Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Beady Friends Bead Cruise – January 2008

With temperatures in Michigan hovering in the teens (or lower), it was a perfect time to go on a cruise with 18 of us – bead crazed babes and hubby. Poor guy! Although it is funny that one of the woman asked a friend of mine if that was the same husband that I had last year (he is – he’s lost 30 pounds and cut 14 inches off his hair). We left out of Fort Lauderdale and headed to ports in Jamaica and Grand Caymans.

Shelley, Lynn, Estelle, Sharon, Terri, Mikee (all from Ohio), Deb, Sherry (both from Virginia) Brenda, Tina (both from Florida), Marie-Minnesota, Caroline-New Mexico, Carol, Margaret (both from Chicago area), Connie, Jennifer (sorry, I don’t know where they are from!) , Jill and myself (both from Michigan) were eager participants.

Our first day on the Navigator of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), we had workshops, not organized classes. This was really good for those who wanted to have a spa treatment or hang out in the pool, or just bead on their own. Our “goodie bags” were fill of items donated by different vendors/companies in the bead world – Bead and Button publications, Beady Eye Girl, (remind me to fill in more names).

In Jamaica, there were several members that decided to go on the White River raft trip – Estelle, Margaret, Sherry, Sharon, Alan, me, Deb, Brenda and Tina – what a cool trip. We had a guide named Clayton who gave us a little history of the area. He did little to dispel the myth that Jamaicans say “yah Mon” after every sentence (although I wonder if he did it for us tourists). We were all outfitted with a life vest, jumped in a tube in a cool Jamaican stream, and away down the river. Some of the rapids were a good white water, some were ripples. We laughed and sang our way down the river.

Being that Alan and I do a tubing trip in Michigan every year for 4 hours – this 1.5 hour trip seemed way to short. But at the end of the raft trip in Michigan there isn’t a fully stocked bar with double shots!

Following that trip, we ended up back at the port where Estelle, Sharon, Shelley, Alan and I had lunch – which included a Red Stripe beer. I couldn’t leave Jamaica without having a local beer. As we were getting back on the ship, a few raindrops came out of the sky – just like the country was sad that we were leaving.

The next morning we found ourselves in the Grand Caymans – beautiful blue seas!!! We got on the tender for a little shopping and then joined our excursion on the Nautilus – a semi-submersible boat with huge windows. We toured over a couple of shipwrecks, and coral reefs to an area where we could snorkel. I enjoyed this, but since I couldn’t wear my glasses, I don’t know if I would do this again. I came out with a monster headache – partly because I had to squint to see anything, and partly because I was hungry. After our return to shore, we decided to head to lunch (we being Lynn, Caroline, Mikee, Terri, Alan and I) at Senor Frogs – great nachos, large enough for 3-4 people. Also, it had great cocktails!!!

Our dinners were reserved for the later dinner – which I think we learned that we didn’t care for as much as an earlier dinner. Several nights we ate at the buffet, which is where we learned that they have SUSHI every night. Open beading went on several nights until midnight or later. Many people went dancing and drinking in the evenings.

I sincerely enjoyed myself – as I have every bead cruise that I have gone on. I know that I got to know many of the beaders better this year.

Also, this year, I have inducted Lynn and myself to the “baby bling” category of jewelry buyers – this just means that we purchased jewelry, but not enough to be in the “Bling Diva” section of the cruisers!!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

January Bead Journal Project


January 2008.
I was on a cruise with a bunch of bead crazy women.
I picked up the little dolls in the Grand Caymans.
Along with the shells and starfish.
So, imagine yourself walking along the beach.
Sunset behind you a delicious magenta colour.
The perfect end to a perfect trip.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Beady Friends Cruise returns home

A few of the participants line up for a photo.
Liz, Marie and Estelle in front
Sharon, Mikee, Terri, Caroline, Carol and Margaret behind.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

December Bead Journal Project

I am almost finished with December's Bead Journal page,
so I thought that I would post it.
I just need to complete the black picot edging.
Knowing, me, I will continue with the peyote bands
until the fabric is just a hint of what's underneath.
My inspiration was from the bright green fabric
and the glow-in-dark face that my friend Audrey made
(I think it was Audrey) several years ago.
I plan on taking my January page
when we leave on January 19th.
This is a 5-night cruise of the Western Caribbean
with ports of call in the Grand Caymans and Jamaica.
I'm very excited as I haven't been to those
ports again.
(My other blog!)

Korean dragon - progress report

The Korean/Soraksan Dragon continues.
I've had some progress since my last picture.
Decision time approaches for the background colour.
Pale blue or continue the green colour?
Decisions, decisions.
I've said the pale blue since I started, but looking at the photo
again, the green is the background colour.
Beady Friends Cruise leaves on January 19th from Fort Lauderdale.
It's a different one from last year.
The last two years I went on this cruise: Bead Cruise
It's a great cruise, with formal classes, etc.
But this year, if I was going to cruise,
I needed to find something less expensive.
After all Michigan's economy does suck.
A friend told me about this cruise: Beady Friends Cruise.
It's less expensive, doesn't have the "famous" teachers or formal classes.
It features workshops by Caroline Beihl, Sherry Grove,
Connie Harty, Sharon Hessoun and Liz Thompson
Wait a minute....that's me!
The Bad Liz...
How on earth did I get roped into teaching a workshop on Bead Embroidery?
After all, my friends know that I hate bead embroidery.
(I learned to never say that I hate something,
because your friends don't let you forget it.)

Saturday, January 05, 2008

More Dogs.....

When I sit in my studio and work on my beading,
there is usually one or two dogs under my feet.
After all, it is right near a heat vent, and the dogs aren't stupid
(they stay with me, don't they?).
Last night, I looked down and saw a "ball of dogs"
Casie (brown) was curled up, with Molly on her butt.
Chloe (in the middle), with her head on both of the dogs.
Just give me a big "Awwwwwwwwww" and I will be happy.
Less than two weeks to the cruise....