What's Going On ...

Thanks to everyone!

Ya'll completely and truly are amazingly wonderful folks...!!! I appreciate ALL your emails and well wishes for Dex and me, its always hard for me to let go my feelings on this blog, and Brian said he was surprised that I opened up, but I just felt that I needed to let you know what's been going on with me, since my 'normal' routine wasn't normal any longer...I shouldn't be surprised that you are so kind, sweet and caring people, I talk to you all and know how compassionate you are...the warmth and comfort I've felt from you has been much needed and has made me less anxious and relieved some of my tension..and for that I will always think you're the best people in the world...

We just got back from our 2x weekly vet visit for fluids and he's doing ok...He's still eating, drinking and getting about and Brian and I have talked about how we feel he's coming along, and what we've decided was - as long as Dex is still chugging along, we'll just keep him going as best we can...I don't dread the vet visits as if each one is the last, I just look at them as 'maintenance' for him...even tho he's looking haggard he's still hanging in there and so am I...

So, today he's feelin' pretty good, he's stocked up on fluids, drinking water and food, and now he's settling in for a long nap...I feel like making a few beads as well...I taught a class yesterday (not the most optimal timing, but what can ya do?) and I've been away from the torch long enough that when I look at my work station, I don't recognize it...

I also have the second part of my riveting class tonight - have I made any of my homework? well, that'd be a big fat 'no'..so I hope to get at least SOME of the links made today so I can rivet them tonight..the nice thing is, the instructor is my buddy Mick, so I can get private help at a later date if I don't get anything done today...

The Whole Bead Show is here this weekend, starting today...but I think I'm gonna wait till Sunday to attend..I really don't need to be buying any beads this close to B&B and coming right off my Janice Peacock weekend, so I'm going to go with trepidation and probably leave my wallet at home...that's a good plan...But Andrea Guarino is here in town and I haven't seen her since October, so I need to stop by and say 'hi'...and maybe hang out for awhile...

Ok, I'm off to the land of fire and hammers...rivets and glass...hmmm...

Just what's been going on...

I have given this some thought and decided that I should clue you in to what's been going on with me the past few weeks...I feel that my updates have been 'thin' and I haven't been producing the beads in the numbers I used to...so even though I was hoping to be able to get thru this in a different way, I think its better if I go ahead and just open up...

For the past 3 weeks my oldest kitty, Dexter, has been quickly failing...We took him in for a deep ear infection and suspect he's also suffered a stroke...He's manefested Horner's Disease and the right side of his face is paralyzed...

it makes it difficult for him to eat properly, so I'm mixing up a meal of watery wet food (gruel, how appetizing) and he's doing his best to eat...I've been administering eardrops, antibiotics and even stool softener...Last Thursday he's started drooling out of the right side (the paralyzed side) of his mouth and so I clean him up as best as I can, but he's rather 'crunchy' from where he's smeared his meals...its all rather tragic actually...The 'plus' side is that he still is eating, drinking, using the litter box and getting around on his own...but its very difficult to watch him and I have mixed feelings about it all...as long as he's still interested and able to eat, I don't feel like he's ready to pass...and I hate to put him down just because its difficult for ME to see him this way - I like having as much time with him as I possibly can...so we are just existing this way...I've been sleeping in the spare bedroom where we have a trundle that's only 6 inches off the ground so he can spend time with me at night, and not feel so isolated or 'in trouble' as he does when he's quarrantined alone...but this of course means every time he gets up, eats, drinks, etc., I wake up...I've been getting very little sleep, sporadic at best...and the emotional and physical toll is starting to catch up with me...After our vet visit yesterday, where he gets subcutaneous fluids pumped into him, I found he'd lost a half pound since his visit last Thursday...that's quite a bit of weight in a very short time - not a good sign...I could barely keep my emotions in check and was crying by the time I got into the car to whisk him away - forgetting the vet had prescribed a homeopathic remedy for his drooling...so I had to wait for them to bring it to me..I came home yesterday and just cried all day..and yet Dex had a great day, he was active and talking, eating, drinking and enjoying the outdoors....but today he's back to hiding in what I've deemed the 'Batcave' where its hard for either Brian or me to get to him, where he feels safe and we can't administer meds to him...nor can we grab him and whisk him to the vet's...I don't know when all this will change, I don't expect him to get better, he's either stable or getting worse...I've had him since 1989 when we was found a stray sitting in our backyard and he's been through a lot of history with me...I feel like i'm losing a part of myself with his loss and there's so much more time I wish I could spend with him outside watching the birds, enjoying the sun...

