Beadedbear's Nonsense and Complete Waste of Time

Bragging Rights: Cindy Bish

2013-01-13T19:22:00.003-08:00

Cindy did a great job!! I think she likes the Santa/Christmas themes!!

Santa at Night

http://www.bead-patterns.com/shop/shop.php?method=itemnumber&keywords=10680

Elve's Christmas

http://www.bead-patterns.com/shop/shop.php?method=itemnumber&keywords=10466

North Pole

http://www.bead-patterns.com/shop/shop.php?method=itemnumber&keywords=8814

Week 6 Ghost Dance Dress

2013-01-13T19:13:00.002-08:00

Here is the 6th week of progress on this project!

Week Three: Ghost Dance Dress

2012-12-22T15:08:00.002-08:00

I really had my needle hot, and thread smoking this week with the amount I got done!! I also realized I have to add more to the shoulder area especially for hanging on a T-Bar!

Send Postcards, Anyone??

2012-12-16T10:10:00.002-08:00

If any of you would like to help a 6th grader, maybe you could send a postcard. A good friend has asked me to try to help.

Sounds like a fun thing to do, and to help would be great. The more postcards the better!

Here is the info I was sent:

Some of our good friends here, actually our neighbors when they’re here, have asked us to send postcards to their grandson from wherever we are. Remember I sent one from Peru and one from Ecuador? Well, the grandson’s team is neck-in-neck with another team so we’re going to try to beat them. SO, do you think you could get any of your out-of-country, or, actually, anywhere, to send his team a postcard? It has to be postmarked in the state/country that it represents. I’ve attached the original email below. Thanks, sis!!!

To all our friends:

One of our grandsons is trying to win a contest at his grade school. Whoever can get the most postcards from each state and country the world over will win. Who knows what the prize is - maybe a special pencil! The idea is to identify on a map where each postcard came from. To a sixth grader this is huge!

We are asking our friends to send Jacob a postcard from the state or country where you are or where you visit starting now and ending the middle of January 2013. We're so proud of Jacob, an A student, and works very hard at his assignments.

Please address the postcard to:

6th Grade Tamarack Team- Jacob Rawlins

Mountain view Middle School

17500 SW Farmington Rd.

Aloha, OR 97007

Why I still Believe in Santa

2012-12-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

When did you stop believing in Santa?

I still cling to the belief that Santa exists. I know that he is alive and well.

I don’t tell a lot of people this, because they think I am crazy. They say that Santa is only real to little children who don’t know any better. Santa is a fantasy. He is made up. I need to grow up.

I don't care what they say, I still believe.

In a world where the goodness of God causes disagreements and hate. Where God’s word becomes the grounds for killing, where no one truly can say who or what God is, there has to be something simpler for me to believe in. I want to believe that there is something out there that is pure joy and hope.

In a world where we can’t accept the fact that everyone believes in God through their own eyes and culture, and cannot accept the fact that in the end that God is the same, and that we are the ones who change His personality and rules, that He never did, I need to believe in something more flexible. Santa changes according to nation and culture. His clothing changes, as does his language and customs. Yet we are all ok with that. No one has killed because we disagree on Santa's different way of being in different nations.

In a world where little children are murdered for no good reason,

in a world where people forgot what they are fighting about, but they can't stop,

in a world where money means more than someone’s health,

in a world where selfishness means more than someone’s well being,

I still have to cling on to my belief.

I believe that Santa is alive.

Santa is alive if only in my heart, where I know that magic still lives. I don’t need to explain why Santa can be in a desert with penguins by his side. The fact that he possess the magic to make that happen is enough for me.

Santa is joy and hope bundled into one tacky red suit. Even the sight of the suit without him in it, still brings that joy and hope to my soul. Have you ever really noticed the joy of a still believing child’s face when they see Santa? I don’t ever want to lose the joy and hope. I too, want to be like that child, unable to contain or hide that joy and hope.

Santa represents that selflessness and hard work can bring success. Even if he has elves working to help him, and magical flying reindeer to help carry him to his goal, his hard work brings him love from those he might never have met. I hope that my hard work earns me the same success and respect.

Santa also teaches me that even if you have to fall in a dirty pile of a mess as he does by coming down a soot filled chimney and fireplace, that if you keep your sight on your goal and brush off the dust, the morning should bring the joys of a mission accomplished.

