PickleBerries On You Tube!

My millefiori fused glass is now on You Tube! http://www.youtube.com/user/pickleberriesglass My monster of a 12 year old was kind enough to say, "A sideshow making a slide show. Way to go Mom!" Yes, high praise from the peanut gallery. :)

Wordless Wednesday...

I've Added A Show!

I'm excited to be part of the "Thanksgifting" show at Frame-Ups and Capstone Gallery in Minneapolis on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 28th. There will be a variety of lovely artisan made items! Maybe you are looking for something different to do with family or friends who are here from out-of-town or would you like to focus more on buying local this holiday season? Whatever your motivation, stop-in for some unique shopping.

Frame-up & Capstone Gallery
Saturday, November 28th
10am-5pm
4325 Nicollet Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409

It's Showtime!

Today I spent the morning setting up my table at the Ebenezer Ridges "Holiday Village Market" in Burnsville, MN. (The picture shows my $17.00 pendants carefully packed for the show.) The location in the market is wonderful, right by the gift shop and coffee shop under a nice bright light. I must admit that I thought my pieces were gorgeously displayed when I finally walked away! As in past shows here, there is an interesting mix of vendors with items being sold for both children and adults. I saw some of the same people as last year and new artisans too. I'll definitely be popping back in to make some gift purchases!

Ebenezer Ridges "Holiday Village Market"
November 4th-7th
Wednesday 3-8, Thursday & Friday 10-5:30, Saturday 10-1
13820 Community Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337

My Mess

OK, maybe not so much mess as organized chaos! At the top of the picture there are some rows of completed cabochons waiting for ponytail, earring and pendant bails to be glued on. You can see rows of pairs of millefiori slices on the left awaiting inspiration. The millefiori on the right has already been paired up with other slices that I'll to use together in earrings. I also have jewelry hang tags drying, each is glued to a business card to be hung on my display pieces. This is what my table has looked like this last week as I've prepared pieces for Papa's Barn Boutique

All of my inventory, 105 pieces, was delivered this last Saturday. There are earrings, ponytail holders and pendants in a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles. The venue in Wabasha is fabulous. It's a family farm in the foothills of the bluffs along the Mississippi, beautiful! Most of the merchandise had been delivered by the other vendors by the time I arrived with mine. I got to wander through both floors of the barn and peek. The antique and handmade furniture was lovely, the prices were so reasonable for such quality. I could have done some serious damage if they were open for business! Every vendor booth with gifts, Halloween and Christmas items were decorated deliciously. These women who run the show are quite talented in the art of display. About the only thing missing were the food vendors who arrive later this week, kettle corn freshly made anyone?! Starting on Friday the Boutique will run for 10 days and be open from 8-6. I'll be hard pressed not to shoot down first thing on Friday and load up my car with goodies!

Wordless Wednesday

The End Of Summer or Time To Give My Child Back To School

This time of year is always difficult for me. Why? Because I like my child. I enjoy having her around the house all summer. There is no rushing or insanity, we just get to hang together. And now I have to give her back to school in a little over a week. I start to get weepy when I think about giving her back, which is goofy because my daughter goes to the best school on the planet. They nurture her and love her for the caustic witted, tutu wearing, unconformist that she is. She's funny, she's creative, she's smart, she's interesting and she's relaxing to be around. (Of course there is cranky, snotty and stubborn too, but I honestly don't see those very often.) These amazing qualities continue to grow as she does. At 12 years I'm beginning to get glimpses of who she is growing into. It's exciting and wonderful, but at the same time my baby is quickly disappearing into a memory. Each summer it becomes more obvious that college is around the corner and each summer becomes more precious and harder to give up.

Our end of summer ritual, since my princess was 4 months old, is to spend a day together at the Minnesota State Fair. We never fail to start the day with crepes for breakfast and end the day with a bag of caramel corn in the Coliseum watching the horses.