Thought for today .....

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...

it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"


~anonymous

How Cool my new 'I Used to Be Cool' shirt really is!

This is long over due, but I MUST share how absolutely WONDERFUL and PERFECT the shirt is that I bought from I Used To Be Cool! I was so excited over my purchase and anticipated the mailman's arrival. I even checked daily, since presents to yourself are much more fun to receive than bills!

Well, the day arrived sooner than I thought, and the package didn't have a chance to be intact for long. Out came the nicest, most perfect t-shirt! It was a delightful light blue and had 'I used to be cool' written in white on the front. This shirt was such great quality and fit perfectly, I knew I had to wear it the next day to work! In the washer it went and on my body the next day.

I must say, it is subtle, but when people read it, they laugh and want one for themselves or know of 'the perfect person' to give one to. I can't remember how many people I shared the web site with.
I even wore it when I babysat my niece. I let her take some pictures and one was of me. After I uploaded them in my web gallery for my sister to grab, she saw the shirt....zoomed in close to read it....and laughed! Immediately, she wanted to know where I got it because she wanted one too!
It was a hit! It brought many smiles to many faces and made the world a little brighter that day!
I am so happy with my purchase and the seller is such a delight to work with! She is amazing!

Very Interesting.

Source: www.youtube.com

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) humbles Hudson Institute dilettante over health care bankruptcies This during a senate Judiciary sub-committee hearing on bankruptcies driven by catastrophic medical expenses Visit: http://firedoglake.com

Happy Friday!

Remember..don't eat all the Halloween Candy before the trick or treater's arrive! That can be a bit embarrassing! "Hi kids, um.....you want some candy?" As you speak to them through the door with chocolate around your mouth and your mouth is packed with that delicious Butterfinger"

Treasures for Thursday.

When I was on vacation last week, I had the joy of spending the day with my niece while her parents were at work. I wanted to do some fun things together and make some memories that we both could treasure in our hearts.
I thought we could make some bird feeders from the pine cones I collected. I found them at the park from the walks with my pup. We stopped at the store and gathered peanut butter and bird seed. She saw the roses and loved their scent. I wanted to get her a rose because she is so special to me, and ended up buying her a bouquet of beauties.
It was so sweet seeing this little munchkin walking next to me carrying her bouquet of roses to the checkout lane. Standing next to me with a huge smile on her face. What a treasure to my heart!
She cut the stems of the roses the best of her ability, being only three. She covered the pine cones with the peanut butter and rolled them in the bag of seed. (I had already put the strings on for hanging) She showed me where to hang them and it was in the most special place for her daddy to see. We ate Sonic for lunch, played together, and had the most amazing day. I am thrilled to be an auntie. I have been waiting for so long to be one and am blessed!
Have a wonderful Thursday and look for the treasures that you can hold onto even for a moment.

I am not the 'dog whisperer' my dog thinks I am.

I am puzzled. My beloved dog is looking at me like she is pissed off about something. Just standing in the doorway looking bigger than the 20 lbs. of her cuddly little self. I wonder why? I just came into the room to write and as I sat down, her normally sweet eyes, so full of love, turned into two glowing, hairy eyeballs piercing through my skin. What does she want? I think she believes I can read her mind.

Maybe she thought it was time for a treat? A walk? A pat on the head? After a couple seconds of staring at me, which felt like forever, she gave up and went to her chair and sat down. Now we are both sitting next to one another, she in her chair, and I am in mine. It is kinda cute actually. She is almost human or is she???

As many of you know, she is my 'soul dog'. We have been together for over ten years and is an answer to my prayers. I love her so much! I get a taste of heaven every time she lays her head, her paw, or any body part on me. The feel of her fur on my skin soothes my heart and comforts my very soul.
So, why was she pissed off? I still don't know, but I think she forgot about it.

I used to be cool ......

