Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Heeeeere's Kate!

That's Kate on the right. She is one of the first creative friends I made after moving near Chapel Hill. At the time, she was dying silk using a shibori technique. Wow, what beautiful silks she created! And, with those beautiful silks, she created beautiful scarves and garments. Then hand, wrist and arm injuries put the ol' kabosh on that artistic work. Below is just one example of a detail of her pieced scarves. She still has a few left at http://www.ktracton.etsy.com/.
I think it was while she was trying to give her hands a rest that she started beading. And she's jumped into that with both feet (well, actually, hands :)). Thank goodness this artistic endeavor doesn't seem to hurt her hands (or her feet!). Below are some of her more recent creations. A simple, but beautiful, necklace...
Or, a not so simple, and gorgeous necklace...
I love the charms on these earrings...
A bracelet sure to attract attention, this is loaded with color and interesting beads and so prettily done. Although I wish Kate never suffered the injuries she did, there is a silver lining in it for us all :). And if you ever want to help Kate at one of her shows, she lets you wear one of her creations. As she would say, "Sweet"! Check out her blog, http://www.shiborigirl.blogspot.com/ for more of her creations including those in her kitchen!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Independence Day, America!

Today, the United States of America celebrates her independence. Historically speaking, July 2, 1776 was the day that the decision was made by the Continental Congress to declare our independence from Great Britain. At that time, John Adams (one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence) wrote to his wife Abigail, "The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.... It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." And we have.

The second paragraph of our Declaration of Independence starts, "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...." Amen.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

There really ARE people behind those Etsy handles!

What a warm and fuzzy I received in the (e)mail when Jill sent a note to me with a photo of her wearing the hat I had just made for her. It is so rare that I get to meet the wonderful people who wear my wares :). I love it! (thank you, Jill ♥)