When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Jewelry

The Stones!

2009-11-09T15:26:00.002-05:00

Remember when I went mining in South Carolina? Well, I had two of the rough rocks that I found cut and polished and they arrived in the mail today! The one on the left is a golden beryl, the same family as emerald, and the one on the right is an aquamarine, which is what that area of South Carolina is known for. I've shown you what the rock looks like before and after. How cool is that! I'm desinging in my head what kind of settings I want to make or have made for them. Input?

A not so funny prank

2009-11-08T13:01:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning for the 4th day in a row stiff and in pain - I've done something to aggravate my neck pain, which in turn has flared up the back pain. Needless to say, I've not been very jovial. Image my surprise, then, when I signed on to Facebook this morning to find my son's status as "Jason Lemons is engaged to Sophie Ash". No sooner did I sign on as I was getting instant messages and phone calls - 5 in 5 minutes - wanting to know the details on this engagement! Imagine how stupid I felt saying they know as much as I do and just read about it on facebook myself. It was 2 hours later that Jason finally signed on to say it was just a prank. So NOT funny!

Preparing for the Holiday (hopefully) Rush!

2009-11-03T10:31:00.003-05:00

Its the last of the fall leaves, the trees are getting bare and the nights are getting colder - we will be into the frantic holiday season in no time! I've been gearing up for the holidays as well, making lots of pretty pieces for your gift giving and self-adorning! These are just a few of the pendants I've made in the last 2 weeks, this week I'm working on making some in silver, and creating some holiday themed bracelets and earrings to wear to those holiday parties, the office or to lunch! Heck, I wear jewelry to the grocery store, but I don't expect you to be as freakish about jewelry as I am! I will be at the market this Saturday, November 7th, and at Cincinnati PinkFest on November 22, then at the market full time from November 25th through the holidays.

2009-10-25T21:18:00.002-04:00

Today was the open house and studio demonstration at my dear friend Lorie's house. We had a disappointing turnout, but those that did attend really enjoyed watching Lorie create such amazing glass beads! While she was doing that, I was busy playing peek-a-boo with an adorable baby that came with her mommy to shop for pretty jewelry!

On the way home, I was delighted by the pretty fall colors and an amazing sunset! God is good!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!!

2009-10-24T14:06:00.006-04:00

My good friends Vicki Morris and Terry Ronald own a british import store and tea room in Dayton. Their shop was discovered about 2 years ago by a production company as a site location to shoot a television show. They liked Terry so much, with his british accent and theater background, they gave him a major part in the show! The show is called "J8DED" and will air starting in January 2010 - I'm not sure yet what network. Anyway, they needed some extras last night while shooting a scene in the tea shop and Vicki asked if I wanted to do it. She warned me it was long hours and a lot of standing around. Well she wasn't kidding - I didn't get home last night till 2 AM! WAYYYYY past my bedtime, but it was a fun experience to see just how tedious it is to shoot a movie or tv show. The shoot the same scene several times, and from several angles. That means moving the set around and setting up lighting and cameras, then changing everything around and doing it again, but it has to be seamless, so if your tea was 1/2 full in one shot, it has to be 1/2 full an hour later for the next shot. If there was a fern in the window for one scene, it has be be in that exact location, even though they moved it several times to be out of the way of the camera. Thus, there was A LOT of doing nothing for the actors and extras!

The director of the show is Michael Daemon and one of the main characters is his wife, Vida Edit Daemon, (aka "Markita"), who has been in several tv shows, and had a number one pop hit in the 1980s called "Toy Soldier". (http://www.j8ded.com/) It was fun to see everyone getting hair and makeup done, and while some of the main characters spent a good hour in the chair, all I got was a dusting of powder and blush. I'm taking it to mean I did an excellent job on my own makeup and not that I was a hopeless cause! :)

Here are some pictures from last night: (remember you can click on them to see them larger)

After that glamorous evening, this is what I'm doing today - cleaning up the major dust Noel caused by sanding the plaster in the entryway!

He also painted the bathroom! Yea! Things are getting done around here - gotta love that!

Tomorrow is the open house and studio tour at Lori's - I'll be sure to take some pictures of her beads and demos to post!