A friend showed me this t-shirt and it cracked me up something fierce! I have always wanted a few shirts with 'uncommon' and 'unusual' saying on them that had nothing to do with body parts or body fluids....
When I got a glimpse at this shirt, I admit, I was curious. I clicked over to the site and saw more choices such as...
-I used to be cool.
-I'm still cool.
-I've never been cool.
-I used to think I was cool.
-I will always be cool.
-I used to be cool... Now I drive a minivan.
-I used to be cool...now I'm 40.
-I'm still cool at 40.
-My dad used to be cool.
-My mom used to be cool.
-My grandma used to be cool.
-My grandpa used to be cool.
-I will never drive a minivan.
-beta mom

I decided to get one of these lovelies in blue since I like that color! Now there was the choice of 'sayings'.....I thought. "am I cool?' Hmm.. not so sure about that. "Too old to be cool?" Probably so... "Think I was cool, but not?" If I got that one, I would have to walk around with my head down, so I wouldn't see the questioning eyes wondering how I got such a big ego? "Do I confess my age?"...nah
I decided on 'I used to be cool' That would be enough information and hopefully get some laughs out of it. It should get here within a week or so, and will tell you all about it. How fun is that?

My heart smiles ...

I want to say that the kindness expressed to me has been overwhelming. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being great and for lifting me up when I was down.
I admit, I have been in a bit of a funk lately. Maybe even longer as I think about it.
Looking back, I know there were many things contributing to my recent state of depression, all of which I dumped on my blog. It was a safe place to put the blame since it couldn't fight me back. I know that wasn't fair... I realize that my actions created this downward spiral of sorts confounded by the drama of having a teenager.
Sometimes I wonder how great it would be to have some sort of super power, so you can easily do all that you want and need? I wanted to have that, but being a mere mortal and putting my son first, made it difficult to maintain the rest. I see that.
What I discovered was that I still want my 'happy places' that I created for myself while I taking care of what is important to me; my son. I need to continue to do what makes me happy, even if it is a smaller amount, for my self-care and happiness and let the rest go. I need that, we all do. So, thank you!

My blog has hurt me.

When I started my blog, it was 'supposed to' add a personal touch to my shop. My intention was that it will help the 'personal connection' Boy, was I wrong! I really feel now that having my blog has hurt my business. That makes me kinda sad. Actually sad and disappointed. I was doing very well, made some connections, and was building a following. After I started blogging, I noticed that I had a lot of visitors who came from email links, then *poof*. That was it. I 'thought' people wanted to get to know me a bit better and know that I am a real person who loved making her glass pieces instead of someone finding and re-selling the goods.

Now, I think otherwise. I should have remained an enigma. I should have only shared about my craft and not about myself or about my life on my blog.
I do believe there are many who wanted their impression of me to be a bit more mysterious, only to come and discover that I am just a Junior High Teacher who is a bit quirky. I am just a regular gal who tries to be real, honest, and true. I like to have fun and can go a bit overboard. I am just me. What you see is what you get is very true. I can't stand fake.

Lately, I haven't posted anything at all ...really. I just couldn't. First, because I don't think anyone really cares about what I have to say and secondly, I don't like to share anything very deep on the web. Even in my personal life, if I share anything deep with you that means I trust you and you are in my 'circle of trust'. That is a place reserved for only a select few. I hate gossip and backstabbing and have been burned before. I have to really trust you and know that you will take very good care of what I bring forth from my heart.
That said, I have only a couple people I share with and who truly know me. The rest are acquaintances. I have a really difficult time trusting people with "me" and what is going on in my heart and life....the deep and important stuff.

So, what I have been posting has been semi-superficial, silly happenings, a few semi-personal tid-bits, and a bunch of 'whatevers'. I don't know what to do now. Do I just shut my blog down? Do I make it completely separate from my shop so no one can connect the two? Do I stop posting anything about my life and what I discover, to keep a shop going? I really don't know and this has been weighing on my heart for quite some time now.
I have been planning on taking a hiatus for at least 6months from Etsy and concentrate on making my pieces. I am burned out from the amount of work it takes to get a glimpse of someone noticing me on that site. There are way too many who are very competitive and do what they can to blow others out of the market. I just can't list 20 things a day, every day. I can't do it all. I work full time and have a family. I have some ideas I want to work on and if I put them on Etsy, they will be taken by the 'competitive' people and made by them. I want them to be mine..even for a little while.
I am not sure where I am going to go with this next. No clue.

