We Have a Winner!

I have been utterly remiss in announcing the winner of the two signed books! Egads! Yes, time slipped away with the travel and the sinus infection and some last minute deadlines that hit me fast and hard and suddenly it’s foreverandaday and I’ve still not spilled the proverbial beans. Please, please forgive!

The winner is...

Sandy of Auntie Sandy’s Art!

Congratulations! My daughter and I just got the same haircut Sandy!

Please email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Peekaboo...I see you!

Peekaboo Mixed Media Necklace Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Sometimes the muse is with you 100% and can take you from inspiration to fabulous finished designs in seconds flat! Yay Muse! Yay fabulosity! Yay something else but I’m not sure what so I guess I should stop typing now...

The folks at Rings & Things just keep coming up with wickedly cool products for the jewelry making afficionado. Here’s a design I whipped up super fast using their new hammered oval footage gun metal chain, black rattail #1 weight and some random stuff I had lying around the studio. I have a bead board on the sliding component of my work desk (the one the keyboard should go on...were I even marginally normal) and it’s my catch all for the beads that didn’t quite make it into a design. This bead board is constantly overflowing, but it’s a great one stop shop for accent beads! I rummaged for some beads that matched and added them to the chain and the top of the rusty vintage keyhole I decoupaged with a flapper image peeking through. I have a keyhole collection I’ve been slowly amassing over the past few years...I have plans for them. Yes. Yes I do. I added a gunmetal key and one frayed rattail bow accent and that was all she wrote. The plan is to let that rattail keep unraveling...so this piece gets cooler with age.

Rings & Things also sent me a copy of their extensive and information packed Gemstone Bead Index. I have always felt they have THE best website in the jewelry making biz in terms of information about what you’re actually buying and extensive gem history, lore and fun facts. Love them for that.

They sent me three cell phone lariats and a serpentine necklace in both gold and silver plate. Leave a comment and I select someone to receive these goodies along with a generous mix of beads randomly selected from my Bead Board of Wonders! I’ll announce a winner next week, please check back to see if you won and email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com if you have problems leaving a comment and if you win so you can claim your prize. I can’t hunt you down all over the interwebs...it’s up to you to get that mailing address to me!

xoxo
Madge

IT'S RAINING..............................

16th may,2009

saturday

7p.m


FOR THE COOL RAINDROPS

it's raining in trichur.

the much awaited rain,the cool showers........let the trees get wet,let more buds bloom............i am thrilled.

we must be in the real mood to enjoy the changing seasons!love should be in the air.peaceful our mind must be .in our fast paced everyday life,time flies at the wink of our eyes.other than stress and tensions nothing else people have to share!we can be little more organised and manage our time.

i have kept the window of the room opened, so that i can feel the raindrops falling from the roof.my heart fills with joy!it started raining heavily.away from parties,fun and frolic i enjoy the shower.

something more beautiful about today,other than the butterflies flying,flowers blooming,birds chirping,leaves turning,clouds passing,wind dancing,children laughing.................,

the most beautiful thing about this day ................

my dearest friend made me feel,

life can still be better,

with more patience and love,
and to let me know that
distance is not a problem for holding two minds together,

life will be always beautiful,

as,''beauty lies in the beholder's eyes'',

we have to change our attitudes,

and our prayers will be heard.

now when the night is getting darker,i think of you my friend.today is the special day, when you made me feel friends are like diamonds to be kept close to our hearts,i want to dedicate a few beautiful lines for you[it's from my collections].

''God picked up a flower and

dipped it in dew drops,

and lovingly touched it,

which turned into u,

and then HE gifted it to me,

and said,

THIS FRIEND IS FOR YOU''!

and i'm sure with friends like you anything is possible.

and now i know you, my friend,

sometimes,i get hurt,

it's alright,i have no doubt,

millions of thanks for being kind and thougtful,

for your invaluable support

and for all the blooming moments.

it's anu signing off...............

may GOD fill your heart with gladness to cheer!

celebrate the day and be happy,

you are the reason for my smile,today.

let the night be longer,

i have peaceful thoughts,

you are the priceless gift to me!

this post is my second gift to you!

sasneham,

anu

TastyLinks™ Saturday!

The Balancing Act on location for Beadalon with Kathy Peterson and Margot Potter

(Photo courtesy Meredith Dobro)

It's time once again for your weekly Linky Love shower! Grab your umbrella, ella, ella's and get ready for some crafty good fun. I've got a back log of stuff to share and rather than throw it all at you today, I'll be sharing throughout the week. How much link clicking can one do before your fingers start to get tired? Today I shall be attempting to be the 'soul of wit' by remaining brief...as difficult as that might be for me!

I do have one tasty tid bit for your edification. The picture above is from the TV Shoot I mentioned. You can read all about the shoot at the Beadalon blog.

