Forever Changed

New York City

From Central Park to Times Square - the most diverse and energetic city I have ever visited. This experience was once in a life time, and a life time is not enough time to see all this city has to offer. I LOVED it! I want to go back - as soon as possible. What an amazing experience; and one that has changed me forever!

The DaVinci Artists Gallery

I now am an associate artist at The DaVinci Gallery in Tomball, Texas. Please look at the website below to see my bio and a few pictures of some of my jewelry I have for sale as the gallery. I attended the gallery's First Friday function on Friday night, and met some of the other core artists. I had fun talking about their paintings, and just trying to learn the ropes of working the gallery. Alot of customers came and we even had live music!

Our next First Friday is June 1st and will be a fun one! Hope you can come out, as I know you will enjoy the beauty and warmth of a great fine art gallery!

Pics from the New Ulm Art Festival

The weather was just about the BEST! kirsty, melanie and justine enjoyed the festival and having a fun day of it!

It was close to the end of a ........ GREAT sale...thanks to my faithful family. How could I ever do it without YOU! Jeff snapped a pic of me, melanie, shannon and kirsty!
.....and then, there is always that one special moment and the very reason I continue to love going out and doing shows. This little lady picked out one of the t-shirts I had made using a Carla Sonheim *girls* transfer. She loved it so much, she had to put in on right away. This was worth it all!

Turquoise Donuts-Oh So Sweet

A new pair of turquoise earrings I made this week to sell Saturday at the New Ulm Art Festival! This will be the 3rd year that I will be at the festival selling Rosa & Josie's Jewelry. Since I lived all of my childhood in New Ulm, I see so many people I know and fortunately still some of who my parents knew. New Ulm is still small. Many people from Houston have found out how beautiful this small German town truly is. The gentle rolling hills, beautiful bluebonnets in the spring, mighty oak trees and wonderful friendly people, all make for a great place to live or just get away on weekends.

Hope to see you this Saturday in New Ulm....just a short distance from wherever you are!

Check out the website: www.newulm-tx.com

The Ugly Ducking

This beautiful butter dish traveled home with us from East Texas. After Allen cleaned all the dust and smoke off, it turned into this beautiful silver butter dish-reminding me of the ugly duckling story. I have never had any real silver, so I am excited........about a butter dish!

Ready to Burst

The climbing antique rose on the back fence is about to be full and beautiful, filling up a large amount of our "back-side"....and when it does, it will be an awesome sight! I bought it several years ago at the Antique Rose Emporium (www.antiqueroseemporium.com) The trip to the Rose Emporium is quite a treat.

Red Cascade - 1976
The description on their website says, "Imagine our surprise to discover ‘Red Cascade’ was introduced as a weeping miniature, considering we had it growing well up a 14 feet tall cedar post! It can be a very versatile rose. It always attracts attention with its fine-leaved foliage and profuse one inch, blood red blooms. When in bloom, it is simply smothered in color".

I can hardly wait!

Hot Tea, You & Me

One of the best times of the day, any day.... is when I can sit down after dinner and share a hot cup of tea with the one I love. Allen just loves for me to say, "Do you want a cup of hot tea?" Because, then I look into the big glass jar that holds all the bags of loose tea. He waits for me to surprise him with an interesting tea combination.

Going to Sandy's Market, off IH-10 at Dairy Ashford, is quite a treat! Besides all the organic produce to buy and take home, they have a great selection of fresh fruit & veggies at lunch and dinner - buffet style. But the real PLUS is the tea lady, who comes around with her metal tea cart, making any combination of hot tea your little heart desires. It is part of the experience; and this is where it all began. Yes, I have always liked hot tea, but not as much as I do now; and not nearly as much as NOW - having it at home......with the one I love.

Crown of Thorns

Euphorbia Milii (formerly Euphorbia splendens)

Euphorbus - The Greek physician of King Juba II (about 50 BC to 19 AD) of Numidia (present day Algeria). King Juba II was the first person to find a succulent-type Euphorbia, and he named it after his physician.
Milii - named for Baron Milius, once governor of the island of Bourbon, who introduced the species into cultivation in France in 1821.

splendens - The older species name means splendid.

The common names allude to the legend that the crown of thorns worn by Christ at the time of his crucifixion was made from stems of this plant. Interestingly, the stems of this plant are pliable and can be intertwined into a circle. There exists substantial evidence that the species, native to Madagascar, had been brought to the Middle East before the time of Christ.

