HUGE SALE AT BEAD AND NEEDLE...IT'S ON!

Drastic new cuts on ALL inventory at Bead and Needle at Etsy, starting this evening!  Most every item has been reduced almost 50% - no jewelry piece over $24.00.  It's time to clean house!!  See you there...two down, already...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM...

“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age"...Lucille Ball

Barbara, Barb, Babe, Bobbie Jean, Mom, Gra, Grandma, Great-Grandma (for the third time, just this week - I'm very sad that it wasn't ON her birthday)...she's a bundle of fun, energy, style, class, and lots of love !  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom - August 28th, 2011!  XOXO

LOVELAND PASS, BRECKENRIDGE, AND GIFTS GALORE...

In playing catch-up with teaching mega classes at the store and getting samples finished, everyday life has taken a "hit" recently...that has included updating my blog on a timely basis.  So, let's rectify that, shall we.  While with the out of town girls from CO and MO, our second day together found us heading up and over beautiful Loveland Pass.

Located on the Continental Divide in the Front Range west of Denver, the summit of the Pass has an elevation of 11,990 ft. above sea level (cold, windy, and lots of snow...in the middle of June).  The road is a steep climb and drop, with lots of hairpin turns...not my favorite road to drive over as a kid (before they built the Eisenhower Tunnel), but certainly a beautiful drive, and one that Joleen and I wanted Chris and Angie to experience.  Angie was NOT impressed, and asked to sit in the back on our way down.

The other side drops you right into Dillon Reservoir..not actually into the lake, but into the town of Dillon, itself - a great place for a photo op, and to let Angie catch her breath, once we were down from the mountain.

Travelling down the road, towards the lovely little mountain town of Breckenridge, we took a tiny detour for some more CO history.  When gold was discovered in the Blue River in 1859, dredge boats were brought in to extract it.  There are still the remnants of nine of these rigs, and the piles of rocks dredged out of the rivers, in the area.  A little hiking, picture taking, and more of a chance for Angie to lose that green tinge her face had taken on.

Lunch and sightseeing, among friends - wonderful way to spend a day!  CO has recently passed the medical marijuana law, and "dispensaries" are plentiful throughout the state...while we didn't have a membership pass that day, it provided for a pretty great photo op.

Which brings me to the goodies...and creative talent in the hands of every one of these gals.  Each of us came bearing gifts for the others.

Make sure and click on the photos to enlarge - if you get a magnifying glass with a + sign, click again!  My eyes aren't what they used to be, either.

Angie brought me two gorgeous necklaces she had made - Marie Antoinette and antique keys, under glass.  AND, she fashioned a photo holder from maps of each of our respective homes, and summer destination spots.  As soon as she gets a website, I can send you her way.

The stunning, vintage jewelry box was hand painted by Chris (The Antique Pallet).  I've received several of Chris' beautiful art pieces over the past few years, and each seems to outdo the next.  I don't know how she will top this, and I will cherish it forever!

Last, but certainly not least, was the beautiful large jar and antique sewing basket (to add to my collection), from dear Joleen (The Primitive Bucket).  She even used a tutorial I posted awhile back, for the flowers, one of which has the most wonderful antique button atop it, and now holds my secrets and my heart.  Thank you girls...for the gifts and a fabulous three days of fun among friends!  Here's to you, girls...throw back a Patron, in those Coors shot glasses, for me!  XOXO

THE CIVIL WARS...

Someone new I've found, and wanted to share ~ just "because", today...back to the vacation photos tomorrow.  Turn up your volume ~ folk music at it's finest.

And someone old I wanted to share ~ Happy 23rd Birthday to my daughter, Jaclyn (Jaci), this fine August 10th...here's to 83 more, darling!

Make sure to click on the Old Grey Mare Giveaway button on my sidebar - fabulous gifts from 8 different artisans.  You've got 'til Sunday evening, but time's a wastin'!  Happy Wednesday...

BIG, HONKIN' GIVEAWAY AT OLD GREY MARE PRIMITIVES...

