Happy New Year 2011

I hope it is happy and healthy.

Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis sing auld lang syne in Barga.



I also love this one...Dan Folgalberg's Same Auld Lang Syne

Lampworking 101

My husband bought me a beginners lampworking kit a while back. These beads are my very first attempt. My first and only attempt at lampworking.

I really enjoyed working with the flame. Watching the glass melt, continually rolling it onto the mandrel, adding decorative bits of glass, and millifori was totally cool. I'm definitely going to try working with it again, after the weather breaks and my garage "studio" is much warmer. Yet at this moment, I wonder if it is really the right medium for me. I found myself worrying about every movement, being afraid to burn myself or my house. Perhaps with practice the whole "dance with glass and flame" would become second nature and more enjoyable. We shall see.

While I already had a tremendous amount of respect for those that work glass with fire, having tried my hand at it, my admiration is even greater.

One place to admire the work of masters is the Museum of Natural History at Harvard University. My nephew is on their swim team, so in a couple weeks I plan to watch him compete. Then off to the museum to see the Glass Flower Collection exhibit. This will be my second visit to see these flowers.


The Blashka's of Dresden, Germany spent 50 years making life size glass replicas of about 846 plants. I was mesmerized by the lifelike detail of each piece and the sheer number of them. Bless my husband's heart. I know he walked around and saw a bunch of aged, fading glass flowers, in very old dusty display cases, yet he said he enjoyed the exhibit. Me, a gardener and someone who appreciates the work involved in making each piece, was blown away. I was totally eating it up. Can't wait to go back! Click here to visit the Musuem's website about the Glass Flowers Exhibit

Sighthound Holiday Wallhanging

I never found time to post my decorations before Christmas, so I'm sharing a few of my favorites on this Sighthound Sunday. The snow is falling and the strong winds are making blizzard conditions outside. It is the perfect day for snuggling inside with my husband, our sighthound pack, with many glowing christmas lights, enjoying a relaxing day.

This little wallhanging was purchased some years ago from the Biggy Iggy Auction. I believe, if my memory is correct, the artist who donated this work was named Margaret Allison. Her son designed the IG silhouette. I also purchased a spring wallhanging with the same IG, and 3D flowers. Both are a treasuried part of my sighthound collection.

For a little more than a year, I have been collecting old cylinder candles, sometimes called sugar candles. In the mid to late 70's, when I was in school, we sold these as fundraisers. Making my usually thrift/consignment shop rounds, I found 3 of these candles for under a dollar each. I came home, did a little online research and discovered what a great deal I had stumbled upon. I was surprised at the prices on Ebay, especially for the religious themed and pretty landscape designs. I never finished decorating the garland or the greyhound statues (another greyt bargain), but I still enjoyed the candles nestled between the dogs. I hope you do too. I hope they inspire you in some way.

Annual Holiday Card 2010

holiday card 2010
Originally uploaded by Frums Glass Menagerie

Tony's Sweet Pea

Tony's Sweet Pea
Originally uploaded by Frums Glass Menagerie

Just a quick post for this Sighthound Sunday:
The sighthound this week is a portrait by Tony, my 6 year old nephew, done on thanksgiving day. Sweet Pea was laying on her side in front of the fire. Tony made a noise which caused Pea to lift her head and look in his direction. They caught eyes for a moment. Tony quickly ran to his paper and pen to capture her portrait. Watching him get inspiration, then run to his paper was so much fun. He did this with the logo on his father's shirt, the mouse figurine on my side table, each of our dogs.

I hope he continues to draw.

Honeyville Farms - Cookin' Cousins: Give-Away!!!!!!

The Cookin' Cousins are giving away 3 combo packages of dried foods. They are great for soup making, baking, any cooking. We have been using Honeyville Farms' almond flour in our /Paleo Diet/low carbohydrate/ way of cooking. We enjoy it.

Honeyville Farms - Cookin' Cousins: Give-Away!!!!!!: "Hello ya'll!!!! Ready for a Give-Away?!? We are giving away 3 Combo Packs!!!! You have until Monday, December 20th at 8pm pacific time.&nbsp..."

Fun New HTML Code Tool for Etsy Treasury

My necklace was included in a treasury and thought I'd share. It is such a pretty collection, made by one of my PetsJubliee team members. It think it evokes a peaceful and serene feeling.
This is the first time I tried a new (new to me) tool for inserting treasuries into blogs and websites. Check it out here: Etsy Treasury HMTL Code Tool
This generator was made by Whale Shark Websites. I must thank PetsJubilee members for my new tool. The Etsy Wish tool by Whale Shark Websites looks like fun too.
Please scroll down to see treasury.

'Navy Nativity' by SassySashadoxie

Navy items for Christmas or just for anyone who loves navy blue. Merry Christmas from Sasha and me to all of you!

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph... angelpupscreat... $12.00	Itty Bitty Stuffed Dog ... DogBarks $10.00	Blue, Yellow and Purple... lynliao3 $38.00
Cattails Polymer Clay P... ValeriesStuff $22.00	Christmas Ornament - Ch... LaughingFridge $12.00	Oblong Scarf Satin Silk... jingjingdesign $20.00
Embroidered Snowflake B... SeptemberHouse $65.00	Versitile Snoodle Hand ... anywear $15.00	Personalized Nativity C... TurnbowDesigns $40.00
Pair of 2 Lattice Work ... WillaSkyeHome $64.00	Sale. FREE CHAIN. Bhind... caughtredhande... $	SALE Payton (Single Str... WhatAGirlWants... $30.00
Nativity Scene Cake Pan... ConnieHilePain... $15.00	Running Dog Glass Neckl... FrumsGlassMena... $20.00	One Bar Moon of Pandora... layla $4.25

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Etsy Beagle Team Challenge

Here is my latest creation. It was made for the Etsy Beagles Team holiday challenge. The theme of the challenge was, Happy Howlidays.

I made similar necklaces for my sister (and myself) last year. It is whimsical and lots of fun to wear. I receive so many compliments on it. I've decided to make more that are decorated in a way that makes them appropriate to wear year round. Maybe a gardening snowlady? Perhaps a fishing snowman? A cat loving snowlady? A tropical Snowman with flamingos and palm trees? This could be lots of fun. Any ideas or requests?

I would like to invite you all to stop by the Etsy Beagles Team blog. You'll see each of the entries and a quick comment on which is your fave, gives you a chance to win a prize.

Visit the team blog at: http://etsybeagles.blogspot.com/2010/12/etsy-beagles-happy-howlidays-blog.html