And now it's TastyLinks™ time! Here's what the Crafty Blogger's Gang has whipped up for your craftertainment this week:

Vickie Howell Need a home decor, quick-fix? Vickie shows you how to use fabric scraps to over those otherwise drab, light switch plates!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Sweater Surgery in the Pratt Institute Magazine and Bookmarks You can make at Maker Faire with me!

Naughty Secretary Club Love the look of the groovy spaghetti string lamps from the 60’s? Make your own with Jen, some yarn, a balloon and a little fabric stiffener.

Cross Stitch at About.com Connie's been in a Sci-Fi mood lately - check out her Out of This World Patterns.

CraftyPod Sister Diane shows you how to make a quilted fabric pendant.

Crafty Princess Diaries Are you cutting coupons these days? Then make this simple little crochet coupon holder to keep them organzied.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Inside peeks into the new books: Mosaics: The Art of Reuse and my shotgun and sea shell stepping stones, SKETCHBOOK and a few of my sketchbook sketches and their end result, Re-Bound and the story behind this month's San Metao Maker Faire (30th and 31st) "Makeready" journal we will be giving away in our booth, and a Sweater Surgery Hello Kitty Sunglass case how-to.

Cathie Filian Cathie whips up a "no calorie cake" with a few items from the dollar store!

Blisstree Arts Digital art calls for a creative framing method!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Swelldesigner shares with you why you need a mini idea book !

Aileen's Musings Aileen has a new tutorial perfect for teen birthday parties!

About Family Crafts Discover how you can create your own fancy, garden stepping stones.

The Impatient Crafter Style Guru Brini Maxwell and The Impatient Crafter Margot Potter want you to join them on their Crafty Cabaret Carribean Cruise in Fall of 2010! Here's the 411!

News!

Dazzle copyright 2009 Margot Potter courtesy of FW Media/North Light Books from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed

The ink is dry and I can share some good news! I sold my sixth book yesterday. It's official! I'll be working with the folks from North Light Books/FW Media again. We've got a good thing going so we're going to keep it up! I'm not spilling the beans on the book title or topic until we get closer to pub date. A gal has to have a few tricks up her sleeves...besides a little mystery is a good thing.

Later today you can watch a video I shot at CHA Winter with the delightful duo of Ana and Megan Araujo of When Creativity Knocks. I share the Dazzle necklace (see image above) from the new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed with Katie Hacker and Fernando DaSilva. It's a pretty cool idea using Beadalon Memory Wire, so check it out! While you're there read up on their WCK Cruise this Fall...I'm teaching along with the fabulous folks from Diva Craft Lounge and Ana Araujo! Come play with us!

I've got a very quick turn around on this book so I'm afraid my blogging is going to be shorter, sweeter and more to the point until the August deadline. Think of it as The Impatient Crafter Lite! I did want to mention that we've decided to move the Beads and the City trip to Spring of 2010. It gives us more time to fine tune things and let's face it...NYC in August is misery. I'll keep you posted on the details as we get them nailed down.

I also wanted to say how proud I am of my amazing daughter Avalon. She was a Student Ambassador last night at a program for the entering students. She had to give an extemporaneous speech to the parents about the various classes offered in her grade. I wasn't the least bit surprised to hear she loves public speaking because she's a natural. She's also been invited to next week's award ceremony and I'm excited to see what award she receives. What a great kid! I'm the luckiest Mom ever!

xoxo
Madge

GETTING INTO SHAPE

THE MORAL LESSONS
sabahu noor![courtesy to my friend]
hey,friends,i'ven't started learning arabic.but i love to pick up words from other languages.
i am relaxing these days,thoroughly enjoying my holidays;it's nice to be at home with amma,being taken care of......
the root problem starts with my figure.now,i just can't escape.i was soooooooooooooo slim,tall and carefree.i'm still tall but the added weight makes me short.is it my fault?
when i started having pain on my knee,everybody became so alert.the visit to the doctor,his lectures and cautioning us about future turned my life upside down!
a new diet chart has been prepared.for breakfast,two iddlis without chutney,but with sambar minus coconut.dosa is a taboo as it is oily.by teno'clock,i can have cucumber or gooseberries with buttermilk.[and all other fried items are kept in the jars].
evening tea with two biscuits and the day's meal is complete with two chapaptis and a vegetable at night.
what a punishment!but nanda is strict with me.as she has left for newyork,i still have to be satisfied with these grass items as amma has turned to be the old teacher again .
the different mangoes are at home,specially the moovandan and neelan,but not for me.how much i wanted to relish these mangoes!i love having rice with curds and pickle.now rice is not cooked .i have the sukha chapptis. amma asks me whether i feel hungry.i have my will power now.i can say,''no'' to the tempting food.but during my precious holidays when i can unwind and enjoy,is it fair to be punished?

through skype,nanda demands for a daily report on diet.
amma doesn't allow me to sit at pc for long.like an obedient child i get up and start walking!the weighing machine is kept in the room so that i can check my weight once a week.
the doctor is very thin and he told me he chooses the patients.[i wanted to tell him,i choose the doctors].how people can judge me so fast?he complained i'm not health conscious.