Needless to say, I feel like I've been in a time warp the past 3 weeks...I apologize for not responding to emails right away, the thought of being online just doesn't interest me and its not your fault...I'll try to do better to respond, but if I'm late, please bear with me...I haven't felt like getting on the torch or really doing much of anything...Poor Brian had to clean part of the house on Sunday cause I was knee deep in a class that I'd rather have cancelled if I could, but I knew I needed to go through with it...This week has been very busy with little downtime and I'm glad this weekend is wide open so I can decompress a little, if at all...Dex goes back to the vet later this week for another assessment and I don't think I can do it this time...I hope Brian can handle this round for me...its not like I don't know the end is near, I do...it doesn't make it any easier, tho...

Its the week that never ends...

I'm knee deep in the middle of a week that's pretty much non-stop...I'll be here for a bit before I have to take off again, so lemme see if I can get some pics up for ya...and i'll work on those emails that I haven't answered in days too...thanks for being patient...I haven't been home much in the past 3 days...

Who's the voice?

Have you ever stayed up so late that when you got up the next morning, your voice sounded like Harvey Fierstein? That's happened to me this morning...we were up late learning how to make a seed bead bracelet that Janice taught us (talk about holding her hostage, poor girl I think she was tired and wondered how she ended up there!) and then I stayed a little later at Mick's house while considering if we should stay up watching 'Raising Arizona'...we opted out and I came home but didn't go to bed right away...so now, I'm paying the price for it...but I have a cool new (finished) bracelet (pics will come as soon as I'm home in the daylight and can snap them - hopefully tomorrow) and am sleepy...what a great way to start another day of classes...you know, you really should get your rest, they aren't kidding when they say that...

Just a quick 'howdy ho'...

I'm taking off in a bit for class...Kathy emailed to let me know that Eyelash yarn is on sale at HObby Lobby this week - time to stock up...and ironically I've signed up for a 'fuzzy bracelet' class at our local beadstore...sometimes I just like to get out and take classes - even if I have the ability to do the project right in front of me...I love classes!!!

I scored two really groovy mask beads from Janice yesterday...and today we are going to work on vessels and goddesses...tomorrow is mask and 'multi-hooha' bead day...i hope we get a dichro mask worked in sometime too...they are super cool, especially when they're etched...its like they glow...

I'm in...I'm out...I'm in...tra la la...

Last night I took a class and today is my 'entertain Janice Peacock' day...tomorow and MOnday are class with Janice...and there's more to come next week...so I'll be in and out today/tonight...I have lots of emails to respond to, so if you haven't heard from me, don't fret..I'm gettin' to them when I have a free minute...and I'll show you the beginning of my class project when I get some of the project done...so far I only have 1 set of links, and I think I need to make 28 of them by next Friday for when we learn to rivet them together...

hope your Saturday is more restful than mine! enjoy your Spring day and I hope you aren't in the path of the snow that's coming to the NE...good grief!

Chicken in a breadpan, Pickin' out beads...

Alrighty, there are a few bracelets and sets of beads for anyone interested on the Ready for Pickin' page...

and Nancy finished shipping ALL the goodies that were here, so be on the lookout for the famous white mailing tubes...oh and some chocolate candy...i hope it doesn't melt...i'm gonna haveta go to Tootsies pretty soon, its getting warmer out...

