Spring Fever

I love this time of year! The flowers are starting to bloom and I feel like I am too. I am getting things refreshed and clearing out clutter. I just have too much stuff.

The stores are filled with beads after weeks of buying, sorting, pricing, entering and playing with them. The Tucson Gem and Mineral show is just incredible. Burt and I had a really good time this year. Though, I did tell him I needed to train for it next year! We shopped 6 full days, each day at a different show or two. You would think I would be tired of beads, but now all I want to do is Bead! Go figure.


I am trying to learn to take better pictures and get them posted here. It is just that I would rather be beading than messing with this computer when I do have some down time. And all the blogs I see that are so nicely done. Sigh.......

I am really excited that Bead Haven is going to be a vendor again at The Art and Soul Retreat in Hampton. The retreat is such a burst of creative energy. Check it out! www.artandsoulretreat.com

Group Photo with Diane

Bead Haven Workshop

Diane Fitzgerald's workshops were awesome. Everyone had such a good time. We had such a nice group of ladies. And the level of beading was incredible. Diane said she had never had such a talkative group and "not a pill in the group!" It was a pleasure having Diane as our guest.
I made a ginkgo leaf and am working on a second one. It is fun working with and blending the colors in different ways for each leaf.
Casey took lots of pictures so I will try to post. I hope we can do this again. Who should we invite for our next workshop? Hmmm...

One of these days...it won't be long

OK! I haven't been here in awhile. I have been so busy with the stores. Somethimes too busy. But I feel I am getting it together and am making time now.
I have been watching my favorite, Neil Young: Heart of Gold this evening. Burt was kind to watch football on the small tv while I chill out in the basement with the Big TV.
I have been beading my quilt square a little at a time. I hope to be finished soon so I can start something new. Also have freeform on my mind, stringing with all the new beads, pearls, crystals, ok, any bead will do!
The Village Shops at Kingsmill had their Holiday Gala last nite. All the stores stay open until 8 PM, have food, drink, music, sales and fun. It was a good time. I enjoyed seeing people who came by the store last year as well. Wow, 2 years there now!
Ok, I am getting a bit wordy here after not writing for so long. I think I will go to my room now. (thats a good thing)

At the Beach

Our girls with their two youngest, not sure about going on the airboat ride with the everglades.

They aren't afraid now and we all had a fun ride on the boat!

Tommy and AJ posing at the beach.

My Time Flys

Ok. So I can't keep up with my blog. No excuses. But.......busy busy busy.

Our family reunion was in Ft. Meyers, Florida in June. Great fun! I will post some pics.

I have started beading a fabric square for a joint venture with Bead Haven, The Knitting Sisters, and I luv to Quilt. All our stores are in The Villiage Shops at Kingsmill, Williamsburg VA. We are going to make an art quilt, raffle it and donate proceeds to the breast cancer foundation. I am having so much fun with it! Beading on fabric opens up lots of possibilities.

We finally finished this quarters classes and the website is updated. We have lots of new fun classes scheduled and two new teachers. Check it out here:
www.beadhavenva.com.

My next step is to post some pictures here. I have to relearn how to do that everytime. What can I say? I would rather be beading!

May Days

May is almost gone. Time goes by so quickly these days. May has been spent ordering new beads for the store, sorting, pricing and getting them on the floor. I have made a couple necklaces and taught a free form peyote class. I really enjoy teaching free form. Though it is random, the flow needs to be there to make it work. My student "had the flow" and I know she will take it far.



Our daughter Katwyn and 4 of her children are visiting us for a week. It is a precious time to spend with her and the grandchildren. The "little ones", Johanna and AJ beaded with me the other night and they both made beautiful jewelry. AJ made a very colorful bracelet for his big sister who did not come on this visit and Johanna designed a beautiful necklace for her mother.

Today they will go back to Busch Gardens for another fun day while Burt and I are back to work after having 4 days off with them. It is time to schedule new classes and have the website updated. I am looking forward to getting back in the stores.