Happy Solstice!

HAPPY SOLSTICE!

People stretch their hands toward the sun during a summer solstice 2010 celebration at Stonehenge.

Spirit Hearts

We are starting a little remodel job on the house on Monday so I was cleaning out some cabinets that need to be taken off the wall and I came across one of my sketch books... I found this little drawing in one of them that I did several years ago. I call it spirit hearts. Finding this sketch book has got me wanting to dig out my paints and pens and start playing in my journal again!

Well I guess I better get back to cleaning and packing up the cabinets and see what other goodies I may come across!

Summertime!

Summer is here! I am still pretty tired from Bead and Button. It seems like I was going non-stop for 10 straight days... Totally worth every minute though!

Whit came home with a new hammock for me today.... this is where I plan on getting some much needed R & R!

I am looking forward to this summer. I have nothing planned that I "have" to do for a month and a half! Lots of time will be spent in my studio just exploring some new techniques and ideas in glass and silver. I am going to take some silversmithing classes this summer with some friends and will be learning some new techniques. I am really looking forward to extending my skills. I have some great ideas for some steam punk jewelry. Looks like I will have Whit and Jim Moore busy designing me some new tools! So many things I want to learn!

Later in the summer I will be going to Australia to teach. The classes are being held in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart. I feel so blessed that my art allows me to see so much of the world. I was in Australia in 1995 and am really looking forward to seeing some new places that I haven't been. I love meeting new people and making new friends all over the world.

Last time I was in Australia I went to Ayers rock (Uluru),

what an incredible place. I won't be going there this time around... but hopefully on another trip I will visit it again!

Lorikeet

I am hoping to see some of these and other amazing animals on this trip!

Well that's it for this update... I will keep you posted on things as they progress! Have a great weekend and Father's Day!

WOW! Great Show

Whit, Nicole and I arrived on Friday night and started bright and early to work on Saturday morning setting up the masters class classroom. Jerry, Frank, Kevin, Judy and Jane were also there working very hard.


Class started on Sunday. The students were just amazing. This is one of the best classes I have ever had. Nicole TA'ing was just great. The students made amazing beads and picked up making the silver caps very fast. Their beads were great and I saw many of them proudly wearing them at the show! This made me smile big time! The class ran for three days.

Nicole demoing how she gets amazing color out of Double Helix clio!

They worked me to the bone!

At the end of day three Bead and Button had a graduation party for all three of the masters classes. Certificates, ribbons and awards were handed out. Great food and plenty of drinks! A great time had by all! Here is a photo of the beautiful glass bowl awarded to me...


Wednesday morning Whit had to leave to take care of some things at home. I was able to sleep in and get some much needed rest. Later in he day Nicole and I set up for meet the teachers night. IT WAS AMAZING!! I sold 20 of my 30 new bracelets, Jim sold all of his new metal stamp tools and a great number of beads were sold as well.


Preview night of the show opened on Thursday evening and went till 10. This night went extremely good as well.


Friday the show opened at 10 with a bang. We had another good day. Right after the show I headed over to the flame on. This is where lamp workers made pieces that were to be auctioned off the next day for Breast Cancer Awareness. Leah Fairbanks and I did a collaboration heart, actually we made 2 of them. They sold at the auction for $375 and $225 , we were quite happy with that!



Onto Saturday. This day was quite slow for us. Not typical at all. So we thought for sure Sunday would really be slow..... WRONG..... we had some of our largest sales of the show on this day. So overall the show was a great success for us.... Nicole sold a great deal as well! We are all ready looking forward to next year! Well after a week or two of rest that is!

Another great thing about the show is seeing so many great friends and making many new ones. So many of them I only get to see twice a year... but we just seem to pick up right were we left off....

Myself and my dear friend Ilana

I call these three "the three lampateers"

Gail Crosman Moore.... what a wonderful person she is...

I always have a great time visiting with Jeff Barber!

Some of Jeff's great beads!

Wayne Robbins and Lori Greenberg being silly as usual!

Myself and Akihiro from Japan

Rashan offering us some cake!

Myself and Andrew Thorton

I enjoyed the little time that we had to visit! What a nice guy he is!

Masters Class - Bead and Button

Just a few photos for you from the class! The first three are photos of day 1 beads ....









A couple photos of the students and the classroom...





Nicole giving a demo......


And me in front of a funny sign... hope you can read it!


And incase you can't, it says

Teachers are great.
Whatever.
Can I have an A?

Have a great day! Be back soon.

Almost Ready!

Almost ready to go! Finished up some silver work, textured some silver strips for bead caps, packed another box and sent it out, packed up my beads and most importantly went and had a massage today! I am feeling nice and relaxed and pretty much ready to go.

I am looking forward to seeing so many of my friends at the show! The Masters Class is going to rock! My good friend Nicole Valentine will be TA'ing for me! She is the best! Nicole will be at my booth selling tools for Jim Moore as well as her work. Jim will be at the GAS Conference so won't be able to attend the Bead and Button Show this year. Be sure and stop by and see some of the wonderful tools, silver work and beads we will have in our booth (#10 - first booth on the right at the main entrance).

Here is a sampling of some of the interchangeable bead sticks that I made and will have at the show. These sticks will fit any pandora or troll beads. You just take off the jump ring and add your beads as you like! A great way to show off your collection!

A few more bracelets... the ones on the ends are my mini-cups... I am really, really happy the way these turned out... I already have several orders for them from people that have seen me wear them! I can't wait to get back and make some more.... so many ideas running through my head! And to think that after this show I have a month and a half off to just play and create! Hopefully that will give me time to get my Etsy silver store up and running! We will see!

Well have a great night and I hope to see many of you at the show!

Before the Rains.....

I has been raining here like crazy!! But before the rains started last Saturday a lot of our friends came for a visit.. It isn't often that we see them all in one day! So here is a glimpse into that magical Saturday....

A River Otter stopped by for a swim in out little pond.....

I could hear this Sea Lion barking from our bedroom! When the tide is really low this rock gets exposed and actually this is the first time I have ever seen a Sea Lion there... usually the otters play there..

Lots of crows here.....

And a deer stopping by to eat the flowers! And of course the raccoons were here as well but I didn't get there photo!

I have been working nonstop getting ready for the show. All is packed and shipped. A few more days of making a bit more inventory and then I am off on Friday!

Have a great night!