"The Heater From Van Meter..."

Bob Feller was born and raised in the small town of Van Meter, Iowa. His father was a baseball fan who ran the family farm, and his mother was a teacher & nurse. As an Iowa farm boy in the 1920's, much of Feller's childhood consisted of chores. He credited milking cows, picking corn, and bailing hay with strengthening his arms and giving him the capacity to throw as hard as he did as a pitcher. He refers to his farm days in Iowa very fondly, saying of them, "What kid wouldn't enjoy the life I led in Iowa? Baseball and farming, and I had the best of both worlds."
www.ESPN.go.com web site has a wonderful tribute to this outstanding Hall of Famer and gentleman.

No animal was harmed during the taking of this photo...
The photographer, however, is in serious but stable condition and may be able to leave the hospital by New Year's.

I'm watching the Thanksgiving Day National Dog Show. They make me smile...some more than others, but they all bring a smile to me. Clooney, the Irish Setter just won the first group. (John

O'Hurley is really good hosting this event.)

Happy Halloween!

Cooper, you make me smile...

Chase, the beautiful Cocker Spaniel mix, you make me smile...

Fiber Bangle...

Here's another "fiber bangle" that I will have at the Fall Trunk Show at Bead Haven this weekend. I am also offering this as a new class at Bead Haven on October 27. So quick, fun and easy! Perfect for this coming season...you won't be able to stop with just one!

My dog, Buff and cat friends...

On my beading mat....

...I am experimenting again with fibers and beads. I was inspired by jewelry artist Shannon Levart when I created this bangle.

On my beading mat...I really should finish this.

Today, I was very honored to be presented with an Award of Merit and cash prize from the Historic Valley Junction Foundation, of West Des Moines, at their 2010 Fall Art Market. I was so pleased they thought my improvisational art jewelry was deserving of this award. They run a class act juried Art Show twice a year and I am very appreciative.

It was a great show...a bit rainy, but great!

Another Hawkeye win!

Hawkeyes Win...

Are you ready for some football? Go Hawks...

Kayla-you make me smile!

Another embroidered brooch evolves... I love the glass composition of this particular button. It possesses several different shades of blue in the glass itself. (Click on the photo to get a better look at all the shades!) I have used a vintage metal zipper and silver 11/0 seed beads to frame this unique button.

Here are some bead embroidered brooches I recently finished. They will be for sale at the Brucemore Art and Garden show this Saturday, August 28, 9-4pm. I will be in the same location as last year: Courtyard, Zone #6.

On my beading mat this afternoon...

Two more brooches born...

This first button brooch features a "reproduction" of a Czech Republic Dragonfly button. The color of this glass button is a beautiful iridescent and the photo just doesn't capture the radiance of the button! I also used a vintage zipper, and size 11/0 glass seed beads in the composition-perfect for the Brucemore Garden show this Saturday-don't you think? In the second brooch, I showcased an antique, sculptured metal button. I used glass beads to bezel the button and incorporated beaded fringe to flow out of the button holes...

I just finished this embroidered brooch. I have been waiting for just the right project to use this particular color of glass seed bead called "Burgundy Rust." It is framing one of my mother's beautiful antique metal buttons. (Click on the photo to get a closer look.) A vintage metal zipper also encircles this stunning filigree button. I think Mother would be very pleased...

This is an embroidered brooch that I recently finished. It is small in size-approx 1"x 1 1/2".

Brucemore Bound...

I just finished this brooch. It is one of my favorite experiments. Click the picture to enlarge. Featured is part of a vintage shoe clip, vintage zippers, and 15/0 & 11/0 Miyuki beads. It was labor-intensive but I think worth it. I like the interplay of the different elements. It is one of the pieces that will be at the Brucemore Art & Garden Show this Saturday August 28, 9-4pm. I'll be at the same location as last year: Courtyard, Zone #6.
...AND, the weather should be great!

It's just what they do...