Anger, Frustration and Disgust

2009-10-22T20:23:00.002-04:00

I just don't understand people with a lot of money. I'm flipping through In Style Magazine's "Best of the Web" article, and the first site listed is called http://www.aloharag.com/ - so I go to it and take a look at their jewelry page. (I'm always looking for ideas, what's in fashion, and prices). I find this bracelet:

Cute, right? It cost $765.00!!! That is SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS! It is made of plastic beads and a few pieces of 14kt gold. And get this, it's SOLD OUT! Or how about a necklace made from legos for a mere $69? When you are done wearing it, your kid could play with it!

I'm having trouble selling pieces I've made by hand, in this country, mostly one of a kind, for $45.00 using real gemstones, not plastic! Ay - I think I'm going to have to find a new line of work - this is just too frustrating! $765 for plastic beads....some people have just too damn much money to throw away.

An Open House

2009-10-20T12:22:00.003-04:00

This Sunday (October 25th) from 2-5 my friend Lorie Burger and I are having a joint open house and studio demonstrations - these are a couple of Lorie's beads that I have wire wrapped - aren't they stunning! I can't decide which one to buy for myself!

And I thought I would share with you how beautiful the trees are in my backyard today - what a perfect autumn day!

I came across this picture today on Etsy from http://www.prettybabybowtique.etsy.com/ and thought this was about the cutest picture I've ever seen! She makes these cute baby headbands and has the cutest ever babies as models! Please visit her shop, if nothing else than to look at those cute little faces! I was supposed to visit the triplet girls today, but both their mom and dad and brothers are sick, so I'm staying away. It seems like people everywhere have flues and colds - I'm planning to lock myself in the studio for the winter just to stay healthy!

For kicks, I took a belly dancing class yesterday at Blue Karma here in Brookville! What fun - I had little jingles on my butt and a chiffon scarf and got quite the workout! My obliques are sore today! I plan to go every Monday - anyone want to join me?

I finished up the ornaments and have been working on some lampwork glass bead pieces getting ready for the open house/studio demonstrations on Sunday in Beavercreek. Hope you can join us! Call me for details if you need them.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-10-15T17:16:00.004-04:00

I spent the afternoon making Christmas ornaments - some glittered, some painted, some soldered - and once again, I have a big mess to clean up! How is it that I can get glitter and paint on areas of the room I hardly went near? The ornaments will be taken over to Art Happens in Yellow Springs, but I'm thinking of making a few more to take to market with me.

Last night I met with some nice ladies from "Handmade Dayton" - the Etsy group I belong to. We have our own blog - www.HandmadeDayton.blogspot.com - if you want to take a look.

I have been eagerly awaiting the mailman lately - I am expecting payment from a magazine that bought one of my earring ideas. It will be in the January/February issue of Bead Style Magazine - how cool is that?

The only other Big News in my life is that I got a haircut and perm! Yes, it doesn't take much to excite me, and its amazing how much a new hair style can change your outlook and mood! I'm happy to be rid of my poker straight mop and have hair with a little bounce to it!

Yellow Springs Street Fair

2009-10-11T12:16:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the street fair in Yellow Springs - what fun! There were some really interesting vendors, some extremely talented artists, and some incredibly low priced imported crap! But the day was beautiful and the crowd was large. I was a bit disappointed in sales, but on the other hand, there were so many jewelry vendors I'm grateful to have sold anything! Its actually a honor that people chose to buy my pieces over some of the other talented artists', so I am quite pleased. I ran into several old friends from the market, and met some really nice people from Art Happens Gallery.

Today I planted 100 tulip bulbs in one of my new flower beds - I am already waiting for spring - I hate the cold and dreary winters of Ohio! Hope all is well - stay tuned for some new jewelry posted on the website as well as Etsy!

Triplet Update!

2009-10-03T19:03:00.002-04:00

The triplets are growing, and thanks to big brother Austin, they should be early readers!

I had a fun day at the market today - its always so good to see my loyal customers and friends! As I promised, here are a few more pictures from other artists at "Art Happens" in Yellow Springs. I am going to have a busy week - Wednesday is the annual Harvest Festival at Dayton Childrens Medical Center; and then next Saturday is the Street Fair in Yellow Springs. This will be the first time for me to do the street fair, and I'm really looking forward to it. For years people have told me I should do the fair because there are good crowds with willing shoppers and that my jewelry would be popular and appreciated there! Guess I'll find out first hand next Saturday!

This is by artist Bev Gelbert - fun and whimsical with great titles!

Amazing photos by Scott Kissel

Two of my collages! I don't just make jewelry, sometimes I need to switch it up just to keep things fun! I sold my first collage just last month! I also have two of what will be a 3-part series on my Etsy site called "Dancing with the Stars".

