dreaming with my eyes wide open

My newest ah~ha moment...looking at the oh so talented and loving soul's blog of judy wise. You must visit so you can feel the love with me this beautiful halloween morning in texas....it is still crisp and cool and so unlike the weather we experience in Houston. If every morning would be like this, i would think that i had died and gone to heaven~peace to you today.

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Quote on Bloomberg this morning:

"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom"~

Bertrand Russell (philosopher)

More Scenes from Warrengton aka THE Antique Festival (as promised)

There were chandeliers galore~the crystals were beautiful. Enough to catch a jeweler's eye.

Dutch ovens that would surely please my dutch-oven cooking husband.

Art pieces made from Mexican copper~that look like ceramic (at first). The colors were magnificent!

A beautiful booth~that made me want to come inside, sit down and stay awhile.

An outhouse at the Junk Gypsy booth. The one at my grandparent's house looked nothing like this!

And a sign made out of beer bottle caps from Royer's Cafe at Zapp Hall. Barbara and I will attempt to begin ours this weekend for our Cowboy (Deer) Camp!

a gift from kansas(rose)

Look what flew in from Kansas....no not a twister, but a beautiful journal* from my friend, kansasrose. And, she is one clever farmeress~she left the other side blank for my very FIRST collaboration. How did she know that I had been preparing for such a moment, and just this past week. I stopped in Books-A-Million, and purchased three new books (i don't do anything with baby steps you realize).

~Metal Craft Discovery Workshop by Linda & Opie O'Brian (this is one great resource for me to begin creating more with metal)....plus I am hooking onto their website! These two are my new heros.

~The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery by Karen Michel (this will open up a new world on how to alter my "thousands" of photos).

~SEW Somerset~the art of creative sewing with mixed media (this is just plain BEAUTIFUL inside!).

So, now, enjoy the package I received just yesterday, as I flipped thru the pages of my beautiful Kansas-born journal. I did, and for that I am so grateful and EXCITED! Thanks Jen!

*favorite page (and it was hard to choose Jen~Harriat loves her chicken egg necklace and hen hat...pic #14 above~be sure and click on the mosaic).

A*T*QUE F*ST*V*L

What happens twice a year (only in Texas) ~ April and October~ and you should never, ever, no matter what miss? Ask Miss Emma. More pics on the way~

*p.s. I grew up 22 miles from this one-of-a-kind, find everything imaginable, antiques, youngtiques, middle-of-the-roadtiques, vintage, yard-finds, estate sale items, trash to treasures, gotta-see, gotta-have, gotta-go, dirt cheep, way too expensive & everything inbetween outdoor venue of colossal proportion!

I have been there and done that.....and yes, it is the BEST!

Harvest Red

Bought these Tribal Bone Mala Beads inlaid with Glass Chips or Textured Metal from Susanclare back in January. I loved their rustic antiqued waxy colors. Very unusual beads. Just what I like! They sat waiting for the perfect necklace. The very last piece I made before the SJV sale, was this Harvest Necklace~made with the tribal bone beads, red & salmon coral, czech crystals and adorned with a large black onyx cross. I was thrilled when it sold (bought as a Christmas gift!) ~ so I will make another similiar one this weekend. But, I have one more design in mind~keep watch~I will post it soon!

Sisters

The St. John Vianney Bazaar was a great success. This show my sister Debbie came to help (thanks Deb!). She was such a great help, & we had alot of fun laughing and talking! She gave me a great new sales pointer~hand out my cards as people walk by my booth. Perhaps they would come back, which I know some did! We saw at least 500-600 people come thru the doors that day! ....and there were alot of jewelry booths.

During the afternoon rush, some familiar faces came by. The two sisters (center and right) had visited my booth last year. And, once again this year! I remembered them, because they were so pretty, and so happy. The sister on the right bought the Czech Crystal Prairie Swings (far right pic above), as they matched the turquoise in her hat. She put them on to wear right away, so I had to take my camera out and snap a shot. The middle sister bought the Garnet Stained Glass Pendant Necklace with matching Garnet Prairie Swings. Melanie had picked the pendant up from Bead It! while in Minneapolis, at Mall of Americas, earlier in the year. I thought it was a really classy piece. And when she tried it on~it was just beautiful on her. But, how could it not be, as she was the prettiest thing......as were all three of them!

p.s. that's her husband peeking thru~

Panache and Gilda

pa·nache (p-nsh, -näsh)
n. distinctive and stylish elegance

~my constant goal~

And ~

"I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch".

Gilda Radner

I miss her~

Whispers of Autumn

I long for the colors I see and feel in autumn. The yellows that turn to gold; browns that soak down and back into the earth; the delicate purple flowers of a purple sage; and the vibrant crimson red I see in the Cardinals at the deer lease.

I long for that first brisk breeze of a north wind. I want to wrap up in a fleece jacket. Feel air so cold it makes my eyes water. Autumn in the south is ever so slow to arrive. It is here for such a brief moment, that if you blink you will miss it. And then it is winter, cold and often wet.

But~there is promise of cool weather this weekend~and; I believe I can feel the whisper of autumn in the air. Ummmmmm~

Pre-Show Time

Getting ready for a show is hard work. The creations are the fun part. The picture taking, inventory posting and tagging are another thing. Just a preview of what I will have for sale at my show this next Sunday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church located at 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail Houston 77079. More pictures will be coming~

~and the winner is~

Kara~you are the winner of the jewelry give-a-way! Please contact me, so I can send these darling little czech crystal hoops to you!

Thanks to all who played with me; and for all the encouraging and sweet messages. I am truly blessed.

And, thank you Jen, for having me as your first Great Goods guest! You are one special and talented kindred spirit!

I hope to hear from all of you again in the future, because it can get lonely on the prairie~