Suzan, at OLD GREY MARE, is having a giveaway!  Not just any giveaway, but one that involves 8 separate gifts, from 8 separate artisans...more fun than a barrel of monkeys (those of you who know me know that's a touchy subject).  I must say that I was more than a little honored to have been asked to join in on the shenanigans.

Z's invitation to participate came at the "perfect right time".  I have recently gone back to teaching at a brand new quilt store in town (SEW OBSESSED QUILTER'S BOUTIQUE), and had just written up a new pattern for an upcoming class - this is the "cover girl" for the pattern.  Quilted, wrapped up, and bound for a new home... 

This travel jewelry roll came to fruition at a request from my Mom last year, as she was told this was a "seasonal" item that the stores did not carry year round?! I still can't quite figure out WHICH season you might find these in but, in any case, I solved the problem by designing one for her.  Nine separate, zippered, clear vinyl pockets will hold your jewels, safe and sound, in suitcase or purse.  The bottom two pockets are large enough to house bangle bracelets.

And, since I couldn't very well give away a jewelry case without a piece of jewelry, one of my Rhinestone Cowgirl Crystal Chandelier necklaces will be included...this one complete with hand formed brass links; new chain; vintage doo-dads, repurposed jewelry bits; showcasing the "King of the Cowboys" and his trusty steed ~ Roy Rogers and Trigger ~ behind vintage Vegas casino glass, surrounded by tiny rhinestones.  A little shameless self promotion - more available in the Etsy shop.

Eight gifts, in all, for this clever giveaway - the fabulous remainder, from 7 VERY talented artisans, can be seen at  OLD GREY MARE. 

Z is a hell of a gal - if anyone can pull off a giveaway of this magnitude, it will be her.  She has all the details, at her blog, on just what needs to be done to enter (you're gonna' be visiting some pretty rockin' blogs in the process - you'll be glad you did).  Make sure you tell her I sent you ~ much luck on your entries!  Happy Tuesday - Tanya

HIPPIES AND A GIVEAWAY...

Somewhere WAYYYYYYYYYYY in the middle, between this...

and this...

last evening, was this...

a FAR cry from the goings-on of 1969 at Max Yazgur's Farm.  I know that had my folks lived on the east coast (and I was older than 2 when Woodstock came around), I would have been there, or died trying.  Girls Night Out took us to the Hilton, where the highlight of the evening (I had none of them really in the Hippie category until the last two acts - Mark Farner of Grand Funk was the other of the two) was this man - co-founder of the famed group, Traffic (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, and DAVE MASON)...

(Video actually from the induction of "Traffic" into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004) - Mason was the final act on the bill last night (yes, they definitely saved the best for last), and proved he can still rock the house - "Rock and Roll is not an age, it's an attitude!"  "Hippiefest"?  Not quite, but definitely a great night out with some wonderful friends, finished off with "my" kind of music.

AND, Suzan of Old Grey Mare, has a spectacular giveaway starting tomorrow...she contacted me this past weekend to see if I was interested in donating to her cause - that I was!  Will drop in here later and post more about it - OK, in all actuality, it will be MUCH later...like tomorrow.  Enjoy the music, until then...peace out!

MY CONCERT REVIEW - DWIGHT YOAKAM...

Saturday night concert - OUTSTANDING - two thumbs way up (5th time seeing him...first time was 17 years ago, when I was 12...always a great show).

Oh yes, I would!

The end.

MY MOVIE REVIEW - COWBOYS AND ALIENS...

Daniel Craig is spectacular...Daniel Craig's arms are spectacular...Daniel Craig takes his shirt off...Daniel Craig kicks ass...Harrison Ford was awesome...Daniel Craig was awesomer...there were some aliens...and more cowboys...Daniel Craig should be the king of all cowboys...Daniel Craig should wear leather chaps everywhere...BEST COWBOY vs. ALIEN MOVIE, EVER!

Dazzling view of the alien spaceship...

Aye yi yi!...see it at a theater near you...definitely two thumbs up...the end.