What a week!

This week has been fabulous!

First, I hosted my first ever blog hop and was amazed by what the participants created.

If you haven't already, take a few minutes and hop around.  Each lady did something different and absolutely stunning with the ribbon.

If I haven't said it already, I would like to say "THANK YOU" to all the participants.  Thank you for playing with me and for making it so fun to hop around.  Everything was beautiful.

Second, I received my black belt in Okinawan kobudo (weapons).

This test wasn't as nerve wracking as my last test, but I was still a bit worried.  Luckily, I didn't drop my nunchaku or toss my bo into the crowd.

It was also a bit nerve-wracking because my instructor's instructor attended, along with other "big dogs" who have been doing karate longer than I've been alive.

Everyone did a spectacular job, especially our two senior students testing for 4th black in kenpo.  They impressed the hanshis ("big dogs") so much that our senior students moved from 3rd black to 5th black -- an awesome promotion and well deserved.

A karate keepsake

I've mentioned a few times (okay, several times) that I tested for my black belt earlier in April.

I didn't mention that I tested with thirteen others:  four others testing for first black, one testing for second black, four testing for junior black belt, and four testing for black in ju jitsu.

The test was fabulous.  Everyone did a fantastic job.  It was one of my proudest moments and I was grateful to share it with the other testers, many of whom have become great friends.

Before our test, I asked Erin Prais-Hintz, from Treasures Found, to make a custom "simple truth" pendant for me and the two other women testing for first black.  Erin, who is busier than anyone I know, kindly agreed and even carved a custom plate for the pendant.

Our school's logo incorporates the yin yang symbol, so I asked Erin to use the yin yang on the pendant.

I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but the light half and the light dot are raised a bit from the dark pieces.

Erin used a combination of swellegant metal paints to achieve the patinaed effect.

On the back, Erin stamped the date of our test and a quote:  "we are what we repeatedly do."

I let out a little squeal when I saw the pendants for the first time.  I was floored by how amazing  they were.  I would say that Erin outdid herself, but Erin's work is consistently stunning.  Still, though, these pendants are my current favorites and they are perfect keepsakes.

I strung two of the pendants on a small brass rolo chain for my friends.  They *loved* them.

For my necklace, I made a beaded infinity loop.

I've read that a black belt is not the end, but the beginning of advanced learning.  Training is infinite and I've noticed that there is always something to learn.

I didn't have quite enough chain for my necklace, so I used pearls to fill in a few gaps.

I love the way the necklace turned out.

Erin mentioned that she might be adding the yin yang pendant to her line of Simple Truths.  If you want one for yourself, check out Erin's etsy shop.

Even if you don't want the yin yang pendant, check out Erin's shop. She creates amazing pieces of wearable art.

Erin, thank you so much for creating the pendants for my friends and myself.  We all love them.

I BROKE IT!!

If you are looking for my Bead Soup Blog Party reveal, click here.

You may have heard me mention here and here that I've been training for my black belt in Okinawan kenpo.

Our school emphasizes both the traditional aspects and the practical applications of karate.  Knowing and demonstrating the material is only one part of the test.

Students must also spar and demonstrate the ability to break boards and/or bricks during each test.

I don't like sparring, but I have come to accept it as a necessary part of training.  I am slowly getting better.  I can't even say that I was dreading the sparring portion of the test because, like anything, I knew I would do my best and let the pieces (hopefully no teeth or other random body parts) fall where they may.

The breaking portion of the test, however, had my stomach in knots for the last week.

Our instructor requires black belts to break a brick.  

When you see someone do this, it looks easy.  Heck, some testers break two, three, even four at a time.

I, however, was struggling with one.  It was like hitting my head against the wall (or hand against a brick) over and over.

Each time, I was wondering how I could possibly have trained for all this time and *not* succeed.

Well, there is something about stress and fear that can make you do what needs to be done.

That broken brick?  I did that!

Thanks to all of you who offered your support a few weeks ago.  Your encouragement meant a great deal to me and I'm so excited that I was able to make all of you proud.

Focusing on Life - 13 of 52

For my entry to the Resin Slider Bauble Challenge, please click here.

I think this week's prompt from Sally was the most challenging yet.  Sally asked us to find "faith," that thing that keeps us believing, and snap a photo.

Lately, though, my thoughts on faith have been leaning toward having faith in myself.

I keep thinking about a quote from Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back:   "Do or do not.  There is no try."

Sometimes it is not enough to "try."  You must "do."  I think, in order to "do," we need the faith that we can.

This week, the kiddo was trying to climb a tree in our yard.  Until that moment, she had been scared of climbing ... and falling.

She slid down a few times and scratched her knee a bit.  I was so proud when she turned back to the tree and tried again.

I heard her say, "I know I can do it."  She had faith in herself.

After a few more tries, she made it into the tree all on her own and even jumped down without help.  (Can you say, "proud mama"?)

Now, if I can take a lesson from the kiddo and break this brick that's been sitting around.  Breaking a brick is part of my upcoming black belt test.

 I've been trying for some time.  Trying is not enough.  I need to find the faith in myself.

Please visit Sally's blog to see where the other participants found faith.

My word for 2013

Last January, I noticed a trend among bloggers to choose a word to capture the coming year.  I jumped on the bandwagon and chose a few words for  2012.

While I think these words still apply in 2013, I think a new word will (hopefully) guide me through the year.

