Where does it go?

Hello....

If you can't guess... I'm talking about time! : )

I haven't been "bloggy" at all. Last week was a trying time for me! We had several computer issues. When we "fixed" errors in our registry, the main program I use for editing my pictures was completely wiped from the system and we couldn't find our disk to reinstall it. I'm still trying to get the feel of using a new updated version but it's really slowed me down a lot! I'm not a fan of having anything to do with graphic design no matter how you look at it. Cropping a picture and adding text to it is really all I care to learn. Even with something as simple as that, I have no love for it. Luckily my husband enjoys that sort of thing and is actually really good at figuring it all out. He's a natural with it really. I think everyone has things about themselves they hate to admit but I have zero patience for technical stuff and would rather have someone else do it or figure it out and then show me how to do it. Okay so maybe... I'll work on patience a little more! When I'm not so busy with other things! : )

AND.... a long time bead pal of mine was nice enough to feature me on her blog last week and I didn't have a chance to sign on and let everyone know! Thanks Deb you're a sweetheart! Go check out her clay art too!!! She's really good!!!

I want you to know.... I appreciate you reading my blog. I know it's rarely updated lately. I hope to change that in the near future. For right now I'm adding to it when I can. I also hope to check out the blogs of those of you that read mine soon too. I apologize for being a bad follower. I need to learn how to do the blog follow thing. See... I haven't even looked into yet. There's a lot of stuff I hope to make more time for....... just not right now!

As for me.... I'm adding beads to eBay each week so keep checking back! I'll add more to Etsy and Art Fire soon. Not sure when... but I do have plans to! I'm kind of in a focal mood lately so I'll see how it goes! For now I'm offering them through my Special Offers newsletter! Not included but want to be? email me here to sign up! rebecca@firamarina.com

Okay.... I gotta run....

Have a fabulous day!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for checking in!!!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )

A quick note!

Hello everyone!

A happy day to you!!! This is a very quick update!!! I have to get some stuff done around here and I'm a little pressed for time! Go figure! ; )

I have new charms aka Silver Linings ...listed on eBay and I'll have a few sets soon too! Maybe tonight... we'll see how the day goes! Yes.... I have new focals!!! They are available through my newsletter only right now! My pics are back on Flickr but I do hope to update my page and rearrange a few things in the near future. Maybe I'll have some back on eBay soon too! AND.... some sets will be on Etsy this week too!

Since I haven't had a lot of spare time to update this thing why don't ya just follow me on twitter??? Seems like I'm able to add a sentence of my goings on here and there! www.twitter.com/firamarina

Have a fun weekend!!!!!!!!! I'll try to add more soon!!!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )

It's been a LOOOONG time huh? AND.. thoughts!

Hello!

How are you? Remember me? Yes... it's been a while. This time longer than usual. I haven't been chatty at all. Not one bit! I have no excuses except for the fact I wanted to get caught up on some things around the house and focus on new designs since I'm bored with a few things. I get bored way too easy and when I do my mind runs nonstop and I don't talk... or type much! What can I do next? What can I come up with? At least I can say I'm lucky in that area! I can always come up with new color combinations and although I'm revisiting some of my old styles, there's new designs and you can always see "me" in them!

I've been working on some focals again and I still haven't decided if I'll add them to eBay or not. I really like eBay but sometimes it's a little confusing... in more ways than one. In my opinion... notice I said in my opinion......there are some categories on eBay that are full of people that want to try to make something like someone else if they see someone making a substantial amount of money.... on anything. You can say well, look at everything... the auto industry...electronics.... clothes.... and so on. That's life! Yeah well... I know...so what! BUT... art? Something that is called "art?" The whole thing is weird to me. My husband and I have had this topic come up a million times. Who defines art? Can you define art? No... not really but I have my OPINION of it! If it doesn't come from your inspiration or your imagination it's NOT art!!! There... I said it... my opinion! It's not. If you look at a book and it tells you how to make something and you make it... good or not... it's a copy... or it's your interpretation of what you've just tried to replicate. It didn't come FROM you!!! If you do anything and don't add the YOU to it.... it's anything but art in my opinion. It's pretty mindless.... anyone can look at something and with enough practice do that same thing. It may be easier for some than others but an original design or idea it's not... it's anything but!!! Back to the eBay thing. You can tell when someone puts out an ebook because it's flooded with the designs. That's good for those that want to learn a technique and I understand that. BUT.... to not put your own spin on something? Again... there's no wrong or right... it's just weird to me. It's robotic and I'd be doing something else if all I could do was reproduce ... or try to reproduce something! I guess if you're proud of it... that's great! Hopefully you just learned how to do something you can incorporate into your own ideas. BUT seriously...the whole bit of... "Hey... look... I just made what so and so made!!!" Congratulations!!! And you're going to try to sell it??? Seriously??? You're not going to try and put a little of YOU in it first??? Nope!!! They aren't! That's the part that baffles me. Somethings just aren't meant to be understood I guess. How can you truly understand things that aren't in your nature... or character? We can try.... but what's the point? I just don't get it... and I think it's probably better that way. Everyone has something that annoys them.... I just so happen to voice my opinion of such things. AND this is not just eBay I'm talking about... it happens everywhere... it just seems to run rampant on there.

