6-30-09

The year's half over... How did that happen? 

While I ponder, here's some beads that are heading to our friends at Beads of Courage.  I pray they help give the children and parents in the program strength and bring them peace... Butterflies are for children that are lost, I hope my humble efforts can be of any comfort to the parents who need them...

 

 

 

5-24-09

Annnnd we're live with new beads.  On a Sunday.  Wow, how long has it been?  I'll have some starting on eBay tonight, with the rest to follow.  Here's a few pictures of what I've been able to do with the Minor now that we're well acquainted.  Thanks so much, as ever, for stopping by.

 

 

 

5-22-09

The new torch, the Minor, and I are getting along quite well.  It's a bit hotter and quieter than the Hot Head, and in the process of learning it and how hot I can play, I'm completely falling in love with ivory glass again.  (Which is great, since I have more ivory than any other color, or several other colors put together.)  It reacted and moves and brings swirls to the surface more with more heat, and silvered ivory sings.  Glass is magical - if you work it or collect it you know what I'm talking about.  Thanks for coming along on my journey with me.   If all goes as planned, I'll be back to my Sunday updates.  Whew.

 

5-19-09

Deleted all the fretting updates, here's the short version - I was under the weather, the computer was having issues, and I switched to a new torch, so my updates were woefully few and far between.  I just listed new site items, heading to eBay next, and I hope to be back on schedule now.  Thank you for your patience.

 

4-26-09

12 new beads waiting for adoption here... eBay will follow later this week.  My procrastination skills went into full effect on the HOPE bracelet project, so I had to finish my promised 100 beads for that before working on site and eBay beads.  Here's a picture of what I sent in.  I plan to make this an ongoing project like Beads of Courage so I have a better showing next year.

 

 

4-19-09

I found my torch again - and remembered how to use it, though there was one night that had me throwing a bit of a hissy fit - and the results are now here.  I have 12 beads I listed here and 4 to start off eBay auctions this evening, with the rest to follow.  Thank you for your patience.  I have the best family, friends, and groupies in explored space.

Spring is blooming here - the daffodils are up, hostas starting to peek through the soil, and ferns just beginning to awaken and unfurl.  I'm delighted, as I am every year, by the buds starting to burst open on the trees while the forsynthia and hyacinth bloom.  I admire every season, but spring's fresh start is a soothing promise of rebirth.  Ahhh...

 

3-16-09

And in recent news, the cows got their own page.  One of them decided to write me an email upon arriving at his new home, complaining of the rank unfairness of the dinosaurs - an upstart in my zoo - getting a category before the cows did.  So... There it is.  (I'm not convinced the cow wrote the complaint, though...)

 

3-15-09

This week's theme is "Black & White" for Gelly and I.  I'll have 5 eBay listings matching that theme starting this evening, with the remainder - and site listings - beginning Tuesday evening.  In the midst of your St Patrick's Day revelry, please stop by! 

 

I'd like to share a photo of butterflies I made, inspired by work by Roger Child.  Beads of Courage uses butterflies as a gift to the parents who have lost a child in the program.  Purple hearts are used for children who have gone into remission, for their success.  Both beads are so meaningful, I don't know how my humble contributions could be enough, so I stalled instead of making them.  I finally found a butterfly style I think is suitable, and with Roger's blessing have been making them.

 

 

3-8-09

In case I haven't mentioned it in a while, thanks to my eBayers for their delightful feedback.  I like knowing that the beads made it there safely, and the fun you're having with them is a joy. 

 

Tonight's eBay auctions will feature one of my online friends, Angelique.  She's been lampworking for a while, but was too shy to show her work.  She's debuting with a lovely red and white cat bead, Noel, with all proceeds going to Beads of Courage.  The only downside to this auction?  I can't bid on it...

 

2-10-09

One delightful lady has won my aliens in every raffle they've been in so far, so I decided she could name what a group of aliens are called.  She took a cue from her husband, and decided they're so likeable that it would have to be a liker of aliens.  I, um, like it.  (And hope Taylor Mali and his "Like-Free Zone" don't catch wind of it!)

 

2-8-09

New beads on the site, and eBay beads will be starting tonight at their customary time.  Here's a sneak preview of a bead I'm really excited about for eBay tonight - I know, it's a frog, and they don't normally set the world on fire, but man is his base bead cool.

