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Sunday, February 23, 2014

Flit, Flit, Buzz, Buzz!

It's been one of those weeks!  Flitting here ~ then there ~ 
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Buzzin' here ~ then there!
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All in all, it's been a wonderfully productive week here at the Hive...
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I managed to FINALLY finish photographing, cataloguing, and organizing my Gem Show purchases ~ 
HOO -ray!!

Here's just a snippet of my treasures.....


African Opal
Rose Quartz and Amethyst
Arizona Turquoise
jade, aquamarine, yellow onyx, moss agate, ocean jasper, pink opal, labradorite 
blue chalcedony and prehnite
vintage treasures
Then it was on to finishing up the projects from my classes at Art Retreat in the Desert....

Locket Love with Riki Schumacher


Ruffled Poppies with Diane Cook
Prairie Pearl Pod with Deryn Mentock
And on to trying new techniques and creating on my own...
Bangles, to start....








Lastly, a symmetrical collar necklace ~

As for this week....well, I'm off to play with the girls!
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I'm so glad you were able to stop by for a visit!  Have a beautiful week, dear friends, and I'm wishing you play time too!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

All You Need Is Love!

Yes, all you need is love!  
a Valentine I created for my sweet Ron

The past week has been filled with just that perfect gift...LOVE

All the love actually began the week before when I finally got to meet sweet friends from a special jewelry Facebook group.  

I'd like you to meet one of my friends, Carolyn, from Birmingham, AL....
Art Retreat in the Desert ~ 2014
Carolyn and I "met" in an online class this past summer.  Our interests, etc. were so similar that a blossoming friendship was inevitable.  

We were delighted to host Carolyn and Gloria (Carolyn's sister-in-law) for the Art Retreat in the Desert.

These ladies showered me with gifts that came straight from the heart ~ 
a soft, yummy scarf which Carolyn embroidered with my business name! 
and these beautiful personalized pillow cases

a soft handmade jewel case and lovely soldered pendant with pictures
of mom and me
 Carolyn is so very talented, not only as a jewelry artist but in the past she's created porcelain dolls, and today continues to design and make knitwear.  Here's one of her headbands which I couldn't resist!

Gloria has the kindest heart and is truly a "spirit of love."  She is a world traveler and has quite the filled passport!

Sweet Gloria showered me with special gifts from a trip to Trier, Germany and the Alsace region....


Tea towels that are so charming in my kitchen

A beautiful rosary from Trier and a prayer card and bookmark 
Lastly, the ladies gave me the most beautiful card which expressed loving and kind sentiments...


The guest house is very quiet now, and I miss the ladies a lot.

Last Sunday was a trip down memory lane as we watched the 50th anniversary tribute to the Beatles landing in America.
August 15, 1965
I was SO lucky to have been at Shea Stadium for their second performance at Shea, on August 23, 1967. A night I will hold dear forever.....check it out here

Along with all this Love, comes a very loving farewell to one of the greatest baseball players of all time....if anyone could come close to being the man Lou Gehrig was, it's certainly this man....

We will miss you, Derek Jeter.....

I'm sending you love and joy this week and always, dear friends.  Remember....

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy
All you need is LOVE!

Monday, February 10, 2014

A Glorious Time!


Last week the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show began, 


and so did our arrival of guests....


While Rachelle and I visited the Show a number of times, 


we also found moments where we could do "non-show" activities.....
A visit to Shotzie for some makeup advice and new ideas
Western dining ~ a Tucson experience at Old Trail Dust Town....



A relaxing brunch at Prep & Pastry....

As one vacation came to a close.....

Another one was about to begin.  Carolyn and Gloria arrived from Birmingham, Alabama in time for Art Retreat in the Desert....

Gem Show shopping and jewelry classes were the fete du jour and did we have fun!!
Lori, Gloria, me, Kathy, Robin, and Carolyn



Our first class was Locket Love with instructor Riki Schumacher.


my Locket of Love sans necklace ~ Work in Progress
some of our class with Riki....she's 3rd from left

Next class was Ruffled Poppies with Diane Cook....



Here's my finished focal ~ a work in progress.  I will be designing a necklace for the focal.
This is my Ruffled Poppies
Our class photo with instructor, Diane, who's on my right...

The final class was Prairie Pearl Pea Pod with Deryn Mentock.  The necklace will be a surprise as it's very different from anything I've done in the past.  

I hope to be able to show you all these completed pieces next week.

The instructors were patient, caring, and oh so helpful.  This retreat is my absolute favorite and I look forward to attending each year.

But beyond the fabulous instruction and new techniques, the friendships formed were priceless.  









Farewell dinner with Robin, Lori, and Julie at Guadalajara Grill
Carolyn, Gloria, Yvonne, Lori, Robin,  Kathy, and Julie ~ my sweet, dear friends....Thank you for all the love!

A little tidbit for you....With the gift of Facebook, I've been corresponding with these women when we met via an online jewelry class last summer.  What a blessing to finally meet one another in person, and spend time doing what we love!

I'm sending a heart full of thanks to Barb, Erin, and Sarah Solem for making this such a memorable weekend.  You ladies are amazing and I'm so grateful!  Can't wait for next year!!


Have a beautiful week, dear friends.  If you're in Tucson, Rodeo is right around the corner and a time not to be missed!

As for me, I'll be catching up on some of the day to day stuff...

Thank you so much for stopping in for a visit!