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This was my booth space this weekend. I had time on my hands sitting there to think about shows and all that goes with them. Now I am certainly no expert. (Just this weekend I found out that your shoes can actually melt and stick to your feet) (Me setting up!) I've done the hot show, cold show, windy show, raining show, inside show and outside show. They all have their pluses and minuses. So I thought - for this week - I would break down some of the elements. Tomorrow I'll feature show prep. If you don't do shows... Continue reading

Unlike the title of a very sordid movie this tale is about the sordid collection of craft products that had to be gone through! OH THE HUMANITY. I've gotten most things put away, sorted or stacked for a destash. Somethings have just got to go! Sorting beads is like staring at tiny dots, you can't pick up, while a small evil Garden Gnome stabs you between the shoulder blades. Bead sorting = not fun. ...and yet how I love beads... *most ardently*. They have bewitched me body and soul. Oh wait ...that's Pride and Prejudice... .....sigh.... This is the first... Continue reading

This is my view today. I should be ecstatic but I am feeling a wee bit sad. The last seven years I've gotten to use this room just for me, in a house full of boys, this one was mine alone. I have a beautiful new room my husband has made me with his own two hands. It has modern conveniences - like heat. ( It's about 20 degrees in here now!) This room here however was my first, it's larger, has a great view and gorgeous light. Oh and a lock! lol There's doors at both ends. My dogs... Continue reading

I know, I know...I am gone a few months then BAM! I show up in a bad hat. Lord we have been busy. I'll post some updated pictures soon. We've been remodeling, remodeling, remodeling! Anyway since I am a craft whore and will try anything once my success with scarf knitting made me hungry for other apparel. It made me greedy ...envisioning hats, socks and all sorts of knitted finery. Of course my actual lack of skills never entered my mind. So I bought a few hand looms thinking, HOW HARD COULD THIS BE??? ...Buy a loom they said... .....it... Continue reading

(You didn't know I was Darth Sith's mother did you?) T'was the Night Before School T'was the night before school and all through the house, Mama was running and screaming and swinging her blouse. The backpacks were lined up in the kitchen with care, In hopes that a school bus soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in there beds, Visions of Wowsers running through their heads. I with my vodka and pop with a beer, We sat down to celebrate return to school cheer! When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, We arose... Continue reading

I didn't grow up with a father. I held close in my heart the sadness on those days a father would have participated. Bithdays, graduations, my wedding, the birth of my children, passed with a box unchecked. Spending my adolecence in search of him I contacted grandparents. Not knowing they were ill and probably did not even know who I was I gave up my search. Life goes on. You sink or swim. I chose to swim. I had a family of my own. I won't tell you the ache in my heart ever went away. I almost never spoke... Continue reading

Four boys...they drive me nuts. I think most moms - those who work in or out of the home get driven nuts. Our time is never our own - and usually there is never enough of it and I don't think anyone tells you that - I guess it's the "Mom Code" - our dirty little secret. You find out somewhere along the way - your it. The Last Resort, The End of The Line and Custer's Last Stand all roll up into one. Somedays it can be exhausting... somedays we take it in stride, some days we scream at... Continue reading

Welcome to Bead Soup 2014! My lovely partner is Rossana De Gaspari Who sent me all sorts of goodies! My favorite colors! Right away when I saw the Lisa Peters Art focal I knew what I wanted to do with it and it set the theme for the group. I saw a tide pool. I LOVE coiling wire - very relaxing! Next I was drooling over these little lampwork lanterns from Pomegranate Glass Turned my trees upside down to look like coral. Then I grabbed this Sea Life focal from Carolyns Beads I added more "coral reef" and some rough... Continue reading

Time to wake up and get myself going again. Ironically this Spring Fever challenge occurs on a day we have just had SNOW. I can't remember the last time we had snow on April 16th. I've probably buried that memory where this one is going. It';s just wrong! SO I definately actually have Spring Fever! Here is my sweet parcel from the UK! The challenge was hosted by Thea of Thea Elements, Caroline from Blueberribeads, and Smitten Beads! So green and happy. Since I haven't seen much green all winter this was a treat! My first necklace - because the... Continue reading

I'm going for the once a month blog post traffic. Wooo Hooo! Remember when you were young and time was measured in "school" "holidays you got candy" "your birthday" and "vacation time"? The year revolved around sugar and sleeping in, free time, for me a pile of new books, and a bag of goodies. Then you have kids of your own, a home and well RESPONSIBILITIES. It's seasons that bring calculated purchases - - Pumpkins in July - new clothes in August - Christmas in September - OMG I forgot to buy a turkey - It's the week before Christmas... Continue reading

Being stuck inside the house seems to make most of us a little crazy...maybe a lot crazy. When my husband woke me up the other morning I was like Shakespeare crazy - yeah it's a thing. Long winter - too much snow - he woke me up and I thought, "To sleep, perchance to dream." But no ......no sleep, shovels, wet coats, wet floors and dogs stuck inside barking at chairs. It was like..... Romeo & Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2 But crap, no light through yonder window breaks It is the east, and there is no sun Downfall, evil... Continue reading

Ok who knew of all things *SNOWPANTS* would trigger such angst. I didn't realize there are people that have no need for snowpants and therefor have no idea what abominable torture devices they are! Why Snowpants are Abominable Torture Devices 1. If you have multiple children - you will have multiple snowpants - none of said children will EVER pick the correct size leading to what I call "Goldilocks Syndrome". Some pants will always be too small and others will always be too big. You will NEVER have the right size. One child will have no visible feet...the other will... Continue reading

