Its almost 2005...about 12 hours to go...tick tock...
I have one little experiment set that I made, I though it was fun and like the results...there are 60 dots on each bead (counting the layers) and are deceivingly time consuming as a result..but I love how they turned out, all 'turtle-like' and all...
I'm working on requests from the Mad for Plaid and Blueberry ice swirls...plus I'm starting to focus on getting ready for my trip, so I may not have much to offer in the next few days...I leave on the 11th and don't think I'll be taking my laptop - I haven't decided..but I will take my camera and capture as many photos as I can...and I might have some surprises for you while I'm gone...besides, Brian can update the site for me like he did when I was in Seattle...
I woke up thinking today was Saturday and was missing the Rose parade...needless to say, I was confused when I turned on the TV and there was no parade...At least I haven't missed it...Not that I really WATCH it all that much, but I like listening to the bands and glancing up occaisionally to catch a winning float...The UT Longhorns are playing in the Rose Bowl tomorrow, and we'll be glued to the TV to watch...my beloved football season is coming to an end (which usually signals Spring is around the corner, so its not so bad) and I'll miss it..I soak up as many Sunday mornings with football (and Saturdays when the College kids play) as possible..
I don't have anything prophetic to say here, but its Dec 30 and a perfect time to either look back and see how your year went, or time to run fast from 2004 and take a flying jump into 2005 hoping the stink of 2004 doesn't stick to you...I have a friend who's had a terrible 2004 and she can't wait for 2005 to get here fast enough...Its like when the calendar clicks over, all the bad vibes will be history and she'll be happy...I sure hope so for her sake...my 2004 has been pretty interesting and I've learned a lot...January of 2004 was when my beads started to get noticed on eBay after 4 months of obscurity, and some of my most popular sets were 'born' then...
Victorian Gold was the most requested set, by far...I look back at the past 12 months, all the classes I've had, and can see how my beads have progressed...I cringe when I look at the stuff from Jan 2004, and I hope I cringe again this time next year...I mean, I sell what is my best work at the time, and I like seeing my work improve, and when I look back it is with affection rememebering how proud I was of the work...but compared to what I can do today, its eyebrow raising...at least to me...NOT that I'm not proud of the sets, I am...but my stringer control has improved about 500%, and now my beads are 'rounder' and not shaped like a tire...
I have a few classes lined up so far this year - my Italy trip in a few weeks, Kim Fields in February and Kate Fowle and her electroform plating in October...I'm sure I'll squeeze some others inbetween then...Oh, and I'll be attending Bead & Button this year, not as a vendor, but as a customer...I dunno what classes I'll be taking, but not beadmaking - something else to compliment my beadmaking instead like wire work or metal work...I would like to take a metalsmith semester here in Austin (I have the torch, and tools, I just need more skillz)...so I have plans to improve...who knows where it'll take me...but I can only hope I continue to get better in leaps and bounds...
Thanks for sticking with me and supporting me in 2004...We're gonna have a kick ass 2005, I have no doubt...I'm ready...!!!
2:00pm CST - Pickings are ready for ya'll who aren't at the mall having a ball...haha..
almost 1:00pm Central time - I've posted the Preview of what I have to offer today...as mentioned, I'll be working in these colors again, so if you miss out, you might get lucky again...I can't guarantee that i'll have Pickings with them tomorrow, but I'm going to try...
and if you like either of the bottom two sets, I will be entertaining remaking those, but the top 4 sets are 'as is' cause I want to experiment and come up with some new stuff and don't want to repeat these for now...sometimes I can reproduce, other times I'd rather let the vibes come and go...and now is one of those time...let the good times roll...Will have these ready at about 2:00pm my time (in about an hour)...
11:30am - in the light of day the beads are better than I anticipated...so, 6 sets will be offered...i'll take orders for only 2 of them, tho..i'll tell you which two when I post the pic...still need to etch, shoot photos, etc...gimme a coupla hours at least...
