Torching Tuesday!

Yesterday I was in the studio doing a little of this and that...made a few buttons, made elements for a new necklace, cleaned up a bit. You know how that goes. But today, I will be at that torch cranking out who knows what. Wait a minute, this sounds like "unstructured" torch time........wasn't I going to do better at structuring?? Didn' I just write that yesterday??? Oh well, thats for the New Year, I'm still in 08!!

Along with the beads & jewelry, I've also been bitten by card making. And yes, I'm pushing the holidays along here and I'm onto Valentine's Day...Here are a few cards I made. I love them.......especially the one with wings. I think today I'll make Heart pendants that are inspired by my cards. Check in tomorrow :)

New Years....What Resolutions Are You Making?

Its just days away from the New Year and I've begun thinking about resolutions. Its a love hate thing with them. On one hand, I really like to think and aspire to being better in someway for the New Year. But, on the other hand, resolutions tend to fizzle out a few weeks into the New Year. Like many of you, I'm going to make a few resolutions anyways and do my best to stick with them. These are just a few things I'm thinking about........this could change but its a start.

Resolution Number 1~ Work smart. By this I mean that I plan on focusing my work schedule better and balancing it with family time. I want to make sure that my work time at the torch is purposeful and better utilized. Unstructured, freetime at the torch is important too for creative growth but as with anything it needs to be balanced.

Resolution Number 2~ Relax. I'm a high energy, busy person. I'm always doing something....work, business and home life always have me on the go. This is good but it can really be a drain. I need to find time to de-stress. I work out in the mornings....this is good but I need more.........I want to get back to yoga in the New Year.

Okay. This is a start. I'm sure I'll fine tune this or maybe just scarp it for different ones by Thursday. What are your resolutions?! Do you think you'll stick to them??


Well, with the time off from work I've also been doing things that I haven't had time for....such as this quilt I began 3 years ago! Its a simple quilt and I had everything cut and ready to be constructed but it just sat around collecting dust. Yesterday was the day it finally got done and I'm so happy I finished it!!! Of course my dogs have already broke it in by balling it up and sleeping on it. Gotta love dog hair around here :)

Twelve Months of Beadmaking....

I got this idea somewhere and thought I'd do a list myself. Starting with this post I'm going to try and come up with 12 different beadmaking suggestions for each month. It will be a fun and potentially useful list to stimulate thinking when the creative well has run dry. I'd love to show YOUR work here too so if you send me your lovelies, I'll post them.

Januaryy~ White. How can you use just white when making beads. Push yourself to create 12 different beads that use just white and clear.

February!~ Hearts. Of course. Exaggerate or simplify the heart shape. Make the bead hole horizontal rather than vertical....see how you can make your hearts different from what you've already done. (I constantly work on this one since hearts are a constant in my work)

March~ long slender cylinder beads that say Spring is on its way! I love Spring....I don't often work with elongated cylinder beads but hey, this is a challenge of sorts.

April~ Latticino & Disc beads. I admit I'm not much of a latticino girl but I do use this technique periodically. Therefore, a focus on this technique for an entire month will do me good. Placing these lovely twisted canes onto a disc bead is also a challenge. But, practice, practice, practice...........thats what I tell my art students, so thats what I must do too!

May~ Coy Fish. There is a Japanese bead artist who makes beautiful fish on beads. (must find her name) I've tried this myself...attempting to figure out just how she does this. What a challenge. Since May 2nd is Childrens Day in Japan, and the symbol is a carp windsock, why not try making a fish on a bead.....or even a fish bead

June~ Murrini. Makum, useum, showum off.

July~

August~

September~

October~

November~

December~

I've got to think on this and continue my list later. I don't want to do the things that I necessarily like to do but would rather do things that I find hard or I procrastinate at trying. Feel free to suggest something!!

Making Stuff...

The Holidays are a great reason to make things. Not that I need a reason! My problem is that I can't stop making stuff....anyways, I think making stuff is relaxing, fun and just plain theraputic. And, I think handmade items are the best way to show someone you love them. So, my art therapy session this morning consists of creating unique placemats that have special quotes on them. These will be a gift for my sister (hope she doesn't read this) Hubby is still sleeping and its just me, Winston and my paints. I'll show you some once they are at a more finished state :)

We had a fairly big snow storm yesterday so I have some orders to get out in the mail today. Wasn't even going to try and get to the post office yesterday after school. It was hard enough getting home. I also have earrings to make and shopping to do. Yes, I thought I was done but I still have 2 or 3 things to pick up.

