Bond. James Bond.

In the past, OctoKitty was the beautiful head of a ring of jewel smugglers who wanted to start a nuclear war in their down time. She was an arch-nemesis of James Bond.




But OctoKitty has done time and is a new woman...er, spider... er, cat.




She no longer wants to start a nuclear war, but she is inordinately fond of jewels and beads and bling. That will never change.

OctoKitty is made from lampwork glass, pewter bead caps, bugle beads, and seed beads. She is beaded, legged, and dangerous... if you happen to have a Faberge egg lying around.



She is living in a rehab house at etsy.

Rose's is Red

Rose's is red,
Violet's is blue.
Rose has a red thorax.
What color have you?



Here today, gone to etsy.

News on the Giveaway Highway

A chance to win Bella at http://codyskeepsakes.blogspot.com.



Isn't she bootiful?

Blanche du Bwahahahahahaha

Meet my latest spider creation, Blanche du Bwahahahahahaha. I made a beaded web strand for Blanche so that she can hang alluringly on the wall, be taken for a walk, be worn as an ornament, or be safely tethered to one spot.





Blanche has had a rough life. She lost her mate a few months back. No... she didn't bite his head off. She's not that kind of spider. He lost his life in a tragic accident. Rolled-up L.A. Times. (It could have been worse. It could have been the rolled-up L.A. Times before they downsized it.) She found herself with 543 beady babies to raise all on her own.




Then she lost her web. Yep. Foreclosure. Sign of the times. She got into one of those Re-Fi now loans. There's no way she could make the payments, especially with her husband gone. And she's not as young as she used to be. It's not like she can pull all that spider silk out of her... well, maybe she can. But not as quickly as before.



Fortunately the kids are grown now, weaving webs of their own. Blanche can finally relax a little. Take it easy.




Her requirements are few: a couple of beaded flies, a web to call home, maybe a pig to watch over. Can you help. Adoption is available right here.

Halloween on the Brain

Here's a sneak preview while I get my jack o' lanterns in a row...

Whither the wandering witch?

Round and round the wandering witch goes.
Where she stops, nobody know.
If you find her, gifts galore.
Check out the links. See what's in store.

Sea Turtle Diary

October

Monday

I've been swimming and diving all day. Haven't seen anyone else. A few other leatherbacks floated past yesterday, but I ignored them. It's not like I'm in the mood to mate or anything. Last night I did some shallow diving for a plankton meal. In the morning I'll do some deep diving. I haven't snacked on a jellyfish for a while, and I've got a craving. Hmm. Maybe it is time to mate again.







Friday

It's getting close to nesting season. I should probably start heading that way. Yesterday three different leatherbacks were courting me. You should have seen the carpace on one of them! I told him size wasn't everything. I want a sensitive father for my babies. A nice artistic leatherback. I hope the little shy one comes back. I think he has beautiful eyes. I'm finally just offshore from the nesting grounds.





Saturday

Did the deed with the little shy leatherback. I wonder if I'll see him again. Maybe he'll write me poetry. I'd like that.







November

Monday

I haven't seen Shy Boy for three weeks. Maybe we'll meet again next year. I just got the shore. These nesting grounds are quite deluxe. I always come here. I recognize some of the girls from a few years back. I'll probably keep coming here for the next 20 years or so. No time to chat with the others. I have a body pit to dig.








Tuesday



Finished my pit just in the nick of time. This year I laid 70 eggs - my biggest batch yet. Can't wait to see what my 70-uplets look like. I bet they'll all have their father's eyes. I stayed with them a few hours, but then I headed back into the water. The temperatures have been cool, which means probably more sons than daughters this time.






Wednesday



Time to head out to sea and find a new daddy for my next batch. I think I'll lay them farther up the beach, this time. I'd like more of a view.






January

Monday

I've been out swimming for months now, celebrating my 12th birthday. But I think tonight's the night for my babies to hatch. I want to watch them reach the water.





Tuesday

Nothing yet. Maybe they're still digging their way to the surface.

Friday

Here they come! Tiny babies. Some of them look like that big carpace leatherback I met back in October. I wonder who their mother is. I see about 30 with those dreamy eyes. Those must be mine. And they look to be excellent divers. When a bird flew overhead, they all plunged deeper into the ocean. I feel so proud. My babies are ready for their lost year; they'll keep to the ocean, away from the shore. I'm planning to log 1000 miles this year, Maybe I'll see them again somewhere.





P.S.

Proceeds from these pieces go to seaturtle.org, which is dedicated to providing online resources and solutions in support of sea turtle conservation, and research around the world.

Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Fur

In a former life, this kitty was a flower child. She, no doubt, roamed the Haight Ashbury handing out daisies to passersby and singing songs of peace and love. Her hair was long and flowing, and she always wove flowers in it. She wore dresses made from India bedspreads that smelled like sandalwood incense. If there was a love-in at Golden Gate Park, you could ount on her to be there. And she had a name like Sunshine.

In this life, she has been reincarnated as a cat. A lampwork glass cat, also named Sunshine.



Now she has flowers on her tummy and on her hips.



Instead of the songs she sang, she purrs a happy peace-and-love purr.



And yes, she's still up for a Love-In. Rescue her from my ebay store and take her there!

How I Spent My Weekend... in 1 Bazillion Beads or Less

Sneak peek:

Next in the line of recession busters...

I've made another bracelet to beat the economic recession blues, this one in Halloween-y oranges and blacks. My thought is that it's better to buy something handmade at a reasonable price than mass-produced, at the same price. It can add a little sparkle to someone's life.

I did this one in Halloween colors: oranges and black.



There's plenty of Czech pressed glass: hearts and flowers and fire polish crystals and seed beads.




There's also some lampwork glass and some lava stone. I like to add gemstones for their textures and color surprises.




There you have it. This week's recession-buster!




$39.99 and free shipping right here. Let the blues lift.


With matching earrings, of course!

What's a new week without a new slideshow?

Here's a sneak peek at the goodies, with tales to follow.

Another Blog Giveaway

My friend Joee is having a giveaway on her blog, Cart Before the Horse. Joee makes fun folk-y art. Take a peek. You might win!

Roses are red, lilacs are lilac

And so's this bracelet. It's the latest of the bracelets to Beat the Economic Recession Blues.



The philosophy is this: 'Tis a far far better thing to give and receive a handmade item than a mass-produced one.



Add some sparkle...



...with beads combined in new fun ways.




I've combined hearts and flowers of Czech glass, some purple chalcedony of that gemstone fire, millefiore and stray bits of lampwork and fire polish crystals and seed beads. I've done it all with sterling silver chain and findings. (Skin allergies are not part of the plan to ban economic recession blues.)




$39.99 and free shipping right here. Let the blues lift.



With matching earrings, of course!

These, of purple chalcedony:



Or these, with Swarovski pearls and givre hearts:

Another Blog Giveaway

The PFATT (Primitive Folk Art Talk and Tea) blog is hosting a giveaway this week. Bop by and check out some amazing Halloween art. Leave a comment and you could be a lucky winner!