What's Going On ...

Wednesday

READ THIS: Please click 'Continue Reading' to read ALL of my update - the majority of it is in the 'Continue' portion, I am trying to keep this section small so you don't have to scroll up and down like you used to...

I'm still getting used to this new blogger thing, but I think for the most part it's working out ok..I enjoy seeing your comments, but of course private email is always welcome, so don't be a stranger!

I realize I didn't tell ya'll the results of the 'what one thing would you change' poll was...Most folks said "don't change anything" which is nice, I'm glad you enjoy the site as is...I did get some suggestions that I thought were great, though...

One suggestion was to have a page of Paired beads - for earrings. I've seen that on other sites and just never thought about it again, but its a great idea and I plan on getting one made...look for that as soon as I get some pairs of beads made..

Someone else suggested I offer individual beads...not so much focals, but just one or two of my beads from a set. Would you pay $6 or $7 for a bead plus shipping? Have you seen any individual beads you wished you owned? I was intrigued by this idea - its not a bad idea, I just assumed no one would want to buy a bead by itself...more feedback please...

Another idea was to offer Pickings in the evening so folks who can't hit the computer during the day would have a chance to get in on the fun after 5:00. I like this idea and plan on implementing it too.. I think I'll announce when the Evening Picking will be, though, so everyone has a chance to get used to it. I probably will do it 1x a week unless its something everyone says they'd prefer...I do list my eBay auctions in the evenings so ya'll can be home to bid/win them...would you prefer all my Pickings be in the evenings as well? I like doing them in the morning, but would be happy to do one 1x weekly...

I've also optimized my photos for folks who said the site takes too long to download...I've been on a cable modem or T1 line for at least 7 or 8 years now, so I'm so used to a fast connection I don't even consider folks using dialups anylonger....Is loadtime a problem? I'm not wild about the pixelization of the pics when optimzied to 256K. i prefer a smooth photo...lemme know what you think about that decision...

Lots of new pickings and a new eBay set today...still haveta shoot pics, and do the HTML thing, so gimme a little while...Spring colors, purples, blues, flowers...if you're not into that, then time to order something from my site instead. Ha...didn't see that coming, didja?

Tuesday

I'm late in updating (or am I?) this morning...been taking pics and shipping beads, but now I think I'm ready to sit and update...!

Alrighty, I got a good night's sleep and I've settled down here...Click here to see the pics of the bracelets that arrived last night...Sylvia Skea is a fabulous jewelry designer who put together these two bracelets for me from the Arabia set I sent to her...If you're interested in her jewelry, feel free to click on her name and send an email..Tell her you saw these bracelets!

I was also impatiently awaiting the Surf and Turf bracelet from Michelle Neff's website...I've almost bought back all the jewelry she's created using my beads (well, not really, but you can see I enjoy her bracelets too!). The Surf and Turf bracelet is more beautiful in real life (aren't all beads?) and I'm thrilled to add this piece to my collection as well...

I'm outta cash now, so its time to sell some beads...!

One new set going up on eBay tonight...no new Pickings today, but I'm going to spend a LOT of time on the torch today, right after I replant my new petunias...I should have done this on Sunday, and they are wilting in our blazing Texas sun...its 80 here today..hot..humid...Summer has arrived just 3 weeks after Spring.... Now we are welcoming any cool snaps that might be nice enough to wander through Austin, but they are few and far between...enjoy your nice Spring weather if you have any..! I have the A/C and fans running already...$$ are rolling out the door :)

Monday

bah...at 7:00pm our mail arrived at our house...have you ever received mail at 7:00pm when it wasn't Holiday season? well, i've simmered down and received the ever important packages I was expecting...I'll post some photos of them in the morning so you can see why I was in a tizz...

i'm so furious i could just smash a pumpkin...our mail was never picked up or delivered today...at all..i've been waiting since 3:00pm, as our mail is *always* late in being delivered, and i'm expecting a few packages...its now 5:45pm and no one on our block (i've checked with 4 ppl, including my next door neighbor) has any mail. the folks who live on the next street over have theirs, I can see it in their mailboxes...Who do I contact to complain about this? And does the government really care? I mean, what are my options, using only UPS? isn't that more money? I typically have to take shipments at least 1x a week to the PO due to the mailman just not picking them up, or a substitute delivery guy doesn't know to look in the cooler on the porch. This is so infuriating. I'm livid...!!!!!!!

