Forgot to Take Pictures

I just came back from the post office. If you are looking forward to something from me, it's in the mail. Really. I always feel an odd sense of accomplishment when I do that - take all these envelopes and parcels to the mail. Of course, with the new regulations that exist, the paperwork is silly!
So of course, as I was leaving the post office, I realized that I didn't take pictures of my tags or atc's or 4x4! I bet you all are beginning to believe that I don't do any art! But I have been! Really!
So yesterday I was working on art all afternoon. It was cold and wet and windy and perfect for playing with my art supplies. I've joined a charm swap and I'm playing around with different ideas for the charms. I think I've got one idea that involves beads, and the other involves shrink plastic. So far so good!
Pictures soon! I promise!
Cheers, Denise

School

I'm learning. It's really hard. The discussions are difficult, the topics are heart wrenching and for the first time, I had tears in my eyes during class. That really surprises me cause I'm not a teary person, not a bit!
So what has me on edge? Child Rights. The course is on the Convention of The Rights of the Child. And as we go through each right, there are stories and examples and student presentations on children who's rights are being violated. And it is very hard. I think about my daughters and I think about children I know and I think about these children around the world who have never known and don't know that they even have rights. They don't know that they don't need to work, don't need to prostitute themselves, don't need to go hungry. But that is their reality and they do have to do those things because that is their life.
I had no idea I was walking into this. It was listed as Issues in Interdisciplinary Studies and it was mandatory for Child Studies Students. I had no idea we would be talking about war, child soldiers or slavery.

So that's were I am right now and I'm trying really hard to not wear my heart on my sleeve and to smile and laugh. But oh, I tell you, it's hard!

Denise

Thanksgiving Weekend

This is a picture of some jewellery I helped my sister and my neice and my daughter's wanted to make. I don't do a lot of jewellery but I can do it. I must admit that I was scrambling for findings! My sister commented on the fact that I was picking too many beads but then when she went to find just the right bead in just the right size, I didn't have it! All of a sudden, I didn't have enough beads! Hahahaha, and so the addiction continues!




This is me and my neice and my daughter working on the earrings. It was fun having so many of my family playing with me!! Of course, I didn't make anything, but I did manage to take apart a crystal bracelet!!!
I'll try to upload the pictures from Gatineau park tomorrow - it was a perfect weekend! Colour and good weather and a wonderful walk. We came home to an awesome turkey!!!
Cheers, Denise

Christmas is coming....

I thought I'd tell you a little more about Christmas Presence.


It's a seasonal store that opens just after Thanksgiving - in October and stays open till January. So in August and September, we are setting up the store and getting it ready for opening. Each year it always comes down to the crunch and we are over worked and tired and scrambling to get things done. It really is amazing what goes into setting up the store. And this is compounded by the fact every ornament comes out of it's package and is hung on pegs. Every tag is ripped off. Every year we have a different location in the mall and we have to work with the new store, figuring out shelving, plugs, where the trees are going, counter space etc. We will probably have about 25 or so trees set up and decorated by the time the store opens. Each tree has a theme, and develops a name. We also have all the other things that help make Christmas so special. This year we are also doing Halloween and Thanksgiving/Autumn because we are opening early.
It's fun, it's cool, and it's a lot of work. There are definitely days when it looks like we haven't gotten anything done, and that's not a good thing. So, for the next few days - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we at the Christmas store will be working harder than elves to get the store up and ready for opening on Friday Night. Friday night is a bit of a celebration because we are open and all the panic disappears. But we are tired so sleep also holds a big draw!
On Saturday I'm teaching at Dragon's Lair and I'm really looking forward to that cause I love to teach bead work!
Cheers, Denise