Future art on my walls....

Happy November to all. Halloween was spent with a dinner out to a downtown bistro called Lavelle's Bistro with my family then just a quiet night at their house chit chatting and getting caught up with each others lives. Before leaving the house we gave out candy to all the brave little trick or treaters in our neighborhood that despite the cold still rang our doorbell. I saw a lot of cute fairies and princesses.

I was ready to start this week in full energy ready to attack bedrooms and closets to start de-cluttering for the move when I received a phone call that a dear and loved family member passed away. You don't realize how much you are affected by such a news until it happens. For two days I felt like walking around in a daze trying so hard to concentrate in even the simplest tasks. So last night as I was dosing off to sleep I tried to think of positive things and tried to turn that concentration on our upcoming move and house hunt and how to decorate our new home. I had good dreams, of moving into a beautiful home, gardening, and sunny beautiful weather. I will miss the comforts of my home state, but I think this change about to happen will be a good one.

Today I was looking at things we need to put to the side to take with us in the Yukon (since we are driving out) and a set of posters I bought at a fall bazaar caught my eye. I had it sitting off to the side contemplating whether to already frame them or wait until we reach our destination. Bo told me to just pack it with us and it can be one of the first things that go on our walls besides our family portraits taken by a friend (Susan Stevenson) and a painting I commissioned my sister in law to paint for us.

These posters are prints of a watercolor paintings of some of our local Alaskan animals. The artist is Vickie Rae Pruit. I met her at her booth at the Bad Girls of the North Bazaar. I loved her work and started with buying her posters to hang in our house. Here is a little snippet from her site.

V Rae's startling fusion of canvas, texture and watercolor captures the spirit of Alaska in huge impressions that leap from the canvas to your heart. As one collector puts it, "the personality that inhabits these paintings launch each day with a new smile...a rare return on any investment."

The posters I bought from her depicted some of the favorite animals to me. One was a moose, a bear and an otter.

Here are some of my pictures of these animals I have encountered.

Moose in my yard both front and backyard.





The juvenile Grizzly we met in Valdez that frequented the Salmon Hatchery.









I do not have pictures of an Otter yet. I would love to see one in the wild like I have most the other animals here in Alaska. We bought the poster because of the saying under it.

Here are the posters I bought to hang hopefully on a wall together.

It is a little bright because of the plastic protecting the posters.

The Otter poster has this saying: "I have been known to enjoy an occasional margarita." Margarita is a favorite drink of mine. :)

The Moose poster: "At a distance she looked like any other moose, until she sauntered by my window, nibbled a blossom, looked at me in the eyes and showed me her true colors. We now have tea on Thursdays."

The Bear poster: "Glistening blades of sunlight pierced the emerald canopy as I pad reverently through the old Sitka spruce pondering how life transcends the living. Sensing a kindred spirit, the old Tlinglit grizzly slipped from his Totem, hitched a ride in my soul and quietly emerged from a collage of color. The ancient ones called him Spirit Messenger."

Here is VRae's site to check out the rest of her wonderful original work and her studio exhibition. www.vraeart.com

I know every time I will set eyes on these posters it will remind me of the great memories here in Alaska.

Another painting that will grace my walls will be from my loving and artistic sister in law Franny. I sent her a picture of a set of kayaks in Valdez and she will paint an acrylic painting of it for us. We are hoping to have it as one of our main artworks in the home. Here is that picture.


A recent painting she did nestled on her fireplace that I fell in love with.


Some of her other artwork.





There is much to look forward to. I hope with the excitement of finding a home and making it ours will inspire me in my own works.

I wish you all a happy Wednesday.

Happy Halloween-Pumpkins of years past

MAKING JACK O' LANTERNS

Just take a golden pumpkin
Of quite the largest size,
Cut all 'round the stem, just so,
Scrape out the inside below,
And cut two holes for eyes.
And now fix a nose beneath,
And such a great big mouth with teeth,
And you've a jack-o'-lantern!

Then fix a tallow candle,
Just big enough to light,
And when it flickers, see him blink,
And when it flares up, see him wink
And smile so broad and bright.
This is the jolliest sort of a fellow,
With cheery face so round and yellow,
This funny jack-o'-lantern.

-Anonymous

Happy Halloween!

This holiday is one of our favorites and we always celebrated with carving pumpkins and decorating our house for the trick or treat kids to feel welcomed coming by. This year I feel a bit sad. With our upcoming move we don't have the time to decorate since we are getting our house situated for movers to come through and pack us, plus I did not want to fight trying to take frozen decorations off our deck and yard. Our boys are at the age where trick or treating is not the an event for them anymore they enjoy giving out the candy and so I promised them a Halloween party when we move into our new home for the future Halloween to come.

