What's Going On ...

Time to recharge

I know ya'll like me to update daily (the little poll told me so), but the sad fact is - I don't have anything exciting to say of late, so I'm going to take a few days to get some things done behind the scenes (yes, bead-related, no lie!) and even some household chores (my car needs inspecting, now aren't you glad you came here to read about that...)...

So, you too should enjoy your final few days of 2005- make resolutions if you dare, reflect on what went well and what didn't this past year and write some committments on your calendar for the upcoming year (vacation time, what do you want to plant for Spring, etc...)and take it easy...

I did pluck about 20 caterpillars off our passion vine yesterday, they are growing like crazy in this warm winter...AND, I discovered the other day, we have 3(!) monarch caterpillars living on our butterfly (milkweed) plant...I was cutting back spent stems, and found them munching on what was left, so I didn't disturb their little party..yesterday I found them as a trio located on another milkweed stalk...such good little kids, I can't wait to watch them go into cocoon and hatch in the Spring...

See ya'll in a few days...and as always, Rock On!

Planting acorns

While at the nursery a few weeks back, I picked up a few Chincapin oak acorns that had fallen to the ground...deep rich lustrous cocoa brown, almost black..well, over time the black faded to light brown and today I noticed the shells were splitting, so I opened all of them and buried the acorn meat into our yard..I figure the squirrels will find them over the winter (what winter?)but if one of them sprouts a tree, I'll be happy...I felt like Johnny Appleseed, pressing little acorn bits into the ground...

My internet connection is misbehaving today...it connects, then drops, then reconnects...so I'm gettting mail, but its coming in spurts...so if you don't hear from me for a while, I might not have seen your mail, but I'll get to it eventually...

Time to get back to the torch...should be interesting to say the least!

Back to work for me...

Well, now you know - the Icicles are back...! If you've been waiting for them, the next batch is ready..I didn't want to post anything until I had them in hand, ready to ship...but I just finished tumbling the last of them (only took me two full days to make these! whew) and they're ready to roll...I'll keep the buttons up till they are all gone, so don't be concerned if you don't see the 'sold' sign go up...I have a limited quantity of the one and two inch, but there are more of the 1.5 inch, since it was everybody's favorite...yeehaw, hope you're ready...

I'm up early, working...but I don't want to tell ya'll what i'm working on, so it'll be a surprise...but yes, you've seen these before, so it won't be earth-shattering or anything...I just hope you've been waiting for them...

Brian installed some gutter work on our house for me yesterday, so my new roses won't get washed away when it rains (whenever that may be - April??)...and I see new growth on the roses already, so I'm hoping these plants grow like crazy...I go outside and chant 'grow grow grow' to help cheer them on...

its supposed to be 80 today...yeah, that's right...I'm pretty sure we are in Australia and no one told me...so, should I start saying 'g'day mate' and all those cool phrases? I'm not cool...

ok, time for some breakfast, and then to get back to work...I'm ready to get started...I like days like this when I have a focus and purpose and am not flitting around the studio wondering what to do next...groove on, babies!

Time to Shop?!?!?!?!!!

Its the day after, and I hope Santa brought you everything on your list...I was lucky enough to receive 8 new antique rose bushes from him, but now I have to decide where to plant them...some are climbers, some are hedges, others small bushes...they'll be here next week and I can't wait to see where I'm going to put them...I have an archway that's been asking for a climbing rose, so that ones easy...but perhaps the columns on my front porch would like a thornless, fragrant rose that blooms nearly all year as well...I bet it would!

So today we are going to the home store to pick up some gutters for the front of the house, so our new roses will not be obliterated when it rains again, if it ever does rain again...its so dry here there have been grass fires...good thing I've been watering the plants...

Brian put in the walkway in the backyard that has been in stasis for a year...its almost finished, the pea gravel is down, the ground covering is down, and the flagstone is in place...all that's left is the sand and decomposed granite to fill in the spaces...but I can walk on it to get to my propane tank outside - which of course is important if I wanna get beads made...

speaking of, of course that's why you're here, right? I took yesterday off, but will be back in action today...I think I'm going to work on some earrings first, tho, so if you missed out on the previous Icicle earrings, don't fret...I'll have plenty of the 1.5" length, with a few of the 1" and 2" as well...I feel like making those today, its gorgeous out, in the 70's and 80's all this week, sunny and no humidity, so the doors and windows are open, the cats and dog are playing and we're having a nice holiday...who wants to vacuum when you can make earrings????!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S ! ! ! ! !