It is such a beautiful succulent, requiring full sun and little water. I received my first one (I have two) from my co-workers about 6 years ago. It drops all its leaves if it gets too cold, but always greens back out, blooming constantly!

May God Bless All this glorious Easter Holiday!

Scenes from the Festival

German Curly Fries..... Accordian Players....

Umpha..Pa..Pa..Bands...

Beautiful Babies...

.......and happy helpers? Thank you guys for all your hard work and help this past weekend! I could not have done it without you!

Best Seller

This has continued to be a best seller at each show...but each one is always just a little bit different. This time I used brown suede lace cord with a cool clasp.....to wear easily and often!

Can't Stop Now....

A few more of my new pieces, made with turquoise and red sponge coral disks w/delicate little red coral pieces up front & center; as well as fancy green jasper beads that have been topped off with a couple of great Bali sterling silver spacers & one easy-to-use Bali S-hook. The earrings are a new kinda design for me, so will see how they do at the Tomball German Heritage Festival this weekend.

I am trying to cool it for the night, but it is so difficult with so many beautiful beads just waiting to work their way to my design table....

Ahhh, I love making jewelry!

Shrimps

This time of year, every year, my shrimp plants bloom with all their glory.... They have continued to multiply, much to my delight! I received my first cutting from my Aunt Susie, who was as great a gardner as her mother, my Granny Schultz.

Gotta love those shrimps!

It feels good....

.....to have these two new pieces traveling to Tomball this next weekend!

Mrs. G.G. Gerbing

.....and the azaleas are blooming back at home!

Angels and Dogwoods

Dogwood's were blooming all around...
Enough to make an angel's crown.
A gentle soul, we'd surely say...
Wore a crown of blooms to Glory today -

The passing of my father-in-law, Orval Pate, on March 14th, 2007, brought us to the beautiful hills of East Texas, and his boyhood home of Linden, for his burial. Orval now rests next to Allen's mother, Helen Pate.

We will miss his kind and gentle spirit.

Dog Park For Jakester

Jake is coming to town.....and he has found a new playground (in Katy). Melanie says it is one of the nicest dog parks she (& Jake) have been to, which is really good news for us!

Well, look what else is coming to the park Jake!
Katy Dog Park - NEW!

In the area of 5414 Franz Road, Katy, Tx. 77493From I-10 W, take the Katy Mills Mall exit and turn RIGHT. Turn LEFT on Franz Rd. It’s on the RIGHT. It shares the parking lot with the Katy Library and is next to the police station and backs up to Mary Jo Peckham Park. Amenities: It’s 14 acres with lots of shade trees and grass. There is a large paved walking trail. There are currently two water fountains (both for dogs and people). They are working on a swimming pond, and will add benches and a washing area soon as well as agility equipment.

Simple

Sometimes just one "sweeeeet" pendant is all you need.................

Crimson Red Splashed w/Lime Green

These colors rock!

......Take some Red Coral, add it to Lime Green Porcelain Beads; then put in a dash of Tiger Eye Heishi to make for some really colorful jewelry! (It is listed in RJ's Jewelry Shop now!) I have a show the end of this month...so you know what I am doing...and thinking about ALL the time! Yes, new jewelry designs.....go figure!

BTW...I will be showing my newest jewelry pieces at the Tomball German Heritage Festival March 31 (10a-dark) and April 1 (12p-6), in downtown Tomball. This is their 7th Annual Festival, and I am looking forward to the German music, German food and....oh, selling jewelry!

Let's RODEO!

This is Carla Sonheim's Blonde Girl with Horse transfer (www.carlasonheim.etsy.com). I just love her girls artwork/transfers, and thought this little gal & her horse would look great on a white t-shirt! I sprinkled swarovski crystals where she had little white **stars** - just to add extra GLITZ.

Shhhhh....it is a little gift for Melanie to wear this next weekend to the HLSR!

Little Czech Teardrops

My newest Czech beads.....6x9 Czech pressed glass teardrops! Aren't they just the greatest? Spring has sprung at Rosa & Josie's!

Can I catch a ride please?

Melanie & I had a great weekend in San Antonio, and then in New Braunfels....went to a wedding....I wanted to snatch this from the bride & groom! Snapped a picture instead! Love you Mel!

Mardi Gras Beads, Bread Pudding & Jewel's Sugar Cookies

Okay, it was my sister Debbie's birthday, so she came to town to have lunch and see a movie! We went to Babin's and had some of 'dat Gumbo & then the waiter had on one of those fancy Mardi Gras necklace's, and being a looker (of jewelry) I said I liked the necklace, because of the little Pig Chef Beads it had on it! Well, that was before I had my glasses on!!!!!!!!!!

