Report: Milwaukee image not recognized nationally, internationally

Report: Milwaukee image not recognized nationally, internationally

Cyber Monday Sale 25% off with Free Shipping Code Blk2011

SALE!!! Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale Take 25% off + Free Shipping.

Use Coupon Code Blk2011 at checkout.

Nov 25th thru Nov 30th. At my Etsy and Artfire shops.

Check my shops for great deals on special jewelry gifts. Or deals on fused dichroic cabochons and lampworked glass beads to make your own gift for that someone special.

First Friday Art Walk on Etsy

Please check out these team treasuries.

I am a team member of First Friday Artwalk Team on Etsy. This event runs this whole weekend.
I have been having a great time making treasuries for the November Artwalk. Some wonderful items that would make great gifts.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTg0MDE1NHwxMDA2MTQwNTI5/favorites-from-etsy-first-friday-artwalk?ref=pr_treasury

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTg0MDE1NHwxMDI0ODMwNTE2/winters-dream?ref=pr_treasury

The Bad Blogger Returns

Wow! time has just been flying by. It has been way to long since my last post.
I was never very good at trying to keep a journal or diary either....gotta work on that.

I have been keeping very busy though....parties, festivals, family and friends...all the usual stuff summer has to offer.
On the home front....
I tried gardening in containers this year.... Very different for me, and I didn't have much luck. I usually have a fairly large garden and mulch heavily. I have always had great success doing this and highly recommend that you give it a try. My plants are always extremely large and very healthy. I have little trouble with bugs, get to recycle my yard waste and kitchen scraps. I don't have to weed or barely need to water. I also save space and can put plants much closer together....since their not fighting against weeds for water, the moisture is kept in, and the rotting mulch feeds them. Plus I also think it might help attract beneficial bugs...I seem to notice more lady bugs and bees.

I also had a major accomplishment with my diabetes. I have been working hard on eating healthy and getting more exercise. I have been having a great time trying new recipes and have been converting family favorites to a healthier version of themselves...there is a couple recipes in older posts.  Because of these changes I have now lost 60 lbs and have been taken off my medication....YIPPY!!!!!

On the glass end... I have been busy working on my lampworking and sharing a good portion of that time with my daughters...which I love!! I've been playing a lot with frits and foils and some of the reactions to the metals....WOW!
I've also been working on jewery designs using my lampwork beads, alternative metals, and those wonderful computer parts I snag from my hubby's e-cycling.

Check out all the gorgeous color in my latest glass order...

One of my bracelets using recycled aluminium computer parts, blackened steel wire and cool snake skin beads I made using a tutorial from artist Lauri Copeland....please check her out... http://wildfire-designs.com/

Crap Crap Craparoo

The last couple weeks have been so exciting and so busy. I did have a bummer of a Monday though...I told you I would keep you all up to date on the news about being contacted by a style and fashion editor of a worldwide magazine. Well the magazine is Time Out http://www.timeout.com/ I was contacted by their New York office. They were working on an article about brooches for a future issue and were interested in my fused dichroic brooches. Unfortunately they didn't realize my pieces were "one of a kinds" and wanted multiples to be available for their readers to purchase...so I will not be included in the article :-( However, I can't tell you what it did for my self-esteem to have such a incredibly large publication want to write about me and my work!

The other bummer news I got on that same Monday was from my doctor....It seems I can now add Diabetes to my list of health problems....but this disease can also be managed with a change in lifestyle and diet....I hope for the day when I hear cure for all...instead of the term "manage".

I was already working on healthier living..and have been doing really well .but now I have another reason to really stick to it..and make this a permanent change.

Spring has finally arrived although the weather here has been a little cold. I have been putting off planting my garden and would you believe we had frost warnings last night. Hopefully we will get it planted this weekend. I am also going to put in a nice herb garden for my soaps and new cooking ways.

Me and my husband have been hitting estate and garage sales....we found some great vintage pieces. And I'm still following along on the electronic scraping and grabbing what goodies I can....here are my latest finds.

My Happy Birthday

It's been an extremely busy and wonderful week. Had my daughter stay last weekend for Easter and to celebrate my birthday.

Saturday night my husband made me a wonderful birthday dinner of grilled steaks, mushrooms, fresh asparagus w/holondaise sauce, and a classic cheesecake factory sampler. We all sat around and talked while I opened presents. My husband and youngest daughter gave me sort of an IOU for a new camera ( now I just need to decide which one I want ) and my oldest daughter gave me a mp3 player ...the size of a matchbook that holds over 150 hrs. of music....just amazing! I will think of them and thank them every time I use them....especially when I'm taking photo's for my web sites and listening to music while I'm working.... instead of sitting in a quiet room :-)

Easter morning we hung out and talked while the girls opened their baskets. We all worked on putting our meal together. Dinner turned out great, my ham came out perfectly...just like the day and weekend. Then my daughter had to go back to her house :-( ....I wish she was closer...I miss her a lot.

I also got a very exciting letter from the fashion editor of a international magazine....I don't want to say any more than that right now ...cause I'm still not entirely sure what is all going to happen...cross your fingers and wish me luck!!..... I will keep you posted.

Thursday was my actual birthday and what luck UPS came that day with the metal working tools (minus my doming resin on back order ) I had ordered... also I was so pleasantly surprised by how many friends took the time to contact me to wish me a Happy Birthday.....everyone made it a great day!!

Was A Good "Good Friday"

Had a pretty nice week as well. My daughter was here all week for spring break...was nice to have her here and it makes me look forward to spending summer vacation with her. Although I think we watched 20 episodes of Zena The Warrior Princes ;-) ...one of her and my hubby's new favorites on Netflix.

I also placed a nice order for some metalsmithing tools, resin, and a gross of much needed practice blades for my hand saw...for my upcoming B-Day. I'm especially excited to be getting a draw plate....now I can keep my wire gauge inventory to a minimum...and draw down some of all the 12 gauge copper I have. Check out the link if you would like to see how this is done.

I tried a couple new recipes, low fat Chicken Cordon-blue and Malaysian Mango Chicken Curry (pictured). The Curry dish was especially good sort of like Sweet and Sour with a hint of Licorish and a kick. You can find the recipe at.... Allrecipes.com