Hello!

Just wanted to check in and tell you what's up... I usually keep my blog/journal to beads, but just had to share some wonderful news with you... we are moving!

I am not going to be making beads for a couple of weeks because of the move, but it shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks (at the most) before I'm back behind the torch.

We have found an awesome place up in Sonoma County in the wine country... a cozy cabin-like house on 50 acres of redwood trees and nature... there are six or seven other houses on this property, one of which is where my step-son (Steve's son) lives... and the other houses have really nice folks in them, too... we are about 10 miles from Healdsburg, out in nature... should be wonderful! And Steve's folks live only about 30 minutes away, so, hopefully, we will see them often!

We have accumulated ten years worth of 'stuff' that has to be sorted through and moved (yikes!). We are almost done with that part (thank goodness!) and then we are on our way... in the next day or two we will be living in our new place.

While our "Hill House" (our nickname for our new home) house is being remodeled, we will be living in the "Green House" (what we call it) temporarily... it is a sweet, cozy little cabin with a pond in the backyard... the "Green House" is more shaded, while the "Hill House" that we will eventually move into has lots of sunshine (a good thing!)... here are three pictures of the "Green House"...

Green House: Front Porch of "Green House".



Green House: Inside View of "Green House".



Green House: Backyard view of "Green House" with a pond.



... after the remodeling completion, our permanent residence, aka, the "Hill House" (right next door) is where we will live... the whole inside is being completely redone (as you can see, it needs it!)... you will have to use your imagination to see the big picture because the "Hill House" is completely gutted right now... it's going to be awesome when it's completed... and... it has redwood trees, ferns and Mother Nature right outside my bead studio window... what more could a girl ask for? :)

Here are some pics of the "Hill House"... Steve and his son are doing all the remodeling and they are also going to put a deck on the outside of the back of this house, so we can sit outside and enjoy the peaceful feeling there.

Hill House: Front View of "Hill House".



Hill House: Back View of "Hill House".

Hill House: Interior View of "Hill House" with remodeling in progress.



Hill House: Steve hard at work on the remodeling of the "Hill House".



Hill House: View from the new Bead Studio in the "Hill House"... since this picture was taken, windows have been put in.



Hill House: Another inside view of the "Hill House" in the process of remodeling.



Hill House: Kitchen Area (please use your imagination to see the possibilities here)... the kitchen sink and a counter top will go right under the windows... what a great view!



As you can see the "Hill House" still needs A LOT of work done before it's completed and I hope you can use your imagination to see just how cool it will be once it's done... when it is finished, it will be our special place... our sanctuary... the possibilities are endless and being one who can see the big picture, I have high hopes!

On the bead front... I did a search for fashion color trends for Spring and Summer 2007 and was delighted to see that they are predicting chilli pepper reds... what a great color this is!



I will keep in touch and let you know once I get my bead studio moved, set up again and am back behind the torch... it shouldn't be too long! And thanks for taking the time to read about the new direction our lives are taking... moving is SUCH a big job... I will be sooooooooooooooo glad once it's done!

Hoping all is well with you!

Take good care and talk to you soon, Gracie

P.S. Hi Mal! Hoping you are having a good week! Steve & I look forward to being neighbors with you and Ardis!