I Believe In Kissing - Kissing A Lot

Hello!  My name is Kathy and I'm addicted to soldering. 

I'm practicing for the 12 step program

 I'll need to be attending soon.

Here's what I've been making.

I need to figure out how to add the jump ring

to these stones with a little more finesse.

It's real junky looking.

Back of...

These!

I've been making teeny, tiny 1 inch collages.

I add some favorite quotes...

This quote is one of my favorites!

I think this says it all.

Kiss a lot, today!

Just don't kiss any frogs.

A Ridiculously Wonderful Day

It was a beautiful day,

the sun beat down

... we were driving.

It was a great day for shopping

Barn sale, antiques, garage sale, and a ladies lunch.

I didn't take any pictures, though.

Except for this wreath.

We loved it!

We want to make one like it!

I bought this candle.

Actually, I think we all bought this candle.

I love anything with a clock on it, you know.

This is the top.

Isn't this great?!

It's scented vanilla and smells like heaven!

My husband bought me this for my birthday.

It used to hold microscope slides.

I just love it.

He has great taste.

He knows JUST what I LOVE!

The problem is...

He didn't know he bought it for me

until I showed it to him,

and kissed him,

and told him, "Thank you I just adore it!"

He's funny like that.

Now for the arts and crafts portion of this post.

I made more of these flowers.

Unfortunately, I was using

a scented candle to melt the edges of the fabric.

Scented candle + noxious fabric fumes = Not a good idea.

No wonder I kept using my asthma inhaler.

Ventilation or an unscented candle

would have been 

a better idea.

I tinkered with this photo in Photoshop.

Again, trying to be arty.

Working on more necklaces.

Backside of the bluebird necklace.

Broken china plate and a necklace for a blogger friend.

More busted plate jewelry.

Time spent with friends 

is a wonderful day!

Murder At The Flea Market

She carried the heavy chest

outside to get a better look.

The house was so dark this time of year.

The tin type pictures scattered amongst the leaves

 when she opened the chest.

She didn't realize that they had been tucked

underneath the Christmas ornaments.  

The hat was shoved to the back.

She hadn't seen it at first.

She had saved that hat all of these years.

Memories came flooding back

as she remembered:

With shaking hands she placed the hat

gently on her head.  

Softly, she smoothed her hair under the hat.

She took a deep breath as she headed out the door.

She was heading to 

the courtroom.

To the witness stand!

This was one memory she wished

that she could forget.

But she couldn't forget 

THIS!

The murder weapon.

The literal

smoking gun.

She remembers the prosecutor asking,

"Did you see who performed this heinous act?
DO YOU SEE THAT PERSON

 IN THIS COURTROOM?"

She did.

He was there.

It 

was

Colonel Mustard

in 

The Billiard Room

WITH

THE REVOLVER!!!!!

Don't you just love

this Clue necklace?

I got it at the flea market
from these folks:
Red Peacock Designs

Found the keys too.

Skeleton keys are getting harder to find.

In fact, everything from this

little story came

from the flea market

this weekend.

There's a lovely woman who sells

this beautiful

silk sari ribbon.  

She also sells on Etsy here.

I love, love, love this ribbon!

I also found this.

"Makes Old Things New"

That's what the label says.

I'm wondering

if it will

work on me.

I'll let you know.

As for "Murder At The Flea Market?"

I just wanted to grab your attention.

That's all.

Fortuitous Circumstance

My daughter says I'm not posting enough. 

I have my reasons.

I've been BUSY!

With what you ask?

Well, here's what:

I have an English friend who can talk me into anything.

She talked me into doing a craft show.

I swore years ago after doing one

that I would NEVER do another one.

Yet...here I am.

Again.

At least I'm not making

stuffed, dressed rabbits.

Remember those?

I'm making some tags.

Quite a few actually.

I also made this.

It was inspired

by 

something I saw

at the flea market.

Speaking of the flea market

Guess what's this weekend!

That's The Sound of Sunshine Coming Down

My husband and I just got back from Key West, Florida. 

 If I could be in love with a city it would be that place. 

 I overheard a woman say,
 "Once they passes that Seven Mile Bridge they don't never come back!"  

She's right.  

They don't never come back
 the same that is.  

This is going to be a post full of pictures. 

 I hope you enjoy them.  

If you play this song while you read this post, it'll be even better. 

 I promise! 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vovuxt7pUc
(right click on link and select open link in new tab -
 then you can listen to music and read)

1, 2, 3... uh huh...

Here we go.

Flying into Key West on a propeller plane.

Yup.  A propeller plane.

 Old wreck on display for the tourists.
We've been about 8 or 9 times.
 We are still tourists!

 The marina.  I love walking up and down the boardwalk 

with the sights,  sounds and smells (yes, SMELLS) of the marina!

 This is B,O.s Fish Wagon.  It's a restaurant.
On the other side of this truck. 

 Best grouper sandwiches in the world.
 You gotta love the name!

Breakfast on the veranda of our hotel.  Best view on the island.

More boats along the boardwalk.

Here's what's at the end of the boardwalk.
Turtle Kraals.
Years ago it's where the brought the turtles to...
well, they made them into soup.
Now, Turtle Kraals makes
TOURISTS into soup.
It's a bar.
Best view from a bar on the island!

From the top.

Why we're there.
We're also there for food.
They have great barbeque.
And oysters.

Yeah.
Oysters!!

Key West is a whole lot bawdy
and

breath taking,
and

charmingly, romantic.

Lot's of odd characters running around.

Some are human.
I think...

Some fish.

Some work on their boats.

Some entertain you at the nightly
Sunset Celebration.
Our hotel overlooked this area.
We could watch it every night from our balcony.

 Walk around town and you'll see
interesting homes.

 Some on the water.

 Some surrounded by gardens.

Homes you can tour!

Homes with the porch ceiling painted blue.
I heard it's supposed to
repel evil spirits.

Beautiful southern living.

 AND Sunsets.

 Beautiful

Lovely

Dancing in the dark
Sunsets.

COLOR!

On BIKES!

On Signs!

Color is everywhere.

Even at night.

The morning of our last day it rained.
Then
there
was
 the
most
spectacular
rainbow!
"That's the sound of sunshine coming down."