The Conference, "The Buyers Market of American Craft" I went to in Philly was AMAZING! I really learned so much of the business part of being an artist... I know there is soooo much more I need to learn, but I got a lot out of the classes I was at! It was a "good thing"!
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But..............
My - O - My...... Back to reality! Although I am back in Florida... My heart was left in NJ...It had been sooooo long since I was there, I sure realize how much I do miss it! It is in me... I will FOREVER be a "JERSEY GIRL" ...The snow was a blast!I think this was a really fun day filled with lotsa laughter & great memories!I tried making Angels in the snow on the beach- but the snow was sooooo deep & it was hard as ice...It was funny!
But so very beautiful!

I totally remember going here to The Windmill to munch after a night at Tsunami's..... Fun memories....


I know some of my friends who lived in or near West Long Branch/West End remember this....




The view was amazing! I could wake up to this EVERY DAY! Breathtaking...SIGH....

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And, my Tummy & good times with old friends was left in Philly!I think this is a most AMAZING place to eat! If you are ever in Philly, this is where I ate! Amazing Ceviche' & some kind of Lobster Entree!(I don't know- the pomagranite martinis were flowing & my friend Bry ordered for me :)...). YUM-O!Probably the best I ever had! Too bad they are only up North...Philly, Atlantic City & New York.... Hmmmm, I must go back, just for dinner!FUN!I am CRAVING it!
All in all, it was a great 5 days... It went WAY-TOO-FAST......xoxox

AMAZING PERFORMANCE!

What an amazing performance the kids put on doing The Beauty & The Beast! Just like a broadway show!!! I am so very proud of the kids! Especially my kids!!! My oldest son was in the performance last year! My middle son was in it last year & again this year!!! Just take a look at these great photos!There is the Champagne Bottle! The Townspeople! Wolf & of course the Tea cup! My boys were GREAT!!!!! There is one more performance to go! And, ooooh, I can hardly wait for my little princess to enjoy "Brunch With Belle" !! More pictures of that tomorrow!

DECLUTTER DE STUDIO...........

Today is the day to de-clutter... My studio that is (which is a job in itself!) I certainly need help in that area! Maybe a whole new studio makeover type of thing... Shabby chick beautiful with white & pinks ... Like my daughters lovely pillowcase, so very pretty...

Possibly a designer to come in to work the magic & make it my litle hideaway. My place to create masterpieces! My place to "get away from it all" with a glass of wine & sweet music.... A place for others to come & feel led to pick up a paintbrush for themselves, or a slab of clay & create, or just to be there, content like me, sipping coffee or a cocktail with me...

I do LOVE company. That is my desires of my studio. Right now it is not that! To say the least.....It is so not that, I hate to even post a picture, so I guess I won't... Right now it is a mish mash of stuff everywhere. I see beautiful matching boxes carefully lined & stacked & labeled for all my "stuff"... I see it... But will it be obtained..... And, when, and for how much..... I look around & around & around, I get dizzy just trying to figure out where to start...If only a little magical elf could come in & transform it into the oasis studio I have always dreamed of..... If only......
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On a lighter note, Here is some new pieces I have just recently made...

Olive Tray With Toothpick Cup

Bedroom Door Plaque
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Well, I wish everyone a beautiful rest of their week. I am off to Orlando with the girls to attend a conference.........
Love & sweet blessings....
Gina

Custom Made Plates Made Just For You...

With much prompting from some of my dear friends who TOTALLY believe in me, I am posting the information on the custom plates that I design... Pictured are just some of the designs I can do for you...

Flower Plate #1

Cookies For Santa #2

Girl's Rudolph #3

Boy's Rudolph #4

Girl's Bunny #5

Boy's Bunny #6

Baptism #7 (pink for girls)

Birthday Dots #8

Stripes #9

Butterfly #10

Lady Bugs #11

Kitty #12

Rimmed Flower #13

Scalloped Edge #14

Happy Birthday Rimmed #15

Birth Plate #16 (Blues for boys)

Swirly Cross #1

Heart Cross #2

Black Dotted Cross #3

Named LadyBug Cross #4

Order your own "Personalized" Plates for any occasion. The perfect gift for that special occasion in your or someones life!...

All the plates are dishwasher safe & 100% lead-free! Microwaving is not recommended.With proper care and handling, your plate will last generations!
All plates are made to order, so turnaround time may be up to 3 weeks.

Small plates are approximately 8" ........................ $25.00 each, plus $4.00 shipping
Large plates are approximately 10" ......................$40.00 each, plus $5.00 shipping

PLACING AN ORDER:
E-mail the following information to livinglifeartfully@yahoo.com

1. your full name, e-mail address and phone number
2. The specific plate design name $ number# you want
3. Any personalization desired (please make sure you spell correctly- I take your information from this)
4. Any specifics you may want to add or take out of the design
5. Once I receive your information, I will e-mail you a confirmation # number. Once you receive the confirmation number, you may make full payment through Pay Pal, or by mailing me a check. If you choose to mail me a check, please indicate that & I will e-mail you the address to send the check to... Once your payment clears, I will start the design work on your plate. Turn-around time is approximately 2-3 weeks.
For rush orders, please specify that in your e-mail and add $20.00 for rush orders. Rush orders take 4 days design time, plus shipping time. (this is an approximate time only, during the holidays or for a large order, time may vary)

You can pay through PAYPAL by using the address: livinglifeartfully@yahoo.com
or....
If you would prefer to Mail A Payment, please specify in your e-mail information & I will respond with the address you can mail the payment to.


Any questions, please e-mail me at pottery.girl@yahoo.com

A sweet Surprise for ME!

It was certainly a night filled with close friends.... I was so surprised, lol. I thought I was just going to share coffee & laughs at my sweet friends house, but the whole room was filled with kids & dear friends.... It does not get better than that! I am blessed with true friends that love me...I tend to forget the love, it was a great reminder on how our friends are so very important in our lives...That is something everyone needs... So, if you are reading this & ever feel lonely, call on me, you don't have to ever be alone... I will love you, I am a good friend to many, & I certainly feel that we all need to bond together through the good & bad & lift one another up...... Just at the right time. THAT is my heart......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!!

As you may have gues lol, it is my birthday today!
I LOVE birthdays!!!! Even when I wish myself a "happy birthday"...
And, even though the timing of things in my life are ALWAYS OFF....... I still choose to have a great day, despite all the "STUFF" that can go on in ones life.....
So, tonight, it will be a quiet night with my husband & children at a dear friends house sipping coffee, making memories & of course laughter! Laughter is good for my soul!
As I awoke this morning to kisses, I thought, aaah, this is going to be a gooooooood day.... A day of love & restfulness... A day of celebration and surprises....

I know today will be filled with sweet special moments... I am blessed by the people in my life that really really genuinly love and care about me.... To me that is awesome!!!! That is a gift in itself!

I have been showered with love this morning from my husband & 3 sweet children..... Birthdays are great! Of course, the presents are like the BEST part of the day!!!! My kids make me the best presents! But, if I don't receive any presents, that is okay too... I will just buy myself some :) .... Don't laugh, haha I will!
So thanks to all my friends that love me & have wished me well today, and I thank God for my husband & sweet children.....

Sweetness...

A sweet moment between the 'princess' and her daddy..... As he paints her nails to match her mommy's.....Living fruitfully! xoxoxo