Answer to this post BLOGGING

Wow what great comments to this post. I am so glad I am IN the IN when it comes to this topic. I personally would not leave blogging. I agree with all of you, there is a more personal attachment. I feel connected to all of you. So with all of us aging in the groove, hip cats n kittens, peachy keen, groovy, tuff, far out, fab, awesome, bad, bitchin', funky, gnarly, happenin', people I think I will just stay bloggin away.
Hi Everyone!
A question to all of my blogging family. Is blogging outdated??? My two young nieces, Sarah 17 and her sister Leah 15, informed me with all the confidence of teenage girls, that I was old fashion. Geeessss and here I thought I was pretty cool for almost 59 years old. Soooo they proceeded to tell me that I should get rid of my blog and go to facebook and twitter and a few other places I had not heard of before. Now I know many of you do have facebook and twitter accounts. In fact, I have both of those accounts myself. I just don't have time to spend there. Both girls told me that soon there will be no blogging and that I better get with it. Ohhhh I was also informed that I better start texting too. LOL!!! They both are so fun and funny to be around.
So what do you think?
Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

I AM KEEPING THIS ONE

Hi Everyone!

I don't care who wants it. I am keeping this necklace for me. I started out with about 20 ideas for this piece of glass made by my good friend Lori Cook. Mike wanted something for his jewelry box of course. However, when it came right down to it I wanted it for me. I actually have a blouse that is the same color of the green/gold dicro at the bottom of the glass. The other thing, I am always battling with, are clasps. I really dislike most of the commercial clasps that are readily available. I do purchase very expensive hand made clasps for some of my pieces, however, most of the time I make my own. The clasp on this piece is a vintage Swarovski that my Nan gave to me. Hope you enjoy!!

From beginning

To end

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

OWOH A SPECIAL WIN

Hi Everyone!

I am not sad or at least don't want to be sad today. However, it is the 2 month mark of my sister's passing and the 3 month mark of her husband's passing. It has been an odd and wonderful few months. Odd in that my best friend and sister is gone and wonderful due to Lisa and the OWOH event. If not for this amazing gathering of good hearted people I think... no.... I know that the last few months would have been different for me. Very sad and spent in bed crying. Thank you All. So when my family and I went to my sister's home to remove all of her belongings I TOLD everyone that I was packing my sister's room. In packing all of her jewelry that I had made for her and the art I had sent to her over the years, my mom asked what I was going to do with it all. I already knew.  I would make a wall design using all of the things my sister loved and adding things that created wonderful art. When Mary-Beth from My Journey into Art  contacted me that I had won a set of beautiful tags I knew they were going to be apart of my sisters art piece. These tags mean so much to me. Representing spiritual death and rebirth, with the butterflies. These tags will be doorways from this life to the next in the art. Thank you so much Mary-Beth you have eased my heart this day and have contributed to a very special piece of art.

  

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

MIKE'S MAN JEWELRY

Hi Everyone!

Since I posted about my men's jewelry I have received a PILE of emails about what men's beaded pieces are. Well as in all art it is what you want them to be. However, because I started out designing for Native men it has always been easy for me to make something traditional or contemporary for guys. I am lucky that Mike wears my jewelry. I have heard so many of my friends say their husbands wouldn't be caught dead in jewelry. Mike is one of my best advertisements. So today, while Mike was out, I went to his jewelry box and chose 4 of his most favorite pieces.

Mike is not a suit and tie guy but sometimes needs to dress up. He always wears a bolo

Million year old sharks tooth. What else would I do with it?

This piece looks so good on him. He takes orders for me when he wears it.

Hey every guy from the city to the country needs an Elk ivory neck piece.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

JOURNAL SALE

Hi Everyone!

I found out today that my good friend Vicki is having a Journal sale. You just have to go to her store to see what they are but here is a peek.

The sale is buy one get one free. A Peaceful Life

How can we pass that up?

I know from personal experience how nice Vicki's work is.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

RAIN BUT IT'S OK

Hi Everyone!

