It's a Wonderful Life

Having been motivated by a customer/friend at the Downtown City Market for the past two weekends, I am here "blogging" at long last.  Thank you Valerie!

What a fabulous "RIDE" the past year has been for me and my family.

The photo up top is my new "footprint" at the City Market at the Museum in downtown Fayetteville, NC.

www.facebook.com/CityMarketAtTheMuseum

  It is my permanent vending location. I have been set up there since the onset of the venue last April 2012....over a year now.  On those rare occasions when I can't make it out there on a Saturday I feel like something is "missing" in my life.  I have made so many friends out there.  The vendors are awesome folks who are like family to me.  Alot of my consistent customers are now my friends.  I have so many wonderful experiences at the Transportation and Local History Museum every week.  Albeit has been rather warm some of these Summer days and rainy on a few others.  It still amazes me how loyal our customers are to all the vendors.

http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/things-to-do/family-fun/6221/fayetteville-area-transportation-museum-and-local-history-museum

Here is my Latest and Greatest News so far on my journey here in NC.  As of  August 30, 2013 I have been accepted as a juried exhibiting ARTIST at Cape Fear Studios
 http://www.capefearstudios.com/
It is the primo source of Fine Art in the region with working Artist's studios right in the building.  My biggest joy is that there is a large classroom area where I can get back to teaching Beadwork at finally.  My sabbatical is over hopefully.

Also, even though the application fee is placing me in a grave financial bind and I am flying on blind FAITH the next couple months, I will possibly be returning to Ft Bragg for the Yule Mart again this year.  IF THEY JURY me in.  Application went out in today"s mail.  It will be at a NEW LOCATION with a new association running the show.  The new promoters is the newly created Association of Bragg Spouses...no longer Officer's Spouses.  New location will be :
Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center, Bldg C7215 Ft Bragg, NC
Dates of the venue this year are November 22, 23, and 24 2013
I so enjoyed doing the two day show last November I know this year will be even greater and more fulfilling!

The grandchildren are growing and maturing way too quickly for my taste, but I am still BLESSED to be able to spend time with them after school during the week.  Also, my wonderful grandson, Mylz still accompanies me downtown and helps me with my little shop on Saturdays.  His news is that he is on the soccer team for New Century International Middle School.  Ella is so intelligent for a second grader it is scary.  After First grade, she can read almost as well as I can....AMAZING!  She just turned 7 years old on August 2nd and Mylz will be 14 on January 6th, 2014.  He is in 8th grade.

My daughter has a new position and location for her employment.  She is now local, at Ray Price of Fayetteville and is the Finance and Insurance Manager.  They are the exclusive dealers for new Triumph and Ducati motorcycles in the area.  She is prospering and thriving in her new career.

I still struggle daily with my poor crops.  My mini garden is under siege as before by the pesky squirrels.  I have 19 tomato plants and have yet to get a mature tomato from any of them.  They even ate an eggplant but I managed to salvage a small one for myself (pictured above) before they demolished it.  they also confiscated all my pears and figs.  I purchased a sonar box that was supposed to remedy my plight....not so, MY squirrels are wise to everything meant to thwart them....I believe they must have master's degrees in veggie thievery.  I am keeping up with lawn mowing...saints be praised.  We have had a  very mild Summer with a whole lot of rain so we are truly blessed.

There is a reunion of my eighth grade graduating class coming up in October that I will unfortunately not be able to attend.  It has reunited me with several "old" friends who were absent but never forgotten from my life.  Sure wish I could be there "kids" but finances just won't permit.  I never got to the "Rich and Famous" status I had always dreamed of.  I will be there in spirit though, you can count on that!

Once again, I promise to try to BLOG more often....I know I know.  Happy Trails to all of you.  Autumn and the cooler COLORFUL weather is nearly here along with all the fun holidays and joys of the season.

