MAKING MUSHROOMS PART 2

Hi Everyone!

This day has started out with a bang. I have accomplished so much already and have the energy to do more. If my foot holds out that is. For those of you who don't know I share my body with lupus and the lack of energy is a huge issue. I take herbs to keep my energy level up and today I have good energy. Hurraaayyyy.

So far this morning I got my mushroom patch ready to grow, airbrushed 3 leather masks, and two gourds, made Mike pancakes for breakfast. (I don't usually make breakfast for him) I cleaned my kitchen and now I am writing to you. Yeahhhh for energy.

This mushroom growing is amazing. Here is the next steps in the process.

After soaking for 24 hours the water is a light tea color

 Place a plate in the pan because there will be lots of water involved here.

 The directions do not tell you to cut the bag. So when my mom tried to remove her patch it broke all apart. Sooo cut the bag away from the mushroom patch.

 These are the pieces that broke off when I tried to push the patch down into the water. Don't do that.

 Click on this photo to see a close view of the inside top of the patch.

 These are the pieces gently pushed backed into place. There is a mushroom nub

growing on one of the pieces.

 Ohhhhh eeeehhhh aaahhhhh this is a mushroom nub growing.

 Here is another one. Ohhh boy I can hardly wait to make fresh mushroom soup.

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 OhhKaayyy on with the directions. In the contents is a plastic bag with holes in it. It is called the tent.

 The next step is to place the mushroom patch on the plate and then gently push in some sticks to  hold the tent up. These are skewers, but you can use anything.

 Taaaa Daaaa... Here is my mushroom patch ready to grow. It has to be sprayed with water several times a day. Keeping it warm enough will be my mission for the  next week.

P.S. the herbs I take for energy are truly herbs from the health food store not some street herb. LOL

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!

Hi Everyone!

This week has been and still is filled with doctors appointments. My foot will not get better with the nerve damage and so it is now time to see the podiatrist. Hmmmm we will just have to see and hear what he has to say. One thing I will be receiving injections in my foot for the pain. OMGgggggg!!! Hey if it gets me back into shoes then I will do it. Ohhh I mean shoe. LOL

Soooo what am I so excited about and think is so much fun??? Well I will tell you. First I have to say that my mom, Sally, is one of the most fun loving people I know. We are very close and always have a good time when we are together. So when Mike and I arrived at her house for xmas I knew we would have fun. Since we don't celebrate xmas, presents are not part of our time together, except..... mom bought herself and me a mushroom growing patch. EEEEhhhhhhh and yeeeeaaahhhhh it is the coolest thing ever!!! We love mushrooms, pick them, eat them, use them for medicine, and well you get the idea. Mom had already started hers and had about 10 mushrooms already growing. Ohhh yeah this kit is for Shiitake mushrooms.

Yum Yum..You can get other types too.

I thought it would be  fun to share the process with you. So here it goes. I brought my patch home and still in the box put it in the fridge for 3 days. Now I have to submerge it in water for 24 hours. This has to be well water or boiled from the tap. The patch is actually pretty sensitive and breaks easily. In fact mom's fell all apart. However she got some great mushrooms from it. Follow the photos.

The patch comes in a nice heavy duty box

 Sealed in a plastic bag with a date of inoculation on it.

 I know it kind of looks like cauliflower

 I poured in the water and the whole thing started to float.

There is sawdust in side with other materials.

 I grabbed two cans of veggies to hold it in place. All the water went to the

bottom of the bag.

 I added more water until the patch was completely submerged.

Now we wait 24 hours.

You have to admit this is pretty cool!!!

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

QUIET NIGHT

It wasn't a joke I was tired.
Last night I posted what you see below. This morning I get an email from Lori laughing her head off. Why I am wondering? What did I do that made her laugh so hard 7-up came out her nose. The she tells me to look at the link I put up for her. OMG!!!! OK so that is not Lori Cook. I am cracking up now too. If you want to visit the "real" Lori Cook go here. Out of the flames

Hi Everyone!

