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Beady Beach Bum BugleAugust/September Issue |
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Beady Beach Bum's Favorite Christmas Ornaments! |
| Laura Thomas My favorite ornament from childhood and now for my children is the christmas pickle. Christmas eve we hide a pickle ornament and the kid that finds it gets to open a present first. Keeps them busy trying to find it and keeps them from tearing into presents before everyone is there. It is a german tradition. The pickle finder has good luck for the new year. You'd be amazed how hard it is to find that pickle even when you know about where you found it. BTW it is made from wood. not a real pickle. Although one year we used a real one when our ornaments were stolen. That one was easy to find...just follow the garlic smell...phew! |
| Audrey The most fun ornament we had was made of walnut shells. You split the walnut and took out the meat.... then painted the two pieces... and put something inside... a tiny surprise. the two pieces were glued together with a piece of ribbon attached for the hanger and then at Christmas time... we got to pick out one of the shells and break it open for the prize. Which reminds me of something that my great great aunt made. She took the walnut shells and put dried out cherry pits in them. Then she wrapped them in fabric scraps till they were the size of a ball that would fit in your hand. They were covered then in a black fabric... I think a thin sock... and stitched together with a hidden seam. Then the whole ball was embroidered and when you shook it, it rattled. Hmmm.... hadn't thought of them in years... and am now thinking of beady things to do with them.... You may E-mail Audrey at: Nahani@hughestech.net |
| Robin JohnstonFrom: My favorite childhood ornament was a little house, about 4 inches tall. It was made of felt covered styrofoam and had felt windows and trimmings. I had two tiny two inch high dolls whom I pretended "lived" in the house, and I played with my dolls and the house right on the tree every year. The whole tree was my doll's "yard." I still have the dolls and the house, though they are very beat up. You may sent mail to Robin at: mailto: Ramrei@aol.com Visit Robin's site at: http://www.onelist.com/ad/gator1 |
| M.J. Hi Everyone! My ornament has nothing to do with beads but who knows maybe I can find a way to add beads to them this year. I make reindeers for each of my Grandsons every year. They are made with felt and you trace their foot and hands and use the foot for the face and their hands for the antlers. I put their names and the date on the back. My oldest Grandson is now almost 9 and for his first one he is only 6 weeks old. We put them all out each year and it's really neat to see how much they have grown each year. It's funny but I have had some shell ornament ideas running thru my mind. Will definately try my hand at this. You may e-mail M.J. at: Mjsbeads@aol.com |
| Kimberly Swenson Hey everyone... I have been making Christmas ornaments for many years about (20 now!!! wow!!!). Every year I have tried to come up with a new idea. I do this as part of my gift (or goody boxes as they have affectionately become known) to mine and my husband's siblings and close friends. I bake and make so to speak. A few years ago I made these wonderful angels out of long slightly curved pines cones I find out side my office. I micro waved them to remove bugs and sap and let them dry several days. File the point left where the pine cone was attached to the branch flat with sand paper. Hot glued a hazelnut to the tip. The light color part makes the face. Then hot glue silk ivy leaves behind the head for wings. Spray paint these with metallic paints...gold, silver, copper! after the paint dries add a small bow in a matching ribbon directly behind the head (at "neck") and then also attach a metallic string to hang them by. WHEW...never tried to explain how I did that before!! hope it makes sense! Anyway, I made 125 of them that year!!!! You may e-mail Kimberly at: rkswenson1@home.com |
| Anita My favorite ornament has to be the reindeers I made friends one year out of cinnamon stick legs and twig antlers with little stuffed bodies and cute little dresses. Everyone got such a kick out of them, I'm glad I kept one for myself, I have a bad habit of giving them all away and not keeping any for myself. You can e-mail Anita at: manna@nwinfo.net |
| Pat Savu When i was a kid (12-17 years old) my mother and I used to manufacture the ornaments you are talking about below and we would sell them. There were small ones (4-6 inches in diameter, covered in silk thread)all the was to big ones that we used to use a hot large can to melt holes in the ball and we would build scenes in the hole (snowey vilages, Santa and reindeer). The beads we used were often bought at the Salvation Army or other Thrift store. We cut apart necklaces, stripped beaded purses, cut apart beaded garland meant for Christmas trees. we stripped sequins from old evening dresses. We could hardly keep up with demand. My mother paid me a percentage of what she sold. You can e-mail Pat at: megriffin@earthlink.net Also visit her new web site at: http://www.PatSavu.com |
