Beading Beat

Today I’m sharing my new design. I started with the earrings and took a with a headpin and picked up a silver bead. The I looped it through the square link separator, twisted it then cut it off. Once I had the four beads in place I attached it to the earring.

Then I decided to make a pair with black beads.

I decided to make three more black square link separators and two more silver link separators. Then I strung black beads with crystal link separators and the square link separators.

I get a different look by wearing the different earrings.

I really like the look.

Beading Beat – Who’s Your Friend Necklace.

Today I’m sharing my ‘Who’s Your Friend’ necklace.

I made a bracelet for a friend using this design and I really loved it.  I was going to make the same bracelet for me, but I don’t usually wear bracelets so I decided to make me a necklace instead.

I used the same Turquoise beads.The square beads had an antique copper edge so I decided to use an antique copper clasp. The little owls were so cute and added a whimsical feel to the piece.

Once I was happy with the design, I strung the beads.

Then I made the earrings to match.

Every time I wear this set, I think of my friend and how much fun we had. I can’t wait to see her again.

 

New Release, Silent Signals, A Cowboy Christmas series by Linda Carroll-Bradd

Title:  Silent Signals, A Cowboy Christmas series

Author:  Linda Carroll-Bradd

Publisher:  Prism Book Group

Release Date:  11/18/16

Blurb for Silent Signals:

After losing half his herd in the Great Blizzard of 1886, rancher Konrad Werner needs to safeguard his cattle. Tomboy Anora Huxley trains the Australian Shepherds and Kelpies that run the family’s sheep herd. Although cattlemen and shepherds are at odds, the pair discovers common interests. A threat is overheard, and Konrad rides out to Anora’s ranch to protect her. The tense situation reveals their true feelings. Will Anora be swayed by family loyalty, or will she listen to her heart that responds to Konrad’s silent signals?

Tagline for Silent Signals:

Will the valley’s feud between cattlemen and shepherds keep them apart?

Purchase Links:

Amazon:  http://a.co/6efnAeC

Excerpt:

Mikel returned, dropping two rolls of wire onto the counter. “I have a new shipment of barbed wire too. Perhaps that works better for your needs?”

Konrad turned and laid a hand on the smooth wire. “The fence to pen in my cattle has several components, so this is what I need. But thanks, Toussaint.”

The shopkeeper shrugged. “Some ranchers prefer the barbed.”

“I do too, and I may have to resort to that when the winter weather sets in. But I’ll wait on that purchase.” He leaned his other hand on the counter. “This year, I’m building a brush fence. I’ll use what I can from downed branches and rocks cleared from the field that will be planted in the spring.” He shrugged and straightened.

“Makes sense.” Mikel nodded as he pulled the pencil from his ear. “I remember those types of fences in old country. Uncle had them around his vineyard.”

Konrad was sure his wasn’t the only sad story the store owner had heard over the last year. “Gotta come up with the cheapest solution for protecting my cattle.” He shook his head. “The ranch can’t withstand any more losses like last year.”

“Excuse me, sir.” A female voice floated in the air.

The tone was pitched low, almost intimate. Konrad shifted and raised an eyebrow at the tall woman dressed in an ill-fitting coat and a split skirt that showed several inches of boot-encased legs. “Are you speaking to me?”

“Have you considered using herding dogs to contain your cattle?” The blonde woman took one step closer, her gaze intent.

“No.” This stranger had an opinion about how he ran his ranch? His body stiffened.

“I train the dogs that work the sheep at Green Meadows Ranch, and I don’t see why the dogs couldn’t be used with cattle.” She glanced over her shoulder and then back to connect with his gaze. “The principles are the same, as long as the person uses the right cues.”

He squinted at the green-eyed woman who stood only a few inches shorter than his six-foot height. Wisps of blonde hair had escaped the edges of her plain black bonnet and straggled along her cheeks. Her face was pleasant enough—probably would be more so without the frown creasing her forehead. “Have we met?”

“I apologize, Mr. Werner. I’m Anora Huxley.” A blush reddened her cheeks. “I am acquainted with Gaelle.”

His younger sister by five years. Which explained why he didn’t know this woman from his schooling years. Huxley did sound familiar, though. But he didn’t have time to contemplate why because the woman now stood by his side. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a thick-set scowling man hovering two feet away who looked madder than a newly branded steer. The second member of the arguing duo.

“My dogs are exceedingly smart. A special breed with strong herding instincts. They respond to hand signs and whistles, and from a distance of more than ten rods.”

He held up a hand lest he be stuck here listening to her run down every detail. “I do not wish to be lectured on how to run my ranch. My brush fence will suffice.” Regretting the stiffness of his tone, he lifted a finger to tap the brim of his hat. “Good day, Mrs. Huxley.” He spotted the brief widening of her gaze before scooping up the roll of wire and headed toward the storeroom. Irritation at the outspoken women and her high-handed advice put an extra punch into each footfall.

Bio:

As a young girl, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, she read and then started writing romances and achieved her first publication–a confession story. Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor from her home in the southern California mountains.

Linda’s Links:

Website           Blog    Facebook         Twitter             Goodreads

 

 

 Cover Contest Finalist

Also, voting is open until November 20^th for the winter cover contest sponsored by Still Moment Magazine. I’m proud that Silent Signals is one of ten finalists. To vote, leave the title or the #9 in a comment on the magazine’s Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Still-Moments-Magazine/111477208866396?ref=nf

 

Beading Beat – Blue Necklace

Blue beaded Necklace.