Tonight is the "Web of Silver" class at Bead Haven. This is a fun netting stitch beading technique. Here are some wonderful samples from last week's class. The blue one is Pauline's...I hear she's made two more since last weeks class! The silver one belongs to BJ...of course, she has finished hers and I'm sure is busy making more for friends/relatives! The bronze one belongs to Natasha...and I bet she has made more, and probably out of even smaller beads? Beautiful work, ladies!

Just born...

...another bead embroidered zipper brooch.

My brooch features 8/0 and 11/0 Miyuki beads along with vintage zippers and sequins.

Wear it vertical or horizontal... what do you think?

New work...The first brooch has an antique button, vintage zippers & sequins on a bead felted canvas. My second brooch features an asymmetrical face cabochon that I made of paper. After I dried, painted, and sealed the face-I beaded around it.

Russian Spiral...

Here's a new Russian Spiral I finished using many different colored Czech faceted beads. You could wear this with anything. Click the photo to zoom in...

To the gals that were in my bangle "Web of Silver" class this morning: I'm sorry my camera didn't work...you all did such fantastic work! Even though I took a photo with another camera-unfortunately it did not work with my computer hardware at home. I will try to see if I can get compatable cable next week when I see Mary(whose camera I did use), and hopefully post the photos then. Thanks for such a wonderful class-I treasure the time I spend sharing with you all.

New work today...vintage buttons, vintage zippers and vintage Czech opal .

Adorable Wilson...

Don't you wish you were in Sturgis SD, or perhaps Deadwood SD this week?

Fun News...

Cindi has extended the "So Many Beads, But Not What I Need Sale" this week (July 27-31) with added discounts as the week progresses. Check out the store's website for more details: http://www.beadhavenbeads.com/ You'll be glad you did...

It's Here!!!
Bead Haven's 2nd Annual
'So Many Beads but Not What I need Sale!'

Sale begins at 5:00pm on Thursday, July 22 and
ends on Saturday, July 24th at 5:00pm.

This is a HUGE sale of beads and beading related items!
And the prices are LOW LOW LOW!
This is not Bead Haven's regular inventory - this is a consignment sale for our beading friends who want to sell their overstocked and underloved items.
Don't miss out on this sale - it only comes around once a year!

These are pictures from Wednesday classes at Bead Haven. The first class was the Sidewinder bracelet. Here are Nancy's and Pat's beautiful bracelets. This was the first time either one of them had worked with Fireline thread-I was most impressed with their great workmanship! The second class was the Stringing-Squared bracelet. Pictured below are works-in-progress by Mary and Liz. Beautiful work as always, ladies!

Sleepy, sleepy, Lucy...you make me SMILE!

Please share this info with anyone that might be interested:

RUBBER STAMP RUMMAGE SALE
Dates: Friday July 16th, 6:00PM - 11:00PM
Saturday July 17, 8:00AM - 4:00PM

Where: Grandview Community Center
5410 Wabash St SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (This is at the corner of Wilson Ave & West Post Road.)

Don't miss this one! Come shop a fantastic selection of used and new stamping and scrap booking supplies! ...stamps, papers, inks, stickers, albums, punches,embossing supplies, beads, more stamps, ribbon, embellishments, etc. etc.... Great deals!!!

It's been a very, very busy day getting ready for the Rubber Stamp Rummage sale this weekend!
There are details on my Facebook page if you are interested right now...So many things to mark, wheeee. You'll find everything dealing with rubber stamping or scrap booking. Fantastic deals...
More details tomorrow-I gotta' get some sleep!

Feeling sparkly?? Here are new classes I am working on for August! How about a "Web of Silver" bangle? Click to get a closer look...

Wonderful, cheerful Laurel Burch colors...

I just finished this bead-embroidered pin...it's one of my favorites I've made in the last couple of days. It's like making pancakes - the ones at the end seem better than the first.

A brooch almost done...I need to stitch a decorative edging yet.

Recent work...

I'm in production-mode...