A to Z Blogging. Letter E

So today, for the letter E, I am going to introduce you to one of my fave blogs.  The blog is called "Everyday Inspired" and can be found here:  http://additionsstyle.blogspot.com/ .  The blog's owner Valerie describes it as: A daily dialog of inspiration, creativity, business, and style. An opportunity to motivate each other on our personal journey of creative discoveries."

She always has something inspiring to show or tell and includes features such as Motivational Monday, DIY Friday, and Be Inspired.  I can't wait to read her new monthly series "Inspired Success Week", which will be starting April 16-20.

Along with great content, I also enjoy this blog for its pictures. She sure does have any eye for spotting all things beautiful, unique, creative, and sometimes even mind boggling.

Valerie has chosen the perfect name for her blog, as reading it daily leaves me feeling "Everyday Inspired".

TTYL and make it a great night,
Debbie

Day 4 A to Z challenge. Letter "D"

So it is now day 4 of the A to Z blogging challenge and I came across so many great "D" words that I had a hard time choosing which one to blog about today, so I decided to use them all.

Do you remember the Aesop fable "The Tortoise and the Hare"? If not here is a short summary.

One day the quick but boastful hare was loudly bragging about how fast he is. The Tortoise who was sick of hearing it all the time challenged him to a race. The race began and the hare was leading, so he decided to take a nap. While the hare was napping, the tortoise slowly plodded on, never giving up.  By the time the hare woke up, the tortoise was so close to the finish line that the hare didn't have a chance.  The slow but steady tortoise won the race.

What was the tortoise that the hare wasn't?
The tortoise was:
Daring
Dynamic
Devoted
Dedicated
Determined and
Disciplined

TTYL and make it a good night,
Debbie

A to Z blogging Days 3. Letter C

For day 3 of A to Z Blogging I decided to blog about an admirable woman who's name we all know. Just for fun I'll give you a few hints before naming her.  Both her first and last names start with the letter "C". She was born in France but is no longer with us. She became famous for her little black dresses, suits, costume jewelry and perfume.

Here are a some of her more famous quotes:
“Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!”   
“A Girl should be two things: CLASSY AND FABULOUS!”   
“A woman should wear perfume wherever she wants to be kissed.”

So by now I am sure you have guessed who I am talking about.  Here is a short video-biography I found on biography.com which I thinks sums of this legendary woman quite nicely.







So there you have it, day 3, letter C and a woman I truly admire.
TTYL and make it a good night,
Debbie

Beadwoven Bracelets

O.k. So I made it to day 2 of A to Z blogging. Well actually, it's 12:03 a.m. on the 3rd day as I sit here typing. I guess I'm a bit late, but what is time but a number, anyhow?  Today's letter is B, so I decided to do a show and tell with my latest beadwoven bracelets.

The first one is a peyote woven cuff. The pattern came from Fusion beads and is free on their website. I couldn't decide on what colors to do all the flowers, so I settled on a simple, sophisticated palette with just a pop of playful purple . I plan on doing another one over the summer based on all the wonderful colors that are bound to be growing all around me very soon.

The second bracelet is done in double St. Petersburg Stitch and makes good use of one of the many vintage buttons I purchased a few years ago at the Brimfield Antique Show. For those of you who follow my blog and were wondering which stitch I was learning a few posts back, it was indeed the St. Petersburg stitch. Remember I hinted that it was also the name of a place? 

So there you have it - a B post for day two of the blogging challenge and my beady show and tell all in one quick post. May I please go to bed now?

TTYL and make it a good day, or should I say a good night? ;)

Debbie



Blogging from A to Z Challenge

O.K, so call me nuts, but I have signed up for the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge April 2012".  http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/   If you are wondering how someone who can't even post once a month is going to pull this off, you are not alone. I am wondering the same thing!!! 

There are many reasons why I decided to do this. The main reason is, of course, the fact that I really should be blogging much more than I do.  I also love a challenge and although it certainly will be challenging, it also seems like such a fun blog hop to take part in. 

