My Latest Disaster...

"So always look for the silver lining

And try to find the sunny side of life."

~ P. G. Wodehouse

This morning I woke up bright and early and let my little boyz, Popeye and Junior, out for their morning "pee". I then fed them, and went outside to sit on our deck, enjoying the peacefulness and beauty of the river. I have a number of bird feeders hanging out there, and love to watch the pretty birds come and go throughout the day. It's especially nice to see the orioles come to get their fill of the grape jelly I put out for them. Of course there's always the larger, pesky birds which like to swoop in and scare the pretty little finches away, but usually a rap on the patio door will be enough to send them flying away from the feeders for a while. When I came back inside, I baked 5 small loaves of homemade blueberry bread. It's a favorite of my daughter's, and when she knows I made a batch, she makes sure to stop by and take several loaves back home with her to enjoy later. I then started cooking up some chicken, to make some chicken noodle soup for later.

I've been working on a pair of matching pendants. My sister found yet a different army portrait of our dad, and we both decided it was our favorite pose of all. She was hoping that I would make her a simple pendant using the photograph, so I began working on it last week. While I was etching the metal, I decided to make two identical pendants ~ one for her, and the other for myself. I thought it would be something truly special for each of us...something only us sisters would have...which would be a wonderful remembrance of our very special dad. I finished the body of both pendants, but now have to fashion them both into neckpieces. So, to you MB, this is what I was working on for us...I know you check my blog regularly...I hope you like it!

My friend Kim was planning on spending the day with me in my studio, but she called to let me know she had a bunch of paperwork that she needed to work on for her upcoming art retreat this Fall. So we decided that we'll get together tomorrow instead.

While I was on my computer this morning, I heard a loud noise like something fell, so I went upstairs to see what it was. I didn't find anything out of the ordinary in the livingroom or the kitchen, so I decided to go upstairs just to see if there was anything that fell up there. What could possibly have fell up there??? Nobody was even up there.

This is what I found! Our bedroom has a walk-in closet. The long wall of the room has a pole which runs the length of it, with a shelf that was on top of the brackets. The opposite wall has a much smaller pole and shelf. Of course, I took possession of the larger area when we moved here, leaving the little token-side for Mike's clothes. My side was absolutely packed with jackets and other items...


Winter clothes... summer clothes...clothes that fit... clothes that used to fit...clothes that I don't wear, but don't want to part with...clothes that I spent a lot of money on but don't want to give to Goodwill...you get the picture. And there it all was laying...in one big, pathetic heap on the floor. The weight of all my stuff took its toll on the poor brackets, and they ripped right out of the wall! I knew it wasn't a good situation in there for quite a while, but I didn't think this would happen! And these photos are taken after I had already taken out the shelf and some of the clothes!



Here's the board that I had mounds of 'stuff' on top of...it's longer than what the picture shows. And that storage bag on top of it...that has about 15 pair of jeans that are too tight for me to even get over my thighs! So you know what I'll be up to now.............

A Very Dreary Day Outside

What a dreary day outside! It's raining, and very gloomy ~ the sort of day you just want to get comfy with a warm cup of chai tea or coffee, and watch a movie or curl up with a good book.

I don't really have anything of interest to post today, but I did receive an email yesterday that was very touching...it was one of those forwarded types that just get sent from one person to the next, but it really expressed how much love and compassion woman have. So here it is....

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men..

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe

there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give...

However, If there is one flaw in women,

It is that they forget their worth.

~ Anonymous

You'll Never Guess What I've Been Up To......

I had the honor of working with Thomas Mann in his 'Studio Flux' booth at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee this past week!! Tom contacted me about a month ago to see if I could help him, and I was thrilled that he asked me!!! I couldn't believe it!

The show was open Thursday through Sunday, so by Sunday evening I was really worn out. I have never been to the Bead and Button Show, so when I entered the exhibit hall on Thursday, I was totally overwhelmed with how large it was. I got to roam around a little when it was quiet at the booth, but I always carried my phone with me in case it started to get busy again. Geez...I'd get lost trying to get back to the booth!!!! It was sooo big, and there were so many isles, that I could've used a GPS to get back to it!!!!!

(Tom and Me Working In His 'Studio Flux' Booth)

Tom had a corner booth displaying his wonderful jewelry, metalsmithing supplies, and his new 'Learn to Saw' kits and DVD's. He even had an area in front where we gave sawing demos and people could learn how to saw and try it for themselves, using Tom's techniques. There were five bench pins mounted onto a workbench, so multiple people could practice at the same time. There were always three of us working in the booth...Tom, myself, and either Sarah Mann (no relation), or a gal named Holly. They are both great gals, and we all worked really well together.