So to all you nay-sayers who want to say Santa does not exist, leave me to my beliefs. I still want to believe in magic, joy, hope, and that in the end, hard work and perseverance pays off. And most of all, that sharing ear to ear smiles, good belly laughs, generosity of spirit and love will come back to me, just as it does to Santa.

I believe. Do YOU??

Images are all patterns by me

Ghost Dance Dress: Week Two Progress Report

2012-12-15T10:04:00.001-08:00

I got a lot done!! I am really happy to have done so much in just 2 weeks. Getting close to the neckline! Then I will turn and work the bottom part. Trying to decide. Should I make the back the same as the front, or change it a bit. Maybe even if I just change the blue part a bit, it will be more fun.....ideas?? Suggestions???

My Pattern

Inspiration

When Fantasies Offend

2012-12-14T08:37:00.001-08:00

It's been a while since I crabbed about something. Not that I haven't had anything to crab about, mind you, it's just that my crabs have been not worth sharing. All of them rather mundane.

As luck would have it, I have two things to crab about. And strangely enough the issues are so related as to be the same.

Yesterday on FB was this wonderful motivational cartoon that I love.

I love this simple cartoon. A hippo is on the treadmill with her dream always by her side, causing her to keep trying. I can relate to this cartoon, as I am sure many of you can. You need to have some sort of visual of your dream to focus on to keep you motivated.

This is not how someone saw it. She went on a full out rant to the person who posted it about how it signifies women who can never attain the hourglass figure. That one of the images in this cartoon is a well endowed "real" creature, while the other is mythical. In no way can the real creature ever become the mythical no matter how much she tries. To her this cartoon is a horrible commentary on women who are expected to become what they never can become.

Then, I got a complaint about the image I used for "Northern Lights. (not by the same complainer mentioned above).

The complainer stated that I was an idiot. How could I possibly have an image with Santa with the Aurora Borealis behind him and penguins in front of him? Yes I was an imbecile since everyone knows that Santa and the Aurora Borealis are in the North Pole and there are no penguins in the North Pole, they belong in the South Pole.

I said yes, the South Pole has its magical lights too.

This made me worse than an imbecile. "WHAT!!??" There is no Aurora Borealis in the South Pole..!!"

But yes there is, I argued. Google it! It may be called by a different name: Aurora Australis, but it has the same look.

She did not want to be proved wrong. She still argued that I was just plain dumb. She finally stopped emailing me when I asked her if she thought that Santa was real. Perhaps I should eliminate Santa from the image along with the penguins. Or should I remove Santa along with the Aurora Borealis leaving only the penguins in the image to make her happy so that the image would be more true to real life.

Funny how people cannot take a simple cartoon or image at face value. Some want to find a deep inner meaning, and all too often want to find fault or something offensive in that meaning which was never intended.

I still like the hippo trying to become a unicorn. I am that bulky creature trying in some fashion to become a svelt beautiful lovely. I still believe in Santa and the magic that surrounds him. I believe he could be in a desert surrounded by penguins (and unicorns) if that is what he wants.

Without a bit of magic, mystery and fantasy, I think life would be mundane. Leave that sort of life for the ones who criticize my exciting magical world. They are welcome to all the dullness and mundane day to day life without wonder they can handle.

Ghost Dance Dress Week 1

2012-12-09T13:46:00.002-08:00

Working every night 2-3 hours, here is my progress.

I am really enjoying it. I am also thinking of beading some "feathers" to add to this dress!

Just a thought. Might be a bit ambitious, but it would be a cool touch.

Book Review: I CAN Herringbone

2012-12-06T09:19:00.002-08:00

First, my disclosure....The Publishers at Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing sent me this book to review on my blog. They do NOT pay me for the review, other than the book(s) that they sent me for review.

I CAN Herringbone

by Melissa Grakowsky

Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing

2012

paperback 128 pages $24.95

ISBN 978-1-4547-0362-4

So maybe you have dabbled with herringbone. A little here and there. But what can you do with that stitch?

Did you think that the stitch was kinda limited in application? Maybe like me, you fall back to what I consider my "work horse" stitches (peyote and brick). What other stitch offers that type of versatility?

