Beadblogger (belated) Sunday

Joe and I spent the weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, where he ran the Ironman triathlon. That's 2.4 miles swimming in a lake with 2700 of your closest buddies...


...112 miles riding through the surrounding rolling hills...(here are the bike racks--the place they started)


...and then a refreshing 26.2-mile run (this is Joe telling me "I'll be done in 3 more hours").


Yes, intense. Yes, insane. Yes, my hubbie. Yes, 13 hours later he finished!


I had a much more restful day, working on my upcoming book (here's a sneak peek of one of the projects)...


...walking around the local farmer's market...




...visiting with my old friends Disey and Rich, going out to dinner with Joe's triathlon buddy, Jeff, and cheering the racers at the finish line with my wonderful niece, Rachel. A lovely day that's much more my speed for a weekend away.

Now back to work and preparing for my classes at Bead Fest Portland next week. You going to be there?

Here's what my bead blogging buddies were up to while I was messing around in Madtown:

A Bead A Day
Design ideas wanted!! If you have an extra minute, please stop by to see if you can help Lisa out with a suggestion for her co-worker's designer Italian pendant.

About.com Jewelry Making
Copper is hot right now! Find out about a new book review just posted concerning copper.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene's September Challenge is Kandinsky's Improvisation No. 23.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses chessboard crystals to create a floor for her ballerina necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy's obsession with bronze metal clay continues. She shows off her new Art Nouveau floral charms.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shares a sparkly crystal and brass pendant that she unearthed while cleaning her studio.

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi has finished another CopprClay necklace and wants to share the instructions!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is having fun using lots of Lynn Davis components in her designs this week!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean comes across her "Digg it" necklace--far out! She's like an archaeologist!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Matcha green tea from Matcha Source defeats the doldrums and inspires Andrew to create a new bracelet!