I did want to share some of our pumpkins from the past. We always loved carving them as a family and even when Bo would be gone the boys and I would still put our skills to the test. :)

Here is a look back at some of our pumpkins.
2004


2005



2006- The boys and I were so proud of this set. We carved it without Daddy around since he was gone for a military schooling.


2007


Last year I wasn't able to take pictures of our pumpkins before they became a frozen ball outside since it was in the negatives for Halloween last year. This year we just set up some fall decorations in the house like last year. Plus I have Pumpkin Spice candles burning in the house so the spirit is in the air.





When we get back stateside we will also take part in a tradition of going to the pumpkin farms for their festivals, corn mazes and picking out our fresh pumpkins.

This is Gentry Farms in Tennessee where we took the kids when they were younger.

















Enjoy your Halloween. Be safe trick or treating, on the road and at Halloween parties!

HALLOWE'EN

The ghosts of all things past parade,
Emerging from the mist and shade
That hid them from our gaze,
And, full of song and ringing mirth,
In one glad moment of rebirth,
And again they walk the ways of earth
As in the ancient days.

The beacon light shines on the hill,
The will-o'-wisps the forests fill
With flashes filched from noon;
And witches on their broomsticks spry
Speed here and yonder in the sky,
And lift their strident voices high
Unto the Hunter's Moon.

The air resounds with tuneful notes
From myriads of straining throats,
All hailing Folly Queen;
So join the swelling choral throng,
Forget your sorrow and your wrong,
In one glad hour of joyous song
To honor Hallowe'en!

-John Kendrick Bangs

Happy Halloween!!

Winter has arrived....

We were pretty lucky to start our October with beautiful fall weather this year. Last year it was already snowing in September. We had bets on whether or not Halloween would be snow free but just as everyone thought that we woke up to a winter wonderland the beginning of the week. I don't mind this time of year when the snow is just falling, it is pretty outside and the temperature is still warm. I do not like though the slippery roads and the drivers out there that are not cautious.

I am trying to take in every moment and day I am still here. This is my hometown and it will be hard to say goodbye to it once again because of a military move. But I am excited at the same time that we are heading to another beautiful state. Kentucky to most people is the Kentucky Derby and horse farms. Well it is but the landscape there despite how different it is from the majestic mountains here in Alaska is beautiful in its own right. I love the rolling hills and the barns. Now that I have a better camera and love to go out and take pictures, I am already thinking of those foggy mornings and barns with the rows of corn around them and the fall maple leaves in autumn through my view finder. It will be another change for my family but we are ready for it.

Here in Alaska, while states are still experiencing temperatures in the 80's, we have snow. It has fallen now and will stay, covering the pine trees and our backyards.

It was snowing this day with overcast skies as the snow covered the Pine and Birch trees in our backyard. This is what I see out my bedroom window.


Other days when the sun shines it illuminates the trees.






I love how the snow sparkles in the sun.


I will miss this little tree in front of our deck. I love how the sun illuminates the tree. This little area always seems to attract the Moose. I will miss their visits too.



In thinking of snow I asked Bo to make me some beads that resembled little snowballs.

This set was made with clear glass with Silver Lake Frit over it.





This bracelet was made with a light blue glass with the Silver Lake frit.




I am trying not to think of the things I will already miss before even moving...*SIGH* but here are a few...

My backyard visitors.


The Races.


Ice Art Championships


Creamer's Field




And just Alaska itself and her scenic landscape.

Thankfully I documented our 3 years here with tons of pictures. You can view most of them on my flikr site.

For now I will enjoy the sunshine and warm temps for Alaska.

On my way home from picking up the boys at wrestling practice I took the long way home and skirted the river. I caught it when the sun was setting and it cast a glow off the trees.

Moments in Time...

The month of October has flown by and now we will be celebrating Halloween. My kids are at the age where trick or treating is not a "cool" thing anymore but we love giving out candy. :) This year we were planning an actual Halloween party at our house but since we had word of our move we have been busy with going through the house to situate it for the movers to come in and pack us up. So I guess our first Halloween party will be at our new place next year.

As time keeps on ticking moments in our lives come and go. I always try to capture them at least in pictures because they are memories.

October came with many of those moments.

