One of the benefits of living where its warm most of the year is that we can dig around in the garden in November...it was 65-70 over the holiday weekend, so we took advantage of the weather and visited the nursery...we found a new red bud tree, some new Lady Banks roses, burford holly and other goodies but my favorite was - new blackberry bushes! It just made sense to grow my own berries in my own backyard, so I bought 8 thornless shoots (Black Satin variety) and we put them in on Sunday...and lemme tell ya- I'm SORE! But these little guys are in the ground w/ some pretty trellis ready to climb all over...and of course Abby had to help us keep the Red Bud from flying away...
I'm sure you've noticed that I've not had very many PIckings of late...well, the truth is that I've been experimenting and playing with new techniques that I learned in class...and when that happens, my production tends to go down while I'm figuring out what I like and what I don't...I've also been making larger beads, as you've probably noticed...and it's probably not your favorite thing, but its new and different for me and I've been enjoying it...I like doing new things, trying new stuff, learning new techniques...And as a result, it spills over into my 'normal' beadmaking, but it is necessary...Trust me, you would not enjoy it if I kept making the same things over and over - where's the fun in that? Do you eat the same peanut butter sandwich for lunch every day? (geez, I hope not)...
So, I've NOT been goofing off, but rather been experimenting...OH, and I have been taking care of a couple of committments that I've had (like the 'donner for hire' auction) and such...
I didn't have anything NEW to offer (well, I do, but I'm not sure ya'll are ready for them) so I went back to my trusty dusty box of beads and found some cool 'graduated' strands using the new larger lentils and some of my good ol' tiny lentils, with rounds and squeezes inbetween...Once I started stringing these beads, I realized that I liked these strands and I could keep them and make some really cool things but I thought I'd offer them instead, so that YOU can make some cool things with them instead...
I've also got some pics of what we did over the holiday weekend...hint: it involves digging and earth worms...haha..
We've been workin in the yard all morning (well, Brian has anyway) and just got back from our favorite nursery...with a new red bud tree, lady banks roses, holly bushes, bags of dirt, mulch and hay, some new pottery and I have a surprise but I don't want to tell ya'll till I get them in the ground...which will be later today cause I have to meet someone at 1:00 for a bead hand-off...its 65 and sunny - perfect outdoor workin' weather...we do our bed-preparation at this time of year cause its so nice working outside...so by March, we can just pop plants in the ground and get going...Brian has been swinging the mattock all morning, time for me to get my hands dirty now...heh...Will get some pictures as soon as some of this stuff is actually IN the ground...
Isn't it great? I keep thinking that today is the last day of the weekend, and then there's another day!
We did The Incredibles last night and it is a cute movie...I liked it because it wasn't trying to be a 'joke around every corner', but instead was a fun movie with a good plot and interesting characters -just like you would want from a movie with live actors in it...Finding Nemo had more laughs, but we still enjoyed this one..
I'm still psyched about going to see Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite next week...That movie has really struck a chord with me and I can't stop quoting it...it'll be out on DVD later this year and I'm asking Santa for mine...brilliant...
I'm cleaning beads, and going thru old beads to see if there's anything salvagable (is that a word?)...i have two big jars of cracked and icky beads that I like to look thru periodically to remind me of the type of work I was doing way back when...I didn't realize I'd made so many floral beads - there are tons of them cracked and messed up...that was when I was using a lot of Czech clear to encase with (I've since switched to Vetrofond and Moretti and sometimes Lauscha)and unfortunately the Czech, although beautiful, is not 100% compatible...oh well...i have tons of it and I'm not sure what i'm going to do with it now...hmmm...
Football in on the TV, the UT/A&M game is at 2:30 today...I know that doesn't mean anything to you, but its an old rivalry that we enjoy each year...and I think we may be going out later to pick up a Christmas tree, although I'm not positive if that's today or tomorrow...I was up till 3:00am making beads, I have a new strand of some frit beads and a large lentil that I'll take a pic of later...and today I've got some specific stuff I need to take care of, but I'll have more goodies to offer soon...Part of the 'growing and experimental' process is not having a lot of beads to offer cause they don't come out so hot...but I have to try new things so I can come up with cool stuff for ya'll - otherwise you get bored, right? I know I do...
Are you shopping online? Braving the crowds at the malls? Are you 'one of those' who's already done with their shopping? Nice...I myself haven't started, and am not sure what I'm buying or for whom yet...I always threaten folks with beads each year, and they just nervously laugh and walk away...heh...
A few little bracelets to tempt you before you spend all your Christmas money tomorrow at your local stores...I offer no pushing, no shoving, no shoveling the driveway shopping...besides, don't you want to buy something for YOU and not that stupid little next door neighbor kid? I thought so...
