Gathering

I absolutely had a wonderful 4 days in Louisville at the ISGB annual meeting The Gathering. I attended the business meeting and was one of many that won some much needed clear glass. Some of my favorite vendors were present, Zoozii, and Arrow Springs. There were lots of other vendors also and they, I am sure, will become favorites in time. I had earned some extra money sewing and it flew out of my purse. I bought some cab mandrels that I have wanted for some time. They have a bit of a learning curve to them, but Amy, the owner of Zooziis, was at open torch and demonstrated using them. I have made one attempt but need more practice.

Open torch was just awesome, some of the icons of the glass bead world were there in a casual atmosphere making beads and sculpture. There are no words to describe it. Danny kind of poked his head in for a couple of minutes and even he was in awe.

The Bead Bazaar was awesome. Danny lasted two rows and there were 5, I think. Everyone's work was awesome. I bought a few beads but mostly was just overwhelmed.

The speakers were wonderful and the people in general were very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed every minute. I had so much fun that I was utterly exhausted when I got home. I took my camera but did not take one single picture. I wish I had now of course.

When I decided to go to the Gathering, finances were not in the best shape. I am glad I managed to swing it. I thought it might be the only chance I got. Now I am wondering how I can finagle to get to go next year in Seattle. Like I said it was wonderful

What do you think?

I am torn between using the wonderful pieces of driftwood that were in my mothers things or just straight jewelry. I usually do not use props but seem to be drawn to pictures that use them. I have read many discussions online regarding this and both sides have some good points. I do think that using too many can be distracting. What do you think? This is a set of beads that I have had on my bench for awhile. I do not know why I did not think to combine it with copper before. I love the look of copper but struggle to find colors that I like with it that are not just fall colors. I am not sure if this set will be for me or for sale. I visualize it being worn with a denim shirt and khaki slacks and maybe a white shirt.


I also have finally got a pair of earring beads that I am going to list. I have been remiss in regards to my etsy account. I just have had local orders and family events that have taken all my time and the beads that I have been making. I made myself a pair of earrings similar to these (different shape) and I love them. I made a pair for a gift and she seems to love them. So I decided that maybe I should list a pair. I have a necklace started with some of them and I am going to have a hard time parting with it. I guess I just love this combination. Simple but goes with a lot of what I wear, black. They have a gold tone to the bubbles but go well with silver also. The bubbles are much prettier in person. That is the trouble with selling online.

Giveaway Jackpot

I follow a lot of jewelry oriented blogs and they are very generous in their information and giveaways. This is a very active blog community. I do enter some of the giveaways, the ones that I find suit my taste and style. Generally all it takes is a comment or an answer to a question. Sometimes depending on content I comment just because I have something to say. It feels more like an actual conversation that way. I love when someone comments on something that I have said on my blog that interests them. That being said look at this awesome giveaway that arrived yesterday in my mailbox from Erin Prais-Hintz. She was interviewed on the Art Bead Scene Blog asked a couple of questions that I answered. She found these treasures at the Bead and Button Show recently.
She wrote me a very nice note and wrote notes for each group of items giving me more information about the contents.
Some Sari Silk, hand dyed ribbon and rolled silk cord. I have been wanting to try some Sari Silk, now I can.
This group just grabbed my heart, Raku leaf-Maku Studio, Porcelain-Splendid Loon Studios, Ceramic tube-Lisa Peters, Recycled glass-Loot!, Pewter-GreenGirl, Polymer-Humblebeads, Metal-Treasures-Found(Erin) and Vintaj. I follow a few of these artists but have never owned any of their beautiful creations. I will try to follow the others and am so excited about these elements. They are to die for. Looks like I will be sporting some new creations soon.
And as if that was not enough there was a third bag stuffed full of goodies. This bag was very thoughtfully chosen. It consists of glass, crystals, czech glass, filigree, brass, and pewter. These items had lots of pairs so they could be used in multiple ways.

Erin would not have anyway of knowing how far away a good bead store is from me. This was really like Christmas for me. In her note she states that it would be fun to be a personal shopper for someone that could not go to the Bead and Button show. She did an awesome job of picking these items out for me, I would recommend her to anyone that needs a creative shopper. I have never really thought about going to the Bead and Button show but I sure will now.

Thank you Art Bead Scene and Erin from Treasures - Found.