Today is pouring rain. Yes it is dark and gray. I am very thankful for the days of sunshine last week. However, I feel ok about it today. I guess because I am so busy. I have a pot of home made soup on the stove and maybe if Mike is real lucky he will get some home made bread, Oh you know, from the bread machine. LOL!!! I am a bit tiffed at him though. He put the new guy neck piece in his jewelry box. Hmmm I will have to sneak it back. Anyway, this morning I was gathering beads to start a new project. Now this is a feat in itself. Our home in North Idaho, I had a wonderful studio where everything was in one place. Here in OR I have two spare bedrooms, the dinning room and I compute and bead in the living room. You can make anything work when it comes to your art. I gathered seed beads, laid them over my glass and then WHAM!!! The thought of the bugles I have from ArtBeads.com. Yesssssss... I am ready to bead. So rain all you want, I am set for the day. How can I go wrong with my, Nicole's BeadBacking in the appropriate color, glass from Lori Cook, and bugles from ArtBeads.com. It's a match!!

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

NEW MAN NECK PIECE

Hi Everyone!

Today I finished my latest guy neck piece. I love making jewelry for men!!! My problem is that my husband wants most of the pieces before I can get them to the stores. I guess I should be happy that he does wear a piece of my jewelry everyday and is my best advertising. The glass is made by my good friend Lori Cook of Spokane, WA. You can see all of her things at Out on a Flames.

Click on the photo to really see the glass

On Mike's neck. He has been wearing it all day.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

OWOH GLASS BY JULIE NORDINE

Hi Everyone!
Today is a very busy day. Orders to make, mail to get out, photos to take, and life in general. However, I did want to take some time to tell you about another incredible OWOH gift I received today. As you all know beads, in just about any form, has been my life for about 45 years. I am so fortunate in knowing  a lot of beaders and glass artists. So when I received this most amazing piece of glass art, I wondered why I had not known Julie Nordine before. The bead she sent to me is made exquisitely. Color, form, and shape is magnificent. I am so happy to know Julie and to share with you her wonderful work. Thank you Julie, I will create with love, joy, and honor.

Julie Nordine

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

MORE SUNSHINE FOR ME

Hi Everyone!

So you know how much I complain about the gray, dark, icky days here in Florence. However, when the sun does come out it is so clear and bright . That is how the last few days have been. I am loving it. To add to my sunshine Releases by Rufydoof  presented me with the Sunshine award. This is the second time to receive it. How nice is that?

So here are the rules

Please share some sunshine with your fellow friends by:

Placing the Sunshine image on your blog or within your post.

Pass the award onto six bloggers

Link the nominees within your post.

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are the six

This Blog is For Me

Altered Attic

Pieces of Fate

Tumbleweed Trails

Bright Bold & Beautiful

Five to Nine

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

JUST A LOVELY DAY

Hi Everyone!
Yesterday was an amazing sunny and very warm day on the coast. I headed out to find that the day was amazingly beautiful. The sun sparkled on ocean waves as mist shot skyward. A flock of Pelicans flew overhead and followed my car for several minutes. They always seem to greet me on this stretch of road. There were hundreds of people walking the beaches and I could actually hear laughter floating up to the road. Hwy 101 was vacant of traffic so I buzzed along the road in my Honda Fit hugging the curves, hmm maybe just a bit too fast. But what fun. For some reason I had forgotten my camera. So no photos of how lovely, bright, and warm it was.
I spent the day with my good friend Deon Delange.  She showed off her new apt and of course her latest beading. Then off to Newport, OR. Just a few  miles over the bridge. We spent several house at Nye Cottage Beads. If you are ever in the area be sure to stop in and say hi to Lynn. Then off to Roots Beads, another 25 miles up the road. I found the beads I need and had a good visit with everyone there. By the time we got back to Deon's it was 3:30 and I needed to get home. It was just a lovely day. One I needed.

Have a great Sunday!
Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

Thank you so much Susan

Hi Everyone!

Today Susan from Pieces of Fate and the winner of my OWOH beaded gourd sent this message in Green. I am so happy you like the gourd and maybe you will get some ideas of what to put inside of it.

Nicole and I are finding out we have lots in common :) Yes this journey can be the beginning of friendships!!

NOW, for the good stuff!
THE gourd bowl arrived today, WOWZA!! it is really beautiful, the picture of it was good, but in person....soooo much prettier!!
My daughter wanted to know what I am putting in it...I am not actually sure yet...perhaps potpourri, perhaps keep it on my work table and use it to hold my embellisments for whatever "current" project on am working on.
What ideas do you lovely ladies have for me, if any?
Thanks so much Nicole!!
Big Hugs to you and everyone!!