Are you watching football? Have you had lunch yet? Are you full of pumpkin pie already??? We just got back from our restaurant lunch, it was smashingly delicious (and I made friends with our waitress who dug my bracelet and necklace - "I made those" is always one of my favorite sayings)...
We have one stop left to make - over to Mick and Adam's with our plate full of brownies, around 2:00 today...and then - who knows...perhaps we'll go tree-hunting, or Brian said he wants to mow the lawn (really?) and I feel like making tons o' beads today while watching Foo'ball...I have a set to post on eBay, i'll work on that today and maybe you'll find something fun here for ya later, who knows...!!
Whew...nothing like doing a ton of things in one day...I got my haircut, ran to the PO and Bank, to the gas shop (two of them) to look into larger hoses for my new torch, pick up some more mandrels and look into compressed O2, should the new torch require it...then once i'm home, friends are stopping by to pick up stuff for the holiday weekend...Finally I got a chance to snap some pics and update here...I hope your holiday is kicking off to a great start...I just listened to (while optimizing these pics) a history on the Hope Diamond...when I had a 2 day layover in DC on business, the only place I wanted to go was to visit the Hope Diamond...it was fabulous (I liked the white diamonds that surround it even more)...I'm all about diamonds, jewels, sparkly things - I think that's why I enjoy Swarovski crystals teamed with my beads so often...they give just a nice spark to the beads and make them sing...
i've got brownies to make now (2 batches) for our friend's get together tomorrow...so I'm heading into the kitchen to get those started, and then I'll just take the time out to the studio with me while making beads...multi-tasking...heh...Brownies...mmmm...good thing I bought 2 boxes, I might only get one of them to the party tomorrow...
The sun is out in full force today, but you can see the damage the rain did over the past few days..fallen branches in the streets and yards, the creek rose up to the street level (about 10 feet) and was coming over the road...there are rocks and gravel everywhere that's been washed into the roads...but I still prefer it over snow... :)
off to a quick haircut, back shortly for a proper update...no rain today...so hopefully some new PICS will be posted here...wouldn't that be sumthin'...
AHA! The sun has poked out, the rain has stopped and I snuck out and snapped a few photos..Unfortunately, the only one that came out decent were of the Shimmery Lentil...I made this last night using shards I blew while demoing on Sunday, and I'm really happy with the results...a few reducing frits give the bead a nice metalic sheen, the overall colors are purple and green...At least there's a pic up for you to enjoy...i'll get the rest of the stuff reshot as soon as it settles down outside a bit...
I heard at one time there was a bright orange light in the sky that would warm your face when you looked toward it...is that true? Where did that bright light go...? On the bright side, we now have a pond in our backyard where there was none...And we'll have kick ass Bluebonnets in March from all the rain today...
Tonight I'm dragging Brian to the Alamo Drafthouse downtown to watch a Bill Hicks retrospective movie...My alltime favorite comedian, he died 10 years ago from cancer...I was lucky enough to see him 3 times live in Austin and thought he was brilliant...He's not everyone's taste, but I sure like him...I'm not sure Brian knows what he's in for...
I made beads all day yesterday...some for eBay, some for Andrea's gallery, some for my 'mega' eBay customer (Sue) and some just for fun...Lemme dig them outta the kiln and take inventory to see if there's anything for ya'll...if not, I'll see what I can do today...I have nothing to do all day but make beads and stay dry...at least the towel I put down at the dog door yesterday has stemmed the flow of water from making the studio another wading pool this morning...considering its been raining on and off thru the night and I woke up to a nice downpour this morning...Why do I have a sudden urge to go eat sushi??
If you've been watching TV, you've probably seen the flooding here in Texas...My car doubles as a canoe, did you know that? I've got my oar and a bucket, just in case it starts taking on water...I can float down the street if I need to...
I got up this morning to find the floor of my studio nicely moist, its not flooded per se, but the entire floor is damp and there are tell-tale signs where the outside dirt floated in and settled...its not the first time water has seeped in, we have a WetVac for such occasions, but its still a drag...you see there is a dog house attached to the main house and it allows the outside to come in on certain rainy days...because it is warm and rainy outside, the inside doesn't dry quickly, so the whole studio is damp and dreary...Time to pull out the mop and clean up the mess...rah rah....
Yesterday was a blast, tho...i demo'ed almost all day, with a quick break for a brisket sandwich, but when I came inside to eat it, there was a group huddling around the torch waiting on me, so I jumped back on as soon as I could..I talked all day and my voice was pretty hoarse by 5:00pm...I made a fish, and a really large floral, and did some basic stringer work on large beads...probably the most fun was making twisties and latticino - a collective 'ooo' goes up in the room when they see the twist start to happen, and that's always amusing...I had a great time and will be back in the Spring in April, I hope...
