Slowly returning. ...

I am still around, alive, and kicking.  I have decided that I have been absent long enough.

There have been a few changes in our house.  I have started working after almost 10 years....wow that is a long time. Right now it is just part time.  Our boys attend a small K3-12 the grade private Christian school.  We absolutely love it and this year I am serving on the board. This has been a wonderful experience.  In December the board needed to make some changes and I began working part

time teaching  first grade reading, writing, spelling, and math. For those of you that don't know I am a certified teacher. I started in January and really love it. I have a small class with only 7 students.  Makes it a fun group.


My Husband and I started a non-profit organization Hunting For The Cure about 2 years ago and it is really doing great.  We are hosting our first turkey hunt this month.

I have suffered from back pain for several years and it has gotten worse.  I also have this past year or two been having various other pains and issues.  I finally went to see a pain specialist and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  I have begun some new medications and although things are not great they are better.  

When Lori posted that it was time to sign up for the BSBP again I thought oh I think I will just sit this round out.... well.... that did not happen.  Lori has assigned partners and I have been in contact with mine and will introduce you to her this week....I hope.

Here is hoping we start meeting regularly again.

Octoberfest 2013 with Toltec Jewel School Friends

Although I am a bit late.....better late than never....someone once said! Welcome to the Second annual Octoberfest hosted by the lovely Rita of Jewel school friends.  I participated last year and it was a wonderful blog hop. 

I just love this time of year, weather starts to get cold, or so we hope and pray here in GA. My favorite holidays, etc.

Noah and I went on a field trip with his K-3 class to the pumpkin patch.

I just love that sweet smile!

Making corn angels.

 Time to find the perfect pumpkin!  He probably picked up every pumpkin in the patch.

We had a Halloween party for the kids and they had a blast! We pitched the party tent and had square hay bales for seats. I made a big pot of chili and hot dogs and lots of spooky treats that we did not take any pictures of....duh!?! I always take pictures of the sweet things I make.

                                
                               The kids reached in the primitive head and got some candy.

 Look bottom right and you can see me dressed as Fiona, my Husband was Shrek.  At this moment I was making some cotton candy. I got a $40 machine from Amazon and it was a big hit!

Jacob was a Knight and I am pretty sure it was just because it had a sword and shield.  He is the blond one in the middle. 

make.  Noah, my other Knight, is the little one bottom left.  He insisted on wearing his red Georgia Bulldog hoodie! Always a Dawg fan!

 Sorry I am late joining in the fun.  Will be visiting blogs next week as this weekend we are having our second annual cancer hunt for our non-profit organization, www.huntingforthecure.org.  We let kids with cancer come for the weekend to hunt, fish, enjoy the great outdoors, and just have a great carefree weekend.   

Please visit all the other talented participants.

Thanks to Rita for hosting this fun blog hop.

Octoberfest 2013 Artists

Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Susan                                          http://libellulajewelry.com

Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/

Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/

Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/

Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/

Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com

Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca

Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com

Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/

Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Toltec Jewels (Rita, your hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Creating with Cabochons Blog Hop

I know some of you out there in the big blog world are shocked to see that I have finally posted a new blog post.  It has only been 6 months....not THAT long, LOL!  I had a really busy summer with the family and both the boys are now in school.  When Sally Russick made the announcement that she would be hosting a cabochon blog hop I thought this is just the thing to get me back to blogging and participating in challenges, hops, etc.

Well, I was sort of right....

I did start  a design, I just have not finished it yet.

 I made the cabochon with resin.  It is a faux dicroic glass.  In the picture it is really   difficult to see how pretty it really is.  I back stitched it to some Lacey's stiff stuff and then did the suede backing in black.  I did a netting stitch around the cab.  I plan on making the chain of the necklace using St. Petersburg stitch.

As you can see in the above picture, I already started these smaller cabs, and planned on using them with this design, not sure if that is still going to happen.  I now see the focal piece with just a simple black stitched rope/chain of some sort.  