This beautifully illustrated book is making me consider other possibilities for herringbone that I did not consider. It makes a beautiful bezel, curvaceous forms and sleek slinky ropes. Melissa obviously has more vision in use of the herringbone stitch than I do.

There are 26 exciting projects in this book. From the basic to the challenging. I especially like the "Victorian Elegance Necklace" and the "Beaded Capsule Pendant". Both of these play off a curvy base which I think is amazing.

This book will be part of my go-to books when I need inspiration for the use of the Herringbone stitch.

Note to my "work horse stitches":Watch out Peyote and Brick....you two might have some competition in the future!

New Design in the Works!!

2012-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

Just finished designing my next project! It is an Arapaho Ghost Dance Shirt to add to my series of Ethnic Costumes.

Here is the inspiration:

And here is the pattern:

I will be adding fringe all the way around as in the inspiration. It will be double sided (like a real dress). It is about 14 X 17 inches.

Once I get this done, I will offer the pattern for sale.

Bragging Rights: Jennifer Wittick

2012-11-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is from "The Enchanted Santas" series of booklets I have on http://www.beadedbear.com. Each booklet contains a tapestry sized santa (for both peyote and loom) and a detail (in peyote) of about 3 X 4. This particular one is called "Baskets of Cheer".

Jennifer did a fantastic job!!

Bragging Rights: Gail Warren

2012-11-06T17:02:00.004-08:00

Gail made this from a selection of my Art Nouveau Tile patterns. http://www.beadedbear.com/pat_nouv_down.htm

Stunning, don't you think??

Buy 2 Get One Free SALE (in case you missed it on FB)

2012-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Buy 2 of anything I have: patterns, kits.....get the lowest priced item free.

This applies to all the patterns I have including the newest Traveling Bracelet patterns. (http://travelingbracelets.blogspot.com)

Choose what you like, email me (beadedbear@earthlink.net) with your choices and I will let you know your total.

Sale is valid until 10/29/12.

Reference Books, Which One Do I Choose??

2012-10-14T10:18:00.001-07:00

I have been away for a while again...the same excuse, I am afraid. I have been with the "other blog" and neglecting this one.

I have also been messing around with FaceBook, finding it easy to post a sentence or two instead of putting it here. Would it be redundant to have the same thing in both places?

So...in case you missed my spouting off...today is ripe for that activity.

I got a "convo" on Etsy about one of my patterns. It was not a nice "convo".

First, understand that I DO NOT sell any patterns presently on Etsy. The particular pattern that is the subject of this "convo" I sell ONLY on my beadedbear.com site. The actual necklace is for sale on Etsy. My contact info is on the pattern.

So...this batty person decides to contact me on Etsy about how the pattern is not working out. That the pattern is "ELONGATED" and no matter what she does, it looks nasty. She goes on to say that she will never buy another pattern from me again, even though she has been "a fan for 20 years". And that she will call that pattern a "Don't Use Your Own Product". (HUH????).

First off, I did bead this pattern so I KNOW it works and works well. It has won a few ribbons and contests both by me, and others who have beaded this pattern. She can see the photo on line, and in the pattern she bought. So why does she blame my pattern for being lousy?

I asked her what I thought was a likely problem. Did she use Delicas (regular seed beads would cause the problem she describes), but she claims she did, and goes on to tell me how she will never buy another pattern....blah blah blah.....

So how to handle the situation.....I looked at my reference books....picked up a book on how to deal with tactless so and sos. I had two choices.

Which do you think I chose???

If you guessed the bottom choice, you guessed right!

If someone approaches me nicely, they will get the same. If they are nasty, then there will be no loss!

Kissing butt is a lesson I never took. Just too smelly.

Adventures in Housecleaning

2012-09-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, I have become a housecleaning warrior.

First, you must understand that I am not a neat freak. While I do like things to be clean and tidy, I fail miserably at even that. Working full time, and putting more time into beadwork and associated endeavors, not to mention the gym takes a lot of time and energy.

So other than the bare minimum, there is not a lot that gets done. By bare minimum, I mean vacuum, light dusting of some of the flat surfaces, moping the floor "when it needs it" and cleaning the parrot's cage.

It had been bothering me for a while. The dirt that is. As I watched the dust spinning around on the ceiling fan blades wondering which direction the glob would hurl off to, got me worried. If it hit me, I might get knocked out. It might crack the glass. It might just do some other sort of damage. Never mind that it looked unsightly.

