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Old Blogs
Stuff moved from my home page to here for posterity...
6-11-08
I received an email invitiation to vend at a bead show... I declined, politely - at this point I haven't the stock to even attempt a show, as everything I make each week lands either here or on eBay. But I thought it was a good time to recycle an old MySpace blog post of mine that amused me. Hope it gives you a smile, too. Thanks for stopping by!
...Another issue about shows... *sigh*
Sock monkeys.
No, seriously... When a friend and I did a craft show at a middle school (they're low on the list for actual buyers, but we didn't know that then) we had loads of wooden shapes, hand painted, turned into pins, earrings, etc... Put on cardstock, looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. Our sales for the day? Not including family? Nothing. Not one damn piece.
The lady next to us, on the other hand... Sold sock monkeys. We say we sold things as in we made them, packed them, brought them, unpacked them and arranged them deocratively before we packed them back up, brought them home, and threw them, disgusted, in a corner. She sold things by making them, bringing them, and sending them home with each and every person who came into the craft show. (I may be exaggerating, but not by much.) Along with a bright and cheerful discussion about how long it had been since the buyer had seen one of these - we could say them along with the people by the end of the day...
So... if by chance I do happen to attend a bead show as a vendor... I'll have to request the no-sock-monkey section... Gosh, I hope they have one, otherwise I'll be the only vendor in the bathroom...
P.S. Looking at this again? The Dreaded Sock Monkeys would make an awesome band name.
P.P.S. Please note I have nothing personal against sock monkeys or makers of sock monkeys.
6-1-08
Working on photos and listings now... In the meantime, allow me to taunt you with an eBay preview - a hollow sumo sheep. (Listings done here and mainly gone - wow! Thanks again! eBay starts tonight at 9pm, stay tuned...)
5-27-08
Needed a bit of color - what better way than a rainbow? I think this one was part of a news story, and oh so lovely...
In boring to everyone except me news, I've discovered microfiber cloths... I knew about them for windows and such, but not for cleaning glass. Ooooh, it's nice. I've been using them to wipe down rods before I use them, and I'm fighting every irrational urge to remove every rod from my glass rack, clean it, and replace it. (I did one tube, and it looks so sparkly.) I fear I'll be distracted by sparkly things and thus rendered useless...
5-25-08
It's Memorial Day weekend here... So, if you could, let's share a moment of silence and a prayer if you're so inclined for those we have lost.... *pause - take your time...* While we're at it, I'd like to share a moment of thanks for those who served in the military and still are among us, honest, proud, and true. Thank you all, I admire you.
5-7-08
I'm having a great torch week already - I made a new sort of alien (ZOMG!) that's amusing the heck out of me - he's a bit, um, twisted... *grin* So hopefully we'll have a nice selection up sometime this Sunday. I'm reposting something I put on my MySpace page a while back, because I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for stopping by!
The question was posed in an online lampworking forum I belong to - Are you an artist? A lot of people posted their opinions, some wandered off in a tizzy -the nature of the online beast, I suppose - but it left me with something to think about...
One point of view stated that you cannot call yourself an artist, someone else must dub you with that title. Well... That would lead to some very amusing Monty Python-style discussions.
"So, what do you do?"
"Well... I create things. Works of *nudge nudge wink wink* art."
"So you're an artist?"
"YES! Oh thank the merciful heavens, yes, I am!"
(I'm imagining all sorts of frolicking dances here, maybe the Hallelujah chorus echoing through the background.)
Well... Faulty logic, that. And if it's just being called an artist, I think everyone who's ever brought home a glue and macaroni encrusted piece of misshapen cardboard to a proud Mom has that title.
Also, we're totally forgetting the possibility of being a bad artist. I could name a lot of examples, but... Does Yoko Ono suffice? Oh wait, let me rephrase that for politcal correctness... Disregard the previous comment, take the next one instead.
