Go East Young Lady!

I went to the By Hand show this weekend to visit my good friend Gail at her beautiful booth. I thought it was an exceptional show! It took me 45 minutes just getting down the first isle, I saw so many wonderful things and spoke to so many beautiful artists. Then, I stopped and met Jeff with Eikona Photography and had to have this print. 

There is a very embarrassing story from 20 years ago that goes perfect with this picture. I was supposed to leave Cleveland and go to New York to visit my brother Kurt and go to his buddy's wedding. Well, the directions he sent me were reverse (like leaving NY and coming to Cleveland). Remember, this was in my early 20's, this was my very first road trip alone and I was quite the "socializer" and hung out at the local "socializing hole" (ok, watering hole!). I had way too many to drink and hit the road the following day with quite a smart headache (well, total hangover actually). To make a long story short, I ended up right outside of Chicago before I realized I was driving the wrong direction! Yes, that really did happen, I know, hard to believe with as smart as I am! Well, as you can see, I just HAD TO HAVE this print - wish I had it 20 years ago!!!

What's in your lipstick...

Please ask Congress to get behind the safe Cosmetics Act at safecosmetics.org. There is also a short video that you can watch...

Thanks Martha!

I had fun baking cupcakes for Aiden's school Halloween party - I got the idea for the "mummy creepcakes" out of this year's The Best of Martha Stewart Halloween Handbook. I think they came out really cute!

Robert Dancik Class :o)

I absolutely love taking jewelry related classes, especially from one of my favorite artists,Robert Dancik. This was the second time I have taken his Faux Bone class, but it's amazing how much more you take in and learn when you are doing it for the 2nd time. Robert is such a generous teacher and will show you anything you want to learn. We had a pot luck afterwards and then he gave a demo on concrete. I was there from 8:30am-9:00pm, what a fabulous day!! Come back again soon Robert!!!

Mary Ann, Cath and Gail all smiling so purdy! Cathy made a replacement knob for her crock pot out of Faux Bone - my pic of that didn't turn out :o(

Here is the front of my spear piece...

...and, here is the back

The one side reads "Conquer"

This side reads "Your Fears"

A phrase very appropriate for a little personal development I'm working on.

Life...

I copied this from my friend Gail's blog - this says it all! Especially, "If you don't like something, change it!" Cuz, if ya keep doin' what you're doin', you're gonna keep gettin' what you're gettin'!

Put-In-Bay

What a great day this past Friday was. My long-time, wonderful friend Jill and I took a day trip up to my old stomping grounds, Put-In-Bay. I can't believe it's been almost 20 years since I worked up there at the Boat House.

Here we are drinking a frozen vodka and lemonade while listening to the crude, but hilarious Mad Dog Adams at the Round House.

Ah, the boater's life...
You couldn't go up to the monument, they are doing major reconstruction on it right now.
We couldn't have asked for better weather. The temp was in the upper 70's with a wonderful breeze! I love taking the relaxing ride on the Miller Ferry. It takes about 20 minutes, but it is so relaxing. It gave Jill and I a chance talk about the day's events on the way back.

Voting Ends Monday....

My necklace is in a Reader's Challenge on Susan Lenart Kazmer's blog. I am only a couple votes ahead and the voting ends Monday - please, please go vote and then ask your friends to vote. I wanna win really, really bad - all the help is much appreciated!!!!

Living in the Present

I donated a piece of jewelry for a fundraiser my niece was doing at her school in CA. I received their newsletter in the mail last week and finally had a chance to read it. At the bottom of the front page, there was a quote by Storm Jameson (not sure who he is, but it was from him speaking to the 2010 seniors) It really struck a chord with me, especially with some recent events:

I believe that only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Most of us spend 59 minutes an hour living in the past, with regret for lost joys, or shame for things badly done (both utterly useless and weakening)-or in a future which we either long for or dread. Yet the past is gone beyond prayer, and every minute you spend in the vain effort to anticipate the future is a moment lost. There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute - here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle. Which is what it is - a miracle and unrepeatable.

Let me ask you this, how do you spend your minutes of your day?

I know over these past couple years, I have learned to look at life very differently and many people do not agree with it, but it's my life and I don't want to have any regrets or what if's. I intend to live life to its fullest, and yes, it has been with some risks and I have learned some very hard lessons, but again, it is my life and I will not live with regret.

Earring Finding Class

I will be teaching an earring finding class at Bead Paradise on Saturday, August 21st.

I was tired of having the same old, store bought earring findings for all my work. Now that I know how to make my own, I believe my earrings stand out more. I will still buy some of the niobium ear wires though, the bronze colored ones go great with some of my BronzClay stuff.

