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I have some of the MOST TALENTED friends! Wire crochet cross w/ blue/clear Swarovski crystals - Light : CatsWire - ArtFire Jewelry http://ping.fm/sLDIt

Yee Haw Happy New Year Yall!! Its our Contest time!!!!

Looking for a great contest to enter to ring in the New Year?  How about one that celebrates the glorious state of Texas!  Check out this link to find out how to enter: http://ping.fm/rwlnA


And have fun finding the flags!!!!

New Year, New Life, New Goals

Awhile back, I posted my "Sand is Always Blue" piece here on my blog.  That the very first step on a creative journey that met with several pitfalls in 2010.  Financial troubles, losing my darling dad, and general depression took over, and I lost the path. 
After floundering a lot, and stumbling through the underbrush of my own mind, I think I've found the path back.
So, I start this year with this statement:
This is my year.  My year to fly.  My year to try new things.  My year to say "Good or bad, I'm trying!"  I'm going to attempt new mediums, new ideas.  I might hit dead ends, I might succeed.  Who knows?  BUT I will NOT let fear, of failure or success, be my guide any longer!
I welcome you to walk beside me as I travel.  I welcome your comments and critiques.  I welcome you to share new things you are trying.
With that in mind, here is my new mission statement for the coming year:
The Beaded Branch Blog encompasses my journey back to creativity as I re-learn to think outside the box, and create many new Beaded Branches of jewelry, and other pieces of art.  I also hope, that as I travel, reports from my "journey" will inspire you to try new things, and explore the world of art around you!

Lentil Soup with Ham Bone

Is there anything more yummy on a cold winter day than a big bowl of steamy lentil soup?  Nope!  And here's my favorite recipe.

1 lb lentils, washed and drained
1 celery rib, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped fine or grated
1/2 C chopped onion
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme
7-8 C water
1 ham bone, thinly sliced kielbasa, or hot smoked sausage
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

1.Combine all ingredients except for salt and pepper in slow cooker.
2. Cover.  Cook on low 8-9 hours.  Remove bay leaf and ham bone.  Dice meat from bone and return to cooker.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Serve alone, or over rice with grated cheese on top.

** My own side note:  When I cook my ham, there is generally lots of yummy juice (okay, fat) in the bottom of the pan.  I save this, and use it to replace some of the water.  I pour the juice into the measure cup, and then round out the rest of the 8 cups with water.  It gives the soup a really lovely flavor.  And who worries about calories if you've just been shoveling snow.

Crockpot Beef Stew

This incredibly yummy recipe was given to me by my mom,one of the best cooks I know.  This recipe is GREAT for a cold winter day, and freezes really well.  (We actually have bunch in our freezer as we speak, just waiting for the first snow.)  It's great with biscuits on the side. 

I actually replace some of the water with red wine.  It gives it a really lovely taste. 

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into  1 ½ pieces.

Dust with flour and brown in oil

Put in pot and add:

1 bay leaf

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 onion chopped

1 C. beef bouillon

¼ t. pepper

1 t. salt

1 t. sugar

6 carrots, peeled and sliced

1 C. celery

4 potatoes, peeled and cut into eights

1 onion sliced

 Then add:

4 C. water  (I use 2 C red wine or 3 C, depending on my mood, and then round out the rest of the 4 C with water)

Cook 8 to 10 hours.  Thicken with a little flour mixed with water  .  cover and cook on high 10 or 15 minutes until slightly thickened.

ArtFire Group Deal is a STEAL!!!!!

ArtFire, a fabulous place to sell handcrafted or vintage goods, or supplies to make handcrafted goods is running a most WONDERFUL deal right now!

Here's the deal:  If ArtFire can get 20,000 shops to sign up for this deal, then we all get the deal.  Have a basic shop you want to upgrade?  Sign up and when we reach 20,000, you'll go PRO!  Have a Pro shop that you're paying a higher rate on?  Sign up, because that counts too!!! 

ArtFire is wonderful, fun selling venue that reaches all over the world! 

You can set up a Facebook kiosk on your Facebook pages, and everything that you list can go directly to Google base for added advertising.  One of the most recent, really cool things they've added is being able to add your favorite goodies to an Amazon wishlist!!!

And the tools available in Pro shops are AMAZING:  set up coupon codes, create gift certificates, join artisan guilds, sort your shop so that it looks exactly how you want it to,  add promo labels to your pictures, the convenience of ONE PAGE for adding pieces, personalize your shop in the colors of your business...

I could go on, but the list really is endless. 

The link for cashing in on WONDERFUL deal is:  http://www.artfire.com/groupdeal

Take a look, sign up.... You will NOT be disappointed!!!!