Then, I told him that it was my sister's birthday today, so guess what? He brought her some Birthday Bread Puddin'! Yummeeeee! Let's just say we had a BIG Time!

Oh, and I had to try baking Jewel's Sugar Cookies, as these are Debbie's favorites. The long lost recipe was found (by Debbie a couple of weeks ago). Mine were okay, and of course, Jewel's were the best! Deb did give me some additional pointers for my next batch though.

Happy Birthday Big Sister..... and many many more!

Bamboo and Swarovski

An unlikely pair, but I'm always trying to find the perfect shot for one of my newest RJ's Jewelry Shop pieces! Bingo.....or Bamboo! Bless you!

Swarovski really shines in the most unlikely places-even lying in a bamboo tray, sitting on the butcher block in my kitchen!

Just imagine what it would look like around your neck........picking up that warm glow of the flickering candlelight coming from your table, sitting next to the one you love!

Hope you all had a very happy & sweet Valentine's Day!

Cheetah Print Art Beads

I loved these beads the first time I saw them...and so have a few other people, as I continue to sell every item I make using them! This necklace has turquoise rondells, with carved bone beads and small burnt wood chips tossed in for good measure....oh yes, and red aventurine rectangle gemstones. The earrings are lying right dab in the middle of this double strung necklace! This set is quite special to me, so I will put it on RJ's Jewelry Shop this weekend.

New Banner

All weekend I've been preparing for a show tomorrow....but I've also made new jewelry, new business cards, new tags and I've put up a new banner on my Etsy Shop.

After the show tomorrow, I will be adding more jewelry to my Rosa & Josie's Etsy Shop!

I am pumped!

Sonshine!

Sometimes you have you make your own sun! Blessings to all today.......diane

Eye Candy

Speak of Valentine's Day, and you have to have candy! So....how about some eye candy? This is about as sweet as it gets - around your neck!

Preparing for a show in February. I have to think about Spring, even though it's WINTER - in Texas!

This necklace is as "cool" as ice to me, so in honor of the ice we had in Katy last night, look out Spring here I come....

Jake!

I am in San Antonio, visiting Melanie & Jake! ......waiting for the ice and snow! Can you believe it? .....But we are inside-all warm and fuzzy. Isn't Jake the most handsome chocolate lab? He is the BEST!

RJ's Jewelry Shop Open For Business!

Started uploading my inventory into Etsy.com tonight. Just double click on RJ's Jewelry Shop on the right sidebar of the Blog! I am excited about the unlimited opportunities I now have to share my passion! These are the first two pieces, but there is much more to follow tomorrow.

I have to go rest now, as all my computer skills were tested tonight.....in more ways than one!

p.s. Please let me know if you experience any problems! Thanks!

Happy Jewel Year!

Time to start a new year and design new jewelry, as the designs have been dancing around in my head-along with all those sugar plums!

I made several "mix & match bracelet watches" as Christmas presents (requests from) friends and for family. They were challenging and fun!

So now.....drum roll....it is time for an Inventory Sale for all my wonderful past year clients. I will be mailing out post cards with a surprise message next week!

Happy New Year!

Two Cooks ARE Better Than One!

We went to the deer lease between Christmas & New Year's, to hunt for the "Big One!" This is always our longest stay each year in "hunting paradise!" One of the fellow hunters on the lease once said, "I always lost weight during deer season, but since you have gotten on the lease, I have GAINED weight!" Well, that is because of No.1 Brother Cook! I am married to one of the two brothers on the lease, and cooking is one very important skill their Mother taught them.

One morning Allen made his infamous Migas and another morning, John (No.2 Brother Cook) made his Muffin Pan Eggs. Of course, we had spiral cut ham from Chrismas Eve, and big Cat Head Biscuits tucked along side.

Part of the fun at the deer lease each year, is to see what wide variety of food we can cook while we are there! We have anything from Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream made on site, to Homemade Baked Lasagna or just a plain ole' fashioned Iceberg Lettuce Salad with Miracle Whip. (Yes-it was ACTUALLY good-but everything tastes better there!)

I do not believe there is another deer lease like this in South Texas! Yes-sir-eee, I love going to the deer lease after Chrismas Day! For more than a week (for the last 10 years), we have no cares, no worries, no traffic or garbage pick-up, no park & ride or "BIG" bosses... just 6,000 acres of pure South Texas beauty and lots & lots of special "grub"! I love this life!