orders!!

I've had two orders for my soaps already (thanks Marcia and Jan!) which I'm excited about. I should say that you need to tell me what kind of soap you want on the paypal page in the comments/instructions section. You will have to scroll down to the bottom of the page as it isn't immediately obvious where that section is.

I learned the hard way that I wasn't charging enough for postage, so I've adjusted it. If you're only ordering 1-2 bars I will refund part of the shipping but most people are ordering enough to warrant the higher rate. Also, I've had enquiries from people in the UK wanting to know about shipping. Unfortunately it is steep, about $10 for 3-4 bars of soap. The good thing is, the soap itself is very affordable so you may feel it's worth it.

Thanks to all of you who have been an encouragement to me in this endeavor.

soap galore

I've made an awful lot of soap lately and have been asked to post photos online so I am obliging. I have other kinds and can make just about any scent, so don't be shy about asking.

pomegranate, red rose & thyme, and cedarwood/thyme

peppermint refreshment soap in a loofah, oatmeal & calendula, and magic mint

green tea and lemongrass, honey/almond, and citrus/pomegranate

mango mint shampoo bar, sandalwood/cinnamon, citrus/chamomile

These are available for $2 per bar, plus shipping if I have to send it to you. The paypal button has a US shipping amount of $3.95. If you live in another country I'm happy to ship to you but the shipping amount will be more. Please contact me if you have any questions.

and now for something completely different

Or maybe not so different, when you think about it.

I am adding a line of hand milled soaps and other bath items to my usual for-sale repertoire. This new range will include bath and beauty soaps as well as scented bath salts and "fizzies". I plan to put a link to PayPal on this site so that items can be purchased directly from me. I've got lots of Facebook friends interested in these products, some who do not live near me, so hopefully this will facilitate their shopping.

Hope you are all well.

September 30 already.

My parents and siblings and I at Mom & Dad's 50th anniversary party in July

Hello, dear blogfriends.

I got a message from Liz wishing me well so I thought I'd better check in. As predicted in my last post I have had a frenetically busy summer and now into autumn as well. I have arts festivals every other weekend and sometimes successive weekends from now through November so I am scrambling to keep enough stock on hand to see me through. It's a good thing though!

My dh turns 50 in a few days and I'm planning a surprise party for him--don't worry, he never reads my blog.

The kids are fine, Chris enjoying just working and saving up money for future education and Dylan a happy 4th grader. Can't believe he'll be 10 soon.

I need to think about getting out the dye supplies again as silk scarves are always a hit at fall/winter shows.

I hope you are all doing well. I'll try to check in on your blogs.

update

Hello all--Gone a long time again, things are just very busy. But I thought I'd give a little update even though, as usual, I have no photos to back up my story.

Let's see...son Chris graduated from high school at the end of May and turned 19 the next day, so there was a lot of celebrating going on. He now has blue hair. Don't ask. He also won a 2nd prize ribbon for a really nice reduction print at the county student art show, we're very proud of him.

Dylan is enjoying the summer. He's had tennis lessons for a month, goes to the water park, and is participating in the library's summer reading plan.

Our married kids, Adam & Emily, are doing fine. They seem to have adjusted well to being wed.

David and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary in May. My parents observed 50 years just last month and all my siblings and their families will be here in a couple of weeks for a reception and family dinner in their honor.

I have a busy summer and fall planned art wise, with several shows and artist-in-residence opportunities. I recently had the honor of being asked to exhibit my jewelry in the gallery of a noted sculptor, Dr. Richard Bergen, whose statue "Ad Astra" is atop the dome of the Kansas State Capitol building. The reception/gallery walk for that is actually this evening. Here's Dr. Bergen's website http://www.bergensculpture.com/index.htm

We have decided to convert more of our basement area to studio space, more for my son and husband (both into glass) than for me, although I will set up my 2 kilns in that room. David enjoys stained glass and we're all anxious to explore fused and slumped glass, plus Chris can have his torch permenantly set up.

So life is busy but good. I will make a valiant effort to take and post more photos. Especially of Chris's hair.

Oh, I forgot to mention I have lost a total of 37 lb. to date, with the help and support of my nutritionist Suzanne. I'm doing Pilates, walking, and gardening for exercise.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying summer or winter, whichever hemisphere you're in.

this and that

Surprise!! Two posts in two days.

I don't know why this is, but whenever I am of necessity pushing one medium exclusively I get a near overwhelming urge to do another. In this case I've been making a lot of jewelry for my upcoming shows in various places, and I'm DYING to make mixed media. Aaargh! Maybe I'll check out doing some mixed media jewelry and take care of both things at once. It's an idea, anyway.

I wanted to share this photo of our new library stained glass windows, part of the much-needed library renovation and expansion finished recently. Since it isn't my photo I'm posting a link to where it is on twitter http://twitpic.com/53b0l These are in the adult section. The children's section at the other end of the building has its own three wonderful kid-related windows including one of a reading dragon. They're gorgeous.

a wonderful surprise

I have just had a most embarrassing and yet gratifying experience.

It all started on Saturday evening at a reception held at the VAAM Gallery for the guest artists involved in the new mixed media exhibit there. The place was packed, and everyone was having fun eating the marvelous chocolate goodies provided by the VAAM board and conversing as much as they could amidst the din of that crowded space. I noticed an older man looking at my necklace display, so I made my way over and chatted with him for awhile. He identified himself as an artist from Salina, a larger town about 30 miles north of McPherson. He said he had his own studio and participates in the monthly open studios tour in the art district up there, and asked if I'd be interested in exhibiting my jewelry in his gallery. Of course, I jumped at the chance. He ended up buying the necklace and asked me to hold it until he could get me the money. I took it home with me and waited to hear from him.

On Monday morning he called and asked if he could drive down and pick up the necklace. We arranged for him to come to my office. He did, and brought his son who is also an artist. Since there was much better opportunity to chat in my office than there had been in the noisy gallery I asked him about his history, etc. He is a painter and bronze sculptor, and as a young man came to the midwest to study Birger Sandzen, Kansas' answer to the French impressionist movement. 

It wasn't until after he left and I looked up his studio website that I discovered to my utter shock that he is Dr. Richard Bergen, the sculptor whose work is atop the Kansas state capitol building (see below), part of memorials, and in many private collections. In other words, he's rather a celebrity in these parts. Obviously an unassuming man since he mentioned not one word to me. My embarrassment was mitigated somewhat in that, although I hadn't recognized his name, I definitely recognized his work.

You can read more about the history of this sculpture here and see Dr. Bergen's website here. And this lovely man wants to exhibit my jewelry in his gallery. My goodness.