Rain & Bead Podium...

First and foremost I wish to thank my little buddy Tag of Brynwood Needleworks.  Tag and Donna have been doing the rain dance and we finally got some rain this morning.  Thank you so much and Smooches.  We are so grateful for this moisture.  It is also helping to curb the raging King Fire. Today we have very clear clean air quality and that is truly a double blessing.  The rain has already stopped but any is better than none.

Way back in January I shared on this post about my friend Sylvia and her window shades that needed dyeing.  This is what Sylvia gifted me with for my efforts.  It doesn't look like much and its condition is less than excellent however I was thrilled.  When I brought it home Mr. C wanted to put it in the dump.  NO!  I have a "vision" for it and it will fit in MY studio where I can close the door.

Mr. C had to re-engineer and rebuild lots of it.  That is just how he functions.  I tried to teach him the term "Shabby Chic" but he just cannot embrace "junk".

He not only encouraged me to try Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I have wanted to use forever...he paid for it.  Note:  Waaaaay tooooo expensive for this project but at least I have tried it and now know more about it.  This color is Provence and I really like the subtle shade of aqua.

Here is the new and improved Bead Podium and a stool I painted.  This spot in my studio is custom fit for this purpose.  My vision may have just been a success. Have I shown you the best part?

The drawers are printer trays!  Oh Yes!!!  Perfect for beads.  I have wanted a cabinet like this for so long and my good deed paid off for me.

So I haven't been a slacker all year.  I have spent all my spare time working on this project.  Sorting beads and filling the finished cabinet has been an overwhelming job.  I used to keep my beads in lots of different places...including baggies, tubes, bottles, plastic storage bins and even little dishes.  I thought I had them organized...until now.  I did have to move beads many times over as I found more and they over-flowed the little compartments.  Mr. C suggested I get ALL my beads and then sort and place them into the drawers.  What?  This resulted in Mr. C realizing just how many beads I actually have.  Wait!  Some are from my Grandmother, my mother, friends, me, and of course shopping.  Of course Mr. C "suggested" I never buy any more beads.  I thankfully "negotiated and negated" that notion!  I LOVE BEADS.  And they love me.

Now I can honestly say I am so happy with my "new" bead podium and how organized the beads are. I have already been able to make some bracelets and charms for gift giving.  What a pleasure to select the proper drawer...yes, I labeled them...and be able to create in a very short amount of time. Even my tools are right there where I can access them.  Thank you to Mr. C and to my dear friend Sylvia.
How do you store your beads?  What are your favorite beads and what do you create with them?
Fall is in full swing here and the colors are beginning to turn stunning shades of crimson, orange, yellow and green.  I also see beautiful photos of Spring and blossoms our neighbors across the world are enjoying.  Creative Bliss and Making Lasting Memories...

Magical & Happiest Place...

Mr. C and I were Magically Happy to recently spend the day and evening at Disneyland.  Yes, just the two of us "grown ups".  Twenty years ago we celebrated our engagement of marriage right here at Club 33 in New Orleans square, Disneyland.  Mickey Mouse even attended our dinner party.  It was magical and I was so happy.  As a child I never got to go to Disneyland even though we lived in Southern California.  Unknown family reasons that a child who loves everything Mickey and Minnie cannot possibly understand.  I have since made up for my lack of visits even though I am a big girl now.  Fortunately Mr. C indulges me and joins me on my visits.

Disneyland is all decked out in Halloween pumpkins for a big celebration.  I had never seen this before.

We also did not realize that young children dress up to attend and spend the day enjoying their favorite characters.  This little girl really is living her dream.

Yes...I was thrilled to see Minnie and Mickey (no photo shared) greeting us as we entered the grounds.

It was a very hot day and Mr. C was very patient waiting in lines.  We did ride on Small World.

Here is my very HAPPY Mr. C riding on the carousel.  This actually surprised me when he suggested and did this.

Here are the butterfly girls marching/dancing in the nighttime parade.

Here I bid you adieu from my carousel horse that I rode.  We had a wonderful day enjoying the Happiest Magical Place on Earth.  Thank you Walt Disney and your incredible vision.  Thank you Mr. C for making me very happy indeed.
Our closest huge wildfire named the King Fire out of Pollock Pines is still raging and has burned over 87,000 acres and 136 square miles of land.  We are safe but choking on very thick smoke for days now.  I cannot complain as I am so very thankful we are not in the fire.  My prayers are still with all who are affected by loss, evacuation and/or fighting the fire.  Very grave circumstances in our dry drought scorched land.
We are staying close to home and putting together our best plans...just in case.  Being prepared is something that we always think of doing "sometime".  "If not now...when" certainly applies to this also and not just creative endeavors or using the good stuff.
I spent today at my local Chamber.  I truly enjoy helping with office tasks and meeting folks who are visiting.  Maybe this week I will get creative in my studio or sewing room.  What are you creating or doing?  Do something that makes you happy.  Creative Bliss...
P.S.  Thank you so very much for your visits and comments.  I so enjoy reading them.