Pickings are posted...everyone have a good time!

I'm diggin' this new blog system...thanks for the comments - don't be shy! you can always privately email me if you prefer...click on the banner in the upper right to shoot me a mail...

I'm tickled with the response I've gotten to the new Elton John set on eBay...I didn't know how ya'll would react - its very different and funky...I love it, but that doesn't always mean you will...thanks for all the great feedback about it..!

Will update more in a bit...

We are testing out a new system where ya'll will be able to give comments to my daily blabbing...forgive me if there are some bugs to be worked out, but I think this will be really super groovy and hope you take advantage of the 'comments' link all you want!!

We are heading to the yearly Austin Flower Show. I had a booth at last year's show, Brian manned it while I took a class from Leah Fairbanks...I'm glad I don't have a booth this year - dragging stuff to and fro, setting up, tearing down - it gets tiresome..But I did a lot of shows last year (10 or so) and I think I just burned out...

I have a new eBay set, its very 'day-glo' and bright. It won't appeal to everyone, but I sure like it! I think it'll be post either tonight or tomorrow..haven't decided yet...

The drawing was held this morning, Brian pulled a name from the magic bowl and the winner is posted below. Yes, there really is a bowl and your name is entered however many times you emailed and told me you voted...6 emails=6 entries...it's all fair...

I just punctured the web of my left hand w/ my dremel while cleaning beads, so i'm letting the bleeding stop before I pick up my expensive camera...owwww...(if it isn't burns or cuts, its punctures...always something..)

This is always dangerous, but I've been cruising around some of the other beadmaker sites and need to ask ya'll a question (oh no, not another question)..."What is ONE thing you wish I would change (add, subtract, do better) on this site?" Email me and tell me your ONE biggest wish for this site (maybe I can implement it if enough people tell me the same thing!)...be honest, don't worry about hurting feelings - I'm the one asking what you want, so fire away..!

Got to bed early last night, so I'm rested and ready to go. Never made it to the torch yesterday, it was 'email' day, but I think today will be fruitful. Hopefully I'll have something new for you tomorrrow, and maybe a new eBay set...

Amy dodged a big bullet last night, having lost their really STUPID car rental give away at Trump Tower. I'm gonna haveta watch the last few episodes...rumour has it The Donald (or at least his entourage) is in Austin this weekend auditioning for Apprentice 2. Think I could sell beads in the boardroom?

3:00pm Alrighty folks...I hope you like these new beads...I made small sets so there is a variety of pricing available for everyone...I am a sucker for these neutrals!!

it's 1:00am (again!) and I'm updating now because I need to let you know that I *will* have Pickings for you Thursday...but I have a haircut right in the heart of my posting time - 11:15am...and because there are so many beads (that's right, you heard me) that there is no way I'll get them cleaned, strung, shot, optimized and posted before I have to leave at 10:45am...Therefore, I will post the Pickings in the afternoon...what time exactly, don't know. I'll post something here about 30 min before I'm ready to offer them so you won't miss out..(I hope)...If you liked the Taos set, you will like this new set..I think...at least *I* like it...I'd wear it...maybe I should keep some of these bead for me...well, if they don't sell then that won't be too big a problem now, will it?

