Cloudy then a Spit of Rain, then Windy then HOT, HOT, HOT

This blog's title was indeed a weather report for yesterday at the People's Market! But a GREAT crowd! What a fun day!

I bought myself a scrumptious Iced Coffee Mocha with real grated Mexican chocolate from Mexicali's (6th West and North Temple), then I bought a bag of apricots! and of course had to get more Soy Wax melty things to put in my Scentsy warmer. I love the smell of scented candles but refuse to burn them in my house so I melt them to release the scent. When you use SOY wax you can use the melted wax as a skin softener! It rubs right into your skin - chalk full of Vitamin E! I have hot soy wax to put on my heels after most every shower - what luxury!

So anyway, back to me. I have a lot of special orders this week. I need to make two necklaces from paper with a USA flag on it for the couple who donated a ton of pages of these paper USA flags. Then make a bracelet out of the graduation program from a gal who finally returned to high school to get her diploma - that one will be cool! Then I must make another Bible pages necklace with black beads accenting the Bible beads. I have to cut more sheet music pages to make music note paper beads and get at least two more necklaces out of that. Then a request for more Harley-Davidson necklaces! IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'VE BEEN WANTING?
Now is the time to order!

Hopefully I will soon get the call saying, "Yes, you are invited to vend your paper jewelry during the Avenues Street Festival". This festival is one of the best attended festivals in Salt Lake. It will be on Saturday, September the 12th! 10am to 6pm. We should get word by Aug 15th as to who has been accepted! Keep your toes crossed!

Another Week Closer to Start of New School Year...ugh!

But, one word about the weather for the 'I heart Utah' festival....

Can you say, THE WORST EVER FOR A FESTIVAL!

I gave up on the 'Earth Jam' festival in April due to the beginning of the Freaky Utah monsoon this spring. Now I had to give up on the 'I heart Utah' festival because of the 103 degree temperature. Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point is pretty new so the trees were not much taller than me. Very little shade - which is not good for hundreds of vendors, many of them being food vendors with hot grills! I was under the pavilion so I fared much better than most all the others. The morning was gorgeous, all vendors were rather 'hyper' with anticipation of the day's events. By 9:00am it was beginning to feel warm, at 11:00am it was really warm and then it proceeded to get downright miserably hot by 1:00pm. By 3:00pm I called my husband and said I'd have to stay longer because there was no way I was going to clean up, haul stuff to my car in this heat, I'd have to wait until it started to cool off! Clouds came over within 45 minutes of my calling the hubby and it was amazing to see everyone acting like Alaska Caribou heeding the migratory instinct, (only because of the heat I guess we were more like African Wildebeest!) I felt real bad about abandoning the festival which was continuing until 7:00pm, but it literally had been about 7 hours since I had last needed to go potty. I had downed 3 liters of water and still had no urine output! That's not good.

So those festival attendees who braved the heat and who came to visit me and purchase, I say Thank You!

I couldn't wait to get back to my Home Sweet Home, the People's Market today! The weather was delightful (I would probably have said hot if I hadn't experienced the previous day). I enjoyed meeting the young lady who had been to Africa recently and had actually seen the women of Africa "in the bush" making paper beads. I said I made these paper beads in the way yonder bush of Utah called Murray! and even better, my beads were indigenous to Utah. Real authentic Utah, indigenous junk mail beads. (Her male companion laughed.)

The young lady who had recently returned from Africa then asked if I also coated my beads with clear fingernail polish? Hmmm.. no, I use the sap from the local polyacrylic tree! How do they get enough clear nail polish in Africa to coat all those beads? These women in the bush are really poor people aren't they? How do they even buy fingernail polish?

I was very impressed with a young lady, Catherine, who also makes jewelry mostly out of pennies! yes, pennies. I had to buy a pair of penny earrings. Please check out her ETSY store and support a young entrepreneur - http://www.cmmay.etsy.com/

By the way did you see the full page write up on the People's Market Chain-mail lady in last Sunday's paper? You need to come see her wares! How about a 35 lb. chain-mail vest? But actually her wallet chains are to die for! If I were thirty years younger and male and cool, I'd buy one!

Oh, and how bloody cool that a couple from Scotland bought a necklace from me! I thought my hearing was getting worse when I couldn't understand what this one cute little lady was saying to me. So I finally said, "What part of England did you get that accent from?" "Scotland! not England," she correctly me quite harshly, I must say. Well, anyway my Tiger Eye pendant will now be sported around in Scotland because they are just here on vacation and bought from me! How sweet is that?

This week will be a bit less hectic. Maybe I can visit some relatives. Maybe I can vacuum some floors and dust... hmmm, I better think those last two over a bit more.

The final week of summer coming up - It's all down hill to school starting after the 24th of July!