Being called an artist is still different from being a popular artist, and everyone's tastes are different. For instance, when I go to the Cleveland Museum of Art, I always go to the Modern Art section. Do I like this style? Well... Not particularly. But there's a gigantic white piece of canvas with a grid drawn on it - basically a huge piece of graph paper. For years it had a thick black line on the ground in front of it, with a polite little sign letting you know that if you got too close to the artwork, an alarm would sound. The information posted next to the piece went into detail talking about how each square is a different color, and what this symbolizes. (Each square is white. Just white. Seriously.) Again, do I like this work? Not particularly - but I always had to go see it to remind myself that if someone could sell a museum an oversized portrayal of graph paper so valuable that it needs to have it's own alarm, well... I certainly have no doubts about calling myself an artist.
As a final note, before I even thought of calling myself a glass artist, I was dubbed the Sheep Goddess. I will, as needed, suffer the approriate demotion to be an mere artist.
4-26-08
It feels like the world is coming to life around me. Ferns unfurling like some prehistoric beast awakening, lilies of flame, ahhh...
(Look familiar, Mom?)
4-20-08
Sneak preview of my favorite bead going on eBay tonight...
(I really like it, AND it has no eyes, so it'll probably go for about $6.47.
Liking a bead is the beadmaker's kiss of death. Seriously.)
4-19-08
More spring in my yard...
4-8-08
Site's up and going, off to work on auctions next... Thanks for stopping by, and I'd like to introduce my newest critters...
HIPPOS!
(Regular and super-sized!)
4-6-08
I had a wonderful day yesterday with my friend Sheryll Booger, of the (in)famous Booger Beads. We played at the zoo and took loads of pics... So of course I wiped my home page clean so I could share some. I'll be going to melt glass shortly, site and eBay updates will follow on Tuesday this week. Thanks for stopping by and going on an imaginary zoo trip with us - we listened to Taylor Mali on the way, if you want to set the mood right.
Spring! And they're not even poking up through snow!
Sheryll and her thoughtful new friend.
(Sheryll's on the left. Hopefully she's not pondering another monkey theme...)
I'm the Sheep Goddess, I had to visit the sheep...
There's a lot of cool statues in the zoo if you look around.
And some have sheep!
Baby black rhino and a large counterpart, they were fascinating to watch.
A lovely waterfall inside the Australian Adventure.
We were fortunate enough to watch a trainer feed and work with the elephants.
Despite their size, they move with incredible gentleness and grace.
3-30-08
All updated early for site beads, off to get eBay ready to auto-list next... I have some I'm really excited for on eBay later... Here's a sneak preview of my newest Bead Hog:
I wound a hollow bead, then added pig features. After cooking, cooling, and cleaning him, I stuffed him with bright pink seed beads. He's already been wire-wrapped into a pendant with silver and Swarkie crystals. He's only standing sideways because of the crystal between his feet...
3-25-08
Gratuitous "spring" photo for Lori... :)
3-12-08
I was reading a fantastic book about Mother Antonia, a lady who decided to minister to a Mexican jail... Very inspirational, as an understatment. (The title is The Prison Angel, by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan.) I came across a quote I want to share:
I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him.
Booker T. Washington
Yes, yes, yes - I collect quotations, reminders from people past and present for humor and gentle reminders for how I want to live my life. This one was instantly added when I read it.
3-10-08
Thanks for your support, it means a lot to me that when I'm melting glass into little creatures they find such wonderful homes.
3-3-08
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm for my work, I am truly blessed.
A few notes about the NLC Beads operation. First, I recycle, like mad. Snowman tissue paper in June? Recycling, through and through. Boxes with labels ripped off and taped over with new? Recycling. I also use what's around, so... Funky address labels with random designs that charity organizations send me? I am so using those up on bubble envelopes heading your way... Second, I don't always have a lot of bonus beads laying around to thank people for their purchases. Everything I make goes here, on eBay, or to Beads of Courage. I try to make up for it with reasonable prices, quick shipping, and fair shipping prices... (And moderately entertaining bead descriptions and random front page updates.) I hope it's enough.
Thank you all, again, for stopping by. I am grateful for each and every one of you.
Nikki
3-2-08
Sneak preview! D'ya remember when you were a kid, and you were supposed to draw something, and you got really (like, really) lazy, so you put a black dot on a piece of paper, and thought it was all smart to say it was a polar bear in a snowstorm? I decided to do the same with a few beads, but it turned out to be a lot more work than I thought, sheesh...
