Kumihimo Garden Necklace

Here is the necklace that I made for the SACBC BAZAAR Silent Auction. Since this is our first Silent Auction, I decided to donate a bead that I bought from DACS.

The description for the necklace is below:

Necklace featuring a handmade lampwork bead by from Hawaii bead artist Alethia Donathan; embellished with assorted Swarovski Crystals, German and Czech glass and seed beads.

Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan which is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)". Kumihimo braids were originally used as ties, cording and belts for clothing, and closures for Samurai armor. This method had been applied to modern jewelry making and is used in the “rope” of this necklace.

Lunch Buddies....like the old days...

...but only better because I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK! Yesterday, I had lunch with Danny, David and Edwin! We used to work together at EMCDocumentum....David and I worked the longest together...about 8 years or so...his first day was my first day after my maternity leave from Jordan...

I see Danny regularly during basketball since HE made the mistake of telling me that he was bored after work...so, I asked him to help with Jordan's basketball practice....that was quite a few years ago....

Edwin is my other buddy...he is the proud Grandpa of Jordan, aka JoJo....who started ballet this week, sigh, I remember when she was born...I can't believe JoJo is 2 1/2 years old already....but, once again, Grandpa flunks...no new pictures....

Edwin isn't the only one who flunks, I forgot to update my BLOG last night, because I was watching the Laker/Magic NBA finals...and working on the necklace for the Bazaar's Silent Auction. Hopefully, I can finish the necklace tonight and I can post TWO, yes, TWO entries today...that's if I finish by midnight....

Yippee!!! Venti and a Zipper!!!!

Hello! Those of you who see me going to the boys' school...know that I love my Starbuck's insulated cup...it doesn't always have coffee in it...actually, it is usually iced tea...but, I love this cup because it has a lid that screws on...and I can't spill! Unless I don't have the lid on straight...which sometimes happens...anyways...after searching and searching I found a VENTI sized cup! I went to the little Starbuck's kiosk at Safeway...and when I walked up....I SAW IT! As soon as I picked it up, the sweetest little old lady behind me said..."ah...you took the last one"....no, I wasn't mean....turns out the Starbuck's manager had one in the back...I think it was hers...and she sold it to the lady...good thing, I would have felt guilty walking out with mine...

One of my goals was to learn how to sew a zipper....yeah! I did it. I bought the pattern for the above purse...and I realized that I didn't like the pattern....it didn't have lining or fusible interfacing...so, I had to adjust the pattern....but, it did have a REALLY EASY zipper....I love it!

Back when the boys shared a room, I was going to make curtains for the boys...I never got around to it...lucky for Sage, my nephew! I made him a quillow with some red fleece...above it the "pillow" and below is the quilt. It's much easier and I think warmer to use fleece than to use batting...I love them! I have two more quillows to do for Christmas.

And there she goes.....

Hi! Well, I warned you that I wouldn't be posting anything this past weekend. As soon as the boys got home on Friday...we left for Fairfield...we had to be in Sonoma by 7 AM...John wanted to work on the tree before it got too hot...and for fear of sparks...yeah, and he wanted to know that I squirmed when Jeff told me about being in Sonoma by 7 am...of course we didn't tell John that we stayed in Fairfield.

Here is a group picture of the soon to be lumberjacks...Starting from the left to right...John's friend Coleman, John and Beth's son and daughter, Joe and Katie, John, Beth, Neil, Jordan and Jeff...Thank you Beth for a delicious breakfast!

And...here is the tree...yes, that is Jeff in the yellow shirt...hey, when did he change his shirt? I didn't even notice until just now....

Everyone working hard...did you see the news article about the husband who killed his wife with a chainsaw? Well, Beth and I did...actually, Beth sent it to John...and we decided to stay far away...and we each had cameras to document the event....just in case...

Coleman is up in the bucket cutting....I remember my father giving us rides in the backhoe when we were little....hmmm...no seat belts...I am amazed we survived our youth...and sorry John, "my Daddy's John Deere is bigger than yours!"

Down she goes!!! That was a big tree...the tree had died from the Sudden Oak Death syndrome. Inside one of the tree stumps was a burrow and a 5 inch salamander was living in it...sorry, freaked me out and I forgot to take a picture...and "No!" we didn't bring it home...although the boys asked...

That's all that is left....John and Beth are building a "barn" in the area in front of the tree....Beth would like to make the tree stump into the base for a table...sounds beautiful.

All in all, they got the tree down and cleared in about 2-3 hours...amazing! Just in time for a wonderful lunch....

Neil, Jordan and Joe in the John Deere Gator! The boys had a great time riding around with Joe....I think they liked the "big boy" aspect of it all!