So today being the first day, the letter to blog is A and I have chosen the word "aspire." -  (to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, especially for something great or of high value). 

Not to leave you pictureless, here are some pics of the type of beadwork I aspire to create. 

This is a cuff by bead embroidery guru Sherry Serafini. Her work is absolutely amazing.

I am also inspired by the gorgeous and whimsical work of Laura McCabe.

So now you know what inspires me. I hope you continue to follow as I work towards my aspiration of creating gorgeous beadwork. 

"Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." Louisa May Alcott. 

What are your aspirations and how are you working towards achieving them?

TTYL and make it a great night,

Debbie

 

Invaded by UFO's

Hello there bloggy friends, hope all is well where you are. As for me, I am ok, but am currently being invaded by UFO's. Yes, you heard me correctly. I did say UFO's!!!  But don't worry, I am not talking about spaceships piloted by little green aliens. I am talking about unfinished objects of the beady nature.

If you read my last post, you may remember that I said that there was a lot of stuff I wanted to try to do with my beading and that I was going to get motivated and just do it. Well, that is exactly what I have been doing. In fact, I have been beading my little fingers to death.

Since my last post I have finally started a project I have been wanting to do for a long time and I have also learned a whole new stitch. As for the UFO's, both projects are nearly complete, but waiting for clasps. I am so excited about one of the projects, that I decided to share it, even though it is incomplete.

For the longest time, I have been admiring the peyote cuff patterns of FDEkszer, so I finally decided to purchase this one and "Just do it". Like I said, it needs a clasp, (which is on order) but I just couldn't wait to show you all the completed beadwork.

I am loving the contrast of the snowflakes done in opaque luster white and the background (sky) done in metallic midnight. When you move your wrist, the way the light catches this bracelet, it looks like the snowflakes are actually moving. How cool is that?  Now I can't wait to bead up another of FDEkszer's patterns. Perhaps some flowers for spring? Here is a link to her shop if you want to check out all the gorgeous patterns there. http://www.etsy.com/shop/FDEkszer?ref=ss_profile .

So, now that you've seen one of my many UFO's, here is a little project I actually completed in between all of that peyote stitching. Just in time for valentines day, too.

Well, I guess that's it for show and tell for today. I am really on a roll with the beading and I've been sitting at this computer for much too long. My beads must be missing me, because I can hear them calling.  I hope you will stay tuned to see what I have been doing with the new stitch I am learning. Hint: the name of the stitch is also the name of a place.

TTYL and make it a good night,

Debbie

A Time to Grow

Wow, its hard to believe that it's already the 15th day of 2012.  Time certainly does fly. Anyhow, I finally have some free time to reconnect with my poor, dear neglected blog. I am surprised to see that I still have followers here!!! Thanks for sticking around. So, you may be wondering what I have been up to lately. Pictures speak louder than words, so this pic should explain why I haven't had much time to blog lately.

No, she is not mine, although I wish she was. This is my niece, Isabelle. Isn't she adorable? So anyhow, my little Sis is a young Mom and needed a lot of help with her new Bundle of Joy. I was more than happy to pitch in. Now baby and Mom are settling in quite nicely and I can spend more of my time beading and blogging and less of my time changing diapers ;)

So what to do with all this new found time on my hands? Well I decided that 2012 will be a year full of growth for Abracadebra Designs. There is so much more I want to do with my beading, my Zibbet shop, and this blog, too. What little free time I have had has been spent on Pinterest (which I have become addicted to) and I am amazed at all the craftiness and creativity out there. I am truly in awe of the beautiful creations posted there daily. So for 2012 my resolution is simply to stop looking and start Learning and Growing and DOING. It is absolutely amazing how much can be accomplished in a short time, and  if you don't believe me, just ask my niece, Isabelle.

And yes, I have done some beading, nothing too new or creative, but inspired by the white and gray of winter.

So there you have it. Your latest update from the absent blogger, named Abracedebra.  I am hoping you will stick around and watch as I learn, grow and create in 2012.

TTYL and make it a good night,

Debbie