If you had a chance to read the  SANDRA MILLER STUDIO AUGUST NEWSLETTER this week you know we are on the road again next week for  a trip to our stunning Oregon Coast!!

I am so excited and we are bringing you all along with us as well!  I am going to be making blog posts with lots of photos as well as attempting to LIVE STREAM video on my beach combing excursions.  We will see if that part works out as you never know what roadblocks can get in the way when technology and remote locations collide! We sure found that out when the GREAT FIRE WALL of China stopped our posts in Chengdu

One of my favorite things to do on my beach walks is to look for Beach Glass.  With my bad eyes I’m sure I miss most of those little “Meramaids Tears” that I pass by, but the fun is in the hunt.  And speaking of my limited vision…..one of lifes rare pleasures is for me to RUN on ta flat sandy  beach without my white cane.  There is no where else I can think of where I can move faster than a snail’s pace without fear of falling down steps, tripping on curbs, running into people accidentally or missing a pothole…..it is pure bliss for me and I am so looking forward to stretching my legs in the fresh salt air!!

BELOW IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SEAGLASS….LOOK FOR NEW DESIGNS COMING SOON INSPIRED BY THESE FROSTY OCEAN GEMS

ABOVE: SEAGLASS IN DIFFERENT COLORS…Wiki photo

Wikipedia Definition
Sea glass (or beach glass) is glass found on beaches along oceans or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass. Sea glass originates from bottles and jars that enter the water as litter and become broken up by the waves and rocks. Green, clear, brown, and amber beach glass is common (consider the most common colors of beer-bottles), though light blues, yellows and pink varieties have also been known to appear. Much more rare are grey, purple, bright red, and the black varieties[1].

An extremely rare red, sea glass bottle stopper.  This probably capped the top of a a perfume vial.

Photo © Mary Beth Beuke

Red sea glass is found only once for every 5,000 pieces found, while the rarest of all seaglass, orange, can be found about once every 10,000 pieces. “Black” sea glass is rarely found and often originates from pre-1860 glass that is actually dark olive green. Some black sea glass is found around Australia, originating from 1940s beer bottles. Its rarity is due to the obscure materials that were used with glass to make the bottles, which increased its rate of decomposition.

SEE  YOU AT THE BEACH!! BRING YOUR SUNSCREEN AND A  BOTTLE OF WINE A BATHING SUIT AND A WINTER PARKA AND A SENSE OF HUMOR….THIS IS THE OREGON COAST AFTERALL…LOL!

AND I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOVELY VIDEO FROM THE AREA WE WILL BE STAYING IN WHICH I FOUND ON YOUTUBE OF SOMEONE RUNNING THEIR PACK OF BORZOI AND GREYHOUNDS ON THE BEACH. BREATHTAKING IMAGES!!

THIS BLOG POST IS DEDICATED TO MY DADDY AND HIS BORZOI PUSHKIN…DAD LOVED THE BEACH SO MUCH!!

WE ARE ABLE TO FOSTER MEDO FOR THREE YEARS THANKS TO YOU…WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!

Today I decided to contact Elephant Nature Foundation to see what elephants were in the Foster program currently and immediately my heart and soul was captured again  by MEDO, who was one of the ellies I had taken numerous photos of in 2008. Below read her heartbreaking (but not too graphic)  history before she was rescued .

I was going to wait and pick out our “foster child” when I got to the park , but in rethinking that strategy, I didn’t want to waste a moment of our precious days at the park doing money transactions and signing papers.  It made sense to do this ahead of time so I can photograph and video Medo to my hearts content for us all to enjoy on the blog during the trip in February

.

Photo by Sandra Miller 2008 of Medo at Elephant Nature Park

As foster parents to Medo for 3 years you will receive updates about Medo and more photographs of this very special elephant when I receive them.  I will send emails to our special little “FOSTER HERD” as I get updates, and you’ll be able to view Medo’s biography, a photo, your foster certificate, a personal report from Jodi (a long-time park volunteer and close friend of Medo) about her life and progress since she has lived at Elephant Nature Park, and information on how you can further help save the Asian elephant from extinction.

Our girl has a big family to protect her and keep her from harm!!

Congratulations to the following list of new foster parents to our Mz Medo!!!

Karen Fones,Lois Dubs, Connie Etters, Lori Love, Sandra Meyers, Kathleen Zins Deb Hethorn, Gayle DiCesare,Catherine Crooks, Mary Susan Heise,Sandra Blust, Patricia Norman, Vonnie Almand, Beverly Eagan, Elizabeth Klemick, Barbara Black, Kathy Welsh, Dana Collum,Sandra Miller…and a couple of names yet to be added

SEE BELOW TO READ MUCH MORE ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GIRL MEDO

Medo was born between 1985-1987. Her Karen-language name is a reference to her extremely handicapped condition that resulted from two horrific past incidents she has endured. Medo was rescued from a remote area near the Thai-Burma border and arrived at Elephant Nature Park in the end of June 2006, thanks to funds kindly donated by Bert Von Roemer of the Serengeti Foundation and Connie Speight of the Elephant Umbrella Fund.