Prayers for Fire Relief...

California is such a beautiful state...when conditions and Mother Nature cooporate.  I live among these amazing forest trees.  What you aren't able to see in this photo is the fire that broke out just one mile from my home several days ago.  Very frightening and really makes you stop and think.  I honestly can say I would not be the least bit prepared for evacuation.  I shall work on that.

Thankfully all resources were deployed to this fire and we remained safe.  Three giant tankers, two very big water  bucket helicopters, ground crews and bulldozers worked non-stop to put out the fire. They all flew right over our home and the noise was loud but I was so thankful we are in their path. I cannot express how very grateful I am to all who fight fires.

While Mr. C and I were recently away this was another fire we experienced far too closely for comfort.  There were several fires in Southern California while we were there.  With the horrific dry drought conditions everything is tinder-box just waiting to explode.

Then there is this fire in Northern California along Highway 50 which is a major link to Lake Tahoe. Today we learned this is a suspected arson fire and growing over 71,000 acres.  I pray for all to stay safe from this and its devastation.  The pyro-cumulous clouds are spectacular to see however they represent the most destructive and raging fire that is not contained to date.  With winds, heat and lack of water this is such a tragedy for so many.  My heart is heavy for all affected.

"Letters from Africa" is explained on Vicki's blog 2BagsFull.  If you wish to do something special please read her post and see if you are called to action.  I know I was.  Just click on the link and you will find the information.  Vicki does amazing charity projects and I was fortunate enough to participate in her "Pink Scarf" project last year.

I haven't spent time being creative or doing much other than chores and visiting family and friends. Mr. C and I have been away a lot and really just want to stay home and relax some.  I have plans to tackle this vintage fabric wrapped bowl my aunt made for me decades ago.  I have been cramming bits and bobs into it and it will be fun to discover my treasures buried within.  I also am making a promise to myself to sort, organize and purge my sewing room.  I want it to be free of piles and projects begun but never acted upon or completed.  I am looking forward to some sewing as our days become shorter from Summer to Autumn.  I like to make most of my gifts for family and friends and that means I better get busy very soon.  Right now I can't even see my sewing machine for all the stuff I have setting on every horizontal surface.  Recently I did manage to do some good in my studio but that just means some of it migrated into the sewing room.  That never happens to you...does it? Please say I am not alone...it will make me feel so much better.
I am happy to report we had a tiny sprinkle of rain this morning.  Nothing measurable but ever so much appreciated.  Maybe we will be able to get some real rain very soon.
I am truly enjoying catching up on your blogs and the lovely Autumn decorating you are doing.  I reward myself with blog time upon each chore I complete...well maybe just make progress on.
Creative Bliss and Prayers for Fire and Drought Relief...

TEST

This a test.  Learning to operate my new iPAD.

Paris Summer Bliss...

Fair Warning...Lots of photos!  I will let my photos share my extreme joy of being able to spend two weeks in Paris this summer.  I will try to keep my words to a minimum.  Iconic Eiffel Tower!  Mr. C and I celebrated his one year trauma accident recovery and  Summer Solstice at Sunset at the top.

View from our apartment.  How joyful to have a place all to ourselves.  

Open air market in the Bastille.  We love to visit and shop these.  Everything is so fresh!

Mr. C sharing with me the blessings of his life.

Our view was the Eiffel Tower.  Our delight was a chocolate and chantilly cream crepe.

The amazing architecture of Notre Dame.  We had such perfect weather.

Silly me swinging in the park near Notre Dame.  I do enjoy childhood fun.

An impromptu orchestra playing lovely music in the metro.  

The gorgeous glass dome at Gallery Lafayette.  The shopping was over-the-top.  Baby Versace!

Oh the glorious Amorino cornet of gelato shaped into flower petals.  Yes, I am that happy!

My very favorite beautiful blue sky with white puffy clouds overlooking the Seine.  

Fresh flowers in Rue Cler.

A bottle of wine for our picnic.

Le Marche des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered open air market.  We enjoyed marvelous lunch,  

Another favorite of mine...Ile Flottante.  Meringue floating in cream.  This one has carmelized sugar.

Gare du Nord train station.  So beautiful.

I shall let the colors speak for themselves here in the open air market.  These colors sing!