To One and All...Enjoy this day, eat, drink, and be merry...

Santa's on his way...

Are you ready? Will you be 'out there' today, shopping with all the other folks? I've heard of some folks just starting their shopping...yesterday we drove by a Best Buy and there were people parking in the onramp to the freeway, cause the lot was so full...its crazy out there - be careful and remember - everything is on sale on Monday!

I went thru some of our old NYC pics and found this one that I really love...I started thinking - how do you store these ornaments? How do you move them? Still, I wish I was up there enjoying the sites and sounds...

And don't forget, tonight starts the 24-hr "A Christmas Story" marathon on TBS...All Ralphie, All The Time..

We planted the roses in the front yard yesterday...its perfect weather for planting right now, and I was perusing the Antique Rose website last night, dreaming of all the possible roses I'd like to drop in our yard...I prefer the old roses that grow w/out much interference, that climb and trail over any vertical support...i have some plans, now all we need to do is make a trip to the nursery and let me go bonkers...maybe next week...

I'll be back...

Its a Major Award!

Cuteness Overload...

Our Christmas Story Feast was fantabulous...I don't think I've ever had roasted duck before - am not sure what I think about it..it was cooked nicely, but its a taste I'm not familiar with...The audience was into the movie, lots of laughing, cheering, hooting and silliness...even after the movie was over, most of the audience sat, chatted, and enjoyed themselves..the employees who were in the back were heard mumbling "shows over- go home!"...One lucky audience member shot a BB gun into a target and won a Leg Lamp - electric sex in the front window...

I picked up more wire yesterday, I should have more earrings next week, more beads, the whole shebang...Brian had to go into work, but we'll be planting roses over the weekend....the next five days will be in the 70's and we're taking advantage of that!

I hope ya'll are ready for the holidays and have a great day on Sunday...take it easy, open presents slowly and enjoy that hot cider...slow down and relax...and come by and see me - I'll be here!

More Victorian Gold Redux are ready...

If you were looking for a set of the VG from the other day, I have a few more sets ready, along w/ a new color strand cause I needed to jump into a new scheme for a bit..something bright and Spring-like...
My afternoon will consist of shipping all of today's beads as well as the focals from the last 2 days...and nope, they won't make it to your house by Christmas, I can pretty much promise that...

I hope ya'll are having a great Christmas festival party time....I watched the Office the other night, it was their office party and pretty hilarious...some years at Origin we'd have to do 'employee reduction' just after our party - and we knew who was getting the axe, so it'd be hard to sit thru the event and not feel bad, watching them party up, knowing they'd be gone on Monday...man, I don't miss those days at all...

Hello Wednesday!

I feel that I should let ya'll know - except for yesterday's lentils that I posted, EVERYTHING has been mailed from my house...Its Christmas time, which takes l o n g e r to deliver regular mail, so if you haven't seen your beads in the past 3 days, you might not see them for another 6 or more...

I got word yesterday from someone who told me their beads arrived 9 days after I sent them...I can email you your tracking info, but you should have also received an email w/ that info on the day I shipped the package..(remember I always put the next day's date in the shipping field, but I ship on the same day I print)...I hope this helps quell your fears a bit..and these lentils will go out shortly, but I seriously doubt you'll see them by Saturday before Christmas...thanks kids!

Ok, I've posted the 'reject raku lentils' along w/ the new necklace I made for myself this morning...view the carnage here, and if you think you'd like a piece for whatever reason, email me...

Hello my Wednesday readers, are you all snuggled into your warm homes, with your Christmas shopping and cooking completed? Are you sitting by the fire, drinking wassail and listening to carols with your golden retriever curled up at your feet? I bet there's a big tin of fudge and homemade hot cocoa mix (with marshmallows) in the cupboard, just waiting for friends to drop by!

I worked on some large lentils last night, half turned out ok, the other half - not as much...experimentation is all about failure and learning, so I'm happy with what turned out and will figure out what to do with the stuff that didn't...

Its quiet here, save for the dog chasing her squirrels...its sunny and gonna be warm, so I'm hunkering into my Santa workshop and coming up with beads for all he good little girls and boys who have been asking for them...This little elf doesn't take a break during the holiday, some of my favorite pieces I made last year the days before Christmas, so if you're at home, bored and looking for a way to spend your hard earned bonus money, you've come to the right place...look for more goodies tomorrow, kiddies!!

tomorrow we're going to a Christmas Story Feast at the Alamo Drafthouse...in the meantime, here's a 30 second version of the movie, done by Bunnies...

now, what do you think I should do with these 'not so hot' lentils?

