Opening, Opening, Open!

I said I would keep you updated on my beautiful Orchid... Over the last few weeks I would wake up to find it a little further along, the stem starting another bud, or each bud getting a little closer to opening...

I woke up a few days ago to find this little one has decided to come out of her little shell...

 And this morning she has opened to show us her beauty. A little light in the darkness, life in the death of winter. Hope when it seems there is none. Thank you, Little Orchid. You brighten my days :)

Happy Cow Appreciation Day!

1. Chenille Moo Cow Custom by MillieFern 2. Hand Drawn Egg Cup - Cow by Jimbobart 3. Mad Cow Pet Hat by PamperedWhiskers 4. Cow Thank You Notes by MariaPalito 5. Cow Hugger Necklace by RoamingRabbit 6. My Moo Moo by RkDsign88

In honor of Cow Appreciation Day, I present to you a collection of beautiful, adorable, wonderful cow-inspired art from Etsy. I just love cows, don't you? I would love to have a farm with a great big field so I could plonk a bunch of cows there. Just to watch them eat and be cows. So relaxing!

Update on Fintan: they have changed his litter, and he is on antibiotics and seems to be doing a bit better. He is playing more and coming up to people for affection, so that is a very good sign. I'll keep you updated :)

Thoughtful Thursday: New Project Update!

Here are a few interim photos of the new project I'm working on. This is a modified version of a project from my new chain mail book. In this bracelet, I am making my own rings (yup, all 200 of them), and then weaving them into a loose Byzantine chain mail weave...
In between the Byzantine weave units, I am attaching bead units that are actually a part of the chain weave. These are Czech glass fire polish beads in Crystal AB that are strung on small pieces of wire with their ends hammered flat. Then I take the other end and twist it into a double ring and attach it into the weave of the chain. After 3 hours of ring making, filing and chain making, I have about 6 inches or so done. I should be able to get the rest done today.

Tell me, what do you think (honestly)? Would you like it in silver plate or sterling silver, or 14karat gold filled? With different colored beads? Let me know, I value your opinion!

That's all for now, tune in tomorrow for a Fabulous Friday Feature.

Thoughtful Thursday: Bracelet Update and More

Here is the fourth layer started on the bracelet. I am using an Amber colored glass seed bead for this layer, and as it is built up it will look more like amber and less green, since the blue beads underneath are trying to show through right now. I am currently working more amber beads in between the rows of these amber beads, to give a cross pattern effect. More to come next Tuesday!

In other news, a good friend of mine is in need of prayers and/or positive thoughts. She is a breast cancer survivor, and is now being looked at for ovarian cancer. She had "minor" surgery on Tuesday to do some tests and the results won't be back for a bit. I say "minor" because no matter how minor they say it is, it is still painful and a real inconvenience! Please keep her in your thoughts, and pray that it is nothing so serious as more cancer, but, if it is, please pray that it has been caught early and can be cured. Thank you.

That is all for now, see you tomorrow for a Fabulous Friday Feature!!

Thoughtful Thursday: Bracelet Update!

Thank you all for your well wishes. I am hanging in there, thanks to Arwen and Brennan. I am having a nice time watching my favorite movies and working on my newest bracelet. Here is the result of about 6 hours of work....well...interrupted work. I still need to move around quite frequently, so I have maybe 3 hours uninterrupted on this so far. This is the bracelet with the first 2 layers.
Here is the bracelet looking down to show the cross sections. You can see the thread. It is funny, the beads are very tiny, yet, with this new macro magnifying lens they look huge. The beads are in fact only about 1.5-2mm in width!
Here is Arwen, doing her Night Watchdog thing. There are many birds, squirrels and chipmunks hurrying around to prepare for the winter, which is fast approaching. Arwen likes to make sure everything is in order and everyone gets their share.

Until tomorrow, we wish you all the very best of health and happiness.
and Arwen