It's an Odd Day

Did you know that today's date, 5/7/09, is made up of three consecutive odd numbers? According to this website, http://www.oddday.net/, this only happens six times this century and then we have to wait another 90 years until it happens again.

Apparently, I just wasn't paying attention before because it has already happened twice since we clicked into the new millenium, on 1/3/05 and 3/5/07, and I missed the significance. The next three dates to watch out for are: 7/9/11, 9/11/13 and 11/13/15.

One thing that I find odd is that I had never used a dremel to clean the bead release out of my finished beads before, until today. Now that I have, I wonder why I ever spent the time to clean them painstakingly by hand with a bead reamer when it is so much more fun, quicker and more effective to do it with the speedy, vibrating dremel.

They have one set up at Beadfx, hanging from something that looks a bit like an IV stand, beside a bucket full of grey water in the lampwork studio. I dropped a bead into the bucket by mistake and had to feel around for it. It's weird when you can't see what you're looking for. I felt something else on the bottom of that bucket but I didn't want to investigate too closely into what it might be, I just snatched up my bead and got my hand out of there! There could be a Loch Ness-type monster lurking in those murky depths, ready to have a little nibble on any unsuspecting fingers who ventured in unawares, who can say for sure there isn't? But aside from that little adventure, it's all good - I have a batch of very clean beads and plans to take my stash of uncleaned ones in with me next time I go so I can get them all prettied up and ready to use.

From Russia With Talent

Last Saturday, a woman came by the Dixon Chicks table at the TBS Bead Fair to speak with Stephanie and show her some of her jewellery. Her name was Alla and she pulled out bag after bag from her purse in a very Mary Poppinsish manner, chatted a few minutes and then left us with her jewellery while she and her friend went to look around the fair. If I understood correctly, she was here visiting from Minsk, having been here for the Bead Oasis show in March, met Stephanie and has been emailing with her since then, and decided to fly back over just to attend the Bead Fair!!


Stephanie and I and another woman (whose name I didn't catch but who saw the first piece and then couldn't leave before seeing them all) opened each bag and oohed and aahed over the pieces. Each one was even more intricate and beautiful than the one before.

Here are just a few pictures of her fabulous designs:


















The white necklace was especially lovely and would look amazing with a wedding dress!!

Cinco de Mayo

The fifth of May is what they call a "voluntary holiday" in Mexico, which is one way of saying it's not a national holiday and it's not a statutory holiday. According to the Internet, it recognizes the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It's not their independence day, as many people mistakenly believe.

In the U.S., today is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, but not a holiday.

Here in Canada, it's just one of those holidays noted on the calendar that makes you think, "hey, I wonder what that's all about?" :)

For me, today is special because two of the wonderful women that I met in Mexico this past January are celebrating their birthday. Happy Birthday, ladies - I certainly hope you are having margaritas to celebrate!

The Corsage Project

Yesterday also marked the occasion of a very special annual event here in Toronto called the Corsage Project. Recognizing that going to their school formal or prom is something many kids dream of but can't always afford, girls from all over Toronto are given the opportunity to attend their proms with brand new clothes, jewellery, shoes and accessories donated by various corporate sponsors and individuals. The girls are nominated by their guidance counsellors, teachers or children's aid workers and are invited to attend one afternoon to try on outfits and pick out what they'd like to wear. Volunteers are assigned to each girl to be their "personal shopper" or you can work at the various stations, helping them with makeup, hairstyles, having their picture taken, getting alterations done. There are similar organizations throughout North America doing the same thing and it is such a worthwhile cause.

Last year was my first time taking part in this event and it was such a lot of fun and so moving to see these girls come in and get dressed up. They're excited to be there but in the beginning, they're nervous and not sure how it's going to turn out. By the end of the afternoon, they are so happy and excited to have found just the right outfit, it's quite amazing to see the transformation.

