Gosh - I don't think I've taken 10 seconds to even look at my blog in 5+ months! When I set this up I had every intention to take pictures of the jewelry I'd made... post it here... write down some thoughts... then LIFE happens.
While I've been swamped with work - which I do love... I work for a great boss, we get along like none other and I enjoy the work that I do - I've been more taken aback by my health. I "just haven't felt well" for ages. I started working with a doctor during the summer of 2011... she was young and she seemed thorough but I just didn't feel confident with her. I met with a Gastroenterologist, he wanted to rule out Cardiology... went to the Cardiologist, had a stress test/ultrasound... he said "it's not the heart"... back to the young doctor... LIFE... Ignore myself... put it all off. Decided to try a new Dr. over the summer of 2012... ... ... well, enough of all the gory details. While I was in Recovery after an Endoscopy the nurse innocently said "oh, are you check for food allergies or something?". GIANT LIGHT BULB.
My sister recently found out she has a gluten sensitivity, eggs, dairy... her son had self-diagnosed his own gluten sensitivity years ago... my son is lactose intolerant... LIGHT BULB.
I was feeling (and LOOKING) so BLOATED but, in addition to that I was having trouble swallowing, chest 'discomfort', general ickiness and that is the problem - I just felt icky and the docs couldn't pinpoint it. Well, I have now eliminated gluten from my diet and I think my stomach has shrunk 2+ inches. I feel 'better' but not "good", I haven't gone back to a Dr. (the new one I chose wouldn't even talk to me on the phone to discuss the possibility of a food allergy and who I should see next! I got so pissed I told the receptionist who called to "set up an appointment" I was appalled that the Dr expected me to take a day off from work to accomodate her schedule... just so she could collect an insurance payment when all I needed was a 10 minute conversation!!).
Well, enough of my venting. All this just to say - out loud to the Universe (in a remote, hidden behind the keyboard sort of way) - I hope to get back to the beady workshop soon. I miss the creativity!!!
Be well everyone.
Enjoy ~~T
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Desire to Inspire - I WON!!
Yes that's right - I nominated Lori Anderson for an award and I won... a copy of the book that is, go figure?
In any case, I'm excited to see this new book - it sounds right up my alley. I've enjoyed the teasers they've been dropping over at Create Mixed Media in their Inspired By! posts each week. I hope others have checked them out and been inspired also.
I posted a *thank you* comment and nominated Lori again HERE I hope you take a look.
Enjoy ~~T
In any case, I'm excited to see this new book - it sounds right up my alley. I've enjoyed the teasers they've been dropping over at Create Mixed Media in their Inspired By! posts each week. I hope others have checked them out and been inspired also.
I posted a *thank you* comment and nominated Lori again HERE I hope you take a look.
Enjoy ~~T
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Inspired By! The Desire to Inspire Force of Good Awards
I opened my email the other day and was greeted by this from Create Mixed Media:
___________________________
Inspired By! The Desire to Inspire Force of Good Awards: MAKE-A-DIFFERENCE
WHO INSPIRES YOU? LEAVE A COMMENT • WIN A BOOK!
Do you know someone who passionately uses their unique gifts to be of service to others in their community—someone who MAKES A DIFFERENCE? Nominate him or her below in the comments section for a chance to win an ORIGINAL PIECE OF ART FOR THAT PERSON and a FREE copy of Desire to Inspire! Leave a comment below for your own chance to win a book!
_______________________________________
I followed the link and read about a new book by Christine Mason Miller called Desire to Inspire and their Force of Good Awards. The book sounds amazing and I look forward to it coming out but, as I read... one name, and ONE name only, kept popping into my head - LORI ANDERSON - of Lori Anderson Designs! If you have EVER read Lori's blog Pretty Things you know what I am talking about... plain and simple: She Inspires.
Here are a couple of excerpts from the Create Mixed Media site:
So tell us, who do you know who has boldly stepped into their life and is now living what was at one time only a dream? Who do you remind yourself to think about when you get discouraged because thinking about them is a testament that great things do come to those who dare to dream big?
The way Mindy Tsonas puts it is: “By being brave with your life and striving to always honor your values, you manifest strength and meaning that ultimately enriches the lives of others.” We each have unique gifts to offer and when we can match what excites us with what those around us need, then we are truly living with purpose.