On Top of Things

I LOVE this photo...such a fitting depiction of life in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. This poor bobcat was "saguaro-ed" (can't call it treed) by a mountain lion at the base of the Superstition Mountains outside of Phoenix. The reason I chose this today is my air conditioning went out yesterday...it was 102 degrees by the way and I was in the middle of an OPEN HOUSE! I have that American Home Shield Insurance protection program provided by my Caldwell Banker Real Estate agent...because I am SELLING my home and I am BROKE!!! So at 5am today I got online...should have done it yesterday, I realize now ... hindsight being 20/20 and all...and put in a request for service. I was contacted at 9:13 am by the company assigned to do the work. GREAT NEWS! They are booked solid until Wednesday, June 8th!!!! A repairman will not be dispatched until 8 am-10am that date....the temperature today was 98 degrees and tomorrow we are scheduled for a 99 degree day...humidity in the single digits though...praise the Lord!!! I refused to leave my little soul mate in the HOT HOUSE whilst I meandered the cool cool malls or some such so we toughed it out together.

I got to try something new...Fan air blowing over ice cubes...it works by the way! Actually the whole experience was rather invigorating TODAY...hope we survive tomorrow. Little Squeakers and her fur coat were stuck to me like glue through this whole nightmare....she sure doesn't like extraordinary circumstances or CHANGE!

I worked on some beadwork in front of the HD watching DVR offerings I have saved up....talked to my daughter in NC....texted my grandson in NC...visited with the potential buyers of my home from yesterday's Open House...quite a social day for a place that was well over 90 degrees inside.

Life in the Sonoran Desert...there was a reason the Native Americans from down here migrated North after May rather than "weather" the searing sun and blast furnace heat!

Happy Trails Folks.....till we meet again

THREE SALES IN ONE DAY !!!!

I was having a big debate in my head today...you know the kind, where you just can't figure out what to do and you're asking the dumbest person on the planet for help...YOURSELF? I was trying to figure out what I would have to cut out of this month's budget just to scrape by. Why all this soul searching...I had to buy groceries for me and Squeakers...mostly I really needed Toilet Paper...CRISIS, YES!!!

So I came to the conclusion that I could still have time to cancel my quarterly pest control service and maybe the $94 that would save me could let me scrimp by on RAMEN for the next few weeks.

I spent over $100 at two stores...some was for Easter gifts for the grandkids. I got home after splurging at the local authentic Mexican food drive thru $3.24. Dispersed all my purchases to their relegated sites then popped my butt down in front of the computer for some info on what's what in the world...VOILA, I go to my Etsy page and something was amiss...three items were missing...huh?? I didn't think I had any expirations till 4/11..then OMG, I checked the SOLD items and there they were...MY SALVATION!!!

I really have been killing myself the past few weeks trying out Handmadeology's plans for sale along with the Etsy Success stuff. I do want so badly to be a productive member of the Etsy Group...for my own sake!!!

So Spring is Sprung, the Grass is riz and I just got MY FLOWERS even if it is only 41 degrees in SUNNY Tucson right now with snow predicted for tomorrow morning in the desert southwest...Yup...SNOW on April 10 2011...gobal warming for sure!!! ROFLMAO

PIMA COUNTY FAIR, Tucson, AZ

The Pima County Fair comes every Spring to the Southwestern Desert. It is an event I wouldn't miss and haven't since 1976.
I have demonstrated "some" craft I was involved with every year since my return from Alaska in 1975. In Alaska my daughter, April, then a bitty baby, took the prize for the "smallest feet" at the County Fair in Fairbanks. I used to enter the Fairs too, but I simply cannot store ANYMORE ribbons, anywhere....and I am not saying that to brag.

The 2010 PC Fair was the 99th year! I couldn't believe that one. So the first county fair here in Pima County took place in 1911...a year before Arizona became a state. AMAZING!!

My own experience with the FAIR began as a tot since I was born in Tucson in 1949. I remember a few little rides and a couple bigger ones and the stinky animal barns when they occupied what is now the Rodeo Grounds in Southern Tucson.

