I Never Win Anything!

That was a frequent  saying of mine.  I remember for many years entering raffles at church, for school fundraisers and honestly the only time I won something was like fifteen years ago at church.  But the thing is not  to win but to help support the causes of those places that need it.

The last several months I have entered giveaways from blogs of artists and designers I read.  Last month I entered a giveaway at Lisa's blog  Lisa's Clay Happenings and yesterday I got these two little boxes above.

An this is what was inside, yay!  Lovely pendant and lots of beads in bright pretty colors, and a pair of earrings to match!  I have admired Lisa's work for her use of raised designs on her pieces.  I am one who loves touching and running my fingers over the pendant and feeling the continuous lines of the leaves. I also love her tropical color combinations.  I have one other piece of hers from a past bead swap on the Beads of Clay Group.  If you would like to visit Lisa's website here is the link Clayworks of New Hampshire  Thank you Lisa for putting such a beautiful and lovely giveaway, as soon as I make something with the beads I will post here.

But wait!  There is more....  last month I also won another giveaway at a supplier of ceramic pieces.  I got them last week or so, but they are in the process of glazing and then firing them.... so stay tuned. And I guess now that title phrase cannot be used as much.  Unless another fifteen years go by.

The Meaning of Friendship

Throughout the many years of internet surfing, google searching, art forums, ebay purchases, handmade crafting, shows, ceramic beads and jewelry.  The list could go on.  I have come to make friends with many of you, many friendships have been long lasting and some go on to be an eventual hello through emails, blog postings or most recently facebook.  But this person I want to share with you today is too much fun and special to not comment on.

I met Gerry through the Beads of Clay group a few months ago, in the spring when we opened an etsy store for the team, she joined and donated a few pieces to raise funds for promotion of Beads of Clay. We have emailed continually for months now, always having fun in what we say and what we know and don't know about internet how tos.  We talk about our work, life, pets, shows and the going ons of the team.

Today I received this beautiful watercolor card with a sweet message to brighten up my day while I continue to go through losing Sparky.  Gerry makes  beautiful pendants with the imprint of a Fleur de Lis in what she calls an Oxblood Red Glaze.  I have commented on it a couple times... okay maybe a few times or maybe too many times  how much I like that glaze.  I really do like it!  Well today along with her card and her sweet message sending me some "happy" she also included this lovely necklace for me...  Awww.... thank you Gerry!

It made me so happy to receive this Gerry,  I really wanted to thank you and let you know howmuch I  appreciate your friendship.  We may not know each other in person, but I really appreciate to have you in my list  of friends to get to talk to.  This is one of the great things of the internet in out time.  Brining people together sharing same interests, forming friendships, sharing skills and knowledge.

You can visit Gerry Lee's store on etsy for a sweet pendant like this.  her store is  Clay Designs by glee

Having to say Goodbye

Sparky 1999-2010

I posted last week about Sparky not doing too well and having to take care of her hoping that she would get a little bit better.  Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse in the next few days and Monday we had the vet come to our home to have our sweet Sparky put to sleep.

As the days went by her legs were not working anymore.  Slowly she had lost total balance and strength to the point of not being able to get up anymore on Sunday.  Last Thursday my daughter came to visit to spend time with Sparky and see her for the last time.  We spent several days showering Sparky with love and attention while making her comfortable as much as we could.  She still had a great disposition, seemed happy to see us, ate well and seemed to enjoy the towel rides we gave her to get her outside several times a day.  We miss her terribly and wish we could have had her for longer, but we really try to concentrate on the time we had with her and a remember as many memories she gave us those eleven years.  We will always love you Sparky.

This is a poem I came across earlier this year from a post  a friend wrote when she lost her dog.   Making the decision to let them go is always hard, I hope we can find comfort in knowing that we did the best for our sweet friends.

If it should be... If it should be that I grow frail and weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep, then you must do what must be done, for we know this last battle can't be won. You will be sad, I understand, but don't let grief then stay your hand, for this day, more than the rest, your love and friendship must stand the test. We've had so many happy years, what is to come can hold no fears. Would you want me to suffer? So, when the time comes, please let me go. Take me where my needs they'll tend, only stay with me until the end, and hold me firm and speak to me, until my eyes no longer see. It is a kindness that you do to me, although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I have been saved. Do not grieve, it should be you, who must decide this thing to do. We've been so close, we two these years, Don't let your heart hold any tears. Author Unknown

Beads beads and more beads!

I have been busy with glazing and trying to make new work pieces and  jewelry in preparation for a show.  All this while I have a ton of things to do around and out of the house.  Plus taking care of my dog who the last couple months has been showing her age.  New things keep coming up with her symptoms, so trips to the vet have been often.  Her most recent and scary situation this week is that she has no control of her rear legs, she has little balance and walks like she is drunk.  The xrays showed she has the lower part of her vertebrae fused on three places.   So I am keeping an eye on her, she is on meds to help with inflammation, pain etc.  But if things don't get better, sadly I will have to make the decision
to have her put down.  In all other aspects she is doing great, she has an appetite, looks happy, wants to go on walks (but can't) and seems to be okay which makes the decision hard.

In the meantime here are some beads from the last firing, I hope to add more.  Hopefully I will have time to add some to my etsy store in the next couple days.

I will keep you posted on Sparky, hoping that she pulls through and is able to give me a couple more years of her companionship, love and reason to get out there with her.

I Will Never Forget

As September 11 has been approaching I see on tv specials to watch, stories of families and ways to remember and honor those lost in the most horrible event in US History.  I've watched a couple and as I watch I continue to have the same feeling as I did that morning.  I couldn't believe what I was watching, I felt sick, I cried for those lost, I cursed at those responsible.  And while feelings of anger want to take over me, today I just want to remember and pray for those lost and their families and for the wellbeing of our country.

I chose the picture of this bird because it has been visiting me a lot this summer.  Sometimes I think it's my Mom sending me a message, or that it comes to protect me. But it also reminds me of someone I knew that passed away one year ago on this day.  Or it could totally be nothing related to the reasons above and just likes sitting at this chair under the shade the eves provide.  But all in all, seeing this bird it gives me a sense of feeling hopeful.  And I choose to concentrate on that hope.  Hope that our country some day will be united.  Hope that someday the victims of 9/11 will not feel as much pain.  Hope that those lost this day nine years ago and those that I have lost  personally will forever rest in peace.