It's my Birthday I can to what I want to . . . tomorrow

Today is a very special day for many special people. Two weddings today: a sweet young couple with families from far away places, and a lovely, mature couple on the second time around. Beaming and blushing brides, proud and nervous grooms, beautiful music, flowers, dresses and jewelry. What's not to love about a wedding? And twenty-three years ago today, on my birthday, my husband was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church, and the next day I met him for the very first time. I'd say I received the best birthday present every (thank you, GOD!)

Now that I am celebrating my 39th birthday (yet again), I think it is time to get out the fire extinguishers.

Oh, and tomorrow is Father's Day -- I Love you daddy.

Pewter Wings Take Flight

What do you do when your beloved pet dies? I was contacted by Marlene, who missed her sweet cockatiel Miah. She has a little shrine for her and wanted to add my parrot wings to the arrangement.
Marlene asked me to used Miah's coloring to inspire me and this is what I just finished.

I hope she likes it

In other news, it is my birthday week (39 . . . again!) and I will happily send a little something extra for purchases from my Etsy Shop from now until June 19th 11:59pm.

You Won't Believe This!

My Birthday Giveaway garnered 21 participant.

These lovelies are heading off to. . .

The Winner is . . .
(drumroll, please) . . .

Heather Pyle! -- My Bead Buddy
SHE MADE THE BEADS!

A Big Thank You to:

Copper Diem, Spirited Earth, moonlitfantaseas, Regina, Nicki, tyneboden, MoonRae, Loretta, Kate, Alterity Button Jewelry, Boot ~C, Marianna, yogavq, dfherden, Beatnheart, Emerald Window, Rebecca, Alesha, Heather, Moags and Smeet, and Paige for participating.

Psst -- Heather, I think I still have your address, but please email just in case.

In My Shop Now

I wrote about these two wall-hanging in this post a couple of days ago. Once again the local gallery has decided to overlooked my artistic endeavors. However, I have posted these two art quilts in my Etsy shop and will sell individually or together. I see a few more of these pieces in the future.

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!! -- (I will do a Random Drawing on June 30th, that way, if you are slow at reading all these wonderful blogs, you will still have a chance to win.)

I Won!

The Bead Soup Party was a huge success (Thanks Lori!) and along the way I found more fabulous artists to follow. There were giveaways along the way too. I found Amanda Davie at Articulations and fell in love with her eclectic, magical style. She had a giveaway and I just found out that I won!

Look at these luscious goodies! Mmm!

All Wrapped Up

And a little surprise something! Can't Wait!!

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!! -- (I will do a Random Drawing on June 30th, that way, if you are slow at reading all these wonderful blogs, you will still have a chance to win.)

Bead Soup Part Day #7 -- My Partner's Reveal!

I have waited almost a whole week (well, actually a lot longer than that) to see what Heather Pyle from My Muse did with the bead soup ingredients I sent her in May.

This is what I sent . . .
And this is what she did with it.

and this . . . and this . . . .

Now get on over there and tell what a great job she did! (She is #81 below)

June 25th

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs

73. Valerie, Hot Art

74. Courtney, Beads by Breul

75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations

76. Shea, gr8findings

77. Julie, Pryce Designs

78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog

79. Patricia, Verre Design

80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman

81. Heather, My Muse My bead swap buddy

82. Susan, Night Beader at Large

83. Sonja, Drachenei

84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!!

Bead Soup Party Day #3

Day Three of the Bead Soup Swap -- If you have not checked the blogs from the previous two days, you need to do it! They all are just amazing! Below is a list of today's Bead Soup Swap Participant Reveals -- But first . . . .

My Necklace over my black mock-turtle neck blouse. I hope this give you a sense of scale of the piece.
Also, here is a pair of earrings I made with some of the "leftover" Soup ingredients.

June 21th

27. Lisa, Alterity

28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy

29. Melanie, Kookie Designs

30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass

31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart

32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique

33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do

34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef

35. Virginie, ViviBijoux

36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

Parr-Tay! Day #1

The Bead Soup Swap Party has begun!
Visit these artists and return to tell me who is your favorite!

June 19th

June 19th
1. Lori, Pretty Things The Hostess with the Mostess! Thank her for starting the whole thing
2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141
3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas
4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks
5. Katie, KatieBead
6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn
7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
9. Kate, Tropical Blonde
10. Janet, Singing Woods
11. Julianna, Juls Beads
12. Erin, Treasures Found


If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

What a Birthday!

Today was my birthday (also Kelly Morgan's over at Silver Parrot). It was one of my best birthdays, and I mean that too. My husband has taken a day off here and there this past couple of weeks and, of course, took today off to help me celebrate.
.
It was such a lovely, leisurely day.
.
First, we watched the USA vs. Slovenia World Cup Game while I photographed my finished Bead Soup Swap piece. Here is a sneak peek.
I wore it last night to Quilt Guild and today when we went to my favorite museum and got loads of compliments! I cannot wait to do the full fledged REVEAL on Sunday. (One of my online friends sent me a note stating that the dates in the previous post were incorrect -- so I changed them to the correct dates - sorry 'bout that!)
.
Well, we drove from Denton to Fort Worth with a short stop at Cabela's for my sweetie. Then we went to the Kimbell Museum for the remainder of the day and had a lovely lunch there as well. The Kimbell is a small, very fine museum that usually has to put most of their permanent collection away when they have a traveling show. But today I saw more of their collection than I ever have before, plus the newly acquired Michelangelo (click on the link above to see it). It was a real treat!

Okay, I promised a birthday celebration giveaway. Here is how it works -- post a comment on this blog post with your email address and I will draw a random number at the end of the week (at the end of the Bead Soup Blog Party!) Keep checking here for the Party participants revealing their masterpieces each day.

Friday is my Birthday

A lot is going on this week:

*I need to finish my Bead Soup Swap piece for the "reveal" this weekend.

*My dear husband is taking off a few days of vacation time (we are not going anywhere, but staying close to home).

*Our local Quilt Guild is having a silent auction and fundraiser

*I am volunteering with our local health-care center.

*Next Sunday is Father's Day.

*And this Friday is my BIRTHDAY!

Yep, another year older (-and wiser? mmm not sure.)

Please help me celebrate my birthday.

I am having a giveaway of a piece of jewelry made from some of the elements I received in the Bead Soup Swap from my buddy Heather Pyle. I have two piece: one is the "Official Bead Soup Swap Piece" and the other is from some of the remaining pieces I did not use in the "official" piece. Obviously, I cannot show either piece until the scheduled reveal (which starts June 19th, but I do not show mine until Saturday June 20th). I will announce the rules of the game on my birthday Friday 18th of June.