Talk about Inspiration! We just got back from Charleston SC and I saw this beautiful piece and had to take a picture of it! It was a massive chandiler. ALL CRYSTAL! My blood got to pumping and all I could think about was how I couldn't wait to get home and make a piece that represented the beauty of this structure. What do you see when you look at it?

I cried today!

I cried today. Not just a small cry but a cut wrenching cry fest! The first Thursday of every month our church goes to a local resthome and ministers to the residents. We have been doing this ministry for as long as I have been alive. I have just started going back to the resthome in the last couple of months and at every service there is a sweet man names Odus that I talk to. He wasen't at last nights service so I enquired and found his room. When I walked into the room I was taken aback. There were two small twin hospital beds, a night stand, and a tv. Nothing else! There was 1 cork board in the room that had 1 handmade valentines day card on it and I had to wonder weather it was a grandchild's card or one that was given out by the nursing home. When it comes to the elderly I have a very soft heart because I know that each of us are going to grow old and possibly be put into a home such as the one we visit. Are we going to have family who comes to visit? Are we going to be put in rooms such as this one? I stayed a few minutes with Odus and as I walked out I made a point to look in the residents rooms. Some were filled with material things and beautiful flowers. Some were just like Odus's. It's at this point that I realize that Odus and his room mate must not have a lot of visits or someone who really cares about them enough to make them feel "at home" in their final earthly home. I left the home and cried all the way home. I then cried when I got home. While I get up in the morning I have all sorts of things to look foward to and be thankful for. I can go to a closet full of clothes, I can spend time with my puppies, I can go for a walk to see my grandmother, and I can get in my car and ride to town. Odus can do none of these. He simply gets up in the morning and thanks god for another day of life. I made a decision last night. I decided that I am going to try to go and start visiting Odus and some of the other residents not just on church day. I also decided to start collecting and taking things with me to give some of the residents. You know things that might make them feel a little more at home. The first thing I am going to take Odus and his room mate are blankets. All they had were thin blankets and that was about it. From there I will take books, pillows, shoes, etc.

Day 1 at the NC Main Street Conference in Statesville NC

Well Today is day 1 at the NC Main Street Conference in Statesville NC. Today was a fun day all about Statesville. The Conference officially started at 3:00pm with a wonderful presentation by the Mayor of Statesville, Costi Kutteh. (Pictured Below) He told us the history or Statesville and things that happened in Statesville's history to make it so historic.



After the Mayors speech the Statesville High School Drumline did a wonderful presentation for the crowd. These guys and gals were great! I am going to work on getting them for our Christmas Parade this year because you would not believe how talented these kids are!




After the Drum Line performance we were ushered into a hall with this amazing mural. It is a Fresco Mural and is called "Images at the Crossroads." The 3 headed woman is a mythical god who embodies "crossroads." The image is amazing up close and it has so many details that make it something that you could sit and look at for hours. It is part of an 11 mural set that spans over the middle of NC. I got a pamphlet about it in my nifty new gift bag that we were given at the start of the show. I could defiantly get used to these shows because the bags was filled with all kinds of goodies. Not to mention the bag itself probably costs a good bit of money! I will try to post pics of the bag and goodies on tomorrow's blog.




After the mayors speech and the mural we went on a walking tour of statesville's central city area. They may be a bigger city but they are just like us. LOTS of empty buildings BUT great small businesses! Sammy and I went into two that are super noteworthy! One was "Express Yourself Stationary and Gifts." They had all sorts of little knick knack gifts as well as lots of beautiful stationary. They also did custom notes and invitations. We so need one of these in Forest City. The second store was a quilting store called "Needle and Thread." It was a small shop but they carried a great supply of fabric and quilting accessories! Not to mention...the staff was super nice and welcomed us with open arms! (Sammy was thrilled at the fact i dragged him to two chick stores!)

While on the tour we seen this beautiful Church. I love the look of old buildings and churches. They have some beautiful detail to them!


The below picture is what I would call Statesville's "town hall." It's not called that but town council meets there as well as other officials so it might as well be one. The reason I took this pic was for two reasons. One because it was a beautiful building but two because the movie "Leather Heads" starring George Clooney was filmed in parts of this building. Pretty cool huh?

After an afternoon of tours it was time for supper. Sammy and I went to Outback and had supper and then we went and saw "Bed Time Stories" with Adam Sandler. If you have not seen this movie you must go and see it! It is a clean movie and it is so funny I could have peeded in my pants. Did I mention that the movie theatre was right in front of our hotel? How cool is that? Well, my day has come to an end. I hope each of you had a great day! I will post new pics and news tomorrow. One more thing.....we have new surprise products arriving at the end of the week and I can't wait to play and show you guys what you can do with it!

Child Hood Fantasy Coming True....Sort of...

New Kids Then....

New Kids Now...

Jordan Knight

When I was 9 and 10 years old I was in love with Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block. In the early 90's if you were between the ages of 6 and 28 you had the one guy of the group that you thought was completely hot and that you were going to Merry! Well Jordan Knight was that one for me. I just knew that some day I would merry Jordan and life would be great. Sadly though at some point dare I say they become "uncool" and they kind of fell off the radar. Now, at the age of 27 I am going to be able to re-live a child hood fantasy. New Kids are back together for a reunion tour and they are coming to the Bi-Lo center in March. They were in Charlotte in October but at the time I didn't have the extra money to spend on the tickets. I have regretted it since then because I thought I would never get the chance to see them again. Well...tickets went on sale Saturday and I got floor seats for the March Concert. Now, I may not run away with Jordan Knight but I will get the chance to see a favorite Child Hood band with my best friend, who by the way, was a huge New Kids Fan too! Life is good!

Today was the big day!

Well today was the big day! I was on the "Your Carolina's" show with Jack and Kimberly this morning. It was a wonderful experience if nothing else! Jack and Kimberly were super nice! It was really neat to see how everything worked and came into being. It will be an experience that i will never forget! My sweet husband went with me for moral support and believe me...I needed it! Everyone who watched it said that I didn't seem a bit nervous but I was so nervous I thought I might fall down. Once It got started and I got to talking I was fine! But...Like I said if nothing else it was an experience that I can tell my children about one day!

TV day is coming up!

Ok...so I found out today that I can actually teach Jack and Kimberly how to make something on the show next week. I decided to teach them how to make a pair of Breast Cancer Awareness earrings using the concave loop making pliers. I got that self conscious feeling though that my hands looked terrible and that everyone was going to see how bad they looked. So, thinking this, I went and got some nails put on today. It is going to take a few days to get used to them but I really like them. Call me vain but it's not everyday that you get to be on TV you know! The producer also asked me if we had a website that they could send customers to. I decided right then that my video blog did so good this week that I am going to do a short video on how to do the earrings so that anyone who goes to the website can see. (I love having a husband who is technologically advanced!)

I was also really excited today because we got 17 new colors of 3.2mm drop beads. These beads are used in the wave ring in the current bead and button magazine. I brought some home with me and I am going to work with them and see what cool stuff I can come up with. I have an idea for a great pair of earrings but we'll see!

I am so excited!

I started something new on the store website today. It is a video blog! I sat down sunday and video taped it and then Sammy put it on the website today. I think it will work out great because this way I won't have to spend forever writing a long email and then you guys won't have to spend forever reading it! 2009 is all about making time for new things and this is a great start. If you would like to see it check out www.offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com