Another Blueberry Cookie Recipe

I saw this recipe on La Fuji Mama's blog a while back and thought it would be yummy with dried blueberries. I made some really delicious blueberry cookies last winter, but they were very labor intensive and not practical. This recipe is also very yummy and super easy. You can use whatever mix ins you want, so they are super customizable!

And just for fun, something else blue.

Someone's Sleepy

so sleepy

what?

oh, hello!

I caught Lucy sleeping on my pillow the other day. She must have been exhausted because normally she perks up as soon as I come near her. Isn't she cute?! It does look pretty comfy and cozy right there, you can't really blame her.

A New Project

I made this square yesterday and am really excited about it! It is hard to put down the crochet even though I know I should be working on jewelry. The patter is free from Lion Brand Yarn and is called the Skipping Stones Afghan. I am following the pattern but not the color combos. I am also going to make the borders different colors on each square. I may end up adding an extra row of squares as well.

The Gaudalupe

I took these photos of the Guadalupe River when we were down in New Braunfels for the Texas Metal Arts Festival. We camped on the river and though it was beautiful it was too cold to get in. At no other time would I wish for HOT Texas weather than when I want to swim in a natural body of water. I was really disappointed that we didn't get to float or swim, but there is always next time!

My talented mother

Fabric covered journal

Fabric Postcards

Fiber art wall piece

I spent most of Tuesday at my parents house. Mom and I had lots of projects going. Most importantly I photographed a bunch of her work for some show applications. She submitted several art quilts to one show and she and I applied to share a booth at an art fair in Austin. It felt good to get all of that done! I am not used to photographing 2-d work, so I hope I did a good job.

We also worked on a project for some new designs that I am creating. There was a great deal of interest in my Fiber Pendant at Texas Metal Arts. So I am working on an economical line of jewelry incorporating fiber. I'm really excited about them, and will share as soon as I finish the pieces that I am working on.

In the garden

I have to admit my back yard is in need of some tlc. However, with the rain and cooler temps the garden is coming back to life and I have wanted to wander outside more often. My Tropicana Canna is blooming as is a lovely clear blue morning glory.

Can you see where my color inspiration comes from in my hand dyed yarns? I did some more kool aid dying, this time experimenting with different types of yarn. The lustrous silk bamboo on the left didn't take so well and I never got the water to run clear. The next one is a bamboo wool blend that took better but I don't think it would dye very dark. The other two are both wool, roving and then superwash and both did well.

The Texas Sky

The clouds were amazing and ever changing on our trip to the hill country. I always take pictures of the sky, but seemed to take even more on this trip.

More from Texas Metal Arts

Texas Clouds

Mom in the booth

displays

new earring display

Here are some more photos from the Texas Metal Arts Festival in Gruene last weekend. We had some rain on Saturday, but it was just a steady drizzle. The rest of the time the weather was wonderfully cool and thought it was raining in San Antonio and Austin it stayed rain free for us. You can see from the clouds that they were threatening to let the rain fall at any time. We really were lucky to have such nice weather. I better get to work because I have another show in two more weeks!

Ten years, Wow!

Today is the ten year anniversary of mine and Frank's first date. We shared a dinner of Thai food and watched Crooklyn that night. He made me mix tapes, and even wrote and recorded a song for me on my 24th birthday (my 34th is coming up). We spent hours on the phone with each other that first year. I was living in Argyle and he in Fort Worth, a whopping 30 minutes apart. I was fresh out of college and back from a trip around the western US with my friend Christi. I didn't plan on staying in Texas, but look how that turned out! I moved to Fort Worth nine years ago and we have been married for almost five.

Frank and I had known each other through mutual friends for a couple of years before we started dating. I could tell he was a good guy, everyone that meets him can. I have had people who just met him tell me how nice he is. When we first started dating many folks told me how perfect we were for each other and how if they had a daughter he was the kind of guy they would want her to date. I am so lucky to have found such a wonderful guy to share my life with. I am lucky that my family loves him dearly as well. Frank is a talented, loving and generous man, and I am so lucky to be his lady.

I forgot to mention, the photo on the right was taken on my 24th birthday (November 12th, 1999) and the one on the left at our friends' wedding a couple of years ago.

Gruene, Tx

Frank chatting with a local

Townes Van Zandt on the wall

It was so cool to see the poster for Texas Metal Arts on the wall of Gruene Hall!

Texas' oldest dance hall

A week ago today we arrived late in the Texas hill country, my favorite part of my state. I grew up taking vacations to New Braunfels to float the Gaudalupe river, and was so excited to return. My parents, and Frank accompanied me to my show and we made a little vacation out of it. Thursday night we ate at the famous Grist Mill restaurant in Gruene, and popped into Gruene hall to check it out.

Last Minute

Try as I might I just can't beat pulling all nighters and working right up until the last minute! I just finished up my last piece for my show and I'm so glad I did. I'm really excited about it. It is made with Spiney Oyster Shell beads, and Ruby, Turquoise and Amethyst cabochons. I also made two pendants and a ring in this same style.

It's time!

I'm wrapping things up and getting ready to head down to central Texas for my show this weekend. It is always hard to find time to get proper photos of new work in the mad rush to get ready for a show. Well, I beat the odds this time and got shots of the new pieces above. I am really happy with both of them. I hope you like them too.

The weather forecast for Gruene is looking pretty good. Definitely warm enough to swim and float the river, but no hurricane like last year!

I have to do a demo at the show, wish me luck. I'm going to demonstrate how I use tube rivets.