No Words

I'm not feeling it these days. I know I should, but I just don't feel like writing. It's been an entire month since my last post and lots of potential blog material to write about but....I don't know. I've even started 2 or 3 different posts but none of them have made it to publish. I know I'm not the only one to feel this way, am I? I can't be the only one that has struggled with the desire/pressure to fill a page but no words to fill it? It's not a bad place that I find myself in, not at all. More like a place of waiting, of holding back, until the momentum shifts and the words once again take center stage. But for now my life takes a different path...



During the last month, I've registered my baby girl for kindergarten and my "baby" boy for junior high. I've watched my emotions run the gamut from elation to heartbreak as my children spread their wings to fly and I resist the urge to @#&*! it all up! I've gone to Portland, Oregon and fallen in love with my husband, again, and attended a soldering workshop with Sally Jean Alexander. I've been at the gym, in the garden, and in the studio more than ever and this truly makes my heart happy. So as you can see it's not like I don't have a few things to write about. I just haven't felt like sitting down and putting the words out there.

So for today, I leave you with the only visuals that I have captured (and uploaded) over the last few weeks. Simply put, it is what keeps me centered and grounded and oftentimes at a loss for words.

















Have a wonderful week! XOXXO

Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Big hugs to all of you Mom's. Have a fabulous weekend!

Great News!

I'm sorry I've been gone so long. Really I am. I've been traveling ALOT. Too much frankly. I don't like to travel that much - something I hadn't realized until now. I do much better with some breathing room between trips but sometimes you just don't get that luxury. Anyhoo, I'm so behind that I haven't even been able to thank the good people at Somerset Life for including my photo in the latest issue. It's an honor to be included in the pages of such an amazing magazine. I don't care if it's a 3 page spread or a single photo, to be in any of Stampington's publications is just simply YUMMY! Oh, but wait, there's more... Last week I got an email from Jenny letting me know that Stampington & Company has decided to publish 5 different 2010 wall calendars. The calendars will show "outstanding artwork" (their words, not mine) previously published in one of their numerous magazines. Drum roll please...the image of my artwork from the winter 2009 Somerset Life issue has been selected to be in one of the calendars! Yipeeeee! You can't see me right now, but I'm doing my happy dance. I cannot wait to see the end results. Can you imagine how inspiring 2010 will be with all of those amazing photos?

I'm home for a couple of months now and will blog again soon. I promise! In the meantime, I breath and catch up and play with my kids and cook good food and.....!

XOXXOO

What I Wouldn't Give

I really want to be here, wandering the lovely path above. I want to plant brilliant shades of pink and purple with a dash of white. I want to smell roses and lavender wafting through my open windows.



I want to put these in a vase and place them on my coffee table for all to enjoy.



Or spend a few hours here reading my favorite book with a huge mug of Starbucks.

But, alas, the only gardening I'm doing these days is in perusing the pages of magazines.





Instead, I'm working on these.





And these.







Then there's a little custom work for a lovely client.



And another client.





And still one more client.

It's good to be busy. It really is. Oh, but my garden. My poor neglected and lonely garden. For now I will just have to dream through the glossy pages of my favorite magazines and wait...

Gone in a Blink

Did anybody see where February went? I know it was here just a minute ago but all I can find is March! Starting with the gift show at the beginning of the month, followed by studio time, filling orders, Fed Ex runs, the general demands of running a household and business, and ending with a much needed but ill timed trip to Florida, February was one big blur!

The gift show was hard work but well worth it. I came in with slightly lowered expectations due to the struggling economy but ended up being pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I met my goals, and in some cases, exceeded them, so in my mind it was MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Unfortunately the few photos I managed to take of my booth and fellow exhibitors turned out bad, really, really bad. I will not bore you with the proof!

For my sons 12th birthday, we decided to take a few days and do Disney. In reality, Disney did us! After 3 days of "It's a Small World", Flying Dumbo, lines that lasted faaaarrrr beyond my level of patience, and really bad for you food, I was ready for part 2 of our trip.







Aaaaaahhhhh......Naples, Florida. White sandy beaches, turquoise water, sunsets, flip flops and 80 degree weather. Now that's what I'm talking about.





Did you know that the good people of Naples have a tradition of going out to the beach to watch the sunset and then they clap when it's all over? Not a bad way to end your day is it?!



We also took long walks and collected sea shells...



And avoided too many of these...





But mainly we just played!

I'll be doing the Las Vegas Gift Show in a couple of weeks so I'm not sure if I'll get another entry in before that. If not, I'll be back on the other side of Vegas!

A Quick Peek

I'm in the final stretch of production and getting ready to start packing up boxes tomorrow. I'm looking forward to switching gears here. I've been bent over a table, or two, or three, for weeks. I haven't worn makeup in I don't know how long and my kids think an alien has come in and snatched up their mother! Yep, I'm looking forward to switching gears and getting down to the business of "doing" the gift show. In the meantime, I thought I would leave a quick post and show you a few of the things I'm bringing with me. Above and below are soldered charms that I made. I especially love the pink glittered hearts - just in time for Valentine's Day.



I've added 3 new coaster styles to my gift line. These were all inspired by vintage wallpaper. What coffee table wouldn't look fabulous with one of these?!







And check out these little beauties. I love, love, love the way they turned out! I've been wanting to do monogramed bottles for a while but it wasn't until the Gift Show that I decided to push myself and get them done. I hope everyone else loves them as much as I do!



This will probably be my last post for a little while. I'll be back with fabulous photos and lots of stories and hopefully an empty truck! XOXXOO

A Lovely Bit of Bliss

In the midst of chaos came this lovely bit of bliss - my Somerset Life article! It came over a week ago but I've been so swamped getting ready for the S.F. Gift Show that I am only now uploading the photos. To say that I am thrilled and honored to be included in the pages of this wonderful publication is an understatement. Thank you so much Jenny for inviting me to play!





This also came in the mail today - a beautiful little charm made by the extremely talented Mary. I love, love, love it and have the perfect bracelet just waiting for more bling! Thank you so much Mary. It's gorgeous!











As for the Gift Show, I've been in full production mode for weeks trying to get ready. My house looks like a bomb went off and I've been wandering around in sweats and a baseball hat for what feels like an eternity. It's a huge undertaking but so worth it in the long run. In any event, I shot a few photos of these "party pots" fresh out of the studio. I love the way they turned out and can't wait to debut them at the show. Fill them with candy, party favors, or a special gift, and voila, the perfect vessel for any number of occasions.

Right now my daughter is sleeping quietly next to me and it is all I can do to keep my eyes open. It has been a long day. Here's hoping for a productive day tomorrow.