Well, with a wet studio, there's nothing else I can do but make beads and keep the flood waters at bay...(Its not as dramatic as it sounds, a good couple of towels at the base of the dog house will prevent any new rain, so don't think we are floating in 4 feet of water - we aren't)...So lemme go get things cleaned up and get the kiln turned on and see what new goodies can be made today...Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...
Time to go melt some glass and make kids stare at a flame that they probably shouldn't stare at...heh...its rainy and icky here - just the kind of weather that brings loads of folks out to a show...you'd be surprised at the number of people who will show up in the rain..its all good...
I'm in the throes of my illness- its not a cold or the flu, just an annoyance...but as long as I get some liquids pumped in me, and maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two, i'm good to go..We watched a show on Food Network last night all about a Pie Cookoff - man those pies looked good...all i had were some chocolate chip cookie dough in the house, but I still got them popped in the oven and we ate the hot gooey chocolate before it could cool on the rack...yum...and for dinner - tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich...See? I told you I was sick...haha...
I did get some neat 'Sand Dollar' beads made yesterday, some for my eBay customer, others that are 20mm and will make very dramatic bracelets...they aren't cleaned or anything, I've got more to do before they are ready...so don't wait around on me today - I won't be home until much later...I might put them up tomorrow, or I might make something else entirely...you just never know with me - I'm a Loner Dottie...a Rebel... (name that movie...)
I give up...I woke up at 5:30 this morning and had to get up - there was a mosquito in my bedroom and it bit me 4 times...once on my ring finger, on my shoulders and face...the cats were howling and I couldn't get back to sleep...Not much in the way of beads today - I'm working on the 'big' eBay set that was won the other day and a few other things like those bracelets for Andrea Guarino's gallery (I have 5 ready, I need another 5 before I can send them...).
I am getting sick, but its not contagious - its just the 'season changes' kind of sick that I get every fall when the new colder air blows in and my body gets jolted...I haven't bottomed out yet, so each day I wake up my head is fuller and my throat is more sore...but it usually only lasts about a week and then its gone...
Tomorrow I'm demo-ing at BlueMoon all afternoon...its the yearly Holiday Show and I prefer staying inside and just playing on the torch instead of going to the hassle of setting up a booth...last year a front blew through and it got gold and rainy in a hurry..inside was the 'prime' place to be...I'm not a showman or a story teller, so I do my best to keep folks entertained with what I'm making, and hopefully they enjoy it...
i'm coughing, i'm gonna go lay down and when I've had my nap I'll be back...Hey, did you watch Wizard of Oz last night? Haven't seen it in years, so it was fun to just sit and watch it again...I'm still reading "Wicked", I need to finish that book and learn more about the two witches when they were young...back later, maybe, i hope...ugh...[cough]
I've been being really bad and staying up till 3:00am lately...3:00am! now, that is just crazy talk...so i'm trying to break that habit and I'm starting by getting up early today (I've had about 4 hours of sleep - wicked) and trying to get to bed early tonight...but I'm sure having fun staying up late, trying new things...I fumed some colors other than black just to see what would happen and I really like the way red fumes - it gives a neat sheen that reminds me of lip gloss I used to buy in the mid 70's...I got a new XL lentil made, this one is not encased, and feels very organic...I know you aren't diggin the larger beads, but I am - they are fun to make and squish...
Well, hands down the Sand Dollar set was the most popular set from yesterday...that surprises me actually, since i've made plenty of ivory/silver beads in the past (heck, my banner is the Skipping Stones set I put up a few weeks back)...but I've got a few beads that I need to make using silver, so maybe I can slip in a few more Sand Dollars here and there...
I can tell that I'm slowly getting sick...the cooler wet weather has my throat getting worse and worse...but so far that's all that's affected - no headache, no nausea, I think its just the change of the season...what fun...
Alrighty, time to get busy with the beads...bzzz...bzzz...Back later...
PICKINGS ARE...sold...but since this was as popular as it was, I will most definitely do it again...there are always knicked beads that need good homes...thanks for taking care of this lot for me...!
I've been cleaning everything and getting ready for today's SALE...Not a going out of business sale, but rather the First Ever "Scratch and Dent Sale"...What does that mean? Well, as you've heard me say, I've had a few beads that have been knicked in the kiln - nothing you can see from a distance, but if you examine the beads up close, you'll notice little marks on them...So, I've had a few folks suggest that I do what Kim Neely (Bluff Road Glass) is doing, which is to sell the beads as 'seconds'...Normally I would just chunk them in a jar, but since ya'll have expressed interest, I'm happy to offer them here at a DISCOUNT..!I can't in good conscious sell them at full price, so you my beadbuds get a deal...if you call knicked beads a 'deal'...but seriously, most of the beads that *I* wear are knicked because I can't sell them and NO ONE ever notices...(except me of course)...The beads are cleaned, I need to go get a shower myself and then get the pics posted, blah blah..its sunny out today so the pics should be nice...8 sets, plus one focal..plenty of Raku beads too...see ya'll in a bit..I'll update later when I have a better idea of when...
