Birthday Wishes

Birthday wishes to my nuttier better half...
xo

Alaska and the WINNER

(photos by Anthony Grimes)

For Anthony's college graduation gift, my dad gave him a trip anywhere he'd like to go (for him & his girlfriend)
Although his girlfriend was hoping he'd pick Paris, Anthony chose to go to Alaska.
Anthony's passion is photography and an Alaska cruise was right up his alley. They actually went on the same cruise Kurt & I took a couple years ago.
They just got back last week and as I'm going through his photos, I hope one day we'll get to return...it's a beautiful place.

Anniversary Bead Giveaway Winner
Thank you for all the nice comments, you guys are the best! I can honestly say I have the best job in the world and all the people I've met along the way are the icing on the cake.

I went to Random.org to get the number for our winner...And the winner is #67, who left this comment:

Congratulations! Such a fun giveaway!! Count me in! Patti

Congrats Patti!!!!
Please contact me at gardenpathbeads@gmail.com with your ONE WORD.

I can't wait to find out what word she picks...as soon as I do, I'll let you know. Then I'll show you the beads I came up with!

Thanks again everyone, I'll have another giveaway soon, maybe for my 500th post which is coming up soon...
xo
update- Patti's word is "NATURE" this is going to be fun!

Last call

This weekend I'll be making the last of the orders for The Design Of The Month.
So if you'd like a pair, this is your last chance to order them...before they are gone forever.

Plus, there are a couple more days to enter the giveaway for the set of custom beads made just for you! The winner will be picked on Monday! Good Luck Everyone!

Have a wonderful weekend xo

Beachcombing and a GIVEAWAY

Summer is far from over here in California...
In fact, we are in a mini heat wave right now with the temps in the 100's at my house.
If you are daydreaming of long walks on the beach (like me) I listed some Tide Pool Pendants here.


Winner's Choice
Giveaway
This August marks my 8th year of making lampwork beads and I thought a giveaway was is order!
Not just any giveaway, but a giveaway where you pick your beads!
If you are the winner, I'll ask you to give me one word, but just one!
It can be any word you wish...maybe your favorite color? A holiday? A animal? Anything you want...
I will then make a set of 5-beads in the "theme" of your one word.
How fun is that!

How do you enter? Just leave a comment on this post.
Plus, to increase your chances, if you post about the giveaway on Facebook, your Blog or become a follower of my blog, that will give you extra chances.
(just leave separate comments letting me know)
please, if you post "anonymous" please leave your name in your comment

The winner will be picked by random.com on Monday August 30th.
xo

My class

Last Saturday I took a class with Toni Lutman at Grace Studio in Gilroy, CA. Grace, our host was the best! She feed us breakfast and lunch (very yummy) And made sure we wanted for nothing. She even served us smoothies for an afternoon snack, I'm not use to being so pampered. It was great. Grace even took pics though out the day (above) I'm the one wearing a white shirt. My friend, Julie also took the class (she's in the peach shirt) We had a lot of fun! xo

Who knew?

Yesterday after hiking, we come back to our car to see that the car next to us was broken into. Not by humans, but by a bear.
When you enter Yosemite, you are made aware NOT to leave coolers or food of any kind in your car. Bears are smart and know that coolers hold yummy treats.

As I looked at the report left on the damaged car by the ranger, I was surprised to see the bear did not do all that damage to get to a left behind cooler, but he was going for the toothpaste. Who knew? Toothpaste.

Most parking lots in the park have bear proof metal boxes for you can store your food/coolers in while you are out exploring. But I had no idea you should also be putting your toothpaste in them to.

Have a great Monday!
xo

Finally Friday

Finally Friday!
It's been a loooong week.
And yesterday to top it off, I lost one of my contact lenses...in my eye ball.
I'm pretty new to contacts, I really only wear them while making beads, so I don't need to wear 2 pairs of glasses (reading & lampwork)
Last night after a full day of making beads, I go to take them out. I get the first one out and as I'm trying to get the next one, it wasn't there...gone!
But it felt like something was in my eye (like an eyelash) but I couldn't see a thing. After spending an hour digging around, my eye had enough and I went to bed. A couple hours later, I got back up to look for it again...I finally found it, some how it got under my eyelid and was folded in half. How that happened, I don't know. Today I'm giving my eyeballs a rest.

Tomorrow, I'm taking my first lampwork class!
Can you believe this month marks my 8th year of making beads, so it's about time I take a class, right? I can't wait!
Hope you have some fun weekend plans too...
xo

Rainbows, Mountains, Bears oh my

Last weekend we continued to prepare for the upcoming Half Dome hike, which is in just a couple short weeks.
Along the 10 mile hike we saw rainbows, the backside of Half Dome and a bear.
It was a fun, but exhausting day...
xo

They're Back

The trick or treater's are back.
They're dressed and ready to go door to door, collecting bags of candy.
For just a short time I'll be taking orders here.
xo

It's alive

My garden is doing really good this year.
I'm not sure if it's because I'm a beekeeper now or the weather we have been having? But really...everything is doing so good.

Even my compost bin started growing. I'm not sure what's growing in there, but I'm thinking they must be last years pumpkins?? At least they look like pumpkin leaves...Time will tell.

And look at these, aren't they the cutest!? This year I planted some fun things, like mini size Watermelon and honeydew. They are just about ready to eat.

All I know, the bees are loving all the pollen and I'm loving all the honey they are making!
xo

Friday = FREE Shipping

This week I started to play around with some Halloween beads. I'm not ready to leave Summer behind just yet, but it was a fun change. I LOVE Halloween...
And because it's Friday, Free shipping on my website and in my Etsy store!
I love Fridays, don't you?
Have a great weekend.
xo

Who's Lisbeth

As I'm closing in on the 3rd and final book of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series...I've been savoring every bit of it...

A few weeks ago I rented the DVD of the first book (foreign version) it was good, but I'm REALLY looking forward to the one they are getting ready to start filming (American version) Daniel Craig is cast for Mikael Blomkvist, who I think is perfect (for the role)

But, the part of Lisbeth Salander is still undecided. Rumor is it might be Ellen Page, who I just saw in Inception last weekend. I think she might be a good choice for the part, what do you think?
Whoever it turns out to be, I can't wait for the movie!
xo

Got Robbed

Kurt surprised me with Rob Thomas tickets last night.

If you get a chance, go! Fun Fun Fun...

I'm continuing to add new things to my site over the next few weeks. I hope you'll find something you like.
xo

Chilnualna Fall

Just a few short weeks away before we hit the trail to Half Dome. So we are spending every extra minute hiking. This weekend we hiked Chilnualna Fall.
The best part was dipping my toes in the ice cold water...

(photo by Anthony Grimes)
Anthony had a chance to try out his new camera too (Grad gift from his girlfriend) It's small, but capable of taking great pics with all the settings it has. Perfect for hiking Half Dome.
xo

Fillin' up the shops

My website has been looking so sad and empty lately. So I've been working on lots of new things!
Instead of sending out a newsletter each time something is ready, I'll just list them on my site and maybe even in my Etsy shop too. I've got lots of new goodies coming!
xo