Snow Days

We are now on the 12th day of weather days this school year. Epic amounts of snow have fallen so far this winter. We are already above our average snowfall. So walking to the mail box (my only exercise during these times) with topper in tow, I happen to notice this last snow fall was sparkling just like sugar crystals. For Christmas presents this year I bought some frit called sugar frit. It is a crystal clear small grit size. I made several pair of these snowball earrings. I thought they would match lots of outfits even at other times of the year. Hope everyone is not too sick of the snow to wear them.

I have a tendency to gravitate to color combinations that are familiar and comfortable. I keep going back to this same bead lately. It is a teal/turquoise frit on a Dirty Martini background. It dawned on me today why. The afghan that has been in my den for a long time (made by my mother) is the same color combination. It definitely was thought provoking when I walked by the afghan and realized the similarity. What do you think?


The beads and the afghan are much prettier in person.

I ordered some new glass two weeks ago on sale. Due to everyone doing the same thing it took them a week to fill the order and then it always takes at least a week to arrive here ( in the middle of nowhere). Fed Ex is supposed to deliver today. Can't wait. Hopefully snowy roads will not prevent delivery.

So far school has not been canceled for tomorrow, but it really does not look good.

No Excuses

As is the case with everyone at this time of year, I have been in overload mode. Hazel Green employees, family and friends have been keeping me busy at my torch. Thanks to everyone for this. If I didn't love doing it now it would be a problem. But even when the pressure is on, I do not dread making beads and jewelry. If I am not making something I am researching new ideas and techniques. It is amazing that projects that friends suggest and I am not supper excited about seem to turn out to be my favorites. Usually they are outside my comfort zone, is why I hesitate. Please keep asking me to try new and different things. A perfect example of this is a teacher at school asked me to try and do an apple bracelet for her sister who was completing her education to become a teacher. I was a little hesitant, I hate to disappoint anyone. I played around a bit, cracked the first one. Showed her a sample, she of course said it was fine. I proceeded to make lots of little apples. It ended up, if I don't say so myself, pretty cute. I am anxious to hear how her sister liked it. It is definitely something I will repeat for other sales venues.

I also made two sales at the gallery. I was pleasantly surprised to receive two checks right before Christmas. I was on the fence as to whether to continue in that avenue.

Hopefully everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Ours was a little different. Patrick being in Korea was not with us except via the internet. Maggie was supposed to come home yesterday but due to horrible weather her flight got canceled. She is coming home with Brian's parents via car today. So we will be waiting anxiously to be able to spend some time with her. So our Christmas was very quite but very nice. My father had back surgery right before Christmas so his holiday was a little different also. He is doing much better now. He was is so much pain, he is not a complainer, so when he says he is miserable you know it is bad.

Last but not least, due to a very supportive husband and a wonderful father I am the proud owner of a new beautiful camera. This is not only a wonderful gift but will help me sell my beads online. It is really hard to sell online without good pictures of the items. No body in their right mind is going to buy something that the picture doesn't make it look it's very best. I am so looking forward to learning everything about it. It is very similar to Maggie's, so hopefully she can help me learn quicker.

So over the past year I have complained about needing a new camera - Now I have no excuse not to blog with lots of pictures and hopefully list more items on Etsy and hopefully in the near future a actual website.

Some of the following pictures were taken with the old camera and some with the new.

New member of our household Abbygail (Patrick's cat)
Trying to figure out our pecking order.
Lots of beads.

Thanks for visiting. I will try to post more often with my new toy in hand.

Productive Weekend

This picture really does not do this bracelet justice. Again I need a decent camera desperately. Maggie where are you. But if I don't take a picture I tend to forget what I have done in the past, even if it is a bad picture. This weekend I made Wildcat beads and for a change they all turned out usable. Usually you have a few at the beginning that are not too good as you get into a rhythm. Then I spent Sunday making jewelry. Wildcat bracelet, 4 pair of wildcat earrings and the above bracelet. The above bracelet was intended for Sue's Birthday. I had to bring it back home though it is too big. So restringing it is. I am not real good at the redo thing. I probably will take out the big bead out of the pattern so it is the right length.

I have always been very proud of my parents keeping up with the changing world and changing technology. They have always grown with the changing times. My Dad now even has a Facebook page. I really think that speaks to his great attitude toward life as a learning journey. Love you Dad. You are the very best ever.

