Snap Out of it, Jean! There's BEADING to Be Done!

Jim and me reflections

2008-07-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo Jim found this week, in a drawer. I was saving it carefully (most of our photos are torn up). It is from July 1985. We took it of ourselves with the timer setting on the camera, on our deck. As you can see I am throughly in love with Jim and (as you can see further down on the top photo ) literally capturing Jim with my hand so that he can't run anywhere.

Writing on clothing appears to be very popular that year: Jim has on a T shirt which seems to say "New York" in a really out of date script, on lurid lavendar. haha. We are talking "Miami Vice" era, people. I have on an OP sweatshirt with writing on the arm, and I used to wear that with a miniscule cotton turquoise and white striped mini by Benetton, which snapped all the way up the front and was suitable for many occasions, in my opinion, including wearing cool sunglasses and wandering around Paris, France (where I purchased one earring from the store Ylang Ylang, because that was all I could afford) and also wearing the same mini and throwing it on with any old t shirt I could locate which was in one of the colors of the time: purple, orange, hot pink, yellow, more turquoise, you name it. That summer, if it was eye popping and had writing all over it, it was in fashion.

Jim and I met in July of 1985. I forced him to move in with me that September. I forced him to get engaged to me shortly after, by vigorously throwing all the chairs off the deck into the woods behind the house in a demostration of love and passion to which he was incapable of saying no.

He did manage to "just stay engaged to me" for five years after that. That is correct! We didn't get married till 1990. However, we have been together for 23 years now. Not bad for two people nobody would have bet on past 6 months or so. hahaha! We showed them.

Someone asked me what my secret to a happy marriage is. I said, "Do you want me to be very honest?"

She said, "Yes".

I said, "OK.

1) equal libidos

2) complete trust or you are totally goners

3) you really have to be in love. If you are not in love, what are you doing in the relationship?"

I think this is fair to say. It is fair to say, but hard to do.

I look at that photo of me and Jim and I still see us the same way. Yes we have progressed. Yes we have had pain. Yes, it has been a hard time off and on. On the other hand, I KNOW I am with the right guy. And Jim? Well...Jim has no choice, does he? :)

jean

all in good fun

2008-07-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

I saw the article below and had some observations on it, just for fun, understand.

here is the article and my notes

Is Your Date Into You?

Posted Jun 20th 2008 2:46PM
by Amy Spencer
for Match.com's Happen Magazine

It's no secret that people spend a large portion of the time they spend with a date wondering, Does this person like me? And while you would think the signs would be clear, all too often they're not. Even if your date has been smiling up a storm or raptly listening to your views on alternative fuel, he or she could just be acting interested and secretly hoping the evening will end soon. But that's not to say you need to be in the dark about your date's true feelings. It turns out there are many signals your date may send that give away what's really going on. Here are some of those subtle signs that, at first glance, might seem like nothing... but could mean there's a real connection and raging chemistry between you two. Your date says your name more than usual.Maybe your date says your first and last name, like, "So, Michael Malone, you up for a night cap after dinner?" Or maybe your date says just your first name three times, like "Jenna, Jenna, Jenna." Either way, it can be a sign that your date feels so much chemistry, he or she can't help but connect with your closest possession: your name. But only if they say your name in an enthusiastic way -- not in a flat tone like the person behind the counter at the DMV. "Saying someone's name is like a sign that you're testing the magic you're feeling, because you almost can't believe they're real," says body language expert Patti Wood. "It also subconsciously elicits immediate focus from the person whose name is said," says Wood, which is more proof of the chemistry: If someone is into you, he or she wants your full attention.

Jean's Q:" What if your name is John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith? What about Rumplestiltskin? Will the rules still work the same?"

Your date squints at you. If you watch reality dating shows like 'The Bachelor' and all the rest, when one party harbors a crush on the other, they'll give each other a cute little squint, usually followed by a smile. What gives? It's an unconscious bit of body language that shows the person is searching for more info about you. "Squinting is typically a gesture of searching deeper into something or testing it," says Wood. "The same way you'd squint at a diamond to see if it's real, squinting shows you're focusing harder to be sure it's not just a mirage." And that, she says, is a great sign. That coy little spy tactic shows that your date likes you so much, he or she is looking more closely to see if you could possibly be as great as you seem. (Obviously you are!)

Jean's note on this: If your date is squinting, check the surrounding area for a loose lemon wedge. Are you dining at a Red Lobster, by any chance? There could be tons of those at a place like that! If you don't see one, try casually asking your date if she or she has had an eye exam lately. You know, people shouldn't mess around with the health of their eyes! That's serious stuff! Finally, in a laid back manner try to ask your date if he or she has a nervous tic. Start out by saying something like, "You know, I once had a good friend who had this nervous tic. She squinted a lot!!" and then stare fixedly at your date and see what your date says. You could also try asking, "You don't smell gas, do you?"

Your date asks the "why" and "how" questions. During dinner conversation, any polite date will ask you factual things about your family like, "So, do you have brothers and sisters?" But that's not necessarily a sign they feel chemistry with you. It is a sign of chemistry, however, if they delve deeper and ask more probing questions. As in, "So, how did you get interested in accounting anyway?" And "Why did you decide to move all the way across the country?" That's one of the ways Jennifer Santana, 29, first noticed that she and her current boyfriend were clicking. "He asked questions about my family -- not just the same old questions but things like, 'What are your parents like?' People on first dates don't really ask these kinds of questions unless they have some intention of meeting them some day." These challenging questions are a strong sign that the person you're with is seriously interested in you and not just making polite chit-chat.

