Birthdays, Mother's Day and Bathroom

Today, we celebrated Grandma's (93), Dave (34) and Shizuka's (34?) birthdays at Claim Jumper's Restaurant in Fremont!
It was also our Mother's Day celebration. Here is Mom with the necklace that Dean got her...(and I made last night).

This is the newest member of the family...Kylie. This picture is right between screams.

After everyone left...Jeff decided that it was time to finish the boys' bathroom. The backstory on the boys' bathroom is that when Jeff remodeled our bathroom, he tore out the wall, cabinets, sink etc in the boys' bathroom...about a week before Neil's family birthday party in 2007. With much whining and complaining...he got a pedestal sink in the bathroom before the party. Of course, since it was "temporary", he didn't want to move/cut the plumbing...so, he attached two SCRAP 2x6's to the wall and the sink to the 2x6's....AUGH!!!!

This wall has been missing for about 18 months....

remember that button I couldn't find?

You guessed it, I found the button....oh well...maybe I'll find something else for it later.Meanwhile, while I was at my class last night, I picked up another rivoli (sp?) I decided to make another 'button', but, as usual...Joanie inspired me and I made it into a necklace. Pink and green are always a nice combo....the necklace is a 8-bead right angle stitch with 4mm Swarovski accents. (Joanie's necklace was much more elaborate with about 5-6 rivoli buttons and a more complex necklace design....this was a nice adaptation. She is ordering more rivolis tomorrow...I'll have to visit when the shipment gets in!)

I'll have to make another one for me. hmmm...purples and pinks? We shall see....

Russian Spiral

I just got back from my Russian Spiral class. It was GREAT...as usual! Thank you Joanie! Of course I used a light purple hex with a darker purple 11 seed bead. I love the effect....Next I am going to try a burgandy w/gold lined 8 seed bead with a shiny black 11 seed bead. (Sorry for the Bead Techie lingo....but, those who care know what I am talking about!)

It has been a while since I took a class...but, it was fun...and it was a nice break from sewing and crocheting/knitting....although, I do need to work on Baby Blanket #3. sigh...work is never done...

2008 Christmas is Complete!!!

Every year, we receive a lot of beautiful pictures in our Christmas/Holiday cards. I decided a few years ago, that I would "collage" the pictures into a poster frame in order to enjoy them every year. From prior experience, I realized that I couldn't put the collage together until April/May...yes, I have received cards in February.

Here is a pile of pictures....after I cropped the cards down...and before I laid out my collage.

This is the final project...but, I haven't "glued" anything down yet...so, who know what will happen...big wind, a big sneeze, cat walking across the pictures, Jeff bumping the table etc...

Unfortunately, dogs/cats and other animals have been omited from the collage. And multiple pictures have been eliminated....sorry!

New Clutch

A while back I bought a magazine that included all these cool patterns for purses and totes. I made this clutch to take to Dean and Nicole's wedding.

I bought this material with the intention of using a button I bought years ago....of course, when it was time to find the button, I couldn't find it! That's where Joanie from Bead Asylum came to the rescue.
She told me to make the below "button". And she was right as usual...it took less than 20 minutes...and I altered the pattern.

Boy's Day!

May 5th is Boy's Day in Japan. Actually, I think they changed it to "Children's Day" but, since Girl's Day is still March 3rd...that seems a little unfair.

Anyways, Jeff has the whole Boy's Day display minus the armor...which his brother Doug has. Jeff has the Kabuto (helmet) arrows, swords, drum etc...

A while ago, I purchased the Precious Moments Boy's Day figurines for both Jordan and Neil....this year, the above figurines were made available by a man from Nagoya, Japan. They came with a base and glass dome with each boy's name engraved. I think we made out on the engraving since I had their first, middle and last names engraved!

Aren't they cute? The one on the left is Neil's...and is named "Camelia" and Jordan's is named "Cherry Blossom", after the flower each figure is holding. I let Jordan and Neil each pick their own.

Dean and Nicole get married!!!

WOW!!! What a night! Yesterday afternoon, Jeff and I drove up to Calistoga to attend Dean and Nicole's wedding! It was a beautiful afternoon...not too cold, not to hot. The bride and groom were gorgeous....check out that dress! Solange, did a beautiful job with the decorations...but, unfortunately we couldn't stay for the cake...we left a little after 10. (It was a 5 pm wedding).

This was my artistic shot....btw: the wine was very good...

Proud parents of the groom...we had the honor of sharing the table with Auntie Patti and Uncle Haruki....they are leaving for Ko'Olina next week....we aren't going to Ko'Olina this year :(

How does Jeff find the pretty girls? Too bad Mike was there! Yumi is Dean's sister. Yumi and Mike were married in 2007. Um, Mike has coke in his glass...or did he say that there was only enough coke for "color", j/k brah!