Sweet Bead Studio — Handcrafted jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

My life is a zoo!

by Cindy on May 5, 2010

Hello!

I know I have been absent here, and for good cause. I don’t know where the time has been flying to these days, but it seems each day has been busier than the last! Our cup has been spilling over this spring season. When I was uploading pictures today, it was quite clear where my time has been going (and why I haven’t shown any new jewelry in ages!).

Come if you will, and step in to my shoes (my son sure did). I’ll take you on a quick tour of what I’ve been up to lately!

Hmmm…..let’s see. I run a taxi cab service, except the cab is my van. I remember when my older sons were toddlers, there was this mom of 3 boys who described how she drove the kids around nonstop and just barely made it to the McDonald’s drive-through in between places. Now I can understand what she was talking about! Between the boys, we have Boy Scouts – had a wonderful field trip to Great Falls Park over the weekend- swimming, tennis, chess club and lacrosse.

In between it all there is HOMEWORK. Lots and lots of homework.

But it’s a full life. I know I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am still mindful to “stop and smell the roses”, as I discussed in a recent post. In fact, my oldest son and I stopped and picked the clovers just the other day. Would you believe we found 18 four leaf clovers! We also found 3 five leaf clovers (who ever head of that…and what does that mean?) I got the message loud and clear: I may be kinda crazy and busy, but I’m also very lucky!

My blog title states that life my life is a zoo…. and today I really got to go to one. I was a chaperone on a field trip with my Kindergartener and we enjoyed the sun, some amazing animals, and lots of laughs. It’s amazing what a Kindergartener will laugh about – oh if we could only be that carefree! Take a look at some of the animals we saw today…they seem to have the carefee part down.

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Thanks for stopping by and making it through this long post……my next one will be about jewelry! May you have many carefree moments and lots of laughter this week!

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Want to learn more about digital art?

by Cindy on April 29, 2010

At last! Susan Tuttle’s new book on digital art with Photoshop Elements has been released! If you were not able to take one of Susan’s popular photomanipulation classes, here’s your chance to learn more and right at your fingertips. Creating vignettes, adding type and color, creating with brush tools, and even a self-portrait collage are a few of the areas that are covered in this must-have reference. Digital Expressions is available right here.

If you would like to see more of Susan’s gorgeous art photography, or to enter her GIVEAWAY (yes, she is giving away a copy of this book!), stop by her blog, ilk’as attic.

I’ll close with a few pictures that I altered with retro techniques that I learned when I took Susan’s Visual Poetry class last year…

Bentley on the Beach

Gettysburg

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Today was special

by Cindy on April 26, 2010

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Today was a fantastic one for our family. Our 7 year old son celebrated his First Communion. My little guy had been anticipating this day for so long, and when he woke up this morning he said it was the best day of his life! I just love that excitment. I had planned to make a rosary to give my son on this special day, and let him pick the components – the crucifix, centerpiece, and which stones to use. I highly recommend Lewis and Company if you find yourself looking for rosary components in the future. I really like how the cross can be engraved with the child’s name and date. I ordered from them when I made this rosary last year. My son chose turquoise, a stone that I do not work with often. I was lucky to have the opportunity to hand-select the beads when I was at Bead Fest Wire a few weeks ago.

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May God grant you always
A sunbeam to warm you
A moonbeam to charm you
A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you
Laughter to cheer you
Faithful friends near you
And whenever you pray
Heaven to hear you.

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