What's Going On ...

Is it groovy where you are today?

I've been diggin around and found some really groovy Penny Michelle findings that I bought and haven't used..at all...still in the ziplocs w/ the anti-tarnish paper, these guys haven't seen the light of day until today when I snapped their photos...I'll be posting a link to the page in about 30 minutes to give ya'll first shot and if you aren't interested, no worries...I'll post on WC! and see if I can deliver these to a good home...Some heart charms, a Large Imelda and halloween charm bracelet plus some surprises along the way...look for it in 30min...

Spring is doing its thing on me, I'm happy and peppy and bursting with love...that is an OLD reference to an old Odd Couple episode that Felix wrote a song for a famous night club singer (who was it?) and it was all poppy and light hearted..the singer brought is wayyyy downnnnn to a smoky ballad and Felix was bummed, until he got to see her sing it in the night club...Happy And Peppy..and Bursting With Love...I sorta remember some of the words after that...what a great show that was...Does TVLand run old episodes of that show?

I've stumbled on Aqua Teen HungerForce and its been making me CRACK UP...at first I didn't give it much attention, but then I started to really listen to what the cartoons were saying and I think they are funny...Brian teases me and calls me a 'stoner' since I'm watching it at midnight...I also watched the new episode of South Park last night - and it was hilarious too! They spoofed Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and being put on extended life support - you know they always mix a current topic of the day into their shows now...and show just how goofy BOTH views can get...so it didn't take a stand or preach, it just said to use your common sense regardless of your opinion..which really, is exactly what I try to do...

I might have some beads later today, but most definitely tomorrow...rock and roll sistas of the twisted minds...

La la la...no more mack truck..

A few little beadbox sets, I have the urge to get back to the small beads again, so be on the lookout for new stuff coming up in the next few days and weeks...maybe I have Spring fever and I just needed some sunshine to kick it into gear...??

I watched American Idol last night (Paula was surely drunk - can't someone clean her up or kick her off the show? she's a complete waste), watched an old movie, "My Cousin Rachel" with Richard Burton and Olivia de Haviland, and went to bed...boy do I feel better than yesterday...and hopefully it'll be quieter than the past two days too...I like my space quiet and uneventful, with ME being the only person who I have to talk to and the cats the only ones messing stuff up...and today looks like one of those days...hurray for me...

This summer is shaping up to be busy, with classes that I'm giving and taking, Bead and Button in June and the Gathering in July...If you're going to either, I'd be happy to meet up with you if at all possible...these are my first visits to either venue so I'll be scoping out what there is to do, and trying to just have a good time and not get overwhelmed at the enormity of it all...I can't believe how beads have grown in popularity - I remember when B&B mag first came out, its tiny little issue..the back cover had a story about a beader who made a collar for her cat and I wanted to do the same, so I started frequenting beadstores for the supplies...and that collar has never been made to this day...I think there's a pattern here...I like to start projects and get sideways on them and travel down another path into another great area...I like to have a lot of projects going on at once, some I finish, others never get done, and that's fine..I get bored with them or my taste changes in mid-project...i have 6 large tackle boxes FULL of Delicas and Seedbeads that may never see the light of day again...who knows?? My rughooking frame hasn't been used in well over a year, I haven't done any stitching in ages and now I've taken up knitting (albeit bad knitting for now)...Are you like that too? Does your interest roll from one thing to another and then you turn around and see the wake of desctruction behind you...thank goodness I've not taken up Scrapbooking (yet) - I LOVE paper, glitter, glue, scissors and all the things about scrapbooking, but I know if I poke my toe in, its all over...

A couple of little strands are coming up...gotta go get the pics...

Uuuuugggghhhhh...

Well, why should YOU suffer just cause I'm the one who's tired? I found these little bright bits of glass that I thought you might enjoy...they look like a happy bracelet to me...yeehaw and howdy-do...

I feel like I was hit by a Mack truck...yesterday was a non-stop whirlwind of activity and I'm not complaining, I'm just exhausted...I think the last person left at 1:30am...We were making beads, of course, and eating Italian, and doing DDR and looking at pics on websites and looking at Star Wars (all over my house) but it was FUN and I'm glad I did it...some Playdays are quiet, some are boisterous...I never know what the day will bring, that's for sure...

