Miss Sniff, The Cat

My cousin Mary Reaban asked about my childhood calico cat, Miss Sniff.   The cat came from the Reaban dairy farm, Southwest of Saint Louis.  My Father swore that every time she had kittens, we'd move.  Cousin Mary told me about a late 40's children's book and  asked if this might be where the name came from.  I don't know for sure, but I do remember the book.

At some point in the last 45 years, my Mother had given me Miss Sniff's tags. 

So I am sitting here thinking some things have come full circle as I've just adopted another calico cat.  I briefly thought about changing her name, but at 12 years old, Sophie is used to her own name.

She is training me to wake up at 5:30 AM and feed her by 6AM . . . very hard on an old confirmed night owl like myself.

Immortal Amaryllis

 I've had this orange amaryllis for about 6 years now and by all rights it should not have survived at all. While I was Snowbirding, running back and forth from AZ to NH at the end of the winter I would put the pot out in the dry garden and leave it at the AZ house for 6months.  I fully expected it to shrivel up and die during the 100+ degree summer temps. Much to my surprise, in November I'd look at it and see the small edge of a green leaf at the top of the big bulb.  So I watered it and brought it in from the freezing cold.  It would reward me with six large curved leaves - just 6, no more, no less.

Last year just before my move, I transplanted it to a larger pot and brought it to Tucson with me.  It actually put out 3 new pups (bulblets) and went dormant for the winter.

10 days ago I noticed a bloom stalk amongst the leaves and then a second one.  I couldn't believe that it was going to bloom for the first time in 6 years.  I brought it in the house and am enjoying it.  Now if I could just figure out what I did to make it flower again.

There are other things in bud in my postage stamp yard and around me, however I love the Saguaro blossoms and the Palo Verde trees the most.

The Saguaros put out a crown of blooms all the way at the top.  You can see them on my cactus, just barely.

The Palo Verde trees out do themselves with small yellow flowers.  I'm glad this one is across the street and I can see it, but don't have to clean up underneath it.


I'm still settling into my Tucson quarters, trying to rearrange things to fit.  Some time in the next couple of months I'm going to have to do a large bead room clean out.  If I don't, then I'll have to buy a couple more Plano storage boxes - which means having another wall cabinet made and an addition put on my studio! I just downsized and am not ready to add onto the house & studio at this point. 

some things that need a new home.

If you want or need something, drop me a line and I'll see if I have it and want to get rid of it.

Change - good & bad

When life hands you lemons (big lemons) make lots of lemonade. I hope 2018 is a stable, happy year and that 2017 is done with. It's been a year of radical changes for me.

Have you ever seen lemons this big? This tree is in my new Tucson yard.

In short, I became a widow for the second time in my life. I bought a small mobile home in a Tucson 55+ community, got rid of better than half of my physical "stuff" and moved myself to Tucson, Arizona.  

Part of the reason for the move was to be closer to decent medical facilities.  In Tombstone it took 1/2 hr for an ambulance to arrive at the house and then a helicopter ride to a Tucson hospital for my companion.  My COPD also needs better medical professionals.  Getting old certainly is not for wimps! 

So off to Tucson I've gone and am trying to fit 73 years of life possessions into a 700 sq. ft. home I bought up in the land of the saguaro cactus.

Yes, I kept and moved every last one of my beads which I'm trying to organize into the new studio.  

It's been 18 months since I've put needle and thread to a bead.  

However, the beading doldrums didn't shut down the buying of beads.  Hopefully 2018 will turn some of the old and new beads into beadwork.

Daggers and orange crystals - unbeatable combination

I'm not sure when all the boxes will finally get unpacked.  I've made plans to enjoy the Tucson Gem Shows in early Feb.  Then there are still some house remodeling to finish up.  Can you believe someone painted a tub with house paint?






I thought my life had a plan for growing old gracefully.  Then WHAM, everything zigged and zagged. It's going to be an interesting ride now that 2017 is over and done with.

Happy New Year 

and may 2018 treat all of you well.

Bead Society of New Hampshire

March 2001 in Antrim NH

We called it a "Bead Cave", it was held at my house, organized by Marney.......but it was also the seed from which the Bead Society was born.

Today I received this communique from Gail Devoid, the current President,
"The Bead Society of New Hampshire has made you an honorary life member for all your contributions. Congratulations!"


I feel very honoured as the Society has always been close to my heart in many ways over the past 15 years.  I sorely miss the meetings and interactions with all the old friends amongst the membership.  
Arizona treats my health quite well, even with 112 degree summer days, but New Hampshire will always be home.
   Beads Rule!

Garden Stripes String-Along

Garden Stripes String-Along finished about a month ago, but time is all of our hardest design elements.  Some people are still working on their first necklace and a few have finished both necklaces.  I'm retired and I find I have even less time than when I had a family, job and large house..... It happens.

