A little bit of both

May - some good, some not so good. I don't want to spend a lot of time grumbling but honestly, the two markets that I booked for May both bit. The "Health & Beauty Show" put on by Jam Expo was a total disaster. Unprofessional, disorganized and an expensive waste of my time. We've been offered a free booth for next year, but seriously...would I go back? Not on your life. Talk of a lawsuit was wafting around but I guess everyone is quietly licking their wounds and moving on. The other - the May Day Festival in Fort Langley was starting out to be a great day. Well-organized, happy people coming to enjoy the festivities and then the down pour. Everyone left and so they should have. Nobody's fault on that one. It was totally set up to be great day. Time for two more grumbles.....if someone sends a minor tv personality a piece of jewelry as a thank you for featuring them on their show, does it not seem proper etiquette that said "celebrity" should be gracious enough to send a quick "thanks"? And finally, I don't make "costume" jewelry. That is what girls buy at Claires. While I may be relatively new at this, I do have enough pride and confidence in my work that I don't think it sounds snooty to sniff at such a comment.

Okay, enough of that. The good stuff - I am really looking forward to the summer. The White Rock Farmers's Market (http://www.whiterockfarmersmarket.ca/) is bigger and better this year with some great new ideas like featuring local chefs. Potter's Nursery on 192nd in Langley has started their new market, and once all the produce vendors are there, I think it will be a great success. I had the best cheeseburger there on Saturday. (http://www.pottersonline.ca/). This weekend (June 6-7) I will be back at Fab Fair at the Heritage Hall on Main Street. (http://www.fabfair.ca/). I know I will be doing some great accessories shopping from the fabulous local designers who will be selling there. July will see me in Steveston for both the Salmon Festival on July 1st and the Farmers & Artisan Market on July 5th. I will always consider myself a Steveston girl and can't wait to go back each time. (http://www.stevestoncommunitysociety.com/).

Both kids are signed up the the Langley Tri-It Triathlon at the end of June, and my husband is full on in his training for Penticton. Apparently he lost 5 pounds on a 3 hour ride the other night. If only it were so easy for me. I've started going to Gator's in Cloverdale for their bootcamp and it is a wonderful, but very challenging, workout. Like I said, this weight is coming off me!

Anyway, I've got a bunch of custom pieces to get going on and some great new long chains to finish for the weekend. I've made a few of these long pieces and will get them photographed and online soon.

Enough chat! Off to work

Well, it's been over a month since I posted my last comments. Oops! Been busy though and took some time off to go to the Okanagan for the Penticton Ironman. Not me...my husband's 6th time through. And despite the terrific downpour - last year it was a fierce windstorm that threatened to blow our pulled pork off the table - we all had a great day. We managed to get a nearly dry table to chow down at Piggy's. Yeah - it's all about the food, forget the race! He's all signed up again for next year. Done some more markets and just spent the weekend at the Harrison Hot Springs Castle and Crafts market. The weather was amazing and as always - some fabulous feedback from all of you who stopped at the table. The collaging and soldering are where it is at for me! I've got some great new ideas to keep going with the Brambles collection - incorporating some glass and gems into the flowers. I've got whacks more tile and will be doing a lot more with the toile pieces and chainmaille. In November I am signed up for a silversmithing course which I am very excited about. I've already told them that I am there to learn to make some big honking rings! Can't wait to incorporate the silversmithing into all the vintage pieces. I am looking forward to attending the Winter Fab Fair in Vancouver too - that's on Sunday November 23 for me - the show runs Saturday and Sunday though. On the Saturday, I will be at the Mompreneur show in Vancouver so it should be a great weekend all round. But first some more fun - off to Disneyland at the end of the month, then a parents -only getaway to Vegas Baby! Kids are back in school - loving it - (they are, not just me!) Ok - I really should be getting out the art clay - it's time to play with some silver! Take care,
C.