So, what's on tap for today? First I need to put the studio back into shape...then I need to finish my taxes and get them to the accountant and last I need to jump on the torch and get some beads made (where does clean the kitchen fall in that list??? exactly...)..and I think I might just sneak a pic of all the goodies that are coming out the kiln today..I have no idea who's is who's, so it'll be fun to watch people come over and claim their stuff...maybe I'll score a bead!

Playday at the Studio

Anytime there is a class that most of us attend, we try to have a play day the following week, usually on Monday...And so, that would be TODAY...I dunno who all will be coming over, some can make it at 10:00, others can't get here till after 5:00, but I promised to make an authentic Italian lunch (ravioli, salad w/ balsamic vinegar and parmesian cheese, tomatoes with sliced mozarella and olive oil) to try and lure them here...so far its worked pretty well...I normally let everyone fend for themselves, but this meal is so EASY that I thought 'why not'...

Oh and speaking of which, last night we decided to try out the new Whole Foods downtown (the headquarters is based here in Austin) and man is that place amazing...3 story UNDERGROUND parking, escalators that you can take your shopping cart down (like we did)to your car parked underground...I felt like I was going thru an airport at first, and then it was a like mass chaos and bedlam...there were exotic fruits, vegetables, nuts (I bought pistachios for the salad), a massive fish bar, fresh soup counters all over, paella (!), and even chocolate fountains in the dessert area...we were overwhelmed and decided we'd better get what we came for and get out...we still managed to spend over 125.00 on only a few things like hummus, corn on the cob, Coppola Merlot wine, and oranges (I juiced those and grapefruit last night - fun!)...I dunno if you have a Whole Foods or Central Market in your neighborhood, but its like you've traveled to other countries when you go...I highly recommend it, but don't expect to find 'normal' peanut butter or corn flakes...I was glad to see they had 'real' milk and we didn't have to get soy milk or rice milk or goat milk for our cereal...eeehhhh....

So, I've decided to try something new with the Focals that I've been making..I know some of ya'll are interested in them and most of ya'll prefer the sets that I make (which I will do again, never fear - sometimes I need to get out of the same old thing and stretch my brain and try new things...that's how the Fiore stuff came about...so give me some time to play and I'll be back at making sets again...) and so most of my focals go unsold...which is fine, really, its not like I'm trying to get rich of off them, but I thought I would try putting them up on eBay as 'buy it now'...now before you start going 'eBay - waaaa', lemme 'splain...There are more eyeballs on eBay than on my website, obviously...and so I might find an interested party out there that never would have found me otherwise...AND, 'buy it now' means you would NOT have to fight with anyone else for the bead, you could click on the price just like you do on my website...the main purpose of this would be just to cast a wider net and find more 'focal-interested' customers, that's all...SOOOO, if you are interested in the beads, look for them very soon on eBay..you can still find them thru my site, just click the 'ebay' banner on the left, and the price won't be overinflated, the eBay fees are nominal for this, and I'll eat those costs as advertising, so you won't be paying more...I'm just trying to put the beads in the hands of the focal-buying public who might not know that these are available...make sense??? I know eBay is 'bleh', ya'll have told me that many times...that's why I'm not making these 'auctions'...and besides, most of ya'll don't want them anyway, so it should be fine, right?...rock on kiddies...

Happy Easter

The sun is coming out, so I took some quick pics of my beads from last night...I like the deeper mahogany color of these and I love the sheen when the sun hits...so there ya have it...new beads, fun stuff, I'm having fun...yeehaw...

The Easter Bunny came to our house and left a coupon for breakfast, so we're heading down to the local coffee shop for some pancakes...he's a really good bunny, I hope he made it to your place too..

its 44 here today...that's freakin' COLD! it was 82 on Friday, i still have the sunburn on my face from driving around town...I'm ready for Winter to be ovah...our bluebonnets are shivering...

All Hail Austin....

Yep, we got a nice big hailstorm here last night..I haven't been in a hailstorm in years, I remember picking up little nuggets and putting them in a baby food jar when I was little, and then they all melted together into a monged block of ice...Usually the 'big' storms go around Austin, but we got some nice damage last night...

Well, I don't mean US per se, we did inventory this morning and some of our bluebonnet guys are hurting, but our cars and windows are ok...(at least I think mine is, it was covered under a car cover)...the entire neighborhood looks like it was hit with a 'green confetti' parade...our trees were shredded, although they don't look too bad...no limbs broken, even the blackberries survived...but when we stood by the sliding glass window, the sound was like a dozen people were throwing rocks as hard as they could at the glass...I thought the door was going to break (I was not standing by it, no)...I've never seen the cats run so fast..Poor Dexter got stranded and rode the storm out under our deck (pictured)...he came in wet, but ok...I called him a million times, but he was too scared to come in...now its dark and cold out and I hear sirens going off like last night...its a crazy Easter weekend, for sure...hope yours is a little less dramatic...

