Summer Storms

It's the end of July... and we are having giant thunderstorms up here in the mountains. Yesterday was the worst hailstorm I've ever seen in my life, really horrendous. I saw the closest lightning bolt I've ever seen, too, and almost fell over flat when the accompanying thunder hit. It was so loud, wow. But afterwards? A rainbow from God...., pretty, isn't it?

CLICK on photos to enlarge.

So when the storm clouds started gathering today, I went out and took some sky shots around me to share with you all. The photo below was taken looking east, and that is Job's Peak in the distance.


Again, the photo below shows Job's Peak, but this time I was looking more toward the south.

Here is a shot of the 10,000-foot Heavenly Mountain with a 75-foot tall pine tree right in front of it. That sky is looking threatening!

Looking toward the west before the hail started, we still see some blue sky:

I pulled this photo out of the last one because it's a really interesting cloud formation, it makes me think of the Loch Ness monster, roaring out loud.

Then the hail came! It was loud, hitting everything with a power hard to explain, watching the hailstones hit the ground, the roof and the deck and bounce 6 feet high was enthralling!

It's quiet now, and it feels as though the world has had a nice washing, and is clean again. Ahhhhhh...

Purple Princess Chutzpah

I have to share this photo with you, because all of us can clearly see that when you're wearing a beautiful purple princess dress and matching high-heel shoes with clear tops, you're just full of what is called "chutzpah". It doesn't matter what you are wearing under that purple princess dress or that your socks are blue, not one bit. Beautiful is beautiful, just ask little Gracie. In her words, "I am a pitty pincess"... that's all there is to it.

Almost a Repeat

In my last blog post on May 10th, I shared snow and kitty bibs. Well guess what? I might as well call this one the same thing, because even though it is May 28th and we should be seeing some summer weather by now.... it's still winter. To prove it, I took a photo out my front door tonight, nice, huh? Grrrrr! No more snow! To add insult to injury, I just heard the snowplows going up and down the street. And it's still snowing... sigh.

On a happier note, granddaughter Gracie is here with me this week, and I took the opportunity to snap a photo of her in the famous Kitty Bib. She sure has grown since that last photo taken in September 2009. She's been a complete joy to care for, she's a little angel child and is no problem at all. She's the sweetest little thing, seriously. She cried only once this week, and that was when I tried to get her to watch the DVD "Lilo and Stitch" instead of watching her "Barbie" DVD for the 14th time. Guess who won? Yep, it was like David and Goliath again, and we watched "Barbie". LOL!


I'm having so much fun, what a blessed life I have and a wonderful family who are willing to "lend" me their children to enjoy for a few days in the autumn of my life. They couldn't be better to be me in that regard, and I'm very happy. :)

Two subjects - Snow and Granddaughters

This post was actually for yesterday, May 9th, but little Lucie babykins managed to keep me from getting it posted. The photo above is my previously green back yard... It ended up snowing and hailing all day yesterday and this morning we had to shovel the front stairs to get out of the house. Hopefully it's going to stop now and we can get back to Spring. No doubt my daffodils are going to suffer because of this snow, darn. I was going to see about cutting them yesterday but I was a day late.


Now this is the fun part of the blogging for today. The photo above is my youngest grandchild, Lucie. She is the number ten grandbaby and she's almost 2 years old. The reason I took the photo, though, is for my second grandchild and first granddaughter, Brittany, who is 26 years old. Brittany and Lucie are cousins.

Brittany is the reason that I originally purchased the Kitty Bib that Lucie is wearing to keep at my house for Brittany when she was about this age! No Velcro on this baby bib - it ties in the back. Can you believe it would last through 9 grandchildren? It has, and most all of them have worn it at one time or another. Lucie loves the kitty on that bib so much - just as Brittany did 24 years ago. The poor kitty is a little worse for wear now, but causes much excitement when we talk about it before putting the bib on. Brittany used to smile and hug the bib and now Lucie does the same thing. So did Lucie's two big brothers and her cousin Gracie, this bib has been a hit for a while now.

Here is a photo of #9 grandbaby, Gracie, wearing the bib (and in the same plaid high chair) in September 2009. Gracie and Lucie are cousins, just 14 months difference in age.