Regarding my pricing for my beads, some folks have asked how I come up with my pricing...I was just viewing another site a minute ago and saw that beadmaker was charging $10.00/bead and her stuff wasn't as elaborate as mine is...I try to keep my pricing anywhere between $6.00-$8.00 per bead, depending on the color combo, techniques used, layers of colors, length of time to make the bead, skill needed to execute the bead, difficult colors used in creating the bead (rubino, redux, etc)...My florals are $12.00 a bead, but they are time intensive - create the striped cane, 4 layers of glass (sometimes 6) per flower, working extrememly small to keep the finished bead small, encasing so the base doesn't smear - there's a lot to making a floral, trust me. Thats why a lot of folks have trouble (and I used to as well, I just practiced a lot at took as many classes as I could, and learned how the glass worked, and made tons of mistakes..etc..etc..you know the drill). SO, my prices range depending on a LOT of factors..I'm not trying to see who will pay the most for my beads, I'm trying to be fair and price them accordingly...Sometimes my $30.00 sets don't sell, other times my $60.00 sets do...so I guess it isn't all about the $$...

I'm heading to the torch - if you don't hear from me in email, I'm 'in the office' and will get back to you later today...look around and have fun, tho!

Well, I'm trying something new today for the Pickings...I made 3 sets of beads that all work together or independently...I've offered them in 3 separate sets instead of one large one, but if you bought all three, you could mix/match them to suit you. I included a pic of the full set (18 beads) so you get an idea of what you're looking at...They were pretty fun to make this way.

The votes are rolling in, thanks so much for patronizing me...I'm not answering each 'i voted' email, so if you have something important you want me to answer, send a *separate* email so I don't lose the thread! I'm not ignoring you if I don't answer...

I went to bed last night at 1:00am and got up early...so I'll write more once I wake up properly. I love getting up early to clean and post my beads, its like Christmas everyday here...open the kiln and let the fun begin...

It looks as though eBay is a ghost town this time of year...lots of lampworkers are saying how slow its been and I have to admit things are looking pretty quiet on my western front as well......is it Spring Fever? Are folks all 'beaded out'? is it Tax Time? This is my first Spring on eBay and while I expected January to be slow after the holidays, it was rip roaring...maybe this is just how the Springtime goes...? Its kind of like trying to predict the weather, I guess..you never really know whats in store for you, you just have to ride it out and hope to make it to the other side...

Yesterday was action packed in the studio...my littlest cat brought in a lizard and dropped him on the floor (only after I made her). As I scurried her out the door, the lizard scurried across the room. I'm not afraid of spiders, mice, snakes, lizards - I think they are all great..(I owned two tarantulas for years, but that's a story for another day)...So I couldn't find the lizard and figured he'd found a good hiding place...only to discover he'd taken up residence in my glass rods. I think he felt comfortable hiding amongst the vertical rods..hee Anyway, Brian and I caught him later and put him in our bushes - away from curious little hunters...

Ok, the Pickings are ready for today...hope you find something you like..

Two new eBay sets are coming up tonight and tomorrow...If you missed out on Black and Pink the last time, see if you like the new set I'm offering.."Rizzo Pink" aka 'bad-girl' pink, its mostly black with pink accents...for all you biker-wannabe chicks...

I'm always amazed at nature - we have opposums, racoons and red-headed woodpeckers that live in our neighborhood..and we live in Central Austin mind you, not in the countryside...I saw a pair of woodpeckers doing spring cleaning on their tree today...they live just two doors down from me...

3:12pm I've finally updated the site w/ the Fun Sunday Goodie I've been eluding to...Scroll down and see what it is...enjoy!

Some fun pictures of my new African Violets...we'll chart their success or failure as we go (i can't say 'as we grow' because that's makes my eyes roll every time you say it). See the new setup...

I bought all sorts of findings yesterday, having run out of almost everything...So now I'm back making bracelets again! See the one I made last night using the little Ice Blue set (known as Aqualove). No one wanted this little set, and now look at it..a beautiful little bracelet...The toggle is sparkly Marcasite silver and really brings the 'ice' feel to the piece. sometimes I'm glad ya'll don't buy my beads so I can show you what you're missing...heh.

I'm still working on the 'new development' for today, so check back later once its uploaded...I think you'll like it! and enjoy your spring day..!

The First day of Spring! I'm off to our local annual African Violet show to pic up some new specimens. Its been years since I grew AV, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what's new and exotic...one of my last AV's grew so much that I split it into 3 other full size plants. I hope I have as much luck this time..and that the cats don't brunch on them..hmm...

