What Would You Be?

If I were a month I’d be October
If I were a day I’d be Friday
If I were a time of day I’d be mid-morning
If I were a planet I’d be Mars

If I were a sea animal I’d be a jellyfish

If I were a direction I’d be north
If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a big soft chair
If I were a liquid I’d be mocha coffee

If I were a gem stone I’d be labradorite
If I were a tree I’d be a weeping willow

If I were a tool I’d be a hammer
If I were a flower I’d be a hydrangea

If I were an element of weather I’d be a balmy breeze
If I were a musical instrument I’d be a violin
If I were a color I'd be purple

If I were an emotion I’d be peaceful

If I were a fruit I’d be a strawberry
If I were a sound I’d be laughter
If I were an element I'd be fire

If I were a car I’d be a Beetle

If I were a food I’d be chocolate
If I were a place I’d be an Italy
If I were a material I'd be fine cotton

If I were a taste I’d be savory

If I were a scent I’d be citrus

If I were a body part I’d be eyes
If I were a facial expression I'd be a smile
If I were a song I’d be something belted out from the heart.

If I were a bird I'd be an owl

If I were a gift I'd be a book
If I were a street I'd be a street in Venice

If I were a city I'd be in Korea
If I were a door I'd always be open

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be comfortable

And what would you be?


(I got this wonderful bit from close friend Allegra -
and as it is with close friends, a number of our answers were the same).

Jewelry!

A lot of people have asked me if everything I make ends up on the web site.

Oh heavens no.

A large chunk of it never even gets PhotoShopped, but a lot does -- it just doesn't see the light of day because it sells at shows.

Soooooo, I've decided to periodically upload things to my Flickr account so you can see what I've made but haven't posted on www.lorianderson.net. This goes WAY beyond my Eye Candy posts, and of course if you see something you love, just let me know -- it might just still be available.

Click here to enjoy, and bookmark to come back often.

Namaste

"Namaste"

"Peace be with you."

What a lovely way to leave a yoga class and start the day.

(This pendant is now on my web site, www.lorianderson.net)

Eye Candy!

Did you know there's eye candy over at An Artist's Year Off (plus a new show announcement)?

Head over there, maybe become a follower, and you won't miss a thing!




(See more of my jewelry at www.lorianderson.net.)

Kindness Angel

I took this picture in October of 2008 when Rick and I were celebrating a wedding anniversary at Prospect Hill Plantation. I like the saying -- enjoy!

Getting Readers to Your Blog

My first article as a guest blogger on Art Bead Scene is up! It's about getting readers to your blog, and I hope you find it helpful!

Click here to read!

Over the Top Award

I got this lovely award from the equally lovely Simone of The Romantic Query Letter and the Happy-Ever-After. I offer this out to the dozens upon dozens of blogs that I read every single day -- you all make my day much happier.

I'm supposed to answer the following questions with one word, so here goes:

The list:

Your cell phone? van

Your hair? auburn

Your mother? young

Your father? workaholic

Your favorite food? savory

Your dream last night? nonsense

Your favorite drink? mocha

Your dream/goal? happiliciousness

What room are you in? family room

Your hobby? knitting

Your fear? death

Where do you want to be in 6 years? younger

Where were you last night? bed

Something that you aren’t? bored

Muffins? gimme

Wish list item? Kindle

Where did you grow up? Virginia

Last thing you did? knit

What are you wearing? smile

Your TV? TiVO

Your Pets? cats

Friends? sure!

Your life? Comfortable

Your mood? relaxed

Missing someone? Jen

Vehicle? Van

Something you’re not wearing? shoes

Your favorite store? Barnes and Noble

Your favorite color? purple

When was the last time you laughed? tonight!

Last time you cried? ???

Your best friend? several

One place that you go to over and over? kitchen!

Facebook? yup

Favorite place to eat? out.


Hope that was fun for you!

Make Something Beautiful

(I wish I knew where I found this).

Random Thoughts

1. I am super exhausted this week.

2. I want pie.

3. But I am on a diet.

4. Mmm, pie. PIE. Gimme a danged pie.

5. Sigh.

6. Is it bedtime yet?

7. Oh. 3pm. Guess not.

8. I'm supposed to be making Rice Krispies Treats for school.

9. See number 3.

10. Pie. Please.
When Lori isn't dreamin of pie, she also writes another blog, www.AnArtistsYearOff.com. Her jewelry can be seen at www.lorianderson.net.

Sort of Silent Saturday

(Real Rubies and Pearls with Lampwork Glass)

and

Free Giveaway at Patina Soul!

My First Beads

I wonder -- has anyone seen any of "the greats" show their first beads? I know Corina Tettinger has, and the lovely Z-Beads recently did. But anyone else? I'd love to know and to see?

Want to see mine? I despair of every being anything other than a Spacer Queen, but head to Watch Me Create to see what I've done.

Bead Soup Blog Party is HERE!

IT'S HERE!

Back in January, I decided to take an idea from www.artbeadscene.com and give it my own spin and start a Bead Soup Blog Party online. My idea was to bring together a group of beaders from around the world, introduce them to each other, and then pair them up for a bead soup trade.

What is bead soup?

~ A focal
~ Some coordinating spacers or beads
~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)

When the respective partners got the packages of beads, they were tasked to make something with all or part of the soup, take a picture, and post it on their blog on February 10th -- TODAY!

Now, everyone gets to hop around to all the Party Blogs to see what's been made!

My pieces can be seen by clicking here.