I wondered why anyone would want floor boards to be the color it was. Then I realized too, that they were covered in dust.

Same for the doors.

Don't look at my picture frames.

So this cleaning army of one, with some stand by help of a not so happy recruit, I went on the attack. I started in the bedroom.

Just how long ago was it when this room (or any room in this house) was really cleaned well???

I am ashamed to admit it.

I was a whirling dervish of a cleaning crew, armed with a (spray gun), cleaning rag, mop and bucket.

As I moved from the bedroom out into the hallway, I continued on with the floor boards. Then I worked on the front door. The door was open a bit. The house did need some air. I washed the door, then opened it a bit further to get the molding on top of the door.

I stretched. Long and tall.

As I did so, I guess my midsection got a little smaller.

As my midsection got smaller, my shorts dropped. Right down to my ankles.

As my luck would have it, who would come up my walkway just at that time?

A family of Jehovah's Witnesses. Not just one. But there was Bible toting, Watch Tower carrying Mom, Dad, Auntie and (cover their innocent eyes) children. And there was me. Shorts around my ankles in my skanky undies. Had I known I would have company at such a moment, I would have worn my pretty lacy flowery ones.

I will never forget their faces.

The went off in a rush, as I pulled up my shorts.

And I went on with my cleaning.

As a side note. Have you ever noticed that the mighty vacuum cleaner strikes the utmost fear in dogs and men? Both seem to run away when women are armed with one. It has to be fear. What else could cause such a reaction in both creatures. And when the mean vacuum is gone and packed away, they suddenly reappear.

Try it at home. See if you get the same reaction. It's funny, really!!

Bragging Rights: ME!!

2012-09-20T15:26:00.001-07:00

It does not happen all too often when I brag about my own hard work. This time I will because it did pay off. Beading Daily has a really nice blog post regarding my traveling bracelets. Read about it!

http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/inside_beadwork_magazine/archive/2012/09/20/healing-power-of-beads-the-traveling-bracelets-project.aspx

Don't Miss My Contest!!

2012-09-17T19:34:00.001-07:00

I have a Contest concerning my Traveling Bracelets. Don't miss your chance to be part of the fun!
Check it out here:

http://travelingbracelets.blogspot.com/p/traveling-bracelets-contest.html

Book Review: Necklaceology

2012-09-13T14:49:00.001-07:00

Necklaceology

by Candie Cooper

Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing

2012

paperback 144 pages $24.95

ISBN 978-1-4547-0333-4

There are 40 different necklace projects in this book. All of which are of the strung, macrame or chain variety.

As usual with Lark Books, the discussion of materials and tools, the directions and overall layout are terrific.

But to be honest. That is where I start and stop liking this book. For the first time, I have to say, that I don't find the photos of the projects as exciting as I usually do. Many of the photos of the necklaces for some reason to my eye are not of the quality that I expect from Lark Books (yet the photos used for the how-to sections are much sharper.

The projects themselves, and I really hate to say this, don't really do much to excite me either. But then, I have never been excited by stringing projects to begin with. And maybe that is my big problem. I just am not taken by stringing beads.

I realize that this is my personal taste. The book does have some very good information, especially for those who need a primer on beads, tools and basic techniques. There are many beaders who love strung necklaces. If this is you, then you will likely love this book. For me, I am sorry but this is one of the few Lark Books that I am not excited by.

Bragging Rights: Gail Warren

2012-09-11T17:21:00.002-07:00

Gail did a terrific job with Ganesha. I love how she had it framed. I think Lord Ganesha would be most pleased.

Do you like the pattern? You can find it HERE

Book Review: Beautiful Beaded Ropes

2012-09-10T17:16:00.003-07:00

Beautiful Beaded Ropes

Jill Wiseman

Lark Crafts/Sterling Publishing

2012

Hard cover 120 pages $27.95

ISBN 978-1-4547-0356-3

A beading book should inspire the beader. Not just with the projects that are contained within the book, but also by providing a few AH-HA moments. This book does just that.

Have you ever made a fantastic pendant, but can't think of of what kind of strap to make for it? Or what kind of strap to you want to use for that fabulous lampworked bead you have?