I've been really busy of late, taking care of business, but not much beadmaking...so today its 'all beads- all day'...I wonder if the rain is making me lethargic...or maybe the lack of sleep is catching up with me...I dunno...but i'm up and moving and the kiln is firing up and i've got stringer pulled and ideas ready to go...I was hoping to have beads ready for you today, but sometimes it just doesn't happen...so lets shoot for tomorrow...no promises, as I don't know what will happen at the torch today (and I'm almost out of everything else I've made that was in backstock) but lets give it a try...No tv, no errands, no phone calls, just fire and glass...who's ready?
Ok then, I'm back and have shot a few pics, drawn the freebie name, put up a new Freebie for this week and got some business taken care of...so now I'm ready to share what I was doing last night...
While taking the class from Michael Barley, he showed us how to 'blow shards'...it amounts to taking a small diameter pipe, adding a large gather of glass on the end, rolling it in frit or striping color along it and then blowing it into a large bubble...finally last night I had my first chance to try this out (ironically Val Cox is selling shards on her site, and I bought some of them to try out - hers are Gaffer glass, not Moretti compatible...anyway) and I managed to get 3 bubbles blown...the first was the most difficult, I didn't have the gather hot enough for the blob to stretch and the air bubble wasn't expanding...the next two attempts were pretty successful and I'm tickled to have this new technique in my 'arsenal'...What is the purpose of this? I can make a bead and lay the shard into it, giving a watercolor effect to the bead - each bead will be unique and one of a kind...of course I can add decorations ontop of it, but its a neat way to get a blending color technique on a bead w/out it being overpowering...besides, how cool is it to blow a big bubble of hot motlen glass on the end of a rod, I ask you? The pic shows shards from one bubble - I rolled the blob into a variety of frits, and these were the color combos that came out...maybe you'll be more excited once i get some beads made using them..
I also played around with raku stringer and made some lentils, but I only got 6 done, so they aren't ready to be revealed yet...but they are pretty groovy, I promise...and I have more to play with, so who knows what else will come out...can't wait!!
earlier this morning: Have a quick jaunt to run this morning, will be back soon and will update my Freebie pic (and draw the name) I promise...and I'll get a response to ya, Nancy...tee hee, I snaggled the amber pendant...I wanted the grass green one, but decided not to be a hoggy - I'm glad you got that one instead...
I had a great Sunday, the Scavenger hunt was a lot of fun, afterward I made some banana bread, Brian made meatloaf for dinner and we watched football all day...I even took a nap! something I rarely do, but I could feel that I was sleepy...
Monday is action packed for me - lots of bracelets, beads and twisties to ship, a few errands to run, and beads to complete from that failed kiln catastrophe from the other day...still catching up on that one...So if you don't hear from me tomorrow, (I'll check email, tho) then know that I'm busily trying to catch up on a day that's already away from me, and hasn't even arrived yet...but isn't it fun??? Ya'll have given me the best job I've ever had and for that, I know what to be thankful for at our feast in a couple of weeks...
5:30pm - Ye tried yer best, and ye did well...Have a swig of grog and see where the loot was hidden here
12:00pm - Aye, all 3 prizes and all 6 sets be located...but feel free to skulk around and enjoy lookin' anyway, missy..
11:23am - One person has found all 6, arr, she be a great hunter...
10:40am - No one has found all 6 yet...there be plenty left to find...broken links are not part of the hunt - you must find a page that says "Congratulations, You've found a set!"...you'll know it when you find it...
The treasure be ready for findin'...Good luck and don't talk to any evil spirits - they just want yer wine anyway...
A few guidelines before we begin - There be no reason to visit the Gallery or Archive links, no treasure for thee rest in there...There be a prize for the first 3 folk who find all 6 (six) treasure and report them to me - but you MUST have the name of each set in the email or I will not know which set you found...(the names of each set are clearly marked on each page)...I will post a report on the homepage (here) when the three folk be findin' their loot...Each page has a Buy Now button but you are not forced to purchase an item just because you found it - if ye don't wish to own it, let the next knave discover it for themselves...And lastly - I hope this will take awhile for you, but enjoy the hunt and I'll post the results later today...Now, get along ye scurvy dog...
Arrr...are me scavengers ready for a quest t'day? Its a rainy, dreary day in Austin - perfect for staying inside and looking for treasure...
I was able to find a picture of our Fearless Leader, Captain Jack...Just remember to keep your do'bloons close to you, darlin'...otherwise Captain Jack may end up stealin' all your loot...