I did make beads last night, but i still need to inventory them and see what, if anything, looks good...the first 6 or 7 I made were weird and freakish, although in the light of day they might be fine, I dunno...I CAN tell you that I do have some kind of deficiency about making beads during the daytime...I dunno what it is, but I have to wait to 'get my groove on' and then its all rock and roll...so gimme a bit to see what's in there and as Ahnold say...well, you know what he says...
I was replacing a bad part on my generator yesterday, after fighting with it over the weekend and giving up...I had to pop a dial/knob off the unit and replace it, but i had managed to take the entire dial apart before realizing I didn't need to do that - so in putting it back together I guess I didn't get a spring in correctly, or didn't have a whatchamacallit facing the right way, I dunno...
and then I hooked the 3 little hoses up to it (Its a pressure dial, there are other components relying on this dial in order to display their readouts) and apparently I hooked them up wrong - oh it was one goofy thing after another...
but I have a second generator sitting quietly hooked up correctly, so I popped its hood, made notes of how its hoses are hooked up and then went back to the first unit and put things right...course, I've now taken the second dial out and am shipping both bad dials back to the manufacturer for replacement (they are nice enough to do this for free), so the second unit is non-functional until I get that one replaced...I think the saying is "if its not one thing, its another.."
But, I'm now able to get more pressure from my generator (they go up to 15 psi, I was only able to get 8psi previously, now I can go to the max) and I'm back in action...the kiln is heating up, the tank is full of O2 and I've got rods and stringer pulled and ready to go...
I hear that some of ya'll are snatching up Rachel's eBay sets - good for you! I think its cool to have 'one-stop shopping' like that where you can get a small tasting of some great designers beads...and her prices are fabulous...
At least i'm up before noon today...I'm happy about that!!!
12 hours of sleep and I'm finally up and going...I really musta needed the sleep...No new beads for today, I was busy helping Brian in the yard (had to un-do all the freeze prep from last week, and get stuff watered and raked) and the good news - I've packaged everyone's beads and am taking them to the PO today...finally...so if you havne't seen your package, it isn't lost in the mail, which is good news...You should have received an email last night w/ the shipping info (tracking number, dates, etc) so you can track you goods...
If you are in the 'gotta buy beads' mood though, check out my friend Rachel's eBay list of designer beads (Kim Wantanabe, Kim Neely, Kay Husko, etc)...many of them are 'buy now' so you could come away with a set from a beadmaker you've always wanted...I love those 'buy now' buttons, don't you? Instant gratificiation is a wonderful thing...
Pickings are ready, I hope you are too...
Are you enjoying your holiday? Is there any turkey left? I just had a peanut butter sandwich and glass of milk..that's kinda like Santa, right?
I'm still working on the pictures, so don't click on the image yet - they aren't posted...2:00pm CST is still lookin like the witching hour...
I was up till 4:00am...I have 7 sets for ya'll...am cleaning them right now...am shooting for 2:00pm CST, but it might be before then, lemme see what the day brings...(Its 60 and sunny outside, the cats are having a ball outside right now...)
I have 5 sets in the kiln right now, and hope to get at least one more, possibly two before my head hits the pillow...its only 1:48am so I have plenty of time...had to stop and pick up some new rods, I'm burnin' right thru them...
Fire!..Fire!...settle down, Beavis...
Are the presents open? Whaddya get? Hmmmm?? Ho Ho Ho and mistletoe and presents for pretty girls...
Merry Christmas!
Whew! It's been a whirlwind morning, but things have settled finally..Amelie has been to the doc and back, she seems allergic to something (no mange, no fleas) but we don't know what...so she's on special food and some antibiotics until we figure it out...she came into the house with it (we found her in Sept) so I don't think its anything in here...who knows...like Judy said 'its too bad they can't tell us what's wrong'...I agree!
I've posted the new Donatella Versace sets...they are not for everyone's taste - its kind of a weird muddy brown sludge color that I LOVE and have seen around, but didn't work from a photo, but instead just did what i felt like...
I am completely drawn to these colors, as putrid as they may be (how's THAT for salesmanship?) but I've always felt that if ya'll don't like what I offer, at least I make beads that *I* would want to wear...They remind me of a Prada print that is very popular in aqua, lime and brown...but they get the 'Donatella' name cause I like it better...and Versace is fun, so there you have it...
i'm almost done with my requests and standing committments, so if you've been looking for beads, I should be sending them soon...(you'll know when I send them cause you'll get an email w/ the shipping info)...
