2013 St. Augustine Celtic Music and Heritage Festival

While I was in Florida, I went with my Mom and sister to the Celtic Music and Heritage Festival in St. Augustine.  The night before, I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with Corinnea and Jess of Created Blissfully--yay!! This was the first time I'd seen Corinnea since she left Germany (a few months before we did), and only the second time that I'd seen Jess in person.  It was just so nice to be able to catch up!

That was on Friday.  We stayed that night in a hotel within walking distance of the festival, then got up and headed over to the fair grounds in time for the official kick-off parade. Some of the stuff at the festival was hand-made, but most of it was not.  There was, however, an area set aside for the artisans.  One of these artisans not only offered fused glass plates and baubles, but had a station set up where people could make their own fused glass pendants!

I didn't take any other pictures of all of the lovely hand made treasures.  I think I had gotten tired of the camera for a little while.  Now I wish that I had.  There were lovely hand-carved wooden boxes and hand-thrown and painted urns and vases and blown glass and I don't even remember what else.  In my defense, though, I did take about a billion other pictures that day.  If you're interested in seeing my full post from that day, you can find it on my family blog.  

Rug Making

Back when I was pregnant with Elora, I learned about rug hooking and decided to make a rug to go on the floor in the nursery.  I ordered an entire roll of rug warp ( I just know Corinnea was thinking I was crazy for that one), cut a bunch of fabric into strips, and got busy making a 45"x54" rug.  I spent only a few days on the project before I got bored with it and moved on to something else.  It then sat untouched for almost three years, until I pulled it back out a few days ago.   I put several hours' more work into it, and started another, much smaller rug to put in my kitchen.  Or maybe by the back door. 

I have this much done so far, and would like to continue working on it, but Elora has misplaced my locker hook.  In an attempt to find it, I straightened the living room and the den, moved and cleaned under all the couches and checked all the cushions, to no avail.

This is what my living room looked like an hour after straightening it.  It looks like this pretty much all the time.  Unless it's worse.  Actually, it's usually worse. Anyway, I'll need to check in all her toy boxes next, to try to find that hook.  I'm sure I'll find it as soon as I put the rest of the stuff away and move on to another craft.

Kaylie started rolling over about a month or so ago, but I just got around to trying to get it on camera today.  I got some good pictures of her, though none of them are of her rolling.  I did get some video; if I can figure out how to get it on the computer, I'll share it with you.

August 26:  I found my locker hook this morning, when I was cleaning in the girls' room.  Elora had dropped it in her catch-all basket.  I've already gotten another dozen rows done.  :)

Kaylie's Name Plaque & Veronica's Box

I dragged out my paints and brushes last week to make Kaylie's name plaque (I did Elora's last spring) and I ended up painting a box for my niece as well.  These pictures aren't the best, maybe I'll try to get better ones later.

Digi scrapping is fun, and has been keeping me sane, but sometimes I need to do something hands-on, with tangible results.  I was waaaaaay overdue for some hands-on crafting.  It was worth it to have my dining table look like this for 2 or 3 days.

I ran to the store by myself on Sunday, and this is what I came home to.

And this is from this morning.

My Kaylie girl loves to smile, but it's hard to catch her smiling with the camera.  As soon as I bring it out, she stops smiling to stare at it curiously.

New Jewelry

My latest creations:

Turquoise, ceramic and glass wire wrapped necklace with "antique brass" wire and findings.  It's definitely not typical of my style, but I think I like it.

Also turquoise and antique brass wire wrapped.

8mm Swarovski crystal pearls in Rosaline, Peach, and Gray, with silver clasp.

6mm Swarovski crystal pearls in Brown, Copper, Gold, Antique Brass and Bronze, with adjustable gold clasp.  I'm wearing it at its shortest length.

6 and 10 mm Swarovski crystal pearls in Bordeaux, antique brass findings, wire wrapped.

Earrings to match.

And last but not least, a sneak peek at my latest bridal design.  This one features 6 and 8 mm Swarovski crystal pearls, with 4mm Swarovski Light Colorado Topaz bicone crystals.

Elora fell down and bumped her head while Brandon was trying to take pictures for me, so we got a few pictures of her too.  Sorry Rachel, not much to read in this one.  :)