I'll Have My Cake and Eat it TOO!

TBD, thank you for the birthday wishes.  I ate so much I'm surprised I didn't POP!  Here is the lovely cake (the name has been removed to protect the innocent...that would be me)

And the beautiful flowers....

Now, for something completely different..... REEDS.   Yes, I, IB am a double reed God and have created reeds.  Behold the beauty of the double reeds:

And, let us not forget the hours spent on making the bridal shower cookies.  Sorry you can't partake of the delectable delights - perhaps your friend will eventually send you some.  In the meantime, please know that these were a big hit and tasted, uhm, how shall one say DELICIOUS!

Birthday Grrrrrrl

Happy Birthday IB! Someone needs to get their head out of their birthday cake and post on the blog.............. HINT HINT.

I reject your Paint By Number scheme and substitute my own....

As many of you are aware, I've exhibited some of my work in some mighty fine art galleries from here to New Mexico. So, of course, after getting the Paint by Number bug a few days ago, I HAD to buy a kit TODAY.

Kit as bought:










Same kit pimped out with REAL acrylic paints in complete Mezzo Presto fashion because we hates the wimpy little uninspired pots of useless goop. Also observe the crock of artistically arranged paint brushes added for panache:



We'll see how it turns out. I worked on it some today, then my muse disappeared and I worked on this. Doggie included for scale:





Looks kinda like those Byzantine artifacts someone digs up, polishes, and photographs for National Geographic. And, of course it needed MORE stuff on it, so I added MORE stuff on it....







I give you Psychedelic Byzantium:



I finished the back with the same sticky felt I used on the sparkly bracelet.
Yep, those are sequins, the base is made from those cheap glass beads from our fave crafty store. The little blue glass seed beads are actually real Delicas...rescued from the bargain wall at same said fave crafty place. No, haven't put the clasp on yet.

And, this arrived last week, left on my front porch. All 500 pounds of it. It is a storage cabinet.
Here's the before shot. Doggie included for scale:




Here's the after shot:


Yeah, I know...the after shot is of it AFTER I pulled/dragged it into the house. It may take a couple of weeks to regroup and get the thing put together.
Or months.
IB, when did you say you were going to stop by for a visit????

Behold, the beauty of the beads....

Well TBD here it is  - the latest creation.  The idea was that of a flower garden - nice pretty pastel flowers.  I'm not sure if I like the overall look.  Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.  I will continue on and not give up on this creation.  Perhaps once the flowers have all been "planted" I'll like it more.  

And, just for fun - here is the Princess sitting on her throne, next to the sparkly fruited tree, observing the peasant (that would be me) wandering through her kingdom. 

Duct Tape Happens

Hey IB. Well, I'm back. Trip was not without incident, however. I popped open my car's sunroof and it wouldn't completely close afterward. I pushed on the hinge, trying to slide it back, then said a couple of bad words, then took it to the local dealer who announced that they did not have the part in stock to fix it. Rain was in the forecast......Long story short, went to our fave crafty place and got black Duct Tape to match the car (of course, I LOVED the RED Duct Tape, but that would have looked tacky.) It really does match better than in the picture. Really.



OMG, I can't wait to get it fixed.

And, for those that have been asking, here are some shots from what it looks like 4 minutes before a performance:



Mezzo Presto action shots:



For those who are about to Rock, I salute you:



Very exciting, no? Anyway, it killed a couple of minutes. I was going to take some shots AFTER the performance, but I was so wiped out that I didn't have the energy to reach down and dig out the camera. I crawled out to my car and had to just sit in it for about 10 minutes before I could drive back to where I was staying.

I think I need some SRV therapy. Johnny says hey.

You Better Give Me Those Shoes

Ah, that famous line that I love to repeat from "The Bad Seed" - an old black and white movie.  If you haven't watched it, you need to just to behold the acting.  It's not a comedy, but you WILL laugh!  Well, as you may remember, TBD, today was a bad day and so to make myself feel better I did what every red blooded American does - I went and SPENT MONEY!  Yes, I spent money that I should not have spent and I spent it on something totally frivolous, but fantastic! Yes, behold .... THE SHOES.....  

They really do look much more fantastic in person.  Plus, I got $10 off the already low price! 

And let us not forget these shoes:

Yes, shoes - my Prozac!  Now all I need to do is make some jewelry to go with the funtastical shoes.  

Hey TBD, this is in response to your note to me after I sent you the link to this puzzle...

The description read "These FUN puzzles have the same image on both sides. To up the challenge, the image on the back is rotated 90 degree" and you responded: FUN? THAT'S FUN?

I want you to picture this - Immortal Beloved (hereafter known as IB) orders the puzzle because IB loves puzzles. IB can't wait for the puzzle to arrive. It arrives. Excitement ensues. IB rips open the package and starts the "puzzle" ritual of taking out all the edge pieces. IB can hardly contain the excitement. IB begins..... IB looks....and looks....and continues to look....confidence begins to wane. WAIT A MATCH - two pieces put together...confidence once again builds and the excitement increases. OK, IB feels confident "I will be able to finish the puzzle". OH, another match and yet another one.... now looking, looking....looking, is this one? Nope....looking, looking, ah, here's one...nope...looking....looking HERE'S ONE - I'm sure of it...nope, frick. Confidence rating now at zero, fundar is now down to about one. IB thinks, "I'm NOT going to give up I'm NOT! Okay, maybe if I move the pieces around that will help - okay, got them moved".... looking...looking...looking.... IB, now talking outloud says, "Maybe I need better light" - more lights are turned on. "Good, I'm SURE that will help". OKAY, looking - AH two more pieces together - only 492 more to go. See, I knew that more light would help..... ten minutes pass.... twenty.... thirty.... DANG.....thirty five...CARP! Fundar down into the negative now. All of a sudden puzzle pieces FLY across the room. Kitty cat leaps up stunned by the puzzle piece rainfall and runs into the other room - more puzzle pieces are thrust into the atmosphere. IB gently stomps into the other room for a refreshing beverage and some comfort food. IB sure does LOVE puzzles. What a relaxing way to spend the evening. Only one dilemma remains - does IB pick up the renegade pieces now or in the morning? IB will vote for in the morning. Good night everybody! stoopid puzzle.