Its finally quiet here today..

I've made a few organic focals cause sometimes I like to see what I've learned in my classes...I had a great time fuming everything in sight, and some of the beads are still very gold, others just changed the color of the glass, which makes it deeper and richer than it was originally...I hope you find something you like...click the pic or just visit the Ready for Pickin page...

Yesterday was one of those 'never ending' days...Lunch was a blast, but lasted a few hours, then getting the truck inspected took a long time because of the line of folks ahead of me, and the new emissions testing they do (we passed, I'm so proud of the truck, it studied so hard for the exam)...

and then I hung around BlueMoon waiting for the truck to pass, since both shops are next to one another, then when I got home, Brian got home and we went to pick up the Longhorn, only to find they never bothered to string the lights on it...so another hour at the house waiting, and then my computer started to run...really...slowly...so i couldn't get any emails sent or do any surfing...Brian came home and fixed it (why do computers decide to just poop out?)...

and then the dog, having been cooped up most all day, was FULL of energy, and we had to run her around the yard 3 or 4 times to get all the excitement run off of her...she was flying around the yard, frisbee in her mouth, having a great time...I have her outside right now, so she can bark at the squirrels and trucks, her favorite distraction...

But regardless of all the hubub from yesterday, i have some focals to post for ya'll...I'm heading out to shoot the pics - they're already cleaned and ready to rock...and you might find a sweet bead that will make a perfect necklace for ya...

Ok, time to peel Darcy off my chest (she's purring and happy to be on my chest while I type this - she's such a sweetheart little kitty and I don't have the heart to kick her off..and when i do, she just crawls back up anyway...)and get outside for those pics...back shortly...!

First lunch, then work...

I have some cool focal beads that I've been working on lately..I know ya'll are not 'focal folks' but I like to stretch my skills by practicing on big beads, and learning how metals and glass work together...

but first, i have to meet some friends for a 'catch up' lunch - you know, when its Christmas time, your company gives you the week off and you want to catch up and visit with friends and relatives, and all that jazz...so while my other hard workin' buddies are outta their cubicles this week, we're gettin' together for a little while...and then I'm picking up the Longhorn and getting the truck inspected and coming back to work here at my cubicle...which I love...and concocting all sorts of new and unusual treats for you...back later, my bunnies...

Betcha thought I ran away, huh!

Well, my webhost has been down all day, so while I could surf, I wasn't able to access my blog and publish an update until now...we had to submit a 'trouble ticket' in order for them to notice...but now I'm online again...

We had an ice storm the other day, and like a dork I left my Bear Paw succulent outside, where it subsequently froze and then died...its a skeletal grey looking crunchy mess here...so today we took a trip to our favorite nursery and I bought a new replacement plant...and ya know what? this one will stay indoors during the winter! mine even had a little flower on it like the one pictured...

And then we ventured to Wal*Mart to return some Star Wars toys, and then off to Fry's Electronics - this is definitely the most I've been out in 'real' Christmas shopping all year...and it wasn't TOO bad cause we zipped in and out...

and finally, we stopped and found the COOLEST THING! You've seen those white deer for your yard, covered in lights and sometimes the heads move and up and down...we have a few ourselves, but didn't bother dragging them down from the attic this year...but we did go buy a new one to add to our herd - an orange LONGHORN with white horns, all decked out in orange and white lights...we're supposed to go pick it up tonight, after they attached all the lights to it...Brian said he'd take a 'night shot' for me, since he's better at that than I am...and I'll post it when its ready...we're keeping this one in our BACK yard cause with UT playing in the National Championship Rose Bowl this year, Longhorn-mania is rather high around town and we don't want to lose this guy...he's rockin' sweet...!

I'm huddling indoors today

I made these hammered earrings a few weeks back, when I made my first round of the Icicle earrings, and I kept meaning to get pics of them, but just never had them in hand when I was outside shooting pics...so today - I got them...however, my webserver has been down and I couldn't publish the pics - isn't that just how things go...I like these earrings cause I can open the center jumpring and change the dangle to whatever I want...very flashy and showy...and fun of course...

I made some large organic focals last night..i tend to do that when i don't have time to start a new beadset, but feel like just playing at the torch...I pulled out my old Andrea G notes and goofed around...some of these are better than others, but then I don't often make large organic beads, so I'm willing to allow for the mistakes...its all good learnin'...

