Down for the Count

I'm completely sick of this being sick business. I've been down for the count since the middle of last week and I'm done with it. On a positive note, I've been poring through bead books while I've been in bed for the past few days and I'm feeling really inspired. I can't wait to get back to beading.
I've even been dreaming about beading while I've been napping (surprising, I know). This morning I dreamt of a life-size beaded alligator. I think this is because I've been working on a sculptural piece for the Bead Dreams Competition (see sneak peek photo above), which prompted me to revisit the work of Betsy Youngquist. I'm completely and totally obsessed with her at the moment. If you don't know who she is, take a minute to click on her name and visit her website. Check out the slide show and be amazed!

Finally a Finalist

I was completely convinced that since I hadn't heard back from Beadwork about the Beaded Earth Contest, that I had been rejected. But today I received an email congratulating me! I was so excited that I nearly fell off my chair!
But wait it gets even better... my friend Charmaine Pesnell, who also believed she was rejected was also accepted. We were both commiserating about our rejection over lunch the other day so, when I called her this morning to tell her to check her email, we were both felt silly about our wallowing in self pity.

I even signed the back:

Dubb

Well, folks, the show was amazing. I haven't seen Doug play in about 6 years and it was a real treat. I certainly was spoiled living down in Southern CA. It felt like going home.

I purchased Doug's instructional video which I hope to watch sometime today. But first... there is much beading to be done.

Did you happen to notice the boots? Are they cool or what?

T Minus 8 Hours & 2 Minutes Until Doug MacLeod!

Happy St. Patty's day! I will be dancing a jig tonight at Cosmic Pizza while I watch Mr. Doug MacLeod perform. Whoo-hoo!

Doug MacLeod

When I lived down in southern CA I was lucky enough to be able to go and see a local guitar player almost weekly. This man is the reason I bought my first guitar. This man is Doug MacLeod. Not only is he a phenomenal guitar player but the man is full of great stories. I got bit hard by the blues bug listening to his stories not only while watching him play but also listening to him on the radio. He was the host of Nothin' But Blues on the long beach radio station KLON. I used to volunteer during the fund drives in hopes that I might get to work during his shift. I never did get to, it was always just before or just after his slot.

I haven't seen him play in several years and I'm just beside myself with excitement that he is playing in Eugene tomorrow, March 17th- St. Patty's day. For all of my local friends: you should really go and check him out! He'll be at Cosmic Pizza at 7pm. Also, he'll be on the radio 88.1 KLCC at 2pm so, give him a listen.

Here's a video from you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJVg1HzAD60

James Hunter

Last week my guitar teacher, Byron gave me a cd by James Hunter. I had never heard of him before but I'm always excited to check out new music. I put his cd in my car for the long drive home from Eugene to Florence. What I heard knocked my socks off! This guy's like a smooth Sam Cooke with a bit of Ray Charles sprinkled on top. I totally dig him. So much so that I listened to the cd almost three times before I made it home. Check him out. Here's his website:
James Hunter's website
and here's a cool video for you to watch:
James Hunter
Let me know what you think!

Heavy Heart

I slept for 10 hours last night. I guess I really needed it after being up for so long the night before. Our friend called us just after 4:00 am to tell us about the tsunami warning. We live just outside of Florence and can't hear the sirens. I can't explain how surreal the whole thing was. I called and woke my mom and then, my dad, who live in Huntington Beach, CA.
Luckily,  we live high up enough that we felt we would be safe. But most of our friends live in the inundation zone and had to evacuate to the Events Center. We sat by the radio and TV to keep in tune to what was happening. Thank goodness we got lucky.
My heart is heavy as I read and watch all of the destruction and loss in Japan. I can't even imagine what they are going through. I've checked on a few of my facebook friends who live in Japan and they are safe which is relief. I just can't even find the right words to describe how sad I feel for what has happened. And how grateful I am for our coastline.

Winning

I have one gear: Go!
Winning!
If I could only get my hands on some tiger blood, perhaps I could bead more and play my guitar better.

Yep, I'm still alive

Tucson Flashbacks: Frozen fountain here in my backyard in Florence, OR a week ago. It was COLD.

I've been a lazy little blogger lately. Sorry. I've just been busy. I've been working on contest pieces, magazine submissions, etsy orders and lastly, maintaining my little bead store inside the antique mall, Brown Dog Antiques. There are many changes going on in the store and as a result, my section was moved. In the moving process, the shelves broke and hundreds of tubes of seed beads went rolling all over the city of Florence. It took me one full day just to reorganize the tubes. But my section is looking good and soon Denise Saunders of Dema Designs will have her beautiful lampwork glass, beads and photography in our shared section. I will be sure and post photos as soon as this happens.

In addition to the bead frenzy, I've been diligent about keeping up with playing my guitar. I practice A LOT. I just resumed my lessons with Byron Case over in Eugene. After our lessons, I go over to the blues jam at Quackers and get to watch the best of the best local talent do there thing. In this photo is Rick Markstrom on drums. a really cool guy whose name escapes me at the moment, on bass, Byron Case on guitar and Skip Jones on the Hammond b-3, who totally knocks both my shoes and socks off every time.
Still Alive & Well~ Carolyn Wonderland