We've figured out the camera problem - when the batteries get old, the picture quality deterioriates. We bought a new battery last night, so i'm retaking yesterday's Pickings pics..maybe they'll entice you more now?? hmm....

Be sure and visit the Designer Gallery pages and visit the designers to buy their fabulous jewelry...I love looking at it often myself...

I hope your day is sunny and nice, even if it isn't warm...Come back tomorrow for a new surprise!

We tuned in The Apprentice last night (CSI wasn't on) and had a great time watching the recap show - it was our first time to actually *watch* the show, but I feel like I know everything that's going on from just listening to the 'fired' folks on the talkshow circuit. Plus Amy on the show is from Austin and she phones in to a local radio show here from time to time to chat. Brian and I were telling each other 'yuh fi-uuhd' like The Donald all night last night...we are easily amused...!

I'm concerned about my camera, the pictures I took with it today are not so good...Brian has been using it to take photos of Star Wars stuff, and I wonder if he's changed a setting or something...I think he needs to go back to his old camera and leave the big beast to me...we bought a Sony 717 for him, but I use it everyday to take pics of my beads, so it's really becoming MY camera...he has a little Sony that he likes that I've never liked, so I think when he gets home we need to discuss the whole camera situation...

I have a few Pickings ready for you today, but am waiting till a little later to post them... I got up early today, so my beads are ready earlier than usual, and not everyone knows to check here at 9:30am for new beads...so come on back.

I've got something new that I'll be starting on Sunday, be sure to stop by and see what I'll be offering YOU...I think you'll like it!

Berkeley and Bradford Bunny are here just in time for Easter..these little guys would be great as earrings (they are small enough) or as a little focal on a necklace. Due to their exagerated ears, I'd be careful about using them as bracelet dangles or zipper pulls...Berkeley is ready to listen to your inner secrets, Bradford is not very sharp, but he gets by on his looks...

Do you like my handiwork on the Cobbler? Its my favorite recipe - simple, fast and tasty. The cobbler is fantabulous with vanilla ice cream (isn't everything)..A friend made this with mixed berries and peaches, and added some cinnamon to it...I heard it was wonderful, but he didn't save me any...Try it and let me know how it comes out...send pics of your cobblers and I'll post them!

Yeah, St. Patrick's Day...Please don't pinch me!

New Pickings today...Just a few...I spent most of the day on the computer yesterday, but I did complete an order and am working on others today - don't fret those of you who've placed orders, I'm making my way through the list, indeedy-do...

Results of the Power Seller question - its unanimous...ya'll don't care if the PS logo is there or not...! So that being said, I did some investigating and found there are a few benefits as a seller to having the PS status - easy access to eBay support if you need it, an eBay chat area where you can discuss your eBay experience w/ other PS members...but if you don't meet the criteria, your PS logo can get pulled, so watch it! hee....on a related note, I accidentally deleted my "About Me" page yesterday, so I need to rebuild that too... sorry about that!

I hope to post a page here *today* regarding upcoming class dates, costs, hotels, agenda, etc. It might be this evening before its up, but check back later if you're interested in a class this summer. The survey is down for now, but feel free to email me if you missed it and are interested in a class...I got a pretty good response, I'm excited about meeting a bunch of ya'll!!

I've been invited to become a PowerSeller on eBay....I don't know anything about this, or why I should join...My questions for you: Are you more likely to buy beads from someone who is a PowerSeller? Does it impress you or confuse you? Do you know what it means? email me and clue me in!

Only 5 votes on the Artzee site? My bottom lip is hanging out in a pout...help me....help me...help me...

My Pickings today are strictly Show and Tell - giving your wallets a break today...Because the kiln wasn't on yesterday and I made no beads, I sat down and made necklaces for myself! I bet you didn't know I was even capable of stringing beads, but surprise - I can!

I'm getting back to work today - orders, eBay, pickings and suprises. Those are my goals, haughty as they might be.

