Living my life Wickedly

Last night we went to see "Wicked". I was skeptical because I had a hard time getting into the book or listening to it on audio. But WOW oh WOW was I blown away. It was so AWESOME I just didn't want it to end. So if it comes to your town, RUN, don't walk, and get tickets. If I had some extra cash (which I never do!!) I'd go see it several times more.

Here are some words from one of the songs to inspire you today (and always):

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn and we are led

To those who help us most to grow if we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you.....

This blog post is dedicated to all my wonderful friends who have supported me on my fabulous journey through the years. All the good (and the bad) have made me who I am today, and I hope with your help I can continue to live my life to the very fullest. I'm certainly trying.

Beading for a Cure

Every year for the past three years I've participated in a wonderful project. Jeanette Shanigan, a beader from Alaska, organizes people from around the world to stitch tiny beaded squares (1 1/2" x 1 1/2") that she assembles into quilted wall hangings. These quilts are auctioned at the Bead & Button Show each year and the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Each year she has a theme and this year's theme is "Caring hands beading together to help find a cure for breast cancer."

Beaders from around the world stitched over 500 squares for last year's "turtle" quilt project. and their efforts raised nearly $3,000. Linda Davis (my friend and one of the co-owners of our gallery) donates her time and beads so that Albuquerque artists can participate. I am proud to say that 90 of the squares from last year were stitched by our local beaders. An anonymous donor purchased the quilt that was made from the New Mexico beads and it is now proudly displayed at local bead store Lodi's Beads.

The past two years I have participated and made a quilted square, but this year I've been overly ambitious and have made five so far!! Here are photos of four of them.

Rocks in My Head

No beans in my ears....just rocks in my head. They are there for many reasons. Probably mostly because my head is filled with so many ideas of art projects that I want to do that I would have to live to be at least 500 to complete them all. That's the bad news. The good news is that I have all the supplies I need to last me until I'm 500. So guess I had better get busy, right?

But the rocks you see in the photo are polymer clay rocks in a necklace I made for our "Mineral Spirits" show that opened this week in the gallery I co-own with six other artists. I haven't sold any of them yet - could it be that no one wants to wear the same jewelry as Wilma Flinstone or Betty Rubble? Hmmm. Perhaps I should discover a way to turn polymer clay into diamonds!! Check out the gallery at http://www.thewoodencow.com/

Remember my resolution to write in my post every week this year? Well.....I'm right on track. So far so good - and I joined the gym, too. Yep. Rocks in my head.

A clean slate for the New Year

Ed and I next to our Christmas tree on Christmas Day.

A new year lies before us. What shall we do with it? What resolutions shall we make and break? Which ones will we keep? I find this to be an exciting time of year with so many possibilities before me. A clean slate to do with what I want. And what DO I want? I have the same goals I always have each year.....eat better, get fitter, lose pounds, etc. But this year I am really going to try - no darn it - I am GOING TO spend more time doing the things I love, and get some of the clutter out of my life. (yes, yes, I promise to clean out the garage and have a huge yard sale) And of course another resolution is to write EVERY week on my blog. I can do it all. I know I can. So I bid you adieu for now......gotta get busy working on the new me (but I'll keep some of the old me, so don't worry!!)