ANDREW'S GORGEOUS AND GENEROUS GIVEAWAY!

I just simply couldn't pass up a chance at winning this haul.....go here to check it out!

OPHELIA

click on the picture for a better look

I was inspired to submit a piece for this month's Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge. Go here to find out more about that. I haven't created for this for a very long time, but this month something called to me, and the piece was done in my mind almost instantly, I just knew what it was. I recently discovered a wonderful new clay artist by the name of Yoli, of Yolanda's Clay. I love her work, as soon as I saw her pieces they really called to me. So there you have it.
The rest of the necklace is tumbled glass beads, amazonite, steel wire, carnelian, and vintage seed beads from my sweet sweet friend far away, Dorthe! I love how this all came together, it made me happy!
Thanks for taking a peek, and I always appreciate hearing from you

HAPPINESS

Sometimes this is all it takes.......a beautiful teacup, by the incredible Julie Whitmore, ( I would like to call her dream lady, visit her blog and you will see!), and a great tea sent by Delila, blog friend from across the oceans. Bluebird of happiness indeed!
Visit Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons and link up with all the other Tea Tuesday bloggers. Find some happiness!

FLIGHT

A Memory-earrings available on etsy here

Flight-bracelet available on etsy here

This is what happens when you spend the weekend in your yard, looking at birds and flowers. Good things really do happen!
Thanks for taking a peek. Have a great week.

GIFTS

I just had to share some more gorgeous gifts sent to me by my friend Karen for my birthday. Maybe 50 isn't so bad after all! Look at this stunning antique box with the crown that Karen filled with the most beautiful handmade ceramic beads an a jaw dropping religious piece, it is in pristine condition. I am not sure what this was used for with the incredible embroidery around it, but I am in love with it! Karen also sent me a tussie-mussie that she made decorated with glitter and papers and fabric bits, and a garden marker she made out of a spoon.....sigh. And that remarkable green feather....I am pretty much speechless.

Thank you sweet Karen!
Thank you to each and every one of you for your gifts and your friendship.

THE GARDENER

The Gardener is available on etsy here

The best part of creating a mixed media necklace is that I get to combine so many things together that I love, fibers, beads, metal, buttons, and gorgeous components. I think I'll have to do more of this!

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

Pages inside a handmade journal made by my friend Lesley Edmonds.....gorgeous!

Extra's Lesley included to play with! I have never seen such beautiful papers!

Handmade card by Lesley....incredible! And some people can really wrap a gift...I am not one of them. Actually Lesley had sent me instructions not to open this till my birthday, but 45 minutes early I think is okay since I have to go to work tomorrow.

These are some gorgeous jewelry pieces sent to me my friend Karen.

An incredible handmade driftwood doll made by my sweet friend Dorthe! Dorthe makes these from collecting the driftwood from the beaches by her home. Every detail in this doll is amazing, I am still finding things to look at!

This is the cover of the handmade journal Lesley made for me...I still can't believe it! Bits of lace, and so many layers of paper. When you open the journal, it opens to the right and the left, I wish I could show you but couldn't get it in the pictures, it's amazing!

My friend Karen is an expert and avid antiquer....she sent me this lovely cup and saucer in my favorite color in the world, and she crocheted this birds nest and bowl....amazing again!
I have more things to show you that Karen sent, but that is for later!

These are lovely postcards and beautiful mail art that Roben-Marie made and sent to me! Roben and I did a trade on some things and her style is colorful, whimsical, beautiful and addicting!

This is a gorgeous handmade and handfelted clutch made by Marilyn Rock, and I won it....wooooow! It is stunning! Marilyn included a beautiful old cabinet card and a pretty note inside a gorgeous bird envelope!

In about 45 minutes I will turn the big 50....and it has me thinking of how much I have to be grateful for, and I want to share with you just a little piece of that. Tangible gifts from my beautiful blog friends are only the beginning, the warmth, love, caring, and friendship I have found here is just something that cannot be put into words. There are many things not shown here that I share in mails and conversations with blog friends that I carry with me always.
Since blogger has been screwy lately, the order in which my pictures uploaded is not exactly what I wanted it to be, but I think you will get the idea!

Thanks for taking a peek, and for being a wonderful part of my life!

Like I said to begin with, I have so much to be thankful for.