I have TWO (!) pages of Pickings today...one is new - Spacers...! I've not created a place to order spacers yet, so i'm offering a few sets for folks who are in need...I will get a page up one day...soon...

5 sets of Pickings for you to choose from, I do hope you find something you enjoy...

If you are a jewelry designer and have a website AND you use my beads in your jewelry, be sure to send me your website and I'll add it to my Links page. I apologize for not doing this sooner, its a simple oversight, nothing else. I've added Rachel Giarrizzo's site, Boston Inspirations this morning and there may be others I've forgotten - send them to me again, I'll be happy to add them...!

I just completed a set that's going to be my next Featured Auction (10 day) called "Mirabilia". Ironically, I made the set first and was looking for a picture to suit it when I happened across the Mirabilia website, found the Autumn Queen (whom I adore, and have in my possession) and thought "wow, these colors are perfect!". So as much as I'd like to say she was my inspiration, she was not. I pulled the colors all by myself from seeing the rods next to each other in the jar on my desk. In all honesty, a LOT of the sets you see are from that kind of 'flukey' offchance of the rods landing next to one another. While I prefer my desk to be neat and clean, there are good reasons to make messes... I guess I'm able to spot color combinations where others don't. Not all of them work, mind you...I do make disasters and luckily YOU don't get to see them...but they do exist, oh yes...

No new beads for Pickings today, but I'll get some so we can start again tomorrow...Some folks have asked when do I update my site each day? Normally my day goes as follows: get up, get the beads out of the kiln, clean and string them, shoot pics and post them...So by the time that all happens its typically around 11:00am CST. Now, sometimes I have already done all the work and I post as early as 9:00am CST. But I'm thinking that might be a bit too early for you West Coast folks, so I will try not to do that anymore...Its 11:23am here right now, and this seems about right to be posting...I can't promise everyday will be the same, but I've heard your requests and will do my best to stick to this time...

If you haven't visited the Picasso Gallery lately, I've had a nice insurge of submissions the past couple of days...I also reordered all the images so the page didn't get 'stale'. I'm sure I'll mix it up again as the gallery grows.

I've got a new color palette to work in today...kind of muted spring colors. Made lots of twisties and stringer with it last night so I'm ready to go today. I like getting my work space prepped the night before so I can just jump in and have fun making beads...Did you know that not every bead makes it into a set? Sometimes the twisties don't perform like you expect, or the colors don't react well with each other...I have a jar of 'misfits' where the execution is fine, but the result is yeech...Yet another fun thing about making beads - you're always learning...

Hope you're having a great Friday..its cold and dark and wet here - winter has mysteriously reappeared...

Taking a page from Corina, I've created an entire page of Pickings for you to choose from today...my goal was to make something for everyone so there are lots of neat sets in bright colors, frits, ink blue and even a floral focal...click the Ink Fancy pic to see which set I made for YOU...

thanks for all the votes on the Top 25 and Artzee site..I'm number 2 on Artzee and that's super! I know it's all because my super groovy customers...Love ya'll!!!!

Everyone will be happy to know that the Valentine candy (Dove chocolates) are all sent out and I bought all new Easter candy from Target yesterday..Dove chocolate Eggs in bright colors (some Nestle crunch eggs too)...so, when you receive a package from me, your treat will be Easter-related..speaking of packages from me, you might know that I use a small red mailing tube for small sets of beads...I was running low on the tubes so I reordered - only I bought Blackberry Black and Blueberry Blue tubes this time..your tubes are even updated! So be on the lookout for new colors in your mailbox...(I love these little tubes!). If you have a bunch of tubes and you don't know what to do with them, you can send them back to me for reuse (Corina asks people to send her old bubble mailers and she reuses them, keeping her shipping costs so low) or donate them to a school - the Art Dept would love some neat tubes to cover in papiermache...or the elementary school would love sturdy little tubes for the kids to use...they make great Hamster houses too!

