Tuesday, April 15, 2008

big paws!

This dog has mighty big paws!  It's amazing, he is only 4 months old.  Last week we started training him on the hidden fence.  He gets it.  It is strange how different dogs respond to the correction.  He doesn't cry/yelp when he gets corrected, but slowly moves back. 
The tiles in this picture are 12x12....he is going to be huge.  He's a good puppy.

Monday, April 14, 2008

easy peasy

Yesterday, I looked at the pile of felted sweaters and decided it was time to do something with them.  Betz Whites book, Warm Fuzzies helped with some inspiration and techniques.  It turned out much better than I hoped!
Here it is laying on the living room floor.  After getting the squares cut, it was really simple.  While I was cutting the squares, I watched all the internet episodes of "Eli Stone" on abc.com.  Just what I needed, another televisionshow to watch!

Sunday, April 06, 2008

gone!

I am so excited!  All of these beads and a few others sold this weekend!  The Bead Bazaar was a lot of fun.
It was great to see all the guild members and people who stopped by.
Time to make more beads!

I am very excited, I had a little tutorial from Tanya (up there on the right) about how to do free motion quilting!!!  Can't wait to try it!!

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

39 & decisions

My love had a birthday...he is an April fool.  Did my in-laws need humor at that time?  My husband is the youngest of five...I think he provided much humor in everyones life!  Including mine.  Love you, honey!
I am trying to figure out how I want to tag my beads for the weekend.  I can't decide if I want to use colored paper or grey.  After looking at this picture, I think I might change the tags...

Monday, March 31, 2008

a "little" fish story

My little guy was the first to hook one yesterday.  He brought him up from the lake on the pole.  Eeewww!  Big mouth bass, or "little mouth!"  As you can see, he was thrilled with his catch!
Not too much later, brother comes up the deck stairs with another.  Since I do not touch fish, I was yelling for daddy!!!  He came in from the garage and removed the hook.  Meanwhile, Carl thought this was a treat/toy.  Both of the boys requested for the fish to stay in the sink and swim around for a little bit.  Luckily, daddy thought we should put them back in the lake so they could grow some more.  Then we can catch them again!?!?!

Friday, March 28, 2008

AFA

When we were in CO we visited my husbands very special Aunt in Colorado Springs.  When you pass the AFA on I-25, in the distance you can see the chapel and the football field a few airplanes but that's about it.  We decided to go to the Visitors Center on base.  The drive is about six miles from the gate.  The road meanders around, passing small buildings where deer graze unaffected by cars.  It was amazing to see base housing tucked behind the mountain.  There was a little snow on the trees making the drive even more beautiful.  Once in the Visitors Center, I am overwhelmed.  I have a step-brother who went to USMA.  At Westpoint, all the buildings are grey stone each of them over 100 years old.  The AFA was built around 1959, all the buildings are glass and steel, very modern architecture.  There is something about the military academies that makes me very emotional.

I love the honor code.  Duty, Honor, Country.  What if we all lived by those words?
The architectural pinnacle is the chapel.  Inside the stained glass goes from bottom to top.  When the sun is shining, the stained glass makes the entire church glow.  In the loft, there is an amazing organ with contemporary pipes.  The event coordinator told us that he schedules 150 weddings a year in this church.  Can you imagine 3 or more weddings a weekend!  That's alot of brides and mother of the brides!!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

we're back from vacation

Oh Brothers!  These two had a fun time at Beaver Creek, CO.  We went with neighbors and had more fun than we could have imagined!  Our little guy did one day of lessons then skied with us. (He has had lessons before.)  He has improved so much.  There are some great greenish/blue runs so it was fun to watch him ski!!!
We skied for two days.  This was our first time at Beaver Creek, like all the ski resorts, the views from the top are amazing.  The last run of day two was our last for the trip....see below!
G-man has been snowboarding for at least three or four years.  This year he decided to try a grind rail...he made it to the end without falling off....then threw his arm back and nailed his left wrist.  As you can see in background, we watched the basketball games while we waited.  Dr. says four weeks and he will be playing baseball!!!  

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

wow!!

This weekend, the boys needed a picture taken with Carl....
This one was taken January 28th, whoa, this dog might just be gigantic at the rate he's growing!