Something beautiful awaits for me at Target!

Photobucket has been so good to me lately! I stumbled upon it awhile ago looking for some blog backgrounds. Not only have I found lots of amazing backgrounds, I have found some of the most amazingly beautiful photographs. What I like about this site is that I can 'collect' them in an album as well buy the prints at Target. I am sure I can print them off at home, but this gives me a reason to go shopping at one of my favorite stores! Do I need a reason? No, but now that I received the email saying they are ready for me to pick up, I feel like a kid in a candy store....excited to get my new 'treasure'

Obama publicly announced what we 'educators' have said all along!

We were braced for the unknown due to Obama's impending Presidential Speech. Parent phone call after another wanting to 'opt out' their child from listening to The President give his advice and encouragement to the students today.
I really don't get it. What is all the fuss about? (I am still shaking my head in disbelief) Is it his race? His color? I certainly hope not!

Could it be that he is a person who takes seriously the responsibility of his office and is putting action behind his words? I know, not everyone agrees on the method or mode of change, but I give him kudos for trying to make his time in office count and do his best to make a difference. Change can be hard because it requires something from us beyond the familiar. Change can also be very good.

I made sure I saw the speech to see what all the fuss was about. Honestly, I loved it and thought it was excellent. The message was very well spoken and could not be said any better. It was honest, encouraging, and forthright.

My son did not hear it at his school, so I looked it up and he watched it on the computer. I wanted him to hear what we have been 'trying' to say all along. In my personal opinion, I think not only every child should hear it, but also every parent and citizen of The United States should hear it. Just in case you didn't, go take a peek and listen. I am sure you will be glad you did.

Have a teriffic day! :)

Say No To Spam!

HELP CLEAN-UP OUR ACT

I follow a blog called, More Than Sew So, and she posted this great information and encouraged us to share it. I , too, think it is well worth sharing because I HATE to be spammed or to receive and email from someone I do not know but is referencing someone I do know. Please follow her instructions because it is very good advice!

“Do you get a lot of junk mail? Does your computer crash once in a while. Do you have to reload your machine because of a virus. All of these are a real pain as you well know. Much of it can be either reduced or eliminated. These are things that anyone on the computer can do so don’t think it is for just the pro’s. You can really help. Why not just go ahead and copy this little gem for future reference. (Just in case you know all about this and do not commit any problem activity, great, but this is an excellent rundown to send to some of those you know who could change their tactics and help out) Thank you and read on:
Read right down to the last one, as it makes sense!

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Do you really know how to forward emails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.

Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail?

Do you hate it?

Every time you forward an email there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their email addresses and names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every email address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That’s right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel. How do you stop it? Well, there are several easy steps. Try the following if you haven’t done it before:

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1. When you forward an email, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That’s right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the “Forward” button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don’t click on “Forward” first, you won’t be able to edit the message at all.

2. Whenever you send an email to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: fields for adding email addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the email addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own email address. If you don’t see your BCC option, click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that’s it, it’s that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say “Undisclosed Recipients in the “TO:” field of the people who receive it.

3. Remove any “FW:” in the subject line. You can re-name the subject if you wish or even fix spelling. And clean up the checked by AVG Avast etc on the bottom as well.

4. ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual email you are reading. Ever get those emails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many emails just to see what you sent.

Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses.

A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. DO NOT put your email address of any petition. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition. (And don’t believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just ain’t so!)

Some of the other emails to delete and not forward are:

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1. The one that says something like, “Send this email to 10 people and you all see something great run across your screen.” Or sometimes they’ll just tease you by saying ’something really cute will happen.’ IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! (We are still seeing some of the same emails that we waited on 10 years ago!)

