I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I just love Christmas time. I take great pride in my tree. Over the years we have made many of the ornaments including painting eggs from our chickens. I by Christmas ornaments to remember special occasions. I even have a book that I enter all my ornaments in.  This year I got a special treat. Back in the early 70's I was in a Leewards craft store and saw my first beaded Christmas tree. I thought that it was the most beautiful thing I had ever saw. However the cost of the kit was what we were living on for a whole month so I knew that it was just a dream. I also knew that some day I would make one and I started collecting small treasures to put on it. This year when I went to bead retreat in the fall Julie had a Christmas tree kit for $5.00. I finally got my mini-beaded tree. I have spent the last week making and decorating it. I don't have the toys and presents under it yet but I wanted to show it anyway. Hope you like it. I am sure that over time I will make more ornaments and replace some of the simpler ones, but for now I am happy.

I haven't blogged in a while. I pinched a nerve in my back and I haven't been good for much. It's finally getting better and I can get back to jewelry making. A surprise came in the mail. Back in September I entered to be part of pay-it-forward on Michelle Mach blog Beads & Books. You can check out her blog here http://michellemach.com/blog/   I chose the bead assortment and the pic above is what she sent. Aren't they beautiful? There are enameled rectangles, ceramic beads, a metal snowflake charm, crystals, a pair of boro yoyo beads, electric blue jump rings, long earwires, headpins, and lots more delicious new fun. All of these beads were sent in a small tin. Michelle thoughtfully included decorative papers and other embellishments to decorate the tin with. How fun is that? Now it is my turn to pay it forward. The first three to comment on this blog will receive a pay it forward gift from me sometime in the next year. Up for grabs are 1) a pair of earrings made from some of the beads Michelle sent. 2) a wrapped bracelet -color of your choice. 3) the tin Michelle sent decorated by me and an assortment of beads- color of your choice. You in turn pay it forward to someone else with handmade things. Please join me in this fun adventure. Just leave a comment on my blog and maybe you will be one of the first three.