My favorite things....

Making so many other Mother's happy with their favorite designer

Having my mother here for my birthday and Mother's day,

seeing my daughter proud over loosing her teeth

and the other one to find a strawberry that she called "as BIG as the ocean"

Making an extra unusual ring for friends for their wedding

Black iron and platinum......

all this and much more making May my favorite month

Family spring break on Captiva Island, back in time for Mother's day

The girls LOVED travel by train "Are we really sleeping on the train? This must be the happiest day of my life, Mom"
We took the only auto train in USA , goes from DC in Virginia to Orlando Florida.

Captiva Island offered Sand, seashells, sun, saltwater, kayaking, biking, fishing and para sailing. There was something for all ages to enjoy to top of with excellent home grilled food every night.

There was one thing that made this trip bittersweet, we all missed Opa.

There is still much to look forward to.... my birth day is coming up and all kind of Mother's days wishes just waiting to get fullfilled

Remembering our dear Opa

HARRY VAN BEEK /OPA Harry van Beek, 77, of Earlysville passed away on Monday, April 4 with his family by his side. He was born in Eindhoven, the Netherlands on Feb 3, 1934. On April 8, 1961, he married Janny Verhoeven, an event that defined the rest of his life. Together, they had four children, Olga, Jeroen, Inge and Jan-Bas.

Harry moved with his family to the United States in 1978 to build Klockner Pentaplast of America in Gordonsville. Harry and Janny were very proud to become American citizens at a ceremony at Monticello on July 4, 1994.

Harry’s joy for soccer contributed to the building of Klockner Stadium at the University of Virginia. Among his community activities, Harry served as the Chairman of the Board of the University of Virginia Health Services Foundation, as a Board Member of Poplar Forest, and as a Founding Member of the Board of the UVA Children’s Medical Center. After his retirement, Harry also enjoyed spending more time on his cattle farm and in his greenhouse.

In addition to his wife and children, their spouses Ed, Valerie, Mia and Rob, Harry is survived by his 8 grandchildren, Parker, Hannah, Emma, Niels, Nicole, Kiefer, Josefine and Nellie.

A funeral service celebrating Harry’s life will be held at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church in Earlysville at 11AM on Saturday, April 9 followed by a burial at the Chestnut Grove cemetery. The family will also receive friends on Friday, April from 7 to 8PM at the Hill and Wood Funeral home in Charlottesville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials take the form of donations to the UVA Children’s Medical Center.

Thrilling visit to the West, discovering a fauna for us never seen and many laughs with old friends!

Finishing Arizona visiting the worlds largest Jewelry and Gem show in Tuscon and the rough diamonds catches my eyes!

Coming home with inspiration, I had the joy of making many loved ones Happy with Dear Valentine's gifts.

Wishing everyone a day filled with warm LOVE /Mia

Christmas came and went!

After a "peak" of visitors on my website the run for Christmas could begin, we successfully executed all requests and orders well in time.
So Thankful for all the help from my co workers!
My family enjoyed the preparations for Christmas with me having 16 hour working days and Welcomed me back 2 days before Christmas "puh" As FUN as it is being busy..... I am in a way glad that Christmas orders only occur once a year!
Santa Claus was smart planning his event ;-)

Featured on NBC The Today SHow

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Long time but it is time...

It has been forever since I placed some words on the blog, lot of things going on at the same time so it is time for me to tell.... so this cat in the hat is having the opportunity to be featured with her work on TV.

NBC and The Today Show is including my work with children's drawings in to their list of gift idea's for Christmas on Dec. 2

I am going a tiny stir crazy but in all the excitement we did manage to to find and hang up a new lamp after almost 3 years in our house..... and my daughter is quick to find a equal design of her own!

My studio is growing with more bench space to Welcome a new co worker in time for Santa.