More Than Chocolate...

Took my first-born to Hershey Park for his birthday (THIRTEEN!) and I knew HE'D love it....(C'mon: copious amounts of chocolate, rides on the Comet, the Claw, the Trailblazer 'til you'd almost hurl, and what's in this hotel room drawer?  Heaven for boys and teenaged boys.)  But I was a little leery.  Sometimes the summer masses at a theme park ain't pretty.

But surprisingly, what I found was a clean playground with mature plantings, friendly folks, and yes, copious amounts of chocolate.  I also surprised myself: though there were crowds, crying toddlers, and way too many rides on the Pirate, I was able to see some of the beauty of the place.

One (Wo)Man's Trash...

This morning, on my quest to loosen up my traitor back, I walked and walked, (and then walked some more....c'MON, back!)  I only stopped when I found some new ideas, cast aside on leaves and dirt on the side of the road, and thought that maybe finding time again to look around, wasn't the worst thing in the world.

One (wo)man's trash is another's idea for some glaze treatments and a "hole-y" lamp.... :)

Creative Juicing

I just pulled the switch on a kiln load of all my faithful designs: Hydrangea, Rosie, Tweet, Cheery-o.  And while I still love the designs that have been with me since the get-go of this whole mud-slinging enterprise, I'm ready to develop some new things.  So while I am taking some time off due to a back injury, caused by too many hours at the wheel,  (yuck, OUCH, and soooo annoying...) I am trying to use the time constructively, and do some idea and inspiration gathering.  Try to keep those creative juices flowing.  My big spiral notebook is at the ready for pasting and sketching.

Thought I'd share some juicy tidbits from today's culling:

Happy yarn fonts from Bloesem Kids.

Imagining my little monkey's lunch in these adorable graphic snack sacks from beethings on Etsy.

Anika's simple but striking polka dot fabric, offered at Monaluna.

Katie's Pencil Box

Ledansla

Gorgeous photos, where color and domestic life are the stars, from the blogs of Katie's Pencil Box and Ledansla.