2. Don’t let the bad luck ones scare you either, delete them, they are trash.

3. Before you forward an ‘Amber Alert’, or a ‘Virus Alert’, or some of the other emails floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward them. Most of them are junk mail that’s been circling the net for YEARS! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Just go to www.snopes.com It’s really easy to find out if it’s real or not. If it’s not, please don’t pass it on.

4. Before sending the email skip down to the bottom and remove ALL the build up of “Virus Protection Messages” that get tacked on each time an email gets forwarded.

So please, in the future, let’s stop the junk mail and the viruses.”

Sounds like really good advice to me!

Until next time!

Share and Enjoy:

You know it is hot when TIVO shuts down due to the temperature.

I am staying very still as not to expel much heat. The house is very hot and if I move around, I will surely melt. I have been dripping like a melted candle and feel just as hot. Last night and this morning, the temperature registered 94 degrees INSIDE! Eeek!

See, I live in Arizona and it is not only hot in August, but VERY hot...ok...blow torch hot! Our AC went poof on Thursday and it has been an adventure trying to stay cool ever since. I have been watering down my dog, doing my best keeping her cool. At first, she didn't like it because she thought I was going to give her a bath. Once she felt the cooler temperature on her, she hasn't minded it since.

Every fan I could find has been blowing non-stop. I have a fan on the TIVO because it kept shutting down last night, as I was trying to get my mind off the situation. They say a little fantasy works wonders? We will never know now will we? :) Anyhow, the TIVO was overheating like me and the temperature registered in the red.

We decided to forgo the 'stay~cation' the hotel would bring because my hero's would be arriving at 7am. I couldn't leave my dog either. We survived and my new best friends are working on our house. They are putting in a new AC and re-doing some of our duct work. The builders skimped on that part of the house (who knew?) and made the AC work less efficient and harder than it needed to. I will be very happy when everything is finished and I can feel the cooler air again.

You never know how much you take things for granted until it isn't there. This is a good reminder to myself to look at my life and acknowledge the blessings I do have and to be even more greateful than I am now.
Have a wondeful day!

Vacation Time!

I am taking a Blog-cation or rather a vacation from my blog. I have some things I need to do that are very important, so I must focus on that and not worry about keeping this updated. I just wanted to share and do hope you will be back to read when I start blogging again.
Have a wonderful 'everything' :)

Wordless Wednesday!

Just don't get caught! :)

Have a Wonderful Day!

Photoscape! My new best friend!

My friend just introduced me to Photoscape! It is a free photo editing program and perfect for someone like me!

When you go to the link, the download button is on the top of the header. It will want you to download Picassa, which I have always used, and is a super program as well!

I am excited about Photoscape because it gives you a lot of creative freedom and so easy to learn. I just changed the photos in my banner, re-sized them and everything! ~ It was so easy!

I am amazed and can't wait to see what else it can do! I just thought I'd share it with the other 'challenged' people out there! :)

Have fun!

Treasures in your heart . A little bit of Heaven on Earth

My son and I were talking one afternoon as I laid on his bed. We have always been close, my son and I. Through good times and bad, he knows I love him with my whole heart, no matter what!

As we were talking, our sweet little dog jumped up and snuggled her little furry self right next to my leg. She couldn't get any closer without jumping into my skin. I love her so much, I probably wouldn't have minded. I could feel her soft and gentle breathing and her silky fur next to my leg. I just love her fur next to my skin. I love her close to me. She is my soul dog. I didn't want to get up and leave because I knew the moment would be over and I wanted it to last forever. I told him that at this very moment, it was heaven on earth for me. (I was with my son and my dog and all was right in the world. )

I knew he was thinking about what I said ....that we were sharing a bit of heaven on earth, because of what he said next. He stood up, got out of his chair, and leaned over our little pooch and kissed her on the top of her furry little head. He turned and looked over at me with a smile on his face and said it was the little things in life. So true!

