Not Jelly and Not for Your Belly

…but yummy none the less. I saw this necklace on Etsy (Tabmade.etsy.com) and had to make one of my own. It was so much fun to making amusing beads. I’m going to have to try this more often, and as of late, it is my favorite necklace to wear.

Stop the presses! I made a Card.

Ok, ok. So no reason to alert the media… but it has been a long time since I made a card. Probably about a year, and well, I’m a little rusty. But I felt the need to make some thank you cards for Gavin to send out for his birthday presents.

Right now all of the iRobots are either sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping the floor and I’m out to go water hanging flower baskets

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a busy but relaxing weekend. Filled with lots of quality time with family. On Sunday we went to the cemetery in Winterset, IA where my parents grew up and where many of my family member are buried. The local VFW puts on a great show with hundreds of American flags which is even more impressive when you realize that the town only has a population of 5000.

Later that afternoon we gathered at my Aunt’s house in Truro, IA for a picnic. Where Gavin had a chance to play with many of his second cousins that he only see once every two years or so. I couldn’t help but think that the next time he saw them they might be too (teenager) cool to want to play with a big bouncy ball in the back yard.

I had to share this picture that Eric snapped of me talking to my Mom’s sister, Pepper, Pepper’s Husband, their daughter Brenda and my Aunt Pat (in the teal blouse). I love the expression on my face. I wonder how often I make that face when in conversation?

On Monday we were all itching to get out of the house again so we headed to Viking Lake (about 30 mins away). We had such a good time hiking and picnicking at this lake it sealed the deal for us to get a canoe.

Even Ralphy was well behaved and had a good time.

Let the lazy days of summer begin…

It’s hard to believe that summer is already here. We are all sneezing, sniffing, and watery eyed. Today the wind is blowing in some cooler weather and possibly some rain that is supposed to come our way. But for tonight, we have no plans. Maybe some more running through the sprinkler. Dose this picture say, “COLD well water!”, or what?

I also wanted to share a picture of the polymer clay bracelet-watch I made in Tejae Floyde’s Treasured Timepiece Class.

Flying Paint

Gavin and I have been doing a little bit of painting. After coming back from Inspired and listening to Kelly Rae Roberts speak, I picked up her book, Taking Flight. And, I would like to say I read it from cover to cover, but honestly, I skipped all of the inspirational text and went right for the How To’s. It’s just how I am. I can’t help it. So, while Gavin did some of the coolest spin art I’ve ever seen, I worked on this painting.

The flower is made from polymer clay.

I haven’t mastered the portrait thing yet, but I’m also not quite ready to give up just yet either.

Tumbling into Summer

One of the benefits of living in Iowa is that you get to have a really great BIG back yard. And you can do things like this down the hill.

And you can do it in your jammies!

Back

Back from Inspired and back from my very long blogging break. A big thank you to everyone that demanded I start posting again. (Hmm, maybe there are people out there that really do visit my blog…) And another big thank you for kicking me in the butt to post some of my creations on Etsy. Inspired is made up of a supportive group of ladies that really know how to kick you in the ass when you are being a frightened babe.

So here are some of the projects that I completed in class.

A fine art portrait in Paulette Install’s Class



Metal Working with TENseconds Studio





Stamp carving with Jane Powell




It’s movie night tonight for us, so don’t wait up!

Break ime

If you haven’t noticed then I guess I’m going to have to spell it out for you. I seem to be taking a little break from blogging. Have no fear, I’ll be back but for now we are too busy enjoying the summer.

Where for out thou?

Has it really been a week since my last post? Well I guess time really does fly when you are having fun. Still lots of bike riding and popsicle eating happening here. Gavin and I went riding last night and saw a little turtle walking along the path. When we stopped to watch him we were eaten alive by mosquitoes. I have no less then 15 bits and Gavin come a close second from our swarm encounter. After our outing we stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream, so I got a lot of “I love you Mommy” snuggles. This weekend we saw WALL-E, and I towed the boys with me to a few bead stores in Omaha. They didn’t think it was as much fun as I did. I wonder why?

So here are a few of the new pieces.


















And a bound book to boot! What did you think I had forsaken my paper? NEVER!




And these!



These were designed and created especially for me by no other then, Gavin Parks. He cut the wire, twisted the ends, chose the beads and even strung them all himself. What a sweet bug.

Jewelry, Book Binding and Biking…

I just can’t seem to get enough these days.

Gavin and I have been getting a lot of use out of our new bike trailer. He likes to ride his Ben 10 bike with me for a while and then we head back and he hops into the trailer and watches a movie or plays his Nintendo DS in the trailer. We call it his ricksha.

I saw this and this bound book and had to check out this tutorial on book binding. I’m obsessed. I have been devouring tutorials and photos and finally sat down and made one. I used some origami paper I had to cover the chipboard and added some card stock pages. This is my new jewelry inspiration book.








And speaking of jewelry… there seems to be a lot of turquoise being used in my creations lately. Maybe it is the summer time air, or maybe it is all my trips to the black hills lately who can say?




These are a couple photos from Sunday. Gavin got a Slip ‘n Slide and had to try it out even though it wasn’t nearly warm enough to be playing in cold well water.






More rain for us here today. Which I’m lovin’ but I’m pretty sure the locals despise.