Hope you all have a great day and have fun preparing for the Holiday!! I know I am :)

Featured Artist~Mallory Hoffman

I've been a bit off track with my Featured Artist series but better late then never is my motto! Mallory Hoffman, a.ka. Rosebud101, is my December artist. Mallory has been a wonderfully kind web buddy and is a wonderful glass artist too. Pictured above is one of my many favorites from her Etsy shop....I hope you will go check out her other work too!

How long have you been making beads? I've been creating beads for about 2 1/2 years.

What inspires you? There are so many things that inspire me. Nature is a driving force in my work. Colors, oh, I love colors! Shapes are fun and interesting too. There are just so many things. Can you tell, I'm a touch ADD, or is it just a touch??

What has been the most challenging with learning your craft? Since I started to make glass beads, I have been working to make consistently good ends to my beads. I don't know why I have such a hard time with that skill, but I do.

What makes you really happy? My children are adults and live independently...every mothers dream come true, but when they come home, its is a wonderful experience to see how they have grown and changed through the years. I love interacting with them as adults! Other things that make me happy ase sales!!! I tell my dog that if we don't make a sale this week, he doesn't get any dog food:)

What really presses you buttons? That's a good question. I think that people who lie to me are the most challenging people I know. Being untruthful does really press my buttons.

Where do you hope to go with your bead/jewelry making? Like so many other people, I'd love to be able to support myselft by making and selling beads and jewelry. However, that's for another lifetime. I think my major goal, right now, is to improve my skills, interact with and meet many other bead makers and sell when I can so that I can buy more glass to melt!

Other interesting information about Mallory: I used to be a high school special education teacher. When I make an "interesting" bead..somewhat wonky of off center, I often think of the youngsters I had in school. I wonder how they are doing at this point in their lives. I love to see them become successful in that they are working and paying their bills, getting married, having children, being good parents and living full, productive lives. It's a thrill to run into them in the communithy and see them as adults.

Now, go visit Mallory!!

New Gift Certificate

I just created this new gift certificate....I have cute ones already but I just felt the need for a change. Plus, I get to make each one of these myself. Each one will be a bit different. I can't wait to make more. The brown background you see is actually the envelop..

Let me know what you think....

Tacky Gift & Cookie Swap

Last night was my holiday party. It was so fun! A few people who had planned on coming couldn't since family issues and illness held them back. We missed them.

My favorite moment of the party was when I had everyone team up for the Christmas Tree Wrap......one person from the team had to be the tree while the other team players had to decorate them. They had about 8 minutes to do this and I almosted pee'd my pants watching it all.

I had a very resourceful team, a creative team and an inovative team which really means another creative one. Yes, that balloon is not really a balloon but a condom!! The condom was taken from another game we played....called Feel Up the Stocking.

Everyone brought a Tacky gift and I read the Right Left Christmas story. We all ended up with some horrid, some good and some strange "gifts". Sue always likes to pretend she has "forgotten" her gift and leaves it here for me to find in the morning BUT this year Santa is mailing it to her!!!! I know she won't read this....she is not much of a computer person.



I'm just sorry I didn't take more pictures! Its hard trying to remember picture taking when your laughing so much!
Well, after about 4 more cups of coffee I think I'll be ready to make some beads today. I have plenty to do in that department.

Working with a Theme

Sometimes a theme just takes off for you and inspires a wealth of items. My theme has been Silver and Glass and I've primarily been focused on earrings. I wanted to work with lower priced items for the holidays considering the economy and all. Anyways, I'm really thrilled with my results. I just shot these and the lighting wasn't the best but I still think they are terrific. Some of these will be available in my Etsy shop so get them while you can. Others will be shipped out to shops. I'll be sure to show you others that are in the line up.

Teavana Nirvana

Yesterday was Black Friday and Peter and I got almost all our Christmas shopping DONE! We took advantage of early hours and early bird specials too. We "wrapped up" our shopping at around 10:30 and then went home for a nice big breakfast.

Later we went out to my favorite mall, Eastview, and just walked around. I was happily surprised to find a new Teavana shop!! I LOVE Teavana........I was turned on to it a few years ago when I was at an Art Teacher conference in Boston. I spent a small fortune then on tea and honey...........14.00 for a jar of honey! I had to have it :) So, last night I hooked Peter up to the Teavana craze and we brought home some amazing Chai.....43.00 type of amazing tea. I have a nack for gravitating towards the expensive. But it was well worth it. So, if you are near a Teavana, go there....your taste buds will love you and tea bags will be a thing of the past.

