Baby it’s Cold Outside

Working on some new things and they are coming fast and furious...

a pair a day and that is very good for me.

Pantone color of the year Emerald Green

I do get trapped into a rut I can’t get out of sometimes and my brain

freezes and I get overwhelmed...this  week however I felt a real shift...

something happened.  For one thing I am a lot more confident in my abilities...

I’m making things longer and bigger...more of a statement.  I wore a pair of these

danglers out the other night and was amazed at how cool I felt...they

make such a statement that black turtleneck and jeans and my winter

cardigan looked new and modern...the swing and boldness of the

earrings made me feel with it and pretty.

My biggest thing seems to be that I start to think if i buy more

supplies that I’ll get more ideas...now this is true in many ways

but a better approach seems to be the old use what you got...

so I started to dig deep in my piles and found some pretty neat

stuff I forgot about

It’s bloody freezing here...well for California standards...

like in the 50s at night...I know...I  know... the rest of you

are probably saying oh geez but for us thin skins its cold...

So I’m bundled up at my work bench and taking advantage

of this spell of productivity while it’s happening...

jammies barely come off as I get to work in the early morning

and keep at it....my hands are hurting like hell but I just

do an Aleve and put on my hand braces and keep calm

and carry on.

ohh..i love these...making a pair to keeps.

And the ever popular bangle stacks using a bit of over-dyed

crochet sent to me by one of youse guys in our frantic

“Traveling Box” exchange days of yore.

keep warm...happy winter..bh

Belle Armoire Jewelry Winter 2013

I am in the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine.

I got three pages  and boy oh boy what a absolute thrill...

So check it out ...on the stands at Barnes and Noble bookstores...

Ringing in 2013

Went to a beautiful neighborhood party where I played with my friend Mike on seven songs....
Had some delish food, met some wonderful new neighbors and then Mr. B and I headed home at 11:30 for our own private bringing in of  the New Year....

It has been quite a year...with many challenges and also many triumphs...I had highs and lows with
the Etsy shop but all in all it has turned out very well and I am very happy with it...

My work has been published twice now in Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine...a fantastic, impossible dream come true.

My music has moved forward with a lot more groups and gatherings and chances to play in public.
I realize that this year much more practice is in order for me to memorize things and have a good song
list at my fingertips...We were invited to a beautiful daytime party in SilverLake over looking the city...we ate black- eyed peas, greens and dirty rice to ring in the new year...supposedly to bring us good luck.   I played the uke with a mandolin player and stand up bass player...what fun to see people suddenly stand up out of their chairs and share in a sing a long...you would never expect it in a group of sophisticated Hollywood types, but there you have it.  I love it...and people really remember me as the uke player now..”did you bring your uke” is the first thing I hear now when I walk into a gathering...
a real dream come true for me.

This year also had the passing away of my beloved mom, my glorious cat Princess, Ginger’s illness have all taken their toll on me and I feel more tired and drained than I use to be.

So this year ...I really just want more of the same...We are beginning to downsize our processions in
hopes of moving out of Southern California in two years time...we are thinking of going back to England...who knows...it’s all up in the air but I am ready for a new start somewhere else and a different country would be just about right...perhaps live in a gypsy caravan...tra la la.

Much peace, love and happiness to you all.   You have been so wonderful to me...like sisters and
certainly best friends.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your stories and yourselves.
I raise my glass to your honor and the delight of our friendship and your companionship.

cynthia, Ginger and Giuseppe.

Ukelele Club

My living room was filled with over 25 members of

the Long Beach Uke Club for a holiday gathering...

My home was filled with joy, laughter, food

and the extraordinary folks who belong to the club.

Uke players are the best people...

and making music is the greatest way I  know to

get by in this sometimes harsh and troubled world.

It eases stress, people like it and you fill your time with a productive

and entertaining.

My home glows and comes alive when it is filled with

living breathing musicans.

