Monday, June 28, 2010

In Appreciation. . .

These roses are a gift for Nonnie, our BBEST - Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team leader -- in our deep appreciation of her! Today we "roast" Nonnie in celebration not only of her and her role with our team, but also celebrating in joy as she retires from her "job-job" on June 30th and will be more fully able to enjoy her own creativity and our team!

I asked around for a little "info" on our great leader to include here in starting our official roast. I'm hoping  team members will add in their comments over the next couple of days to share in the fun.

Just a little background on Nonnie. . .

Nonnie lives in Danville, Pennsylvania where she says the average temp in winter is COLD! (20 degrees). In the summer it's HOT -- with an average daily temp of 95. But, Nonnie doesn't run hot or cold herself. She faithfully leads our team week after week! In one of her shop profiles she says, "I am meticulous in all I do, and never sell anything unless I am 100% satisfied with it!" We definitely see that side of Nonnie on the Boomers team!

Nonnie is also a pretty relaxed gal who says her style is mostly t-shirts, sweaters or jeans. Her preferred "themes" are spontaneity and serendipity. It's easy to see those themes at work in her shops. Nonnie says "I am inspired by many things -- nature, music, books, and even dreams. . ." and we often see nature (and the beloved kitty) in her artwork in her stained glass shop. In fact, I think we daily see a rendition of that kitty as an avatar!

Nonnie says she is also "someone who appreciates beautiful things, particularly from long ago. . . I love antiques, and I am constantly on the lookout for that special vintage piece." She definitely has a knack for collecting. Her vintage collectibles shop is filled with amazing "treasures" -- in fact, almost 600 listings! Wow!

Nonnie's favorite color is blue (who would have guessed? -- check out her vintage treasures shop and count the blue backgrounds!). Nonnie's favorite scent is tea rose (if only we could add the fragrance of the roses we gave her here).

Nonnie remembers important occasions and keeps us all on track too. But, I am told her memory is not always the best in other situations. A couple of Bbesters remember an in-person get-together on the east coast. "The night was ending and we were all headed home. We walked with Nonnie to the garage where her car was parked -- however, Nonnie couldn't seem to locate it. We proceeded to walk around and around trying to set off her car alarm with her lock device to no avail and then Chauncey drove Nonnie around the garage and NO CAR!!! All of a sudden....Nonnie said, "I think I parked it in another garage...." Well....that's what happened!! We all got a big laugh out of it (including Nonnie!) and bring it up often. We will never let her live it down!! Even though she is teased, another very special comment by one of those at that event is worth repeating about Nonnie: "She is such a super lady!"

We have had some lovely swaps that Nonnie has officiated over where she pairs up partners without our knowledge to help with the surprise factor. More than one person has commented that Nonnie has not participated "to keep it all fair." In fact, she dotes over those swaps very, very carefully -- and once even surprised a participant with a very special ACEO piece of her stained glass when a swap didn't come off as planned . It has been fun to hear her exclaim over the little "retirement gifts" coming her way in a shower from some of our teammates over the past few days. She deserves so much more -- we hope this makes up just a little for not swapping with us. . .while caring so much about us all.

Nonnie is a wonderful person, leader and friend to us all. Help me give her a round of applause in your comments!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Summer & Beach Inspiration

“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.”
-- Michelle Held


Sand Castle beach scene bookcover, by BookWraps (Whimsey's newest shop!)


Inspiration abounds in the wonderful warm days of summer. Gardens are blooming everywhere we look and everything is green. Even in the hottest days, we find delight and creative ideas in the colors and sounds of the ocean and beach, the warming sun, bright beach umbrellas, garden flowers, green grasses, and palm trees. As Henry James once said, "Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

Many of our team members are at their BBEST in the heat, and here are some of my favorites for you to enjoy.


Handmade Pleated Shoulder Bag, by Whimseys

Sea Treasure - Beach Glass and Coral Earrings, by NightSkyJewelry

Watercolor - Waves on the Beach by YankeeGirl


We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in an ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. - Mother Teresa




Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Sea Shell by the Ocean, by Chris1

Summertime Summertime SumSum Summertime, by LaughingOtterJewelry

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain


The Beach, by BethPeardonProds

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The Art of Retiring!

With my tongue in my cheek I thought of our illustrious leader, Nonnie who is due to retire in the next couple of weeks.  This is always a huge, sometimes scary, decision to take.  It is always something in the distant future and then! Here it is!  Many of us in the BBEST team have reached, or are reaching, retirement age.  Or rather, the next stage in our lives – sounds better!  Gone are the days when the slippers came out, you sat down and that was that.

I once read these words and they rang so true.

“Some of us need a challenge, something to keep us excited about life. Too many still need money. Many need both.

