This isn't easy

One of my dogs is sick, not a cold or under the weather kind of sick.
She is dying.
Most of my pets were brought into our home long before we ever thought of having children and now that we have a daughter it is very hard to explain to her why we keep loosing them.
She can't understand why my MinPin Lexie, who used to jump and play and bark wants to only stay in her cage and sleep. She can't understand why she is getting so thin.
She asked today what was wrong with her dog.
I didn't lie.
I told her the truth.
That Lexie is old and sick and will be going away soon and won't be coming back.
and then I cried
I cried because it is hard to watch your pets get sick and die
I cried because I saw the heartbreak in my daughter's eyes at the thought of her dog going away and never coming back
and I cried at the thought of loosing her Baba (great-grandma) who is not well and in a nursing home.
I cried when I heard my daughter playing, telling the other toys that one of the other toys was sick. I know that is how she is processing it all but it is hard to hear.
I cried because the other day she asked where her Baba was, when told Baba was in the hospital my daughter asked if she was sick.
I was not ready for my 2 year old to have to know death.
I know she doesn't really understand/comprehend it at the age but she will sense the losses and the emotions of those around her and that's difficult as her mom.
Thanks for listening.
~Shannon

Author Unknown

New Work

I have been happily beading away in my, sorta warm, dining room.
Here are a few of my newest pieces. I posted pictures on facebook already so if you follow me on facebook you have already seen these :-)

Pendant by Nancy Schindler

 

 

Pendant by Kylie Parry

Thank you so much for visiting
~Shannon

Artists Helping Artists Silent Auction

BIDDING IS CLOSED:

Winners are:

Copper - Mags $35.00

Bracelet - Cathy Obbema $55

Thank you all for your bids and to the winners I thank you both very much!

Several artists in the blog community have decided to band together

to help a fellow artist in need.  

I have decided to auction off 2 items. 

 Item 1 is this bracelet which I made for the Lorelei and Shannon's Lima Bead Challenge. It features handmade beads by Genea and MaryAnn Carroll. It also has Vintaj natural brass, czech glass, wood, and ribbon. Value is $40

The bidding on this is starting at $15.

To place a bid for this write BRACELET and your bid amount.

The second item, or items, up for bid are these handmade -by me- copper components. 

(sorry for the sad looking photos I was at work in the salon all day and have no light so I took these on my iphone on the kitchen counter)

The horse pendant is huge, measuring over 2-1/2 inches high. The others are smaller coming in at 1-1/2 inches and less. Value is over $35.

The bidding on these is starting at $15.

To place a bid for these write COPPER and your bid amount.

Please leave a comment along with your bid. If you are the winning bidder, you will receive an invoice after the close of the auction. There must be a way to contact you. If you have email preferences turned off in your profile, please leave your email.

Many people are auctioning items to help out! Please visit these the other artists below and place your bid!

Please consider supporting this auction by visiting the entire list of participants below:
 

Heidi Post http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com/ 

Marie Cramp and Lori Anderson http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/ 

Barbara Bechtel and Staci Louise Smith  http://secondsurf.com/ 

Erin Fickert-Rowland http://elysianstudiosart.com/ 

Keirsten Giles and Susan Fincher http://www.cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/ 

Andrew Thornton http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/ 

Kristi Bowman-Gruel http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/ 

Nan Emmett http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/ 

Maire Dodd http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/ 

Amanda Cargill Austin http://www.seashoreglassgirl.com/

Janice Everett http://jlynnjewels.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Anderson http://songbeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Iko Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Justman http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/

Kerry Bogert http://kabsconcepts.blogspot.com/
Erin Seigel http://erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com/
Courtney Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/

Feel free to return and bid again!

Happy bidding!
Bidding will end on December 11th!

~Shannon 

December 2011 Art Bead Scene

December 2011 Art Bead Scene

As soon as I saw the inspiration picture for December's Art Bead Scene I ran home and finished this necklace which I had started.

Chrysler Building, 1928-1930

William Van Alen

I love the lines, the grey color, the industrial feeling against the blue sky.

My necklace pairs a button turned pendant with Labradorite, Pyrite and Smoky Quartz.

I love the flash of blue that Labradorite gives off.

I added a wire spiral and a single Swarovski Crystal to the center of the button.

A Labradorite teardrop swinging off the bottom of the button/pendant.

My handmade clasp.

Visit Art Bead Scene Here: http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by,
~Shannon