All a flutter

About 6 months ago I told myself it was quite alright if I never made another pot. Well, people kept asking for little plates and bowls at the art market and I caved in. But I was bored with the same designs. So just when I should have been getting ready for the bead show next week, I decided I really needed to make  butterfly plates and bowls which required making up a new set of designs. There are a bunch of these in the big kiln right now along with beads. It is firing. It almost didn't fire. I almost had a little (maybe big) teary session. But Sweet Pete to the rescue with a new plug and we are chugging along side of a tiny kiln of bronze pieces. Whew!

I'm off at 6 am for the 8 hour drive up to Wichita. I'm pretty excited about everything except for the 8 hour drive part. But it will be so worth it to get some of those wedding plans sorted and get that lovely bride a beautiful dress. Which in fact I am told may be difficult as there is a bridal convention in town this weekend. What the heck is a bridal convention? Well I guess I am about to find out. And I really am all a flutter with happiness at seeing my daughter and Tammy the bride and my soon to be grand daughter Alyssa!

Have a great weekend everyone.

The crazies

We are having a little of the crazies here trying to get this wedding organized. The date has been moved up to September 18th and hopefully the groom (my son) will actually get on that earlier flight from Afghanistan. But happy progress has been made  Yesterday, I lucked out and was able to rent the cottage at Botanica in Wichita. It's a small reception room set in beautiful botanical gardens, complete with water features and outdoor space for the wedding ceremony. Best of all, Botanica is where my son proposed to Tammy!

I'm driving up to Wichita on Friday and we're having a mad weekend of wedding planning and dress shopping. Oh and my soon to be son-in-law is celebrating his 30th.

Here's the crazy part of the crazies. I have a bead show in 13 days. It is a little hard to concentrate on beads right now. Oh did I mention that the elements in the kiln I use most just went out? I'll have to get out Big Bertha to finish everything in time.

But life has a way of going on despite the fact that you aren't ready for it. In fact I couldn't be happier getting ready for this wedding!

The bestest things happen while I'm away!

We've been back since Tuesday evening but it feels like so far away. Once again, I've almost no photos to show for our trip to Wisconsin. But I think that has more to do with being there with Peter's family and affirming all of that family love. Cameras really have no place for me when you are loving up the people you haven't see for a long time, some of them years. It was a beautiful trip and I do so so love those people! That photo up there taken from the wind screen of our car pretty much sums up where we were. Deep woods, family roots. Just incredible!

And here's where I am at today. My son phoned while we were in Wisconsin. He and his fiance are getting married when he's home on mid deployment leave. I am over the moon happy!!!!! But so much to do. October, a beautiful month, but only a wee while away. So off I am to phone Tammy and start the arrangements. The first of my children married! Oh I just can not wait. Happy!

Where did the week go?

This week flew by with me in bed most of the time with allergy related migraines. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, I am completely useless. Yesterday, I spent a little time transferring some drawings to copper and brass in an ugly process I will never use again. But I did get to try out the etchant formula that Barbara Lewis posted on her blog some time ago. Its great stuff and I think I like it even better than the Radio Shack  environmentally nasty stuff. Best thing about this formula is it is easy to get the ingredients and easy to store.

We are off to the wilds of far far north Wisconsin tomorrow. Did I really think that a 6 am flight to Minneapolis was a good idea?  It's a quick weekend trip for a family reunion and a memorial service for my husband's uncle. He died some months ago but the family decided to do the memorial service this summer up where he grew up and where they have a cabin. It's kind of a bittersweet trip. We'll see family that we haven't seen for a long time but saying good bye to Uncle Stan is a little hard. On the other hand I can't think of a more special place to celebrate his life. So many beautiful family memories have been gathered up at that cabin on the lake.

We'll be back early Tuesday. See you then!

The Good, the Bad, and the Down Right Ugly

Good

Bad

Ugly

I've been working with some new glazes and for the most part, I am happy. But you know, sometimes no matter how much testing you do things just don't come out right. For example look at those nasty glaze drips up there. Might be somewhat interesting on the rim of a pot but not on the bottom of these pendants. And then there is the just plain ugly, what was I thinking, kind of glazing. Oh, well live and learn. There is always another kiln load to look forward to.

Now lets talk about down right ugly. I live in West Texas. July is hot, dry, sunny, and arid. What's up with the 75% humidity, gray skies, thunderstorms, and intermittent rain? This is market weekend. Oh wait, I live in West Texas. The weather is unpredictable. Whew, I'm glad I got that one figured out.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Look what happened while I was away!

I had such a wonderful time in Portland with my friend Susan and her partner! Not one picture to show for it. Too busy catching up and being together. I've come home to such happy news.

My daughter is engaged!

The story goes like this. They were getting ready to go hiking and Derek heads to the basement to get some gear. He comes back up a few minutes later with his camera case and hands it to my daughter. She opens it and inside is a camera. Not just any camera, but the camera that Sarah has been wanting. She is puzzeled...he says it's an early birthday present. Let me show you a cool feature that it has. And there it is...a photograph of his hand written proposal.  Down on one knee, out comes the ring.

I am over the moon happy for them!!!!!