Resin and Metal

Yeah, it's the Belated Blogger.  I've just been too #^$&!$ busy to blog!  I got addicted to resin and metal, so my days have been full of  banging on metal, setting fire to metal, cutting out tiny pictures, and pouring ice resin - all of which I displayed at yesterday's Argenta Art Walk!

As you can see, I got a little carried away with the resin pendants.  Here's an upclose picture.

Just love the Christmas Cowgirl.  Now I'm looking for pictures for Cat Woman and Wonder Woman, as suggested by some customers last night.  Here's a look at some of my new metal work.

I know, I know - too far away to see, but I'll get some closer shots later.  Anyway, I had a great time last night.  It was nice and cool, and, as usual, lots of nice people.  Sweetie took off work early to help me set up and he was SO helpful, as usual.  And, no, I won't tell you about the whole smashing the finger of a very sweet lady, because Sweetie would be upset if I talked about it and he's already hanging his head down about it anyway.

Yikes, gotta go.  Sweetie and the LBD are going to Pinnacle to hike, and I want to go with them.  Till later.  I'll try to redeem myself and become the Bountiful Blogger!!!

Birthday Weekend

It's a tradition in my family to celebrate the whole weekend, if your birthday falls on a weekend.  This blog is about my birthday weekend 2010.  So, you're thinking "What the heck is this picture for?!".  Well, my friends Sharon and Brenda and I went to Fort Smith to go to the annual Bead Show at the Convention Center.  Brenda brought her nifty little GPS and put in the address for the Convention Center.  We ended up out in the middle of nowhere and the GPS announced "You have reached your destination".  We laughed till it hurt.  Turns out there are two destinations in the Fort Smith area with an address of 55 South Seventh Street.  Huh.

Anyway, we finally got to the Convention Center and had big fun shopping.  Then Brenda treated us to lunch at a cool little retro burger place.  Sharon drove us home through pounding rain and we ate wonderful birthday cake in the car.  That night, Sweetie and I watched The Blind Side, with Sandra Bullock - BIG tear jerker, but really good.

Then on Sunday Sweetie and I had yummy pancakes for breakfast and went shopping at antique stores and book stores.  All in all, a very good Birthday Weekend.  Nothing better than having super friends and a sweet husband! 

Bead and Button Show 2010

It's June, so it's off to Milwaukee again for the Bead and Button Show with my friends Patti and Penny.  Here we are in front of the Ten Year Anniversay Poster, all caffeined up and ready to shop. Patti's Dora went into labor the morning we left for Milwaukee, so we were getting regular updates on the seven new puppies. 

Penny took a picture of a seagull outside our hotel window our second day - pretty cool.  Patti was up early to take a class on bezeling, and Penny and I walked around Milwaukee and visited a local bead store.  Then we shopped at the Bead Show Preview from 4 to 9, which is for people who pre-registered for the show.  With more than 370 vendor booths, it's a bit overwhelming!

This is one of the many pieces on display at the show.  People from all over the world submit their work and it's really amazing what they create!

and another....

and another...

After we shopped all our money away, we headed out and had an easy drive home.  Such fun - it went by way too fast! 

Spring in Vandervoort

We have a country house in Vandervoort, which is a tiny town in Southwest Arkansas.  It's so wonderful to be there in the spring.  Several years ago Sweetie planted a football field sized plot of Shasta Daisies, and they bloom every year, along with a long row of daffodils.  Such a happy sight to see driving down our little dirt road!

Sweetie went kayaking again, so I had Shuttle Bunny duty.  It was kind of funny, because these two Park Rangers were talking to us at the put in, and then they seemed to follow me to the take out.  I think they thought I was going to get lost.  Little did they know that Sweetie and I have spent years hiking and driving these woods and know our way around pretty well!  Here's a pic from the Sandbar Bridge take out on the Cossatot River....

I love me a little black dog!  We have a Yorkiepoo - part Yorkshire Terrier, part Poodle - heretofore to be named LBD. (Little Black Dog)  She is smart, brave, funny, and tough as nails!  Here she strikes a pose on our deck at Vandervoort.  She didn't want her picture taken, cause she was "on patrol", guarding us from errant squirrels and cows.

OK, is it just me, or is there a face of a bear in this tree?!  Look closely - looks like a bear to me.  There are bears in these woods - thought we heard one growling one time when we were out hiking.  Our neighbors have reported seeing them also.

April Art in Argenta - Art Walk!

Bijou Booth was at Art Walk in Argenta recently....

There was a great group of musicians next to my booth and they were so good!  So much fun!  The cutest baby award goes to Cecelia and the cutest dog award goes to Toto.  Had the best time!  

The Beauty of Shreveport

I know most people probably think of casinos when they think of Shreveport.  But that's not what it means to me.  I grew up there, and to me it means a church on every corner, and the most lush, beautiful greenery and flowers.  It's sub-tropical and the air is soft.  Feeling a little homesick today.....  Pics from my recent visit:

I think this is a really tall snowball bush???

This is the pond at Norton Art Gallery.

The state bird of Louisiana - the pelican.

This is me in the morning before I've had my skittles and coffee!

Shreveport Bead Retreat

Recently I went to Shreveport, Louisiana - my hometown - for the 12th Shreveport Bead Retreat.  Ida Williams puts on the best bead retreat you can imagine!  Super classes, beautiful door prizes, great food, and a wonderful group of fun and generous beaders. 

Ida Williams, the coordinator for the retreat

Ida's Undulating Bracelet - so pretty!

Beautiful right angle weave by Julie at www.etsy.com/shop/JuellesDesigns

There's another retreat planned for August 2010, so make your plans now!

Shuttle Bunny

My sweetie is getting ready for his Grand Canyon trip, so he went kayaking on the Cossatot the other day.  I was his shuttle bunny, which was ok because the river was so pretty and green.  It was really windy, though - the wind pushed a dead tree over into the river as he was paddling by......

Spring Sale

My perky friend Penny recently had a Spring Sale at her bootiful new house.  So much fun!  We had jewelry, food, clothes, purses, scarves, and flower arrangements - all the good girly stuff.  Here's a pic of me/Bijou Booth....

St. Petersburg Necklace

I finished a custom St. Petersburg necklace, and I'm really happy with the results!  She wanted brown squares and round copper beads - a really pretty combo, don't you think?