One Meaning Couture Jewelry

This is a sample of some of the lovely jewelry sold at http://www.onemeaningcouture.com/.

Notice the number "813" forms a butterfly. The meaning of "813" is "8" letters, "3" words "1" meaning. The words "I Love You".

I found this site through the blog of Lexie's Mom, Alice Williams at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams

(You remember Lexie is the 10 year old girl that inspired my line of Lexie's Jewelry)

Alice has been writing a lot lately about "Sharing Love" and "Living in the Moment, Playing in the Moment, Cherishing every Moment". It s a philosophy that Alice is determined to see spread everywhere.

This is a philosophy that comes from living with Cancer patients and their families. Recently, one of their little friends, Devon, lost her battle with a brain tumor. It has been a time of healing and "keeping on" in the Williams family. It would be hard enough for them to loose one friend but, unfortunately, it is not just one in their circle of brain tumor friends.

This web site was recommended by Devon's father as one that was supporting Brain Tumor research by donating 8.13% of their sales (813 - get it?) to "The Friends of Jaclyn" a brain tumor child. This is the first of various charitable organizations that "One Meaning Couture" will be donating to various charities.

They have a line of apparel for sale, also. Check it out.

To me this sort of thing is a real win-win idea and worth supporting.

B

Snowflake Pendant !!!!

The world's tallest snowman is no man. Olympia, towering in at 122 feet is the tallest on record.

You ever wonder what is done with a winter snow that is more than needed in Bethel, Maine?

The "snow woman" towering over this village features eyelashes created from discarded skis and bright red lips made from painted car tires. She wears a giant red hat and a 100-foot-long scarf, and her blond tresses are made from rope. The arms are large "Christmas" trees.

She gets a little bling from a snowflake pendant that's 6 feet long. Now I've made big pendant necklaces before but this takes the cake, so to speak.

Here is a picture of the "installation" of the snowflake pendant.

As much as I love the big snowflake pendant, I really love the eyelashes. Somehow, it gives perspective to me. Each lash is a SKI! Oh, yes, the lips made of 5 red tires!

When was the last time you built a snowman/snow woman? How large was it?

B

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Remember "Y2K"? Ten years ago we were (well, some were) wondering if the computers would fail. Lots of things have happened since then. In the world and personally.

I was recovering from the year 1999 with treatments for Breast Cancer. And, Thank God, I'm still here, just 10 years older and retired. I've started a jewelry business that, though slowly, is growing. In the year 2008, our Lexie jewelry was able to donate close to $4,000 to the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute.

Many, many thanks to those who purchased jewelry and to those who helped spread the word. Lexie is now ten years old and doing well, at last report. She still has hopes and prays that her fellow brain tumor friends will continue to improve. She has lost several friends recently and it seems to be getting harder for her to cope.

Lexie's Mom has a great journal on her Caring Bridge site and she has recently has some great reflective posts about what they have learned from the little kids who have not survived. Check it out at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams.

I plan to be adding more sophisticated things both to my web site and blog as well as to my jewelry designs. January always brings the desire to learn a new techinque. Last year it was Kumihimo. This year, I have some ideas but nothing definite yet. Keep tuned.

Any how, what are some of your 2009 goals? I'd like to hear about them and thanks for reading my blog in 2008.

B

Bird of Paradise

Way back my brother-in-law went to Hawaii and brought back some Bird of Paradise seeds. We each received one and we have had plant(s) ever since. It is now as old as our oldest daughter (I’m not giving out the year to protect the innocent - which includes me)

Anyhow, we have had very good luck with blossoms and this one came into bloom just before we left for Christmas vacation. There are two others too but this is the best picture.

We could divide the plant into several smaller plants. This one resides in large "garbage" can with wheels on it. However, the wheels really don't help when it comes to moving it. They all reside outside during the summer and it is always a big production when we move the "forest' inside or outside. My husband has a "ramp" to go up the two steps (one at a time) from the front side walk into the front hall. Then around the corner to the place of honor in the living room front windows. Several other plants are there also.

