Texas Martini

This is a great one to enjoy while you watch a football game on TV. 3 ounces añejo tequila; 1 1/2 ounces Cointreau; 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice; 1/2 ounce olive brine from the jar; a splash of fresh orange juice; lime wedges; and jalapeno stuffed olives. Shake everything in cocktail shaker, then strain into a chilled margarita glass rimmed with salt. Add a couple of jalepeno-stuffed olives and a lime wedge. Sit back and enjoy the game.

Beaded Junk

One of the ladies who taught me to bead in Phoenix taught me about beaded junk.  "Everyone needs a box of beaded junk."

For a beader, "beaded junk" is the equivalent to a sketch book.  It's a bunch of projects started but not finished.  It can be a sample of beaded rope that you created to learn a new technique.  It can be be your pieces that you keep as warnings:  "Don't ever try this again!"

The best thing about "beaded junk" is that creating it is a chance to play.  I've started experimenting with beaded ropes and I have made a promise to myself that none of them will be longer than my index finger.  At that length, who cares if I don't like it?  I can make several of them in an evening watching TV.

Currently, I am experimenting with ropes from Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes, which I highly recommend.  Jill Wiseman uses techniques in her projects you will want to use over and over again on all of your different projects.  Her embellishments turn a plain spiral rope into a showpiece.

Here is some of my beaded junk inspired by Beautiful Beaded Ropes.

Double netted rope

 I am making a necklace for my mom using this stitch.  This is my original sample.

Embellished spiral herringbone stitch

Embellished spiral rope

Herringbone "bubbles"

This didn't work nearly as well as I hoped.  It really needs round beads, not cylinders or hexes.  

Herringbone knots

Inspired by a pair of boots at Birdie's Chic Boutique in Kingwood, Texas.  

Simple herringbone stitch

This piece was originally part of the blue herringbone knots above.  The beads are beautiful, but the color didn't work.  

Embellished right angle weave

Opulence vs. Sophistication

People love to look at opulent things.  Every show on HGTV seems to be about helping wealthy people find a luxurious home.  Fashions right now tend towards bling and sparkle.  We even need Swarovski crystals on our telephone covers.  Perhaps that's why I like hobbies that favor fancy costumes, like ice skating and historical reenactments.  It allows me to pretend for a little while that I have wealth and riches beyond my imagining.

In reality though, I tend to be a practical person.  I don't go to cocktail parties.  (After all, I have to drive home afterwards, so I can't drink very much.  What fun is that?)  Charity galas are far outside of my comfort zone.  So, as much as I might like that 13 carat necklace, I feel it's important to find jewelry that I can wear in many different settings.  

Sleek, sophisticated designs are what naturally gravitate to.  Sophisticated designs say, "I am beautiful just the way I am.  I don't need "bling" to get you to look at me."  

This pair of earrings embodies the best of sophisticated designs.  The pearls seem to float on the wires, and the silver arcs gently frame your face.  These earrings would dress up a simple, black business suit, yet they would still be perfect with a black party dress.   

But, where I think they would really stand out is with a simple, black sweater.