Turtles

(Want to visit the Bead Soup Blog Party hop?)

Click here

Probably the most popular/requested glass bead creature that I make is the sea turtle (frogs are a close second).

At least two factors multiplied result in the product:

1) I am situated on the coast

2) Topsail Island's Sea Turtle Hospital is located nearby.

 Photo from seaturtlehospital.org

Now in their 15th year, many volunteers dedicate their time and talents to watching and protecting nests, and caring for injured sea turtles.

My first encounter with a real live sea turtle occurred right there on Topsail Island when I was a small girl on vacation.  A huge mother turtle had come to shore to lay her eggs, and I recall seeing the grownups trying to force her back out to sea.

It seems they (mistakenly) thought she had lost her mind or sense of direction, as they pushed on the huge marine reptile, the poor thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Among the turtles I create the design I try to emulate is the Loggerhead class.  I'm more fond of the ones that look more natural in color with earth tones.

But...I've had requests for turquoise turtles, 

emerald turtles,

and even pink ones!
(absent on photo day)

Think I'll head out to the torch soon...
time for some glass therapy.

And tomorrow, I'll be teaching others
how to make glass beads.  Good times!

.

The Reveal....Soon!

The Bead Soup Blog Party will be culminating this weekend!  By this Saturday, September 17th, everyone will have their amazing handiwork for show and tell, and will be blog hopping, enjoying a reveal of all the beautiful creations for days to come.  Over 360 participants!!!

I'd better finish up my project & get to snapping photos!

Meanwhile, here's another photo of the soup ingredients I'm working on:

Thanks to my partner - Kitty!  'S gonna be fab!

Post Irene and Other Weather

Previous post, I told you I would make hurricane beads, and I did manage to make some.

Front and back
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Photos following are from around my county).

Within the course of a week, our area has experienced:

  

A waterspout

 (actual waterspout at the beach here) 

which resulted in a tornado,

 (no damage)

a few days later, an earthquake, 

felt here and throughout the east coast

(again no damage here)

and yesterday a hurricane.

Is there a message in this?

Is Someone trying to get our attention?

Fortunately, none of these have been severe,
only minor damage...

 

...some flooding

...and the inconvenience of power outage for
over 280,000 homes in eastern NC; 50,000+ in my area.

We were fortunate, as our lights only flickered a few times, but never went out.  Also, we experienced no damage ~
I expected a huge dead pine to topple ~
the wind sounded fierce!

Here are the before and after pics of my yard.

It's nothing really ~ I wouldn't bother showing, except that I promised to.

Even now, the Mr. is up on the roof blowing off debris, where most of it lands.

We are so thankful for the safety of ourselves, our family and our friends. My heart goes out to those who experience losses.  Stay safe, my northern friends.

A couple more beads I made during Irene.

Soup, Soup, Who's in the Soup?

Does the blog post title take you back a few years?  I haven't thought about my favorite childhood game since heck was a pup!  But tonight, the phrase just crept forward from the ancient archives of my memory.

My sister and I, cousins, and neighborhood kids used to stay outside til after dark playing this "interactive" game (to use 21st century verbiage).  The children formed a circle around one blindfolded person who stood with outstretched pointing finger while slowly twirling and reciting the game's mantra in monotone (spooky-ish) tone:

"Soup, soup, who's in the soup?"

Whomever the pointed finger landed on when the question ended, had to reply what kind of soup they were, but with a disguised voice: "TOMATO SOUP!" (deep, husky voice).  If the blindfolded guessed who spoke, they gave chase and if "tomato soup" was caught, they had to return to the middle of the circle and be "it".  Such were the days of my youth, ah......

In my last post, I sorta blindfolded YOU and asked:  

Soup, soup, who's in the soup? 

 Can you guess?


Ok, let's take off the steamy lid, so we're able to get a peek...

I think we could call it "Seashell Macaroni"!  LOL.

This is the bead soup I sent to my partner, Kitty at Perles and Life; I do hope she likes the ingredients I sent.

And tomorrow, we shall find out "Who's in the Soup" that Kitty sent to me!  I can't wait to show you!  Off to shoot photos...

Bead Soup Teaser

I have prepared my Bead Soup ~  

stirred and simmered it with love ~

and even turned up the heat a good bit!!!

  Now it's ready for shipping!

  I think my partner, Kitty at Perles and Life will be surprised and pleased.

For my readers who might be unfamiliar with Bead Soup Party, the contents for the partner should be a surprise, i.e., no photos of the soup prior to the receipt of it.

But I'll give you a hint...


Wanna see?

Come back for the reveal!

Bad Hair Day???

Long hair can be a daily challenge, but the right learning tools and accessories can prevent potential bad hair days! {Click the pics to zoom}

 

With the use of decorative hair sticks, you can color coordinate or even go with a wardrobe theme for the day. 

Take a moment to "poke around" ;-) this assortment...you just might see something that makes hair care fun!

 

Whip it up into a Chinese knot, wrap up a Figure 8, or twist into a Basic bun ~ possibilities abound!

A huge shout out to my cousin Sabrina, for the tutorial demonstrating the techniques.  She has the longest and prettiest hair of anyone I know.  Great job Cuz!

 

Hollow / Empty

Hollow beads can be tricky to make, but once you catch on, the process can be intriguing, mesmerizing even.  This one is adorned with random blue and green glass particles...really dresses it up I think.

 

The hollow, or empty, bead brings to mind the empty tomb...now hollow...because death and the grave could not hold Him.   The Lord is Risen!

Sunday's comin'

Some of my favorite beads to make are using striped cane for raised flowers, or simple "poked" flowers, or these...rosy and magnified with clear encasing. Soothing colors and pleasing pastels remind me of spring, my favorite time of year.  And flowers remind me of the Easter season in particular. 

The trees are in bloom!  And it was a tree that our Savior carried himself - to die on - yet He lives, that we might be a kind of first fruits among God's creatures...

a Tree of Life.

Testing a new blog site

I made these glass beads some time ago, but am just now showing them.  Although the royal blue and majestic purple were difficult to capture in all their glory, you can enjoy tracking the patterns within.  I do adore these 2 colors!  And the green one with its florescence and hints of rust is funky and a springtime favorite.