3-1-08
Just a reminder that one of my aliens (ok, more than one, but I'm showing one) is hanging out on eBay awaiting adoption... Ending Sunday, hurry, hurry! His tongue is a separate (also two-sided) bead, he's a wee bit off balance because I wirewrapped him all together and he's trying to balance on a Swarovski crystal and silver. (Not succeeding well, I might add.)
2-29-08
Thanks for checking in, and here's a reminder on Ohio snow driving: You can steer, or brake, or accelerate. But you need to pick one, two at a time just doesn't work...
2-24-08
Here's the routine, so you know... I really don't like empty categories, so I make them inactive unless there's something there. So before I start updating the site, I pull the New Items section down, empty it, reload (and reactivate) any other categories, and as a last step, reactivate the New Items link, all fresh and loaded up. Ahhhh... it's all set for the day now, probably for the week as I usually update with product on Sundays. Thanks for stopping by, and read on for some gratuitious bead pimping of my close friends, the Boogers! (You couldn't pick better friends, really!)
I got to play with the infamous Boogers, of Booger Beads last night, it's always a blast. They're working on getting a website up (check it out! in my links section!) and also sell on eBay, the eBay link is below, and did I mention that I love love love them?
(Can we change that to beading?)
2-19-08
I'm looking forward to Cindy Jenkins coming to Artful Hands to teach. She'll be here March 7-9th for 3 whole days of lampworking classes, ahhhh... If you're interested, check the website at http://www.artfulhands.com/ . (Let Jan know Nikki sent you if you're registering!) Please note - Artful Hands is an all-purpose studio, not primarily a lampworking studio... We have classes there with HotHeads, it is a drafty large building with a wonderful feel to it, but it doesn't look like an typical glass studio with stainless steel everything and vent hoods. I've taught there, Cindy has taught there, and it's like another home to me...
2-17-08
I was looking through my MySpace ( www.myspace.com/nlcbeads if you want to be my friend!) and found an old blog... Still true, still heartfelt, and I have to share...
I just started making beads for a wonderful yet sad program called Beads of Courage... It helps kids with cancer chart their progress back towards good health with beads for every treatment. It's incredible what some of these kids have already gone through, and the thousands of beads they have showing it. I know cancer is hell, but somehow I never really conceptualized the extent of it until I saw some of the stories shown here:
http://beadsofcourage.net/stories.htm
Now all I want to do is make beads for the program... Purple hearts are desperately needed for kids who have completed treatment, and other lampworked beads are also used. I sat down at my torch yesterday to make my eBay beadies for this week, figuring I had a whole day to play with, and kept reverting back to Courage beads.
It feels like the Thousand Paper Cranes... Maybe if I make enough, they won't need them... Maybe if I make enough, the kids will get better faster... Maybe, maybe, maybe...
I'm going to need more glass to work on this miracle.
It was originally dated 2-18-07, so it looks like I've been making them for a year... And it feels like my donations have been just a drop of water in an ocean...
1-31-08
I just lost 1d6 geek points - while perusing my site, wondering why nobody sought out my oh-so-desirable aliens, I realized it's because I didn't make the alien category active. To the bridge for a reaction, shall we?
(And I don't care what the studies say, *facepalm* is my new favorite word of 2007.)
1-19-07
This week's unofficial theme for my beads - to be shown tomorrow - is...
"It's paid for, USE IT!"
This is a fine theory I picked up from Sheryll Booger. I've been looking at and petting some of the glass in my studio, not wanting to try it and "ruin it." Until this week, when I've been whipping out odd lots and silver glass with wild abandon. (Well, for me, anyway...) So stay tuned for pajama blue, honey crunch, tangerine sparkle AND Double Helix Luna. Whoa... (Did I mention silver mesh and silver wire?)
New beads posted here and on eBay sometime Sunday evening, and don't forget about the Voodoo Ass Monkeys on eBay ending tomorrow, too!!!
1-13-07
The shared theme for this week - and it's a secret advance notice to everyone reading, shh! - for Anna, Gelly, and I is....