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

WINNER OF THE OWOH CONTEST

Update!!! I am keeping this post at the top of my page so please scroll down to see new posts.

Hi Everyone!
Today is the day that my winner is announced for the OWOH contest. Sooooo let the drums roll, the confetti fly, and for just a moment silence in the room. My winnnnnner issssssss
Susan  from  http://piecesoffatesusan.blogspot.com/  Congratulations Susan!!!!

My winner was chosen the old fashioned way. Each name was placed into a basket and one name was drawn. 
Thank you for all the wonderful comments made on my  beaded gourd. Through this event I have met some wonderful people, great artists, and some new cyber friends. A very special thank you to Lisa for starting and keeping this event going. So happy day to all of us and for all of the winners congratulations!

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

OWOH STILL GOES ON

This is an add on.  I guess my brain was on hold when I wrote this. LOL There are at least three people I know that are holding additional giveaways. SharDon, a beautiful person and I am so happy I now know her, is holding a "follower" giveaway. Now she say it was her idea, hmmmm, however two others are doing the same thing. OK so I am being sassy. Great minds think alike right... Go and follow SharDon so you can be eligible for her giveaway. She has links for the other giveaways as well.

Hi Everyone!

Even though OWOH is officially over the aftermath waves are still flowing. People are starting smaller giveaways, friendships have formed, and there is healing in what we have all experienced. For me OWOH helped me focus on all of you. On the people, the art, the joy of getting to know some of you. It took my focus off of the passing of my brother-in-law and my dear sister just a weeks before OWOH began. My deepest thanks to Lisa for all of her hard work, her great organization skills, and her diligence. Soooo since I already do a monthly giveaway with my Beadwright Comment Contest, I decided to send a thank you gift to Lisa. I am sure some of you have thought of this as well.

Thank you Lisa for all your goodness.



Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

ARTBEADS DOT COM

Hi Everyone!

You know how much I love Artbeads.com. They have a great selection of beads, terrific prices and sales, and packaging is some of the best. Some of you also know that for me the smaller the seed bead the better. I have always worked with smaller than size 11/o seed beads. OK I do use the 11/os too but the small beads are my favs. So here are the treasures I received this week.

Love the top color it is great for skin.

Look at these 3mm bugles. Can't wait to use them.

Ohhh and how can you go wrong with Toho Galvanized?

Now for the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC)

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the seed beads above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

LET THERE BE SUNSHINE

Hi Everyone!

So the gods must have made a mistake today, Florence has sunshine! I don't care who did what or why, the sun is here I am just happy to see it!!!! It came at the perfect time too. I needed to clean gourds and no longer have an indoor studio to do that. So when I saw the sun I set up on my back deck to cut, cleaned, rough sanded, and shaped 15 gourds. OK, so I went insane. The only reason I had to stop was the wind came up and my lupus body said enough was enough. So my hands, legs and feet are screaming at me. It is pain meds and a few hours down time for me. At least I got some gourd canvas ready to go. That and sunshine, I am a happy girl.

Just some of the tools I use

Gourd heaven!

My sunny back yard and 6 apples trees

My plumb tree thinks it is spring and decided to bloom hmmmm

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

I AM FEATURED ON BEADER'S SHOWCASE

Hi Everyone!

I just received a not from Beader's Showcase that my La Loba Espiritual is featured. I am in a group of very good bead artists. Hmmm so far today I have won two wonderful OWOH gifts, my bead art featured and sold several bead art pieces today. I am blessed!!!

La Loba Espiritual is my avatar. Spirt Wolf. Visit the show case to see the full art pieces and the other wonderful beading.

Beader's Showcase

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

SPRING POW WOW

Hi Everyone,
Spring Pow Wow is just around the corner. New outfits and tools to be made. So if you are getting ready for Spring Pow Wow or your Mountain Man trek and need supplies then you MUST check out Onedancingcrow  She carries a wide selection of hand died porci quills, raw hide, and raw hide strips, leather, bones, sinew natural and imitation, drums and drum kits, furs and much more.  Here are just a few of the great and quality items Sarah carries in your ArtFire store and on her web site http://sevenwindsleather.com/  Have fun shopping!!

