summer cottage

How Fabulous!

from The New York Times Home and Garden
via The Tiny House Blog

camping out

I want to sleep here!

from the tiny house blog

little things

.some little things on my kitchen counter this morning.

and rosemary focaccia bread that smells so wonderful
I may have to eat the whole loaf today

spring

This is what springtime in the Rockies looks like.


..a quiet Friday morning on Main Street in my former home town..

Madeline

I named her Madeline. I don't know why. It just popped into my head and I thought it was a fine name. Madeline the Model Mannequin. {There should be a song.}
I seriously hope I don't start talking to her. If I do, she will have to go back into her cardboard box.


As I was preparing to introduce Madeline this morning, I saw in my google reader this post from Karon at Wild Woman about her new model, Angelique. I was, for just a moment, a little jealous that Angelique has such a pretty face and my poor Madeline has no head at all. I was relieved though to learn I'm not the only person to name my model and I'm not the only person to be a little creeped out by her.

For Mother's Day....

..allow me to brag a little about my son.

It started a couple of years ago
with him rummaging through my beads
and asking to borrow some wire
and it has led to this.

Well done dude.
I'm proud and happy to be your mom.

Happy Mother's Day
to proud moms everywhere.

studio tour

After moving a few times over the years, Highwood Studio settled nicely into its most recent location.

I rented my little house the moment I saw it and without a second thought just because of the fantastic light that pours in from every direction. Although my work space is tiny and compact, the large windows keep it feeling bright and open.

The work table as it was the first summer in the new space.

I keep the beads out in trays where I can see them all at once.

The shipping table, which I just added this year.

Opposite the work table, Mr. Monkey oversees all computer activities.
The top of the large painted dresser is where I take product pictures
and the drawers hold supplies like jewelry boxes and padded mailers.

Every square inch of the studio is filled up

but it's comfortable and efficient
and flooded with that wonderful natural light.

food revolution

Have you been watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on television?

In case you've missed it, or even if you've seen the entire series,
this video, posted on the Tribal Times Blog, is worth watching.

Here's a link to sign the petition to improve school food.

vacation

I'm taking a few days off.

I'm going to leave the house - wander around town - talk to people
- do some shopping - take some pictures -
sit on a bench at the park and do nothing.

I'm turning off the computer.
- no twitter, no etsy, no forums, no blogs -
I'm turning off the TV.

no news - no disasters - no drama - no commercials - no canned laughter

I'm ignoring the studio
and pretending for a few days
that I have plenty of money and plenty of time.

Butterfly Hands
on a path at the sculpture garden
Salida, Colorado

pink

delicious pink pearls in my {destash} shop

clicking on the picture will take you there

fantasy

I'd like to be here - doing nothing at all.

Photo from Tiny House Blog

bits of color

I've been playing with the delicious colors of Czech glass beads.


These are available in my Etsy shop.