Lana

I don't know why I started naming my jewelry. I guess to get "the story" started. This is what I made for Art Bead Scene's June challenge. It's based on a painting by Lautrec, Marcelle Lender Dancing the Bolero in "Chilpiric." There is a little printout of it in picture number two. Picture number one shows Yellow Dog in the background lying on the guest bed in my most untidy work space/guest room. The art bead I used is a beautiful teal ceramic connector bead by Lisa Peters. Did you know she has two Etsy shops? Lisa Peters Art and Lisa Peters Destash. I made all the colorful wool beads, needle felted them I did. There is also some tiny swarovski crystals and pyrite beads.

Sweet And Sour

First for the sweet. A new pair of earrings demonstrating yet again how my kids get along. Earwires from Miss Fickle Media. Lampwork glass rondelles from Mermaid Glass. Enameled headpins from Sue Beads. Earrings at Pearl And Pebble.

The sour. I had one of my favorite plates hanging on the guest room door. It was my grandmother's. Loved the color on black and white. Pattern on pattern. It was a Royal Winton. I love Royal Winton. Here in Michigan lately, there is either no air circulation or tornado warnings. Yesterday the wind blue the door shut and my plate flew off the nail, which actually has quite a large head on it, so ???? You are now observing my precious plate. Now I'm going to have to do a mosaic. Sigh.

A Bit Of Tea Perhaps?

It truly truly is a marvelous day for The Summer Tea.

As we all gather together in Wibittoo. With the ever gracious Wibittoo Folk.

Sheep and Hedgehog arrive and approach slowly. Hedgehog forgot the invitation! Oh dear....

What should they do? We must have our invitation! But it is not a problem.

Big Hector forgot his too. He just gets sooooo flustered when he's excited!

Penwali and Elizabethe arrive. Love it- they dressed in matching outfits!

The Mossies arrived next. And soon the party is well underway.

Me? I was running a bit late because I could not find my best hat.

We have music.

And the menu! Oh my my! So divine. Toffee Sandwiches,

And liquorice kabobs!

And honey.

We enjoy a special tea. Although it is not really tea at all,

But a sweet elixir from the Lavender Tree.

Every house in Wibittoo has it's own Lavender Tree.

It is such a lovely day for such whimsy! I do think I will attend next year! And I do have my eye on a little honey in the corner....

Maybe he'll come with me.

Until next year dear folk.

Adieu.

A party would not be a party, now, if there were not any favors!! I would love to send along a little gift of my own. Leave me a note of your visit today and I will randomly choose a name for this little pair of earrings that I have made up myself.

Getting Ready For The Tea

I think this is what I will wear...... Will you stop by for tea? It's a very special tea. Click the tea party button on the right side bar to find out more. I will have a special something to giveaway too. See you then.

Original Art Giveaway Alert (Insert Sirens)

My friend Di has a new blog and is having a giveaway! She is a watercolorist, shows her work often and has been painting a card a day. (I had attempted this small feat myself and fell short!) This is one of her cards. Go leave a comment and you'll be entered to win it!!! Hand painted cards are like sooooo perfect. They aren't to big if you want to mat and frame them. They are also a really great as a card! Original art as opposed to mass produced.

The REAL Reveal

Sorry again for any confusion the other day, and if you are returning this morning for the REAL reveal- thank you!! For any of you who are not familiar with the Bead Soup Swap, it is a fabulous exchange hosted by Lori Anderson from Pretty Things. Lori pairs beaders together and each participant sends their partner a focal, a clasp and a few beads to start "the soup". Each artist then adds their own ingredients to the pot and voila! My partner was the fabulous Whitney Lassini. She makes beautiful beautiful glass beads. And the proof is in the soup! Here are my finished pieces. The focal bead really spoke to me and I saw earth and water. Canyon rock and river. A window giving me a peek into the formation of life. So the components I chose to add to the mix were wood, Salwag saucer beads, a little glass and some brassy bits! Whitney sent me a lovely Sterling Silver clasp, and after pulling my ingredients together, I decided to "season" it, adding a little heat. I did this by hard boiling two eggs and while they were still hot, plopped them into a bag, crushed it up shell and all, and dropped the silver in. Rub. Rinse. Instant patina!

Whitney also sent along beautiful glass rondelles. I used the teal to make earrings. The enameled head pins are from Sue Beads.

Thanks for looking everyone! Click here to see what Whitney created with the stash I sent her. Click here to go to Lori's blog and follow the links for the rest of today's soupers. Make sure to leave me a comment if you want to be entered in a suprise giveaway. I will announce the winner after the festivities next Monday. Have a great day!

HUUUUGE Giveaway Alert

Denise is having a super duper duper giveaway! She is like way better than Santa and the E.B. combined! Click here to go to her blog and read all about it.

