THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER

OK Folks. This is the book Lorelei will giveaway tomorrow! Better go on over and leave her a comment. I think this one is PRETTY darn awesome!! You don't want to miss out:D

Soup Ingredients

Lookey what the mail lady brought me today! SOUP FIXINS courtesy of the mega talented glass artist Whitney Lassini. Are lookin real good at that focal?!?!?!

Check Out My New Little Hubba-Hubbas!

NKP Beads. GLORIOUS!

Mary Harding's offering -SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!

AND OMG-MaryAnn Carroll! LOVE THESE!! All these precious babies were not gotten because of a habit I have. No Sir! I follow the Beads of Clay Blog and they have a giveaway on second Wednesdays!!!!! Go. See. Follow. Comment. Receive. Enjoy. Also I mentioned the other day that I will be doing some little PIFs. In order for those to provide the happiest of moments, I believe that they need to show up in your mailbox unannounced. So if you are interested in gettin something from me in the hopes of making you smile, please contact me with your snail mail address.

The Best Party Favors-EVER!

Lorelei is having the best birthday ever this year and she is celebrating all week by giving away the most awesome books! If you haven't checked it out, hop on over and say hi and answer her question of the day. She draws a random winner daily. Up next is Beadmaille by Cindy Thomas Pankopf. Could be yours you know!

Chocolate Veggies- It's Just MAD

This is all Kelley's fault. After reading her blog post today, I had Italian Creme Cake on the brain. Only the market didn't have Italian Creme Cake. They did have cupcakes though. This one was chocolate with a little raspberry inside - and I mean that literally. There was A Little Raspberry inside. It's all good though. The chocolate was pretty amazing and I have a huge sugar buzz going on right now. I know I will regret this in about twenty minutes. I am just gearing up for the Mad Tea Party in June. It is a spectacular virtual tea party hosted by Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist. Click on the link to read more! I heard about it from Erin who participated last year and loved it! I have a whole bunch of ideas spinning 'round!

Bead Soup Teaser

Just a little peek of some of the goods going to my Bead Soup Partner Whitney!!!!

IF YOU DON'T LAUGH, YOU'RE NOT 40(ish)

Mr. Pearl and Pebble just forwarded this to me - his sister sent it to him. I am quite happy to hear that I am not crazy. You should probably go to the bathroom BEFORE reading.... AAADD KNOW THE SYMPTOMS! Thank goodness there is a name for this disorder...Somehow I feel better, even though I have it!! Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests: I decide to water my garden. As I turned on the hose in the driveway, I looked over at my car and decided it needs washing. As I started toward the garage, I noticed mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier. I decided to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and noticed that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put i in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye- they need water. I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.... I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers. I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on to the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. AT THE END OF THE DAY: the car isn't washed the bills aren't paid there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter the flowers don't have enough water there is still only 1 check in my check book I can't find the remote I can't find my glasses and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I'm really tired! I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail...

GOOD GOOD STUFF

So as I mentioned on my sidebar, I was honored to be April's guest blogger for Rings And Things! WHOO-HOO!!! They graciously allowed it to be my pick. So now I am sharing some pictures of my choices and a few things that I have done with them so far. One of the first items I thought was so cool was the Free-Trade recycled paper beads from Uganda. Absolutely love the concept, and love the beads. I also loved the way they play so very well with LeAnn's beautiful stoneware beads. And so I made up a necklace with them which also happens to be my submission for BOC's last color challenge. I think this works pretty well for a "cool" color theme don't you? Not to toot my own horn or anything!!!....

Here is a pic of my Rings and Things Loot! I had the hardest time making up my mind. So one of the things I decided on was a strand of mixed stones. GORGEOUS!!!! They are 6mm faceted rondelles - PERFECT for just about ANYTHING but I think they work especially well for earrings and spacers. I really like to incorporate natural stone in just about everything.

Also notice the dyed Magnesite. Had to have it! Wonderful slices in graduation sizes. Great fiesta colors. Perfect for spring and summer designs. I love looking at what falls under the Special Finds category-it's the first place I look usually! I still have a lot more playing to do obviously!

But I did make up these earrings with a few of Magnesite slices! My second attempt at a little hammer work too. What do you think?

"Small Print":

All items mentioned as from Rings And Things were provided as promotional gifts for review and/or design partnership purposes only.

Here is my first finished piece from my PMC class. I still need to patina it. Doesn't my reflection look like there is a ninja hovering over me? It has been cloudy and raining for about a week now. I am grateful for the rain. We had a lot last year and think that's why everything was so gorgeous all summer. However, my serotonin level appears to have sunk to minus eighty. I think the only solution is going to be to run to the market for some sort of chocolate goo. Any recommendations? I have decided to send out PIF goodies. If you are a follower, you are in. I'll randomly draw names and just keep going. Don't know what it will be. Maybe stash, maybe a finished piece, maybe art, maybe something PMC!!! In case you don't know what PIF is, "Pay It Forward" (I think) anyhow I do know the concept is simple. I will send you something because I want to make you happy. All you need to do is something with the intent to brighten someone's day. It doesn't have to be in material form either. It can be as simple as a smile and a kind word to a stranger. That's it. All about spreadin the love. Ok now show me a little and tell me what chocolate I want.

NOT ON THE ASPARAGUS!!!

So I let yellow dog out when I got home and out of all the spaces in the WHOLE damn yard she goes on the asparagus! Our precious little four stalk crop. I have gotten so far behind on my blogging. I have managed to scoot around a bit and comment elsewhere, but have neglected this one. Sorry little blog:( Tomorrow.......