I love Summer...

Happy Friday....

I have been enjoying summer and have been out and about most of the time.
I ride my bike to the park, we went out for Jazz in the park, best of all... it won't till 9 pm before the day gets dark...

Here's the picture taken after 8:30 pm. The mosquitoes were having a 'party' while me taking pictures.

Aaahhh... I love Summer.... I hope you are too....

Jazz it up with silk cord

I was looking to make green necklace. I found this colorful silk cord at local bead store which I use to make a necklace with my handmade pendant.

The pendant is made of reticulated sterling silver disc. The silk cord ends with sterling silver cone, clasp and extender.

I think the colorful silk cord really jazz up the pendant.
Wouldn't you think so?

Like mother, like daughter...

My mom always say,"De appel valt niet ver van de boom". It translates as, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". I think I could say ... like mother, like daughter.

This is my daughter second necklace she made herself. This is to match the Gymboree dress I bought for her for our portrait session. The only help she had was to ends the necklace.

The very first one she made when she was just 5 years old. It was more like a string of many beads...

This time, she understands patterns and sure enough, it looks so much better. Wouldn't you agree?

St. Anthony's Camp Covenant

Summer starts,... which means very soon I will hear "Mom... I'm bored... "
This year, I try to be creative, productive & good learning experience. I signed her up for few camps.

So far, we survived the first week of Summer. I signed my daughter up at St. Anthony Camp Covenant where I volunteered for recreation team. Rec team are responsible for activities ties in with the theme and suitable from PreK-4. I spent most of the time outside.

I'm glad that she had fun and enjoy the program. She love the song and keep singing it which now stuck in my ear...
Thanks Julio...

"Father Abraham, has many son. Many son has Father Abraham..."
"I am one of them, and so are you..."
"So let's do a little praise, left hand..., right hand..., left foot...., right foot...., chin up...., turn around....., sit down."

Architecture inspired earrings oxidized pearl

Another Architecture inspired design... It's a nautical theme window where I added pearl for the detail. I also oxidize the "window" so the pearl would show up.

You can check out my Etsy listings at
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12686960

What do you think?

PS: More earrings available on my Etsy store.

Fundraising idea for Non Profit Organizations.

A woman from La Leche League had a discussion with me about fund raising. She would like to sell Nursing Bracelets for her LLL as part of their fund raising program. I thought that's a great idea and I would like to participate.

I thought I should note this on my blog.

If you would like to purchase my pieces for fund raising or any other good cause project, please contact me. I would like to hear about it...

Flood in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

It's been a stormy week in Wisconsin.
This is the first time I see the lake on the street. The picture taken in downtown Pewaukee, WI. The lake used to be in the opposite side of the big blue building to your left. Now, the lake is higher than the street level. The water gushing on the street and tried to find its way out to Pewaukee river.

Our basement is dry... We are thankful for that.
My heart goes to the people whose property got flood damage.
At least the weather forecast do not see anymore storm coming....

Lessons learned from the stormy weekend

It's been a stormy weekend in SE Wisconsin. On Saturday, bands of clouds passed our area. We could see the wind blowing so hard and pouring rain from our window.

We were planning on going to St. John Vianney festival, but I guess we would have to stay home instead. My daughter was whining... I thought it's going to be a terrible weekend.. stuck at home with whiny kid.

We heard sirens and tornado warning that eventually turned to flash flood warning for our area.
We all went to the basement, brought some food, water and radio and listened for the weather news. In the mean time, we turned on our portable DVD player to distract the kids from the storm.

After the storm passed, we checked for damages. No damage... we are saved.
I told my daughter how lucky we are to have a house that can protect us from storm, rain and thunder. There are many children that are not so lucky...

I guess that brief moment in the basement or seeing how bad the rain was, stuck in her head. The next day when we were preparing the envelope from the church, my daughter decided to put her 27 cents to the envelope... and she said "For the children who doesn't have a house"...

Wow... I'm so proud of her. The stormy weekend meant something for us. It's not so terrible weekend anyway... it's a lesson learned weekend...

Where will Bigib be during the Summer?

Summer time is here... school year is ending.
With my daughter out of school next week, I will have so many things to do with them.
Which mean, my appearance on my blog will be sparse.

I will still be around, but I won't be blogging everyday...
With that, I leave you with my daughter picture who is ready for the Summer...

A Little Hut, a recycling project idea.

Recently, I hear more about going green and recycle items. What would you do with old boxes, news paper, bottle caps? For me, it would go to the recycling bin.

But what would happen if you give a graphic designer old magazines, bottle caps or any unwanted items?

I know Patricia would turn it into a recycling project. One of her newest project is this recycled paper flower.

Her other recycling project can be seen in her Flickr link

How to be healthy and have fun...

I got distracted... The weather is getting nicer and I tend to go out more often...

With a baby at home to take care, I have to choose places to go and fit with her needs. Well... since I got a new bike ( I know... I mentioned this million times), high gas price ( $ 4.05 the last time I filled the gas) and knowing that I have to walk 10,000 steps a day, I opted to ride the bike instead of the car.

At least once a week (I aim for two), I would ride total of 6 miles, go to the park and back. The going to the park route is down the hill, while going back home is a torture.

The first time I rode, it took me sore legs and buns and 30 minutes going back. The second time, I didn't have the sore legs or buns, but still closer to 30 minutes. I don't know how long it take for the third time... but it felt so much faster...

I might not be able to wear "tiny winy yellow polka dot bikini" this summer, I feel a lot healthier and happier. I'm sure if I keep doing this, I would shed some layers and get the nice dress for my cousin's wedding...

Hm... wouldn't that be a sexy summer time

Syko, quilted art

Sometimes, it may takes time to discover your passion. Like Kajsa, even though she has MA in Ethnology, she found her passion in sewing and has been doing it since Feb 2008.
To learn more about her items, you can visit her etsy store.

Find your passion... lesson learned from Randy Pausch

How are you going to spend your day today?