Happy New year!!

I wish you all the very best and good health for 2012!!!

Encaustic lesson

I have been intrigued by encaustic work for a long time. I love the look of the wax and the textures are so rich and tactile. Nancy Donaldson is a master at encaustic and furthermore one of the most kind and generous people I know. She took a day of her busy life and taught me the basics. Here are some of the pieces I worked on. The sample board was the first project. Each square is an example of a different technique. It is a great way to remember the lesson, since it actually reminds you of what you did. The other 2 are two simple projects. I loved the day and want to try more!!! Thanks so much Nancy!

Christmas 2011

Amazing how there a a build up to Christmas and then before you know it it is over. It was a great time and here are some pictures to show it!

Bryce Canyon

Last night I was looking at pictures and found myself revelling again at the beauty of Bryce Canyon. Can you see what I mean?

Coasters

Well, they say you should try to go back to your roots sometimes. I found some marble tiles and decided to use some of the napkins I have been hoarding. It was one of the first projects I did and I so enjoyed it then. Nothing changes because I still love it now! The birdies are so cute, aren't they?

Decorating the Christmas tree

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favourite activities! It puts me in a festive mood and I juts love  it when it is finished. Like mother like daughter...

Facebook link

Weird

I was always able to link my blog to my Facebook page and sine recently this is not working... Anyone have any suggestions?

All I want for Christmas....

Yesterday as I was walking around in Bloor West village, to meet my friends for dinner, I came across a store with some very interesting jewelery. It is produced by Extasia Designer Jewelry. They have an amazing collection of vintage and Victorian style cameo and intaglio jewelry. Please check them out at http://www.extasia.com/.  So now all I want for Christmas is something from their collection!!

Something new

I have some time since I am on a break from my classes.

So, I decide to play with my lampwork beads I bought at the last Bead & Button show in Milwaukee.

I finished it with a viking knit chain. It worked out great!

Unbelievable....

Now this is truly unbelievable. A ten-year old giving birth and not only that, via -c-section.... The age of consent in mexico is 12 and so abortion was not available to her. She would have faced prison. What about whoever got her pregnant?!!
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_212389772.shtml

Giant wave

Check this guy out! Talk about nerves of steel....

Off the coast of Portugal by Nazare

A giant wave, 90 feet high!!!!

Fraud

Well, good thing I checked my visa statement carefully. Two charges for flights with an airline I never even heard of appeared... Then they were cancelled. So my first reaction was that maybe it was a mistake. Then, because there were 2 I figured I better led Visa know. Turns out this is a common method they use to see if a charge will go through without trouble. They apparently try this a few times and then go for the big one!

Pay close attention.....

Gardening in Dutch style

When my sister came to visit this summer she brought me a real Dutch souvenir. Delft blue rubber boots!Today I used it and worked in my garden in Dutch style :)

So tired....

It must be November! I don't know if it is the weather or if it is the season or what. I am tired..... It can't be the weather because for November, really, I can't complain. The month maybe? I don't know. It could be work, school life or a combination of the above? Let's just say I am looking forward to some time off at Christmas. Did I say Christmas? Yikes, that just makes me realize how fast the time is going. I haven't done any jewelry work. I am just eying the pictures in my books and magazines when I have  a few minutes finally at the end of each day.  How about you, my blog reader? Are you inspired, and productive?

Dinner on the beach

Every year we celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends in Hope Bay. It is a little community we are closely connected to. The dinner is a gathering of approximately 40 people, we all contribute and it really is like a big family. Well, this year the weather was so outstanding we decided to eat on the beach by our great host Kathy and Frank! You'll also note that the turkey (three of them) is cooked on a fire, under a bucket outside. Delicious.......