A trip to Nordic Gypsy

It always amazes me as I enter Nordic Gypsy just how many people shop in this, the only, authentic bead store in Rochester. While the national chain craft stores, offer small selections of beads among all the other craft options --- scrapbook papers, ceramic pots, candles, and silk flowers --- Nordic Gypsy is the real thing. In a small rather compact space they boast a wall of seed beads in hues almost beyond the rainbow's spectrum and resembling a 3-dimensional color wheel, Czech glass, vintage, Chinese porcelain, and even out-of-my-price-range African trade beads.

Today's shopping spree was borne out of necessity to restock basic supplies such as silver crimps and Bali spacers and in part just to allow my eye to wander and my hand to stoke the textures. As I've committed to supply art donations for multiple fundraisers, this afternoon's purchases will spree me to production.

The last of the vinegar...

Every summer I harvest herbs, carefully sanitize bottles, and create herbed vinegars. After a "resting period" in a cool, dark cupboard they are ready for our use or as gifts to family and friends.

While I have used both red and white wine vinegars with a variety of herbal combinations, my favorite base remains apple cider vinegar which offers a distinct, sharp taste. I just emptied the last bottle of apple cider vinegar with thyme and black peppercorns from 2005 making dressing and will need to replenish my larder. With the hot weather, more hours sun since we took down the apple tree, and plenty of water, I have lush green crops of thyme, tarragon, oregano, and three varieties of basil.

Our vegetable garden is one of the best in memory --- we have a bumper crop of peppers coming on four plants, a steady supply of lettuce which is still producing since Richard put in multiple plantings, and a small but delicious crop of green (bush) beans.

Before the end of today, we plan to harvest the rest of the beans, try for a fall crop, as well as dig up the garlic for drying. While it takes time and work, the rewards of a garden (even one as small as ours) are delicious.

Fused Glass from Montana

On each and every vacation we always find a piece of art that becomes our trip "treasure" --- the large fused glass plate that sits on the dining room table purchased in Cripple Creek, CO, the raku pottery vase while in St. Petersburg, FL, or the blown glass plate from Murano, Italy.

On our recent trip to Montana, the artistic spirit only rang once while in Lewistown at the Art Center. A local glass blower/worker had created some lovely pendants on black satin ribbons. One of the blue pieces held a design that reminded me of the thunderbird sculptures we had seen the evening before in Bismarck along the banks of the Missouri. Plus, it was a lovely blue, my favorite color, and would complement my denim outfit for Wendy and Ryan's wedding.

The black satin ribbon serves the purpose but I feel the need to embellish by creating my own necklace with the pendant as the focal piece. This may take some ruminating, especially since my bead selection is stashed away in the back hall closet.

Another "find" while on our stop in Lewistown was the Community Labyrinth Garden. It is described as a "seven circuit path lined with flowers as a symbol of unity." It was created and is maintained by volunteers and, as is intended, walking the quiet path did lift our spirits after a long day's drive.

Afternoon Haiku

vibrating grass blades
mossy oak stretches skyward
dragonflies skim by

...and I really do bead

After naming this blog the Bead Working Librarian, blending a pleasure and my profession, I thought it appropriate to include at least one sample.



I create for myself, for friends and family. I love the textures and colors, knowing there is a synergy at work when combining individual beads and flowing to a finished product. And feeling as if they are jewels, which my good friend Judy calls all her pieces. (Happy anniversary, Judy!)

This necklace and bracelet set were a donation to the annual Minnesota Library Association Foundation silent auction last fall and I've promised work for that and other fundraisers again this year.

Jewels from our garden

After a long winter, those first picked crops are like jewels --- in color, texture and taste.

Broken Flowers

Saturday evening's Netflix movie was a quirky little film, Broken Flowers, starring Bill Murray. In some ways it reminded me of The Razor's Edge, not the storyline, but because Bill Murray is not a ha-ha kind of funny. Rather, it is a movie that keeps you thinking about choices in our lives, the people who come and go, and the color pink.

Beads and Copper

On a sunny Saturday afternoon and after ten years in my job , I decided it was time to re-pot my office plants and add color to the work world where I spend most of my awake hours. With the philodendron rooting long and leggy, I scouted out old copper from our house re-wiring project to create a beaded-copper-mini-trellis to support the vine. Large glass beads on copper catching sunrays on Monday morning --- fresh look to a new week.