First Snow, Oct 2008

I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning - SNOW! We have been waiting all weekend for this horrible snow and it seemed like everyone around us was getting rain or snow. We've had very little rain but this morning, finally the snow. I was rather glad I decided not to go to the People's Market. Not only busy with Dad's funeral (on Oct 18th) but trying to get my house back to semi-workable order while Terry builds my enlarged office space. We finished tearing down the rest of the shelves in the new office area and then hung those old shelves in my bedroom so I at least have space to work on jewelry until the new place is finished! Hooray! I have a bedroom back again!
I sounds like tons of relatives will be coming into town next weekend for Dad's funeral. What a tribute to him. All of his sisters are trying hard to get here. Please weather, don't go funky again next weekend! Please!

And Kyle... I will definitely be to the People's Market End-of-Season party! Sounds great!
What a great summer, I can't wait for next year!

But, don't forget the Family Christmas Show at the South Towne Expo Center November 14, 15 and 16th! The Soy Candles Ladies will be there also! You want your room to smell beautiful when you step gracefully into it wrapped in beautiful, hand-rolled recycled paper bead jewelry don't you???

Record Breaking Heat at the People's Market

The weatherman said it was officially 99 degrees in Salt Lake today. I felt it! I kind of goes contrary to the idea of school starting. Didn't we used to have cool, crisp mornings to walk to school in? Today kids ride to school in sweltering heat - but didn't school also used to start AFTER labor day? Oh well, I care not, this is my last year of teaching (quickly I knock on wood).

The People's Market located at Salt Lake City's International Peace Gardens, is really growing - lots of people today, and I bet it gets even better as fall comes upon us and the crisp air revives everyone.

My favorites at the market still have to be the young adult vendors. It is only a $5.00 booth fee for young people so it is so cool to see those young entrepreneurs trying their hand at selling. There still if lots of space for any other young vendors who'd like to join our fun! Sell fruits and vegetables from your garden or sell that cool stuff you handmake!

I've got to get the link to young Mr. Long's website. He handmakes "Duct tape" wallets. He sat next to my booth and made wallets all day long, as people watched - pretty cool. I'll put a link on - as soon as I find his card...

So, teachers went back to work last week getting ready for a new school year. We had the 7th grade students come all by themselves the Friday before school officially starts (last Friday) so they can get all the mistakes made before the 8th and 9th grade students join them (and make fun of them!) Getting their locker open is a MAJOR obstacle for most, getting to the right class at the right time is also hard the first day. Lunch and gym class are always some of the most feared tasks a first time junior high student must face. I only had two students come into the wrong class period (it's pretty bad to have to get up and leave after class has started - remember?), only one I helped was almost in tears over their locker and absolutely no one, at least that I saw, had lost their lunch money yet - that's got to be a record! All in all, a great day. Next Monday morning then, all the 8th and 9th graders go to school with the 7th graders at home, breathing deep, trying to get in control of their queezy, scared feelings for the big day when ALL students are all together in the big building down the street! All together in the school that will dominate and perhaps become the biggest part of their lives for the next 180 days! All the drama, the noise, the fears, the elation and crushes and failures! Did I mention DRAMA and NOISE? Two things I don't look forward to, too much.

Remember your locker fears? Write back and tell me your biggest fear, experience, etc. of junior high - I'd like a good collection!

Aug 10 Sell, Sell, Sell

Tonight my hands hurt. I've rolled way too many beads in getting ready for a Saturday show/party set up by my good friend at work. Then the very next day, Sunday morning I was back at the People's Market. Most of the pieces shown in the slide show are now living in the homes of their new owners!

The weather was spectacular for the Farmer's / People's Market! A very cool morning (compared to what we have had lately) and just barely started to heat enough to form rain clouds after we had packed up and gone.

Most spectacular thing happened at the Market today! I looked up to see a woman standing in front of my table with a very familiar face. I couldn't believe it was one of my old traveling companions from Eastern Airlines, who I haven't seen since 1989 when Eastern went out of business. Four of us girls who worked in reservations at Eastern Airlines, flew to Paris, Rome and Athens - pretty much backpacking around those cities for about 7-10 days. I had the absolute time of my life there. I figure we must have done this in about 1985 by my best recollection. We four lost track of each other after the downfall of Eastern Airlines and here before me was one of the "backpacking in Europe" girls! I actually thought I was going to cry! She looked great, heck we both look great with all the passing years! Looks like her son is going to get a booth here at the Market and sell his duct-tape wallets! I'm so thrilled to be able to talk with her more! Maybe I could even find those old photographs... hmm, where to start looking?

