A New Hobby

A while back, a beloved beaded bracelet of mine broke. I kept the beads, determined to fix it myself. Then, a few months ago, I finally set out on the task to find supplies to mend my bracelet.

Long story short, I got inspired, bought tons of jewelry making supplies, ordered bead catalogs, and scowered many "how to's" on the web.

Next, I found a simple project; I made my mom wine glass charms/sun catchers for mother's day.

After that, for the next couple months, I got busy, and didn't have any time to devote to my new hobby.

Recently, I started feeling creative again, and I bought a pendant which I absolutely adore, so I decided to make a necklace to show it off.

And as far as my beloved bracelet goes, let's just say it has seen better days. (a lot of the beads are missing, so reforming the bracelet, as it was, is impossible. But I will use what is left for another project.)

Is There Anybody Out There?

Do me a HUGE favor...leave me a comment with some happy, exciting, or good news. I'm feeling really down and would love to read about some good stuff that's going in the world, and in your lives. Thanks in advance.

Willard Wigan and His Unique Art

Willard Wigan creates sculptures on the head of a pin, or on an eye of a needle! How cool is that??? And the one on the left is the Incredible Hulk!

Born in 1957 in Birmingham, Willard Wigan began his artistic life at a tender age. Suffering from dyslexia and learning difficulties, he struggled at school, finding solace in creating art of such minute proportions that it virtually could not be seen with the naked eye.

“It began when I was five years old,” says Willard. “I started making houses for ants because I thought they needed somewhere to live. Then I made them shoes and hats. It was a fantasy world I escaped to where my dyslexia didn’t hold me back and my teachers couldn’t criticise me. That’s how my career as a micro-sculptor began.”

Willard’s micro-sculptures have become so minute that they are only visible through a microscope. Each piece commonly sits within the eye of a needle, or on a pin head.

The personal sacrifice involved in creating such wondrous, yet scarcely believable, pieces is inconceivable to most. Willard enters a meditative state in which his heartbeat is slowed, allowing him to reduce hand tremors and sculpt between pulse beats. Even the reverberation caused by traffic outside can affect Willard’s work. He often works through the night when there is minimal disruption.

Willard’s work is described as “the eighth wonder of the world”. One of the specifically commissioned works includes the replica of the iconic Lloyds of London Building. This piece was later auctioned by Eric Knowles of Bonhams. Willard was subsequently honoured with receiving an MBE from HRH Prince Charles for his services to art.

Unsurprisingly, Willard’s life is now attracting significant attention from the literary and film industries alike, each eager to secure his life story.

This text is taken from Willard's website. Go visit to see more of his incredible work.

Inglourious Basterds...

was an awesome movie! But what else can you expect from, one of my favorite directors (and I am picky!), Quentin Tarantino.? He has such a way with the screen . Everything from his wonderful camera shots, to his great dialog is abundant throughout this movie! Go see Inglourious Basterds!


(See the trailer)

And Then, There Was Rain....

I was feeling a bit melancholy this afternoon, so I decided to experiment a bit with my camera in the rain.

Honoring Life Changes

Received this yesterday from The DailyOM. I thought it fit nicely with the whole theme of change.


August 18, 2009
Honoring Life Changes
The Wisdom of Fear

Anything worth doing will always have some fear attached to it. For example, having a baby, getting married, changing careers—all of these life changes can bring up deep fears. It helps to remember that this type of fear is good. It is your way of questioning whether you really want the new life these changes will bring. It is also a potent reminder that releasing and grieving the past is a necessary part of moving into the new.

Fear has a way of throwing us off balance, making us feel uncertain and insecure, but it is not meant to discourage us. Its purpose is to notify us that we are at the edge of our comfort zone, poised in between the old life and a new one. Whenever we face our fear, we overcome an inner obstacle and move into new and life-enhancing territory, both inside and out. The more we learn to respect and even welcome fear, the more we will be able to hear its wisdom, wisdom that will let us know that the time has come to move forward, or not. While comfort with fear is a contradiction in terms, we can learn to honor our fear, recognizing its arrival, listening to its intelligence, and respecting it as a harbinger of transformation. Indeed, it informs us that the change we are contemplating is significant, enabling us to approach it with the proper reverence.

You might wish to converse with your fear, plumbing its depths for a greater understanding of the change you are making. You could do this by sitting quietly in meditation and listening or by journaling. Writing down whatever comes up—your worries, your sadness, your excitement, your hopes—is a great way to learn about yourself through the vehicle of fear and to remember that fear almost always comes alongside anything worth doing in your life.

One Week From Now

I will be starting my new job.

I'll be making more money, as well as keeping my vacation, sick time, and benefits.

I'll be adding more time to my day by cutting my commute by about 2 hours. (My new job is 5 minutes from my house. It's even in walking distance, if I'm so inclined.)
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The decision to take this new job was somewhat difficult for me. Change isn't always easy, and I had envisioned myself at my current position for a bit longer. I have made lots of friends, and I LOVE the people I work with. However, life is always changing, nothing stays the same forever, and I am very hesitant to turn down something that has been so perfectly laid out for me. (I did not seek this job out, it literally sought me.) So, I'm really excited to see where this new road will lead me!!!!

A Refresher In Mindfulness

Last year I read Jon Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go There You Are. After a reading a post today at A Mindful Heart, I have decided that it's time for me to reread the book. To help awaken myself again to the present moment. Jon Kabat-Zinn does such a beautiful job simply explaining the art of mindfulness in everyday life.

Looking Forward to Tonight!

So much so that, in fact, I'm wearing a dress today! My co-workers are shocked and awed that I actually "have legs." lol I just might start wearing dresses more often. I feel rather cute.

Anyway, back to my point, which is--I'm going to see Counting Crows tonight!!

As many of you know, they are one of my most favorite bands, and a continued source of creative inspiration. I've written about them here, a lot.

Last year, I even saw them from the front row! I took lots of pictures, and had planned for so long to write about it, but, life got in the way, and I never did. Then this morning I had a brilliant idea, I was going to start my much anticipated (I say that with a grin because I'm the one that has been doing the anticipating) music blog with this post. However, there was a foil in my plan---all but one of my pictures from the show are on my computer at home, so it was a no-go!

Instead I wrote this lovely post, which I'm sure conveys my giddiness about this evening. :)

Enough about me, what concerts have you seen recently? Any in the future you are looking forward to?

It Really is a Small World

It never ceases to amaze me how small this world truly is . Today I was the highest bidder on a pair of Counting Crows tickets, and as it turns out the guy selling the tickets son and daughter-in- law live across the street from me. How weird is that? It's a very strange small world that we live in.

Director John Hughes is Dead

Upsetting to hear about the death of Director John Hughes. I love all of his movies. The Breakfast Club is an all time favorite of mine. In fact, I wrote about it, here, a while back.

Wordless Wednesday....Back From The Dead Edition?

We will see...but...for now... here are a few pictures!



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