Oh, it's getting down to the wire around here on my book.  I've been busy gathering parts and pieces and making lists for the photo-shoot that starts on Monday down at Lark offices.  I'm looking forward to seeing my editor and catching up with her.  We haven't seen each other in a couple of years so that should be fun.  Here's some links from the Bead Bloggers…

Vacation Necklace
Carmi thinks nature provides pre-drilled shells just for her.

Strands of Beads
Melissa ponders ethical issues involving some vintage beads

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
The day before the election, Jean urged us all to vote, which we did! On a jewelry note, she mentioned her fun article concerning gift ideas for the upcoming holidays which she wrote for Soft Flex!

Savvy Crafter-Candie Cooper
Candie's teaching at Ornamentea—see the class projects and details on her blog…

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen invites collage artist Traci Bautista to Austin for a little paint meets jewelry adventure.

Jewelry & Beading
Using multiple techniques, Cyndi has made an autumn necklace that warms her heart now that the days are cold!

Get ready for the holidays with Katie's great gift ideas
Check out three of Katie's favorite gifts to give (and create!) this holiday season!

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
New designs for Fall are live on the Divali website; and Carter gets a technology facelift!

Barbe Saint John – New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe is giving a way a copy of "Get Your Sparkle On', find out how to win it!

Art Jewelry Magazine
A reader tests Art Jewelry's acid-free etching technique

Art Bead Scene
Ribbon Isn't Just for Wrapping Presents!

About.com Jewelry Making
Looking for some early holiday jewelry ideas? Start now with these simple projects that will apeal to a range of fashion tastes.

Wow!  Temperatures dropped today and at the moment there are heavy splats of rain hitting the pavement.  Ah yes, do you hear that knocking?  It's Jack Frost, I think.  And with this cold weather, warm foods are at the forefront of my mind.  Today I'm making Ultimate Potato Soup for tonight's dinner.  A few weeks ago, I ordered soup at a great little pub in Ft. Wayne where they served a smather of peanut butter and pumpkin butter with a hearty slice of bread.  I wanted more…

So I made some.  It worked well to cut the recipe in half because then you only need one small can of pumpkin.  Then again, you could be the most popular kid in town if you make the full recipe, and share some with your friends.

The aroma from simmering those spices filled my apartment.  So nice and warm.  I had one small jar, so I sterilized it and filled it up.  The rest awaits in my fridge for the potato soup and…some toast.

My Festive Fall Votive holders could be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table this year.  Here's a link to the pattern.  I like to use transparent beads so the light from the candle casts colored confetti shadows on your table. 

In other news, one week until I head down to Asheville for my book's photo shoot.  Nervous and excited—so much to do before then!

Oh, why didn't I get a picture of cute Katie Hacker in her bee costume, Rocker's pirate costume and I with my cat mask on?!?!  Don'tcha hate it when you do that?  This is us with crazy Ernie, the funniest scare crow ever who hangs out on the porch.  And before I forget, that's not a real fur jacket—It's a $10 Polyprophenablah blah blah (faux) fur coat from the thrift store.  I repeat $10! It worked perfectly with this cat mask I snagged at the Halloween USA store.

Oh, it was a fun weekend!  I hope yours was too.

Ok, it's really for kids, but once I thought about it, adults love this class too, so…come if you like!

-KIDS CRAFTY SATURDAY-FELTING COLLAGE CLASS–

Here in good ol' Wabash…  Email me for details!

You may've eyed a cute little bird bead in the last post…That was made by the delightful bead artist, Heather Powers of Humble Beads.  She's got oodles of fun stuff in her Etsy shop and lots of inspiration for using the beads here.  Have fun!

Art Bead Scene
Catherine Witherell Visits Art Bead Scene!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has gathered up a load of jewelry making links from all over the web covering related news, contests, and more.

Bead&Button Magazine
Check out Tea's blog about BeadAndButton.com/15 and their 15th anniversary content!

Carmi's Art/Life
Carmi makes a fabric skeleton pin to wear trick or treating.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter unveils some new designs for Fall!

Check out Katie's cute halloween decor!
Katie's festive pumpkin captures the the feeling of fall.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holly Jolly Christmas Designs

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi's taking a look this week at all the informations she's gathered on steampunk style jewelry.

Savvy Crafter
It was a dark and not so scary craft night….

Strands of Beads
Melissa thinks about snakes and circle links

For a FELT AND METAL EXPLORATION CLASS at the lovely ORNAMENTEA.  We'll felt the wool and work the metal like never before!  I'm super excited about this class and all the possiblilites of fusing felt with metal. 

No need to have a load of skills–as Cynthia of Ornamentea wrote, "adventurous beginners" jump right in.  Students will make a bracelet and pair of earrings.  Expect torches, wire work, hammering, felting, and giggling.

November 22nd!  Hope to see you there!  Class details are here…