Christmas shopping is DONE!!! WooHoo!!!

Well now, I finally have all my Christmas shopping done. I kept to my list for the most part, but hubby added a couple things, so.....Anyway...the mall wasn't very busy, thank goodness. With Mike and I both physically limited, when there are a lot of people and things are hectic, we tire out quickly and easily.
I wore my Use the Muse Contest necklace and received a few compliments. The pics are here...I didn't win the contest, but you know, it doesn't matter as I feel I made a beautiful piece of jewelry. Any and all comments on it are appreciated. I plan to put it up for sale in the near future and hope someone likes it and buys it. I will also get the rest of my pieces listed into my ArtFire store when things settle after the holidays. I can't just let them all sit around gathering dust. Will let everyone know when I do this.
After all the shopping, Mike and I stopped in at our daughter;s home and visited with her and the grandsons. She made an awesome rigatoni lasagna and it was delicious. The boys were their normal busy playful selves and I love to see them. We will head back down on Christmas day as long as the weather is good. Expecting snow and ice, but hoping for the best. It is an hour and 15 minute drive, but so worth seeing the family. My younger daughter is planning to come home for Christmas and I can't wait.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!!

What is your favorite part about the USE THE MUSE Contest experience?

Hello once again. Wow, 2 blogs in 2 days. I must be on a roll. Actually, I want to make sure I entered the giveaway correctly from the Use the Muse page. What did I enjoy about the "Use the Muse III" contest? I enjoyed everything. The beads supplied with the kit. The colors, the "Muse" itself. I enjoyed the challenge that made me realize that I can design and create my own piece of art. I am impatiently waiting the "Big Reveal" and can't wait to see all the entries. Contest number 4 will be out soon and I plan to enter that also, if things go well for us financially.
For today, I think I will end this blog, but yo never know, aybe I will be back to write some more.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!!!!

Use the Muse Contest III

Well all. Hope everyone is faring well this Christmas season. I had our family party here at my house for the 5Th year in a row. My sister and brother-in-law came and helped hubby and I get things cleaned up and they also mostly finished my kitchen which has been 6 years in the making. Due to physical limits of both myself and hubby, we couldn't do the work that was needed to finish it. There ended up being around 22 people in my home all at once. We all had a great time. I am glad it is over for a year. I get a little anxious having so many people here, even though they are family. The best part was when my older sisters and I started reminiscing about being kids. I found out that I was a terror and would beat my older sisters up if they picked on me. Serves them right...LOL...That explains a lot to my girls as they now know why Mom is the way she is...LOL
Anyway, I have been beading here and there and have made a few new projects. I received Rachael Nelson-Smiths book, "Fusion Beads" a couple weeks ago and am really enthralled by the patterns. So different and fun , but challenging. I have slowed down in my work as I have been dealing with emotional and physical issues, plus other everyday stuff that has brought me down.
I have a beading friend who I have been in touch with for the past 2 years and she has been electronically trying to help me be my own designer. She sends me awesome beads now and then to help me get my creative genes flowing. I entered the Use the Muse III contest after my hubby bought me the kit for my birthday this year. It was a bit of a challenge for me to make something beautiful from all the wonderful beads that were in the kit and I believe I did. I can't put pics out until Scarlett reveals the "muse". The "muse" is an item that was our inspiration to create a beautiful piece of art. I was a little hesitant and I was kind of chickening out when I needed to send it in for judging, but I figured, I gotta do it sometime. I know that I put heart and soul into the piece and I love it and in the end, that is what matters. I am impatiently waiting for the number 4 contest and can't wait until it comes out. When the "Muse" is finally revealed, I will happily post my pictures here and hope that you like it.
Merry Christmas to all of you and best wishes for a Happy New Year.