I know how very fortunate I am to be able to spend time with Mr. C and explore such amazing destinations.  We did have a wonderful time in Paris, Provence and Luberon.  Traveling really broadens our horizons.  To be able to experience other places and cultures is truly a gift.  

Many of you are doing rain dances but so far we are still dry with not a drop in sight.  I do appreciate your offers and dancing.  I wonder if a "dome" of dryness has descended upon us.  

Thank you for indulging my photo heavy post.  We took over 2000 pictures and it is very hard to select just a few to share.  Creative Travel Bliss...  

createology Bliss Gratitude...

Sometimes we do nothing at all. Sometimes we do something very small and insignificant.  Sometimes we receive far more than we give.  This is one of those times.  I would like to thank Madamm Samm of sewwequilt.blog for doing something so generous and quite out of the blue (pun intended).  I received an email from Madamm Samm and in it she included this wonderful logo she made just for createology.
Thank you from my heart and soul Madamm Samm.  I am so happy with this createology bliss logo.  You know me so well with the blue flower and my favorite word bliss.  I have put it on my blog sidebar.
Each and every time I look at this it makes me happy and I smile.  You have brightened my days dear. Thank You sew very much.
I cannot imagine anyone not following Madamm Samm and her amazing blog and blog hops.  Right now is "See you in September" featuring Riley Blake Gingham.  I grew up in the era of gingham fabrics and to this day it still makes me smile.  Each year my mother would sew matching dresses for three girls and herself and a shirt for father.  One year we would all wear yellow gingham, another it would be red and so on.  She did this so when we all went to the fair everyone knew we were all together if any of us girls got separated. Pretty smart I think.  Seeing every participant's projects is pure inspiration.  What do you think of gingham fabric?
We are in the 90's here and still no rain.  Our well is really struggling and has run dry several times now.  Our neighbors are each having the same issues.  Water is such a precious commodity that we pay more money for designer bottled water than we do for fuel in our automobile tanks.  Praying for all of California to get really wet very soon.  Mr. C and I are removing many landscaping plants and shutting off lots of irrigation drip lines to cut down on water usage.  The town of Porterville in Central California has completely run dry and I cannot imagine how those families are getting by on the little bit that is being trucked in for them.  My little buddy Tag, Corgi Cutie, of Brynwood Needleworks has offered to do a rain dance for us.  I would even welcome his shake off drops from his daily swim in the pool.  Thank you Donna and Tag.
Many of you are getting back into your Fall routines now that school is back in session.  I hope you are having lots of crafty creative time and making what you love.  Creative createology bliss...

Halloween Swap Happenings...

This is the assortment of Halloween goodies I mailed to my swap partner Wendy of The Frog Palace.  This was the final swap this year for A Swap For All Seasons.  I have really enjoyed the months I was able to participate in this unique swap.  We send to one person and receive from another person.

Here is the package I received from Pam of Virginia Retro.   How much fun is this to open the box and find a cute orange skeleton wrapped with some vintage crochet and tissue?!  Thank you Pam.  I adore everything you sent me.

With the Halloween theme, the color was orange.  De-stash items included in the box of goodies.  Such great vintage pieces.

Here is some more orange de-stash and I adore them all.

Along with the de-stash we are to create and include one card and one tag.  These are adorable and just what I like.  Nothing super scarey or gorey.  Thank you very much Pam.  Well done.

While I was working on my swap package I also created some items to swap one-on-one with my blogging friend Ana of Scrappy Pink Corner.  Ana and I usually do at least one swap per year and this year we made it Halloween.  I thought these orange and black scissors looked Halloween so I attached black polka dot grosgrain ribbon with some orange buttons.  Very handy to hang around the neck while creating.

This bracelet will be fun for Ana to wear on her upcoming cruise.

These are some bubble wands I created and included in my swap packages.  I really love the relaxing way blowing bubbles calms down even the most hectic of days.  Sitting by the pond and blowing bubbles is where you may find me.

Last but not least I sent this to Linda of A Swap For All Seasons as a thank you for being a wonderful hostess for all of these monthly swaps.  I do hope I surprised her.  Fabulous Fun was had by all!!!
September has arrived and our weather continues to be Falling into Autumn.  Leaves are turning and acorns are dropping.
I am happy to say I have completed my ribbon sorting and love how they are displayed for me to see and use.  The colors are so inspiring as are the textures and sizes of ribbon.  Of course I did have the odd ones that had to stay in a container.  Thankfully it is much smaller and now resides in the sewing room.  I see lots of ribbons being used in future projects.
Mr. C and I are very busy this month so I should have lots to share.  I still haven't shared so much of our trip we took over the summer.  I better get caught up.
May you be enjoying your days and creating something beautiful you love.  Bliss to all...