Tony Stewart Wins at Atlanta and Cinches a Spot in the Chase

Last weekend, Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing and driver of the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

Let's go Tony! Take it away!

Credit: Getty Images

More Soldered Bottles

I told you I was on the hunt for some more bottles for soldering. I found this beautiful blue bottle in an antique store in La Mesa. It matches my first bottle. Now I have a pair of pretty blue, soldered bottles.

Elena Etcheverry and I spent the day at Suzi Blu's house soldering. The temperature outside was in the 90's, but we thought it would be a good idea to solder out on the patio (first mistake). Since none of us were especially experienced at soldering, it turned into a bit of "the blind leading the blind." In fact, it was downright scary at times. Since we were live on the web, many people across the world witnessed this fun but rather hysterical episode. Suzi was getting wild with the soldering iron and I was getting so nervous that she would burn herself that I had to unplug her. Then she dropped her bottle, which, of course, broke. Elena came to the rescue and foil taped and soldered the broken bottle along the JAGGED EDGE (eek). By now, I was a basket case. In the end, the broken bottle became a very interesting wind chime for Suzi's patio.

As the day progressed, we were so hot and near crazed. At one point my two friends looked at me and freaked out. I was red as a tomato and looking like a total stroke victim. Suzi immediately made me go inside and we were done...not only with our bottles but cooked well-done from the sun.

I must say, we made some pretty bottles, we laughed, and I'm happy to say, no one was hurt during the filming of that event.

This is a close up of the original bottle I soldered at the Art Bar in Miss Vicky's class.

Tags with Claire

Tags were made with Tim Holtz distress inks, grundge board and grundge paper. My friend Sally and I had fun grunging up the grundge board in a class with Claire, at Stamping Details. These are all Claire's clever and creative designs.

Out of The Box at Urban Barn

What’s more fun than a group of girlfriends getting together and sharing art. It’s definitely one of my favorite things. Tonight our Out of the Box Book Club gathered at the Urban Barn in Escondido. What an awesome, inspirational place. It’s a store in a warehouse setting with tons of fun vignettes of vintage and shabby chic. I don’t think there’s another place in San Diego that comes close to matching the unique experience this store offers. We are so thrilled that Urban Barn owner, Linda, decided to move into our neighbor hood from Temecula.

We just set up a couple of tables and chairs right in the front of the store. The doors were up, the sun was setting and it couldn't have been a more beautiful night.

Glenna's gorgeous banner

Kat's Happy Girl painting - taught by Suzi Blu

Pam went to the CREATE Retreat in Chicago and learned the techniques for this custom book.

Pam also shared this beautiful collage.

Each cycle we do an art exchange. This cycle it was birds.

Here are Bonnie's fabulous soldered charm birds.

Kat's chipboard birds with butterfly hanger

Elena's creative magnetic boards with a little birdie magnet.

Allison's sweet paper piecing birds

Danette's cute little fat birds all made with circles.

Sheila's awesome embellished birds using items that she currently had on hand.

Pam's gorgeous smooch birdies.

Judy took an example from our book and added her own flair, which turned out adorable.

Glenna's lovely vintage bird tag.

We each took home quite a collection of pretty birds.

We couldn't end the night without a tune from our lovely Book Club leader, Elena.