My first necklace had a light background - now see how others colored the patterns.

Wendy Pagent used very similar colors and did a nice bright spring-like necklace. I especially like the pop of light lime in the trellis sections.

We had a few members get overly ambitious. It amuses me as I can see myself doing the same and starting 3 necklaces in different color combinations.  The impulse didn't last too long, but will grow over time, I'm sure.

Susan Kirby did a dark background and although it's all the same patterns it has a totally different feel to it.  The two necklaces together make a nice statement piece.

Then we have Marsha Brown's necklace, singular.  She crocheted both of the necklaces together as a single piece.   She's enjoying being able to have a variety of lengths by how many times she doubles it over her head.

This is also a beautiful set of colored patterns in a mix of light & dark backgrounds.


I seem way behind finishing up things to get an e-book of the patterns done.  I'm not complaining, but RA health issues as well as cumulative years on this planet sure slows a body way down.  Meanwhile, enjoy these excellent examples of what people can do with beads, thread and a crochet hook.

No dogs, No cats, No birds

I say that I don't have pets, but this Cactus Wren sure makes herself right to home.  If I happen to leave the back door open she flies in, down the hall and gets a drink from the kitchen sink.  Then she diligently checks all of the window sills for spiders and bugs.  

Yesterday she visited and saw the tray of seed beads on the work table.

 She landed, pecked and went scratch, scratch, scratch - oh my, seed beads all over the place!
       I yelled
              she left in a hurry
                      I cleaned up!
Guess they were not good to eat but, sure looked like a pile of seed.

These are new etched size 8/0 Czech seed beads from Bead & Glass.
Aren't they beautiful beads? Amy panders to my seed bead needs.



I Should have been working on this, the next section for Garden Stripes String-Along.  I just had to see if the etched 8's looked like I envisioned when they were strung and crocheted.

Yes, I do get easily distracted, however at least I didn't reorganize my underwear drawer this time.

Garden Stripes is closed

The String-Along is fully subscribed and is closed.  

Now we begin.....

We are all looking at colors and trying to come up with a set that we think will work.  I said "3 graduated light or dark colors for the trellis".  One participant said her work table looked like it exploded with green bead colors and she still couldn't find what she wanted.  

How often do you look at the beads you own and determine that a shopping trip is needed because you don't have the right color? 

Garden Stripes Registration

It's time to sign up for this journey of discovery.
Gremlin/problem with PayPal button fixed - 12:30 AZ time

Sign-Ups are now closed as of Friday, October 23, 2015

Check out more information as to what we are going to be doing on this flyer . . . .

Garden Stripes Flyer

It will cost you $38 to join and crochet two ropes that have no patterns yet.  What do you think . . . a dark background or a nice pearl background?  You get to make all sorts of color choices - or use my colors.

This is a ten week project for the intermediate to advanced slip-stitch bead crocheter.  There will be no how to bead crochet instructions. However, when we're done, you'll be very comfortable adding in thread and beads as well as working from sectional graphs or charts. 

READY.........                  

                                .... then let the fun begin

Garden Stripes ~ String-Along

We are about to embark on another String Along.  This string-along will take its inspiration from a cottage garden. There will be two 45" necklaces, designed, strung and crocheted in multiple sections over an approximate 10 week period. I have ideas, but nothing has been designed yet - that's why this is a "string along with me" as I create week by week.

Find out the details in this PDF Flyer

Garden Stripes Flyer

There will be trellises to hold up vines and serve as a background for all the flowers. Then there will be flowers, lots of brightly colored flowers to plant on one of your necklaces.

Will you make a pale necklace set, a bold dark background set or create your garden in never before seen neon colors? We are going to talk about our inspirations, ideas and colors on a FaceBook Group.

So mark your calendars to sign up on October 20, 2015.  We'll be starting the actual crocheting on Halloween weekend, October 30th.  Room is limited to 40 participants, with preference given first to the last group of crocheters.

Garden Stripes

 I know I want a pearl background but am having trouble finding the right colors for a graduated trellis.  If I can get it all worked out, and the hands continue good, there will be a Garden Stripes String-Along.

Picking colors is always the hardest thing to do.  There are times that I think I'll just sort and re-sort beads rather than make anything with them.

I'd better hurry up as I have to take the car in for a recall fix tomorrow and I need something to crochet while I'm waiting.

I'll keep you updated as I get closer to having something ready to go - hopefully starting around Halloween.   Watch the Blog and FaceBook.

Moved to Arizona

Goodby New Hampshire.... The Antrim house was cleaned, put up for sale, sold and left us with 4 weeks to clean out and leave.  Whew, what a whirlwind that was.  We only took 10% of our stuff with us and it fit in a small POD and the trailer.

