The Perfect 4th of July!

 What a fabulous day! It began around noon with a hike from the Hang Glider Port in La Jolla down the cliff trail to the beach below. No pictures of the beach or surf. I was too busy body surfing, walking on the beach and visiting with the wonderful group of beach and ocean lovers. These people have been going to this same beach for more than 30 years. They have seen most their kids grow into adulthood and a new generation of children starting their lives happily spending time at the ocean.

 After a day playing in the water and rousing vollyball games on the beach, everyone hikes back to the top for a pot luck and BBQ. With a campfire after Sunset.

The sunset. Just about over.

Someone had a huge box of glow necklaces and handed them out to everyone. The campfire was lit and we watched 4 different fireworks shows up and down the coastline. Perfect!

Me, my daughter Jennifer and her sweetheart, Steve.

Good Idea Kate!

Inspired by Kate McKinnon's blog about eating lunch in her yard, I decided to take my lunch outside as well. The biggest difference is the temperature. It is a cloudy, breezy and cool day in Lemon Grove today. I am having a beer with my Carnitas rather than wine. Beer and Mexican food just works!

Too often I eat inside and don't take time to enjoy my lovely yard. So, inspired by you, Kate, here I am on the verandah, listening to my audio book, and the waterfall in the pond, the birds chirping in the background. Lunch: Carnitas from Por Favor Restaurant here in Lemon Grove. The best Carnitas in the world in my opinion. An entire avocado, cut up and lightly salted with sea salt and light, crispy tortilla chips with salsa. A delicious Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat beer with a squeeze and a slice of orange. Luxurious! I must make it a point to come out to my lovely garden to eat more often.

Sea Nymph's Treasure Cuff Kits

Today Only!
I have a few each of these kits from my class at the B&B Show.
Mocha shown below, Olivine & Purple

Original Color

http://beadyeyedwomen.com/beadshoppe/kits/sea_nymphs_treasure_cuff_kit_sale.htm

4th of July Sparkle Sale

I have some pretty darned sparkly kits just loaded with Swarovski® crytsttals in the Beady Eyed Women® shop! For the 4th of July, I think of Sparkling Fireworks and sparkling crystals. I have chosen 3 kits to feature in this sale. The best part is you can begin saving on these beautiful kits right now! There are lots of other kit and tutorial choices as well as beads. So if these don't strike your fancy, go to the link at the bottom and click on shop.

Three Fabulously Sparkling
Beady Eyed Women® Kits 
Packed With Swarovski® Crystals!
 
  Crystal Cube Beaded Bead
Regular $95 4th of July Sparkle Sale Price $85

 

A Spectacular Beaded Bead Completely Encrusted
with 195 Swarovski® Crystals.

 Double Enchantment Chains Bracelet
Regular $78 4th of July Sparkle Sale Price $70









Fast, easy to make and lightweight for summer.
Talk about Bling! Each kit contains
255  Swarovski® Crystals!



Treble Clef Pendant
 Regular Price $48 4th of July Sparkle Sale Price $44












Another chance to Sparkle & Shine! Simple and elegant, this
necklace goes together very quickly. The spiral shape is encrusted
with 72 - 3mm Swarovski® crystals!
   

Plus All Orders Over $50
Ship Free!

SHOP!

2011 Puget Sound Bead Festival Tacoma

The Puget Sound Bead Festival is the weekend of July 8-10 and I am going! I will be at an artisan table in the convention hall behind the Hotel Marano. If you are in the Tacoma, WA area, please come visit. There will not be any classes this year, but lots of wonderful vendors and teachers selling our kits and tutorials.

My Pretty Booth

Silence on the Blog Front

I admit I've been hunkering down and hiding a bit. Trying to regroup and recharge. Thinking about what to do next. Bead&Button is so huge and takes so long to get ready for. Then it is 8 days with a travel day on either side. Coming home is strange after all that time immersed in people and work and fun and work and excitement and creativity. I call it post party depression. You almost don't know what to do with yourself once home and suddenly alone. This year I had two roommates. Hannah Rosner, who was my booth partner as well, and Smita Thakkar who owns SK Jewelers. Smita had her own booth. These two women are excellent roommates! Three women in a room can be a bit much but for the fact that we are all relaxed, considerate women. It worked out so well. Unfortunately, I caught a cold the second day I was in Milwaukee. I could feel it coming on. Oh noooo, I thought not now with all the work ahead of me! I got through, came home and slept for 3 days after returning to San Diego.

My studio was a bit of a mess from pre-show prep. It would have to wait. I had a guest coming for 6 days beginning on the Saturday after the show. Tight schedule. The visit went just fine and after my friend Ginger left the following Saturday morning, I taught classes at the Bouncing Bead , just a 10 minute drive from my house. Love that! No airports, no plane ride.

Sunday morning I got up and looked into the studio. Wow, lots of work to do! I dove right in and got it all done before leaving to have lunch with the girls.

Boxes to unpack.

Kit Bins to re-organize

Kits all organized! Better!

Desk cleared and rearranged.

Ready to get back to work with lots of inspiration!

Bead&Button 2011 The view from Booth 410

Another wonderful Bead&Button Show is behind us. It seems somewhat surreal to be home after 8 very full days in Milwaukee. I love this show for the great energy and laughter that abounds every single day and night. Beaders are the happiest people on earth, I think! That energy held me up through the cold I caught on the way to the show. Each day is so full and so busy, that I hardly noticed. Each night after the show, I did collapse on the bed happy with the day, but feeling totally worn out. Usually, I go to dinner with friends at least 3 times. It is such a great time to catch up with people I've known for so many years of bead shows and classes. Here are a few great pictures taken from Booth #410. I got out to go to the bathroom and that's about it, so there aren't many pictures, but they are fun ones.

 Sue Blessenger was such a great helper at Meet the Teachers. I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks Sue!

Great Lakes Beaders! What did YOU get??? Fire Mountain Gems was across the aisle from us. They were wonderful neighbors.

 Some of the Beading Across America project authors. What a great gathering of talent this is!

Nathalie from Lark Books and Me

The Bad Liz and Her Bad Ass Birdie Hat

 The Bad Ass Birdie

 My booth mate and room mate Hannah Rosner, to the left, was great. We will have the same booth next year. A "Great" bunch of bead crazed shoppers!

 I couldn't resist taking a picture of this great Anamae esque outfit! Isn't she cute?

If only I had more time and energy to shoot more pictures at the B&B Show this year... Oh well there's always next year.  Thanks to everyone who came by to visit and shop. I got about a thousand hugs. That's worth so much.