My black belt test is a mere 97 days away.  I WILL practice and I WILL take the 97 days to get myself into better shape.  I have the WILL to make these things happen.

I WILL kick actual and figurative butt while sparring.

There are other goals I have for 2013 and I WILL do my best to make those happen.

My blogging review of 2012

I began blogging late in 2011.  2012, then, was my first full year blogging.

Throughout the year, I've tried to develop both my beading skills and my photography skills.

I spent a good part of 2012 participating in Lori Plyler's i heart macro series.  I was usually able to take pictures while playing/walking/running with the kiddo.  (Okay, she was doing the running.)  This post is a good example of me making use of my time while the kiddo was busy climbing, swinging, sliding and running around the playground.

My beading skills were put to the test by Karyn, from Releases by Rufydoof.  Karyn started Beading Babes group in 2011 and the group created some wonderful pieces in 2012.  It's hard to pick a favorite, but I love that I was able to use some African bronze beads to compliment Nancy Dale's Trellis necklace in project 4.  (If you want to try Nancy's pattern, it's available in her etsy shop.)

I received my 1st brown belt in karate and in kobujutsu in 2012.  (My black belt is looming around the corner -- 99 days, but who's counting?)

Around the time of our anniversary, my husband and I saw The Avengers, the *best* superhero movie to date.  (All hail Joss Whedon.)

I was able to convince my husband to take a few vacation days in 2012.  We traveled to Colorado for our first family vacation.

2012 was also the year the kiddo started kindergarten.  I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

Throughout 2012, I participated in several beading challenges, my favorite of which was the 3rd annual Challenge of Color, hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz of Treasures Found and Brandi Hussey of Brandi Girl Blog.  (Erin's entry and permalinks to all the participants are here.)

I also spent the year following other bloggers.  I feel like I know Therese, Kim, Amy and Marla, to name a few, through their words and through their work.  I also found Sharyl's blog.  Sharyl and I were able to take advantage of our close proximity and spend a few afternoons watching the kiddo play.

I'm sure there are events I am forgetting, but these stand out to me.

My blog also had a good year.  According to google analytics, from January 1 - December 31, 2012, a whopping 7,007 people visited my blog a total of 10,695 times.  Of those visits, 3,688 (or 34.48%) were from returning guests.

Those 7,007 people viewed a total of 20,398 pages.

In 2012, I wrote 91 posts and received 793 comments (thank you all!).

While most of my blog traffic originated from google searches, a few referring sites stood out:

• many people found my blog thanks to Lori's i heart macro series on her blog, Studio Waterstone
• my love for challenges helped generate visits from Lorelei Eurto's blog and from Erin Prais-Hintz's blog, Treasures Found
• several people visited after seeing this post from Beading Daily 
• this post from Sharyl's Jewelry has brought many new visitors to my blog throughout the year (thank you, Sharyl)

This was my most popular post in 2012, though it was written in 2011. (Wow .. my photography has improved since then.)

I would like to thank everyone who has visited, commented on and followed my blog in 2012.  Every page hit and every comment means the world to me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2013.

i heart macro Sunday

I tested for 1st degree brown belt a few days ago.

Somehow, it ended up that I did not have to spar for my previous tests.  I made up for it with this one, though.  There's something very intimidating about sparring the head instructor (with three decades of experience compared to my piddly four years).

Don't worry.  With the exception of a few (okay, several) new bruises, I'm none the worse for wear.  I'm actually proud of how I did.

I started 3rd brown with three stripes on my belt.  One was removed when I tested for 2nd brown and the second was removed when I attained 1st brown.  You can see the tape residue marking the stripes that are gone, but not forgotten.

For more macro goodness, check out Studio Waterstone.

Words for 2012

I've seen several blog posts in which the author chose a word for 2012.  This word sets the tone for the new year, giving the author a goal or an inspiration.  I've decided to jump on the bandwagon.

Last summer, I tested for 3rd brown in my karate system and moved into advanced classes.  I was a bit intimidated, to say the least.  I was in the same class as 2nd and 3rd dans.  I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged in that class.  I realized I needed to focus on three things:

• strength - both of mind and of body
• spirit - the willingness to keep trying and the resolve to make oneself better
• understanding - it's easy to "do" a kata, but knowing the application of each action allows one to "live" the kata (a poor interpretation of this blog post by Charles C. Goodin)

This year, I'm moving toward 1st brown and 1st black is looming in 2013.  I feel like a beginner all over again.  My words for 2012:

I heart macro Sunday

I will test for 3rd brown in Okinawan Kobojitsu (weapons) this week.  While getting ready for my test, I've spent some "quality" time with my arsenal.  I've also managed to scare a few neighbors and the UPS man, but that's another story.

nunchaku

Each weapon has its own unique personality and requires a different skill set.  My shoulders can certainly tell when I've been practicing with the nunchaku (as can my husband when he sees the new bruises).  The sai requires a bit of wrist action.  I get to practice fine motor skills with the kama.

tonfa

My sensei says that, in practice, weapons are extensions of ourselves.  If you watch a master in action, you will see just that.  In a master's hands, the weapons are not cumbersome or bulky.  Rather, they are quick and graceful and follow the movement of the body.

sai

I love karate and take pride in learning a system that has been passed down from teacher to student for hundreds of years.  I can only hope to honor that rich heritage.

kama

DISCLAIMER:  No neighbors, delivery men, puppies, children, or pink boots were harmed during the taking of these pictures.  The photographer, however, is recovering nicely


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