The Sonata Ring

Yesterday I took a fun, short class on wire wrapping rings at Bead Q. My dear friends Mary Ann and Deb also took the class. We started out using copper to practice with - I had no idea how easy this is.

For the practice ring, I used the bronze Art Wire in 24 gauge for the coil and 18 gauge bare copper wire for the base. I had a great vintage bead from a necklace my great aunt gave me to take apart.

For this beauty, I used 24 gauge wire for the coil and 20 gauge for the base. Deb gave me the gorgeous bead from a strand that she bought at Bead Q - I made the coil part right before I left on this one. When I got home it took me no more than 5 minutes to complete it! Well, then it took a couple minutes more to dip it in LOS and clean up with steel wool. Guess what I'll be making more of?!

Industrial Chic Contest

Susan Lenart Kazmer is having a reader challenge using her new Industrial Chic components that are being carried at Michaels - I just saw it on her blog Objects and Elements today. The deadline was at 5:00. I think I submitted my entry at 4:50 - I hope it got there in time!

Art by the Falls

This morning we are going to set up my tent at Art by the Falls. This is my favorite show. I'm bummed that the forecast is calling for rain both days, but I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that it holds off or just misses us like in years past.

Here are just a few pics of what to expect:

It's show time!

I'm getting ready to do my only show so far for the year, Art by the Falls. It's June 12th and 13th. I'm a little bit in panic mode, I've been so busy I keep putting off making my goodies to sell. I stopped at Bead Paradise Saturday and picked up some loot. Ruth bought some amazing stuff when she went to Tucson. Hope I can get everything assembled in time!

I was able to get at least one batch of BronzClay done. I'm going to be doing some cool toggle bracelets. Well, they look cool in my head, I hope they turn out like I'm envisioning them.

Smile

My husband, Lance took this cute picture of the toad in the plants right outside our front door. Couldn't resist sharing.

ARS Bowling Fundraiser

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at a fundraising bowling event out in Brookpark for my brother, Chris' foundation, Alternative Rehab Solutions. Lance and I didn't bowl, but Aiden had a blast. His poor little arms are going to be sore today. He wanted to bowl with a 12lb ball at the end cuz it was knocking down more pins. They had the bumpers up, so it was pretty funny to see the adults bowl who probably are terrible at it anyway. They had ramps down so people in wheelchairs could bowl too. They have a special get-up that looks kind of like a walker that you set the ball on and push it. The ball rolls down the ramp and down the lane.

ARS is scheduled to be open either this summer or fall. It will help rehab people that are paralyzed to help them possibly walk again. I think in the next couple years, Chris may be out of the wheelchair, even if it is with braces. I sure would love to see him walk again!

I love you Chris, I am so proud of you and what you are doing!!!!

Aunty Em, it's a twister!

Ok, so this is an example why the Love Dare is not working so well for me. I'm in bed watching tv last night around 10:15 or so. I'm watching something on the DVR, so I'm not getting the news flash on the weather. In the distance, I hear the weather warning siren going off.

I turned on the news and there is a tornado warning for Geauga County! So, I wake up my husband and tell him we need to get in the basement for about 15 minutes or so. Ya know what he tells me?! "Oh, they're just sensationalizing the weather" WHAT!!!!!! I grabbed Aiden and the dog Jake (Couldn't get Josie, the other dog out from under the bed) and sat in the basement watching the news. There was a tornado cell sighted in the Hiram area - too close for comfort. Can you believe my husband stayed in bed. I have to confess, some unkind words were spoken when he told me to leave Aiden in bed sleeping. Aaaargh!

I don't think I'm ever gonna get to day four!

Rockin Pendant Class

I taught a class at Bead Paradise this past Sunday. I had 5 great students, all taking a class from me for the first time. We drilled beach stones and tube set cz's into them. After a few broken stones, everyone got the feel for the drill press and went home with at least one beautiful finished piece. I didn't get any good close up pics, sorry.

Here's Sheila wearing a drilled cabachon that Joy gave her to use

Joy and Diane hard at work

Duana ended up finishing 2 pieces

A smiling Diane - fun was had by all!

Barb is working on tube setting her cz

Thank you all again! I really enjoyed having you all in my class and I'm so glad you loved your finished pieces!

Silver Fusing Workshop

What a great workshop I took yesterday through our PMC Guild. Anne Mitchell is here this weekend teaching to our guild members for 2 days. The second class is today and I wish I could be there to make more chain - if you don't know Anne's work, visit her site: www.annemitchell.net

What is cool is that she is very environmentally friendly when doing her work. She doesn't use solder in the class we took and she is very against pickle solution - this is right up my alley!

