My Nearly Favorite Week is Baaaack!

That cuts it! I think I better learn to make some shark beads or Murrini! I'll probably do another posting later but I just couldn't help putting this up when I saw it.

Miami - What A Trip






First, there were the sardine planes! I know, I know, it costs a lot of money to fly in a jet plane -but frankly if I were any more claustrophobic I'd flip out. I swear they have added more seats and less room over the years. It couldn't possibly be that I have gotten wider, hahahaha. Every flight we took was packed from stem to stern. Despite that, the three Amigo's ended up in Miami safe and sound. Lillian had already been there for a few days taking a Kim Field's bird class....Susan and I arrived later. And how do you like the views from the hotel suite? Darn, I wish Mallory and Angelina could have joined us. Tomorrow I'll show you photos of the Bead Bazaar, Open Torch, and who knows what! PLUS...I can't wait to show you all of the beads I traded for during the Sunday night bead swap. I'm a lucky girl!

Eat my Heart out Glass Goods


Whoa, what a whirl-wind two weeks....Ann Arbor, a class with Jennifer Geldard, and then the "Gathering". SWIRL GIRL IS BACK!!! I hardly know where to start but I have a few photos to edit so I figure I'll start where I ended. These photos are of a few of the hundreds of great glassworks shown at Ann Arbor. Eat your heart out too.

It's Ann Arbor!



















Just a few of the silly selections from our trip to the the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Most of this might be your usual art fair goofies but I thought I'd post them for everyone to see. Tomorrow, if given a chance with getting ready to leave for Miami I'll post a few more.

The guy is silver gray and he doesn't move much...until a kid walks up and whammy, a change of position. Great fun to watch and since I can't stand still for more than a minute or two I find it just amazing.

Don't you just love people? That was the best shot I could get of Little Bo-Peep was from the back. She's got guts I'll tell you. But I missed the fella in the roller skates dressed up like a drag queen.

Musicians of all kinds were everywhere. Here's the didgeridoo booth and his wonderful free demos and the kids on the corner dancing to music and trying to get everyone to buy their food.

My fave....and I missed the couple coming out the door who were in their late 50's, darn, the SAFE SEX store. Now that's a fun place.

Think of the fun I had.....all of this and more, and then there was the ART!

Children's Aquarium

Today was great fun! Finally, a day off. Went with the DH to the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. He is usually participating but this year it's all about the recovery from surgery so we took a sabbatical from doing the show. Instead it was strickly a bus man's holiday. Lots of things to see and I took photos for show and tell, but not tonight....it's too late. I wore a great piece from Mallory Hoffman and lots of artists admired it. They should, it's a great pendant. I'll add a photo of that to the line-up soon. For now, here is photo (sorry, it's a very poor one) of the "Cat Fish" I made for the Gathering. It will be included in the Aquarium for the Children's Hospital of Miami. You know me and kids!

Put a Tiger in Your Garden





Sorry I haven't been blogging - I've been gardening, making beads for the Gathering, making clay beads (so much fun!), and working on some viking knit pieces for an upcoming class. These Tiger Lilies came up after the first Spring blooms faded.... I think there are at least forty of them in the garden. What wonderful inspiration. I love gardens.