It's been more than two months since I added to this blog. I am very good at focusing on one or two things at a time but that same ability to sit for hours in front of a torch while I make beads, seems to work against me when it comes to keeping everything going at one time.

Since I last posted, I've taken two bead classes and I've been a vendor at a bead show. I've also been spending a lot of time photographing beads and editing photos and listing beads in my shop on Etsy. I've really enjoyed the time I spend at the torch as I figure out how to incorporate the skills I learned in the bead classes which I took with Melanie Mortel and Serena Smith. Both were wonderful, generous, teachers. It has been fun to see how I use what I learned as I create my own version of beads with the new techniques I've learned. The show was a success!

In terms of learning not to give up, I've been working on a commission for a bead that uses certain colors which I don't normally use. So far it's "Beads-9, Me-0". In other words, I've been making many ugly beads as I try to figure out which colors to use and which ones to avoid. It's making me stretch and experiment. I hope I come up with a good combination and design sooner rather than later. I keep telling myself that when I work this out, I'll be able to add a new color palette to my work.

Christmas is only 8 days away. I've mailed packages to family and filled bead orders and I still have much to do. One of my favorite things to do is to turn off the house lights and enjoy the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree. As I write this, the tree is in the living room, but there are no lights on it. The lights will go on the tree tomorrow evening. There is only one ornament on it right now.... a walnut that is spray painted gold. My husband drilled about 100 walnuts for me; which are painted gold or silver and I'm going to wire them all with copper wire and hang them on our tree with the lights. So far, I've wired 16 walnuts.....oh my. Walnuts-84, Me- 16.

Wishing you all a chance to sit back and enjoy your holiday with family and friends. Take time to enjoy the lights.