Patrick seems to be doing great in S. Korea . He taught his first classes today. He appears to like teaching. Go figure. Of course who would have thought I would spend 16 plus years working at an elementary school. You never know where life is going to take you. He is experiencing all kinds of new and exciting things. It was hard to comprehend Maggie doing things in England, it is just as hard to comprehend Patrick being in S. Korea. Wow!

Maggie's first day of classes at UNCG was today also. She met with her professor on her Graduate Assistantship first thing this morning and then off to class. Seemed to go well. She will be awesome in both roles. She even found a parking spot, major hurdle she says.

Last week with my Favorite Daughter

Maggie took the above pictures of the kitten when she came home two different evenings from Brian's house. How she gets up there we have no idea. This kitten is a pistol and full of personality and has the loudest meow when hungry. We have named her so I guess she is a keeper. Her name is marshmallow when clean and when dirty it is toasted marshmallow.

This week has been enjoyable but also a little sad. We are putting the finishing touches on packing and getting ready to move Maggie to NC. Where did the summer go. When I needed the longest summer ever, I got the shortest one since working in the school system. I made some pretty cool wine glass coasters yesterday from some fabric she picked out in Berea. Today I am going to divide the Clivia that my Mom loved and shared with me years ago. It had a baby (rare) so the baby is going with Maggie. I am also going to make her some cloth napkins to go with her (my old) dishes. I loved those teal dishes and got good use out of them. I was just wanting white again. Sad to see them go. I also have got to rework a pair of earrings and mend some items for her before packing the truck.


The above necklace was made by my cousin Vickie Kane Mathieu, it was sent to Maggie as a graduation from college gift. Vickie is an enamel artist from Arcadia, California. It is amazing. A shimmering blue background with a gold heart. She could not have picked a better size or design for Maggie. Maggie was a baby the last time Vickie saw her how could she have known? I do not know if she sells her work or not, but she should.

Maggie and I are going to meet with Stacey Wilhite tonight to discuss Peacock Beads for a project she is designing. I am not sure if I can help her but I sure will try.

Animals, Animals, Animals

I really have had the lick with the pets around here. Topper had a Vet appointment today for some shots. He is deathly scared of storms. At about the time we needed to start the fight to get him in the car, which is picking him up (over 70 pounds) and putting him in a Jeep Liberty against his will, it started to pour the rain. After Maggie, Topper and myself were totally drenched and unsuccessful in getting him into the car, I gave up. Topper ran under the porch. We are going to try this again on Monday. Can't wait. Off to have dinner at a friends. Have to still take some pictures of some beads that I did the other day using some of Avenue Beads Shards. Turned out not bad.

New addition to Studio

A surprise find at IKEA was a sort of rack system for kitchens. Mag and I spotted it and thought it would work in my studio to store frit etc. near my torch but not on the crowded table. Danny installed it today and it works wonderful. Total cost a little over $10.00. They even have colored bins and had purple which matched Mag's old bulletin board that I have hanging there also. I am thrilled.


Today at the torch was just good old fashioned fun, no pressure and lots of experiments. Trying to formulate the next jewelry piece?????



Danny has gone to the hydroplane boat races with a friend from Key Electronics. Hope he has a good time. He doesn't get to do enough of that kind of stuff very often. Mag went to Brian's and I just torched away.


Karen sent me some very interesting beads from California. I have got lots of ideas how I can use them with my glass beads.




My son's fiancee' Samantha wanted me to make a turtle for a very good friend of theirs for her birthday and I did manage to make a decent one. Probably my last one though, not really my thing.

Progress is slow

The process of getting a new artistic venture together is tedious. I wish I could just go make beads and jewelry but in order to continue to do that I need to do a lot of other things. Like order business cards. Mag designed them and they have been shipped. Yay, one down. Now I need tags for the jewelry that I am going to take to the gallery in Somerset. I found a latex glove mold at a local flea for $20.00 dollars. I think it will make an awesome display piece, can't decide if I want to keep it for home and art fairs or take it to Somerset. Wish I could find another one.


I have slowly been trying to buy items that will help display either beads or jewelry. I found a tutorial for a cigar box display of beads, found a source for the boxes and was really pleased how my first one turned out. I took it to the Library demo and it seemed to work great. What do you think?


