Sunday Muddy Sunday

At the risk of riling my dead ancestors, I'd like to talk about the humblest of flowers, the orange daylily. (Hemerocallis for you latin lovers).

My Nana did not like them because she thought they were common flowers that grew in ditches and on my father's side my Grandma did not like them because she was a hot tempered Irish Catholic who despised all things orange and would go so far as to knock their heads off when she passed them because she assumed they were all protestant "PUPS".

I confess during my first years of gardening I didn't hold the daylily in high esteem. It was the flower of last resort when nothing else would grow in a particular spot. The humble daylily never let me down.

I have come to admire and resect them for their beauty and reliability and for their optimism. They open at sunrise and wither at sunset, and the very next morning a replacement flower steps in and does it all over again without complaint.

Simple and humble and strong, the common daylily has earned my respect.

Here are more humble flowers, these ones are my high fired stoneware buttons. I have listed some on Etsy, but will special orders too.

Bead Soup Party!!

The Bead Soup Blog party is on. So grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, depending on the time of day and your mood, and enjoy all the lovelies.

These beads are from my soup partner Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf.

When I first saw them I was enchanted by the colors. I have a thing for coral, and these just made my heart go pitter patter. The unexpected thing is, how good they felt in my hand, Some beads were just made to be fondled. I knew I had to design something that could be touched while being worn, almost like a talisman.

So I decide to do a very long wire wrapped piece that would hand down and allow the beads to be held when worn.

Todays party features these beaders:

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks

15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth

16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio

17. Marie, Skye Jewels

18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta

19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's

20. Joanna, Filcowe

21. Diane, Diane Hawkey

22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things

23. Anna, The Laughing Raven

24. Marcie, La Bella Joya

25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?

26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Check out yesterdays posts too!:

1. Lori, Pretty Things

2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141

3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas

4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks

5. Katie, KatieBead

6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn

7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

9. Kate, Tropical Blonde

10. Janet, Singing Woods

11. Julianna, Juls Beads

12. Erin, Treasures Found

Back from Bead and Button

It's good to be home.

We (Melanie Brooks & I) had a little trouble on the way back with a deer on I-94. We were OK the deer & the van both were totaled.

I've taken a few days to chill and now I am back to business.

So first things first,

The show: I had an excellent time. Sales were good. A lot of new stores are carrying my beads. that makes me very happy. It's exciting to think of my little beads in hands all over the country.

My new work went over well. I got to reconnect with some old friends and customers. The only regret I have is not getting to see more of the show myself.

I did get to go the the swinging Tierra Cast party at the Hilton after the show closed. It was awesome & we got to see some of their new line. I am excited to use some of the new components in my work.

I did manage to get out of my booth long enough to pick up some wonderful goodies though.

This lovely silk ribbon from "Silk painting is fun" I wanted to roll around in all the pretty colors. I did restrain myself.

And I made some cool trades with Andrew Thorton of Green Girl Studios (Hey Andrew I still owe you some more beads~)

And then there were these lovelies from Heather Powers of Humble Beads:

I fell hard for these colors. I don't know what I am going to do with them yet, but I promise it will be awesome.

And like always, I had to get something for my daughter:

These are by Clay River Designs.

Actually the betta fish is for my daughter & the orca is for me. (We have 4 bettas and there is always a drama with them. I just nursed Matisse back from the brink of velvet death days before I left for the show- (Betta drama will be for another post some other day. Actually I think they could have their own blog since they seem to have very eventful lives for fish. Too bad they can't type with their little fins. I ain't got the time.)

Sunday Muddy Sunday

I am home sick. i have been squirreled away at the convention center in Milwaukee for the Bead and Button Show. I have meet so many great people here and reconnected with so many friends that I should feel surrounded by good vibes and happiness, but the truth is no matter how wonderful the experience has been, I miss my home, I miss my dirt.

When I get home late tonight I will go to sleep in my own bed and in the morning I will walk through my garden and assess the changes that have occurred worry about the plants that look neglected and moan over the work that needs to be done.

I could never be a gypsy. I need my roots and they need to touching my small piece of earth.

Sunday Muddy Sunday

Sometimes things in Life are not as perfect as you'd like. One of my favorite roses "Pat Austin" was ravaged by sawfly larva. But it still opened and smelled amazing despite its troubles.

This past week for me has sort of been ravaged by cosmic sawfly larva. I am leaving for Bead and Button on Weds. I am supposed to be farther ahead in my preparations.

I planned well but the universe had other ideas. This week has been a series of misadventures and of little things going awry, highlighted by my dog getting into the medicine cabinet and opening a bottle of grape flavored children's ibuprofen and licking up the contents. Which meant my day was spent with an emergency vet visit instead of finishing up bisque ware for the show.

So I am trying to find the beauty in imperfection and reminding myself that we just have to do the best we can under the circumstances, even with cosmic sawfly larva.