Party Participants

1. Lori, An Artists Year Off
2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads
3. Terri, Blooming Ideas
4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio
5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts
7. Erin, Treasures Found
8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry
9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs
10. Nan, Spirit Rattles
11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings
14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle
15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks
16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
17. Lisa, Lo and Behold
18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas
19. Judith, Judith B.
20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
21. Maria, Garden Path Beads
22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design
23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life
24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea
27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design
28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals
29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction
30. Leslie, Bei Mondi
31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta
32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry
33. Kathie, The Bead Cult
34. Patty, Plays With Fire
35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire
37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry
38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle
39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio
40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
41. Marcie, La Bella Joya
42. Suzann, Beadphoria
43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass
45. Janiece, J Birds Garden
46. Kate, Organic Odysseys
47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale
48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure
49. Sue, Sue Beads
50. Janeen, Wild Vanilla Designs
51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
52. Kristie, Artisan Clay
53. Regina, Regina's Writings
54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
55. Lyn, Lyn Foley
56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz
57. Cathryn, Chile Cats
58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook
59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter
60. Juli, Jul's Beads
61. Julie, RockerJewlz
62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too
63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
64. Katie, My Life and My Beads
65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay
66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth
67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design
68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio
69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery
70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs
71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights
72. Chas, One Woman's Haven
73. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry
74. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky
75. Maire, Maire Dodd
76. Janet, Singing Woods
77. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads
78. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels
79. Joann, Jo's Jewels
80. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
81. Mel, Kookie Designs
82. Erin, Every Heart Crafts
83. Dale, Flights of Fancy
84. Dee, Runako Designs

ArtBeads.com Review - Valentine's Day

I posted my first creation from ArtBeads.com on February 4th, showing a Gothic take on Valentine's Day. Now I'm going to show you my last piece, a piece that you can wear all year round, and that, rather than being full of sweet hearts and pink and red, shows the true meaning of Valentine's Day -- partnership and love.

(Item # SW-PEND173)

When I saw this stoneware pendant I knew I had to have it. Two love birds, perfectly content, sharing a branch. To me, that typifies that sort of relationship I have with my husband -- not the roses, not the chocolates, but the constant, quiet love that follows us everywhere.

(Click to see a larger photo).

I used the new Swarovski coral pearls to pick up the melon color in the stoneware pendant, and happened to have some lucite flowers and pale yellow pearls lying around that I thought would go well with the pendant. The chain is my last length of fringy vintage chain, all the little dangly bits being triangles, not rings. Unique and really cool, don't you think?

All in all, this is my favorite Valentine's Day piece I've ever made.

Head on over to ArtBeads.com to see what else they have for Valentine's Day! And click here to see the Stoneware Pendants -- I really want the turtle one!


Disclosure...As a reviewer of products at Artbeads.com, I receive the beads above free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Auction for Haiti

Check out fellow blogger and friend Kookie Designs who has organized an auction for Haiti relief. Click here to see jewelry, beads, and toys. If you get confused about conversion of the pound, go to www.xe.com for an easy conversion chart.

At this writing, there are still some items with no bids!

Thanks for looking!

Sale Going On!

Quick, run to www.lorianderson.net!

I'm snowed in, so am updating the web site like a fiend, and am having a snow sale until Sunday, February 14th, which also happens to be Valentine's Day!

(Saks Fifth Avenue heart)

The coupon code is SNOW.

Happy shopping!

ArtBeads.com Review - Valentine's Day

I received two pendants from ArtBeads.com and am showing you what I did with one of them (the other will come soon!). I was asked to choose items from their Valentine's Day selection, and my first choice was a mix of the traditional heart shape with a non-traditional black etched pattern.

(Item # SHL-LP52)

The shell pendant is etched in black, and I decided to work it in a Gothic fashion, with deep coral red Swarovski crystal and fringy sterling silver that I oxidized to a black patina. I love how the tiny 4mm crystals flutter from the fringe of the chain, don't you?

I made a matching clasp out of oxidized sterling silver and another coral red Swarovski crystal - very simple since the chain is so elaborate. All in all, I'm a big fan of Valentine's Day, and I love hearts, but I like the non-traditional, and this piece fits the bill.

Head on over to ArtBeads.com to see what else they have for Valentine's Day!


Disclosure...As a reviewer of products at Artbeads.com, I receive the beads above free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Shantaram -- a book review

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is now one of my favorite books of all time. And there are now major spoilers in my review, so if you don't want things ruined for you, move on now!

*******SPOILER ALERT*****




OK, those now reading know that I'm going to tell key elements of the story.

This is a loooong book, 936 pages in the edition I read. It's about a man known as Lin, a man who escaped prison and ended up in Bombay. Throughout the book, he lives in a slum and opens a clinic for the slum dwellers, becomes a member of the mafia, runs forged passports over various borders, and makes an ill-fated journey to Afghanistan to fight a war.

Roberts' prose has been called "embarrassing" by some, but I found it amazing, so much so that I marked key passages. I felt for Lin in so many ways -- his unrequited love for Karla, his father-love for the mafia lord Khader, his love for best friends Prabaker and Abdullah. I wanted to put the book away when Prabaker and Abdullah died in the same chapter, dying a little with Prabaker and the extinguishing (in more ways than one) of his trademark smile. And then when Abdullah resurface, not dead, but healed from horrible damage - I was happy for Lin but knew it was almost too little too late.

I think that the end of the book was apt, with Lin moving back to the slum, the place where he was the happiest. Knowing without a doubt that Karla was never going to love him, knowing that the mafia was no longer the home he knew with Khader dead, the slum called to him. Enough pieces were tied up to make the ending satisfying without being too convenient.

This is a fascinating read on many, many levels. I'm so glad I finally read it on a friend's nudging and urging. If you want something completely different that anything else you've ever read, this one is for you.


View all my reviews >>

Diets and Cookies

Dieting stinks.