I'm still learning..and practicing...always...

I like my vertical hearts and think they turn out well, but I've always struggled with what I call 'horizontal' hearts - where they hang horizontally...I'd seen some cool hearts that Kaye Husko had made a while back and they were rattling around in the back of my brain, so last night I took a stab at them...the shape is ok, I still need to refine it, figure out a few things...and the reduction stringer is prob not the best decoration for these, as it seems to burn when marvered, so I still have more to learn and practice...but I like the LOOK of these at least (just don't look at them closeup) and will see what I can do to make them 'happier'...

The goodies arrived

There are a couple of bracelets available in the Ready for Pickin' page...and one that's just show and tell...but go see anyway!

So now you can see what I ordered from Rio Grande - supplies to make Message Bracelets...this is the first, I just finished it a few minutes ago...I didn't want the letters to be boring, so I had to toss the "Y" in the air...and the clasp, well I need to work on that, but hey, for my first one i'm tickled...what's funny is I've signed up (paid good money) to take a class on how to do this at B&B in June...I'm hoping I'll learn some cool tricks and maybe a list of suppliers for the stamps...I know there are other fonts out there...anybody know where to find them??

I also made a Target run and bought lots of candy, so there'll be treats in your packages again..sorry for the dry spell...mmmm...candy...

I've started my Artist "Weird and Wacky" section...I'll be adding to it as I think of stuff...so it won't be just 'what's on tv' like it is now...

Why does my biggest male kitty want to crush my blackberry bushes when I'm in the patch inspecting them? Argh!

What's on tap this week?

I ordered some goodies from Rio Grande last week - what a nice bunch of folks...I hope the stuff arrives today and I'll show you what it is then...don't want to spoil the surprise...I've been watching LOTS of Jewelry Making, KNitty Gritty and Crafter's Coast to Coast - and the ideas are bouncing all around my head...so I took the plunge and bought some stuff for one particular project that I'll be able to incorporate my beads with...and it'll let me be sasssy at the same time...oh, I can't WAIT till it all gets here (hopefully it'll all work together, i had to guess at some sizes and I'm not sure I guessed accurately...)

I"m getting ready to be BUSY these next two weeks..I have a 2-part class starting Friday night, then Saturday I'll be helping to entertain Janice Peacock while she's in town, then Sun/Mon I'll be in class all day...Next Thur I have a student coming in from NC and then next Fri is the second part of my 2-part class...so I'll be around, just in bits and spurts...

I made a few beads yesterday, I must admit I've been on a Squeeze kick lately and sure enough the beads from last night are squeezed and lentiled...I'll string them and show them but I may just keep them for me cause I like the organic earthy-ness of them and I'm not so sure they'll be your cup of green tea...So, I have beads to show, but you may get lucky and save your pennies till another day...

I'm also thinking of adding a new section under the Artist page- something that talks about 'weird, fun, interesting' facts about ME and my world...I know you don't really get a good feel for who I am during my long blog rants, but there are some kinda weird things about me that you might enjoy...and I might even turn it into a contest or something..I've been playing around with the idea...so look for that in the coming days/week...

Ok, back after I clean these guys...

And how is your week?

New Freebie beads are posted...

I had a great time at the show yesterday...It seemed kinda quiet to me, but folks outside in the booths said it was a good show for them...I think it was quiet for me cause the weather was fab and no one needed to take refuge inside the shop! plus there were two other torch working demos going on outside, so the 'exoticness' of me being inside was lost...haha...but its not like I was trying to sell anything, I was just inside having fun and goofing off...I made a few fish and focals and florals, pullled a buncha stringer and twisties, so I have lots of components to use here at home...the stuff I make during the demo is just cooled in a blanket, and because I like folks to see it, I leave it out and it cracks - why make somthing and hide it right away? who cares if it cracks, its not like I'm doing 'perfect' work...

so I'd rather people get to see the finished product right away rather than having to come back a half hour later to see it...I'm just funny that way, but if you spend 20 min watching something being made, don't you want to see the end result? I do!