October 1st my husband was pinned his Captain rank. After being in the military for 18 years and 14 of those being enlisted this was a huge event for him and our family. The sacrifices we made for his career and all the moves came down to this one moment of being honored in front of 70 plus people to receive his rank. Since this will probably be the last one the kids are around for, we gave them the honor to be the one to strip his old rank and pin his new one.





Jared stripping his old rank.


Nick pinning his new rank on.








We are very grateful for the life we have lived. The military lifestyle is not always an easy one to be in but we have learned a lot, met great people and have grown as a family, and have been handed opportunities that we would have never encountered. We thank everyone who has been a part of our life and who has helped us grow and who has always supported not only my husband but also his whole family throughout our years.

As football ended for my boys. Wrestling season started. Jared was one of their lightweight wrestlers and jump back and forth from Varsity to JV depending on having a match or not. This week the head coach was able to talk Nick into getting back into it and so he too is on the team now and I cannot wait to take pictures of both of them wrestling.

The boys on Homecoming morning for their high school football.



Jared in his wrestling warm ups.



Days of duals against other schools they dress up. :)


October then ended with our Annual Holly Days Bazaar here on Ft. Wainwright. I have participated in it for 3 years now and have grown to enjoy the company of other artists and repeat customers and friends that stop by to say hello. This year was the best I have had out of the others but it was bitter sweet knowing this was my last bazaar here.

This was our table the second day of the bazaar. We had Bo's lampwork earrings and bracelets and pendants, my fused glass jewelry and I also had metalwork jewelry with silver, copper and brass.




Bo and I at our booth at the Holly Days Bazaar


We want to once again thank all our family, friends and repeat customers for your support of our work. We put the bar higher for every year and progress as artists because of your support. Thank you so much!

I know I have a lot to catch up on...just wanted to drop some eye candy before I leave this entry on some of the pieces that were at the bazaar.

Fused pendants


Fused glass rings


Fused Earrings


Bobby Pins


Metalwork earrings






Bo's lampwork bracelets







Earrings







Soon I will post more of my recent work. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
We have officially started winter here so I have to take my time driving on our icy roads here to get the boys and run errands.

Until next time.....

One event after another....

The whole month of September flew by. We ended it with important events and a football season ending and a new wrestling season starting. We did see some snow flurries but it is not sticking yet. I am holding out. I don't want the snow to stick yet. I feel like we barely had a summer and now its winter? In the middle of all those days I am busily working on custom orders and new jewelry for the upcoming bazaar.

This last spring I asked a friend of mine to take our family portraits. Her photography captured my heart when I first met her online then became friends with her here in Alaska. To see her wonderful work and also her Alaska blog here is her link. http://www.susanstevenson.com

Here are a few pictures she took of us.

















We bartered a trade that with the payment to her services I make her a custom bracelet. Her favorite colors were black and denim. Bo custom made organic black beads with denim transparent glass and I finished the bracelet with wire wrapping the beads together and hanging charms to the bracelet. The charms are of a moose, an eagle, an igloo and a camera. I was so excited to give it to her and know that she too was excited to receive it.

Susan if you read this I hope you enjoy wearing this for a long time and always remember us. :)


On the subject of custom orders I just mailed out another order to a dear friend in Arizona. We went to high school together and finally caught up with each other again. She wanted an elegant but simple bracelet and pendant in black and silver.
Here are pictures of her custom beads and bracelet and pendant.










Heather I hope you enjoy your set when you receive it. :)


My new style with my bracelets is to wire wrap each bead and crystals and focal silver to each other. I feel it to be more sturdier than just stringing it on beading wire and crimping it down. It is more tedious and with silver going up in price a bit more to spend but it is worth it to keep the bracelet together for years. I have also used that method with my first beaded necklace on the last journal entry. Here is another new one with pinks and mauves.




An older bracelet of mine restrung.




I have made new bracelets in fact I think I have 6 but I am waiting for an order to come in with special toggles to finish up my work. I will try to upload pictures soon to show you what I have been busy with.

I also wanted to announce before I head on out of here to dance class, that I have re-opened my Etsy Shop. I will be continually putting new work up on the site and will temporarily close it when the bazaar happens. We will have a move to also be packing for and getting ready to travel, but I am hoping to try and keep the shop open. We will see how it goes. Here is my link if you want to check it out.
http://www.EntwinedDesigns.etsy.com

I hope you had a great Tuesday. Off to dance class.

Fall is upon us....

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies
a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and
chilled. The season comes full with the first frost, the
disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of
the season's last crops."

