Of Two Minds

Of Two Minds

When I was a little girl I had a love hate relationship with Sunday. All the best musicals were on T.V. all day long, but there was no one to play with (they were all gone doing fun things with their family, which made me feel I was lacking.) Now I love Sunday. It is the one day of the week where I do not feel stress about things that I should be doing; I get to do whatever I want to do. I still choose good films to watch, usually ones that make me think or feel passionately and deeply.

 

Today I watched Of Two Minds, which is a visually beautifully constructed documentary about bi-polar disease. Mental illness has found itself a thread in my life in SO many different ways, each one significant and impacting; it always finds me.

Photo: ChicagoNow.com

What I loved about this film is the relatability of the characters, but mostly the relatability of the illness to anyone’s life. I am not saying that the illness does not afflict in reality, or that it is less significant because we all experience some of the symptoms as they are described by those diagnosed with the illness; I know I cannot full identify with living on a daily basis with the disease, however I feel we have all experienced some of the highs and lows and the devastating consequences of those feelings. I would like people to remember that and have more compassion when it comes to thinking about, or being confronted with, mental illness. I also liked how the move looks at both the perspective of the patient and the support persons.

Photo: 24.media on Tumblr

I also finished a necklace yesterday that I wanted to share with you. It was quite a challenge because it is very tightly woven, one bead at a time with needle and thread; the thread kept breaking except for where I used six pound fire line. I recommend only using six pound or heavier strength if you are going to do any tight weaving. It is so much work, I want it to last.

This is a Cellini Spiral technique with a reverse spin at the center. I used dyed coral, and seed beads in sizes 6, 8, and 11, in silver lined crystal, pearled turquoise, coral red, and peridot lined apricot colors. Outside the twist I stranded more dyed coral, natural coral, and brecciated turquoise. You cannot see the extra-large, silver clasp. I will also be making matching earrings.

 

For the rest of my day I think I will make a soufflé or quiche with roasted asparagus and bacon, and another baklava or maybe some turnovers or cookies with tart cherry paste.

Happy Sunday!

Love of Butterfly Free Bead Giveaway

Love of Butterfly Free Bead Giveaway by monaraebeads featuring a black diamond necklace

 

It's 'Magination Monday here at MonaRAEbeads. For some reason I haven't had many entries to win my butterfly lampwork bead. Maybe you need a few ideas to get that imagination working toward how you might use that extra large bead!

I say string it on a chain, or a few! And don't you LOVE those shoes?! The only thing I love more than those shoes would be if I could wear them !!!! Keep the dress simple, graphic, and statement filled, then add butterflies in pops of color.

Can you imagine yourself with this bead? How would you use it? Give me YOUR imaginative ideas on my Facebook page here!

Did you enter to win? If you do you will also receive 30% at my shop! Just click here for instructions on how to enter, but do it fast because the drawing is on 5/22/13 at midnight PST!

Free Bead Friday: Butterfly

I will be giving away the bead pictured here to one lucky entrant. If you want to be that lucky person you must complete each of the following steps by Wednesday, May 22, 2013, midnight (PST), when I will make a random drawing from the entrants.

• Like my Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/MonaRAEbeads
• Subscribe to my web site, MonaRAEbeads.com, here:  http://monaraebeads.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e2138147dc1e11a052eab57bf&id=1552eb8a5a

If you are already a subscriber and a Facebook fan, please leave a comment below to get your entry. Everyone who enters will be an instant winner of two coupons for 15% off at my shop, which can be combined for 30% if you want, or passed on to a friend! Good luck!

 

I am Lakshmi, Growing from the Lotus in the Desert

Courtesy of The Village Family Services

Today was a ritual of letting go of the things that keep me from loving. It was very difficult. I have a hard time letting go. On a simple level it is because it means I've done something wrong. In reality it means that someone doesn't want me. I can't think of incidents that I need to let go; I always think of people I need to let go. I feel wrong for severing from them and I have a difficult time getting perspective on "killing off" people.

Courtesy of GodHungry: When Adults Refuse to Grow Up

I did however realize that I needed to forgive someone for not being a better person, and more than that, for knowing better but not wanting to do better. And I think that is my ultimate beef with everyone that lets me down; they know better but choose to stay where they are or go deeper into where they were. They want some comfortable familiarity where they don't have to think, don't have to decide, don't have to change, don't have to fear, don't have to question. I totally understand that because it is that comfort I have in the people who have hurt me the most.

Courtesy of Trek Earth

The people who have hurt me the most do so by choosing comfort instead of growth, and they hurt me because they leave me alone. Alone to journey, alone to grow, alone to fear the changes, alone to be brave, alone to have the courage. I guess life was not to be that easy for me this time around. Is my lesson in life to be alone? Is my lesson in life to see that I am not alone? Oh, if the latter is true, I am most certainly failing. Because I am alone in body, perhaps in spirit with the exception of God, My Words, Buddha. Perhaps it is a choice to be alone, rather than a circumstance put upon me. After all, isn't "alone" just a meaning I am giving?  I am growing, I am moving, I am waiting, I am wandering, I am flying, I am, So Hum.

Courtesy of LifeArte

Today I want to make a bead with the colors coral gray, and black. I saw a color block dress on a model in a yahoo advertisement. I can't find the picture now, darn it!

Courtesy of VictoriaBC Wedding Tips

It is supposed to be very hot today and tomorrow. I need to water my plants and maybe take pictures of new growth in the garden. Gonna make meatloaf for dinner and a potato salad. Need to get the potato salad done early. The infection in my lip seems better this morning; I'll just keep treating it and not go to the doctor. Need to think of a dessert to make, but do it early before the heat. Still trying to deal with cravings for nicotine.

Homework to do on the website, social media, and bead biz.