| Leslie I have never made an ornament,but my motherinlaw used to make beautiful beaded ornaments. It started out with a styrofoam ball either round or pear and then she would cover it with seed beads and sequins and crystals. They were gorgeous,but very heavy. better not to hang on the tree as it pulls the branch down. You can e-mail Leslie at: Crysros1@aol.com |
Beady Beach Bum's Favorite Beach Memories! |
| Jodi’s favorite
beach story Well there is two story's mixed into one :) After two months of not beading and feeling very lost I decided to go to the place where I find the most peace, the ocean. I took all three kids and the hubby and off we went. There is a place at the ocean were we go that no one else goes, its about a 1 1/2 walk but it is well worth it. Finding our place my husband settled down on the beach with my son and the two girls and I went off on our shell hunt. The next thing I see is two eagles fishing in the tide pool just in front of us. Then I sat there in awe and watched them flying overhead swooping for fish. These birds are an awesome site to see, there wing span is incredible. That day we saw 6 eagles, two adult and 4 immature. It was a wonderful day and yes I started beading again that night. The next trip was a search for me to find myself an eagle feather. Seeing those eagles fly that day I knew I had to find one. My friend Crystal told me that if the Grandfathers wanted me to find one then it was meant to be and I could keep it. So off we go another trip to the same place. The kids and I played on the beach finding shells and picking up rocks to see the different crabs that hid underneath. Well me being the grown up kid still looked over to see a beautiful log cut in half floating in the ocean. To me it looked like a canoe and thought what fun! So I go over to it and pick it off the rock it was caught up on and decided that I was going to sit on it and take a little ride. Well the next thing I knew I was spitting out salt water and picking myself up from underneath the water all the while listening to my family laughing and pointing at me. Then to my horror looked down at my arm pouring blood from scrapping it on a rock full of barnacles, ouch those things are sharp! My search for an eagle feather still goes on...but did learn a very good lesson that day from the Grandfathers..things you see don't always appear to be what you think they are! Jodi & Richard Molloy White Cloud Jewelry *Updated* http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Tidepool/2348/WhiteCloud.html |
From JanetI have bunches of shells that a friend gave to me so I need to get busy making cloth doll mermaids again to use them up. I love making cloth doll's! I love going to the beach. I don't have a favorite place, but I sure do like the smell, the feel of it, the beauty & the way that it helps me to feel calm. We always took the kid's to the beach when they were younger. Been so busy that none of us (family) have gone to the beach for a long time now, but I can remember it so well in my thoughts. I need to get back to the beach & take our grown kid's & our grandchildren. |
| From M.J. Hi Everybody. My favorite beach experience has to be from before I moved to Florida 13 years ago. I'm originally from N.H. and Mass. and they have the most wonderful beaches up there. One of my favorites is Rye Beach. There are some beautiful lighthouses and older restored mansions along the beach road. I have spent many lovely nights there dreaming what it must have been like to watch for your hubby's' ship come over the horizon. When I was growing up it was a much quieter time and the beaches were not as over run as they are now. But still when you have good memories they always are there for you. |
From Deb WalkerMy best beach experience is coming up, I hope! I'm planning a visit to an Internet buddy next month. She lives near Waveland, Miss, on the Gulf, just a block from the beach! We plan to have a total blast, IF I get to go....that evil money problem, don'tcha know? Next best is the time DH and I went to Jekyll Island, GA. for the day. We strolled the island, had a wonderful time, and watched some people seining the shore for crabs and such.....saw my first blue crab! (Isn't that a gorgeous color of blue???) Did you know you can tan in one day at the beach, even if you're not trying to? Did you know that a tan will make those bazillion little zit scars on your cheeks suddenly show up (like they DON'T do if you stay pale)? Can you say "Tan-In-A-Bottle?" LOLOLOLOL! I've also been to Doheney Beach in CA, Tampa Bay, FL, and Cape Cod in Mass. I like the Atlantic better for swimming. There aren't so many huge tumbled rocks in the surf line and it's more fun to body-surf. Well, gals.......to paraphrase the Japanese general in "Bridge on the River Kwai:" |
