Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

I apologize to all of you who've been wondering why I disappeared. A few days after my birthday was Mr. LuckyGirl's birthday, then my parents' wedding anniversary, so we've been partying! The anniversary meant a road trip, and although we came home on Tuesday, it always takes me a few days to recover.

We held a party in a pavillion at a local club so there'd be room for all of the guests. We had over a hundred friends and relatives there, and it was great to see so many folks come out to celebrate with us. The photo above is a near-life-size plastic standup I had made from a small wedding photo. I was thrilled with how well it turned out! The folks at PartyStandups.com did an awesome job!



Here's a shot of Mom and Dad posing with their flat selves from yesteryear. The flat people were shipped folded, so they were easy to transport. Once we attached the easels to the back it became impossible to fold them again, so now Mom and Dad get to look at a giant wedding photo every day (as do all of their neighbors!).

Happy Birthday to Me Sale--Share My Celebration!

I've always loved learning about how other people celebrate birthdays. Here in the U.S. it's common to give the birthday child a "spanking," with one light whack for each year. In Serbia, however, people tug your earlobes one time for each year. I'm avoiding anyone who even looks at my ears today, because I'd have enough tugs coming that I worry my ears might come clean off my head. :0

I'm celebrating with a sale! Take 10% anything and everything in my Etsy shop today. This includes all chains, something I rarely discount. And Temari ornaments and Kumihimo necklaces, things I've never discounted before. And of course it includes all fused glass jewelry, glass decor items, supplies, craft books, and whatever other treasures you may find there.

Include a Happy Birthday message in the notes to seller as you check out, and I'll refund your overpayment or send you a revised invoice before you pay, whichever you prefer. Shop now, this sale ends at midnight tonight, Eastern U.S. time.

Lucky Me, I Won More Giveaways!

I won this marvelous Jasmine Vanilla Solid Sugar Scrub from Dancing Mooney. I had been doing a bit of blog-hopping, landed at Mooney's Musings, and discovered that she was looking for suggestions for new scents. I suggested one of my all-time favorite combinations, jasmine and vanilla, and now everyone can enjoy luxuriously scented, fabulously feeling skin!



I also won this lovely set of birthday cards from BeeDazzles Gifts! They're exactly what I needed to have on hand for those birthdays that sneak up when I'm not paying attention. Check out Bee's Buzzings to keep up with new designs and new giveaways!

Is This Too Odd? Slumped Salsa Jar

Instead of slumping a wine bottle in my kiln, I thought I'd try something a little different. I sprinkled pearly white mica powder inside a clean salsa jar, fired the kiln until the jar was flat, let it cool, and this is the result. I think it looks a bit like snow, and I like the idea of something cold taking the place of spicy hot salsa.

It is different than anything I've done. The shape is not as graceful as a wine bottle, and Mr. LuckyGirl actually turned up his nose and made a face when I showed him the jar. But what do you all think? Can you imagine this little dish in your home, or giving it to someone as a gift? I have a lot of empty jars here, and could fill a couple of kiln loads before I run out. Or I could toss the jars in the recycling next week.

Oh, and if you've fallen in love with this jar and absolutely must have it, you can find it in my Etsy shop.