Its cold and dark out...we ventured to the Post Office- the teeny one near the house that we love...the guys who work there move so fast that you're in and out in no time...I had packages to send to the UK, Australia and Switzerland - I feel like parts of me are scattered all over the world..that's really kinda groovy...

Its that time of year...again...

Are you Santa?

Its chilly outside, so it feels like Christmas...we're heading down to 37th street and enjoy walking amongst the crazy people, eat our Amy's Ice Cream and enjoy the lights...yes..that's right...we eat ice cream in December...its too good to pass up...Maybe a Chantico would be a good addition this year!

So it sounds like the beads from yesterday were a big hit...I'm glad to know you were happy with them, and I really had a great time making them, so be warned - there will be more beads! and more 1.5" length earrings...looks like I need to get to work...!

Beads Beads Everywhere

These beads all have new homes, but i'll have more..probably in new colors...very very soon...I really ENJOYED making beads yesterday it was rather theraputic and wonderful..sometimes I need to step away and come back to remind myself how much fun it really is..!

If you're interested in the beads today, please read this-

Instead of the PayPal buttons, I am offering today's beads by email request...there are 7 total sets, so there should be plenty for everyone, even if you aren't one of the first to email...All you'll need to do is send an email w/ your order of preference...you might not get your first or second choice, but you might get your third, so please only email if you intend on buying a strand...I'll send a PayPal invoice for the total and will wait to receive your payment...if payments aren't received by 3:00pm my time (Central), then I'll go to the next person on the list, and so on...

I have blocked off the next few weeks for beadmaking, so if you miss out, or if this group is a 'hit', then I'll work in it some more and you may get another opportunity in a few days..if these move slowly, i'll take that as a hint that you want a different color combo, so I'll pull out something else groovy for the next batch...

Ok, the strands are cleaned and strung, the next step is posting photos and then we'll be underway...back in a few...

The Bead Fairy made it...she arrived..and there was much rejoicing...
She arrived around 2:00am last night, so lemme go see what she left, and give it a good cleaning...As always, I'll post pics as soon as I have em...hungry...must eat....toast...back in a few...

HAHAHAHAhahahahaha...

Catherine sent a cool link for making your own snowflakes..these are really pretty...go have fun and chill out...

I went to bed in a bad mood last night, and its not even 10:00 yet this morning and I'm already having a bad day this morning...but all I can do is LAUGH because if I don't, I might start finding shiny glass things and breaking them with my hammah...and there are plenty of shiny glassy things in this studio to break...I love breaking things when I'm in a bad mood - thank goodness it doesn't happen very often...and I don't break much, but I have been known to throw mandrels across the room when the bead release breaks and I was in a hurry to make a request for someone who is in a 'rush job'...(now that I don't do requests, the number of flying mandrels in the studio has gone way down...heh)...there are times that being at the torch just doesn't work out well...your brain starts to rattle, emails and conversations start to percolate, the people who cut you off in traffic start to appear and before you know it, a slight annoyance like bead release breaking turns into a mandrel flying across the room...

I actually haven't tossed a mandrel in a long time, but there is something very liberating and satisfying about it...I tend to laugh afterwards- i mean the bead is already a piece of junk, so tossing it doesn't exactly hurt it more than it was...I have to be careful and aim for a concrete part of the studio, so I don't end up burning the carpet or the dog...most of the time the animals are outside chasing squirrels, so its not a problem..

so now you know, some days are better than others...some days I have interesting conversations...yesterday I had to drive all over town to find a particular ATM that seemed to be out of service everywhere I went...but then other days everything goes smoothly and its the best day ever...apparently today is not going to be that kind of day...ha...

I have stuff cooking today...

I've posted 3 various lengths of Icicle earrings for ya'll...More 2 inch, along with some shorter guys, after hearing your requests... I've also updated which beadsets are spoken for...remember you need beads w/ a LARGE hole to work with these earrings...!

The Freebie is updated - its a One inch length of Icicle earrings that I was testing on...it has silver dots on both sides of the earrings, and the earwires are a little shorter than I'd like, but they still work..you could wire wrap them, or put beads on them...Free is free...

had to make some quick errands this morning, but am back and ready to go...i was working on new earrings yesterday, Mick spent the day and evening with me, and we had fun looking at the new Bead and Button sched for next year...like always, I find classes I want, but they all seem to bunch up on one day (Wed) and then I can't find much of anything on other days...geez...Rio Grande is offering a lot of stuff this year - soldering, metal finishing, PMC and others...I'll spend a few days figuring out a 'main' schedule and a 'backup' cause I have a feeling some of these classes will be full when I try to get them...

