Happily Ever After...

This past weekend, my youngest brother, Thadd got married. 

I adore Krystle and I'm so glad they found each other! They both looked so good. Thadd in a brown tux with ivory shirt and tie. Krystle in this gorgeous ivory dress. More than one little girl at the reception wanted to be near the "princess".

OK so NONE of my photos turned out...ugh! I need to get some from the photographer.

 

For now though The newlyweds...

Look at that grin and those dimples!

This was the "guest book" I made for them. I painted tree branches from my yard ivory. Add to that a couple of clay pots with cement, white xmas lights, and turquoise tulle. The guests added their congrats and greetings to handmade tags with fun pens. Then each tag was tied to the tree. Now I'm going to bind the tags into a book for the happy couple.  

I know these are all grainy photos.... On the tree were two glittered and feathered birds. They started out as vintage plastic birds to cover xmas lights. I closed the large hole made for the light, I gave each a good dose of glitter, a feathery tail, and a beaded hanger. Now I just need to bind the tags into a book for the happy couple. Cute huh!

resin experiment

I've been wanting to try out resin so I finally took the plunge!

I made this ring using an old key. I have tons of keys, some very old and some not so old. Either way I keep collecting them.  My background is metalworking, so I thought "no big deal" I'll hammer it around, add a found object bezel, then done! Whoa was it tough! I injured my wrists and while back and that is why I stopped working in metal. Even with frequent anealling this was so hard to form! My hands, wrists, and arms were sore for days! Ouch.

I also realized how dull my metal skills have become. What sloppy soldering ugh! I am so out of practice. Well I forged ahead and finished the ring anyway. 

I wanted to keep it simple so I just added painted paper with the word "LOVE" That is the key to life isn't it...love. Yes it is sappy, I know. 

I am happy with how it turned out in the end. After all, it is all part of the learning experience.

I made a few other resin filled goodies that day, but I'll save those for later   :-)

Yummy Summer Berries!

We have a large wild berry patch on the edges of our woods. The last few years we had a very lame crop, it has been too dry for nice juicy berries. This year we have more than we can pick! Well we could pick them, but it is the mosquitos that drive us away! Even when we wear long sleeves, long pants, hats, and bug spray, we still get attacked! I love fresh berries, but it is NOT worth the multitudes of itchy bites!

South Shore Frolics pt 2

I had a nice breezy Sunday in South Shore Park. Here I am (right) with my "personal assistant"and fellow WIST member Julie! Actually this wonderful woman has helped me set up, tear down, and booth sit for me during my last 2 shows. What a friend!

The afternoon before, we spent time trying out some fun new techniques! An art play date! I need to do that more often.

South Shore Frolics

Well this weekend I'm off to the MIlwaukee area again! This Sunday I'll be in Bay View at South Shore park for what is supposed to be a beautiful weekend.

If you are in the area, stop by and say "Hi!"

I have to admit I have nothing new made to show you other than this doll I made for a Swap-bot swap. I had a lot of fun with this little thing. What fun. I really like to hand sew and these use up those little scraps of this and that. I got a few books from the library on embroidery so I can make better faces. I'm learningI finished one more and have three others in the works. I haven't photographed the other one yet. It's done, but not... I needs something else. I still haven't figured out what.

I've been working on a brilliant idea I got about 11pm the other night. of course, I couldn't sleep. I was up until 2 am working out some things. My idea is good (great even, if I do say so myself) but I need more practice. I'l unveil it when I'm ready ;-)

Happy 4th America!

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. "

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and years later...

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"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Last Word on South Dakota*

Devil's Tower, WY

Wall Drug

NPS Minuteman Missile Historic Site

The badlands again!