It's Showtime!

Flip Clock Number Necklaces, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

I have two really big shows this year! Today is the Bearzaar...at Olympia High School and next weekend is the big Lacey Holiday Bazaar at St. Martin's Pavilion!
I just love doing shows...meeting people...laughing and kick-starting the holidays! Last night after I set up, I walked around the show, admiring all of the incredible work people have done. It is amazing the amount of literal hours that go into a show of any size. One booth had at least 6 big Christmas trees that a couple of ladies were painstakingly decorating with handmade ornaments!
I especially love the family time that shows bring. My daughters like to help me and my sister and mom also enjoy pitching in! I may make the goods, but in the end, I get by with a little help from my peeps!
Hopefully, this year will be profitable...it's a tough financial year for most folks...but ultimately, it's the love of art that drives me to create...a show is a really fun way to clear out the shelves so I can make some more!

Good.

Good., originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

This is Dakota...our good dog. We will put her to sleep tomorrow. I'm not one of those people who think of their dogs as people...kids...I'm not even really a dog type of person. But losing her will be heartwrenching.
We got her from a friend about 10 years ago...because otherwise she would have gone to the pound. She has been a perfect dog. She was a friend to our kids, protected us from fierce wildlife such as...well...skunks, porcupines, and bunnies, and gave us love - oft-times undeserved. She was a friend to cats...opened up her doghouse to a parade of feline friends and offered her warmth on cold winter nights. She wasn't very friendly with other dogs, but for some reason, cats were a-ok. She has always had such a sweet face and as she's aged, her graying muzzle has just become dearer.
She has been declining in recent months...she's nearly deaf...her eyesight isn't what it used to be (I can completely sympathize) and it takes her a while to get up and get her legs moving. Recently she's developed "bedsores" on her hips and legs from all the laying around and she seems to be more and more uncomfortable. We have known this is coming but how can we feel "good" about putting her to sleep?
I hope that there is a heaven for dogs...if there is, she will surely reside there. She is a very good dog.

Treasure Hunting!

Drawers full of Ladies Watch Crystals!, originally uploaded by HA! Designs - Artbyheather.

Gosh I love hunting for treasures! I think if I lived in another era, I'd be a friendly pirate, searching the sea for chests filled with gold!

Yesterday I went to a fabulous junk shop...I was the only customer in the store and I started chatting with the owner. I asked if he had any watch crystals and he jumped up and told me to follow him into the back room where he showed me this fabulous "treasure chest. I have wanted one of these chests...empty...for ages but they always cost a hundred bucks or more and I just can't justify it! He started opening the drawers to reveal hundreds of little ladies watch crystals...one by one...my heart started beating a little faster! I asked him what he wanted for it...I won't say what I paid, but it was much less than the empty ones I've seen...and I told him I'd take it! I didn't even dicker which is out of the ordinary for me...I always love a friendly back and forth. So...I bought it. I brought it home and now it sits with my other treasures, waiting for my muse to work it's magic! Until then, I shall open those drawers and giggle just a little!