Will update after I get back from the vet in the morning...i hope I'm up by 8:30am tomorrow so I can get the day moving early...i'm tired, its time for bed...see ya'll tomorrow...!
Its a beautiful day here today, and we're out running errands - i had to go out to the airport to trade in my paper tickets for my Italy trip- I've changed my return flight and I had to turn the tix in w/in 7 days of changing the date in order to get them reissued...THAT was interesting, seeing all the folks flying in and out for Christmas...there was a lady traveling with her small dog that was in a rolling carry on piece of luggage...very cute...and another that was rolling a huge box around - I thought I was very glad not to have to worry about trying to get THAT thing from point A to point B...
So now I'm home while Brian continues with errands - going to Lowe's and the thrift store (I'm FINALLY donating my 50 pairs of shoes that I've not worn in 5 years, but haven't had the guts to donate until now...I told him to just drag the box out and I promise I won't change my mind..cause if I open the box I won't want to donate them...but I wear mostly sandals now a days and I just don't need these shoes any more and there are others who can use them, so - argh, it kills me but there they go...)
I got a call from Jim at Bluemoon saying there was a customer there who had a question about glass and we were heading that way anyway, so I stopped by and met Carla and Jullian who are here in Austin for the holidays (they escaped from Ann Arbor MI, good for them)...they worked out a sweet deal with Jim - they spend a couple of hours each day making beads in his shop...what a great way to spend time when you're away from your own studio and don't feel like sitting around or shopping in the CRAZZZY malls...I've invited them to my studio while they're here next week...it'll be fun!
I hope ya'll aren't futzing around the malls today...we drove by one and the cars were bursting at the edges of the parking lots..amazing! I'm working all weekend (on beads of course - this is my 'work' now a days you know!) so if you're bored with your family and are needing to spend some of your new Christmas money, you know where to come...I'll be ready and waitin' for ya... bwahahahaa...Merry Christmas of course!
Well, MOST of the Pickings sold, and it proves to me what I always knew - ya'll prefer sets to focals - which is perfectly fine with me, I don't make focals all that often and when I do, I know that ya'll aren't jumping up and down waiting for them (there are plenty of good focal beadmakers out there, go and find them young grasshoppers..). I've moved the ONE Quasar focal to the Ready for Pickin' page so when the one person who hasn't visited the site comes by after the holidays, they'll find it waiting for them...and I have plenty of requests for the Sampler set, so I'm off to the torch to get those boys (and others) done...see ya'll tomorrow..!
Ok, Pickings are ready...rock on...
I have a few beads to offer today, I was playing at the torch last night so you might find them weird or different, that's cool...I have some focals too - i was helping Mick make one of the beads we learned from Andrea and it inspired me to make a few as well...I'll pick the ones I think ya'll might like and get them posted...
Its 37 and rainy outside (the arctic blast is here, its was 78 here yesterday, I was in shorts and had all the windows open - not today!!), so there is no sun to take the pics in...I'll see what I can do to get a decent picture inside, but don't be surprised if everything has a freakish look to it...bwahahahaha...could I sound any more depressing? I'm actually quite happy, I dunno, I guess my Lemony Snicket side is seeping out...
I actually made loads of beads yesterday, inbetween my computer blowing a gasket (Brian had to remote in and take control to get it fixed, that was trippy watching someone else run my machine - like ghosts had taken over or something) so I was unable to print mailing labels until late...SO, today is printing day! I even got up early to get everything shipped to ya...no guarantee it'll be there by Christmas, but it might be there, you never know! And if you requested a set, those are pretty much done and I'll be sending invoices to you this morning...
Yesterday's studio play day was fun, i'm always smokin' busy when those happen, and it proves to me time and time again that I cannot make decent beads when the sun is out...I attempted one bead FOUR times before giving up on it and doing something else...I just don't have the right karma to make beads early in the day...Night time is the right time for making beads...Today Mick is coming over since she was tied up yesterday, so its another play day...I've hung up the English Tweed colors, time to move onto something new...I've got 2 sets today that are about as far away from browns and grey as I could get...