The little moments that bring us joy are our treasures of heaven on earth. These gifts are for us to store in our hearts forever. I love to slow down and find these treasures throughout my day. It makes me happy. It may be a bird in a tree, the sound of children playing, or the fur on my skin. I hope you find a treasure of your very own.... today!

Make your Art out of Your Heart!

It was a wonderful and inspiring weekend filled with creativity and good friends! This is what every day should aspire to be, but one can only dream....

I am involved with a wonderful group of gals who love to create or as we say, play! We do most of it together at a studio called Fire and FriendZ. It is a magical place equipped with anything you could or ever need to help your creation become what you 'envisioned'. Need a hole?.....use
their drill press! Need a special file or metal work tool? ....they have it! Torch? Kilns?? The answer is always.. yup!


It is such a beautiful and inspiring place where you 'want' to be. They designed it to be that way and want it to be a working studio.

This weekend, I took a wonderful class with Kate McKinnon. She is amazing! Talented and knowledgeable, and such a great teacher! She taught us things that no one has before her, such as how to keep your pmc moist while living in Arizona, properties of metal, and how to properly forge to make it the best piece possible! I could go on and on and probably will later.










One thing that was so amazing to us, was that she shared all her tricks and encouraged us to share them with others.

So many people complain that 'they' were the ones who came up with 'that' design or 'method', but in actuality...it has all been done before and in so many more ways than we can possibly imagine. One example was that she showed us how she makes her special and unique ear wires. It's a very cool design. A gal, who was in our class, had some she made in her studio that were exactly the same and thought up hers up in 'her' creative moment. Kate could have cried....you stole my design! but didn't. She is secure enough in herself to know that many creative minds think alike and oftentimes come up with similar designs, without the influence of the other. She actually encouraged us to use everything she taught and to pass it on. It just makes us better as creative people.

The reason why it struck me, as well as the other people, was that there are so many who claim a particular design or technique is theirs and no one can touch it! I hear it all the time,(mostly from insecure people)~(my opinion) but often have seen other artists doing the same thing. Or I may have seen it in a book and 'THAT' artist was thinking it was 'they' who came up with the design! We all know that making birdhouses, gates, beads, and layering glass has all come before us and will come after. When we put our own particular, unique, and creative mark on a piece, it is then when we make it our own. (This is an example of how to make stacked rings.)
That is much different than 'copying' and not what I am talking about. You can't say someone is copying you when you really have no idea
Techniques are techniques, but the mark of the individual artist cannot be duplicated and we must not worry about it. Kate stressed that this weekend.
Don't get me wrong....there is a time for copyright, but most of the time when we think up something and think we were the first, usually there is someone, somewhere, thinking the same thing! It has happened to me many times. I have thought up inventions, used them in my home, and not long after, maybe a year or two....there it is in the store!

So to all the creative people who are afraid of letting their creativity soar for fear on treading on someones toes, don't worry. Just go in your special place and go make your art out of your heart and soul! Go be happy!

Sawing on a Saturday and it wasn't wood!

Well, today is my birthday. I am sitting in my favorite chair, with my sweetest pup next to me, thinking about how I will spend this day. I am not sure, but that is ok.
My blog feels like a ghost town. It is my fault because I know I haven't spent much time on here.

When we were going through all the garbage that having a teen-aged son gives you, I didn't want to share. I just couldn't. All my energy was focused elsewhere. Now that (fingers crossed) we have stepped over the hardest point, and are on the descent, things seem much better. I still haven't had much of a desire to start blogging again, but know that I must for us to stay in touch. I realized that my blog isn't really for me, but for you. It is a way to keep our friendship alive and to stay in touch even though we are miles and miles apart.

The other day, I was in my patio looking at a plant my mom had given me perhaps 4 years ago? I knew they were coming over for Father's Day, and also knew she wanted a piece of it for her garden, so I decided to re-plant it.
It was THE HARDEST thing I have done in such a long time! This is what happens when a plant surpasses root-bound! It grows up and under-neath the edges! I thought I could just get it out, but saw the growth under the edges. I didn't want to, but knew I had to destroy this planter in order to get it out. Clippers first!