Jean's response to this: Ask your date if your date wants to steal your identity. Leave immediately.
Oh! First make sure he hasn't taken your empty wine glass and slid it into a plastic evidence bag.

Your date gets quiet midway through your time together. Rather than taking your date's silence as a sign your date has lost interest, it could actually be the opposite: Your date may be feeling such a pull toward you that he or she is lost in thought about it. "Sometimes, a person feels such a strong attraction that instead of nodding and following the conversation, he or she is just contemplating you," says Wood. So the next time your date seems to have missed the whole end of your story, don't cast the person off too quickly. If you really can't be sure whether their distraction is a bonus or a sign of boredom, go ahead and ask them. "Say to your date, 'Hey, where'd ya go?'" suggests Sharyn Wolf, CSW, a psychotherapist in New York City and author of 'Guerilla Dating.' "If they say, 'What are you talking about?' or act defensive about paying attention, that's not a good sign. But if they grin back at you and say, 'Sorry, I guess I got distracted,' that can be a great sign. It shows they may have been imagining a future outing -- or just a future -- with you!"

In a case like this, Jean wonders if her date has narcolepsy. This is far more common that people realize! Or maybe it just seemed that way when Jean was dating.

You hear "you're" a lot. If your date says to you, "You're awesome" or "You're so funny" or "You're a trip!" or "You're something else... ", then you're very lucky! Personalizing your admiration or approval of a date means a lot; it's a strong sign of attraction, while statements like, "That's awesome" or "That's funny" don't mean as much. Using the word 'you' means that the person feels chemistry with you, versus just grooving on your story-telling skills.

Jean's thoughts: Do you really think so?

Your date gives you a token of the evening. If your date gives you something you can hold onto and look at later, chances are they're feeling chemistry. Jennifer's date once picked up a pack of matches from the restaurant they were in and said, "Here, for you." He didn't say, "Something to remember me by" or "So we'll always remember this night," but that, in fact, was the underlying message. It's a sign that your date wants you to have something to remember him or her by... because clearly this person will be remembering your date as a great one.

Jean's thought: as long as it's not the check, who cares!

Jean is MOG-ged

2008-07-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

here is something below, which I got two of; they go with a shawl I bought, too, which I didn't show you. Gotta have these arms covered! Can't have my arms failing around in peoples' faces! Don't want the guests racing from the church!
I have a little cream colored "shrug", too. It is 100 percent wool, so I will be tortured if I decide to keep it, as I cannot wear wool. BUT IT IS DEMURE. As I am not, this will help perpetuate a baldfaced lie but that's ok I want to make my kid proud. He pretty much dislikes when I go around looking demented. My other older son doesn't notice. hahah my leetle hairrrrr clip, above! all this great work on growing my hair, so I can wear it "up"! With tendrils curling down, "already yet", as we say in NY!

OH! what is this, above? Jean is making a joke, I didn't buy this hat, hahahahaha. Audrey H. would have liked it, tho!

here is The Dress, above, and here are The Shoes, below, for my Mother of the Groom outfit!I think the kids are going to like it because my son's bride-to-be chose black and plum as her "colors" for her attendants. Therefore, I had my eye out for something which would go with that. However, it also had to fit. This was up in the air with this dress, until I got a nice girl from an online store called "Bare Necessities" (ha hah we watch the "Jungle Book" all the time on DVD and that is the hit song from it! ) who actually went to my store where Ibought this dress and looked at it with me online. Then we figured out what undergarment (basically a suit of armor) would be appropriate, and what pantyhose. Ladies and Gentlemen, she "got me". I love good people like that.

I bought an evening bag, and I am all set. Once I make up my mind and think I will look good, I become that person in my head -- the glamorous person I am picturing -- and I never turn back.

Get out the plum eyeshadow and let's get going! MOG wants her cupcakes! :)

You have got a lot on your plate

2008-07-19T08:38:00.001-07:00

"You have a lot on your plate!"

--Norman Rockwell painting , below, depicting a classic American Thanksgiving dinner, circa something or other. I like the person looking at me on the bottom right!

Here is the thing:
You can look at life a couple of ways. You can add up the list of things that are WRONG with your life, starting with the small ones and ending with the most dramatic ones (I call this "walking the halls of your own personal museum of misery", especially if these are memories which you can't let go of, and I think it is really stupid but very understandable ...for example, "and then he said...bla bla bla" <-- and you dredge up a memory from 25 years ago ahahah ) , or you can just stand into the wind , hope for a warm breeze, and take it as it comes.

One phrase that I have never liked is one I hear constantly. It is this one:

"Oh my! You've got a lot on your plate!"

People usually are referring to our kids when they say this, or the fact that we have two kids with autism, etc.

I find that this phrase, directed at me, serves to separate me from the person I am speaking with. All of a sudden because we have kids with autism, or because I have physical limitations, or both, or whatever, I am being judged. I don't think the people commenting mean to have this observation sound this way...but I find it the opposite of empathetic.