Visited Hallock Stained Glass store in Lexington yesterday after the marathon visit to IKEA north of Cincinnati. Needed bead fix. She carries some 96 and some 104 glass. Her beads were great. She has some frit a few tools etc. Nice to know that in a pinch I might find what I need and not have to wait a week for a glass order. Very nice people and a dog that was wonderful. Mag and I would both have taken him home.

We also visited the Kroger Marketplace store in Lexington and I got the coolest dog treat jar. Mag thought I was crazy, but I love it.


Only the very best for the best dog ever. Oh, it was on sale too.

Another Big Snow Day

Today was another snow day. I used it to take pictures of beads. It takes longer than you would think to just do that. Then you have to download adjust, adjust, adjust then save.

I did manage to list the above bead on Etsy today. I also applied to a organization of Self Representing Artists. The process can take up to 3 weeks. The group promotes glass lampwork artists and tries to educate the public regarding the differences between mass produced beads and a handmade bead. Believe it or not, no fee, optional donation. You had to send proof in pictures of your studio, beads that you have for sale, etc. If approved you can use their logo on your site selling beads only. I hope my application will be approved. I would not have been ready to do this a few months ago.

I burnt some beads tonight, concentrating on organic style bicone focals. I am anxious to see what the kiln fairy will bring.

After you view the next pictures - Do you think we are going to be out of school for a few days?
These were took out the sliding glass door down stairs.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well as it seems every weekend, we are expecting more snow. Danny's car is at the bottom of the hill so he can get out. I am going to be really mad if we have gone to all this trouble and it doesn't snow for a change.

I didn't get a lot accomplished today other than normal chores. I did sort through a lot of beads and make decisions on what should be done with them; whether to make some jewelry or sell them as individuals, pairs or sets.

I also did get some pictures taken. They are really not as good as with Maggie's camera but it will have to do for now. I even listed a new focal. It is a bead that I made without the aid of a press and it is bigger than I normally make. I am really fond of it and I think it will make a great pendant or be great in a long necklace. Maybe tomorrow I can get some more pictures taken and list some more.

Testing Found Camera

My husband found a Sony FD Mavica camera at work . We are testing to see what kind of image that we can use on the internet. Bear with us. First picture is with my daughters camera, drool. But the freebie doesn't do to bad. Maybe it will do for awhile with Darrin's help in between.

Guess What Another Day with Snow

Today Danny and Topper worked really hard to clear parts of the driveway and roadway so he can go to work tomorrow. School has been called off. Topper is such a dear. He recently protected our property from the skunk. He still smells a bit like skunk. He is the dog I have always wanted. He actually even gets along with the outside cat crew.

I was moderately productive, burnt some beads, did some laundry etc. Maybe I will play all day tomorrow. Our Miata is not really the car to be driving in 8 inches of snow.

Big Storm Looming

I am sure that people who live in moderate climates live longer. The stress which is attached to a big snow is unbelievable, we have spent all week long waiting and hopefully preparing to be snowed in. We are hearing anywhere from 1 to 10 inches of snow. We are hearing that it could be here as early a 8:00am or start at 1:00pm. It really sucks, our only four wheel drive is not up to the challenge this time.

On the bead front I have listed two more groups tonight. They are pictured above. I was really torn about listing the etched trio. It is one of my early successes, and I really liked the combination. If it sells, I think I will do more of that look. I also listed the petroleum green and ivory combination. It is also one of my favorites.

New Etsy Posts

I am so excited, I listed two items today and actually someone had already looked at one of them. So cool. I don't think any strangers even looked at the buttons. It was worth the .40 just to have someone look. This process is time consuming and I probably am not good at writing up the sales pitch and description. Sales person role is not an easy one for me. Maybe Danny will step up.

I torched some today. Mostly spacers. Yesterday's take was pretty good. Did some hearts that came out OK.

Really tired of the rain. Our driveway and yard look like lakes. Danny could not get up the driveway due to two trees that had fallen over the drive. We had to hike through the mud and push and shove them out of the way. What a mess!!

The above beads are the ones I listed. I think I will try to at least list a couple a week since it searches the items by date listed. That way maybe they will look at other items already on the site. Boy will I be excited if something actually sells.