BOOK GIVE AWAY

Hello all! Today I'm posting a book give away, (THE BLUE BEAD). I'll leave it up until Sunday and then I will mail the book out first thing Monday morning. All you have to do is let me know that you would like to have it and write your name and address so I can find you. I'll do a random drawing, names in the hat type of thing. Also, I wanted to mention this new blog about writing and reading children's books in the north. Where ravens roam and writers dream.  http://kidlitnorth.blogspot.com/  Ann Dixon, author and librarian, has taken on the task of informing us about whats hot and happening out there for readers who enjoy stories from the north. Check it out!

ELATION

I'm back from Santa Fe, exhausted but happy. When ever I do a show, I always joke ( not really) that there will be either elation or depression, well, ELATION is the winner. After all the months and months of preparation there was a big payoff at the end. The gallery opening was pack with patrons who loved the work and were willing to pay for it! Fantastic feeling and I got to share it with my sister Maggie and my niece Annie, who took these wonderful pictures. It was the girls on the loose amongst the teeming hoards of art buyer who came to town for Indian market. Santa Fe is crazzzzzy! Came home with orders, so in a couple of days I will be back to the bead table, but for now I'm taking a break and playing in the sun. Yes it finally came out. How lucky are we!!

GOING TO THE SOUTHWEST

I love the southwest. If I wasn't a die- hard Alaskan I would live in the desert with the lizards and the cactus.  There is something about the  brilliant sunsets and the evening skies that  feel magical to me.  This piece with the dactura flowers and dragonflies is meant to convey the feeling of a warm mysterious night.

POPULAR POPPIES

I've always loved poppies. The gorgeous  summer fields of the common orange poppy and the huge and spectacular Arctic blue poppy that everyone grows around in the summer. But this year I tried the red oriental poppies. Started the seeds early in the green house, babied them along until the weather was warm enough to plant them in the ground. Then it just rained and rained on them, so I thought that no way was I going to get blooms. But low and behold, first the intriguing buds, then walla, beautiful red delights. I love using red and black in my  beadwork as a color scheme so these beauties  were definitely an inspiration. Yea, Happy gardening and happy beading...