Saturday, April 12, 2008

I heard I lost an old friend today


His name was Last Chance Angel. He was my son's 12 year old pit bull/boxer. My son rescued him within minutes of him being put to sleep as a puppy because he had been confiscated from a dog fighting kennel.

My son raised him to be a loving guardian. He learned to love the other dogs in his family and to tolerate and perhaps even like the household cats. He was good around children. He loved to play with his big red kong and when younger would chew on it for hours.

He lived with me for several years and was always a soothing presence in my difficult world at that time. He would put that bowling ball head of his on my knee and gaze into my eyes and if I knew nothing else I knew he loved me and that brought me a measure of peace.

When my son was going through a bad time in his life Chance was there for me to love when I couldn't love my son. He was there for my son as a loving presence in what seemed to be a dark and dismal world. And, when my son began building a positive life for himself Chance was there to love him and be his boon companion.

I saw him last in February and he was showing his age. His limp and slow response saddened me but he was more than happy to sit beside me and let me love him. He would bring me his kong and put it on my lap even though it was hard for him to chase or chew.

As sad as I am to know he is gone from the world, I comfort myself with the knowledge that he had a wonderful life with my son and, he doesn't hurt anymore.

There is no greater love than that of a dog for his people. Chance loved us fiercely and I'm so sad he is no longer in my world. He will, however, always be a bright memory in my heart. Rest in Peace my dear friend. I'll be seeing you.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Pay it forward

OK so here's the deal...I love this idea.

These are the rules ...I will send a beady something that I made to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address and favorite color), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs.

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward, by posting a pay it forward on your own blog.

Now doesn't that sound like a fun thing to do! I am also going to try to pay it forward in other ways as well. I'll post about it here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wednesday already?!?


AAAAArrrrrgggghhhh! I've got soooooooo much to do in the next week and a half!



But, enough of that...I've been beading like crazy the last few days. That may be why I'm not getting all my work done.



The three bracelets I just finished are some of the purtiest ones I've done in a while.




Here's my favorite. I'm calling it Kaleidescope Blossom and hope to teach it and some killer variations next year at B&B and some of the other shows. At least, I'll propose it. It's got a funky thread path but man is it purty! I'm currently working on another variation that I hope to be able to kit.


My bead tray got dumped last night. Either cats or kids, dunno which, I've got plenty of both in the house. At any rate I have several hundred crystals, firepolish and misc. seedbeads all mixed together....ugh, guess I know what I'll be doing while I watch TV tonight!



OK so check this out...this is my schedule for the next few months:


I leave on Easter for Bead Expo. I'll be working for Beyond Beadery and selling some of my kits at their booth. If you're in the area look me up, eh?


The week after Bead Expo (Apr 3-5) I'll be at Beads, Etc. in Clovis, CA for a trunk show and teaching a couple of classes (Fabrege Caged Beads and Over the Top - Full Bloom )





You can find more details at http://www.beadsetc.net/ I'm very excited as these are two fun fun classes.



I get home and 12 days later I leave for London with my DH for 10 glorious days across the pond. Pray for sun please. I'm from the Southwest and can handle about 2 days of cloudy days at a time....I'm frantically shopping for waterproof clothing, i.e., raingear...I don't own any. LOL!


A month after I get home I go to Milwaukee for B&B, July is Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and August is BeadFest Philly in Valley Forge, PA....travel much? LOL...


I'll be sure and post from the various venues and let you know what's shakin' in the bead "world".


OK, let me see if I can get some work done on this new bracelet....taxes? repair my samples for the show? Naaaaaaaaa....gotta need to bead...


All text, graphics, pictures Copyright 2008 - Nikia Angel - All Rights Reserved

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Ta-Daaaaaa

Well, I've finally succumbed to the bloggy thing. Welcome and I hope you enjoy your visit.

I've been exploring new venues to promote and sell my kits and jewelry. I have a couple of websites...one commercial and one with pictures. http://www.buythekit.com is where you can purchase my kits and the kits of an extremely talented group of designers. Check it out when you have some time.

I'm currently working on a new website that will be mostly a place to put up pictures to share my work. Since I've been beading obsessively for 20 years I have a few pieces laying around. If you'd like to take a look you can go to http://www.nikskits.com.

And, last but not least, I've recently opened an etsy shop. There you will find very limited edition kits, patterns, and destash type items. I'm about to put up a bunch of vintage German Glass cabs and have LOTS of other stuff waiting for me to photograph it and get it up.

So that's it for now. I hope you'll stop by now and again to see what I'm up to.

Have a splendiferous day if you so choose...it is up to you after all

sloppy smooches!