Its time for a Road Trip!

We're back...not quite the Hill Country, but we did make it way out to a new yarn shop that just opened last weekend...its really nice, but it took literally an HOUR to get there, due to traffic...I don't think I'll be taking any classes out there, but I'll make 'special' trips out there on 'off' hours...and then we hit the local water garden center and almost came home with a large mexican pot with a pump to make it into a bubbler water feature for our backyard, but of course we were in the Miata and it would have been quite interesting getting it home...maybe another day...We both got sunburns and the funniest part of the whole trip was me getting out of the car in front of the yarn shop only to realize I'd left my sandals still sitting in my driveway....i took them off to start the car and just never thought about them again (I drive barefoot, easier to feel the pedals)...they were nice enough to let me stomp around Fred Flintstone-style...and afterward we hit the grocery store just down the way and I bought some flipflops to make myself look slightly less 'white trash'...now those sandals live in my trunk, just in case I ever do that again...duh...

We're headin' out to the Hill Country...for a good hearty breakfast (so what if we eat it at noon), put the top down and go see some wildflowers...bluebonnets are up and looking gorgeous...I have some in my backyard that are sending up flowers...pics to come...

I played a little yesterday in some cool colors, not so caliente...lots of metallics and shiney hiney...these focals are really fun for me to do - I enjoy opening the kiln in the morning to see the results...ya never know if the reduction will stay, or burn off in the kiln, you don't know what colors will change or strike - it can be wonderful or a disaster...I'm sure since I'm just playing, its all turning out ok - if I was really trying to get a reaction, it'd fail miserably...there's something very 'freeing' about making these...

Have a great Easter Weekend...Eat all the chocolate you want - I give you permission...

Organic Focals of the day...

Alrighty, I have named these 'Fiery Organics' and they are now for sale in the Ready for Pickin' page...

I played with hot colors yesterday and boy did they stay HOT! Lots of coral with some ivory and green mixed in...I like how some of them came out, the others are 'experiments'...I did have a lot of fun with them, fuming makes the colors change and that's always fun to see what will come out...there are some fuchsias and forest greens in there that I had nothing to do with - it was all glass reaction...More experimenting today, I dunno what colors I'll play with, but I'm sure it'll all be interesting...

Its time to play...

I found this site - i know ya'll like Raku beads (boy do I!) and here's a neat site for some quick splurges...XAZbeads

I'm feeling the need to explore and play at the torch...I don't know what that will produce, maybe nothing, maybe fabulous treats...but when all this organic info is floating around in my head, I need an outlet for it...Like Spinal Tap's foray into the jazz experience, you're witnessing a new explosion of creativity...hahaha...

I've got a lap grinder that I haven't used since I bought it in October - and I want to make some beads for that too...and yes yes, I'll definitely be making more Fiore, I bought 24 more 1/8" mandrels so I don't have to double up on what few I had on stock...

its EARLY - I'm up and ready to go...wish me luck and lets hope I have some success...I love the freedom of being able to play and see what happens...

Alrighty, lets get this started...

I'm back from errands and picked up my beads from class...We had a super time, Kim is SO giving and willing to do whatever we asked of her - I learned a lot of very cool techniques and what's so fun is that they are EASY to do!..that isn't to say that I had success with each attempt, but that's where the 'practice' part comes in...nothing is hard, its just takes time to get good at it...I think my favorite new technique was fuming opaques, and since I'm such a fuming novice, it was good to see how the fuming reacted with the opaques...She's so good at playing with metals, making new colors come from combining glasses and watching blues, greens and purples emerge from where there were none...

I have the kiln fired up, I feel like playing and seeing what kind of trouble I can get in...

On tap the next few days - Class!

Only this time, I'm TAKING a class..its my Kimberly Affleck weekend...and I'm excited! She's in town early, so a few of us are gonna take her out and around Austin, and wear her out...Tonight is the Firelies meeting and there'll be a 'meet and greet' for everyone to stop by and say hi...Class is Sunday and MOnday, so I'll be out of pocket for a few days learning how to make some groovy organic beads...I like organic beads, I just don't 'see' how to make them when I'm at the torch, so I need help from the folks who do it the best..Next month is Janice Peacock - check out her mask beads in the 1000 Beads book...very organic indeed.