Whew! I dropped off the plexiglas shield I used during demoing last week, showed off the eBay Raku lentil set, and my new super humongo lentils, bought catfood and wild bird food, checked the PO box, ran over to the beadstore, spent time talking to friends, sold a bead I didn't plan on (but was happy to sell it, thanks Rebecca!), ran to Target, picked up a giant tin (filled with popcorn that Brian is taking to work) and various new kitty beds and Christmas ornaments (I found a silver piggy bank that is an acutal bank!) and then I had to unpack everything...its been a long day...BUT - I wanted to let ya'll know that I have built all the Scavenger pages and so all I need to do is figure out where to hide them and get them posted...I hope to have everything ready to go by 10:00am tomorrow - I know better than to post them early, cause some of ya'll will be snooping around before you should be...(wink wink) tsk tsk, now don't go off and run around before I give the signal!!
I have to take care of some business today, beads tomorrow for the Scavenger hunt...enjoy your cool, brisk November Saturday and I'll see ya'll a little later...
NOTE: Uhhh...just so you know, Brian is doing some behind the scenes changes, so if you see weird colors, fonts or layouts, they'll be temporary until we can get them resolved...
We've decided to go to a local restaurant (they are pretty cool, they change their menus each week, very hoity toity) instead of making a big spread here at the house...We've done the turkey thing in the past - and ended up with WAY too many leftovers and felt guilty not eating them all...even a small 8lb turkey is just too much for two people...plus we're heading out of town for a day or two and it'll just be easier not to have a fridge full of food waiting for us to come home...
A few of ya'll have been confused about the time zone difference from where I'm located and where you are...(One person asked if CST meant 'California Time' - no, it doesn't, but I like that idea!). I should clarify something so everyone knows the scoop - Those of us in the Central Time Zone have recently set our clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings time...What used to be 8:00pm here is now 7:00pm here...It took effect over the Halloween weekend. I do enjoy having the extra hour of sleep, it helps (what would have been 11:00am right now is only 10:00am) and I have a really hard time switching back in the Spring when we lose this hour..that is by far the hardest week for me to adjust to...(i'm going to be a wreck going to Italy in January - talk about a time adjustment..ugh)...So, if I post that beads will be available at a specific time, double check what time zone you're in and adjust accordingly. If you aren't sure how to do that, here's a site that will help What time is it in Texas? (and to clarify - I'm in the 'green' part of Texas...)
UPDATE: I didn't expect ya'll to want these bracelets since I know you prefer to buy your beads and string them how you see fit...But, Dayna isn't the only one who's asked if they are for sale - so...I will post some Buy Now buttons on them later tonight...that way you have all day to decide if you want one...Check back about 8:00pm CST tonight for the buttons...
Yesterday was 'one of those days'...i felt like something was wrong and I'm glad I stopped making beads when I did - when I took the beads out of the kiln this morning and inspected them, nearly half had dings or 'kisses' on them - from where they sat in the kiln and melted ever so slightly to one another. I could easily break them apart, and you can barely see the ding, but *I* know its there, and cannot honestly sell the bead in that manner...So back to the drawing board today, to re-do half of yesterday's work...Why does that happen? I can make 80 beads that all survive, and yet sometimes things don't go right...Its why when I tell you 'If everything goes well, your beads will be ready tomorrow', I'm not just kidding...sometimes kiln gremlins find their way in and screw everything up...
So...
I did the next best thing - I strung beads and made bracelets...I guess I just felt like that was what I needed to do, I don't know...maybe its intuition - I can tell when things just don't feel right, so I move onto something else...and I'm very tickled at how these bracelets turned out, especially since the budget bead jar was recently decimated at the Trunk Show...I did use a couple of strands that I'd hidden away (ie: not taken to the trunk show) and I'm glad I did...my favorite bracelet is the Whiskey Blend - I love those beads and no one seems to appreciate them like I do, so I'm happy to be able to wear them myself...
So what's up for today? Time to get back on the torch and see if I can finish what I started yesterday...I can only hope...!
This will be a quick update...the kiln is warming up and I'm not running any errands, taking any phone calls, ordering any supplies or surfing the web (I will answer email on and off, can't resist that)...The reason? So I can make beeeeeeeeaaaaaaaddddddddssssssss...
If I think of something cool to tell you, I'll be back...but the kiln is ready and I'm ready so I'm off...
see ya'll later!
I did mostly business related work yesterday and didn't get to the torch until about 10:00pm and was on it until 2:00am...I hadn't had a chance to work on any of the skills I learned in my Andrea/Michael class, so I pulled out some silver and played...I'll get some pics in a second - you'll be surprised to see the largest bead I've ever made too...man, was it heavy on the mandrel and I had to crank the torch way up to get enough heat into it so I could squash it...and wouldn't you know it, it was larger that the largest lentil masher I own, but still, I mashed all the same..I like it so much I've already wired it up to wear it...it took an entire rod of glass to make, and it's heavy as hell, so we'll see how much I actually wear it, vs. just string it and look at it from afar...
