characters (French Toast with a French mustache, happy little cupcakes, that sort of thing). She also makes jewelry from what she has around.

I thought, “Someone should encourage this budding young artist!” So I did.

I put together a box of goodies from my stash: inexpensive duplicate tools, a bag of costume jewelry parts I had been given, earring findings, and these two books to instruct her. I gave the package to her yesterday and she was very excited! I cannot wait to see what she makes. I have encouraged her to set up an Etsy shop and I hope to help her there.

It cost me next to nothing, and yet I got so much joy from seeing her face light up. It is like planting a seed, so small and almost insignificant, and yet, there is no telling how far a little nurturing will go and what type of fruit it might produce.

Here is my challenge to you:
1. Find a budding artist in need of encouragement (whatever medium you work or enjoy)

2. De-stash some object/items/tool/books from your studio and pass them on to the budding artist

3. Blog about it with a link to this post and tell me about your blog post with the URL address (counts as one entry)

4. Comment on this post (counts as another entry)

5. Become a follower of my blog, remind me in a comment if you already are a follower (counts as yet another entry)

So, that’s three chances to win.

When I post my 100th blog-post, I will announce the winner of a random drawing (this is post 86, so about 2-3 weeks – around St. Patrick’s Day). The prize is the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet, which only seems fair since it was the winner in Kelly’s bracelet challenge and the start of the bounty {LINK } back in November.

Now get out there and pass it on!

Busy hands . . .

Still no word on the job . . . but I just heard about the job -- I was a finalist of about 3 people (there were a huge number of qualified candidates). I did not get the job, but the interviewer was very gracious and said that I had been a very strong candidate. So, . . . if that was not the ideal job I am supposed to have, what is it? I am waiting upon the Lord here.

I have been keeping my hands busy to take my mind off the anticiaption. Here is what I have been making.


They will eventually end up in my Etsy Shop but if you see something here and want to buy it NOW, let me know.

In a few days I will celebrate my 100th post. I am thinking of some special way to celebrate it, like a giveaway or a swap or something. So come back often, tell your friends and your blog readers.

And more waiting . . .

Still no decision.

I spoke with the interviewer this morning and he said he will have a decision "in a few days" and that it has been "much more difficult" to decide than he had thought it would be.
There is a knot in my stomach. I wonder it it has anything to do with all this.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Waiting . . .

From flickr

A week ago I had the best job interview I have ever experienced. (EVER!) It was amazing!

I was told I would hear something Friday (2/12), but it started to snow in the wee hours of Thursday morning and did not stop until late in the evening. We had a record snowfall -- it was 8" in my front yard. In North Texas, we are not afraid to drive on the snow and ice but we ARE afraid of the other drivers, so everything shuts down.

The hiring institution was closed Thursday and Friday and Monday was a holiday. I still have not heard and so I wait. Everytime the phone rings, my heart leaps.

Waiting is very hard to do. I will let you know how it turns out.

And the Bead Soup Winner is . . . .

Now that I have that "Print Screen" thingy down, there is no stopping me!

I ran the numbers for today's drawing and the winner out of 43 participants . . . of the Cherry Quartz and Freshwater Pearl earrings is . . .

Boot~C from Mama's Gotto Doodle

Send me your info [artymezia(!at)yahoo(dot)com]

Congratulations Boot~C, and thanks to all who commented. I just love reading comments.

Giveaway Reminder

We are snowed in here in Denton Texas with at least 6 inches on the ground and still more falling. It probably will not last through the day tomorrow, but it is truly lovely to watch out my window.

Friday is going to be a big day for me. I interviewed for a great job on Monday and was told I would hear something on Friday. Fingers crossed. I'm trying to not fret about it, trying to keep my mind off of it, but I have been out of a job since July.

Anyway, I thought I would remind everyone about the Giveaway on my blog set for this Saturday. Go to yesterday's post {LINK} and leave a comment. You can visit as often as you like, (but only once a day counts).

If you have not gotten through the whole list of Virtual Bead soup Party participant's sights, this is something you really should do -- so many amazingly talented jewelry artists have really outdone themselves.

Party! Party! Virtual Bead Soup Party! {Woohoo}

I am going to have a drawing for this pair of earrings from the comments on this blog post – (I will draw a random number on Saturday afternoon).

There are 85 (eighty-five!!) participants in the Virtual Bead Soup Party and the big REVEAL is TODAY!!! Check out the list below.

Judy Glende was my swap buddy. Here’s what I did with the gorgeous turquoise beads and the hand-wrought copper cross she sent me.

{Click on photo to enlarge} Originally I thought we were to create something from the beads and send it back to our partner. I was so excited to make something especially for her – then I found out what I was making was for ME! You need to make sure you visit her blog (http://judithdesigns.blogspot.com/ ) to see what she did with the enameled butterfly and beads I sent to her.

It took me three sessions to check out all the participants when the list was posted on Lori Anderson's blog but my suggestion is to jump in the middle of the list and work backwards or forwards – just make sure you see all the blogs and make a comment.

Now sit back and enjoy all this wonderful beady goodness provided by all these talented artists.

Party Participants
1. Lori, Pretty Things Blog OUR HOSTESS
2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads
3. Terri, Blooming Ideas
4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio
5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts
7. Erin, Treasures Found
8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry
9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs
10. Nan, Spirit Rattles
11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings
14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle
15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks
16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
17. Lisa, Lo and Behold
18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas
19. Judith, Judith B. MY SWAP BUDDY
20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
21. Maria, Garden Path Beads
22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design
23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life
24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea
27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design
28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals
29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction
30. Leslie, Bei Mondi
31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta
32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry
33. Kathie, The Bead Cult
34. Patty, Plays With Fire
35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire
37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry
38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle
39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio {ME}
40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
41. Marcie, La Bella Joya
42. Suzann, Beadphoria
43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass
45. Janiece, J Birds Garden
46. Kate, Organic Odysseys
47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale
48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure
49. Sue, Sue Beads
50. Janeen, Janeen 365
51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
52. Kristie, Artisan Clay
53. Regina, Regina's Writings
54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
55. Lyn, Lyn Foley
56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz
57. Cathryn, Chile Cats
58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook
59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter
60. Juli, Jul's Beads
61. Julie, RockerJewlz
62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too
63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
64. Katie, My Life and My Beads
65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay
66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth
67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design
68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio
69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery
70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs
71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights
73. Chas, One Woman's Haven
74. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry
75. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky
76. Maire, Maire Dodd
77. Janet, Singing Woods
78. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads
79. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels
80. Joann, Jo's Jewels
81. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
82. Mel, Kookie Designs
83. Erin, Every Heart Crafts
84. Dale, Flights of Fancy
85. Dee, Runako Designs

Just a Tease -- Virtual Bead Soup

I know. I am such a tease!

Judy Glende's gorgeous turquoise beads have been such a pleasure to work with and I am quite taken by the hand-wrought copper cross. It is going to be tough putting it in the post back to her. (Don't worry Judy, I promise I will!) (Deleted)

So, if you have been following the blog, you know there are 85 (eighty-five!!) participants in the Virtual Bead Soup Party and that the big REVEAL will be on February 10th. That is just eight days away. You need to prepare yourself for the day.

It took me three sessions to check out all the participants when the list was posted on Lori Anderson's blog. Get up early, because we will all be blogging about it, and set aside some quality "alone" time with no distractions. Have your favorite beverage (coffee, tea, hot cocoa, whatever) and a comfy chair. I promise this will be a trip from glory into glory! Everything is going to be breathtaking!

By the way, this is what I sent to Judy: Cannot wait to see what she does with it all. Her pieces are so gorgeous and romantic.