[please remember,this is the only time of the year,i can enjoy!]
nanda is the strong advocate of exercises and yoga.when baby chechie started taking fifteen rounds in the temple in the morning,my classes started on the importance of walking!''anu,get up and walk.go for evening walks''.maza calls me from states to enquire whether i am doing the exercises.
my doctor brother gave me the warning,to reduce and reduce before the holidays get over..........
''anu cut on your food,forget food......''[and whatelse i should do]? kishen inspires me with the story of adnam sami and how he lost hundred and seven kilos.but kishen, he is a public figure and he has to perform while singing.i don't have to anchor any public shows now.

please don't talk about yoga and aerobics!and for meditation i've to keep my mouth shut,na?then who will talk to you?
see,nanda took all the chakka varattiyathu,knowing that i won't be able to resist.but,she doesn't know i had mouthful of pakodas and crisp murukku before it went to her bagagge!

our cousin pramod has decided not to increase his weight more than sixty kilos and iam the victim of his stern decision!whenever nanda gets a chance,she reminds me about him.

[a note to my people-you talk on any other topic except diet and figure!]

my little star reminds me to think of my college figure and she wants everyone to ask me''in which college are you studying''?

that's really nice of you dear,i used to steal second glances! the tall slim village girl with the longest hair in the college.

just look at the tailor!what does she think of herself?she stiched a blouse double my size thinking the fitting had to altered within a week!can she visualise my body after one week?rediculous!hey,guys.don't get on my nerves!
to be precise,i am frightened now.hey,i'm not that round like the pumpkin.then,is it easy to reduce the calories gained over years?
let's see.i have started taking short walks,stopped having my favourite rice and curd,no oily stuff as snacks and a big no to sweets.
now,friends,tell me what is your advice?before nanda comes down from newyork,i have to reduce atleast four kilos.
she had bought and kept one huge kumblanga[cucumber]and many gooseberries................the speech is delivered on the importance of cucumber in helping us to reduce weight faster.

the big cucumber stares at me,as i have to gulp the curry without coconut for two weeks till it gets over!
now, i don't look at the jars n the kitchen filled with mixture,murukku,laddus and mysore pavu. [and all the jars are full, waiting for guests].
the only way is to drink more water and butter milk and keep on writing new posts.i'm helpless!im reaady to go for the long walks.will you join me?on the bank of the river,holding the hands, watching the sunset,breathing fresh air,let's go for a looooooooooooooooong walk.;D

it's anu signing off...........

waiting to have tips from you on shedding extra kilos............

and you know,i value your suggestions.

MA ASSALAM!

anu loves you all..........

sasneham,

anu

thursday-may 14th,2009

1p.m

Big Hair

(I'm recovering from my travel today and am really exhausted so I'm sharing a little video clip. I'll pick a winner for the books tomorrow...I promise!)

Back in my wayward youth, in another incarnation, I sang with a 'cow punk' band called Big Hair in the Bay Area alt music scene. We had a huge following and probably could have made something of it had we been able to get along behind the scenes. We were young. Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. That is until I pen my memoirs, which will of course be mostly fictional.

This is a video clip from (gasp) 1985 of Big Hair playing at a San Jose institution called The Works Gallery. A lot of crazy stuff happened for me personally around this particular venue, so it's apt that this footage was shot there. I'm sporting a neon yellow hip length braided Heidi wig, a bright red pleather short motorcycle jacket and a pencil skirt. Back then most of my 'crafty' nature went into the kooky outfits I wore, which were intentionally unconventional even for punk standards. I've got a problem with following the rules. Quel suprise.

This video starts with the tail end of Caryl Miller's kick butt version of Nancy Sinatra's classic 60s hit "These Boots are Made for Walking". We did some really fun and unique covers and had a lot of great originals too. I'm singing a tune I penned called "12th Street Blues." I spent a number of years in a house at 345 12th Street in downtown San Jose, before it got a makeover courtesy of the Silicon Valley days. Back then it was a gritty, funky city with a serious multiple personality disorder and a fairly large punk scene. The thrift stores in that town were legendary, I can't believe some of the stuff I scored for pennies!

I wrote this song to intentionally sound like something you'd heard before and it has every country music cliche in the lyrics. I can't tell you how many people asked over the years if they could record this song. It's the kind of little ditty that gets stuck inside of your head. I apologize in advance if that happens to you!

(A huge 'THANK YOU!" to ERIC PREDOEHL for editing and posting this video. It was a labor of love indeed and I'm so happy someone had a record of Big Hair live. What a treat!)