Today I will be putting some things together, making buttons and preparing for my Tacky Gift & Cookie Swap! Can't wait!!!

Pierced Hearts & Sprocket Earrings

I have some new hearts that I will slowly introduce over the next few weeks. I've been working on a piercing concept for a few months and finally have something I think I like. I've also been really taken with making earrings. Typically I hate making earrings but since the summer I've been on a roll with creating some interesting designs...... I'm now LOVING them.


Let me know what you think!

Where In The World Have I Been??

Yeap. I've neglected my Posting responsibilities. Work, work, work.......and the Holidays. That about sums up what has had me behind the 8 ball. I so love posting too. Its actually very relaxing. I promise to be better :)

I have spent sometime on the worldwide web however.....About a month or so ago I created a Facebook page. I only have 6 friends right now but hope that will grow. I was kind of surprised that only a few of my close friends are hooked up with Facebook. I figured I was the last to jump on board being the procrastinator that I am. I did find an old friend from highschool. I think thats the best part of facebook.....meeting up with people you lost touch with. I'd love to have some of YOU as friends on Facebook! Click on my link over on the right side....I'll be waiting to become friends with you:)

I have some interesting Hearts that I've been working on. Not ready to share them yet since I have to do a few things to them. I think they will come out pretty cool but you can be the judge of that once I show them.

I'm also getting ready for my annual Tacky Gift and Cookie Swap next Friday! It should be tons of fun. I've got some great people coming that will sure to make the night silly and just plain fun.

The Holiday Hustle...

I don't know what I was thinking. I had this silly notion that I was going to avoid the Holiday Hustle of getting things made and prepared for the season of giving by having loads on hand at all times. Crazy me.

People seem to be shopping earlier this year. I've already had dozens of orders (Yippeee) and requests from galleries and boutiques for new items. All of this is good news but it also means I have to get crackin and stay on task.

I'm hoping to have a new bracelet idea ready to share very soon as well as some new earrings & other stuff. In my Etsy shop I'm also going to offer some sweet packages for sale. This is just one of them.....gotta make more packages too. I typically put my jewelry in a lovely drawstring bag that can be used to store jewelry in but I'm also working on a more fancy bag to offer.....don't think that one will be ready for the holidays but it will be available at Valentines!

Open House at Solutions Studio & Spa

Todays the big open house at Solutions Studio and Spa located in Greece, NY. Such a beautiful facility. Nancy Gong did the glass work for them and I was so pleased to have met her. She is THE stained glass lady in Rochester. I'm excited about the open house since it will introduce me to people who may not be familar with my work. Ya, never know. Its good to mix things up and take a different path every now and then.

These are my latest earring design. No catchy name yet, just silver and glass. I love them. Simple is good. I have other things too that I just didn't get to photograph, Oh, well, but I'm happy that I got these few to share.




My theme this holiday season is Silver and Glass. You'll be seeing lots more soon.

I'm Certified!!

3 hard but glorious days of precious metal clay and now I'm a certified instructor! Like lampworking, there is just so much to learn. I think this is just ticket I needed to keep me movin and grovin with my jewelry in a fresh new way. Also, Its nice to bird walk away from your main creative element and become involved with something else. I find it to be stimulating and opens the gates to growth as an artist.

Honestly, its been such a busy & intense 3 days that I just don't feel like uploading images to share. I made a great ring with silver & gold, a nice lental bead, woven earrings and a really neat pen. Plus, so much more detail information that my brain is just floating in what to do next!



Back to reality tomorrow and its back to work. I feel that I need a two day weekend however....thats how pooped I am :) To prepare for tomorrow I just had to finish up making sugar skulls! Like my day wasn't busy enough! Oh, but the kids love decorating them and learning about Days of the Dead!

Getting Certified

WOW. The last two days have been intense. I'm taking a 3 day certification course in PMC. So, if I pass, I will be a certified instructor...Whoooo, hoooooo!! I've been exhausted at the end of each day but am totally enjoying myself.

Our instructor, Celie Fago is just so darn nice. Her work is amazing. She makes it all seem so simple but believe me, its challenging. The Tetrahedron had everyone pulling their hair out!


