Sunday, February 01, 2009

Dreaming of blue skies and warm breezes...

I am cold, I have been cold for a long time now it seems. Because of the high cost of heating these days we do not turn the thermostat above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. So that's the temperature at the thermostat, but it is a whole colder in the rest of the house - as our insulation is terrible (if existent at all). We do not have a fireplace - so that's not an option. I work from home, meaning there really isn't any relief from the cold unless I go out. And you know what that would involve... getting into a COLD car.



Okay, I'm really whining now - I recognize that. I am a California girl - I never knew 'weather' until about 5 years ago. I also know it could be a whole lot worse, so I'll shut up about it now.

If you're still reading, thanks for indulging me in that little 'fit'. Just know that while I beaded up this square for my January Bead Journal Project, I was never warm - not for one single bead. I was, however, dreaming of blue skies and warm breezes. I know it's not that far away now. The thought of that possibility AND green grass makes me positively giddy!



As with all the other pieces for the second year of the project, it is 3 inches x 3 inches. Here's the back for those that love to see the stitching. Images are 'clickable' for a larger view.

A few of you have asked about the black lines in each piece - that part of my project will be revealed once all the pieces are complete.

14 comments:

Dulcey said...

Beautiful spiral! I know what you mean about being cold (tho not from a warm climate). Winter is getting OLD.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Looking at your spirals, I realize what I have been doing wrong. This is a really nice piece.

My husband has RA and COPD, so we don't keep the house too cool. We tried that one year and it seemed that he was always sick. We'll just have to tough the electric bill out, but I am worried about how much this month will cost.

BTW, doesn't matter if you were born in this climate, as I was, you get pretty sick of winter by the end of January, even in a mild winter.

flyingbeader said...

YOU & ME BOTH!!!! I'm so tired of being cold that I can scream & my feet are always ice cubes. The only relief I get is when I go to work as the hospital is always warm. Sorry you have to work cold. Today it actually got 45 degrees outside & it felt like a heat wave. Hopefully our warmer weather won't be too far. Hope the ground hog doesn't see its shadow tomorrow.
dot

KV said...

My architect husband sets our thermostat at 70-71 degrees -- says you end up paying more for heating when it is set lower (cause it comes on more often). That, and the comfort level. We have set specific times of day that the heat will always come on.

Sure hope you are wearing layers and have some handwarmers -- if you need a pair, let me know. Only takes a wee bit of time to make of them and I have scads of warm yarn.

I love your January piece!


Kathy V in NM

Robin said...

My solution to the cold is to use one of those radiating-heat, oil-filled, space heaters... no fan, no noise... it looks like a portable radiator. I'm amazed that it doesn't take much at all to keep a room warm and adds surprisingly little to our heating bill. I wouldn't be able to make my fingers type on these keys if I didn't have this life saver in our little computer attic.

Your piece is very beautiful and suggestive. I love the single red bead in different places in the concentric circles. Do they have a special significance?

I'm so curious about the black lines... having to wait a bunch more months will keep me on pins and needles... yet I do love mysteries!

More WARM hugs, Robin A.

Timaree said...

Very pretty piece and you'd never be able to tell it was done with frozen fingers!

Even here in Arizona I can get cold as my husband has the thermostat set so on another thermometer I can see it hovers around 66 degrees in the house! He does the opposite in the summer and the house doesn't get below 86! He's ridiculous! I have a window air conditioner for my craft area and a space heater from Costco to make up the difference so as long as I stay in my room I'm okay. Guess I'm ranting now!

Pursuing Art... said...

Oh Grace...I don't blame you for needing to vent a little or dreaming of blue skies and warm breezes! You have had one harsh and COLD winter!!! I agree with Kathy, I hope you are layering...I'm sure you are and that gets old too. I won't discuss Punxsutawney Phil. But I can tell the buds on the trees are beginning to swell and that is always a welcoming sign to me! I'm dreaming of blue skies...green leaves...and warmth too.

Your page is beautiful and full of bright blue sky! I love it!

I think I know about those black lines! Not that I know what they will be, but I think I know what they are about! ~wink~

Sending you a warm hug your way! ~Lisa

P.S. Catching up below!

pam T said...

Yep, this page definitely brings me thoughts of blue skies (and hopefully) warmer weather, but it also just makes me think COLD, like everyone commenting! Your beading is so beautiful, Grace, no matter what it depicts. You have such a flare for concentricity...
about the heat/cold - we try desperately to keep the heat in our house above 69 because with my husband's diabetic neuropathy, his feet and hands are always cold even in warm weather. Our old house used to be a lodge for a resort, and being over 90 years old - I am sure there's not much insulation. We have tons of blankets scattered about, and my husband even has one of those little "lap" electric blankets to keep him warm. Those are great!

BrenWall61@gmail.com said...

I love your blues and the way they blend. Your circles are wonderful. Sorry about your being cold - cold is miserable. Here in Arkansas one day cold, one day warm, one day hot -every day is a new weather experience. I seriously means this as an honest suggestion, have you tried one of those new blankets with the arms? They seem like they would be comfortable and warm and you could still bead. Brenda (nevertoolatetohavefun)

Marty S said...

Your blue beads look so tropical! It's a lovely piece and so interesting to see the back.

It's cold in Michigan, too, and I'm ready for spring. We keep our house at 67 during the day and 57 at night. It works pretty well if I keep moving, but it can get cold when I sit still. I made myself some flannel-lined corduroy slacks. Mmmm. Cozy. It was worth a week of corduroy fuzzies tracked all over the house, even if they looked like an undesirable infestation crawling around on the carpet.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

heidibeads said...

I'm with you on the cold - we set our thermostate at 64, so I wear sweaters and long underwear, etc. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather. I love the circles, I can't wait to see what happens with the black lines! Think Spring!

Anonymous said...

You and other commentators are much tougher than I am. Our thermosat is set to 74 for the winter and 82 for the summer - I would like it cooler in the summer but apparently if it set too far below the outside heat, it will wear the air conditioner out much quicker. Can't imagine what it must have been like for the pioneers of this country with its extremes of weather. Thank Goodness I was born now in the days of technology!

Your piece did feel cool I must admit and it had that funny effect spirals can have if you look at them for a time. Maybe you hypnotized the cold away as you spiral along.

Ellen said...

I love this one Grace, those spirals are very cool - no pun intended ;)

Like Robin I like the touch of red & wonder what they are, no doubt you have a plan & keeping us in suspense about it adds to the fun of it all

Elizabeth said...

Your spirals are beautiful and I love blue so did an excellent job from my point of view.

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman