Ahtee's Links- What I'm Reading

A Bead A Day- This week's project features an adorable carved owl bead.

Artisan Clay- Are YOU a tool girl too?

Beading Arts- A lovely tutorial by Paul Bishop.

Beads, beads, beads...- I just love the eye-candy on this blog. LOVE those earrings.

Beautifully Broken Me- I am in love with this necklace. Maybe its the lovely beads or maybe its the etched butterfly.

Credit.River.Art.Glass- Terrible, cruel tease!

Cynthia Thornton of Green Girl Studios- Pieces in the making carved by Cynthia's friend. I LOVE LOVE that flower one!

Deez News- I wish I had a best friend like Carmen! Just LOOK at those crystals!

FiredancerBeads- Nell gets her hands on a new tutorial and makes a BEAUTIFUL bead!

Jewelry, Art, and Life- Jennifer uses the same pattern to make three different pieces!

Julsbeads- Julianna puts together a necklace with a BEAUTIFUL focal bead.

JustATish Designs- What is Bismuth?

Kelly's Bead Studio- Watch a cool video on mandrel dipping.

Kokopelli Design- That window focal is adorable and goes so well in the necklace!

La Bella Joya- The colors on that necklace work so well together!

LLYYNN- Two projects come together and form a beautiful single piece!

Missficklemedia.com- Shannon's fixin' to make a beautiful piece!

More Than Somewhat- A blog award, project trade, and new goodies! Busy busy!

Summers Studio- I cant wait to see these beauties when they're all finished!

The Rabbit Muse- Pretty etched metal pieces going into Miss Nancy's extra shop... check it out!

Carried Away in My Obsession?

Thursday night: pizza for dinner, dreaming about owning pets again, and talking about the button sale at JoAnns.

ME: "BUTTONS!!!"
ROD: "Ok. I'll let you name one of our pets Buttons."
ME: "Can it be the German Shepard?"
ROD: "... I don't think he'll let you call him that..."

The boyfriend is probably right. No respectable German Shepard will let me call him Buttons. The pizza was yummy... and what did I walk away with from the sale that started on Friday?

THESE BEAUTIES!-

I'll be honest, I put back more than half of what I originally dropped into my basket. But it's still quite a few buttons, no?

But... I've already put them to good use with those pretty earrings...

And this bracelet!

I feel lazy summer days creeping up on me. Hopefully, its just a phase!

Links tomorrow! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Ahtee's Links- What I'm Reading

(Internal Dialogue: Maybe if you distract them with a picture of cute adolescent geese, your readers won't notice that the links are two days late...)

LOOK! Aren't they adorable?
Lol. Sorry the links are two days late... busy busy with boyfriend's family visiting and allergies... and the weather has been so beautiful that a lot of our time has been spent outdoors! Today it was with GEESE! One more picture before the links :D

Ok. Enough cute and fuzzy... LINKS!

A Bead A Day- So many sparkles! I would totally feel like a princess wearing this!

ammjewelry- Millie plays with her flea market finds.

April Is Forever Jewellery- Oh yes, summer is definitely on it's way :D

ARTISAN BEADS PLUS by MaryAnn Carroll- A simple and helpful banner tutorial for your blog!

Artisan Clay- Yay for new goodies!!!

Ashley Akers- Take a little break from the jewelry to check out all the yummy bread! I can smell it through my computer! O_O

Backyard Beads- Doreen's made some cute lentils!

Beads, beads, beads...- I LOVE these hair clips!

Bei Mondi- New bracelets from Leslie! COOOPPPER! Love!

Be~Jeweled by jana- A BEAUTIFUL necklace inspired by her daughter's wedding flowers!

Deez News- She's brave enough to show off something she calls "a dog's breakfast."

Designs by Dawn Marie- A beautiful custom order for a Paris wedding!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles- Curious about the raku process? Check out this blog.

Five Forty at Home- New sun catchers by Pegg! I love the dragonfly one!

Humblebeads Blog- Beautiful pendant inspired by beautiful autumn foliage.

JustATish Designs- Are you crafty or trendy? Check out this AWESOME giveaway!

Kelley's Bead Studio- These eggs are SOOO cute!

Lorelei's Blog- I love her stuff- This one is called "Love Letter."

Melissa J. Lee- Treasures found on the beach!

Sue Beads- The first one reminds me of chili peppers!

The Cerebral Dilettante- Oh, I dream of Paris when I see this necklace.

This Artist's Journey- Pretty Bronzclay molds.

To Bead Or Not To Bead What A Question- So exciting to see how Jessica's first beads are turning out!

Vintajia Adornments- That touch of orange is just lovely against all that blue.

Adventures with Rod: A Walk in the Park (PHOTOBLOG)

Next time, we'll take this path.

My First Ticket

I got my first ticket today. It was rather horrible. I couldn't pull over to the right because I was right next to a freeway entrance so I pulled into the next neighborhood. I was so nervous, I ran a stop sign (apparently... didn't even see it... NERVOUS) and shook as I handed the officer my license and things. CRIED at him when he asked why I didn't pull over to the right right away. "I'm sorry. This is my first ticket." Wow.

Sigh. I guess it wasn't "horrible" but it did bring down my whole day and it was only 3pm.

BLARGH.

Just Call Me Laura Ingalls Wilder

I was wandering around a bookstore and came across this book by Aimee Ray. Its called "Doodle Stitching." The cover says it makes embroidery "fresh and fun" and, I don't know about you, but I'm all for fun that is fresh. So, I picked it up.

Now that's not the only reason I picked it up. I know this is going to sound lame, but the Little House books were a favorite of mine growing up. And I always wanted to try making beautiful embroidered things like the Ingalls girls did in the books. At least, I think they did... I know they made lace but I KNOW that will just end in frustration and thread tangles around my fingers while yelling at my boyfriend "WHY DID YOU LET ME TRY THIS!?"

My poor boyfriend :P

Below is my first attempt at embroidering. I wanted to practice the stitches before I tried doodling. Now, with three years of art school under my belt and hours and hours and hours of sketching, painting, and beading, you'd think I'd be able to sew along a line... well, I don't know if you can tell by blowing up the picture but I clearly have trouble :P


And my stem stitching (the wavy line of stitches on the right) isn't as close together as I'd like it to be. But, you know what? It's fun. I already have TONS of ideas on what to do with this new skill... well, once it becomes a skill. Ha. I'm far from calling it a "skill." Teehee.

ANYHOO! Before I leave you, here is a new necklace. And yes, that's a ceramic button. The clasp closes in front.

I'm hoping to get off my butt and post on etsy, but I'm also a bit distracted by the idea of embroidering. My boyfriend has joked that I'll one day ask him if we can move to a farm and such... well... my dad DID raise pigs in the Philippines while my mother DID have her own rice farm. I don't see why *I* couldn't make it work :P

Happy Wednesday, all! *hugs*

Ahtee's Links- What I'm Reading

A Bead A Day- Lisa's project of the week is blue and sparkly!

ammjewelry- Flea markets disappear! BUT a wonderful find found at a Salvation Army store.

April Is Forever- YOU know how much I LOVE buttons... Check out Sarah's cute cute brooches!

ARTISAN BEADS PLUS by MaryAnn Carroll- MaryAnn's pieces look yummy enough to eat!

Beading Arts- Looking for some wire tutorials? Check out this list!

Beads, beads, beads...- A BEAUTIFUL blue brooch made from vintage beads and a pretty filigree.

Beadweaver- I've flipped through this book and it looks really good! You still have time to enter the giveaway!

Bei Mondi- Reading this almost makes me want to call my mom... almost :P

Be~Jeweled by jana- Beautiful new set by Jana! LOVE those colors!

Bonnin Designs- Hey, this show is in my 'hood... kinda. Shari is busy busy making wonderful goodies to show off at the Patchwork Festival!

Chinook Jewelry Blog- Mellisa shows off some BEAUTIFUL pieces!

FiredancerBeads- Linked a blog which tells the value of handmade.

Five Forty at Home- Purple and copper! A fave combo of mine!

Gaea's Ceramic Beads- I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bella.

Humblebeads Blog- 23 days of inspiration!

Jewelry, Art, and Life- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

JustATish- A peak into Tish's booth.

Lanyardlady- MMM! This is making me HUNGRY!

Lorelei's Blog- A ribbon video tutorial!

Mary Newton Designs- Beautiful folded copper earrings.

Melissa J. Lee- Melissa is a cover girl!

Missficklemedia.com- I LOVE the first pair of earrings shown here.

Paradise Falls- This necklace makes me miss Hawaii!

RASBARRI- Her first trunk show was a success!!!

Summers Studio- 26 glaze tests and only 1 came out to her liking!

To Bead Or Not To Bead What A Question- Orange is such a hard color for me to work with.

And now, back to the BUTTONS

LOOK! I found the cord to my camera!

So that means my break is over. It started out as me thinking I needed to just RELAX. Just breathe and enjoy my life. And then I had things to post and couldn't find my cord! BOO!

Oh well. There's a post now, right? :D

BUTTONS still make me happy. I find myself staring at clothes, wanting just the buttons. My boyfriend wonders when I will start "cannibalizing" my clothes for their precious buttons. Well, let me tell you what, Mr. Hillen- I have no intention of taking buttons off of my clothes... your clothes, however, are free game! MWAHAHAHA!!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! Links on MONDAY!!!

Hiatus

Hello All,

I apologize for my lack of posts as of late. It's been an interesting roller coaster of emotions the past two weeks. Heck, I've been experiencing ups and downs since the Event-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named but I'm told that's normal. Well, I'm still having trouble dealing with the "normal."

Anyhoo, I planned on having a blog to post Tuesday but my card reader has disappeared! Though there has been a lack of blogs from me, I have continued to create and I have bounced around the community to leave tiny comments here and there. I'm hoping to locate the card reader today and if not, purchase a new one on Saturday... not tomorrow though. Tomorrow is Disneyland! YAY!

So, I just wanted to thank everyone who reads my blog and hope that you will continue to do so when I actually have something of substance to post :)

Much love and many thanks!

And the winners are....

After tossing all the names into a basket (one for the bracelet and one for the earrings), I drew names and the winners are....

Jana


and

Jessica

Congrats! I will be contacting you in order to get your addresses and these lovelies will be out in the mail next week! Thank you to all who left comments and participated in my first giveaway!