We made a ring today with gold, ooooooh,aaaaaahhhhh! And tomorrow we'll make another ring with a stone and other interesting things....Each project is designed to have you perfect certain skills so its not a do your own thing kind of class. Of course the embellishments are your own but in order to pass, you have to be able to do certain skills with the pmc. Gosh, I hate tests!!!


These are our lentil beads........they all came out terrific! I'm going to patina mine tonight if I can stay awake. I'll show you all my goodies once they are all complete.

Oh, and a bonus to this class.......I met up with a long time friend! Karen too is taking this course and I'm so happy that we are working together. We've already discussed "play dates" Can't wait!

PMC Pretties & Pretty Packages

What a fun bunch of ladies! This was the recent group in my PMC class and boy were they talented! And such nice people! All of the work came out beautifully.....;) just like I told them it would. They were all so proud of what they did! To bad I didn't get a close up of the goodies.

I'm working on some packaging for the upcoming Holiday season. These fun containers are such a hit that I figured, Why Not? They will be offered in my Etsy shop BUT better yet, Why not take my PMC class in November and learn to do it yourself!!

I've Been Tagged!!

Tag is a blogger's game, which is similar to the kids' game we played so many zillion years ago.

Here's how the cyber-version of tag works;
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

7 Things about me that you may or may not know.

1. I used to be a controsionist. I could make my butt sit on my head.
2. My husband just said my feet are smaller then most childrens
3. I use to be a dental assistant & I HATE dentists
4. I once won a hand stand holding contest in a crowd of about 300.
5. I'm a vegetarian.
6. I love scary movies
7. I like to be around fun, happy, interesting people

People I've Tagged:
1. beadygirlbeads.blogspot.com
2. villa-design.blogspot.com
3. petrajansson.blogspot.com
4. humblebeads.blogspot.com
5. themermaidstale.blogspot.com
6. therealloriola.blogspot.com
7.aardvarkartglass.wordpress.com

Are You Rude??

I'm tuned into Oprah and this is the question....Are you rude? The author of the book, Choosing Civility, is on talking about rudeness and how it effects us. Gosh, I sure think people are rude....not everyone of course, but a high number of people are. PI think people don't consider how others would feel....they can't see anothers point of view. Yes, I've done rude things and as an adult, I've felt terrible about it (most of the time). Yes, people have been rude to me. OMG....and I think the worldwide web has given passive aggresive types the perfect camoflauge of being rude too.

Anywho, I think its a great discussion and it certainly makes you think. I know I'm going to be more conscious of how I act and treat others.....How about you? I can think of a few people who need to check themselves :)

Oooohhh, Check out the blog, Waiter Rant.........interesting.

Scarecrow Festival

On Saturday Pete and I went to Fairports Scarecrow Festival. What fun. It was a day and night long event filled with what else, scarecrows, food and shopping! Pete works in Fairport and his transportation department all worked as a team and created a scarecrow for the event. I was so excited to see Pete working on a creative endeavor!!! He was really in to it too. I think it came out fantastic.

While we were strolling around I came across an interesting sign. Carrot Dogs?! Pete thought this was just the name of the vendor but I needed to really find out. Nope. It was a Carrot on a Hot Dog bun! I love carrots. After we walked around for a bit I came back and tried one. Delicious! A new favorite of mine.


I love the fall and all that it brings. The cider, the colors and all that is harvested is something I look forward to each year. Spring, Summer and Fall are all the seasons I like. Winter is the one I have a hard time with. I hate being cold. And, it gets so dark so early that I feel like I have to get to bed so early. I do try however to enjoy the cold months of winter. We skate, crosscountry ski and sled. But I really like knitting inside under a warm blanket the best :) Gosh, I sound like an old lady :)

Answer this...Just for fun

Four, Four, Four, Four...

A) Four places that I go to over and over:
B) Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
C) Four of my favorite places to eat:
D) Four places I would rather be right now:
E) Four people I think will respond:
F) Four TV shows I watch:

How would you answer this??

I'm adding another one to the list:

G) Four things you really hate:

Here is one way I answered this email:
A. Starbucks, Wegmans, the bathroom, Michaels
B. Donna, Kim, Meg, Sue
C. King & I, Dominics, Cams, India House
D. On a beach, having a massage, in bed with Johnny Depp
E. Kim, Sue, Meg, Donna
F. CSI, Miami Ink, My name is Earl, The Office
G. spiders, mean, nasty people, meat, toothaches

Hmmmm....Whats Cookin?