I have earrings that are almost ready for ya'll, tho...just need a little buffing and tumbling and we're ready to go...three different lengths this time, and the bottoms have been hammered to give a little flare to the wire...so gimme some time to get these guys up and running and I'll post them for ya..

I'm thinking this week should be about the BEADS tho, don't you? I am glad to see that ya'll are interested in BOTH options of new and 'classic' (such a nice way of saying 'old') colors..I've been thinking of some color combos and think I have one that I want to start out with...its looking good...

I see that Brokeback Mountain is wowing the critics..I read the story online last week and at first it bugged me - not the sex part, but the lack of flowery descriptions of what's going on in the story...then I realized that the story was condensed into exactly the words needed to be spoken..I tend to like a lot of backstory and blabbing (can you tell from my blogs?) so at first the story felt thin and didn't pull me in..but now that I've let it percolate in my brain, I've decided I like it...

And now the fun begins..again..

Whew! I feel better..the majority of stuff has shipped - I found out that I didn't make enough earring sets for everyone, so I'll be making more this week...I have a few of ya'll who won't get yours till later this week, but the beads are set aside and waiting patiently..I'll be workin' on all this today, so it shouldn't take too long to receive them..thanks for hanging with me...

I'm glad to see the fast and furious responses to the new POLL that I put up this morning...I know you've heard all this before - should I do remakes of old stuff or just keep putting out new stuff...turns out that...(drumroll)

the overwhelming results so far today say to do "BOTH!"...very cool...

I've been thinking of how best to dip into the Gallery of Goodies and I think what I'm going to try to start with is 'theme night'...Pick a set and use it as inspiration to make new and old beads from...That sounds fun and interesting to me, and would satisfy your requests for stuff that you haven't seen from me in a long time...I'm not good an doing requests, as we've all found out, so instead, I'd make an announcement like "This week, I'm remaking the Victorian Gold set, look for beads in those colors" and then you'd get your fill of all things VG...I know there are lots of beads to still be uncovered, created, experimented with and lots of stuff to learn, but there's something to be said for getting color sets that you know and love...What I find funny is, I have hesitated to revisit old colors because I feel like it makes me look like I'm being lazy and not coming up with new stuff, but then I don't feel that way about OTHER beadmakers who do it - in fact I LIKE when they revisit old colors and designs, so why do I beat myself up over it? I dunno...but not anymore...nope...time to get a grip and just make beads, dammit...do it, do it, do it...

I have a load of boxes to take to the PO, they're going to the UK, Germany and such, so I gotta go...but I'll be back...and lets see what kinda craziness I can come up with, eh? rock on kiddos...

When did the world start spinning faster?

I feel like its Tuesday..is it really Sunday? this week has completely FLOWN by, heck the whole YEAR has flown by...it was January when I went to Italy - feels like it was just last month...The past few days have been hectic, busy, fun and crazy, which as you know I am not used to...I live like one of those creatures you find when you lift the lid of your kid's sandbox, or turn over a rock - there I am, warm, snuggly, moving slow and feeling fat and happy...I don't 'do' the world at a fast pace...I walk slowly, I talk slowly, I think slowly...I love NYC, but could never keep up with that kind of hectic pace...I've done it before, I used to work 70 hour weeks, I would sleep under my desk, would get up at 3:00am and take food to my testers who were working on a game that needed to ship in less than 24 hours..

One night 4 of us stayed at work all night, on our own dime, testing a game that was going to press the next day - and we found bugs that kept us from completing the game properly...we called one programmer, got him out of bed and into work, then another...the next morning my boss and other co-workers started to show up - and there the 4 of us were, playing, reporting our findings, letting folks know what was going on...so I've done the fast-paced world and am happy to be a slow moving, beadmaking, silversmithing designer who doesn't have to sleep under her desk anymore...so when my world gets moving fast, I need time to decompress...I talked so much the past 2 days that my throat is scratchy and voice sounds odd...(that happens when I teach too - some of my students have heard this phenom) but the fact is, I don't use my voice much during the day...(use it or lose it really does apply)...We had dinner at the RiverWalk in San Antone last night, it was 65 and gorgeous outside, the Ice Storm 2005 has passed (and took some of my plants with it) and the weather is nice again...on the way home, we saw an accident that was pretty terrible - 3 blue blankets were covering 'something' (people? body parts? we dunno) and it made us grateful to get home safely...Today I am catching up on stuff I've needed to do for a while (shipping, again) and making some actual BEADS...whoa nelly, what a concept...donner is making beads, someone ring a bell somewhere...This week I'm also making shorter Icicle earrings, so look for those...The dog is chasing squirrels, the cats are sunning themselves, Amelie is knocking things on the floor, and I'm listening to football..its a good Sunday...have you finished your shopping?