Art Happens! in Yellow Springs

2009-10-02T09:52:00.003-04:00

In case you haven't been to Yellow Springs, Ohio lately, there is a cute new shop in the Kings Yard called "Art Happens". It is in the space that Rita Caz jewelers had been located for years. It is a really fun, cute shop that carries a variety of local artists' work (including mine!) and the owners are two really fun, friendly guys. Here is a picture of the shop, tucked away in the corner of Kings Yard, behind the tavern on Xenia Ave.

Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month, artist Nancy Mellen introduced her "boob art" series. Her friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and was scheduled to have a complete mastectomy. They decided they needed to commemorate her breasts, and both of them created this art work using their "boobs as brushes"! The paintings are quite beautiful and interesting and certainly unique!
Two of the 'Boob Series" paintings

Artist Tina Lowery has an amazing group of tree paintings, with interesting human-like figures as the winding tree trunks and branches. I am really in love with her work, right down to the details of the framing, some of them framed in pebbles!

Some of Tina Lawery's tree paintings

Artist Deborah Link has a few paintings in the shop as well - including the above picture, in which I've zoomed in on a little fairy in the corner of one of her paintings. Isn't she talented?

Over the weekend I'll try to post some more pictures from Art Happens, including work by Scott Kissel, Sue Brezine and Bev Gelbert. I'll be at market on Saturday - don't forget to stop by and say hello - I'll be in the pavillion!

2009-09-28T08:54:00.002-04:00

I came across a really fun blog called "Design Sponge" (www.designspongeonline.com) , and saw this adorable pillow made from vintage hankies. If I had a sewing machine I would definately make a few, since I have quite a few vintage hankies currently listed on Etsy. (www.WhenLifeHandsULemons.Etsy.com) She even gives you directions on how to make it at:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/09/made-with-love-vintage-hankie-pillow.html

If you make one, be sure to send me a photo! Have a great day!

Etsy Artist

2009-09-25T21:01:00.002-04:00

I love Etsy.com, and spend a lot, too much actually, time admiring all the creative and well crafted art for sale. This particular artist struck my fancy the other day - I love her use of color and whimsy without looking like a 3rd grader painted it. Her shop is www.reniebritenbucher.etsy.com . One of these days, one of Renie's works will be gracing a wall in my house! Enjoy

North Carolina

2009-09-24T08:37:00.004-04:00

Noel, his sister Laura and I took a roadtrip last week with our camper to Asheville, N. Carolina. We've never been there, but it is listed in several books and magazines as one of the best places in the U.S. to retire. Since we are looking for a place we both agree on to grow old (not that we aren't already old!) we thought we'd see what the area was like. We both liked it, in spite of the rain and fog that enveloped us the whole time we were there. We did some hiking, we spent one day in Asheville checking out all the art shops and galleries, where I passed out a lot of business cards. We checked out neighboring town Black Mountain, which we really liked, and spent some time driving the Blue Ridge Parkway in absolute zero visibility fog.

I also found a place where for $65 they actually drive you up to a real aquamarine mining site and give you a bucket and a pick axe and let you look for yourself, keeping whatever you find. I found several big pieces of aquamarine (one nice and clear that I am having cut and faceted), dozens of large garnets, lots of mica, lots of black tourmaline, 2 pieces of morganite, and 2 pieces of yellow beryl, which are fairly rare and which I will also have cut and faceted! It was hard work since I'm not that agile and my back won't let me bend over, so I scooted around on my butt most of the time! (as you can tell by the picture Noel took of my backside!) I also, of course, hit the local bead and rock shops, finding a few treasures there as well, a few of which I've already wrapped and are gorgeous!

The triplets are well and growing fast, and Noel's check-up yesterday went well. The doctor says the spot on his tongue is just radiation damage; they took a routine chest x-ray, which we will hear about in a few days.

I have a home party this weekend, as well as a "Scrap Pink" all day scrapbooking day on Saturday. I'll be at market on October 3rd - its not too early to be planning for holiday gifts, so be sure to come to market and see all the new pretties I've made!

Fine Silver Creations

2009-09-14T10:42:00.004-04:00

So I spent one day last week working with Precious Metal Clay making some fun and beautiful new pieces. I have one corner of my studio dedicated to just metal clay; it has to be kept clean to work on the clay, and then it makes a real mess with the dust that results from filing. Here are a few pictures of my work space, me filing some pieces - note how gray the mask is just from a few minutes of filing - and then the pieces getting ready to be fired in the kiln.