The COOLEST thing about the show was meeting the scientific glassblower from Austin..he shared some top secret info with me that took him years to learn and we had a great time visiting..he's good friends with Doug Stanhope and he has been working on a torch since the early 60's...I've signed up for a class with him and he seemed to consider me a 'peer' after watching my little dog and pony show inside...He uses a lot of tubing, pyrex and metals - things that I don't know anything about - and I feel like he can open up a whole world of new techniques for me...Can't WAIT to get together with him, listen to his stories and learn as much as he's willing to teach me...

And today...its Showtime...

I'm gettin' ready to head out the door for my Day of Demos...I put together all my tools/glass/etc and will prob use some of the store's books (why drag mine there?) to do some demos from...I enjoy this show, its always a fun time and it flies by...I'll get a break around 3:00 for lunch and then the second wind comes and I end up staying until 6:00 and later...I wish ya'll could come too, but if you come and see me for a class at some point in the future, it'll be like having your own private demo day...ha...

I WILL draw a name for the heart today, I promise..it won't be until after I return, though...so hang tight and I got TONS of emails and votes for this thing, so it'll be interesting to see how the cookie crumbles...I feel like I should make a dozen hearts for everyone who wants one...

And here are a couple of pics of my new Garden Project - I covered the Blackberry trellis with old broken beads...they came out really cool and there's plenty of room for more beads as I make them...I'll have more pics as I go (Brian took these for me yesterday) but I wanted you to see the initial result...they look great in the sun and I saw a BEE flitting around a strand of bright yellow/orange beads..I think he wanted to pollenate them...

Its Garden time...

Its 65 out (rather cool for us!) and I'm outside working on my bead project before the sun starts to melt me...I'm almost done and its lookin' kinda groovy....pics to come when its complete, although the neat thing about it is I can always add to it and keep it evolving..so will it ever be 'done'?? maybe not!

If you're in the Central Texas area, I'll be doing beadmaking demos tomorrow from 10-6 at BlueMoon Glassworks on N. Lamar...Come inside and see me...there'll be a glassblower outside too, and lots of booths with neat artwork, goodies and live music and food...this is always a fun show and the weather promises to be fab!

Send me pics if you so desire...

I love when ya'll send me pics of your finished pieces...although Erika made these w/ beads from another beadmaker (perfectly fine, of course! i take no offense to that!!), I still enjoy displaying them so ya'll can see how they look, especially since they ARE incorporating lampwork...and I think we were all a bit curious to see if lampwork would work with them (yes, that means I still have not made one myself...tsk tsk)...I think she did a wonderful job with these, matching the yarn to the colors and everything is frothy, fluffy and ready to be shown off this summer...

oh, and you can make a set of matching Flip Flops using the same yarn you made your bracelet with..I know I'm not a knitting website, but when I saw this project and it uses the same eyelash yarn as the bracelets, I thought you might get inspired...I don't know beans about crochet, but perhaps the instructions are simple enough for a goober to do them...lets hope! goobers unite...!

I was really hoping to have some beads for you, and I've been digging around in my stash, but I don't seem to have anything that makes a nice 'set'...I might put together a 'mish mash' of beads for you if you think you're interested...In the meantime, I have a new project i'm working on outside, that involves BEADS and I'll get some pics when it's completed...UPDATE - part of the project is done, but now its hot and I'm sweating, so I'm gonna wait till later this afternoon to finish it...its lookin' fun, tho..!

I'm up early to check the kiln..