Pat SavuThe Gulf of Mexico St. Petersburg Beach. The Tradewinds Hotel right on the white sand. The sun coming up and the tide coming in. A long walk on the beach before the meetings start at a time where everyone at home (St. Paul, MN) is coping with water in its solid state (ice and snow). |
SusanMy favorite beach memory?--On the Southern shores of Lake Erie--Cedar Point Beach--worked at the Candle making Shoppe in Frontier Town at the mega-amusement park there--skipped out a day of work to spruce up my sixteen year old body's tan. Nearly got fired, but got my tan and found some itsy bitsy clam like shells to boot. Wish I could go back . . . |
Kari BurnsI was raised on the beach, and spent endless hours in a 6 foot aluminum dingy with a 1 1/2 horse power outboard engine, which I had affectionately named Betsy Lou. I was putting along the water, which was incredibly smooth. A dead fish floated by and a bald eagle swooped down and picked it up - approximately five feet from the boat. I felt the breeze from his wings and saw the hairs on his talons. Absolutely breath taking experience. |
From Donna AKA Beadle.I think writing 'Melancholy me ', 'Beyond Your Goal','A
Bluer Blue' and 'Destiny'..That is the time frame of 1981 in Balboa,Ca. Each song was
written after a major storm, my favorite time to go shuffling for shells. A high wall of
sand was carved away from 10ft. waves hitting the shore...I would stand right on the edge
of the sand cliff and let it give way and ride to the bottom, a major belly tickle like
swinging on swings. I would definitely call it freefalling...best exercise too. Then
when my legs were wore out, I would find a high place that I didn't mash down and just sit
and meditate...I would get entranced by the rhythm of the waves and the wind blowing my
long hair..it matched its rhythm. I had a leather thin binder with a clip, like a
clipboard at the top that held long Yellow lined tablet pad just the perfect long length
for getting 3 verses and a chorus on and my old favorite rolling writer pen. Once
that I felt that I was caught up in the spirit and could hear the song the ocean was
singing , all that was left for me was to copy what I heard...run home and get out my
guitar and figure out what chords went where, and stick em above the words...then record
how I wanted it to sound...then pick out the notes on the guitar that were the voice notes
and make a Lead sheet on music paper...when I think of how simple it was it befuddles
me..Each song has distinct memories of certain shells that I found , the smell of the sea,
sound of seagulls, and pounding rhythm of the ocean...To this day when I sing one of them,
I am reminded of all those sensations. Makes me wanna grab my Guild and go there.. But my
poor hands hurt so badly when I hold down chords on a guitar..it is bitter sweet..I can
remember and play maybe 2 songs or 3, but ever since I got attacked with Lupus in 92, my
hands don't last..I used to play for 4-6 hours straight, the longer I played the better I
sounded. I think my music was the hardest thing to let go of when I got sick, cuz I
used it to bring me out of depression, think clearer, stay peaceful inside...you
know...just like I traded what I could do then for making beaded things. I can always go
their in my mind and recall the same feelings. I guess my best personal experiences in
life were at the beach...and I miss it. As much as I love my DH and DD and DS1 and
DS2...Unfortunately nothing can ever compare to heights that I hit in 1981 at Balboa. |
From Nancy CowanI thought it might be fun to describe my beach, which is in the Atlantic. The sand is almost greyish, not like the golden sand you find at freshwater lakes and the water is very dark and moody. Some days it's a very deep blue/gray, other times when a storm, especially when the hurricanes are gathering, it turns almost black, the temperature drops drastically and it looks very ominous. You can almost feel the danger in the air and the waves can reach over eleven feet. The beach we go to is a wild one and the only inhabitants are ducks, gulls and the occasional sea-kayaker. Kelp and seaweed piles up at the tide lines and there are many things caught in it, like shells with plants or barnacles on them, the odd jellyfish, or more disturbing things like a single glove or shoe. There are huge boulders and outcroppings of stone forming natural quays, some with allot of iron in them that jut into the water which drops off quite deeply and quickly. A few miles out is an island, completely flat, no trees, with a three-story