I saw that Corina has a new set of beads she posted on her site (they're sold, sorry and not to me- rats!)...She still has the magic, even if she is struggling to find it...I'm glad to see she's taking small steps to get back into the swing and she's also putting up some boundaries to help keep the 'evil vibes' from getting to close to her...She really puts herself out there and although most of us appreciate it, its the pests who can really throw your world into a spin...I think she is wise to reel in her world for a bit, but then I tend to come from that 'protect yourself' mode...I had plenty of instances growing up when I had to identify people who caused me trouble and get them out of my life..its not easy when you're in seventh grade the person in class who's causing you the problem sits next to you everyday, but you learn...you learn to not lend them your notes, don't let them hit you in dodgeball and don't invite them over for swim parties...eventually they grow up and go away and you're a bit more guarded but able to spy those troublemakers the next time they show up...I suppose thats a cynical way to look at people but when they burn you time and time again, you gotta put up some kind of protection...some kind of 'super shield' to keep them from getting you down and causing you grief...course, this is all just my opinion, I like having friends and doing things with people but so often there are ulterior motives that you just have to watch who you let get close to you and who you keep at bay...Call me crazy or weird or whatever, but its just what I've learned over time...its not like I set out to be this way, I was conditioned to it and now I find that it works for me...its not like I run into these kinds of folks all the time, but I try not to let them 'pile up' on me like I used to...

Ok, well, there's my Dr. Phil speech for the day...time to go get ready and see what kind of trouble we can get into with Kim...it IS SXSW this week, so maybe we'll all end up downtown and with a new tattoo or piercing..ya just never know!

Wondering where I am?

After much debate, and from the looks of most of your input, you'd prefer if I sold these individually instead of as a set, I've gone ahead and posted them on the Ready for Picking page...thanks for your ideas, suggestions and bids...I do like your input, really I do...

I decided to call these 'Venice Sunset' because I like the spirit the name evokes in the beads...I mixed pinks, cocoa and tangerines together for these...typically I would have kept them separate - only pink and cocoa or only cocoa and tangerine, but I was playing and thought 'why not live outside the lines a little'...so this is the result...

As far as them being for sale, instead of ME setting a price, if you're interested, email me and give me YOUR price...I know, I know, its like the auction system and ya'll hate that, but sometimes I just lose my mind and try different things...i hope ya'll aren't sick of them quite yet, I have plans to make SMALLER ones on 3/32 mandrels that you can incorporate into bracelets (as per your requests, yes I am listening) and smaller ones would be darlin' as earrings...SO many possibilites...

I made a set of 5 Fiore Massiccio beads yesterday, I'm working on the pic right now...(now that I have my computer back again)...I really like these guys as a set and thought I'd sell them that way...

oh, I'm here...but remember on days when you don't see me in the mornings, it probably means Nancy is here shipping, which is in fact exactly what was going on this morning...all of yesterday's stuff has been sent out (thank you!) as well as the CZ's from the other day...

Max and Me "Everyday" beadsets

Alrighty, thanks for hanging in there..I wasn't sure when everything would be ready...but its open now...Click any of the pics or the link to see what's there...

Yea! Corina has updated...I'm just glad to see she's back on her computer...she called me a couple of weeks ago, and we had a good talk...I was going to catch up with her today, and now that she's updated, I might have a hard time getting thru on the phone, as I bet a LOT of folks are trying to contact her...she's so great..and I'm glad to see the Venice trip in June is still 'on'...if you're going, you'll love it...

Is it just me...or are we all clones???

Now THIS is how ya do it!!!...Wow

I've been doing more thinking about this especially after reading everyone's posts...I didn't mean for this to become a pity-party or a 'how can we cheer Donna up' cause I'm not down about it..It was just something that I've noticed more and more and I was curious about your thoughts since you're the bead-buying public and you have the choices to make...And so, what I've decided to work on today will be some new Max and Me beads, only these will be sets (i'll make some individual ones for ya'll who own rings)...they won't be as fancy as the Fiore or Stella, but they'll be more 'everyday' kinds of sets...and of course they're in my neutral palettes - olive, grape, cocoa, etc....so if you're thinking of buying a Max and Me bracelet, or already have one and need something to deck it out with, come see me tomorrow..I have the grape set cooking in the kiln right now and some new ideas in my head...

keep the feedback coming, I'm always interested in what you think..you always know what *I* think, so its fun to hear what's stewing in your brain too...