Test

Blogger was being mean to me this morning. This is a test. If you can see this picture, these are our very own sweet peas from our garden. Or rather they were.

I Know The Moon Is NOT Full.....

What is up with Blogger? Has something changed? I can't seem to access my pictures on my computer. Sigh.....  And what crazy kooky weekend. On Friday I had my soup reveal post all set and ready to go for Saturday. I knew I wasn't going to be able to hop around as we were going to be at my sister's this weekend. On Friday night, we lost power so I couldn't post on Saturday morning. When we got to my sis's I used her "computer" and quickly posted. Don't know what happened there. Appearantly no comments could be made. However it wasn't my day to reveal my creations anyway. Sheeeeesh Tari!!! This morning I wanted to be enjoying my coffee and visiting my fellow soup makers' blogs.

oops!!!

Well now I somehow missed the plan to break up reveal dates!!! I posted my reveal (and have since deleted) Make sure you check back on Tues!!!

Bead Soup Sneak Peak

A little sneak peak of my finished? Family Duty has called for tomorrow so I am planning on posting everything, but gettin chatty on Monday or so. I will have a yum yum to giveaway at the end of next week. All you'll have to do is leave a comment on tomorrows soup post to be entered. Randomly of course. Have a marvelous day.

Oh You Sexy Sexy Thing

Look who came a 'courtin this morning!

I love his eyes. His lids in particular. What a wonderful enamel color combination, don't ya think?

Copper Diem Has Some Stash For YOU

Hey Hey Hey Copper Diem has a pound of beads she's feeling like giving away. Click here and read all about it!!!

Who's not loving enamel these days? This green set was grandma's. I love this set. I don't know why she acquired it, I never saw anybody smoke and there was never any cigs in the cigarette box. Most likely she was drawn to it for the same reasons I am. It is a work of art. It is so sexy and glamorous! Can't you just see this on a movie set with Cary Grant and Doris Day? So when I saw Anne's enameled clasp in this spectacular shade of emerald green, well, had to have it!

I call her Rita and she is now in my Etsy shop. Oh and the divine Ms. L has successfully enticed me over to the Dark Side. (Insert my wicked laugh here)

New Kids

Well as promised, I am showing off some of my newest acquisitions. And they are getting along just fine. Love that. First , here are the little lovelies from Anne over at Gardanne Beads. I happened to be customer no. 300, and she rewarded me handsomely. She even asked me what I wanted! Couldn't do it. She had to pick. I mean come on. Ask the junkie what kind of a fix she needs? They are fabulous aren't they?

And look who's flirting with one of my new egg beads from Kelley! Well, I for one am not surprised. Takes a few weeks to snag a Kelley Egg. I have to say it's well worth the wait, and she does whatever you want and you even get to pick before you buy! So go get yourself on the list. I do HIGHLY recommend the orange.

Also from Anne, are these yummy glass head pins. They're diggin hangin around their new BFFs. If you have not purchased any patinaed wonders from Miss Fickle Media you are really, and I mean REALLY REALLY missing out. She has a new blue patina that is just out of this world. And those yummy amber glass spacers are from Elaine Dooley. Elaine just listed a set of black and white spacers. They are awesome. Somebody PLEASE save me from myself and go buy them. Please. Seriously.

One of my favorite quotes is from Socrates: "Wisdom begins in wonder." This beautiful little pot is my first gift for our sweet little one. We have been waiting a little over 18 months now. The agency said the average wait is about 18-24 months. So we have been getting things together so that we can spend our time bonding with baby and not painting etc... This planter was made by Lori Koop. I love her work. It's magical. Incredibly simple and earthy. All I did was give her a basic idea of size and mentioned Socrates' quote. This wonderful wonderful planter arrived today. Lori had placed these little gifts inside. So absolutely perfect! These are the things that a child (of any age) would pick up and tuck away. Secret treasures that arouse wonder. Look at the tiny little stars dancing around the words! Thank you Lori!!

Did You Dig Out Your White Shoes?

Resurfacing here after taking a little bit of time off. We had Mr. P and P's parents here and Aunt Bette. It was a nice visit. Had to stay away from the computer though because the office became Aunt Bette's room. Hence the silence. It was kind of a quiet week. Mom had hurt her back right before she came out and consequently was in pain when she sat or walked. So Aunt Bette taught us how to crochet granny squares. I love granny squares and have been wanting to learn how to make these for the longest time! Well now I have 32 of them to get started on something-not sure what. Maybe 32 coasters, who knows! Yarn aside, I have lots of new pretties that I need to post! All of a sudden all of the kids want to play so darn nice with each other. So I must share. So stay tuned! Oh and don't forget your white shoes are quite appropriate now.