So is there a difference between being a Force of Good and being of service? Christine explains it this way: “If being a Force of Good is about discovering the light within and letting it shine in as many directions as possible, then being of service to others is about directing that unique light where it is most needed.”
Does that not make you think of Lori? If you have ever been inspired by Lori please CLICK HERE and nominate her. Do not leave a comment on MY blog... leave it at Create Mixed Media. (So there's no confusion, I have closed comments on this post).
Enjoy ~~T
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Hmmm... entering a giveaway
I have to admit I've entered a few giveaways by responding to a blog post. Only a few - when the giveaway has really spoken to me - but never have I thought of 'blogging' about one!
First of all... I've only done ONE blog post before. Secondly... I have NO followers so - what's the point? Well, today is different, it feels a bit more personal. Although this blog is really just a place for me to talk to myself - so to speak - I felt compelled to write my second blog post.
I've been curious about Barbara Lewis's new book "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry - A Workshop in Painting With Fire" since first reading about it. Her enameled beads are beautiful and the transformation they go through really intrigues me. I've been tuning into her virtual book tour when I get a chance and today was Lori Anderson's turn at http://www.prettythingsblog.com (remember I'm new at this so I have no clue how to make those links you click on to "go here").
In any case, Lori's is the first blog I ever came across... and I am forever devoted. One chilly Sunday morning, with a fire in the fireplace and a cup of coffee by my side, I decided to open my son's laptop and google away looking for new "jewelry ideas", while the rest of the house slept. I had never done this before when LO AND BEHOLD my first hit was Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party - if you don't know what that is you MUST go to her blog and check it out - I had hit the "jewelry ideas" jackpot! I spent several hours hopping and drooling over all that I saw, I just couldn't believe all that was being shared through these 'blogs'??? I spent lots of time reading through Lori's posts and well... I just admire her. She's honest and articulate, LOVES her son to the end of the earth, has travelled and lived across that earth and is a wonderful writer. There's something about the energy that comes from her writing that just speaks to me... through the computer??? What's up with that?
Well... to make this long story a teeny, tiny bit shorter I will just say Lori has been speaking to me ever since via her blog. We've never met of course, in fact I just left my first comment on her blog a few weeks ago so I'm sure she really doesn't know I exist... a tangent for another post perhaps, how do bloggers feel about the 'unknown' out there?... I don't expect she remembers me much at all - although... she is the one and only person to have actually seeked out this little blog and left a post ;) Anyway, Lori is just F - U - N ... you know when you just feel something? I 'feel' that something with Lori's blog - it makes me smile. SO, imagine my feeling when I logged in tonight and found Lori was the guest blogger in the virtual book tour AND she has a giveaway!? You see, today would have been my brother Mike's 56th birthday - yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of losing his cancer battle - needless to say this is always a tough week. But, thank you Lori Anderson for lifting me up with your post!
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL JOHN! It rained today and I know you would have like that - wish I had some fireworks to celebrate you!
So I wonder... is it fate that I should feel the pull to not only enter her giveaway with a comment but with my own post? Who knows... maybe Mike will put some JuJu on that random number calculator and my number will come up...
Enjoy your day ~~T
First of all... I've only done ONE blog post before. Secondly... I have NO followers so - what's the point? Well, today is different, it feels a bit more personal. Although this blog is really just a place for me to talk to myself - so to speak - I felt compelled to write my second blog post.
I've been curious about Barbara Lewis's new book "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry - A Workshop in Painting With Fire" since first reading about it. Her enameled beads are beautiful and the transformation they go through really intrigues me. I've been tuning into her virtual book tour when I get a chance and today was Lori Anderson's turn at http://www.prettythingsblog.com (remember I'm new at this so I have no clue how to make those links you click on to "go here").