Thank heavens for good friends and family helping us get everything done.  Good thing too as the new owners showed up to the closing with their dog and a truck load of things to move in.





We are now permanently in Arizona and have to start doing all the change of addresses.

.... and find nooks and crannies of where to tuck our NH things into a 900 sq. ft old adobe house.  Already I'm saying, "it doesn't fit!"  I'm going to have to have a couple of house cooling sales, including an excess of beads.


Wondering now what the last chapter of my life will bring.

Printed Native Stripes

As of July 5, 2015 it's live on Amazon and you can purchase your own printed copy ... enjoy

Give it a week and the last of the String Along files will be ready to have printed copies from Amazon.  I'm just waiting for a proof copy.  This is still one of my happy pieces even if I've seen ropes done in elegant colors.  You can see what others have done on Pinterest.

I'll let you know when it's ready

Bling & Color

I was talking to a new beader and mentioned that I wasn't a big fan of things that expensively sparkled and glittered. I much prefer the Czech Fire Polish crystals as the Czech seem to come up with the most luscious of colors.


Then as I was sorting out an attic box I found my inherited purse - It does glitter very nicely -  I guess I do have an odd piece here and there of blingy, faceted glittering stones.


The construction is fascinating and it's quite heavy.



It's fun to take out and just admire.

 These are a few Fire Polished crystals that I picked up in Tucson this February.  See what I mean about great colors.  I'll take the color over the sparkle any day.

Book organization

Patterns & Graphing went out of print last year and I've finally gotten a printed republished edition up on Amazon.

You can also get an eBook copy from Bead-Patterns.  The nice thing about eBooks is that you can print out individual pages to scribble notes on.

And the prices have gone down also.





Urban Stripes has been an eBook for some time now, but I finally got the higher resolution photos together to do a POD edition on Amazon.

I personally still like paper copies of patterns, beading and other books.  
Amazon printed copy is here



When I did my first Bead Crochet book 14 years ago, I thought it might be just a 30 day wonder. Digital cameras were new and expensive, there were no Print-on-Demand services and downloads were scarce. I'm amazed (and grateful) that sales of all of my books continue as new beaders discover what they can do with bead crochet.

African Stripes

I don't move as fast as I once did, but it's still fun to dream up patterns in this technique.

Circus Bangles

Back to usefulness

A couple of years along now with a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, I am back to being semi-useful, functional. Sixty eight years of a very active lifestyle changed to one where I have to carefully plan what and where I am going to do day by day.  Medications have helped enough so that I can enjoy my beads once again.  I won't bore you with any of the details, but my blog posts will probably be sporadic.


It's hard to believe that in 25 years I've gone from this.....

 to this ....






"The evolution of my bead hoarding"

Cleanup Distraction

 I almost got this written this afternoon except my Boyfriend yelled that he could see smoke and a possible fire across the wash from the house.  Right now it's so dry and brush fires in Arizona can quickly burn out of control.  Stay tuned for an update.....

As I was cleaning up the studio work table to host a couple of visiting bead people, I threw all larger loose beads onto a tray.


I kept thinking, "what a nice combination."

The idea bulb went on...... I'd clean a bit, string a few beads from the tray, put a few beads away and string a few more beads.   

A messy work surface does say creativity, doesn't it?  Grab the crochet hook and see what it looks like as a single crocheted chain.

Not bad....

I'll unravel this first attempt as I need to figure out how to even out the chain tension.  Some areas bunch up into over large picots and others have too much cord showing between beads.  

I think it's a quick, fun way to use up odds and ends of beads and add some fun to an outfit.  

It's about 10 days to leaving for New Hampshire for the summer.  Please tell me the snow and mud season has left the East Coast.

Given what needs to be done before packing the car, I've put the moth sculpture away for 6 months.  I did see an oriental running stitch quilting technique that might look great on these wings.

Well.... the moth project is  now packed away for after Thanksgiving when I get back to Arizona.  For the moment all of the pieces and odd other bits are in one box waiting.

I unearthed another project that needs more research.  I was playing with the possibility of paper jewelry and put it aside when I noticed that the edges of the paper were badly fraying. I need to find a sealant for the paper that leaves it still feeling like paper and not stiff wood.  This took me back to my summer camp days. Did you ever make lanyards as a child?

I'll have an idea, try it, reject it and put the project tray aside for another while. The potato starch was interesting, but what a mess it made.  I would have been better off making potato soup with it.  

You sure can find a lot of possibilities waiting to happen when you deep clean a studio.  Let's see... there are 2 sliced up billiard balls, a box of rusty flea market keys, Arizona Artifacts waiting to be made into a unique pendant, A bead crochet large cuff bracelet waiting for more pieces of rope,  and tubes of seed beads everywhere.