Precious Metal Clay is just that - it is 99% pure silver, not sterling but pure silver, mixed with an organic binder and water to make it the consistency of play-doh. You manipulate the clay just like you would clay or play-doh, and you have to work fast because the clay dries out quickly and is way too expensive to waste even a morsel. Once it dries to a "leather hard" stage, you can file and use different grades of fine sandpaper to perfect the piece. Then once it is fired at high temperatures in the kiln, it burns out the water and binder and you are left with a fine silver piece of jewelry. They also make the clay in gold, copper and bronze. The piece taken out of the kiln is almost white. The piece then has to be filed and burnished, or tumbled in a tumbler, to bring out the shine of the silver. Today I will finish the pieces by adding liver of sulfter to blacken parts of the metal to bring out the details I've imprinted into the silver, and finish setting the stones I've added to a few. I'll take pictures of today's process and post pictures of the finished pieces. Stay tuned.....

So here are the pieces fired and out of the tumbler. They are shiny and pretty, but not quite ready. I have to set the stones, and then I want to add some liver of sulfer to blacken the silver, and bring out the details of the pieces.

So now they are blackened, and from there I have to hand polish using fine grit sandpaper, a dremel tool with a felt bit and rouge and/or a polishing cloth until I get the piece looking just the way I want it to.

So now they are 99% done - on some I need to drill holes to make earring charms out of them, and on a few I need to add bails, the part that your chain goes through.

On this one I set a ruby (created) cabachon

and this one was made using a real wentletrap shell as a mold. Leave me a message if you are interested in purchasing any of the above, or watch for them in my Etsy shop.

A fitting tribute, and a triplet update

2009-09-05T15:57:00.005-04:00

It was a fitting tribute to my uncle, as well as my mom, yesterday. There was a good turnout, as my uncle had many friends who loved him dearly. We sang the Hungarian National Anthem, read one of his poems as well as a favorite he told me over a year ago he wanted read at his funeral, and several people spoke of their memories of him. It brought laughter and tears - he would be very pleased with the tribute his kids made sure he had. My cousins were kind enough to make sure my mother was mentioned, knowing that she had no service or memorial, which touched me deeply and is a kindness I will never forget. In a frenzy of hurry yesterday, I accidently deleted the last message my mother had left on my cell phone, and I am so distraught over it. It was such a good message too, telling me to "havva goo-d fun on da rrrroad" and "mama love you so much". I'm kicking myself in the butt and just cried and cried knowing that message is gone for good. Here are a few pictures from the funeral yesterday:

I also get asked a lot about how the triplet girls are doing - and they are growing and thriving by leaps and bounds and will soon be 6 weeks old already!! Their stroller cracks me up - the three seats makes it look like a stretch limo! The boys just love their little sisters, and I'm looking forward to getting to spend some time with them this week!

I was at the market today and it was great to see my old friends and customers; it makes me miss not being there full time anymore! I got some great feedback and passed out a few cards, so hopefully it will bring about some new customers and a few home party bookings! Well - its nap time - market wipes me out!!

photo tribute to my uncle

2009-09-02T15:15:00.003-04:00

I am posting these mostly so my cousins in Sweden and Hungary can see them - these are tje photo poster collages I made for my uncle's funeral, which will be Friday, September 4th. If you click on each one, you should get a larger picture and better view. RIP Victor Dome!

My Uncle

2009-08-29T18:39:00.006-04:00

Been away from the blog for a bit - lots going on in my life! Jason and I drove down to Miami, Florida to get him set up at college. After driving 3 days, I ended up getting terribly sick with the flu - complete with fever, chills, unbelievable pain and vomiting. I guess Jason has learned a thing or two at college, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only girl he's had throwing up in his room!! :)

He knew to double bad the Walmart bags and rubbed my back while throwing up! So I wasn't much help in getting his room cleaned and set up, but I tried, and managed to sit through orientation! I can't believe I was that close to Miami beach yet didn't get so much as a glimpse at the ocean or sand!

Today I agreed to do a small craft show, that I regretted saying yes to, but then tried to fulfill my obligation, only to find out that my uncle was found dead, more than likely having been dead since Wednesday and no one checked on him until today. So sad - he died likely on the day my mom died just 5 short months ago. At least they are together again! He had given me this poem over a year ago, wanting me to make sure it was read at his funeral:

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow;

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Life up your heart and share with me;

God wanted me now, He set me free.