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell ya'll the most amazing thing that happened to me last night...so I'm at Hobby Lobby - its like Michael's and its the closest craft store to my home, so I was there last night to pick up more eyelash yarn...I wandered around for a bit, found what I wanted and as I'm checking out, the customer behind me sees the 3 squeeze bracelets on my wrist and says "Are those Blackberrybeads on your wrist?"...! I was shocked and amazed to say the least...I said 'yes..and I'm Blackberrybeads!"...she said her name was Michelle (Hi Michelle) and that she had bought some of my stuff at the trunkshow last November(Nomadic Notions)...I was amazed that the bracelets would be recognized and that my name would be spoken in the same sentence (instead of 'oh cool beads, where'd ya get 'em?')...I've heard stories of folks selling their bracelets right off their wrists in line at the PO before, but I'd never had someone ask if my beads were Blackberrybeads...it was very groovy indeed...

I'm headin' to the PO to stand in line and mail my taxes...I think I'm gonna need a 'treat' after this ordeal...Brian is paying the tax online tonight after he gets home...The bluejays are stealing peanuts from the squirrel feeder and the cardinals are eating the sunflower seeds...its a wonderful Spring day here today..I hope your snow has melted...who ever heard of it snowing in April? (I know, I know...)

Ok, I've posted the 3 sets I have...these are 'as is' - I won't be doing remakes of them cause I have other stuff I want to work on instead...so buy now, enjoy and I'll have some new stuff (maybe in these colors!) for ya hopefully tomorrow, maybe this weekend...rock on!

I was up till 2:00am hunting down Amelie - she's always following us around in the house and when I couldn't find her, I knew she was outside...Brian found her this morning under the deck...she musta wanted to stay at Kamp Krusty last night, cause I called and called and she never bothered to come to me...but this morning she's all happy and smiles...

While watching Aqua Teen I made a few beads...I'm headin' to the kiln to check on them right now...hopefully they'll be decent, but until I see them, I can never be sure...go get some cereal and come back to see me in a bit...

Its Shipping Day

Nancy will be here till at least noon, shipping everyone's goodies from the past week...so I won't be online until this afternoon...maybe I'll go buy some more yarn..our accountant finished the taxes, I owe a buncha money, but its not that surprising - I didn't pay any taxes thru the year like you do when an employer withdraws taxes from your paycheck (remember looking at your stub and going 'dammit!' when you see how many taxes had been taken out? well, that's happened to me all at once!)...so I'm going out to pick up the paperwork today and mail it in (certified, registered, whatever the post office says)...at least they are done and I'll start making estimated payments thru the year to help offset that big whammy...so its all ok...no hari-cari or anything....

I've been getting GREAT feedback about the Fuzzy tutorial...lemme know if you can't open the PDF file - its working for me, but it might give ya'll some problems and if so I'd like to know...I'll try to troubleshoot it as best as I can...and if you have any suggestions on what you'd like to see, lemme know..I've asked Katie for a 'quick list' of supplies so you can see at a glance how much of everything you need (length of yarn, number of crimps, etc)...I think its from watching too many Jewelry Making shows on DIY that I'm just used to see a list of materials for each project before we begin...I'm looking forward to making one of these for myself, I just gotta get some beads made first...

that's all I got for now...but I'll be back later...rock and roll!

the Fuzzy Bracelet lives!

Katie B sent me her instructions yesterday, I'll be building a page for those today...my taxes are almost done and it sounds like I owe a ton of money...great..i'm so happy...what else can go wrong...my phone has started acting up and my computer is giving me problems when I un-dock it...its always something around here...poor Brian..I keep putting in 'trouble tickets' and he's always having to fix this stuff...technology is great when it works...why would my phone just cut off, when I'm outside w/ the antennae up..?

I am finally on the 'correct' time change now, tho..getting up at 7:30am instead of 9:30am...I did stay up late watching Aqua Teen again last night...and I've Netflixed all the DVD's so I can watch them here...Brian and I were cracking up at some of the episodes the other night...and I have almost all the theme song memorized...what a dweeb I am...

Speaking of, did this dweeb make any beads? only a few..and they were mostly experimental...so nothing today..although I think my auction ends tonight, doesn't it? and I have a few focals on eBay if you're in the market...apparently not...ha...