NOTE- sorry about not updating ya'lls comments - I just had a new cable line installed, and I've been offline for the past few hours..thanks for commenting, I've now 'approved' everything you've said, so now I'm going to go read them...(oh and on the same note, my email address might be changing, but I'll letcha know more once we get there...right now I can receive emails, but I can't send..Brian is working on it...the remote IT guy that he is...)

I'm happy that so many folks are making beads and enjoying beadmaking as much as I am...but there are times when it feels very crowded and I am not good in a crowds...is it just me or do all the beads out there look alike???? Do you think so too?

The same raised florals, the same streaky pink sets, the same swirl beads, the same orange and pink combos, the same Raku effects - it never ends...I think that's why I'm trying to do NEW and different things...because we can only make so many triangle beads in blue and green before we all look like the same beadmaker...What is your opinion? Do you like buying the same style beads from lots of different beadmakers? Do you prefer something new and unique? What about well executed? I like to pay more for well-made beads, but some people pay the same amount for badly made beads as they do for good beads...Do you care how the bead is made? Do clean ends and well placed stringer make a difference to you? Maybe not...I guess for a lot of folks it doesn't make a hill of beans (beads, ha)...I'm just wondering what is going on in the beadworld..what am I not understanding...its not the prices on eBay that bother me, its more the quality of the beads that folks are buying...whether its $50 a set or $800 a set (yep, I saw one that high the other day - cool!)...help me understand what you think is the reason that everyone's beads are looking the same...and is it the kiss of death to try something new in the beadworld?

Spring Break!!!!

Its exactly one year ago today that I started counting the hits on this website (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the counter)....over 122,000 hits in one year - not too shabby..thanks for coming to see me! (oh, and I have the code in that counts CORRECTLY, not each time you refresh the page - I prefer an accurate count, thank you very much...)

Where to get the CZ's? Rio Grande carries them, Robin at Glass Diversions also has them, in nice easy to buy amounts, so you don't go broke! Molly at Heritage Glass carries them too...I also bought some from a chick on WC, but I can't remember who...Kim Miles also mentions a place on her website...make sure they are small enough (below 3mm from what the experts say) and are hard enough (that they don't melt, sorry Genea!) to handle the heat..I use the 'glue on a mandrel' method, where I glue the CZ with Elmer's glue on the end of a 1/16" mandrel, and stand it in small glass till it dries..then I make my floral, poke the hole, then add the CZ, then encase...

Its Spring and the Ladybugs are out in force! Brian brought home a bag of them over the weekend and their job is to eat all the bad guys in our garden...They are so impressive en masse, I just want to put my hand in there and let them crawl all over me...

After being very gently nudged by Leslie to show her how to put CZ's in a floral bead (and having never done it before I showed her, talk about pressure..ha), I went on and made 6 CZ encased beads yesterday...the first one is the worst, and I'm gonna keep it as my 'first attempt' at this, but the others are ready to go...gonna go get some snaps, its actually rather dark and cold out this morning, so lets see what happens...back shortly..

Oh, and I took yesterday off cause I just needed to relax and decompress....today I have two different appts, so I'm not sure how much I'll be around, but I'll try to get some stuff made while I can...thank goodness the rest of this week is lookin' wide open...time to buckle down and get some glass melted...

hahahaha....look at me updating late

fact is, the girls were here for 12 hours yesterday and I got to bed late, and we started again early, so I'm only NOW taking a long enough break to update...they are busily making and applying twisties while I contemplate what new evil to bestow on them...so far they have mastered encased florals, stringer pulling and application, twisties, caterpillars, hearts, dots and almost frogs...wow...talk about sponges, these kids are soaking up the info as fast as I can throw it at them...I think we're gonna make this a yearly get together, at least I'D like to, where they come in and we all just hang out and gossip about Hollywood (heh, ya'll know all about that)and solve all the worlds problems - you know, like all chick getogethers are like...maybe I can hide their plane tickets and they'll have to stay longer...and I better take inventory of my cats when they leave, I think a few of them might end up in suitcases going back to Florida or California if I'm not careful...

