Bird of Paradise Blossom

If you live in Florida or other warm states, this may not be impressive to you. But here in the northeast, this blossom is great to see especially, in the deep winter.

I've posted pictures of this before but every year it seems to be another "miracle". My brother-in-law brought back some Bird of Paradise seeds just before our oldest daughter was born. (I won't give the date away) My Mother-in-law planted them and after they sprouted, gave one to each of her kids. Slowly they gave out but ours flourished. Then one day we had a blossom. The plant was only a few feet tall. But the blossom was magnificent. Since then the plant has grown, been divided many times, sprouts given away and moved to its current container, a large green garbage can.

We found out that they have long tap roots and will grow larger if you will put them in a larger container. Needless to say, we stopped putting the plant in a larger container. Somehow, a large garbage container is enough!

We put it outside in the summer and bring it back in in the fall. A big reason to not have a larger container. The process involves a large dolly (bag truck) to move it and boards to act as a ramp for the steps to the outside. We are fortunate to have a very wide front door for the project.

Still every blossom is welcomed (not so much on moving day)

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Kids Living with Cancer

On January 24, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET/PT Nickelodeon will be running a program called "The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer" Take time to watch it if you are able. Tivo, DVR it or what ever you can.

Those of you who follow my blog know Lexie Williams. She is the girl in the lower left of the above picture. Because of the upcoming program, Lexie is getting phone calls. Alice, her Mom, commented on yesterday's Caring Bridge web site:

"Lexie was on the phone this morning before we went as it is almost time for her TV appearance, and the papers are calling- She told the interviewer when he asked her how she managed to live this life that, 'We always try to have fun whenever we can, because we know there will be the sad times, like today'- How did she get to be so brilliant ???"

Lexie was referring to the fact that they were about to attend the funeral of Bridget, another 11 year old girl who just lost her battle with Brain Cancer. You can read more on Alice's Caring Bridge journal.

Let's all do what we can to help spread the word about Cancer in Kids. They really need the research to help get rid of this terrible disease.

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Copper Chain Maille Bracelet

Last week our South Shore Beaders group met as usual. But not as usual, actually. We had decided at our December, dinner meeting, to try some different gatherings. The suggestions went from going bowling to taking jewelry classes.

It was finally decided that every other month we would do "something" different and in January the different thing was to join the group at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA for their Wed "Bring something and Craft together" meeting. We have been before but not as a group. Well, other than the first time we found this meeting.

Sometimes it is hard to work on the project you bring because we have such fun exchanging ideas and doing "Show and Tell". One brought a very new project of paper beads. (The kit arrived just that afternoon). One brought Viking Knit, one Kumihimo with beads and I brought a Chain Maille project.

Trying to keep one of my resolutions to "use what I have on hand" I brought some copper rings and some focal hearts. I started the bracelet at home, made about an inch there and finished it at home. (Talking takes up time...)

The pattern is the Barrel weave variation. (The "barrels" alternate in their position) I have made a similar bracelet in Argentium Silver before and it is very popular. I have an older post about it. The green and copper really go well together.

Anyhow, it was a fun evening and resulted in a fun bracelet.

What do you think about the copper variation?

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Nickelodeon "Cancer and Kids" program

Alice Williams, Lexie's mom, has been sharing about a program that will be aired on Nickelodeon on January 24, at 8 PM. It is titled "NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE’S THE FACE OF COURAGE: KIDS LIVING WITH CANCER"

Set your Tivo, DVR or alarm clock to watch it. Lexie will be on as one of the Kids Living with Cancer. Her section was filmed at Camp Sunshine. A Camp where Kids can go and be themselves as a kid should be.

Here is a blurb about the up coming show you can read. Click on the underlined section.

Remember the date January 24, 2010 at 8 PM on Nickelodeon.

You can read more about Lexie on other blog posts and see "Lexie's Jewelry" on my websites. $10 of each purchase goes to Cancer Research.

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

New Breast Cancer Bracelet

I love it when my customers give me new ideas. Especially this one.

I had a home party at Melanie's home (my Lexie Jewelry partner) and we decided to display more of my regular jewelry than just the Lexie Jewelry. A percentage of the sales would go to Cancer Research as with the Lexie Jewelry. To make a long story short, one of the ladies saw a bracelet


and suggested that it be made with pink beads instead of the hematite in the bracelet I had there. (above) She wanted to give her sister, now with Breast Cancer, a meaningful bracelet.

After a small search for pink beads, I settled on Rose Swarovski 6 mm beads. Funny thing. My daughter who is not a jewelry person commented while I was making the bracelet: "Hey, that's nice. I might wear that!" Now that is a complement!

Anyhow, I'm thinking that I should add this to my Cancer Research line of jewelry.



What do you think?

B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com