Update on THE Bag

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been inspired to work on THE Bag in months. I remember sewing a few beads onto it at the Bead&Button Show, but that's about it. So I took a picture of what I had done in June shown here,

and actually got to work on it a bit last week. I'm really not that far from having this part of it done, but I have at least 4 more piece to go (nowhere near this large). Wish me luck!

Great Movies to Bead by...

Legally Blonde (2001)

The Story: Elle Woods (played by Reese, of course) has never had anyone expect more from her than to be a Victoria's Secret model. After being dumped by her long-term boyfriend in favor of a dull, brunette (He needed to marry a Jackie, not a Marilyn ;), she decides to get him back by attending Harvard Law along with him. To her, and everyone else's, surprise, she has more legal savvy than many of the hoity toity students at the school. She has her ups, she has her downs, she has her mini Chihuahua named Bruiser, and she's out to prove to everyone that blondes can be more than beautiful.

What I like about it: Firstly, I love Reese Witherspoon. Really love her. I love her bunny costume, I love her attitude, and, let's face it, I love her hair. I admit, this movie is a guilty pleasure of mine. I watch it when I need a little pick-me-up, or when I feel the need to see a dog in a costume. I even own it on VHS....shudder ;) I've always had a thing for Luke Wilson, who plays her eventual love interest, so that's a big plus for me. And I want a little Bruiser dog, really I do.

Vanity Fair (2004)


The Story: Rebecca Sharp's (played by Reese Witherspoon) father was and artist, and her mother a French opera singer. Being orphaned at a young age, she is forced to be a servant in a boarding school until coming of age. Armed with only her wits and obvious beauty, she decides to raise her lot in life as best she can starting a governess in a Squires' home. 'Described by some as 'Not merely a social climber, but a mountaineer', we watch the trials and tribulations of her launch into (and out of ) society.

My take: You know I love a period drama, and this one leaves no costume un-polished. Reese Witherspoon actually sings in this movie. She sings a beautiful rendition of 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal' which is certainly worth hearing. This film is directed by Mira Nair. Famous for her ability to capture the mood of a film impeccably, she adds in flavors of India in all the right places. There is even a dance number sung to a tune familiar to me (and most other bellydancers) with an Indian feel. Fleshing out the cast is James Purefoy as Rawdon Crawley, Gabriel Byrne as The Marquess of Steyne, Romola Garai as Amelia Sedley, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the naughty George Osborne

A few of my Favorite Things....

We're coming up on my favorite time of the year....fall. The crispness of the air, the crunch of the leaves, the Halloween costumes, my Halloween wedding....all of it comes to mind when we have that first cool evening. The retail stores are teaming with spider webs and witches, pumpkins and bats, and I want them all. Glitter-covered skulls seem to be popular this year and I saw a lot of owls while I was out and aboutI am now creating crystal spider, and beaded witch earrings, and I have added one more item to my Halloween repertoir: Spider web ornaments! Here's a picture to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about. I may be offering it as a class at the shop next month, so keep an eye out ;)