Who's that headin' outta town?

I'm up early early this morning..on my way to San Antone...was supposed to leave by 7:00, but man, 6:00 comes early to me, especially when I didn't sleep well...I had a dream that our house was being sold out from under us...I think it was those back-to-back episodes of House Hunters (which I LOVE!) on HGTV last night...one couple was buying a house in Maui ($750,000), the other already had a 5000 sq ft house in Oregon and was looking for a $600,000 house in Seattle on the water...just for vacations...so, when do I win the lottery??

So, I'm heading out the door for the 2 hour drive to SA and will be back later this morning...am meeting friends who are in from out of town, but not quite here in Austin...so I'm kidnapping them and forcing them to come hang out in the capital city, take in the sights, lights and food...SA is a groovy place too, always a fun time, but they already KNOW SA and want to see what Austin is all about...right now its about ice, cold and ick...I'm ready for it to be 60 tomorrow!!

More earrings to come

This batch of earrings has been spoken for, but I'm hearing from the 'shorter' contingent and will be making the next batch with shorter (1"-1.5") lengths to satisfy ya'll as well...(more 2" lengths will also be available)...I'm also starting to play with design elements, so I'm hammering the ends to make them 'flare' like a fan just a little, and I've also got a satin finish bit that will put a pretty soft finish on the wire...and hammered for a funky look...all sorts of goodies...if you have a preference, lemme know and I can custom build something for you as well...Sorry about my confusion regarding the Comments field in PayPal...I didn't realize this checkout process would be sans-comments...just email me your beadchoice, tho...

Its 26 here and there's ice all over the place...our deck, yard, cars, roof, streets...The dog is going bananas, she's full of her usual morning energy, but she doesn't want to go outside to run it off...so she's been gnawing on my legs and arms - essentially taking all her enery out on ME...she's starting nipping us, like a pinch...ouch...Rememeber all my fine Northern Friends - we don't have salt trucks, no snow plows, no chains on our tires, when it freezes and ices here - our city shuts down...the roads are impassable...I know you laugh, and that's ok - we are used to your ridicule..I too, once laughed at the local Texas goombas who got excited to see snow (it snows here on average every 11 years, I've since found out), growing up near Chicago, it snowed a LOT...so now, as a Texan who's lived here for 28 years, I merrily go along with the crowd and stay iced-in with my neighbors...

ok, time to clean the house for my guests arriving tomorrow and I'll be back..I have things to tell you! Like, you should go learn more about John Lennon here...I didn't realize he was only 40 when he was killed...I was a junior in high school when it happened, we were talking about it in Trig class the next day...I was and still am a huge Beatles fan, but Paul was always my favorite...I used to watch the Beatles cartoon when i was little..i think that's where my first real love of All Things British must have developed...I'm am a complete Anglophile, I simply adore Britain and everything about it...

Oh, you'll be GORgeous!

One quick clarification - these earrings are made using 1/2 round wire, which is substantial enough not to bend and lose it's shape...thus, I have to make beads large enough to fit on the wire, and so the beads I'm selling fit these earrings - my 'regular' beads will not fit as the holes are too small...so if you buy these earrings, you'll need beads to fit them...please don't get bummed that your beads at home don't work with them - if I made earrings that thin, they'd bend outta shape and you'd be sad...All the beads I'm offering fit these earrings (they have to be narrow enough to slide over the top curve of the earrings as well as have a hole large enough)..See, I've been thinking all this thru, really I have...!

After working on this all morning, all the pics are posted and ready for you to browse...its nearly 2:00pm...this has been labor intensive, and you might find it a little daunting, but if you take your time and look thru what I have offered, it should make sense...there are 3 sizes of beads available, I've separated them into 'fumed' and 'non fumed' prices (the fuming should stay on these for a very very long time, since the beads won't be rubbing against your skin)...Apparently the Comments field in PayPal is not available in the checkout process, so please email me with the beadcolor you are purchasing and I'll set them aside for you...

