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.