Fleur de vacances

45 more minutes until I am officially on vacation. Not that I'm watching the clock or anything. And really, vacay doesn't start until I'm at the pool tomorrow with a pina colada in my hand because tonight I have to finish the packing and the checking off of things on my various "don't forget to pack _______" lists and charging the cell phone and headset and putting gas in the car and cleaning out the parrot cage and charging up the portable DVD player for the kidlet to use in the car and, and, and...

Well, you get the idea. That pina colada will be well earned.

It's also starting to hit me that this vacation will have its bittersweet moments. Staying at this particular location was the last thing we all did as a family (my parents, my brother and nephew and me and my son) just a couple of weeks before my dad had his stroke back in November. We all had such a good time so I'm very thankful for the memories, but it's also hard to realize that dad will never play in the pool with my son again or sit at the poolside bar drinking his own frou frou drink of choice while I have my pina colada or help me up and down the stairs with unloading the car and all the other stuff we did together that I miss about him.

Mom won't be joining us either because she won't leave dad and while I wish she would take a break for herself, I can't help but admire her steadfast devotion to him. After all, isn't that what we all hope for from our life partner - that he or she will be there when we're in our darkest hours?

Okay, well, now that I've depressed the heck out of everyone (hey, there's a reason that alcohol keeps getting mentioned in this post), how about some jewelry?

I decided last month that I hadn't made enought bracelets lately - have been mostly stuck on earrings and necklaces for no real reason other than that's where the beads have led me. So, this set of lampwork was perfect for a bracelet-sized project and that's what it grew up to be.

Silvered-ivory glass and blue and purple dichro effects make these lampworked lentil beads look like little planets as viewed from space. I added Bali silver, faceted lavender pearls, Swarovski crystals and LOTS of wire-wrapping and finished everything with a toggle clasp set with lavender crystals and a sterling silver fleur de lys charm.

Why the charm? I don't know - it just asked to be added so I went with it.

Okay, that's it for me. See you in a week.

Bonnes vacances!

KJ