A Home for the Harry Potter Action Figures

We've improved on the Harry Potter finger action figures by making them a holder--here's the background my granddaughter created--I love this background--this could be a great print for material or wallpaper!  She has softer fingers, so you can see the difference from the rough blending of the chalk pastels on the left, (mine) and the much softer rubbing of the pastels on the right, (hers)  I much prefer hers!

The figures--(we had to make more for this years crafts fair), now have a home in the acetate pocket sewn to the background.  With a silver thread, the packet can be hung up!

Hot Air Balloon Ride!

I was given a hot air balloon ride with my daughter as a birthday gift!  We camped by lake Berryessa where our tent nearly blew away with strong winds in the night.  We got up at 3:30am on Friday the 13th!  This balloon was inflated and ready with the sunrise.

One of the crew took this shot, the rest are my daughter's pictures, which I love, they capture just what it was like up there, except for the sounds.  It was so peaceful and quiet, you could hear the sounds of a day beginning--dogs barking and a few tractors tilling the fields--then the roar of the flame every so often heating the air to take us up further...

My granddaughter was such a good sport to be there and watch us fly away!

A bit of humor for people in parachutes--makes me wonder if one would find this funny if they were truly in that situation--a chuckle right before it's over?

Our shadow was always surrounded with a glow--the driver thought it had something to do with the moisture in the fields--I wondered if it had something to do with the hot air in the balloon.

After we landed, the rope is pulled to open the balloon to let out air.

We had a bumpy landing, and the basket tipped over--the driver said this was an unusual landing--I'm still feeling the effects of the landing--a bump to the ribs, but I'm doing good. 

The first time we saw the basket was on the way to the airport, the equipment truck passed us by and there, on the back of the truck, was this small basket--my daughter and I just looked at each other and laughed!  These next few video clips were taken by my husband and granddaughter--they were chasing the balloon chasers and managed to film us taking off  and then landing--ouch!  

Preparing

Laying out the finished Magic Elastic Button Strings.  We're selling some of the same things we've sold in the past Children's Crafts Fair.  We've added some shiny gold to the buttons so when they whirl, they shine!