I'll be back in full force tomorrow, I may not have anything for sale, but it all depends on what I get done tonight, if anything...I wouldn't hold your breath, but I'll see what I can do...maybe I'll just collapse tonight and start fresh tomorrow..but I'm having a blast...!

I feel better, really I do!

thanks SO much for all your well wishes! I am feeling MUCH better...my nausea is gone, the headache is gone, the chills are no more, and I even ate a decent light dinner last night...this morning I feel like my old self again...so whatever that thing was, its left the building and taken some time with it...I think I just slept it off...

So this weekend I'm up and teaching..the girls came over yesterday to check out the studio and settle in...I demo'd a few techniques and they jumped on the torches and proceeded to yelp and complain that they 'can't do it'...ahhh...just as I'd hoped! I always expect a class to take you into new directions and places you've not been able to do on your own - otherwise there's no point to the class if you can already do this stuff...I like when I take a class and all my pieces are junk - it tells me that I'm working outside my 'safe' zone and that I'm learning! I'm trying new things that my head and hands aren't used to doing, I'm living 'out of the box' as the favorite phrase seems to be...So, if I can keep them from getting TOO frustrated, and just frustrated ENOUGH, then I'm on the right path..Part of teaching is calming the frustrated students, actually...Like tight rope walking, only without the fear of breaking your back, its scary and frustrating but as long as you know you'll make it to the other side in one piece, its worth the walk...Oh how I love analogies! We should have an analogy contest...have you ever heard Dr. Phil's wacko analogies? "You can't make your mother in law listen if the chickens aren't crowing at dawn'...well, chickens don't crow, but that's what makes it so funny...

uuuugggghhhhh.....

I have been sick sick sick in the past 24 hours...i feel a little better, but no great...i've been sleeping a LOT, and eating a bit of toast and drinking water (what, no OJ in the house?), and trying to conserve my energy for today and the weekend...i'll be around, but probably under the covers with my eyes closed, so if you need me, shoot me an email and I'll answer it when I feel vertical again...

STELLA!!!!............STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, this is strange - about 1:00pm this afternoon I started feeling sick...cold and shivery, nauseous, headache..so I layed down for awhile...I feel better, but not great...and wouldn't you know it,I'm teaching this weekend! I haven't been really sick in over 5 years, not since before we moved into this house...and now I feel my chest tightening...I hope this is some kind of 24 hour 'just passin thru' kinda bug cause I can't be sick...i refuse!

Do me a favore- view the beads on the Fiore Massiccio page and think about which one you want...I'm going to put these up in groups again, its easier for me to stay on top of the sales...Think about which one you want, and when they're ready, you can zoom in and grab it easily...okey dokey?

A snapshot of what's coming up...20, count 'em 20 beads...Lots of 'Stella'(stars) and a few Fiore..and yes...I've included the stars from my own bracelet (except the one that broke, I'm keepin' that one)...WHEN will this take place? I still gotta optimize all the 20 pics, so gimme some time..I'll post a time when I have a better idea...

rock on...

Its amazing what a few little cookies and milk will do for the Bead Fairy...she smells them from way above the house (well, she flies low cause she's afraid of telephone wires) and zooms down with her loot to bestow on all of us...I do believe I see a few mandrels sticking out of the kiln, merrily cooking away...That's the only cooking the BF does, I'm fairly sure..(get it - 'fairly=fairy'...hmmm..no).

Bring your sunglasses, the Fiore Massiccio are bright and colorful, and I hope you find one that you can keep as a pet...See ya in the morning...

Zoom Zoom

Yea! I look like a human again...I lopped off a big dread lock the other day and now I have this little bit of hair at the base of my neck that used to be 15 inches long, but alas, is now just a big missing hunk of hair..do I care? no sir-ree...My curly hair has been a pain in the drain forever, I used to chemically straighten it, but now I use a flat iron that is wonderful, but I have to blow the curly mass dry first - talk about a finger in the light socket! plus its hot and humid here, the last thing I need is a blow dryer in my face...so I just let the mass curl like it wants to, but it does get messy...So I had Andee take off about 8 inches and i look more like the pic on my Artist page again...at least my head feels lighter...

I'm getting Spring Fever this week - its in the 70's, sunny and fabulous outside...I want to run around just for the sake of it...the car needs washed, I have errands to do - but I'll be making beads instead...its time...and I'm teaching this weekend, so I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to be at the torch between now and Monday, so today is the day...More Fiore, I believe..I've been pulling stringers...are you ready for more??