It is a quiet night here at the old house. Well except for the howling wind and rain slamming against the windows. LOL I mean just a peaceful night. I have been working on my website and thanks to my very good friend Lori Cook, it is going to get finished. We have the same program and mine bit the dust. So thanks again Lori. Give her a visit at you will be glad you did. outoftheflames.com

Anyway I was getting photos ready for the site and thought ohhh I can post these on my blog too. So here I am to say hello to all of you and to show you some of the leather faces I did a few months ago. These are my medium size faces. I do make smaller and larger. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Have a nice evening.

Bold beautiful features

 I do love the way this leather almost looks like skin

 And of course all skin has gold, copper, and silver in it.

 She has silver highlights

 She may have needed more cheek bone

 definitely more cheek bone

You know me I love the macabre

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

ARTBEADS AND I PAD

Hi Everyone!

This has been a very productive day for me. However, I am paying for it now from being on my feet. Ooochh and ouuuccchhh. My foot thinks it can just hurt when ever it wants to. Ooohhh I guess it can. LOL

I have it up on a chair with the electric stim. Feels better. Soooo I am was going to some of my favorite places on line, one being ArtBeads.com They are the best!!! I will tell you that the personal care they give each customer is outstanding. It is one thing that I look for when shopping and they are at the very top of the list. In addition they are always trying to do nice things like lots of sales, and giveaways and now how about a chance to win an Apple I PAD?! I would love one of those!!!! Head over to ArtBeads.com for all the details. I don't want to put a damper on all of you but I am sending out all the energy to win this. :) OK OK I will be happy for anyone who does win. What a great prize.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

JULS SENDS BLESSINGS

Hi Everyone!

Today I just want to share something with you. Juli from JulsBeads has done something wonderful and I want to make sure you all know about it. Please stop by to see what she is doing.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

SUE HORINE

Hi Everyone!

I need to get things done early today. I am meeting my bead pals for lunch. We have all been so busy that our lunches have been limited so this should be fun today.

In the meantime I have been chatting with Sue Horine. If you don't know who she is then you need to know her. I did an interview of her and she was the featured artists on my website a while back. Her beading has won awards and well she is just a really nice person. So I find that Sue opened a bead store last year!!! Yeah Sue..... Now I do plan, on one of my road trips, to make it over to Sues stores. She has the small space set up beautifully. There are just some people who have that talent. You know to take a space and make it work, make it attractive and Sue Does. So where is Sue's new bead store? She gave me directions.

 I guess you could say that my shop is located in the Sierra foothills about an hour east of Stockton on Highway 4.  Or about 10 minutes east of the junction of Highway 49 and 4.  Look for the big nursery greenhouse of Murphys Nursery.

The actuall address is Murphys Bead Gallery

88 West Hwy 4

Murphys, CA

If you are in her area please stop in to say hi and buy some beads!!!

Soooo do ya wanna see some photos????

See I told you this is a very nice bead store.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

A LITTLE SCATTERED???

Hi Everyone!

Did you ever wake up and think, "Why in hell do I try so hard, work so hard, and put out so hard with little in return?" That is how I have been feeling the last few days. I am sure it is the stupid dark weather, and the fact that the year of my sister's passing is coming up. So I am having a pity party... we all do it and sometimes we need it, right? (Awwwhhhh come on someone out there validate my feelings..LOLOLOLOL)

Soooo that is how I was feeling when I got up this AM. Knowing that I have leather to soak and stretch, painting to do and some Miss Skullys to send to the Portland art gallery, I dragged my slippered feet to the coffee maker and poured a cup.  I checked my email and then my blog. I saw that I had a huge surprise. Lisa Criswell wrote about me and Nicole's BeadBacking. It isn't that she is promoting something I care about very much. Instead she made me think that what ever I do, however I do it, and how much energy I put into it, I need to always do my best, get off the pity wagon and on with it. It isn't so much how hard I work, rather how I present what I do. How I will be thought of or remembered. Am I living my life with honor and integrity. I can only hope I am.

Thanks Lisa for giving me the jolt I needed today. Thank you for honoring me. Thank you for the smile you brought to my face.

Now for all my cyber friends, old and new, I send you blessings for this day. Blessings of love. Blessings of the knowing that each and everyone of you mean so much to me. The year is ending and I am hoping that this new year brings all of us what we need and desire.

Please visit Lisa's blog and be sure to tell her Nicole sent you.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

BEAD SALES EVERYWHERE

Hi Everyone!

