After the storm

Spread your wings

Sunrise, Sunset

out our window...
Such a glorious, fleeting show.

Bead & Button Show Class Catalog

Undersea Volcano is on the cover!

...and on the Bead & Button Show home page banner (click on Photo #2)!

I will be at Quiltworks NW / Beads & Beyond (Bellevue WA) all day Friday, January 22 for my first Beaded Colorways book signing event coupled with a trunk show of all my bead soups and fibers. Hope to see you there!

And if you are around on Saturday, join me for my Wanderlust Bracelet class.

My January newsletter has gone out - let me know if you would like to be on my mailing list.

Might I recommend

the talents of my dear friend Joie (MoringDesign.com)? She took my photos and turned them into postcards... and signs... and business cards. And even though she just lives a hop, skip and jump from me... we did it all on-line!

On the back...

My new postcards are being printed by this company. Just heard they are already shipped - ahead of time!

"Well this is embarrasing"

popped up on the Firefox home page when my son was unable to log in.

We all burst out laughing

I said - "Wow, they just took possible emotions of frustration or anger..."
"and mushed them all together in a laugh!" my younger son piped in.

Hmm

I sat in a meeting

for the neighborhood we just joined...

sandwiched between people so upset and polarized that lawsuits and threats of lawsuits were being flung around like party favors.

Turns out, a neighbor did not follow the rules. Now don't get me wrong - I do not condone his actions, shame on him. However, on the other side of me sat a man who actually said "I am not threatening anyone with a lawsuit. I am simply saying that if you [board members] do not pursue a lawsuit against this individual, then I will be forced to sue the individual members of the board." Did I hear him right? Aaaaagh - these are all people who have come to this beautiful island to relax, rejuvenate, retire...

What is happening to us
...that we have forgotten our priorities?
...that we don't take responsibility for our actions and words?
...that we make the choice to disregard rules so we can benefit at the expense of our neighbors?
...that we are so quick to bring lawsuits against others?
...that we threaten perfectly innocent volunteering members of a board with lawsuits if they don't vote in a particular way?
...that anyone remains on the board after those threats?
...that I sat there, for 5 hours, trying desperately not to take sides or create any enemies?


Shame on us all.

Ushering in a New Year

family
friends
by the sea
Whidbey Island
spending the night at Point No Point light house
sunrises
sunsets
away from phones, internet
out of touch with the world
in touch with nature, life, loved ones

I hope your new year is full of the people and places you cherish most