Snails can be a good thing!

Remember pouring salt on snails as a kid to watch them foam and dissolve? That gives me chills now thinking of it!

Those common garden snails actually go by the scientific name Hedera helix and in very rare cases even show up in sinstral form (where the shell opening is on the left hand side rather than the right!).

Anyway, they're seen as pests by most and I agree, having them mow down a flower bed of colorful verbena is very frustrating. But did you know that snails are actually a sign of a mature, healthy yard? My mom's house was built 16 years ago on a dry river bed, and it's taken about 14-15 years to start getting snails in the yard.

Of course, it's annoying when you walk on the sidewalk at night and find them crunching under your feet. They also have a tendency to fall into the fish pond, only to become a tasty treat for the koi and goldfish!

Here is my homage to the lowly garden snail. This is a one of a kind sculpture I made with polymer clay. I love and respect these little critters!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19704664

Getting Crazy with Beads

So I'm on a bead roll... I'm currently listing some handmade jewelry in my Etsy store under the name Sea Star Studios. I visited Bella Bead in Fresno last week--somewhere I've wanted to check out for a long time, but I put it off because I knew as soon as I did go in, I'd get kind of crazy.

And of course, I did. But it was fun. I really like the bohemian style of the knotted cord with beach glass and handmade beads. Good times!