Time to call on the big guns! The hand held saw!

I had to get out the clippers AND the saw! It was tough cutting through this space aged --plastic!
I don't know if you can see the blood, but it was there as well as a lot of sweat and frustration!

Look at the growth under the ledge! It was like that ALL THE WAY AROUND the POT!

More sawing and I still couldn't break the pot enough to get it out!

Eventually, I had no choice but to take my saw and start sawing all around the inside edge of the pot. After that, I pulled the plant out and re-potted it into 4! Yes FOUR pots! I knew it was ready to be re-planted, but had no idea it would come to this!

Here they are. I have one in a bucket of water because I ran out of pots to put them in. I am keeping two and giving the other two away. Crazy isn't it?

It was such an ordeal complete with blood, but when it was all over, I was very happy that I did it. I love plants and I am sure it is so much happier having some dirt and nutrients again! :)

Just a little funny! Happy Fathers Day!

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.' The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?'

'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles.
'OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass - . Yet a deer excretes little
pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?'

The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'

To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know shit??

Wordless Wednesday!

Have a Wonderful Day!

Oops! She's at it again!

If you can be sworn to secrecy and NOT tell any member of my family, go ahead and read. If you can't, then please skip this post. You'll understand. I want to LIVE!

Here's the deal, I am at it again, (shhh!) trying a few things out with my blog. See, for three or four days now, I have been fiddling with the codes and pretty much 'guessing' at the numbers that I need to change to make everything work .....and fit. I'll change one number and it moves something completely different than what I 'thought' it was going to move!
Is it working? Not really! I felt like having a little design, so I added the sides, but had to change the width of my blog. It was like I was looking at it through a magnifying glass! Font 6,289 to be exact! Obviously, I am still learning because you can see that my banner is STILL HUGE and WAY too far to the right! It is kinda funny, well, not too funny now that I think about it.
This is something I must do in secret because if my sister knew what I was doing.....I would be in the dog house AGAIN! It is NOT a pretty sight! Seriously! It is Not a place I WANT to go, but probably will again soon. I am sure of it.
See, she says I am stubborn. Me??? of course not! The deal is she knows how to do all this fancy schmancy 'techie' stuff and wants me to tell her what I want, so she can do it for me. Do I do that? Nope. So what if it is two years later!...... Eeek!

When I go off into 'cyber world' searching for a new code or 'thingie' to add, she says ,"that I am re-inventing the toothbrush! " What the...I gasp? And she continues, "There is already a toothbrush and it works great, so what the heck are you doing???" She gets SO mad at me! I guess the pain isn't strong enough for me to be good because, for some reason, I end up wandering off into my own little world and keep twiddling with ''this or figuring out 'that', or as she says..."create a new toothbrush". It's not that I don't want help, it is just that I want to learn to do it myself. So, am I Stubborn? Yes, I guess so. I know just enough to be very dangerous. Once, I deleted a VERY NECESSARY program because I was 'trying' to make my computer run at perfection. That was scary!

The problem is I really don't like to read directions...... Once, we bought a swing set for the boys. The instruction book was Gi-normous! Picture me and my hubby surrounded by tons and tons of little bags filled with metal pieces, the large metal pieces, and THE INSTRUCTION MANUEL! I just wanted to dump the ENTIRE thing out in the yard and figure it out by looking at the picture on the box. Needless to say, I was banned and had to leave. Looking back, it was a good thing too....for their safety! :)

Wish me luck and if you come by and everything is upside down, please understand....I am at it again! :)

Lost in my Studio! Having a Great Time!

Where the HECK have I been? ...... People have been asking me what I have been up to and why I haven't listed anything new in my shop. Well, here's a little glimpse into my life these last few weeks. Are you ready? Better grab some tea and make yourself comfy. This is a long one! :)

I painted my studio and moved my torch inside so I can use it this summer! I painted it a girlie color since I am the only girl in the house and need a 'girl cave' ! Actually, I like this color and my family wouldn't like it in the family room.
I still need to get some ventilation to blow the propane out when I play!