The Class survey is only open thru March 18 because that's how long the survey software stores the data online. Plus, I need to get this info ASAP so I can coordinate the classes...Its funny, the 'want to know' info is all over the place, but most folks agree - encasing is a booger and ya'll want more help with that...man, i can relate - it took me ages to get good encasing down...but I will happily help!

The survey is coming right along, I'm getting great feedback from everyone, thank you for taking the time to let me know what you want from a class...! I plan to have at least 3 dates this summer, one each in June, July and August and will add dates as demand calls for it. My studio is pretty small, I can only handle 2-3 students at a time, and I'm thinking of starting out with 2 people and if things go well, I'll increase it to 3 later on...That way you get more focused attention and I don't have to buy liquid oxygen to power 8 torches...ha...My Loren Stump class had 2 humongous liquid oxygen tanks for it (8 people, 5 day class 12-14 hours a day - we used a lot of oxygen!). And you thought a 7 hour class would be long...we were up till 3:00am and later...its no wonder one of my friends set herself on fire (accidentally of course). That's another story, though...

good day at the torch yesterday, nearly 14 hours of making beads. I have 3 new eBay auctions to go up and a few Pickings for you here...I hope today is another barn burner...my little shelf of beads is like a ghost town...I don't like being without beads...

New glass colors should be arriving soon, I have a big order for frit, bullseye, and 'off' colors..It always takes forever for stuff to arrive, and makes me crazy in the meantime!! Well, go have a great spring day and I'll talk to ya soon...

I splurged yesterday and had my car washed and waxed and detailed...ready to rock for at least a week until it rains or the birds/cats stomp all over it...i need a garage! but its a sweet ride for now - black cars look so great when they are shiny! and they didn't even knock out a fang...

Am working on some eBay sets today...I apologize for not having more to select from, I plan to fix that situation this week...now that the taxes are safely delivered to my accountant I can get back to my routine...making beads..cleaning beads...snapping shots of beads...its all good..!

I have a survey for anyone who is interested in taking a class with me. I've had quite a few inquiries and I need to get some dates on the calendar so ya'll can schedule flights/hotels accordingly. IF you are interested, please fill out the survey...

I spent the better part of 6 hours figuring out my remaining tax info - income and fees from PayPal and eBay...I'm not a numbers person...it didn't take me that long to go through and log a stack of receipts that's a foot tall...regardless, its DONE to the best of my ability and i'm driving it out to my accountant this morning...next comes the 'back and forth' between me and the accountant - "do you have any phone costs? did you buy any computer equipment? what about internet hosting costs?" I believe I have it all documented and logged, but there are always questions...better now than April 12 though, I suppose...

As a result, even though the kiln was on all day ysterday, I got not a single bead made...BUT I did pull new Easter colors yesterday and when I get back from my accountant (they're out by the lake in the 'nice' part of Austin...) I'll get to work...

Don't forget to give me some feedback about the Spacer question below!

I realized that I've updated the Pickings and eBay but hadn't written anything to YA'LL yet...and I have another question that I need ya'lls feedback for - so here's something to think about (and email me!)...Spacers - I need to offer spacers for sale with my sets - so I'm thinking of building a separate Spacer page where you can order...BUT...putting pictures of every color of spacer would be time consuming and tedious...Do you want a color chart where you can choose your rod color from or do you need to see the spacer in the exact color? Also, ordering just one spacer for 1.00 plus shipping seems a waste, so I was going to offer the spacers in sets...I was thinking of 6 spacers at a time...is that too many or not enough? How many spacers do you want to buy at a time? In sets of 6? sets of 3? You tell me what you think would be the best way to offer spacers and I'll work on it. Of course there WILL be pictures of spacers, but there are a LOT of moretti, lauscha, pixie dust, redux frit possibilities so making beads in every example is pretty much not possible. I've got some ideas on the technical aspect of this of course, but any feedback you feel compelled to give me would help..there's your assignment... :)

Hey kids...its sunny and wonderful here the next week, 70's and no rain...road trips await tomorrow. Today is 'order day' and 'hopefully get something done for eBay day'...I have some ideas, though and the rods are pulled, its just a matter of the glass gods behaving properly. We shall see.

