A Few Early Shots of Some Jewelry

I love living in Michigan, and I love all five seasons (can't forget about construction season).  The downside is that in the winter it is dark when I leave for work and dark before I return home.  I hope to take some better pictures this weekend and list some new goodies.

For now, here is a sneak peek...

A little boho...

And a little raku...

Something New

Here is one of the new necklaces I created this weekend.  The hand dyed ribbon is from Paradox Art Glass on Etsy, the copper pendant bail is by JustVonna.  I made the glass leaf using raku glass.  This is the only time I've been able to coax the pink out of raku.  I've had the leaf for a few years, so I figured it is time to use in something...

New Items and a New Addiction

This weekend I attended the final West Michigan Bead Expo in Grand Rapids.  It's been a fun show, but attendance has slowly dropped off over the past few years.  I'll miss having a show so close to home.  I've been listing a few new items in my Etsy store over the past few days.  Stop by and take a look!

A new discovery (at last for me) is the internet crack known as Pinterest.  Art, movies, quotes, eye candy, brain candy...  It is wonderful!

I Love Blue Chalcedony

I just love Blue Chalcedony (from Gaffer Girls, via Howaco Glass).  It is a beautiful, frustrating glass.  I love the blues and purples that I can sometimes coax out of it. I have a show this Friday at the West Michigan Glass Art Center in Kalamazoo and next Saturday I have the West Michigan Bead Expo at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. I hope they are popular, but if not, look for them soon on Etsy!

This week I tried the frit on CIM tamarind.  I plan on etching this set, which will give it a smooth, satiny finish. I think it will make the beads resemble ceramic.

As I took the picture of the tamarind and chalcedony, I also took a picture of the view off my back deck.  The leaves in our yard are finally starting to turn.

Goodbye, IE9. Hello, Google Chrome!

It's been a while, bloggerverse. Between growing increasingly frustrated with Blogger vs IE9 issues and just being very busy trying to have a life in the summer, I took a break from blogging. I've been making beads, creating jewelry, reading a LOT, and hanging out with my husband and dogs.

I finally downloaded Google Chrome as an alternate search engine. So far, it is working out well. To be blunt, Internet Explorer 9 sucks. We are on DSL, and with IE9, everything moved even slower. Plus, IE9 doesn't play well with java scripts, so I couldn't print coupons from most websites. And Blogger hates IE9. I would have to create a post and save it, but in order to actually post it, I would have to use my smartphone to post it live.

I've listed a few new items in my Etsy store. With all of my lucky bits crossed, here is a new blog post. :)

A new necklace, created with my friend Sandra's focal bead. I love the deep burgundy and shiny silver of this piece.
This cute little necklace was created with an owl from my first Bead Soup partner, Spirited Earth.

This bead was another steeping stone in my love/hate relationship with Raku/Chalcedony. This one falls in the 'love' category. Just look at the blues, pinks, fuschias, and warm beige colors, all from one glass. YUM!

All Shiny

Here are some of this week's goodies, all tumbled and ready for some patina.

The piece on the right is another one created with my funky discs. The piece on the left I created with some lovely boro beads from amie3. She has some yummy beads.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the post-patina pics.

Discs

Lately I've been making discs. At first, I was frustrated that I wasn't focused enough to make them perfectly round. Then I realized, who cares of they are perfect? Most of these discs are made with Gaffer Chalcedony & Blue Chalcedony, Raku (iris orange), and Khaos; these glasses lend themselves so well to a simple roughness and organic feel. I have an idea of how to incorporate them into jewelry. I hope the ideas made into reality by the end of the week!

Desert Heart

I've overcome the lastest computer problems (ggrr, Vista) and was able to post another bead on Etsy. It is more CIM Tamarind, Ivory, Raku, and silver foil; the kiln faeries left a heart on it. :)