Best jewelry ever

I've waited my whole life to get an Aggie ring. I went back to school last year just to get enough credits to transfer to Texas A&M University so that I could carry on the tradition of my daddy's of having an Aggie ring. Then a few months ago, my brother and sister from another mother and father told me about Aggie sweetheart rings. If someone graduated 1978 or before one could order an exact replica of their Aggie ring (men) for their wives or mothers. My daddy never got one for my mama; they couldn't afford it when he was in school there. So I looked into it and sure enough I could order one posthumously. And I received it last month. It is like a new woman's Aggie ring only instead of Texas A&M University it says Texas College of A&M because that was the name of the school when my daddy graduated the first (and second) time. It has '51 on it, the year of his first degree and has his name inscribed inside, Carl W. George. For those of you who don't understand the significance of an Aggie ring and want to know, here's the link to find out about it: http://v4.texags.com/Stories/10853 I'm eternally thankful that my daddy did all the work so that I could have this. Part of the tradition is that on one is supposed to wear the ring except the person who earned it. That means that I can't even wear my daddy's on a chain around my neck. This is a wonderful way that I can honor my daddy and the college he (and I still) loved so much.

Happy Father's Day

To the best daddy anyone could ever dream of. Almost ten years gone; I think of you and miss you every day. You are always with me, always part of me. I love you.

Hope for Oklahoma Part 2

So, sweet Heather who has two young children who spearheaded this Hope for Oklahoma project was so tickled with the success from the first round that she decided to have another. Bless her heart. At least another sweet Heather stepped in to help her with all of this. When it's over, Heather is going to personally drive from Texas to Oklahoma to deliver the funds directly to those in need. No penny wasted. I'm so happy to be part of this project. Here are my art pieces that I'm offering for the auction this time. It starts on June 10th and I will be posting and reminding on my facebook pages.

Antique shoe forms I embellished and strung with raw silk ribbon to look like ballet shoes.

Mini dresser for holding small treasures. 

Pixie treasure box.

Mini journal. Embellishments from Tinsel Trading Co.

Another mini journal for tea drinkers. 3-D tea cup with tea bag and faux "steam" coming out.

I hope y'all will feel compelled to check out the auctions. These are not high dollar items; most are very reasonably priced hand-crafted, wonderful art. I even got one great item on the last one for only $5. And most have no shipping fees either. Win-Win.

A good fundraiser gives me the giddy up and go...

Ever since I got back from Texas and had the carrot of purchasing property to flip was taken from me I've felt a little lost. I was really excited about having a new project and work that I could focus on while still having the flexibility of being the mom of an active teenager. Then here come the storms and devastation and the feeling of wanting to help (and putting things in perspective). Thanks to the wonders of facebook, an artist friend announced today that she is doing an online auction of art with all the proceeds going to the Oklahoma recovery costs. Inspiration was born. A reason to create and a way to help.

I signed up then went straight up to my studio and started making. These are two hand mirrors that I made immediately.

Bee-inspired hanging ornament.

This is actually a knock-off of a Paper Whimsey project that I'd been wanting to do. 

Altered cigar box.

Mixed media hanging collage ornament.

Altered journal (in packaging).

I had been thinking I'd like to go to Oklahoma and help when the time is right. Whether I do or not at least this is a start. The auction will begin on May 26th here, the link to the facebook page called Hope for Oklahoma. Please join in either buying, selling, or both.

Adios mi amigo

My dear friend, Pete Ruff, passed into the loving arms of Jesus on April 15, 2013. He was an officer and a gentleman; a quiet man but a party boy and a lady's man. He was a Texan and a Longhorn. He was born in Midland but passed in Maryland. He was a sailor and a true patron of the arts. He gave me my start in business to which I will be forever indebted to him. He also brought together a group of people who, under no other circumstances would have ever met. So many are my "forever friends". This photo was taken when Pete and I went to see Historic Oella Mill, where we met when he owned it, after he had sold it and it had been refurbished into 270 condos. What a treat it was for me to get to share the experience with him. He was very happy with what they had preserved of the history of the mill, as was I. Pete, you are missed and you will always be in our hearts. 

(A piece of art that Pete bought from me has now come full circle)

I was blessed, because of our Texas connection, to be given Pete's boots. They are Justin Boot Company boots (my middle son's namesake). I also am blessed to have a painting done by Pete; a country house surrounded by a beautiful stand of trees and wide, blue skies. He loved Texas. He loved Maryland. He loved Costa Rica. All places where he had homes. I met Pete in 2000. Here is what a childhood friend wrote about him for those of us who didn't know these great details of him growing up in Midland. He loved talking about Hawaii and the parties he had with Don Ho and his adventures around the world especially in Mexico and Central and South America but Bill has edified us with an even more wonderful insight into this very special man.

I grew up with Pete in Midland. He was in our Cub Scout pack at the age of nine or ten, which is how I first remember meeting him -- at our back door. He was as pleasant and funny then as he later showed as a young man fresh out of the Catholic high schools he attended in Amarillo. I believe he was the star quarterback.

Pete, whose nickname was Speedy, became an associate member of the West Flepanske group created by the late R. Dennis Kelly. The. Name stood for West, Pannill, Fletcher, and Skee, or Kelly. Dennis changed the nickname to Speedre. He played much touch football with us -- in games at which Dennis often played in a Haspel suit and tie.

Speedre stayed with this agglomeration at the University of Texas. I believe he lived on Speedway with Dennis, Roy Merrill, and Hugh West. 

I lost him for a time when he graduated and became a Naval officer ("Mr. Ruff"). But we resumed our friendship when I went to work for the Treasury Department in the spring of 1971 and he opened his importing business in Ellicott City. We made a few trips there to see Pete and his wife, and I think both couples produced babies in 1972. But I moved back to Texas and we lost track again.

I heard from Speedre a couple of years ago when he was organizing a trip with the late Charles Ratliff to Costa Rica. I missed that trip, which I now regret very much. We don't appreciate what's important to us until too late. Goodbye, old friend.

Bill Pannill