Greetings from North Carolina

A friend in need : - ) !! Thanks Susan. Susan picked up some hollow mandrels I wanted when she was attending Hot Time in the Mountains. A wonderful Asheville event for glass artists held in Asheville, NC. Jeri Warhaftig (Jeribeads) was there and gave a demo on using those wonderful puffy mandrels to blow hollow beads. If you've never used them, trust me, you ought to. I've been using them since they came out and they're prefect. You know the theory "Right tool for the right job." Besides, Jeri and Neil (you see him working the Arrow Springs booth at shows) are just plain nice people. the mandrels come with directions and they make it easy. Consider this a ringing endorsement - BUY THOSE MANDRELS!!!

Also in my package were a few surprises. She knows me well. See the sugar skull patch? How could you not! I'm buying a denim jacket to put it on - YES! And, she must have sensed I was feeling a tad "bummy". She included soap, facial cream, and chex mix. A take care of yourself package if I have ever seen one. I love you too!

Once, at a conference, she handed out these facial masks to us roomies. She also took a picture of me sleeping (snoring) in mine. Ahhhhhhh, friendship.