Often, a beautiful focal piece just falls short of becoming a fabulous piece over all because it is hanging from a string of beads like an after thought. The workmanship and artistry should also continue on to the supporting element from which the focal piece hangs.

Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes is chock full of ideas to help you solve the question "what kind of strap should I make?" There are spiral ropes, peyote ropes, netted ropes, herringbone ropes, and RAW ropes. Something will surely work with the piece you need to finish!

While the projects are wonderful as they are presented, I am looking beyond the book. Maybe.... I can finally FINISH that beaded focal piece that I have been wondering what to do with!! Instead of hanging around my work table, I can have it hanging from one of the "ropes" in Beautiful Beaded Ropes. Now.... which ONE???

(Someone) Save My Soul.........

2012-08-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, fine. I have been a bad girl.

There is a lot of "drama" going on at work. While I try to avoid it, I do find myself dragged into it to some extent.

Maybe I said some not so nice things about the (Bitch) who is causing problems.

Maybe I told somebody something that could be construed as a "rumor'. But it was the truth, and I am sticking to that story.

The Drama at work is ripe for a reality show. I won't get into the (almost) humorous details here. I can't. But that does not matter.

I can't help it. I have added my two cents worth to the situation, as everyone else has. Simply because it affects everyone.

And OK fine....I have had a situation or two where I have been a little impatient with my traveling bracelets. Three weeks or more is a long time for me to wait between posts. So I rattle the cages. Where are the bracelet(s). Why have I not heard from someone who has had it for 2 weeks....and on and on...

And OK fine. My thoughts have not been always kind. I may have cursed a bit. I may have complained a bit too much.

And OK fine. I may not have shown enough gratitude.

I promise to change my ways.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I don't care if you, Prophet Isaiah, called me on my cell today from a 1-800 number. I do not even apologize for declining your call, thinking you were captain so-and-so calling from Seattle from a number that looked similar (as all 1-800 numbers do to me). I answered those calls a couple times thinking I won some prize, only to have my ear blasted out from the cruise ship horn in the background blowing deep and loud. Honestly, Prophet Isaiah, I thought it was that captain.

Couldn't you have called from a number looking like 1-800-God-Call?

So you left a message, Prophet Isaiah. You told me that I had a horrible soul. You told me that I needed as many prayers as possible to save me and my evil ways. You left a 1-800 number for me to call back that did not match the 1-800 number you called from.

Tell me, Prophet Isaiah. Is that my private number? My direct line to salvation?

You tell me that if I do not call, all sorts of horrible events shall come my way. Damnation was to be the least of my problems. I needed to repent, and call that 1-800 number right away. Have I really become such a bad person that I need God's henchmen to come after me?

I don't know....but the God I choose to talk to is kind, loving and understanding. He knows I will come because of the love and goodness he has, not because I am so frightened that I leave a trail of piss as I approach. He would rather see me come with gladness in my heart. Why would I want to come to a mean old ogre?

No, Prophet Isaiah, I will not call your 1-800 number. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. I am sure it is for the cruise ship that goes directly to hell. If not that, then it is your sticky fingers that want to go directly to my bank account to fund that same cruise ship (or is it your yacht?), as I am sure your way to salvation is not through prayer and good deeds, but through fear and financial contributions.

Prophet Isaiah, you are now on my reject list. Please don't call back. If God wants to talk to me, He will, he knows how to get hold of me.

Oh My Aching Arse!!!

2012-08-27T17:52:00.001-07:00

Some of you know that I have been on a fitness kick for a while.

For 20 months now.

I have been REALLY good getting myself to the gym and working hard. So good that it eats into my beading/designing time severely. Its the main reason why I am producing so little. There are only so many hours in the day (most of which are taken up by my day job).

I figure that with the time to change, get back and forth to the gym, do my work out and then come home and shower, a good 2 hours are gone.

I spend an hour on the eliptical. Then I do weights for about 20 minutes.

Is it paying off?

I am 30 - 35 pounds lighter (depending on how I am surfing on the scale). But most of that weight was lost during the first 8-10 months. Since then I have hit the dreaded PLATEAU.

I did have a set back where the whole month of May was lost due to surgery and recovery. I didn't go to the gym at all in May. Ok, I lie. I did try twice. Then I decided it was too soon. I paid for rushing back too soon. Not good.