I've been in a bit of a domestic mood as of late. Really its been a cooking mood. Sunday I made homemade salsa, bananna bread and asaragus soup. Not all to be served together :). Later in the afternoon my sister and two of her kids came over and then the bread and soup were gone! Just what I wanted :) I also had the three of them make a few glass beads....they were a little afraid but loved the challenge.

At school I've been cooking too. Ha, ha, ha.....cooking up some Cookie Crayons that is.


The kids had so much fun making these. I had so much fun making these. I'm already thinking how these will inspire some great beads!

OMG! I LOVE It!

My friend Deb wired up this heart I made her and I think it looks awesome! She just has to teach me. A while back Deb won my FREE Bead drawing by posting comments on my blog. I was happy to send her the Kumihimo necklace and heart I made inside a cleaver package.....more on that later:) This was so fun, I think I'll be doing another FREEBIE soon.

Please check out her blog. She's talented and kind.

Preoccupied with Anxiety

Good God. I am my own worst enemy. I can go from 0 to 60 in a split second..........and I hate being this way. I'm talking anxiety. For almost a week I've had a tooth issue. Came out of the blue....there was no particular tooth event such as something falling out or anything but I had a toothache. I thought okay, maybe there is something stuck and it will work itself out. So, the weekend went by and it still persisted. (it did get somewhat better but remember, I think the worst). On Monday I bravely called the dentist and went in after work. He took exrays, poked around in there, and told me that my teeth are fine. He said it was probably something stuck and it eventually worked itself out..........I knew it. BIG relief.

BUT. Monday night the space behind my last molar (the tooth I thought had an issue) puffed up. A nice way to say swelled up. God. There goes my anxiety levels again. Root canal. Extraction. Infection. Pain. This is what I was thinking. I rinsed and rinsed with salt water and was patient for a day. So today I called the dentist again. I was sure that my file had red flags and flashing lights all over it indicating I was an anxious nut case. They reassured me AGAIN that my exray indicated my teeth were fine and I should not be alarmed by the puffiness. I described it and it was not an absess as I had kinda thought but not really believed. I've had an absess before and know the difference.

Don't you just know that practically right after I got off the phone with the dentist......the puffiness was gone. All better now. What a crazy fool I am.

Needless to say....................I haven't made any beads this week since I've been preoccupied with my anxiety.

Scared Silly

Oh, yesterday was fun. It was my annual Halloween bead bash with a twist. This year I included a stamping aspect....which was loads of fun. I offered a selection of Days of the Dead/ Halloween inspired beads and jewelry AND had two Halloween cards that everyone could make. The earring kits were the hit of the party........I even made a pair that I swear I'm not selling!!!

Typically I have my events in my studio with the door open and tent out front.....very easy to see that SOMETHING is happening here. But yesterday the forecast was wet so I had it indoors. Great. However, I think I lost a few attendies since they saw the studio door closed figuring it was off. Oh, well. Live and learn........better be good with the signage or put it in writting next time. Anywhoooo, there were several in attendance making it a great time to boot. My niece and her friend came too.......they had fun hanging with the ladies and listening to the crazy talk.

I'll be posting some Halloween earring kits in my Etsy shop later in the week........check them out!

I'm in A Treasury!!!

One of my "web friends" has included me in her list of "Glassy Girls Who Blog" treasury on Etsy. Deb is from New Zealand and was one of my featured artists a few months ago. Check it out...Firebird Treasury I'm in good company here! Wonderful artists! Thanks Deb!! I'm honored :)

I was happy to hear from Deb tonight since she was the winner of my last Free Giveaway. I wasn't quite sure when the package would reach New Zealand but it arrived safe and sound. It put a smile on my face as I read that she LOVED the packaging and the heart and Kumihimo necklace I included. The heart was not made into a pendant but Deb has an idea that I'm anxious to see. Sounds like I might be tring her silver woven technique :)

Thanks Deb for the Treasury listing and the wonderful note....you made my night :)

Chaos & more Chaos

So the school year has begun. Its off to a great start I must say but transitioning from "freely scheduled" time to "structured" time has been chaotic! The school year is basically a juggling act....the hope being to keep all the balls in the air! Bead making, jewelry making, order filling, store stocking, card stamping, family life.....the list goes on. We all have our juggling acts don't we? I'm no different.

Also, Chaos is probably my best selling adornment that I create. Each one is similar yet different...making each one very special. My latest Chaos piece sold at Clothesline....the Memorial Art Galleries fundraiser & the best arts show in this region. If this lovely lady didn't purchase it.....I would have been really surprised! She looked fabulous wearing it and HAD to have it!

