First day after all the shows are over

Michael and Marla came by during the White Rock Lake Artisans' Tour last weekend. Got them to pose by Andie's dragonfly fountain.

The sculptures are down at the Fair, went to see Mom in the pouring rain yesterday and today ran errands. Kinda don't know what to do with myself. No articles to write until Friday's Plant of the Week. Then the new Monday Morning Garden Hangover article. Doesn't mean you shouldn't reread some: www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner.

I'm working on my first article for Equanimity Magazine's first issue. Of course going to write about the State Fair show. I stopped by the Creative Arts Center today and asked Diana if she'd let me interview her for the second article and she so graciously said yes.

Also trying to catch up on registration for IAAPA show. They call it - eye appa - now, sounds so dumb to me. It's the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Someone should write a book. The people running the IAAPA have no idea what it use to be like. Now it's run by people in the convention business, not show people. And they are outsourcing so many parts of the convention to people who sound like they're 12 years old. Last year you couldn't get near our booth because the booth next to us was "Happy Feet". They had people lined up selling $40 insoles. We were simply delighted to pay all that money and have our booth covered up with people taking off their shoes. Probably get the vibrator or teeth whitening people this year. Really makes you think you're at an amusement park convention and trade show.

Jeff Mason's Blue Ribbon winner

I forgot! Look what we found in the Creative Arts Building along with Barb and Mary's winnings. Jeff Mason's blue ribbon winner! I'm thinking we should nominate him to be our token guy garden girl. I know we have John, but Barb won't let him stay for the entire meeting.

The Swells at the Creative Arts Center fundraiser

The Landscape Nazi drove me to AAA Stone yesterday. She worries about Mad Cow with me behind the wheel. I did my best to unload Mad Cow before the Creative Arts Center fundraiser at Mary Tomas Studio Gallery. It's OK, another opportunity to eat some more ibuprofin like M and M's.

The Swells enjoyed the fundraiser. Fabulous food, the gallery looked great, Stephen's band played - beautiful music, terrific singer. Kathleen looked so pretty I didn't recognize her and asked who she was. Diana sparkled, Tanya glowed and I forgot I'd been shoveling gravel just a few hours before.

Mary and Alberto - great hosts. Alberto kept reminding me to remind the Swells the gallery had art for sale. I tried to auction off some Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo shoes - and split the proceed between the shoe owner and CAC. I may over priced the Jimmy Choo single shoe at $25,000.

Creative Art Center and CityARTCal

Tonight was the big soiree at the Creative Arst Center with CityARTCal.  Artists collaborated on fused glass, metal, mosaics, paintings and fiber arts to donate to both the live and silent auction.  Proceeds benefitted the Creative Arts Center.  I've always loved this mosaic in the pottery room.   

I met Vet, a mixed media artist and fiber arts teacher.  In the following pictures you'll see her and her student's wonderful Diva Dolls.  I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of Vet, but aren't the dolls something.  

The donated pieces were great and showed how much the artists support the Creative Arts Center.  The auction netted some incredible deals for the bidders.  

Thanks to Sherry, Diana and Jennifer whose hard work pulled off a lovely evening for all.

Here's new friends and old.