I've also decided that it'll be easier to just let ya'll pick and choose what you want and I'll do remakes of the colors - so if there are 20 of you who want a large black set, you won't be out of luck...I will have more focal beads in the future- my goal for this was to just get it up and going...I'll make more earrings, they might change in design here and there, depending...I like how these turned out - the silver ball behind the earring seems to be a nice engineering feat...keeps things smooth and simple on the front...I'll have various lengths as well - right now i'm starting with the 2-inch length, but I'll have some that are longer and shorter...Ok, so with that - hope you enjoy what you see...email if you have questions!

I have very good news - icicle earrings are now ready to go...I need a name to differentiate the 'plain' earrings from the ones that work with the beads...ideas? I worked on these all day yesterday (took longer than I thought), but I have various lengths and styles to offer...plus I made some new opaque spacers last night, so in other words - a whole PLETHORA of goodies for ya'll today...time to clean beads and snap pics...come back and pick out a set for your holiday parties...you'll be GORgeous!!!

All Andrea, All The Time...

Tonight..7:00pm...ABC...

Yesterday was one of those days - it starts innocently enough, and ends around 11:00pm after a whirlwind...Andrea Guarino was in town over the weekend, teaching at Bluemoon and I wanted to go see her Sunday night, but felt like I was crashing the party, so I didn't go...well, yesterday around lunchtime I got a call that I'd better get over there, so off I went...I took some show and tell (not stuff that's quite ready to be shown to the general public, so I kinda snuck it in for her to view) and spent lunch visiting with her and Letha...I even snagged yet another bead from her, a very cool one that I'll show ya'll...Then last night she did a demonstration for the local Austin bead group...

so I attended that from 7-9pm...then a big group of us relocated to EZ's for burgers and fries and by the time I got home, it was 11:00pm...There are some really fun beadmakers here in Austin, we were having a blast at dinner hanging out and telling funny stories...we're trying to get Letha talked into attending B&B this year (registration is January)and Mick collected a bunch of names of possible teachers for Bluemoon to bring in to teach in the next couple of years...I'd really like to take a beginning boro class, I think that's the next thing I'd like to learn, although I'm also contemplating Loren II (Brian asks me at least once a week when I'm going to go see Loren)...So you know what this means for you - nothing...I got nothing done, well, I did go get another dremel tool (on sale for 6.99!) but other than that, bup...so this morning the kiln is firing up and I'll be getting down to REAL work..something I can show and sell to ya'll, my patient customers who are the best folks in the world...what colors are you ready for? are you sick of cold weather already? It was 29 when I was stopped in the parking lot last night and had to discuss some new business ventures with a friend - remember I wear sandals and summer clothes all year - I think some of my toes snapped off while I stood there freezing...I crawled into the covers and thawed, tho...Amelie and Clarice held the covers down to keep me warm...such good fat cats...

Time to get back to work...

By popular request, I've posted pics of my earrings on a mannequin so you can get an idea of how they hang...visit the Ready for Pickin' page to see them...

I stayed up late watching the HGTV show about Christmas Window Displays...Mostly in NYC, but one in Chicago and one in Dallas..the Dallas window is fantastic - a huge underwater theme with coral and bubbling water...you need to see this show...but my favorite was the Macy's window - pop up books come to life..it was AWESOME...(click the 'next' button to see all the pics)...If you get a chance, you should watch the show and see all the windows...Man, I wish I was there this year...

Whenever Brian is home, I feel like it throws my schedule off...all weekend I wanted to work, but I was kinda hovering around goofing off, and working in the yard...So today, I'm getting back to work..no distractions, no trips to the store, just work..I have stuff to do..I have things to get done...I have LOTS of stuff to ship...so I'll be around, I'll be back, I'll be here, and updating as the day goes..

Do you hear that creaking?

That would be my shoulders and back...Brian brought home a truck full of pea gravel last night and we had to shovel it out of the back because it was causing the truck to be reallly low...so my back and shoulders are sore sore sore (plus my hands)...I think itll get better, but ooow I'm feeling it...

I found a cool Advent Calendar for ya'll...the first day's pics weren't showing up for me last night, hopefully they've been fixed...I love advent calendars, I used to sneak the 25th open before i should have..we never had the 'candy' ones, where each day you got a piece of candy - probably a good thing or it'd have been gone by the 5th!

And a Live Shot of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

I tried making beads last night but everytime I turned around either Clem was in my red chair or Darcy was climbing on me to snuggle and sleep...needless to say, i got little done...however, today is a new day!

Speaking of, a cold front came thru overnight and now its 45 out...that's a little more Decembery, eh...I might have to go get a jacket on...

I have some work to do...some new freebies to offer, some earring pics to post, etc...gotta get going! back later, freezing kiddos...

