Post Show Weekend: Things to be Thankful For ~And Lots of Pictures

I am thankful for........................
1.  You guys.  I am so thankful for all your compliments, support and encouragment.  I don't know why I doubt myself so much.  I love my work.  You love my work.  Yet I still worry no one else will.  I am working on my confidence, and you guys have been great!  So thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

2.  A good show.  Whew!  It was a lot of work to get ready for it, since I have really slacked off in the sea glass department this year.  But the festival was good.  Lots of nice people (I really enjoyed DE VERY MUCH!) and I sold some of my favorite items.  I hope they love and enjoy them.  (here are some DE bay and canal pics)

DE Bay Beach

View from dinner at Gilligans

3.  Great weather.  I could not have wished for a more perfect weekend.  Mid 80's, a nice breeze, AND my tent was under a tree in the shade (and on the corner- prime spot). 

4.  I came home to find that I was picked for the Art Bead Scene designer of the week.  So I am thankful for that honor.  I really liked my piece I made for that challenge, and I am glad they did too.

5.  I got asked to join Love my Art Jewelry.  I am so excited to be a part of that!  I love their blog, and the fabulous ladies who make it so personable, and informative. 

6.  For my husband, who helped me all weekend, starting with driving me to and from DE, AND thanks to his quick reflexes, kept up from getting hit by a tractor trailer!!!!  (he was great company too!)

7.  I am thankful for the Vesuvio Motel.  It was a great price, and the owner was so nice!  I love a little family owned business.  We talked taxes and owning our own business's, and we left feeling like we made a friend there.  PLUS- we could walk to everything.  The bay, all the restauraunts, and the festival itself.  Nice place.  I highly reccomend it.  No frills, but clean, close, free parking, and a nice little business.

8.  For a walk on the beach.  On monday, before traveling home, Justin and I visited Henlopen Cape and hit the beach for a hike.  We walked about 3 miles round trip (during said walk, I thought I was dying~ yes~ I need to walk a little more, boy am I outta shape), taking pics of the historic ruins of the old Army base that used to be there, and the GIANT dunes.  We also got to see dolphins swimming a long the coast on our walk back.

Can you see the tiny people in this pic for size comparison?  The dune was a mountain!

9.  For being home.  I got the greeting of a queen.  First from my youngest, who couldn't seem to hug me enough, then the older two.  And I cannot forget the dogs.  My Jackson must have jumped and danced and licked me for an hour!  He is such a sweetie!

10.  And last but not least- for the grandparents who cared for our kids while we were away.  They did so much fun stuff with them, and I could relax knowing they were in safe and loving hands while we were gone.  They played in the pool with their cousins, went to a movie, went to great grandmoms for ice cream and snacks, rode bikes (which their pop adjusted seats, took off training wheels and oiled them for us)....just to name a few.  They had a blast and so did we.

All in all, we met lots of fun people~ many from PA who now reside in DE.  We found a favorite place for wings and beers, with fun people there each day.

Jerry's Seafood~ best wings in town

It has a great old ceiling~ lots of original architecture in this town.  Loved it!

I met some local folks (local as in here in pa) who may want to carry my jewelry in their shop, and a fun old guy who sold beach glass and antiques~~

 I could not get enough of his southern twang, and sincere love for what he does, which is sell stuff to folks like us.  He made me laugh and I just loved his character.  I love doing shows.  All the work is hard, but I love to meet new people, and DE was a great experience all around.  I will surely do that show again.  Here are some more pics of the show, and some of the work I made for it.  Enjoy!

I had a corner booth~ such a sweet spot

this was my view out the front / side

these were my neighbors to my back

They had a little picnic area and there were more vendors up front- beyond those trees

Here is a close up of the sea glass guys table- there were treasures to be found in there, and I bought some of them.

Now- for the jewelry.  Some of it sold, and some will move on to Tinicum with me.

Love this one~ it sold.

These are rare colors on silver circles

Below: I have one similar to this, that may not leave my neck for a long time.  This one will be at Tinicum.

I think I still have this one too.

sold

sold

sold

still available (I think)

still have this one- great colors!!!

below: still have this, but forgot to take pics of the two butterfly necklaces I did sell.