The FAIR and fair grounds are no longer the possessions of PIMA COUNTY. They are privately owned and are for profit now. I have seen a whole lotta changes in the years. Adult entries in Home & Fine Arts have fallen off significantly even though the county has grown tremendously in population...SAD, but true.

The photo above is my display case at this year's FAIR.

The FAIR has added a whole variety of demonstrations of arts, hobbies & crafts in Old Pueblo Hall where I demonstrate beadwork every year now since 1993. More than one fair visitor commented to me on how much they LOVE to come just to watch the working artists.

The participation by schools of children's artworks has also grown immensely and I for one, think that is inspirational. What the youth of today need is artistic outlets to raise their self-esteem, instill discipline and release the creative muses within them.

Senior citizens need this also...I know, I am one!! Above photo of a hand carved wooden saddle is a prime example of the undiscovered talent in our seniors. William Milligan, who is the artist of that piece, told me he never tried carving wood until he retired 16 years ago. His specialty is birds that appear so real, people get angry with him for stealing feathers...but he doesn't. He carves each feather so intricately that they feel real, even to the touch.

The example above is a GOURD carved & painted to appear as an owl in a tree. Old Pueblo Gourd Patch puts on a wonderful entry exhibit as well as presents many fabulous local gourd artists to demonstrate each year. Their membership is spectacular and if you are in the least bit interested in gourds contact oldpueblogourdpatch@mail.com or me & I will tell you their particulars.

I always love the day the spinners and weavers come to demo at the FAIR. The lady pictured above, Jill Holbrook, has been a friend of mine for a very long time. She makes it look sooooo easy. Trust me, I have a wheel, tried to learn to spin and discovered I was the most spastic person on the planet. Doubt i could chew gum and walk at the same time.

This being an primary election year we had our share of politicians in the build. None surprised all of us like the former presidential candidate who stopped by. Senator McCain dropped in and it was not the adversary turmoil or chaos you see on the news. He was totally approachable, cordial, human and behaved just like an average fair attendee. He mingled with his constituents so casually one might have missed him. Thanks for coming by, John.

I have about a gazillion photos of the FAIR to share, but only 5 are allowed per post. So I recommend you go to my flickr page, picassa page or my facebook page to catch a glimpse of them all....you will be happy you did!

THESE TWO HELPERS STAYED

It wasn't totally ALL WORK AND NO PLAY after the boys left!

The three of us went & played at Tucson's largest park one day...Ella loved the swing!

Mommy April had a few tough moments trying to get the bubble machine to work...

I cherish these memories that we FINALLY were able to SHARE together.

Phoenix Rising Glass Art put me in her BLOG

Jann Alexander-McCullough wrote about me and my artistic endeavors in her blog on October 19, 2009. How very sweet of her as she only knows me from my Artfire Studio and us both being members of Indie Public. Her blogspot is here:

http://jannadusblog.blogspot.com/

Please check it out...she has some neat info on there about alot of artisans.

What you see pictured here are some of her many eclectic talents.




These can be seen at her Artfire Studio:

http://jannadu.artfire.com







She does so many more artistic venues than I do. She wire-wraps, felts angora sweaters that are upcycled, creates enameled pendants and MOST especially...she does pencil drawings like the puppy below...she is AMAZING!

I highly suggest you visit her studio at Artfire and do some serious shopping from this talented lady.

She lives in Glendale, Arizona
so we share the Arizona Artisan
connection as well.

Her Boston Terrier is truly and amazing work of art!

SORRY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG......