I wish I had a photo of Brittany wearing the bib, too, but I don't. However, below are two photos of Brittany, then and last summer.




Gotta love those granddaughters! And I do. :) Being a grandma is one of the best things I've ever had the chance to be. Watching them grow and become who they will be has been good.

SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY PROMOTION!

What's in the basket? 2 clocks, 2 pocket mirrors, 1 large barrette, 2 hair clips, 8 necklaces, 5 pairs of earrings, 1 votive, 1 cookie turner, buttons, note cards, sculpture of a cat in a frame, wine glass charms, lighted keyring, a ring, 2 bracelets - quite a nice selection!

Spoil your mom or yourself for that matter! Win a Beautiful Basket Full of gorgeous Polymer Clay items. No Purchase Necessary. To be entered into the drawing, either purchase an item from the stores below from April 11th to the 25th or send an email to Laurelsteven.etsy.com with your name and email address.

What better way to honor your mom than with a handcrafted, beautiful item from the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy members? Shop handmade on Etsy. Shop at the stores listed below to enter!

11BOLDStreet.etsy.com
Alisonekurek.etsy.com
Beckysuecreations.etsy.com
Ashpaints.etsy.com
Higirls.etsy.com
Kellyplaysclay.etsy.com
Jkollman.etsy.com
Marcympc.etsy.com
NKDesigns.etsy.com
Peggers.etsy.com
Polymerclaycreations.etsy.com
ThePleasantPheasant.etsy.com

Every item purchased will give you an entry into the promotion, or for "no purchase necessary", just contact LaurelSteven.etsy.com with your name and address.

Promotion ends on April 25th so hurry! Only a couple more days to enter. :)

AyeletBeads A Winner

I'd like to tell you all a little bit about a friend of mine, Ayelet, who is the owner of AyeletBeads. Ayelet hails from New Zealand and she has been developing with polymer clay for a few years very impressively. Her works are better and better all the time, love to see that happen to polymer clayers. Her canes are gorgeous and her jewelry is awe-inspiring for its beautiful textures, colors and design.

Here is a link to her Flickr site for some yummy eye candy:
AyeletBeads at Flickr

(I wasn't kidding, was I?)

She also does craft shows and has an Etsy shop named AyeletBeads here.

One of Ayelet's claims to fame is that she writes the BEST polymer clay tutorials! (Hint: check her Etsy shop for the tutorials.) I have several of them and they never fail to please. I've been able to use them in a few different ways making them indispensible to me. So a few months ago, I got this awesome "Magic Flower Cane" tutorial from her and was so wanting to try it out. Then I became unable to clay due to a pinched nerve for a couple of months, so I couldn't do it. But now that I'm doing better, I pulled it out, and gave it a try. It's a great tutorial! Easy and fun (just don't make your cane huge like I did!) and with great possibilities.

Thank you, Ayelet, for being such a nice woman, an awesome polymer clayer, a good friend and a good tutorial writer!

Below is the photo of my first cane made with her Magic Flower Cane tutorial. Something weird went on with the white clay in this cane, it was way too soft and compressed together when I reduced it, but I still like the flower very much. I'm going to make another one shortly, hopefully the white clay will behave next time. Ayelet, I hope I made you proud. (((Ayelet)))

Thing A Day for February 6th (Super Bowl Sunday)

Well in honor of the Super Bowl... I'm NOT watching it! But I am going to post a photo of my Thing A Day entry for Day 6 of the Polymer Clay Central February Thing A Day Challenge, which just so happens to be a new Etsy listing, as well.

This is a silver and yellow key fob - the photo doesn't do it justice at all, it's SO pretty! The little touches of yellow just make it glow, and the Mother of Pearl coin beads along with the Bali spacers make it very pretty. I like this one a lot, can you tell?





I've been carrying two of these key fobs in my purse for EVER, and I love them. Every time I pull them out of my purse I'm pleased to see them, isn't that cool? I like the fact that they hold up wonderfully - both of my polymer clay focal beads have been dragged in and out of that purse for years, and they look as good as ever.

Thing a Day is extra fun for me this year since claying has been so difficult. But it's pushing me in the right direction as I clayed some more last night! I'm so happy and although getting up this morning was tough, I'm moving around again. Might clay some MORE!! Woo hoo.