Finally catching up

It has been well over a week since I have been here last. I have lost track of time and have been enjoying the great weather we have had. It is nice to see summer has finally arrived!

Over Memorial Day Weekend, my mom, my oldest daughter, and I went to Portland for a bead show. It was a wonderful drive. Well if you consider 5 hours in the car wonderful. But it was more getting to spend 5 hours visiting with my mom, which I do not do a lot of. I am guilty of going days without talking to her. So it was nice in that respect.

When at this bead show, there were some lampwork artists there in a second room. The Beadwife and Harvest Beads were there with some absolutely beautiful work! I found a pendant similar to this that made its way home with me. This is Amazonia. So after a BIG dent in the pocket book, we continued on our journey. I found so many pretty things though!


We stayed in Salem for the evening and on Sunday we went to Schreiner's Iris Garden. They have over 10 acres for the public to walk around and view all the beautiful iris there are. We spent about 2 hours and most my phone battery taking pictures! my daughter managed to get my mom's phone and was video taping the family acting strange and silly. Schreiner's has every color iris imaginabele. I wish I could mimic the colors of the flowers in my work. This has always been my goal. I wish I could put every picture on here so you could see such beautiful colors in these flowers!
This place is just amazing. As you drive down Interstate 5, you just see rows and rows of flowers! When you turn off it is even more impressive when you are able to walk through the flowers.


After we got home, I hung out with chickens and butterflies. I just wish I could get the butterflies to hold still long enough to get a picture. Instead I have action photos of our new baby chicks. Actually they are almost 6 weeks old. We have also been working in the garden and you would not believe the size of my strawberry plants! And I have blossoms on my raspberries too! No, this is not facebook. Although I do spend a little bit of time there.... ok maybe I am there often. OK! I am there every day! You dragged it out of me!!

I have not worked too much with the jewelry. I guess this means that come Monday, I have to get back on track. I will be in Bend in July and will have more info on that event as soon as they update me.
Have a cool and springy day!

Pay if Forward

I normally do not post any new blogs until Monday, but this just caught my attention and I had to get it out!
I was strolling through Flight fancy to see who the Fantastic Friday Giveaway winner was (its me!) and I scrolled down to see what else she had going on. I saw this post about paying if forward, making something for someone without anything in return. I just thought it was the most fabulous idea. So without further ado, I found the site she found it on, and the site that person found it on, and so on. I think I had about 6 windows open... and counting!

I hope you all have a wonderful time and partake in this great adventure!

Creative people are adventurous! So, if you’re creative and would like to participate, please send me a comment and the first five people will receive something (handmade by me!) from me in the mail. In return, all you have to do is “pay it forward”- please see the rules, restrictions and limitations below.

Here are the rules, and happy posting!

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. But I hope you will. This will be something made from the heart.

2. What I create will be just for you with love and good wishes. It will be made of actual materials, not of cyberspace.

3. It will be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be!

5. In return, all you need to do is cut and paste this text on your Blog (from “Creative People are…” and create five things for the first 5 people to respond to your post. Be sure to leave a way I can contact you in the response. I will contact you to get your mailing address.

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if you do not post on your own blog to pay this forward. Would love it if you could join in!!!

Monday, Monday...On a Tuesday

I want to begin by stating that this weekend was a wonderful weekend for a street fair! I had the grandest time socializing with the people walking by. Both my girls and my mom also stayed and helped work the booth this weekend. So it was really a great experience. Not to mention, the sales went through the roof! I am now on a mission with new color schemes and styles for the next big show! The necklace to the left was the biggest hit!

But it was not all that easy getting from last Monday's post to this past weekend. On Monday there was a wee bit of an obstacle that overcame me. I had a small accident. I was on my way to pick up kids from track and it was raining and muddy. The tire of my van got "sucked in" to the mud and I could not correct it. I eventually ended up hitting a rock, and another rock and then what finally stopped the van was a tree stump. Amazingly enough, even though the van was on the roof, I climbed out of the car with just a few sore bones and muscles.
This was just the first set back of the week. Not only had I destroyed the underneath of the van, I had to find alternative transportation to get to the show. The second was the headaches that followed. I could not get up and move around without such pain and dizziness that I had a second ER trip. So with this challenge, I was unable to sit and do all those little last minute items and details that we all know have to be done. So, with a little persistence and stubbornness, I eventually got everything ready to go.
But wouldn't you know that my husband could not go with so that meant my girls got to help set up and take down. Their favorite part! Fortunately I was able to bribe them with shave ice and a trip to the mall when it was all said and done.
My oldest even got to display some of her jewelry and sold 2 pieces! I even talked my mom into putting a few things out too. And she sold something! I was so blessed that everything fell into place even though I thought it was all going to be ruined.

Now for the next new piece of the week. It is a beautiful 16" black cherry choker. It has swarovski spacers to adds a vintage look to it. You can see it here. It would be great for prom or even an evening out. It is a lovely piece. The dyed black cherry pearls give it a soft but sophisticated look. It will be on sale at ArtFire this week!

Now, I am off to create more beautiful items so I can replenish my inventory. I wish everyone a wonderful week!

Art in Bloom

It never fails, when you think you are caught up, you find out your not. I thought I had a chance catch up this weekend but without fail, I was reminded of one more thing. Run, run, run! So, I gave in and started pulling inventory together, making sure the tables are in good working order, and making sure the tent cover does not leak! Its raining here and sure enough I have a show this weekend!


I will be in Medford Oregon participating in a two day event called Art in Bloom. The event takes over the downtown area for two days and is a great activity for the whole family. There is food, art, jewelry and other vendors there. There is also an area for the kids to make and take crafts for their mom, grandma, aunt, etc. There is no cost to come and view the beautiful items on display.

I have always been a spectator in the past, but this year I will be a vendor. I had always thought it was more difficult to get into these events and so I never tried. I had always thought that my work was not good enough to be in such a wonderful event like this. But I finally decided that if I could teach my mom the right angle weave, I can certainly be a part of this! My husband has been very helpful and has made most of my display cases and jewelry stands. He dabbles in woodwork in his spare time.


I do not have any new pictures of the new items today. I was so busy yesterday that I completely forgot. But I will give you a few pictures from my current selection at my shop. These earrings are called Japanese Lanterns. They have such a luminescent glow! They look like they are actually lit up! I just love them and they are so versatile.

And to go with these earrings I have the Ice Cube bracelet. They are not a set but they would compliment everything from jeans to that little black dress. Czech cubes, silver star dust beads, and a simple toggle clasp.

I have to say, I had so much fun with Laura Trevey's giveaway this month. I chose a beautiful painting that reminds me of warm sands and tropical breezes dancing around you. With her "A Painting a Day" giveaway she was giving away a painting to everyone that left 5 comments on her paintings, followed her blog and linked your blog back to her. I think this is a wonderful way to get people to come visit and see an amazing artist! I went there to see what she posted next, regardless of the outcome. This is the painting I chose:

Congrats and thanks Laura for all your work this month!

Without further ado, I must be off. I have a van to start loading, earring display stands to find, and about a hundred labels to make up. Happy blogging!