Please Vote for Beads of Courage

We are currently in 13th place, but need to be in 10th by July 31st in order to stay in the running. Please take a moment to vote!

Through the Beads of Courage Program children coping with life threatening conditions received colorful beads each which symbolize the many treatments and procedures they overcome. Their Beads of Courage collection serves as a tangible, visible symbol of their accomplishments during a challenging treatment journey. Funding provided by Pepsi will help us provide the Beads of Courage Program as a source of support for children in 10 children's hospitals wishing to provide the Program as a source of psychosocial support. The Beads of Courage Program strengthens resilience and quality of life for children coping with cancer and other serious illness.

Art in Cellophane

Maria posted today about Art-O-Mat. They are a company that refurbishes cigarette machines to dispense art. The machine pictured above is in my old stomping grounds, Kalamazoo. Check out the website for a machine near you!

A Word to the Wise, or,

What $100 Will Buy You...

Last night was my ring-making class at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I had a wonderful time and learned many great techiniques. It is 45 minutes away, and it is country driving. I spend the drive home keeping an eye out for deer. As I apporach home, my thoughts turn towards what I had learned that night.

Well...

Last night as I turned onto my road, I was contstructing rings and necklaces in my head. My brain was full of grandeur; glass, copper, silver. It was all good. A spectacular song came on my iPod, so I decided to drive around the block. Passed my house, turned at the next intersection with a light. Turn right. The light was red. I slowed, but did not stop.

*sigh*

BTW, failure to 'Stop & Go at a Red' is $100.

Today's Quote

I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.
-- Maya Angelou

We Have a Winner! We Have Dinner!

We have a winner! Sue Doran won my beadie, and her selection of The Best Life, page 242 will be our dinner sometime in the next week! The entree on page 242 is Whole Wheat Penne with Pea Pesto (I love peas). Sounds yummy! Thank you all for participating! I had a blast, and I plan on doing this again. :)

Psychotic Heart Now on Etsy

I've listed a few more beads in my Etsy shop, including another Psyche & ivory bead. I love to poke and prod the molten glass, and this is the second bead I've made recently with an unexpected heart.

Lady Liberty

I love it when people send me pictures of their creations using my beads. Here is a wonderful Lady Liberty necklace GoddessJoy created with one of my goddesses! Beautiful!

Also, don't forget to enter to win one of my beads!

Pick My Dinner, Win a Bead!

I have cookbooks. Lots and lots of cookbooks. Love to read them, just don't utilize them too often. I cook the same things over & over. I really need to mix things up a little, so once a month I am going to have a drawing. I will list three of my cookbooks and page numbers, and you can win one of my beads. Just choose a cookbook and a page number and post your selection in the comments. I will place each comment in a drawing, and if I draw your name, I will make the recipe on that page and I will send you the bead!

This month's bead:

This month's cookbook selections (entrees):

Favorite Brand Name Best-Loved Recipes, pages 106 - 131

The Low-Carb Cookbook, pages 159 - 246

The Best Life Diet, 226 - 243

I will close the drawing Tuesday, July 6th at 9 p.m., EST. After I pick a name, you will have 3 days to contact me so I can send your beadie! I'll post pics and a review of the meal. So choose a cookbook and a page number in the comments!

Thank you for participating!

Wonder Woman Gets a Makeover

From http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38023857/ns/today-books/:

"She was stuck in 1941. And as female friends of mine kept asking, 'how does she fight in that (bustier) thing without all her parts flying out? How does she carry her stuff?," Straczynski told video game and entertainment website IGN.com in an interview.