This is my work area. I love it! I got the table at Pier 1 at such an incredible deal, it is perfect! The blanket 'under' the table is where my pup hangs out.

Here is where I make my beads! I cleaned it up and see that I need to get back on and make it messy again! I do need to get some more glass rods.

Here is my computer where I get on BaceFook and such. I liked the Flair so much, I made myself a Flair board. Look behind the computer. My family says I am silly for doing that, but they just don't understand....or do they? (I see, I still need to put the covers on the light switches...eeek!)

Here are my shelves. Notice how organized my beads are? It took me an ENTIRE weekend sorting them out. I sat on the floor surrounded by beads. I am still finding a few of the escapee's!

For the last few days, I have been teaching myself how to make little boxes out of silver clay. Notice the pin through the hinge? It really opens up and I am so proud!

It is still not ready to be fired yet. I am fine tuning and sanding the little bugger! It may go in tomorrow?

I just finished this ring. I made the band out of sterling silver and soldered it to the bezel I made. I put in a rivet which will hold the lampwork bead I am going to make. I have it planned out in my mind. I am excited about this one!

Can you picture a lampwork bead between the two pieces of silver? Once it is put together, I will secure it by cutting the shank and heating it into a small ball. I'll have to post pictures when I am done.

A bunch of gobbli-goo that is 'in progress'.

A pendant I made out of fine silver surrounded by wire wrapped pearls, silver nuggets, and glass beads. I am almost finished with it.

I have been spending a lot of time doodling in my doodle book. It helps clear the mind and is very relaxing for me. My pictures don't have to be anything, which is very free-ing!

Thought I'd show you a few of my doodles! (Hey! That is where my phone went! I was wondering........nah, not really!)

I SEE YOU! *blink!

That's all for now. As you can see, I have been thoroughly enjoying my time off teaching myself new tricks. Whoever said teaching an old dog new tricks has never met me! HA!
Hope this finds you well.

Drum Roll Please!.........And the WINNER is.....

.....Wait! First of all I want to thank each and every one of you who responded to my plea! I wrote down all the suggestions and am going to start re-designing. I found it is always good to get an un-biased perspective!

Since many posted to my blog and to Bacefook, I gave you all a number. Here it is.

1. Lenox Knits
2. Stinky Paw
3. Melanie
4. Creek Hiker
5. Louis at Fireseed
6. LaWatha
7. Kathie
8. Glassgardenswhatnot
9. Sherry Goodle
10.Audrey
11. Janette
12. Joy
13. Tee T.
14. Sonnee M.
15. Sylvia E.

(You have to trust me on this one because I don't know why the result didn't show up on the pic.)
And now for the Golden Envelope.........
A FREE Pendant from my shop goes to..........#5 Louis At Fireseed! Congrats! :)

Blog Advice Giveaway!

I have been thinking about my blog lately and need some advice.
I have become bored with it and think it is too cluttered and random.
What should I do to make it better? Should I focus on my personal or studio life?
What do YOU want to read when you come here?
Go ahead and be brutal!

Please let me know what you think and to those useful comments, I will pick a winner.
That means if YOU are 'the winning one,' YOU get to pick out something FREE from my shop!

I will use The Random Generator to pick a winner. comment below and leave your email so I can get in touch with you.

Blog Advice Giveaway ends June 7th at Midnight. Thanks a bunch!

Wordless Wednesday! Ahhh....Childhood :)

Beware! This just may inspire you!

If this doesn't inspire you to start creating and trying new things, then I am not sure what will! I Love what they can do with glass and silver! WOW! I am glad summer vacation is soon, so I can get back into my studio and play! :)

The End is NEAR!