I resent being the person with "a lot on her plate"! Yeah yeah yeah, we have a ton on our plates here, me and Jim...and we have turned it into a Thanksgiving feast. We are grateful for much. Happy Thanksgiving! We certainly do NOT want any one's pity. We don't like being viewed as different from you unless it gets us out of going to your cocktail party, because neither of us drink.

So, guess what!

We do have a lot on our plates! However you don't have to point this out for us. We know.

All over the world all of us have to make choices about how we see these burdens and the stresses we get from them and how to deal with them. Most of the time, as Jim agrees with me, the cure for stress just to be grateful. People try to live up to the Norman Rockwell lifestyle. Yes I changed this entry when he came home and I read it to him. He points out that the Norman Rockwell viewpoint along with the commercialization of the holidays by Madison Avenue isn't real and people are always frustrated by it, and we don't even try to live up to it here and we are better off for it.

Anyway, so some of us don't even notice it! Sometimes it isn't the thing we are even thinking about. Unless you come to me and point it out to me, by using this phrase, which I have heard over and over like a broken record since my youngest couple of kids were born, I just don't see it that way.

Have some more jello mold with fruit cocktail floating around in it? How about some of these delicious creamed onions, some string beans with toasted almonds, or some more rolls and butter? Let's all have LOTS on our plates and enjoy every minute of it! It's called LIFE!

jean

Interview with Cindy Gimbrone for Links

2008-07-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Cindy Gimbrone, aka The Lampwork Diva, and her beautiful blue eyes!

What can I say? Wow! This is great and excellently conceived.

Cindys description:
"Industry" Necklace (on black background): Industry expresses the spirit of the modern woman, focused, intelligent and industrious. Silver chain combines with bronze colored flamework glass beads that reflect shades of purple and violet." I love this necklace!!!--jean

Cindy describes her "Love Links" above in this manner: "Love Links: A new series of beads, glass links are shaped by the heat of the flame without a mandrel whose shape resonates with forms created in nature. Love Links are intertwined glass links formed and connected in the flame."

note from jean--love the Love Links!!! :)

Concerning the enchanting and ebullient piece below, Cindy explains, "Red Art Flower Necklace: The fused glass pendant was inspired by my favorite spring time poem," Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, I wonder where the flowers is." Like the rhymes says, where is the flowers? I used enamels to paint a flower onto the glass and fused it between two layers. I routered the edge of the glass and added a little blue Artistic Wire to mimic my spring sky and strung it on a rollo chain with anodized jump rings. A lovely spring flower reminds me that nature is art!"

Tell a little about yourself and your background.

Ok, here's the boring part - smile. I grew up on a dairy farm in New York state that was in the family for over 200 years. My father was born in the house I grew up in. English wasn't the only language spoken in the area - you'd think it was French because we lived on the border with Canada but it wasn't, it was German. So I grew up hearing German and seeing American Sign Language but I didn't speak either.I have two master's degrees, one in Education, one in Linguistics. In linguistics you're required to be fluent in another language, my language was American Sign Language. It was sort of a given since my advisor was the only Deaf professor on campus and had recruited me into the program. I majored in signed languages. I studied Finnish Sign Language and Japanese Sign Language because I had colleagues who were from Finland and Japan.

What happened to you that made you consciously decide to become the person you are?

I was the executive director of a K-4 elementary, ASL charter school in Arizona, spending 16 hours a day teaching at the school and then doing the administrative work after school was over. I loved the kids and their families. I wanted to do a good job for everyone. I was good at it but I let my own child take a back seat. I decided I wasn't one of those fabulous teachers who can balance it all - I had to decide. I decided to become a freelance sign language interpreter so I had time and energy for my own child. Best decision I ever made.

How did your creativity, which you have chosen to fashion into a career, first express itself?

Oh my - when didn't it express itself? As a preschooler, I learned to sew, crochet/knit and play the piano. That all lead eventually to my designing and sewing my own clothes and playing 7 different instruments! I was famous among my friends for my collages of our escapades together. I drew and painted the school mascot on the gym floor. I was even concert mistress of my high school orchestra. The glass, I think, was in me to begin with. My mother was a scientific glass blower during WW2 - a genuine Rosie the Riveter. She blew glass thermometers and had a torch mounted on a bench at home to do piecework. I wasn't born yet but my glass teachers feel the temperament to work with glass comes from her. Who knows? Maybe it does!

At what moment did you know that you would never turn back?

The moment I left the education field.

What are you most proud of?

Being able to start all over at age 38 and make another professional life - one that's much more fulfilling than the one I started out with.

What makes you feel fortunate?

I learned to sign when it wasn't a course in college, when no one thought American Sign Language was a language. I learned from dear friends who shared their language and culture with me. I feel fortunate to have been "let in" and trusted with their language. I'm deeply appreciative. I'm fortunate to be able to earn a living using that language.Here's the cheesy part - I'm most fortunate to have a supportive family.

What do you see happening for yourself in the future? For example: things which will change for you, things you hope for, things which will stay the same-just thoughts-go anywhere you like.

This is a hard question and I know it's not supposed to be. I used to spend all my time in the future, planning and waiting for it to arrive. Now I try to be fully present in each moment and see where it leads me.

Do you think you see the world differently than other people? If so, is that a positive or a negative force in your work?

Oh absolutely! I'm working on it becoming a positive force because if you see the world through your own lens, it's has to be good! Does it really matter that no one else sees it the same way?
I think that's called "your voice!"