Well, it turns out that we never retire for good... not until we expire for good!"

Those words could be used to describe so many of us, including myself!  Although I have ‘retired’ from a life when I used to get up and go to the office with all the stress that could be thrown at me, I do find myself busier than ever!  Not one to sit still, I recently started a very (thankfully!) successful business venture with my daughter.  My husband is running his own show in the line of business that he is in.  In between, I try to create wax paintings when I can.  Both of us can’t see ourselves ever retiring.  I guess the joy of being able to do, afford to do something that is dear to our hearts, keeps us motivated and just plain gives us the incentive to get up to another glorious day. To me, that is what it is all about.

So, I would like to dedicate this post to Nonnie.  Nonnie, I am sure you will love your ‘retirement’ and become so busy doing all the things YOU want to do that you will wonder how on earth you had the time to go to work!

We in the BBEST team are such a talented crowd not only creating the most amazing artifacts whilst still working but also when we have retired from busy walks of life.

Here are a few examples showing the diversity of this team I feel so honoured to count amongst my friends.

You might be retired but that all important tool called a laptop is still needing our attention!  What a pretty cover this makes.

imageLaptop sleeve by  Stitches by Julie

Now you don’t have to get up so early you might be able to enjoy sights like this one.

imageMoonlight at the Beach by HeronKate

Or find the time to spend more on your garden or attending to your flower displays?

imageAll the Flowers in a Row by  Yankee Girl

Going out and need that extra splash to go with your outfit?

imageOpal and Solid Gold Wire Pendant by  Anna’s Jewelry

Even at this stage there could be times when you can’t see the wood for the trees (is that right?).

imageForest through the Trees by Mystic Silks

Imagine what you could do with these threads!  Let the imagination flow.

imagePearl  fine yarn by Sassa Lynne

Last, but by no means least, I have to include this amazingly beautiful stained glass panel by Nonnie.  If this is what retirement might mean, go for it and all our BBEST wishes!

image

Stained Glass Panel by  Stained Glass by Nonnie

Monday, June 14, 2010

Checking Out the “In” Colors!

Sally was running late. I was so excited to tell her about my whirlwind life of the last month. Part of that whirlwind was choosing something to wear for our 50th wedding anniversary celebration. But, more about the party later. While shopping in Florida (so our daughter could assure that my outfit was coordinated with her color choices for decorations), I noticed the “in” colors in the department store. Yellow, black, and white stood out, although bright red and bold greens were also plentiful. I always notice the colors that are on display, imagining what I might crochet using those colors and getting it finished fast enough before the season and colors change again! Knowing that my Boomers and Beyond friends always have terrific selections in every color, I just wanted to see what they might have in yellow, black, and white. And Sally could check it out when she gets here.

the creators palette rosewww.thecreatorspalette.etsy.com

swarvoski necklace yellow magdalene jewels

www.magdalenejewels.etsy.com

stitchesbyjulie ladies yellow poncho

www.stitchesbyjulie.etsy.com

six sisters yellow headed blackbird

www.sixsisters.etsy.com

mystic silks yellow scarf w orange

www.mysticsilks.etsy.com

Heronkate Ladybugs and Daffodil

www.heronkate.etsy.com

gliztnglass painted wine glass

www.glitznglass.etsy.com

get lathered yellow soap

www.getlathered.etsy.com

chris 1 sunflower acea

www.chris1.etsy.com

cbbasement Tropical Lights

www.cbbasement.etsy.com

birose very yellow snappie bracelet

attackofthevintage golf clubs

www.attackofthevintage.etsy.com

birose very yellow snappie bracelet

www.birose.etsy.com

zuda gay black flower

www.zudagay.etsy.com

nightskyjewelry

www.nightskyjewelry.etsy.com

jnoriginals

www.jnoriginals.etsy.com

imaginuity black necklace

www.imaginuity.etsy.com

figments Ramon necklace

www.figments.etsy.com

eversodear

www.eversodear.etsy.com

annas jewelry

www.annasjewelry.etsy.com

altheap

www.altheap.etsy.com

sassalynne yarn

www.sassalynne.etsy.com

'pixiemarket

www.pixiemarket.etsy.com

scottieacres

www.scottieacres.etsy.com

pfdoriginalartworks

www.pdforiginalartworks.etsy.com

kittyd

www.kittyd.etsy.com

jills treasure chest votive

www.jillstreasurechest.etsy.com

dreamwhimsey

www.dreamwhimsey.etsy.com

bytheway

www.bytheway.etsy.com

blazing needles mug rug

www.blazingneedles.etsy.com

ajscountrycottage

www.ajscountrycottage.etsy.com

beth peardon products

www.bethpeardonprods.etsy.com

“Beautiful, as always,” I knew that Sally would say.