Once I did go back in early June, I found I tired a little too easily. Instead of the hour on the eliptical, I could only do a 1/2 hour.

I am back up to that hour now. But I am still at the plateau.

I changed my diet. I cut way back on my carbs. For a bread addict like I am...I hardly EVER eat any bread anymore. I have also restricted other carbs such as pasta and rice.

I don't have a lot of sweets. I am trying to cut sugar as much as I can.

I tried to get on the Biggest Loser Show by going down to the audition, and sending in a dumb video. I got my rejection letter last week.

So...what's next??

Taking the advice of Bob Harper and Chris Powell...I need to change up my work out routine.

Yesterday I did not go to the gym. I have become one of "THOSE" kind of people that feel guilty and miserable if I do not go (except for one allowed "day off"). I felt guilty. But those days happen. And I have prepared myself for them.

Just in preparation for the non gym days, I walk the dog "the long route". And I now have Bob Harper in the form of a DVD at my beck-and-call. I can now have him barking at me "dig deeper", "Don't quit". Any time I want.

Yes...Bob and that medieval looking instrument of TORTURE called a kettlebell. The one I have is a mere 10 pounds. It is not that heavy. (but wow!! Did I REALLY lose the equivalent of *3* of these!!??) But let me tell you. I went along with the exercises on the DVD. There are a lot of squats, and lot of hoisting this 10 pound instrument of the devil over my head while doing squats during this workout.

I THOUGHT I was in somewhat a good shape. Nope. I AM NOT. I lasted a half hour and had enough (where is my eliptical?)

Today, from all those squats, my arse muscles hurt so bad I could hardly walk without looking like I just got off a horse.

Bob Haper whooped me. He beat me up.

Today I went to the gym. It seemed so easy, even though I bumped up my resistance one notch.

Tomorrow....maybe I will do the kettlebell in ADDITION to my eliptical just to show Bob they SHOULD have picked me for the Biggest Loser.

Digital Publications.....What's Not to Like?

2012-08-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

More and more, printed material is migrating over to the world of digital media. Computers, Kindles, iPads and the like make it easy and convenient for everyone to get their favorite newspapers, magazines and books electronically.

The benefits of digital publications are many. You can carry around a library of books in one small handy device instead of big heavy boxes. Magazines no longer need to be heaped up in piles cluttering your house. Newspaper print will no longer blacken your fingers, or clothing. And let’s not forget the convenience. You don’t have to go to the bookstore across town to buy a book. You don’t have to wait days (or longer) to get books by mail. Your mail box won’t be crammed full by the magazine subscriptions you have.

I agree, you gotta love the convenience, the lack of cluttered bookshelves (or even the need for one) and magazines strewn all over the house. So what’s not to love about the digital world? Hmmm??? I have my list. Maybe you have your list too. Here is my list in somewhat of a descending order:

10. Prices Have you noticed that some prices of a print book sometimes do not differ by that much from the digital version? Sometimes the digital version is more expensive. Can anyone tell me why? There is no printing involved, no storage, no handling. I would rather buy the book if for no other reason than to sell it at a garage sale.

The Kindle version is more expensive than the new paperback

9. The Study Gone is the “romance” of having a “study”. You know, that room where there are shelves of books, and big padded comfy chair where the gents would retire in their “smoking jackets” and snifter of brandy to read about travels to some exotic land. Ladies would have a tray containing a teapot with creamer and a sugar pot for their cup of tea and a plate of cookies or cucumber sandwiches while spending a leisurely afternoon reading a steamy romance. The atmosphere in my opinion just is not there without being surrounded with bookshelves filled with books. A computer in the corner and sitting in a room devoid of books just seems to be lacking in this romantic notion of mine.

8. Bookstores going out of business Borders went out of business. I still miss my local Borders as I liked it much better than the local Barnes and Nobles. Now I only have the one bookstore where I can go into and waste hours while either escaping work or escaping home. Bookstores are a hiding place for me where I can browse books and magazines. If there were no bookstores and all publications were digital, where would I hide?