By the time Medo was eight years old, logging was already banned in Thailand. Sadly the industry still flourished after that, unregulated and with poor working conditions for the elephants. At less than ten years old, Medo was put to work in the illegal logging industry. She was really too young to be doing such heavy labor, and as a result of this became a victim of a serious logging accident, in which her back right ankle was badly broken. The bone never properly set, and to this day her original injury is evident, the ankle is misshapen and enlarged.

After Medo recovered from her injury, it was obvious that she would never be able to perform heavy work for the rest of her life. At a loss as to what to do with Medo, her owner decided to sell her. The man who bought her did so with the full understanding that she could not be used for the work that was typical for elephants without such a handicap. Unfortunately, she still had to ‘earn her keep’.

Medo’s new owner decided that since she was young and healthy otherwise, he would use her as a breeding elephant. In her mid-teens, it was deemed time for her to be impregnated. With no regard to whether she and her chosen ‘mate’ were compatible, she was chained to a tree by her front two legs, feeling quite vulnerable. As Medo awaited her fate, a big bull in musth was brought over and chained next to her. Under normal conditions he might not have taken an interest in her, but soon frustration, anger, testosterone and desire all took control of him and he attacked and mounted her savagely.

Medo collapsed from the aggressiveness of his actions. As she lay there in pain and misery, no one dared to try to come to her aid, as they were fearful of the musth bull. She laid there for two days, before they could get the bull away from her and assess her injuries. It seemed that she had a dislocated spine and a broken pelvis.

Not a lot is known about her recovery, but most likely, due to the remoteness of her location, she probably never went to a hospital or had a doctor examine her. Amazingly, after a lengthy time of rest, it was determined that she could still walk, but no camp would ever want to hire an elephant in this condition. Also it was obvious that she would never be able to get pregnant due to the severity of her injuries.

When Lek found Medo, she was working for a village dragging small logs from the forest to be used for building. Lek could not let her live another day of hardship and started the negotiations to buy her. Thankfully, now she will spend the rest of her days at Elephant Nature Park free to rest and relax and socialize.

If you would like more information about the Park and the Elephant Nature Foundation’s other projects please visit

ELEPHANT NATURE FOUNDATION

LOOK FOR THIS NEW BATIK PRINT VERY SOON ON EBAY!!!

For some reason when I look at this batik I can smell sandalwood oil.  I think I must have caught the true “essence” of Thailand and the elephants and the hues.  I can’t wait to go back you guys!!!!

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LAST SET OF PENDANTS AND BEADS OF THE TRUNK SHOW

Wooo Hooooooo we have had quite a week my wonderful Trunk Show peeps!!  Last nights auctions closing was such a fun time and I saw many new faces bidding too!!  It’s always great to meet new friends via the beads and art and auctions always bring out the fun passionate side of folks anyway.  Thank you all so very very much for your bids, and a huge congrats to the winners!!

If you want your auctions combined with your trunk show purchases off the site to reduce shipping, auction payment will need to be sent by Thursday evening as I will be shipping Friday.  Thanks for understanding!!

I just listed 17 NEW  sets in the SHOW SPECIALS category on the website!!  Some of these sets have duplicates but not many.  You will find the deepest cuts in prices on this particular grouping of items of the entire show!!!  You will find a number of fused glass pendants of mine at giveaway prices.

THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO ACQUIRE THESE LISTINGS AT THIS LOW LOW LOW PRICE!! AFTER THE SHOW TODAY,  I WILL BE COMBINING ANY OF THE UNSOLD SMALL GROUPINGS INTO LARGER SETS, TO POST ON EBAY LATER IN THE YEAR…. AT A HIGHER STARTING BID THAN WHAT I AM CHARGING ON THE TRUNK SHOW.

Soooooo have fun my friends during this GRAND FINALE!!  I need to go stretch my legs (7 hours at the computer today nonstop…I have a pancake butt..lol)  and start to prepare for the 2 day packathon to get your beautiful beads on their way to their new homes!!!

Every shipment will have a little surprise from Thailand in the package so you have more goodies to look forward to!! I will write on Friday to give a report and photos of the craziness that goes on in this studio during show shipping.  A few of you asked if my studio was always as clean as it was during the show…….you will see soon!!! LOL!

NEW BATIK PRINT AT IMAGEKIND!!