Bead Soup and the Reveal . . .

 All of our ingredients have been simmering on low and it's time 

to serve up what we've been cookin'.

This is my first time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Hop Party

and if you're not sure what this is go here to get the scoop.

Tiffany Long is my bead soup partner and you can find her here.

 "Sakura"

This is the first piece that I made and the size of the focal was a challenge for me. 

It's about 5-6 inches wide and I wanted to make sure that the focal wasn't overshadowed.

I'm a firm believer that sometimes less is more (unless more is just better)! ha

The first thing I did was research the Japanese Cherry Blossom and what I found

was that in the Japanese culture the Cherry Blossom

represents the cycle of life and death and how our lives

blossom and fall.

That they are richly symbolic because of their extreme beauty and quick death.

So I immediately knew what I wanted to do  . . .

I wanted to somehow have blossoms that seemed to be falling off

symbolizing the transient nature of life,

and lucky for me there were two perfect places to attach a jump ring with fine chain.

I used brass chain with a vintage finish and  

I searched through my stash and found the right color orange seed beads

to use with the few Cherry Blossoms that would fall from the chain.

Some more of the soup I received . . .

I then decided to make a bracelet with some of the remaining soup. I used a variety of metals

in this bracelet that would be all about dangles. From the soup I used a few light green pearls as well as the

pretty pink ones, and the very lightweight silver looking ones all topped off with bead caps

I had in my stash. Even though none of the beads had any heavy weight to them, the chains seemed to want

to get tangled easily so I used a jump ring in a couple of places to keep them neat and tidy but

stay in keeping with that loose feeling. 

But it still need that one last thing - pink sari silk ribbon topped it off!

And one last creation using the clasp that she sent me. Silver just didn't seem to go with

the first one and I could have used it in the bracelet, but I think it's just right in this one.

In this one I used this cluster of leaves she sent with crystals that were already put together.

Check out the great little rhinestone headpins!!

And there were 3 pink pearls left. I added some more chain from my stash just like

I incorporated into the bracelet with a vintaj pendant and bird charm - simplicity!

And then after I was finished with both this necklace and the bracelet I had an 'aha'

moment! What if . . .  when I wasn't wearing the bracelet I could attach it to the necklace.

Now, I just need to figure out the best way to do that.

A tremendous thank you to Lori Anderson, Artist and founder of Bead Soup Blog Hop

at Pretty Things.

There are over 300 participants in this blog hop and you can find

the entire list here.

Happy hopping, see ya there!

Foto Friday - A still moment in a busy life . . . and received blessings

I went to bed the night before last night thinking to myself, self how can tomorrow be Thursday already?

I was thinking, which sometimes can get me in trouble when I'm trying to sleep, that I'm having

a bit of an inspiration problem.  

Don't get me wrong, inspiration is everywhere and at every turn.

It's just that I've been too busy to be still....and still is where my soul finds its wings

and where my mind stops thinking and just is. 

So the other night I prayed that in the busyness of my now that I wouldn't miss any of God's blessings
because I wasn't being still enough to notice. Sometimes I wonder how many blessings I miss because I either didn't recognize it or because I was too busy to take notice? I have wondered that more lately . . .

So my first stop was the water, and the one place where I can always count on the busyness of life to be drowned out by the sounds of the ocean and replaced with stillness and gratitude. I felt an instant calm come in with the breeze.

John 1:16

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Although I had missed the sunrise by about 40 minutes there was a beautiful glow and I even managed to capture a little starburst in the sun. Just as I was about to get in the car to head down the road to one of my favorite birding trails I caught a glimpse of two fishermen in a boat which then led me to this guy who was reeling something in.

Of course I had to run over and check it out. And check it out indeed he got himself a flounder.

Do you see both of this eyes on this side - strange huh? I guess they start out having one eye on either side

and as they mature the eye makes its way to the top side.

It was a keeper, and time to re-load the hook . . . he showed me where to hook the shrimp right under their horn -yep they have a sharp horn on top of their head!

Not more than 5 minutes later . . . a sand trout, but he was too small and back he went.

A big thanks to John for letting me hang out and ask questions and invade his space.

Next up, the coastal birding trail. But, I didn't make it very far. In fact, I didn't make it any farther than the

butterfly garden. I did see about three butterflies and they were all camera shy. There is a garden club

that volunteers to tend to the garden and considering our drought it's looking pretty good.  

 

I have to say that I think I was more captivated by the water drops than any of the flowers and

quickly changed my lens to my 40mm macro. The way they reflect the light and cast shadows are beautiful.

(Linking this with LaLa's Home Daycare photo friday- theme is pattern and

favorite photo of the week with Through a Photographers eye)

And then . . . I spied two anoles chasing each other. When I finally found where one of them landed I quickly in a slow stalking manner made my way over and I'm so glad that I still had on my macro lens. Now if you know anything about these lizards it's that they are skittish and with any quick movement they are outta sight.