Do you have something to say here in this article to sum up something important you would like people to know about the creative process?

I read an interview with Tim Burton a few years ago where he talked about how he was continually told he couldn't draw. He said because he didn't draw in the way most people drew and what was accepted as good drawing, he was told he couldn't draw. He said if he would have listened, his movies, Nightmare Before Christmas or the Corpse Bride would never have been made. He draws everywhere he goes! I tore the article out for my budding artist son but the lesson I was trying to teach applies to all of us:
Do what you love and you will live a good life.

Contact Information for Cindy:
Cindy Gimbrone, Glass Artist
Website: http://www.cindygimbronebeads.com

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=59211Blog: http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com

Artbeadscene: http://www.artbeadscene.com

BeadLit: http://beadlit.blogspot.com

Twitter: CindyNG

Email: cindy gimbrone @ yahoo. com (omit spaces)

Thank you so much, Cindy!!! for this wonderful interview, which I totally loved! It is truly a privilege to have you as a part of my Links interview collection!--jean

This interview is a part of my Links series of interviews, and is also to be found on Amazon.com on my blog there! http://www.amazon.com/Links-Inspired-Bead-Jewelry-Creations/dp/1600610161/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198879933&sr=8-1

My Kid's band: The Ruse, on You Tube, in their new video

2008-07-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

ART MEETS ROCK IN THIS VIDEO OF THE RUSE'S NEW SONG, "COLLIDE"

MY SON JIM IS THE LEAD GUITARIST. HE AND JOHN, THE SINGER, HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND, WROTE THE SONG TOGETHER...AND ALL OF THEM PULLED IT TOGETHER COMPLETELY PERFECTLY, WITH THE BEAUTIFUL DANCERS, DURING A RAINY DAY, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO MAKE THE REMARKABLE VIDEO IN NYC.

What can I say except I watched this and it blew me away. Look for their next CD!

http://www.rusemusic.com/

jean

I know a Crafty Princess and her name is Tammy Powley

2008-07-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

I caught Gwenny (in her "Tammy original"--check out the cool different buttons on the skirt! And the button on the top!) watching Derek from "This is Life with Derek"on the Disney channel. I think she has a crush.

So I said, "Guinevere Yates, out you go!"... and I sent her outside to work out with the balls on the lawn for a bit. She likes the pink one the best of course!

Here she is in full closeup, in the adorable beret which Tammy made, with a sweet matching button just like the rest of the clothes in the set. If I were this talented in so many areas I would just fall over flat!!! Thank you Tammy! Love you for this!!!

Tammy Powley's latest book! with bonus DVD! Fantastic!

That is right! I know a Crafty Princess:

She writes the Crafty Princess Diarieshttp://tammypowley.com/ and her name is Tammy Powley! Imagine my astonishment and delight when I received, in the mail today, this crocheted set from this wonderful friend whom I adore!!! She is renowned throughout the land for all of her achievements: She is the head of the About.com Jewelrymaking forum, has a crafting group with all my pals in it, has an Etsy shop too--wow! The Crafty Princess Etsy Shop and is an author of numerous books including a brand new book which is totally great! In fact it is a wonder of a book ! The name of the book is Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay by Tammy Powley and I had a ball reading and reviewing it recently! The small photo above is from Amazon.com, one of the places where you can get it. You can also go right to her site to get it!

Tammy, words cannot express how I feel about your gift. But you really made my day a GREAT one!!! xoxox!!!

Margot Potter and her great necklace video

2008-07-13T04:43:00.000-07:00

MARGOT POTTER!!! SHE MAKE A - DA BANTASTICAH!!! NECKLACEIA!!!

look at this!!! (above)

Margot really shows her stuff on this, her most recent video! I am thrilled by the fun!!! and by the actual piece she created! So entertaining to watch! And as usual, I learned!!!

I think in certain ways if you are not receptive to opening up to your ability to utilizing a certain amount of altered arts when you design jewelry right now, you are missing out on much of where the action is. Margot leads the field at this point in teaching how to do this. Watch the video and you will see what I mean!

Great video! Margot has more going on at her blog today! here:http://margotpotter.blogspot.com/

Summer School -- it is a reality here, and love is a ball by me

2008-07-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

photo: "balls" by me (actually mini apples) but I like the mood. blurry or not.

WOW! I HAVE SO MUCH I I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW!

It is crazy! So many things I choose to wish to do. Not things I have to do! What a great thing!

here is one:

I just entertained mself going back in time on another blog I write ( yes, as I have mentioned, I write elsewhere). I have been writing on this one since 1999 or 2000. I found a couple of entries I felt like posting here. The second part of this entry, posted in the same week, I particularly like. It is all of who I am and how we live. I wonder if I have posted it before, here. Don't tell me if I have. hahah!

