Hovering....

 Goodness Gracious!

I certainly did not plan on being gone from this blog for so long!  The last time I posted I felt that I was soon to be on a blog post roll!  There was going to be so much going on and so much to post about.  Then the husband and I had to put on REALLY big catcher's mitts for the curve ball(s) that life has thrown us!! 

 We celebrated our first high school graduation and an 18th birthday soon after that.  Such good times.

 

Somewhere in between we had an emergency, middle of the night, surgery on the 15 year old.  A four day hospital stay and 6 week recovery of not lifting more than 5 pounds, no physical activity....not so easy for a teenager in the summer!!  The flu hit our house...twice...and my momma took a spill and ended up in the E.R. with dislocated fingers and a huge gash above her eye.

We also have been through the tragic death of a 4 year old nephew.  No words for that.

On the happy ~ happy front...the surgery patient is doing great and we are excitedly looking forward to the birth of my great nephew, Liam, and my sisters wedding to the love of her life.  It just goes to show that life does go on and happy times are to be cherished. 

During my "hovering" days I had a chance to clean up the studio and organize a bit.

 

I've been using up some of my blingy collection to work on some fun jewelry pieces.

 It's hard to part with some of these jewels but they aren't being enjoyed just sitting in a drawer!!

 I'm loving my plastic rhinestone lovelies...

Along with the creamy white goodness of these.

 I've been doing some sewing, getting ready for both Tinsel and Treasures and Glitterfest.

 

 

  I've also been working on getting ready for my Studio Workshop (2 spots still available) and LOVE that my students have not given up on the hunt for the seemingly elusive "perfect frame" for their project.

 I'm meeting a sweet friend tomorrow for lunch and some antique shopping as one can never have too many old linens...

and trims!

 Having to cancel our summer vacation and weekend trips due to Shane's recovery has allowed me to catch up on my favorite show...

 (Do you watch this one?)

And spend a day in the kitchen canning apricots and making jam with one of my favorite people.

 I've also done some hovering in the garden....but unless Mother Nature wants to smile on us with a little more heat...I don't know how many of these babies I'm going to see this summer.

 I hope you are having a wonderful, warm, creative and safe summer. 

~~~~~~~

On a side note....please remember not to use your cell phone while driving.  No phone call or text is so important that it can't wait until you arrive at your destination or pull to the side of the road.

Tinsel and Treasures 2011

It's back!  The Tinsel and Treasures show for 2011.  I'm so very excited to be participating again this year.  There are some GREAT new additions to the show along with some artists who are returning after taking a break last year. 

I am finally back in the studio after end of school activities and graduation!!  I was away from the studio for what seemed like forever so it feels good to be creating again.

Hope you can make it to the show.  It's always such a special day.

Busy times...

I have been buried, as usual, with tons of kids activities and getting ready for my first born to graduate from High School.  I really can't believe it.  Where does the time go.  In the blink of an eye they are grown.  I miss his sweet little hugs when his arms were short and his hands had chubby little fingers.

He is a man now....soon to be 18 and looking forward to what the world has to offer.

This is his passion.  I am so glad he discovered it and has devoted so much to it.  He swims on a year round, National swim team.  Out the door at 4:30 in the morning, in the pool by 5, back home by 7:15 for breakfast...off to school...then out at 3:10 and straight back to the pool.  Some days he has dry land after practice so he's not home until 8pm.  Time for homework and some much needed sleep.  This schedule would kill most kids.  He has definitely had some tough days to work through but somehow manages to do it. 

I told myself I wouldn't cry at his upcoming Graduation ceremony.  But sunglasses will definitely be in order.  I always cry at kid events.  Not because I'm sad....just so darn proud!

Fall Workshop Registration

The Fall workshop information is up and available for registration.

Pop on over to the Workshop page for more information.

Inspiration by Kecia....

Kecia has been keeping us posted on Facebook about a nest that a little birdie was building on her front porch.  The bird had been working hard, building...building...building.  Once the nest was built Kecia took a picture of what was inside and...you guessed it...a sweet, beautiful...gorgeous actually...blue egg.  She waited some time and then took another snap, and there was a second egg.     As I was admiring them from my computer I started to wonder if birds ever use the same nest more than once.  Think about it.  If the nest is intact and they have had successful use of it in a prior year...would they return and use it again?  If you read Prim's magazine and happened to read my article in the last issue you know that the inspiration from my bird dolls comes from a sweet little couple that had been building their nest (on top of one of my outdoor speakers that is up under the eaves) in my backyard.  They have returned for a number of years now.  Each year, after the little ones fly away, I take the nest down and use it on my front porch in a little display I put together.  Last year I didn't take the nest down.  After Kecia's second photo of the two sweet eggs I started to wonder if maybe my little friends had returned and I just didn't know it because 1. there has been so much rain I haven't been spending time in the yard and 2. because they just flew in, did their business laying eggs and they are now incognito...hangin' with the other neighborhood birds. 

Now let me tell you that my backyard nest is not easy to get to.  I had to get out the big ladder...climb way way up....use my cell phone camera so I could stick my arm way up there and squeeze my phone in.  Of course, for the first 4 snaps I just caught the upside of the speaker with lots of bird...uh hum...stuff...but my 4th snap...

I struck gold!!!  

They returned!!

Cleanliness and Organization is Overrated!

I normally overhaul my studio each January.  Dust the cobwebs out of the corners, tidy everything up so I am ready for the new year.  January 2011 came and went and I was too busy to get to it.  I finally have had a bit of a break in the craziness of life and I have been working to get my studio nice and...mmm...I dunno...organized maybe?

I shuffled things...

and moved things... 

I organized...

I reorganized...

I took stock of what I have...

And what I have too much of...

(no picture to insert as a girl can never have too much stuff)

and I tidied it all up...

found a place for everything...

and everything in its place...

AND NOW I CAN'T FIND A THING !!!

Spring Web Sale

A few feathered friends will be leaving the nest.  From the pages of Prim's magazine....to my Sunday web sale.

Sunday, April 10

5 pm, PST

Here