Voodoo Ass Monkeys.
No, I'm not joking. Well, I was, but now I'm not, and maybe I shouldn't have been to begin with, and hey, that'll learn me to joke like that right?
I started off talking to Sheryll Booger, with the running gag that she gets crazy theme (like, say, "OnStar, help! I'm being abducted by aliens!") while Gelly, Anna, and I get easy themes (blue!) So I mentioned that her new theme was.... Voodoo Ass Monkeys. It sounded like a good rock band name, but I'm artistic, not musical, so it had to be a Sheryll bead idea instead. She ranted and raved and finally asked me what Gelly, Anna, & I had. Oh, us? We have round.
All of which was well and good and very amusing until I told Anna and Gelly... and much to my suprise, they decided that round was really, really difficult, and we should do Voodoo Ass Monkeys, with Sheryll joining in the fun. This logistically poses at least 2 problems. 1. I don't know if eBay will be ok with the Voodoo Ass Monkey title. 2. Monkeys are my absolute least favorite bead ever to make. I'd rather make spacers, and I hate spacers.
Fast forward to tonight... When I finally got around to torching and trying to create my monkey. I picked out yellow ochre - both kinds. (One kind looks like mustard, one kind looks like baby poo. The sad part is, I'm trying to make them sound appealing when I say that.) I figured I'm not into monkey beads to begin with, so why waste a good glass, like ivory, that I only have about 15 lbs of? I gave my monkey a tattoo and the fiercest musical instrument he could find to play, and oh he is one bad-Ass Voodoo Monkey. IF, that is, he looks as good coming out of the kiln as I think he did going into it... Stay turned, I'm crossing my fingers on this one...
1-6-07
Working on the site a bit now - I removed all sold items from last year and added some of my favorites to the Gallery. Just listed a few items - boy, I need to torch more next week. It's not as much variety as I would like, but it's a start. I'll be back to my routine of listing eBay auctions and site beads every Sunday. Thank you, as ever, for stopping by!
I would not do this to you... But it's a funny comic...
12-31-07
New Year's resolutions are like birthday wishes to me... If you speak them aloud, their magic may disappear. So, to simplify, here are my goals for the New Year.
More of the good.
Less of the bad.
Easy enough, no? In lieu of my words, I'll leave you with a poem that I really enjoy - more so in the spoken version - by Taylor Mali.
Best wishes for a peaceful, joyous, and Happy New Year to you all.
Nikki
Silver-Lined Heart
By Taylor Mali (www.taylormali.com)
I'm for reckless abandon
and spontaneous celebrations of nothing at all,
like the twin flutes I kept in the trunk of my car
in a box labeled Emergency Champagne Glasses!
Raise an unexpected glass to long, cold winters
and sweet hot summers and the beautiful confusion of the times in between.
To the unexpected drenching rain that leaves you soaking
wet and smiling breathless;
"We danced in the garden in torn sheets in the rain,"
we were christened in the sanctity of the sprinkler,
can't you hear it singing out its Hallelujah?
Here's to the soul-expanding power
of the simply beautiful.
See, things you hate, things you despise,
multinational corporations and lies that politicians tell,
injustices that make you mad as hell,
that's all well and good.
And as far as writing poems goes,
I guess you should.
It just might be a poem that gets Mumia released,
brings an end to terrorism or peace in the middle east.
But as far as what soothes me, what inspires and moves me,
honesty behooves me to tell you your rage doesn't move me.
See, like the darkest of clouds my heart has a silver lining,
which does not harken to the loudest whining,
but beats and stirs and grows ever more
when I learn of the things you're actually for.
That's why I'm for best friends, long drives, and smiles,
nothing but the sound of thinking for miles.
For the unconditional love of dogs:
may we learn the lessons of their love by heart.
For therapy when you need it,
and poetry when you need it.
And the wisdom to know the difference.
The solution to every problem usually involves some kind of liquid,
even if it's only Emergency Champagne
or running through the sprinkler.
Can't you hear it calling you?
I'm for crushes not acted upon, for admiration from afar,
for the delicate and the resiliant and the fragile human heart,
may it always heal stronger than it was before.