So here goes:

DON'T KID YOURSELF: WE'RE ALL GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

We all have figurative new backbacks and lunchboxes, and brand new pencils we are laying out and examining. We are all smelling the new paper smell of empty notebooks as it wafts toward our noses, and we are all getting sad...overexcited...overwhelmed...discombobulated.
This is so much harder than New Year's Eve--all that nonsense about "making New Year's resolutions": my New Year's resolution is always just to freaking MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.
But this--THIS: THIS IS HARD, AND GOOD AT THE SAME TIME.
Go ahead--pick up that three pound weight and do a bicep curl...start writing that novel you have been putting off...clean the bedroom...
Oh, screw it. Forget the cleaning. hahaha
Anyway, even my doctors are calling and rescheduling and messing up right now in the excitement of the changing seasons.
Why, I just got a call from my gynecologist right before I sat down to type this. It went like this:
"Jean? This is Dr. K---r's nurse."
Jean: "And Dr. K---r would be...whom?" hahahaha.
We have a lot of doctors here. Apparently she is my gynecologist. Her nurse now knows point blank and baldly, the high esteem in which I hold her. Ahhh ptui.
She needed to reschedule. Oh fine, fine. Let them do as they wish. The last time this happened was when my pediatrician had a bad back. YooHoo, they are human!
I like this about them.
The docs have back to school-itis too...I am sure.

My kids have the new backpacks, yeah, with their intials on them this year. In athletic block type. Athletic block type is sturdy and square and perfrct for monograms.
I am not a monogram person, but backpacks are easy to lose, so I figured this was a good call...
When I was a kid, we carried our books in a pile to school...we didn't have backpacks. And all we had was a cigarbox for our rulers and pencils. But we decorated our personal cigarboxes and doodled on them over the year...
One year I DID get a bookcase to carry my books--it was a gift from my grandfather. He said to me: "All the models carry their shoes in bags like these in New York!"
It was supple, it was black kidskin, it was not meant for a 12 year old kid's books...it WAS meant for stillettos of the sort Audrey Hepburn would wear...and it was monogrammed, in gold.
I trashed it in one year, dammit.
I wish I had it, now.

I would, no doubt, load those books right back into it and start on back to school the same way I did then, so long ago, because in some ways, I HAVEN'T LEARNED A THING.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM STILL READY AND WAITING.

song for today:
summmer dreams, ripped at the seams...
but oh, oh those summer niiiiiiiiiiiiights...
from "GREASE "

Jean, hopelessly devoted to you all

LOVE IS A BALL

You throw it and it comes bouncing back.
If the other person can't throw it back for whatever reason, you get up and walk over and get it,
and you throw it again.
If they are incapable of throwing it back AGAIN,
you get up and go over and throw it to them again.
Over and over.
You always hope the person will learn to throw, but sometimes they simply can't
Two of my children can't throw terribly well, for example.
but they can SEE the ball.
And they would throw it if they could--this I know, for a fact.
I know a man whose son can barely even SEE the ball but the man throws the ball over and over and over
and retrieves it over and over and over.
feeling a little blue today, thinking about that,
but I know this feeling will pass.
Thinking today I am not Xena, Queen of the Warrior World, even if I like to think I am.
but
I am a woman with plenty of love and
I like to throw.
And I have no problem retrieving when it is required of me.
I can do this.

song for today:
I love you,
You love me
We're a happy family...

note on song for today:

one of my kids used to know that this song meant "bedtime", and as I held him and tenderly sang it to him (it's the "Barney Song") he would scratch the heck out of my face
hahahahhaha !

Jean the Bean

Cool Newsflash: Open House at BeadStyle, Art Jewelry and Bead and Button magazines

2008-07-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

Fun OPEN HOUSE NEWS !!!
from one of my favorite collections of magazines!!! (Photo courtesy of BeadStyle, bracelet designed by me for their lovely magazine, using beads by wonderful Melanie of Earthenwood Studio http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com/ )

Normally, BeadStyleMag.com, BeadAndButton.com, and ArtJewelryMag.com reserve some of their content for magazine subscribers or Web site registrants. This weekend, however, they are having an open house and giving everyone a chance to explore everything these sites have to offer — blogs, forums, galleries, patterns, projects, and videos. This is pretty cool! I suggest you take this opportunity to check it out!

As my BeadStyle magazine online newsletter said earlier this week (that's right! I get all the news that's fit to print):

"This weekend only! Online subscriber access for everyone!

From Friday, July 11 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, through Sunday, July 13, take a free tour of all the great online content that's usually available only to BeadStyleMag.com registered users or subscribers to BeadStyle magazine. Look around and see what you've been missing, and if you like what you see, come back Monday! "

So what to do? It is easy to figure out! Click the link to see what's open this weekend! http://tinyurl.com/BeadStyleOpenHouse

Plus check out what the other jewelry titles have to offer during this fab Open House weekend!

Art Jewelry — http://tinyurl.com/ArtJewelryOpenHouse

Bead&Button — http://tinyurl.com/BeadAndButtonOpenHouse

Oh! I think I smell the wonderful home-y smell of bread baking in the oven right now! And I see pretty flowers, too! I can't wait for Friday!

Yay!--jean!

I got "Bead Lit Twittered" today by the delightful Cindy Gimbrone, aka Lampwork Diva

2008-07-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

Cindy's cool BeadLit Twitter banner! Wish I could make things like that!

I was happy to see Cindy chose this photo of Jim with me for her BeadLit Twitter Tuesday because I love this photo!

This was all written by Cindy Gimbrone http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com/ <-- her regular blogspot! and all these photos, including her rocking banner which she made, see the first picture above, are all on her Beadlit Twitter Tuesday! I am so honored to be BeadLit Twittered! Jim is too! He loves that Cindy mentioned him!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva, your Beadrarian on duty
Monday, July 7, 2008

BeadLit Twitters - What is a Link?

