Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Ides of March?

We have had just gorgeous weather here, in the mid-70s. Not at all typical for this time of year. The entire winter has been very mild and a nice change from last year snow and cold. But it's not going to last we will be back in the 40s next week.


The nice weather did fire up a bug to finish getting my seedling plants started and to make my final garden plans. I plan on adding a few trellises and lots of perennial plants such as rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, grapevines and a couple dwarf fruit cocktail trees.

I also want to add a couple perennial flower beds and plan to put a flagstone and moss lined path behind the garage. We've been having some water problems and I'm hoping the moss will help with some of that.

I had my surgery on my shoulder the 12th it went very well and I am recovering nicely. Although I am still in quite a bit of pain and not able to do much with that shoulder or arm. The doctor did warn me that it would be really sore for 2 to 3 weeks and that it would take of couple months for all the swelling to go down. I am so looking forward to that day.
I am dying to get back to bead making and have a list of tutorials I want to try.

I did get the chance to try a tutorial by artist Sara Kay from the site lampwork etc. http://lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235

I love the reaction of the foil and can't wait to try it with other glasses.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Thursday, March 1, 2012

In Like a Lamb

Wow, here it is the first of March already....where is the time going.
The weather has been so mild this winter, but I am looking forward to Spring anyways. I started some perennial flower seeds and a few veggies in my windowsill. They are doing well so far. Let's hope they do better this year. I have never had much luck, my plants are always thin and spindly. But this year I am using extra lights and fertilising with liquid seaweed.
I have already planned my vegetable garden and plan to get some fruits and other perennial vegetables planted this spring. I also have a large bail of chicken wire to keep the little rodents for destroying my plants again this year.

On the glass end: I have not been able to do much lampworking or anything else lately. I have been having so much pain in my left shoulder, lower back, and trouble using my left arm the last few months. Finally I had a lump appear which turned out to be a large grapefruit sized tumor under my shoulder blade. The good news is I had an MRI and it is benign. I will get it removed March 12th. The bad news is it's not encapsulated like most Lipomas so they will have to scrape it off the muscle. The surgeon said I will be super sore and out of commission for 2-3 weeks. I am scared to death to have the surgery, but I am looking forward to having the use of my shoulder and arm back....and not to be in so much pain.
It has been driving me crazy not to be able to make beads..or much else.

I am still working on taking better pictures and have been trying lot's of different "How To" tutorials on better picture taking.

I did check out a new photo editing software on FotoFuze.com, that I found through Handmadeology.com... they have so many helpful guides for Etsy sellers.

Here's a before and after of a picture I edited....The original on top.
Please, tell me which one you like better.