I decided to combine several techniques into one necklace. I started with making blue   beads out of peyote stitch. I made them piece big enough to wrap around a straw, then I used and eyepin, attached the end bead, put it through the straw, attached another end bead, then made a loop. I cut off the excess eyepin. I made three of these.

 

 

 

 

Then I made the next type of bead by taking a piece of wire, making a loop, stringing it through a big blue bead then made another loop and cut off the excess wire. I made several of these.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next problem was how to fasten them together. I used circle hoops and jump rings to  finish the piece.

I’m really proud of the way it came out.

What piece of jewelry are you the proudest of?

Charter Interview, Pat Tierney from mystery series

I’m delighted to have Pat Tierney here with me today. Pat is the protagonist of Rosemary McCracken’s mystery series. Safe Harbor, the first novel in the series, was a finalist for Britain’s Debut Dagger in 2010 and released by Imajin Books in 2010. It was followed by Black Water in 2013 and Raven Lake earlier this year. Pat has also appeared in several of Rosemary’s short stories, including “The Sweetheart Scamster” in the 2013 crime fiction collection Thirteen, which was a Derringer award finalist. Jack Batten, The Toronto Star’s crime fiction reviewer, calls Pat “a hugely attractive sleuth figure.”

Pat, you are a professional woman, a financial planner. How do you meet up with so  many criminals? 

Pat: Much of my involvement comes from the kind of work I do. I’m a financial advisor, so I’m well-positioned to spot white-collar crime. In Safe Harbor, red flags went up for me when a rookie financial advisor was given a large investment account to manage. And when I looked closely at that account, I saw that a sizeable part of its assets were invested in slowpoke stocks. Now why would anyone put money into laggard investments? Things didn’t add up. And when things don’t add up for a financial advisor, something is very wrong.

Greed for money is a motive for all sorts of crime—even murder.

Do you always agree with how Rosemary tells your story?

Pat: Rosemary gets most things rights—probably because of her training as a journalist. But she keeps bringing my family into all the novels. Everyone has families, and I don’t know why she thinks mine is in any way interesting.

Well, you’ve faced a lot personal problems in recent years—the death of your husband; learning about his love affair, then adopting his young son who resulted from that affair; your daughter, Tracy, who’s in a same-sex relationship; and now your teenage daughter, Laura, is expecting a baby. Rosemary is clearly impressed by how you cope  with it all. 

Pat: Those were stressful situations, but what choice did I have but to accept them? To keep my sanity, I always try to look on the bright side. Michael is gone and nothing will bring him back, but his son Tommy is a dear boy, as you know if you’ve read Rosemary’s books, and I’m delighted he’s now part of our family. Tracy is in a stable relationship with a good woman, and I’m standing by her choice of a partner. Laura will be young to raise a child, and she doesn’t want to marry at this point. I’ll do my best to help her, and I’ll see that she goes back to school next year. My kids are healthy, mentally stable, and they stand to live happy, useful lives. Hey, I can’t really ask for much more!

You have a strong social conscience. Can you comment on some of the issues that have been raised in the novels? 

Pat: The issue that comes up most frequently is fraud: investment fraud and other kinds of fraud. The financial industry deals with money, and therefore it provides an opportunity for people who are clever and greedy enough to challenge the system. I’m a champion of small investors who can get taken by financial fraudsters. I want to see these crooks weeded out and punished. I want tougher penalties for their crimes. The system in Canada is currently too soft on offenders.

I don’t like to see anyone getting a raw deal. My heart went out to the refugees in Safe Harbor who were forced to leave their homelands, and were then terrorized in Canada where they thought they’d be safe and free. And I really felt for the victims of the cottage rental scams in Raven Lake—vacationers sent their money to those fraudsters in good faith, then lost their money and their holiday lodgings. And elderly property owners were terrified when would-be renters started turning up at their doors.

What’s next for you, Pat? 

Pat: I left Norris Cassidy, the big investment firm, in Raven Lake, and the fourth book will open in Toronto where I’m trying to set up my own business. I decided to buy an existing business from an advisor who wants to retire. I found one that looked terrific, then I realized that something that looks too good to be true…probably is.

Does that mean you’ve left the beautiful Glencoe Highlands where Black Water and Raven Lake are set? 

Pat: The fourth book opens in Toronto, but I didn’t say where it will take place after the opening chapters. You’ll have to wait for Rosemary to finish writing it to find out.

Where can readers find the Pat Tierney novels? 

Pat: They can check out Raven Lake at myBook.to/RavenLakeTierney. Safe Harbor is at myBook.to/SafeHarborTierney. And Black Water is at myBook.to/BlackWaterTierney. These are universal links that will take readers to the Amazon stores in their own countries

Thank you for inviting me here today, Karen. Always a pleasure to chat wit you!

 

Rosemary McCracken, Pat’s author, was born and raised in Montreal. She worked on newspapers across Canada as a reporter, arts reviewer, editorial writer and editor before turning to freelance journalism and fiction writing. She now lives with her husband in Toronto, and teaches novel writing at George Brown College.

Follow Rosemary on her website: http://www.rosemarymccracken.com/

On her blog: http://www.rosemarymccracken.com/

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5786141.Rosemary_McCracken?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosemarymccracken

And Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCMcCracken