Just gotta love Cooper!

Wow, look what Pam brought to the class on Saturday-she finished her Russian Spiral bracelet! Isn't the sea foam color gorgeous? Below her spiral (in the same photo) is Saturday's Caterpillar bracelet that Pam almost finished during class-another beautiful example. Great job!Below is my Caterpillar that I finished this morning. Okay Pam, I what the above Caterpillar finished by class time Thursday! LOL

This afternoon, I taught the Russian Spiral stitch at Bead Haven. What a fun and creative group of gals! I was very impressed with this group's work. We stitched three beads at a time; we gabbed; we ate yummy treats from Sweetopia (Thanks, Cindi!); we admired color combinations; gabbed some more; shared beading tips with each other; ate a few more treats; and just had a great time. The top photo, starting from the left, features Lori's, Jeanne's, Suzanne's and Pam's bracelets in progress. The second photo is a closeup (from the top) of Suzanne's, Lori's, mine, and Pam's. Click on the photos, and you can zoom-in on their beautiful work.

This is a "new" antique button bracelet I recently made. It is made with all very vintage and antique buttons from my mother's wonderful, extensive button collection. All the buttons are metal with the exception of the closure button which is Czech or German glass. The glass button is the newest button-most likely a 1930's button. The leaves are new Czech Republic glass beads. I will offer this as a class one time in July at Bead Haven. Click on the picture and you will get a closer look at these intricate buttons-miniature pieces of art. Hope you like it-I think my mother would be very pleased...

This is my new "Bottle Cap 6-Pack" bracelet. It was so fun to make and will be offered for the first time ever this July at Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have had this idea rolling around in my head for a long time and I am finally pleased with the results after much experimenting (and ruining quite a few bottle caps)! The bracelet is inexpensive to make since you supply your own favorite bottle caps. So bring your 6-pack (bottle caps that is), get hammered (use our hammer and tools) and join in the fun creating with your favorite beverage bottle caps! Thanks Matt and Sara, for saving the great bottle caps. (Blue Moon is still my favorite bottle cap and beer.)

Wouldn't old vintage soda pop bottle caps be cool to use? So many possibilities...how about a necklace...12-pack?

This morning I taught my "Altered Treasures" class at Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids. Look at the wonderful projects that Martha (red & black Russian bead) and Pam ( lavender Czech bead) are creating! They did such a great job. It was such a fun class-and as always I also learned many things from their insights. Thank you, Martha and Pam!

This third photo shows both projects plus Pam's embroidered cuff (from a previous class) which is still evolving. Didn't the gals do a wonderful job? Just beautiful work girls!! Make sure you click on the photos so you can zoom-in and get a closer look at their work!

Have you dug Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota? Here is the Wall Drug soda fountain where people are getting ice cream treats after having their free ice water, 5 cent coffee, chocolate donuts, onion rings, blueberry pie, maple donuts, buffalo burgers, fries, cherry pie, more 5 cent coffee, ...you get the idea.

Look at these "cuties" along the roadway as we rode through Custer State Park in South Dakota.

I will post over the next couple days some photos I took from our recent trip to South Dakota. Here is a photo of the annual VolksMarch up to the face of Crazy Horse Memorial - that's my sister Anita standing directly under Crazy Horse's left nostril...

Look at the beautiful flowers from Matt & Sara that surprised me when I recently walked out on my patio. How very fragrant they are! I love them. They cover just about the whole table!

More than 2,000 runners and walkers participated in the 2.5 mile and 7 mile courses of the Cedar Rapids Run the Flood run Saturday morning.The routes, which took competitors through some of the worst-hit areas from last year's flood, raised money for the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation for Flood Recovery.

This is "Toby"...a precious Goldendoodle.