I have been TRYING to GROW MY NETWORK and has it ever...but the greatest news was that my hard work on photographing my creations paid off and I was FINALLY accepted by the 1000 MARKETS site. My avatar is above. It is another shop that I plan to include my daughter's artistry in stringing beads on eventually...when she gets organized.. The new website address for this shop is: http://beadacious1221aces520.1000markets.com

I also finally completed one of my notable original designs that I have a difficult time generating for some unknown reason...this being my bead crochet bangle of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise A grade rounded chunks and firepolish crystals.
I will eventually have these listed on all of my retail sites and should they be the success I hope they will, I will offer them in choices of a variety of firepolish colors to accent the genuine turquoise.

I am ready to roll now on some innovative designs and creations for the upcoming Season of Cheer and Celebration!

I have been so busy trying to upload my new work now to TWO locations. I finally got bold enough to be a verified member on ARTFIRE...the Tucson operation.

These three photos are some of the items listed on artfire:
http://www.beadacious1221aces520.artfire.com/
which is to be a cooperative venture with my daughter, April who is clear across the country in NC...wow, I am getting brazen with this internet thing, huh?

Artfire is supposed to provide a shopping cart on my blog here too...when I figure that one out, you will be the FIRST to know...after me, that is...LOL. Please take a look at OUR new studio on Artfire.
Thanks

This is a Titanium enhanced DRUZY.
It has 2 white freshwater pearls wirewrapped expertly into a brilliant pendant that I have placed onto one of my crocheted ropes.

These are the sterling silver findings I knew I must use showcase such a fine piece of art.
My rope is composed of silver lined 11/0 seed beads from Czech.

This photo shows the splendor of the sterling silver wirewrapping done by Gay Nace whose website is:
http://www.designsbygay.etsy.com/

The sterling silver findings, clasp and end cones are of a leafy theme and beautifully constructed.
You can see more detail in the photos that follow.

I met this gal at the Pima County Fair while I was demonstrating beadwork....when I discovered she was on Etsy with me I was so thrilled. I knew I HAD to have some of her pendants for my pieces. This is the first of many.

Come and see my listing for this and many other wonderful items at my Etsy Shop:

http://www.beadacious1221.etsy.com/

Picture Perfect/Desert Bloom

This is the FIRST finished piece of what I hope will be a long and fruitful relationship between my shop and
www.sarahsetsy.etsy.com
whose artwork is showcased in the sumptuous cactus flower pendant on my intricately crocheted rope in the photos here. Please be sure to visit Sarah's shop to see her magnificent photography!
And now....THE REST OF THE STORY:

Early into my Etsy experience I discovered that we can check out who is local on etsy. In other words, shops who are in the same city or state as we are. This I thought was very KEWL!
I spotted this shop with really spectacular photography AND the artist made some of her prints into art pendants.....WELL

I sent a convo (message) to this gal, Sarah Whitney, that I loved her photography, but especially her handmade pendants with cactus blossoms, jack rabbits, southwestern skies, etc. My only problem was if the bails would slide on my crochet ropes. I expessed my desire to showcase her work in this manner. Sarah started brainstorming where to find larger bails. She is just the sweetest gal.

Shortly thereafter I was a beadwork demonstrator at the Pima County Fair just outside of Tucson. While chatting with different people, I learned of a shop not too far from my home that carried the larger bails we were looking for in sterling silver.
Sarah was more than anxious to acquire the right sized bails to start custom pendants for me to buy and use in my work. She lives miles and miles from the glass shoppe location, but she put her youngest son in her vehicle and met me at the shop.
It was so special for me to actually meet another artist on Etsy and sorta collaborate on some pieces together IN PERSON. And her son and daughter,who I met when she was kind enough to deliver her finished pieces directly to my door, are just precious.
The personal touch of meeting and associating with local artisans would normally have me all jazzed to form some sort of local Etsy group cooperative for support and networking.
That was the old me...jump in with both feet and mingle with the masses.

My situation is now changed and I am lucky to leave the house once a week to buy groceries or pick up prescriptions. Occasionally, terrific encounters such as mine with Sarah, remind me of long long ago. Seven years have taken their toll on my psyche but I guess somewhere my true personality lurks deep in my soul.