For walks in the woods, and the for the woods themselves,
by which I mean the trees. Definitely for the trees.
Window seats, and locally brewed beer,
and love letters written by hand with fountain pens:
I'm for all of these.
I'm for evolution more than revolution
unless you're offering some kind of solution.
I'm for the courage it takes to volunteer, to say "yes," "I believe," and "I will."
For the bright side, the glass half full, the silver lining,
and the optimists who consider darkness just a different kind of shining.
So don't waste my time and your curses on verses
about what you are against, despise, and abhor.
Tell me what inspires you, what fulfills and fires you,
put your precious pen to paper and tell me what you're for!
12-27-07
I'm showing off this simple sculpture - not selling it - but showing it off because I like it enough to keep it. It's a phenomenon that has happened with maybe a dozen of my pieces - first frog, sheep, shragon, etc - and now this beautiful boro sea turtle. My dear friend Sheryll taught me how to make it in a fun torching session where I also learned something wonderful - boro glass doesn't shoot across studios as easily as Moretti does. Whew.
Love at ya, Sheryll, and thanks for everything. Best wishes for a peaceful, or maybe at least uneventful, New Year.
Oh, and the same to the rest of you, too, if you've stopped by. *wink*
12-25-07
...And to all a good night...
12-8-07
As promised, a pic of the set I made and liked... Too pretty... It's a 1" straight sided lentil with matching rounds, destined to be part of a necklace.
12-7-07
Picture of the big red dog enjoying the snow his way - laying in it until I drag his frozen butt inside again to warm up. We don't have quite that much yet this year, but it's probably on it's way...
11-11-07
My new alien obsession involves "almost-monochrome" beads, as shown above. 2 are here, 2 are on eBay. Sorry, Mom, I've not been in a floral mood recently, I'll try to make a few...
10-31-07
Reposted from my MySpace page - here's the link if you want to see anything else I have there... I've pulled a few blogs and double posted if I especially like them.
I have a thing for rainbows... My Grandma liked them, and she passed away when I was young, so they were always pointed out to me as, "Grandma says hi!" It carried with me these years, and I've been blessed by rainbows at times when I felt like they lifted my heart up with them when it was needed...
It's been a while since I've seen one...Until today...
The day felt glorious since it started, a crisp warm fall day with clouds like brushstrokes against the sky. My eyes kept being drawn to the trees, their turning leaves, the contrast of all the colors from green, yellow, orange, red, brown, and some trees bare skeletons already, set across the backdrop of the vibrant blue sky. Ahhh... Such miracles we take for granted!
Driving, listening to music, singing along (badly, of course, but I was alone) and I noticed a few types of clouds together surrounding the sun starting to set.... And a wisp of a rainbow tucked between layers of clouds, hidden like a whispered secret in the darkness... Delicate, fleeting, and somehow perfect.
10-23-07
I was thinking while torching tonight - I enjoyed teaching more than I thought I would for a few reasons. First, watching the concepts "click" with other people, seeing their delight at their creations is always amazing. Second, it showed me that I can do it - I was nervous! Third, teaching retaught me to be very careful about everything I do wrong when I torch at home. My graphite paddle is in the flame more than it's out of it, I lean far too close to the torch head - BUT, with students watching I kept myself better behaved. Absolutely fascinating, I suppose I could pretend students are always watching and retrain myself at home?
I was thinking while driving today - a dangerous combination, especially before my coffee kicks in - and realized one of the coolest thing about sculptural beads is that I can, for the most part, avoid the dreaded conversation... You know the one. It's the conversation that starts with a smile, hesitant, that doesn't quite reach the eyes. And someone mumbling, "It's nice... But... what is it?" Yes, I've had the conversation once or twice about aliens, and people sometimes look at organic beads like the secret to Life, The Universe, and Everything is held within, but... A sheep is a sheep, a cow is a cow, and I can go back to melting glass without the dreaded, "It's nice..." conversation. Whew.
9-30-07
Another bit of my writing, trying to focus on the positive in life, there's so much of it people just don't see...