Time to get the Red Bud planted, its gonna be 75 today before we get the arctic blast that everyone else is enjoying...its gonna get down as low as 19 by Thur night..NOw, I know..19 - that's practically TROPICAL to ya'll who are in -32 right now, but I have a little tree that's shivering and needs to get into the ground before those temps hit us...back shortly...
I've invited my bead buddies to come over and play today...I still anticipate getting beads made, at least I hope so... If you haven't seen any beads from the English Tweed and Lord of the Rings Pickings -I'm mailing them to ya today...there are a massive amount of beads to mail and they look so pretty all lined up...mmmm...
Yep, its late in my update today, but we've been busy all day today...yet another run to the nursery to pick up pots and plants - a hummingbird feeder for the Spring, and a hedgehog stone for the hollybushes...we draped the Red Bud w/ Christmas lights, since it's our tree for the season and I started to put tiny ornaments on it, but we're having a kid come out to plant it for us Tuesday before the big arctic fronts come down later this week (the high temp on Friday is supposed to be 34 with snow flurries - cool!)...
I have been meaning to make this pearl necklace for over a year now, and I finally sat down and DID it yesterday...I have another one in ice peacock tones that's ready, I just need to add a clasp to it...And of course Clementine had to get in on the pic...
Brian had been complaining about how his feet were dry and scaly so I took him for a pedicure and he liked it so much he had a manicure too - pretty funny...the ladies there were so funny, they thought he was great..and now he wants to go 1x a month to maintain his new feet and get these calluses off...(I like my calluses so I can walk around the yard barefoot and not be injured)...
Brian also setup both of our grinders (mine for beads, his for stained glass) and our bench vice and yet another grinder for buffing - our studio is starting to really come into shape...eventually it'll be a great place to make cool stuff....eventually.........
You just never know whats gonna happen next - I've created a new page called "ready for Pickin'" and its going to be where I post my larger sets, or perhaps ready-made bracelets or necklaces or who knows what..this will NOT replace the Pickings, but instead its kinda my version of eBay...I won't be giving up eBay forever, but wouldn't ya'll like an opportunity to buy something that you don't have to wait on? I like to think so...I've moved the Raku Squeeze bracelet there and I've got a BIG set of lentils to post there as well as some other stuff...yeehaw...
Well, I'm feeling guilty making new stuff when I have some requests, so I've been concentrating on the requests now, and will make new stuff over the weekend..I am about half done, so that's good..
We did the 37th Street light walk tonight...I dunno if ya'll remember me posting pics about it last year...Its a crazy little street where all the residents string gazillions of lights and setup little scenes in their yards. its always a fun way to spend a night during the holidays..some years its so hot we can't wear our coats, other years its so cold that we freeze, but this year - it was just right...Thanks Goldilocks...
I've had to change my return flight from Italy since Brian isn't coming over after class - and that's costing another 200.00 to just change the return date by 5 days...and I have a stay over in London (at the airport, how glamorous) so I'll be back on Monday the 24th..or whenever I roll in - who knows...sheesh...its gonna be here before you know it!
I've been watching eBay, its slow as molasses for most folks right now...I've been keeping my distance from it, but I'll have some things available while I'm gone...BUT - I may not post them on eBay, I might have Brian post them on the site instead...I don't post much on eBay anymore - are ya'll cool if I put larger sets for sale here and just post what I think they're worth, or would you rather I save the large sets (18-25 beads) for eBay and just keep the smaller sets here? just curious what your thoughts are...
its 2:14am, I should prob finish this set and get to bed...rah rah...see ya'll Saturday...
I have two groovy squeeze bracelets in very colorful raku frit just waiting to go home with someone...Click the pic to see a larger version..these are one-of-a-kind, but I will make more of them of course...I'm gonna need a pair for me!