I worked at the jewellery table last year, helping the girls pick out bracelets, earrings and necklaces to go with their outfits. Various members of the Toronto Bead Society and customers of Beadfx and Bead Junction donate their time and creations to this worthy cause, stores donate the clothes and shoes. Not to worry, everything is brand new (except for some pieces of vintage jewellery, perhaps) - it's not like the poor girls have to go to prom wearing somebody's bridesmaid dress from 1974!

I found this photo on the internet, in a blog called "OdetteRoulette" (great name) - hope Odette doesn't mind me using this photo. Her caption was "Sweet mother of toast! I would leap across the (bleep) cake and stab my friend with the cake server if made to wear this thing! Thanks to stylenews for this monstrocity." I agree, Odette!

I was sorry to miss yesterday's festivities and I look forward to taking part again next year.

Another Eventful Day

Thank you very much to my cousin Catherine, who hosted a jewellery show at her home for me today. Not a very big turnout but we had a good visit and lots of fun, everyone was very complimentary about my creations and went home with something they liked.

Here's a photo of my cousin Cameron trying on one of my necklaces, and his sister Claire and her friend Christina doing the same. The kids were so cute, they all wanted to either touch or try on every piece.

This is my aunt Barb, modelling the necklace that she bought. It's a very dainty wire wrapped design and suited her both her personality and her rose coloured top perfectly.

I was about an hour late arriving to Catherine's house as there was a serious accident on the highway just as I was heading to her place. All five lanes of traffic were completely blocked, no cars were getting through and we were stuck for over 45 minutes. It was the first time I've ever been in a traffic backlog where everyone turned off their engines and got out of their cars to talk and look around. Apparently a motorcyclist ended up under a tractor trailer. They actually landed the medivac helicopter on the highway in front of us and took the victim away. I was only about 10 cars from the scene of the accident so was able to get this photo. I was amazed at the number of cars that stopped on the overpass above and the people inside got out to have a look at what was going on. All in all, it sounded pretty serious for the victim, who at last report had suffered injuries to both legs and was undergoing surgery but hopefully he's going to be okay in the long run.

As inconvenienced as the rest of us were, I think we were all pretty glad to be stuck in traffic in the sun on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, instead of being the one airlifted away from the scene.

A Great Day

Just got home a little while ago from spending all day at the Toronto Bead Society spring bead fair. What a great day. I worked at the Dixon Chick booth and what a lot of fun it was. Stephanie (the Chick in Charge, of both her own booth and coordinating all the volunteers) and I (the assistant Chick) had so much fun chatting with all the lovely ladies who came by her booth to ask about wire crochet classes and techniques and buy wire.

I also did a little shopping, natch. I tried not to, but had to do a tour around and visit my favourite vendors, and a few things caught my eye as I did. But mostly I walked quickly past most places and managed to restrain myself. However, I did buy a few new treasures which I will share with you in blog postings to come. Luckily, Stephanie was kind enough to pay me for my day's labour and that went a long way to offsetting my bead purchases today, as otherwise, my new budget which went into effect only yesterday would be totally shot already! (oops)

Right now, I am weary in that way you get after a busy, fun day full of chit chat and activity. My brain is swirling around a bit with all the images of the day but my body is tired and ready for bed. Of course, it's too early for that and there are a few things I need to do to get ready for tomorrow's jewellery show at my cousin Catherine's. Plus my laundry is still in the dryer. As they say, no rest for the weary!

TBS Spring Bead Fair

Spring is slowly making its presence felt in the neighborhood. Around the corner from my building, this beautiful swatch of daffodils has been blooming merrily all week, seemingly obliviously to whether it's sunny or pouring rain. The tree in this photo still looks quite bare but I can see many others from my window that are starting to get that green fuzzy glow about them.

Another sure sign of spring is the Toronto Bead Society's Spring Fair, which takes place tomorrow. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the YMCA downtown, on Grosvenor Street (between Wellesley and College subway stops). I'll be there, working at the Dixon Chicks booth, demonstrating wire crochet, selling wire and whatever else Miss Stephanie asks me to do. In exchange, she has promised that I will have plenty of time to shop and I am quite looking forward to that!!