Looks like we're doing The Incredibles tonight...we've been looking forward to it for awhile...and I REALLY want to see Sideways...I'm a huge Paul Giamatti fan (he played Pig Vomit in Howard Stern's Private Parts - very funny movie, as well was Harvey Pekar in last year's American Splendor)and Entertainment Weekly's critics list all gave it A's or A+'s, so I think it's good...If you've seen it, lemme know...Garden State is another one I need to see..and of course Napoleon Dynamite is my favorite movie of the year so far...I bought a 'Vote for Pedro' shirt from MondoTees and it gets comments from other folks who recognize it...One guy in a mexican restaurant thought I meant 'Vote for John Kerry' when I was wearing it (just before the election) and I had to explain that it was from the movie, not that I was endorsing any candidate running for REAL office..quite amusing...
I was thinking of having another Scavenger Hunt this weekend, using some of the cooler beads that were left behind from the show..it amazes me what folks buy and leave behind - these are some of my FAVORITE beads, but I guess they didn't connect with the audience...If you like the Obsession set in my Gallery, then you'll like these...What to do you think? Maybe Sunday morning??
I've had some folks ask me to make twisted cane for them and I wasn't really sure how to go about doing that - what to charge, how thick or thin to make it, it seemed a little daunting...so I looked around and found some existing cane that I've already made - and grouped it in similar color groups...So, if you want purples, or pastels or olives, I've put them together for ya...If you don't make beads but just like the looks, feel free to bid. I remember reading Schermo's page and she said someone wanted to just buy her twisties and have a jar of them to look at...they are pretty just 'as is'...The 5 auctions will be 3-day only, and start tonight...
I had a great time this weekend at the show, the beads sold very well and I got to demo all weekend long...I didn't sell everything, tho so I'm going to put up some sets for ya'll this morning so you too will feel like you're there...heh...
I'm on my new computer and am still learning my way around...ever get into a new car and can't find the seat adjuster or don't know how to work the A/C knobs? that's where I am - I can still 'drive' but I don't know where to find all the stuff...Email especially is really odd looking in Windows XP Professional - so I'm still digging through your emails..I try to repsond early, i really do - but being out of the house all weekend and now having a new email app, its thrown me off...so if you haven't heard from me in a few days, you will!
OH- Good news for ya'll - I've started adding prices to the Gallery...this project will take awhile, so bear with me - I've been trying to go back thru my PayPal receipts to see what each set was sold for...The sets that I sold on eBay are not ones that I remake - I've added the price for what they sold for, but when I put sets on eBay I don't think its fair to remake them for at least 6 months after the listing..Now, I'm sure other beadmakers will tell you that's crazy - but my philosophy is that if you see a set on eBay and you know I'll remake it for you the week after it closes, why would you want to bid on it in the first place? Plus I don't think its fair to the high bidder to be remaking sets - they paid to be the first person with the set, and I have to respect that...So you may not agree or even like it, but I think it's fair so that's what I'm doing...I started on the Blue gallery last night and it took me forever to get most of page 1 completed...cause I can't find what I need in this new email layout - the folders are weird and I can't figure out how to 'drive' around yet...so i'll work on this in the evenings while watching CSI or something...
Its sunny and 75 outside...Brian is mowing the backyard, we've had a lazy morning of newspaper and local campus restaurant and now we're fat and happy...the show starts again at noon today, so I'm getting some last minute stuff together...folks seem to like to watch twisties being pulled, so I think i'll make lots of those today...something about watching molten glass being twisted and pulled into a long piece makes people excited...even ME when I watch Loren Stump do it...why is that...?
Anyway, all my beads are at the show so I'll have a new Freebie when I bring them back and can get a photo of them...prob tomorrow morning, possibly tonight, just depends on how dark it is outside...and then tomorrow i'm back at the torch...
I've got another question for ya'll- I've been contemplating putting up a price per each set in my Gallery...so many folks are asking how much they cost and while I don't always get around to making stuff from my gallery, would it help you to know how much the pieces are, just in case..or would it be confusing as if I'm offering them as 'available' when in fact they aren't (since they are already in YOUR homes..hurray)...Tell me your thoughts on having prices under the Gallery pieces - helpful info, or confusing? See ya'll when I get home tonight...
10:15pm I'm having a ball- Brian has 98% of my new computer up and functioning, copying nearly all my info from my old hunka junk onto this new, sleek gorgeous machine...I'm watching Inside the NFL on HBO while sitting on the sofa, and typing this update - what a blast...!
