Is Winter Ever Going to END?????

I, personally, am weary of the cold, the snow, the ice, the feeling of being trapped inside. For a few days earlier in the week it was over 50 degrees farenheit. I guess the local Germans are also feeling "cabin fever" because I noted some convertibles being driven around tops down. I did get my Mini Cooper convertible out of the garage, where it has been since November, and enjoyed driving around with Jimmy Buffet music cheerfully spouting from the speakers, but I'm not hardy enough to put the top down in less than 70 degree weather.

Yesterday, when I went out to climb into my little car to motor off to work, I found the wipers frozen to the windshield and the boot frozen shut. I just hate it! I'm wondering if I'll see spring before I leave Germany in June.

Talk about no Obligation!

Things for our move back to Hawaii are skipping right along. Pack out is 1 and 2 April, then we get to sit around with gov't loaner furniture for two months. That's ok, when we moved here, we spent 4 months with loaner furniture so it's like bringing old friends back :)
I'm recently back from spending two weeks at my mom's. I had to get away from work. I really like living in Germany, although all the rules would drive me nuts after a while, but my workplace is just ridiculous. I don't think more than 40% of the people have enough work to do. I certainly don't and haven't for the last almost 2 years. Waste of time and money, if you ask me.

Before I went to my mom's, Bob and I went to Malta. Malta is really nice. A complete surprise! There is so much to see on one island about the size of Oahu. Lots of history, way back to prehistoric times. We spent 4 days there and we could have spent about 4 more to see everything we wanted to see.

My life for the next few weeks will be organizing the flotsam and jetsam of my life (specifically my crafts) and getting ready for the packers/movers.

Blogging Without Obligation

AHA! It's come full circle! Millions of people have blogs. And how many of those people are chained to their blogs for some portion of time everyday because they feel they HAVE to blog?And when they don't blog for a while, their first blog posting after a hiatus is an apology for not blogging.

I know for myself that if I feel I HAVE to do ANYTHING (except work to pay the bills and feed my craft addiction), I'm likely not to do it. And for HEAVEN'S SAKE, people, don't we all have enough we HAVE to do to not need to add blogging to the list?? I don't even have children (well, unless you count my spousal unit and two cats) and I have enough obligations to not need to add anything else.

Besides, I'm going to be 50 this year and as much as possible, I'm not going to do things I just freakin' don't wanna do!

So, bloggers, the question of to blog or not to blog, should not be a gut wrenching question. Do it if you want or don't do it if you don't. And you don't have to even be 50 to decide not to blog! I give you permission :)

Mill Hill Kits For Sale

I will be listing several Mill Hill kits in my Etsy store: The Beaded Cat . I've got to destash as much stuff as I can. I'm pricing the kits to sell quickly, so keep your eyes on my store to see if there's something you'll like :)

For all those interested in bead loom patterns, I have finally added some new patterns to my Etsy store: www.thebeadedcat.etsy.com . While I'm in transition these will probably be the only items available on my site. I also have a Moving Sale on some earrings and supplies.

Lots O'Art

I've often said that I have time either for being on the computer or making art, and that goes double now. I have been packing up knickknacks and art supplies getting ready to haul it back to Hawaii. How I am ever going to fit all this stuff in a much smaller area in Hawaii, I do not know. But, as Scarlett O'Hara would say: I won't think about that today, I'll think about it tomorrow.

I wanted to share a couple of projects that I finished recently:

The first is a special piece that I made in memory of my darling Persian cat, Ferdi. He passed away April 30, 2007 and until recently, I couldn't manage to make any memorial to him. For every cat that I've had that has passed away since college I've made some kind of memorial to them. For the first two, Moska and Keegan, I made quilts. I still hang Keegan's quilt in my bedroom. Moska's has begun to fade, so I don't display it very often. Keegan passed away in 1997 and Moska in 1990.

I didn't think that Ferdi would want what everyone else had. He also fancied himself extra-special. And he was. I couldn't really think of what to make him until I read in an issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors about making "shrines."

Here's my shrine to Ferdi:

It's truly a shrine fit for a little Persian Emperor, don't you think?

I call this piece: Autumn

The polymer clay face is the first one I ever made. I beaded around it with citrine and gold seed beads. I wish the picture had come out better. This one doesn't do the piece justice. The background is sparkly and shimmering. I used more of my polymer clay pieces just because I could....:)

This piece is one of my favorites! I call it Beaded Spheres. I fused pieces of black and white scraps and then some red over the black and white. I fused spheres on top and then beaded my head off. I used all kinds of beads: square, seed, circles and some really neat butterfly beads I've had for a while.

That's about all I've finished to this point. I have several pieces in the last stages of creation, so check back again to see whatelse I've come up with!

ANNOUNCEMENT!

I have an announcement! I might as well get it out of the way right now at the beginning of the year: I will turn the BIG 5-0 this year! Some women cringe, others cry...I just scream it out because it's better than the alternative. I don't lie about my age. I couldn't care less who knows. I'm not vain enough to wear contacts (although I do have these ultra-chic, Euro-cool, glasses frames that I got here last year) and sometimes, on weekends, I sit in my jammies until at least noon. Today I am sitting on my couch, in my blue flannel night shirt and mismatched snuggly socks. And that's all 'cuz I'm old enough to do what I want!

Since 50 represents a half century, and I have no expectations of reaching a full century, I want do something monumentally creative to commemorate not having expired yet, not being in jail and not living in a trailer park. So, I'm proposing a series of Celebrate 50 Quilts. I want to celebrate the colors, sounds, smells, sights and moments that I enjoy. I'm thinking small quilts...not more than 10x10. Today I'm going to start thinking about my first opening quilt. A splashy affair with lots of color and noise. My actual birthday will not be until October, but by then I'd like to have my quilts done and on display. Who knows maybe I'll have a party :)