My jewelry table and shelves are next to the "forest" and it makes a cozy place to do my designing and construction of my pieces.

This picture gives a little more perspective on the space involved. (Our ceilings are 10 feet tall and the windows are to the left - the Christmas tree is in the door way to the hall) It is nice to have some beautiful flowers in the winter time.



B

Goals and new things for 2009

While we were still on vacation in MD, my husband, all my kids and grandchildren took off to see the Air and Space Museum in VA. (It was raining and I opted not to go since I was still getting over my head cold.) So I was surfing for new things to learn and learn about.



It has been pointed out to me by several websites, newsletters etc that it is a "must" to have video on your web sites and blogs (unless you want to be behind) Of course, I don't want to be behind, so I've been looking into how to make a video for my web site and/or blog.



My mind is spinning! When it comes to communicating in the modern age, I do have a cell phone. But I never turn it on unless I want to call someone when I'm away from home. (Ask my daughter) So, iPods, Blackberries and the like are beyond me. But I've been working on it.



I now know about Audacity, and something called Lame MP3 and you must have iTunes on your computer to put it all together. (Even though I have a PC) I think I will need at least a microphone to do the audio file which is how I thought I'd start. My camera does short videos which does include the audio. Need to get organized but one step at a time.



I progressed during the afternoon while all by myself, to down load Audacity and iTunes. Now, I must explain that I had also, at the same time, completed about 6 inches of a fiber Kumihimo necklace I've been working on. You know the status lines that show the progress of your download? Cracks me up: 33 minutes left, 39 minutes, 20 minutes, 70 % Oh, yes, that was just for the first step. Now status is 25 minutes, 33 minutes. and so on and so forth!

Thus Kumihimo accomplished!!


And soon they came home! More later.


B

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to you all!


(I'm taking a week off from blogging to visit family and celebrate Christmas and the New Year)


Best Wishes for the New Year and see you all soon.

B

Chain Maille teacher gifts

My daughter is a former preschool teacher and has definite ideas of appreciated Christmas gifts for teachers. So, when it comes to giving teacher gifts for her own kids she is particular. No chocolate, no mugs etc.

I wasn't surprised when she asked if I had any of her favorite Chain Maille earrings. She likes the simple three ring mobius earrings I make. Well, it turned out that I did not have any already made.

I told her that if I had the correct ring size in stock, I could make them for her. It turned out that I usually use 18 gauge, 7 mm but I only had 6 mm. That would be OK, she told me.

So, with in an hour, we had some nice teacher gifts. It is nice to be able to do that.

I hope the teachers will like them.

B

Wordless Wednesday - Pinochle

CA observations by a North Easterner

Just thought I'd post some observations of California, from my point of view, as someone from the northeast.

We saw some nice looking wind farms on the way from Pleasanton to Modesto. (See MA, they don't look bad. In fact they were nice to look at while we were driving along the highway. Maybe MA should try them)

My son cut the grass on Saturday (We, in MA, haven't cut the grass since late October)

There are red roses blooming outside, plus pansies and snap dragons and all sorts of "spring" flowers.

The weather man said there was a cold spell coming this weekend. The high is going to maybe reach 50. Actually they predicted snow above 1,000 feet in elevation. (Note it was 52 in Boston, MA)

There are palm trees in northern CA. I thought they were just in southern CA. Not so, I guess.

Many "regular" trees still have their leaves. (They have to rake well into January, I guess)

Unless you ski, you don't have boots or really warm coats either.

Last night my grandson said "It is going to hail tomorrow" We all wondered how he came to that conclusion. But when we looked out side this afternoon we saw:

The hail stones do not show very well but they were there!

Well, we should be on our way home by now. I'll post more later when I have adjusted to the "jet lag"


B

Third Kumihimo Bracelet

This bracelet is a bit plain compared to some of my other Kumihimo bracelets but it is one of those go with most everything colors.

The color on the package named it "Iris" and in fact the seed beads do look like all colors of Iris that I've ever seen (well, in blues anyhow) It is hard to get a good picture of the color variations plus the iridescence of the color.

It is finished with a small heart lobster claw toggle.

B