The sentence above..."What is a link? " is the very first sentence of my book, by the way--Jean-- then I went on to add:

"What is a link? A link is a connection, whether it is a thought, a collection of letters that make a word, an Internet address or an expression of an attachment between people. A link is pretty worthless without something going before it and something following it. To make sense, it must be connected in some manner."

--the above set of sentences follows "what is a link?" and is part of my book as well--Jean

So exactly what is a Link?

It's a book! That wonderful jewelry designer, Jean Yates, has written a beautiful book full of wonderful stories and projects, It's called "Links." Here's a picture of our intrepid jewelry designer Jean with her best beau-husband, Jim. Sweet aren't they?

yes, Cindy put our photo right here! :) Jim is totally thrilled, as I mentioned, I believe!

Here's a little blurb from the publisher, North Light Books

Links encourages crafters to create jewelry inspired by their own lives and surroundings. You will find 35 fabulous step-by-step intermediate-level jewelry projects, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pins and rings. Includes the story that inspired each piece, and show you how to create your own unique jewelry based on personal experiences. Creative prompts and sidebar interviews with working crafters are sprinkled throughout for added inspiration.

About the Author

Jean Yates's designs have been featured in many jewelry magazines, including BeadStyle, Stringing, Simply Beads, Beadwork and Bead and Button, as well as Belle Armoire. She is currently designing pieces to contribute to two books. View her work online at http://www.prettykittydogmoon.com/.

Posted by Cindy Gimbrone at 6:00 AM
Labels: Jean Yates, Links

Thank you Cindy! That was so nice of you! I love you for doing that!

Excuse me but I am having too much fun with my Blythe dolls

2008-07-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

" Gigi and Hannah investigating the birdhouse"

...hey! Is that a little lamb living in there? What the heck!!! Wow!

photo copyright by jean, jean, jean for her fabulous group: "Blythes in Hats" and it is also in The Secret Lives of Toys...a very cool group. They are cooler than I am. They are uber cool! I think I also put it in "Blythe's Peek a Boo". It seemed to fit. Finally a photo of mine that suited that group!

I am presently a member of 25 Blythe related Flickr.com groups now, including the one I run. That one only has a few people still but it is getting bigger. IT ISN'T LIKE I WANT TO RULE THE WORLD.

Some of the groups I am a member of I actually don't understand. Like "Blytheopedia". I kept putting the wrong sorts of photos into that up until two days ago. hahahaha. Still not sure what it is for. I will keep trying to grasp what it is until I break the code.

I love the "Blythes for Adoption" group on Flickr. I haunt it. I find the most amazing dolls there, like Gigi here. The split second after I found her in that group, the owner announced she was putting her up on Ebay as a "buy it now"-- and I knew, because I was there--and that is how I managed to buy her. She has untreated undyed mohair for her long hair and she is a custom doll and I think she is fabby!

And yes that little girl hanging out on the birdhouse is a "petite" Blythe, Hannah Montana, who actually has a sister: Miley Ray. Ha! The lamb's name is "baby lamb". That last name there was just off the cuff. Any suggestions welcome!

So: This experience, one of having too much fun while remaining sane or semi-sane, is quite an unusual one for me. It is not that I go around Eeyore-ing through Life (you know what I mean) but I have many responsibilities, especially at home, and crouching in the grass at doll's eye height level, wearing a sloppy outfit, holding a camera with a passion in my soul to get that next great shot for my group is a whole new ball game for me. It has little to do with making jewelry. It possibly has nothing to do with anything. It is Just for Fun!

It makes Jim happy because he likes to see me having fun too. I am not as intense all the time when I am having fun. Well, I am almost less intense. I am always thinking on several levels at once --that is the way that I think--and that doesn't really go away--however, I do seem to know where to draw the line better before I implode, because of these dolls.

Thanks, dolls.

love,

jean

Beadblogger links at Jean's Link Lounge

2008-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hi! All the beadbloggers united for a grea round up this week!

About.com Jewelry MakingBronze metal clay is one the way! This new medium is the talk of the metal clay community right now.

Art Bead SceneWhooo is the star of this week’s The Trendy Bead?

Barbe Saint JohnSteampunk? Learn a little more about gears and brass.

BeadStyle MagazineCathy Jakicic talks about Tammy Powley’s new book and her gracious gift of a free project download for the BeadStyle.com community

Katie’s Beading BlogThe Triple Take girls are at it again! Get a sneak peek at Katie’s twinkle toes ballet flats for the August issue of Simply Beads.

Naughty Secretary ClubJen gets asked to go see Loretta Lynn the First Lady of Country in concert and whips herself up the perfect accessory! Learn how to make your own mini cowgirl hat headband!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!I was so delighted with how my interview with the fantastic Melissa J. Lee turned out! Come see!

Strands of BeadsMelissa shows off her favorite recycled tools.

Got into August Beadwork a big deal

2008-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

I got my copy of Beadwork magazine for August ! here is the cover I got from the Interweave site. Thanks Beadwork. There is mention of me there, as well. I love attention. As unfortunately we now know ALL TOO WELL. Here is the link to the mag:

http://www.interweave.com/bead/beadwork_magazine/default.asp. Yes! I am in it, very big deal as this is a designer showcase issue--I was invited to submit designs. Of course one I made was horrifying and strange and they probably blanched when looking at the photos I emailed them and wondered what the heck they had been thinking to invite me. The other was the one which made the cut, and it is called "Helen of Troy".