The Picasso Gallery is back, I've added the link in the left column. Feel free to visit our fabulous self portraits and email me the link when you finish your own so you too can be displayed on the Wall of Fame not Shame...

I've been concentrating on fulfilling orders and they are slowly coming along. I mailed one out today, and 3 out the other day, and have another one finished in the kiln. My goal is to get the paid orders completed this weekend and then work on the requests...and try to get some eBay sets made at the same time... its fun and I love it...!

A few Pickings for you today...priced for those budget-conscious (aren't we all?), I get a lot of "I can't afford your beads" emails, so these are NICE beads, but because I didn't make them as a SET, I priced them a little lower than I normally do...I tend to do that with the sets I magically put together...but the beads are still nice!

Time to get back to the torch, the kiln is on for 14 hours - lets see if I can still be beading at midnight tonight :)

Thanks to everyone who wrote in response to my question about offering Half sets, I spent the better part of 10 hours yesterday updating my Catalog and now you can order Full or Half sets of beads. I've added lots new sets to choose from, and the Florals page has all new sets on it. I haven't checked all the Buy Now code though so if you run across a set that doesn't add to the shopping cart properly, email and I'll fix it right away... I spent so much time on this yesterday that the only beads I made were for orders...but today I get to spend time making more beads so you should see something new here tomorrow again...and I hope to have a new eBay auction set very soon too...

I'm contemplating something - do you think I ought to offer 1/2 sets of my bead in my catalog (my website). Some of my sets are 19+ beads and maybe you only need 8 or 9...would you like a Buy Now button for 1/2 a set - my choice of designs, but same color scheme as the set you like? OR... should I just make my sets 1/2 the size they are now - which would bring the prices down and you'd still get a nice amount of beads for bracelets and earrings...email me w/ your thoughts on this idea...

The Florals page has been updated with new floral sets...

Hmm...well..I had one of those nights last night - I got exactly 0 hours of sleep..oh yes, I went to bed but I stayed awake all night..finally at 4:00am I got out of bed and have been in the studio waiting for the kiln to cool down so I could take out yesterday's beads and start ramping it up again. Its now 7:30am and I'm ready for a nap - but I'm going to try to get a killer day of beadmaking today...we shall see...

I've decided to add a section on my eBay page - its a new table with gallery pics (and links) of my previous auctions...let me know what you think and if I need to add anything to it...

I discovered yesterday that my local jazz station has gone off the air - changed formats to Christian - in less than year...not enough money to keep them on the air...I'm ready to get some XM radio in here now and start enjoying some Frank Sinatra swing tunes...

Ya'll are keeping me busy with the pinks and purples! Fun colors and patterns, Spring is almost here for most of ya'll...I'm sure you're ready to break out the white patent leather shoes for your little girls and get them ready for Easter pictures. Today's Pickings are all Easter Themed and ready to be made into fab jewelry for you and your special friends...The Swarovski set goes with just about any crystal color you have - I could have put 6 different crystals with the set and thought 'forget it - the price will go sky high', so I'm letting YOU put whatever crystals you want with it instead...

Doing a post office run today, I hit my P.O. box about 1x a week and I think there are some items I've ordered that are sitting there waiting for me...Almost like Christmas, except I had to pay for these things...ha...

Sunny...warm...Spring is here...its going to rain this week, but I can live with that - all the temps are in the 70's and I think winter has forsaken us for the year...finally...Darcy and Clem both were rolling with delight when I sat down to take pics..you can see our deck - the uncleaned section, the newly cleaned section and the section where I take my photos..cleaned last year and weathered to a nice neutral...silly kitties...

For everyone who was jumping up and down about Pinks and Purples - I made a set of each...check them out on eBay this week....

The Oscars were fun - no surprises, but entertaining and tasteful...the retrospective on Katharine Hepburn and Bob Hope were great...such class...I need to get Netflix so I can rent all the old great black and white films...All About Eve with Bette Davis is my favorite...what dialogue! Brilliant!