I was going to have plenty to choose from, but I took a different turn and instead had dinner with some friends and cracked up all evening...It was a great break from work and I'm glad I did it...Sooo...either I'll find some beads for ya'll later today, or I'll make some and have them ready for tomorrow...I know the weekend before Christmas is dicey for listing Pickings - ya'll will probably be out in the stores early, but I may take my chances...
I heard that The Donald chose Kelly as his new Apprentice...I think that was the right choice...but the entire gang was pretty boring - i hope next year's crop is more interesting...
I've got word that my Lynx is fixed and will be Fed Exed today...and I'm working w/ OGSI (my generator company) to try to get more oomph from my machine..it 'goes up to 15' and I can only get it to register at around 8...so I'm ready for 'more power Scotty'...THEN I'll be cookin' with gas...oh yeah!
Heh, i liked the English Tweed banner photo so much I put it on my homepage...
its 12:45...Let the mayhem begin!!
About the Lozenge press - I've decided to wait on it for the time being, and see what else is on the horizon...If you just HAVE to have some lozenge beads, email me and we can work something out...but the general feeling ya'll told me was my feeling as well - 'cool, but what else ya got?'...
Austin has officially 'rolled up and gone home'...there's hardly anyone on the roads, its wonderful! I love when this town shrinks in size, its so easy to get around..its a small town with too many people, therefore it takes 30 min to go 8 miles during rush hour...i know - your town is worse, but then I don't live in your town so I'm not worried about your traffic...[GRIN]
just got back from the Vet, Dex is doing much better...he's gained 1/2lb (weight loss is a big deal, so weight gain is good)..his ears have settled down, he's not falling over and he's back to his old self...
Thur Morning: I checked the beads before I left, they looked great...I'm heading over to clean/process them...6 sets seems pretty likely...and who knows what today will bring...I sure do enjoy making these things...Oh, and no lentils or squished ones - these are 'good old fashioned round - if round is funny'...
1:00am Wed night: Staying up late, watching Love Actually for the fourth time, and making beads into the night...I hope these come out good - i have high hopes for some and for others I have no idea how they'll do...but if we are lucky they'll all survive..
Oh, and a note - I'm working on new stuff this week, but if you've paid for a set that I said I'd remake - I'm scheduled to do those this weekend...it will all get done, I promise..
see you later Thursday...after our vet checkup...Dex seems much better too, so I expect a good visit...
I have nearly all the presses that Corina and Zoozii put out (although I don't use them all, now do I?)...but they are gearing up for a bunch of new ones and I don't think I can afford them ALL, so I'm asking for input on the new ones as they come out..the first one that's up for sale is a Lozenge style - click the link to view Corina's page and email or Comment and let me know if you'd be interested in beads made using this shape, and if so I was thinking the 3 various sized press would be more versatile than the others...but if you don't fancy these, I don't want to buy another stamp I won't use...(Corina said she has 7 new presses to try, so there are plenty more coming down the pipeline and at roughly 65.00 a clip, I'm just trying to be sensible...like that ever happens)...
Pickings are ready...
thanks for hanging in there with me, even with my technical difficulties...you'd think I'd know to look for the Macro indicator by now, so let that be a lesson to me - do not assume anything...especially after the other person in the house has used the camera...(see how I turned that around and blamed someone else - oh how nasty am I?!?!?!?...Santa will make me write "I will be a good girl" eleventy million times before he brings me another present...)
I've been zooming around doing errands (car inspection, blah blah) and have just shot pics, but they didn't come out good, so I'm heading outside to reshoot (man I love digital cameras!)...as soon as I know I have something decent to post, I'll get underway and will letcha know when it'll be...hopefully you are getting other stuff done in the meantime...i hate it when my pics don't turn out- the lighting is changing with the season and I have to adjust to keep up...
Yea...just cleaned all the beads and they all survived overnight...so I'll get pics and post these in the afternoon...prob after 2:00pm CST...
There are beads cookin' in the kiln...6 possible sets, assuming no harm come to them and the kiln gremlins stay away...I'll be busy in the morning, so these won't be posted until sometime in the afternoon...Will definitely post a time when I have an idea, tho...I'm headin' in for some Zzzz's...see ya'll tomorrow...