Who watched Tiger?

I've added the Freebie pics and drew the name and I swear it was not rigged...Katie B's name came up all on its very own...and I had an extra Gaffer Heart from a few weeks back that I thought ya'll might enjoy for FREE instead of selling it to you...

I don't watch golf and I don't play, but every year I do enjoy watching the Masters...I think its partly the lack of commercials, and the course at Augusta is more phenomenal than any other golf course shown on TV...and it doesn't hurt when Tiger Woods is in the lead...did you see the shot on 16? It was like Caddyshack, when the ball sits on the lip of the cup and doesn't fall in until Carl starts blowing up the course...It was great to see Tiger win, and it would have been great if Chris DiMarco would have won, it would put him on the map...but regardless, it was a nice way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon...

I've not been at the torch for a few days, but I am up early and hope to jump on...

Oh, and ya'll in Colorado didn't just have 'snow'...you had "SNOW!!!" Check out Monica's yard -

Its a quiet day

We got up early to visit the insurance claims office and have the car looked at for damage...left with a hefty insurance check and the news that I'll be getting a new hood for my car (along with having all the hail dimples presesed out one by one)..Next up is to make the appt to have the work done..I suspect with all the cars in Austin that have hail damage I might be lucky to get in by next month...

Other than that we've made another run to the nursery for more soil..Brian is finishing out the blackberry section of the yard, adding edging and such...the nursery was a blast to visit, everything is in bloom..I wanted to buy some black eyed susans in a bright orange color, and maybe some pink roses, but decided I wasn't sure where I'd plant them, so I'd better wait..and the trip to the wild bird store was a strike out, they don't open till 1:00 which was 45 min away..so we'll do them another day...

Today will be quiet and restful...I've got some things that I need to take care of...hope your Spring is full of flowers and birds..I heard it snowed in Colorado recently...!!

I've got some suprises

I stepped away for a chicken sandwich and wasn't able to update the 'sold' signs until now...everything is spoken for, BUT if you have any eyelash yarn you think would be a good inspriation, send me a swatch and maybe I can come up with something very groovy indeed...

Ok, here's what I did yesterday - taking the new Eyelash yarns I bought the other night, after feeling 'blah' that day, and using Katie B's bracelets as inspiration, I made these matching sets...Each set is interchangeable, so if you buy more than one, you can use them together...and each set matches all 3 yarn colors, so the possibilities are frightening if you get right down to it...My thought was (and don't let me design for you!) you could use these 5 beads as the 'main' beads on the bracelet and pick crystals, bali silver or other styles of beads for your dangles...I think that'd be safer than using these to clank around...but maybe you find something else even groovier to use the yarn for, I dunno..45" should give you plenty for the bracelet (I hope - if not, I'll supplement of course) or use it for a neat choker w/ just one bead on it...of course you'll have fun - you always do! and send pics w/ your designs, you know I have a Designer Gallery just waiting for your photos...give Brian something to do other than dig dirt in the backyard (Oh, I probably shouldn't complain about that!)

TGIF! Yeehaw ya'll!!!!!

Fridays are always such a happy day - some folks have already taken the day off for a long weekend, others are just looking forward to a fun weekend...Here in Austin it almost ALWAYS rains on our weekends, but we just run fast between the drops...and my blackberries and bluebonnets appreciate the rain, so I can't complain...but today is a gorgeous day and I'm ready to hit it hard...

I did go buy some eyelash yarn last night ("Hobby Lobby is getting ready to close in 5 minutes")...Katie B sent me some groovy pics of bracelets she made using the yarn, so I was going to see what concoctions I could come up with today...or at least maybe over the weekend...Aren't the bracelets super cool?

Well, I guess its time to go see what kinda trouble I can get into today...any guesses??

