Most of you know that my mom, Anna Hass, is the 'original' rockhound in our family ~ well after retiring she decided to try her hand at beading. Using those teeny, tiny seed beads and by looking at pictures in magazines, she began creating some pretty neat open stitch peyote rope necklaces. She then began embellishing them by making a variety of flowers, leaves and little creatures. My friends and I have been amazed with her creations as her fingers have been damaged with arthritis. (Mom says that working with those tiny beads keeps her fingers nimble.) In 2008, she entered one of her necklaces in the Tennessee state competition for her FCE club, (sponsored by UT), and won first place in the jewelry event locally and second place in the state. Mom then became more confident and entered a contest with 'Wild Dasies', (inspired by the wild flowers that grow in her backyard), and won Second Place National!!! (Watch for her design to appear in a future Fire Mtn Gems advertisement as part of her award). Yeah Mom!!! (and no, I still do not bead)