It is not easy for me to get into Beadwork, although lately they have branched out a bit from just seed beading. I like to use that seed beeding line as my excuse when I do not get into Beadwork however! hahah!

I love Interweave and all of their mags, including Stringing, and I try my darndest to be sophisticated when I submit to these two lovely magazines run by great editors. Sometimes I cannot believe my good fortune when I get into the great magazines I get into, like Simply Beads, BeadStyle, and these two I just mentioned. The editors are all great, by the way. An amazing and varied group of artistic and lovely people.

I feel like a Lucky Duck!

jean

PS: I used vermeil sphinx beads from Green Girl Studios http://www.greengirlstudios.com/ in my "Helen of Troy" set and they are stunning!!!

When I think of the Fourth of July it isn't so simple anymore

2008-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

too bad I lost this post in the middle of writing it. I had a lot to say about what this day means to me, as a citizen of the United States and also as a citizen of the world.

my intention by showing this photo as my "Fourth of July" photo is sort of convoluted afer losing the post, but I need to begin by telling you this: that just as when my children were diagnosed with autism, the same massive wrenching change in all things in my little world occurred when the World Trade Center was bombed and destroyed. All things changed in my head forever. Of course all things changed for many people. For most people.

So where for some January first is their day to reassess their lives, Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is mine.

Every year since 2001 I have wondered things. I spend a lot of time wondering not what if things hadn't happened, because that is a waste.

I just do a lot of general wondering about life.

I find that each year I become more grateful concerning certain things, not less.

I find that each year I become more accepting, but not in a wimpy way. True acceptance is about being non judgemental (but not of evil, please understand. Evil is not part of this equation. I don't need semantics from you either). I recognize goodness only and I embrace goodness alone.

here is what I would like in this world. And that is why I post that photo: it is a symbol of HOPE to me, not desolation. It is Beauty, to me.

All of us in the US, we came over on these little boats or we came over on ships or rafts, or we sneaked our way in under fences. So get real.

Can't this raffish country become a beacon of fineness and show other countries how to shine light toward the heavens?

Can't this raffish country allow the freedoms it promised so long ago and stand proud in that manner?

Can't my own fellow countrymen get it together and realize that to live a good life we need to take care of the world, not harm the world? We are stewards during our time on earth. We have a mission. It is to bring a better life to everyone. Think about it every time you grasp something to yourself, and let go! and start handing over and passing out things instead. Including ideas and love and hope.

I have great hope for the furture of the USA, and for the world.

Happy Fourth of July

citizen jean

Great excitement here -- I made the cover of Simply Beads Magazine for August with Kim Miles' beads

2008-07-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

How pretty is this! Thank you, Kim Miles http://www.kmmiles.com/ for your glorious lamp work talents which are not even shown as clearly as they should be, via this small photo. I do hope you all consider buying this issue and seeing the photos up close because they are gorgeous. For this cover piece, I used fantastic folded silver spacers which evoked the mood of the beads, and I also used black sterling, something I really dig on, which shadows the patterns in this bead set. The clasp is a sturdy sterling hook and fits the size of the necklace. Jim and I are so proud of this design that we used it on my business cards.

The necklace's magazine design name is called "A Healed Heart" because there is fine silver barbed wired embedded within the heart running up the middle, as if the heart has been broken and is mended. Kim thinks of so many things to do with glass she astounds me. Her name for these hearts actually might be barbed wire hearts but I would have to check with her. This one also has CZs in it. It is completely stunning and is displayed within the magazine opposite another full page photo of of a different one of Km's large focal beads, which is showcased in the magazine. That one is more simply strung...you will be blown away by the impact it makes with one small pewter Green Girl Studios flower bead accent http://www.greengirlstudios.com/

That design is called "Butterfly Storm" and Kim created the bead and the design. It is gaspingly beautiful. Some simple things are perfect.

I also had two more super fine designs/projects I am very proud of which are shown, and my book Links is reviewed really nicely by the editor, Barb, whom I adore. To top it off, a lot of my pals are in the same fantastic magazine this August. It is so fun!

I have to say the trio of pink things that Margot Potter and Candie Cooper and Katie Hacker planned out made me want to grab the tea time plate and cream pitcher by Margot, don the necklace and earrings by Candie, and slip into the satin decorated shoes, ALL PINK, and run away to the land of Pretty things and dwell there forever! That is one uber cute layout!

So please check out the fantastic issue of Simply Beadshttp://www.simplybeadsmagazine.com/ for August, at fine magazine stores near you! As they say!

jean!

And now for something completely different: No man is an island

2008-07-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Jim purchased new sandals for his boating experiences. They have rubber bottoms. I said, Jim, in all these years I have NEVER seen you wear sandals! he said, I used to wear them all the time. I said, Well, you look good in them!

Jim and I have approximately the same size feet but do NOT jump to any conclusions. That would be a most grievous error upon your part. That is all I am going to say about that.
I call them his "gladiator shoes".

Jim has learned well how to take pictures of himself while alone, in a place, for example, like on his rowboat. This assures me that he is OK as he mails these pics through his cell phone

The island in question. Sort of looks more like a bush making absolutely no sense at all in the middle of this reservoir. Did someone plant a bush in a reservoir? What the heck? I think there is a sword in a stone waiting for the right person to pull it out and resume the proper position as ruler of something. Maybe the island. Maybe this sword has gems encrusted upon it. I like to picture things like that.

so that is story #1 pretty much... Jim and his boat and his day alone and the island.

