Sleepy Owl

This bracelet, along with a few other goodies will land in a shop later this afternoon. I finally was able to get back into the studio to make a few things. It took me awhile to get warmed up.
Not much news today, I am afraid. It’s been super crazy busy at work. Gotta run.

Successful First Class

Whew!
What a whirlwind weekend! I am sorry I am just coming back to the blog today. I had to take a bit of a rest. As you may know, I went down to Raleigh NC this past Friday to teach Designing without Limits at Ornamentea. What a fun time! Seriously- it was a total blast.
I loved my students. They were the BEST students I’ve ever taught!! 😉 And they showered me with the nicest compliments, even though my chest turned bright red and my cousin was wondering where the EpiPen was!
A big Thank you to everyone that attended, and to Cynthia for hosting the class at her super awesome shop.
Once I figure out how to edit movies in iMovie, I will be able to post some video from the class. Gonna have to read some instructions though. It’s not as easy as it may look.

I had a nice time staying with my cousin and her family. They are wonderful hosts and made me feel at home. We ate A LOT of great food, and had MANY good laughs- one thing I love most about her!
Enjoy this little slide show of pics- Included are photos of the class, photos of me with students, and photos of the beads I brought home.

Big & Tall

 

 He’s going to look so handsome in my new office.

Regal and protective of my space.

And every once in awhile I will lift his little wing,

and the orange and white dotted under-wing

will make me smile during my day.

Thank you Laurie!

Thursday is my Friday

I am psyched. Today is my Friday because tomorrow I hop on a plane to Raleigh to teach my class tomorrow night. I am psyched for that too. I have an outline, and a HANDOUT! I made my own hand out with some great websites and some diagrams I created.  Feeling pretty good about my class.

I am excited to see Carey (my super awesome cousin) and her family. I can’t wait to see Elaine Ray and Cynthia Deis again. To be surrounded with people that share my passion for making jewelry. It’s gonna be good times. I will try to document all I can with the Flip. Elaine is having a trunk show at Ornamentea this weekend too. Excited for that, there is so much she brings that isn’t on the Ornamentea’s website so I am looking forward to getting stuff that no one has used before.

I am psyched because last night I finally got back my jewelry from Stringing magazine.  These are a few necklaces that I didn’t show anyone before I sent them in to the publication.

This first one wasn’t picked for the Spring issue. I’ve listed it on Etsy. It’s one of my favorites, and incorporates some of my favorite bead artisans ever. Erin made the clasp. Nan made the pendant. Anne made those dripping honey lampwork beads. Heather made that long tube focal. And Shannon patinaed that metal flower that I turned into the clasp.

This next one is another favorite. Matte blue farfalle beads…. a Jade Scott umbrella pendant- can’t beat that for Spring!! and some “raindrops” or resined paddles from Mary Jane Dodd. LOVE those. Must get more. Pulled it all together with my favorite Green Girl Studios Bird toggle. This one is on it’s way to a lucky girl in Kentucky.

And this hand-knotted necklace with a wonderful transparent Lampwork hollow form Genea Beads. Please be aware that Stringing mis-credited this piece as being from Galena beads.  Genea created fantastic lampwork. I paired her hollow with some turquoise rounds, picasso Czech glass, a  metal flower bead, and a Green Girl Shibuichi Flower hook clasp. Also listed at etsy.

Have a good weekend, and I’ll see ya next week!

Philosophical

Earthenwood Design Team- Resin Key edition

I just love being part of this design team because Melanie always sends such a variety of goodies. This month she sent the team one of her new resined keys from her new shop, EarthenOxide
It is so pretty in person, the resin has a shimmering blue glow- the image is of a tree, and there is a small leaf resined in on the shaft of the key.
I knew right away that I wanted to do something really feminine- the color is gorgeous. So, luckily I had just ordered and received a few of these large Swarovski crystal rounds from Fusion Beads. and I found some faceted opal pink rondelles that Andrew Thornton sent me long ago, along with a SUPER COOL Mokume Gane round from Pam Wynn, Heather Wynn Millican’s Momma.
Dug out some chain and a Arte Metal butterfly from Vintaj Brass. The clasp, just above the Pam Wynn round, is a Tierra Cast button and I created a button toggle by beading a silver seed beaded loop.
It all came to gether quite fast, and I love the outcome. It’s funky, asymmetrical and modernly feminine.

Be sure to Follow the  other members of the Design Team:

Andrew Thornton

Gaea Cannaday

Denise Yezbak Moore

Erin Prais-Hintz

Erin Siegel

Heather Powers

Leslie Gidden

Lori Anderson

Jean Yates

Marie Dodd

Domo Arigato mr. roboto

Check out that sweet Pewter Robot bead from Green Girl Studios! PRECIOUS! This is now listed at Big Cartel!

Click here to go to YoutTube to watch the video- one of my favorites from back in the day!

Book Giveaway Winner announced, and some other things!

New Etsy Listings, and some news

What a crazy Monday.  Good news from the weekend was- I finished all of my things for my book and publication deadlines. You weren’t worried, but I WAS!
What a huge relief!

Next up on my plate, in 2 weeks I am going to Raleigh to teach a beading class at Ornamentea. Yup. I’m teaching my very first class. And am SCARED to Death! My strongest reaction to this is, what on earth could I teach someone else. I usually feel like I’m still learning too.
So a lesson plan (being that I am married to a teacher) is on my agenda this week. I hope it’s not too hard to compile some thoughts on paper. A plan will be good, or there may be some really ticked off students who want their money back. I’m just not willing to let that happen. So I shall teach something. Even if it’s really basic.
You can read more about the class here. And if you are in the Raleigh area, maybe I’ll see ya there?!

Another exciting thing happening is, I am getting my own office at work! They painted the walls today- I picked out a pretty pale green. Tomorrow they will shampoo the rug and then rearrange the office furniture and I’ll be able to move in after the computer stuff gets hooked up. Looking forward to having my own space. We have been going through a bit of a transformation at work these days. So a positive change like this can bring nothing but good vibes! I would like to get some prints from Etsy to hang on my walls. If you have any great artists in mind, shoot me a comment.  2 of my favorites that I most definitely will have to obtain some new things from art Cori Dantini and Swallowfield.   And I’ve already asked my Momma if she will make me a cute Pennants garland to hang on one wall. I just have to buy some fabric.
 anyhoo, enough of me blabbing.

I finally got around to listing some new pieces in my Etsy shop this evening. I hope you enjoy them.
I can’t stop fondling the bee earrings, and the Keyhole bracelet has the pretty pop of yellow that makes my heart sing, out of tune of course…. 🙂

Playing around with tin

I am playing around with tin today, making some new Harbinger earrings in a few new styles. Let me know what you think of these. I think they are kinda fun, and different.