 Round imitation Sinew

Sunshine Yellow Porci Quills

Gold deer leather

 White deer lacing

Now for those of you who do not work with these items you must know one thing. In our culture using and creating with animal is not to enhance ourselves, rather to honor the animal. 


Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

ARTBEADS SPIDER PENDANT

Hi Everyone!

I can not believe there is sunshine here in Florence today. It isn't warm but that is OK the sun is actually shinning. Finallyyyyy. This makes me very happy. Another thing that makes me happy is Artbeads.com If you have not shopped with them then your are really missing out on some great beads at great prices. I have had this red agate sterling silver pendant for awhile now. I had all kinds of ideas for it. Jewelry was not one of them. However, I pulled this spider from one of my bead drawers and thought, sometimes the simplest beading is all a pendant needs. So with a bit of color matching and a simple Cellini spiral I give you the silver spider.  You can get this and so many other components form Artbeads.com so go check them out.

Now for the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC)

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the red agate pendant above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

NEW GLASS FROM LORI

Hi Everyone!

Now what can make a bead person more happy than a batch of new glass!? Not much!! Yesterday, my dear husband went to the post office to find a package for me from my good friend Lori Cook. She is an amazing bead and glass artist. You can find Lori at Outoftheflames.etsy.com  So here are some of my new treasures. Also I am getting ready to bead so already have glass glued to my Nicole's BeadBacking. I like to have things ready to go for when I just want to bead and not have to wait for the prep. LOL

Now to find the time to bead

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

ART EXCHANGE GIFTS

Hi Everyone!

A few weeks ago I posted that I was involved with an art exchange. Like a chain letter that allows artists to meet each and send off a small gift to say hello. I have been so fortunate to have received 4 gifts from wonderful artists. These excellent photo cards arrived from Diane Mello. I don't have a web site or blog for her, but maybe she will see this and email me. I am on the hunt for her. In the mean time here are her lovely photo cards.

Thanks Diane I love them!!!

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

BEADED GOURDS

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all the lovely letters sent out to me today to help cheer me up. It worked. I "snapped out of it" for now and have been busy getting things done. One of the things is, with all the interest in my beaded gourds, I took some photos from earlier blog posts just to show you a sample. I will try and take photos tomorrow of more beaded gourds that I have around.

For now enjoy the scenery.

The dicro glass really does shine on this gourd, just not in this photo. Sorry.

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

THREE BRACELETS IN ONE WEEK.

Hi Everyone!

I am not having a good day with missing my dear sister. So I thought I should bead and get my mind focused on something other than how lost I am without her. OK deep breath, no tears, here is what I made today. I hope you enjoy it. I was going for a tennis type bracelet. Something that hugs the wrist. It came out perfect for me. The colors are bright and cheery too.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

I NEED SUNSHINE

Hi Everyone!

Living on the Oregon coast is not like living on any other coast in the US. It is dark, gloomy, wet, windy, and NO SUNSHINE!!!! Now you ask, why the heck do I live here. Haaa it was a mistake. LOL. We came to Oregon to be close to my mom. I really wish we had chosen a different town to reside in. It is so depressing here. Not just for me. Everyone I know goes through the same thing. So yesterday Mike and I took a ride just to get out of the house. These photos I took out the car window. Seeee it is like this most of the year.
Please someone send me some sunshine.

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright

LAST OF THE CZECH SEED BEADS

Hi Everyone. Some of you know that I have been closing out the retail section of my Beadwright business. I have the very last of my Czech seed beads listed and when they go that is it. There are limited colors and hanks left so hurry and get them while you can. I am selling sets as usual and some 1/4 kilos. Come to my Beadwright Artfire Store for these great seed beads. Here are just two of the colors available. Oh and if you buy any of the Czech seed beads you will receive a free sample of Nicole's BeadBacking. Have fun shopping.

Bead with Honor and Integrity

Nicole/Beadwright

MY COMMENT CONTEST WINNER

Hi Everyone!

Here it is February already. I am pretty proud of myself too. I have my Beadwright Newsletter out today and our winner for our monthly Beadwright Comment Contest. Annnnndddddd drum rolllll.... The winner is Shaiha from Shaiha Ramblings. Congratulations!!!
Now take a minute to visit this very nice lady.  Just click on the link.

Bead with Honor and Integrity
Nicole/Beadwright