1-25-09

Some of the critters wanted to give you a mini tour of the studio.

This is glass frit - small pieces of glass that add intense color.  This particular batch is Leopard Diva by Val Cox.  There's some other glass colors and rainbow twisties on the table also.

 

Dino showing off the garden section of the studio - this one's a curly leaved spider plant.  There's also a traditional spider plant, lucky bamboo (which, interestingly enough, isn't actually bamboo) and aloe.

 

This is just below my torch, on my work surface.  It's a glorious jumble of glass color, with dishes of other glass and silver behind it.  I love it, but the aliens aren't convinced.

 

I have a fun collection of studio decorations - Lyn sent me this one, but she probably wasn't expecting the sheep to play on it also...

 

1-11-09

Fresh pretty new beads up for adoption!  Gelly & I's theme this week is INSECTS! As usual, I didn't make any actual insects, I just dressed up some of the zoo in appropriate colors.  But then... the aliens decided if one of their group had to dress up, everyone had to dress up.  So they wrestled spots on a dino, and forced a sheep into a flower costume... And when I lined them up and asked them who was responsible?  They blamed the squirrels.  The squirrels, meanwhile, aren't saying a word.

1-10-09

Lyn the demon pest talked me into joining Facebook - the link got added to my links page.  If you happened to follow that link to my online home, here's the deal.  I update the site with new beads sometime Sunday.  I update eBay with new beads Sunday night, typically starting at 9am.  If life gets in the way and I have to update later in the week, it's usually Tuesday or Thursday, but always with a Sunday ending date.  What can I say, I'm neurotic like that... I update the main page whenever I feel like it, with an amusing (to me, at least) photo when I get a chance.  I also enjoy pimping other lampworkers when I get a chance.  Thanks for stopping by, grab a cup of caffeine and check the place out!

 

1-4-09

New site beads at the ready - thank you for your patience!  I'd like to share a sneak preview and a story for an eBay bead this evening. (Gelly & I's theme is RAINBOWS, which I'm super-excited about.)

My Dad is a Car Guy.  He's also developed an interest in pinstriping, which he's becoming rather good at.  Along his creative path (he's an artist, but don't tell him I said so) he made some friends and showed them a custom flying eyeball bead I made for his vehicle.  Of course, they recognized the creative excellence behind it and wanted one, going so far as to write to me and request it.  They phrased their request to include the phrase, "...we know this short, dumpy guy..."  Short?  No way, Dad's been taller than me all my life!  And dumpy?  Well... that's probably not going to win any favors from me...

So we combine my normal reluctance to make special order beads with dissing my Dad... Which creates a looooong wait for a flying eyeball.  I finally broke down and made one, it'll be heading to eBay tonight, already wire-wrapped with silver and Swarkies into a pendant. 

12-31-08

Ah, but isn't that always the hope?  That each day starts a bit brighter than the one before, and each week, month, and year follows?

I wish all of you a blessed and peaceful New Year; may you find your own safe spot in this world, as well as hope and love.  Thank you for journeying with me on my glass travels, I look forward to seeing where the path leads this year. 

 

 

11-29-08

A quick photo here from a couple of weeks ago, one last fleeting glance of fall before the snow fell.  I walked outside to see a bee hanging out on one of my super-freaking-huge marigolds; he was kind enough to stay long enough for me to get my camera. 

11-26-08

Happy almost-Thanksgiving to all of my US peeps checking in.  I hope you have a day filled with peace, love, and quiet gratitude - that's the plan here. 

 

Gelly and I have been talking... And we're starting our weekly glass challenges again, this Sunday.  (Yay, go us!) I'm excited, I've missed them.  Beads will be showing Sunday evening on eBay... Stay tuned!

 

11-18-08

Wow, all sold out again - thank you to my stalkers, and I mean that in every good way.  Did you know when you store bubble envelopes next to a dehumidifier it sucks the life out of the adhesive on the flaps?  Why didn't anyone tell me this....? 
 

11-9-08

The site's loaded with 12 new beads, and I'm off to work on my eBay listings next.  Here's a sneak preview of the one I'm most excited about, he's a lentil sheep.