(The Booth Before the Show Began)

(Another Shot of His Booth Showing the Sawing Station, Complete With Five Bench Pins)

Tom had a nice counter in the back of the booth, which was filled with all his fabulous jewelry and earrings, with a special enclosed case on the end that showcased his 'one-of-a-kind' pieces. He wanted to display some of my pieces along with his in that case, so he chose 3 pieces of mine, and showed them along with his! I could not believe the response I received to my pieces!!!!! Everyone absolutely loved my work! Each day of the show, I was also decked out in jewelry that I made for myself, and I can't begin to tell you how many people wanted to buy it right off of me!
I was just in shock...one woman even wanted to buy the earrings right out of my ears! I didn't sell them, though, because the pieces that I was wearing were usually the ones that had personal family photographs in them. Hmm.....maybe I should of sold them...I could've used the money.

(Some of Tom's Handiwork While He Was Giving Sawing Demos)


I met a lot of really nice people at the show. The woman pictured below had a great story to tell Tom....she was waiting to get into a show at the Riverside Theatre, and happened to look down at the ground. There was an earring laying there, so she picked it up. She immediately recognized it to be a 'Thomas Mann' earring, so she looked around to see if anyone was looking for it, and then slipped it into her pocket. She told us that when she got home, she decided to turn it into a necklace. She came back to the booth the next day, wearing her earring necklace to show us. I just had to take a picture of her!

(This Gal Found An Earring and Turned It Into A Necklace)

Another person I wanted a picture of was Tony Blackwell. Tony is a wonderful guy from South Carolina who had a booth at B&B. He does glasswork and casting, and his wife Lisa works with PMC and creates charms and completed jewelry pieces. He and his wife are sooooo nice, and are big fans of my work. I could never remember his name, so I always referred to him as 'Tattoo Guy!' Check out their website at www.zoaart.com. I've also got them linked on my "Kewl Places to Visit" on the side of my blog.

(That's me with Tony Blackwell, an Artist Who Does Glasswork and Casting)

(Tom Always Attracted A Crowd When He Gave His Sawing Demos!)
When we weren't busy helping customers, we would sit at the workbench and start sawing. It seemed like that would always attract folks to the booth. They would wonder what we were doing, and would watch. That's when we would show them how, and let them try it for themselves.

(Check out This Woman's Face - She's Thinking To Herself, "Wow, I Really CAN Do This!")



I had to take of picture of this boy. His name was Conlan. He came to Tom's booth with his mom, who is a metalsmith. I referred to him as "Jewelry Kid." He was really interested in Tom's work, and was really looking at some of the pieces he was interested in, seeing how they were constructed. You could just see the gears turning in his head! He even was wearing a necklace that he had made himself...it was a sterling backing that he stamped patterns on, with a vintage keyhole piece that he had found riveted onto the sterling. He really did a fantastic job on it. The part that I found sooooo amazing about 'jewelry kid'.............he was only 11 years old!!!!! Watch out Tom...you're gonna have competition in the future!!!

(Conlan, aka 'Jewelry Kid' - A Little Thomas Mann in the Making!!)

I had such an amazing time representing Tom and his work at B&B. It was sooo much fun, and I made a lot of new friendships while I was there. I also had a few funny 'open mouth, insert foot' moments, too....but I guess if you know me, you know that just about anything will come out of my mouth. Oh well.....

(And Last but not Least...Tom, Holly, and Myself after a Long Four Days of Working!)

When the show was finally over, Tom, Holly, and myself spent the next 2 hours breaking down the booth, and packing everything up for him, as he hits the road for his next stop in Pennsylvania. He took Holly and me to a wonderful little restraunt in Milwaukee, where he treated us to an absolutely wonderful meal. Gosh...he knows his way around Milwaukee better than I do, and he's from New Orleans!

I will be seeing Tom again this year...I'm taking his Soldering Workshop over Labor Day at Valley Ridge Art Studio, in Muscoda, WI.

How I Spent My Memorial Day...

"But the freedom that they fought for,

and the country grand they wrought for,

Is their monument to-day,

and for aye."

~Thomas Dunn English

I was alone on Memorial Day and didn't know what to do, so I went to the Memorial Day celebration in the small village where I live. Everyone in the community turns out for it. One woman there referred to the day as an annual homecoming because even people who have moved away always come back 'home' for the celebration. They have a nice little parade, a program at the cemetery just outside of town, and then have a big brat fry in the community hall. What I found so amazing was that as the end of the parade passed by, everyone got up and walked behind it, following it to the cemetery where the program would take place. So by the time the end of the parade got to where I was sitting, the road behind it was absolutely full of people following it. I think you had to be there to see it for yourself!

Anyhow...here is my day - in pictures..... The local veterans lead the parade....

There were cute childen all decked out in little army uniforms...


Since this is a small farming community, there were many vintage tractors in the parade...

Here they come!.....


Here is the end of the parade as it is approaching me. See all the people behind the horses?...

Everyone is coming to the cemetery now to watch the program and pay tribute to the local veterans who are buried there.

A little boy who was sitting in front of me was sporting a red, white, and blue mohawk!

And finally, here is where the program will be taking place. Take note of all the vintage tractors that are parked along the lane behind the cemetery. The grass looks empty here, but it was full of people when the program began!