Please visit all the participants, I am sure they all have beautiful creations.  I will post pictures of mine once completed.  Thanks to Sally for getting in back in the groove, although it is a slow process, I suppose it is a start.

Your Host:  Sally Russick

D Lynne  Bowland

Alicia Marinache           

Lynn  Jobber           

Jenny Davies-Reazor           

 

Jo-Ann  Woolverton           

Marde Lowe           

Dawn Doucette           

Mary K McGraw           

Gloria Allen           

Cheri  Reed           

Sonya Stille   **you are here        

Elizabeth Owens Dwy           

Veralynne   Malone           

Tania Hagen           

Lynsey  Brooks           

Christina Miles           

Holly  Westfall           

Kathy  Lindemer           

Patti Vanderbloemen           

Therese Frank           

Adrienne Berry           

Liz   E  

Tanty  Sri Hartanti           

Ginger Bishop

Renetha Stanziano           

Marlene  Cupo           

Sandi Volpe           

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson           

Niky  Sayers

Mischelle Fanucchi           

Tracy  Stillman           

Skylar Bre'z           

Ann Schroeder           

Paula Kramer

Jess Green           

Susan Kennedy           

Stacie  Florer           

Cathie  Carroll           

Susan F.   

Michelle Caballero       

Sabine Dittrich           

Kristina Johansson           

Kimberly Sturrup-Roberts           

Melissa  Meman           

Cheryl McCloud         

Michelle  Timms           

Cindy  Pack                 

Lynda  Carson

Cynthia  Machata           

Julia  Harris           

Karin  Slaton

Ingrid  Anderson           

Karin Grosset Grange

Jasvanti  Patel  

Inge  von Roos

Molly Alexander

Toltec Jewels  

 

Holiday Bling Blog Hop 3

I once again decided to participate in Shelly and Marlene's Holiday Blog Hop, this is the third and I have done all three.  They really are such fun.  This time around I was partnered with the lovely Tiffany Smith of Southern Gals Designs.  Tiffany makes wonderful ceramic pieces.  For those of you that are owl fans you have to go check them out....so cute! 

Tiffany and I decided that we were going to make each other Valentine's themed jewelry.  She made me a really cute bracelet with a ceramic heart she made, and matching earrings.  I just love them.  If you want to see please visit her blog.

I have been in a bit of a rut and have been having a difficult time with things.  I really needed this to get me going again.  I utilize a variety of techniques in my jewelry making but bead weaving is by far my favorite.  Since Tiffany does not bead weave this was perfect.  I flipped through my huge stack of magazines and found some patterns I really liked....was not really so out of the rut that I was going to come up with an original design, and these are really pretty. 

The bracelet is a free  bracelet design by Sabine Lippert called Mingles.  I used Swarovoski bicone crystals and glass pearls. 

                      

The earrings are from a bracelet design by Nancy Peterson called pretty picots.  Instead of doing them all for the bracelet I just did the one unit and made earrings.  I think they are perfect with this bracelet.  I also made Tiffany a  bead woven Medallion pendant that is designed by Marcie Abney of La Bella Joya.  This was a fun pendant to make.   I really hope Tiffany enjoys what I made for her.  Please visit her blog, Face book page, and all the other participants.  

 

Alicia Marinache	www.allprettythings.ca
Catherine King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Chris Schlicht	TBD
Cynthia Machata	http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Laura Reed	TBD
Leanne Loftus	http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lennis Carrier	http://www.windbent.net
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Marti Conrad	http://marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars	http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels	http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Sandra McGriff	http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Sarah Goode	http://www.pookledo.com
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Therese Frank	http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith	http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

   BLOG - www. MarShellSwaps. blogspot.com
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/278484128939796/
E-mail - marshellswaps@gmail.com

Lack of Posts

 I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

Things in my life have just been sort of crazy and I feel the huge need to just

and do nothing! 

This will only last for a short while.  I will be back soon.