Strangely,
just as I was ready to post for the
blog hop, my internet connection simply stopped.
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| "Halo for a Vanished Star" (Hubble Gallery) |
What was planned to be a personal tribute became an experience I had while I was away.
This experience changed my "Memories & Thanks" post.
Everything changed.
I started all over again.
It's July. Time stands still. I'm surrounded by a circle of friends. We are planning a tribute to Lori Anderson and the idea to give her a custom bead jumps into my mind. An amazingly gifted lampwork artist reads the idea and becomes my friend.
Standing in a circle,
connected and interconnected,
together creating appreciation and gratitude
for Lori Anderson's incredible work and generous art,
the Bead Soup Blog Hop Party,
our opportunity to connect, to create, to shine.
Standing in a circle,
the wonder of technology working like it's
Wrapped in Magic
bringing like minded friends, jewelry artists, bead artists.
To me, my world.
I'm chatting about the beautiful goddess bead that's been created in honor of Lori and the phone rings.
My daughter has died.
When I was a young woman I'd stand at the mic, eyes looking up across the crowd, standing at The Loft on Broadway, giving literary art readings, singing to audiences, swooshing my yellow 1950's retro dress.
I'd begin intensely, almost questioning, almost singing:
"If premonitions could be counted on, I'd swing"
20 years later, the words that were spoken then now click, click, click, and like ringing glass, click clearly and with resonance. As a grandmother of 46 I understand the ease and flow of life lived in harmony with oneself: premonitions are frequent and they can be counted on. Trusting myself and my ability to focus each day as a powerful creator -- as something special -- means a synchronicity and rhythm come to life. It feels good to live each day because the basis of each day, my perspective, is well being.
Some call this being in the vortex.
 |
| "A String of Cosmic Pearls" |
The night before the Memories & Thanks Blog Hop is to begin,
I'm in complete quiet. Without the internet, I will not know that Jewelry Television's Gerry Sisk has died.
A feeling of great appreciation for my gemstone collection washes over me. I take out dear unheated Tanazanite and admire my natural pink topaz. I make my Andesine change colors. I realize the quality and beauty of my JTV gemstones all over. Again, I look and see my CZ mix, remembering the "Gemstone Ice Candles" made in the first JTV Friends fb group I started years ago, our project for Christmas. They're huge, and gorgeous, I think. Smiling, I decide to wire wrap the large, beautiful pink stone.
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| Wire wrapped Cubic Zirconia, faceted rose quartz tear drops, rhodocrosite hearts, Czech crystal glass & seed beads. |
When we return to the nonphysical, when we die, we know our true worth, our full value and our knowing of our impact on unfolding life on planet earth is outstanding. Our broader perspective reveals to us in one swoop all that we are and all that we co-create, and the joy and knowledge radiates forth. We are eternal, infinite and never-ended.
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| Jerry Sisk cared for people. His warmth, and down-to -earth spirit made customers feel good. Here, Jerry and Ellen Berson discuss gemstones. |
Jerry Sisk had an impact impact on many people worldwide, and his contributions continue. The value he contributed to the world is so vast, so great and so full of awe, it was as if I felt that appreciation throughout my weekend: examining my gems, grateful to know gemstones and to have a collection to pass on through our family.
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| Awarded excellence by JCK, Jerry empowered people to learn about the science of gems. Here, Jerry Sisk helps Kris Mattingley identify a gem using a refractometer. |
When I was able to get online, I learned of Jerry's passing, and my time spent with gemstones and the jewelry I had created with appreciation for those gems was a bright light of wonder. Without an internet connection, the Memories & Thanks Blog Hop was still a powerful experience of connection, reaffirming the wonder of life, the gift of learning; the endless goodness of giving of ourselves & sharing what we enjoy and love.
Whether in life or death, our connection to each other can't be broken, and the promise of love -- indeed all good things -- is the presence of beauty, knowledge, and friendship, always.
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| Wire work and beadmaille. |
Adlinah Kamsir Dream Struck Designs
Aimee Biondolillo Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
Alicia Marinache All the Pretty Things
Andra Marasteanu Handmade by Indra Marasteanu
Andrea Trank Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Andra Marasteanu Handmade by Indra Marasteanu
Andrea Trank Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz Juniper Goods
Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Chrizette Bayman Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen A little of this, a little of that
Diane Hawkey diane hawkey
Dita Basu ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz Treasures Found
Gina Hockett Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston CSW Designs
Inge von Roos Inge's Blog
Jacqueline Marchant Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jessica Murray Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne josjewels1
Jodie Marshall Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs
Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak CianciBlue
Laren Dee Barton Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus First Impression Design
Linda Florian Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder Must-Haves Jewelry
Lori Bowring Michaud Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo Ornamento
Marti Conrad Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Pam Farren re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
Rebecca Sirevaag Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson a creative chelle
Sabine Dittrich perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff Creative Chaos
Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G. Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets
Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning jewelry techniques. She is the host of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and emerging artisans taking inspiration from each other and Jewel School. Join her on Facebook for networking, fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, contests, give-a-ways and of course, cool beads and jewelry!
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