Just a reminder that this is the last day for all three Artbeads.com sales. Check them out to see all the great buys.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

Aaaannnndddddd THE WINNER IS......

Hi Everyone!

It is freezing cold this morning. I am sitting her with warm jammies, a hoodie, with the hood on my head, and a blanket over my lap. Burrrrrrrr..... So let's warm things up here. I put all the names in my cyber hat and have a winner for free Nicole's BeadBacking. Hurrraayyyy!!!! First I want to thank all of you who left comments and have then gone to purchase Nicole's BeadBacking in Mocha Cream. 

The color truly is beautiful. So no further waiting.

Drummmmm rolllllllll, horn blowwwwww, Aaaannnndddddd the winner issssssss....Piratchada from Bangkok, Thailand!!  Visit her blog to congratulate her. http://piratchamadeit.blogspot.com/

Have a great day Everyone!

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

WANNA WIN THE NEW COLOR OF NICOLE'S BEADBACKING?

I am keeping this post at the top of my blog so scroll down to see new blog postings. Thanks.

It is the last day to make a comment to win free Mocha Cream Nicole's BeadBacking!!!!

Hi Everyone!

Wow the response has been terrific over our new Mocha Cream Nicole's BeadBacking. Soooo ya wanna win some??? All you have to do is leave a comment in this post and I will draw 2 names to win Nicole's BeadBacking in the new Mocha Cream. I will draw names on Dec. 15

Hey this would be a good time to become a follower as well.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

A GOOD MONDAY??

Hi Everyone!

Today has actually been a good day for Monday. I have been working on my web site. (I have had and maintained a web site since 1995. The one I have now since 2000.) I started a few days ago. A few rules to making your own web site, save often, check spelling, save often, have great photos, and don't forget to save often. Well I did save often and the whole thing bit the dust anyway. OMG!!! I wanted to cry. I stayed up late last night working on it, fixing it, and yes saving often. I uploaded and a glitch happened again. All of my photos were big blank boxes with red Xes in them. UUURRRRGGGGG.... Sooooo I had to reload the program I use to make my web site and start all over again. Three times I had to start over. I am exhausted thinking about it. LOL.

So up bright and early this morning and whim wham thank you mam I got the home page up and running. Then a few more pages.  Huuurrraaayyyy..... I don't make new years resolutions...... for me they just don't work. However, I have made a promise to myself that my web site will not take the back seat this year. Sooo on with my day. Got the house clean, got leather cut out and soaking, took some photos, got some legal paper work done, (YUCK) and fried chicken for Mike for his dinner. He would rather eat it cold.

So that is my day. What are all of you up to???

I am off to play with leather... ooohhh fun fun fun.....

Oh here are some of the Miss Skully pieces that were for a special order. All done with Swarovski and Fire polish. These could actually go into my Elegant Punk series.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

QUIET WEEKEND

Hi Everyone!

It seems quiet today. I have been taking photos trying to get some kind of lighting in this dark grey world I live in. It can be quite depressing here on the cost. So I am trying to keep busy and not think of it. I so need sunshine!!!

As you know I have been filling orders with My Elegant Punk, Miss Skully, and leather orders for bags and masks. So finding things to do is NOT my problem LOL. I am also revamping my web site. The poor thing gets the least of my attention and it is time to do something about it. So what are you doing today?

Here is a photo of a necklace made with a cab I got at Gem Fair a few months ago. In addition size 13/o Charlotte cuts and vintage, 1920's French metal and bugle beads, (that I have had for 30 years) Chain and ribbon for the strap.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

NEW GLASS BEAD

Hi Everyone!

It is so stormy  outside today. I am thankful it is rain and NOT snow. LOL we were going to head out to Eugene today but decided to just stay in.
Good day to make Mexican Wedding cookies so that is what I will do.

I know all of you are busy with creating, shows, and the holidays. I am kind of looking forward to some down time. hmmm I wonder when that will happen???