My uncle, whom I lovingly referred to as my crazy uncle, was a one-man party - I sure hope his kids remember to play the chicken dance at his funeral! And that he is wearing his "emergency" Viagra ring I made for him, that he is proudly sporting in one of the above pictures. He never met a stranger or a bottle he didn't like, he loved to dance, and had more life left in him - I'm sure its much louder in heaven!!

Miami Heat

2009-08-19T17:25:00.002-04:00

Jason and I drove down to Miami Florida over the weekend to get him settled into Florida International University. We took 2 1/2 days to make the drive, and had plenty of time to find the school and figure out where we were going for Monday's transfer student orientation. It was their largest group ever for orientation so it wasn't particularly well organized, and lasted WAY too long by the glass-eyed look of most of the audience. While the campus is nice, I was not too impressed with the condition of the dormitories (his room hadn't even been cleaned!), and there have been a series of frustrations that while individually would just be a minor thing, but have added up to be one bad impression! On top of that, the 101 degrees and 1000% humidity and sub-zero air conditioning temps, I've been terribly sick, complete with 102 temp, vomiting, coughing and losing my voice. I've tried to force myself to do the important things with jason, but the rest of the time I have laid in his bed and wished for a quick death. We've cleaned his room, purchased all the necessities and tomorrow I head home, leaving behind a young man with a bright future, but that in my heart is still my baby!!

Life is good

2009-08-13T14:41:00.006-04:00

Yesterday we held a "gathering of the Lemons" party to celebrate all the summer birthdays and to wish Jason off to a good start in Florida. It was so much fun playing with all the kids, sharing good food and kitchen talk with the "women folk"! I especially enjoyed blowing bubbles with the kids, something Noel's mom used to love to do and as bubbles lifted off to the sky, I hope they were carrying messages to her of how much she is missed.

I made a really pretty new necklace I call "A Rainy Night in Paris" - its a 38" long sterling silver chain that has an Eiffel Tower on one end, and 3 briolettes of beautiful blue kyanite on the other, and it ties like a lariat, or can be doubled. I listed it on Etsy if you want to take a look - http://www.whenlifehandsulemons.etsy.com/

Tomorrow we are headed to Florida to deliver Jason to Florida International University. We will take a couple of days to drive, and then I will fly home on the 20th, after jason is all moved in and we've both been through our respective orientations, and hit the beach once or twice of course!

Longest yard sale

2009-08-10T12:36:00.003-04:00

We did it again this year, followed the route of "The World's Longest Yard Sale" along 127. We started in southern Kentucky, near Lake Cumberland, and worked our way up, camping along the way. It was a lot of fun - its amazing how much "stuff" people have, and what they have the gull to try to "sell", because frankly a lot of things really should have been put in the trash heap years ago! There were some great antiques, a LOT of glass ware and baby stuff, some downright bizarre (skull for $35 anyone?), and it was fun digging for treasures. However, the treasures were few and far between, for me at least. I found some great stones, a few old pieces of jewelry, a lot of vases for my friend Wendy, clothes for Addy's kids, and my great buy was 5 sheets of un-cut paper dolls printed in Germany back in the 1800s! Don't know what I will do with them, but I just HAD to have them!

Frustration and Happiness

2009-08-03T12:56:00.006-04:00

As I write this, I am currently caller number 17 in the cue with the financial aid office at Florida International. Jason is supposed to be in Florida on August 17th for orientation, and we've yet to find out if our Parent Loan has been approved, and he is yet to be assigned housing. Supposedly he is number 45 on the waiting list. How can they do business like that? Do they honestly expect us to drive all the way to Florida from Ohio not knowing these things? Their website is a JOKE and the loan processor website doesn't even acklowledge we have an account! Arghhhhh.

On top of that, Jason failed his "capstone" test for the 4th time, which means he does not officially have his associate degree. The capstone test is a test of all hospitality related classes over the past 2 years and is something put together by the American Hospitality Association. Now Jason has been on the Dean's List and has a 3.8 GPA - how can he be that good of a student and not be able to pass the final test???? Something doesn't add up to me, and of course 3 calls to the Dean and 1 call to the Vice President of the college still have had no responses in the last week. I'm ready to go off on somebody!!!

