Week 48~Focus on Life~Thanks

As most of my friends celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, those of us in Canada are not...ours was in the middle of October...consequently, as I listen to the chat online, I am suffering from turkey envy! I had to go out this week and buy a rotisserie chicken at the deli, and some Stove Top. Y'all made me do it!!

Our related prompt from Sally this week was:

"Giving Thanks....what are you thankful for?"

Here is my list, important and not so.....

1. Vision - 4 years ago, right at this time of year, I was told that in approximately three months, I would be blind....as you can see, I am not, and my vision has in fact improved since that time. I have been taken off the imminent list and discharged by the opthamologist. Thank you. 

2. My friends in the box - who make me laugh, cry, inspire me and keep me company on the long dark nights. Thank YOU. 

3. Good books - which also make me laugh, cry, inspire me and keep me company. Thank you. 

4. The best seat on the sofa - the one where you can stretch out full length, and lean back. WITH a good book, or your friends in the box. Thank you. 

5. Cozy slippers - you'll see a theme here, because of our recent weather....thanks for them!

6. A warm fire - aaahhhhh......see also, the best seat on the sofa....thanks for this!

7. A lovely hot latte - my favourite treat after dinner...thanks Tassimo!

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Focus on Life Wk 47~Centrepiece

Sally's prompt this week was:

"This week focus on the centrepiece, the most important feature of your day, week, life...it makes you comfortable, gives you joy, brings you peace of mind...or is simply a place of comfort. "

While I am not sure it is THE most important feature of my life, my jewelry making certainly fits all the other parameters..it gives me comfort, joy, AND peace of mind. My job is a fairly stressful one, and I do love to come home and work in the repetition  of chain work or beadweaving...it is complete zen for me. 

As I'm sure everyone else is, I am working on a few different things at this time of year. I just finished and mailed an ornament for Sally's Ornament Swap...but of course I can't spoil Alicia's surprise, so that one will have to wait for reveal day!

I am currently working on these....

...left to right, box chain, spiral chain, byzantine. These are being done for one of our events with the Foundation, Dancing Like the Stars, which takes place in April each year. They will be used as mementos for the "stars" participating to raise funds for us. I will be adding resin charms with the DLTS logo, and the year of participation. 

I've also been having a blast working on colour schemes for these:

The Sparkly Wheels are SUCH fun to make...they take less than half an hour, can be done in lots of different sizes by varying bead size and number...and they're endlessly variable. The ribbon necklet here is temporary; I may do herringbone ropes for them, or simply join them together in different ways. 

The pattern is by Nikia Angel, and can be found in Beadwork June/July 2010. 

Be sure to have a look at what everyone else is focused on this week!

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Focus on Life Wk 46~Reflect

Sally's prompt for us this week was:

"...before jumping in to all the hustle and bustle let's take a moment to slow down and reflect on all the joy, peace, happiness and love we already have in our life!"

I have to admit I was a little stumped here, once again...I immediately thought of my family, who are spread all across the nation, none near enough to photograph...I am by no means a religious person...

...and then I thought of my primary joy these days, which consists of the satisfaction and yes, JOY I get from working with my charity the National Inclusion Project. 

While this is a cheat, this photograph taken last month perhaps shows it best:

That's me in the middle, with our two co-founders, all dressed up and shiny and having fun. 

These are two of the most wonderful people I know, full of love and JOY!

Here's another of my favourite pictures, taken in Charlotte, NC in October of 2003, with Diane when the organization was just a baby about 2 months old....

When we were there this year celebrating our 10th anniversary, I told her I wanted a do-over, and here it is...older and wiser, still friends:

Be sure to check out the joys of the others here!

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Focus on Life Wk 45...Industrial Photography

If we were struggling for inspiration for this week's prompt (which I was), Sally asked us to google the words "Industrial Photography". I did...and still struggled LOL. There is very little "industrial" in this small tourist town by the side of a lake. In November, it's pretty much just us and the seagulls, and there's not much "industrial" about them or me...

Here is one thing I thought might qualify based on the things I saw from my Googling....

This is a large artwork that is located at the water's edge, in downtown, and has become a "symbol of the city". It is called Spirit Catcher. 

Here's a little background, should you be curious....Spirit Catcher History

...and here are the wonderful industrial photographs taken by the other participants:

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Silent Auction Proceeds Announced!

I am thrilled to announce that the proceeds of the silent auction for the National Inclusion Project's 10th Anniversary Gala in Charlotte NC have been announced....

We raised OVER $30,000 for the kids! 

Many of my readers have also been donors to this auction, and I want to thank you SO much! 

Here is a collage of a few examples of the fine work created and donated to benefit kids with disabilities across the US......

(please note that these pictures were taken before the auction started, hence no donation amounts)

Week 44 Focus on Life~Saints, Souls, Sugar Skulls and Scares.....

Week 44....I think that means only 7 weeks until Christmas! This year that is not terrifying me quite as much, as my geographically very extended family and I are planning a together-vacation in February 2014 rather than Christmas gifts...so no Christmas shopping to speak of for me this year!

I am going to stop planning for my weekly photos, though....because that always seems to jinx it! I thought I would have tons of great kiddie-in-costume photos this week, but no...both of us had to work last night, so no trick or treating for us! I left a substantial box of candy with a help-yourself sign outside on the porch, and that seems to have worked. We normally have hundreds of kids. 

So, here's a little montage of pre-Hallowe'en in Ontario...we don't really decorate to the extent that those in the US do, but there was some fun stuff to be seen. 

I'm excited to see what scary deliciousness the other participants have come up with! 

Happy Toussaints! 

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Sally's upcoming Christmas Exchange..

I'm excited to be participating in Sally Russick's 3rd Annual Ornament Swap and Blog Hop this year. 

We will be exchanging a handmade ornament, which must include an artist bead, with one another...and I am paired with my blog friend Alicia from All Pretty Things. Yaay!! Alicia and I have been participating together in Sally's Focus on Life photography challenge this year, and I am in awe of Alicia's beautiful work. She lives here in Canada as well, so shipping will be eeaasy! 

Looking forward to it, Alicia!