The Aftermath of the 4th Bead Soup Blog Party

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I thought you might be interested in what my blog hopping was like over the weekend.  Yep, I visited all the blogs, and only a few didn't have posts up yet -- a very few, actually!  That's an amazing feat for 362 blogs!


I slept in on Saturday because I had (of course) a migraine.  Rick got me a lovely cup of coffee, I set myself up in the library of my house, opened the laptop, and scanned email for any last minute hop issues.  I found out that a link wasn't directing to someone's blog correctly.  No problem -- I can fix that in a second.


Or so one would think.

I seemingly had the internet connection of a 1990's 14.4 modem.

I could NOT get blogger to open.  Then after the computer spun and spun and spun for literally fifteen minutes, and I changed the link, I couldn't get it to PUBLISH.  My husband started getting that look in his eyes because *I* was getting that look in my eyes and that look was panic and more panic.  So Rick first got on the phone with our internet provider ("there's noise on the line, we're working on it") and then he got on email and chat with the person who needed their link fixed.  After about an hour, during which at one point I threw my glasses on the keyboard and burst into tears, the connection magically appeared and I was able to attend my own darned party.

My way of tackling visiting blogs was first to visit my partner, and then to visit all the people who'd commented on my blog.  It was easy to click their comment and BOOM -- blog-a-rooni.  I'd read, look, comment, and then mark the person off my spreadsheet.
 

Midway through the day, my husband served me coconut cake.

 

Now, I know what you're thinking.

That came an hour later -- French Silk.

And then, as I got tireder and tireder, but more determined to be a good hostess, I took a break for a hot bath and a shot of Scotch.

Now I don't fit into any of my clothes.

Seriously, as much as I talk about pie, it's a "I don't usually get any" talk -- a longing for what I know I shouldn't have.  But this weekend?  Throw that out the door, hand me a couple of plates, and what a great husband to serve it up without my even saying a word.  And the Scotch?  I usually only have a shot or two at Christmas.  But oh that was a nice treat.


A few more blogs, and then a game of Apples to Apples with the family.  And then I was smart and called it a day night and slept until noon. I kid you not -- noon.  EXHAUSTED but in a good way.  I dreamed of beads.  And ok, some pie.  Which is what I had for breakfast.
 

Oh hush.  You would have done it, too.


Sunday, my internet connection held, but I ended up moving my computer to the bed where there were fluffy pillows.  Mmmmmm, pillows.

And around 11pm, I finished the hop.

I noticed one thing -- FIBER!  Lots of fiber.  And I wish I knew how to use it!  I'm either using the wrong stuff, or just haven't got the knack.  The only time I can use fiber is when I use it at the back of the neck like I did in my Bead Soup piece.  I want to learn how you guys weave it and tie it without it looking like when *I* do it.  When *I* do it, it looks like a 5-year old tried to wrap a present.  I just don't get it.

I also noticed that seed beaders are forever in my awe.  I don't even think that's proper grammar, that's how gobsmacked I am by what they do with tiny beads and a needle, let alone how they design things.  Holy smokes, hand out some medals!  Hand them out to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU -- all 361 of you.

And oh my.  I realized how humbled and grateful I am that you came to my party.  No one could have asked for better.  You didn't trash my house (too much -- who left the wine glass and beads in the backyard?) and you, for some reason, all wanted to come.  I'm exhausted, it took TONS of work (and thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who helped me -- you know who you are!), but as with all the fun parties, you have to work hard to have awesome-cool fun.


You guys rock.  Thank you for coming.

 all photos via Pinterest

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Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off.  She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene and is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.