Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!! My cousin's favorite holiday - even more so than Christmas. I like Day of the Dead myself. Have a great Dead Elvis in a cabinet.

My sister did the cruelest thing to me today. She recently took up quilting and insisted that I accompany her to a quilting store. I was in agony. All this pretty fabric and so many things waiting to be made! I cannot take up another hobby. Not allowed. No siree Bob.

Lake Michigan after a fall storm.

Lake Michigan steely grey fall sunrise.

Today's quote comes from the Scots: From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

Fall 2009

This is one of those things that comes with fall, I'm told. It's an Osage Orange which is a tree seed that I've never seen before. I think it's lovely.

I love the color and the bumps. Looks like fibers all knotted together in one giant ball. Also kinda looks like a green brain.

Found these seed pods outside the Alterra Coffee shop. Hard to get it in focus when the wind's blowing!

And the tree right outside my house. Resplendent in its true colors against the October sky.

Today's quote comes from the existentialist Albert Camus: Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

Kinetic Bird Art

Think I should get downtown and make my own movie (minus the interviews) and let the birds speak for themselves. Don't like invasive species, but appreciate the beauty of this one. European Starlings.

Today's Quote comes from Izaak Walton: Those little nimble musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties, with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art.

Fall is Here

Fall is here - actually feels like it began with the ending since it's been so cold. I think we're due an Indian Summer. The trees don't seem to know what to do - one in the backyard just decided to drop nearly ALL of it's leaves over night!

I think this is an ash tree and it has always been one of my favorites in the fall since it appears to glow from within. I finally got a couple of pictures at just the right time. Emerald Ash Borers have been found near my city and the thought of loosing all of these beautiful trees makes me sick.

Been working on housey-stuff and I have come to the conclusion that I hate paper! Well, okay, I love paper, but I hate recycling it and getting it in the first place. I also handle so much at work. Have you ever pulled out a file of paper that's just a couple of years old and noticed that it smells?

I wish I could be more paper-free and I'm trying. I don't get paper bills anymore and the internet has made writing checks nearly obsolete. One step in the paper-free direction. Now if we could just get magazines to allow subscribers to access their magazines online - no more stacks of magazines - awesome!

On a lighter and brighter note: I sat down and conquered St Petersburg chain yesterday. Made two short samples and am now ready to begin work on a gift. Felt really good to sit down and bead and challenge myself. Now to figure out how to put my own stamp on it.

Today's quote comes from PD James: It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.

Land of No TV

Peyote rings created by Shayna Illingworth. I took a class from her on dimensional peyote - it was cool and was just the challenge I was looking for. She's a very talented young woman - watch for her!

Amazing what one can accomplish when one shuts off the boob tube. I have always wanted to be one of those people who don't watch much tv, but that is not usually the case.

However, lately there are far fewer programs on tv that I want to watch and this is a good thing. Leaves more time for listening to music, reading and cooking. Have a pot of ratatouille on the stove right now and it smells wonderful!

Today's quote comes from an unknown source: I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There's a knob called "brightness," but that doesn't work.

Bead Retreat Today

Of course I have many projects to work on, but nothing gathered and ready to go. I should just work on UFO (unfinished objects) but those are still packed away after the major cleaning spurt.

I think I'll teach myself a new stitch today to see if I really like it (St Petersburg chain). It's a Russian stitch and I don't think I've learned any Russian stitches before.

Looking forward to the camaraderie and laughter today.

I had a kernel of an idea for a film project but I need to let it gel a bit before I begin to storyboard it.

Today's quote is a Buddist Proverb: When the student is ready, the master appears.

Craft in America

I saw just a little bit of the Craft in America (Season Two) on PBS tonight, but what I did see looks very interesting.

Hope you have a chance to watch it. I find it inspiring and I really like to see how other creative people's idea's come to fruition.

Today's quote comes from Phyllis George: Crafts make us feel rooted, give us a sense of belonging and connect us with our history. Our ancestors used to create these crafts out of necessity, and now we do them for fun, to make money and to express ourselves.

Bead Show Today and the Symphony

The Milwaukee Bead Show is today. Going with a pack of friends and have a short list (that I will probably end up not sticking to because I'll find something fabulous that I must have!)

Need to get a focal bead for a gift for a cousin and the awful part is that I know I have the perfect bead, but I just spent days cleaning up and now I can't find a thing!

Saw the Target ad today - they're now selling jewelry that mimics that which we beaders (and Sundance) have made and enjoyed for years - garnet and labradorite earrings and necklaces... A little amazed by that. Will have to check on the quality of the stones. Handmade will always be better!!!!!

Went to the symphony last night - hearing the orchestra warming up and going through the ritual of tuning brought back floods of memories as did the 2nd movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony - played that - don't remember when or where or which orchestra.

Beethoven : Symphony No.7 in A major Op.92 : II Allegretto - Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Having a listening skill is important and may be something that we, as an electronic society, are loosing. Think about it. Sitting and listening to a book on cd or an orchestra without doing anything else.

Today's first quote comes from Red Auerbach: Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Today's second quote comes from Buddy Holly: Without Elvis, none of us could have made it.