Our weather has just been great this week. I love the first weeks of spring - until the pine pollen starts flying around, anyway. Coastal NC has tons of pine trees (there's a reason we're known as the Tar Heel State - it came from the pine tar during the lumbering days), and when they start pollinating, it's almost disgusting. You can literally see it coming out of the trees in clouds. yee-uck!
But, really, that's the only true downside to living here. Spring comes earlier here (my daffodils are almost done blooming), and the weather starts warming up really well in April. I can't plant tulips here - it doesn't usually get cold enough in the winter for them to bloom as perennials. This year would have been a great year to put some in, but I didn't know we were going to freeze our tails off this winter! lol
Spring also means fresh new jewelry ideas, and I can't wait to see how the stuff I've sketched out for our fashion show turns out. I finished one piece with rhodochrosite (an awesome pink stone) and some antiqued brass chain, although I don't know if it's show worthy. I'll send it to Mom and let her figure it out. ;) Hopefully, my stuff from Fire Mountain will get here today - it's supposed to and they've never been late yet! Of course, I have church tonight, so I won't get to play until tomorrow, but I guess I can be good and wait ONE MORE DAY! ha ha ha
Ya'll have a great day and pardon my springtime rambling. It just seemed like the right thing to do! Give somebody you love a great big hug today!
I have been outside today, planting flowers. That's right - planting flowers. I put out some Black-eyed susans and some red poppies. It's beautiful today - the sun is out and it's 69 degrees outside. (heartsabustin ducks various flying objects). Of course, I haven't done anything like that in a while, so now my back muscles are reminding me that I need a nice hot shower in a little bit! Preferably after the little monsters have settled in for their naps!
I don't feel too bad about the gorgeous weather today - I spent the first part of this week freezing to death because it was so cold outside and heat pumps don't like super cold weather. Hubby had no understanding of my pain - he was out in Arizona. He called to tell me it was 85 degrees out there on Monday. My reply was less than polite. ;-)
I hope you are having a great day, and if it isn't as warm there as it is here, take heart. Spring really is just around the corner!
My mom called me a bit ago with some totally mind-blowing news. There is a huge festival that goes on in Knoxville, TN, called the Dogwood Arts Festival. It's an enormous month-long celebration of the arts at one the most gorgeous times in the spring when the dogwoods are blooming. There are home tours, fine arts shows (VERY big deal to get into those shows - ask my mom, she'll tell you!), garden tours, fashion shows, silent auctions, the whole bit, for the entire month of April.
We got our jewelry into a ticket-holders only fashion show luncheon in April.
There is no way for me to explain to you what a major deal this is in our family. My mother busted her everlovin' trying to get into the Fine Arts Show. And my mom is the best watercolor artist in Tennessee. Period. I'm not just saying that 'cause she's my mom, either. I mean, she's really, REALLY good. For our jewelry to be selected for the boutique and fashion show portion of the Dogwood Arts Festival is like being invited to New York City to exhibit in a ritzy gallery where the stuff sells for $10,000 a pop! I mean, we really think it's that big.
I know, we're so Southern, aren't we? LOL Obviously, I'm a teeny weeny bit excited and already drooling over the pages of my Fire Mountain catalog, looking longingly at the sterling silver and gold-filled wire. Gemstones I got, money is coming in, and I'm gonna place an order!
I hope you have something equally exciting going on in your life. Everyone needs to have a pick-me-up now and then, and I am way, WAY up right now. Ya'll have a great day, and do something great for yourself, now, ya hear? ;)
There is a neat little shop on Etsy called Chosen Vintage. She sells the neatest little pieces of jewelry. She takes vintage lockets, and, I'm guessing at this, she upcycles them. She adds Swarovski crystals for a little bling, and they are so sweet. There are several vintage lockets, but my favorite is a pair of lockets that are the same. You keep one for yourself and give the other one to your best friend, daughter, sister, whatever. Her shop is worth taking a few minutes of time and browsing through it. You never know - you might find a very special piece you just can't live without.
ChosenVintage and I are members of the Etsy Addicts Anonymous Team on Etsy. If you're on Etsy, and you just can't stay away, then you're an addict. If you're interested in joining our team, right now, you can contact me at Etsy, or contact SweetTushies after March 5. Go check out our team blog at www.etsyaddictsanonymous....
And go browse through ChosenVintage's shop. There are some beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry. You all have a fabulous day!
Evidently, the girls of heartsabustin are on a Treasury roll. I snagged a Treasury West this evening and have to share the link because otherwise you'll never find it!
Unfortunately, this is ALL that's going on in my sad, sad little world. However, I am stoked about the exposure, so I'm not gonna complain. This treasury features some wonderful fellow Wilmingtonians and other North Carolinians. Go check it out and give 'em some love. I love NC!