__________Clean up time! ______ Tomorrow will be the start of the last week we will have before Summer Vacation! I will miss the kids, because they are really great to be around and tons of fun! Many will be moving up to the High School and hopefully, will come back to visit me. Many do, and I am happy about that. I consider them all 'my kids' and enjoy being able to watch them grow up.
We are doing a fun end of the year project of making plaster gauze masks. I have molds, but some wanted to use their own faces! There is nothing like having a mask of yourself!
Take a peek!

This is a student of mine who agreed to be 'famous' on my blog! HA!
It does look like he seems a bit afraid of being completely covered up with plaster.

Before. Looking purdy with that pony tail!

I am putting plaster on his face! No worries, he is slathered with Vasoline so it doesn't pull all his hair off with the mask!

Hey! Where did you go?
I put paper towels on his hairline, because if 'one' hair gets stuck....Eeek!!

Almost there!

Drying time!
Whatcha' doing with your finger up your nose? Didn't someone tell you...?

Taking the beast off!

It is almost like taking your face off!
Wait! You are!!!

It is always a relief and an accomplishment when it is over! Just guess what he could be thinking....

Smile Pretty for the Camera!

Two hilarious students of mine! The one under the mask, we call 'Barbie' because he can dance to the Barbie girl song! I wouldn't ask.....

We gave him cheek implants!

A Very True and Uplifting Duck Story.

This is a true story that we can all identify with. Seems there are some very nice people in SAN ANTONIO..

A True Duck Story from San Antonio, Texas

Something really cute happened in downtown San Antonio this week. Michael R. is an accounting clerk at Frost Bank and works there in a second story office. Several weeks ago, he watched a mother duck choose the concrete awning outside his window as the unlikely place to build a nest above the sidewalk.

The mallard laid ten eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks, and Monday afternoon all of her ten ducklings hatched.

Michael worried all night how the momma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Michael watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off. Office work came to a standstill as everyone gathered to watch.

The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In disbelief Michael watched as the first fuzzy newborn trustingly toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. Michael couldn't stand to watch this risky effort nine more times! He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs to the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling, near its mother, was resting in a stupor after the near-fatal fall. Michael stood out of sight under the awning-planter, ready to help.

As the second one took the plunge, Michael jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the concrete. Safe and sound, he set it down it by its momma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from that painful leap. (The momma must have sensed that Michael was trying to help her babies.)

One by one the babies continued to jump. Each time Michael hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. At the scene the busy downtown sidewalk traffic came to a standstill. Time after time, Michael was able to catch the remaining eight and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Michael realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had two full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs and past pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the San Antonio River, site of the famed "River Walk." The onlooking office secretaries and several San Antonio police officers joined in. An empty copy-paper box was brought to collect the babies. They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them in the container.

Michael held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the San Antonio River. The mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight, all the way.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping in the river and quacking loudly. At the water's edge, Michael tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to the waiting mother after their adventurous ride.

All ten darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to momma. Michael said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank bookkeeper, and proudly quacking.

At last, all present and accounted for: "We're all together again. We're here! We're here!"

And here's a family portrait before they head outward to further adventures...

Like all of us in the big times of our life, they never could have made it alone without lots of helping hands. I think it gives the name of San Antonio's famous "River Walk" a whole new meaning! Maybe you will want to share this story with others. It's too good to lose!

Sister Mary-Joanna Huegle

Live honestly, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly & Leave the rest to God

Obama! You said it well!

This is the second time President Obama has come to Arizona and both for very good reasons. First, he went and spoke at Dobson High School about housing and yesterday he sent the ASU graduates off into the world with his eloquent speech, :)

Here is a link to read up more and how well he shrugs off the Honorary Degree Snub at ASU!
In my opinion, he has accomplished a lot in his life, been an example to millions on how to be a loving and decent husband and father, not to mention becoming the 44th President. All of which is quite an accomplishment. I think he should have received one. Sorry Obama. I went to the Uof A and I am sure they would have given you honor and respect! Go Uof A!
Uof A! :)
Have a great day!