We wake each day and choose our lives anew. I've decided to choose peace, to choose joy, wonder, and happiness as often as I can. It doesn't make me perfect, it doesn't mean I don't get upset, it just means I minimize it when I can, and remind myself to do so.
Driving to work, there's a traffic jam - I could choose to be upset, I could choose to rant and rave and curse, but to what end? Instead, I'm delighted to note a falcon perched in a tree along the way that I surely would have missed at my normal speed.
Have you taken the time - it's a moment, really - to admire the way the blue sky contrasts and compliments the clouds and green trees? Did you notice some of the leaves starting to turn, swan songs of vibrant reds, subtle shifting yellows brightning the horizon? I'm excited each year anew at the fall colors, to walk among the trees and marvel at each one, the differences in shape, color, and beauty.
I was mesmerized last night by molten glass - watching it move, and flow, how the end of a clear rod glows when the tip is drifting into patterns to make a bead. I made beads in designs I haven't played with before - a strip of silver across clear, rolled in frit, twisted a bit so it looked like the silver was playing, then encased, crunched, and dots added for texture. I've been wearing one of the beads all day, and smiling every time I touch it.
9-25-07
I wrote this and posted it on MySpace, but I liked it enough to share it here...
This is me, this is what I do...
I put on a bandana to stop myself from burning my hair. I switch to older glasses with didymium clip ons to protect my eyes. I wear all natural fibers - often layers of them - with jeans and shoes to protect from burns that still sneak through anyway. I use noise-reducing headphones with my iPod so I can rock out and dance along to whatever music may be playing - and it is an eclectic selection. I have extra lights in the room so I can see exactly what I'm doing.
This is me, this is what I do...
I prepare my area by dipping mandrels in a graphite-ceramic suspension called bead release. I pick out the colors I want to use. I take a container of ground glass and carefully put some into a dish so it can spread color all over the surface of the molten glass. I make sure my tools are ready, turn on my kiln, turn on my ventilation system. I use a striker to light my torch, and disappear into my own world of molten glass.
This is me, this is what I do...
I make art, on a small scale. I make cartoons, but in 3 dimensions. I make flowers, but they're buried and enhanced in layers of clear glass. I make glass look like stone. I twist, manipulate, and play with glass while it's hot, and soak it in acid when it's cold. I enjoy every step of the process, from dipping mandrels to cleaning beads.
This is me, this is what I do...
I've been asked to teach. I know my craft, I'm able enough to pull stringers, to make round beads, to understand all the safety aspects that need to be second nature. I am concerned about my ability to express that correctly to new students. Nervous? Yes. Excited? Yes. I guess I'll report back when I have students, in the meantime... back to molten glass...
9-18-07
It sounds like I'll soon be a teacher for a Beginner Beadmaking class at Artful Hands. I'm nervous, a bit scared, but very excited also. If you want to learn more about it, check the Artful Hands link on my links page. I don't know if the date was added to the site, but I'll be making my teaching debut on Oct 13th. Any tips, advice? Let me know!
9-13-07
Brian and I went to a wax museum that cleverly disguised itself as a haunted house partway through. I really don't like haunted houses, so I hung back and let things jump at him instead... Then we came across a sign...
I don't consider myself faint of heart, I mean, I play with fire and molten glass on a regular basis.... The unexplained is half of life, so that didn't bother me, but knowing that they'd have things jumping at me? I went one way, Brian went the other.... Which kept us both happy. (Heaven knows I certainly couldn't afford to have madness induced, right? I might do crazy things like make flying eyeballs and monkeys.)
9-12-07
The YMCA auction is up and running, they're cracking me up every time I look at the picture...
I'll be demoing again at Artful Hands on Saturday, we're open 10-4... Should be fun, I love that place. :)
It's fun to stay at the...
9-1-07
It's September already? What happened to the rest of the summer?
Frodo and I went to a Rush concert the other night, it was great fun - especially the audience participation part. A gentleman next to us was doing some sort of full body air drumming that quite possibly took more energy than the actual on-stage drummer was using. Absolutely fascinating, amazing to watch...