The color is so rich on this one- still have it too

below: still have this one too~kinda like my keeper as well.

may have sold that one

sold

sold

I am so glad that I took pictures before the show.  I forget all the time, and it seems like those are the ones that sell.  Then I never have a picture record of them. 

I did get a picture of this one below~ I had to make it at the show after I sold a butterfly necklace I took along, then made another (that one had a full moon baby on it) and sold it just as I put it out.  Then I made sure to make this and get a picture.  I guess I better make some wings for Tinicum!

I still have the one above.  I really like the wings with the sea glass. 

One more thing, something I am not thankful for, but I am trying to find the good of it, and will be sharing about it later. I had my first item stolen from me, and it was a special and expensive piece.  I am composing a blog about the experience, to be shared soon. 

Thanks again.  You guys rock.  Now I can go and spend some time with those kids and dogs who I missed so much!

Kids, Sister in Law, Sea Glass and ~ Bead Table Wednesday

Man- do I miss these guys.  They are home for the summer, and I have been soooo very busy, I can't stand it!  They are doing Bible School this week, so that is fun for them, but I can't wait until next week, when my show is done, and its all about them!

This year, I am trying to manage my time better, but its a learning process.  Now that I make my own components and findings, I am realizing HOW much more time I need to spend getting those things stocked, before I can even begin to create.  So, I am behind.  I had very little sea glass jewerly for this festival, and have been filling my display like crazy.  Its getting there, but its still kinda bare.

A new tradition has kinda formed with my "week before the show" panic.  My sister in law (I just LOVE her~ it is rumored that I married her brother, just to gain her as a sister.  I will not comment on that though...LOL) moved very close to us last year.  So she now comes over one night and helps during my mad dash to finish up.  She does things like sew the little bags for my jewelry, and package up pendants, like these below.  We put on some good tunes, drink a little wine, and gab, and gab and gab (oh yeah- and work too!).  It's extrememly fun.  I look forward to that "break" in my crazy show prep week.   I totally owe some kind of awesome necklace now!  She really rocks.

Now- Bead Table Wednesday.  Oh my word.  Time if flying by.  Ok- here's the table, or a small, semi-clean section of it anyway.

Bezels, charms and sea glass swirls waiting to be assembled!

Yes- I made more bezels, these are all silver.  I just love them.  I used very rare sea glass colors- I thought they deserved only the best.  Well, even thought I knew better, and though I was very careful, my Liver Of Sulphur got under the sea glass.  RRGGG!  This one is ruined.  I thought of selling it for a discount, I mean, I would wear it, but if you are a sea glass collector, it really takes away from the value, of the perfect lime green sea glass.  So, since my sister in laws favorite color is green (and she likes bright colors), and she didn't think this looked bad, I think this will be hers!  She will rock this necklace, and I would be honored to have her own a nice silver piece of my jewelry. 

So thats it.  I need to make charm necklaces today (to which my hubby says, "oh those are my favorite"~ to which I give him funny looks, never realizing he even noticed my jewerly, so sweet!)  I need to make the rest of those pieces laying on my table, waiting to be made into complete necklaces.  I need to wrap some rings, and drill some more glass to take with me.  *sigh*  Getting there.
At least all these earrings are done.  I need to do a few more pairs, but Whew!!!!  I hope that 65 pairs will be ok!

Now- if you all wouldn't mind praying, or doing an anti-rain dance for Lewes DE this weekend, I would appreciate it.  Thanks!!!!!

Now to go and see whats on your bead table, because I miss my bloggy time!

Shop now and Save Sale in my etsy shops!

Well, I am really freaking out about this sea glass festival now (Coastal Arts Festival in Lewes DE June 25-26th).  I need to give myself a little more time to get ready.  So, I am closing both of my etsy shops from June 17th-28th.  Until that time, you can use code shop25 in either of them to get 25% off!  So shop now, and save.

You can save on Artsian Accents

or Staci Louise Jewelry

I did finally get some things made, but I have so much more to do!  I really like how these are turning out though, so I thought I'd share.

sorry- no time to edit photo's, I have to get back into the shop! 

My favorites are those "lily pad" bezels for the sea glass.  I plan to make more today.  Then its assembling time again.

Wishing you all Sunshine and sea glass!