My Trip to Oberlin

Well, I went on a bead shopping trip yesterday. Which is never a good thing. Bead Paradise is a bead store that is about 45 minutes away. I have been going there for forever. When the kids were smaller, they would have to go with me. They would crawl around on the floor and pick up all the loose beads, it would keep them busy for hours.  When I finally finished picking out the beads I had to have, Brian and Kate would take there little pile up to Ruth, the owner. They would be so proud of themselves. Ruth was always so nice. She would bag them up and hand them back to them...they were thrilled! (I wonder if they still have these in there rooms somewhere?)

Anyway, every January she has a big 25% off sale. I think she does it to get ready to go to Tuscan. I can't stay away from a sale!! So I always head over once or twice during the month. I didn't buy a lot and it is really kind of a funny mix, but this is what I got.

This is a strand of Blue Lace Agate. I just loved the chunky rough cut of it. I already have an idea for a necklace, that I may have to fight my daughter for. The different shades of blues stripes in these stones is really so interesting.

I also bought a couple of older strands of spacers. Bead Paradise has alot of vintage beads and findings. I find these older strands really fascinating. They have more detail and some wear and tear to them. I got a  strand of brass beads and two different sizes of Ethiopian silver. Ethiopian silver is not as pure as sterling silver, which is 925 parts pure silver. The Ethiopian silver is only about 833 parts of pure silver. Anyway, I think these spacers are a great shape and cant wait to use them in some of my pieces.

The last little batch of beads i bought is very eclectic. I wanted to get some pure white beads. I'm not sure these are exactly what I was looking for, but I couldn't leave them behind. The turquoise flowers...well they are my color and it is fun to use these in summer pieces. I had to have the oranges because the last time I was there I bought limes...need I say more?

So this was my trip to Oberlin. It is a great store to go to but make sure you have plenty of time to visit, they have so much to look at

Sea Glass

I have a always loved looking for sea glass. I love the colors and the feel of it. I love walking the beach and searching for these colorful pieces of glass.

About a year ago, my friend Heather and I were talking and we realized, we both collect beach glass. Having it, looking at it, hunting for it. So this past weekend we decided to take the short trip north to Lake Erie to find some treasure.

We started out early with a stop at Dunkin Donuts for an ice tea. Need to stay hydrated. The weather man said it was a fifty percent chance of rain but what does he know! They are never right anyway, right?

We drove the 45 minutes to the Rocky River area of Lake Erie and it was grey but so far the weather was holding. And when you are looking for sea glass it is easier to see it when the sun is not shining. We stopped at a couple different spots and found some nice pieces. By the forth stop or beach, it was just starting to rain. We got out of the car and walked down the steps to the beach and....they had cleaned the beach!!! Plowed it, leveled it, whatever they call it, it was awful!!! Well to us sea glass searchers. But we did find some really good spots that they couldn't clean up. And by the time we left, which was at least an hour later,  we were soaked...we looked like drowned rats! But we had so much fun. Here is most of the glass I found. So many pretty colors. Even a piece of red, which is a weird piece because it is clear on one side and red on the other.

Oh and while we were out we stopped at a garage sale. Look at the really neat shelf I picked up.  Only $5. I love the lines or shape of it. I don't think I have seen one like this before. I have been looking  at Pinterest and all the painted furniture. I think I am going to paint this(although the wood is really nice and may end up just staining it). I will post a picture of it after I decide.

March Snow

 It has been a very mild winter for Ohio, but this is what it looks like outside today. We got maybe three inches of snow overnight. It's really not that much, but it is March and I am ready for the warm weather! All the birds are out there singing like crazy! Probably saying what is all this? But, like I said this is Ohio, and the weather changes quite a bit from day to day. THEY say it is supposed to be 56 degrees on Wednesday, so Spring is coming!

I walked this morning....Yeah!!!

This is the first time I have walked since the week before Christmas. It was good to get out and exercise. It is really not supposed to be 50 and sunny in Cleveland on the 1st of February! I'm sure it will be cold tomorrow, after all this is Ohio, but it was great today!!