Where has the summer gone?  Actually, the temperatures here are VERY summer like, but the time is flying by!  It’s hard to sit outside and enjoy nature when the heat and humidity so high, even in the evening.  How is your summer going?

Halloween is just around the corner and then Christmas…… I have SOOOOO much to do!  For those of you who are really in to Halloween, make sure you check out the 4th annual Ghoultide Gathering October 2nd in Michigan.  It features a lot of great folk artists of all styles, from traditional, to “way out there” and everything in between!  I was so amazed by the imagination to everyone when I went to my first one last year.  My sister, Connie Porcher, has featured many of these talented artists in Celebrate 365.  Hope to see you there!!

I’m sorry that I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been a busy little beaver.  I have been working on several projects while watching the Olympics.  In addition to my feather trees for the Halloween Convention, I have been dying and painting silk veils and scarves to sell this weekend at Belly Dance Kalamazoo.  They are holding workshops and selling Belly Dancing items there….. it should be a fun weekend.  My daughter, Brenna, has been Belly Dancing for exercise (and fun) and really enjoys it.  I made her a veil as an early Christmas present several months ago that featured stars on a back ground of purple hues.   In addition to veils and scarves, I will also have an assortment of jewelry to sell.

The count down is on for the arrival of the jewelry from John Wind!  It seems like we’ve been waiting for ever to get it, but it’s just that I’m so anxious to have it.  I’ve never been one to wear a lot of jewelry, usually just my wedding rings, the same old earrings and the necklace my husband got me years ago, but between Art by Amy and John Wind, I am now!  Instead of just throwing some clothes on and heading out the door, I now have to plan my outfit to go along with what jewelry I feel like featuring that day….. kind of a fun change of pace.

As for my husband, he is slowly getting his energy back.  We have going to the mall and walking around to get his exercise.  I’m not sure when he will feel strong enough to go back to work, but each day he’s getting better.  Thanks again to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers for him…. and to my sister, Connie, and Leslie Kirk for keeping up with my website!

That’s it for now….. have a lot of errands to run today (and more walking), and best of all, Brenna will be home for Spring Break today!

     This has been a long couple of weeks.  Unless things have changed, my husband will be coming home from the hospital Saturday!  It doesn’t end there, though.  He has strict orders from the doctor that he is to do NOTHING but lay on the couch for 4 weeks!  At least he will be home.  Since I won’t’ have to go in to the hospital every day, I am hoping to get caught up on everything.  I am not only trying to get my website updated and make some more trees and jewelry, but I have my husband’s business to manage.  We are blessed by having some great guys work for us and taking care of the daily operation, leaving me with the paper work.  I think I’ll have to teach Chris how to do some of it since he’ll have a little extra time on his hands.  I will also have to drive his FedEx route on days that we can’t find someone else to do it.  Everyone has been very helpful and supportive though all of this and we owe them a huge THANK YOU.  The biggest thank you goes to my sister, Connie, of Celebrate365.  She has taken on the job of taking and editing the photos of all of my new items…. and retaking the ones that I took just to get some items listed.  In addition to all of that, and that’s a lot, she is adding them to my store as she gets them done. 

     We are in the process of adding jewelry by Art by Amy and Christmas ornaments from Christina’s World.  Art by Amy is a combination of bold vintage/retro jewelry mixed with some modern flair.  It’s really fun and addictive once you start putting the the pieces together.  The ornaments and finials that I am focusing on from Christina’s Worldare from their line.  This way, they will fit on the feather trees that I make!  I believe that the jewelry order from John Wind is scheduled to ship on March 15.  I can’t wait!  This collection is also vintage style, but a little more “rich” looking.  The other great thing about this jewelry is that you can easily change charms because they connect with a lobster claw clasp.  So cool!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Connie and I will be at the National Halloween Convention at the end of April.  This is held at the Valley Forge Convention Center.  We will have a booth set up in the main isle, right by the stage.  We have never been there, so I am not quite sure what to expect but, it looks like it will be a blast.  I’m wondering if we will need to “dress the part”.  I think I could pull off being a witch without too much trouble….. that’s if you believe what my family says about me. 

             I’ll try and keep my updates coming a little more frequently, as long as my husband agrees to stay out of the hospital!

I am SO exited!  My ornaments from Christina’s World arrived yesterday.  I just finished taking the picture of them and will get them listed as soon as I can.  I almost have my jewelry ready to list, Connie is helping me with that since I’m a little stretched for time.  My husband has been in the hospital since Monday, and they think he will have to be there another week!  In the mean time, I have been driving his FedEx route (until I found someone else to drive), taking care of his business, trying to get the end of year taxes, spending a lot of time at the hospital and trying to get my new items listed.  Oh yeah, one of our cats knocked over a glass of water and it got my laptop wet.  I didn’t realize it until I grabbed my computer to take to the hospital with me, and by then, it had already messed up my keyboard!  I can use the touchpad and do some things on it, but I’m going to have to take it in to get repaired.  Luckily, my husband has a net-book that I’m using…. I just have to get my files transferred over.  Ugh!!!  Thanks to everyone for thier prayers and “get well” wished for my husband.  Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.

I can’t believe how long it is taking to get my photos edited and list my new items!  Of course, this is the first time that I have attempted this by myself.  My sister, Connie, has done all of this for me before now, but she has her own work to do…… I guess it IS time that I figure this out.  I do have a few photos ready, but have a long way to go.  Thanks to my husband for being ill for the last few days, I had to work his FedEx route for him.  The things we have to do for our husbands! 

To give you an idea of some of the new items that I will be adding, I have a posted a picture of the three necklaces.  In addition to  Halloween necklaces, I have Halloween bracelets and some other themed items. 

My order from Christina’s World should be arriving soon, so I will have ornments available to go on the feather trees.  This also means more photos to edit! 

I’ll keep you posted on when I get items added to the site.  Let me know how you like everything when I do!!

Benita