Must run along this morning to a haircut...Nancy is shipping all the PIckings and Freebie and eBay stuff and whatever else isn't nailed down...Will be back once things have settled...Do I have any beads? Well, I've been busy KNITTING and not working - but TODAY I promise that I shall not knit or surf any knitting webpages or ready any knitting related material...its put a dent in my beadmaking and I must...be...strong...

Back once a lot of this curly freakish mess has been lopped off...

I'm one happy chica, indeed!

I spent 8 hours working on my taxes yesterday and they are all pretty much ready for the accountant, save for the cable and phone info that I have to get from Brian, but that'll go very quickly...I buckled down and spent all day working on them yesterday, so I am ready to celebrate today...the kiln is warming up, the doors are open, its sunny outside (time to get some decent pics) and I'm ready to get my groove on...

I am workin' on the Beaded Brooch designer, lemme keep pestering her and I'll get the directions from her soon...at least I'll keep TRYING!

Hmmm...I wonder if I have anything here that I can put up for ya'll in the meantime...lemme go have a gander...

I wish I were wittier...

I don't have anything funny to say today - and I've been too busy getting tax junk done to be able to get any beads made...but I have high hopes to change that very soon...I'm a volunteer frit tester for Robin Koza (Glass Diversions) and I haven't tested any of her very groovy blends of frits yet - so that's on the list...plus I have a few other things to take care of, blah blah I know...where are the beads, right? Exactly!

I DO have a new Freebie set ready to go, I just need to find somewhere to photograph it that isn't wet and reflecting into the lens...will take care of that just after Jackie Guerrrrra teaches me more about jumprings and eyepins...and why am I so enamored with KNitty Gritty? I can't do most of what they talk about, and have never even SEEN most of what they DO on the show...its like watching surgery or something...knit one, drop three, pick up two, we all fall down...

Hmmm...well isn't this not surprising

Did I work on my taxes yesterday? No...but I did make another new 'beaded brooch' and got a bunch more done on my new knitting project...I'll get pics posted of both, right now we're heading to the local wild bird store to pic up some new feeders, food and whatever else we think we need...Did I tell you that I had some Red Wing Blackbirds at the feeder the other day? Two of them were hanging out...along w/ the chickadees, doves, Blue Jays, cardinals, sparrows and Woodpecker...the Cedar Waxwings came back, this time I counted 50 in the trees, but they weren't close enough to get a good pic of...it sounded like it was raining BB's from the trees - they were all pooping at the same time (my car is so happy for that) and I could hear it but couldn't see it...at least I was smart enough not to stand underneath it! Maybe some new beads tomorrow, depends on if I get my act into gear and get my stuff done that I can't put off any longer, but still manage to...hmmm...

I'm the Tax man...One for you, nineteen for me...

How cool is Catherine!! (Max and Me Beads) - she let me know that she can make posts LONGER for your jewelry - so that little turquoise bead that is too long might have a home afterall! Just email her (she's going to put a note on her site about sizing, ordering, etc) for more info and she can get you taken care of...

And yep, i'll have more 'Stella' beads before ya know it...

Yeah, good point Vanda...I did make a couple of new design shapes, the 'star' works perfectly, unfortunately the 'donut' shape is too long to fit on the ring shank...I'll need to make it again, only smaller...I have 5 of the stars on my bracelet, and they ROCK! I can't decide if I'm gonna sell them or keep these and make more...I'll probably make more - better, faster, brighter...the batch I made yesterday was darker than my first set...I dunno why exactly...

So, whaddya think?

I'm doing icko stuff today...taxes and cleaning up the studio...although I am fixing the bird feeders (moldy sunflower seeds are gross) and Brian is putting some more lioriape in the ground (its a spiky grass edging, like monkey grass)...So I'll be around...going through receipts...eeech...feel bad for me...

Howdy buckaroos...

I'm jumping in early, cause Nancy is getting ready to come and ship so she'll be on the computer till at least 1:00pm...If you ever notice that I'm mucho late in updating, its probably cause I've turned the controls over to Nancy so she can get everything processed...you KNOW I'm not about getting up early (I woke up at 4:00am afraid that I was going to oversleep this morning and not be ready when she got here at 9:00am)...heh..