Anyway, here are some pics from the class

Here is the the chain I made, I really, really like doing this!

And, of course, my little guy was happy when I got home - here is the toggle part of the chain - the close up pic didn't turn out so good. I'll try to get a couple better pics taken when there's some good sunlight out...

Hope the second class has as much fun as I did yesterday - thanks again Anne!

Here we go again!

I am on day two again! For those of you who have not seen Fireproof, here is a link to catch a clip of it. Did I mention Kirk Cameron is in the movie, he's a cutie!

http://thelovedarebook.com/

Carpe Diem!

I am back on my Love Dare! Some horrible news for a family I don't even know prompted me to get right back on and don't give up.

The fiance of a guy I work with just lost her 40 yr old sister. This woman's husband found her on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood. She either had a seizure or an aneurysm and hit her head. This happened Easter morning. Yesterday, Craig, who I work with left to go to the hospital to be with his fiance while they took her off of life support. This poor woman has a 6 and 10 yr old. I couldn't help but cry for this family, so young and unexpected.

You guys (and gals), life is way too short - I'm sorry this post is such a downer, but it affected me so greatly. Don't waste any of your days! Do what matters to you every day! Tell your family and friends you love them and how much they mean to you! Be the best you can be every single day - CARPE DIEM!!!

My little Picasso!

Aiden loves to draw and here is his latest creation. He calls it "Anchor with nose, eye and hair"

He drew more in this series, they have alot more eyes. Oh, my little Picasso!

Easter's on it's way!

Aiden colored Easter eggs today (with a little assistance from mamma) - we really had fun! Here are the beautiful results!

Well.....

I messed up on the days - ya know how ya get so busy you just forget things. That is what I was trying to avoid, but it somehow still happened. I am going to try to start my Love Dare over again. When I get to day 4 without botching it up, I will post about it again.

This is kind of tough, I am a critical person when it comes to my husband. I guess I nag a bit, but hey! At least I admit it. Guess I am more like my mom than I like to admit :o)

Day Two, it was alright

Day two was ok, I wasn't feeling well and I didn't get much sleep the night before. I did bite my tongue on one incident though - a little nagging on doing something and instead of arguing, I asked if Lance could help me out with it and he did without saying anything about it.

As my unexpected act of kindness, I called him at work yesterday to tell him I was thinking about him and that I loved him :o)

Day Three:

Love is not selfish

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor - Romans 12:10

Today's Dare:

Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says "I was thinking of you today"

Well, shall it be beer or candy....

Day One, piece of cake!

Ok, maybe day one of "The Love Dare" was too easy. I only saw Lance for 2 hours yesterday. I did get a little perturbed when I went in the basement and he was giving chips to Aiden right before dinner, but I pointed it out very nicely that it was not a good thing to do so Aiden would eat. Aiden chowed his dinner, so all was well.

Day two:

Love is Kind

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32

Today's Dare:

In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness

Hmmmmm....

The Love Dare

It's been an extremely long time since I've posted. I've been so busy, but I need to make the time for a new journey I'm taking to better my relationship with my husband. We're doing ok, don't get me wrong, but I really want to better things between us, we have gotten lost in the day to day grind and focus all our energy on our son, Aiden who we adore.

Have you seen the movie Fireproof? A friend of mine gave it to me to borrow and some of it really hit home. It is about a married couple getting lost in the day to day grind and they take each other for granted. Their marriage starts to really fall apart to where the wife wants a divorce. The man's father tells his son about the Love Dare book to give him 40 days to really try and make his marriage work - Lance and I are not thinking of divorce, we get along really well, but I want us to really appreciate each other and our marriage and not take each other or our days here for granted.

Well, a year has passed and I was at Border's and I came across that book "The Love Dare", in fact, it jumped off the shelf at me. Things are never coincidental! This is based off of the movie Fireproof. It's a 40 day challenge that gives you a different "Dare" every day to improve your marriage/relationship.

Day One:

Love is Patient:

Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love - Ephesians 4:2

Today's Dare:

"For day one, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret"

It then gives you a page to fill in notes about what happened that day to cause anger, etc, etc.

I'll keep you posted each day!

Snow, snow and more snow

It has snowed so much these past few days. It reminds me how much snow we used to get when I was little - remember the snow in the 70's?!

Here's a couple pics from yesterday. Aiden is teaching us how to be out in the snow again