3rd Annual Springfest

This will be my fist time at the Springfest and I am really excited. It is at the Hill Country Galleria Mall, on April 24th from 11 am - 9 pm. There will be activities for kids including bounce houses, a dunk tank, face painting, a Velcro wall, and jousting. There will also be live music from great local acts like Two Tons of Steel, Dale Watson, and the Derailers. I think my favorite part will end up being the chili cook off, and the bloody mary contest. Admission is free, and there will be enough going on for a whole day of fun. I am working on a new design for stainless steel vases that I am hopping to premier, and I will have all of my other work as well. It looks like spectacular weather and loads of fun. Stop by and find your mother something amazing for her special day.

The 78704 Market

Here in Austin your zip code says alot about your lifestyle. One of the greatest to live in is the 78704. On any weekend you can head down to South Congress to find all the fun and funky that Austin has to offer. While you are there you will want to check out 1300 South Congress for the 78704 Market. It is sponsored by WeAre78704.com They provide the lot each week and local artists provide the wares. Where else can you have a meal, shop amazing art work, and find your new best friend? There is a crepe trailer, as well as a barbeque one, and a pet rescue. On the third weekend if each month you will get to meet some of the artists from the Etsy Austin team. On a recent weekend I made it out to see what amazing things these folks have come up with.

Merrit Gade makes jewelry for her shop MerrittGade.etsy.com. It moves as if it is alive, and makes you want to feel it. She also makes the most gorgeous tiaras I have ever seen. The kind that make you reconsider a simple lifestyle for the possibility of being a princess.

Jasmine Turner, of TheJasmineGallery.etsy.com has a knack for taking a simple item, like a domino, and transforming it into cool pendant.

I am excited to have a fun funky market like this so close to home. You can drop by any time between 11-6 for all the excitement. I hope to see you there.

You can check out the work of those who will be out this weekend.

ameliabeth.etsy.com

wildmoondesign.etsy.com

lindesigns.etsy.com

Lynnea Edwards

adornmodern.etsy.com

Stacey Samuels

Lynnea Edwards

carolbradleydesigns.com

gypsyharte.etsy.com

happybuddha.etsy.com

GemJunkie.etsy.com

maggie913.etsy.com

etsy.com/shop/ajthepurple

etsy.com/shop/TheJasmineGallery

lindesigns.etsy.com

Getting To That Age

My whole life I feel like I have been waiting to get to a certain age. I am almost 32 and I am not there yet. I consistently get carded to buy a lottery ticket. I guess I should be happy that people are not quite sure I look 18, but it is just silly. As far back as I can remember people have been telling me "wait until you get older" about everything from not wanting to have kids, to not liking asparagus.

So when exactly is older?

Do I have have gray hair? Well I found one just the other day. I think it may have fallen out because I can not find it now, but it was there. Do I have to have wrinkles when I am not smiling well I do there is one on my ear lobe, why on my ear lobe I have no idea. I have not worn a pair of earrings since the 90's but it is there.Do I have to crack and pop when I first get up? You can check that box.Do I have to dislike music made by people younger than me? That's a big 10-4 good buddy. I feel old. I think I look old, at least older than I did when I was 18.

So the question is this how old do you have to look before other adults believe that you know what you like to eat, what temperature you are comfortable in , or if you liked a certain movie?

Good Advice

All my life I remember my great aunt giving unsolicited advice. It was often good advice, although sometimes I was much to young to really understand it. She and my Grandmother were very close sisters and would have dinner once a week for decades after they were married and had their own families. I hope that people look at my sister and I like I looked at them. She was the sort of woman who could say "your head looks too big with that hair cut sweetheart", and there was nothing you could do but grow it out again. I want to be her when I am older. I think that when you get to a certain age you have earned the right to say whatever you want simply because you have survived. One bit of advice she gave me when I was about 12 only just last night made real sense to me. She looked at me in all honesty in a silent room and said "Find a man that you can stand to look at over a meal. You can't just not eat breakfast the rest of your life, and make sure he is funny. You can't just have a man that looks pretty, you will get bored." My fella is pretty and I have to admit it was the reason that I ever talked to him the first place. So I am good there. I have always found him amusing but after 10 years together he can still make me laugh. Last night he was looking for a DVD he wanted to watch, and he asked me "have you found that movie yet?" To which I replied "Have you kissed my butt yet?" Then he proved to me we really are compatible by saying "Honey I like to do that when you are asleep so that you don't know about it." That made me laugh for more than one reason. The first reason is it was funny. The idea that he really does like me enough to do that, but he does not want me to know about is just hilarious. The second reason is that I know my great aunt is somewhere smiling that I am lucky enough to be one of those people who could spend 40 or 50 years with the same person, laughing the entire time.