I've missed you….

I've gotten so busy with life that I've not shared with you for along while.  Today I was looking for something that I thought I had written on the blog (which sadly I haven't yet found) but as I perused through many old posts and comments I realized how much history and thoughts on family and friendship and of course beads and knitting were all stored here in these pages.

Then I realized that it was time for me to start collecting those memories again.  Busy is all relative anyways, there are people much busier then I am who live magnificently large and accomplish great things, and there are those who are less busy in a way that suits them.

Right now I'm too busy for my peace of mind, but I have arranged for that to be less so next year.

In the meantime, I think it's important for me to take some time outs, the work will wait (usually) or I will re-prioritize and let go of some  things that I thought absolutely must be done.

This morning we drove to Coronado, a beautiful semi island on the coast directly opposite the downtown city of  San Diego.  What the heck is a semi island?  One approaches  Coronado from a long bridge which carries you over the bay water and out to the land of downtown Coronado.  If you were to drive towards the ocean and then south for quite a few miles the 'strand' re-connects you the mainland.

At any rate, it is a pretty place to walk along the bay or along the ocean.  It is home of the iconic Del Coronado hotel.  Maya of course loves an outing where she comes along.  We followed up our breakfast at the dog friendly outside patio of Tartine with a bay walk.  We're both morning people so arriving prior to 8:00 a.m. means it's easy to get seated and since it's  October I chose a most excellent moist, crusted with sugar, pumpkin scone.  Decadent but oh so good.

We also had a dinner and movie date night and saw the 100 foot journey which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Although I love to eat and to put a good meal on the table I am far from an accomplished cook, never mind chef, but the story was endearing and who doesn't love Helen Mirren?

On the bead front, I have a new Santa Lucia using the Swarovski coin pearls which I've wanted to try in this design ever since I saw them.  My friend Tracy Stanley made a platinum version to wear to her daughters wedding this past summer.  It was stunning so I asked if she minded if I borrowed her palette.

Friend Karen Firnberg an accomplished beader offered to bead up the sample for me, and so here you have my design, Tracy's colors and Karens beadwork.  I am very pleased with the result.  The only thing I changed up from Tracy's version is using coin pearls and the new rose patina on the Swarvoski fancy stone.

While I was in Alaska, Shampagne beaded up a Touch of Whimsy and added a wild heart to the bottom which was a great addition.  We both thought that adding a Swarovski skull might be another fun adornment and I hope to find some time to achieve that as well.  I promise to show you when I do.

Next week I'm off to Bead Creative in Hampton New Hampshire.  I am looking forward to some fall air, fall foliage and Maine lobster!  

I follow that trip up with some more Touch of Whimsy at the Tyler Bead Retreat in Tyler  Texas, then on to Blanches where there will be the brand new sprockets! the fanciful Touch of Whimsy and the elegant Santa Lucia.