The trunk show went very well today too - after a slight hitch with the concentrator - it kept having issues w/the wall sockets, so we had to go to plan B and bring in the Hot Head, but I was up and running by noon...I spoke pretty much nonstop while demo-ing, so now my voice is sore...but it was a lot of fun - and the customers were all over the beads..I got such a kick out of seeing them choose a focal and some seedbeads and pearls to string with them...It made me feel good to SEE the enthusiasm for my beads - ya'll do a great job in making me feel important (thank you!), but I don't get to see your bright happy faces and so it was fun to watch it all take place...There are still beads left and i'm sure I'll be posting some on my site next week (ironically, some of the really nice sets are still there, but some of the older sets have flown out the door)...So no worries, you won't be without your bead fix...I need to eat something, or just go to bed hungry and have a killer breakfast of blueberry pancakes and hash browns...yum...that sounds like a plan...
See ya'll tomorrow...
The trunk show is going very well...not a huge turn out, but those who came spent big $....I think I made as much in 2 hours as I made in 2 days at the Austin Bead show...! Today we are setting up the torch inside the store, and you'll be able to look thru the windows at me like a monkey in a zoo...hee...I always find that funny...! We're doing last minute gathering of tables and goodies that I didn't take over last night...I'm sure I'll forget something, I always do...
We got word last night from the kitties new parents - they've named the white kitty "Jack" (O-Lantern) and the orange kitty "Pumpkin"..we think those names are *perfect* for both of them...and it keeps in line with the Halloween theme...we are both tickled and are sure those kitties will have a great new place to grow up...
Speaking of which, i'm having a really hard time with Amelie - she's got everyone in the house completely terrorized and afraid...she picks fights with everyone and chases them down, swinging claws the whole way...Any ideas how to stem this? I tossed her outside last night, but felt bad since she's not been out in 40 degree weather, so I brought her back in...I'm thinking maybe segregation at nighttime is the best thing right now...until she settles down...anyone want a very fat white cat?
New beads next week, I promise...Time to get back to work...I hope I haven't driven you away...! I think I'll try to get some new techniques done, like fuming...how's that sound??
La la la...a certain little box w/ "Dell" on the side was just delivered to the house...i've busted it out of the box and its booting up right now...yeehaw! Brian will be putting it together and getting it ready for me while I'm at the show tonight...
Someone asked me why I'm taking bids on a set instead of just listing a price and selling it outright - I normally do that, and end up with lots of folks who want the set and I don't have time to remake 30 versions of it...So I offered this set as a 'homemade auction' so all interested parties could get a crack at it if they wanted...So if you're in a meeting, or taking kids to school or not able to get to the computer when I listed it, you don't miss out...I could have put it on eBay as a 1-day auction - nothing wrong with that - but I figured there were enough of ya'll who'd rather just bid thru the site instead...(at least that's what ya'll tell me)...
Nothing like opening the kiln and finding a small stash of beads ready to go...if you are new to the site and have no idea who the fairy in the picture is, check out the FAQ link...for the rest of ya'll who know what this means, hang in there and i'll have 3 sets ready to go...I'm going to be offering one set as an 'auction' - not on eBay, but just here on my site...the winner will be selected later this afternoon, or possibly after I get back from my Trunk Show tonight...so you have all day to decide if you want it or not...
to get caught up from a trip? Well, a lot of things have been going on here, as I knew they would...this Fall has been non-stop classes (teaching and taking), shows, and commitments...I'm almost done, but I'm still in the middle of the storm...Yesterday Mick and I restrung, priced and cleaned the beads that I have available for the trunk show this weekend (Amelie helped by tossing beads around and grabbing leather cording - she likes to be in the middle of everything)...today I hope to get some more made, as well as some for ya'll...the show is Fri night (by invite only) then all day Sat and Sun...so that'll take me out of the loop for the weekend...
I'm also doing an all day demo on Sunday Nov 21 at BlueMoon's annual holiday show...I like to do these demos cause its fun and I get to stay inside, out of the cold wind and rain that has shown up in the past years...and in the Spring, when its hot and icky out, I get to stay inside with the A/C and demo...so its a good gig...I don't sell anything, but I have a great day just playing at the torch, and showing off- something I don't usually do...
Tara asked how the kitties are - Brian took them to the vet today to get their first round of shots and find out why their poop is stinky and soft...i'm thinking maybe a parasite - we have them on dry food, so it should not be soft, and B says it stinks to high heaven (I don't have a sense of smell, and in times like this it comes in handy)...The vet techs told Brian this morning that the white kitty is definitely a boy, but the orange kitty is a rare female - most of the time orange tabbies are male, the way most calicos are females...but this one is a female and worth more...I dunno how serious they are about taking her, but I'd be glad to have a good home for them...Another girl is interested - but she just lost her kitty to coyotes (West Austin is wilderness and folks keep building homes out there and stirring up the coyotes) and I'd be afraid she'd let these guys out...so whaddya gonna do...?