I have a lot of special orders to do this week and I only have a week to work on them because I start back to school for my, hopefully, final year of teaching (wahoo) a week from tomorrow.
Has the summer gone by fast or what?
I'm going to make beads out of the napkins used by a lady for her sons birth celebration, going to do a necklace for a lady who found paper with just the right colors she likes and hopefully another love note necklace a son wants to give his Mom! Cool!

3 days with my Dad!

My Dad says, "I'm an old 82 year old" I said, "not yet - you have 2 months until you are 82"! I stayed with him for a few days and during that time he wanted me to take him over to Janet's house to see the project Wayne has been working on. So Kriselle says, "drive down the right side of the garage and through the gate to the backyard, that way Grandpa won't have to walk so far to see." I'm thinking that sounds good - so down the side yard I go, over the grass and through the gate around a bend and up to the new cement slab for the shop. At that exact moment I remembered I hate to drive backwards, I just can't seem to do it. And we are in a bit of a tight squeeze and we are in my new Honda. I don't want it stratched or bumped because I couldn't back up. Just as the panic in rising in my throat, Dad says, "well turn around then". It took me a good 7 backups and then go forwards until I got the car turned around. It would have been easier to just have backed out of the yard! We gently nudged every pile of dirt and debris and car parts as I tried to turn around. Honda's do turn around in a pretty smally area! As we go into the house (I with my heart still pounding and Dad still laughing) Kriselle says, "Do you want to go see the project in the back yard?" Yeah funny!

The pictures below are of my Dad's home in Richfield and what his view looks like from his front yard in two directions. The red hills of Richfield!

Thanks to Kelly and Coleton for their pictures also. Wednesday was the end to all our vacations - back to the big city and I with a load of new papers to make beads with! I figure I have about 2000 beads that needs to be dipped in polyacrylic tomorrow.

July 14, 2008 Mammogram, Bone Density day - wahoo.

I'm not sure humble is the word to use after a mammogram. What is it about that procedure that is so *&)%+ uncomfortable? Is uncomfortable the correct word to use? Mortified is a bit closer... But then again I like the word disfigured also. But my experience is over for another year! YEAH!
July 13th People's Market - a lot more vendors! A lot more visitors! But no Native American dancers. But, like oh my heck (yes, born and raised in Utah) "Big John's Cajun Barbeque" was to die for! I usually don't partake of the food at the Market. Why? Humm.... I guess I don't want to be stuffing my face just as that millionaire fashion guru chooses that exact moment to step up to my booth and offer to buy my complete inventory! It could happen! I just hate wrestling with food and trying to talk to people - ugly stuff stuck in your teeth, goobers running down your face and shirt... but you HAVE to come and try Big John's food - I was like in hog heaven for a few moments!
I also finally broke down and bought a gorgeous mosaic flower pot from my friend Debbie. She'll be back later on this summer with her "Smashing Art".
I'm working on a "Love note necklace" for my OTHER NIECE with a HOLE in her HEART!!!!
I have Swiss cheese for relatives! My necklace partner and Embracelets owner will now be having her heart repaired like her older sister - so her two beautiful children wrote notes for her and I'm making it into a necklace. I'll post a picture as soon as it is done. I'm using security envelopes to make the necklace out of - there is hidden meaning in using that paper.

My Own Roses!

Terry took this from in front of our house early this morning. I love my house!

First Day at "People's Market" Fair

How cool is it to spend a beautiful Sunday morning at the International Peace Gardens in downtown Salt Lake City, meeting new people, selling your own handmade treasures! I had a great time and very much look forward to more Sunday mornings that are just as wonderful. I had almost forgotten how restful and comforting shade is from a huge tree in a well maintained park! The old swimming pool is now a skate boarding thingy - I don't know what those cement whoop-dee-doos are called.
One client will be emailing me a list a typed family names. She wants me to make each name into a paper bead and then string it for a new Bride! What a cool idea. If I remember to put new batteries into my camera I'll take pictures of the necklace and of the People's Market next Sunday.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! Aren't men who let their wives buy jewelry for that one rich aunt in Connecticut who has everything except a handmade paper necklace wonderful! Yes, they are! And what a wonderful one-of-a-kind present that makes because no two necklaces are ever exactly alike!

I have several new listings on my eBay store page. Hit the link on the left side of this Blog and see what is selling now.

Hint for Today: One hint I learned last Sunday from a lady who used to teach senior citizens how to make paper beads, is to use a knitting needle to roll the beads onto. Don't start gluing until you are near the end then the bead will slip easily off of the needle. The hole through the bead is a bit larger but much more easy on older, stiff fingers!

Sunday the 22nd will be "Earring Day". I'll bring a hundred, or so, earrings for the People's Market along with a few paper beads like the ever famous "junk mail bead" necklaces! See you there!