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Monday, September 19, 2011

Bead Soup

Hi Everyone,

It is with much humiliation and great sadness that I write this post.

Due to unexpected circumstances in my life in the last week I have been unable to complete my project.  YET

I do intend to finish and post it.  I have great ideas for two pieces that will compliment each other nicely.  However, this happened at our Sister Property just over a week ago:

“A 34-year old worker employed by PTI Group was electrocuted while installing electrical cable at Beaver River Lodge,” said Occupation Health and Safety spokesperson Sorcha Thomas.
The incident occurred on Sept 11 at about 9:30 am while the man was working at the main electrical distribution area for a camp that serves oil and gas workers about 49 km north of Fort McMurray.
“A stop work order for the electrical distributor is in effect, while our officers investigate the death,” said Thomas.
Beaver River Lodge is a 732-room facility with private management and executive suites, home-style cuisine, games room, licensed lounge, driving range and fitness facility.
PTI Group provides accommodations and food services to workers in remote areas. "

This was one of the kindest men you could know.  He's got 8 month old twins and another baby on the way.  Our construction Crew and Maintenance department is devastated.

Due to the nature of the accident Beaver River lost all power and other services for approximately 48 hours.  Now, because we are 45 minutes north of the most rudimentary civilization those 732 guests + staff and management had to be housed at our property which is right next door.

I work at the front desk and getting that many people (who are used to being pampered and are quite whiny ...I'm still exhausted and therefore a little whiny myself) into a Camp where the people they Manage are staying AND keeping them happy is no small task.  Add to that the fact that our little staff of five has been working short handed all summer and our relief came back 10 days late from holidays.  So the  three of us who were here to work at the time were already exhausted.  We then had to put in a number of 12+ hour days to ensure that everyone was taken care of aside from having to deal with the devastating loss.  It has been all we could do to make it through the day and then peel ourselves out of bed in the morning.  Also, while we only had our unexpected guests for two nights we had to be ready to take in all the ones that had been put out for those two nights the next day.

Anyway, enough whining from me about my problems.  What I would like to say is that I got started, the idea is in my head of how to do it but when I tried to get back at it the other night I found I hadn't the stregth, the energy or any patience hwatsoever to continue on.

I appologize everyone in the Bead Soup Blog Hop.  Right now I must get to work....again.  I have posted pictures of the pendant  that I made and the Egptian Coil Necklace that I started to make.  it was my plan to put in three or four of the coils then un-bend one and string one of the blue agate beads on it and continue on with the coils...I'm not sure how long it will end up yet.

Anyway, I am very sorry to have let you down in this.  I was so looking forward to participating in this blog hop.  I know that I am not the only one that has been stretched thin.  I wish I had been able to come through...if I had been able to find anything in me to make this on time I would have.  I think that's why I put off writing this.  I had thought I'd maybe throw something quick together but decided that this and my partner deserved more than a quick non-effort.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Blog Hopping and had a great weekend, here is what I have so far.

















~<3 GillyBean

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Sharing September - Be Healing

Sharing September - Be Healing

Saturday, September 03, 2011

....oh boy! How I DO love the internet!!!

Oh so much wonderful stuff out there and so little time to appreciate it all!

I love the internet.  I always have.  I know it has a wealth of information.  I always knew that so much good could come from it if only people would give it a go.  What I didn't know is that there are SO MANY people out there already doing it!  I've been "blog-hopping" tonight rather than sleeping or making my bead soup piece (bad GillyBean!  lol) and I've found so many inspirational things.  All thanks to well, last fall I broke up with my very controlling boyfriend.  Took a drive to town.  Bought myself something pretty and ended up thinking to myself.  I can do that!  ...and with the new freedom and empowerment that I felt I decided at Christmas time that I would make myself a watch.  It was a hit with everyone who saw it!  I ended up selling quite a few.  Still have some orders out there.  I've also branched out into earrings and bracelets.  Nothing big but, I love making things that other people love as much as I do.  ...and I am always so surprised at that!  lol  (pictures of these things to follow, I know I have to get more up here...I promise I will!)

Anyway, my journey led in a roundabout way to the BSBP (there's a link over on the side there, if you want some info, it's a wonderful thing created and organized and very well handled by the amazing Lori over at Pretty Things, if you ask me I think she's got super powers!).  The BSBP has led me to some wonderful blogs.  (There are a few links to them as well, all are worth a peek and another one or two.... Amber Dawn's Inventive Soul this post started my evening off, another one that I follow by e-mail is Pink Lemonade, wow...and that's only three or four!).

Then finally I've been led to the Brave Girls Club, if you haven't read this post then please go do so now...I'll wait. ... ... ... ... ... ...    :-D    ... ... ... ... ...  The idea of this club (and I've only looked at it a little bit, so this is my very first impression) is something that seems to be the theme of my evening.  Wonderful, strong, passionate, creative women empowering others to follow their dreams.  What a great place the internet can be!

I am off to dream land.  Have a SPECTACULAR weekend everyone!

~<3 GillyBean.

Friday, September 02, 2011

FINALLY!!

I have finally had a chance to open and appreciate my Bead Soup from the lovely Bella!

It has some beautiful beads and some hand made findings.

Here's a pic:


Some cultured pearls, some agate, some sterling and Bali silver.  I'm quite excited!  The ideas are already brewing...gonna go over the rules again to see just what I can and can't do.  lol!

Happy creating fellow artists and good luck with your Bead Soup (I know you won't need it as much as I do!)

~<3 GillyBean.