I'm looking into a calendar - i know Kinkos does them too...I found a place last night that would make a 'small' run for 1600.00...heh...i'll keep looking...
My new laptop was scheduled to ship next Monday, but we just got an email saying it shipped yesterday, a full 5 days ahead of schedule...so I might have it tomorrow or Monday...and i'll be able to answer emails at my desk, or in the living room instead of being tied down to this computer as I am now...hopefully I'll be able to get caught up quicker now...
I stayed up making beads until 2:00am and then watched TV until 3:00am and finally realized I needed to go to bed...I was as tired as Tom Brokaw looked...but I'm up and ready to go...I tried something new last night - I bought some tiny 3/64" mandrels from Frantz - they are smaller than the 1/16" I normally use...after visiting with Nicole Brown in Pt. Townsend, she showed me some of her bead collection, including some teeny weeny Sabrina Pierson beads..I've never seen beads so tiny...3mm, maybe 4, they are as small as Swarovski crystals - amazing! So I tried my hand at making a few and not burning the mandrel completely in half...I'll show you some pics shortly, I just cleaned them...
I also have plans to make beads all day today so I can get back in the swing and get ya'll some goods...there's nothing like being gone for a week and getting outta the habit of making beads...its crazy...but this month is a quiet one for me so I plan to load up on beads cause what else is there in life but beads?
My lapidary grinder should be here late this week, maybe early next week...that probably doesn't mean anything to you - yet...but wait till you see the groovy things that can be done with it...I can't wait!!!
I'm really in the holiday mood- maybe its the 50 degrees outside, maybe its that I know it's coming fast and I need to be ready...I still have Halloween stuff outside, but I'm already singing Christmas jingles and enjoying the thought of the holidays...Considering I"m usually ready for Christmas by around February, this is a whole new aspect for me...I'm sure the weather is affecting me...its going to be 80 later this week (supposedly), so ask me again if I'm excited...Maybe I'm just hungry and want a turkey lunch...I dunno...but I'm getting excited all the same..
9:00am Well, I just figured out why it feels like its' 54 outside - because it IS! My weatherbug reading hadn't been updated, so it still showed 64, but in fact once it updated, the temp is closer to 54-55 outside right now...its all good...
8:30am Its 64 outside, and feels colder than the 54 we had all week in Port Townsend - why is that? Cause I'm acclimated to heat in Austin and when it gets cooler I think it feels colder than it is? I dunno, but it does feel good..I can acutally wear a jacket with my shorts..[heh]
Thanks for the feedback about the 'donner for hire' auction, I went ahead and posted it last night...if you'd said it was a bad idea, I would have passed...
I've been kinda worried about the trunk show this weekend, I don't feel like I have enough stuff, but every time I think that about a show - I have plenty...i've never sold out of a show, ever...So I'll make some stuff for the show this weekend, but mostly I need to rework the existing strands I already have on hand...
Its time to get some beads made, and emails answered...no one has been able to take the kittens - yet...we let them out last night to play while the other kitties were outside (don't want to get anyone infected in case the strays are carriers of something) and of course they were hilarious...what kittens aren't? I found some toy mice and they had a great time chasing the mice, chasing each other and stomping on our heads when they had the chance...
Ok, time to get back to work...I'll be at the torch as much as possible today...anything new in your world??
I've put up a new page for the stray kittens I found Saturday night...We could really use your help - if you're in the Austin area and know someone who would like a pair of frolicking kittens (they are very tame and affectionate, not wild), please let us know...I'll be sending the link out in an email too, so you might see that too...They are fun and I"m trying to stay out of their quarrantined room so I don't get too attached...
Our Halloween last night was great fun...we had Trick or Treaters and watched 'Halloween' while giving out candy...I love that movie, it scared me silly when it came out in 1978...I was a babysitter who had just moved from Illinois (where the movie is set) and I identified with Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) perfectly...She never had the date, she was the responsible one, but I never had a white-faced crazed psycho stalking me...at least not that I know of...
I think I've recovered from the trip, I'm awake and ready to go...I've got beads to make for ya'll, and for the trunk show this weekend...Time to get busy...I also have an idea for a new eBay auction- well, 'new' to me...Have you seen the auctions where beadmakers list a days (8hrs or so) worth of torch time - and the winning bidder would get 8 hrs worth of beads that I make? I always thought those were cool, and my thought was to list that, and let whoever wins choose what they want me to make, instead of just taking whatever I come up with...So if you've been wanting a set from me that I haven't remade, it would be your chance to 'dictate and order me around'...how fun would that be? Let me know if you would be interested in that kind of auction...if not, then I won't list it cause I hate to offer stuff ya'll don't want...
I need to get a new Freebie set listed, and draw for last week's set...will do that this morning...rock and roll...!