The thing about January is - it is the red headed stepchild month of the year - at least in the Northeast - it's between here and there. Passed the glory of the holiday and smack into cold, snow and sheets on sale. It's not pretty - especially if the snow has been hanging around - it's covered in sand, mud and other unmentionables. We start anew.....or do we hide from the old? The habits that made fall and early winter hospitable, toasty and warm like pumpkin lattes, decorations and booze - .....now make you question your own sanity. Like... Continue reading

(Artwork by Nan Emmett) Another Thanksgiving under my belt and another fond memory. Last year was the year of the "Great Potato Debacle of 2012". After leaving one of my boys alone with a peeler and some potatos..uhm 25lbs.. we ended up with a ridiculous amount of mashed potatos. I recommend you know WHERE your kids AND potatos are at all times. Twenty five pounds is ALOT of potato. It seems there is something every year. One year someone wrapped up my Mother In Laws baked artichokes and accidentally shoved them back in the cabinet. This caused an overwhelming stench... Continue reading

SO you may or may not know of my ridiculous love for bacon. I am constantly getting bacon bits posted to my Facebook page.... and I'm not complaining about it. ( Although you know the one talking about all the bacon is probably not the one GETTING all the bacon) That's a discussion for another day. We'll put pumpkin on the list with chocolate, coffee and bacon which make me a Bacochococoffeepumpkinatarian. If there was such a thing. ( .......and I think there should be!) ANYWAY Took a little of the mashed orange stuff and added it to chili and... Continue reading

This may be the longest I have ever gone without posting. Life - she gets in the way. Nan Emmett has captured the angst of my day quite succinctly in this untitled collage. Good Lord I got my High School student out the door the other day and WENT BACK TO SLEEP. To be fair the dogs sandwiched me and the heat from their furs has special powers to KNOCK ME OUT. It was fantastic to be awakened by the middle school bus pulling away. Oh and my middle schoolers were still in bed. I have NEVER done that before.... Continue reading

Third week of school five phone calls, two pick ups and one sick day. I need a better system. Something color coded and easy to follow. This is what I've worked out. Dear School Nurse, I am thinking it might be useful to begin using a "Gasparino Alert System" much like Homeland Security. Let's call it *G.A.S.* for short. This will statistically average out ( perhaps even increase!) the chances of an actual Gasparino attending and staying in school even after visiting the nurse on a single day. This will replace the "Stuff on the Bus and Pray System" as... Continue reading

It's been forever since I have posted actual beads or gotten to work with actual beads. Time to get back to the grindstone! Got those lovelies up there from KristiBowmanDesign I've wanted some of these lampwork flowers forever. I finally treated myself to some from BlissfulGardenBeads. Kids are finally back to school and I am hoping for a full week to work. ...and I've got to work through some of my hoard like these gorgeous focals from Spirited Earth No one is allowed back in the house until 2:00pm NO ONE.... well except these two... Happy Monday! What are you... Continue reading

Of course when I saw Sally's challenge for the week I thought of these two. Even in then womb they were complete opposites. One wiggled constantly while the other barely shifted. Complete opposites yet they get along fabulously! One always goofy the other usually grumpy... and he was grumpy waaay before Grumpy cat. Can you guess which is which? This is my absolute favorite... ...and that's definately NOT a smile... Happy Saturday! Join in with Sally Russick Here is another favorite pair! Continue reading

So I am doing this backwards ( week 35 before week 34) but I really wanted to have time to play. Our goal was to take a photo and change something. There's my starting point up there. These ballerina roses bloom like crazy and have amazing color. So I tried to do as little as possible and make it be dramatic. This is my all time favorite effect "Gritty". I had to fool around with it on different levels This Gritty is a little more shabby chic. ...and this Gritty is barely Gritty at all. Then I moved on to... Continue reading

One of my favorite quotes about one of my favorite seasons! Kids go back to school, cooler air ( hopefully) comes in, Halloween is around the corner and pumpkin everything returns! The colors set fire to the landscape. What brings more change the fall? Maybe renovation? My door and windows should be finished today. A bit behind schedual but now I am getting excited. The back room will be my new studio space. I can barely wait for the sheetrock, flooring, and new French pocket doors. Then I can finally move in!!!!! If that is not growth and change I... Continue reading

So if I had actual doors they would go here. Two French pocket doors to be exact. Framing is up and we are waiting for new exterior and interior doors and windows. Electric updates will be next and some plumbing rerouting. I can barely contain myself. I've been picking up goodies here and there that hopefully will fit in. Those straw containers were on clearance at Joannes for about 3.00! I think they will make for some fun storage for pens and brushes. Best find? This cabinet by the roadside for FREE!!! I made my 78 lb string bean of... Continue reading

This challenge had me stoked as blue is my favorite color. One of my favorite plants is also blue - the hydrangeas we have around the house. We had a heat wave for a few weeks so many of the flowers are prematurely aged. Really it only adds to their beauty. Dark dusty blues, deep purple blues, aged green blues and turquoise all seem to play off and highlight each other beautifully. I know not solid blue. As I was walking around the house I noticed this in the pool! BOOYAH! So there is my solid blue shot! If you... Continue reading

Nothing is more routine then puppers. They run a tighter ship then the army. If walkies is at 6:30 am SHARP - then you'd better be there. Don't forget to follow the rules. Shout, "RELEASE THE HOUNDS" right about here. Check on your Mama. She might not know where she is. She might forget where she was going. She might miss you. ( Sometimes Mama is afraid of grass ) (I used to be afraid of grass but I love it now!) Sniffing is VERY important. Sniff everything - whether it looks savory or not. Get yelled at by your... Continue reading