Happy New Year.....

What a great way to start the New Year.... with a blue moon...

A friend of mine wrote this and I just thought it was great.... (thanks Michou)

Health makes all things possible

Wealth makes all things work

Love makes all things beautiful.

May you have all 3 in 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year Everyone.......

Peace

Gaffer Glass

Just a quick note on Gaffer Glass!

I have been testing some of their powders trying to find some new colors to use to replace the Zimmerman powders I had been using. Gaffer has some really wonderful colors and I know that I will be using them on a regular basis. They have some really great pinks and purples as well as many other. I have only just started playing with them.

I still haven't found anything that will react the same way as the Zimmerman Purple Rose Special powder does though. Maybe Gaffer will come out with a purple that will do that for us! So if you have any of the Zimmerman be sure and hang on to it!

I still have some, limited supply, of the Purple Rose for sale in my Etsy as well as some of the Mountain Blue. I have a very, very limited supply of the Blue Mountain left. So if these are colors that you like you may want to get some before they are all gone....

I will keep you updated on my progression with the Gaffer Glass. And by the way........ the Gaffer Girls are awesome and just a joy to work with!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Going back to Turkey!

I am ready to go back to Turkey. This has been one of my favorite places I have been in all of my travels. The people and the sites are just amazing.

I will be teaching at The Glass Furnace, just outside of Istanbul in March.

The following are some photos of my last trip to Turkey from June this year. My friend Nicole and I went to Istanbul and then on to Cappadocia. It is truly a magical place.......

Some of the frescoes found in the churches in Cappadocia. Nicole and I rented a car and just took off all over the place. We would be just out in the countryside and find a dirt rode and go exploring..... we would come along some of these old dwellings and when we entered to our surprise would discover that it had been a church about the year 500. There was no one to tell you you can't go in...... it was amazing.

The rest of these photos are from the Cappadocia area. If you ever get a chance don't pass it up...

Anyone want to come with me in March?? Maybe go to the sea on this trip!

ZIMMERMAN POWDERS NO MORE!!!!!

Here is a statement issued by Zimmerman Glass:

As many of you are already aware, due to the passing of Peter Zimmermann in December 2008, Zimmermann Color Glass will cease production in September of this year after almost 150 years. The Zimmermann family has elected not to sell it's formulas for it's color line to any other glass color producer. We are saddened by the loss of Peter Zimmermann and also the loss of our excellent relationship with everyone at the Zimmermann factory.

This and a few other Zimmerman colors are colors that I have used for years... especially in my off mandrel hearts and stargazer beads. This color, purple rose special, has been one of my favorite powders .... it changes to so many different colors..... starting with yellow and going all the way to purple through the rainbow.

I have a bit of this stashed away and have some available for sale in MY ETSY SHOP. I feel bad that I had been teaching using this color and now it is no longer available. So for those students and those of you that would like to play with some... you may want to get some while there is still some left.....

I also have some Blue Mountain, another of my all time favorites.... I will soon be adding some clay grey as well...

Enjoy it while it lasts!

STILL PLAYING.....

I am still playing with silver and having a blast doing it! Sometime soon I need to get really serious about making some beads for the Tucson Show in February.... but it is hard to change modes.

This is my newest bracelet.. it took me a long, long time to make, I am hoping to make another one similar this week and maybe it will go quicker! We will see! So many ideas swirling around in my head these days! Too bad that the silver and gold prices are so high right now.... I would love to add some gold to my pieces! I would also love to take a few more silversmithing classes! Maybe there will be some to take at Bead and Button this year.... or maybe go and study with Andy Cooperman! Now that would be awesome! I was able to sit in on a class with him a few years ago.... I would love to be able to spend a week one on one with him! Maybe Santa is listening!

lots and lots of texturing going on in this bracelet.....

top view or side view as you are wearing it.....

and finally a few charms I am making for some xmas gifts.... they will be parts of necklaces...

Have a great week!!!