Class this weekend was a blast a minute...what great students Robin and Bonnie were/are...I felt bad cause I kept calling them the wrong name, even though I knew who was who...I had a mental 'mix' between the names (the letters look alike so my brain fritzed out)and had to apologize for the faux pas (more than once)...! But they were nice enough not to punch me and they made super groovy beads so I think they had a good time...
I didn't make any beads for sale over the weekend, but that will all change today..the only thing on my agenda for the day is to mail the Bead Fairy Return sets from Friday, and call a guy to come and plant a tree for us...and later tonight I need to wrap some plants, its supposed to freeze the next 3 nights and I don't want to lose my little blackberry stems before they had a chance to get going...So, look for some beads here all this week...Its gonna be fun...who knows what I'll come up with - i have nothing in particular in mind, but to just play and see what happens...Round beads, you say?
Its never snowed in Austin on or around the Christmas holidays (considering it will be 78 today, is that any surprise?)...BUT, I read last night that some computer models are predicting 3-6 inches during the week of Christmas...I don't hold much credence in computer models, they are often way wrong with Texas weather (how can you be a weatherman and be so WRONG in your job and still get paid?) that I seriously doubt we'll have flake one...(it snows in Austin on average every 11 years)...But still, its funny to think about...
Class is rockin' right along, everyone is doing great...today is a more 'relaxed' day than yesterday when I made everyone's brains melt...I just checked my calender and I have *noooooo* committments all next week...so you know what that means...burn baby burn...disco bead inferno...!
I'll be teaching here at the studio all weekend (my last class of the year) so I won't be online much during the day...time to melt glass and have fun...All of the Pickings are spoken for, but I'll leave the pic up just for fun...no time to replace it with another one - we are zooming around the house doing last minute cleaning that has to be done when you have a housefull of cats..I vacuumed 2 days ago, but you can't really tell...
so vacuuming yesterday would have been pointless, by this afternoon the telltale signs of kittydom will be back...but we are going to try and combat that a little by keeping everyone outside while Brian is working in the yard...they love running around when they have an 'audience' and this will keep them from jumping on the studio table and causing basic havoc that kitties like to cause...I say let them stalk birds and roll in the leaves instead...enjoy your weekend I'll be back soonly...
1:00pm - Doors are open, come on in! (pickings are ready)
11:15am: Ok, the pictures are all taken by the chimney with care...oh, I've been listening to Christmas Carols all day everyday for the past 10 days and its starting to melt my brain...HEre's a pic of what will be available today...8 sets, it looks like staying up till 2:30am was worth it...I'll have the Pickings posted by 1:00pm today...Does that work for ya Beth? :)
This morning: its 9:30am, I'm awake and have looked over the beads...things are looking good so far...next up is cleaning,etc...still dunno a posting time yet, maybe noon?
Last night:Its 2:31am and look who I found hovering around the kiln...that's right...its HER!!! I can only imagine the goodies she's left for me/you/us...I'll know more once I get up from my 'power nap'...I dunno when that will be, but I know I won't have anything ready before noon on Friday...you know that I'll post a time once I have an idea...busy busy busy...
I hope it feels like Christmas where you are..its sunny and 71 here today, with the temp reaching about 75 I guess...and while that's actually pretty normal for Central Texas, it doesn't much feel like Christmas to me...I'm used to snow and sledding and wind whipping in your face and hot cocoa near a fire...Isn't this how Australian's do it? Isn't it summer when Santa visits and he's in shorts and bright shirts? (do they have Hawaiian shirts in Australia or are they called something else?)...Santa in sunglasses and on the beach...maybe one day we'll do Christmas in Oz...there's a glass conference in New Zealand soon, I think its next year, so I could make it a business trip...yeehaw...
I have a variety of 'unmatched' beads but nothing I felt would make a decent strand together...I thought about offering a 'grab bag' of beads, but figure you'd rather SEE what you're getting rather than guess, so I'm gonna wait until I have some sets that are more like what you're used to...the good news is that I have all day to make them...and i'm back 'in the groove' again...I tend to fall in and out of the groove - I suppose everyone needs a break now and then...i'm just not used to being the one 'in charge' of giving myself the break...its a weird thing when you're your own boss...i'm still getting used to it...