I know I've been away from posting as of late but I'm getting back in the groove of work and will be back posting more regularly shortly. This weekend I will be preparing for NEXT weekends Halloween bead bash and stampin up party. I'll be sure to take pictures.

Happy Thursday!!

Clothesline & Reconnecting

The Clothesline Arts Festival was this past weekend and it made a wonderful ending to the Summer Festival season. The weather was okay....coolish with some rain and some sun but no downpours!!! And, Lets get real....the economy has been in the dumper meaning each festival has been lower in attendance & in sales. I, however, am very blessed to have a great following.... Thank You to all who visited my booth to either look , chat or to purchase.....I appreciate it all.

One of my favorite parts of the Clothesline is the chatting and re-connecting with old friends & new ones. Last year I re connected with my dear friend Lisa and this year Laurie was the friend I finally saw after 16 years!!!!! We use to have such fun together. She also helped me much more than she knows with a crazy relationship I was in at the time. She has a boyfriend who lives in Italy so once she returns we will get together for dinner and catch up.




My next reconnect was with Elizabeth....I went to undergrad school with her and I just loved her energy, smile and just nice way she had. I actually took a picture of her cause I had that camera with me & I thought, why not...Love that tattoo ....

Then I met, Linda Lawrence....the other Linda Lawrence :) Scary but there are about 3 other Linda Lawrences that I know of who live locally!!! One of them is in the school district I work in and boy was that a problem with my work email!!! I'd show you that picture but I don't like it :) I look tired. So vain, I know.

Well, I know I have to finish up my Kumihimo follow up but goodness, I still don't have that photo yet! Hopefully tomorrow.:) I'll be resting now and watching tv tonight like a very lazy person.

Kumihimo Anyone?

Do you like easy? I sure do and I love this easy to use braiding board. Its called Kumihimo and is a Japanese method of braiding. Traditional Kumihimo boards are not really boards but made from wood and stand rather tall. There are many different braids you can do but I like this one, using 8 cords, which is very simple.



You bring one cord down and the next one move up keeping two cords next to each other as you go around and around and around. This is what it looks like as the thick cording starts to get longer and longer. I'm using silk cording but you can use almost anything.

Its very "mindless" and you can sit anywhere and do it. Last year I made a few necklaces but haven't done anything with them. So I decided to try bracelets, something simple. After I reached the length I wanted I tied thread around the ending and cut off the excess cord.

Now, silly me didn't take a photo of the end result! Sorry about that. I'll show you that either later today or tomorrow. I hope you go get yourself a Kumihimo board and give this a try. Its so fun and easy..... I taught my second graders how to do this and they loved it!!

And The Winner Is......

Peter did the honors late last night so here it goes.........drum roll...............The winner is Deb!! Congrats Deb!! Email me with your address and I'll get your surprise package out to you this week.

If I'm not to tired, I might have photos from todays adventures. If not, then on Monday :)
Enjoy your day........Be or Bead Happy!

What a Day!

It was such a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and I had the whole day to spend with Pete. That doesn't happen often so I need to take advantage of it when I can. It started out early....around 6:30 with me (those are my feet) sitting in my Sky chair out on the porch. It was amazingly quiet and I was in bliss with my coffee and good book.

Around 10:30 Pete and I set out on the bike for a nice country ride to Skeneatlas


The ride there took about 2 hours and when we got there we ate lunch at the Blue Fin Grill overlooking Skeneatlas lake. Afterwards we walked the town and shopped....I was limited in what I could buy due to the bike thing...Darn it! I saw a few things I would have purchased and tons of garage sales along the way I would have stopped at....Oh, well


We got back on the bike and headed to MacKenzie Childs in Aurora. I haven't been to their studio in about 6 years. It had changed hands and was closed to the public for a while but reopened about 2 years ago....today was our first time back and WOW....it was even better than before




We took the house tour (couldn't take pictures inside) and it was like inside Alice In Wonderlands house! Everything painted, patterned and simply beautiful. It sounds like it will become a bed and breakfast in the near future. Can't wait for that



Well, that was the day and What a Day it was! Hope you enjoyed the photos....tomorrow, more bike riding around the finger lakes for a Poker Run! I don't know if my butt can take another full day but I'll give it a good try! Peter pulled the winner...check in tomorrow morning to see who the lucky duck is :) Keep scrolling down to see all the pictures of the MacKenzie Childs estate!