Been beading

I'm not ashamed to tell people that I suffer from a mental disorder. I don't like the stigma surrounding mental illness. People need to educate themselves before judging and talking about us.

I usually don't feel comfortable going out of the house alone because I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder along with my Anxiety and Major Depressive Disorder. I usually wait for Shawn to be with me or only go places I know I won't have to talk to anyone and can get in and out. I need to feel comfortable enough to know that someone has my back before I can go out with them. By having my back, I mean, they will protect me if I'm verbally attacked or approached by strangers. There are very few people that I trust to go out with.

With that all being said, I truly love going to my local bead store. I feel very comfortable with the ladies and gents that go there and know that the store owner and employee will take care of anyone who bothers me. I take classes there. I go to beading groups and have loved getting back into this art form. I have been a self taught beader for over 20 years and am now learning new techniques and using different beads.

I was worried that Shawn would get upset because I go to the store at least once a week. I asked him about it and he said that he's rather me go to the bead store than sit around the house moping. I also have a few tatting groups that I attend also.  He is so generous with giving me time to do my art forms.

I'm so happy that I have a place to go where I feel comfortable and have a safe place to explore my outlet.

What's next?

Now that Nate and Naina are happily married, I have some time on my hands. I have three exchanges that I'm involved in. If you don't know what that is, it's a group of people decide that they will send something to another person and get something in exchange. There are requirements and deadlines that are to be met. You are assigned partners - someone you send to, but they may not be who will be sending to you. It's fun because you never know what you will receive.

The three I'm involved in right now are a Crafted Card Exchange where I have 3 partners. I make a card and then add a few extra gifts in the package and send it off by Nov 1st. I'm the organizer and host of that exchange.

Then there is a Secret Santa Exchange where we have to send 5 things to our person. We got a list of their favorite things and then go from there. That one needs to be mailed by Nov 15th. That one included a decorated tatting shuttle for Christmas.

The last one I'm in for the year is the Snowflake Exchange. We have to make two tatted snowflakes and send them out to your partner. That one needs to be mailed by Dec 1st.

I'm in the middle of making the cards for the Card Exchange right now. I'm doing something a little different with this one. Everyone expects me to tat my items because, well, that's what I do. But I'm going off the beaten path this time. Once my partners receive their packages, I will post pictures of what I made. I'm excited.

Besides the exchanges, I am working on a lot of unfinished projects. I want to clear my plate so I can start some new things. I also am making Christmas gifts. I need to fire up the laser engraver and get going with that.

I've also been taking some beading classes and attending some free events for beading. I have a ton of ideas for jewelry. I am going to put my own spin on a few patterns and see what I can come up with.

In Pittsburgh every year there is an event called Artfest. I am thinking about becoming a vendor for that event. Selling tatted jewelry, beaded jewelry, some wooden boxes and some other things that I can come up with. It think it will be fun. It's in May so I have plenty of time to get ready for it.

Tomorrow I'm off to the National Zoo in Washington DC with my God Daughters and their mom. Shawn is going to start building a shed in the back yard and Calvin will come over to help after he's out of class. Fun day ahead.

The wedding was amazing

My son married the love of his life yesterday. The ceremony was amazing and the reception was a blast. I cried several times. My hankie that I made for the ceremony came in handy. I think I should have made one for my son, tho. He cried when he saw his bride for the first time in her gown. He cried when she said her vows and more when he said his.

They wrote their own vows and both spoke from the heart. They also did something special. They put their vows in a box. Then this week they will write a love letter to each other and place them in the same box. In one year, they will reread their vows and read the letters. Then each year they will write another letter to each other. I think I would love for Shawn and I to start this tradition, and encourage all of the people we know to do the same thing.

I am so happy that the day was amazing. It took a lot of work and manpower to make the day perfect for them.

I went to Pittsburgh last Wednesday to help get the wedding prep done. We worked from Wednesday evening until Friday evening almost non stop to get all of the decorations, pictures, signs, seating cards, programs.....etc ready. We cut, glued, printed, folded, taped and organized our fingers off.

They did a full DIY wedding and it looked like they spent about $30,000 on it. I can't wait to have pictures to show. Everything was amazingly detailed and painstakingly detailed. Nate and Naina both put their hearts and souls into every detail.

Me, the mother of the groom, forgot to bring her camera to the wedding. I will be able to post pictures as soon as they get them back from the photographer. He took so many pictures.

I am sure there will be cell phone pictures popping up all over Facebook soon. I have seen a few already.

There is so much more to tell, but I am so full of emotion it's hard to say it all right now.

I just have to share

I just have to share. Today I was at a local yarn store for a tatting social and had lugged along some of my shuttles to share with a lady who has provided me with a ton of wood.

While she was looking at the shuttles, the store owner came over and peaked into the bag. She commented that she really liked the shuttles and said that she wants to sell them in her store. OMG. My shuttles are going to be sold in a store. How amazing is that?

I didn't discuss the details with her but will call her this week and talk details and then after my son's wedding, I will go back to the store and set up a deal with her.

I am very excited. At first I thought I had heard wrong, but one of my friends was right there and heard her say it also.

Happy dance coming.

Wedding stuff

I have only one more thing to make for the kids wedding. I am so happy. It will only take me a few hours to make the last item.

Then I want to make myself a necklace to wear.

I am going to replace the green beads and the pearls with topaz Swarovski crystals and the with beads will be silver. The gold beads will stay. I am going to make some earrings also. I think this is so pretty.

I am getting excited. 8 more days. Woo Hoo.

The kids wedding date is almost here

I cannot believe that my son's wedding date is only 12 days away. I have most everything ready.

I have all of the bookmarks made but not all in my possession yet. I will have the last of them on Friday. I made the tatted portion of one of the brooches ready for Nita and I to put on our dresses.



Here are some pictures of them.

 
These really don't show the bling I put on them, but that's ok. I couldn't believe that I found two brooches that were the exact same.
I made them with silk thread, Swarovski crystals and crystal beads. I borrowed some elements from a Renulek pattern, but the entire design is mine.

I got my dress back from the tailor's office and it fits great. I am so pleased. The brooch will replace the really ugly rhinestones on the left hip of my dress. Nita has the same issue on her right hip. We will be matching to a point.

I am still making some surprise gifts for the bride and the bridesmaids. I should be done with everything done by Friday.

I also found the perfect pattern for a beaded necklace. I ordered some Swarovski crystals and have to wait for the order to come in to get the necklace done. It won't take me long to get it finished when I finally get the supplies.

Shawn finally got a job that has real potential. He will be running a security site here in Maryland for a company based in Richmond, VA. We are waiting right now for the boss to call him with all the details of the position. All we know is that his title is Security Operations Manager. I am getting anxious about this, but Shawn is in standby mode. He also has another job interview tomorrow. He's not going to stop hunting for a job until he is sure he has a solid job. I respect him so much for what he is doing and his commitment to our family.