field stone house, a shed and a lighthouse. It's called Devil Island and it's purportedly haunted by the ghost of a man involved in murder, intrigue and treachery. Sometimes you briefly see lights out there in the windows, though perhaps it's the lights from one of the oil tankers heading in, reflecting from the windows. This beach is a very mysterious place and you often get a sense of being watched. There are houses nearby, but a few miles up the road around several bends and the next closet human habitation is the back 18 of a military golf course. I always watch out for mermaids there, a well-known, respected 17thC English lord who was not known to partake of the drink spotted a blue-haired mermaid in daylight in St. John's harbour, Newfoundland. I haven't seen one yet, but it's always fun to look and gives our explorations at the beach even more of a sense of adventure. |
From Sandy B.The Island of Kauai, Hawaii is where I live. I joined this list last week. I like to make jewelry with beads and shells. I have some beach glass, but I haven't done much with it yet. I use the shells that already have the holes, by Mother Nature. Hawaiian "Puka Shells." My favorite, Anini beach, is on this page, in the middle. click below to see enlargement and visit link for more pictures
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Paradise/4581/nshore.html I took the picture last fall, on a day I spent looking for shells. It was a beautiful day, very peaceful. ICQ #9042730 sandyb@aloha.net |
From LauraMy favorite beach experience was in 1981 on New Years Day. My boyfriend took me to dinner and a movie. After dinner we decided to watch the sunset at Madeira Beach. We sat there for what seemed like hours and watched a spectacular sunset. We sat and shared our hopes and dreams and he started to cry. I asked him what was wrong and he said I never imagined anyone would love me as much as you do. After a while he swallowed hard and said Would you marry me. Of course I said yes. We always go back there on New Years Day and sit near where he proposed. alas the spot he proposed on is now a condo (darned developers) But that patch of beach will always be special to me because it was the beginning of our adventure together. |
From Pat G. (the original Beady Beach Bum)My favorite beach memories are too many to name. They read like a travel log from my childhood on lake Michigan where I experienced my first kiss, my honeymoon in the Bahama's, breakfast with my mother at sunrise on the west coast of Florida and some very deep meditation on the beaches of Newport Beach CA during a very difficult time in my life. I guess I would have to say that my current favorite experience was during a wonderful nightly walk on the beach here at South Padre Island. I was walking as usual, at the surf line, with the 2 dogs. It was a beautiful night with a full moon and we hardly needed the flashlight. Deep in meditation and thinking much too serious thoughts, I heard a yelp from my little doxie "Trudy". Back to reality and into the moment where I should have been anyway, I looked down to see the poor thing with a crab attached to her nose. Well it let go out of sheer Terror, she jumped in my arms out of sheer terror and I laughed out of sheer gratitude for being alive and able to experience such a funny and wondrous event. Well after things had calmed down, big ODAAT, (oh dat damn dog) showed up to play at rescue and chased every last crab on the beach. These are the moments I cherish the most. The little things I used to miss because I was too busy worrying about tomorrow or re-playing yesterday. This is my Island first from the mainland then from the Gulf. |
From Cathy (the other original Beady Beach Bum)Rolling, lapping, crashing, Glinting blue and green, Crests of white, Brilliant blue skies, Tranquil sounds, Peace of mind, Spirit sails free, People bustle, Children laughing, But the ocean just sings to me. by Cathy Finch © 1998 |
From Becky in MichiganAnd speaking of beach time, my favorite beach of all time is at Sanibel Island in FL. About 8 years ago my DH and I went there for a long weekend. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Ft. Meyer's and drove over to the beach everyday. We'd get there around 7 am and I was off.....there are more shells there than I had ever seen before. Really cool ones,too. The only bad thing about that trip was that I got severely sunburned the first day. Dumb me, I laid on the beach all day with no sunscreen. It was on the cool side, so I didn't know how burned I was getting. The next day I could hardly move, and had to wear # 45 sunscreen and sit in the shade with sweatpants and a shirt on. Needless to say, it didn't turn out to be a romantic weekend. I did get a lot of really nice shells, though. I bet we carried home 50 lbs. of them. |
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