Is there something going around???????

why do I feel kinda 'blah'...I dunno...things are ok here..the weather is fabulous, but I still feel 'blah'...I think I'm gonna go out and buy some little beads and crystals to cheer me up...or maybe a new skein of yarn...? I was hoping for a fun day of torching with my buddy Letha (we were in Italy together) but after lunch she toodled away...and now I'm alone and looking around wondering what do I do now...maybe I need some time outside the house...

the new auction goes live tonight, 9:30 EST, 8:30 CST, 6:30 PST...click the pic to see the full set...5 day auction..hope you like them...

Enjoy your Spring day...

For anyone interested in my recent spate of organic focals, I'm listing them on eBay right now with 'buy it now' prices...

and as always...Have a great Spring day!

its 10:00 already?

I better get away from the computer because this Horoscope could not BE any more acurate today:
"You're not usually the type to overspend -- at least, not on a regular basis. But when something catches your fancy, the impulsive side of your nature takes over and you let go. Prepare yourself, because that's exactly what's coming your way right now. If you can't afford it, you'd better place your plastic and checkbook under the lock and key of a frugal friend who's not afraid to tell you 'No.'"

Alrighty - I'm still digging the copper green/silvered redux effect..so I made a very shiny bracelet and earring set...This guy could light up a dark movie theatre and help you find your keys in the bottom of your purse...Flashy earrings are included, or if you need a larger bracelet (this one is actually pretty loose for a 7 1/4" wrist) you could restring and add beads, or take some off and use them however you see fit...and believe me - you'll SEE well with this bracelet...

Good grief! Well, I have one set of squeeze ready for ya'll today, they are strung, just gotta get some pics and then post them...its dark outside, so the pic will be - well, probably dark...i'll do my best to show it off...
back shortly..i can't think of anything to say!

And how is your first day on Daylight Savings Time?

A little show and tell for ya today...I have been meaning to make beads like these ever since Andrea Guarino's class way back in October...so I've finally gotten around to it - see, eventually I DO get it all done, it just takes a little time...

Show and Tell Galaxy Beads

And, I squeezed in a bracelet that I thought turned out pretty well...
Groovy Fall
Bracelet (are these my colors or what?)

And FINALLY - my good buddy PEtra had a bracelet I couldn't live without, so I bought it from her, and she was nice enough to share the secret with me...I'll see if I can adjust it enough so I won't be copying her and make some groovy beads like this for us...I LOVE this bracelet, I've added some matching crystals and restrung another of my squeeze bracelets, and now they live happily on my arm together, enjoying the day...if you're lucky, maybe she'll have a bracelet like this for YOU...ya never know!

Well, I was tired when I got up this morning at 7:30, that's for sure...but I'm feeling ok now...I've heard that today - the first MOnday after DST is the most dangerous on the roads- folks are sleepy and driving and go boom...hope you didn't have an accident yourself..

Another set of lentils, this one is more even w/ the mirror, but there are still little nuances with each bead that come with making glass react with one another...Copper Green is just a volatile glass -it does what it wants and we like it that way...I like the gray matte reduction it gives, as well as the pretty mint color it can also offer...it does what it wants and you can't tame it, even if you tried...This time I've added a neato focal that would be cool as a center bead on a Connie Fox style bangle, or of course as a focal pendant...its small enough to work both ways...

I have more show and tell for ya as well, so stay tuned...

Spring your clocks ahead

(Back from the movies) I've posted a set that I always enjoy making because I never know what to expect - the reduction stringer is BLUE, but it turned out more silvered/mirrored than anywhere close to blue..why is that? I don't know...could be the weather, the pressure in the propane, the mixture in the torch as I reduce the glass, the way the beads cook in the kiln, or the rod of copper green I used...I remember Corina saying she made a set using this combo and has never been able to reproduce it -and regrets not keeping more of the beads for herself because of this...I was hoping for a blue result, but the mirrored is still shiny and makes me happy..