Monday, March 17, 2008

new beads

I had a really productive weekend.  I love these light pink with frit and bubbles.  On Saturday I visited my favorite little bead shop... www.mainstbeadstudio.com ....Cheryl has a 'supercute' shop!!  I am inspired to make beads again!!!
Black base with frit and bubbles.  These beads go so well with black and denim..i.love.them.
An old signature..black and white dots with a new twist.  Click on the picture to see up close.  I want to do a series of these for the Bead Bazaar on April 5th.  I think the Bazaar will be really great, lots of great people participating.  For those of you are interested I have a few discount coupons for admission.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

carl & the wood floor

It's hard to tell where Carl ends and the wood floor begins!  He looks so sad, but I think it's just a Golden trait.  
He is almost 20+ pounds, seems like it gets heavier each day!  He is definately fitting in at our house, the barking is so loud it reminds me of the other boys in the house.  This dog can DIG, Carl has exposed our underground soaker hoses!  My husband says he is still in pre-school training.....think we could have some classes on barking & digging????

Friday, February 29, 2008

in search of letters

While we were on vacation, I annoyed my teen by taking "too many" pictures.  I know this isn't a new thing but I thought it would be fun to find our name.  I really like this "M."  It has almost become obsessive...the rest of the family is in on the act.  The weather is getting nicer so it will be fun to be outside and keep our eyes and minds busy!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

more classroom projects

these are three of my favorites this year from our Parish Auction.  
Sometimes you don't know if something is going to turn out when you work with ceramic glazes...before it was fired the "boo" looked really bad, but I love it now.
This project is one I want to make for my basement.  I sprayed the canvas with paint and then glued on the distressed copper pieces the kids embossed.  i.love.this.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Carl.....

I'm not sure, but it looks like Carl isn't enjoying this as much as the little man!  He says, "that's a cute picture, huh mom!"  I htink it's the first time he posed for a picture, and smiled!!!
Carl is growing so fast.  He is a sweet guy and fairly mellow. He can climb in and out of a laundry basket full of towels.  It is a sight to behold!  He's picking up on potty training like a pro.  Halleluia!!!  My prayers have been answered.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

i need photoshop lessons

I love this picture!!!  It really needs some editing.  I really need to learn how to use Photoshop!  The software is on my computer and I can't figure out how to use it.  Looking at textbooks is not the way I learn.  I need to sign up for a class where someone shows me how to use it!!!
This picture is for my sisters.  Mickey Mouse had this shopping list on his fridge...click on the picture to see what he needs!!!  It says the same thing mine does!?!?!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

magical time

Last week we took the family to WDW.  It was magical.  This was the first time our youngest got to go.  He was really funny, he didn't want to hug the characters or look at them.  It was most fun to watch him check things out.  

Getting geared up for much creative work!  I sold bunches of beads to a sweet friend!  So it's time to get torchin'.


Tuesday, February 05, 2008

couple of cool plates

For our parish auction this year, we had the students draw a picture with the theme "Show Your Love."  These are two of the six fused glass plates we made out of their artwork.
Once the artwork was chosen I made large print copies and put them under the clear glass.  We used frit & blue glue and poured it right over the artwork.  Hopefully, it will be a project we can do next year.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

meet carl...

Carl is the latest addition to our family.  We got Carl on Sunday afternoon.  He is a funny guy.   A pretty good little puppy...poor little guy sure misses his family.  Not much else going on due to potty training, making sure there isn't anything on the floor, all the doors to bedrooms are closed and getting some sleep.  

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

gifts & beads

If you look really close...you can see all the girls he can "sleep" with!  I was worried he wouldn't like the present I made for him.  Turns out, he loved it!  The fabric is called "Cheesecake!"  It's January and I still need to put the binding on.  Until I get this project finished, I can't finish my quilt-a-long blocks!?!?! 
I'm trying to decide whether to sell beads on esty.  Is the amount of time it takes to list and take pictures worth it?  Do the beads need to be made into bracelets or left loose?  So many questions to ponder!!
I love the clear glass "flowers" on top of the beads.  They lay nicely on the wrist...so smooth.

Monday, January 14, 2008

poodle skirt.....

I kind of always imagined myself having girls.  I love to sew and thought, of course I will have girls and I will sew clothes and doll clothes and costumes.  After a failed attempt at a "Bat" costume about 5 years ago, I realized boys just don't appreciate home sewn costumes and boys costumes are just as easily purchased!
When the chance came up to make a poodle skirt, I had to do it!  This particular little girl is tiny!  Hopefully, the ribbon drawstring will do the trick for "adjustablility."  I have gotten my fix.