Playing the uke is easy and fun...I have played it

all over the country, as many places have clubs,

retreats and festivals.  I have played with strangers who became friends.

  If you never thought you could

play a musical instrument give a uke a try...

or get one for your kid...

Happy Boxing Day and Novica Contest Winner

HAPPY BOXING DAY!

Congratulations to the winner  of the Novica contest...
Deb from Deb’s Desire.
Please contact me Deb so I can mail you your coupon code.


enjoy your shopping adventure at NOVICA.
Thanks to all who entered the contest.

'Twas the night before Christmas

Merry Christmas

from my house to yours....

Cynthia, Giuseppe and Ginger

Novica Boxing Day Giveaway

There are many stores online that offer gifts for the special people in your life, but one store stands
out and that is NOVICA  They are in association with National Geographic who have searched out
special artisans from impoverished areas of the world, and given them hope and a chance at a better
life through the selling of their handcrafted goods.   A real win win for all of us.
You get a chance to “meet” the people who you buy from, hear their stories, and then choose from
a wonderful array of high quality goods.

  They have recently added some new features to make shopping even easier... The Novica Gift finder.
Now you can dial in to what it is you are looking for...romantic gifts for her ...gifts for the man in your life hostess gifts and even by how much you want to spend gifts for under $25  This new feature takes the guess work out of selecting gifts and the time spent looking for them.

 Now, Novica has kindly offered a shopping gift certificate for $40 to one lucky person, who I will
choose in a random drawing.  Follow the link above to go to their homepage or one of the gift finder
links, come back here and tell me what it is that you would want to choose should you win.

So pop on over to Novica, read about what a fantastic company they are, look at cool
stuff ( I especially love their shawls and scarfs) and then come back here and leave a comment on
what you would select should you win.  Contest closes Christmas Day, winner will be announced on December 26...please make sure I can get in contact with you via email or Etsy store...

They send their items in lovely gift wrappings...you get a picture of the people who made the items, a chance to share in their journey and what Novica has done for them...not to mention the quality merchandise...hand crafted and on top of it all you are supporting the very real people who make them.

Gun Control....

  What more has to happen?  Why  do people fight so hard against gun control?  Where does

a 2o year old kid get semi-automatic weapons?  These guns are not for hunting...they
are for killing people.  And if the gov steps in and trys banning them all the pro-gun
idiots will be out there claiming its against their rights.   Would they feel the same if
it was their 6 year old kid that was killed? 

I feel sick today.  When will we learn?  when are things going to change.?   These kids have spent

their whole lives sitting at home playing violent video games and we wonder why this is happening.

They watch horrible, violent movies and Hollywood doesn’t want to take any responsiblity either...

they just want their millions.  Ask yourself why is this happening?  Violence is a way of life...so

let your kids watch and do what they want...heaven help you if you have to discipline them or say

no.  Music is the worst... I'm open minded and love a lot of current music.. I even like Taylor Swift now because I think she is a positive role model to young girls and gives them information in her songs how to take control of your life.  This wasn’t happening when I was a kid...unheard of!

More will come out but i betcha its a kid who was home all day without supervision and had violent

video games and a bunch of money to buy semi-automatic weapons...and oh yeah, they always wear

protective clothing....bullet proof stuff...why is that?  So they don’t get shot?   No I think its because
they are copying what they see in the games and movies.  Why does this young kid have the money to buy this stuff?  Does he have responsibilites at home?   Does he pay rent and bills?   If he  did he wouldn’t have money for such stuff.

  Something has to

be done...and it starts with a banning of semi-automatic weapons...period.

It starts with the makers of these games... take responsibility for what they are putting
out there.  Some are R rated but still the kids watch and play them.
And go out there and throw a ball to a kid...why too is it always boys?
You never see a young girl doing this...yet.   She’s to busy copying
the slutty stuff that they are being fed by the media.

Who needs the fiscal cliff...who cares about 12-21-12
we are already living a nightmare that seems to be
getting worse...

Think Peace...
xxc