ConeHungLo Tassel Necklace

Now here is a really fun necklace of colorful African trade beads, called "Christmas" beads, and I've incorporated one of my hollow lampwork cone beads made into a tassel-style pendant. The long, 32" necklace has no clasp and easily slips over the head for ease of wear. The cone pendant has dangling strands of trade beads that have been strung on black silk cord.

Funky Chicken

Just listed....Etsy.

"Chicken Dance"

Luau and Pig Roast

It doesn't look very appetizing in the photo but it was very tasty!

Last Sunday was my daughter and son in laws annual luau and I remembered to take some photos of their "authentic" Hawiian pig roast.
I wasn't there when the whole process was started, (early in the morning), but this is what I saw when it was finished. I was told it takes 6 hours for the size of pig they used.
A length of chicken wire, mayber 4 or 5', was lined with a bed of greens, (looks like lettuce but there may have been some other things added, like herbs). This I assume is to keep the meat moist. The pig was then set upon the layer of greens and covered with more greens. Now, the chicken wire acts as sort of a sling, which can then be lowered into the hole in the ground. The hot lava rocks are arranged around and on top of the pig and then many layers of burlap are spread on top of the pig, creating a sort of oven. 6 hours later, the pig was removed from the ground by grabbing the corners of the chicken wire and then set atop a makeshift table to remove the succulent and moist meat from the bone, where it was then placed on a large platter for everyone to enjoy. And enjoy we did! It was tender, juicy, moist, and very flavorful.
My daughter and SIL live on a rural 5 acre, farm-like spread, so there was lots of room for people to spread out and enjoy the yard and gardens and even the small menagerie of farm animals. An unused pasture served as a parking lot for all the cars and this is also where the hole was dug to roast the pig.
There were many, many guests to enjoy all the great food and conversation that day and the weather was sunny and warm. Close to 100 people of all ages attended and everyone brought food to share which was set on prepared tables on the deck and on awning covered tables in the yard. We all left very full, content, and happy.

Not enough hours in a day.....

"Circus Act"

I'm a busy girl! I've added lots of new work to my Etsy store this past week. More to go but it takes time to photograph and write descriptions and I'm also preparing to paint and redecorate my bathroom. This was not a planned task but while doing some much needed spring cleaning, I removed some curtains to wash and was appalled at the dingy wall that the curtain was hiding. After I thought about it I remembered that it was about 7 or 8 years ago that I last painted that bathroom. So that's what I'll be doing in the next few days. Gotta get it done before the mini golf tournement we are having the first weekend in August, for a bunch of our friends, with a barbeque at our house to follow.

Next weekend we are headed to our daughter's for their yearly Luau. They are expecting about 100 people. I really hope the weather is good. The weather in the Pacific Northwest has been pretty iffy this summer and we really can't count on sunshine, even in late July. Anyway, my son-in-law will be digging a hole in his pasture, as he does every year to roast the pig in. It's a very interesting process and I'll try to remeber to take some photos. I can't remember exactly but I think they build a fire in the hole and put the pig on the coals and then cover it with....dirt?...and let it roast.  I'll get all the details and fill you in..... 

Happy Friday!

Go have some summer fun!!!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program....

Art by the Bay was a smashing success and even though I'm worn out I had a really great time! I LOVED meeting the people who came to see my work. Everyone was so appreciative and encouraging. And because of the almost perfect weather there were lots and lots of people. I say 'almost' perfect because we did have a bit of fog in the mornings and a tiny bit of wind on Sunday but I'm not complaining. And the new location, the Stanwood fairgrounds, gave us more room to spread out, more food booths, more space for parking, and a stage for the music. I'm not sure of the official count but I'm sure this year's show brought more people than ever before.
A friend of mine took some photos of my booth and I'll get those posted as soon as I catch up with her.
It's been a busy week getting things put away and doing that housecleaning that's been ignored for way too long. I spent today listing some of my inventory in my Etsy store and there will be more in the next few days.

Summer is finally here!!!!

Stop by if you're in the area! See you there!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!

A photo taken from inside my garage where I've been working on my table display for "Art By The Bay".

As you can see there is lots of color here to hopefully catch the eye and attract people to my tent.
I've added quite a few new things to my collection of handmade displays. A faux "cake" on the left, serves as a riser for my earring display, raising it to eye level and making shopping easier for my customer. It's a set of paper mache boxes that I added lots of different scrapbook papers to. I got the boxes at the craft store. The cake project ended up taking much longer than I anticipated.
I also decorated a sweet little black birdcage from TJ Maxx, with lots of colorful ribbons and the handpainted paper mache dress forms I made a few years ago. I'll be replacing the black velvet, easel style necklace displays, with some new neutral colored linen ones, (they will match the color of the sequined table covering). I will try to get several much better photos when my tent is all set up at the show. One more week to go......