So anyway.... back to the focals. I removed my focal gallery from my Flickr page for now.... well, not really... if you're on my friends contact list on Flickr you can still see them. I'm going to try and revamp one section at a time... if I can find the time. If not... I'll put them back soon. I will have at least the new focals visible soon though.

I'll have some new sets I hope to list tonight and some Silver Linings to add tomorrow night. It's such a beautiful day here today! A rare treat for Louisiana this time of year! Such a nice day for photos!!! Speaking of photos I have a few things to do before I get started with that so I better wrap it up! Ill be having some sort of giveaway soon. I'll be thinking about that over the next few days so I'll let you know soon!

Have a very beautiful weekend... be happy... be safe... and have fun!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )

Does this count?

Hello! I hope you're off to a great week! I don't have a lot new to chat about right now so I figured I'd at least say hi or something! No... I take that back! I do have a lot to chat about but every time I get a chance to sign on and update my blog I'm too tired to type much. I wish I was better at updating this thing. It is in my list of "things to do" so at least I'm working toward something. AND... I did say I would have more listings on eBay.... and I do! AND.... I have even more to add a few nights this week! See.... we're trying! ; )

I'm also trying to get in better shape. I'm a petite person and even though I've never been over weight... so to speak.. I've been out of shape! By out of shape I mean I feel kind of like there are parts of me that a need a little toning up... or toning down! Matt and I both don't watch much TV but we do watch Survivor and American Idol... of all things to watch but hey.... I love them!!! They keep me entertained! Here's the bad part.... in my past life, when I was in the mortgage business and lived in Bend, Oregon for a while, my husband and I started getting a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream every week to eat while watching American Idol. Well, a few years later and the tradition is still going strong! Needless to say.... I always have to "cut back" after the show ends each year! In Bend I gained 10 pounds!!! That's a lot for someone that was barely 100 pounds!!! I didn't gain that much this year because back then we ate about 3 or 4 pints a week... it was way deeper than American Idol! LOL! Sad... I know!!! This year it's only been about 1 pint every week or so! Well..... for someone that doesn't have an addictive personality it seems like some foods are about as close as I get!!! Anyway... that's my fun from now on.... lots of exercise to get rid of the gluttony! BUT... exercise is good for you so it's well worth it!!!

Now I need to get some sleep! I have an early day tomorrow. Beads to make and string... photos to take... shipping to do...listings... you get the picture! I can tell I'm getting older too... I'm starting to wake up earlier no matter what time I go to bed. Sucks for me because I like to read in bed or do a few Sudoku puzzles at night. I like to do that until at least midnight or so. It helps me relax and forget about all I have to do the next day.

Okay... sweet dreams! Thanks for checking in!!! Have a lovely rest of the week!!!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )

Almost there....

Hi!

I hope you're doing well! I've been great! I spent most of this week trying to catch up on a few things! If there is such a thing! The listings on eBay are finally coming along nicely.... knocking on wood! Some fantastic new Silver Linings and bead sets! I really haven't had that many listings on eBay over the past month or two due to many things. So much has been going on this year! Maybe things are getting back to normal??? I'm still behind on emails but since I think I stay that way... what's new? BUT... I do always answer questions first so no worries there! ; )

I'll have more bead news soon.... other ramblings too.

I'm so sleepy I think I'm going to go lay around and read a while before bed. I was going to add a bit more to my post tonight but realized I'm way too lazy this evening! I'll add more soon... seriously!

Have a most superb weekend!!!

Best Wishes....

Rebecca : )

A little hello & Happy Mother's Day!

Hi everyone!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Happy Sunday to everyone else! I hope you have a joyful day!