Glenn Wolff and Jerry Dennis


Autumn is my favorite season of the year. I love the color pallet that is set with the changing of the season. Here in Alaska though it is mostly yellow and orange. While I remember in Kentucky the beautiful red maple leaves.

It is also football season for all levels. I have been busy with my two boys and their HS football season. It can be very hectic at times but I will not give any of that time up for anything else but to be there for my kids and their teams.

My husband has also been busy with his work. But we were able to get a moment before his night shift to head to Creamer's Field and walk the trails to see all the change that has happened. It was a nice and peaceful walk despite the amount of people at the trail. But I think both of us needed nature to soothe our souls and also to inspires us.

I want to share with you some of the beauty we saw that day.




















It was a refreshing walk. We were able to talk about all our upcoming events and know that no matter how hectic our lives can get we do have to take the time to slow down and enjoy what is around us.

We will be gearing up for our Holly Days Bazaar here and in the midst of that get things situated for our upcoming move.

We are headed to Ft. Knox, KY this December. We will be driving out of Alaska in the winter to head to Haines, AK to board the ferry that will take us and our vehicle to Bellingham, WA. We will then visit with my brother and his wife in Seattle then start our second leg of our journey across the states. It will be another adventure for our family but I know it will have its moments.

So I am trying to take it day by day. I have rooms and closets to clear out to get ready for movers to pack them. I don't want to feel like everything is left until last minute. Although at the same time I can't believe our time is up here in Alaska and it is time to move on again.

For now I will enjoy the time I have left here. I am not ready to say goodbye yet. :(

On a happier note...Welcome Home to all our friends who are trickling in from their tour to Iraq. I am so happy for them to be safe and with their families!

Have a great week to come.

The leaves are starting to change

Days have been just flying by. I have come to realize that I swing from excited to exhausted within days. It is always a busy time in this household but it seems as the boys sports come along it goes into hyper drive. It is football season!

Both boys play football for their high school and the first 3 games were away. One of them being a 600 mile road trip. The other two were only 300 miles but still a challenge to drive 6 hours then play a game then pack it up the next day and head back home. The last two games my husband and I drove down to watch and of course I took 100's of photos then turned around and headed back home. Between the pile of laundry and getting the house situated again became such a chore that it left me pretty much exhausted by the time I found some quiet time. But it is well worth it for the boys. This weekend will be our first home game and I hope that it will be a good one.
My boys







On the last road trip as we headed home the Parks highway showed off its beautiful scenery. It was a nice surprise considering we went from smoke to rainy days. We couldn't help but stop along the way to take pictures of this majestic land we live on.







Riley Creek Denali National Park





My husband composing his pictures with our smaller Canon Power shot. :)


Here are a few of his shots.











The landscape is in the process of change again. We have had frost a couple nights ago and the temps are starting to drop at night. With that comes the changing of the leaves. I always love the process when the leaves change their colors then fall and also when the trees are bare in the winter then the little buds of leaves show up in the spring.

Here are some tell tale signs that autumn is on its way...







With fall colors in mind a necklace and a pendant came into the making with the leftover pearls of my Grandmother's old necklace.

Pearls and Crystals pendant and chain for my Cousin in law.





After making the bracelets and the earrings in the last entry and finally the pendant above for family members...I was finally able to use the rest of the pearls for a necklace for myself. I barely make anything for myself but this one has sentimental reasons to be mine.



After spending time making pearl jewelry. The copper on my pendant sparked new ideas when I received more materials from Jatayu Connie Fox's site. Here are some of the results from a day of playing with copper, brass and sterling silver.




Although fall colors can be pretty...I am not ready for that to happen yet and still find myself falling back on colors that remind me of the sea or of summer. This is a new necklace that started as an experiment. It turned out better than I thought and may be continuing to keep this design in mind. I like how this simple design draws the attention to the beautiful glass beads my husband makes.




The summer here is fleeting. I am trying not only to enjoy the last moments of green grass, colorful flowers, but also my boys and their high school days. Our time here is limited now. We finally have our orders and we are not headed to Kansas but to Ft. Knox, KY. We have been there before and are excited not only to return but also the trip out of Alaska. As it comes closer to that time I will share our goals for this new adventure.

The holidays will also be nearing soon and that means the Holly Days Bazaar at Ft.Wainwright. Yes I will be there with my jewelry. If you come out please stop by and say hello. The dates this year will be October 23rd and 24th at the Ft. Wainwright Physical Fitness Center.

I hear the rain outside my window and see that the time is late...I better be heading to my bed...5am comes way too soon for me.