Shennanigans in the front yard...

The shrub de barker...

 The only righteous one...

Yes I'm waiting because...

 If I'm vewy vewy qwuiet...

Wait for it...

Did I hear something? Nevermind...

ACK! Pulled a groin muscle...

WHOA!

                                                                                

SCORE!

It has been a very eventful 6 months...

 hubby and I both dealt with our moms with issues starting in the fall, anything from dementia, moving in with her for a week, moving her to Alaska, hoarding, congestive heart failure, stroke, infection and cancer. 

*He lost his mom in early December.*

At Christmas, we did our first annual "Ugly Sweater Christmas"

 

 mainly supplied by some of my mom's gazillion sweaters that we found while dehoarding. 

Speaking of cleaning, my dad, who has been gone for 23 years decided to leave  a little of his personality behind, because I found this on a box while cleaning his side of the closet out:

Thanks Dad ♥

 Added grandbaby #2 in early January. Little boy. Well not really little, darn near 10# and 22".

 

*Followed by my mom's death  8 days later.*

So needless to say, it has a very eventful ride these last few months, and now we of course are dealing with estate issues. 

Both of us. At the same time. oh yes. 

In February, my youngest daughter and I decided to enter a "Pinewood Derby"  family event at church. Just for the BLING aspect, of course. Purple and bling, what do you expect from a jewelry designer???

So with all that~things have been on hiatus as far as the studio. 

But~ now with the Bead Soup Blog Party 

 

the Art Glass and Bead Show in Madison

 

 and three shows coming up in the next 2 mos, we're jump starting the new beading year.  ☺ 

 And I'm back in the swing of things. 

More to come.

Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal...

So I received my "Bead Soup" from my partner, Megan Collins. Her blog is here: Churchy & Her Sailor ..  http://megjustsaying.blogspot.com/

A touch of fear swept over me as the shipping box was in a bag, and looked like this: 

 EEEK, right? But everything was cool, and this is what was inside...

 BEADS, BEADS, AND MORE BEADS. Part of the rules of the swap was that you had to enclose in your soup a focal and clasp to be used by your partner, so...

here is a close up of the focal and clasp...

and here is the completed piece:

I added an amber rectangle, a couple of brass rounds, ceramic rectangle and some green dyed shells. LOVED the cathedral and green beads that I used in the inner strand, may just have to start working with those. lol. NOW about all those seed beads...

My favorite color is purple, (duh). Megan sent me a GAZILLION purple ones in various shades, that I am just itchin to use with my spinner and create something.

...And then my hedgie, Buddy...

came down with mange-EWWW.

I will spare you a pic of that. So everyday he needs a thorough cage cleaning and bath. Meds every other day for two weeks. Poor little guy.  

 I also have some ideas for those other beads that are left- thinking earrings.  Hmmmm... 

Here is the website listing the participants in the reveal:   http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html

Thanks for stopping by.

Awww, he's such a cutie pie...

So the neighbor's mowing today, and weed whacked over a rabbit's nest. Removed them, and brought them over to show us. There were 5, and of course, I had to hold one. 'Cuz I do. ♥ Old enough to hold, but not old enough to leave.  Hopefully mom comes back.

The last two weeks condensed. and la dee da...

Sheesh! Been a busy two weeks. I'll try to condense it all in one post---

Cranberry Blossom Fest went very well this year. We've been breaking heat records here- I don't need that, I'm in that season of my life where I make my own heat- thank you very much- wish we'd have gotten that pool up...   maybe next year...

Anyway- The Fest started out Thursday night with Movie Under the Stars, closing off Grand Avenue to bring in the semi to show the flick on.

 This year it was our favorite "Park dwelling bear and his bud".

 

Friday was June Dairy Breakfast, so Simone and I got up and headed to the High School for all you can eat pancakes, sausage, juice, chocolate milk, cheese curds, sweetened dried cranberries- (courtesy of my hubby's workplace), and an ice cream sundae.  I don't know where she put it, 'cuz I took the curds, milk and sundae home for a snack later. Well worth the 6 bucks.

Saturday was the Craft and Art Show. Sun stayed hidden most of the day, and the little smidgen of a shower was a great relief. Ended up with a two sided exposure this year, so that made for a quick "reconfigure the set-up in case it rains". Thanks to the hubby for driving in to help set up, as I flew solo that day, Simone had plans.

 Did manage to get a piece done that I've been meaning to get at for over a year, along with some earrings, anklets and a couple of necklaces and sets. 

Overall it was a good day, and I did very well in sales. Here's a close up of the set up. Mainly for my own personal file, as thanks to that "season", another thing I've noticed is the brain just doesn't remember things as it should. 

Sunday we went to the lake with the boat.

Grandbebe came with my son and his wife.

              The "Happy-Go-Lucky" Skipper-

  -the carefree teenager-

 -and the "sit between mom and dad/wish I'd have brought my sunglasses"  youngster.

Week Two: Tuesday I went to a garage sale and nabbed these:

 I almost don't want to tear this apart, it's so cool.

Then we some "hallucination" issues with my elderly mom in law, that sent the family in a tailspin to the end of the week We spent the week and w/e getting her back on track, and I think she's ok now.

Friday, Monie and I did the Rome Farmer's Market/Craft Show.

with a new "temp tent", that fought us tooth and nail. Thanks to the people next to us, we won. 

The people on the other side of us make these funky bird feeders out of old teapots, (talking brass and "tea" service type), and I was tempted to get one. Then this baby caught my eye: 

notice even the platter is fish shaped. It will go awesome in my whimsical garden along with my catch from the Waupaca Strawberry Fest earlier in June: 

Some guy from Florida makes them from coconut shells. Most of them had two eyes and a cute mouth. I picked the one with the attitude.  Monie did well for her first 5 hour outside show, as long as she had her Nintendo DS.

OK. That catches me up to date. I think I need to "schedule" myself to post. Up next:  Waiting for my Bead Soup Swap.

Hop Hop Hoppin' Away...

So besides joining the Bead Soup Blog Hop, I've also joined the Thrift Store Blog Hop
Here are the participants so far for the Thrift store one.

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com 
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com 
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/

There are around 400 participants in the Soup Hop, and I neeed to save my fingers for work tomorrow, so I won't be typing those.   lol.

COMING UP:  Cranberry Blossom Festival highlights and Craft Show.

Test Run. Or not.

Today was the "test run" for the  Grand Avenue Artists at the Farmer's Market. There were only four of us who could make it.

I used the time to work on my piece for the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center's, "Aqua ~ Fluid Motion Fine Art Exhibition",  since when I'm home, I use my time for things like laundry, dishes, cleaning rooms, and the like.  lol.

                            But it wasn't long, and I wished that I'd brought my watercolors also...

So we decided it was ok for a test run and packed it up. Next week should be better...