7. New book (magazine) smell and feel. I love the smell of a new book. So much so that I when I started self publishing years ago, I would go out into the garage and take a deep breath to smell the “New Book Smell” from the cases of books I had received from the printer. It is kinda like that “new car smell”. It is heady, it symbolizes a new start, a sense of accomplishment and great expenditure of money that is to be paid back over a time period when that heady scent is no longer there, and you begin to wonder why you got yourself in debt to begin with. But I digress…..I still love to open a new book. Maybe it is wrapped in cellophane and I am the first to leaf through the glossy pages. Maybe my finger prints are the only ones on that publication. You just can’t do that with digital publications, can you?

6. Starting a fire for BBQ . I prefer the charcoal barbeque. Gas just does not do it for me. I like the smokiness that the coals impart to food. No I don’t want to start a debate as to which is the better method, I only want to say that while using my “chimney starter” for the coals, newspaper is used to start the flame. A few wads of newspaper gets the whole stack of coal glowing hot in just minutes. How do I use my kindle to get a fire going? Is the screen reflective enough (like a mirror) to beam a ray of sunshine to get a spark going? What would I do then on an overcast day? Just wondering, that’s all.

5. Bookmarks I am sure you have noticed the lovely bookmarks you can buy. Every theme you can imagine: religious, whimsical, scenic, your favorite characters or movie stars are printed on to book marks. There are elegant metal hook shaped bookmarks, beaded bookmarks, cross stitched books marks, bookmarks of all sorts of materials and art work. If there were no printed books, a whole industry would be put out of business. How would you use these bookmarks with digital publications? I can see the day when a generation of people would not even know what a bookmark is any more than a generation (or more) know what a rotary phone is.

4. On the Road and Door to Door Will there be hotel rooms with a digital versions of the Bible in the nightstands? Or what would those visitors who come knocking at the door give you instead of the printed Watchtower? What will “Bible-Thumpers” thump on? Kindles?

3. Door stop Have you tried using your Kindle as a doorstop or wedged under a table leg to level a wobbly table? I would not recommend it. It can do funny things to your Kindle that you might not like.

2. Bird Cage I rely on the newspapers that are flung (for free) in my driveway for the lining of Lucy’s cage. She keeps current with the news, fashions and grocery store sales with the newspapers I put at the bottom of her cage. She has all day to study them. How would I keep her current with digital publications? I don’t think she could handle a Kindle.

1. Swatting flies and assorted insects Have you tried swatting a fly with a rolled up Kindle? Or your i-Pad? Will it work better if you use a newspaper app?

Focus

2012-08-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

It must be human nature since most of us have a tendency to do this. We can’t help it. It must be so ingrained into human behavior that we need to work hard not to behave this way.

Imagine: a photo of a beautiful model’s face. She has beautiful eyes. Her make up is spot on perfect. You lust over her hair, you just wish you could have her color, her style and the sheen of her locks. The curve of her impish nose is just cute as a button. Then you see it. That blemish. Just barely discernable, but it is there. Suddenly that is all you can see. No longer are you taken by all the other positive attributes.

Imagine: A child comes home with his report card. An “A” in history, and “A-“ in English, another “A” in Biology, and a “C” in Algebra. What do a lot parents focus on? The “C”!

Imagine: You are at the grocery store. You want to buy some apples. You reach for the perfectly shaped red apple. You see the tiniest of a “spot” on that apple. It’s likely not even a bruise, it is just a different color on the skin that does not affect the fruit. But you notice it. I bet you will put it back and look for that perfect unblemished apple.

We naturally seek out what is different, what doesn’t fit in the scheme of things and we put our focus on that. Perhaps this behavior had its beginnings in man’s early days. Man had to scan his surroundings to find things that didn’t belong because perhaps that difference in the forest was the beast that would kill him, or become his tribe’s dinner.

We do not need to look for the beast in the forest, but we do look for other beasts that do not fit in and we dwell on those beasts often to our detriment. Admit it, you do it as much as I do. We just can’t help it.

I did that very same thing most recently worrying about some of the traveling bracelets that were MIA. I really got sad when I thought that four of the 10 were MIA. Since then 3 have turned up, thankfully. But I had to actively change my focus from worrying about what I thought was wrong to thinking about what was right. I had to let go of what made me sad and look at what made me happy with the project. If I did not do this, the energy and focus of what I was doing would sour everything.

Do you like my necklace? Let me
point out the misplaced green bead....