This is where patience is a virtue when it comes to nature. I finally got myself positioned so that I could slowly bend down, because with this lens you have to be ultra close (like almost nose to nose) in order to come close to filling the frame. You can see here that she is watching my every move.

At this point I'm just so thrilled to be getting some shots and can't believe with the lens a mere three inches

from her that she is still there. She was on a low plant about 18" tall and staying bent over that far is tricky and to stay steady even trickier. I decided to take my chances and move all the way around to another side which required going completely around a very large bush. Whew, she was still there but I had to start my descent again very slowly! ha ha  This time I was in a much better position and given that I was already so close, I decided to take my chances once again  . . .

Do you see that! Holy cow batman, that is my hand. I was able to slip my hand under the leaf that she was on without her getting startled. You're probably wondering why I keep calling it a her - the females have a small pattern that goes down the middle of their back. Right after I got my hand under the leaf, she turned to her right and was checking things out on that side.

I very slowly lifted my index finger towards her and she put both of her feet on my finger! At this point I'm about to pee my pants I'm so excited, and trying to keep my cool and snap pictures with a macro lens one handed all while staying steady!! The next thing I knew as I extended my hand a bit more she was completely on my hand. I started to very slowly stand up . . .

Here you can get a good look at the pattern that goes down her back.

They will turn brown when they are stressed and the whole time she stayed green.

Not a fleck of brown.

Not one!

There were even several times when she licked me! Ha ha  I'd like to think it was a kiss! ; )

 

At this point I decided to put the camera down, of course very slowly. I'm thinking that I have taken plenty of pictures and now I just want to relish in this moment. A beautiful moment when one of God's creatures trusted me enough  . . . and then the tears just flowed.  I'm not exactly sure what overcame me but the emotion was intense, and raw. Ever since I was a child I fantasized about being able to talk with the animals, just like Dr. Doolittle.  

After we parted ways and before the hubby called me to meet him for lunch I wandered down the path a bit.

And I came across Jo enjoying her moment of stillness watching the deer crossing the path. I shared with her my moment and cried again!

Doesn't she have the loveliest smile.

This last photo I took earlier in the week and thought since I started with a sunrise that

I would finish with a sunset. The neighborhood next to us has an open field where the cattle graze. The sky that evening was the most beautiful shade of pink! From the time I left my house and arrived to get this photo the sun had almost disappeared and there was no time for my tripod. So the light isn't exactly the way I wanted but I like it.

Linking this one with LEM and the theme is light or lighting.

I know there are plenty who love being busy and get bored when there is not always something going on. I however am not one of those people. I love doing things, but I need down time. I need to be still  not only so that I can recognize my blessings but so that I may also truly receive them.
Because of Gods grace we continue to receive one blessing after another even when we are not deserving.
That is not a gift I want to give up lightly.

Have a wonderful weekend and many blessings!
Love, Kim
XO

and linking up with the hollie rogue for foto friday here:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Wow, the week has flown by, again.

 And although I did not make it to the beach this week,

(insert sad face here), 

I did go on a hunt and shot a few things. . .

1. Bokeh 

I love me some bokeh! This is my garden and despite the extreme drought that

we are in here in Texas this Angelonia and Gomphrena have managed to cheat death!

2. Process of Elimination

This prompt was a process of eliminating what we didn't not need in the photo that would give us a better

composition. Originally this butterfly had landed on a stick and my eye tended to be drawn to the line of the stick rather than to the wings. I recomposed the image without the stick giving all of the focus to the wings. I'm really loving this one!

3. Remember

Today, 10 years later I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing . . .I don't think anyone

old enough to remember, will forget. Shock, fear, sadness. I remember such overwhelming sadness that they didn't all make it out before the towers fell and my heart ached and I wept. That day I witnessed death, shattered dreams and incredible heroism. No, I don't think anyone old enough to remember will ever forget. 

4. Statues

The statue that stands in Galveston in the presence of Elissa, The Tall Ship of Texas.

5. Flying High

Yesterday was our homecoming game - and fancy that it just so happens that our drill team girls can fly!

Hope you are having a great Sunday!

Love, Kim

XO

Foto Friday - Stop the merry-go-round!

"So much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it."

- Willy Wonka

Oh, how I wish it was that way.

So much time, so little to do.

It sure would make my day if all I could do was play.

(linking this with LEM - the theme is 'fair')

(Yeah, I'm a top three winner!)

But not here, not today . . .

I've been on a merry-go-round as they say!

I've been waiting, and wishing, and hoping and praying that the wheels would just fall off,

because it should be illegal

for anyone to be as busy as a bee. 

You know me,

and where I would rather be -

on the beach of course in the presence of a seagull.

(linking this with foto friday at La-La's Home Daycare - theme 'fill the frame')

Where I would lock myself away,

(Linking this with favorite photo at Through a Photographers Eyes and fabulous friday

at McDougall Photography)

in the sweet nectar . . .

enjoying the quieter moments of life,

remembering time for reflection at the end of the day.

(Linking this with photo friday at the hollie rogue)

Enjoy the weekend my friends,

Love, Kim

XO

 "