I would like to say thanks for all of the kind emails I've received over the past week. Thanks for checking in on me... sending me well wishes and lifting my spirits! You're the best!!!

I'm doing good! Staying busy! Trying to catch up on some listings for eBay and add a few new things to my Etsy shop! I just listed some and hope to have more Silver Linings Tuesday! Maybe if the weather cooperates I'll be able to get more photos this week and have more sets...focals... and Shades On Shapes! We'll see! ; )

BUT... I think it's time for a giveaway! I've got something good in mind so make sure you're on my mailing list! I'll try to get together a newsletter here shortly! If you'd like to be included just email me rebecca@firamarina.com

Okay... I wanted to check in and say hello! I have a lot to do before I head on over to my aunt's house for a Mother's Day feast!

Have a great day! Hope to hear from you soon!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )

My Grandmother... aka Mamaw

Hi there!

I'm back from Mississippi. We got in last night and I still feel extremely sleepy, confused, sad, and so many other things! I was dreading the funeral itself and thought when that was in the past the worst part would be behind me. Little did I know everything so was hurried with the long trip and rushing around, nothing was really sinking in... or felt real. It all hit me so much more when I returned home. Last night was probably the worst night for me. The feeling of it "being real." The scary feeling of not seeing her again or talking to her. My grandmother was everything to me. She was the sweet.. happy... loving grandmother (mamaw I called her) every little girl should have. She adored me... always took me to get snow cones, never tired of my endless questions, showered me with love and kisses, and was there for me through many good and bad times. As I grew older and faced many of the crappy teenage stuff everyone goes through... she was there. When I became an adult and also dealt with many new and not so pleasant life experiences it was her I could call.... or drive to and see (when I lived in New Orleans) for that ever so sweet smile and always perfect solution. She always said the right thing... even if I didn't want to hear it. She always listened until I was finished talking.... which in itself says a lot with how much I can rattle on.... but no matter what... she was there.

She wasn't the same over the past few years. They said she had Alzheimer's but she always knew who I was and was able to carry on a conversation with me up until the last time I saw her in November. She remembered Matt too and spoke to him in the same sweet voice she always did. I spoke to her on the phone briefly this past Christmas and she even remembered to ask about my beads. Her health kept deteriorating much worse after that and we all knew it wouldn't be much longer. She could hardly speak to anyone in person let alone talk on the phone. I didn't want her to stay in this world and suffer and I know she is in a better place BUT oh how I miss her! How I wish I had more answers. In all honesty, I'm not a religious person. I know there are some reading this now that know me well thinking I shouldn't add that bit of info to my blog. BUT... so what! I'm not! You could say I'm more spiritual but I'll spare you from that since the "not religious but spiritual" bit is so overdone these days! I do hope though that I will see her again... somehow... somewhere. She said I would... and always... for good reason...I believe her! So whatever life after death there is or isn't, I hope I'm there with her.

My aunt gave me her old jewelry/music box along with several things in it. Funny how I remember most every little piece and every thing about it. A few of the pieces are very dear to me.... I'm wearing them now and they make me feel so close to her. A vintage winding watch I always remember her wearing when I was a child...that still works... and a small antique "Amulet of Faith" I always loved so much too. It has a real mustard seed laying on a gold bezel with mother of pearl inlay encased in a dome of glass. Inscribed on the back is "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed... nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matt 17-20. My mamaw was a religious person with more faith than anyone I've ever known. Not just faith in God but faith in general. I will still seek out "her" faith when I feel I need it most. It was her faith and gentle ways that have always guided me the most in my life. I feel I am a better... stronger...and kinder person because of her. In time I know her passing will get a little easier and I know that time is what it will take. She will always be with me in my heart though... and that will never fade.

For now.... to cope with this, I am going to immerse myself with color! When I'm sad I don't resort to pills... booze.. or other things people use to escape, I use colorful things! So look for lots of vibrant colors... soft pinks.... and many other things that are bright, happy, and cheerful! My mamaw loved all colors too! I hope to have new beads to list tomorrow. I added one set to Etsy today that I wasn't able to post before I left. Oh... my Etsy shop is now open again!!! Art Fire too! eBay is sparse for now but there are some really pretty Silver Linings in there so take a peek! Links are to the top left of the page! More beads coming soon....

I have to run. I'm going to eat and then lay down! Should I mention not much ever seems to affect my appetite so of course I'm hungry again!!!

Thanks a bunch for your kind comments and lovely emails! HUGS to you!!!

Best Wishes,

Rebecca : )