8-26-07
I asked Riff if he wanted to be my shipping department - do you think this pose means no?
8-20-07
Picture from the last time I went to the zoo - I'm totally due to go back soon - but the expression is priceless here so I had to share. I figure if you're kind enough to stop by, I should at least give you something fun to look at, right?
Daylilies are blooming! I need a picture here for some color...
Well, the glass rack was emptied, moved, the table supported (gooooooooo table!) and the rack reorganized. Because I'm a freak for rainbows, the glass is in almost rainbow order, if you don't count the various "stuff" on the top rack.... I discovered that despite my best efforts otherwise, I do have addiction issues, and I'm rather enjoying them, thank you so much...
8-6-07
Brian wandered into my studio, looked at the glass rack, and the following conversation occured:
Him: You have a lot of glass.
Me: Well... Yes.
Him: I mean... a LOT.
Me: Uh-huh. I just ordered more.
Him: I think we need to give that table more support, like another leg.
Me: Ok. I'll sweep the floor.
Him: I'll need to lift the table to add the leg....
Me: Ok...Oh... Wait...
So... I took last night after torching and removed part of the glass from the rack, and tonight to remove the rest... Here's my advice for the day. Rubber bands and glass are not friends. They look like they'll get along, but no, it's an ugly parasitic relationship, the rubber bands leech their way onto the glass and don't want to come off. Ever.
On the up side, I found some glass I forgot I had, and I am happily embracing Sheryll's glass use theory: It's paid for, use it! So you should be seeing some different colors emerging from my studio, once I reorganize...
8-5-07
I'm working on pictures and such for auctions (and new items on the site!) and wanted to give anyone checking in an advance notice on what could be one of my favorite auctions ever, set to start this evening on eBay.
Anna (ALD Designs), Gelly and I have been doing a theme each week. It's been loads of fun, and stretched our boundries a bit - mine, at least, I shouldn't speak for them. This week's theme is "triptych," thanks to Gelly. Of course, I ran my fingers all over my keyboard even finding out what that WAS - dictionary.com shares that it's:
| 1. |
Fine Arts. a set of three panels or compartments side by side, bearing pictures, carvings, or the like. | Super, I can totally do that! I mean... Can I do that? Due to a few setbacks, we had time to ponder this theme, and it came to me.... Three pieces that fit together... How could I have missed this???
I'm proud to present the glassy versions of (left to right) Gelly, Anna, and myself. I used our most commonly known beads, added didymium glasses for safe lampworking, and put them together for a photo shoot. I love these beads, and even more what they represent: The kind and generous spirit renowned among lampworkers that makes friends of people I've never met. We nudge each other to success and cheer each other to little victories. Anna, Gelly, I am proud to call you friends, and thank you so much for the weekly round of fun.
Nikki
8-1-07
New beads - there's been an alien invasion in the studio! It's all Brian's fault, really, though he won't admit it. He decided to try to make a bridge bead, so I decided I had to follow and make one of my own, and well, just look what happened from there! They're all two faced, with eyes making different expressions on each side, random teeth and dots everywhere, 4 legs, oh they're loads of fun! The hole runs up and down, a challenge to create, but totally addictive - you will see more of these! One of them already ran off screen (on the right side, if you're wondering) and trotted over to eBay... The rest decided they needed their own section on the site, thank you very much, so there they sit.
7-28-07
A lot of other people seem to use their home page as a blog, so here goes. I wandered outside and took a few pictures, refilled the bird feeder, which meant that Guido the squirrel stared me down.
Everyone else has squirrels, we have Mafia Squirrels that come out and threaten us. We started off well with a bird feeder with mixed seed, the squirrels found it and suddenly I was filling it every couple of days and the squirrels were living large. I didn't want to block them, but I didn't want the birds negelected either, so I bought safflower seed on the grounds that squirrels, chipmunks, and racoons don't like it.
Sure enough, within 2 days when I went to leave for work, I had 4 squirrels surrounding my car and staring me down... Hence, Mafia Squirrels. They didn't introduce themselves well, so I call all of them Guido...
And yes, I do have mixed feed out as well, the squirrels are still living large. Because I'm afraid of them.
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