Birthday Love

Yesterday was not my birthday, but we celebrated it at work. Yes, we had my choice of dessert~angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream on top! Yummmmy.

And, going to a wonderful seafood resturant in Uptown was not bad either. (Look what my boss did...told them it was my birthday and they printed it on the menu.) Wasn't that special =)

Earlier in the week, I had received something in the mail....a card from my dd that said on back~

open friday....

.....no peeking

This morning (my birthday) I opened it up.....see it sitting on top of the resturant menu? Isn't it neatoooooo....My dd is so clever. And, look what it had inside~an iTunes Music Card for $25! I love that!!

crystal princess II & III

Looking for beautiful crystal chandelier pieces is like being on a scavenger hunt, and I am always game for a good hunt. My last ones were "found" in Second Street Antiques & Things in DT Katy.

These two "princesses" were made while on vacation (it was raining). So....

II went to San Antonio

III went to NYC

***

Maybe I could change my name to Crystal Princess!

antique metal rocking horse

"can i have the horsie in the window?"

*********

Daryl, once again, has inspired me to stretch myself with my photography. Thanks Daryl! She had posted a picture she submitted to a group called Paintbox Pictures. This blog is hosted by Tom Wigley, living in Hyde, Cheshire, United Kingdom. I am now a contributing member, and am looking forward to learning so much more from using Photoshop Elements 6, which I have had since Christmas (thanks again to my dh).

Above is my first submitted picture, which was taken in an antique shop in Uvalde last Sunday. It was the first metal rocking horse I had ever seen. I loved it, so I had to snap a quick photo of it before I left. I hope to use it in both a mixed media art project, AND in a piece of jewelry.

Odd Shot on Mondays

The difference between night and day.

"airstream lights"

"airstream lights"

********

Go see Katney for more odd shots today.

frio river bound ~ concan, texas

photo swap

One of my passions is photography. At the beginning of the year I joined two photo swap groups. One is the scent of water and the other is nectar & light: the sweet life through a poloroid. The photo I am sending off today to my swap partner in Omaha, NE, is the above "da pot 'ah gumbo" (without the gone on vacation message~of course). The swap theme for August was : eat well-live well. I knew I had a jump on this one, lol, as I love to eat...and my dh loves to cook. This particular photo was taken on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels this past July. Prepared on a 2-burner camp stove in our large outdoor cooking tent. My dh was teaching our nephew how to cook a GREAT pot of sausage & chicken gumbo. Needless to say~IT WAS DELICIOUS! I added a little enhancing from picnik, and words for the rest of next week~

gOnE oN hOLiDaY.

free spirit meet crystal princess

I have been busy working on several commissions this last week. Gathering all the just right pieces can take time.....

With still more on the table.

These two sets are finished. It will be a bitter sweet departure after all the time we spent together.

Second Street Antiques in Katy

I really did go in just to buy some chandelier crystals. But, I had to look at everything while I was there. Some colorful toys caught my eye. The worn look of this xylophone.....

.....and how about this jack (rabbit) in the box?

I thought for a minute...could I possibly sneak this in the house without my dh seeing it? Honestly, I know where this possibly might work!

Okay, I did buy this. It now sits on top of our mantel. The framing was so nicely done. I was drawn to the rustic and earthy look of this antique spinning top that Jae brought back from Africa. She & I made an excellent deal. And, I love a deal. Love it.

Odd Shots on Monday

This is not a bowl or urn of some sort. But rather a silver & pewter ceremonial bracelet from Fomba, Africa. My new friend, Jae Sturtevant, has a booth of beautiful African and Indonesian antiques and artifacts at Dovetail and Second Street Antiques in Katy. I actually bought something (which I will show later), but not this. I must say I WAS tempted~but it was just a tad too large! Actually, it is HUGE.