Oh, and I LOVED Sin City, but its not for everyone...if you like Kill Bill, you might like this, but it is dark and violent - and I just closed my eyes when it got really bad...but then that's how I watch horror movies - through my fingers...

Not that I'm excited about that - I always have a hard time with the next week of getting up an hour earlier, since I'm not great at getting up early anyway...its 10:43 and I'm just now at the computer...but then again I have an excuse - i was up at 4:30am ready to go...I almost stayed up, but thought maybe I should just sleep a little more - and now I think I've gotten TOO much sleep...

We leave in about 45 min to see a matinee of Sin City...I enjoy Robert Rodriguez movies, he films them here in Austin, although this one was done completely in an airplane hanger in front of a green screen...but Spy Kids is fun for us to watch cause we see lots of Austin landmarks...we're busier looking at the background than watching the movie..plus, any movie that has Alan Cumming in it is fine with me!

I have a small strand of shiny beads that i'll post when I get back, plus some show and tell beads that I never got photographed yesterday...Hope you're having a lazy hazy crazy Sunday - go look for some wildflowers in your area..I hear Oregon has some blooming right now!!

Thanks for playing!

Thanks for going along with my April Fool's joke yesterday, I know that I got SOME of ya'll, which I did find rather funny and at the same time I didn't let you in on the joke, hoping you'd figure it out for yourself...and boy, some of ya'll really thought I was full of myself to ask that kind of money for 9 little beads...and I found that even MORE amusing...I would have thought the 'pennies' request would have tipped you off, but I guess I wasn't quite off beat enough...I was never great at practical jokes, and maybe that's why ya'll thought I was serious...I think I need more practice!

I have a cool bead to show you later this morning, once it gets warmer outside (and sunnier) so I can get some pics...I made an 'encased' bead that I learned from Andrea Guarino and although i've had the equipment since October, I hadn't used it until last night...I'm pretty happy with how the bead came out, so I'll get that posted soon...

I managed to get my taxes turned into my accountant yesterday after realizing I hadn't gone through any of my Paypal receipts to tally everything I bought online last year..and boy was I glad that I did! there was TONS of stuff that I'd forgotten about...but its all listed and turned in now and now its my cool accountant's problem...until he calls and tells me I need to give him more info, and then it'll be back at me...I just hope I don't owe anything this year...this is the first time I've filed where my entire income was self-based, so I have no idea how that's gonna work with taxes...but I'll find out!

I've got lots of errands to take care of this morning, most important I have to go get more propane! I'll be back later with pics and who knows what else...have a great morning!

April Fool's Day? Who ever heard of such a thing!

What's that? Someone mentioned that it's April Fool's Day? Why, the thought never crossed my mind! Do you think that $395 is too much for 9 beads and one frog? Do you think I'm conceited and stomping around on my high heels with my long fingernails doing 'z-snaps' at my maid and cook? No, I'm ringing the bell demanding they take away my breakfast and bring me a plate full of cookies, that's what I'm doing!!

The Donald called and he wanted to buy the set, but he couldn't come up with the money, and now Monica grabbed the set out of Donald's hands and ran off with it...Magda- oh Magda - bring me my slippers, won't you please...???

I have a whole new respect for Jackie Guerra on the JewelryMaking show on DIY - she had Connie Fox on her show yesterday! I think she ought to do an entire 30 min episode with Connie, instead of a 7 minute segment...Its made me want to take a Connie class now...didn't I see that one of ya'll has taken a class with her? What did you think? And what about ya'll who've taken with Kate McKinnon? She looks like she'd be a hoot and her California home looks to-die-for...Jill, I know you were out there, what up??

And look at me - I got a set made yesterday...its got a couple of new designs in it, and I thought 'you know what? forget eBay, I'm just gonna set a price on it that I want for it!'...and I'd prefer payment in pennies this time, so I can contribute them to my local church - they have a penny drive going on this week...so when you pay thru PayPal be sure to specify that you're sending pennies...thanks for supporting my drive!