Birthdays & a Baptism

By now I really shouldn't be surprised by this, but goodness October super fast forwarded into November! Besides Halloween, this past weekend included friends' birthdays & a baptism.

Is it funny I thought of swords when trying to come up with an idea for my friends' birthday presents? They're artists fighting to make a living doing what they are passionate about, have a lot in common when it comes to views on life (not to mention relatively close birth days!), & yet completely different personal styles.

I suppose something about that (& seeing their creative compromise on bathroom decor!) must have struck a chord with me: a katana style sword for him due to an interest in kendo & a more European dagger for her. <3


Recently I was asked to be Godmother to my friend's baby. My Nina (Godmother) said her tradition was for the godmother to provide the baby's baptismal gown. As my friend was following a Polish tradtion where the baptismal gown was made from the train of her wedding dress, that was covered. If anything, this gown is extra special because it was sewn by the baby's great-grandma. So what's a gal to do without any other guidence? Consult the internet!

Hey now, religious jewelry is traditional gift? I can do something like that....


To my Goddaughter, my prayer for you is that you will always have Faith in God & your family to know that you are never without love. <3

Pasadena Beads & Bits

This past weekend was the Pasadena Bead & Design show. I was volunteering there Saturday & Sunday for the Art Clay Society of OC. It was fun seeing people from MCWC so soon, & hanging out with Estelle & other OC peeps to spread the love of clay...whoo-hoo! :D

So evidently at the end of the end of bead shows, when bead vendors break down their displays, they don't worry about broken strands of beads & leave behind trails beads & other shiny bits of things...

Found beads & molding compound mischief.

Cloudswing was the piece I made with other artist's things from the January show, we'll see what happens to the stuff from this show!

Crafty Surprise - Ponte Amour

Crafty Surprise - Ponte wine cork set in Art Clay silver bezel with the couple's names, wedding date & a heart on the back.

Crafty Surprise was a chain-note, going through Facebook (see end of post for the text). Based on the concept of Paying it forward, you make something for a couple people & they do the same for others.

I looove stories, if they involve friends being happy, even better! Last year, a couple friends from work invited me & another friend to the annual grape stomping event held at Ponte winery in Temecula. As fun as the event was watching people run around covered in grape pulp, Ponte winery is a special for them because they were married there May 12, 2006. As they have just celebrated another wedding anniversary, I wish them many more! :)

If you want to take part in your own crafty surprise, here's a start:

Crafty Surprise

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you when you least expect it. I may even create something totally unbelievable and surprise you at work!! Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. Or extremely boring.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your note.
7. Send your mailing address if you don't live close to me!

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if I do not see you post your own note to pay this forward. ( well, not really..)