The Soup I Sent Marge

I wanted to share the soup I sent Marge. I had something entirely different picked out at first. After I hopped over to her blog and saw her wish list I decided to go with these. I can't wait to see what she does with them.

On the family side: We did manage to see a firework show for the 4th. Although quite a few shows were postponed or canceled because it has been so dry here. We added a new town to our list of firework shows we have seen. We went to Whitewater this year. It was a pretty decent show and they had a carnival and parade also. We skipped that because of the heat index of 100+...instead we sat in air conditioning and ate Chinese food.

On the home front: My garden is losing it's battle against the rabbits and chipmunks. The tomatoes, peppers and onions are doing well. All my other plants zucchini, beans, melons, lettuce..all of them are little nubs just barely alive. We have tried everything from flashy noisy things to blood meal, fencing and even an owl shaped cut out. Maybe some wolf urine or something along those lines.

Hope you all had a great 4th!!

The Soup I Received and More on My Partner Marge

Here is the soup I got from Marge. Some wonderful handmade ceramic beads, hand dyed cloth, a very large natural stone bead and lot's of great little coordinating beads. I can't wait to get started.

A little more on My partner: Marge has a wonderful sense of humor. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, avid crafter and the Data/Technology Coordinator at Literacy connections. Who by her own admissions is suffering from a form of crafting ADD. She has an interest in many including jewelry making, crocheting, cross stitch, clay, knitting, loom weaving, dying fabric, tatting, embroidery, and sewing. I really enjoyed being paired up with Marge and going through her blog. It made me chuckle a lot..let's you get to know a little about her life and has some great info. She also has some computer related how to’s…on Picassa, Etsy, and Blogger. Definatly worth checking out. I know I will be using them!

http://rockcreekcreations.blogspot.com/

http://www.rockcreekcreations.artfire.com

https://www.facebook.com/#!/RockCreekCreations

Here are a few of Marge’s pieces.

There are 400 participants this time around...be sure to check our hostess Lori Anderson's blog with a complete list of participants w/ links...
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

Have a Happy 4th...See you at the reveal!

6th Bead Soup Blog Party

This month I joined my 1^st Bead Soup Blog Party. Created and hosted by Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs. This time around the party is huge with almost 400 participants with 3 separate reveal dates.

Lori has paired up artists who will swap bead soups. The soups have to consist of a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads. Something you would be proud to give to your best friend. We then have to create something using at least the focal and the clasp…and have these ready for the reveal. Plus you also visit other members blogs. I just love this idea…it really gets you to think outside your comfort zone and helps get some traffic to your blog.

You can learn about Lori and the party…plus a list of participants here…  http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

My partner for the swap is Marge Beebee...this is Marges 3rd swap.

I am so excited. I checked Marge’s blog and think I have the perfect soup for her. I hope she likes it.

You can learn about Marge here...  http://www.rockcreekcreations.blogspot.com/

  

I am really looking forward to the challenge…See you at the reveals!!

Love 2 Upcycle: 2nd. Upcycled Creativity Challenge

I am participating once again in the Team Upcyclers 2nd Monthly Creativity Challenge

I belong to this great team on Etsy called Upcyclers.  The team is just full of creative people sharing there ideas on  recycling and repurposing. Last month the group started a “team challenge” where one person from the team picks a random item and we have to figure out what to make out of it.  This months challenge was to use glass jars. 

This has been so much fun... It has really made me open my eyes on more ways to re use items and keep more thing out of the landfill!!

If you would like to see everyones creations, they will be pinned here: Upcyclers Creative Challenge Board.

Here are a couple picture of my entry....I made a set of canisters for my bathroom. I used spray paint and doilies on the jars. And made knobs of polymer clay.. which I glue on the lids and painted. (They look much nicer in person....I had a terrible time getting decent pictures)

Working for the Weekend!

I got some gorgeous sari silks a few days ago. From Mudhound Studio on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/jmozart?ref=seller_info

This is the first time I have ever used it…but I am in love. They are such beautiful colors. Have a nice soft sheen and I love that wonderful tattered look.

I made a few bangle bracelets made with recycled copper wire, silk, and some of my lampwork beads…If you would like one …just leave a comment.

On the home front: My daughter is out of school for the summer. We have been having a great time…working on projects, trying some new recipes and working in the garden together. We have also gotten out our old telescope and have been spending quite a bit of time with that.

The family did manage to get a garden dug. It’s fairly nice sized 12’ x 6’ and a nice 8’ round herb garden…and of course I’m mulching right in the garden…no compost pile or weeding for me!

This year we are using a little more of the intensive gardening and mixing plants together. I planted sunflowers with pole beans around them. The idea that the sunflowers grow fast and make a nice trellis for the beans to climb. We planted beets and carrots in between the zucchini and tomatoes. I made short tepees from sticks which I planted snow peas around and in the center planted some lettuce and bok choy. They are both cool weather crops so hopefully the shade from the peas will keep them from bolting….well that’s the idea anyway. So far things are going pretty well except the chipmunks and rabbits have been nibbling some. We made some recycled yard ornaments… from computer parts of course…they have a nice flash and make a bit of noise. So run little critters run!! This weekend I am putting up chicken wire for the rabbits and I hear blood meal keeps away the chipmunks…plus it’s a great fertilizer.

My daughter and son-in-law will hopefully be able to come for a visit this weekend. It’s my youngest daughters birthday. Dexter is doing fairly well with his intensive chemo treatment…but they did make one rush to the ER since he started.

Hopefully he will be up for a cook out, cake, and a bonfire. It will be good to see them. It has been a few weeks since we saw them last. I would also love to take them all to the old outdoor theatre…none of the kids have ever been to one. Cross your fingers for good health and good weather.

Customers Work - Sharon Borsavage

I love seeing what my customers make with my glass and recycled supplies.

Here is a brand new piece from a wonderfully talented artist Sharon Borsavage. It is absolutely gorgeous….Sharon has a wonderful eye for color and texture. And combines some very unique items into something wonderful....I just love her work!

I am so pleased….one of my lampworked beads is part of the focal.

o                                                         https://www.etsy.com/listing/102244362/common-ground-handmade-turquiose-and-art

Here is another piece of Sharons using my lampwork beads.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/95607840/grandeur-handmade-copper-resin-gemstone

Another that has Sold. https://www.etsy.com/transaction/71571634?transaction_id=71571634

Be sure to check out all her incredible pieces and the wonderful work of  all the artists she uses.

Love 2 Upcycle: Our 1st Upcycled Creativity Challenge

Love 2 Upcycle: Our 1st Upcycled Creativity Challenge: In the Spring of 2012 across our Etsy Team Discussion board came a thread from Gray, shop owner of Knotsewtrashy . That post and Gray's idea...