In any case, Lori's is the first blog I ever came across... and I am forever devoted. One chilly Sunday morning, with a fire in the fireplace and a cup of coffee by my side, I decided to open my son's laptop and google away looking for new "jewelry ideas", while the rest of the house slept. I had never done this before when LO AND BEHOLD my first hit was Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party - if you don't know what that is you MUST go to her blog and check it out - I had hit the "jewelry ideas" jackpot! I spent several hours hopping and drooling over all that I saw, I just couldn't believe all that was being shared through these 'blogs'??? I spent lots of time reading through Lori's posts and well... I just admire her. She's honest and articulate, LOVES her son to the end of the earth, has travelled and lived across that earth and is a wonderful writer. There's something about the energy that comes from her writing that just speaks to me... through the computer??? What's up with that?
Well... to make this long story a teeny, tiny bit shorter I will just say Lori has been speaking to me ever since via her blog. We've never met of course, in fact I just left my first comment on her blog a few weeks ago so I'm sure she really doesn't know I exist... a tangent for another post perhaps, how do bloggers feel about the 'unknown' out there?... I don't expect she remembers me much at all - although... she is the one and only person to have actually seeked out this little blog and left a post ;) Anyway, Lori is just F - U - N ... you know when you just feel something? I 'feel' that something with Lori's blog - it makes me smile. SO, imagine my feeling when I logged in tonight and found Lori was the guest blogger in the virtual book tour AND she has a giveaway!? You see, today would have been my brother Mike's 56th birthday - yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of losing his cancer battle - needless to say this is always a tough week. But, thank you Lori Anderson for lifting me up with your post!
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL JOHN! It rained today and I know you would have like that - wish I had some fireworks to celebrate you!
So I wonder... is it fate that I should feel the pull to not only enter her giveaway with a comment but with my own post? Who knows... maybe Mike will put some JuJu on that random number calculator and my number will come up...
Enjoy your day ~~T
Friday, September 30, 2011
How Creating Cures was born...
In 2008 my brother Mike lost his battle with throat cancer, 7 months later my father also died - among other things prostate cancer had been a factor, 2009 was a sad year... I was involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life and decided I needed to find something to raise funds all year long. While some people don't believe in giving to a large organization like ACS I had looked into their practices and do believe they're spending the money well. ACS is the second largest funder of cancer research, the largest funder is the U.S. Government... and I wonder how much of that actually gets spent on research?!?
In any case, a friend brought me a necklace from her trip to South Africa, it had a simple but very pretty design of glass beads on a double-knotted strand. As I looked at that necklace I thought... I could do this... and what if I focused on cancer awareness colors? I showed it to my sister-in-law who had dabbled in jewelry making and with her encouragement and enthusiasm we were off to a bead shop! Little did I know what I was getting into - the addiction was born :-)
Together we worked on creating jewelry until she and my brother (I have 5 altogether and 1 very special sister) opened a new wine shop. Every so often I get an email or a phone call from her with a wistful... "How are our beads? I miss them..."
Currently I sell at a few local events but decided somewhere along the way I should come up with a name for this venture... maybe one day I'll launch an Etsy shop... or a blog! I had better be prepared! I thought and thought and eventually decided on Creating Cures. I like the double entendre: I am Creating Cures by donating the profit to cancer fighting charities and Creating Cures what makes your heart sad.
I make no promises for more blog posts... not quite sure I'm ready to put it all out there just yet but, we'll see! You never know where this beading addiction may lead!
Enjoy ~~T
In any case, a friend brought me a necklace from her trip to South Africa, it had a simple but very pretty design of glass beads on a double-knotted strand. As I looked at that necklace I thought... I could do this... and what if I focused on cancer awareness colors? I showed it to my sister-in-law who had dabbled in jewelry making and with her encouragement and enthusiasm we were off to a bead shop! Little did I know what I was getting into - the addiction was born :-)
Together we worked on creating jewelry until she and my brother (I have 5 altogether and 1 very special sister) opened a new wine shop. Every so often I get an email or a phone call from her with a wistful... "How are our beads? I miss them..."
Currently I sell at a few local events but decided somewhere along the way I should come up with a name for this venture... maybe one day I'll launch an Etsy shop... or a blog! I had better be prepared! I thought and thought and eventually decided on Creating Cures. I like the double entendre: I am Creating Cures by donating the profit to cancer fighting charities and Creating Cures what makes your heart sad.
I make no promises for more blog posts... not quite sure I'm ready to put it all out there just yet but, we'll see! You never know where this beading addiction may lead!
Enjoy ~~T
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