On the Happiness meter, Andrew arrived home from the Navy last night to much fanfare and friends waiting for him. These boys have all known each other since Tiger Cubs and I felt like the den mother whose babies have all come home! It was so great to see them all, and Andrew's sister, Addy, who is like a daughter to me, was here as well with her two children, so all was well with the world! Braden (with the alien antennae - beep beep) called me Nana instead of Anna, which cracked everyone up, and he called Noel PawPaw. Braden just turned 3. The 2nd photo is of Addy and Alayna, who is 4 months old, and then there is the picture of me with my "boys", who are now "men"!!

This photo is of a hair comb I made for one of Noel's co-workers that is getting married soon. Ah, finally someone is picking up the phone......wish them luck!

2009-07-31T19:04:00.003-04:00

This was the sky from my back yard the other night as the rain was moving in - it was very dramatic and, I thought, very pretty!

I dropped off some new jewelry pieces at Basically British, the british imports and soon to be tea shop on 3rd Street, next to Square One Salon. It is such a cute shop, and I have a whole line of tea themed jewelry there, as well as some Alice in Wonderland and Beatrix Potter jewelry. If you stop in, tell Vicki or Terry hello and that I sent you!

Photo is of Basically British's shop

I am also pleased to announce that my GREETING CARDS ARE BACK AT THE MARKET! Due to popular demand, my photo greeting cards are now being carried at the market by Market Wine inside the 2nd Street Public Market! I am also pleased to announce that I am BACK IN YELLOW SPRINGS! My jewelry, as well as my new collage art pieces, are being sold through "Art Happens" inside the Kings Yard in Yellow Springs! Isn't that exciting? I am also represented at Humble Traditions in Cumberland Maryland. Things are starting to happen for me! Yipppeeeeeeee! I am so thankful and grateful for all of my dear customers helping me along!
The Market Wine Shop - those are my cards on the left!

Now changing the subject, my dear adopted son Andrew is coming home from the Navy for a visit! He is terribly homesick, and I miss him just as much, so he will be staying with us for a week starting Sunday! I can't wait to get one of his giant hugs and have long talks with him! He is so insightful, affectionate and talkative - a lot more so than my son Jason. I can't wait to see the two of them together - best friends since Tiger Cubs!

Changing the subject again, I found this great blog called Thursday Sweet Treat, and this lady posts a weekly challenge to artists. Each week has a theme, this week is "Over the Moon", and artists can interpret and create whatever they want to in that theme. You send her a picture of what you created and she posts them on her blog for all to see. Its a lot of fun, whether you are a "true" artist or not. Give it a shot; if you do, I want to see what you made too!

The Triplets

2009-07-28T08:07:00.002-04:00

Here they are! My great-nieces - Katelyn, Courtney and Alyssa are here, doing very well at just over 4 pounds. Mama is doing well and can't wait till her babies get to come home. Neither can big brothers Austin and Matthew, and of course me, Great Auntie-Anna! Here is Angela at 31 1/2 weeks, taken about a week before giving birth! Poor girl was so uncomforable and felt like she was going to pop!

The family; Courtney holding mama's hand, and the proud great-grandfather

Love the "rock and roll" fingers!

And this week hasn't been ALL about the babies - I have managed to get several new pendants done, and today I'm working on some new earring designs!

Closeup of one of the beautiful lampwork beads in a new necklace and earring set I'm posting up on my Etsy site!

Monday Morning Weekend Overview

2009-07-27T10:07:00.004-04:00

As I said, Saturday was the quarter auction. Sunday was the big Bridal Expo at the Dayton Bridal Center (corner of Woodman and Linden). There was a fashion show of amazing dresses, both bridal and attendants, as well as tuxedos and childrens' wedding fashion. The show was put on by Linda's Bridal (in Union, Ohio). I was blessed to be able to put some of my jewelry on these beautiful women in those beautiful dresses! It was my first Fashion Show and I was excited, and really bummed I didn't have my camera with me since I didn't get notified in time. A father of one of the girls was nice enough to email this pictures to me:

I received a couple of leads for custom bridal jewelry, so hopefully I will get some business from the show! It was most entertaining to watch; I was backstage and the girls were frantically changing from one dress to another. One of the little boys, I'm guessing about age 9 or 10, was desperately trying to sneak a peak at the half naked girls. Despite being scolded several times, we was persistent! I'm guessing its going to make it into his "What I did over the summer" essay when school starts. It will likely go like this: "I rode bikes with my friends, I went to the pool, and I saw some real boobies!" :) Have a great day!