"no man stands alooooooooone"....

we used to sing that regularly in grade school. quite a lovely song.

there are two parts to this story.

both revolve around the concept of no man is an island.

story # 2 is about me, yesterday.

I had to go to the doctor, namely an orthopaedic (why do they spell their name that way?) surgeon I had never met. I had cancelled this appointment once so I couldn't get out of it, much as I hate going anywhere, especially to the doctor.

However once I got there, I later realized I had been starving for human company. I proceeded to engage every stranger I could make my way to in some sort of inane conversation.

People, I was weird! Ultimately after having an x ray and seeing the doc for a second time I apologized to him if I seemed strange and overexcited and explained that I am so often home with the children. he said, "Not at all! You were fine!" I chose to believe him.

However, when I got in the car and put on my CD mix my lawyer son made me, which has two versions of "Crazy" on it (any song titled crazy is a favorite and I collect them), I called Jim who was cleaning at home during my appointment ( I had cleaned beforehand--it is the story of our lives!) and I burst into tears, telling him I had behaved really stupidly all over the place at the doctors , in the x ray waiting room, with the radiologist, with people I managed to "accost" just generally...and then he told me that he does the SAME thing and that it is OK. Our lives are so different from most people that although we have each other, we are a bit needy, I guess you could put it. When he told me he does this in the grocery store, the gas station, the post office and the drugstore I felt better. Because Jim is cool. I know I am not. However, he IS and always has been.

So I choose to believe him when he tells me that I didn't make an idiot of myself.

And that is story # 2 concerning the idea that no man is an island. People ... need people.

but that is another song!

jean xox

Soft Flex Company Article and Blythes with Hats

2008-06-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

above image is from my article for the Soft Flex Company, now online, "Summer Fun"

copyright Jean Yates.

a lot of my pals are in the article including the fabulous Kim Mileshttp://www.kimmiles.com

whah-hey! Kim made this incredible TUTU and gave me the cape! Is there no end to this woman's talents and generosity? I should change the name of this blog to I love KIM!

so the great thing is,

Cool July is almost upon us! Or maybe make that hot July! As I wait for schtuff (as Tracy says) to happen, I see that my July Soft Flex Company Spotlight article http://www.softflexcompany.com/spotlightarticle_Jul08.html is up, today! It is titled "Summer Fun by Jean Yates". A day in advance! How lucky am I ! Go check it out!

I very much enjoyed writing it and I hope you like it! Let me know! I have been trying to write as much as possible lately because I love to write. PERIOD. hahaha!

I shall post this article, so finely laid out wth assistance from Kristin, and some extra help from Sara as well, both wonderful members of the Soft Flex Company family, on my sidebar too!

on a different note:

Oh, by the way, I am now the Administrator of a Blythe doll group on FlickR.com, Blythes in Hats. Of course I am assuming you have a Blythe and she has a hat. I shouldn't assume this, but what the heck. These Blythes must wear outfits too, please. That and the hat comprise my only rules. I am pretty easy going, for an Administator.

I did get overexcited and typed my administratorial position incorrectly. Therefore if you go to my group you will see that I am "Administrator Jean, of group Blythes with Hatses". hahahaha. no clue how to change this. Just very proud of myself anyway.

Here is the link:http://www.flickr.com/groups/756833@N25/ Take look at the pics! Fun!

Please come and join if you want and chooose to! 13 members is such a lucky, lucky lot of people! hahahaha!

Put a paper cupcake wrapper upside down on your Blythe's head and...just JOIN! Hoorah!

signed very truly yours,

Admin. Jean of the group, Blythes with Hatses!

Jim played a great show with his band The Ruse, is shooting a video today in NYC

2008-06-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

So Jim came over before the show at the Bowery, and I made him pose with Ian (Ian -- his brother, yanno) and Sherry Darling, my doll. I confess she weirded him out a bit as I accosted him delightedly in the driveway when he pulled up. Maybe it was the way I was jumping up and down and waving her around. Hmm.

I guess that answers my unspoken questions about bringing all my dolls to his wedding. Even if they are dressed nicer than I might be! Only human relatives and friends allowed! On the other hand, I thought he was nice to hold her, as he is a rock and roll star, and she LOVES those.

What a hot day it was. Thank heavens for that umbrella!!! I can't believe all the past sunbathing I did in gazillion degree heat, sitting on the beach with my other single girlfriends reading horoscopes of potential guys we thought we might like to date. We'd get our hopes up..."Oh look! This sign likes to be stubborn and irritable! That works with my sign really WELL!" and not much would come of it. hahahah!

The Ruse brought down the house at the Bowery !!! I got that news from hearsay from a pal...Jim is too busy to call right now.

They have a video they are shooting in NYC for their "Collide" song, with 65 backup dancers included, and it is an all day production. It started at 6 am. All this when their Bowery gig started at midnight the night previously.

This is why you need to be young to be in the music biz. How fun though! Cannot wait to see this video! Whoo hoo! I will update you on that when I get the information. I know they are not shooting on a sound stage. They are shooting outside and streets have actually had to be closed off. WOW!

Now I must go dress some dolls. :)

Have a nice Sunday!