Catherine O has told me ya'll have been visting her site fast and furiously...we're both tickled that you're catching the Max fever and I hope you enjoy all the goodies you order...I'm planning on getting more scwag too - how can you resist? I made 2 more Fiore beads last night, one is in a new shape..I'll debut it once I get it cleaned, shot, etc...please check out the eBay auctions if you don't mind (do I sound like I'm shilling? I don't mean to) cause well, I just haven't had much on eBay in the past few months and you probably don't even know I've listed anything...

Back later...must...get...orange juice...

I need your opinion..

All the Fiore Massiccio have sold, thanks ya'll...will have more soon, in new styles...these will go out in tomorrow's mail..Hurray Nancy, you're gonna be busy!

6:00 - the last batch is ready...plus Blackadder is on BBC - can't go wrong!

5:00 - the next batch will be ready at 6:00pm CST (I'm gonna take 30 min to watch Jeopardy and then put the rest up afterward...)...see you then!

4:44...Ok, the first batch of 8 are up for grabs...remember, if you don't see the bead you want, its either in the next batch, or its coming up on eBay tonight...Ciao!

2:15pm This is GREAT feedback, thanks for looking at all the possibilities and being interested in the beads..I wasn't sure if ya'll would want them, since 1. they are bigger than my normal beads and 2. they fit the jewelry that you may or may not have or would even be interested in...However, that being said, like Monica says - there are other possibilities for them...I think they'd be cool strung on leather or strung on their sides.
So, it sounds like you're interested in them...I have the 5 pictured on the bracelet in the lower right corner (click the pic to see) going up on eBay tonight, but i'll take photos of the others and post them here for you...that will take me some TIME so, i'll post a notice as to when they'll be ready...I might not do them ALL at once, cause I'm not sure I could keep up with PayPal and updating the buttons, so lemme go in groups..that way, if you don't see the one you wanted, you can wait until its posted..how's that? all this will be done TODAY, tho, so you won't have to wait till tomorrow...I'm off to take more pics, back shortly...

1:00pm I ordered some "Max and Me Beads" jewelry and it arrived the other day..If you aren't familiar with it (there's a link on the page if you click the bead pics) its sterling jewelry that's interchangeable...Catherine Ondrey creates it and I like the idea of the jewelry being convertible with your mood...So, once I was armed with my new bracelet and two rings, I found that all my 'normal' beads were too small and I had to come up with something new and on a larger mandrel...

I figured "hey, if you're going big, why not go really big" and came up with these beads that are decorated out of their minds...No matter what direction you look, you see some new color spilling out of the bead..I have more plans in mind for the jewelry, so if you do buy some of her pieces, I'll have a 'line' of beads that will fit them..(I'm not in cahoots with Catherine, no)...So, what do you think? Yea? Nay? Too bright and freakish? Not freakish enough? (I like that they spin on the rings too, so now I have a fiddle ring to play with...heh)...

9:30am Ok Bunnies and Kitties...I'm gonna need some feedback on a new bead design I've been working on..the beads are cleaned, lemme go get some pics and I'll be back shortly...get those red pens ready and all feedback, good and bad, is welcome...

meow...

Do not disturb the weirdo in the tophat...

I'm in my Wonka Workshop, creating something new and fun that I began yesterday...my experiments are coming along, things are falling into place...the problem is the weather - I can't get any decent pics today, as its cold and rainy...So, you'll have to wait till tomorrow...and I should have more beads by then anyway, so you won't be missing a thang...I'm off to the torch, oompa loompa...

New stuff...

I love having Nancy come in and help me with shipping (I'll get a pic of her posted here soon, I'm still worried that she's bored and won't want to stay), cause it forces me to *get stuff done*...There's a bit of good and bad news...I made beads yesterday with a plan in mind, and today it turns out I didn't make them on the right sized mandrel...SOOO...

I will still sell what I have today, there's nothing wrong with it, it just wont fit on my intended purpose...HOwever, I will make more stuff today and see how it goes - hopefully I will get it done the way I want...
Oh yes, it is quite nice here today...60 and sunny...the birds are snacking and the cats are rolling in the sun...those of ya'll in the East - I'm watching the weather channel and feeling for ya..believe me, I grew up just W of Chicago and hated the cold and snow, so I know what you're going thru...feel free to come down here for a couple of weeks...March is the best time in Texas, its comfortable, not too humid and everything comes into bloom...April - October its just danged hot and humid...

Ok, Nancy has finished shipping, and I have a full day ahead of me...will post the set (only 1 today) of florals momentarily...back shortly...do ya like florals? are ya in a floral mood? Pink?? Ya like pink??