How many pieces of beadwork have we made that have one little mistake in it? Perhaps it is one bead that is the wrong color. Perhaps a stitch is too loose or too tight. Or maybe the tiniest piece of thread is showing where it shouldn’t. Have you found yourself showing that piece of beadwork to someone saying “I love this piece, BUT I have made this little mistake HERE……..” I would bet that the person looking at it would never have noticed had you not pointed out that one little boo-boo. So why did you call attention to it?

What about the time you posted a necklace for sale and you had compliment after compliment. You had perhaps 50 people tell you how wonderful your necklace is. Then along comes this spoil sport with no manners, no feelings and ruins your day. You know in your heart of hearts that it is not worth spending a single thought on on this miserable person who tells you that your necklace can be made by a 5 year old. And by the way, how dare you charge so much for that necklace since surely they have a similar one at JewelryCrap for $5.99 (and you want $90???!!!). But that one comment outweighs

the 50 other positive ones, doesn't it. You just can't get that

one negative comment out of you mind. It FESTERS, doesn't it?

I have focused on the one idiot amongst the 50 roses just as you might. Why do we let that one person foul our otherwise beautiful glow of compliments and praises? We let that one negative comment cause self doubt, insecurity, and decreased self worth. We allow those negative comments to eat away at us, even though we KNOW we should ignore it.

We choose, even if it is a subconscious thing, to focus on that anomaly. We look at that beast in the woods. Maybe we are afraid it might kill us. I say we need to learn to hunt it down. Have it for dinner! Slay that outlier. Focus on what is good. Focus on what gives you strength and joy.

By all means, ignore the fools who want to bring you down. You don’t need them or their negativity. Just change your focus.

The One That Got Away

2012-08-12T10:43:00.002-07:00

UGH!!!!

INSECTS!!!

Seems I have a yearly battle with one type or another.

There were armies of ants.

Then there were mosquitoes.

And let's not forget flies. Do you remember my post on the Six Legged Terrorists? No? Then click HERE to read about the disaster that they caused me to create.

Presently, my warfare is with the Indian Meal Moth.

It is a common pantry pest. I have even seen them fly around in grocery stores. They love flour, rice, pasta, grains and nuts. These moths make a mess of stored dried goods.

I had problems with them before. I seemed to have eradicated the little buggers. I have not had a problem with them for a couple years.

NOW THEY ARE BACK!!

It amazes me. I put my goods in sealed plastic bags, or in glass jars with tight lids. Even so, I have at times found an infestation in a glass jar of flour that was put into that jar once I came home from the store. So that tells me that the product had the pest prior to me bringing it home.

Where are they hiding??

I saw a moth flying around one evening. I killed it. Then I saw one on the face of the cupboard. My hand caused its death too. The "good" thing about these moths is that they are stupid. They just sit on a surface until they are squished, not like a fly who seems to enjoy a game of cat and mouse. They just sit and wait to be swatted. When the moths fly, it is another story. They fly in erratic zig-zags that make catching them a challenge. But I have become good at catching them in flight as well.

After seeing a few, I did a quick check to see what item(s) they were infesting, and found none.

The one or two moths found flying and on the inside of cupboard doors over a few days became a regular carnage of 10-12 moths a day. Last night with my nightly moth patrol, one got away. That was enough!!

I can take no more!!

I took everything out of the cupboard they were in. I found a sealed bag of nuts that had the tell tale web and ground up nuts. In the trash it went. I found some rice. Same thing, out it went. I found a jar of pasta that looked suspicious, out it went too.

Cleaning up

I washed the inside of the cupboard, wiped down everything else. It all looked good. Then I bought the moth trap. It is a sticky tent with a piece of material that has moth pheromone that will attract the male moth. I placed that inside the cupboard to help me with the war against the pest.

I think I need to inspect my beads as well. I am sure there are some bead pests. I was looking for some beads that I KNOW I have. I just can't find them. Maybe there is a bead-eating pest that I have to wage war on. Do you have bead-pests that you just know are devouring your beads? I think they are not only the cause of my missing beads, but the horrid mess my "studio" is in. I would never have left it in such a mess. I just know something is causing the disaster it is in.

I think I have a handle on my pantry pest. But I think I need to call an exterminator to help me with my bead pests. Anyone with any suggestions on how to handle bead-pests??