Yesterday I was at Brown Dog Antiques here in Florence, OR on hwy 101 where I have a case of bead art. A few of my artists friends have also obtained cases there and finally we have a place in Florence that is catering to art. My good friend, Denise Sanders, is setting up two cases of her amazing glass and metal work. Denise and her husband Mori have been in the beading world as long as I have. We are the old timers and it is always fun to talk about the good ol days before beading magazines and huge bead shows. Anyway I spotted a piece of glass that Denise was going to put on display. She took it out and  handed it to me and said, "It's yours." OMG!!! I tried,really, I tried to pay for it! I love this glass. The photo doesn't come close to doing it justice. The colors are deep and remind me of the earths core. Ohhh you know I have seen the earths core so many times. LOL hee hee hee.... but what I imagine it to be. 

So here is my newest piece of glass. I can't wait to work with it.

Have a great day everyone

Here is the front

and the back

Denise burning glass

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

IS IT SUNDAY???

Hi Everyone!

Have you ever been so busy you didn't know what day it was. I mean reallllyyy??? All week I have been not just been off a day but wayyyy off. So today is Sunday??? I am so behind in my posting. I did draw a winner for my monthly comment contest. The winner is...Michelle from Sweet Mango Designs. I have already sent her beads. If you have a few minutes go visit Michelle. She could use a word of encouragement. You can read about it on her blog. She is such an inspiration to me.

Next I promised photos from my show. Well here they are. I was the featured artist at the Mind Power Art Gallery. Tamara and Tera the owners, had the front room of the gallery decorated just for me. I was quite honored. The night was fun and on top of sales I got some nice orders for my leather work for the gallery. Yesssss!!!!

I wasn't able to make it to the opening of my Portland, OR gallery. I hear that is was a grand success though. Another Yesssss!!!

So art to create, orders to fill and on top of that I have 3 new places to teach classes starting in Jan.

Another Yesssss!!!!

I will also have a new booklet out ASAP. I am almost finished it. It is a surprise!!!

So I think that is enough for now.

My foot is screaming at me, the FDA took my pain meds off the market so I am using what I have left sparingly. Guess I will have to take some tonight and put on the tens machine. Oh yummy electricity running through my foot. Fun time at the Campanella house. LOL

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

NEW NICOLE'S BEADBACKING COLOR !!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!!!

I am soooooooo excited!!!!! Last night when I returned home from my show, (I will tell you about it later today) Mike told me my new Nicole's BeadBacking was in. So why am I so excited???? Ahhhh.... you have asked for this color and now I have it. We are calling it Mocha Cream. It is the beigy color that I get emails about almost everyday. I am so happy with this new color that I am putting it in my $2.00 buck sale. A 12x9 inch sheet is just $2.00 bucks!!! I will get the smaller sheet listed today or just email me.

You can pick these up in both my Beadwright Etsy and Beadwright Artfire stores

The color is absolutely awesome!!! Ohhh here are some photos of it.

Ya know...sighhhh.. only a bead artists can get this excited over fabric. LOL

I love this color of Nicole's BeadBacking!!

OK so my lighting is off on this photo but you can see the difference from the white

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright

READY OR NOT IT'S SHOW TIME

Hi Everyone!

I am not anywhere near 100% but as they say, "the show must go on."  If you are in the Reedsport, OR. area stop by the Mind Power Art Gallery I will be there with some of my beaded jewelry. Tonight is when Reedsport businesses stay open late so those who have to work can do some Christmas shopping. All the stores and shops will be open late and I was invited to partake. So stop by  at

417 Fir Avenue

Reedsport, OR.

I received an email from my good friend Lori Cook wanting to know what was up with me?  Ohhh loaded questions there LOL. She wanted to know why I had not shared any of the beading I have been doing. Hmm I guess I was just too busy trying to get it finished up. So here is one piece that I am actually keeping for myself. For those of you who don't know, besides beads, leather work is my next passion. So I thought of combing my traditional background with  contemporary beadwork. I have been doing that with Porcupine Quill as well. I show you those later. Here is my new winter bag. This is brain tanned deer hide and is soooo soft. It's like putting your hand in a bag of flour. Silky soft.

Hope you like it. Everyone have a great day.

It all started with this Peacock Swarovski Rivoli

 Cut the leather

 and end up with this

 All hand cut and hand stitched with leather thong that I cut

 Bad photo but this button is part of an antler I cut, shaped and drilled.

Honor and Integrity in Life in Art

Nicole/Beadwright