summer part 1

I have been on a break for a while and realize that wow, it is July already! When the girls are home for the summer, time flies. We have done some fun things like going to Galena, softball tournaments, I have visited flea markets and art festivals, the 4th with friends and last night Carrie Underwood. It has been a whirlwind.

Here is a pictorial of some of it that I remembered to capture...

Galena~

A hot air balloon festival that was gorgeous. This one flew over our house. Great picture of mom & dad watching the balloon on the deck.


At night they did an illumination...


The girls and their cousin, I love this picture with the balloons in the background...


McDreamy & me at my parents 50th anniversary dinner...



Wow, a family picture that I actually got in!



I attended the Festival of Fine Craft festival in Highland Park, IL and saw and spoke to one of my very favorite mixed media artists ever. Her name is Danielle Desplan and she does such beautiful old world style collage pieces. She is as beautiful as her art work I loved talking to her. I left her booth and wandered the rest of the show and planned on going back, but had to leave to get my daughter home and never got back. I was so disappointed, because I really wanted to get a picture of her booth and one of me with her, since I admire her so much!!!! I really want to own one of her pieces...Next Year...

Until then here are some pictures of my favorites from her website...




and her beautiful self...


Here is the link to her site: danielledesplan.com

Then I came upon this booth by artist Valerie Bunnell~
I was drawn to it, because it reminded me of Cirque du soleil. She had such unique, fun & eclectic pieces that just intrigued me.


Look how fun with the recycled pieces and then the queen bee, there are no words, loved her!


Drama darling and her friend Erica in Valerie's booth...


Link to her website is: www.valeriebunnell.com

Then Carrie Underwood~
One of Drama Darling's favorite singers and Baby Girl and I love her too. McDreamy, well what would he have to complain about, right? She was incredible. My pictures, well I am going to call them artistic interpretations. The lighting was not good for my camera, but I kind of like the way they turned out. This girl can belt out a song like no other, how she can not loose her voice throughout the concert is beyond me. A true beauty with a voice of an angel, we had such a good time.





Get your summer on everyone, I love cruising all of your blogs and seeing how you are spending yours:) xo