These days I find myself tuning in to Pandora when I’m up late and working on the computer.  Like right now I’m enjoying a little retro flashback with The Psychedelic Furs and I’m transported back to the early 5 years of when we lived in Germany – sigh (such great times).

This week I had a great time at Angela’s Happy Stamper taking a beginning stamping class with Jeanette.  I can’t believe I’ve been wanting to do this for a year and finally it worked out with my schedule.  I know it’s been a year because I went back to find the post about my cool stamping book – and I found it last October!  My stamper extraordinaire friend, Maureen, created a stamping practice book for me, which I took to class and filled with notes.  I know, many of you know inks like the back of your hand….but we newbies have to start somewhere!  I can see how hanging out in a stamp store can be dangerous….so many cool stamps, pens, powders….and  latest issues of  Stampington magazines to tempt me!   The last thing I need is a new interest, but today I couldn’t help myself.  I embossed a few thank-you cards, and ended up with glitter everywhere!   

Samples at Angela's Happy Stamper

I love surprises.  And I couldn’t be happier that the mailman has brought me quite a few lately.  Can I show them off here?  They are from blog friends.  First I want to show you some absolutely stunning seed bead earrings by Nancy Peterson of Beading from the Heart.  A little while ago she featured a set in her Elspeth series.  I loved the earrings and inquired about ordering a custom pair… could she make them in a black/neutral color scheme?  Nancy was happy to oblige and emailed photos of color variations as she made them to be sure they were what I had in mind.  I couldn’t be happier with them!  And she even sent me an additional pair as a huge surprise!  And fyi, if you work with seed beads, Nancy is offering a discount right now on her patterns.

Going back to last October again, back then I offered a blog give away and Boot-C of Mama’s Got to Doodle won.  Coincidentally I recently won a give away on her blog.  She sent me a sweet beaded fairy, a little handmade box full of beads, and – so touching – a mixed metal heart she made with the sheet metal and stamps she won in my give away.   Now that was really nice to see!

Tiny fairy by Boot-C

Boot-C's surprise