Christmastime Is Here...

We went to an art show last night, at the studios where I'm taking my smithing class...all the art studios in the complex were open so we could cruise around...we found a really rockin' blue ceramic bowl and a funky night light that I'll HAVE to show you...it's gonna be a funky piece of wall art for my studio...We are obviously not part of the 'it' crowd, there were some young Austinites in one studio that looked like they belonged in a NYC loft and at a party with Carrie Bradshaw...very toity...selling glass fused belt buckles for $125 a piece..gimme a break...

Is it feeling like Christmas where you are? It sure does here...its 80, sunny and I'm in shorts, watching football (Texas is winning 55-3)and we're workin in the garden...typical Christmas in Austin...you REALLY have to like hot weather to live in this town...I'm not complainin', tho...it's gonna go all the way down to 50 later this week...oooooo.....

So yesterday I spent all day silversmithing and made lots of stuff, but I'm still experimenting with some 'stopper' options..there are so many, and I hope to offer a variety to ya'll so you can find what you like...needless to say, none are using gold - I have to know what I'm doing before I break out the gold, but down the road - oh yeah...

Brian picked up a mannequin (partial face)so I can shoot pics with the earrings and you can see how they hang...however, the mannequin is about 75% life-size, so the earrings will look a little bigger than normal, but at least it'll give you an idea of what's going on ...(Texas just scored, its 63-3 now...sorry Mark!)...

If I get some stuff completed today, I'll post it for ya..otherwise I may just hop on the torch and make a bead or two...I'm in the mood..

Snowball Fight!

Have you ever played this game? I used to play it years ago and its just so cute..the better you do, the more kids come to knock you down...its addictive...!

Didja catch Rudolph on CBS Wed night? I meant to let ya'll know, but I thought he'd be on next week...Charlie Brown is on Tuesday, I think, so keep an eye out...

I wish we were doing NYC for Christmas again this year, but alas, we will be here in the tropics...tomorrow - 88 here...I can't complain, the few chilly days we've had so far, I've had my space heater running under my desk while I worked..isn't that sad? There's 80 feet of snow in Colorado and I get cold in 50 degree weather...but then I never have liked cold weather, so I'm grateful our winters are so mild...

Brian just returned from Target, with The Christmas Story DVD...looks like we can watch the Bumpus' dog steal the turkey every day now! Last year I made a set of beads while watching the 24 hour marathon on TBS and it was fun...Christmas Eve, and I was at the torch, just like an elf at Santa's workshop...I think I'll do that again this year too - start a holiday tradition for all of us who don't have anything better to do than buy beads...I like that!

I made another run to my local smith store, stocked up on some supplies and hope to get some stuff done...I spent as much money on 6" of gold wire as I did on 10 FEET of silver wire...think about that...I'm thinking of finding some old gold rings and start melting them down...got any broken chains or jewlery you wanna see converted into something cool? keep me in mind...

Change a bead..

whaddya think? one of these little partial mannequins?

ahhh...the shower felt good!
I've posted the new silver earrings and some info about the new 'change a bead' premise for them...go see...

Just to clarify - I'm not bummed that my earrings haven't sold...in fact I hadn't really planned to sell them at all, but when I post pics of stuff w/out a price, I tend to get a lot of emails asking if they are for sale and how much...so I just posted the prices this time - but the fact that ya'll haven't bought them doesn't bother me..I rather like the earrings and look forward to wearing them myself..I know most of ya'll are designers and can make these yourself - and I'm not trying to 'play in your space' so to speak...I'm having fun showing you what i've been making in my classes...that's all..

The stuff I made last night, tho, ARE beads and they will work in conjunction with a silversmithing earring that I'm working on ..I have a 'base' model to show, and I have a little more engineering to do before the beads will work with it, but it IS coming along and that's good...I wasn't sure the beads would fit, so I had to make some last night and this morning they turned out perfect...I'll get those posted for ya in a bit, I need to go get a shower, I'm funky...

So I watched Lady tear across the yard and chase Amelie as fast as she could...something bad is brewing there, i know it...Amelie has hit Lady on the bridge of the nose on two separate times (that I know of) and drawn pools of blood...Lady is not happy with her...the trouble is, Lady was removed from her previous house due to a conflict with a resident dog, and I hope this is not a bad omen of things to come...Amelie flew under my car and I yelled at Lady to pull her off, but didn't swat her...i just let her know she wasn't supposed to do that...she's outside with her frisbee, the cats are inside and I'm wondering where it'll all lead...