Go see Katney for more Odd Shots. She will be glad you stopped by~

Mosey 'n Me

Am I the only one who has never watched Trading Spaces? And Frank Bielec? I had at some time ago heard or read about a man who lived in Katy who was part of a home re-decorating show. I went downtown, there to restock some jewelry in Dovetail, and had stepped across the street to 2nd Street Antiques. It is a really nice antique store, and I always come home with something. Just near the front of the store, I came to a booth that cried out my name. Chocked full of colorful & primitive pieces of art and home decor. I stepped back up front, "Who is this Mosey 'n Me?", I asked. "He is Frank Bielec, from Trading Spaces." I walked back to the booth, looking and searching for something I could afford. He had quite a few wonderful primitive-style paintings; both hanging and piled in a thickly painted primitive wooden box.

I loved this girl picture.

I did pick up these two small prints. I believe they will travel with me to my office in downtown Houston. They make me happy.
*******
And, just in case you are in Katy this week, in celebration of a now Texas Tradition of Tax Free Weekend in August, I am having a Tax Free Week Sale at Dovetail~

I wanted to share a few more of my favorite photos taken at Liberty Bar. But, mostly, I wanted to pass on what my very good friend Daryl, at Out & About in New York City, shared with me. It is Picnik.com. Have you used it? Have you heard of it? I may be behind the curve on this one. You must know, I have Photoshop Elements, and dearly love it. (Thank you so much my dear dh for this wonderful Christmas gift). But, it takes time to learn how to use that wonderful little editing & more program. Picnik is fast and fun. That is what I want~right now. So hop over there, and let me know what you think.

And, while I am at it....several weeks ago, Daryl gave me a sweet and wonderful blog gift. An award she designed, and gave to many other wonderful blogs she likes to visit as well. So, thank you Daryl. You are the one who deserves this award, as I daily read your words of laughter, life and wisdom at

Out & About in New York City on the M104.

(P.S. I have a few more awards to acknowledge, so please know that I appreciate and cherish each and every one of them...I am getting to you!)

Have a blessed day!

Rain Changes Everything

Hurricane Edouard brought much needed rain to the west side of Houston this past week. Since it was a minimal hurricane for our area of the world, all I can do is rejoice in what it did for our flowers, vegetables and shrubs. The earth just seemed to cry out with joy this afternoon from the slow and steady ground soaking we have received. As you can see, we got just a little over 4 inches of liquid gold from heaven. None the less, it was more than enough to rejoice over this hot Texas day in August!
1. wet leaves in the bed of my husband's trailer 2. ground moss in my west side flower bed 3. nandina berries holding onto the rain drops 4. one happy texas rain gauge 5. squash bug on my husband's peppers 6. redbird plant drinking in the rainwater 7. husband's growing peppers 8. smiling thai basil 9. sweet basil starting to flower

Wrapped Beads Necklace-Project 5

This afternoon I worked on the next project in Mary Hettmansperger's~Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet, which is part of Deryn's Summer Jewelry Challenge.

I decided to use the remaining piece of etched brass metal, made last weekend, as the base. Mine differs from Mary's examples, as I wanted to leave the bottom of the pendant open. It is not fully wrapped; but rather folded only on top.

Starting with a piece of copper wire, I made a ball at the end with my torch; then strung several chosen beads to be hung inside the folded piece of metal. I began with a small carnelian nugget, faceted tiger iron, and then a golden czech crystal. The large bead peeking out from under the fold is an etched carnelain bead I found while shopping at Originals, in San Antonio. I used another small carnelain nugget, then a few copper spacers on top; just below the wrapped loop. I made sure the metal hugs the beads tightly at top, then gently rolled the edges of the folded base with my round and flat nose pliers. I used 0000 steel wool to burnish and highlight the brass. Lastly, I added the completed pendant to a simple rubber cord, ending it with a hand-wrapped oxidized copper coil clasp.

This was another fun and challenging project. Chapter 2 ~ Commercial Cold Connections ~ will be next.

Odd Shots on Monday

Located in San Antonio is the historic Liberty Bar. For its history go here. While visiting Melanie this past weekend, we enjoyed some great food and drink there. Just above our table, hanging on the beautiful salmon colored walls, hangs a wreath this Texan could truly appreciate. One made out of dried cactus pads. I did think the dinosaur was a little out of place though.

Liberty Bar

328 East Josephine Street

San Antonio, Texas 78215

Be sure and visit Katney for more odd shots!