UPDATE: Just brought Dex home...it looks a though he has an inner ear infection and so we'll be giving him ear drops and an antibiotic...his bloodwork will come back tomorrow, he may still have other ailments, but his blood pressure is good and he's eating and drinking and moving around, so hopefully he's stronger than he looks...he's lost a pound, so I'm going to try and fatten him up with some wet food...poor kid - when he shakes his head, he falls over, but he's not deterred, he just seems confused, but he keeps going...thanks for your thoughts, he's a good kid and I hate to lose him...
Dexter went into the shop this morning, am waiting to hear from the Dr. what his prognosis is...in the meantime, I'm getting stuff going here and hoping for the best...
I was looking at a few other beadmakers sites/eBay auctions yesterday and came to a realization - people make the same beads over and over again...sure, with a little change here, a maybe a swirl going the other direction, but for the most part the same...I've been experimenting and playing with new and different techniques, but I suppose there's nothing wrong with me making beads using the same techniques I know...
I've always thought ya'll would feel cheated or that you were getting the same old stuff if I did that...that's why you rarely see me do a set of beads in the same colors again - not that I NEVER do it, but I rarely revisit color combos (except purple/olive/amber - you know I love that color combo)...
So what does all this mean? well, it means that I need to not feel bad making beads you're used to seeing and continue to incorporate new stuff where I can...it means finding the ever dreaded 'balance' that I seem to suffer from - I guess I feel that if you see a color combo or beadstyle you've seen before, you'll think I'm getting lazy...but when I see other beadmakers do it, I don't think of them as lazy, why do I put that label on me? I dunno...but I do...So today, I'll be making some 'good old fashioned beads' like you're used to seeing and we'll see how it goes...maybe something old AND something new to offer...I feel better about getting back to dots and swirls now, tho...isn't it weird...?
I took a power nap yesterday, as I was falling asleep in my chair and figured I could use some sleep - well, that was really helpful except it kept me awake most of last night...sigh...i watched some good Antiques Roadshow appraisals and saw some really ugly large gemstone rings being hawked (that's really what it was like - guys selling stuff out of the back of trucks) and I actually heard my alarm go off at 6:15 before I finally fell to sleep...the moral to this story is - no power naps today...
My oldest (15) kitty Dexter has been slowly falling apart, as all older animals do...he's been having a bit of balance issues for a few weeks, but I thought it was a leg falling asleep or something..well, today he's pretty much falling over when he walks - and he looks so frustated like 'who's pushing me over'? poor kid...he's got a trip to the Dr. tomorrow...i hope its just an inner ear infection or inflamation (he's got ear mites) and nothing bigger (like a tumor)...we shall see...
So far I've managed to avoid the craziness of the malls and most holiday hubub..this weekend was so great, and I took a few days off from the torch to do some plant and pottery searching...but it started raining and I couldn't plant anything...the blackberries are growing, tho..mmm...We realized that this time last year we were in NYC being covered in a blizzard...so to celebrate, we hit the local Katz's Deli and recreated our visit to the Carnegie deli, having matzoh ball soup, potato knish and cheesecake...only it was 70 instead of 10 outside...but it was all good...yum...
So, how about that new exhaust hood? pretty rockin' eh? Brian and I put it together Saturday night and I tested it a bit last night...the fan is quiet and works exactly like I need it for fuming...today I'm going to try my hand at some more fuming and see what happens...
Deck the halls, ho ho ho and all that...
isn't that a strange combination? but I've had some things planned for awhile and its time to get them done...could possibly be back later, am working on some stuff for ya'll but am waiting on other people for more info before I can say anything here...hmm...very cryptic, huh...
This weekend is perfect for Christmas shopping...start ordering online or get out in the malls...Normally I'd be in NYC this weekend, but instead i'm hitting a local arts fair that takes place this weekend and I've been wanting to visit..so now is the time! Who knows, maybe next year we'll be in London or who knows...Christmas in London - now that would be super groovy!
Not much at the moment...I did make a new bracelet using some of the 7/8" lentils (these are the largest size before you get to those XL (over one inch)lentils...i've posted some pics for ya to see the kind of 'sparkly holiday' kinds of beads I like to make...
I've put together 10 bracelets and am sending them to Andrea Guarino today...You've seen most of them, the 'sand dollar' ones I posted a few days back...I hope they go over well...
My buddy Vanda has asked for some Christmas beads - but I'm glad she doesn't want the 'cutesy' stuff of snowmen and stockings...Those are cute and all, but I'm not good at making them, plus there are tons of folks out there who ARE making them, so if you're looking for cutesy, you won't find it here...at least not very often...I think those Halloween Witches hats were the last 'cutesy' thing I did...BUT I will see about putting together some elegant and rich beads, things you can wear at the holiday, or anytime of year. I pulled a bunch of goldstone stringer last night, just for this purpose...so we...shall...see...
I was up too late last night watching Angels in America (again)...So far i've missed chapter 1 and part of chapter 2, but the rest I've seen..its like reading a book backwards, I know what happens, but I don't know how it starts...alas, its a fabulous show and I love it each time I see it (which is about 4 times now)...I also watched a Biography on Scott Peterson, since I didn't want to bother keeping up with the trial...man is he an idiot or what...I'm glad they found him guilty and I hope they fry his ass, although I'm from Texas and I'm all about frying asses...rehabilitation is good - one of my favorite movies is Raising Arizona and they keep trying to rehabilitate H.I. McDunnough, and eventually it works..."We have a word for folsk like you, Hi...its called 'recitivism'...repeat offender"...Only one of the best movies ever...
Speaking of which, tomorrow night is our midnight showing of Napoleon Dynamite with the actor who plays Pedro...can't wait to get those tots and corn dogs...I'm making Brian wear my 'Vote for Pedro' shirt...heh...
Ohhh....so sad....Ken lost on Jeopardy yesterday...I know I know, we all knew it was going to happen back in Sept when word leaked that he lost...I knew it was coming...but I really got used to seeing him on the show every day, coming thru with the correct answer when no one else knew it..ringing in first over and over, tearing up the columns he knew best, going into Final Jeopardy with a 20K lead over his rivals who were barely holding a 1200 purse...I'll miss him...I look forward to seeing if any new whiz kids show up, but I'll still miss him...He was on Nightline last night and David Letterman, so I got a few extra tweeks of him before he rides off into the Utah desert...he did say he has a book coming out next year, and I'm sure he'll be back to tear up the Tournament shows...But still...And now...
Tonight is the last night for Tom Brokaw too...boo! I don't watch much of the 5:30 national news anymore - its inconvenient and so biased that it makes me nauseous...but even tho Tom has a hard time with his "L"s, I still enjoyed him the most...I always enjoyed him coming on David Letterman and cracking jokes...he seems like an approachable, down to earth kinda guy, out on his Montana ranch and fly fishing in the river...We ran into Charles Osgood (CBS Sunday Morning program) last December when in NY, but its not quite the same...Too bad Tom wasn't skating around Rockefeller center or grabbing a hot chocolate in the cafe..we would have said 'hi'...(we had a hot chocolate in Rupert's Hello Deli outside Dave's studio, but again - not the same)...I'm sure Brian Williams will do a fine job, and maybe Tim Russert will be tapped to fill Dan Rather's shoes at CBS (was there ever a more aggrivating puffball than Dan Rather? And to think he owns a house here in Austin and his daughter lives here - well, I don't run in those circles, so no chance of running into them)...
I haveta go check the Blackberry bushes to make sure they survived the freeze last night. I've actually turned the heater on in the studio for the first time..it is going to be 65 today, so its not like it'll be running much...i just need to get the chill out of the air..and get the ferns back outside to enjoy the sun...
I'm working on some new stuff, I'm happy with some of it, others didn't turn out like I'd hoped...I'll try to get something ready for ya'll this week, tho...hang in there, I'm still making beads, but my creativity is all over the place at the moment and I'm having a hard time channeling it...but its coming out, in spits and fits...
